macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. Mr. Speaker. Congress is trying to keep the housing market afloat and is working on an unbridled government expansion of the Federal Housing Administration to do it. Im all for finding commonsense housing relief for those in trouble. but we need to hold hearings and take a closer look at this proposal and the ramifications. Just because the housing market has tumbled doesnt mean we should capriciously finance a big fat government bailout. Some in Congress want the FHA to ensure about $300 billion worth of risky mortgages. and they want the taxpayers to be held responsible when homeowners default on their loan. That makes no sense. The Senate sept us a proposal to pay for the FHA expansion using a tax on mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unfortunately. Fannie and Freddie are in trouble and now looking for their own bailout. Why should taxpayers foot the bill to prop up those former giants when the company CEOs rake in a bundle and continue to do so? As one person said. Its privatized profits and socialized risk. Apparently. Daniel Mudd. the CEO of Fannie Mae. received $11.6 million in salary. stock. and other compensation for 2007. Richard Syron. CEO of Freddie Mac. took home about $18.3 million last year. On top of his salary. stock options. and a $3.5 million bonus. Freddie Mac paid for a number of other perks for Syron such as a car and driver. a home security system. travel costs for his wife. even $100.000 to pay his lawyer to negotiate his employment contract with the bank. Now everyone knows Im a strong supporter of freedom and free enterprise. but this is ridiculous. and I think even you all would agree. The lack of accountability and responsibility is astounding. I will not support a bailout for speculators and a package that provides little help to real homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages on time. I do not believe we should ask people who rent homes or apartments and all of the people who reasonably and responsibly saved for a home to foot the bill for all of the people who are in foreclosure. Thats just not right. We should have empathy. but we should not write a blank check.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank again my friend Mr. ARCUI for the time and all who have participated in this debate on this rule that brings forth to the floor important legislation with regard to the infrastructure in our Nation. Transportation is an integral part of our economy. and the underlying legislation will help fund some of our critical infrastructure needs by providing $1 billion to repair bridges in the national highway system. Now. while providing critical funding to repair bridges is an important priority for our transportation system. we must not ignore the overarching problem facing the American transportation system. which is gasoline at over $4 a gallon. For weeks we in the minority have pushed efforts to debate dnergy legislation. but the majority consistently blocks our efforts to address one of the most important issues facing the United States today. Its time for the House to debate ideas for lowering prices at the pump and addressing the skyrocketing cost of gasoline. So today I urge my colleagues to vote with me to defeat the previous question so the House can finally consider real solutions to rising energy costs. If the previous question is defeated. I will move to amend the rule to allow for consideration of H.R. 6566. the American Energy Act. This legislation provides a comprehensive approach that will increase the supply of Americanmade energy. improve conservation and efficiency. and promote renewable and alternative energy technologies. Now specifically with regard to the Outer Continental Shelf. this legislation provides Florida with 50 miles of permanent protection from energy exploration and allows the State the option for an additional 50 miles of protection. Many of us in the Florida delegation came together 2 years ago to support this compromise. to support this legislation. I think weve been proven right. I think weve been proven right. Mr. Speaker. This is a critical issue that needs to be debated by. this Congress. Its unfortunate that the other side of the aisle refuses to permit even a debate on critical issues such as this even after gasoline has reached $4 a gallon. Its most unfortunate. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent. Mr. Speaker. to insert the text of the amendment and extraneous materials immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. by voting "no" on this previous question. Members can take a stand against these high fuel prices and we can finally begin a comprehensive energy debate. I encourage a "no" vote on the previous question. