macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-05
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise to join my colleagues in support of ending the genocide and violence in Darfur. Sudan. For far too long. the international community has paid inadequate attention and devoted insufficient resources to stopping the crisis in Darfur. Although the problems of Sudan lay a long way from our homes. we have learned from the Holocaust in Europe. as well as ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia andgenocide in Rwanda. that an assault on. humanity any- where is an assault on humanity everywhere. We cannot continue to ignore this genocide without diminishing our own humanity. As.amember of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. I am committed to bringing security and relief to the people of Darfur. I have led efforts to encourage state. local. and university divestment of funds from companies that conduct business operations -in Sudan. And now I join my colleagues in urging China to do the same. Given its economic interests throughout the region. China has a unique ability to positively influence the Government of Sudan to abandon its genocidal policies and to accept the United Nations peacekeeping mission. To be accepted as a responsible player at the worlds diplomatic table. China must end all military and economic assistance to the govemment of Sudan until Sudan stops overt and covert support for attacks on civilians and engages in meaningful peace negotiations. All. members of the intemational community share a moral obligation to end to the human suffering in Darfur. The situation is dire. but I am confident that we can all do our part to .help stop this genocide and bringpeace and stability to millions of innocent men. woman. and children. Calling on the Peoples Republic of China to use its influence to help stop the genocide in Sudan is the right* thing to do. That is why I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on H. Res.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of the National STEM Scholarship Database Act. In a time of global economic and scientific competition.. we must ensure that our brightest young people have the resources to pursue careers in science. technology. engineering. and math. When students graduate from American universities with undergraduate degrees. they graduate with on average. $20.000 in debt. This undergraduate debt is a significant factor in a students decision to pursue graduate school. And among science and engineering students. those who had debt from their undergraduate education were more likely to say they could not afford graduate school. We cannot afford to limit the potential of these students. or those who find the cost of even an undergraduate education prohibitive. We cannot afford to have ambitious students with interest and aptitude in science or math or engineering shut out of our colleges. We need Americans with advanced degrees in the STEM fields to propel our Nation forward in discovery and innovation. This bill makes it easier for students to find scholarships and grants to finance their educations. It does not require a significant investment from the Federal Govemmentalthough I believe -we should make the investment in more Federal loans in the future. It simply creates a central location where students can learn about their options. This is a common sense way to help students pursue careers in science. technology. engineering. and math. It is a simple. lowcost part of our competitiveness agenda. and I urge my colleagues to vote for it today.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. This resolution recognizes the brave "Mercury 13" women who in the early 1960s undertook the human exploration of space. The members of the "Mercury 13" include Myrtle Cagle. Geraldyn "Jerrie" Cobb. Jan Dietrich.- Marion Dietrich. Mary Wallace "Wally" Funk. Jane Briggs Hart. Jean Hixson. Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen. Irene Leverton. Sarah Lee Gorelick Ratley. Bernice Trimble Steadman. Geraldine "Jerri" Sloan Truhill. and Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman. The "Mercury 13" women successfully passed the same physical and psychological tests as those of their male counterparts. the "Mercury 7." Just before leaving for the next phase of training at the Naval Aviation Center in Pensacola. Florida. they were told not to come. In 1961. their efforts marked a milestone in American history and these women paved the way for those who would follow in their footsteps. The Johnson Space Center in Houston. Texas has been the leading NASA center for more than 40 years and continues to encourage women to participate in the area of space exploration. H. Res. 421 is an important way to help young women uriderstand the importance of space and science. As of today. there have been 34 women in space. and although this is a great accomplishment. there should be more. It is my hope that this resolution encourages girls to pursue what they may feel is impossible. The "Mercury 13" continue to inspire women of all ages to go above and beyond. so that they can fulfill their dreams. The sacrifices of these women deserve to be honored.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 446. honoring the life and accomplishments of Astronaut Walter Marty Schirra and expressing condolences on his passing. Astronaut Walter Marty Schirra was a member of the Mercury 7. who were named by NASA in April of 1959. He piloted the six orbit Sigma 7 Mercury flight. the Gemini 6 flight and was Command Pilot on the Apollo VII. Walter Schirra became the first man to fly in space three times after being pilot of the Apollo VII. Schirra received numerous awards and honors while being a member of NASA. Schirra logged more than 295 hours in space. After he left NASA in 1969. he worked as a television commentator during the Apollo moon landings. was an engineering consultant and worked on corporate boards.. Not only was Walter Schirra an astronaut. but he was an advocate for students who want to pursue careers in science and engineering. He helped to found the Mercury Seven Foundation. which creates college scholarships for engineering and science students. The passing of Walter Schirra has been a huge loss to the space community and America as a whole. His contributions will never be forgotten. and he leaves a strong legacy of bravery and service. I urge support of this resolution. -
