macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. let me thank these two distinguished gentlemen on the floor. Mr. DAVIS of Illinois and Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. for helping us with this today. I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Lady Bird Johnson. I would like to thank my colleagues Mr. HALL. Mr. BARTON and Mr. ORTIZ for their sponsorship. and the entire Texas delegation for joining me in sponsoring and honoring Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was kpown as a woman .of class and integrity. She was strong in spirit and always represented herself with dignity and grace. For decades Lady Bird Johnson served with honor ind dedication as the wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. throughout his service as a staffer to Representative Kleberg. as he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. as a U.S. Senator. as Vice President. and as President of the United States. She served as President Johnsons personal adviser throughout his career and was known for expanding the position of the First Lady by taking a visible role in President Johnsons administration. Lady Bird Johnson dedicated much of her life to the preservation of our environment. Perhaps she could be considered the first environmentalist in this era. This passion led her to create the Capital Beautification Project to improve physical conditions in Washington. DC. both for residents and tourists. Her efforts inspired similar programs throughout the country. She also played a major role in the passage of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act. This was the first legislative campaign begun by a First Lady. The trees and flowers we see along our American highways today are a testament to her work and her dedication. After leaving Washington. President and Mrs. Johnson moved back to Austin. Texas. where Mrs. Johnson colitinued to work for environmental causes. And that is. perhaps. the most environmelitally sensitive city in Texas right now. Today we can all admire her legacy through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. Texas. Mrs. Johnson died on July 11. 2007. at the age of 94 at her home in Austin. and was survived by her two daughters. seven grandchildren. and 10 greatgrandchildren. I would like to xtend my deepest condolences to the Johnson family. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to honor Lady Bird Johnson9 incredible life and legacy.
Date: 2007-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of the Second Chance Act. and I thank Mr. DAVIS for introducing this important piece of legislation. In American we have more than 2million people in prison. Of these. over 600thousand are released each year. Very few of these individuals are prepared to return to their communities or receive support services to ease their transition. These exoffenders face serious impediments in obtaining employment. and often have serious mental or physical ailinents that remain unaddressed. Today. approximately half of all black men are jobless. Amongst exoffenders this number is even higher. There is revolving door of exoffenders into many of our neighborhoods. With few opportunities twothirds of all exoffenders are arrested for new crimes within a few years of their release. We must give these individuals the opporStunity to become productive citizens. The Second Chance Act will go a long way towards this goal by providing transitional assistance to exoffenders reentering their communities. It will work to reunite families and provide the appropriate training and rehabilitation for these individuals. This bill will increase public safety and give millions of exoffenders a chance to be positive productive citizens. I strongly urge my colleagues support.
Date: 2007-07-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

(at the re- mitting the Departmtnts final rule - Law quest of Mr. HOYER) for today on ac- Enforcement Reporting (RIN: 0702AA56) recount of family medical reasons. ceived June 25. 2007. pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 187. which expresses the sense of Congress regarding the dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes. My colleague RAHM EMANUEL has introduced this resolution. as has my colleague from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. EHLERS of Michigan. The resolution has 18 cosponsors from across the Great Lakes region. It is my understanding that a recent decision by Indiana state. regulators will allow the British Petroleum company to dump more ammonia and suspended solids daily into Lake Michigan. Although I do agree that our country needs to work on finding additional materials and sources for energy. and we do need to create jobs to help our economy. I do not believe British Petroleums plan takes our nation in the right direction. As a society. we need to protect our already endangered waters. for they provide means to run our businesses. fulfill daily chores. and relax. Improving the state of the Great.Lakes is not an antiquated policy goal from the last century. rather. we still fight today to improve these waters. The House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. which I chair. continues to pursue the problems of invasive species. low water levels. and pollutants entering the Lakes on a regular basis. We do not need to add additional waste to our struggling. yet essential. waters. I urge my colleagues to join with me and vote in favor of this resolution.