macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-28
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Thank you. Mr. Chair. for your leadership and hard work on defense acquisition and making sure that our defense industrial base is working for the national defense and not for profits. However. there is a serious problem that minority. women and veteran companies are not well represented in the contracting of defense systems and these groups need to be made more of a priority. The Department of Defense spends billions of taxpayer dollars each year. but minority. women. and veteranowned businesses are not getting to participate. I often use my grandmas sweet potato pie as an example. We all pay for the ingredients and we should all get a slice. But they cant even get a sliver. These same big companies keep getting all the contracts and make little effort to include smaller companies. This is completely unacceptable. The Defense Department doesnt need to look any further than the Department of Transportation in seeking a model for including minority participation. The DOT has a strong program for inclusion and I would encourage the Department of Defense to ensure that they develop a system that included minority. women. and veteranowned businesses. These are their tax dollars we are spending and they deserve to be at the table. I am pleased to see that Section 401 of the bill expands the industrial base by identifying nontraditional suppliers and using tools and resources available within the Federal Government and in the private sector. This legislation is a good vehicle to make sure that Congress and the Department of Defense work to minimize discrimination and include all companies in the defense of our nation. Small and minority businesses are the backbone of our economy. We need to make sure all companies have an opportunity to contribute to our national defense.
Date: 2010-04-28
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I want to thank Chairman SKELTON and Ranking Member MCKEON for their efforts in crafting this important. bipartisan bill to reform the acquisition system of the Department of Defense. I would also like to commend Congressmen ANDREWS and CONAWAY for their leadership and for their many vital contributions to the legislation. Reports of waste. fraud and abuse in the DoD acquisition system have been the source of great concern for Members of Congress for many years. As a result. a congressional panel was established to carry out a comprehensive review of the DoD acquisition system. Led by Representatives ANDREWS and CONAWAY. this panel held more than a dozen hearings exploring a broad range of issues within the acquisition system. Their findings and recommendations resulted in a report that is the basis of the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010.
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 2499. the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. introduced by our colleague. Mr.
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I rise today as a cosponsor and to speak in strong support of H.R. 2499. The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009. which establishes a just and fair way for Puerto Ricans to decide their relationship with the United States. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory for 111 years and its residents have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Puerto Ricans have contributed immeasurably to the life of this nation in times of peace and war and have served as U.S. government officials. ambassadors. federal judges and military officers. The island is home to nearly 4 million Americans who are subject to federal taxes as determined by law. pay income taxes on income from outside the island. as well as other taxes such as Social Security and Medicare. Yet Puerto Ricans today still cannot vote for President of the United States and do not have full voting representation in Congress. I believe it is time for the people of Puerto Rico to decide their fate after over 100 years of political uncertainty. H.R. 2499 would identify Puerto Ricos political status options and authorize a plebiscite process in which voters could express their preferences among those options. This bill will finally give them the opportunity to determine their relationship with the U.S. in the context of a fair. neutral and democratic process sponsored by Congress. We must ensure that the views of all Puerto Ricans are heard on this fundamental question without excluding or favoring any status option. As a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation. I support a fair and impartial process of selfdetermination for the people of Puerto Rico.
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise today in opposition to the amendment because I believe it will muddy the waters of an otherwise clear choice that would be presented to the voters of Puerto Rico. I also rise with tremendous respect for my colleagues and friends. Congresswoman NYDIA VELAZQUEZ and Congressman LuIs GUTIERREZ. while at the same time rising in strong support of H.R. 2499. the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory for 111 years. and its residents have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Puerto Ricans have a rich history of service to our Nation. They have served honorably in our military as Federal officials and as ambassadors. Our newest member of the Supreme Court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor. is of Puerto Rican descent. Yet. in all of this time. the people of Puerto Rico have never been given the chance to express their views about the islands political relationship with the United States in a meaningful vote sponsored by Congress. Because H.R. 2499 embodies the commitment to democracy that defines our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting "yes." I am proud that 20 of the bills cosponsors hail from my State of Florida. The bill has received overwhelming bipartisan support from my States delegation because of the close relationship between Florida and Puerto Rico. My district alone is home to more than 30.000 individuals of Puerto Rican descent. many of whom travel frequently to the island to visit family members. Companies in my district and across Florida regularly conduct business with those located in Puerto Rico. Despite the close family and business ties that bind many in my district with Puerto Rico. our two peoples are different in one critical respect: The residents of Puerto Rico. despite being citizens of the United States. cannot vote for President and do not have voting representation in Congress. They also cannot access all Federal programs to the same extent as can the residents of the States. H.R. 2499 would at long last give the people of Puerto Rico this opportunity. The bill authorizes the government of Puerto Rico to conduct an initial plebiscite. Voters would be asked whether they wished to maintain the current status or to choose a different status. The rationale for this plebiscite is simple.
