macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1990-04-19
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. what a difference a year makes. The Department of Energy weapons plants are making headlines across the country again. In Cincinnati the screaming banner is: "Fernald is No. 1 Polluter." Pollution Hall of Shame citations are nothing new for Fernald in my district. By what are we talking about in pollution? We are talking about radioactivity. what the GAO terms cancercausing radioactivity. The GAO calls it a "high risk for a threat to health." And what is the excuse by the Department of Energy? The Department of Energy says it is not an immediate threat to health. Do we know what they mean? They mean you have got cancer. and you might not die for 10 or 20 or 30 years. But here is the latest headlines. What a difference a year makes. Secretary Watkins said there would be a culture change in the Department of Energy. The culture change has occurred. Reporters are barred from the plant. Reporters are barred from the Department of Energy plant. That is not Lithuania. that is not South America. that is Cincinnati. OH. and the reporters are barred from going with their Congressman through that plant. which is a nuclear cesspool. Mr. Speaker. I include with my remarks the headlines and articles to which I made reference. as follows: [From the Cincinnati. Enquirer. Apr. 11. 1990]
Date: 1990-04-19
Speaker: DANIEL INOUYE (democrat)
Chamber: S

and SPARKY MATSUNAGA. both highly dedicated to their State. Now. SPARKY is gone. He was my friend. The Bible says. "He that hath friends must show himself friendly." SPARKY showed himself friendly. He wore a perennial smile. Even when he was rolled into the Chamber in a wheelchair to cast his vote in those last days of his life here on Earth. he wore that constant smile. When I think of SPARKY. I shall always think of dedication. loyalty. and integrity. His word was his bond. He was a good man. I saw the Sun sink in the golden West. No angry cloud obscured its latest ray. Around the couch on which it sank to rest. Shone all the splendor of a summer day. And long. though lost to view. that radiant light. Reflected from the sky. delayed the night. Thus. when a good mans life comes to a close. No doubts arise to cloud his soul with gloom. But faith triumphant on each feature glows. And benedictions fill the sacred room. And long do men his virtues wide proclaim. While generations rise to bless his name. I will never forget this good man. I once said that when SPARKY goes to the hospital. he sends me flowers. He sent us all flowers from his native State and from time to time a pineapple. some macadamia nuts. always seeking to bring a little cheer into the hearts and the lives of others. My wife. Emma. and I join in extending our sympathies and our condolences to Helene and her children. and to SPARKYS wonderful staff. all of whom were so faithful to the end. all of whom tried to cheer us up as we called to ask about SPARKY. And we thank Helene and her family for giving to us for these several years this good man. He was the chief deputy whip on this side of the aisle all during the years that I was majority leader. from 1977 until 1981. and when I was minority leader from 1981 to 1987. and when I was again majority leader in the 100th Congress. He showed the same dedicationalways the same fidelity. always forthright. honest. and conscientious. He enriched the lives of all who knew him for "his life was gentle. the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world. This was a man."
Date: 1990-04-19
Speaker: RICH HARR (democrat)
Chamber: S

