macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this enormously important amendment. Others lhave spoken eloquently about the need for women to have equal rights in their paychecks. but this is a right that -extends far beyond female Americans. It extends to families. because in this day and age we all know that working families require the incomes not just of the husband but also of the wife. Dad and qMom together. and if Moms salary is decreased unfairly and illegally. that hurts everybody in that family. So I urge my colleagues to support this measure. not just for the women of America but for the men and women and families of America. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to improve the use of a grant of a parcel of land to the State of Idaho for use as an agricultural college. and for other purposes.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 3006. a bill introduced by Congressman SIMPSON of Idaho and cosponsored by Congressman. SALI. also of Idaho. that addresses an Idahospecific problem. The University of Idaho would like to construct a Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies to research environmental issues facing the dairy industry in central Idaho. but current law prevents the university from using proceeds from endowed lands toward funding for the center. The dairy industry faces a number of significant EPA. regulation. animal health and environmental issues. including nutrient management and odor control. Idaho is now the fourth largest milkproducing State. with 477.475 cows and 686 dairies in 2006. To support the Idaho dairy industry and help address the challenges facing it. the University of Idaho. in collaboration with the College of Southern Idaho. Idaho Dairymen. Kimberley ARS/USDA and others. is seeking to develop the Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies in the Magic Valley area. The total cost of the center is projected to be $25-$35 million. The State of Idaho and the dairy industry have been willing to put forward a large percentage of funding. and the University of Idaho is responsible for the remaining portion. The university would like to use the proceeds from endowed lands granted to the university by the Morrill Act. In order to do this. the Idaho Admissions Bill must be amended. Currently. lands granted to the University of Idaho through the Morrill Act can be exchanged and managed with the proceeds going only to the operation of buildings. not construction. This bill will lift that restriction within the Idaho Admissions Bill and will leave the Morrill Act untouched. naking it Idaho specific. Governor Otter and the Idaho Legislature have approved a $10 million appropriation for the center. contingent upon the passage of H.R. 3006. and additional funding is being raised by the Idaho dairy community. Madam Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days with which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill just adopted.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill to amend the U.S. Troop Readiness. Veterans Care. Katrina Recovery. and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act. 2007. to strike a requirement relating to forage producers.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of S. 1716. legislation that would ensure that U.S. livestock producers will be able to utilize the vital disaster assistance recently approved by this Congress. The effect of this bill is essentially identical to an amendment last week by my colleague and friend from Oklahoma to the Farm. Nutrition. and Bioenergy Act. which I supported and which was unanimously accepted. This legislation is critical to deliver on the promise we made to American livestock producers just this past May. After more than a years effort and despite several veto threats from the President. we were successful in passing muchneeded disaster assistance through this Chamber and enacted into law. Then. several months after the bills passage. the Secretary of Agriculture determined that a certain phrase in the bill effectively denies aid to all livestock producers that didnt participate -in the NonInsured Crop Disaster Assistance piogram or a crop insurance pilot program for rangeland. I assure my colleagues that this was not the intention of this Congress and. regardless of the accuracy of USDAs legal interpretation. we need legislative action to fix it. This bill simply strikes the one sentence in the disaster bill that is causing the problem. I appreciate the leadership of the Agriculture Committee in working with me to find a solution to this problem. and I am pleased to have the opportunity to offer this legislation. I also shared this problem with the leadership of the Appropriations Committee to ensure that this years Agriculture appropriations bill contains language to address this as well. and I am pleased to report that it d*oes. That would be unnecessary. however. if we can pass this standalone legislation and get it directly to the President. Doing so will solve this problem in time to prevent any delays in delivering muchneeded assistance to American producers. I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I want to thank the distinguished ranking member of the full Committee on Agriculture. Mr. GOODLATTE. for his support of this bill. We have Senate colleagues who we have served with here in this body previously who have already been working hard on this legislation. I am pleased that we have bipartisan agreement on our intention in providing this disaster assistance and certainly acknowledge and agree with the gentleman from Virginias statements asit relates to future disaster assistance and the importance of further developingthe pilot project programs for livestock producers to have adequate coverage for their losses. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill just adopted.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to extend the designation of Liberia under section 244.of the Immigration and Nationality Act so that Liberians can continue to be eligible for temporary protected status under that section.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. -
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3123 extends Liberias current temporary protected status designation. which is due to expire on September 30 of this year. for 1 year. As many of us know. Liberia was founded by former American slaves with the help of our government. Since 1989. however. the country has been ravaged by two brutal civil wars which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed Liberias economy and infrastructure. In recognition. of these intolerable conditions. the United States for the past 16 years has accorded special protection status to prevent approxirhately 3.600 Liberians residing in our Nation under temporary protected status "from having to be returned to their homeland in the. midst of those wars. Recently. the Department of Homeland Security has determined to terminate these temporary protections in light of the fact that Liberias civil wars have finally ended and in anticipation of the political stability that Ellen JohnsonSirleaf. its newly elected President. will bring. While there is no question that President JohnsonSirleaf has put Liberia on the road to recovery. that road will unfortunately be rather long. Currently. 85 percent of Liberians are unemployed. The country is suffering from severe shortages in electricity and running water. As for medical care. Liberia has only 26. yes. that is only 26. physicians who must serve a population of 3.4 million people. Recognizing her . countrys fragile state. President JohnsonSirleaf has acknowledged that Liberia is unable to accept and absorb the 3.600 Liberian nationals currently residing in the U.S. under TPS. I am sure we all recall President JohnsonSirleafs visit and address to this body and our interest in making sure -that she succeeds in bringing. peace and democracy to her country. Accordingly. we are deeply concerned about the consequences that could result if thousands of Liberians in the United States are forced to return to their homeland before it is ready and able to accept them. For these reasons. I ask that you join me in supporting H.R. 3123. which simply extends this protection status for 1 year. I should also note that this bipartisan measure is supported by President JohnsonSirleaf and the Liberian Government. I would also like to extend a special thanks to Republican Whip RoY BLUNT who. in talking to Democratic Whip JIM CLYBURN last week. agreed that we should_ proceed in this manner. Mr. BLUNT is a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill. along with the prime sponsors. Representatives KENNEDY and JIM RAMSTAD. Representatives PENCE and TIBERI. myself. Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. at this time I yield 4 minutes to one of the coauthors of the bill. the gentleman from Maryland .
