macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I thank the gentleman from Florida for that very clear explanation. crystal clear explanation as to what some of the problems that we are seeing with this move to use all sorts of procedural maneuvers to try to block. torpedo the nomination of Mr. Miguel Estrada. and again. it Is hard to believe that this is actually happening in this day and age. We have talked about. as the honorable gentleman from Florida talked about. the double standard. and it is not just one double standard that is being applied to Mr. Estrada. It is multiple double standards. and it is multiple double standards. and some of the people that are actually speaking these words and opposing Mr. Estradas nomination are on record in the past saying just the opposite. Why? Why all of the sudden. when it is this person. again. the first Hispanic American ever to be nominated to this most prestigious court. why is it that now there is this double standard? There are people who have said. for example. that the gold seal to determine if one is so qualified or not is the ABAs rating. and yet Mr. Estrada has been rated as the highestqualified person that that organization rates anybody. And yet all of the sudden. for Miguel Estrada. that is not good enough. and it seems to me a very sad day when people who just a few months ago said something totally different are now backtracking on their own words. reversing what they said. Were they not saying what they meant then. or are they not saying what they mean now? Were they deceiving the people then or are they .deceiving the people now? It is a very. very sad state of affairs. I am honored to have the gentleman from the State of Colorado here join us today. and I would. Mr. Speaker. like to yield some of my time to the honorable gentleman from Colorado.
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. let me. if I may interrupt the gentleman from Colorado. Let me see if I understand what the gentleman just said because that is a key point there. Some of them who are objecting to him are saying that because he has not been a judge before. that alone disqualifies him? Just that fact alone disqualifies Mr. Miguel Estrada?
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. but what the gentleman has just expressed right now. and I want to make sure this is clear because this almost sounds funny. the gentleman is saying that in the same court where Mr. Miguel Estrada has been nominated to sit. right now there are five judges that. before they were there. they had never been judges before. and is the gentleman telling me that there was no objection on that basis to those judges?
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his comments. Those are disturbing facts. Those are very disturbing facts because if the litmus test. as some are saying for Mr. Estrada. is that he has never been a judge. how is it possible that there are others on that same court. today. right now*. as we speak. and of course. as you just mentioned. sir. the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States right now. they had never been judges. and yet those same individuals that are now saying that that is the reason why Mr. Estrada cannot be a judge. those same individuals did not object to these other fine public servants on the court?
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flo

ida. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado for really shedding some light. and I had a friend who used to say do not let the facts confuse the issue. and there are some people that do not want to let the facts confuse the issue. The honorable gentleman from Colorado just brought some impressive facts. He talked about Miguel Estradas qualifications. Yes. he would be the first Hispanic to sit on this court. but let me tell my colleagues. I am ol Hispanic descent. and I am very proud of that. but I am not supporting Miguel Estrada merely because he is Hispanic. I am supporting him because of his talents. because of his integrity. because of his record. because of his life of achievements. and we heard from the gentleman from Colorado what some of those achievements are: graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia College. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. unaiimously stated to be well qualified. the highest rating from the American Bar Association. and then. yes. he worked at the Department of Justice for both Republican andDemocrat Presidents and has been called "an extraordinary legal talent and generally compassionate." by President Clintons Solicitor General. - 0 2000 What. then. is the real reason? What is the true reason that the body across the hall is using procedural measures to stop a vote? They do not even want him to have a vote. They do not want this gentleman to have the possibility to receive a vote. a public vote in front of the entire country. to let people decide in an open fashion whether they should vote up or down. Why is it then. if he is so qualified. why is it then. if the reasons du jour. the excuses du jour. are proven to be false. like the ones we Just heard before. that the reason he cannot be a judge is because he has never been a judge before. yet there are five .members of that same court that had never been a judge? That was never a problem for them. Why is it only a problem for this man? They say. well. some documents have not been released. But there are seven individuals that have also come out of that same office who have become Judges. and those documents were never asked of them. And in a bipartisan fashion. all living exSolicitors General have said. both Republicans and Democrats. that those papers cannot be released. and they have never been requested. Why is it then. that only for this man. for this individual. these things are requested? And why is it then. that they are going to the most extraordinary means to use procedural measures to not even permit a vote. to not even permit a vote on one who would be the first Hispanic. the first Hispanic in the history of this noble country to reach that position? I am honored tonight to also have the distinguished gentlewoman from the State of Michigan. and who comes here with an extensive public record from her State. who I will yield to at this time. Mr. Speaker.
