macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-06-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the pension legislation enacted last year needs to be permanent. That will help Americans plan and save for a more secure retirement. One year has barely passed since enactment. and our dear colleagues on the other side of the aisle are ready to regulate and strangulate pension plans. The people who oppose making these provisions permanent only want to play politics. and they are doing so to the detriment of the retirement system. Yesterday at the House Committee on Ways and Means. we held a hearing on defined benefit pension plans. We heard the testimony about the decline of these pension plans which provide retirees guaranteed income. The number of plans peaked in 1985 at 114.000. At that point. Congress began tinkering with the pension plans. Congress so loved defined benefit plans and made them so safe that by 2001 the number of plans dropped from 114.000 to 35.000. a decline of almost 70 percent. Congress has legislated pension plans to death. Last year by a vote of 40724. we took some important steps to begin to roll back some of this red tape. What do the proponents of Big Government red tape want to do? Roll back these reforms. They cannot stand the fact that we took a hedge trimmer and began to cut away at the kudzu they had grown. They actually want to go back in time and put more regulations on these plans which have been pushed nearly to extinction. By trying to pick apart this bill today. opponents are asking to undermine the whole law and undermine confidence in the portability and vesting rules that we tried so hard to achieve. Those who oppose making these provisions of law permanent do not seem to undetstand that pension plans require stability. It is all just a game to them and for the people who originally required these provisions to sunset in the first place. What a shame. I want to see this law made permanent so all Americans can know their retirement is safe and secure.
Date: 2002-06-24
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 416 and congratulate the Navy League of the United States on 100 years of serviceto Navy communities around the country. The Navy League. Pensacola Chapter. is one of the largest In the country with 1010 members and growing. It is actively supporting the Navy and the community. Both the Pensacola and Santa Rosa Chapters host annual Sailor of the Year and Flight Instructor of the Year Award Ceremonies. These awards recognize the best of the best from the Navy. Marine Corps. Coast Guard and Air Force active duty that serve on the emerald coast. They also support and cofounded the communitys annual military appreciation month. where active and former military members are given special consideration throughout the month. On a recent visit to my district. the Secretary of the Navy. Gordon England. recognized the Pensacola Area Navy Leagues as exemplary and was Impressed by the display of support for visiting ship and airwing crews. Again. Mr. Speaker. I appreciate my good friend from Virginia. Mr. SCHROCK. for Introducing this measure. My community and I are grateful for the Navy League and wish them well in their next 100 years.
Date: 2002-06-26
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. over the last several weeks. the US Menss Soccer Team has exceeded worldwide expectations by earning a quarterfinal matchup with Germany resulting from a firstround win over Portugal. a tie against host team South Korea. and a secondround win over Mexico. With its 20 victory over Mexico on June 17th. the 2002 Team tied the mens national team marks for the most wins at a World Cup and most goals scored in a World Cup. The only other US team to equal this level of success was the 1930 team that reached the semifinals at the inaugural FIFA ("FEEFA") World Cup in Uruguay. This years win also marked the first time the US won a singleelimination game in World Cup History. and was the USs first World Cup shutout since its historic 10 upset of England at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. Much of the teams success can be credited to head coach Bruce Arena. a resident of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. Throughout his distinguished career. Arena has led teams to numerous championships at the collegiate and professional levels. and now should be commended for his success on the international stage. With 18 seasons as the head coach at the University of Virginia and three more in Major League Soccer with the DC United. Arena spent 21 seasons at the highest level of club soccer in the United States. During his 18year career as head coach of the University of Virginia Mens Soccer Team. Arena led his team to 5 NCAA Division One championships. and went on to lead the Under23 National Team for 44 games through the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. To commend their success and wish them good luck. President Bush called Coach Arena and the Team in Korea at 11 am last Monday. June 17. informing the Team of the American publics excitement over their success. Coach Arena. in response. informed the President that the Team would give a performance that all Americans would be proud of. Mr. Speaker. our mens soccer team did just that. Enthusiasm over the teams strong finish has been evident in communities across America. with standing room only crowds at early morning games packing restaurants and other locales on game days. The teams rise mirrors the sports growth over the past several decades. and Im proud that the leader of this pack resides in my congressional district. Theyve made us very proud.