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer a very straightforward amendment. but first I would like to thank Chairman OBERSTAR not only for this amendment but for always working with me on issues of importance to my constituents. Also. the Transportation Committee staff has been very easy to work with. especially Jim Tymon. who is here. for working with me and my staff. Lauren Robutaille. to help draft this important amendment. And. of course. I always have to thank Ranking Member MICA. The State of Florida is truly fortunate to have such a passionate champion and such a passionate advocate for issues that are important to our State. My amendment simply seeks to emphasize the importance of public safety in prioritizing new highway bridge funding as well as place riskbased priority for rehab and repair on deficient or obsolete bridges that serve as emergency evacuation routes. Transportation infrastructure. especially bridges. obviously. play a vital role during emergency situations. during natural disasters. And weve all seen that from time to time in many coastal areas. and I refer to especially obviously to Southern Florida. Bridges. frankly. sometimes provide the only mainland access for millions of residents and visitors. and during times of emergency. these bridges provide sometimes. again. the only emergency evacuation options. period. And as I said a little while ago. in the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. unfortunately. that emphasized the need for safe emergency evacuation routes when millions of Americans. millions of Americans. faced mandatory evacuations. Now. Florida bridgesas you all know. we are a peninsula surrounded by oceans. Florida bridges sustain additional wear and tear to frequent storms and saltwater corrosion. My amendment. Madam Chairman. simply emphasizes the importance of ensuring public safety as well as ensuring that Ameticans have access to safe evacuation routes during times of disaster. during times of danger. I again urge my colleagues to support this straightforward amendment. Once again I want to thank the chairman for his great work and for always allowing me to go to him and his staff and the committee staff on issues that are important to my constituents. my State. and. I think. the country. With that. Madam Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam Chairman. I once again want to thank the chairman and the ranking member. and I thank Ranking Member DUNCAN as well. Madam Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. Id like to thank my good friend and fellow cochairman of the Florida congressional delegation. the gentleman from Florida
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

By voting "no" on the previous question. Members can take a stand against the high fuel prices and our reliance on foreign energy sources. I ask for a "no" vote on the previous question. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I returned to this House after 16 years because I believed that this was a forum for dealing with the problems facing the American people. Thats why I come to the this floor so disappointed. If I were to go to a doctor suffering from cancer and the doctor were to give me only aspirin. I would say that he would be guilty of medical malpractice. What we have here on the floor of the House is leadership malpractice. The American people understand were suffering from not enough supply. And so what is the answer we get here today? Were going to open up the SPR. the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And they say the reason this works is its worked three times in the past. But examine how it has worked in the past. In each and every instance. we had a temporary disruption of supply. We were able to affect that because we had a temporary infusion of supply. What we have here today is a longterm issue of lack of supply. And the Speaker said and other Members on the other side of the aisle.said. Well. look. We shouldnt be begging foreign Qountries to give us more oil. No. What were requiring the American people to do is to beg the Congress to allow us to produce more American oil. And why should the leadership of this House refuse to allow ua to have American workers using American ingenuity. American creativity to produce more American energy? This is the hoax on this floor. To say that somehow taking this out of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is going to give you any longterm benefit is nothing more than a hoax. A couple of cents for a couple of days. It also takes away our ability to respond to temporary disruptions in the future. which is the reason this was put in in the first place. Why should we be afraid of Americans producing American oil? Free America. Let Americans produce American oil. Lets get rid of this leadership malpractice we see on the floor today.