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

Ida. If I may reclaim my time. Mr. Speaker. for just a moment. Let me ask the gentlewoman from the State of Michigan a question. Because one of the things I get back home a lot. and like my colleague mentioned. I am new to this process here in Washington. D.C.. but one of the things I get a lot and I have heard for years Is. well. people are Just fed up with the double talk. They say. all that double talk up there in Washington. And certainly some people say one thing one day and something else a different day. and so they are fed up. That is one of the things that we all. I guess. and I am going to ask the gentlewoman If she has heard a lot of that In her years of public service also. during her campaign. and now that she is having public hearings. I have seen some really interesting examples of that. which I have to admit have shocked me. Even having heard that all these years. upon arriving here I have seen some examples that have frankly shocked me. They have been so blatant. frankly. it is to the point of being shocking. When. as the gentlewoman mentions. certain people say the standard. the ABA ratIng. is the gold standard. and then all of a sudden. Cops. just kidding. never mind. not for Mr. Estrada. For everybody else. yes. but not for Mr. Estrada. Then we have certain people. distinguished people. very wellrespected people. people we see in the news all the time. and people that we see interviewed all the time who have stated that. for example. that they would fight tooth and nail against filibustering of any judicial nominee. any judicial nominee. And I have read this from the Senate record. that they have said I am opposed to any filibustering of any judicial nominee. whether I like the person or not. because they have the right to have a vote. And then. all of a sudden. that same individual is one of those leading the fight to do what. to filibuster Mr. Estradas nomination. Not vote against him. but filibustering. Just a while ago he said that he would go to the extreme to stop a filibuster for any nomination. for any judicial nomination.
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. That is a very interesting point. because there is bipartisan support for Mr. Estrada. In the Senate we keep hearing that be has more than enough votes. that if in fact these procedural steps are just not done and they allow an up or down vote. that the votes are there. But they Just do not even want to allow for a vote. I want to get back to the gentlewoman from Michigan. but before I do so. we are also joined by the gentleman from Oklahoma. We just heard the passion from our dear friend from Michigan. She is passionate about it because of the injustice of what is happening to this fine individual. Again. he would be the first Hispanic in the history of this country. the first Hispanic American in the history of this country to reach that position. to be on such a prestigious court. His record is impeccable. Democrats and Republicans have stated that his record is impeccable. Those that worked for him have stated just about the quality and the talent and the integrity. the immense integrity of this human being. There has been nothing that they have been able to find negative in his record. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Yet the bar. or the goal posts are continuously being moved by those that would oppose him.
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I will try to do so. I thank the Speaker for letting me know about that. It is hard to believe why this is happening. It is hard to believe why this gentleman is being treated differently than others who have come before him. It is hard to understand why others who are equally qualified or less qualified have not had the problems in the process that Mr. Estrada has had. He has answered more questions than just about anybody. Because I have heard that one of the reasons is that. well. he has not answered enough ouestions. But he has answered over 125 questions from the esteemed Members of the other body. Other judges have answered many less. One judge recently. of President Clintons two nominees to the court. one answered three questions. the other answered. I believe. 20. Mr. Estrada answered 125 questions. Yet some will say. that is not enough. It was enough for others. but not for Mr. Estrada. I would like to know if the honorable Member from Oklahoma is as dismayed to see what is happening as are many of us who are watching this going on and are wondering what is the real reason. what is really behind this. It is not the reasons that they are stating. so what are the real reasons? I yield. Mr. Speaker. to the gentleman from Oklahoma.
Date: 2003-02-26
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma. As always. he has a way of really speaking with a lot of common sense. I want to thank the gentleman for that. for bringing some sense of reality to what sometimes can be a pretty crazy process. Mr. Speaker. in my remaining time. I just want to really thank and commend Senator HATCH. Senator SANTORUM. and many others on that side for standing up for the Constitution of the United States. for standing up for fairness.