Homestake Mining Land Division. Main Street. Lead. SD. DEAR RICH: I would like to express my appreciation for the tour of the proposed land exchange areas conducted by the Homestake Land Management Division. As chairman of the Public Land Committee for the S.D. Wildlife Federation. I feel that the proposed exchange of Homestake Land in the Black Hills to the U.S. Forest Service for Forest Service Lands In Colorado. is a good proposal. The presentation of the proposed exchange by yourself and Jim Wainwright. including the flight over the proposed areas and the tour by vehicle. helped clarify the value of these areas to the public. Several values are apparent and include valuable deer winter range and wildlife habitat. high quality trout fisheries. as well as aesthetic natural beauty. (Spearfish Canyon). We feel this exchange would be beneficial from a national standpoint as well as for South Dakota. because of the numbers of people who come to the Black Hills from many other states to enjoy the recreational and scenic values. We will encourage the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to act favorably on this proposal. Sincerely.
Date: 1990-05-01
Speaker: DE IA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the Agricultural Research Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture. animal health research building in Clay Center. NE. as the "Virginia D. Smith Animal Health Research Laboratory."
Date: 1990-05-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me add to what our colleagues have already said. that this is a wellearned designation by a gentlewoman who has not only contributed to her family. but to her country. both in the outside world and in the Government. I am very happy that we are able to do this at a time when she might be able to enjoy the designation of the naming of this building in her name. I do not know of anyone I have enjoyed working with more than with the distinguished gentlewoman from Nebraska. She has contributed immensely to American agriculture. to world agriculture. and it is. indeed. appropriate that her name be linked to something agriculture. Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to unanimously adopt this resolution. for all of us have some yearning for recognition at some point for our contributions. Indeed. I think that I do not know that this humble lady would have that yearning herself. but I think it behooves us. having been the recipients of her contributions. to afford her this designation. and knowing full well that she has done something worthy to be remembered by. This building in her name will be her statue. will be her remembrance. and will be our thank you to this distinguished lady.
Date: 1990-05-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. we are a better people. We are a better country because a lady named VIRGINIA D. SMITH came our way.
Date: 1990-05-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3048. the bill just passed.
Date: 1990-05-01
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 3625. of which I am a cosponsor. This bill pays tribute to one of the pillars of our society. Mr. Laurance Spelman Rockefeller. by awarding him a Congressional gold medal for his outstanding work in the areas of historic and natural resource preservation. On behalf of the Governor and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Laurance Rockefeller. His generous gift of 5.000 acres in the 1950s formed the heart of our national park on the island of St. John. Due to Laurance Rockefellers donation and foresight. millions of Virgin Islands residents and visitors are able to enjoy one of the most beautiful park lands in the world. and this incomparable scenery will be preserved for generations to come.
Date: 1990-05-02
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. along with fellow colleagues I was saddened to learn of the recent death of our dear friend and formercolleague J. Kenneth Robinson. and it is with sadness that I rise to speak. It is not easy to condense 14 years of service into a few brief moments. and I know that all of us will remember Kenneth Robinson in different ways. but I want to take this moment to say that the man I met several years after my first coming to these esteemed halls was someone who worked hard for his district and for the State of Virginia. He is also a man who because of his committee responsibilities cut a broader figure with national international responsibility. Kenneth Robinson is a man who earned our respect and friendship. and I am honored to have known him. I will always remember him as a friend and I will miss him.
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to remove the name of the gentleman from Virginia as a cosponsor of H.R. 3736 and H.R. 3737.
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I call up the conference report on the bill to amend the Rail Passenger Service Act to authorize appropriations for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. BOUCHERI. a member of the subcommittee and the full committee.
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. the gentleman from Texas .
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker. this bill represents the overriding public interest we have in our major railroads. We are talking about major railroads of over $88 million in size which could be gobbled by by nonrailroad interests. We are talking about the ICC protecting that. not the colloquy that we heard before. which was an adventure in fantasy. We are talking about buying new equipment. Mr. Riley. the former FRA administrator. warned that if we cannot acquire enough capital over time to maintain this fleet with a normal schedule. we will be turning away from safety. We want to follow the FRA injunction here and invest sufficiently. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from Kansas for his efforts In making this a bipartisan bill. That is what we have here. despite some of the conversation. It is a bipartisan bill. In this year of the environment. it is a bipartisan bill. In this year. when we recognize now that the airlanes are limited and that the highways are limited. it is not symbolic. and people are becoming aware that Amtrak Is there. It Is serving an environmental -purpose. People are becoming aware of it. and It Is becoming more popular. It is being used In Its proper function. and passenger rail traffic is coming back.
Date: 1990-05-09
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks. and include therein extraneous material. on the conference report on H.R. 2364. just agreed to.
Date: 1990-05-17
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. first I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan . the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Date: 1990-05-17
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