Date: 2002-06-26
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. look what the courts have done now. Just when we think life after September 11 had gained some sense of normalcy. just after patriotism at a level not seen since World War II had permeated every segment of our society. a society under God. two liberal judges in San Francisco have told this Nation at war that our Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Personally. Mr. Speaker. I am sickened. The Pledge is not a prayer. It is a declaration of being an American. It is the embodiment of everything we hold dear. the flag. the Republic. and one Nation under God. I guess in a country where our constitutional safeguards have been taken to the extreme and have had to have nativity scenes removed from town squares and even silent prayers removed from high school football games. I should not be surprised. I suspect it is only a matter of time or a matter of finding the right lawyer who is seeking to make a name for himself to proclaim that the U.S. flag is unconstitutional and that by flying the flag someone may be offended by its semblance. We are forced to say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. We are forced to say gesundheit rather than God bless you-.-If a school teacher mentions Jesus during a lesson on history. that teacher faces disciplinary action. Mr. Speaker. it is time we put our foot down as a body. a representative body of this country and respond to this outrageous decision and proclaim that these United States are united against terrorism. united against this decision. and united under God.
Date: 2002-06-27
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I wish to thank the distinguished Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Congressman LEWIS. and Full Committee Chairman YOUNG for the incredible amount of work they and their Committees have put into this bill. The American people deserve a bill that provides for the defense of our nation and this bill puts us well on the way to a fully restored and invigorated military. Earlier this year it came to my attention that across the Armed Services. Tuition Assistance funds had been exhausted for Fiscal Year 2002. As many Members know. the Tuition Assistance Program. commonly referred to as TA. provides soldiers. sailors. airmen. and marines the opportunity to construct an educational plan and have up to 75 percent of their tuition paid by their branch of -service for amounts up to $3.500 per year. Its an extremely popular program and a great opportunity for our men and women in uniform to pursue a degree while serving their country. Unfortunately. instead of having this -educational benefit available to :them. our service members are confronted with a budget shortfall for 2002. These men and women have put their lives on hold to serve their country. our nation should never put their educational plans on hold because of the exhaustion of TA dollars. Thats why I am especially thankful to Chairman YOUNG. Chairman LEWIS. and their staffs for taking a close look at this program. which seeks to give our men and women in uniform greater access to higher education and eventually the dream of obtaining a college degree. This bill includes a substantial increase in Tuition Assistance dollarsover $90 million in all..Thats a twentyfive percent increase for this important program. So again. I thank the gentleman from California for bringing a bill to the floor that fully funds the Presidents request for Tuition Assistance and allows our service members the full measure of their educational benefits.
Date: 2002-06-27
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in support of the rule. For years I have been an avid supporter of prescription drug coverage for senior citizens. Why? Because I have a mom whose prescription drugs amount to over 50 percent of her Social Security check. Today. I rise to speak for all of those who have moms and dads on Medicare. The minority does not have "a serious bill. They have a $1 trillion election year gimmick that will bankrupt Medicare. This is a good and fair rule because it allows a vote on the only credible plan that has been carefully and thoughtfully designed to help seniors by lowering drug costs. guaranteeing. coverage and providing choices. Under the Republican plan. every senior will be eligible for coverage. We guarantee. this coverage. It cannot be taken away. The Democrat plan. however. phases out coverage. It is essentially an experiment. Mr. Speaker. seniors cannot afford an experiment. They need real. credible coverage that they can rely on. This bill will help our seniors. This is a good rule for a longawaited and muchneeded legislation and we must pass it. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting "yes" on the rule and "yes" on final passage of the bill for my mom and everyones mom and dad that is on Medicare.