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. in reclaiming my time. I believe that this legislation would at long last give the people of Puerto Rico the opportunity that they have not been given before. It authorizes the government of Puerto Rico to conduct an initial plebiscite. It gives the people of Puerto Rico a chance to weigh in on whether they wish to keep their status the same or to change their status. Congress needs to give the people of Puerto Rico access to participatory democracy. and this legislation does exactly that. It will create a process for the citizens of Puerto Rico to decide their own political status. If the majority of voters cast their ballots in favor of a different political status. the government of Puerto Rico would be authorized to conduct a second plebiscite which would include independence or statehood. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting "yes" on H.R. 2499.
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 242. final passage of H.R. 2499. had I been present. I would have voted "yes." Stated against:
Date: 2010-04-29
Speaker: SHERROD BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: S

I know Senator SANDERS has some amendments. We have a lot of ideas that are going to be coming up in the coming days. so we have a lot of work in front of us before we complete action on this bill. Again. I am grateful to Senator SHELBY and the other members of the Banking Committee. They have been very helpful over these many months. and we have had long conversations about this. There are a lot of different ideas as to how this all can work. but each and every one of them made a constructive contribution to the process. and I am grateful to them for that. I am very grateful to Leader REID. Obviously. none of this happens without the involvement of the leader and his very fine staff who have been tremendously helpful in us getting to this point by providing the structure and the organization that allows us to actually begin a debate. Many thought we couldnt even get to this debate. I wish to underscore something Senator BOXER said a few minutes ago. We spent a lot of time over the last 2 weeks. there was a lot of acrimony and fingerpointing as to why we werent starting. That is behind us. We have now started. Some people want to flyspeck that debate. The fact is. we are on the bill and we are moving forward. That is good news. My hope is. over the next few weeks. we will complete this bill. With that. I will note the absence of a quorum and let the leadership decide what they want to do.
Date: 2010-05-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the indulgence of my colleague from Ohio. Mr. Speaker. I rise a little off topic to honor two extraordinary young women who are here with us today in the gallery. Lauren Henschel and Taylor Davis. for receiving the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. At age 12. Taylor found out that due to budget constraints her school was considering canceling art education. So she sent handwritten letters to 45 art supply CEOs in United States and Europe. securing $30.000 worth of donated art supplies. Now 13. Taylor has started a nonprofit called The Traveling Canvas to provide arts education to students around the world. At age 14. when Lauren saw her father struggling with psoriasis. she took action. spearheading the countrys first psoriasis fundraising walk. In the last 4 years. Laurens vision has spread nationally. raising more than $750.000 for the National Psoriasis Foundation. And in the spirit of this legislation and promoting research. I know we are all proud of her accomplishments. When Lauren herself was diagnosed with psoriasisand remember that she is 14 years oldshe said the following: I now understand that if anyone on earth should have been diagnosed. it was me. so I could use all of my abilities to make a difference for the millions of sufferers around the world. Lauren. Taylor. through your actions. you remind us that our capacity to help others is truly limitless. Congratulations. you are both truly the pride of the Sunshine State.
