macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of legislation we will consider today that will provide the Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility to transfer funds to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration. It has now been almost two months since the sequestration cuts were enacted. and we are in new and unprecedented territory. This week alone. approximately 2.800 flights were delayed daily because of the Republican majoritys refusal to address the effects of the sequester sensibly. This bill would allow the Department of Transportation to shift $253 million in funds to the FAAs operations account to prevent the worst of these drastic cuts. This is simply a safety issue for the millions of passengers who travel our skies. Over the past five days. we have seen our national airspace system seriously compromised by the furloughs of air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals. In addition to the very serious safety concerns. the inconvenience of passengers. and the loss of wages to these federal workers. these delays have slowed commerce at a time when we should be doing everything we can to nurture our domestic economy. Mr. Speaker. it is my hope that now that the actual effects of sequestration are painfully clear. Republican Members of Congress will come back to the table. and we can work on a bipartisan. common sense approach to ending sequestration.
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. over the past couple of weeks. in my district. weve been working with a very small school district by the name of North Forest Independent School District. of about 7.000 young people. bright. energetic and prepared to reach and fulfill their future. Unfortunately. the State of Texas chooses to close that school. not because they are not meeting the Leave No Child Behind. but because one high school did not meet the threshold by two students. Over the next couple of days. we expect to hear from the State to ask this district to terminate all employees. We offered to the State a collaborative response of having them to work with public charters and work with the public school system. keeping it a public school system. We again ask the State of Texas. the Governor of the State of Texas. who has refused to give Federal funds for education back to the districts. you know why? Maybe its because of sequester. But more importantly. I want to save those students. I want to save those employees. and I believe we can do it by eliminating the sequester. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 900. a onesentence bill to eliminate the sequester. These children at the North Forest Independent School District deserve to be able to graduate from a public school. It is shameful that they will be getting a notice of their beloved teachers. fire them all. I will go home to the district and stand against it. I ask for relief from the U.S. Department of Education and all of those who believe in educating our children and being responsible to our teachers who teach them and love them.
Date: 2013-05-06
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. on Friday of last week. I had the opportunity to attend the City Colleges of Chicagos graduation. seven city colleges with more than 4.000 graduates. So I congratulate the mayor of the city of Chicago. the chairman of the board of the City Colleges. Dr. Paula Wolff. the chancellor. Cheryl Hyman. and all of the faculty and staff. This was the highest number of individuals who have ever graduated from the City Colleges of Chicago at one time. I congratulate them. all of the administration and all of those who made it happen.
Date: 2013-05-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I want to congratulate and thank the community of North Forest and the North Forest Independent School District. This has been a tumultuous week. This school district. undeserving. has fallen prey and victim to the closing of public schools in a public school systemthis district that has acceptable schools. this district that has homeowners who have taxed themselves to ensure excellence in the teaching of these children. 7.500 students that are happy to be in a small pond and be a big fish. It is sad that the TEA administrator has undeservedly offered to close this school district without accepting an offer of compromise. This is time for the Secretary of Education to act on the massive closings of public schools throughout America. This is time for the U.S. Department of Justice to act on preventing the elimination of elected school board members and utilizing section 5. But more importantly. I want to thank the ombudsman coalition headed by Dr. Ken Campbell and President Robinson. the presidents of the Ministers Alliance who carried on a prayer vigil this last week. I do believe that prayers will be answered. the children will be saved. and well stop closing public schools in America.
