macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DR LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I would tell the gentleman that the reason for the allencompassing waiver was that at the time the bill had not been fully drafted so we did not know the question of the scope of it. we still do not know questions of scope here and there. a word here or there and so on. The other reason was that not having to wait the 3 days with the report. With regard to the budget. I would tell the gentleman that two of the budget waivers that would be waived are technical in nature. one is that we have within the legislation authorization for spending in 1989 and since there is no resolution in place. no budget resolution in place for 1989. we have to have the waiver. Then I have been informed that the budget outlay for the committee and the current level of spending will be exceeded in 1988 by $70 million of which $50 million in 1989 will be the savings. So we are now having to do the waiver for the $20 million that will not be saved in 1989. The outlays for the budget for the House passage of this bill. we were spending $2.5 billion. and that was encompassed within the budget then. but now since we have to deal with the reconciliation we must have a waiver for that reason.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

On the expenditures for the Farmers Home Administration to protect borrowers who will be given allowances to restructure their bills. but It will be under the legislation where we save in 1989 $50 million under the Farmers Home legislation as we have it in the bill.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

We have money coming in but the reason is that we are paying the interest on the loans. the Government wrn pay the interest on the loans until the system can pick it up on its own and then all of that will be repaid in the end. But the budget forces us to go this route.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois . pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this legislation has been drafted by the Committee on Agriculture of the House and the Committee on Agriculture in the Senate. passed by both the Senate and the House. Now we have arrived at a consensus and an agreement in the conference. Explanations of the legislation have been at both cloakrooms for more than 2 hours. which explain better than I could at this point. Let me just say that the situation in rural America is such that we need to act. The situation is getting slightly better. The 1985 act is falling in place properly. We are having a hopefully turnaround in the terrible problem that our farmers and ranchers in rural America have experienced during the past several years. Mr. Speaker. I hope that my colleagues will join with us to send the message at this point that we care. that we would like for them to have another tool at their disposal. which is credit of an acceptable nature so that they could continue providing us with the excellent food and fiber that they have done in the past. Mr. Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas .
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. at this point I want to - thank the chairman and the members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the chairman and the members of the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs for their cooperation. their understanding of the plight that we and rural America face. and their willingness to work with us. Mr. Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan . our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee . chairman of the subcommittee that initiated the effort and handled in his subcommittee the major work on this legislation.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina . a distinguished member of our committee.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to our distinguished colleague. the gentleman from California a member of our committee.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota . a member of our committee. who did yeoman work on this legislation in relation to the Farmers Home Administration part of the bill.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield. 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Idaho . I(Mr. STALLINGS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Espy]. a member of our committee. who has done tremendous work on this -legislation..
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield- myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I yield to all those who have labored on this legislation. and I would hope that we will send a message to rural America and those who supply the food and fiber for all of us that we care. This is a modest step but nonetheless a very positive step that we take so that we may assist our farmers in their plight. Mr. Speaker. with that I ask the Members to support the conference report.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks on -the conference report just agreed to.
