macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-28
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker and Members of the House. I rise in strong support today of this conference report for the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution. I want to commend Chairman SPRATT -and the members of the committee for bringing us a budget which .will put America on a path toward fiscal health and a competitive future by investing in our key priorities of education. health care and energy. This budget resolution will put us on a track to a stronger. fairer 21st century economy that can benefit all Americans. It will help us rebuild our middle class and turn our looming crisesenergy. health care and educationinto opportunities for prosperity. and it will create a new era of accountability. honesty and transparency for taxpayers. This budget will allow us to make dramatic changes in two areas that could not be more critical to working families and our economys recovery. and that is expanding access to affordable health care and coverage and leveraging a more competitive workforce by making college more affordable. For too long. our broken health care system has threatened both our fiscal and our medical health. Millions of Americans currently lack health care coverage. a figure that is growing daily as more workers lose their jobs and. therefore. their health care benefits. Millions of Americans who do not have coverage too often have to choose between quality and affordability. any health care at all or bankruptcy. This conference report will also give us the opportunity to give much needed relief to families who are finding it harder and harder to pay for college while losing jobs and income. Some families have done everything rightsaving. working hard. giving their children a good educationonly to find out that their plans have changed by the economic downturn. In this legislation. because of the reconciliation instructions. we will be able to take and recycle the money that now goes to banks for fees and commissions to the student loan program. and we will be able to use that to improve and to increase the Pell Grant scholarship program so that well be able to make sure that that keeps track with the cost of education..For those young people who are in the most financial need and who are fully qualified to go to college. we will be sure that they will be able to. do that. Thats all because of this budget resolution put together by this committee. and we should support this conference report.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker. I wonder if our friends on the other side of the aisle Would be singing the same offensive tune if we were talking about hate crimes based on race or religion. It seems to me that it is the category of individual that they are offended by rather than the fact that we have hate crimes laws at all. We have already heard the powerful story of Matthew Shepard. His mother. Judy. addressed our caucus this week. As the Speaker noted. we are all inspired by Judy Shepards 10year quest to turn her pain and tears into change because these cases are tragic and real. Ryan Skipper was a 25yearold gay man from Polk County. Florida. Like Matthew. Ryans body was found murdered and dumped along the side of the road about 2 years ago. Ryans body had been stabbed 20 times and his throat was slit. His car was found abandoned nearby and contained the fingerprints of his two killers. One of his killers told the police his conduct was justified to rebuff unwanted sexual advances. Because there was no hate crime law with which to charge Ryans killer in Florida. only one of Ryans attackers has been convicted. and that was of a lesser charge. Why do we need a hate crimes law? Because hate crimes do more than threaten the safety and wellbeing of individuals. Hate crimes do more than inflict incalculable pain and suffering on individual victims. Hate crimes target groups and terrorize communities. Left unpunished. hate crimes send powerful messages of intolerance. Hate crimes leave both the victim and others in their group feeling isolated. vulnerable. and unprotected. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation again this Congress. I want to commend my colleague. Judiciary Chairman JOHN COXYERS. and my committee colleague. Tammy Baldwin. for their leadership in bringing this issue forward again this year. Lets announce here and now that we will not tolerate this kind of terror in America. Lets vow that we will not turn a blind eye to hatred and violence in America. And let us pledge to give police and prosecutors all the resources they need to stamp out this scourge. Mr. Speaker. Matthew Shepard and Ryan Skipper may be gone. but we can honor their lives today. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Declaration of Independence. All persons are created equal. endowed by their Creator. with certain inalienable rights. among them life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not some people. not people of a particular race. not people who just happen to be heterosexual. all persons are created equal. And for the record. I support the rights of gay people. Gay people have the same rights as any other Americans. and they have the right to pursue happiness. I support this--the Declaration of Independence speaks of itand but for the grace of God. we all ought to realize. There go I. Any one of us could become the victim of a hate crime regardless of your race. your creed. or your color. We should support people and the rights of people. For those who say that we are creating a separate class of people. we already have a class that weve distinguished in the State of Texas for peace officers. If you assault a police officer. your punishment is going to be enhanced. That is what this is all about: enhancement of punishment.