macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-02-17
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Thank you. Mr. Chairman. I want to really just echo what the gentleman from Georgia just did here on the floor of the House. He actually brought some common sense to this debate. Everybody has their talking points and their little notes and theyre reading them and theyre trying to confuse the issue. Lets take a step back. if we might. Mr. Chairman. Lets just ask a very simple question. a very simple question. Can somebody name an area in this country or in this world that has had more innovation. that has blossomed more. that has opened up communications and connected people more in our country or anywhere in the world in the last decade than the Internet? Can anybody name it? Anything. No. Its impossible. Think about whats happened. The Internet was even recently credited for helping bring down the government of Egypt. Its allowed the people to see the atrocities in Iran. Its allowed things like Facebook and Twitter and iPhones to blossom. Its given access to millions of people. and it has created millions of jobs. So what is the answer then for that incredible blossoming of something that has revolutionized the way we communicate. that the world communicates? What is now the answer of the Federal Government? We keep talking about letters. Its the Federal Government. What is the answer of the Federal Government to deal with that unprecedented blossoming. of innovation. imagination. of job creation? Oh. Mr. Chairman. the Federal Government now has to regulate. Why? Because its too much innovation. The prices have dropped too much. Its too much imagination. Its too positive. And. therefore. the Federal Government must step in because the Federal Government can do it so much better. The Federal Government has all the answers. Mr. Chairman. a little bit of common sense. Im talking to my colleagues here but also to the American people. If you believeand think about 10 years agoif you believe that the Federal Government. if its in charge. if it would have been in charge. would have done a better job in blossoming this innovation. this job creation. then you have to be with our friends on the other side of the aisle. You then should support Federal Government intervening. taking care of. regulating the Internet. But if you believe that that miracle of innovation took place because of individuals. people with imagination. and because the government got out of its way. you would support this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-02-17
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2011-02-17
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would just say this: At the core of the Supreme Court decision was a protection of the First Amendment right of political speech. and that it would not be lost because you joined with others. As a corollary of that. the court in the majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy talked about the fact that one of the real fears of the Founding Fathers was the government acting in disparate ways. that is. treating different groups differently for a political reason. And so I just say. in the scenario by the gentleman from Maryland. one would force an obligation of disclosure on one group and not another. So that the defense contractors. he said. would if he funded a statement on television. but the union members who work for the defense contractor would not. or those who are Federal employees represented by unions would not. I guess what were saying here is we know that corporations influence elections. but it is absurd to assume that unions do. And if you believe that. then support this amendment.
Date: 2011-02-18
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I stand before you as a conservative member of the Republican Study Committee. former chairman of the Republican Study Committee. in strong opposition to this proposal. Acrosstheboard cuts are a lazy Members way to achieve something. This will cut 11 percent for the security of the Congress. Since the tragedy in Tucson. I have had innumerable Members come to me as the chairman of House Administration and asking me what more we can do for the security of this House. our Members. and our constituents. There is not a single Member of this House who has asked me to cut security. Quite the contrary. This would cut 250 officers. It would not allow me to do the things you have asked me to do in terms of securing your offices here or at home. Secondly. the greatest obligation we have here. I believe. is oversight of the Federal Government. So what does this amendment do? It cuts us twice as much as those we are supposed to follow. It makes no sense whatsoever. If you want us to do our job and be secure in our job. I would humbly ask you to defeat this amendment.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. while we were gone last week. the United States Department of Justice made an unfortunate decision announcement. They announced that they would no longer defend an act of Congress that was signed into law by President Clinton. that is. the Defense of Marriage Act. The statement that came out of the Justice Department said that they could find no constitutional basis for defending that law. I recall we had the same thing happen in my home State where thenAttorney General Jerry Brown said he could not defend Proposition 8 which dealt with the definition of marriage. Having served in that office in California. I can tell you. I defended laws that I disagreed with. I defended laws that I had voted against. and I felt it was my solemn obligation to uphold the Constitution and the laws duly enacted in my State. just as I believe the Attorney General of the United States has that obligation on the Federal level. It is beyond disappointment. I believe it is a dereliction of duty. To somehow now find that there is no constitutional basis for defending that law is incredible and I think regrettable. and I think we ought to look into it.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to amend title 18. United States Code. to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 386. the bill currently under consideration.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. this is a timely matter. There was a press report just this week that police are trying to find the person who. on Friday morning. pointed a green laser beam both at an airplane and at a news helicopter in the Phoenix area. There have been incidents all around the country. This is not just something that is peculiar to my area. it is something that is increasing in terms of severity and in the number of incidents. so we need to pass this legislation as soon as possible. I urge my fellow Members to support this bill. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to amend title 28. United States Code. to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 368. currently under consideration.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. once again I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia for bringing this bill to the committee and to the floor. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to correct and simplify the drafting of section 1752 (relating to restricted buildings or grounds) of title 18. United States Code. as amended.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 347 currently under consideration.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. at this time I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida . the author of this bill. a distinguished former member of our Judiciary Committee and one who has just gotten over the mourning period because of his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
Date: 2011-02-28
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I would ask all Members to support this reasonable legislation. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-03-01
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. one of the many egregious and punitive parts of ObamaCare is the burdensome 1099 rule. a paperwork regulation that forces millions of businesses to file a 1099 tax form each time they spend over $600 per vendor. The National Association for the SelfEmployed reports that those companies with 10 or fewer employees. their paperwork burden is going to jump from an average of two per year to roughly 27 per year. a whopping 1.250 percent paperwork increase. Main Street momandpop shops dont need the added costs of more regulatory requirements at a time when their efforts are rightly focused on just staying in business. Its jobs we are protecting. Its time to repeal the 1099 rule right now.
