macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation. and for other purposes.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I would just note before recognizing Representative GONZALEZ that this is an authorization measure but there is money that has already been appropriated and allocated to States under HAVA that if we pass this would then become available for the backup paper ballots. Mr. Speaker. I would now recognize a member of the committee. a former judge and valued colleague. Congressman CHARLES GONZALEZ. for 2 minutes.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. before yielding to Mr. ELLISON. I would like to include in the RECORD a letter from the Secretary of State of Ohio urging support of the bill.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I now would yield to the gentleman from Minnesota whose Secretary of State has been a witness in our committee and who has been a leader in election law reforms. 2 minutes.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. before recognizing Mr. LANGEVIN. I would note that the Secretary of State Associations helped us draft this bill. but they were not going to have a meeting to actually take a vote on support in time for today. But they did assist in the drafting. I would now recognize our colleague from Rhode Island. Congressman LANGEVIN. who is a former Secretary of State himself. for 2 minutes on the bill.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. at this point. I would like to recognize a valued member of our committee. Congresswoman SUSAN DAVIS. for 2 minutes.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. at this point I would like to recognize for 2 minutes the gentleman from New Jersey who has worked so diligently on election matters in this Congress.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

The last speaker that we were expecting has not shown. so if the gentleman is prepared to close and yield back. I will do the same.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I would urge that we approve this very modest measure. As has been noted by the White House in their statement today. there is $1 billion that has been appropriated and remains unspent by States to prepare and conduct the 2008 elections. Most of those funds are allocated to the purchase of DREs that have been so troublesome. and this authorization would allow for a very modest portion of a maximum of $75 million of that appropriated funds to be used for backup paper ballots. In my own county of Santa Clara. we ran out of ballots this election year. and people were scrambling. That was before the massive budget cuts that the county is facing. And I will just say this. Having been on the board of supervisors for longer than I have been in the United States House of Representatives. I understand how tough it is to balance those budgets. At local government. there is no deficit spending. What you have got is what you can spend. So county boards of supervisors all over the country are trying to figure out how to run an election with local funds and also keep the county hospital open and also fund the sheriffs department and also keep the parks open and keep the streets paved. I fear that backup paper ballots in November are not going to compete with some of the more pressing needs and so this bill is enormously important. We can pass it today and have a more orderly election so that no American is denied their right to vote. I urge Members to put partisanship aside. to support this very modest measure that is supported by election officials all over the United States. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that if the - gentleman from Ohio offers a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House at any time on the legislative day of July 15. 2008(1) the previous question shall be considered as ordered thereon without intervening motion except one motion to refer and one motion to table (which shall have precedence in the order stated). and (2) the Speaker may postpone further proceedings on such a vote on any such motion as though tnder clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule XX.
Date: 2008-07-17
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. yesterday I introduced a bill to protect our Nations food supply and rural economies. This bill. the Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008. will block meat imports from Argentina until the USDA can certify to Congress that every region of that country is free of FMD. The USDA is currently considering opening the U.S. protein market to select regions of Argentina. a country with a history of FMD outbreaks. Thisplan is flawed. It assumes that a highly infectious. airborne disease like FMD would stop at imaginary borders. and it trusts Argentina to effectively police itself. Argentina is a country that lacks the infrastructure to handle FMD outbreaks. The USDA hasnt conducted a safety assessment in Argentina since the 2006 outbreak there. yet it is still moving with their plan to regionalize the country. This doesnt make sense. and it is not sound policy. FMD has the potential to wipe out our livestock industry overnight. as it did to the British economy. which lost nearly $20 billion with their outbreak in 2001. resulting in 6 million animals destroyed. A similar outbreak here would cripple the liVestock industry. shut down exports of American beef. and send meat prices through the roof. * I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring - this bill to block the USDAs plan to regionalize Argentina.
