macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of an amendment that would create regulatory certainty with our neighbors. Canada and Mexico. The Presidential permitting process dates back many administrations. Beginning in the administration of Ulysses S. Grant. the executive branch has taken steps to ensure our crossborder infrastructure between Canada and Mexico was constructed. These past administrations and. indeed. the current administration have been forced to use executive orders because Congress has failed to act. Congress has a duty to regulate the commerce of the United States. and crossborder energy infrastructure projects fall well within that space. We need to create a system with our neighbors. Mexico and Canada. to truly create a North American energy market. and that is what this amendment would do. We cant build infrastructure in this country or in this continent based on who sits in the White House. There are 11 crossborder projects awaiting a decision now by the Department of State and the President. including electricity wires and water pipelines. It is Congress responsibility to create regulatory rules by which infrastructure is constructed. As a reminder of this. tomorrow we will pass the conference report to the FAST Act. The FAST Act is a multiyear transportation bill that shows our determination to build infrastructure for the 21st century. Now we must build on that success and focus on our energy infrastructure. This amendment would create a regulatory process at the Department of State. Department of Energy. and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to permit crossborder infrastructure. This is no different than building roads. bridges. or railways. The Department of Transportation coordinates with Federal. State. and local agencies to ensure the project is completed and the environment protected. We will do the same thing with pipes and wires. We need to build electric transmission lines and pipelines to move resources from where they are to where they are needed. The amendment complies with the National Environmental Policy Act and requires a full environmental review of any crossborder facility. including analysis of the climate change impacts. The entire length of the pipeline or electric transmission line will be reviewed for environmental impacts. This amendment is about the future and how to meet the 21st century demands that our country needs. We should embrace the changes taking place in North America and harmonize our policies with those of our neighbors both to the north and south. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. my good friend from New Jersey is actually incorrect. This amendment passed the House last session and didnt pass in the Senate. But it does have the NEPA process throughout. whether it is a pipeline or transmission line. from literally not just the border but also to the destination. And it is not just Keystone. We have natural gas pipelines being built from Texas to Mexico. Twenty years from now. we will need those pipelines reversed to bring natural gas from Mexico to my chemical industries. That is what this amendment is about. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Michigan . the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I just want to encourage Members to support the amendment. We need to bring our country and our trading partners on the north and south border together on energy issues. I encourage an "aye" vote. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas .
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill. add the following:
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey .
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

If I may. Mr. Chairman. I want to thank Mr. UPTON for his enthusiasm. Dean Kamen is a hero of all of us. As I said. the greatest joy that I have seen in my young people when I invite them out is going to NASA Johnson out in Houston and. as well. when I bring the astronauts either to their schools or. more importantly. when NASA goes out to the schools. But when I have this big Christmas party. Santa Claus comes. but I will tell you that the astronauts are enormously popular. I want to thank Mr. PALLONE. as well. for being committed to the energy and the dreaming and the inspiration and talent of our young people. That is what this amendment is about. I hope we can work together to find the funding but. more importantly. to get our young people engaged. I think they will have a lot of answers. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .
Date: 2015-12-03
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to end their calls for shutdown and to work in a bipartisan manner to pass a funding measure without riders. This body has gotten into the habit of using lastminute Hail Mary votes to save us from one manufactured crisis after another. and it is taking our attention away from the list of things we need to get donethings like reforming our criminal justice system. addressing gun violence. or creating jobs. There is just 1 week left before funding runs out. and it looks like we are heading into yet another crisis. In the midst of growing threats to national security. we need to take politics out of this equation. We need to take poison pills that threaten working American families off the negotiating table. Mr. Speaker. I am ready and willing to work to keep the government of the greatest nation in the world open. and I know my Democratic colleagues will as well. I hope every Member of this body is ready to do the same. I want to express my condolences to San Bernardino and its families on their loss. I urge Congress to get moving on gun safety legislation.
