macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 355. recognizing the benefits and importance of schoolbased music education. Providing students with the opportunity to learn music is an essential component of a wellrounded education. Often times music programs are considered to be extracurricular activities. whose value and funding are disputed. The benefits and opportunities that music programs provide for students greatly outweigh the financial costs. Music classes enhance students self esteem and social skills. In addition. several studies have shown that learning music increases students abilities at reading and math. Learning music requires discipline and responsibility. This training persists throughout music students academic careers. I am fortunate enough to have one of the Nations eminent arts schools in my district. the Booker T. Washington High Schoolfor the Performing and Visual Arts. More than 700 diverse students attend Booker T. Washington. where talent and drive are the most important components for admission. Booker T. Washington has an outstanding success rate. graduating 99 percent of its students to higher education. The program has graduated 17 Grammy winners. including Nora Jones. Erykah Badu. and Roy Hargrove. Booker T. Washington is so successful due to the presence of outstanding teachers and rigorous curriculum that provides students with a well rounded education. In addition. Booker T. Washington has brought technology to the forefront. of music education and development. These students use computers for everything from ear trainingto recording and sound production. Dedication. enthusiasm. and proper resources has made Booker T. Washington one of the most successful arts schools in the country.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate my University of Florida basketball team for winning the first NCAA basketball championship for any college or university in the State of FlorSADDAM HUSSEIN CHARGED WITH iua. Go Gators. GENOCIDE Last night the Gators finished their run of winning six games in the tour-
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a proud University of Florida alumnus who bleeds orange and blue. I too want to add my congratulations to the Gator mens basketball team on winning their first national championship last night. The University of Florida is renowned and has always excelled in academics. and has been noted for their accomplishments on the football field. Now we can add basketball to the list of accomplishments. The Gator nation continues to make its mark and make her alumni and the Gator family proud. Mr. Speaker. I have only one additional thing to say and that is. 2 bits. 4 bits. 6 bits. a dollar. all for the Uators. stand up and holler. Go Gators.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

that sometimes mislead the American people and having them believe one thing when the reality is so evident. Like I said before in the past. this is an unprecedefited time. Mr. Speaker. of the fiscal situation here in this country. unprecedented as it relates to unusual .things happening here in this House and in this C6ngress that are unexplainable. But every day. we need to be picking up the Washington Post or local papers. We are finding that the reason why. strange things are taking place here in this country is the fact that strange things are taking place here in this House and in the Senate and in the White Uouse. And I think that it is important that we bring this not only to the attention of the American people. but we call the American people to action on behalf of their country. not on behalf of party. not on behalf of age or gender. but on behalf of holding our country together. With that I would like to yield to Congresswoman DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. And I would just like to say congratulations to your Florida Gators.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you very much. We were thrilled and I had an opportunity to attend the game last night and it was an incredible experiance. and congratulations to the Florida Gators.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you so much. But. all lightheartedness aside. I am struck. in following what the gentleman from Florida touched on. I am struck by a collection of facts that really are staring us in the face that are the direct result of Republican policies. today. this moment. not 5 years ago. not 4 years from now. but the direct result of Republican leadership or. I should say. lack of Republican leadership. because they are obviously in charge. Let me just go thriugh with you some of the things that we have pulled together and that are the economic facts facing this country and that clearly show why. when I go home and talk to my constituents and have done so recently. I did kind of a run through my district and spoke to many different kinds of organizations. many different kinds of groups. Mr. DELAHUNT. and I am sure that you are hearing the same kinds of things that I am. Americans confidence in their government has been sobadly shaken. And it is not just that the culture of cortuption and cronyism and incompetence that hangs over this building is there by itself. It is that. as a result of that corruption and cronyism. the policy that results from the corruption that is so deeply disturbing. Let me just go through with you some of the things that we have been able to pull together just related to the economy. This is as of March 2006. just last month. 7.2 million Americans remained unemployed. We have an additional 4.2 million who want a job but are not counted among the unem-. ployed. Since this President took office. the economy has posted only 15 months of job gains of 150.000 or more. Thatis the number of jobs that is just needed tO keep up with population growth. So all this talk about an explosion in job growth and how we are really on the rise in terms of job growth is just baloney.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

It is not just words in the State of the Union. because it was very nice to hear the President talk about how he wants to make sure that we can have this.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

What I hear from most people today is it is very nice. you can give a whole lot. it is nice to hear the speeches. They want the action to back up the words. EJ 2230 And let us just go a little bit deeper into this whole issue of job growth. So go beyond the 7.2 million Americans that remain unemployed. Since the President took office. only 15 months of job growth. just keeping up with population growth. The Bush administration has the slowest job growth of any administration in over 70 years. Since January of 2001. 2.9 million manufacturing jobs have been lost. There are now more than 1.3 million more unemployed private sector workers than in January of 2001.. And who has been -in charge this whole time. Mr. MEEK? Have Democrats been in charge during these years that talk about the lackluster job performance?
