macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2000-07-24
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. this is the third time this important piece to the ongoing struggle for Indian tribes to provide governmental services to their membership has been before us. This bill provides a process through which tribes shall step into the shoes of the Federal Government and administer programs to their members previously run by the Indian Health Service. Similar legislation passed the House in the 105th Congress and again just last November when we passed H.R. 1167. The -bill has passed the Senate. and today we are here to agree to changes we have worked out with the Senate. This is one of. if not the most. important pieces of legislation- this Congress will pass affecting American Indian tribes as it reaffirms our commitment to tribal selfgovernance. The nature of selfgovernance is rooted in the inherent sovereignty of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. From the founding of this Nation. In.dian tribes and Alaska Native villages have been recognized as distinct. independent. political communities exercising powers of selfgovernment. not by virtue of any delegation of powers from the Federal Government but rather by virtue of their innate sovereignty. The tribes sovereignty predates the founding of the United States and its Constitution and forms the backdrop against which the United States has continually entered into a relationship with Indian tribes and Native villages. We did not make any changes to the bill as it passed the Senate. We decided to delete a section of the bill relating to the application of the FLRA. which is further addressed in the more appropriate setting. Language included in the bill permits tribes to receive waivers from certain regulations to help tribes administer certain programs. We are all agreed. however. that this language does not alter the obligation of the Indian tribes to comply fully with the laws enacted by Congress. I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska and all the members of the committee and all of the Indian tribes who worked so hard on this legislation. the Indian Health Service. and our friends in thq other body who labored long and hard to get us where we are today. and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H6856 Co Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. H.R. 1651. which was passed by the House last year. As my colleague on the other side has explained. it contains several provisions intended to improve the fisheries conservation. management and data collection. It was approved unanimously by the Senate last month. and I urge the Members to support passage. Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maine .
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Maine for his work and his support of this legislation. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of S. 2327. and I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey . the gentleman from California . the gentleman from Pennsylvania . and others who have worked hard on this legislation. It is very clear that. as a Nation. we must consider comprehensively the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead in the 21st century to ensure that we manage our ocean environment in the way that is both integrated and sustainable in the long term. I believe that this legislation moves us toward that goal. Mr. Speaker. I -yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California .
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3817. dealing with the tragedy of Jaryd Atadero. who disappeared on H6860 CO the Big South Trail in Comanche Peak Wilderness area of the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. Despite a weeklong search. Jaryd was never found. With this bill. perhaps some good can come from this tragedy. I thank the gentleman from Colorado
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. as the gentleman from Utah has explained. this is legislation that has been worked out in extensive negotiations between the sponsor. our colleague. the gentlewoman from California . and the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary believes that the bill before us will adequately protect this area. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2348. This legislation authorizes funding for the Bureau of Reclamation to continue the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins on a costshared basis with nonfederal participants. Through these recovery programs. government agencies. Indian tribes and private organizations are working to achieve recovery of endangered fish while balancing the continuing demands for .water in the arid West. The participants are equal partners in the recovery programs and decisions are made by consensus. The recovery programs work within state laws and support water development under interstate water compacts. The recovery programs are succeeding because all participants in the programs recognize that failure to recover the endangered species could result in limitations on current and future water diversions and use in the Upper Basin states. H.R. 2348 provides Congress and the Upper