Date: 2008-07-17
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. President Bush has called upon the country for. more domestic drilling. This bill says yes. Mr. President. lets drill. Lets drill in those areas that are already leased and already ready to go because what the President has not told the American people is that there are over 68 million acres of Federal lands already leased to the big oil and gas companies. They are not moving forward on those leases. They are sitting tight. They like the status quo. Theyre making record profits. Gas is over $4 a gallon. They like it that way. What the President said is dont push forward on those already existing leases. Lets go up in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. But what he hasnt said is the Department of Energy. his own Department of Energy. has found that we wont see one drop of gas on the market for another 10 years as a result of that drilling. and even then the price will be insignificant. If we really want to get going now. two things weve got to do: One. we need to begin to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Thats 10 days until it hits market. Not 10 years. Two. weve got to crack down on the speculators. and this Congress is going to move forward on that measure. We hope we have the Presidents support because he has said no to releasing oil from the SPR. In the longer term. we have to do two other things: responsible drilling. and thats what this bill calls for. and we need to make that investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. If were going to truly reduce and crack our addiction to oil. especially foreign oil. we need to move forward on those fronts. This is a responsible bill that says to the President. yeah. lets start drilling on all of those areas where the oil companies have the ability to do that. Theyre sitting on it. They like it that way. Lets send them a message.
Date: 2008-07-22
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1241. congratulating Ensign DeCarol Davis as valedictorian of the Coast Guard Academys class of 2008. with the distinction of being the first African American female to achieve this high honor. Ms. Daviss outstanding achievements truly exemplify the character and work ethic that we strive to see in all of our Nations young people. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy not only maintains the highest academic standards but provides students with rigorous professional development and leadership training. After years of rigorous study and a commitment to excellenc6 at the Academy. Ms. Davis academic accomplishments have earned her the honor of valedictorian in a class of over 200 other outstanding cadets. In addition to making history by becoming the first African American woman to serve as class valedictorian of the Coast Guard Academy. Ms. Davis also earned awards in science and technologyacademic fields historically dominated by men. In addition to being named valedictorian. Ms. Davis was also named a 2007 Truman Scholar and was a recipient of the 2008 Connecticut Technology Council Women of Technology Award. A wellrounded student. Ms. Davis excelled at sports. and was selected as a 2006 Arthur Ashe. Jr. Womens Basketball First Team Scholar. No stranger to outstanding academic accomplishments. she also served as the 2004 valedictorian of Forest Park High School in her hometown of Woodbridge. VA. Making community service a priority as well. Ms. Davis regularly volunteered at a local elementary school. introducing students to science. technology. and engineering as career paths. At a time when Congress has encouraged the Academy to seek diversity in recruiting cadets. Ms. Davis stands as a testament to the quality of candidates that would result from this practice. It is truly a pleasure to honor such an exceptional young woman who has now gone on to dedicate her career to serving and defending our country. I have no doubt that the rigor and discipline utilized to propel her academic career will certainly aid her development and success at the U.S. Coast Guard. I congratulate this exceptional young woman for her service and commitment to excellence and wish her the very best. I encourage my colleagues to support H. Res. 1241.