Date: 2015-12-03
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank Congressman POLIS for the time he has granted me. Mr. Speaker. after more than 2 years of obstruction by a vocal. ideologically driven minority that led to a 5month shutdown of the ExportImport Bank. I could not be more pleased to rise and speak in strong support of the provision in the conference report that would finally put the ExIm Bank back in the business of supporting U.S. jobs. After having spoken with and having listened to the stories of countless users of the ExIm Bank. both in my district and across the country. I can tell you without a doubt that the 4year reauthorization of the Bank in this conference report is absolutely necessary and essential to ensure that U.S. businesses. both large and small. can operate and survive in the global marketplace. From the loss of satellite contracts in California. to the many potential job losses across this country. to offers from our foreign competitors that have urged American exporters to take their operations to Canada or overseas to Europe and China. there is no question that the shutdown of the ExIm Bank has done great damage. In joining with Whip HOYER. Leader PELOSI. Representatives HECK and MOORE. as well as with Representatives FINCHER and LUCAS. we showed that a determined majority of Democrats and Republicans who work together will ultimately prevail. It is time to put an end to this wholly destructive and entirely unnecessary period that has caused us so much pain and fear and hopelessness for so many businesses and workers across this country whose livelihoods rely on the ExIm Bank. I urge the passage of the conference report.
Date: 2015-12-03
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 22. the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. This longterm authorization of surface transportation programs will provide the certainty that states and municipalities need to plan and build out critical transportation infrastructure projects. This 5year. $305 billion measure represents a bipartisan compromise to help repair our crumbling infrastructure and secure our economic future while creating thousands of good paying jobs. As both a conferee to the transportation bill and the senior Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I can say with strong confidence that this legislation is a goodfaith effort to make the important investments in our transportation infrastructure that our nation so desperately needs. While there are some shortcomings in the bill and some of us would like to have higher levels of investments be included. this bill will still help to further new and existing projects for the longterm. I am pleased to see that this bill supports research and development. including expanding university transportation center outreach to women and underrepresented populations. In going forward. I hope that we can do more to elevate our nation as a leader in multimodal transportation innovation. Mr. Speaker. Americans demand more investment in infrastructure and it is the responsibility of this Congress to make that investment. I applaud Chairman SHUSTER and Ranking Member DEFAZIO and other members from the various committees of jurisdiction for their hard work on this bill. Passage of this legislation is a strong first step in keeping America competitive and helping to build and maintain our nations critical transportation infrastructu re.
Date: 2015-12-03
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. on December 3. 2015. I was unable to vote on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 22. the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (rollcall No. 673). Had I been present. I would have voted "yes."
Date: 2015-12-03
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I rise to draw attention to the concerns and frustrations among parents. educators. business leaders. and so many others in my home State of New Mexico. Today. I voted in favor of the Every Student Succeeds Act because I believe this legislation is better. quite frankly. than the status quo. and it will work to improve our education system. However. we cannot forget that many of New Mexicos schools are in trouble. These troubled schools stem from a lack of leadership at both the Federal and State levels. Unfortunately. the U.S. Department of Education has not held New Mexicos leadership accountable for this failure. In fact. the Federal Government has enabled our States. including New Mexico. to put special interests ahead of student success. That is why Education Week ranked New Mexico as 49th out of 51. with a Dplus in preparing kids for college and a Dminus in K12 achievement. This lack of accountability at the State and Federal levels is harming a generation of New Mexico students. New Mexicans deserve far better. It is time we had leaders who take responsibility for improving our schools and that hold each other accountable when their actions are failing students. While the ESEA moves beyond the status quo. more needs to be done to help our students. I hope we will work together to do that.