Date: 2008-07-29
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. In closing. Mr. Speaker. let me just say that some people look at this and I have had people say to me. well. my goodness. if you have something like that. why dont we just sink them? Why dont we just shoot them down. If this were wartime. we would do that sort of thing. This is not wartime in the judicial sense of the word. So what we need to do is how we can successfully prosecute them to get around their evasive tactics of scuttling their ships. sinking their ships. throwing their cargo overboard. Thats why we need this legislation. to allow us to have a legal premise for prosecuting them for actually being on the high seas. Secondly. and I dont think this is an idle threat that we ought to consider. one of the most serious concerns I have being a member of the Homeland Security Committee is the possibility of a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb somehow being discharged somewhere in the United States. We think the possibilities of that are rather low. but the fact of the matter is there are possibilities. And these kinds of delivery systems could be modified for that purpose. So rather than our waiting until we have an even greater problem than we have now. we think this legislation deserves the support of the Members of this committee. There is companion legislation in the other body. We believe that they are very likely to affirmatively respond to this bill. And so if we could get it over there to the Senate as quickly as possible. it enhances the opportunity for this actually becoming law. helping the Coast Guard. helping this Nation. and preventing further tragedy in the future. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. we have a responsibility to our children and our grandchildren to solve this energy crisis. This is about American energy for our American economy to create American jobs and a better American quality of life. I have urged my constituents to call the Speaker of the House and relay their opinion that they believe Americans want. need and serve some answers on energy policy. I tell you as I told them: Call the Capitol Hill switchboard. That number is 2022253121. I suggested that you make their voices heard that we all want to make America more energy selfsufficient while protecting Americas homegrown energy resources. Congress ought not leave town for 5 weeks without a vote on real energy solutions. Businesses dont shut down for .5 weeks without finishing the job. Congress ought not close up shop when there is still work to be done to preserve our Nation.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: BONO MACK (republican)
Chamber: H

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Messrs. KIRK. WITTMAN of Virginia. PITTS. and PETERSON of Pennsylvania changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So (twothirds not being in the affirmative) the motion was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. Mr. MCNULTY. I will tell you what. you are a protector of our future with Social Security. and there is nothing in this bill-. thanks to the Judiciary people on both sides. that changes the Social Security Act or the laws and rules governing the use of Federal appropriations. Therefore. the current prohibition on Social Securitys use of its limitation on- administrative expenses. known as LAE. on trust fund monies for nonprogram purposes. remains in effect. Is that the understanding of the chairman?
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

It is my understanding that the Social Security Act is quite specific with respect as to how Social Securitys own funds. that is. trust funds and LAE. can be used. is that correct?
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

So Social Security would not be able to pay for EVerify expenses if there werent agreements with DHS that require that Department to pay Social Security expenses. is that correct?
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman for his supportive efforts to protect the Social Security programs and beneficiaries. We all recognize EVerify is an important tool. We have to balance that recognition with the needs of our seniors. those with disabilities and others who depend on Social Security for their basic needs.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Ms. ZOE LOFGREN and Mr. LAMAR SMITH. Those two worked well with us on Social Security. and I rise today to support the bill and extend the EVerify program. The extension is. unfortunately. the least we can do to provide a workable tool for employers who want to do the right thing and verify that their new employees are authorized to work in this country. Americans need real immigration reform. We need to protect our borders and make sure Americans are not fighting for jobs with people who are here illegally. This bill is a step in the right direction. We have got a long way to go. I support a mandatory nationwide electronic verification system so we dont have a patchwork of conflicting State and local laws. Protecting Social Security is always the right thing to do. so as the ranking member on the -Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. I am pleased the bill includes provisions that ensure Social Security and DHS agree on funding to support EVerify. However. I ask my colleagues. how long do we have to experiment with employment verification before Congress delivers a nationwide. mandatory. longterm solution that this country needs and the American people deserve? Last February. I. along with several of my Ways and Means colleagues. introduced the New Employment Verification Act. or NEVA. Representative GIFFORDS and I have been working together on this bill that builds on the success of EVerify while addressing its challenges. I hope everyone interested in this debate will take the opportunity to look at the information on this bill on my website. When it comes to immigration. the American -people want. need and expect real solutions. and American employers need a first class system that helps them comply with the law.