Date: 2010-05-04
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1307 to honor the National Science Foundation for 60 years of service to the nation. The National Science Foundation is a remarkably important federal agency that is tasked with promoting the progress of science and advancing our national health. prosperity. welfare. and defense. Americans and people across the world have led more fulfilling and dynamic lives due in large part to the technological revolution that has shaped our world in the last halfcentury. It is important that we give credit to the National Science Foundation for their role in engineering this transformation and making our world safer. easier. and more efficient. One of the main roles of the National Science Foundation is to fund and support unique research proposals. and throughout the years. more than 180 Nobel prizes have been awarded to foundationfunded researchers. Additionally. the National Science Foundation works diligently to ensure that young people are studying science. technology. engineering. and mathematics (STEM) fields. We know that the jobs of tomorrow are going to rely heavily on a sound understanding of the hard sciences. and this part of the National Science Foundations mission is central to our countrys longterm economic and technological viability. Mr. Speaker. I am delighted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Science Foundation. and I look forward to the next sixty years of technological and scientific breakthroughs. The National Science Foundation truly is one of our countrys greatest treasures. and I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in honoring this foundation for the discoveries that they have achieved and their longlasting support of the sciences.
Date: 2010-05-04
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1213 to support the goals and ideals of National Lab Day. I want to commend National Lab Day and its partners for their efforts to ensure Americas workforce is proficient in Science. Technology. Engineering. and Mathematics (STEM). In order to keep the United States at the leading edge of discovery. it will take committed partnerships with volunteers. university students. scientists. engineers. other STEM professionals. and communities to inspire and cultivate our youth. I strongly believe that in order for a child to believe. they must first see. Today. our children are in desperate need of positive role models. When STEM professionals enter the classroom and work with children. they are providing an example of what one day they too can become. We need to increase professional involvement with our youth throughout our educational pipeline. Efforts such as National Lab Day will help bring about positive change for our country. It is no mystery that STEM professionals will cure the next epidemic and invent the next technological breakthrough. Ultimately. a nation that graduates a high amount of STEM professionals will be a nation that will thrive in the 21st century. These fields are among the highest paying and the most stable. Their rate of growth is increasing exponentially as our society grows increasingly technological and our world becomes more interconnected. Mr. Speaker. the time to act is now. I ask my fellow colleagues today to join me in honoring National Lab Day and efforts that will raise standards. improve teaching. and motivate more students to pursue careers in science and math.
Date: 2010-05-04
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. as a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. I rise today to thank all of the brave individuals who were able to quickly capture the Times Square alleged bomber who was attempting to kill many in the United Statesfrom the vendor who noticed and said that his motto is. for the American people. "If you see. tell someone". to the law enforcement officers. the mounties on horses. to the SWAT team and the fire department that was part of making sure it did not go off. and certainly to the people of New York. I also want to thank the Obama administration. the Attorney General. and Homeland Security. and. in particular. before we start asking questions about the nofly list and the TSA. lets get the facts. But we do know that we are going to have more homegrown terrorists. America now has to look very seriously. as we have done. at securing America. All of us are now involved.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as an original cosponsor of H.R. 5160. I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation and urge its immediate enactment to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Haiti. In January. a massive earthquake struck the country of Haiti. killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions more. The quake devastated the countrys infrastructure which continues to make the delivery of humanitarian assistance difficult. It is well known that Haiti is the poorest. least developed country in the Western Hemisphere and that the vast majority of Haitians earn less than $2 a day. Helping Haiti permanently recover from this crisis while also strengthening an already struggling Haitian economy will require more than humanitarian assistancethe Haitian people will need jobs. The bill we consider today is an effort to aid job promotion in the countrys important textile industry. This measure extends the trade benefits Haiti enjoys under the Caribbean Basin Trade Promotion Act and increases Haitian admission quotas on apparel destined for U.S. markets. This effort. when combined with the Haiti Debt Relief Act which passed in March. should help relieve some of the economic burden on the Haitian people and give them the freedom and the tools they need to begin rebuilding their nation.