macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-09
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Mr. Speakeir. I was not present to cast my votes on rolicall votes 133. 134. and 135 earlier today. March 9. 2007. Had I been present. I would have voted "aye" on the Baker Amendmentrollcall 133. "aye" on the Motion to Recommitrollcall 134. and "nay" on Final Passage of H.R. 720rollcall 135.
Date: 2007-03-13
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Thank. you. Congressman PRICE. for giving me an opportunity to join you today. And. Mr. KLINE. thank you for your leadership in the Congress and in the military. I appreciate it so very much. Congressman PRICE. as you well know. none of us want to be in war. I certainly dont want to be in a war.. But the fact is. we are in a war on terror. As a matter of fact. I think back right after September 11. 2001. the first casualty in Afghanistan was Sergeant Davis from my district. A distant family member. the first casualty in the war on terror after we decided that we were going to join the battle. As you well know. that battle didnt start on September 11. This is not 4 war just limited to Iraq. This war has been going on a long time. It is a global war on terror. This war has been going on for a long time. and it was started by radical Islamic extremists. This war didnt start on September 11. It has been going on for a long time. Many of you can remember the Iranian
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: TIM MURPHY (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Employers spend over $26 billion pet year in direct medical costs to treat depression. But the indirect costs. including lost productivity and absenteeism. increased spending by some $51.5 billion per year. but appropriate treatment for depression reduces health care costs for businesses. The National Institutes of Mental Health reported depression treatments reduce absenteeism and save money. Plans for Federal employees where mental health coverage is included in their health care plan also saves money. Employers and Members of Congress should review the benefits of mental health insurance coverage and note that coverage of mental health treatment can also significantly reduce public health care spending on Medicare. Medicaid and our criminal justice programs. I would urge all my colleagues to review how businesses and the Federal Government can save money on this by reviewing my Web site at murphy.house.gov. And remember. patientcentered health care saves lives and money by emphasizing patient safety. patient quality and patient choice.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished ranking member of the Rules -Committee. Mr. DREIER.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank again my distinguished friend -from Florida for his courtesy in yielding the time. Mr. Speaker. we will oppose the previous question. If the previous question is defeated. I will offer an amendment to the rule to make in order the amendment offered yesterday in the Rules Committee by the gentleman from Michigan. the ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Mr. HOEKSTRA. The Hoekstra amendment would safeguard our national intelligence and allow the Intelligence Committee to appropriately address whistleblower concerns through regular order. While the Tierney amendment which was made in order. as was pointed out by my good friend. attempts to address these concerns. it still allows the possible disemination. we believe. of highly sensitive information to individuals outside of the Intelligence Community and. therefore. may put our security at risk. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the Hoekstra amendment and extraneous materials immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

At this time. Mr. Speaker. I urge all Members to oppose the previous question. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I dont think there is a Member of this House that doesnt sympathize with what the gentleman from Michigan is trying to do. The difficulty is the way this amendment is drafted. It is a huge overreach. It allows anybody who is d6ing research under the auspices of the Federal Government to then publish it without any kind of overview from their superiors. who sometimes have competing reports and deliberations as they reach a public policy decision. This is bad law. It allows attorneys fees in the case where somebody is denied that opportunity. This kind of overreach amendment is not about whistleblowing at all. it is a politicization of science from the other perspective. I urge Members to defeat this amendment. . I Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I oppose this amendment. This amendment would raise the threshold by which agencies must prove they would have taken disciplinary action against an employee notwithstanding the employees whistleblower claim. Current law requires agencies to prove this by clear and convincing evidence. This amendment raises the threshold and requires agencies to prove that such action was highly probable or reasonably certain. There may be a real issue here which must be addressed. but after working on this bill for years now yesterday was the first time that this issue was brought to our attention. On. its face. I am concerned this amendment would raise an already high threshold imposed upon agencies trying to prove they are placing an employee on administrative leave because. for example. the employee sexually harassed another employee and not because the employee is a whistleblower. The current clear and convincing evidence standard seems a sufficient burden of proof to impose upon agencies. I