Date: 2002-07-11
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Chairman pro tempore of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. reported that that Committee. having had under consideration the bill . to authorize the National Weather Service to conduct research and development. training. and outreach activities relating to tropical cyclone inland forecasting improvement. and for other purposes. pursuant to House Resolution 473. he reported the bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
Date: 2002-07-16
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. I rise to ask to have a colloquy with the chairman of the subcommittee. or if the gentleman from Washington would engage in a colloquy with me. Mr. Chairman. I would like to add my compliments to the great job that the gentleman from New Mexico has done over the past years. I have had the pleasure of serving for the past 8 years on the Committee on Appropriations with him. It has always been a pleasure and he has been a real leader. I will be retiring with the gentleman. and we can look forward to the next years. I would like to talk about Egmont Key. As the chairman may know. I will be authorizing legislation. bipartisan legislation very soon to convey a small island in my district named Egmont Key in the mouth of Tampa Bay to the Florida State Park Service. This island in Tampa Bay is currently under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. but it is operated by the Florida State Park Service. and it has three fulltime State park rangers already stationed on the island. Egmont Key is unique and is natural in its cultural history. and that has made that island a very valuable resource to our area. Area residents. including my family and I. have enjoyed Egmont Keys cultural and recreational benefits for years. and the local support for conveying the ownership of this island to the Florida State Park Service is strong. and I do have bipartisan support. I anticipate the legislation will be enacted before the commencement of the conference committee on interior appropriations for the fiscal year 2003. and upon enactment of authorization legislation. I will be requesting appropriations from the distinguished gentlemans subcommittee. This island in the middle of Tampa Bay is really kind of in three Members districts. including the gentleman from Florida . the chairman of the full Committee on Appropriations. and the gentleman from Florida of the Tampa area. and he will be working with me on this issue. Let me make one other comment. Upon conveyance of land by the Federal Government. the Federal Government will actually save money in the long term. and I want to make sure my colleagues are aware that there will be a savings in the long term.
Date: 2002-07-16
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I might add in concluding that the Florida State Park Service. under the authorizing legislation. will have to continue to preserve the wildlife. habitat. and the environment that exists on the island. I look forward to working with the Committee on Appropriations once we get the authorization legislation moving forward. I thank the chairman for hopefully working with us on this.
Date: 2002-07-17
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is an honor for me today to be able to honor an American war hero. First Lieutenant James Flowers. Jr. He enlisted as d private in the Texas National Guard in 1930. and from there worked his way up the military ladder and on July 10. 1944. Flowers was a platoon leader when he volunteered his four tanks to help an infantry battalion encircled by Germans. His unit encountered enemy fire. and from there Flowers endured what can only be described as hell on earth. While 1 minute cannot do his sacrifices justice. please know this man embodies duty. honor. and country. First. his right foot was blown away by enemy fire. While waiting for relief. he lost his left leg below the knee. After two nights of desperately needing medical attention and lying severely injured. Americans finally came to the rescue. Nominated for the Medal of Honor. he was awarded four medals for his bravery and valor. While some would be hardened and angry after this unspeakable kind of tragedy. Flowers persevered. After being discharged. he attended SMU and began working in the prosthetics department of the VA. He moved to the Dallas VA where he established the first prosthetics treatment center in the Nation. Flowers has given so much to this country in his area of expertise. He exemplifies our greatest generation. God bless him and God bless our servicemen and women around the world.
Date: 2002-07-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of S.J. Res. 13 conferring honorary U.S. citizenship. on Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier. Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier. also known as the Marquis de Lafayette. risked his life and financial security for. the freedom of Americans. By an Act of Congress. the Marquis de Lafayette was voted to the rank of Major General. and during the Revolutionary War. General Lafayette was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. demonstrating bravery that forever endeared him to American soldiers. General Lafayette then provided his devotion to our country further by securing the help of France in the United States colonists fight against Great Britain. a turning point in the war of independence. For his unmatched dedication. General Lafayette was the first foreign dignitary to address Congress. an honor accorded to him upon his return to the United States in 1824. A portrait of our honored friend hangs in front of us today in the House Chamberthe only portrait of a nonAmerican citizen in the Capitol. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Honorable Senator from Virginias effort to confer honorary citizenship on a great friend of America. General Lafayette.
Date: 2002-07-22
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman SMITH) and the ranking member. the gentleman from Illinois for bringing this bill to the floor today. in addition to their steadfast commitment to our military veterans. I would also like to recognize and thank the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman STUMP) for his continued commitment to preserving the original intent of Arlington National Cemetery as a national military cemetery. as well as unwavering support for our men and women in uniform. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4940. the Arlington National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Act. would codify eligibility criteria for burial at Arlington in order to ensure it remains the premier resting place for those who dedicated their lives to our Armed Forces. The bill incorporates the provisions of previous Arlington bills which have passed this House in both the 105th and 106th Congress. The bill also incorporates language included in H.R. 3423. introduced by Chairman SMITH. which passed the House last December. H.R. 4940 contains a significant change to the Arlington bills approved in the House in the past two Congresses. Todays bill includes language extending to the President the authority to grant a burial waiver to an individual who does not otherwise meet the military service criteria for burial. but has made extraordinary contributions to our Armed Forces. The final section of the bill would make retroactive to September 11. 2001. VAs authority to provide a bronze marker to those families who request a government headstone or marker for the alreadymarked grave of a veteran interred at a private cemetery. Previous language authorizing this bronze marker was considered by the House last year. and is now incorporated in Public Law 106103. That particular provision went into effect in December 27. 2001. and I would like to recognize the gentleman from Illinois for his work on this issue. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4940 and loolk forward to working with the other body to ensure that this bill becomes law this year.