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1467. the 10.000 Trained by 2010 Act. The bill requires the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants for research to improve health care information systems. As our health care information moves from paper to computerbased storage methods. it becomes increasingly important to develop systematic methods for organizing and tharing biomedical information. Digital medical records must be transferable. and above all. patient confidentiality must be ensured. H.R. 1467 would fund. scientific and engineering activities to improve education in the health care information fields. The funding would be used to develop innovative approaches in health care information. and help students earn advanced degrees in these fields. Mr. Speaker. this bill would promote technologies that will save us taxpayer dollars over the long term. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1467. Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1716. the Green Energy Education Act of 2007. Mr. Speaker. "green energy" is defined as energy that is produced and used in ways that lessen air pollution and other environmental impacts. An investment in green energy education will benefit our Nation in important ways. It is good for the environment. because it reduces environmental impacts of the production and delivery of energy. Green energy also reduces harmful greenhouse emissions. H.R. 1716 directs the Department of Energy to contribute funds to the National Science Foundation for the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. This. program is important in supporting graduate education related to green energy projects. The bill also supports energy technology research and development for high. tech buildings and for educational activities to teach students how to improve building design that is not harmful to the environment. Mr. Speaker. I support H.R. 1716 and urge my colleagues to support it also.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 632. the HPrize Act of 2007. The federal government should become more involved in supporting cuttingedge technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move our nation toward renewable energy. As a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology. I committed toward supporting a variety of renewable .energy technologies--including hydrogen. H.R. 632 would create competitive cash prizes to reward innovative research. development commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies. Hydrogen cars and other vehicles would make such a difference in air quality. Mr. Speaker. especially in Texas. Cities in Texas have some of the poorest air quality in the Nation. Hydrogenpowered vehicles could be designed for massscale use. These vehicles would emit only water vapor as a byproduct and reduce our dependence on foreign oil in the long term. Hydrogen. solar. wind. geothermal. and nuclear are all cleaner energy sources than fossil fuels. H.R. 632 is a positive step toward developing energy technologies that create a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2560. the "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007." This legislation. offered by my colleague. Representative DEGETTE. specifies that it is illegal to utilize cloning technology for unethical purposes. The bill text defineS human cloning as the implantation of the product of human somatic cell nuclear transfer technology into a uterus. In my view. H.R. 2560 would allow important stem cell research to be donein an ethical manner. However. it specifies criminal penalties for individuals who do attempt to clone humans. Mr. Speaker. as a nurse and longtime member of the Committee on Science and Technology. I have long advocated for federal resources to be used to support stem cell research. After careful review of the bill text. I feel that this is a sound piece of legislation that does what it says it will doprohibit stem cell technology from being used unethically to "clone" human beings. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2560.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 391. recognizing the employees of the DallasFort Worth International Airport. the North Texas Commission. the USO. and the people and businesses of North Texas for their dedication to the "Welcome Home a Hero" program. The "Welcome Home a Hero" program is a daily gathering of volunteers to celebrate the homecoming of soldiers returning from Iraq. Afghanistan and Kuwait. The tremendous effort has made the "Welcome Home a Hero" program one of the largest ongoing community service efforts in North Texas. and these committed employees have given of their time so that our troops. as well as their families. can be welcomed. On June 12. the500.000th soldier will come home for a welldeserved 2 weeks of rest and recuperation. and Im proud to share that the "Welcome Home a Hero" program in the DallasFort Worth International Airport has been selected by the U.S. military to host Sall Saxton Schmidt Sensenbrenner Sessions Shadegg Shimkus Shuler Simpson Skelton Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smith (TX) Souder Stearns Stupak Sullivan Taylor Terry Thornberry Tiahrt Tiberi Turner Walberg Walden (OR) Walsh (NY) Wamp Weldon (FL) Weller Westmoreland Whitfield Wicker Wilson (OH) Wilson (SC) Wolf Young (AK) Young (FL) this celebration. and. Mr. Speaker. I would ask for support when this resolution comes up. I know we couldnt do it today. but I extend my personal grati.tude to the programs volunteers for their efforts in dupporting our dedicated men and women in uniform who are proudly serving our Nation.