Date: 2011-03-01
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Messrs. GRAVES of Georgia. CHANDLER. and SMITH of Nebraska changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." Messrs. CLARKE of Michigan. CARNEY. LEWIS of Georgia. SCHIFF. TIERNEY. and Ms. KAPTUR changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So the motion to recommit was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Date: 2011-03-02
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I appreciate the time. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased that we are bringing H.R. 4 to the floor. This is a bill that I introduced in its original form last April 26 when we looked at the health care bill that had passed and saw that this. which has absolutely nothing to do with health care. this new burden on businesses. this doubleedged sword against small business. was put in that bill supposedly to pay for part of the health care bill. Now. we have our Democratic friends talking about the payfor here. I happen to think that we dont even need a payfor because I think there is a game that is played in this place. which is we will put something in the health care bill that virtually nobody knows is in there. I bet you 99 percent of the Members of the House and the Senate who voted on that bill didnt even know this provision was in there. We then have it scored as somehow gaining $19 billion for the Federal Government over the next 10 years. which I happen to think is made out of whole cloth because you have to assume that virtually everybody cheats in order for you to come to that conclusion. And then if we say we now want to get rid of this unnecessary burden. which. by the way. when I introduced this last April. I couldnt get a single Democrat to join me on. I was told by Democrats that the leadership had said. Dont get on that bill. dont dare do anything like that because that will be the first repeal of the health care bill. After a while I finally got some to join me and now there are 38 Members. I believe. on the other side that have joined so that we now have a total of 278 Members. I believe. that have cosponsored my bill. H.R. 4. But the point is. we bring this new obligation in. this new paperwork obligation. we claim its going to gain us $19 billion. and then whats the joke on the American people? If we dare repeal it. were responsible for somehow coming up with $19 billion in additional taxes. Now I know what the Ways and Means Committee has done. Theyve added this to the bill. a payfor. and I understand the justification for it. But frankly the rules are such that theyre gamed against the average American citizen. You come up out of whole cloth to create this new obligation in your bill. and then once you do and see what the actual implication is and small business said this is a job killer. you say. "Okay. well allow you to bring it to the floor but only if you pay for it with new taxes in some way." Well. our side has looked at it and said. instead of that. why not say those things that are not to be given to folks under this bill ought not to be given to folks under this bill? That is. overpayments ought not to be allowed. As Secretary Sebelius said when your side brought up a very similar provision last year. she said. basically. this is a way to recapture funds.
Date: 2011-03-02
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. And so I would just like to get away from the confusion that is being displayed on the floor today and just get back to the essence of this bill. It is to repeal a provision that was put in the health care bill that virtually no one knew about. that is a job killer. that is recognized as being a job killer. that the other side with the majority could have at any time last year gotten rid of. which finally the President recognized in his State of the Union address is an excess in this health care bill. and lets not make it a political football now and say. well. now its a tax. or now its this. or now its that. Frankly it is an attempt to try and repeal a section of the health care bill that never should have been there in the first place. that has erroneous premises on which it was developed. a suggestion that somehow most Americans involved in business cheat. Thats the only way you can justify $19 billion coming back to the Federal Treasury. If you believe that the average American businessman and businesswoman. particularly small businessmen and small businesswomen. are cheaters. I never have accepted that. I wont accept that today. And. frankly. we ought not to allow this kind of debate to stop the repeal of this provision of the health care bill.