Date: 2003-02-27
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the rule. In doing so. I would like to bring to light one of the most dangerous consequences of voting for human cloning. both reproductive and therapeutic. That is the exploitation of women. Women of lower economic means are particular targets for exploitation. Advanced. Cell Technologies paid $3.500 to $4.000 to each woman wbo donated their eggs for the failed human cloning experiments. Because of the many risks associated with this procedure. it will mostly be women of little means who will volunteer to sell their eggs. In order to generate enough cloned embryos to carry out this research. thousands of eggs will need to be solicited from numerous women. It takes about 50 eggs to get. one viable cloned embcryo. Just to treat the 16 .million Parkinsons patients. it is estimated that 800 million human eggs would be needed from a minimum of 80 million women of childbearing age. I implore my colleagues to vote for the health and wellbeing of women. Please vote for the rule and for the WeldonStupak bill.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I rise today honoring an exceptional public servant from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. C.M. Williams. Mr. Williams has served in local government for 40 years and as Stafford County administrator. a county with a population of more than 100.000. since 1984. Mr. Williams has used his position well for the benefit of the Virginians that he serves. For example. he played a key role in preserving Virginias historic treasures as executive officer of the George Washington Boyhood Home Foundation. Additionally. Mr. Williams was instrumental in obtaining funding for the Stafford Regional Airport. as well as in establishing the James Monroe Center for Graduate and Professional Studies at Mary Washington College. Mr. Williams has long been a notable public servant and citizen. even serving as president of the Virginia Association of County Administrators. I commend him for his dedication to Virginia and wish him well in all that he pursues as lie steps down to enjoy retirement.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for his yeomans work in supporting our men and women in the military. Mr. Speaker. I rise today insupport of House Joint Resolution 27. a resolu tion which expresses our support for our service members currently engaged in our global war on terrorism. Mr. Speaker. today I say thank you to these proud men and women in our Armed Services and to their families who bravely support them back here at home. Currently we have forces present in Afghanistan. the Philippines. Yemen and many other countries. They lay down their lives for us on a daily basis for our cherished freedoms. At this time we have over 200.000 troops serving in the Gulf region. a force which serves us. a force which protects us. a force which stands ready to implements 18 United Nations resolutions. Mr. Speaker. as we approach what I believe will ultimately be the Hhour for our forces. let us bear in mind the sacrifices and service which these young men and women offer our Nation. Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for bringing this measure before us. May God bless our troops and may God bless the United States of America.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. No. I was not. But I think there are some facts that need to be brought out. Number one is. as the gentleman said. the majority of the Hispanics in this country are excited about Miguel Estrada being on this Federal court. He would be the first Hispanic ever to serve on that court. But I can tell Members as excited Hispanics are in this country. everybody who loves diversity is excited because this is not just a Hispanic issue. We are seeing an attitude of outrage by the Hispanic communities and others when people use race as a reason to disqualify Mr. Estrada. and we have heard it on the floor of this House where Members say he is not Hispanic enough. What is he. threefifths Hispanic? Ithought those days were over when people were judged by their race. I thought the day of judging people by if they are too much of one thing. too little of another. I thought those days are over. Personally. it is offensive when people try to use race to disqualify this brilliant young lawyer. a person who got here when he was 17 years old. barely speaking English. worked hard. studied hard. graduated with honors from Columbia University and then Harvard and worked in the Solicitor Generals office under two Presidents. both Democrat and Republican Presidents. People who have worked with him say he is of thehighest caliber. and yet all of these sad excuses have been used to try to derail him. There are people who said a couple of years ago that they would fight against a filibuster. and now they are leading the filibuster. How is that possible? Were they misleading the American people when they said that then. or are they not being truthful now? It is really offensive. It is very offensive. I can tell Members also that here in this House the Hispanic Conference is wholeheartedly. enthusiastically supporting Miguel Estrada. not because he is Hispanic. but because- he is highly qualified.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. People have said that should be the threshold issue. Those same people that have said that is the threshold issue. and now they are saying that it does not matter with Mr. Estrada. What is it? It is not because he has not answered questions. He has answered five times more questions than the previous two people on that court combined. It is because of all of these other excuses. It seems. sadly enough. that we have heard recently the real reason: race. They do not want him because of his race. Let me tell Members. I have to be very clear. I am not supporting Mr. Estrada because of his race. because he is Hispanic. No. I am supporting him because of his qualifications. because of his talent and experience. But it is offensive that because of his race. some people are trying to avoid him getting there.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. It is funny that some of the people who have questioned whether he is Hispanic enough. these are people who. like me. are born here. There are people who are born here that say Mr. Estrada cannot be a judge because he is not Hispanic enough. Mr. Estrada got here when he was 17. so it is laughable. What is offensive is not who is saying it. but what. Mr. Speaker. race should never be a factor to disqualify a human be)ing to reach a position that he or she is qualified for. On this floor we have heard it once again. They say the reason that Mr. Estrada should not be on that bench is because of race. That is highly objectionable. and it is insulting. degrading to this institution. and degrading to the United States of America.