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. You- know. it is funny. This is my .first time as a member of the 30Something Group. and I know I am the puppy of the. group because I am only 33 years old. So when I ran for Congress. I had tremendous support from the network community. those bloggers out there all across America. But there are bloggers. especially in Philadelphia and greater Philadelphia and the suburbs that blog everyday. and they got so excited when the 30Something Group was their voice when
Date: 2007-06-06
Speaker: C LINTON (democrat)
Chamber: S

submr.ted Tme nd Mr. On page 303. between lines 19 and 20. insert SCHUMER) submitted an amendment in- the following: tended to be proposed by him to the (s) DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY AND bill S. 1348. to provide for comprehen- ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR INELIGIBILITY FOR Z sive immigration reform and for other NONIMMIGRANT STATUS.purposes. which was ordered to lie on . (1) AGGRAVATED FELONY.-Section 101(a)(43) the table. as follows: of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 On page 6. between lines 5 and 6. strike in-. U.S.C. 1101(a)(43)) is amendedsert the following: (A) by striking "and" at the end of sub(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of paragraph (T). Congress that sufficient funds should be ap- (B) by striking the period at the end of propriated to allow the Secretary to increase subparagraph (U) and inserting ". and" and by 1.722 the number of full time border patrol (C) by adding at the end the following: agents. immigration inspectors. and customs "(V) a second conviction for drunk driving. inspectors at the northern border pursuant regardless of the State in which the convicto authorizations under- tion occurred or whether the offense is clas(1) section 402 of the USA PATRIOT Act of sified as a misdemeanor or a felony under 2002 (Public Law 10756). State law.". (2) section 331 of the Trade Act of 2002 (2) GROUNDS FOR INELIGIBLiTY.-In addition (Public Law 107210). and to the grounds of ineligibility described in (3) section 5202 of the Intelligence Reform subsection (d)(1)(F). an alien shall be ineliand Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public gible for Z nonimmigrant status if the alien Law 108458). as amended by subsection (b) of has been convicted of drunk driving. regardthis section. less nf the State in which the connviction ocSA 1344. Mr. BYRD (for himself. Mr. GREGG. and Mr. COCHRAN) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1348. to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes. which was ordered to lie on the table. as follows: At the end of title VI. insert the following:
Date: 2007-06-07
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. our country is facing a severe shortage of registered nurses. The situation is welldocumented. The Journal of the American Medical Association has stated that. without changes. the United States will have a shortage of more than 400.000 nurses by the year 2020. To date. there has been limited government action to address this very national need. � Effective health care delivery relies on an adequate supply of welleducated health care- professionals. so this week I introduced H.R. 2572. the Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act of 2007. to expand the supply and to help provide for the education of registered nurses. because nurses play a principal role in the health care delivery system in various settings. in hospitals. in home health agencies. in longterm care facilities. managed care centers and community health clinics. The Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act would forgive up to $17.000 in Federal loans over a 5year period for people who have worked in a hospital at least 1 year. If they continue to work. they would be able to. over time. have that entire amount forgiven. Mr. Speaker. I hope that the Congress has the ability to take action on this critical issue. and I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this very important legislation.