Basin stakeholders with finite limits on the construction costs anticipated by these recovery programs. H.R. 2348 authorizes the use of significant nonfederal funding contributions. Since 1988. the recovery programs have been relied primarily on the good will of congressional appropriators and the Department of the Interior for adequate funding. With the passage of H.R. 2348. funding authorities for the recovery programs will be crystal clear. This is one of the most successful and broadly supported interagency cooperative programs in the history of fish management in this country. We seldom have an opportunity to pass legislation that enjoys such broad support. Years of cooperative work. which brought this legislation before the committee. and I commend the many people both inside and outside government who have contributed to this program and the passage of this legislation. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 23.48. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3291. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 3291 provides for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. The bill would make 2.000 acrefeet of water available annually to the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe. The water would be diverted from the water reclamation facility in St. George. Utah. This settlement will provide the tribe with a significant and longoverdue economic boost. We have no objections to the legislation. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-07-25
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4320. The magnitude of the crisis facing the great apes is quite alarming. Populations of chimpanzees. gorillas. bonobos. and orangutans in Africa and Asia are disappearing at a record pace. and scientists have warned they could become extinct in the wild within the next twenty years. A broad range.of actions will be needed to conserve and recover great ape populations in Africa and Asia. Logging companies must halt the flow of illegal bushmeat from their operations. Long term support for protected areas. national parks. and buffer zones must be secured to protect habitat and wildlife. Law enforcement capacity to enable countries to enforce wildlife protection laws must be developed to prevent poaching. Finally. efforts must be undertaken to help rural populations develop alternative sources of protein that will reduce the demand for bushmeat. While it is a formidable task. we cannot let the desperate straights of the great apes immobilize us. We must do what we can as quickly as possible. H.R. 4320 bill is a good step in the direction and will hopefully inspire a broad scale effort to restore ape populations worldwide. Modeled after the successful and widely supported African and Asian Elephant Conservation Acts. the Great Ape Conservation Act would authorize the Secretary to provide up to $5 million a year in grants to local wildlife management authorities and other entities in the ranges states to conserve and rebuild great ape populations. This is important because without the cooperation and commitment of the range states and the local communities. conservation efforts cannot be successful. H.R. 4320 is supported by the Administration and a broad range of interest groups. and I hope Members can support its passage today.
Date: 2000-07-26
Speaker: JOHN BREAUX (democrat)
Chamber: S

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON. and GORDON SMITH as a bipartisan approach to campaign finance reform because we felt it was a common sense. relevant and realistic approach. We offered it as a bipartisan compromise to break the deadlock on campaign finance reform and to bring forth a vehicle that could address the main holes in the net of our current system. The purpose of our legislation is to place more control and responsibility for the conduct of campaigns directly in the hands of the candidates. Our legislation is not the solution for all of the problems nowfacing us. but I believe it is a good solid beginning to accomplish meaningful campaign finance reform. After a series of hearings in the Senate Rules Committee * this spring on campaign finance reform. we will now be able to put a bill on the Senate Calendar that has bipartisan support. If we are to accomplish comprehensive reform this year. bipartisan support is essential and our bill has that support. While I was very pleased with the recent vote in Congress to require disclosure for the 527 organizations. that bill is not a substitute for more comprehensive campaign finance reform. It is a solution for a small problem. We need to continue to fight for campaig)a finance reform that is broader and more comprehensive. I am hopeful that the full Senate will be able to debate comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation. including the Open and Accountable Campaign Financing Act of 2000. this year. We have an opportunity to achieve something reasonable and responsible this year. Again. I would like to thank Senator McCONNELL for holding hearings in the Rules Committee on campaign finance reform and helping move the process along. I look forward to working with him and all Senators interested in advancing campaign finance reform.