Date: 1987-12-18
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. for the past 5 months the Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs Committee has been actively looking at the performance of the Federal Asset Disposition Association [FADA] and the $5.3 billion of assets under its control. Two criteria for grading FADAs overall performance seem clearthe cost and quality of FADAs asset management services. We are becoming increasingly concerned that FADA is failing in its mission to recover the maximum from troubled and failed institutions. In fact evidence -is mounting that FADA is wasting rather than saving resources for the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation [FSLIC]. The latest case historya very big case historyInvolves Vernon Savings and Loan in Texas. Only one entityFADA. itselfseems- satisfied with FADAs performance. The list of those unhappy with the cost and performance of FADAs operations at Vernon includes: Members of Vernons Board of Directors under the Management Consignment Program [MCP]. FSLIC officials. Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas [Dallas Bank] officials. Officers. of Vernon and the San An-. tonio Savings Association which were responsible for the overall operation of Vernon in the MCP program. Outside legal counsel and consultants. From the evidence amassed by the committees investigators. there is amply reason for the unhappiness. Among the complaints have been charges that First. FADA was awarded an exclusive contract . to manage Vernons assets without proper consideration of the cost or quality of FADAs services. second. FADAs compensation was excessive. eventually reaching $5.3 million for asset management services alone. third. FADA was not timely in preparing for key decision points. fourth. FADA attempted to circumvent established reporting channels. and fifth. FADA refused to support Vernon litigation efforts. Mr. Speaker. an internal memorandum from the Dallas Bank reflects the sentiments of the Vernon Board of Directorsa Board installed by the Dallas Bank and approved by theFederal Home Loan Bank Board [FHLBB]. I quote: "Vernon management is not satisfied with FADAs performance to date and characterized managements frustrations in this regard as: Paranoia by FADA personnel. lack of accountability for costs. insufficient reporting. poor client relations. questionable quality and organizational dysfunction." Several members of the Vernon Board talked with committee investigators. reiterating the sentiment expressed in the Dallas Banks internal. memo. They told the Committee that firing FADA had beenconsidered. One told the committee staff: It is a real strange kind of a situation that we are working with. having an asset manager operating as. a contractor for us even though we are unable to contract with FADA for services we want. In the private sector If the contractor doesnt perform we fire them. except in this situation we cant.
Date: 1987-12-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the bill to provide that certain charitable donations. and payments for blood contributed. shall be excluded from income for purposes of the Food Stamp Program.-with a Senate amendment thereto. and concur in the Senate amendment.
Date: 1987-12-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the bill to extend the authorization of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978. and for other purposes.
Date: 1987-12-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I -have no objections to the amendments made to H.R. 2401 by the Senate and urge that the House pass H.R. 2401 as amended and passed by the Senate. One amendment would increase the level of authorized appropriations from $12 million annually in the House bill. to $15 million. This is the current level of appropriations that is authorized. although the Renewable Resources Extension Act Program has never received more than $4 million in any year since it began. The second amendment would reauthorize the RREA Program through the year 2000. The Senate had insisted on a 10year reauthorization while the House bill would have reauthorized the program through 1995. I have no objection to the Senate amendment since it would still provide for reauthorization and review of the RREA Program in sync with RREAs own 5year planning process and with the periodic national planning efforts of the USDA Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service. Whether we reauthorize RREA for 8 years or 12 years is not as critical as ensuring that the USDAs Extension Service. Soil Conservation Service. and Forest Service better coordinate their efforts to assist private landowners in conserving and managing their natural resources. Bringing RREAs planning process into sync. with that of the other agencies should help.
Date: 1987-12-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 calendar days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate amendments to H.R. 2401 and H.R. 3435.
Date: 1987-12-21
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

No. no. Howard Baker of the administration has assured me that the President will sign this bill. That was from his own lips.
Date: 1988-02-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. if there be any alternative to force of arms. weas a nation and as a peoplehave a moral responsibility to explore such an alternative in cooperation with all people of good faith who have the same commitment. Peace and its derivative liberties must be sought by all peaceful means possible before resorting to the raw force of arms. For if peace is achieved by force of arms. we have started on an irreversible road of using arms as the sole arbiter of freedom. And this is neither good nor healthy for a world power. or a weak people. Our intervention in the manner proposed today only enables the civil strife to continueand it divides families. putting brother against brother. father against son. and only encourages a nation to be at war with itself. My vote for now must be to abide by our responsibility to explore all peaceful means.
Date: 1988-02-03
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill to amend the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 and for other purposes. and ask for Its immediate consideration.
Date: 1988-02-03
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we understood that it was cleared with the minority. We understood it was cleared through the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce with the gentleman from Illinois .
Date: 1988-02-03
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill to amend the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 and for other purposes. and ask for its immediate consideration In the House.
