macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-23
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speak-. er. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1211. the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act. as amended. which the Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee passed on June 4 and the full committee approved on June I would like to thank Chairman FILNER. Ranking Member BUYER. Subcommittee Chairman MIKE MICHAUD and Subcommittee Ranking Member BROWN for their leadership and support of this bill. as well as my colleague on the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. the distinguished ranking member. Mr. BOOZMAN of Arkansas. for cosponsoring this important legislation: I would also like to take a moment to give special recognition to Chairman FILNER for his leadership on this very important issue. He had mentioned the roundtable that .the full committee hosted. his brainchild to bring all of the women who represent different veterans service organizations and women veterans themselves to speak to their experiences and to better inform and educate committee members about the extraordinary circumstances that they have faced time and time again as they have sought care in VA medical centers. So- I was extremely pleased to introduce this important legislation on February 26. 2009. proud of the bipartisan support the legislation has garnered. And the roundtable discussion hosted by Chairman FILNER illustrated even further how imperative the passage of this bill is for our women veterans. Before I discuss the bill in greater detail and the needs of women veterans. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Disabled American Veterans for their continued leadership and the effort to address the needs of female veterans and their support for this important legislation. I also want to thank Cathy Wiblemo and the rest of her team for the great work that they have done on the health subcommittee. Cathy and her staff did excellent work in assisting with this legislation and shepherding it through the legislative process. Today women make up approximately 8 percent of veterans in the United States. and that percentage will continue to rise as more and more women answer the call to duty to serve their country. With an increasing number of women seeking access to care for a diverse range of medical conditions. the challenge of providing adequate health care services for women veterans is one that the VA must meet. -Unfortunately. services at VA facilities often fall short of properly providing for the health care needs of women. There is too much fragmentation of care and not enough clinicians with the correct training and experience. Child care. considerations arent being met adequately for male or female veterans. and currently the VA does not cover care for the newborn child of an eligible veteran. To answer these challenges and oth-
Date: 2009-06-24
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. today I come to the floor to honor an individual who has sacrificed over 42 years of his life for this great Nation. Brigadier General James P. Combs has proudly and gallantly served his country on foreign soil in the countries of Vietnam. Afghanistan. and Iraq. He was appointed Commander of our Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alanitos. California. on November 1. 2005. General Combs retired from Federal service on October 1. 2007. at which time Governor Schwarzenegger assigned him in a State active duty position to remain as the base commander. On July 4. 2009. in just.a little over a week. General Combs will. retire from the United States Armed Forces. And on behalf of those who have had the honor to serve with him and a grateful Nation. I commend him on his numerous accomplishments. his outstanding leadership. and his incredible military career. Brigadier General James P. Combs will always remain a soldiers soldier and a true American hero.
Date: 2009-06-24
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I rise in support of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. This bipartisan legislation. funds the homeland security priorities of the country and strengthens our commitment to our state and local homeland security partners. To help address the unique security needs of our highrisk urban areas. such as the Washington Capitol Region. the bill requests $887 million for Urban Area Security Initiative grants. These grants fund the security services and equipment needs of the nations highestthreat. highdensity areas and helps to ensure that our state and local leaders have the resources they need to protect these areas from terrorist attack. In addition to appropriating funding to secure our passenger rail and air and sea ports. the bill provides funding for interoperable communications and for the nations emergency operation centers. For our firefighters and other first responders. the bill adds $800 million for assistance grants for training and equipment. These funds will also be used to stem the tide of layoffs that are weakening our fire services and putting the publics safety at increased risk. The House considers this bill just two days after the Washington Capitol Area experienced one of the worst passenger rail tragedies in our nations history. We owe a debt of gratitude to the first responders who arrived from across the region to provide aid and comfort. to the victims of this tragedy. By funding these and other important programs. the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. helps make pur country more secure in times like these. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this vital piece of legislation.
