macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1985-06-21
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I wholeheartedly support the amendment to title V of H.R. 1872. the Defense Department Authorization Act of fiscal year 1986. offered today by my distinguished colleague from Callfornia. that will eliminate the restrictions now imposed on the participation by resident alien and H4 youngsters in the junior ROTC program. This amendment tracks the legislation which my colleague and I cosponsored and introduced earlier this year. H.R. 1439. and I would like to especially thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee for his assistance with this amendment and for his understanding and concern that these restrictions are not in the best interests of the youngsters or the United States. I am proud to report that all the high schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands have a junior reserve officers training program. This is an excellent program. very ably headed by Col. Gordon Green. U.S. Army. retired. We also have in the U.S. Virgin Islands a large resident alien population. and these young people are particularly enthusiastic about the junior ROTC program. despite the current restrictions on their participation. They constitute up to 40 percent of some of our units. and given their enthusiasm and their strong allegiance it is patently unfair. and indeed unwise of the United States to deny these young people full participation. The amendment offered today will upgrade these fine young people from auditors to fullfledged cadets by allowing them to receive uniforms and to count for enrollment. and thus protect the viability of their units. I commend Colonel Green and Louis Shulterbrandt. our civilian aide to the U.S. Army. for their assistance on this. and I thank my colleague from California for his efforts on this amendment.e
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to extend the time for c6nducting the referendum with respect to the national marketing quota for wheat for the marketing year beginning June 1. 1986. and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Well. yes. and no. The Secretary of Agriculture has made some statements that he wants to continue with this referendum that would cost $1 millionplus. But the signals are mixed. So I could not tell the gentleman yes. that the administration is vehemently opposed to it. But that there are some soundings to that effect. it is true.
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

He told me that he had no objection to It when I discussed it with him. That is all I can quote.
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

That I do not know. That I do not know. But when I discussed it with the majority leader. he smiled. as he always does. and he said he had no objection. I discussed it with the ranking minority leader over there and with the chairman of the committee. so whether they take it or not I do not know. But the assumption that I got sitting there with him was that go ahead and sent it over. and that is what. I am trying to do.
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. S. 822. as passed by the Senate. will authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to postpone--until 30 days after adjournment sine die of the 1st session of the 99th Congressthe time for conducting the referendum with respect to the national marketing quota for wheat for the marketing yeal- beginning June 1. 1986. The pending amendment is in the nature of a substitute for the text of the bill to require the Secretary to defer the referendum until after adjournment sine die later this year. The amendment is similar to H.R. 1614. a bill that passed the House on June 4. 1985. The Senate has not acted on that bill. The amendment differs from H.R. 1614 only in that it mandates postponement of the referendum until after adjournment sine die instead of 30 days after adjournment sine die. Mr. Speaker. the amendment Is made necessary by the fact that the Secretary of Agriculture has consistently indicated. for the past several months. his intent to proceed with this referendumwhich most would agree is a needless. costly. and confusIng exercise. Therefore. granting the Secretary the discretion to postpone the referendum. as does the Senatepassed bill. will serve no purpose. It is reported that Secretary Block has indicated that he might be willing to consider canceling the referendum scheduled for July 19. If he was given -the authority. While I find such reports encouraging. acceptance of this amendment today and subsequent enactment of the bill will ensure that this exercise in futility is avoided while Congress works on developing legislation to supercede the referendum requirement
Date: 1985-06-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate bill just passed.
Date: 1985-06-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill entitled "An Act to extend the time for conducting the referendum with respect to the national marketing quota for wheat for the marketing year beginning June 1. 1986" with the Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto. and agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment.
Date: 1985-06-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the text has the basic structure. not the same number of days. but it Is basically the original language of the Senate bill.
