macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for his work on this legislation and also for his work and dedication on the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee. which we lead together. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this legislation. The National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act will allow the publicprivate partnership responsible for the stewardship and management of our national forests and grasslands to continue. This legislation would reauthorize the National Forest Foundations matching funds program. This important program brings nonFederal partners and stakeholders together to keep our forests healthy and less prone to fire. In practice. this has generated more than $4 for our forests for every Federal dollar invested. I have seen the benefits of this program in my own district. Since 2010. the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has received grants from the National Forest Foundation to assist the Forest Service in conducting surveys and data collection on the wilderness areas within the New Mexico national forests. This data has helped the Forest Service combat invasive species and improve forest health in the Cibola. Carson. and Santa Fe National Forests. Our national forests are in dire need of this type of management and restoration in order to maintain valuable ecosystems and prevent devastating and costly wildfires. New Mexico. like many other States in the Southwest. has been experiencing severe drought. and. as a result. we have had recordbreaking fires that have burned hundreds of thousands of acres and have caused millions of dollars in damage. While we have seen some recent improvements. longterm projections indicate that drought conditions will worsen and spread to more States across the country. We must ensure that this program. which prevents costly and. oftentimes. irreparable damage to communities. personal property. and wildlife habitat. receives continued support. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

The European Union is denying our country status in terms of equivalency of rules. Historically. we have always had that. But what is very interesting is they have already given this standing to jurisdictions that have the same regime as ours. Why is that? Something very strange is going on in the European Union. They are discriminating against our financial system when they will go ahead and approve other regimes that are equal to ours but not ours. Why is this a terrible thing? Because. Mr. Chairman. our clearinghouses cant do business in Europe if we are not qualified. if we do not have that equivalency. So by taking that equivalency away. they are keeping our clearinghouses and our businesses from being able to be used there because the other market participants will go elsewhere rather than come and do business with us. There are millions of dollars at stake here. so we have got to certainly deal with that. Mr. Chairman. I do want to say something about this costbenefit analysis because this is not all truth is being told here. This costbenefit analysis is being put on because it has the way of being able to make us more efficient.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

This is important. Mr. Chairman. I have got my name on this bill. I have put the work and time into this bill. It is important that I give the reasons why I am supporting this bill. Now. this amendment says. as I said before. that a court must uphold the decision of the CFTC unless there has been an abuse of discretion. In a court of law. abuse is a high threshold to attain. If a firm wants to challenge the CFTC. they know right off that they better have beyond compelling facts to prove it. The CFTCs abuse of power is a discretion. We are letting anyone know who would dare to pursue litigation against the CFTC that they better think twice. Now. about the funding. Mr. Chairman. perhaps this cost analysis can help us build a case to take to the Appropriations Committee to get more money. The President has appropriately asked for more money for the CFTC. Year after year after year. I have been asking for more money. but I do believe that if we put the costbenefit analysis in thereand. again. Mr. Chairman. we have a section in there where this costbenefit analysis would be more succinct if it is done with an economist. Cost benefit is an economic issue. a financial issue. an economist should be doing that. not a lawyer. I believe. Mr. Chairman. that if we pass this bill. we will be taking a great step forward to be able to put our CFTC on the world stage to be able to negotiate the rules and regulations for the United States of America from a position of strength. not weakness. This is a very delicate time for us. and we are losing respect. Look at the EU. look at how other nations are treating us. Could it be. Mr. Chairman. that we are losing this respect largely because in a way by continuing year after yearthis is the third year of not reauthorizing CFTCby us doing that. we are not respecting ourselves. Mr. Chairman? Now. finally. Mr. Chairman. I do want to say this one thing about the end users. This is a very important piece of this bill. They cant wait another 3 years. They need this relief right away. and we need to do and be able to get them out of an identification of being a financial institution. Let me tell you why that is. End users are businesses who use a single entity that allows their company to centralize functions such as credit and risk. however. when the banking laws come in on finance. they put them in that category.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. just yesterday. I signed a letter with five other Ranking Members on this side of the aisle in opposition to this poorly conceived Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Reauthorization billwhich is also opposed by the Obama Administration. CFTC Chairman Massad. and a whole host of consumer groups. For those who arent familiar with it. the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has a very important job: it regulates the futures and options markets in the agricultural sector. including commodityrelated derivatives. While theres no question that the appropriate use of these financial instruments can help farmers and commercial end users hedge their commercial risk. recent history clearly demonstrates that the unregulated abuse of these kinds of products can distort markets. hurt consumers and put our entire economy at risk. The CFTCs authority was allowed to expire in 2013. so its reauthorization is long overdue. Having said that. todays legislation has multiple major defects. I will briefly describe three. First. Title II of H.R. 2289 imposes new bureaucratic requirements on an agency whose activities are already governed by the Commodity Exchange Act. the Paperwork Reduction Act. the Congressional Review Act. and the Regulatory Flexibility Act. With all due respect. the bureaucracy does not need more bureaucracy. In this case. it simply needs to do its job policing our financial markets. If enacted into law. Title II of this bill would undermine the CFTCs ability to do its job and subject the commission to unnecessary and costly litigation risk. Second. Title III of H.R. 2289 requires a complex new rulemaking