macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 738 is a standard. closed resolution for consideration of the underlying trade legislation that provides for fair and extensive debate on .H.R. 4842. the United StatesMorocco Free Trade Agreemenf Implementation Act. The rule provides 2 hours of general debate evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Speaker.- the relationship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America has existed throughout the history of the United States. In December of 1777. when war raged between the American colonies and Britain. Sultan Sidi Mohammed boldly recognized our young. and not yet free. Republic. That magnanimous act of recognition was cemented in a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between our countries. ratified in July of 1878. That enduring document remains the oldest unbroken treaty in the history of the foreign relations of the United States. Quite simply. the Kingdom of Morocco is our most permanent and enduring friend. The gentleman from Pennsylvania
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I -yield myself such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California . the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I think the gentleman from Virginia brought up some very important points. and I think they are important to emphasize and not only take note of. This agreement. in addition to the many. many important aspects that it contains for the economy. obviously. of Morocco. and the United States. is a very important agreement politically. and it encourages the extraordinary progress that Morocco has made in the area of labor rights. in the area of a free press. and in the area of democratization. Morocco has multiple political parties. espousing all conceivable viewpoints. It has an elected parliament and an elected prime minister. It has made commendable progress. It is a great friend and ally of the United States. For so many reasons. Mr. Speaker. it is important and appropriate for this Congress to be moving forward today passing this implementing legislation for the United StatesMorocco Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: SAM JOPINSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3313. the Marriage Protection Act. You know its sad that were even having this debate. However we are being forced to. Marriage and the American family are under attack by activist groups and theyre using wayward judges to chip away at this sacred institution. For the sake of our country. Congress must respond. This bill would prevent federal courts from forcing states like Texas to recognize samesex marriages licensed in another state. Well in Texas. the people have spoken. We have a Defense of Marriage Act on the books. The lone star state only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. regardless of what other states might do. However. in light of recent events in Massachusetts and elsewhere. it has become necessary to ensure that the will of the people of Texas isnt circumvented by some unelected judge. And one of the remedies to abuses by federal judges lies in Congress authority to limit federal court jurisdiction. Congress shouldnt be afraid to properly exercise checks and balances provided for in the Constitution. It is our responsibility to prevent overreaching by the courts. Weve got to reign in these zealous judges who think they can legislate. Back home we have a popular slogan. "Dont mess with Texas." Well Ive got one for this debate. "Dont mess with marriage!"
Date: 2004-09-07
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. in Florida we have lived through Charley and Frances. and my area has been hard. hit by both storms. All eight of my counties have sustained damage. both from wind and from storm surge. Myself. my own property has sustained some damage due to it. We have had the hopes of many Floridians dashed. Businesses have been harmed. agriculture. homes. Yet the spirit of the average citizen living in Florida is upbeat. They know that they will rebuild and that Florida will again be a great. healthy. and vibrant State. Neighbors have been helping neighbors. and that is the good news. There are groups out there such as the Christian Contractors Association who have been helping people. seniors without a lot of funds repair their homes. take down trees. et cetera. Certainly the Red Cross. the Salvation Army and FEMA. along with a myriad of other agencies. are out there assisting people. Florida will survive Charley and Frances. and for all of the citizens out there. they need to be in touch with FEMA. That is what this emergency funding is all about.
Date: 2004-09-07
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the ranking member for bringing forth this legislation so quickly to make certain that there is no interruption in the assistance that FEMA and the Small Business Administration are providing to the victims of the two hurricanes that have caused so much damage in Florida in recent weeks. I have been very proud of. just like today. the response that we see from the Congress. Obviously the Speaker apd the leadership have demonstrated tremendous solidarity with the people of Florida today. I have also been very pleased to see the promptness and the seriousness and the leadership of the President and the Governor. who. even before the first hurricane. Charley. hit Florida. there had been a major disaster area declared by the President pursuant to the request of the Governor. So everything that can be done is being done. It is important for the people to know that we will continue to do everything that we can to alleviate their need in this very difficult moment. I thank again the gentleman from Florida for bringing this forward with such promptness.