am also concerned we may be establishing a dangerous precedent by further defining in one isolated statute. what the term "clear and �convincing evidence" means. Does the U.S. Code typically define standards of proof such as "clear and convincing" and "beyond a reasonable doubt" or are these terms of art defined in case law? And does this:fnew defipition-::of. "highy probable" or: Ireasonably certain". abtually solve the pr6blerf!or does it make it evenmore confusfng for courts andlitigants?. Mr. Chairman. there may be a valid issue here worth investigating.It is entirely possible that the Office of Special Counsel. the Merit Systems Protection Board and the courts are getting this wrong. but we should review this proposed change and vet It through the committee process before amending the Whistleblower Protection Act. The good news is we have an opportunity to address these questions. The authorizations for both� the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board expire this year. and the committee can and should carefully review the issue as we consider these reauthorizations. I think my concern on this. if there is a pending sexual harassment claim against an employee. and they all of the sudden turn out and become a whistleblower. that then in the sexual harassment claim we have a higher standard. and for the litigant. the person that has been harassed in that -case. they have a higher burden of proof than they would notwithstanding the whistleblower claim. I do not think that is[ fair to the person who is being harassed in this case. *and I do not see a need for it. . So I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment today and allow the committee in regular order to consider carefully and foil this problem identified by my good friend and colleague
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I just urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-14
Speaker: TOM .DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania and. once again. thank him for his leadership on this issue. I support this amendment. This amendment will extend additional whistleblower protections against reprisal to employees who cooperate with their agency Inspector General or in some other official grievance or investigative process. Unfortunately. courts have misread the intent of the Whistleblower Protection Act and have arbitrarily reclassified certain whistleblowing activity as an exercise of appeal right. These rights are covered under a different section of title V of the U.S. Code. By reclassifying these activities as exercises of appeal right. the courts have deprived employees of whistleblowing protection for their same disclosure showing significant misconduct if presented in a grievance or litigation instead of. for example. in a television interview. It could occur when an employee faces reprisal as one associated with a whistleblower when testifying in an IG investigation or Office of Special Counsel investigation. It strikes me these are precisely the forums Congress intended the whistleblower to take. These are. in essence. whistleblowers who are operating within the existing chain of command. They have used the chain of command. not gone outside the system. but they are not afforded the same protection as those who do. These are the forums where we can actually make a difference to policymakers. This amendment ends the inequity by.clarifying that an otherwise protected disclosure cannot be dis-. qualified because of the forum where it is communicated. I support this amendment. I congratulate my friend for offering it.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam within the executive branch. and being Chairwoman. I yield to the gentleman able to get the best and the brightest is from Tennessee for a a very. very critical component to this. unanimous consent request. . These restrictions. the administration
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Chair. I yield myself such time as I Chairwoman. may I inquire as to how may consume. much time is left on each side? Let me start by saying we all want to
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Let me just note that on the bills on the Presidential records. the library. the whistleblowers. Mr. WAXMAN and his staff have worked very well with us. And the record should show that the reason we got such big bipartisan majority was their willingness to bend back and our ability to work back and forth. And I want to. again. commend him. We have other differences on this bill which is close to my heart that I think he understands and we understand. but even here they have worked with us. And I think the record should note that they have gone out of their way and we appreciate that.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

I yield myself 1 minute to note again the reason for the rise in solesource contracts has been emergencies like 9/11 and Katrina. under which the exigencies which government is faced with at that point to meet in a timely manner doesnt allow you to go out in these cases for a wide swath of bids. But I think we share a common desire to bring more competition into government contracting. I also want to note that at our committee hearing on February 8. the Inspector General. Richard Skinner. testified that the governments greatest exposure to fraud. waste and abuse is undoubtedly in the area of procurement. As already pointed out by members of this committee. he notes. the problem is not a new one. It dates back to the Federal Governments nearsighted policies in the early 1990s to reduce the Federal workforce. While acquisition management capabilities were being downsized. the procurement workload was on the rise. I hope to continue to work with the gentleman as we focus on this acquisition workforce and give them the tools they need.