macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-09-16
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am here today to express my support of H. Res. 352. a resolution to remember and honor the historic March on Washington of 1963. This 40th anniversary of the hictoric March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther Kings universally famous "I Have a Dream" speech is a bittersweet moment. I would like to especially thank my colleague. Representative SANFORD BISHOP for sponsoring this resolution. For many. Dr. Kings dream has not come to fruition. It remains unfulfilled. As thousands gather from around the nation and the globe to reenact the fabled march and to rehearse the words of the visionary civil rights leader. we will celebrate the tremendous strides the nation has made on the issues of race. equality and social justice during the past forty years. However. as the leaders and representatives of more than 500 organizations converged at the Lincoln Memorial. we are also reminded that the "Dream" Dr. King so eloquently articulated is still beyond the aspirations and the grasp of millions of our citizens. They have been left behind and are left out of the "Great American Dream." Forty years later. some 13 million children in this country do not have enough food to eat. Four decades later 41.2 million people lack health insurance. As the economy shows certain signs of recovery. more than 9.6 million Americans still cannot find jobs. Matters are even worse in minority communities. The AfricanAmerican unemployment rate hovers at 11.1 percent compared to 5.5 percent for whites. Forty years ago we said. "I have a dreamt" Today. we say. "How long will we suffer injustice in America?" The American people are in jeopardy of losing 50 years of progress in civil rights and civil liberties. In fact. under the guise of the PATRIOT Act we are experiencing a rollback of these hardearned rights. Elections have been stolen and voting rights have been denied. In Texas. a proposed redistricting plan would disenfranchise minority voters across the state. Mr. Speaker. I encourage all my colleagues to take the time to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the event that affords all of us an opportunity to rededicate and to recommit ourselves to the vision articulated by Dr. King. Like Dr. King. we can say: ". . . That in spite. of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment. I still have a dream."
Date: 2003-09-16
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. for the past 40 years the President has Issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week runs from September 15th through the 20th. Since the founding of our country. small businesses have contributed immeasurably to our progress and economic strength. Let us celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in America during National Small Business Week. The approximately 23 million small businesses In the United States employ more than half of the countrys private work force. create three of every four new jobs. and generate most of Americas innovations. Small businesses are the backbone of this country and they are an enduring symbol of the American Dream. For example. five years ago a young couple In my district had a dream to open a grocery store in the City of Whittier. California. Their vision for the store was to specialize in fresh. ready to prepare Hispanic foods In the historic district of Whittier. Country Fresh Market has found a niche In the grocery retail market that has posted doubledigit gains from last year. Subsequently. on March 27th Country Fresh Market was featured on the Food Network In a nationally broadcast segment of "Food Finds." hosted by Sandra Pinkney. Country Fresh Market Is a business success story. and they make many contributions to their local community. including the local Boys and Girls Club and YMCAs Annual Pancake Breakfast. Since its inception. Country Fresh Market has also had four employees graduate from college and helped many of its employees purchase homes. Country Fresh Market prides itself in Its employees success. because its employees are its "familia" (family). Country Fresh Market is a true business success in my district. As a member of the small business community. Im working to increase the SBAs microloan program from $35.000 to $50.000. By helping small businesses gain access to capital. I hope to bolster the number of small businesses that succeed each year. Today. let us honor small businesses. like Country Fresh Market. By celebrating AmerIcas small businesses. we are keeping the American Dream alive and well for today. and for future generations.
Date: 2003-09-17
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my great concern over the Bush administrations continued failure to broker an alliance with the international community and to win the peace in Iraq. Week after week administration officials have continued to reiterate that heightened International involvement is forthcoming. During his address on September 8. President Bush stated that we are committed to expanding international cooperation and reconstruction and security for Iraq. But week after week. it is American taxpayers who are shouldering the financial burden of our military engagement. and it is American servicemen and women who are paying with their lives. Since the war began on March 20. 456 service members have been killed. both in combat and noncombat operations. and more than 2.400 have been wounded. many of them very seriously. But we know now that this cannot be sustained. Just last week the Congressional Budget Office released a report that stated the Army lacks sufficient active duty forces to maintain the current 150.000 troop strength in Iraq beyond next spring. Mr. Speaker. it is Imperative that we internationalize tie Iraqi campaign by presenting a viable U.N. resolution. Every passing week means billions of dollars and more American lives.