Date: 2013-05-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the contributions of the Affordable Care Act to eliminating health disparities. Health disparities refer to the unequal health outcomes. ability to access health care. and rates of disease that impact certain Americans based on their income. race. ethnicity. or other identities. These disparities not only have devastating impacts on communities of color in my district. but they undermine health in historically marginalized communities across the Nation. The disparities are staggering. For instance. in 2006. the infants of African American women had death rates over twice as high as infants of white American women. In 2009. the average American could expect to live 78.5 years. but the average African American could only expect to live to 74.5 years. African Americans also have significantly higher rates of hypertension and HIV than white Americans. The impacts are financial as well as human. Eliminating health disparities would prevent approximately one million hospital stays per year. saving $6.7 billion in health care costs alone. Even more stunning. from 2003 to 2006. the direct and indirect costs of racial and ethnic health disparities totaled $1.24 trillion in the United States. Insurance coverage is strongly related to better health outcomes. and African Americans have substantially higher uninsured rates than white Americans. Beginning in 2014. the Affordable Care Act will expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans who are currently uninsured. and will provide subsidies to make coverage affordable for lowincome Americans. The Affordable Care Act will mandate that Medicare and some private insurance plans cover essential preventive services at no additional cost. so that more people will be able to prevent illness and stay healthy. The Affordable Care Act invests in community health centers. which offer primary health care to patients regardless of income. and in coordinated care measures. such as providing care teams to help patients manage chronic diseases and funding home visits for pregnant mothers and infants. Patients may be more likely to visit the doctor and receive quality care if physicians are able to understand their cultural background. so the Affordable Care Act also devotes resources to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of health care providers and improving cultural competency training for all providers. These are just some of the important ways in which the Affordable Care Act is working to eliminate health disparities. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to support the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act and eliminate health disparities for future generations.
Date: 2013-05-07
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph Carter Corbin. founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. As a proud graduate of Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College. now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the dedication of a headstone on the grave site of our founder and first president. Professor Joseph Carter Corbin. The Bible says. "Where there is no vision. the people perish." and all of us who revere and appreciate the history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff owe a debt of gratitude to our fellow alumna. Ms. Gladys Turner Finney. who thought of the idea. did the research. and communicated with other alumni across the country and brought the idea to fruition. The final resting place of Joseph Carter was recently discovered in an unmarked grave in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park. Illinois. which I represent as a Member of Congress. Professor Corbin died January 9. 1911. in Pine Bluff. Arkansas. He was interred at the Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park near his wife. Mary Jane Corbin. and two sons. John W. Corbin and William H. Corbin. The cemetery. known at that time as Waldheim German Cemetery. is located at 863 South Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park. Illinois. Mr. Corbin was born in Chillicothe. Ohio. on March 26. 1833. to free parents. William and Susan Corbin. He entered Ohio University at Athens. Ohio. in 1850. when he was 17. after having been homeschooled. He earned a bachelors degree in art. He also earned two masters degrees from Ohio University in 1856 and 1889. He later moved to Little Rock. Arkansas. joined the Republican Party. and became a leader. He quickly rose and became secretary of the State convention and was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. where he laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Branch Normal College. It finally started. and he became its founder and principal for 27 years. from 1875 to 1902. A leader in the public education movement in Arkansas. Professor Corbin became the principal of Merrill High School in 1902. He and fellow educator. R.C. Childress. founded Teachers of Negro Youth in Arkansas. which became the first State colored teachers association. Professor Corbin was its first president. Compared with educators Booker T. Washington and Horace Mann. Professor Corbin was thought to be one of the most highly educated individuals of his time as a scholarly graduate of Ohio University. During his tenure at Branch Normal. he worked tirelessly to maintain an adequate physical plant and academic program. The student population grew from 7 students to 241 students by 1894. when Arkansas graduated its first African American student. As beneficiaries of his work. we hold Professor Corbin and his legacy in high esteem. An institution which started with 7 students is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offering masters degrees. bachelors degrees. and doctorate degrees. We owe Joseph Carter Corbin. our first president and the founder of a now great institution. a debt of gratitude and thank him for his work.
Date: 2013-05-07
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. last night. reports circulated that the Air Force official who is in charge of its sexual assault prevention program at the Pentagon was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman in a parking lot. Although we are still waiting for a full investigation to be conducted. if true. this type of conduct is absolutely unacceptable. especially from the individual whos in the leadership position to prevent this. When one joins the U.S. military. he or she is expected to have the highest level of character and respect. Mr. Krusinski was not only a leader. but he was responsible for enforcing sexual assault prevention. I have worked for many years in Congress on this issue. Fundamental changes are needed in order to combat this. Its up to the military and to the Congress to ensure that victims will be respected and protected and that offenders will be punished. Its absolutely necessary that this problem of leadership and climate in the military be addressed immediately. If not. the health and strength of this Nations military will deteriorate.
