macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1994-07-28
Speaker: W AXMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chairman. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. MaR5EL the primary architect of this legislation.
Date: 1994-07-29
Speaker: ANTHONY LAKE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Washington. DC. DEAR TONY: I write with respect to the possibility that the U.S. Armed Forces would be deployed for potential combat in or around Haiti. It is my strong view that prior to making any decision to so deploy U.S. forces. the President should consult closely with the Congress. After such consultation. if the President decides to proceed with this acE1609 tion. I would note that under the War Powers express to them the thanks of the Russiart Resolution. the Congress should authorize. people. .. . ......- ..... the deployment of such forces for any period. By February 1944. Mr. Beauchampwho beyond sixty days. As you know. Congress .. . . a ..... ........ expressed its views on the importance of was only--15at he tme and WhO had led both consultation and authorization with re- abut his age in order to contribute to the Alspect to Haiti in Section 8147 Of the Depart- lied War effr -.found himself in Philadelphia. ment of Defense Appropriations Act of 1994. preparing to ship out to New York. where he I would appreciate knowing what plans the and his shipmates aboard the Joseph C. rLinAdministration has made to consult with the coin would cross the Atlantic to deliver war Congress on this matter. With best regards. supplies. Sincerely. Mr. Beauchamp and his shipmatesmade it LEE H. HAMILTON. to New York. where the Joseph C. Lincoln Chairman. joined a convoy that Mr. Beauchamp thought THWrrE Uwas headed for Odessa. Russia. In short
Date: 1994-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture have until midnight tonight to file a report on the bill to reform the Federal Crop Insurance Program and for other purposes.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: JOHN H. GIBBONS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Director. Office of Science and Technology Policy. Executive Office of the President. Washington DC. DEAR JACK: Several of us had the opportunity to travel to JohnsonSpace Center late last month to explore the status of the International Space Station Alpha Program and to assess its progress in the context of the June 1993 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station. I am writing to pass al6ng my personal observations on this matter and have encouraged others who were present to do likewise. This program has been dramatically reorganized apd has progressed to an extent that greatly exceeded my expectations. This review was informal and intense. but lasted only one and a half days and therefore was of modest depth and detail. Nonetheless. I can state with confidence that the highlevel conclusions were selfevident and overwhelmingly positive.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: JACK GIBBONS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Office of Science and Technology Policy. Washington DC. DEAR JACK. As you know a number of former members of the Vest committee were given an informal briefing on the status of the International Space Station Alpha on the 25th and 26th of March. 1994. I felt it might be useful to provide you with my views. Since the panel to which I originally belonged was focused on Technical and Mission Assessment. these observations are also concentrating on those aspects. If there is value in publicizing these remarks feel free to do so. I should mention that the available members of the original panel had informal discussions over dinner. The attached remarks generally reflect a consensus of the views expressed. You nay not realize that our panel was very skeptical about this whole project when we first convened last year. Since that time. the changes wrought by Dan Golden. and an outstanding new project management team have won us over. Given our original skepticism. this turnabout is quite remarkable. Much of the advice the new team was given has been followed. I believe this Important project deserves to be strongly supported by the administration. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: JOHN H. GIBBONS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Director. Office of Science and Technology Policy. Washington. DC. DEAR JACK: This letter conveys to you some of my impressions following the brief review of the redesigned space station that was held on 2526 March in Houston. I had in-
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: JOHN H. GIBBONS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Director. Office of Science and Technology Policy. Washington. DC. DEAR DR. GIBBONS: During the meeting on the International Space Station last week. I relayed- a saying from an old friend that seemed to capture what I saw during the review in Houston. "Unless you create a burning platform. you cant get people to do their best." I think we must have created a burning platform under space station management last summer. The original Vest Panel report was particularly critical of the management structure which had evolved to design. develop. and operate Space Station Freedom. Our earlier assessment included such tough statements as "if you cant fix the management structure. you ought to think twice about doing it at all". Many specific recommendations were made which the panel felt were essential for the ultimate success of the program. A comparison between those recommendations and the current management structure is most encouraging. The specific accomplishments are very impressive since last summer. Ive listed some of the key ones below: A quality. single prime contractor has been engaged and is firmly in place.