Date: 1988-02-03
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the House insist on its amendments to the Senate bill to amend the Federal Rail Safety Act of 1970. and for other purposes. and request a conference with the Senate thereon.
Date: 1988-02-09
Speaker: PETER KOSTMAYER (democrat)
Chamber: H

LEON PANETTA. BOB DORNAN. Senator DAN QUAYLE. and former Senator Eugene McCarthy have taken part in past Hexagon productions. This year several more of our colleagues ae expected to perform in the March 9 special revue for Congress. In its early years. the Hexagon group performed one weekend a year. and raised some $1.000 for a charity in the Washington area. In the early 1970s Hexagon began to grow. It moved to a larger auditorium. began advertising. and expanded its run to two weekends. During that time. the group raised about $20.000 to $30.000 annually for such worthy groups as the American Cancer Society. the D.C. Kiwanis Crippled Children Clinic. and Second Genesis. a drug rehabilitation program. In the late 1970s. Hexagon further defined its guidelines to direct the shows proceeds to the specific needs or activities of a Washingtonbased charity that directly bonefits Washingtonarea residents. As the group grew and became better known. the shows proceeds also grew. In 1979. Hexagon raised $75.000 for the Capital Childrens Museum. Between 1981 and 1086. the show raised over $763.000 for six community organizations. including funds to install a new roof and expand the dining room of a soup kitchen and purchase equipment for a training program for the visually handicapped. Through 1987. Hexagons efforts have raised some $1.3 million for area charities. Last year. 400 volunteers took part in the Hexagon production. which raised $135.000 for the Higher Achievement Program [HAP]. which Itself received the Presidents Volunteer Action Award in 1982. Proceeds from last years show are being used to expand and upgrade HAPs six tutoring centors for lowincome. highaptitude children in Washingtons inner city neighborhoods. In June 1987. Hexagon was awarded the Presidents Volunteer Action Award at a White House luncheon with President Reagan. The award is presented to the outstanding volunteer group In America and Hexagon was one of the 18 so honored. Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to join me in helping Hexagon to continue its successful efforts in helping an area charity by supporting this years production and espocially the March 9 "Congress Goes to Hexagon" special night. Tickets may be obtained at the Congressional Staff Club office. Room 805. House Annex No. 1. and details may be obtained by phoning 2263250. Hexagons 19138 production promises to be as entertaining as ever for the audiences and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington will be the winners.
Date: 1988-02-17
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today I am introducing a private bill for the relief of the T.W. Rounds Co. of Providence. RI. Let me explain why Congress should provide overdue relief denied by the U.S. Customs Service In this classic case of injustice at the hands of Government bureaucrats. In May 1985. Mr. Chester Myers. of the T.W. Rounds Co.. was coining back from a buying trip in Europe carrying name brand luggage he is authorized to import into the United States. Upon arrival at Logan Airport. Mr. Myers was prepared. as usual. to pay the duty owed on his merchandise which was worth $6.144. However. it was Memorial Day and Mr. Myers was told he would have to leave his merchandise with Customs for formal entry at a later date. Ile was given a receipt. Nearly 3 years later. Mr. Myers has neither his merchandise nor compensation for his companys loss. After 2/2 years of letters. telegrams. attorneys. and one embarrassingly inadequate Customs investigation. Mr. Myers asked me for help. After yet another investigation. the Customs Service finally admitted they had made a mistake. Mr. Myers merchandise. it seemed. had been Improperly released to a representative of a third party. The third party denied that the recipient was employed by them. but the third party claimed to have returned the merchandise to Customs which still did not have the merchandise. Confused? Well. it doesnt really matter because the law says the Government doesnt have to pay if Customs loses your merchandise. Mr. Speaker. this law is absolutely outrageous. If the Government admits they lost a taxpayers property through negligence. the Government should have to provide compensation. This private relief bill provides the T.W. Rounds Co. with this compensationjust compensation which I hope Congress will approve without further delay.