Date: 2000-07-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this resolution and in support of the continuation of the JacksonVanik waiver for Vietnam. Last year. 297 Members of the House voted against a disapproval waiver. Since that time. major steps have been -taken in many areas of greatest concern to the Congress and the American people with respect to issues between the United States and Vietnam. The number of Vietnamese who have been able to leave the country to resettle in the United States has reached merely 16.000 in the first 6 months of this year compared to 3.800 2 years ago. Ambassador Pete Peterson. our former colleague. has declared that "Vietnams cooperation on emigration policy. the test issue for the JacksonVanik waiver. is exemplary." Close cooperation between our governments is also continuing in the location. identification. and the return of remains. and in resolving the remaining MIA questions has been considerable. I had an opportunity to visit with our teams in the country that are seeking these remains and going through this intensive. arduous process. They will tell us the cooperation that they are getting from the government now that they did not get before. The program is working. not as fast as we would like. but the cooperation is in fact there. In reaching an accord with the United States on a comprehensive trade agreement. which is not an issue before this Congress today. the government of Vietnam has also demonstrated that it is prepared to move in the direction of transparency. fair trade. and a more open economy that will ultimately serve the people of that nation well. Our continued waiver of JacksonVanik. which is strongly supported by a number of veterans organizations. has encouraged Vietnam to implement reforms that are needed to establish the basic labor and political rights we believe are critical. There is still much room for improvement. to be sure. on all of these fronts. on freedom of expression. on religious freedom. on labor rights. on political rights. but the fact of the matter is progress is being made because of this engagement. We should continue to encourage these reforms in Vietnam through expanded trade. labor. and educational exchanges. again which are taking place already. cooperation. . environmental and scientific initiatives which. again. are already taking place. But we need more of them. We need these efforts to builda stronger relationship between the two countries to promote the kind of open and democratic societies we believe they have a right to enjoy.
Date: 2000-07-27
Speaker: JACK MURTHA (democrat)
Chamber: S

they reported the bill in early May. and presented it to the Senate in time for us to act prior to the July 4th recess. Both committees set the FY 2001 bill aside to complete work on the FY 2000 supplemental in late June. That bill provided $6.5 billion to repay the Army for operations in Kosovo. and to address critical personnel. medical. and fuel cost increases. This bill extends those initiatives. providing needed funds for new medical benefits for military retirees. real property maintenance. depot maintenance. and environmental restoration. The most significant initiative contained in the conference report is the nearly $1 billion increase for the Army transformation effort. Last October. Gen. Eric Shinseki. the new Chief of Staff of the Army. established a new vision for the Armya more mobile. lethal and flexible force for the 21st century. In this bill. funding is provided to procure the first two brigade sets of equipment for the new "transformation" force. We are determined that this new force be equipped as rapidly as possible. and intend to maintain this pace of funding in fiscal years 2002 and 2003. Meeting our national strategic priorities. the bill establishes a new national defense airlift fund. to procure C17 aircraft. The centerpiece of how our Nation can maintain its global leadership position is strategic mobility. As our force is as small. to meet our national commitments. we must be able to respond to crises anywhere on the globethe key to that is the C17. Finally. this bill accelerates development. and seeks to reduce technical risk. on the full spectrum of our missile defense programs. The conference worked to keep the airborne laser. spacebased laser. national missile defense. and Navy theaterwide programs on track. and provide additional funds for the Arrow Joint Development Program with Israel. It is again my privilege this year to join my colleague from Hawaii in presenting this bill to the Senate. We simply could not have completed our work without his leadership. guidance. and partnership. I would now like to yield to Senator INOUYE for his comments.
Date: 2000-09-07
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I would draw our colleagues attention to The New York Times and the Washington Post this morning where. after reviewing the Bush proposal on Medicare drug benefits. prescription drug benefits for our elderly. they draw the conclusion that. in fact. it is no benefit at all for millions of modestincome senior citizens in this country. In fact. it is a benefit that is illusory. It is a benefit that requires us to wait for the governor to put in place a new bureaucracy to provide for drug benefits. It is a benefit that can be charged any price for its premiums and. as they draw the conclusion. that millions and millions of Americans simply will not be able to afford it. Therefore. the benefit is of no value to them at all. More and more independent reviews of the Bush proposal are drawing this same conclusion. that it is only the appearance of a prescription drug benefit. It is not in fact a prescription drug benefit and that it would rely on the same private insurance companies that today are gouging people for health care or withdrawing health care from the elderly or denying them the services. The one thing the Bush proposal does do is it undermines the current Medicare system.