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. if we allow the temporary protective status for Liberia to expire this September. more than 3.000 Liberians living in the United States will be forced to immediately return to a country that lacks housing. jobs. health care. education. and other necessary services. Such a result would be inhumane to these men and women. but it would also be destabilizing to their country. a country that we want to support in their efforts to achieve peace and a democracy. So I urge my colleagues to please join in supporting passage of this important legislation.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire protection compact.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of S. 975. the bill that grants Congresss consent and approval to an interstate forest fire protection compact. This legislation serves as a critical tool toward providing commiunities in South Dakota. Colorado and Wyoming with the necessary resources to fight wildfires. State wildfire compacts allow States. subject to the consent of Congress. to rapidly request and mobilize firefighting equipment among compact members. Once enacted. this legislation will immediately allow South Dakota. Colorado and Wyoming to work directly with each other and t6 pool their resources so they could rapidly address current wildfire conditions. In addition. S. 975 includes a provision that will allow North Dakota to participate in a similar resourcesharing agreement once its State legislature has ratified the agreement. The need for S. 975 is critical as the fire season for this region approaches and is really upon us today. According to a recent article in the Rapid City Journal. the dry. hot conditions persisting in the Black Hills could result in August being one of the worst fire -seasons in the history of South Dakota. Thus. in an effort -to expedite our consideration of this matter. given the potentially critical situation presented by the fire hazards currently affecting South Dakota. we are taking up the measure as passed by the Senate. I should note that my. colleague in. the State of South Dakota. Representative STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN. introduced identical legislation. H.R. 3050. to address this matter. I commend Representative HERSETH SANDLIN for her hard work and leadership in this body. -And together with the strong support from the Colorado and Wyoming delegations. she has spearheaded the effort to obtain a legislative response to this crisis so that it can be sent to the President for his signature without undue delay. Accordingly. I urge my colleagues to support S. 975.. Madam Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I would like at this time to yield l minutes to the author of the House companion bill and the Representative from South Dakota. Congresswoman STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding. I rise today to express my strong support for Senate bill 975. As the chairwoman of the subcommittee. M . ZOE LOFGREN. an4 the rpking member. Mr. CANNON. have/desc4bed. tlis important legislation stands to provide immediate assistance to wildfirefighting crews in South Dakota. Colorado. and Wyoming. Passage and enactment of S. 975 is the final step in the fire compacting process. which allows States covered by the compact to more effectively share firefighting personnel and equipment in response to wildfires. The compacting process begins with State approval but also requires consent from the Congress. Further. this legislation enjoys the support of South Dakotas Senators TIM JOHNSON and JOHN THUNE. as well as the entire Colorado and Wyoming Senate delegations. Companion legislation that I introduced in the House also enjoys similar support from the congressional delegations within the compacted States. The need for this legislation is.underscored each fire season as we undoubtedly watch communities struggle to cope with forest fires. In my own district. I recently visited areas devastated by the Alabaugh Canyon fire near Hot Springs. South Dakota. which consumed over 10.000 acres and destroyed more than 30 homes. Tragically. one man lost his life. Only the tireless and professional work by emergency response staff in South Dakota wfth the help of volunteers across the State and region stopped this fire from becoming even worse. The fire season is. however. far from over. and I am pleased that the passage of this bill in the House today will be the final legislative step towards enacting this important bill into law. The new authorities contained" in the bill will let compacted States work directly with each other increasing the .efficiency and. most importantly. the speed with which firefighting crews in South Dakota. Colorado. and Wyoming can mobilize resources in response to fires. The compact also leaves space for North Dakota to join at a later date. Finally. I would like to thank Chairman CONYERS and his staff for their swift consideration of this bill and their willingness to work with me to bring it to the House floor this evening. Their work. and a joint effort from State officials in South Dakota and the States entire congressional delegation. has facilitated this progress. I stand in strong support of S. 975 and urge my colleagues to join me.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. this bill grants our approval to an important interstate compact that will enable States in the Great Plains to pool resources to control forest fires. Especially in light of the fact that these States may shortly be experiencing what .could be the worst fire season in years. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this urgently needed measure. I commend the ranking member. Mr. CANNON. and the chairwoman of thQ subcomnittee. Ms. SkNCHEZ. as well as the chairman of. the committe. and ranking member for not standing on formality. waiving jurisdiction. and bringing- this bill directly to the floor. It is the right way to get something done in a hurry. and it needs to get done. Madam Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I would like to take tiis opportunity to express my strong. support for H.R. 735. a bill designating the U.S. Mission to the United Nations for my good friend and former Secretary of Commerce. the late Ronald Herman Brown. Ron Browhs legacy is one that will forever be synonymous with the term trailblazer. Ron Brown was the first African American to achieve partner at Patton. Boggs. and Blow in In 1989. he became the first AfricanAmerican to head the Democratic National Committee. marking the first time in U.S. history. a AfricanAmerican had ever lead a major political party. History was made again in 1993. when President William Jefferson Clinton nominated. and the Senate confirmed. Ron Brown as the first AfricanAmerican to serve as Secretary of Commerce. . As alluded to previously. Ron Brown was an astute. bright. and compassionate individual. He was a brilliant lawyer. an effective Secretary of Commerce. but most importantly he was a devoted family man to his wife Alma and their two children. Michael and Tracy. Sadly. death cheated them and this country at a most unexpected hour. however. we all can take great pride in knowing that Ron Browns legacy shall endure. In closing Madam Speaker. I would. like to commend Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman. Mr. OBERSTAR. Subcommittee Chairwoman. Ms. NORTON. and my dear friend Representative RANGEL for their collective leadership in advancing this long overdue piece of legislation. " This fine measure is a fitting tribute to one of this countrys greatest public servants.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. pursuant to House Resolution 579. I call up the bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to clarify that.a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such Adts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice. and for other purposes. and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield .2 minlites to the gentlewoman from Hawaii . a member of the committee. (Ms. IIRONO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. .Speaker. I met Lilly Ledbetter during the House Judiciary Committee hearing last month: At that time. she explained how she was repeatedly harassed during her 20year career at Goodyear. Lilly Ledbetter described for us in Judiciary how she had no proof of pay discrimination . until someone anonymously slipped payroll records into her mailbox. Now. as much as our colleagues on the other side of the aisle would like to wish it to be otherwise. until a few months ago. it was established law that each paycheck constitutes a discriminatory act under the law. When they were confirmed. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito promised to follow precedent. They promised to practice judicial restraint. Instead. they rewrote the law and pushed an activist. conservative agenda. They denied Lilly Ledbetter justice. In the real world. discrimination is subtle and takes years to become evident. However. Justice Alito ruled that victims have only 180 days after a discriminatory decision has been made to file suit. even if that employee would have no way of knowing about it. This standard is impossible to meet. The opponents of this bill expect employees to be clairvoyant. Many companies intentionally prohibit their employees from comparing salaries and pay raises. and this decision will allow employers to shield discriminatory practices. The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act rights this wrong. It clarifies that an employee is discriminated against each and every time she feceives an unfair paycheck. and Im surprised at my colleagues. particularly my female brethren on the other side of the aisle. who are standing in front of this House and asking the House to continue and repeat the practice of discrimination against women who have been unfairly treated for years and years. I urge my colleagues to support fair pay in. the workplace. and I thank Chairman MILLER for his leadership on this issue.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

So were reserving 3 minutes each. Youve. got a half minute. You and I will close. and we will each have 3 minutes for tomorrow.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I met Lily Ledbetter during a House Judiciary Committee hearing last month. At that time. she explained how she was repeatedly harassed during her 20year career at Goodyear. She told me how she had no. proof of pay discrimination until someone anonymously slipped payroll records into her mailbox. Until a few months ago. it was established law that. each paycheck constitutes a discriminatory act under the law. When they were confirmed. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito promised to follow precedenttheypromised to practice judicial restraint. Instead. they rewrote the law and pushed an activist. conservative agenda. They denied Lily Ledbetter justice. In the real worid. discrimination is subtle and takes years to become evident. However. Justice Alito ruled that victims have only 180 days after a discriminatory decision has been made to file suit--even if that employee would have no way of knowing about it! This standard is impossible to meet. Many companies intentionally prohibit their employees from comparing salaries and pay raises. and this decision will allow employers to shield discriminatory practices. The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act rights this wrong. It clarifies that an employee is discriminated against each and every time she receives an unfair paycheck. I urge my colleagues to support fair pay in the workplace. and I thank Chairman MILLER for his leadership on this issue.
Date: 2007-07-30
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yild. back the balance of my unexpired time. and I reserve the 3 minutes for tomorrow. 0] 2300