Date: 2015-12-08
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. you have told us over and over again that the James Zadroga 9111 Health and Compensation Act will be passed in this year. Well. the clock is running out. The time is here to live up to our pledge that "we will never forget." We lost 3.000 innocent people on 9111. but thousands more lost their health care and are sick and dying. They are coming to this Congress praying for their health care. It is a national disgrace that we have not responded to our responders. Yet everyone agrees. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have pledged to do this before the end of the year. Yet. even when we all agree. we still seem to do nothing. As Jon Stewart so succinctly put it: Congress has become the last responders. It is time for the last responders to respond to the first responders and give them the health care and support they so justly deserve.
Date: 2015-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3859. the HSA Technical Corrections Act of 2015. Let me. first of all. thank the chairperson and ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on H.R. 3859 and thank the ranking member. Mr. THOMPSON. and the chairman of the full committee. The American people are looking for homeland security. They are looking for us to be secure. Before I briefly discuss H.R. 3859. let me applaud the CarterTorres bill. which was just passed. giving further authority to train law enforcement all over America. As we can see. law enforcement is a part of our first responders on homeland security. H.R. 3859 is a technical corrections bill. It updates and revises the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by. among other things. eliminating onetime reporting requirements. removing antiquated positions that no longer exist or have evolved. and striking provisions that were inserted in 2002 before the Department of Homeland Security was officially constituted in 2003. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to note that during the Homeland Security Committees November 4 markup of H.R. 3859. members favorably and unanimously reported this bill. I acknowledge Mr. PERRY for his leadership on these issues as well as the collaboration we have on this committee. With this in mind. I commend this bill for House consideration. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just say this: I am not sure if the gentleman from Texas. a dear friend. was asking us to get rid of the nofly list or the watch list. Our point today. Mr. Speaker. is very narrow. We are just asking that terrorists not be able to walk into a gun shop and buy a gun. This is a loophole that is most glaring. Eighty percent of the American people believe that this is impossible. it must not be true. We are trying to prevent suspected terrorists from walking into a gun store and buying a deadly weapon. The investigation. tragically. in California is not yet finished. so we dont have the final answer as to what would have prevented that. But it is astonishing that the loophole has allowed more than 2.000 suspects on the FBI terrorist watch list to buy guns in the U.S. over the past 11 years. When I started this debate. I was happy that we had come to the floor to deal with Homeland Security bills. The American people want the homeland safe and secure. They dont want demagoguery. They want safety and security. Legislation blocking terrorists from getting guns makes America no more safer and secure than apple pie. This is a time when more than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who tried to buy guns in America walked away and bought them. They got the weapon they wanted. This is not criminals. gangs. or others. We are dealing with those individuals who are terrorists. They have the right to get a gun. Can we do something this week. Mr. Speaker? Can we add to the safety and security of the American people? As we pass this bill. H.R. 3859. which I applaud its correcting technicalities. can we join together and can we pass closing the gun loophole that allows terrorists to go and buy a gun to terrorize innocent Americans? I think we can do better. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I started by saying that the American people are looking to us to secure the homeland. As we look at these series of bills that we have on the floor. H.R. 3859 is a technical corrections bill. This is a bill that should be passed. Americans expect clarity from this body. Clarity from this body means that at the same time as we pass H.R. 3859. we should also be concerned about making sure that we close gun show loopholes so as to avoid having terrorists buy guns. I believe that that is the appropriate and direct way to handle this question of securing the Nation. Do the obvious to secure the Nation: stop terrorists from getting guns. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: JUDY CHU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. my constituents in San Bernardino County are still reeling from the horror of last weeks attack in the city of San Bernardino. as is everybody throughout the Nation. Fourteen people died. at least 21 were injured. and thousands are asking: What now? There are people who are afraid that their office. shopping plaza. or community could be next. which is why already country officials in my area and elsewhere are seeking ways to tighten and improve security so that an attack like this does not happen again. They cannot be alone in this endeavor. It is time for Congress to act. We cannot let terrorists on our own U.S. terrorist watch list buy guns. If you are considered too dangerous to board a plane. you are too dangerous to buy a gun. That is why closing this loophole is just common sense. Yet. over the past 11 years. 2.000 suspected terrorists have walked out of stores with a lethal firearm. Ninety percent of them have been able to buy guns. no questions asked. We have left a huge hole in our counterterrorism efforts. and it is time we close it.