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: JOHN H. GIBBONS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Office of Science and Technology Policy. Washington. DC. DEAR JACK: Our meeting in Houston last week clarified a number of issues on the international space station. I. was highly pleased with the cultural change. management approach. and implementation of Vest Committee recommendations. Russian participation is now largely defined. lacking only the interface control document level of detail. The new partnership and associated communications are working. My confidence level has reached an alltime . high and for the first time I can really call myself a "Station advocate." The reason for this change is simpleNow it makes sense! The program is viable with its new management structure and Russian participation. The Station will be more capable with Russian components. Development risk is reduced with Russian hardware. Operations will begin sooner. at lower costs with Russian contributions. Early use of the Russian Mir Station will refine and enhance operations while we gain valuable experience in long duration space flight. We have multiple access and broader. Earth coverage using Russian launch sites. Logistical support. using Russian launchers. will decrease dependence on the Space Shuttle. We will perform more science with the larger crew. including Russians. It is often stated that "Russian participation in the Station program is motivated by U.S. foreign policy objectives." Clearly this is as true as it should be. and as it has ever been. However. the statement misses the point. Russian participation brings added capability and credibility to a previously much maligned and troubled Space Station program. I now strongly endorse the program. NASA has performed a remarkable management turnaround and the Administrations Russian initiative has brought great strength and agility at reduced cost. while supporting broader foreign policy goals. I am pleased to have been able to participate in this effort. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as with many diseases. a huge number of women who are afflicted with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. About onehalf of the 6.5 million American women who have diabetes remain undiagnosed. For black women. the numbers are even more staggeringnearly 8 percent of black women in America have diabetes. and blacks suffer higher rates of complications from the disease. including higher rates of blindness and kidney failure. As we turn to health care reform. we need to be reminded that in many cases. people with diabetes go without health insurance because of preexistlng condition exclusionshealth care reform must eliminate this problem. Another must of health care reform is a greater emphasis on preventive care. which would increase the likelihood that people with diabetes can have their affliction diagnosed. and can be educated about the disease. Regular checkups as a part of preventive care will also reduce the risk of complications from the disease. We should all be reminded at this critical juncture in the health care debate that preventive care saves money. and more importantly. saves lives.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. tonight people all over our country and in the district I represent in Houston. TX. will participate in the National Night Out Program that brings awareness to our Nations crime problem. More importantly. this pro-. gram brings these neighborhoods together to fight crime. It is interesting that when the rest of the Nation joins together to solve our crime problem. the House of Representatives is still divided on this issue. The crime bill we are considering contains a great many positive programs that will help control crime. While solutions on how to solve our crime problem are many and costly. it is made more difficult when the progress we have made is criticized by those who on one hand argue that we do not go far enough. and yet then complain the Federal Government should do more. We are criticized for not doing more.. but if the crime bills are defeated this week. then these same people. these same editorial writers and same groups. will then say that Congress cannot address the number one issue that everyone agrees on that we have to solve. crime. Yet they are the ones that are saying maybe we should send this bill back to conference and kill it for this session. These are the same people that will never be satisfied with what Congress does. because we are imperfect. we are humans. This is unfortunate. but it is the way of life. We have to combine our efforts to solve the crime problem: The friends. families. and neighbors who join tonight will know that it will take more than political posturing. whether it be in Congress. city hall. or State capitals. to solve the problem. We must bring our communities together and address it as communities. whether you serve in Congress. whether you serve on city council. on your local school board. or in your State legislature. Because what we should do is do what is right. and not listen to the folks who would just tell us you did it wrong later.