Date: 2003-09-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise to voice my concerns about the Presidents request for $87 billion to pursue the administrations aims in Iraq. While I strongly support our troops and I stand here as a strong American. and I support the President when it is reasonable and I will continue to support those brave Americans who are getting themselves in harms way to defend our Nation. I think we must ask ourselves some fundamental questions. To this end. the Congressional Black Caucus has issued a statement of principles as to the war in Iraq. I embrace these principles fully. I was Chair of the caucus when we adopted our principles concerning the war. and we still hold those principles dear. I am deeply concerned about the cost of the war and the cost of the psyche of the people of this Nation. I am also concerned about the economic price tag the war is exacting on the taxpayers. We are shifting the cost of engagement to our children and grandchildren. We are burdening ourselves with a debt that is not only mind boggling. it is also unconscionable. Mr. Speaker. keep in mind that the $87 billion in new funding that the President is requesting from Congress includes more than twice the 2004 budget for the Department of Homeland Security. It is also roughly triple the proposed appropriations for highways and roads. Keep in mind that the combined projected costs of the theaters of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through September 2004 is $166 billion. That includes the $87 billion. The President has not provided Congress with sufficient details about how the proposed funding will be spent. The information we have been given Is vague. perhaps purposely so. Therefore. we are not able to separately evaluate the proposed funding for the protection and maintenance of our troops and proposed funding for rebuilding Iraq. In my view. Congress should vote on these funding proposals separately. Back home. people think that the greatest attention we can give the troops is to bring them home. They really do not want more money spent in Iraq. Moreover. the administration has not articulated an exit strategy. nor has it given us a blueprint or a plan for bringing our troops home. That is what the people want. It was said in the days of old. "My people perish for a lack of knowledge." We are left in that position. Without the information. we are groping in the dark. The American people deserve better and so does Congress. We should not give a blank check one more time for the President to spend with his friends.
Date: 2003-09-24
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and to honor all of the contributions of the Latino community in the United States. Right now. the Latino community is the largest minority group In America. with over 37 million people. We continue to become more powerful and a more dominant force in the United States. In fact. this year. we will have a purchasing power within the Latino community reaching almost $600 billion. Marketers and advertisers. CEOs and companies are realizing that we are a target for consuming. and we are becoming the fastest growing consumer sector in this Nation. Our increasing power and influence in this country cannot be ignored. So this week. so many Latino groups are in town preparing an agenda for the future. and a good Hispanic agenda is a good agenda for America.
Date: 2003-09-24
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. speaker. on rollcall No. 513. agreeing to the FY 2004 Defense Appropriations Conference Report. I was unavoidably detained. and unable to make the vote. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes."
Date: 2003-09-24
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the motion to recommit the Conference Report on H.R. 2657 with irstuctions to the House managers to increase funding for Disaster Relief. I do so as I continue to receive reports from my home State of Maryland about the damage caused by Hurricane Isabel. Hurricane Isabel cut a path from Marylands Eastern Shore to Marylands western mountain range. In Baltimores world famous Inner Harbor. one of the citys major arteries was transformed into a river by a sevenfoot water surge. On Marylands Eastern Shore. record breaking tides left 60 percent of Dorchester County under water. In my own district. 5 days after Isabel struck. thousands of people still have no electricity. How is it possible that. almost a week after the hurricane. in the richest country on the planet at a time when we are considering funding the reconstruction of Iraq. we refuse to provide adequate funding to our own Federal Emergency Management Agency. I urge my colleagues to support this motion.
Date: 2003-09-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank Ranking Member LIPINSKI for his leadership and for organizing this time for a special order this evening. The need for Infrastructure investment Is greater than ever. The U.S. economy desperately needs a shot in the arm. Our economy Is In dismal shape. Unemployment numbers are the highest ever in the last decade. With this Bush Recession. family Incomes are falling across the board. and falling most rapidly among lowerincome workers. The Increase in unemployment of the last two and a half years has had a disproportionate effect on people of color. The rate of unemployment for African Americans Is 10.9 percentmore than twice the rate for whites. We need to put people back to work in this country. and we need to get this economy going again. Transportation infrastructure investment will do just that. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). every $1 billion Invested In Infrastructure generates 47.500 Jobs and $6.1 billion in related economic activity. The 375 billion dollar surface transportation bill that the bipartisan membership of the Transportation Committee supports reflects the needs expressed In the Department of Transportations own needs assessmentsl The legislation would potentially create over 1.3 million new goodpaying jobs. This bill would put people back to work. and this Is just what the American economy needs. We face rising costsin congestion. In wasted fuel. in frustration. and In air quality. I support an Increase In the gas user fee because we can not afford to allow infrastructure to continue to crumble. We cannot afford to bare the Increasing cost of congestion (which was 67.5 billion dollars in 2000). We cannot afford the healthcare costs we will face as a result of breathing polluted air. Unfortunately. the Bush Administration and the House and Senate Republican leaderships now obstruct our efforts to pass a 6 year bill that adequately funds.transportation Infrastructure. But the need to invest in public infrastructure is genuine. and moving forward requires additional funding. Investment in infrastructure will improve mobility. productivity. and our quality of life. President Bushs tax cuts have only further harmed our economy. The Transportation Committees legislation will provide REAL stimulus to our economy. and it will finally put people back to work.