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I think most Americans think it is important for the Constitution to be protected. The Second Amendment is protected. We have the right to bear arms. But most Americans would find our actions and inactions questionable at best because. after the 353rd mass murder. this Congress cannot come together and vote on one simple bill. that is. that individuals on the nofly and terrorist watch lists would not be able to purchase guns. Yes. my colleagues. today. as we stand here. they can purchase guns. They can purchase guns without imprisonment. without charges. In memory of San Bernardino. among the other failures that caused their deaths. the one we know of was the utilization of automatic weapons that shot thousands or hundreds of roundsmany roundskilling these innocent persons. I rise today to say that we should not move from this place without passing the Peter King bill. which keeps gunsautomatic weaponsout of the hands of terrorists. How simple a question. How simple an answer. Vote "yes" for the American people.
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I missed the following vote: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2130. Had I been present. I would have voted "no" on this bill.
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. I too believe that Congress must act quickly to address terrorist threats in order to keep Americans safe. Congress promptly acted in a bipartisan manner this week to strengthen glaring holes in our countrys Visa Waiver Program. However. we have done absolutely nothing to close an equally alarming loophole which allows suspected terrorists to purchase guns. Unlike felons. domestic abusers. and the adjudicated mentally ill. suspected terrorists can legally purchase firearms in the United States. I think that is worth repeating. Individuals who are suspected of being involved in terrorist activities by the FBI can legally purchase dangerous weaponsincluding militarystyle assault rifles and explosivesin this country. In fact. more than 2.000 suspects on the FBIs terrorist watch list have purchased firearms over the last 11 years. If our intelligence community is concerned enough about an individuals suspected ties to terrorism to prohibit them from boarding an aircraft. why would we allow that person to purchase a firearm? The American people are urging Congress to address gun violence and strengthen our Nations security against increasing threats from ISIS and other terrorist organizations. This bill provides a rare opportunity to do both. Unfortunately. the Republican leadership has refused to even debate this bill. We cannot. Mr. Chairman. wait to act any longer. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and help ensure that every American lives free from the threat of gun violence.
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. is it true that the Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation that would explicitly prevent terrorists from buying guns?
Date: 2015-12-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to offer remarks on poverty and income inequality in America in light of our recent budget discussions. In the worlds most rich and powerful nation. more than 46 million Americans live in poverty. In Texas. 18 percent of residents live in poverty and 25 percent of children under 18 live in poverty. In Dallas. TX. the number of lowincome people rose 41 percent between 2000 and 2012. These numbers are staggering in a nation. state. and city with such wealth. Congress can and must do more to create opportunity for people who live in poverty. Passing a strong federal budget with antipoverty programs. creating educational opportunities for students who come from lowincome families. ensuring children and families have adequate food. advocating for a higher minimum wage. and keeping our federal health programs strong are just a few examples of the ways Congress can help lift these individuals and families out of poverty. We know that these programs work. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) kept almost 5 million Americans. including 2.2 million children. out of poverty last year. Medical kept almost 3 million people out of poverty last year and that number continues to increase as more states expand Medicaid. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) helped to lift 10 million Americans. including 5 million children. out of poverty last year. Antipoverty programs not only help families rise above and stay out of poverty. they keep families contributing to the economy on a daily basis. Rather than keeping lowincome Dallasites. Texans. and Americans on a tightrope where they are one medical emergency. job loss. or large car expense away from dipping into poverty. we must bolster our resources. During the very year that we celebrated the 50th anniversary of several War on Poverty programs enacted by President Johnson. we must make it easier and not more difficult for working families in this country.