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Oh. the Republicans. Okay. That is what I thought. Congressional Republicans. They. talk about how they want to grow jobs. that making sure people can go to work and earn a decent living is. what is important. Then why is it that congressional Republicans defeated a Democratic amendment to increase the minimum wage. which has not been increased since 1997. the longest period of time we have gone without increasing the minimum wage? From $5.15. which is what it is now. we proposed to increase it to $7.25..
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I know. We have 6 more "months. and I am not through my list yet. The minimum wage being $5.15 and the Members that you are talking about that were so fresh faced and exuberant the morning after the election and they were going to come to Washington and do the right thing and not be the rubber stamp Republicans. all of them voted against increasing that minimum wage. And if the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation. today it would be $8.88. I am certain that none of our Republican colleagues have done this recently because. otherwise. they would have voted for the amendment. but have you driven through a McDonalds recently and ordered a number one. which is a Big Mac meal?
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I am kind of a McDonalds. fanatic. And since it is quick and easy and when you have got your kids in the back of the minivan. believe me. the quickest thing sometimes is to go through- the drivethrough. The number one is just about $5.15 at this.point. By the time you get the meal and whatever else you need. to make sure that you have got your soda and your drink and 7our fries. can you imagine that the minimum wage just barely pays for one Big Mac meal? I mean are the American people not worth more than a Big Mac meal? That is really what it boils down to. I think they are. I want to make sure .that my constituents can afford to feed more than just themselves or more than just one kid. Which kid are they going to pick? Which kid do they pick? Okay. who wants to eat today?
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Do you know why? Because this ig a rubber stamp Republican Congress. We had an amazing thing happen today. and my good friend from Florida. Mr. MEEK. he has a much bigger rfubber stamp that we use to show what is going on in this place.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I feel privileged to hold it. although I dont want to hold it too long. lest it rub off. But we got today more than 100 of these "Rubber Stamp Republican Congress" stamps from bloggers and people in the communities all over the country who are fed up and frustrated and who want us to continue to talk about what is going on here. Because it appears as though. and I mean this respectfully. that when people on the other side of the aisle come in this room. that they are checking. and .I dont know whether they are checking their brains at the door or their opinions at the door or their conviqtions at the door. but we bave watched. all of us. the board light up here with yesses and noes. and I know I have had conversations with Republican Members on the other side who say. "I know I JSE - April 4. 2006 am going in there and I am voting this way." Then you watch it. the board. the light next to their name goes from red to green or green to red. and you watch their arm being wrenched behind their back. and out comes the rubber stamp.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Out comes the rubber stamps. We need to throw away -the rubbers stamps. It is time to be done with the rubber stamps.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

What we have been asking. what Democrats have been asking. is where is the outrage? What is their limit? Where do they reach the breaking point. individual Republican Members? When do they say "that is it? There is a point at which I cannot support the direction that my leadership is taking this country anymore." meaning theirs. When do .they say. "I have got to stand up and do the right thing?" It appears that their tolerance level for being pushed to do exactly as they are instructed is unbelievably high. far higher than my constituents. and I know your constituents. are comfortable with. We have got to make sure that we start moving the country back inthe right direction and change some of these facts on the ground here.