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. this amendment simply reprograms funds for a project that was included in the 2002 VAHUD appropriation bill to another project in the same city. The city of Maitland. Florida. whichis located in the southern portion of my. district. had money allocated to them for the construction of a community center. Unfortunately. the project was completed before funds were distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. and they are now unable to use this money. The city of Maitland. the recipient of the funds. has requested that the funds be redirected to another EDI project that involves the redevelopment of a public park that includes the creation of agespecific exercise courses and walking and bike paths. The money promised to Maitland is still available at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and will have no financial impact on this years bill. The community center is fully completed. making funds earmarked for this project -useless to the city. Every Member knows this type of Federal funding is crucial to a small city like Maitland. and I would hate to see funds meant for my district go unspent because we could not. HUD. get their act together and make this change. I would ask the chairman to work with me as this bill moves forward to try to help the city of Maitland solve this problem. I Mr. Chairman. Im going to withdraw this amendment. but Im hoping that as we move forward. you will work to help rectify this problem that was created by the Department of HUD and this administration. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: PATRICK MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

regarding waste processing and transferring facilities. An amendment by Mr. PRICE of Georgia reducing funds in the bill by 1 percent. which shall be debatable for 40 minutes. An amendment by Mr. SESSIONS limiting the use of funds for a certain AMTRAK route. An amendment by Mr. SHULER regarding use of funds designated for North Shore Road in Swain County. North Carolina. An amendment by Mr. UPTON. Ms. HARMAN. Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina or Mr. LIPINSKI regarding energy efficient light bulbs. An amendment by Mr. PRICE of Georgia limiting FRA funds for the creation of an affordable housing fund. An amendment by Mr. HENSARLING limiting funds for parking facilities. An amepdment by Mr. HENSARLING limiting funds for the Edmunds Center for the Arts in Washington. An amendment by Mr. KING of Iowa limiting funds for homeownership assistance for certain individuals. An amendment by Mr. KING of Iowa limiting funds for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. An amendment by Mr. CROWLEY limiting funds for the Blairstown Historic Preservation Commission in Blairstown. New Jersey. An amendment by Mr. CROWLEY limiting funds for the City of Marshall. Texas. An amendment by Mr. CROWLEY limiting funds for the City of Muncie.-Indiana. An amendment by Mr. CROWLEY limiting funds for the 125 North of HS 66 project in Colorado. An amendment by Mr. CROWLEY limiting funds for the State Route 374. from State Route 149 to 77. project in Montgomery County. Tennessee. An amendment by Mr. WALBERG limiting funds to promulgate regulations based on race. ethnicity or sex. An amendment by Mr. HENSARLING limiting funds for museums. An amendment by Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania limiting funds for tolling on 180 in Pennsylvania. An amendment by Mr. HUNTER limiting funds for a U.S.-Mexico freeway. An amendment by Mr. OBEY regarding earmarks. and An amendment or amendments by
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank Chairman OBEY. Subcommittee Chairman OLVER. and Ranking Memberg LEWIS and KNOLLENBERG. I also would like to thank them especially for their leadership. Mr. Chairman. we understand that budgetary constraints are necessary and that budget challenges are a reality. just as invidious discrimination in housing is a reality. This is why Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination not just on race. color and national origin. but also on religious. sexual status. disability and familial status. However. nearly 40 years after the passage of this act. 4 million fair housing violations occur -annually. tens of thousands of complaints are filed. and most violations arent investigated. Violations occur in the rental market when qualified renters are denied housing based upon invidious discrimination. Violations occur in the purchase market when qualified buyers are denied loans. pay more for loans. or are steered to the subprime market when they qualify for prime loans. This is why we need to fund the Fair Housing Initiative Program to the level authorized of $26 million. The Fair Housing Initiative Program allows for testing. This will allow us to have persons who are equally qualified. perhaps one is disabled and one is not. to go out and seek a loan or a rental property. If the disabled person is denied. and the person that follows who is not disabled receives the loan or the property. then we are gathering the empirical data necessary to show that the discrimination exists. Mr. Chairman. my amendment would add $5.82 million to the bill to bring it to the $26 million authorized level. Mr. Chairman. the need is there. the authorization exists. and the time to act is here. Let us keep the American dream alive for all persons who are qualified. Lets do our part on our watch to prevent invidious discrimination in housing. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. it is. My hope is.that the gentleman and I would be able to work together to see if there is some means by which it can be accommodated.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman. and I look forward to working with the chairman so that we may seek an accommodation in conference. Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. here we go again. tryingto destroy passenger rail in this country. The United States used to be the best passenger rail system in the world. Now were the caboose. and we dont even use cabooses anymore. For far too long this Congress has given Amtrak just enough money to limp along. never giving them the funds they needed to make serious improvements in the system. Amtrak was a first responder during Hurricane Katrina and used the Sunset Limited line to help evacuate thousands of gulf region residents while President Bush and his administration was nowhere to be found. Now they are becoming a key part of each States future evacuation plan. Every industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But. sadly. as their systems get bigger and S E H8329 better. our system gets less and less money. Vote "no" on the amendment.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

would prohibit funds from being used to implement this proposed rule. It would give Congress time to work with HUD to preserve db)&n payment assistance programs while imposing strong regulations and oversight. This amendment will would allow us to put the control in place that will weed out the bad actors. while still allowing those who help millions become homeowners to continue their good work. Mr. Chairman. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to preserve homeownership opportunities for all Americans. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the amendment because it is a good amendment. and HUDs language is bad language. Mr. Chairman. since 1997. this program has assisted literally nearly 1 million families with down payment assistance. In my district alone. it has helped more than 600 families. This program is a privately funded down payment assistance program. I think that is important for us to highlight. a privately funded down payment assistance program. Yes. there is some concern with reference to the appraisals. but that can be amended and fixed by way of a program similar to what the VA has. The VA has a blind pool appraisal process. With a blind pool appraisal process. you can get the appraisals that are fair market value. and you will save the program that has helped so many families. This program is viable. It helps community development. It is meaningful. It helps needy buyers. It is workable. It can work through HUD. ind it is achievable without this language. I suggest that my colleagues vote for it. Lets save this program. Lets vote for this amendment.
Date: 2007-07-25
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the 2008 Departments of Commerce. Justice. Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This bill funds domestic priorities that are important to all Americans and invests in our Nations future. . To help keep our families and neighborhoods safe. it provides a muchneeded increase to the COPS program. To support American competitiveness and improve science and technology education. this bill increases funding for the National Science Foundation. In a global economy. investment in American innovation and regional development must be a priority. Madam Speaker. I am pleased that this appropriations bill provides over $300 million forthe Economic Development Administration and encourages new inVestment "in green technologies to reduce energy use. Over the past 50 years. my district in Bucks - County. Pennsylvania has lost most of its manufacturing jobs. While towns in my district still struggle with these dramatic economic changes. I am encouraged by forward thinking plans that have brought hightech and green energy companies to my district. Fairless Hills. Bucks County. once home to heavy steel manufacturing. now boasts one of Pennsylvanias premier examples of industrial revitalization. Twentyfour hundred acres in Fairiess Hills. known as the Keystone Industrial Port Complex (KIPC). are designated a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone by the State of Pennsylvania. The important economic incentives available at KIPC. coupled with its strategic location on the Delaware River. make the site attractive to new companies. Two renewable energy companies have already located there. Public and private economic development professionals continue to work hard at every level to attract new investment. support workforce development and improve regional infrastructure. I am a proud partner in these endeavors because I know the enormous potential of this project to revitalize the region. The United States must look to the future and support proactive regional initiatives that not only create jobs. but advance our Nations commitment to energy independence. New investments for the Economic Development Administration will go a long way toward achieving these goals. Mr: Chairman. by passing this bill. we provide our communities with the resources necessary for successful development and we invest in Americas future.
Date: 2007-07-25
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

for her efforts on behalf of this issue and many others as well. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. the SCAAP program. IThe CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentlewoman from California has expired.