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Thank you for your leadership on this subject and so many others. Its good to be with you tonight and many of my colleagues from around the country. The American people are hurting. Young families are hurting. senior adults are hurting. small businesses are hurting. Energy prices are hurting us all. A family that rents cabins for a living in my district back in northeast Tennessee recently told me they have seen a 50 to 60 percent decrease in rentals during the past spring and summer. They told me that this decrease in rentals may force the family business to go into bankruptcy because -they rely on tourists who travel to the beautiful mountains of northeast Tennessee. Oil prices also affect the cost of many of our daily essentials. Here is just a small list of everyday items that rely on oil for their production. See if you use any of these products. We need oil. We need American oil. Hearing aids. tennis rackets. eyeglasses. soft contact lenses. trash bags. glue. ballpoint pens. carpets. tires. artificial limbs. bandages. and dentures. to name just a few.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Very good points. And I represent a rural east Tennessee district that has a lot of farming as well. You make some good points. You actually start. when you start to till the ground. you have to have diesel. The cost has gone up to the point where its almost put some farmers out of business. Then you have to put fertilizer on the ground. if you can afford it. If you dont have the fertilizer. you dont make the product. So it really is hurting people from all backgrounds. Families are canceling vacations. Police departments are cutting patrols. Small businesses are closing across America. Moms and dads are sitting around their kitchen tables trying to put a budget together to decide if theyre going to be able to send their kids to school and buy the products that they need. all while the leadership here in Washington refuses an upordown vote on increasing American energy.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

If they will allow us to vote. I will vote "yes." They may decide to vote "no." But we need to be able to vote and vote the will of the American people. We have 435 distinct. separate districts across America. Out of those 435. Im sure some will vote "no." some will vote "yes." but its really up to Speaker PELOSI to allow it to come to the floor for a vote. The American people sent us here to do a job.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Were here tonight to ask the Democrat majority to let us take a vote on alltheabove. no more excuses. You know. the interesting thing is we actually took a vote on the floor today. You know. were here taking votes. 435 Members. We took a vote today to go home. So leaderships letting us take votes but just not on energy bills. I think thats a point that ought to be taken to the American people. They need to understand that were taking votes. Were just not taking votes to increase the supply of energy. All of the above. wind. solar. coal. oil. drilling. natural gas. were taking votes but not to increase energy. Were taking votes to go home for 5 weeks. That means for 5 weeks gasoline prices are going to be high back in northeast Tennessee. Thats not what the American people look for.
Date: 2008-07-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

I think I have an answer to that because I do believe there are some commonsense Democrats on this floor. This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is an American issue. The only thing standing between us and the vote is NANCY PELOSIs Democrat leadership. I would call on the Democrat leadership to let us vote. Let Republicans vote. Let Democrats vote. Let themr vote their conscience. Let them vote their district. And I would. without a doubt. believe that we could go home on August 1. 48 hours from now. with an energy plan that would bring down prices at the pump because theres going to be some commonsense Democrats that will vote to make sure that moms and dads have some relief at the pump. young families have some relief at the pump. senior adults have some relief at the pump. small businesses have some relief at the pump. We need some relief at the pump.
Date: 2008-08-01
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Madam Speaker. we need an American energy plan and we need it now. The American people are hurting. Young families are hurting. Senior adults are hurting. Small businesses are hurting. Vern. from Jefferson County. Tennessee. is hurting. Vern is an Iraqi war veteran. Vern has to drive from Jefferson County in Tennessee all the way into Knoxville. Its costing him over $90 a week to drive to work. He makes $8 an hour. Hes trying to become an electrical apprentice. Vern told me he may have to go on welfare. Vern has a young family. Vern is an Iraqi war yet. Vern wants to do whats right by his family. He has already done whats right by America. This Congress needs to do whats right for Vern and other young families in America. senior adults in America. small businesses in America. We dont need any more excuses. We need to vote on meaningful energy legislation. We need to do it now. We dont need to go home. we need to take votes. Im willing to stay here today and vote. We voted this week. We had time to vote to go home. We ought to have time to vote to bring down gas prices at the pump. The American people demand it. they demand it now.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan. I want to thank our chairman of the committee. I want to thank Ms. ZOF. LOFGREN. whos Chair of one of the subcommittees I serve on in Judiciary. for all the effort that theyve put into this. This is a good idea. Some people who likely will review our comments here would ask the question: Arent there enough lawyers in Congress? Actually. there are less lawyers now than there were 10 or 20 years ago. but I think that is an interesting question.