Date: 1985-07-09
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. on January 3 I promised. the House that the Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs Committee would move expeditiously to close the loophole which has allowed some financial institutions to escape regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act through the use of a device which has become popularly known as the nonbank bank. By a voice vote. the committee on June 12 adopted legislation which would close this loophole. We are hopeful that the Rules Committee will clear this bill. H.R. 20. for floor action in the very near future. At the same time. the committee adoptedH.R: 2707 which will establish ground rules under which bank holding companies could. operate interstate in the future. While separate. it is the intention of the committee that this bill move in tandem with the nonbank bank legislation. Like its companion. the interstate bill needs early and favorable action by the Rules Committee. As these bills move through the Congress.-the Banking Committee will begin to broaden its agenda. High on the agenda are the issues of bank deposit insurance. money laundering. consumer protections. and closing the South Dakota loophole. I have introduced legislation on these issues and plan to begin holding hearings on each. It seems seldom a week goes by without some mention of a federally insured bank or thrift being merged or liquidated. Worse yet. this years failure rate looks as if it will rival last years record 79 banks and 26 thrifts.
Date: 1985-07-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs be permitted to meet for the markup of H.R. 1. Housing Act of 1985. during proceedings of the House on Wednesday and Thursday. July 10 and 11. 1985. The Honorable CHALMERS WYLIE. ranking minority member. concurs in this request.
Date: 1985-07-11
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that the balance of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute be printed In the RECORD and open to amendment at any point.
Date: 1985-07-11
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1383. the bill just passed.
Date: 1985-07-11
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks. on the bill previously passed. H.R. 99.
Date: 1985-07-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. 1 ask unanimous consent that the Com.mittee bn Agriculture may be allowed to sit during the 5minute rule today.
Date: 1985-07-16
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. my staff is continuing its efforts to contact the office of every House Member about cosponsoring H.R. 2443. the Expedited Funds Availability Act. As you know. H.R. 2443 would eliminate lengthy "checkholds"-the practice whereby. according to one survey. banks delay payment on outofState checks for as long as 14 days. To date. 121 Members have joined me in my effort to end this costly. annoying and unnecessary practice. In addition. five consumer groups recently wrote to all the Members of the House to express their support of H.R. 2443 and to urge all Members to cosponsor this proconsumer bill. Mr. Speaker. I urge. once again. every Member to add their name to the growing list of House cosponsors of H.R. 2443. As the five consumer groups observe in the letter that follows. we must stop the practice of lengthy "checkholds."
Date: 1985-07-23
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the amendment to H.R. 8 which my colleague Mr. CONTE is offering to institute a program to control the harmful effects of acid rain. We in New England are too well acquainted with the disastrous effects of acid precipitation on our lakes. rivers. and streams. Individually and as a group. members of the New England delegation have worked for years attempting to bring an effective control program into being. In spite of the crucial nature of the issue. we have yet to consider it on the floor of the House. My constituents regard acid II 6079 precipitation as the most pressing of environmental problems. with the possible exception of hazardous waste disposal. Acid rain is causing significant damage to our waters and thus can well be addressed under the Water Quality Renewal Act. We have repeatedly delayed considering remedies to the damage which have already been caused by acid precipitation and while we have delayed the effects have grown worse. The amendment which is being introduced would establish a fair and effective program to curb acid emissions and to share the cost of so doing nationally. We have authorized continued studies of acid rain essentially to buy time and avoid dealing with the real issue. There is simply no more time to buy. It is important that we act now.e
Date: 1985-07-23