Date: 2009-06-24
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you. Mr. PRICE. In looking at this amendment. I think its important for Members to know that they can either vote for it or against it. It doesnt really matter because its a restatement of existing law. I would direct the attention of Members to section 274A(h)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 8 U.S. Code 1324a(h)(3). which says. and I read it. in part. authorized alien means with respect to the employment of an alien at a particular time the alien is not at that .time either lawfully admitted for permanent residence or authorized to be so employed by this act or by the Attorney General. As I say. this provision is not necessary. Current law also requires all employers to verify the employment authorization of employees here in the Federal Government. and there already are criminal and civil penalties for hiring unauthorized immigrants. Again. that is current law. Current law also permits employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of employees pursuant to section 401 and 402 of Public Law 104208. the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. That is the EVerify program that Members are aware of. Current law requires the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government -to use flVerify to verify the employment eligibility of their employees pursuant to section 402(e)(1) of Public Law 104208. again. the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996. So. I provide this information to Members not as an advocate for or against the amendment. simply to note that this is a restatement of existing law.
Date: 2009-06-25
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me thank the leadership of the committee for this fine bill. My amendment requires the Department of Defense to report on the need for and availability of mental health care *services for servicemembers and their families that are stationed overseas. Many face depression and posttraumatic stress syndrome and are suicidal risks while trying to recover and readjust their lives. Weve had more of this because weve had so many military membershave to go back to the same war more than one time. and only a small percentage of them have been able to get any support. I thank our chairman for accepting this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I rise in favor of .my amendment to H.R. 2647. the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010." Thanks to the chairman of the committee IKE SKELTON and ranking member McKEON. My amendment requires the Department of Defense to -report on the need for and availability of mental health care services for service members and their families -stationed outsideof the United States. Upon leaving the battlefield. soldiers physical wounds are only half of their problems. Mr. Chair. before being elected to public service. I was employed as the Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the VA Hospital in Dallas. Texas. I have 15 years of handson experience with patient care. specialized in mental health. My experience has taught me that mental health patients need to betreated with mercy. communication. information. and understanding. My amendment today simply requests that the Defense Department report back to Congress on whether our health care workers abroad are adequately trained in detecting and treating mental illness and if we have the adequate resources and centers to treat these patients. While fighting two wars. we have more veterans than ever before returning home. Many face depression. PTSD. and suicidal risk while trying to recover and readjust to their lives at home. So far. only a small percentage of servicemembers who may have been inflicted with PTSD or depression have been given the proper and necessary care. Patients do not receive immediate evaluations or treatment. They have to wait far.too long to be given a sufficient amount of care. It is. therefore. vital for the Department of Defense to assess the availability and quality of care of mental health centers abroad. By gaining a proper understanding of the situation. we will be able to make the changes needed to aid our servicemembers through their recovery process: This is why we must work towards fully understanding mental illnesses and continue to improve upon the care and treatment of mental health patients. . I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Date: 2009-06-25
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Thank you. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. I would like to add my voice to the growing chorus calling for the repeal of the Dont Ask. Dont Tell law. As you have suggested. many years have passed since the law has been adopted. and I believe that many of the reasons that the Members of Congress found compelling in 1993 will be considered outdated by current servicemembers and the American public today. Mr. Chairman. I know our schedule in Armed Services is challenging. but .I would encourage you to consider conducting hearings at the earliest possible date in the hope of correcting this policy that I believe undermines national security and military readiness. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Date: 2009-06-25
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to be recognized to note that I also was at a meeting for the last 2 hours. with the President at the White House. on immigration and unavoidably missed the votes. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes" on the McGovernJones amendment. "yes" on the McGovernSestak amendment. "no" on the Franks amendment. "no" on th6 Akin amendment. "yes" on the Holt amendment. "yes" on the Connolly amendment. and "no" on the motion to recommit.