Date: 2003-03-05
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I just may add. though. also. that there are so many important issues that this country is facing. that this House and our friends across the rotunda. in the other Chamber. are facing. The fact that there is a filibuster going on. not only is it damaging to this brilliant young attorney who is experienced. talented and of unbelievable integrity. but there are a lot of other issues. The gentleman was mentioning the economy recently. I am concerned about the economy. I am concerned that we need to do something and do it quick to make sure that we have economic growth in this economy. That is why I support the Presidents proposals. because I think there are two choices: Either you do nothing and hope for the best or you do what the President is suggesting. which is make sure that we incentivize job creation. But the problem is that nothing is getting done over there because there is a small group of people who just refuses to let anything happen because they are going to filibuster on Miguel Estrada. That is unbelievable. You are absolutely right. sir. where you just said. that is the same group that did not get anything passed for the last couple of years and now in the minority they are even going to the extreme of procedural maneuvers to avoid votes because they do not have the votes. but they are going through procedural maneuvers to avoid even a vote. It is horrible because Miguel Estrada deserves a vote.
Date: 2003-03-06
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor a constituent of mine who fought and died in the Vietnam War and is being honored tomorrow in my district. the fifth congressional district of Florida. In 1968. 19yearold Berman Ganoc enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent shortly thereafter to Vietnam.. On March 24. 1970. Staff Sergeant Ganoes helicopter was shot down while on a rescue mission in Cambodia. The hellcopter that Sergeant Ganoe was aboard was acting as a rescue aircraft for a gunship team engaged in combat on the ground. A fellow army pilot who witnessed the crash of Sergeant Ganoes aircraft called the rescue mission and the actions of the entire crew "the most heroic act he had ever seen." Shortly after the crash. Sergeant Ganoe was classified as "missing in action" and became Marion County. Floridas only Vietnam War "missing in action" person. In 1974. the Army changed his status to "assumed (lead." In 1998. after an excavation of the crash site. Sergeant Ganocs remains were returned to the United States but were fiover positively identified until midHe is one of 22 Florida soldiers whose remains were recovered and returned to the United States following the end of the war. When the technology to positively identify yearsold remains was developed and perfected. the remains were identified and the families of the fallen soldiers were contacted. Tomorrow in my district. friends and family of Sergeant Ganoe are memorializing him and honoring his contribution to our country. A bronze memorial of Sergeant Ganoe will be unveiled at a ceremony in Ocala which will follow a private memorial service for his surviving three brothers. four sisters. and numerous friends and extended family members. Sergeant Ganoe served his country and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. Further. he died in a rescue mission to save the lives of fellow soldiers. Posthumously. Sergeant Ganoe was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. the Bronze Star. 16 Air Medals. the Purple Heart. and numerous other medals of valor. I commend Sergeant Ganoe for his actions and stand here today to honor his life and his sacrifice. I think it is particularly important that we consider the sacrifices of Sergeant Ganoe and of the people who currently are serving in our military today.
Date: 2003-03-12
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of House Resolution 122 that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes.
Date: 2003-03-12
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to amend section 242 of the National Housing Act regarding the. requirements for mortgage insurance under such Act for hospitals. as amended.
Date: 2003-03-12
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to include extraneous material thereon.