Date: 2008-07-22
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of S. The Clean Water Act is clear in its mandate that point source discharges into waters of the United States are subject to regulation. But while the law is clear on this point. the Act is less clear in providing guidance on how to deal with the concerns of mobile sources. Discharges from vessels complicate this matter all the more. First. the sheer numbers of vessels make pollution control and regulation challenging. Secondand very importantlywe are unclear on the effects of many of the discharges that emanate from vessels. Third. efforts to address mobile sources of pollution are inherently more complicated than that of stationary ones. For many yearsfrom 1973 to 2005the Environmental Protection Agency avoided these vexing issues by decreeing that discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel were exempt from regulation. While a convenient and understandable approach to the challenges of regulating vessels under the Clean Water Act. EPA did nothing to control or even understand the nature of discharges that stemmed from vessels. In 2005. however. a federal court ruled that EPA had acted in excess of its authority in "exempting an entire category of discharges" from regulation under the Clean Water Act. As a result of this Court decision. all vessels would be subject to Clean Water Act permitting requirements by September 30th of this year. in both pieoes of legislation before us today4n this bill. S. 3298 as well as in the Clean Boating Actwe seek to strike a balance among the various factors that have been central to the issue of minimizing pollution from vessels. And I believe we have been successful in realizing this challenge. Central to S. 3298 is a moratorium of 2 years from regulation for a majority of vessels potentially eligible. During this time. the EPA will do what it has not done enough of beforerigorously study what vessels actually discharge. and what the human health and environmental effects of those discharges might be. This will provide the Congress with additional information that will allow us to properly address whether. what. and how the discharge of pollutants from vessels should be addressed. Among the vessels that will be subject to the moratorium is much of the Nations fishing fleet. We recognize the financial margins that fishermen are subject to. and realize it would not be prudent to control their various discharges without better information. However. given the uncertainty related to the types. volumes. and composition of discharges from larger commercial vessels. such as cruise ships and supertankers. these vessels are excluded from the 2 year moratorium. This is only right. Our Nations valuable fisheries and coastal areas should not be subject to the discharge of pollutants that enter our Nations waters in such quantities. Mr. Speaker. S. 3298 strikes an appropriate balance between precaution and commerce. and between aquatic health and pragmatism. I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation today.
Date: 2008-07-22
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Messrs. CUMMINGS. CAPUANO. BISHOP of New York. Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Messrs. LIPiNSKI. BRALEY of Iowa. ARCURI. MICA. .PETRI. LATOURETTE. BROWN of South Carolina. SHUSTER. MARIO DIAZBALART of Florida. and WESTMORELAND. From the Committee on Science and Technology. for consideration of secs. 105 and 305 of the Senate bill. and modifications committed to conference: Messrs. GORDON of Tennessee. Wu. and GINGREY.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 6532. a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance. Our Nations highway trust fund serves as the lifeblood for funding our Nations transportation infrastructure. Regrettably. the fund is facing an imminent shortfall due to decreased revenue into the fund. This shortfall comes at a most inopportune time as many states across the country are struggling to provide funding just for adequate highway maintenancelet alone new construction. The bill before us is important to my home State. as Texas has one of the most extensive surface transportation networks in the world. Texas has more than 10.000 miles of rail track. more than 300.000 miles of roadway and more than 50.000 bridgesmore than any other state in the Nation. Our transportation network is bursting at the seams. and failure to enact this bill render a significant blow to transportation construction and maintenance jobs across my State. We .simply cannot allow this to happen. In the absence of passage of H.R. 6532. the State of Texas stands to- lose $859 million in funding and a projected loss of 30.000 goodpaying jobs. The state has identified a funding gap of $86 billion between available resources and what is needed to achieve an acceptable level of mobility by 2030. By the year 2030. TXDOT predicts the states population is expected to increase by 64 percent. My State cannot afford a lapse in receiving its share of Federal highway funding made available by
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. we have record declines in home prices. 4.8 percent in May. $400 billion in losses and writedowns by banks. One of every 500 homes are in the foreclosure process. and 2.8 million homes are at risk of foreclosure. If this is a bailout. it is a bailout of the United States of America. Yes. Fannie and Freddie are too big to fail. and we should not fail them. But this bill is balanced. It also helps Aunt Fannie and Uncle Freddie. It helps the everyday citizen to keep his. or her home. At some point. we have to realize that this helps not only institutions. it helps people. I support the bill. It is balanced and it is fair.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 3999. the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act. Madam Chairman. I believe it goes without saying that not only the State of Texas. but all of America stood in solidarity with Minnesota on August 1. 