Date: 2006-04-04
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

There is no oversight. There is no outrage. There is no conscience. There is no heart. There is no ability of the leadership on the other side to recognize that the country has to move in a new direction and that we have to do something to restore the American peoples confidence in their government. When will that happen?
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise to voice concerns about the impact of budget cuts on the States Childrens Health Insurance Program. that is called CHIP. CHIP is jointly financed by the Federal and State governments and is administered by the States. While it is good that each State determines the design of its program. the eligibility groups. benefits. copays and administrative procedures. I am concerned that misplaced fiscal priorities are squeezing the States and negatively impacting childrens health. A Dallas Morning News article from March 27 cites numerous problems with CHIP- in Texas. Administrative errors and budget cuts are resulting in lost or delayed coverage. Many families are unaware of the benefit. Enrollment has been more complicated and fewer children are participating in the program. Privatization of many StateFederal health programs is lessening access to care. Madam Speaker. I am concerned that the fiscal year 2007 budget plan for the House of Representatives will hurt Americas uninsured children. April is Natioial Child Abuse Prevention Month. Cutting health programs for young people is cruel at worst and irresponsible at best.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. there is a saying that "the road to hell is paved With good intentions." and once again. my Republican colleagues have missed the mark. To be a strong Nation. we need a strong family. The glue that holds the family together are our Nations women. Unfortunately. this administration and my colleagues across the aisle continue to send a clear message in the form of a budget that strips all of the support and programs that aid in fortifying that crucial glue. We should call the budget that they are bringing to this House the "Women. Children and Family Left Behind Act." How can an administration that professes to be provalue and profamily get it wrong? The Presidents budget cuts education by. 29. percent. The Presidents solution is to freeze funds for Head Start and Pell Grants. What is wrong with this picture? The Presidents budget completely eliminates programs like the Womens Educational Equity Act and the Womens Apprenticeship Act. The Presidents budget cuts funds out -for the Commodity Supplemental Food program that serves 420.000 seniors as well as 50.000 mothers and children. Stand up America.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. this past weekend. I met with many students from schools in our district and hope to meet with many more. This banner is signed by students from the Alta Charter School in our district. These students are voicing their - concerns because they want to keep their families together and felt their heritage was not being respected. They are concerned about the possibility. of their parents being deported. even though their children are citizens. They are worried about the- possibility of them being deported. although this is the only life they have ever known. I believe we should improve border security. and every Nation in the world should control their borders and know who is crossing it. but I voted against H.R. 4437 because this bill doesnt realistically deal with the 10 to 12 million. people who are living in this country. If this bill is enacted. 3 million U.S. citizens will be left without their parent or guardian. Family values should apply to our immigration laws. Thisis why we see students marching in our communities all across our country and why you see this banner on the floor of the House today. We need comprehensive. fair immigration reform that -includes increased border security. more detention beds to prevent catch and release. requiring applicants to go through criminal background checks. to learn English and also pay a penalty. That way. we can make sure these people.. these children who are here know that their parents wont need to be deported or they wont be.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I am offerirg my support for H.R. 3127. the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. This bill would be an important step in ending the crisis that continues .to plague the Darfur region of Sudan. Since civil unrest erupted in Sudan in February 2003. roughly 400.000 people have died and an astounding 2.5 million have become displaced as a result of policies by the government of Sudan and attacks by government troops and governmentbacked militias. The human inhabitants of that beautiful land suffer daily -from unimaginable torments including. rape. hunger. looting. and indiscriminate killing. The.U.S. government has officially acknowledged that what is happening in Darfur is genocide. Now. it is imperative that the U.S. and the global qommunity act in defense of those in Sudan who are suffering at the hands of their government. If we do not do all that we can to bring stability to this humanitarian crisis. then we are essentially participating in the problem. H.R. 3127 aims to end this deplorable violence through a. variety of means including increasing asset and travel sanctions. urging the expansion and a stronger mandate for the African UnionMissfon. AMIS. bringing perpetrators of genocide. war crimes. or crimes against humanity in Darfur to justice through the International Criminal Court. and urging the President to apply additional methods of diplomatic pressure. As a member of the Congressional Sudan Caucus. I have had the opportunity to express my commitment to. developing a solution that will put an end to this continuing genocide. Furthermore.. I intend to do what I can in my capacity as a Member of Congress to demonstrate this august bodys dedication to supporting human rights around the world. I am optimistic that. by working with advocates and the international community. peace will return to Sudan. I support the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. I also urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on this important legislation.