Date: 1988-02-17
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. this month. the U.S. Virgin Islands has Joined in the national celebration of Black History Month. when we recall the contributions of black people who have helped build this Nation. In our schools and university classrooms and discussion in the media. our people have been making their history come alive again. For in this U.S. territorywhere roughly 80 percent of the population is black West Indianour history is rich with accounts of people who have overcome adversity. who have achieved great things. and who have used their talents to reach their ambitions and enrich their community. In recalling this history. we are finding new inspiration for achievements in business. government. academia. the arts and every facet of society. In recalling this history. we also are educating a new generation of Virgin Islanders who are setting their goals and looking for their place in our society. In the U.S. Virgin Islands. our modern political history has been a story of progressive movement toward selfgovernment. That has been a story of our native West Indian people taking over the institutions of their own society as we have moved from our position as a Danish colony until 1917 to our current status as a largely selfgoverning territory. Black history in the Virgin Islands also is the story of the blending of cultures from Africa. Europe. the United States. and the entire Caribbean. In recent decades. the Virgin Islands has become a magnet for West Indians from throughout the Caribbean. They have come by the thousands from Tortola. St. Kitts. Antigua. St. Martin. Guadeloupe. and every other island in the region. They have made tremendous contributions to our economy. our culture and our society. And many of them are now coming into their own. becoming full U.S. citizens and successful enterpreneurs. When future generations look back at the recent history of the Virgin Islands. they will see it as a period of creative blending of black Caribbean histories and cultures.
Date: 1988-02-17
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. with the recent passing of G. Mennen Williams our Nation has lost a great leader and Michigan one of its greatest public servants. A man whose career was nothing less than brilliant. Soapy Williams was for decades a distinguished leader. Governor of Michigan. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the Kennedy administration. Ambassador to the Philippines during the Johnson administration. member and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Courtthese are all positions he held. Each In itself is an accomplishment of which to be proud. Cumulatively they serve as testimony to the vision of a man who leaves behind him a tremendous monument of good works. G. Mennen Williams served with candor. integrity. selflessness. and devotion to the principles of good. honest. clean and effective government for all people. A man of quality. a man of leadership. and a man who felt that the care of human life and happiness was the first and foremost objective of good government. G. Mennen Williams will be missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing him.
Date: 1988-02-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would like to add my comments and appreciation for this legislation. and I would like to share just one of the many. many encounters that H.R. Gross had with many of us as Members. Mine was a very opportune and favorable one that occurred during a suspension period. The chairman of the subcommittee was called from the Chamber. and he left me here as a very young first termer. I knew very little of procedure and less of the legislation. and when I moved to suspend the rules. H.R. Gross stood up and started questioning me. So to the first question. I replied . "I dont know." To the second question. I replied. "I dont know." To the third question I replied. "I dont know." Then he said. "Well. I withdraw my reservation. I appreciate your honesty." So that is how we passed the bill. From then on we became very good and dear friends.
Date: 1988-02-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to make technical corrections in the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. as amended.
Date: 1988-02-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I urge the House to approve the adoption of H.R. 3980. This bill will simply make a number of technical corrections to the provisions of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. The bill does not change. at all. the conference agreement on the 1987 act. In other words. it is not a technical improvements bill. but literally a technical corrections bill. The need for the legislations was occasioned by the fact that. late last December. the Joint conference committee staff had only 48 hours. working around the clock. to draft the conference agreements in bill language to enable the Committee on Agriculture to take the conference report to the floor before adjournment. The conference agreement. in some instances. varied substantially from both the House bill and the Senate amendment. As a result. there are numerous erroneous crossreferences and possibly ambiguous provisions. The bill does nothing more than attempt to put the finishing touches on bill language that would have been done earlier had there been sufficient time.
Date: 1988-02-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I apologize to the gentleman if there were any staff omissions. The work has been done and it has been cleared. Maybe more time should have been allowed to the gentleman. but it has been presented to the staff. I will be happy to answer any questions that the gentleman might have. or any other of our colleagues.