Date: 2011-03-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

I would like to thank the gentleman from South Carolina. Im looking forward to visiting the family at Christmas. Mr. Speaker. ladies and gentlemen of this House and this great country. as I traveled to cities like Covington. Warner Robins and Tifton. Georgia this past week. the main issue I heard from constituents was their growing fear of the size of governments regulatory burden on their business and their way of life. Now. I find it laughable that today Democrats say that they didnt know this 1099 provision was in this bill. The fact is this 1099 provision was part of a continuous assault by the Democratic Party on small businesses across this country. Now. eliminating this provision will further reduce the governments burden placed on these businesses. As a small business owner myself. I know from personal experience that passing this resolution will allow employers the time necessary to focus on creating jobs rather than dealing with the burden of government paperwork. Mr. Speaker. I urge my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of repealing this overbearing. burdensome. jobkilling 1099 provision that the Democrats put into that bill. And as Thomas Jefferson once said: "When the people fear their government. there is tyranny. when the government fears the people there is liberty." Mr. Speaker. it is time to liberate our people. our small businesses from the burdens of this 1099 provision.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. So I understand the sincerity of the other side of the aisle. of those who are concerned about the middle class. Who do you think small business is? This is the middle class in my district and virtually every district across the country. These are the people who create jobs. You will put a dagger in their side. And now you come up and argue against passing this legislation because you are concerned about the middle class. You are killing the middle class with the provision in the health care reform bill. socalled. What we are trying to do is to get rid of that. We are trying help the middle class. We are trying to help the job creators. We are trying to help the people in our districts who dont have jobs. Dont distract the debate on this jobkiller piece of legislation. Give us some relief. which is being called for all around the country.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. The gentleman made a personal reference to me. stating that I made a statement on the floor. and then called that the biggest lie of the year. Is that. in fact. an appropriate comment to be made on the floor during debate?
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I would make a point of order that the gentleman has made a personal reference to me and then followed that up by saying that what I said was a lie.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Not at this time. Mr. Speaker. But I would ask that the Speaker admonish Members not to question the motivation of other Members in reference to any debate that is taking place.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. All I just want to make clear in the RECORD. I never made a reference to the government takeover of health care in my speech. and the gentleman was errant in making a personal reference to what I had just said.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. today I come to the floor in support of this legislation because business owners in southwest Washington sent me here to clear the runway for them to start growing and hiring more people. In my district. I know a restaurant owner in Vancouver and a doctor who runs a small practice in Tumwater who simply dont have the resources to comply with the expanded 1099 mandate. I would rather have them focusing on opening a new franchise or offering services to patientsbasically being successful entrepreneursthan spending time reacting to the mountains of new paperwork theyre going to owe the IRS. My entire region in southwest Washington has been suffering under doubledigit unemployment for multiple years. In my districts largest county. Clark County. the jobless rate hovers between 13 and 14 percentand thats reported. there are a lot of people who have stopped reporting. I know were not unique. The entire country is depending on Congress to make job creation a serious priority. And by passing this bill today. were showing the people of southwest Washington and across America that were taking them very seriously. As I meet with small business owners in my district. they express two major sentiments to me over and over again: Fear and uncertainty. Theyre afraid and uncertain about what this government is going to do to them next. What I would like to do today is eliminate the uncertainty around this 1099 mandate. Small businesses from across my district continue to ask me for more predictability from their government when it comes to regulations and taxes. Instead of fear. increased bureaucracy or higher costs. Im committed to providing them with that predictability. By voting to repeal the 1099 paperwork mandate today we do two things: First. we take an immediate step that will provide regulatory relief to the clinic in Tumwater and the restaurant in Vancouver. Second. we send a signal to America that Congress is changing the way it views small businesses. They arent piggybanks. allowed to exist only to foot the bill on terribly illconceived and unaffordable government programs.
Date: 2011-03-03
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Today this new Congress lets small businesses know that we see them as the heart and soul of what makes this country great. as entrepreneurs that can grow and thrive and succeed as far as their hard work can take them. Thats the job creation plan that has worked for this country for the last two centuries. and Im confident its the plan that will put folks in southwest Washington and across our country back to work.
Date: 2011-03-10
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thats the Dallas Morning News front page. And do you know what theyre saying? Gas prices are going up for all drivers and its time for the gallon of gas to come down or stop. You know. it has risen nearly a buck since last September. Thats why Im calling on the IRS to stand up for small business by increasing the gas mileage rate that they can deduct. The IRS increased the optional mileage rate during spiking gas prices in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and in 2008. Gas prices are going upward. and there are no signs that the pain at the pump will subside anytime soon. Taxpayers today. especially small businesses struggling to stay afloat. want. need. and deserve rates that reflect the current cost of travel. They need those deductions. We need to drill for oil. Call the White House at 2024561414 and tell them about it.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 27. providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol. President Gerald R. Ford was a distinguished Member and minority leader of this Chamber. a man of the House. He was Vice President of the United States and our 38th President. A proud citizen of the great State of Michigan. President Ford served this Nation at a time of great national pain and turmoil. He ably served and helped us heal our wounds. This resolution allows. at the direction of the people of Michigan. the Rotunda to be used for a ceremony in President Fords honor on May 3 of this year. It also allows for the statue to be permanently displayed as part of the prestigious and historic national Statuary Hall collection. Mr. Speaker. this concurrent resolution. introduced by my colleague from Michigan and cosponsored by the other members of the Michigan delegation. should garner overwhelming bipartisan support. So I thank Mr. UPTON for introducing it. and I urge all my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 27.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. it is my privilege to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan and the original sponsor of this resolution.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. at this time I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the State of Michigan .