Date: 2007-06-07
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding to me. I want to associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from Illinois
Date: 2007-06-07
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise to offer my support for passage of S. 5. the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. The scientific community has demonstrated the great potential for stem cell research. Advancements are being made through the National Institute of Health. private sector biotechnology. and research universities. Some of that progress has been made with stem cells from other than embryonic sources. but the Congress should not be in the business of shackling scientific discovery and should pass this legislation to open up the potential that embryonic stem cell research has to offer. In Orange County. California. the University of California at Irvine. Reeve Research Center is home to spectacular research that is utilizing embryonic stem cells to develop treatments for spinalcord injuries and neurological disorders. California has already led the way for responsible government support of stem cell research. Now is the time for the Federal government to do so as well. I urge my colleagues to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
Date: 2007-06-07
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as an original cosponsor of the House version of the Stem Cell Research Act of 2007. I rise in strong support for S. 5: I firmly believe that stem cell research holds the promise of scientific breakthroughs and finding cures for lifethreatening diseases that could improve the lives of millions of Americans. We should allow the expansion of federally funded research of human embryonic stem cell lines. This bipartisan legislation would accomplish that while establishing ethical guidelines. This is an issue that affects every family in America. A majority of the American people support stem cell research. I was disappointed that the President exercised his first veto last year on a piece of similar legislation that has bipartisan support. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 will be soon on the Presidents desk for his signature. I hope this time the President will listen to Congress and the American people rather -than to the extreme right of his own political party and not wield his veto pen on sucfi promising legislation. We cannot put politics over the health of the American people. Mr. Speaker. I strongly urge my House colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
Date: 2007-06-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise to raise awareness of an issue in our Texas offices and I think around the country: The significant application backlog in the Houston passport office. Last Friday morning. a number of Members of Congress from Texas and I went to that office. I call on the adminstration and the State Department to take the necessary steps to alleviate the backlog. I know in the Houston office. Jgcqueline HarleyBell. the regional director of the Houston Passport Agency. and the staff have been working long days and weekends. and I commend them for their efforts to serve the public because they are understaffed and overwhelmed by the number of applications they are getting. The Houston office has already issued nearly 11 million passports in the first 52 months of 2007. That is 3 million more than the 7.9 million that were issued in all of 2006. The administration needs to provide the resources necessary now for additional workers or funding. to clear the backlog due to the new requirement that folks traveling in North America by plane need to have a passport. On Thursday the administration changed the requirement. or delayed it. that individuals flying into Canada. Mexico. the Caribbean and Bermuda must only present a State Department receipt they have applied for a passport through the end of September. But this is much later than it should be. People are standing in line from 2 in the morning. People wait in line to get rock concert tickets. not a passport. I hope the State Department and administra�tion will immediately address this problem.
Date: 2007-06-12
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. thank you for your work on this bill. As you know. I chair the Border. Maritime and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee. and I havX been working on port security issues for many years. and I was extensively involved in the SAFE Port Act that was signed into law last year. -One important provision of the SAFE Port Act was the requirement that the Coast Guard implement a longrange vessel tracking system. More than 60.000 vessels traverse the worlds oceans annually. and more than 8.000 deepdraft vessels call on United States ports every year. Implementation of a longrange vessel tracking system is critical to ensure that maritime operations are conducted in a way that keeps our Nation safe and secure. In addition. it will make international commerce more efficient for our Nations port operators. Chairman PRICE. while your bill does not allocate a specific amount of funding for the implementation of the required longrange vessel tracking system. I have noted that there is a funding stream of $40 million for activities mandated by the SAFE Port law. and I want to clarify your support for the implementation of the longrange vessel tracking system required in the H6314 co SAFE Port law and that part of the $40 million in funding could be used towards meeting that mandate.
Date: 2007-06-12
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. thank you for that clarification and for your strong support for improving port security and the security of our country.
Date: 2007-06-13
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. we all have to obey the rules. whether Republican or Democrat. and that is what we are trying to say. We want to pass the appropriations bills before October 1. In the majority for 12 years. they couldnt do it. They put in earmarks all over the appropriations process. and yet stripped out Democrats. I dont want us to do that. but I do want us to have some legislative ability to say we have projects in our district that are important. If I am willing to say. yes. I want them and I will publicize them. then why shouldnt we be able to have an elected official make that decision instead of the bureaucracy that may still be under the President. But the now Republican minority put earmarks in even when they were in the majority. so that is what this debate is about. They dont want us to pass these bills but we need to do it for the American people. particularly Homeland Security.