Date: 2004-09-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I. too. want to thank the chairman for the quickness of this measure. this important measure. As we have heard before. when tough things happen. when the American people are suffering. is when the country truly shines. And we are seeing another example. We are seeing unity. We are seeing how the ranking member has been so generous with his time and also working with the chairman to make sure that this is a reality. The people who deserve and need the help get it as soon as possible. But I have to take this opportunity. Mr. Speaker. to thank a number of people. President Bush. who from day one has been incredibly supportive and has led the relief effbrt. Governor Bush and his cabinet have done an incredible job. They have been on the field. The people from FEMA have been amazing. We run into them all over in Florida. I was with a group of them in Miami recently where the Governor was there as well. The Small Business Administration. the first responders. Mr. Speaker. police officers. firefighters. everybody who has come together to make sure that the suffering is minimized as much as possible. and I just want to thank everybody. And. of course. our guardian angel always. the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations from our great State of Florida. who is always there leading every single fight for the people of Florida.
Date: 2004-09-08
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. last month. Carly Patterson captured the gold medal and the hearts of the world when she won the allaround competition in gymnastics. Her comefrombehind victory will always have a place in the alltime best moments in the Athens Olympics. It is a tremendous honor to recognize Americas sweetheart for her hard work. Carly also won a silver medal in the team competition and an individual silver in the balance beam. Just this past weekend. Allen. Texas. gave her a heros welcomeback parade. Thousands lined the street to congratulate her on a job well done. Carly Patterson is a shining example for America to countless young people about all that you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. Carly made Allen and America proud with her good sportsmanship and her heart of a champion. Great job. Carly Patterson. We are proud of you. God bless you. We all salute you.
Date: 2004-09-08
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today with grave concerns about our countrys security. A report from the American Shipbuilding Association. the ASA. was recently released that gives alarming figures about our Navys shrinking fleet and our vulnerability to China. The report shows that by 2010. China will have twice as many submarines as the United States. And that is not all. Assuming that we build six ships a year. the Chinese fleet will surpass the .size of the U.S. fleet by 2015. Further. a Chinese general was quoted as saying the Chinese Navy is being designed with the direct objective of being able to "neutralize" a U.S. aircraft carrier. Chinas threat is real. And yet. just last month. the Navy submitted a proposal to the Secretary of Defense that dramatically reduces our shipbuilding program. Mr. Speaker. this is unacceptable. Further cuts will not only be devastating to our shipbuilding industry. they will make us vulnerable -to threats like China. ASAs report says it best: "Ignoring the Navys requirement will serve as the precursor to the end of Americas reign as a sovereign superpower."
Date: 2004-09-08
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I raise a point of order against section 506. This provision violates clause 2(b) of House rule XXI. It proposes to change existing law and. therefore. constitutes legislation on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.
Date: 2004-09-08
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. first let me state I realize this amendment is subject to a point of order so I will withdraw. the amendment. but- I want to take the opportunity to raise an important issue that is of great importance to the Fairfax County school districts which I represent. Mr. Chairman. No Child Left Behind requires the Department of Education to use the most uptodate poverty data from the Census Bureau when determining eligibility for title I grants. The intent behind this requirement is sensible. We want title I funds going where they are most needed. That said. two of the four available title I grant programs. Targeted Grants and Education Finance Incentive Grants. have a 5 percent cutoff for eligibility. If a school district falls below this level. they lose all funding through these grants. There are no holdharmless provisions for a drop in poverty rates. In the case of Fairfax County. our most recent poverty figures fell about 1 percent to 4.94 percent. While this figure represents a small number of students. 106 students to be exact. it has equated to a 26 percent reduction in title I funds. We lose almost $31/2 million for losing 106 students. That is about $33.000 a student. My concern is not just that my local school district has lost $3.3 million for the coming school year. it is that a school district like Fairfax County can hover at around the 5 percent level year after year. and this makes it impossible to plan effectively since it is unclear from one year to the next whether these funds will be available. Our amendment would implement hold harmless provisions for targeted and EFIG grants. The first year the school district fell below the 5 percent level. it would still be eligible for twothirds of the amount they received the previous year. The second year it would be eligible for onethird. The third year it would lose eligibility. In my estimation such a stairstep. system would better reflect a true change in the demographics of a given school district and allow better planning from year to year. As I said. this equates to almost $33.000 a student for a loss of 106 students. I will withdraw the amendment. but hope that the members on the authorizing committee and appropriation committees will work with us in the future to try to look at such a stepped approach. which I think makes for better planning.