Date: 2013-05-07
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. it has been more than 20 weeks since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook school. yet Congress has still been unable to pass a comprehensive legislative piece to curb gun violence in this country. While an overwhelming majority of Americans support expanding background checks. Senate Republicans last month blocked an important measure that would have expanded background checks to many types of private firearm sales. I came here from the mental health field. Every day that the Republicans in Congress choose to block critical measures to reduce gun violence. we will prevent having a safe community. because with the background check. many innocent sick people will be stopped. We cannot afford to continue to lose lives and have families severely impacted by senseless violence at the hands of criminals with deadly firearms. Madam Speaker. we owe it to the American people to respond immediately to this violence.
Date: 2013-05-07
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentleman for yielding. and I rise in opposition to the majoritys Working Families Flexibility Act. It troubles me to oppose a bill that has the exact same name of a bill that Ive introduced in the three previous Congresses that provided real workplace flexibility for working men and women. I believe that this bill. the Republican bill. would be more aptly named the More Work. Less Pay Act. My bill would have provided employers and employees with protections in discussing flexible work arrangements. Under the More Work. Less Pay Act. workers would lose the basic guarantees of fair pay for overtime work and time off from work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would deprive hardworking people of their earned income and fail to guarantee them the right to use that overtime even for a personal or family emergency. Shamefully. the U.S. ranks among the least generous of industrialized countries when it comes to familyfriendly workplace policies like paid family leave and paid sick leave. Congress should be focused on increasing the minimum wage. expanding family and medical leave. and providing opportunities for real flexible work options. These policies are common sense. True workplace advancement benefits both business and worker interests. Instead. the Republican bill hurts employees by giving them less pay at a time when their wages are stagnant. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. to oppose this rule. and bring up the minoritys alternatives and allow the minority to have amendments and alternatives to the rule.
Date: 2013-05-07
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it gives me a sad opportunity to rise to acknowledge the loss of one of Houstons distinguished citizensnot only Houston. but recognized in places far away from this great NationMr. Syed HasanAsif. a great leader and the father of a wonderful family. sons. and many extended family members. I am saddened that this great man has been lost. but I offer the words: Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise. which you were promised. This gentleman leaves his wife. Tahseen F. Begun. But he was a great man that was a father to many. He was a businessman. trained his family to be able to be sharers of their opportunities that they had. And the prosperity that they were able to achieve they did not keep to themselves. He was a friend to many. He loved many. He stood strong. He took care of his family. He brought joy. and he was generous. Im so very pleased that so many got a chance to know Mr. Syed HasanAsif and to know of his generosity and his spirit and to know that his reach was not only here in the United States. but also in faraway places. I offer to his family my deepest sympathy. my respect and admiration for having such a great leader in our community. who generated businesses and created an economic engine of opportunity wherever he was able to come. Now as he rests in peace. may it be. as I indicated. for us not to fear and not to grieve. but receive good tidings of Paradise. which you were promised. May blessings be upon him and his family.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the RECORD opposing the GOPs revolting Mothers Day giftmore work. less pay for working moms. Happy Mothers Day.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong and unyielding opposition to H.R. 1406. the socalled "Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013." I thank Mr. COURTNEY for this opportunity to speak on behalf and in support of the working women and men in my District and against this terrible bill. which has been offered repeatedly over several Congresses. and each time it has found strong opposition and ultimate defeat. This bill should it become law would take income out of the hands of workers and their families. When the economy is weakworkers and their families need more protection not less. Under current law (the Fair Labor Standards Act). employers are required to pay workers timeandahalf cash for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. According to statisticians with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics there is no survey to offer insight on the issues addressed in this billthe desire of employees to receive "comp time" instead of cash for their work. We do know that if the Education and the Workforce Committee had accepted Congressman JOE COURTNEYs amendment in the nature of a substitute when the bill was marked up in full Committeeworkers would have something to be cheering about today. His amendment would have created 56 hours of paid medical leave for employees to use when they needed it. The Administration along with many of my colleagues will not support H.R. 1406and it will not become law for very good reasons. H.R. 1406 supporters say that it would not prevent employers from cutting the overtime hours and reducing the takehome pay of employees who currently have the right to overtime compensation. But will workers be in a position to assert this right given the economic climate and their own situations. Socalled "comp time" or the "company time" legislation would allow employers to pay workers nothing for overtime work at the time the work is performedin exchange for a promise of time off in the future.