for our international derivatives markets. While I support the goal of harmonizing global rules in this area. this provision of the bill interferes with the CFTCs ongoing negotiations to achieve that objective and instead substitutes and attempts to predetermine the majoritys preferred outcome for those negotiations. In my judgment. the CFTC should be allowed to complete its negotiations unfettered by the dictates of this legislation. Finally. the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that all of the additional requirements placed on the CFTC by this legislation will require 30 new employees at a cost of $45 million over the next five yearsa cost this bill does not even attempt to pay for. Moreover. an amendment to permit the CFTC to collect user fees to close that gap and help pay for the CFTCs operations was not even afforded the opportunity for an up or down vote on the floor of the House today. Mr. Chair. the reauthorization of the CFTC is an important subject. worthy of a far more thoughtful bill than we are being asked to consider today. I strongly urge a no vote. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. We have often worked. in the Judiciary Committee. as Mr. GOODLATTE has so noted. because of the bipartisan leadership. including the offerer of this bill. the gentlewoman from California
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it gives me great pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California . the longstanding author of this legislation.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am delighted to yield 11/2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee . who is the ranking member on the Judiciary Committees Regulatory Reform. Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I would like to Robert J. ONeill. Executive Director. make note that I came from local gov- International City/County Management Aseminent. so I have a letter signed by sociation. Jeffrey L. Esser. Executive Director. Govrepresentatives of the National Asso ernment Finance Officers Association. ciation of Counties. National League of Stephen Traylor. Executive Director. NaCities. U.S. Conference of Mayors. tional Association of Telecommunications International City/County Manage- Officers and Advisors. ment Association. Government Fi- Ms. JACKSON LEE. I want to be very nance Officers Association. and the Na- clear: I am here. as many Members are. tional Association of Telecommuni- to extend our hand of friendship for the cations Officers and Advisors. In part. protection of the Internet and the they simply say that they are writing question of sales on the Internet. I on behalf of local governments: "We hope we will be able to do that. I ask urge you to oppose the legislation. . . . my colleagues to consider the failings The most recent estimates provided by of the present bill and to. in its present the Congressional Budget Office." they form. oppose it. write. "indicate that. if enacted. H.R. To MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL 3086 would cost State and local govern- DELEGATION: As some of you already know. ments hundreds of millions of dollars this bill would make permanent the Internet in lost revenues." Tax Freedom Act and. importantly for NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUN- Texas. would repeal the existing grandfather TIES. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. clause that has been in place since the origiU.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. nal passage of the Act in 1998 that has alINTERNATIONAL CITY/COUNTY MAN- lowed Texas to impose sales and use taxes on AGEMENT ASSOCIATION. GOVERN- Internet access services at the state and MENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIA- local level. The Texas legislature just finished its reg-
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. let me thank Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. CHABOT. and Mr. COHEN for their great work on this instructive legislation. My appreciation for the Judiciary Committee is how we clarify the law. and in this instance the subcommittee has brought two conflicting legal tenets as relate to statutes and clarified them. So I want to celebrate it because it is directly impacting on the Nations museums and educational institutions. Let me cite some in my congressional district. Texas Southern University has an African American history museum. It is a beautiful display. This legislation will allow a small entity that could not stand under a lawsuit to be able to secure international gifts which they have received without the burden of litigation. In the early stages of my career in Congress. I represented. extensively. Houstons museum district: the Museum of Foreign Arts. with an outstanding curator. museum director. the Childrens Museum. the Health Museum. and the Museum of Natural Science. All of those have the tendency to receive these international gifts and also be subjected. potentially. because of the conflict to seizure. In particular. I remember working with the Museum of Fine Arts. maybe one of my greatest early opportunities of service. and to help them bring the Russian jewels to Houston. Texas. It was a long. long journey. not because of the distance but because of the conflicting laws and the entanglement of imports and protection of the jewels. I remember being at the dock receiving those jewels after a long wait. Just imagine if there had been this potential of seizure. which there was. but that there was the glaring opportunity there for seizure and it had occurred. What would have happened to this great art exchange and. as well. to what we were doing in Houston? Let me close by saying. Mr. Speaker. I want to support this bill extensively. and it will help all of these institutions across America.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it is my pleasure at this time to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas . the author of this legislation.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is always an honor to stand in the well of the House and have an opportunity to advocate on behalf of the constituents of the Ninth Congressional District. Today is no exception. Mr. Speaker. I am honored to stand here in support of bipartisan legislation. legislation that encourages law enforcement to use body cameras. This legislation is legislation that I am proud to say has received a good deal of support and a good deal of consideration and deliberation. I would like to thank the Speaker of the House. Mr. BOEHNER. for his assistance in bringing this legislation forward. Of course. the Honorable NANCY PELOSI must be given kudos as well. I thank her for allowing the legislation to come forward and assisting. The Democratic whip. Mr. HOYER. I want to thank him because we had a conversation concerning this legislation. Of course. the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee. the Honorable BOB GOODLATTE. he and I have had an opportunity to talk through this legislation. and I am eternally grateful for the consideration that you have given. sir. and I thank you. I also would like to thank the dean of the House of Representatives. the Honorable JOHN CONYERS. He has been here on so many occasions when legislation that is exceedingly important has been passed upon and has been a voice. a voice on all of these issues through the years. I am proud to say that I had an opportunity to speak to him about this legislation. Of course. I want to thank Mr. TED POE of Texas. He and I came to Congress together. and we worked together. This is a piece of legislation that he was the first to sign onto. H. Res. 295.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: EMANUEL CLEAVER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Missouri