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. we fully support transparency and accountability in decisionmaking. but we need to remember we are asking for all of these audit reports that are only advisory in nature. They are not disposition. These are questioned costs. and contracting in a war zone or in an emergency often lacks appropriate documentation. But these are allowable costs. I think to provide those to Congress not only gives you too much information. a lot of it can be misleading and can be misplayed. Knowing that the results of an audit will be provided to Congress during the negotiation and the resolution process. which is what they are asking for. could unduly influence the impact the audit advice may have on the contracting officers administrative determination. This inhibits their authority to appropriately and effectively resolve contracting issues using all of the relevant information available to them. This could also have the unintended effect of increasing the number of contract disputes. But I know my colleague feels with a passion that we need to move ahead and do something of this order. I look forward to.working with him on legislation on the acquisition workforce which we dont touch in this area. This legislation I think falls short of the promise. but I appreciate the willingness he has shown to work with us. We will address further issues later in our motion to recommit. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Cliairman. I would like to ask the offeror of the amendment just a clarification question before I yield. For a company to have to disclose under this. it would be a foreignowned company. I understand. that is based or has majority operations in a country described in subsection D. Any idea who that would apply to? I am just trying to figure out.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

A foreignowned company could be. if it is on the American Stock Exchange. that probably would not make it a foreignowned company in all likelihood?
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Let me just ask the author of the amendment. this would obviously apply. this is a list that evolves. as the Secretary of State certifies. is that correct?
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

I am prepared to accept the amendment. I congratulate the gentleman for offering it. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

I will commend my friend from Delaware for offering this amendment. I would just shy we are happy. and we are here to support it as well. and we think this adds to the bill.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to recommit be considered as read and printed in the RECORD.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself 2 minutes. This motion to recommit would bar Federal agencies from awarding contracts to colleges and universities that either prohibit oncampus military recruitment. or otherwise do not provide military recruiters access to campuses and to students that is at least equal in quality and scope to the access that is provided to any other employer. On March 6. 2006. the Supreme Court reversed a Federal appeals court ruling in Rumsfeld vs. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights. In doing so. eight Justices upheld the constitutionality of the socalled Solomon amendment. upon which this motion is based. forbidding most forms of Federal aid to higher educational institutions that deny military recruiters access to students equal to that provided other employers. Mr. Speaker. military recruiters must be given access to university and college campuses and students that is at least equal in quality and scope provided to other employers. This motion establishes that requirement governmentwide. We already do this to some agencies in government. A number of Departments are already covered. but since this bill is governmentwide in scope. we make this governmentwide in scope. This motion establishes that requirement. thereby addressing an apparent trend among certain colleges and universities to attempt to frustrate military recruiters through official and unofficial mistreatment. Unfortunately. this growing trend is not isolated to the higher education community. as evidenced by the decision last November by the San Francisco Board of Education to phase out Junior ROTC from the high school system over the next 2 years. At a time of war. when we are depending on a volunteer military. it seems counterproductive to be openly discriminating against our military personnel and to create perceptions that military service is not a noble and- professional calling. The Department of Defense noting that certain colleges and universities continue to restrict access or limit opportunities for military recruiters to participate fully in job fairs. placement office services and interview programs. supports congressional efforts to take action to pass legislation granting military recruiters access equal to that of other employers. The motion to recommit would help prod those colleges and universities that currently do not provide equal access to military recruiters. We also. I want to note. have a clause in here that this prohibition does not apply to an institution of higher education or a subelement if the Secretary of Defense determines that the institution has a longstanding policy of pacifism based on historical religious affiliation. I urge my colleagues to support this. Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California .