Date: 2000-09-07
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. H.R. 4115 is a noncontroversial measure that would legislatively establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as the institution with primary responsibility for our national remembrance to victims of the Holocaust. In addition. the bill provides for the permanent authorization of appropriations for the museums operation. In 1980. Congress enacted Public Law 96388 establishing a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Among the councils responsibilities was the planning. construction and operation of a permanent living memorial museum to the victims of the Holocaust in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior and other Federal agencies. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opened to widespread acclaim in April 1993. Visitation to the museum has greatly exceeded our expectations. With more than 2 million visitors annually. it.is one of the most visited museums in Washington. D.C. In addition. the museum has won awards for architectural and programmatic excellence. H.R. 4115 is based upon the recommendations of a study done by the National Academy of Public Administration on the governance and management of the council and the museum. The bill would establish the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as the institution with primary responsibility for the mandates of the original Holocaust Memorial legislation. The existing Holocaust Memorial Council would be established as a board of directors of the museum with the councils director as the chief executive officer of the museum. The bill would also authorize the museum to retain and expend revenues generated from activities. The bill includes a permanent authorization of appropriations of such funds as may be necessary for the museums operation. Mr. Chairman. we must assume that the Republican leadership had some time it needed to fill on the floor schedule because H.R. 4115 is a wholly noncontroversial measure that did not need to be brought to the floor under a rule. Nevertheless. I support the bill and urge my colleagues to do likewise. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-09-07
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to thank the gentleman from Utah for bringing this legislation forward and note that many of the speakers this morning talked about the educational aspect of this museum. Many of us have school children. young people who come and visit Washington as part of trips for various organizations or schools or social clubs and what have you. and when you talk to these young people when they come to our office and you ask them about their experiende in Washington D.C.. for those who had the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum. it is quite something to talk to these young people as they speak of their amazement. of their horror. and of their sadness visiting the museum. and the fact that but for the museum they may have never learned or they had not learned to date of the story of the Holocaust. of the history of the Holocaust and of the scale of the Holocaust. Clearly. a decision that was championed for so long by our former colleague Sidney Yates of Illinois. a decision by this Congress to establish this museum is clearly one that is paying back incredible dividends in terms of enriching the knowledge of history of young people and so many others in this country and from around the world about the Holocaust. I think the Congress should- be very. proud of the establishment of this mu.seum. As the gentleman from Ohio pointed out. at one point people thought maybe this was not wise. it should not be done. there was no constituency for it. But the fact of the matter is. that we now see it as among the most visited of the museums and sites in Washington D.C. When we establish these kinds of museums or the national parks or the wilderness areas. very often. as we find out. these are decisions that we make that keep giving back to this Nation. and they give back on a daily and a yearly basis as they enrich the lives and the understanding of the American people and others about our place in history. about the role of history and our consideration of the future. Clearly the Holocaust Museum is a major. major monument to that effort. As the gentleman from California reminds us. the Holocaust is not only about the past and about history. it is about a very deep consideration of human rights in the future and in currentday political struggles throughout the world. . In many ways. that may be one of the finest gifts that the Holocaust Museum gives to each new generation as they take their place of position of authority. is to think about the Holocaust. and then to think about the tragedies that everyday people -are suffering throughout the world at the hands of despots and those who seek power almost just for powers sake. but have to do it at the great price of another people so that they can achieve that kind of -incredible totalitarian power over others. So itis with great respect that I support this legislation. and again thank the gentleman from Utah and the cosponsors of this legislation. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2000-09-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. the passage of H.R. 2296 is long overdue. This noncontroversial legislation allows the Virgin Islands Government to free up government revenue by reducing the size of their legislature- and thereby redirecting the savings towards education. law enforcement. and other issues confronting their community. H.R. 2296 was first introduced by our colleague. Ms. CHRISTIANCHRISTENSEN. during the 105th Congress and though it passed the Resources Committee unanimously. we were unable to get it scheduled for floor consideration. I am pleased that we are finally taking action on this legislation today and hope that it provides some relief of our fellow Americans in the Virgin Islands who have not experienced the same level of economic prosperity we have enjoyed on the mainland. I commend the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for her work on this matter and urge full support of its passage.