Date: 2002-07-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4903. the" Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act. for nearly 65 years. the image of Thomas Jeffersons Monticello has graced our Nations nickel. This legislation. introduced by my friend and colleague from the Commonwealth of Virginia.Mr. CANTOR. is a winwin. It ensures that Monticello has a permanent home on the fivecent piece. and also recognizes the need for a fair and open process to evaluate other commemorative coinage efforts. such as the one honoring the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Mr. Speaker. as you know. Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. the third president of the United States and the founder of the University of Virginia. He voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era. From his home in Monticello. Jefferson served his country for over five decades. Monticello is more than a classic piece of architecture. its significance even supercedes the fact that it is the only house in the United States on the United Nations prestigious World Heritage Ust of sites. It is more: a symbol of Jeffersons age of optimism. of all that was and is great about America. It is. quite simply. Jeffersons autobiographical masterpiece.
Date: 2002-07-23
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. today I rise with *reserved support for the FY 02 supplemental Conference Report. This legislation. billed as a wartime supplemental. has egregious spending proposals I cannot wholly support.. However. with more than $14 billion going to support our men and women in uniform. I am unable to opposethe measure. In my opinion. Mr. Speaker. this bill is the embodiment of resentment our constituents express -n regular helpings. This process. of using strong and vital proposals to shield what is essentially pork. afford the hard working taxpayers in this country a valid corplaint against their government. I have read and reread the bill. Mr. Speaker. I shook my head with disgust and held my breath when casting my aye vote. My vote supports our efforts to defend this great country and to protect bur interests in other lands. However. I know that this supplemental could have been better and I know for a fact that our constituents deserve better
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I rise to speak in favor of the amendment. The question has always been do we take a matter inhouse or outsource it. The overriding goal of procurement policy should always be. how did we get the best value for the American taxpayer. period. how do we pay the least cost for the best service. Sometimes this can best be done inhous6 with trained Federal workers who have done something over a long period of time. Sometimes it can be done more efficiently by taking it out to the private sector. Sometimes it can be done because the private sector has a certain expertise and experience level we just cannot get through the Federal employees. Now. the previous administration had numerous initiatives whereby they would eliminate Federal jobs. and they defined their success by how few Federal employees they had. This was a mistake. What we should have been asking was how much money do we -save the American taxpayer. not how many employees we have. how much we are outsourcing and the like. In some cases the jobs eliminated did not save anything because these jobs were offbudget. They were fee paid for. and they were not costing the taxpayers or the general fund a nickel. In some cases we found out we eliminated Federal jobs. but it ended up costing us more money by going outside. But it was driven by quotas. it was driven by numbers. and I submit that is the wrong approach. and that is the problem with the current legislation. which is why I support the Moran amendment because the current legislation looks at arbitrary percentages and says when it comes to outsourcing and competing things inhouse. we are going to look at certain percentages in certain agencies. and we are going to define it by this rather than where do we think we can get the best value for the American taxpayer. not how much money will it save. There is precious little evidence that the elimination of Federal employees by itself saved money during the previous administration. In some cases. as I noted before. these were feebased employees. and whatever happened was not going to cost the taxpayers or fee payers a penny. but it was arbitrary. Competitive sourcing is a good thing. but arbitrary quotas. numerical targets. are a bad thing. I would say to this body that the Moran amendment eliminates the arbitrary numbers. This .will still allow discretion within Federal agencies to go and compete things. We should encourage them to do that where it makes sense and where we can bring savings to the American taxpayers. Our goal should not be to preserve jobs at the Federal level. nor should it be to get a certain percentage to get outsourced. Our number one priority that should drive procurement policy. how do we get the best value to the American taxpayer. this amendment furthers that goal. That is why I urge my colleagues to support it.