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we live in an imperfect world. Its no big revelation. Its just imperfect. Things go wrong every day. And if for any reason we forget about the worlds imperfections. we have news anchormen who remind us each night at 7 oclock that we have problems. Big problems. The true beauty of a notsoperfect world lies in the possibility for things to go right. for a job well done. Little attention would be paid to a great accomplishment in a perfect world. I would.like to take this opportunity to share with my colleagues a great accomplishment that is happening at this very minute. It also happened yesterday. and it most likely will happen again tomorrow. and the next day. It regards the superb work being doneby the U.S. Naval Hospital in Newport. RI. In a time when unflattering news is being publicized about some medical facilities. I am pleased to read the positive constituent mail I have been receiving regarding Newports Naval Hospital. One constituent wrote me last week to tell me about the experience his wife had with the hospital. She was brought to the emergency room where doctors discovered a lifethreatening brain tumor. The patients husband believes that the quickthinking care and attention provided by the hospitals staff is responsible for his wife being alive today. Hospitals are no picnic. Patients are not there because they wish to be there. This often creates many unhappy attitudes. all armed with an arsenal of complaints Receiving mail from constituents who wish to praise the work of a hospital is special. It says something. It says that something Is going right even if the world does have its flaws at times.e
Date: 1985-07-25
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman. I rise to engage in a brief colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Interior Committee. I have in my hands letters from the Commander in Chief. U.S. Pacific Command. Hawaii. who was in line to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. and also letters endorsing the UdallPascell substitute from the Secretary of State and Secretary of Interior and also from the Secretary of Commerce and numerous other letter. My understanding is that the substitute will not be offered today. I understand that certain commitments have been received. As you know. Mr. Chairman. a great number of concerns were raised regarding the impact of this action on the U.S.-flag territories. I am wondering at this time what encouragement is the chairman prepared to give to this member that the concerns of my constituents. the U.S:-flag territories will be protected. July .25. 1985
Date: 1985-07-30
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. concerning the vote just taken. there were a group of us on the elevatorthere is something wrong with the elevator or the clocks. or somethingand we were here very. very briefly after the gavel banged. I hope that in the future maybe the gavel will go down a little slower so we will not miss votes when we are indeed working in our offices with our staffs.
Date: 1985-07-30
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 3008. the Federal Equitable Pay Practices Act of 1985. As an original cosponsor of what I believe is an improved bill over that passed by the House of Representatives last year. that now includes not only a study of Federal pay practices for women. but for blacks and Hispanics as well. I am urging my colleagues to offer their full support when this measure is considered. There are those who question the need for examining the classification and payment practices of the Federal Government. There are those who attribute discrepancies between what men are paid and what women are paid to attitide differences between the sexes on work and achievement. And. there are those who contend that the predominance of blacks and Hispanics in lower paying positions is related only to qualifications. But for myself and many others. however. these opinions are not sufficient. We need to know why these differences still exist. Given the fact that 80 percent of all women employed by the Federal Government are concentrated in the lowerst paying positions. and that 85 percent of all men are concentrated in the highest paying positions. is an opinion really enough? Do we simply accept the fact that all three of these groups are overwhelmingly clustered in lower grade positions? As those responsible for shaping this Nations policies. how can we ignore these facts without questioning if. perhaps. the Federal Government classification and payment practices are discriminatory. I do not think that we can in good conscience. That is why I believe that an objective study of the Federal wage and classification system is needed. Our society has changed dramatically since the classification system was established in 1923. and yet this system has not been reviewed since that time. H.R. 3008 would mandate a study using job content and economic analysis of Federal positions which are held by men. women. and minorities predominantly. It would also establish a bipartisan Commission to hire an independent consultant to carry out this study. It does not give the Congress the power to set wages. nor does it put into place a national employment or pay policy. The Equitable Pay Practices Act of 1985 can help provide us with vital ge information that we need to effectively address issues of equal opportunity now and in the future. It can provide us with an objective measure of our progress. And. it displays a commitment from this Congress that we will continue to. work toward a democratic society that encourages all of its citizens to achieve their full potential.e
Date: 1985-07-31
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I appreciate my chairman yielding. and I want to add my commendation to the chairman and the ranking minority member. and all members of the conference for their work In this supplemental. but specifically. and especially in Agriculture and the replenishing the funds for the Commodity Credit Corp. which is in trouble and needs emergency action. I know of the previous actions of the chairman. and I want to express my appreciation to the chairman and to the members of the conference.