Date: 2004-09-09
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. 3 years ago. cowardly terrorists attacked America. Today. in the building that symbolizes Americas freedom. we remember those who died on that fateful day. The memory of their loss will forever guide our mission to protect America from terror. Terrorism continues to plague our world. but it can not and it will not deter us from our mission to spread liberty and defend freedom. I commend President Bush for his unwavering commitment to the security of the United States. The sacrifices that our brave men and women in uniform have made in pursuit of the security of our Nation will never be forgotten. And it is because of their dedication that two formerly oppressed nations are free and that our homeland is more secure.
Date: 2004-09-09
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong and solemn support of this resolution. which marks the anniversary of the most deadly terrorist attack in history. September 11. 2001 is a day none of us will ever forget. We continue to mourn. along with the loved ones of the departed. the loss of nearly 3.000 innocent lives. We celebrate the spirit of selflessness that led so many brave firefighters. police officers and other emergency personnel to riskand in some cases. losetheir lives trying to save others. And we remain in awe of the passengers of Flight 193. who took the defense of our homeland into their own hands and sacrificed their own lives in the process. The tragic events of that day have spurred this Nation to a new sense of purpose. a recognition of the need to fight terrorism headon and to lead an international coalition to spread the powerful ideals of freedom and democracy to corners of the world that have for too long struggled in the shadows of totalitarianism. We have turned the darkness of terrorism into the light of opportunityour greatest challenge has become our greatest strength. I urge passage of H. Res. 757.
Date: 2004-09-09
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the amendment of my friend from Arizona. We have these totalization agreements with about 20 countries: Australia. Austria. Belgium. Canada. Ireland. Netherlands. Norway. Sweden. Switzerland. United Kingdom. But even though this agreement is not yet approved by the Congress. it will. under regular order. be considered by the Congress. We are to then. under this amendment. outright reject by defunding an agreement with our neighbors to the south and Mexico. our largest trading partner? Why? I think it is incorrect. and I think thats unfortunate. perhaps unintentional. signals are being sent out by this amendment that we must be very wary of. and so it is important to focus on the facts. as the gentleman from Florida has said. The law is not changed by this totalization agreement. Social Security benefit accounts will not be paid to undocumented workers. That is the fact. That is the law. I oppose this amendment. with respect to my friend from Arizona.
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. since the early weeks of August. Florida and its residents have endured the unrelenting and unsympathetic wrath of Mother Nature. Through the harsh design of fate. Florida was dealt the unfortunate circumstances of bearing the brunt of not one but two hurricanes. and it appears more dark clouds are poised to visit the Sunshine State. This map very carefully tracks the two hurricanes that hit Florida. The first one in orange is Hurricane Charley. It was upgraded to a tropical storm at 5 on August 10. continued raising havoc in Jamaica. and in Jamaica it became a hurricane on the llth. and it hit Punta Gorda. Florida on the 13th. exactly one month ago today. at 4:30 p.m. Frances became a category 4 on the 28th of August. On the 2nd. it was in the Bahamas. and Frances made landfall in Stewart. Florida. at 1 on September 5. So Florida has been hit twice and based on the latest weather forecast. it appears that the Panhandle will be hit again with Hurricane Ivan. It is not the first time that Florida has been devastated by three hurricanes all at once. The State has experienced such occurrences before. Actually in 1964. three storms hit Florida within an 8week period. The hurricanes were named Cleo. Dora and Isabel. Regardless of what we name them. it does not make living in a State with so many hurricanes a lot of fun. Those hurricanes slammed the State. Thus. Floridians are not bewildered by the sheer numbers of hurricanes that threaten to trounce the State. With regard to the power and force of these menacing natural disasters. well. before Hurricane Charley came ashore the people of Florida have understood and respected the potential power that a hurricane wields. I recall in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew hit the State. and it hit the Homestead. Florida. area and had a devastating effect there. We have a few photos of some of the examples of the kind of destruction that a hurricane can do. Obviously this house as a result of the hurricane was damaged and would have to be completely torn down. Again. we have more destruction. This is an area that certainly as we look at the picture we say. how could people go back and say I want to rebuild. But wanting to rebuild and having the courage and the strength that so many Floridians do to face the hurricane and the destruction that goes along with the hurricane and yet have the spirit. the human spirit that says we are going to stay. we are going to rebuild and make the community even stronger. Mr. Speaker. I yield to the gentleman from Florida from the Orlando area.