2007. after the tragic 135 bridge collapse. Since this unfortunate tragedy. our Chairman. Mr. OBERSTAR. has worked tirelessly to aid his State and the Nation to ensure that priority attention is given to the state of our countrys aging transportation infrastructure. Texans are intimately familiar with Interstate 35. as roughly onethird of the overall length of the interstate exists within Texas borders. The State of Texaswith roughly fiftythousand bridgeshas roughly forty percent more bridges than any other State in the nation. To its credit. the State of Texas has one of the most aggressive bridge programs in the country. As a testament to this aggressiveness. only four percent of the States bridges are -categorized as structurally deficient. In spite of this success. Texas is facing enormous and rapidly increasing transportation needs. Increases in population. trade growth. and travel in state have placed unprecedented demands on an under invested system. Based on Texass annual Report on Texas Bridges for 2006. Texas has approximately thirtythree thousand onsystem bridges. Twentyone percent of these were built before 1950 and fiftyfour percent have been in service for more than three decades. The bridges that are. or will be.. structurally deficient. functionally obsolete. or substandard for load only in the coming years must also be improved to ensure design standards are current and up to date. According my State Department of Transportation. 282 bridges categorized as structurally deficient are currently being rehabilitated or replaced. Another 1.303 bridges classified as structurally deficient are under development as part of the States tenyear Unified Transportation Plan. The States remaining 439 bridges classified as structurally deficient are not currently scheduled for rehabilitation or replacement. and no funding has been identified for them. The need for additional funds and resources for inspections. maintenance. rehabilitation. and replacement of bridges is desperately needed in Texas and it is my hope this bill is able to assist my State in a measurable way. Recently in my congressional district a 2footby2foot hole emerged in an eastern span of the Interstate30 Bridge in Dallas. According to my State DOT. in addition to the disruption to commuters. the bill just to rectify a 2footby2foot hole will cost upwards of $1.4 million dollars. As a country we are falling behind other industrialized nations tremendously in upgrading our Nations infrastructure. It is imperative that government at all levels begin to make transportation investment an urgent priority. Madam Chairman. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation and yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-23
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I come to the floor to recognize the many charities across this nation that serve children. and to support H. Res. 1296. Declaring September as National Child Awareness Month will provide an excellent collaborative opportunity for childrens charities and youthserving organizations by bringing national attention to issues of vital concern to our children such as education. healthcare. social service. active living. arts and character development. Childrens charities and youthserving organizations come in all shapes and sizes from the Boys and Girls Club to the Saint Joseph Ballet in Santa Ana. California. However. no matter the size. their mission is to improve the lives of the children they serve. The enhanced awareness of chilarens charities and youthserving organizations. that will be made possible by this resolution. will assist these organizations efforts to raise needed funding and to encourage volunteers to become involved in the lives of the most disadvantaged children in their communities. This Congress has made many symbolic gestures in support of children in the past. It is my hope that this resolution will have a greater impact resulting in the official declaration of September as National Child Awareness Month.
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. and to the Republic for which it stands. one nation under God. indivisible. with liberty and justice for all.
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I come to the. floor to acknowledge the bipartisan work of this Congress and the Bush administration on the housing bill that the House passed yesterday. This legislation is in the best interests of the American people. and it was the product of honest negotiation and compromise between the administration and this Congress. At the beginning of the 110th Congress. I had hoped that this type of work between the legislative and the executive branches would take place regularly. Unfortunately. it has been a rare occurrence. Im optimistic that the next. administration will be prepared to put forth ideas and to wprk collaboratively with the Congress instead of resorting to tired rhetoric and dragging their feet on policies that are supported by Americans. Im glad that we had a positive breakthrough and bipartisan negotiations with this important housing bill. It will provide needed assistance to homeowners. to communities. and Main streets across the Nation. And I look forward to the Senates swift passage of this legislation to enhance the economic future of the United States.
Date: 2008-07-24
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. today the minimum wage will increase to $6.55 an hour. This is laudable. However. Madam Speaker. if the truth be told. the increase will be consumed because of inflation. higher gas prices. and higher food prices. Madam Speaker. we must make the minimum wage a living wage. This is why I have introduced the Living American Wage Act. the LAW Act. such that we can have people who work full time always live above the poverty line. We have people in the richest country in the world. a country where 1 out of every 33 persons is a millionaire. we have people living in poverty and working full time. No one should work full time and live below the poverty line. We need to pass the Living American Wage Act. the LAW Act. The living wage should be the law.