Date: 1985-07-31
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 3011. the Interior and related agencies appropriations for fiscal year 1986. This proposal includes funding for capital improvement projects in the U.S. insular areas which is important for their continued economic development and central to their collective goals of achieving economic self sufficiency. For the U.S. Virgin Islands. this bill provides a loan for extension of the airport runway on St. Croix. This island has suffered the closing of one of its two major plants. Martin Marietta Alumina. and the loss of over 300 employees at its other major plant. Hess Oil Virgin Islands. The island must bolster its ability to compete in the tourist market. and the Industry has made it clear that this means servicing transportation that feeds directly into the European and west coast U.S.A. tourist. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois. the chairman of the subcommittee for his support in this matter. I also wish to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts. Mr. BOLAND as well as the gentleman from Ohio. Mr. REGULA. and the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanious consent that the Committee on Agriculture be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 144). recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Program. and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 144. recognizing the 50th anniversary year of the Rural Electrication Program. This resolution. which I introduced with the Honorable. EDWARD R. MADIGAN. ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture. has the support of 147 cosponsors. The resolution. as amended. was unanimously approved by the Committee on Agriculture on July 30. 1985. The amendment in the nature of a substitute that I offer was adopted unanimously by the Committee on Agriculture. It differs from the resolution as originally introduced only to reflect the fact that the 50th anniversary date of the Rural Electrification Program has already passedit was observed on May 11. 1985. This amendment does not alter the meaning nor the intent of the original resolution. It was 50 years ago that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an Executive order creating the Rural Electrification Administration. In those 50 years. the REA has worked with rural residents across the United States to better the quality of life of farm families and other rural residents through its Rural Electrification Program. The Rural Electrification Program has an impressive record of accomplishments over the past 50 years. By working cooperatively with the REA. rural residents have built nearly 1.000 memberowned rural electric systems that provide electric power to about 25 million people in 46 States. the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. and the Virgin Islands. In the process. the REA has created nearly 1 million jobs. and improved the living standards of millions of rural Americans. As important as the past accomplishments of the Rural Electrification Program. however. is the work ahead. Low commodity prices. high real interest rates. plummeting land values. heavy debt loads. and declining export markets have brought serious economic problems to farm families and small towns across rural America. Reasonably priced electric power is an important farm input. The Rural Electrification Program can continue to make electricity available to the American farmer at a reasonable cost. through the Nations rural electric cooperatives. House Resolution 144 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Rural Electrification Program must continue to provide reasonably priced financing and technical assistance foe rural electric systems that serve rural residents. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending the Rural Electrification Program for 50 years of service to rural America. and in expressing our support for the programs continued success.e
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read and printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: WALTER FAUNTROY (democrat)
Chamber: H

started the demonstrations in front of the South African Embassy. to the point where so many of us demonstrated in front of that embassy. to the magic moment yesterday when in fact I was honored to be one of the conferees to sign that conference report. I have believed that peaceful and constructive and meaningful demonstrations can bring about change. and I think that was the product of yesterdays debate.
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1460. the AntiApartheid Act. as reported by the conference committee. While this Member would have preferred to see the Congress pass the measure previously approved by the House. the compromise represented by the conference. report imposes economic sanctions on South Africa and indicates the steps we are willing to take if conditions in that country do not improve. At present. the situation in South Africa is deteriorating. The 500 dead and over 1.200 arrests in the past year. and the current state of emergency that accelerated these statistics. speak of a situation which the United States must not continue to ignore. Our current policy of constructive engagement is an embarrassment. The South African Government has graphically illustrated the fact that it is unimpressed by this countrys quiet. and unenthusiastic. disapproval of apartheid. Our credibility as a nation concerned with civil rights and willing. as we have done most recently in the case of Nicaragua. to express this conviction in concrete terms is on the line here. We must. at a minimum. vote in favor of the AntiApartheid Act.e
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 144. adopted earlier today.
Date: 1985-08-01
Speaker: MARVIN LEATH (democrat)
Chamber: H

who is a former member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs for his work. I commend the other members of the conference committee as well. The Nations veterans have been treated fairly. in my opinion. in this budget report. Let me say as chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs that we will have to find $1.1 billion in savings over 3 years. and this is not smoke and mirrors. But I think we can find these savings without really hurting the basic benefits for veterans and their dependents. The numbers that have come back in function 700 for veterans are close to the numbers that passed in the House. and I again want to commend the conferees for that. The veterans have been protected in this conference report. and I stand here fully in support of this report.