The gentleman raises a good question. While the legislation does not require access to audiotext services at this time. if. future technology can make these services available utilizing a relay service. it is our intent to ensure such access.
Date: 1990-05-17
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Title IV requires the FCC to establish certain minimum standards and criteria. which will define functional equivalence for all relay providers.
Date: 1990-05-17
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

The FCC already issued serveral notices during the development of several interstate relay systems. Consumers and individuals have urged the FCC to create a Federal advisory committee to assist the Commission in setting up such a system. It is our intent that the FCC turn to such a committee. which could be made up of relay consumers. telephone companies. and other interested parties. to develop standards for functionally equivalents for both an intrastate and interstate relay system.
Date: 1990-05-17
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

The gentleman is correct. The committee expects the regulation will require the appropriate training for relay operators. including typing. grammar. spelling. and other training necessary to ensure that operators contribute to the success of the service.
Date: 1990-05-22
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture may be allowed to meet during the 5minute rule on today and the balance of the week for consideration of H.R. 3950.
Date: 1990-05-22
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California . the chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Date: 1990-05-22
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 30 seconds to comment on the previous colloquy. which admits the point that I made in the opening statement that the actual continuing demand is a vague term which has not been defined. It has been admitted now by the other side that there is a defect which would have to be cured at a later time. and there are no assurances that it would be cured. That is an additional reason why this amendment should be rejected. Mr. Chairman. I yield the balance of the time to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland [Mr. HOYERI. the author of the principal legislation before us. to close debate.
Date: 1990-05-23
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I believe the Constitution states that bills raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. We all subscribe to that. But this bill we are considering is a House bill. It is passed through committees in the House. So if there is any contest here. it is between committees of the House. not between the House and the Senate as has been suggested. But the issues as have been very clearly proclaimed at this juncture. where we are now. transcend any parochial considerations of whether it is one committee or another committee of this House. As has been very clearly stated. passage of this amendment would gut the bill. A vote for such an amendment would be an antienvironmental vote. The provisions of this bill allow the EPA to impose fees to include marketable permits. These are provisions which have been in countless provisions before various environmental issues before this House. They have been enacted and they have not been considered revenue. There is no decision. there is no ruling by the Parliamentarian that says that there are revenue matters. To pass this environmental issue at this particular time transcends the considerations which have been put before us. The argument that this bill originated in the Senate is a bogus argument. It bootstraps the argument that we made to the Senate by the Committee on Ways and Means. which many have been valid at that particular time. But we are now dealing with a House bill from committees in the House which will improve the environment. There is no way to enforce this bill without these provisions coming from the committees.
Date: 1990-05-23
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of the gentleman from Illinois EMr. BRUCE]. the gentleman from California . the gentleman from May 2. 1.990 New York . and the gentleman from New York . HCFCs are the principal alternative that is scheduled to be used as a replacement for more damaging CFCs. I am leery of some of the legislative proposals that were made which were inconsistent with the international cooperative efforts of the Montreal Protocol which has been signed and ratified by 47 countries. including the United States. But we are looking for and I hope finding in this bill reasonable regulation. After all. premature adoption of -an accelerated. unilateral phaseout schedule might have little positive effect on the stratospheric ozone layer and. in fact. could cause maintenance of devices using substances with higher ozone depleting factors than HCFC22. The potential outcome of legislative proposals is regulated obsolescence. Consumers will have no choice but to replace their CFC12 systems with HCFC22. and them to replace those systems with an unknown substance since there are no current replacements for HCFC22 that have passed toxicity testing and have the needed lubricants. Without effective replacements for HCFC12. consumers are likely to opt for the system that has the longest likelihood of being available. which may promote the use of gas absorption or ammonia driven systems. This bill. this amendment. however. requires the rapid closeout of the substance with the highest ozone depleting potential. That is the good news. The highest ozone depleting potential. first. and provides additional time for the phaseout of less harmful substitutes. all bringing time for the acknowledged development of new alternatives. The compromise include a critical provision which would allow appliance manufacturers to make a smooth. less costly transition to CFC substitutes. This provision would provide for a 2year moratorium of enforcement of State or local laws which control household appliance design. Without this amendment. the one we are considering. the costs of instant bans on certain appliances would be prohibitive to everyone. In addition. let me finally mention one additional factor. halons. a very important subject. This compromise allows for the production of certain halons for the purposes of fire suppression if no safe and effective substitute is available. This recognizes the critically Important use of these halons for which there are currently no substitutes to suppress fires. Halon is the only substitute which can suppress fires and explosions while not. at the same time causing harmful effects on human health even with the halon released in enclose environment with workers present. I am very pleased that environmental regulation is not given precedence over human life. I think we have a blend of the two here. I commend my colleagues. the gentleman from Illinois . the gentleman from California . and others for accomplishing this purpose.
Date: 1990-05-24
Speaker: CHARLIE STENHOLM (democrat)
Chamber: H