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 of which I am a cosponsor. Our country was founded on the bedrock principle of protecting individual freedoms. We need to protect the rights of individuals who are assaulted because of who they are. This bipartisan bill provides local and state law enforcement agencies with the resources needed to combat the thousands of hate crimes that occur in our country each year. H.R 1913 allows the Federal Government to equip our local law offices with the tools they need to prosecute hate crimes and provides monetary relief to those agencies that have incurred extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. OL.r nation thrives because of the freedoms we guarantee each of our citizens. Those liberties are at risk if hateful discrimination and violence are allowed to flourish and threaten the safety of individuals and our communities. Current federal hate crimes law authorizes federal aid in cases of violent crimes motivated by the victims race. color. religion. or national origin. H.R. 1913 expands the federal definition of hate crime. allowing the Department of Justice to assist local authorities in cases of violent crimes committed against persons because of their gender. sexual orientation. gender identity. or disability. I am proud to have voted for this legislation. as it will enhance civil rights protections and help protect individuals and our communities. from the terror and anguish that hate crimes inflict.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 1913. the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I have been a strong supporter of increased law enforcement support and protections against hate crimes for many years. and todays vote represents a historic step forward in recognizing and fighting against violent biasmotivated crimes. Each year there are thousands of individuals who are targets of violent crime based solely on their appearance. means. or lifestyle. These hate crimes are not only meant to physically harm the victim. but degrade all individuals of similar identity and instill a pervasive sense of fear amongst that community. While each and every violent crime is traumatic. hate crimes are not only devastating for the victim and their family. but for all individuals who identify with the victim. whether or not they actually knew that person. Hate crimes are more prevalent than many may realize. Despite significant underreporting. more than 100.000 hate crimes have been reported since 1991. In addition. the number of hate groups that exist within our country continues to rise. espousing a message of hatred and often plans of targeted violence. This legislation will allow for much needed federal assistance in the prevention and prosecution of hate crimes. and provide money to states to develop hate crimes prevention programs. No American deserves to feel a threat to their physical safety simply because of who they are or how they look. While I strongly support the passage of this legislation. I do believe there is a strong need to include homeless individuals into this bill. Often nameless and faceless victims of violence. homeless individuals are amongst the highest targeted groups for hate violence. According to statistics collected by the National Coalition for the Homeless. there have been 774 violent acts perpetrated against homeless individuals since 1999. These attacks occurred in 235 cities throughout our country. in 45 states. and in one territory. 217 of these attacks resulted in death ranging from these individuals suffering severe beatings to being set on fire. Many of these incidents were committed by groups targeting the homeless. and some were even videotaped for future sale and amusement. It is important that we -recognize these acts as hate crimes at a federal level. Many states are currently considering the recognition of these violent acts as hate crimes. with Maryland having already done so. We cannot continue to ignore the plight of this group. and the fear and violence that have been experienced by scores of homeless individuals.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Mr. Speaker. I rise today as a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. Ten years have now passed since a University of Wyoming student was tied to a fence and fatally beaten just because he was gay. In the time since. weve seen a Texas man dragged to his death by a truck just because he was black and a woman brutally beaten and killed with a fire extinguisher just because she was transgendered. Weve even seen young children at day camp shot just because they were Jewish. Passage of comprehensive federal hate crime legislation that would allow the Department of Justice to assist state and local jurisdictions unable or unwilling to prosecute violent. biasmotivated crimes is long overdue. Mr. Speaker. as a former Constitutional law professor at West Point. I want to make something perfectly clear. Nothing in this bill impinges the right of an individuals freedom of speech as guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution. The ability to think or express sentiments repulsive to most members of society absent the fear of legal recrimination is part of what makes this country great and free. The ability to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who cause injury or death to an individual because of who they are or what they believe is also what makes this country great and free. Ensuring that states and local law enforcement throughout the United States have the resources they need to go after the perpetrators of these crimes is not just something we owe to the victims and their families. It also helps to free the rest of societyparticularly members of the group to which the victim identifiedfrom being intimidated by the hatred of a few. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and send a clear message that those who injure or kill another human being because of who they are will be brought to justice for their crimes.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman of the full committee. Mr. FRANK. I thank Mr. GUTIERREZ. our chairperson of the Financial Institutions Subcommittee. I would like to thank the ranking member. whom I have a great relationship with and I look forward to working with. And I would like to move quickly now to why I am supporting this legislation. Mr. Chairman. the right time to do right is right now. We do not want to allow ourselves to become victims of something known as the paralysis of analysis. We have analyzed this bill for years. It is now time for us to act. It is right for us to do something about retroactive rate increases. This bill does something about it. If you have a balance and the rate goes up. should. the interest rate increase apply to your previous balance or should it apply to balances going forward? Thats what this bill does. It does not allow it to apply to charges that youve already made. Should a person who is not emancipated. who is younger than 18 years of age receive a credit card? I dont think so. This bill prohibits this. Shouldl persons have adequate notice to deal with rate increases? Fortyfive days is really not unreasonable if you get a rate increase on your credit card. This bill accords 45 days notice of rate increases. Should a person have the right to have the payment go to the lowest interest rate so as to pay off that rate first as opposed to the highest interest Congressman VAN HOLLEN of Maryrate? Well. I think that we ought to let land is recognized for 2 minutes. people pay off the highest interest rate Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chairman. so that they can make sure that they this is an opportunity for all of us on a are not going to have higher bills in bipartisan basis to stand up for conthe future. sumers around this country. The right time to do right is right I want to recognize the terrific leadnow. Lets not become a victim of ership of Congresswoman CAROLYN whats known as the paralysis of anal- MALONEY. BARNEY FRANK. LuIs GUTIERysis. Lets move forward. Lets pass REZ and the members of the Finance this legislation. Committee who put this together.
Date: 2009-04-29
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chair. I rise in strong support of H.R. 627. the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act. Id like to thank Congresswoman MALONEY for her work on this issue. She has been a longtime champion of credit card reform and I wholeheartedly support her efforts. The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act could not be more timely. The constant stress of mounting bills in the face of skyrocketing unemployment and a foreclosure epidemic has American families caught between a rock and a bigger rock. More and more working families have been forced to rely on credit cards to cover basic living expenses. The least we can do is make sure the credit card issuers are fair. open. and honest about rates and terms. For decades. credit card companies have been allowed to operate under~special rules that. under any other circumstances. would be considered outlandish. Take for instance the credit card industrys ability to raise an unsuspecting cardholders interest rate because he was one day late paying a different card belonging to a different company. Where else can creditors suddenly change the rules in the middle of a game? Its like an umpire deciding that a batter hit by a pitch can take two bases instead of one in the middle of a baseball game. Consumers are playing an unfair ball game and theres no way to win. Cardholders continue to pay millions of dollars in hidden charges. outrageous late fees. and unpredictable interest rates. Despite the fact that most -consumers make monthly payments that are more than the minimum required. cardholders cannot seem to make a dent on the average credit card debt of $8.600. Theres a term for such onesided contracts: UNCONSCIONABLE. And thats exactly what these credit card agreements are. In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. I am certain that the passage of the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act is simply the "right thing to do." Provisions in the bill will level the playing field for consumers by barring credit card companies from raising interest rates without proper and timely notification. These muchneeded changes are long overdue and will help struggling debtors from sinking deeper in a financial hole. I urge my colleagues. on both sides of the aisle. to join in fixing the inequities in the credit card industry by supporting this vital legislation.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. this week I am proud that the House of Representatives will be voting on H.R. 1728. the Mortgage Reform and AntiPredatory Lending Act of 2009. This legislation will make critical reforms to end the abusive and predatory lending practices that have left so many Americans facing foreclosure. In my district in Orange County. California. we have seen the results of abusive and predatory lending too frequently as foreclosures have weakened our neighborhoods and our communities. and it has forced many of our people out of their homes. Most of these foreclosures are the result of "toxic loans" that were issued by several subprime lenders in Orange County. California. For that reason. I am particularly pleased that H.R. 1728 will ensure that lenders make loans that benefit the consumer and prohibit lenders from steering borrowers into highercost loans. In addition. the legislation will establish a simple standard that all institutions offering home loans must ensure so that borrowers can actually repay the loans they receive. I am very pleased that we will be considering this bill. which addresses the reckless lending and lack of oversight. and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute the millions of men and women. in and out of uniform. who devote themselves daily to doing the publics work. Without the service of these dedicated and selfless individuals. the country could not function. Public servants are on the front lines in Iraq and on the front lines fighting the Swine Flu. They are the first to come to our aid in a crisis and the last to leave a burning building. They teach our children. pass our laws and bind our wounds. Without them. our lives would come to a halt. For their dedicated and continued service to the nation. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of public servants everywhere and in support of Public Service Recognition Week.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 313) supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week. and for other purposes.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 313.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H

bf Florida. I rise in support of this resolution and yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. each year during the month of May. we celebrate National Public Works Week. The public works professionals that we recognize today provide the country with essential services and keep our roads safe. our drinking water clean. and our Nation moving. House Resolution 313 honors American public works professionals and celebrates their work from May 17 through 23. 2009. The public works professionals that we recognize today keep our country running in the most basic and fundamental ways possible. These professionals design. construct and rehabilitate our transportation system. water infrastructure. levees. public buildings and other structures and facilities that are an intimate part of everyday life in the United States. It is appropriate to set aside 1 week each yeai to recognize the role that public works play in bur daily life. Far too often we take for granted clean water or the method of transportation that we use to get to work. In fact. we do not begin to fully appreciate these everyday conveniences until they fail us. What happened in New Orleans made -the importance. of public works crystal clear toeveryone. Their lack of clean water. safe infrastructure and basic human needs was a stark reminder that we need to be vigilant to ensure that the citizens of our country get the critical services they need in their lives. I visited New Orleans numerous times following the hurricane. and I want to encourage everyone not to forget New Orleans. because they still have a ton of rebuilding that needs to be done there and in the other gulf States. .As our Nations infrastructure ages. it is increasingly likely that more and more elements ofit will cease to be productive without refiewed investment. It is for this reason that we must recognize the need to revitalize our infrastructure and find ways to make it more efficient. House Resolution 313 honors the tens of thousands of public works professionals that serve the public quietly. These are the professionals that keep our country operating safely. Madam Speaker. I support this resolution and hope that all my colleagues will support it as well. I reserve the balance of my time..
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE (democrat)
Chamber: H

JOHNSON of Texas. Thanks to Ms. BROWN and Mr. BOOZMAN for handling this legislation today. Today we considered House Resolution 313. recognizing National Public Works Week from Ma r 17 through The National Public Works Week is celebrated in May each year. This resolution pays tribute to the professionals that design. build and maintain critical elements of our Nations infrastructure. This body has always understood the value of these professionals and what theybring to our society. Professionals in the. public works sector provide us with safe and efficient roads. access to clean .drinking water and other essential services that keep our country running. It has become increasingly important that Congress designate 1 week each year to recognize those who work in the public works sector. Many people take for granted the public transportation system they use to commute eachday or the safe running water in their homes. Far too often we do not realize the importance of these systems until something goes wrong. At the beginning. of this Congress. the House passed a key water infrastructure bill. H.R. 1262. the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. And this piece of legislation increases authorization levels of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. grants provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to address combined and sanitary sewer overflows. as well as grants for alternative water source projects. These grants will go one step further to endure that every American has access to clean water. Madam Speaker. on February 17. 2009. President Obama signed into law the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The legislation provides for over $64 billion in investment in our Nations highway system. rail system and environmental 4nfrastructure. not enough but steps in the right direction. It is investment in these areas as well as other. critical infrastructure areas. that will put America back to work and see us out of these. troubling economic times. Im grateful for the administrators. engineers and servicemen who continue to utilize their skills and dedication to provide these essential services to us. I support this resolution and urge rn colleagues to join me and give our publiQ works professionals the recognition that they deserve.
Date: 2009-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 269) supporting the goals of Mtorcycle Safety Awareness Month.