he and I have worked together to shepherd this from the very beginning. and he is still a part of it. He is not here tonight. but he is with us on this legislation. I am proud to say he is a friend. and he has been a partner throughout the effort to bring this legislation to the floor of the House.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as I indicated. we see a reduction in complaints. As we view the many incidents that have occurred around the country. there is no question that there is a divide. I believe that these body cameras can span the chasm across the divide and make a difference in the perception that we have in the way our police and our communities interact with each other. I am proud to be a sponsor. and I am proud to have the cosponsors that we have. I am proud that the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee has signed onto this and that the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee is on board. I want to thank my colleague from Houston. Texas. the Honorable SHEILA JACKSON LEE. who has served on the Judiciary Committee for many. many years. and I am most appreciative that she. too. finds favor with this piece of legislation. I am honored that she is on the floor tonight to shepherd it through. and I pray that my colleagues all will support what I believe to be a piece of legislation that can span the chasm between the police and the community in a most positive way.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this is not dealing with a vast group of protesters. which. ultimately. did occur in the last 24 hours in that area. This is dealing with youngsters. Many of us raise children and send them to pools and various camps. and we hope they will be well. but this is understanding the whole level of law enforcement. Again. I believe it is time for the Congress to recreate the criminal justice system. Juveniles are naturally fearful of authority and lack maturity when faced with fearful events. Running is the natural instinct of most youth. and in this case. the youth attempted to leave when the police approached to disperse the crowd. Then the police chased. shooting a Taser. When the officer confronted the young girl with aggression. other youth attempted to help herthat is. teenagerswho were also threatened with force by the officers. These children received mixed messages. Establishing trusting relationships between youth and police officers is of the utmost responsibility. What I would say is that the outrage and the expressions of a community and parents came about because we were not talking to each other. because actions did not track what those young people were doing in McKinney. They were being teenagers. They were running. They may have had the incidences of misbehavior. and. frankly. they could have been handled in a way that the misbehavior could have been addressed. Why now? Again. I opened with the remarks that we now have an opportunity to kickstart this wonderful discussion of criminal justice reform. Wonderful? Yes. because. in America. we are a nation of civilians and law. The civilian law enforcement is made up of those who implement those laws. but the Constitution reigns as well. I look forward to working with the chairman and the ranking member and all of the Members of this body and the Judiciary Committee for a very constructive journey on letting the American people know that we hear their pain. that we respect those who uphold the law. and that we are going to work constructively to do that. I left Houston while talking to a police officer. I know he is not listening. but let me just simply say thank you for the service that you give. Hopefully. he will hear this and will know that we are committed to working together in this Congress. I ask my colleagues to support House Resolution I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

for their work on this as well. I also want to thank all of the staff involved. This is an important issue. and it will help to inform us as we move ahead on a number of issues related to criminal justice reform. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Chair. I rise to offer an amendment regarding HUDs multifamily transformation plan. I will ultimately withdraw this amendment because I know that there will be Republican opposition. but I think it is important for me to speak out against the illadvised plan. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is currently in the process of a major consolidation of its multifamily offices. which it has dubbed the multifamily transformation plan. I have been vocal in my skepticism of HUDs assurances that this plan will bring about significant savings without impacting program delivery. In fact. last year this House approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill that required HUD to follow a transformation plan that maintains asset management staff in its field offices. I fought for this amendment because I believe strongly that HUDs plan to consolidate the important function of asset management from 17 hubs overseeing 50 field offices into just 5 hub locations and 7 satellite offices would significantly impair program delivery without resulting in significant cost savings. Asset management is a handson job which calls for an intimate knowledge of the local housing market and frequently requires staff to make onsite visits to troubled properties. That is why it is so important to have asset management staff in local field offices to respond to local needs. Unfortunately. I have been hearing from advocates that HUD has been failing to replace vacancies in asset management positions in field offices and is only hiring new asset management staff in hub locations. This is unacceptable. There are already two field offices that have completely shuttered because they have no working staff. In Los Angeles. we have already lost 15 asset management staff who have not been replaced. My amendment would ensure that HUD prioritizes the hiring of asset management staff in local field offices for vacancies that occur in the next fiscal year instead of continuing to consolidate this important function to a select few hub and satellite locations. It would help ensure that our multifamily field offices remain open and operating at current staffing levels. Without this amendment. local multifamily offices will continue to have more vacancies that go unfilled. I regretfully ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California?
Date: 2015-06-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title). insert the following: SEC. . None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of section 5309 of title 49. United States Code. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 287. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.