the gentleman from Delaware. Mr. CARPER. and the gentleman from Oregon. Mr. BOB SMITH. will be joining together to drop a discharge petition for House Joint Resolution 268. the balanced budget amendment. We are now is a budget summit. We are now as a body talking about raising taxes because we have no appetite to cut spending. or we have no appetite to control spending. The reason is. Mr. Speaker. we have lost the political will to be fiscally responsible. Until we revise the budget process. until we build some absolute stops which would include a balanced budget amendment to our Constitution. to in fact require this body to balance the budget and be fiscally responsible. we cannot be. It is time in this year of budget summits that we gain the reality that a balanced budget amendment would bring to this body. We will move for discharge. We will gain that discharge this year. It is important that this year we vote on the balanced budget amendment on the floor of the House and gain some political reality and some fiscal responsibility.
Date: 1990-06-06
Speaker: BILL RXCHARDSON (democrat)
Chamber: H

House of Representatives. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. RICHARDSON: We are writing in strong support of the Gejdenson/Roth bill . which reforms the Export. Administration Act. While additional reforms are needed. this bill represents a solid compromise that will afford- significant trade opportunities while maintaining necessary safeguards to our national security. The US. export control regime Is at a critical juncture. The system has not kept pace with the dramatic political changes of the past year and has historically been plagued by bureaucratic deadlock. Our allies strongly believe that the multilateral export control system must adapt to the dynamic technological. political. and stragetic landscape If it is to remain effective in controlling the transfer of stiategic technologies to our adversaries. The U.S. must demonstrate its leadership by significantly reducing the control list and overhauling our system if we are to maintain an effective multilateral system. Unless changes are made to U.S. and multilateral export control policy. our allies will lose faith in the COCOM system. which would seriously undermine U.S. and NATO security interests. Although the Administrations proposal to COCOM is a positive first step. it is no substitute for legislation. Successful reform will require legislative changes that could not be addressed in a proposal to COCOM. Congress needs to send a strong political signal to the Administration of its support for economic and political reform in central and Eastern Europe and if its concern with ensuring the global competitiveness of our industry. H.R. 4653 helps do this by providing a foundations for necessary changes to the U.S. export control regime so that the American electronics industry can remain competitive and assist in the economic reforms underway in Europe. Sincerely.
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today the train is leaving the station. the train being the Amtrak trains running. and the people- of this country are happy with that. and to continue the Amtrak trains running we must override the veto. This is part of a real transportation policy. The budget has been. mentioned from the other side. The costs of running Amtrak have been cut in half in the past few years. We are on the right track. there. is no question about it. Just 2 weeks ago we passed the Presidents bill in the name of the environment which will cost billions and
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. WHiTT&mR] and I ask unanimous consent that he be permitted to yield- blocks of time for the purpose of debate only.
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio . a member of the subcommittee.
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana . the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield the balance of our time. 6 minutes. to the gentleman from Michigan . the chairman of the committee.
Date: 1990-06-07
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks. and to insert extraneous matter on the veto override.
Date: 1990-06-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture be permitted to sit during the 5minute rule for the consideration of the bill. H.R. 3950. on today and for the balance of the week.