macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. there is a more basic and fundamental question that we are confronting today. That question is. Can we continue to go out of our way to help major corporations? As a matter of fact. $700 billion. Can we go out of our way to help them and make sure that the programs work for them and then turn our backs on the taxpayers that helped those very same major corporations? Thats the basic question that we have to contend with. Are the banks and the major corporations too big to fail and are the taxpaying Americans who helped bail them out too small to help? 1l 1000 Can we continue to end programs that help people stay in their homes that did not create the exotic products. that did not create prepayment penalties that coincide with teaser rates. that did not create loans wherein you qualify for your teaser rate but you dont qualify for your adjusted rate? Can we continue to allow them to be evicted when we can help some of them? We may not be able to help everybody. but when you can help somebody. you ought to try to do the best that you can and help those that you can. With reference to the FHA refi that passed. that was ended yesterday by a vote of this House. that bill did not lose money unless persons failed to pay their mortgages. It was only if mortgages were not repaid that FHA came forward and covered the cost. So to say that it cost $8 billion is incorrect. It cost whatever at the end of the program may have been spent. but that money had not been spent. so the money was there. There was also a premium to be paid by persons who got the refis. FHA was going to help a lot of people stay in their homes and help a lot of communities and neighborhoods maintain their integrity and their property values. We. today. have an opportunity to help people with emergency mortgage assistance. people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own because of this downturn in the economy. It is a very simple premise. Will we allow ourselves to save major corporations and deny the people. the taxpaying Americans. some help in their time of need? If there is one thing that I heard from American people. it was: Where is my bailout? Well. when we come up to the plate. and we try to help people who actually need and merit the help. somebody comes forward and finds a reason why we cant help them. This is the day to help those American people. Lets not let them be too small to help while others will allow banks to be too big to fail.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I rise in opposition to H.R. 836. the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act. This legislation would end the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Emergency Homeowners Relief Program. a program designed to help unemployed homeowners keep their homes. Buying a home is one of the biggest commitments and the most valuable investment of our adult life. If this program is eliminated unemployed homeowners will have nowhere else to turn when their home is threatened. Our unemployment rate is now 8.9 percent. We must not forget those still struggling to pay their bills and trying to provide for their families. Ending vital recovery programs and offering reckless spending proposals will only move our country backwards. While cuts are necessary to address the nations longterm fiscal problems. cutting too deeply before the economy is in full expansion will add unnecessary risk to the housing recovery. I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. the Emergency Mortgage Relief program was created in the DobbFrank Act to help distressed homeowners who fall behind on their mortgage payments due to involuntary unemployment. underemployment or a medical condition. The program works by providing qualifying borrowers with a zero interest bridge loan that enables them to make their mortgage payments until they can find a job or otherwise resume paying their loan. Assistance under the program is terminated when a borrowers income is restored to 85 percent of precrisis levels and is limited to a maximum of 24 months or $50.000. whichever comes first. Madam Chair. this program is modeled after successful initiatives at the state levelsuch as the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. HEMAP. in Pennsylvania. whose 85 percent success rate has helped over 45.000 homeowners stay in their homes at an average loan amount of $11.000 per borrower. With our economic recovery still gaining momentum. and unemployment hovering around 9 percent. now is not the time to terminate assistance to borrowers at risk of losing their homes through no fault of their own. Instead. we should give this program a chance to work and extend a temporary hand to those who need this assistance the most. The Acting CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to the rule. the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5minute rule. No amendment to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is in order except those received for printing in the portion of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD designated for that purpose in a daily issue dated March 9. 2011. or earlier and except pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate. Each amendment so received may be offered only by the Member who caused it to be printed or a designee and shall be considered read if printed. The Clerk will designate section 1. The text of section 1 is as follows: H.R. 836 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. It amazes me that somebody could say that homeowners. American homeowners. losing their homes and us trying to help them to stay in them is like throwing money down a rat hole. I might suggest that we might look at Afghanistan or the war in Iraq where were spending $2 billion a week as a place where we could find the money to balance our budget. But at this moment. Madam Chair. I would like to yield to my good colleague from California .