Date: 1994-08-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to ask my colleagues to support a very important piece of legislation. H.R. 4003. the Maritime Administration and Promotional Reform Act of 1994 by voting and supporting the StuddsFields amendment. The Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries has worked hard to prepare a bill that has bipartisan support. The StuddsFields amendment not only has bipartisan support but is also supported by a variety of groups. such as labor organizations and businesses in the shipbuilding industry. I ask members of the Texas Delegation to support the amendment our colleague. the gentleman from Texas is offering. along with Chairman STUDDS. Southern States stand to benefit from the StuddsFields amendment because of the significance the shipbuilding industry has in these States. Since 1981. 50 American shipyards have closed. today there are only 16 yards capable of building oceangoing vessels. This amendment helps American shipyards compete and most importantly includes programs for ship construction and support for ship repair. We know our maritime industry has suffered tremendously. H.R. 4003 will restore and strengthen our American maritime industry. I urge my colleagues to vote to support the StuddsFields amendment. We must have a strongdomestic merchant marine fleet employing U.S. seamen.
Date: 1994-08-03
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. last night I returned a phone call to a small businessman in my district. He called to urge me to vote for a health care bill that would provide relief for his small company. You see. Mr. Speaker. this gentleman has himself. with one parttime employee. After taxes and everything else he clears about $9.000 a year. He cannot afford to pay for health care for himself nor for his employee. I listened and I learned. and I believe that we are tryingto respond. The bill we recently presented would help my small business constituents in Houston. The Guaranteed Health Insurance Act of 1994 will help lowwage small businesses who would otherwise have a difficult time making their paying for insurance in several ways. First. subsi dies will be provided to small. lowwage businesses to reduce the amount they must contribute toward their workers premiums. In fact. businesses with 25 or fewer employees would be eligible for a subsidy of 50 percent. Second. community rating would keep premiums affordable when an employee gets sick. Third. there will be relief through changes made to workers compensation. It is time for serious policy. not cynical politics. If we really care about health security we will pass the health reform before we go home for our August break. We must stand up for what we believe in. We must stand up for the working families and struggling small businesses in our districts. We can make a difference by passing this bill.
Date: 1994-08-04
Speaker: CARL LUNDBLAD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Office of Senator Dave Durenberger. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. LUNDBLAD: I am writing to let you know that I am in support of the Comprehensive Torture Victims Relief Actbeing introduced by Senators Durenberger and Harkin. I believe a bill such as this one is needed to make sure that human rights abuses and torture are not ignored. It is my sincerest hope that this bill is passed quickly and that it will assist in the deterrence of human rights abuses worldwide. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I happen to be one of those small businesses that cannot afford at this time to offer health care coverage. With the plan that we have coming before us. Mr. Speaker. for the first time I will be able to offer health insurance to the persons that work for my company. Right now I am limited to those who have retired from other jobs or those who can get coverage through their parents or spouses. It does decrease choices. It does cause the feeling that one cannot afford to hire certain people because we cannot afford to offer the plan. With this plan people will have an opportunity to make a choice between plans and never lose their health care coverage whether they continue to work for my company or not. Mr. Speaker. it is time for us to be able to do that. Small businesses need the opportunity to offer insurance without going out of business. The opportunity is now. We can do it now.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 5 minutes to th6 distinguished gentleman from South Dakota . chairman of the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over this matter.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield such time as I may consume to myself. Mr. Chairman. again I continue with the same degree of frustration. exasperation as to the events that have brought us here. One of them is a "Dear Colleague" letter that has been distributed by Mr. PENNY and Mr. McMILLAN that is actually an insult to our committee and to those of us who have worked so diligently. saving $60 billion of taxpayers money in the past 12 years. It shows two cows at a table saying. "Please pass the buck." This is below the level of debate in our committee. and has been all along. But my concern. though. is that that "Dear Colleague" says only onehalf of the funding responsibility for the package is paid for honestly. This statement is not correct. Another: While this approach technically adheres to paygo restriction. it does not conform to the spirit of fiscal responsibility. Mr. Chairman. is not $60 billion worth of cuts fiscal responsibility? I ask my colleagues. While passing the buck. leaving their fingerprints ondifficult decision. without spending cuts required to pay for the. program. I come back. $60 billion. and our fingerprints are on it. our name is on it. the name of our committee is on it. and we tell the world. Mr. Chairman. it is not fair. it is not accurate. it is an abuse of the privilege of debate which we should always honor and adhere to under the norm. which this committee has always worked toward With the respect and admiration that we have for all the members. we have never. you have never seen a "Dear Colleague" like this from the Agriculture Committee. I keep repeating. I hope that we get it: The issue is very simple. as a matter of fact. I could stand hereand I will.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. if the gentleman will yield. let me say that the gentleman has my assurances that this provision will be given every consideration by our committee.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. the scenario as we see it. it could change. but there will be an amendment offered by the gentleman from Minnesota and there will be a substitute offered. Mr. Chairman. I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia .
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 15 minutes of the time allocated to me to the distinguished gentleman from Texas . and ask unanimous consent that the gentleman be allowed to control that time.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time asI may consume. I rise in opposition to the amendment and. again. reiterate the fact. we are not intending to shift the burden on any other committee. We have never done this. We do not intend to begin now. This is just a matter that we have a different way to get to the point that all of us want to get to. But the fact of life is that we need a viable. workable crop insurance program. because now. out there. the reality is that when a farmer goes to the bank. they ask him two questions: "Are you in a Federal program or do you have crop insurance?" If not. they will not speak to him. That Is the need for the reform of the crop insurance. to make it viable and workable. And the misrepresentation that somehow we are trying to evade our responsibility. we are not. We never have. That is not in the history of this committee in the past 12 years. We never have shifted the responsibility. Now. if my distinguished colleague and friend from Minnesota has a problem with the budget process. we cannot do that for him. Goodness knows. he has had enough opportunities on the floor. combined with other Members. We cannot reform the budget process. We go by the rules as tthey are. We satisfy the rules as they are. That is what we have done and intend to do. Again. I really hate going back to my original frustration that we are pictured as ogres trying to evade the budget. trying to impose the burden on another committee. trying to cut the WIC. trying to let hungry children go hungry. Just look around. just look at the record of this committee. We have never done that. and we are not going to start now. I hope the Members vote against the Penny amendment. against his amendment. whichever face it takes. and support the committee version. Mr. Chairman. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri .
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Dakota . the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities of the Committee on Agriculture.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words and I rise to speak against the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the concern of my distinguished colleague from the Appropriations Committee. I share his concern. We are aiming in the same direction. But we have to deal with facts. and those who know the facts say that if the Penny amendment is agreed to it will have the possibility of dismantling the program. Secretary Espy says that. This amendment would frustrate the fundamental goals of crop insurance reform. and will make it more likely that Congress will once again be asked to provide ad hoc disaster assistance. This is what we are trying to protect the appropriations subcommittee from. that we do not have those ad hoc disaster payments that now will come on budget. We do not want him to be making those decisions. We are arguing over something we should not be arguing about. I am honestly telling Members we do not have all of the facts. We are hoping that in 3 years the GAO will have sufficient information to allow us to proceed in an orderly manner and see where and how the program has worked. OMB hat agreed with us. They say that Congress will again be asked to provide ad hoc disaster assistance if we adopt the Penny amendment and dismantle what we are trying to correct in the crop insurance. So it is not pay now or pay later. We know. we admit that is what we are aiming for. But we need more facts.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding. I appreciate it. I just wanted to mention that somehow the impression is that this committee has not done its fair share. and we have reduced- expenditures by $60 billion in the past 12 years. We are still the bestfed people In the world for the least amount of disposable income per family. so if there is a subsidy. it is the American consumer that is being subsidized on the back of the American farmer. That is where the subsidy is.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I had advised the Members and my colleagues that we would try to conclude this by 1:30. and I am still willing to do that. I have only like about 1 or 2 minutes left. which I will take to conclude debate.