Date: 2003-09-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as a nurse by professional training. I have spent much of my public career working to ensure that the Nations health care system is affordable and provides the best possible services for all Americans. While Americans still have a world class health care system. there are those whose lives have been threatened by a focus on profits over healing. Mr. Speaker. nearly a quarter of the residents in Texas. my home State. lack health coverage. That is a larger percentage than any other State. The situation has been getting worse. according to a U.S. Census Bureau report to be released today. The survey shows. 24.7 percent of the States residents had no insurance during the 2year period ending last December. Texas also had the Nations highest proportion of uninsured in 2000 and 2001. I support a plan that would expand Medicare coverage for prescription medications. However. there must be some cost containment agreement with manufacturers and a streamlining of the Federal administrative structure to reduce costs to beneficiaries. Mr. Speaker. now is the time for all Americans to have access to quality health care and meaningful patient protection. Our citizens deserve and expect nothing less. NEW IRAQ
Date: 2003-09-30
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. first of all. let me thank the gentleman. from Florida for his support in helping to get this bill to the floor and the gentleman from Florida . in fact. the entire Florida delegation. I am delighted to introduce this bill which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located 440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando as the Arthur Pappy" Kennedy Post Office. Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy was Orlandos first AfricanAmerican City Commissioner. He was elected to the Orlando City Council In 1972. reelected in 1976. and served until 1980. Born in River Junction. Florida. in 1913. his family moved to Orlando where he attended the Johnson Academy and Jones. High School. Upon graduation. he attended BethuneCookman College. a Historically Black College in my district in Daytona Beach. There was no stronger advocate of higher education than Pappy Kennedy. A man always involved in the community. he was the organizer of the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce. president of the Jones High School ParentTeacher Association. and instrumental in organizing of the Orange County ParentTeacher Council. He also worked with many. many organizations including the Meals on Wheels. the United Negro College Fund. and the NAACP. Yet. for all of his accomplishments. Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy is best known for being Orlandos first AfricanAmerican City Commissioner. And when elected. he had the distinction. according to the Orlando City Clerks Office. of being elected by the largest percentage among contestants in the 101year history of the city. I am honored to recognize one of Floridas stellar native Floridians with this Post Office designation. In closing. it is my understanding that the Kennedy family is in the Washington area. and I would like to welcome them and thank all of them for their inspiration and support in the life of this heroic civil rights leader. Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy. I urge all of the Members to support the naming )f this post office.
Date: 2003-09-30
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the gentleman from Florida a question. While we are all in the Third Congressional District very excited about the naming of the post office. I have gotten many comments about the status of this particular post officb. I have contacted U.S. Postal personnel. I would like for the gentleman and other Members to work to get it upgraded so it can be the quality that we all want representing Pappy Kennedy.
Date: 2003-09-30
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I amendment ensures that those students who yield myself such time as I may con- choose to attend veterinary schools located sume. outside the United States can still benefit from I thank the chairman of the com- the allimportant financial assistance provided mittee for bringing this bipartisan leg- by the Higher Education Act. islation to the floor of the House. and A substantial number of students studying I am pleased to support this amend- abroad have been medical. dental. or veteriment to the Higher Education Act nary students. These students are able to which corrects the mistake that. as the broaden their understanding of the medical chairman said. was made as part of the practice and return home with an enlightened 1998 Higher Education Act reauthoriza- perspective that benefits those of us who will tion. We heard the story about the be treated here in the United States by these chairmans constituent. Many others practitioners. studying abroad now find themselves in Traditionally. many medical students have a similar predicament and unable to hesitated to study abroad fearing that they pay for college. Many more find them- would endanger their professional prospects. selves cut off after years of investment. We now know that the experience gained by both financial and personal. and face medical students who successfully study the prospect of having to abandon their abroad considerably enhances their ability to dream of becoming a veterinarian. move into their professional careers. Currently. there are only 27 schools The Higher Education Act was and still is a of veterinary medicine in the United response to the concern President Johnson States offering approximately 2.300 expressed in 1965 about the need for more slots to firstyear students. In the yqar higher education opportunities for lower and 2000. more than 6.700 students applied middleincome families. program assistance for one of these limited slots. Many for small and less developed colleges. addihighly qualified applicants were denied tional improved library resources at higher admission to school in the United " education institution. and utilization of college and university resources to help deal with national problems like poverty and community development. S. 570 allows veterinary students studying abroad in nonprofit public veterinary schuols to participate in the Higher Education Acts Federal Family Education Loan Program. We must maintain the purpose of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and provide financial resources to those students who qualify whether they are at home or abroad.
Date: 2003-09-30
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this concurrent resolution to honor the life and contributions of Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash. as we all know. had a long and distinguished music career. becoming one of the most imposing and influential figures in postWorld War II country music. He is one of the only artists to be enshrined in the Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Fame. Cash did not sound like Nashville. nor did he sound like honkytonk or rock and roll. He created his own unique sound. his own type and blend of music. revolutionizing the world of country music. In creating that sound. he released over 70 albums. In addition. he was one of the most successful country artists of the 1950s and 1960s. scoring well over 100 hit singles. These are amazing feats that few musicians have accomplished and even fewer are likely to repeat. Cashs career coincided with the birth of rock and roll. Johnny Cash was not just another musician. however. Rather. his later albums would show his deep sense of history. He illustrated his understanding with a series of historical albums. These albums were focused on the downtrodden. the common man. and also the plight of Native Americans in our country. Johnny Cash has made an indelible mark on American society. While we have lost one of our great musical artists of the last 50 years. his songs will continue to impact generatfons to come. H8986 cor Mr. Speaker. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee . who has the great privilege of representing Nashville and who introduced this concurrent resolution. and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control the balance of my time.