Date: 2007-07-25
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. When the Federal Government passed SCAAP in 1994. it recognized its responsibility to reimburse States and localities for the arrest. incarceration and transportation costs associated with criminal aliens. Unfortunately. this program has been consistently underfunded. In fact. the Presidents budget proposal for next year 1Provided no funds for SCAAP whatsoever. Fortunately. the Appropriations Committee and Chairman MOLLOHAN wisely allocated $405 million. $164 million more than the current level. However. this is not even enough. States and localities are still only. getting a small fraction of what theyare spending. This inadequate funding has had a devastating effect on public safety. especially in California and other border States. At a time when many States and counties face budget shortfalls. every dollar reduced in SCAAP reimbursement means one dollar less to spend on essential public safety services. Following SCAAP funding cuts in 2003. the L.A. County Sheriffs Department was- forced to implement a new early release policy for inmates convicted of misdemeanors. From a public safety standpoint. it is far better for criminals to serve their full sentences. Without.. adequate resources. other programs will have to be scaled back or cut all together. Programs that are in jeopardy could include basic police. protection. antigang activities. homicide investigations. antiterrorism activities and rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism. We introduced this amendment to ensure that police chiefs and sheriffs do not have to choose between keeping children out of gangs and incarcerating criminal aliens. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Date: 2007-07-25
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE (democrat)
Chamber: H

JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of my amendment to the Commerce. Justice. Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. My amendment is focused on the education activities at NASA. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Specifically. the amendment designates $70.7 million of NASAs $220.3 million for education appropriations for the minority workforce preparation. This program has been in action before. It was a good program. but because of the cuts that NASA did suffer. it was defunded actually. as they rearranged the funding. I thank the committee for the increase that they did make and commend their recognition of the importance of education funding for NASA. All of us know that this is the focus of education. now. trying to make sure we have workforce available so that we can maintain the competitive edge. NASA had proposed to spend about $40 million. or 27 percent. of its education budget on minority university research and education programs. commonly called the HispanicServing Institutions. aswell as the Historically Black Institutions. So the program includes Partnership Awards for Integration of Research. the Space Science Collaboration. the Math Science Teacher and Curriculum Enhancement Program. the Undergraduate Scholars program. Network Resource and Training Sites. Model Institutes for Excellence and the Earth Science Collaborations- program. I think that since only 2 percent of our Nations engineers are African American and Hispanic. we really do need to encourage them to be in this part of the workforce. Its critically important to support these Federal � programs. I urge adoption. although I would like to have a colloquy with the chairman.
Date: 2007-07-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 3074. the FY08 Commerce. Justice. Science. and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I want to thank the Chairman OBEY. Chairman MOLLOHAN. Ranking Member FRELINGHUYSEN. and the Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this piece of legislation. This bill will keep our communities safe by providing increased funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services Grants Program and the Byme Justice Assistance Grants Program. Both of these programs assist our law enforcement agencies by providing grants for the hiring of additional police officers. The CJS Appropriations bill also provides assistance for the Office on Violence Against Women.
Date: 2007-07-26
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I concur with the suggestion that this motion to recommit be defeated. As the author of the amendment yesterday .to increase SCAAP funding by $55 million. I can certainly not be counted as someone who does not support funding for State andlocal alien incarceration programs. On the other hand. we had offsets for our amendment yesterday. $55 million in offsets. and if I had found additional offsets that didnt adversely imDact the Drug Enforcement Agency or the FBI or the COPS program or the National Science Foundation. I would have suggested an even bigger amount. I couldnt find those offsets.
Date: 2007-07-26
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chairman. I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to this amendment because it eviscerates the safety net for my constituents and destroys the delicate balance achieved in the committee bikl which reflects significant arid meaningful. reform and is supported by the broadest coalition of stakeholders. I. believe that the bill has been unfairly characterized by the gentleman from Wisconsin in a number of ways. but just as one example. how can there be no reform in the commodity title when in this bill. the committee bill. theres a 43 percent reduction in the commodity title and a 32.3 percent increase in the commodity title?* But if you dont believe me. consider who has endorsed this amendment offered by Mr. KIND and Mr. FLAKE: Club for Growth. long advocated to eliminate farm payment programs and destroy the safety net. and the Bush administration. who long opposed disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers devastated bynatural disaster. long opposed the mandatory country of origin labeling program. Both Club for Growth and the Bush administration prioritize multinational corporations international trading interests just like the administration is now supporting -foreign companies who avoid paying U.S. taxes over my constituents. I urge my colleagues to vote "no" on the amendment.