Date: 2009-06-26
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this is an historic day for this House of Representatives. After years of delay and inaction. were finally poised to embrace Americas cleanenergy future and adopt an energy strategy .for the 21st century. This act delivers on the change that President Obama has called for in our energy policy. It will strengthen our national security by slashing our dependence on foreign oil by as much as 2 million barrels a day by 2030. which is as much as we export from thePersian Gulf today. We will use those hundreds of billions of dollars instead right here at home on homegrown. clean energy. And by doing so. were going to create millions of jobs. highskilled. wellpaying jobs that will focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. And we will do all that without adding a single penny to our national debt. Mr. Speaker. I especially want to thank Mr. RANGEL. Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. MARKEY. Mr. DINGELL. Mr. INSLEE. Mr. GORDON. and their staff for the collaborative effort that went into the final provisions establishing a Clean Energy Deployment Administration. As a result of this effort. America is going to have an independent-
Date: 2009-07-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I was unavoidably delayed and missed the vote on Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 3183Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 2010 (H. Res. 645). Had I been present I would have voted yea" on this vote.
Date: 2009-07-15
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise in support of the FY 10 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Under the leadership of President Obama. the United States is committing itself to a new national clean energy policy for the 21st century. and this legislation advances that critical objective. Additionally. I am pleased with the important investments this bill makes in our nations water infrastructure. The Department of Energy will receive $26.9 billion to fund five primary mission areas: science. energy. the environment. nuclear nonproliferation and national security. Specifically. DoEs Office of Science will receive $4.9 billionan amount exceeding the goals of the America COMPETES Actfor its basic and applied research in support of our nations future energy needs. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will receive $2.25 billion for research. grants and demonstration projects in areas ranging from solar power to industrial energy efficiency. This legislation also provides $5.4 billion for environmental cleanup related to contamination from nuclear weapons manufacturing. and $592 million is dedicated to safeguarding Russian nuclear materials and combating international nuclear trafficking. To support our nations water infrastructure. the Army Corps of Engineers receives $5.5 billion for operations. maintenance and construction of vital water projects across the country. and the Department of the Interior is provided $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamations important work on the nations dams. canals. water conservation and rural water projects. Finally. I am heartened by the wideranging support for Chesapeake Bay restoration initiatives included in this legislation. Mr. Chair. this bipartisan bill reflects the clean energy and water infrastructure priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues support.
Date: 2009-07-15
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

In addition to that. we became even closer friends than we were when we started and raised awareness about the fact that young women can and do get breast cancer. We raised $50.000 for the Young Survival Coalition. So. thank you to all the Members who came out. and all the staff. We especially want to thank the ladies of the Republican National Committee. Democratic National Committee. DCCC. NRCC. and the DSCC for participating and doing a great job. Were going to get you next year.
Date: 2009-07-24
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise to support the FY10 Labor. Health and Human Services. and Education Appropriations bill. As we continue to debate sweeping health care reform. todays legislation makes investments in our most urgent needs. including $2.2 billion for community health centers to serve vulnerable populations. $530 million to train new health professionals. and $204 million to continue an aggressive campaign to reduce lifethreatening infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. I am pleased that the bill includes $31.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health. although I am concerned that the funding increases will not keep up with escalating biomedical costs. As we consider the costs of our health care system. we must make the investments necessary to find cures for chronic diseases that require expensive longterm care. I also strongly support the $10 million in funding included for the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. legislation I coauthored with former Congresswoman Deborah Pryce. This will fund pediatric cancer research activities to eradicate the number one cause of death for our nations children. Todays bill also makes vital investments in education and workforce development. It includes $17.5 billion for Title I grants to serve 20 million disadvantaged children and $11.5 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Act. which. when combined with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. will support a 25 percent Federal contribution for special education. Additional new investments are made in literacy and dropout prevention initiatives. In a time when students across the country are struggling to pay for college. this bill continues the new Congresss commitment to affordable education by raising the maximum Pell grant award to $5.550. The bill also includes a $50 million investment in green job training. to prepare workers for a new. 21st century economy. Additional funding is included to train veterans transitioning to a civilian workforce and dislocated workers who have lost their jobs during the recession. Mr. Chair. the FY10 Labor. Health and Human Services. and Education Appropriations bill funds some of our nations most important domestic priorities. I urge my colleagues to support these critical investments in our nations children. families. and workers.