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Chair. 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 new section:
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to House Resolution 836. the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act. My amendment would simply delay implementation of H.R. 836 until the unemployment rate is at 7.5 percent nationally or lower. Why 7.5 percent? Because if my Republican colleagues really want to terminate this program. focus on what people in America really want. jobs. Ten weeks into this Congress and not one single bill has come from our Republican colleagues with respect to jobs. We havent even had a chance to see how this program can be beneficial to the people we represent. to our neighborhoods. to the economy. I know that shortly after the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act the phone was ringing off the hook in my offices as people were trying to find out how they could get some help to stay in their homes. The Emergency Homeowner Loan Program was designed to assist homeowners who have experienced a significant reduction in incomein income. not because they got into a bad loan. because they have lost their jobs. because they have found another job but it doesnt pay enough. because they are underemployed. because they have found a parttime job which doesnt give them benefits so they have to use COBRA. and they have to pay for their health care simply because they have less money right now during this time when you all have not been able to help us create jobs. This would provide as many as 30.000 distressed homeowners with loans until they are able to find better jobs or find jobs. Assistance terminates when the borrowers income is restored to 85 percent of their precrisis level. and the assistance is limited to 24 months or $50.000. whichever occurs first. You know. unexpected situations. they occur in our lives. Many people who are unemployed today or are underemployed today didnt expect to lose their jobs. They went every day. They worked hard every day. As people were losing jobs. they worked harder. they stayed longer. They became more productive and still. because of decisions made by other people other than those who were working hard. they lost their jobs. or a medical problem came up. You get cancer. you have got to go to the doctor. you have got to do chemotherapy. Your employer says. dont need you around because you are out. You have got bills piling up. and you have no job. and you are working and you cant work. And now you are going to lose your home. You are going to put people who have cancer and other serious problems like that. health problems. out of their home? This is a program to help those kinds of people. I dont know. The last time I checked. Americans cared about each other. If we can even save one family in their home. then it is worth it. The banks have proven that working to keep our neighbors in their homes is not a top priority for them. Dont join them. Dont join them in sending the message to Americas workers. to Americas families. to Americas homeowners that you. too. do not think that they are a priority. I urge you to allow this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I think this is directly related to what is going on. I dont understand how people dont understand what is going on here. Because we have this program. the Republican side says lets eliminate this program and then. if you want to help people. you need to find more money and cut another program. The Acting CHAIR. Does the gentlewoman from California wish to address the point of order?
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I do believe its germane. Madam Chair. The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule. The gentleman from Texas makes a point of order that the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California violates clause 10 of rule XXI by proposing an increase in mandatory spending over a relevant period of time. Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XXI and clause 4 of rule XXIX. the Chair is authoritatively guided by estimates from the chair of the Committee on the Budget that the net effect of the provisions in the amendment would increase mandatory spending over a relevant period as compared to the bill. Accordingly. the point of order is sustained. and the amendment is not in order.
Date: 2011-03-11
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this is about our veterans. I have but 1 minute. so please allow me to speak on behalf of our veterans for 1 minute. This is a moment of truth for us. Our veterans have been there for us. We had the courage of our convictions to send them to war. They have done their jobs. but many of them are returning home to properties that are being foreclosed upon. That will be abated. This is an opportunity for us to spend 0.859 percent of the $1.6 trillion that we have spent in Iraq and Afghanistan to help our veterans retain their homes. They have been there for us. The question is: Will we be there for them today? Dont you take up time to make sure that the veterans dont get what they deserve. Veterans have worked hard for us. We sent them to war. Lets now make sure that we take care of them in peace. Lets take care of our veterans.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following votes: rollcall vote 175H.R. 793To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness. California. as the "Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office". Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on this bill. rollcall vote 176H. Con. Res. 27Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol. Had I been present I would have voted "yea" on this bill.
Date: 2011-03-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. throughout March we celebrate the many achievements and accomplishments women have made in the United States and around the world. Before the 1970s womens history was largely overlooked. but today we cannot ignore the significant contributions women have made in shaping our country and building for a brighter. more peaceful future. The theme for the 2011 Womens History Month is "Our History Is Our Strength." Womens History Month celebrates millions of women who helped make our world a better place. We must continue to promote and encourage our future generation of young women and girls to strive for the very best. In the 111th Congress. the Democraticled Congress focused on a number of key concerns of Americas women. including: quality affordable health care. investments to create jobs and stimulate growth. investments in early childhood education. providing resources for our military families. and ensuring equal pay for all of Americas working women. Unfortunately. the Republicanled House has moved in the opposite direction. House Republicans have passed a spending bill that reduces or eliminates funding to key women services and wellness programs. Their spending plan is projected to destroy up to 700.000 jobs and reduce economic growth. Ending vital programs and offering reckless spending proposals will only move our country backwards. Mr. Speaker. while cuts are necessary to address the nations longterm fiscal problems. cutting too deeply before the economy is in full expansion will add unnecessary risk to our economy and to Americas women and families.
Date: 2011-03-15
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. todays legislation is designed to allow the federal government to continue operating through April 8. 2011. Additionally. this threeweek CR does not contain the kind of truly reckless cuts and extreme policy riders contained in H.R. 1. While this measure is clearly preferable to a government shutdown. we simply cant continue running the government on a series of short term extensions. The time has come to negotiate a long term CR that makes responsible reductions in federal spending while keeping job creation and our ongoing economic recovery on track.
