macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-17
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I thank the ranking member for yielding. I cannot support $825 billion in unpaid for. permanent. and piecemeal tax cuts while other critical investments that help our most vulnerable citizens. like the longterm unemployed and working poor. go unmet. I strongly support extending the IRA charitable rollover. tax incentives for property owners who protect natural resources through conservation easements. tax incentives for charitable contributions of food inventory. and improving the private foundation excise tax to allow a better response to communities during economic troubles and natural disasters. a bill which I introduced. However. I oppose adding almost $1 trillion to the deficit that will imperil our economic recovery and the wellbeing of our citizens. I oppose leaving behind other critical tax provisions that help the working poor. strengthen economically distressed communities. promote affordable housing. help cover transportation costs. incentivize businesses to hire hardtoemploy workers. and assist teachers with classroom expenses. Many of these bills provide examples of smart Federal investment. For example. in the first 2 years the IRA charitable rollover was available. more than $140 million was donated to support charities. with the median gift just under $4.500. I strongly support giving food to the hungry and helping the needy. However. I cannot vote in favor of this package of bills because of their fiscal impact and the lack of fiscal responsibility to balanced policy.
Date: 2014-07-22
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 4572. the STELA Reauthorization Act. The Energy and Commerce Committee worked several months to put together this bipartisan legislation that will reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act through the end of this decade. It is necessary that the House and Senate reauthorize STELA. which governs our nations retransmission regulations. before it expires at the end of this year. Included in this bipartisan bill is language that closely resembles legislation that I introduced with my Republican colleague. Rep. BOB LATTA. that will repeal the FCCs integration ban. Once enacted. this provision will end the burdensome integration ban. which has cost consumers and businesses over $1 billion since 2007 and has impeded innovation and energy efficiency. Section 6 of this legislation is a surgical approach that will end this antiquated tech mandate while preserving FCCs authority in the retail settop box market. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 4572 today. It balances the needs of competing stakeholders and most importantly. protecting whats in the best interest of the American people. while reauthorizing mustpass legislation and waiting for a more appropriate vehicle to address our nations retransmission consent laws and regulations.
Date: 2014-07-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and a former chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee. I rise in support of H.R. 4803. the "TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014." Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Chairman MCCAUL and Ranking Member THOMPSON for their leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. H.R. 4803 will save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands dollars annually by requiring the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conform its personnel classification practices to existing Federal law and regulations regarding criminal investigator positions. According to a report by the Homeland Security Departments Inspector General (IG). about half of the employees in the Office of Inspection (OIl) are classified as criminal investigators even though their duties do not involve responsibilities that can be characterized as criminal investigation activities. Instead. the responsibilities of these employees primarily consist of administrative duties such as duties of such investigating cases of TSA employee misconduct and conducting internal reviews. Classifying these employees as "law enforcement" personnel. however. makes them eligible for premium pay and other significant economic benefits. If TSA fails to reclassify criminal investigator positions as noncriminal investigator positions or nonlawenforcement positions. this will cost taxpayers as much as $17.000.000 over 5 years. This money could be utilized to ensure that law enforcement agencies. which identify. apprehend. and prosecute criminals. have thetools. resources. and training necessary to do their job efficiently. effectively. and economically. Mr. Speaker. I have always strongly supported providing the resources needed by law enforcement and first responders and will continue to do in future. But we have an obligation to the American people to be responsible stewards of the public fisc and it is not responsible to provide premium pay and benefits intended for law enforcement personnel to employees who do not perform the dangerous duties of law enforcement officers. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 803. which directs the Office of Inspection to reclassify its current criminal investigator positions to conform to the requirements of applicable law and save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Date: 2014-07-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and the former ranking member and chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4812. the Honor Flight Act of 2014. H.R. 4812 authorizes the collaboration between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Honor Flight Network. as well as other nonprofit organizations that transport veterans to visit memorials. to ensure continued expedited and dignified passenger screening for veterans travelling to Washington. D.C. to visit memorials and other tributes to their bravery. heroism. and sacrifice in the cause of freedom. Mr. Speaker. thousands of veterans across the country fought to protect the freedoms we take for granted and to keep our nation safe. They are deserving of our gratitude for the valor and courage they displayed in risking their lives to keep us free and to liberate captive peoples in other lands. They are veterans of World War II. the Korean War. the Vietnam War. and the Gulf WarsDesert Storm. Enduring Freedom. and Iraqi Freedom. With each passing day. the number of World War II and Korea veterans declines by the hundreds. For many of these heroes. one of their last wishes is to visit the national war memorials in Washington. D.C. Honoring and facilitating that request is the least we can do for those who did so much for us. TSA works with the Honor Flight Network in expediting the screening process for veterans visiting the national war memorials. saving the veterans time and showing them their due respect and appreciation. The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transporting veterans on charter flights operated by commercial airlines to Washington. D.C. to visit memorials built in honor of their service. Currently. the Honor Flight Network gives priority to WWII veterans and those from any war who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The Honor Flight Network plans to expand the program in the future to include the veterans who served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. followed by veterans of the wars in the Persian Gulf. Mr. Speaker. my home state of Texas has the second largest number of veterans of any state in the nation. with just over 1.6 million veterans. My home city of Houston is proud to be the residence of more than 300.000 veterans. I strongly support the bill before us because I strongly support the efforts of TSA and the Honor Flight Network in making real the dreams. and in many cases the last wishes. of thousands of veterans who wish to visit the memorials dedicated by the nation in their honor. I urge all members to join me in supporting H.R. 4812 so that our veterans continue to receive the security accommodations they need and deserve as they travel to Washington. D.C. to view the national memorials consecrated by their sacrifice in defense of our country.
Date: 2014-07-22
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 4411. the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act. The bill has more than 300 cosponsors and is truly a bipartisan effort. I commend my colleague from North Carolina. Mr. MEADOWS for leading this legislation. Hezbollah is a militant group that has been designated by the U.S. and E.U. governments as a terrorist organization. As part of our counterterrorism operations. the U.S. continues to fight the flow of funding to organizations that have dedicated themselves to the destabilization of democracy. For the record. it is important to recall all the atrocities that Hezbollah has perpetrated against the U.S. and its allies. including Israel. Hezbollah actions include: Suicide truck bombings targeting U.S. and French forces in Beirut (in 1983 and 1984) Targeting U.S. forces again in Saudi Arabia (in 1996). Suicide bombing attacks targeting Jewish and Israeli interests such as those in Argentina (1992 and 1994) and in Thailand (attempted in 1994). and Many other plots targeting American. French. German. British citizens from Europe to Southeast Asia to the Middle East. We must continue our efforts to stem the tide against organizations like Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations but cutting off funding and targeting their key moneymaking industries like narcotrafficking. I continue to support efforts like H.R. 4411 and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise today as member of the new congressional State Medicaid Expansion Caucus. and I call on my colleagues to join us in encouraging States to close the coverage gaps by expanding Medicaid. Texas. my home State. has the option to accept Federal Medicaid funding to provide affordable health insurance to more than 1.4 million uninsured Texans. For many of these citizens. there is no affordable option. as long as Texas refuses the Federal funds. Texas could extend insurance through Medicaid to residents with incomes up to 138 percent of the Federal poverty level. less than $28.000 for a family of three for whom there is no current alternative. Fiftyeight percent of the uninsured in our State would benefit. and if Texas does accept funding. the Federal Government will virtually pay for all of the costs in the expansion. Closing the coverage gap is the right thing to do and is a sound investment for the State. by creating a healthier workforce. strengthening the States economy. and improving our health care system. I urge my colleagues to work with their home States and encourage Medicaid expansion.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding. and I thank him for all of his work on this legislation and joining
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

thoughtfully put together. This amendment would ensure that the Department of Education is reaching out to colleges and systems that educate minority. lowincome. or students with special needs. Some of those who stand to benefit the most under this innovation are firstgeneration college goers for whom cost is a major barrier to success. Minorityserving institutions are a critical thread in the fabric of America. and they should be included when experimenting with promising new education models. Competencybased education programs are selfpaced. helping ensure that students can work while they are in school. helping students who need a little more time to catch up or to learn concepts succeed and achieve at the highest levels. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