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the RECORD opposing the GOPs bill. It should be called the Fake Flexibility Act and should more aptly be named More Work For Less Pay For Working Mothers. Happy Mothers Day.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the Majoritys socalled Working Families Flexibility Act. The American people should not be deceived by this fake advertising. True workplace flexibility should be a twoway street for both employees and employers. I am a longtime sponsor of worklife balance legislation. including the original bill titled the "Working Families Flexibility Act" that provides both employers and employees with protections in discussing flexible work arrangements. Over the last 50 years there have been tremendous changes to our workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau. more than 70 percent of children are raised in families that are headed by either a working single parent or two working parents. In addition. studies show that 60 percent of those who provide care to an adult or to a child with special needs are employed. The numbers show the real case for flexibility in the workplace. And yet. Americans must not be deceived about the recycled bill on the floor this week. The more aptly named "More Work. Less Pay Act" undermines the basic guarantees of fair pay for overtime work and time off from work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. I urge my colleague to bring to the floor true workplace advancement legislation and oppose the H.R. 1406.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the RECORD opposing the GOPs dubious Mothers Day giftmore work and less pay for working moms. Happy Mothers Day.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the RECORD opposing the GOPs unscrupulous Mothers Day giftmore work and less pay for working mothers. Happy Mothers Day to all mothers.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentleman for yielding and his leadership. I rise in opposition to the Republican Partys Working Families Flexibility Act. It should be named the "Fake Flexibility Act." Its a failure to advertise truthfully. If you were true. you would call it the "More Work and Less Pay Act." Under this bill. workers would lose the basic guarantees of fair pay for overtime work and time off from work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would deprive hardworking men and women of their earned income and fail to guarantee them the right to use that overtime when they need to use it for a personal or family emergency. Shamefully. the United States ranks among the least generous of industrialized countries when it comes to familyfriendly policies. We are one of three countries that fail to provide paid leave for the birth of a child. True workplace advancement benefits both businesses and worker interests. Instead. the Republican bill hurts employees by giving them less pay at a time when American wages are stagnant. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and bring up the Democratic minoritys alternatives for paid sick leave. paid leave for the birth of a child. and true flex time.
Date: 2013-05-08
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to discuss the real effect that the Working Families Flexibility Act would have on our families. Contrary to its name. this bill does not protect working families. Many hourly workers in south Florida and across the country depend on the opportunity to collect their hardearned overtime pay to support their families and make ends meet. This antifamily. antiworker bill would make it harder for employees to provide for their families and easier for employers to pay less for overtime work with hazy promises of time off later. The bottom line is that comp time doesnt pay the bills. This legislation provides no guarantee that employees would get to use their time off when they need it. or if an employer goes out of business. workers may never get compensated at all. Ive heard no one on the other side of the aisle answer what happens when a boss says "no" to a request for comp time for that school play or taking their child to a doctor. Employees who depend on overtime pay to put food on the table may be forced to compete with fellow employees who are willing to trade their overtime wages for comp time. Passing this bill would deepen the financial insecurity of wage workers. especially Hispanic women who are more likely to be hourly wage workers. more likely to be responsible for family caregiving. and less likely to have negotiating power in their jobs. There are other bills on the table that offer far more meaningful solutions. and I urge the Republican majority to take them up and take care of Americas working families instead of giving them the short end of the stick as this bill does.