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlelady for the time. and I want to thank the Honorable ALGEE HASTINGS. a most respected Member of this House. I am honored that he would present this resolution honoring a most respected organization in this country. the National Urban League. The Honorable ALGEE HASTINGS has been a part of the avantgarde when it comes to human rights and civil rights and protecting those who are among the least. the last and the lost in society. which is what the Urban League seeks to do. One hundred years of service to the United States of America. and indirectly to the planet Earth because indirectly what you do for one. you do for all. I am honored to mention that the honorable Marc Morial has continued the great tradition of leadership established in the Urban League. He is the current president and CEO. In Houston. we have the honorable Judson Robinson. who is the president and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League. and he has done a stellar job as well. The Urban League is now and has always been an integrated organization. founded by two persons of different hues. and continues that legacy. that heritage. if you will. of representing all persons. but making sure that those who have been left behind have the opportunity to catch up. I am honored to tell you that the Urban League has this goal of selfreliance. and it perfects the goal of selfreliance by way of political parity. by way of making real the great and noble American ideal expressed in Baker v. Carr: one person. one vote. The Urban League seeks to cause those who were locked out of the process to have the opportunity to not only participate. but to have their votes mean something. The Urban League seeks to have selfreliance through economic empowerment. the notion that equality of opportunity ought to exist for all within this great country. Equality of opportunity. Not give me something for nothing but give the opportunity to succeed on merits or fail on demerits. the opportunity to participate in the process. One hundred years of service. One hundred years of combating poverty. inequality. and social injustice. I close with this reminder. a cliche. a phrase. if you will. that is worn out. and it is worn because of a good reason. because it means something. That phrase is this: if we did not have the National Urban League. we would surely have to create it.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speker. I stand today to recognize the National Urban League for its century of civil rights leadership and for its dedication to ensuring that all Americans enjoy the benefits of equal justice and economic empowerment. Since 1910. the National Urban League has worked to elevate the living standards of American families in historically underserved urban areas. The Urban League was founded to advocate on behalf of the tens of thousands of African Americans who began migrating to northern American cities in the early 20th century. Committed to social justice and equality. the Urban League worked to empower these men and women. many of whom had fled the Jim Crow south for the north to escape economic. social and political oppression only to find few employment opportunities. limited access to education and substandard housing. For a century. the Urban League has fought tirelessly to see that all Americans. regardless of race. have equal access to a good education. a good living wage. and safe and affordable housing. With appreciation for a century of service to the American people. I wish the National Urban League continued success for the years to come.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I would like to thank my colleague. Madam Speaker. I rise in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a time to honor teachers for the positive impact they make in our lives. I thank the gentleman from Missouri for introducing this legislation. Teachers fill many roles. They inspire students to set and reach goals. They are role models. motivators. and mentors. Most importantly. they help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to understand the world and to become a productive part of it. They work with limited resources to ensure that our students receive a quality education. There are so many teachers in my district who work hard to open students minds to ideas. knowledge. and dreams. but today I want to mention just three: Julie Wright. who teaches first grade at Gardenhill Elementary School in La Mirada. Recently. Ms. Wright was nominated Teacher of the Year. Outside of the classroom. she invests her time in the local community by participating in the PTA and the Girl Scouts. Pattie Blasnick is a special day class teacher at Ada S. Nelson Elementary School. Because of her patience and dedication to her special needs students. she was selected as the Los Nietos Teacher of the Year for 2009Juvenal Martinez is a sixth grade teacher at Aeolian School who was recently honored for outstanding service in education and agriculture because of his commitment to increasing student and community knowledge about agriculture. horticulture. and nutrition. I encourage everyone to take a moment to let a special teacher know how much they touched your life.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1312 to recognize the roles and contributions of Americas teachers in building and enhancing our Nations civic. cultural. and economic wellbeing. Education is the backbone of our society. and perhaps Thomas Jefferson summed it up best when he said. "Whenever the people are wellinformed. they can be trusted with their own government." Simply put. the ability for our society to function and our democracy to work properly is dependent on a welleducated and informed electorate. Because of this. teachers play such a pivotal and vital role in our society. and it is important that we recognize their contributions to the future of our country. This year. May 37 is teacher appreciation week. and I am proud to honor our teachers during this time. In Dallas. we have some of the best students and educators in the country. and I am incredibly proud of the work our teachers do to enhance the lives of our young people. The sacrifices they make are truly extraordinary. and I commend them on their efforts. Madam Speaker. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in recognizing our teachers and supporting this resolution. Truly our teachers work tirelessly for our children. and by so doing. they are giving America a brighter futu re.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1301) supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day. as amended.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 1301.