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of a dangerous man. In Vietnam. Dr. . Pham Hong Son is considered a criminal. a man- who must be silenced and incarcerated for the- good of society. Is Dr. Pham a violent man. a terrorist. perhaps? Does he advocate the violent overthrow of his government? No. absolutely not. Dr. Phamis a dangerous man not because of his dangerous actions. but because of his dangerous ideas. Dr. Phams great crime was to translate articles on democracy into Vietnamese and to write and publish his own articles about democracy and human rights in Vietnam. Dr. Phams case is typical of how the government of Vietnam deals with voices of peaceful and patriotic dissent. A case in point is a personal one for me. I was scheduled next week to go to Vietnam. I was interested in talking with their government about issues of human rights and religious freedom. issues that are very important to the people of Orange County. California. Unfortunately. I was informed last night that my visa application was denied by the Vietnamese government for the third time in 2 years. despite the fact that we have welcomed their dignitaries to the United States and that I was personally invited by Madam Ninh. the Vice Chair of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Vietnamese National Assembly. Some of my colleagues continue to push for closer ties with Vietnam through trade relations and military partnerships and other forms of nonhumanitarian cooperation and assistance. We. as a Congress. will be asked in the coming months to decide on issues fundamental to the nature of our relationship with Vietnam. Supporting this concurrent resolution today is an important step in the right direction. but I would also. ask my colleagues to keep Dr. Pham and others like him in our minds for the future. Vietnams actions against its own patriots demonstrate that they are not ready yet to be full partners with the United States. The United States must live by our own professed values. our true values. and we must do everything we can do to protect the human rights of the people of Vietnam.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today I voted against H.R. 513. the "527 Reform Act of 2005" introduced by Congressmen SHAYS and MEEHAN. As a strong and longterm supporter of the ShaysMeehan/McCainFeingold campaign reform legislation. I want to take this opportunity to explain my decision to vote against H.R. 513 today. On the surface. H.R. 513 appears to be simple. It would require "527 groups." which represent individuals or groups that are r0t directly affiliated with political party organizations. to register and report with the Federal Election Commission in the same manner as political committees. I support that part of this bill. However. the Republican Leadership inserted a poison pill into the bill. In the dark of night. the Republicancontrolled House Rules Committee added an amendment to roll back current limits on Congressional campaign committee spending in supporting a candidate in a House general election. In 2006. Congressional committees are limited to spending a maximum 6f $79.200 in a Congressional race. This amount is set by law and adjusted for inflation. Under current law. Congressional campaign committees possess the authority to spend unlimited amounts on a campaign. Congressional committees must currently borrow and use the limits assigned by law to each partys national committee and each state party committee. The amended bill will lift current caps and upset the balance of spending. A second killer amendment eliminates Congressional campaign committee limits on party spending for Congressional candidates. This bill allows each party to accept transfers from other committees within the party structure when spending for a candidate. This change will enable the National Republican Congressional Committee to accept unlimited transfers from the Republican National Committee for use in spending on any Congressional campaign. It is not a coincidence that Republicans outspend Democrats 5:1. We have just seen the former Republican Majority Leader resign from Congress in disgrace. Another prominent member of the majority party sits in jail for accepting tawdry bribes while selling his office. Prominent administration officials have been arrested or are under indictment. This is not a time to be playing parliamentary games with the ethical process. And that is why I voted against this shamefully amended version of H.R. 513 today.
Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. subject to rule XXII. clause 7(c). I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 2830. pension conference report. The form of the motion is as follows: I move that the managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 2830 be instructed to agree to the provisions contained in the Senate amendment regarding the prohibition of wearaway in connection with conversions to cash balance plans and the establishment of procedures affecting participants benefits in connection with the conversion to such plans and not to agree to the provisions contained in title VII of the bill as passed the House.