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. earlier I mentioned Hurricane Andrew. and Hurricane Andrew came around the fall of 1992 when I was just elected to the Florida Senate. I served at the time with the very distinguished gentleman now in Congress with me. the gentleman from the Palm Beach. Florida. area .
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. We both had experiences both with Hurricane Andrew and these hurricanes that we have had this year. I have noticed a marked improvement in FEMA and with the coordination of FEMA and the State agencies. Having been involved and had. people who suffered through both of those hurricanes. I see a much more rapid response on the part of FEMA this time. I know that is exactly what is happening in the Tampa Bay area and I am sure it is happening in your area. If you would like to take just a moment to address that. I would appreciate it.
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Without a doubt. there has been rapid response. Part of the redesign of FEMA is that they have so many people on standby. whether it is a retired nurse or a doctor who will take time off to go exactly where they are needed. We must always remember. too. that the National Guard has been of great assistance. I know they have been in several of the counties that I represent. As I went around the counties. people are saying it is much better organized. If I could wave a magic wand. just as you have said this. too. wave a magic wand and have everybodys power put on. but we do not want to have those power companies out there endangering the lives of their crew either. This is -difficult sometimes for people to realize. Nobody likes to be in the dark sitting there by candlelight but overall between FEMA and all of the mutual assistance that came in from the other States from utility companies. it was a much more rapid response. much better coordinated. I agree with you .that our Governor has done a wonderful job. He is there at the emergency operations center up there in Tallahassee. he has toured around the State. I know we have been in touch with him about some snafus. Between FEMA and Governor Bush. the problems get resolved very quickly.
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Without a doubt. Mr. Speaker. Reclaiming my time. the gentleman was in the State legislature. and he had mentioned this. the change in the State building code. And it was very difficult to pass because it did raise the cost of home building in Florida. And I remember that. at the time. and I am sure his constituents complained also. it was causing the cost of home construction to go up. and the builders were very upset. too. As he looks around his district. I am sure he can differentiate the homes that were built to the newer. higher wind codes as opposed to the older homes. where the wind actually came in and did the substantial amount of damage. And in retrospect. I am sure that all those people who had.to pay a couple hundred dollars more. and it did end up being a couple of hundred dollars more. are very glad that Florida did impose stricter building codes. And it Was a tough sell at the time. as I remember. but it truly was as a result of Hurricane Andrew. but also it was because. when a hurricane comes. Florida is usually the first place that it hits.
Date: 2004-09-13
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. the other thing that I wanted to share with the gentleman is. just before I came down to the floor. I was handed a list of agricultural losses. and these were compiled obviously from the very hardworking members of the agricultural industry. And the loss for the fern industry. which I know is very large in the gentlemans area. was anywhere from 65 to 75 million. So. as we proceed with a supplemental bill to assist those who were devastated by the storm. certainly. we are hopeful that we will be able to help out not only the nursery industry. the ferns. but I have a large dairy industry in my area. And so we want to make sure that we are able to help so many of the very hardworking members of the agriculture and aquaculture industry. too.
Date: 2004-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Fko

Speaker. this afternoon I was mee Veteran constituents and upon the v called for the previous question for thi 770. I hurriedly ran from the office to I had intended to vote against the previous question as I did last year b haste. inadvertently voted in its favor. TEMPORE sp (Mr the Congressional pay raise for 2005 and would like the record to reflect that view.