Date: 2009-09-16
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. and I thank the Rules Committee for reporting this legislation to the floor with the amendments that have been made in order. And I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado for his strong support for this legislation not only in the Rules Committee but in our committee. the Education and Labor Committee. where he led a number of efforts to improve this legislation. This rule will allow for the proper input and amendments from Members from both sides of the aisle on legislation that will be transformative for our students. families. and taxpayers. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will allow us to invest $87 billion to make college more affordable. to build a worldclass community college system. and to improve the opportunities to help our youngest students succeed. This represents the single largest investment in Federal college aid in history. We will be able to do this at absolutely no cost to the taxpayers by undertaking long overdue student loan reforms. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is a winwin. Its a win for students. Theyll have dependable access to Federal college aid. and it will make these programs more effective and efficient for families and for taxpayers. It will help rebuild our economy that is cutting edge. innovative. and it will help again regain our global leadership in both competitiveness and in college graduation rates. I would like to especially make clear that this bill is. in fact. fiscally responsible. Not only will we be able to take and substitute the subsidies that we now pay out for institutions to lend the governments money to the students for the government to buy back. we will take those subsidies and we will invest that money on behalf of students and their families and institutions to improve the education that they will receive. to improve the access. to try to improve the retention rates so that students that. in fact. take out and borrow money end up with a degree and not as a dropout with a lot of debt. and we will also return about $10 billion to the Treasury to help reduce deficit spending. Every aspect of this bill speaks to the future. to the future of our economy. to the future strength of our families. to the future needs of students who seek to acquire and are fully qualified to benefit from a college education. Again I thank the Rules Committee. and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation when we debate it on the floor later today and tomorrow.
Date: 2009-09-16
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I wish to express my strong support for H.R. 3246. the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of The global competition for producing the cars and trucks of the future is happening now. There is no question that in the years ahead. people will be driving hybrids. plugin hybrids. battery electric vehicles. and cars and trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The question is whether these technologies will be imported from abroad. or produced right here in the United States by a sustainable. cuttingedge American automobile industry. The global economic downturn and credit crisis have limited the resources that automakers and vehicle manufacturers can draw on to support their research and development activities. As American automakers struggle to become globally competitive and we race to make the best and most fuelefficient vehicles. we have a chance to accelerate their development through the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009. The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act will reauthorize the Department of Energys Vehicle Technologies Program. through which the Department partners with industry to provide research. development. demonstration. and commercial application of advanced vehicle technologies in the U.S. These programs have led to numerous successes. including a dualmode hybrid transmission system used in transit buses and trucks manufactured in the U.S. Through supporting advanced vehicle technologies. this legislation also reaffirms our commitment to reducing energy use to combat global warming and increase Americas energy independence by reducing the need for imported oil. Recognizing the importance of this legislation. H.R. 3246 has been endorsed by General Motors. Ford Motor Company. Chrysler. the UAW. Nissan. the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association. Daimler. Magna International Delphi. ArvinMeritor. Robert Bosch LLC. Caterpillar. Dueco Odyne. Achates Power. and the Engine Manufacturers Association. Let us invest in American energy independence. American jobs. a cleaner environment and cleaner communities by voting in favor of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
Date: 2009-09-16
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr Chair. I rise in support of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009. This bipartisan bill will provide long term. sustained funding for a comprehensive research and development program across a spectrum of vehicle sizes and advanced vehicle technologies. It will focus and better coordinate the ongoing work of our federal agencies. research institutions and private industry on this important task. And it will benefit all Americans by strengthening our energy security. reducing harmful emissions. providing consumers with more vehicle choice. boosting our manufacturing sector and enhancing our international competitiveness. I commend Representatives PETERS and BIGGERT for crafting this forwardlooking legislation. I urge my colleagues support.
Date: 2009-09-16
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 3221.
Date: 2009-09-16
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Chair. I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas . the Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education.