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I would just add. 10 U.S.C. 983 already covers a number of agencies. the Department of Defense and others in terms of contracting and limitations that are put on colleges and universities that dont allow recruiters to come on campuses. This makes it governmentwide. This body has addressed this issue before. But I think it is time to make this governmentwide. and I would urge my colleagues to support the motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-03-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
Date: 2007-03-19
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise tonight to commend the men and women serving in the Federal Correction Complex in Coleman. Florida. in my district. This Federal complex serves our Nation by housing prisoners in low-. medium- and highsecurity facilities. It has provided countless jobs in my district and helped our growing economy. The people who fill those jobs truly are a testament to the array of wonderful people in my district. Even with the struggles in funding and thinly stretched staff. the officers. at Coleman -are cheerful. positive. and professional people. Staffing a prison complex is no easy job. and many of the officers there literally have scars to prove it. Yet they know their job is to keep our families safe. I have had the opportunity to tour this facility several times and meet with the staff. and I am proud to serve alongside such honorable public servants. I want to take this opportunity to give them all my heartfelt thanks.
Date: 2007-03-20
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. you know. in Texas we have a phrase for folks who talk big game and fail to deliver. We call it "all sizzle and no steak." Thats sort of how I view the Members of Congress who claim they support our men and women in uniform. but fail to back permanent legislation that says Congress will fully fund our troops serving in harms way. Their actions dont match their words. If Members really support the brave men and women in our armed services. Members would make sure our men and women in combat have the bullets and tanks and helmets. whatever they need. That is why today I am launching a discharge petition on my .bill to fully fund all our troops in harms way. The Democrats cant hide behind their slowbleed strategy forever. We need a floor vote to make the entire Congress go on record for or against our troops.
Date: 2007-03-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume before yielding to my good friend from Georgia. I think a fundamental part of the role of the opposition of the minority is to hold the majority accountable. not only to history. which our friend from Massachusetts is making reference to. but accountable with regard to the promises made by the majority. And so it was the majority that reiterated that they would bring an open process. And. for example. we are already seeing not only. we have seen in bill after bill after bill. the minority closed out. But also. for example. rules passed by the majority. for example. requiring 3 days for people to view legislation before it comes to the floor. rules like that being waived. So lets see. for example. what is done on the supplemental appropriations bill. Are they going to waive the rule passed by the majority requiring 3 days? Are they going to waive it with regard to that legislation as well? And my friends on the other side of the aisle point out that. I think they said this is almost an open rule. It is not an open rule.
Date: 2007-03-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Reclaiming my time. I dont know exactly where the standard is in height. I will say that the promise was an open process. and that process does not exist. and that promise has not been kept. And in bill after bill after bill. the minority is closed out. Now. it is true that some open rules have been permitted on legislation that we would bring forth under suspension. Madam Speaker. when bills are noncontroversial. many times they are brought forth under a process called suspension of the rules when there is mostly unanimity or often unanimity or almost unanimity in this House. Yes. So in bills like that we have seen some open rules where the minority has been able to have the amendments that it wishes to be considered. But I just want to remind colleagues that may be listening to this debate. Madam Speaker. that when I point to
Date: 2007-03-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. at this time I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished friend from Illinois . who also had an amendment that was closed out. closed out by the majority in the Rules Committee.
Date: 2007-03-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. We are grateful for the tolerance in the gentlemans committee with regard to the amendment presented by Mrs. BIGGERT. The Rules Committee could have been equally tolerant. Let us be clear. In other words. the Rules Committee waives points of order. Madam Speaker. with regard to the whole bill. so. obviously. they could have waived a point of order with regard to the issue of gerinaneness for Mrs. BIGGERT. So the Rules Committee could have been amply tolerant. And that is one of the reasons. since the Rules Committee majority was not. with regard to our colleague who has put so much work into this issue to hold harmless the public housing agencies for the remainder of this year from the mistake made by the majority in the socalled continuing resolution. that we believe that she should have been able to make her point before all of the Members. Madam Speaker. at this point I would like to yield 3 minutes to my distinguished friend from Alabama