First of all. let me thank the managers of this legislation. who have really brought together an important concept. and I just want to call the name of the bill: the Advancing CompetencyBased Education Demonstration Project. Mr. Chairman. first of all. I am a big supporter of pilots because pilots provide information. and information generates a concrete program.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to support this day and the opportunity to be on the floor to have the Nation recognize the value of our children and the importance of protecting them. In particular. I thank Ms. BASS and Mr. MARINO for their leadership of the Foster Care Caucus. work that has been so important across America. and I thank the Education Committee with
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 5111. "An Act to Improve the Response To victims Of Child Sex Trafficking." I would like to congratulate Representative BEATTY for her work. Youth sexual exploitation and trafficking is a major issue in this country that affects more than 293.000 young Americans. As a Representative of Texas. this issue is close to my heart as my state is plagued by this problem. For example. multiple sporting events. conventions. and other large festivities make Houston a prime location for trafficking. Another metric demonstrating the high level of trafficking in Houston is the high volume of calls to National Trafficking Hotline coming from Houston. I have worked on this issue for a very long time as a member of the AntiHuman Trafficking Caucus and recognize the enormous damage that human trafficking does to its victim and to society. There have been many efforts made to improve how our system addresses the issue of sex trafficking. However. there is still a great deal of work to be done to reframe the issue as one of abuse and exploitation of children rather than one of teenage prostitution. The legal definition of sex trafficking states that "any individual induced or caused to engage in commercial sex activity who is under 18 is a victim of trafficking." But what about those who are teenagers and voluntarily engage in this sort of activity? We need to update the Missing Childrens Assistance Act so that it better recognizes these young people as victims of a serious crime and reports the information accordingly. Under current law. (42 U.S.C. 5773 (b)(1)(P)). the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates a cyber tipline to provide online users and electronic service providers a means of reporting Internetrelated child sexual exploitation in many areas. including child prostitution. Children. who are sex trafficked or sexually exploited. even if they are in their teens. are victims. They are not criminals and should not be categorized as such. H.R. 5111 would replace the term "child prostitution" with "child sex trafficking" in order to reinforce that children who are sex trafficked or sexually exploited are victims whose situation should be taken seriously when reported on the online tipline. I believe that this bill is a step in the right direction for recognizing the broad impact of sex trafficking in the United States and assisting those who are exploited by it. I urge all members to join me in supporting H.R. 5111 so we can all work towards a society where we no longer have to worry about our children being exploited by the sex trade.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I have no more speakers. If the gentlewoman from Indiana has no more speakers. then I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker. first of all. I would like to applaud Representative MEADOWS for introducing what I think is a very important piece of legislation in a bipartisan manner. and I am thankful that he cares enough and that he has a daughter who wrote a report. These people who are trafficked live amongst us. In particular. they live in areas where there is lots of diversity. where there are lots of people going about doing their business. in crowded areas a lot. Trafficked. you are right. they are exploited for sexual purposes. about 70 percent of them. but the other 30 percent are used in homes in domestic servitude not even getting. sometimes. to sleep in a bed of the very house where they are worked as a slave. sleeping on the floor and getting the crumbs off the table. We have seen that. We have seen that in Orange County. California. in one of the richest areas of the Nation. In one of the nicest homes this was happening with a little Egyptian girl who was there who had been trafficked in by a family. If it is not domestic and it is not sexual. then it is sweatshops where people literally have their passports and their papers taken away and they are working 18 or 19 hours a day. not being paid and barely being fed. So they are all around us. Americans have to open up their eyes. We have to see it in our neighborhoods. and. of course. we have to stop them as they bring them from other countries. That is why I believe that our Nations screeners and our Customs officers serve as the eyes and the ears on the front line of our ports of entry and exit from the United States. If they are properly trained. then they will see it. and they can help stop it. Lastly. I am very grateful that tonight we have had a series of bills with respect to human trafficking. I just want to remind my colleagues that this humanitarian crisis we see on our southern border. that many of those children also have faced what we are talking about tonight. and. in order to stop it. we have to be as generous as possible with those young people to restart their lives. With that. Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to say "yes" to this bill. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. and rise in strong support of H.R. 2283. the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act. First. let me thank my friend and colleague. Representative CHRIS SMITH. for introducing this important piece of legislation which elevates the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to the status of a bureau within the State Department. Put simply. as we have heard this evening. human trafficking is modern day slavery. It represents a brutal violation of individual freedom and human dignity. Unfortunately. this practice is all too common around the world and in our own neighborhoods. But. fortunately. the United States is committed to responding to this crime here at home and around the world. Since this Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000. leaders on both sides of the aisle have rallied around this issue. Indeed. three administrations have made this effort a priority. Our coordination across government through the Presidents Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking has never been stronger. Mr. Speaker. today we can take another step forward by making the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons a full bureau within the State Department. This office is already doing critical work. Its annual Trafficking in Persons Report has become the global gold standard in assessing how well governments around the world are meeting this important challenge. Elevating the trafficking office to a State Department bureau would send a strong message to the world that combating modern day slavery remains a top priority to the United States. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina. I listened with great interest to his words earlier. I would like to thank him and acknowledge him for his leadership on this issue. It is so great to see him reaching across the aisle to do so. and I want to acknowledge his leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from New Mexico (Mr. BEN
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this legislation and many other bills we are considering that deal with human and sex traffickingan important issue. a critical issue. that especially relates to protecting children who are too often victims of abuse and violence. I commend the Speaker for bringing these bills up for a vote. Mr. Speaker. as I was watching the debate this evening. I couldnt help but come back to the floor. I hope all of my colleagues that are speaking tonight on the importance of passing these human trafficking bills will join us next week to talk about the importance of protecting children. It was with alarm. Mr. Speaker. that I read a letter that Speaker BOEHNER penned to President Barack Obama that appears that my Republican colleagues. when they left a meeting earlier this afternoon. are asking to take away the very protections from children during a law that was passed in 2008 that we are asking to protect these children tonight. So I come today to ask my colleagues to read the transcripts. to hear the debate this evening. and to think about it. to go home this weekend and. whatever faith that we may be. that we pray about it and we talk to our pastors and our religious leaders about it because these kids that we are going to be talking about next week are the very children that need protections as well. The motivation to pass these bills today is the same motivation that moved this body to pass legislation that became law in 2008. to protect children. This law has since become the subject of much condemnation for many of my Republican colleagues as we discuss the humanitarian crisis on the border. We are here on this floor debating legislation to protect children. yet many of my colleagues want to take away due process from children who are trying to escape unimaginable violence in Central America. In Honduras. the murder capital of the world. the violence was captured in a story recentlyand I apologize for the graphic nature of this story.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

This is a story from The New York Times: During a recent latenight visit to the San Pedro Sula morgue. more than 60 bodies. all victims of violence. were seen piled in a heap. each wrapped in a brown plastic bag. While picking bullets out of a 15yearold boy shot 15 times. technicians discussed how they regularly received corpses of children under 10 and sometimes as young as 2. Last week. in nearby Santa Barbara. an 11yearold had his throat slit by other children because he did not pay a 50cent extortion fee. The doctor at the morgue said: before. we saw children being killed because they were at the scene when gangs were coming to prey on families and they just happened to be there. now. we are seeing kids kill kids. There are hundreds of other stories like this. Mr. Speaker. I beg and I plead of my colleagues. each and every one of us that may or may not have been here when the law passed. but those of us that are here now. these are kids. I know that you and I. Mr. Speaker. that we love children. and we want to make sure that they are not victims of these horrific crimes. Please. please. take this weekend and ask the Speaker to remove the provisions that will take away the due process from these children. As we pass these bills together. let us not forget what brought this Congress together in 2008. to protect these children. Let us show the same compassion that is a driving force of these bills tonight.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Mexico for his eloquent and passionate remarks. a concern so many of us share. With that. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.