Date: 2011-03-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." So the concurrent resolution was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 2011-03-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I know were not supposed to remind us of our history. I wont be long. But if you will recall. some 8 years prior to this present administration. day after day after day. our budget was simply imploding with millions. trillions of dollars going into the war in Iraq. So here we are. Someone wants to blame the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Well. let me explain to you. we were in doubledigit unemployment. Look where we are today. going up and not down in terms of job creation and going down in terms of unemployment. The economy was sick. and it is coming back. But what do our colleagues want to do? Pass CRs that every economist says is the wrong direction to go in 2011. Its like you started out with $150 for the household expenses that you have. You had that money to pay for the expenses of that month. and all of a sudden. somebody came and said. You know what. Im taking $75 away from you. so you dont have that money to pay your expenses. And guess what. you are in the hole. Why are you cutting budgets in 2011? Why are you cutting 16.000 law enforcement jobs? Why are you cutting 800.000 jobs? Why are you cutting 800 Border Patrol jobs? This is the wrong direction to go. We need a real budget. We need real leadership. Adults need to come to the table and work together and solve this budget crisis.
Date: 2011-03-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. we are facing a CR of $61 billion in cuts causing the loss of 800.000 jobs. What is more precious to America than the opportunity to own a home? The Neighborhood Stabilization Program has gone into inner city and urban areas and recaptured neighborhoods. giving them a boost of energy that they needed. There is always the opportunity for reform. Mr. Speaker. but I would simply raise the question: Lets mend it. dont end it. Lets not leave cities abandoned with broken down. ramshackle homes that would in fact create more blight. more gang opportunities. more dangerous conditions. And. yes. HAMP needs reform. But what does it mean to eliminate a program? Of course the HAMP has a grandfather provision. But all America wants is to get these programs to work. Neighborhood stabilization works. HAMP can work. Now youre letting banks off the hook. so that every day a homeowner calls. they can hear the sound "foreclosed." At least the intervention allowed those hardworking Americans to keep their home and to provide for their family and to keep jobs will be lost if these bills are passed. Vote no.
Date: 2011-03-16
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I rise in opposition to H.R. 861. the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Termination Act. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was established in 2008 to help stabilize communities across American that has suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds give states and local governments the tools needed to purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes. Without this funding whole neighborhoods suffer sliding real estate values. increases in crime. and decreases in the overall morale of its citizens. From the total Neighborhood Stabilization Program appropriations of $7 billion. HUD estimates that 100.000 properties in the hardesthit areas will be impacted. In my district. Dallas. Texas. a little over 7.9 million dollars was awarded through Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding. At the beginning of the foreclosure crisis Dallas housing market suffered from an average of 300 foreclosures a month. The City of Dallas has identified 13 areas in the city that can benefit from this funding. Without programs like the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. neighborhoods in my area would have nowhere else to turn. Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds help to redevelop hardhit communities. creates jobs. and grows local economies. With nearly 14 million Americans out of a job. Americans need a Republican Congress that works to create jobs and strengthen the economy. In the last 11 weeks. the House Republicans have passed reckless spending proposals estimated to destroy 700.000 jobs and stall our economic growth. I encourage my colleague to stand by struggling neighborhoods and vote no on this measure.
Date: 2011-03-16
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I would remind the gentleman from California that some cities. its true. did not receive moneys and did not go through the process of buying up homes. et cetera. and trying to get neighborhoods back. One of the reasons they did not is its really a competitive situation. You have to want to do it. and some cities simply did not have the need or did not want to do it. I mean. I would assume that in some places in Orange County. you could probably do as the gentleman said. and that is to sell at a fire sale some of those homes on Newport Beach or other places. But with respect to the central portion of Orange County where you really have households that are working families. this program was very. very important. and the city stepped up. The city of Anaheim. the city of Garden Grove. the city of Santa Ana stepped up to do the right thing to work through and to ensure that their neighborhoods again were stabilized and to get new people into those homes. Again. I do believe that it worked for those cities. and I would encourage a "yes" vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-03-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I come to the floor today to talk about a crisis that our country is facing. We all know that our Nations future strength is directly dependent upon our commitment to a robust science agenda. The cuts to our Nations science programs in the CR threaten to set our Nation back even as we continue to look forward to our future. An investment in science is about ensuring our Nations memories are honored. by investing in dreams that are yet even brighter. As an author of the first bipartisan America COMPETES Act. we responded to many top academic. corporate and business leaders who knew that investments in STEM education is what will ensure that our Nations future science and engineering leaders will never need to leave our shores in order to obtain a worldclass education. December 2010 was one of our finest hours when. as a Congress. we returned to our triumphant moment of passing the comprehensive. bipartisan America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. to provide our Nation with a roadmap for investing in our global economic competitiveness and our future growth. Mr. Speaker. our country cannot afford to go backwards by giving up on science and innovation. An investment in science is about ensuring Americas memories are honored by investing in dreams that are even brighter. We all have a responsibility to preserve this vision in order to help rebuild our economy.
Date: 2011-03-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Good morning to the "fend for yourself" bill. Thats the message of my friends on the other side of the aislewith shortterm CRs. $61 billion in reckless and ludicrous cuts that dont make sense on 20 percent of the budget which is discretionary funding. But NPR. This morning. I listened to NPR. as I usually do. and someone who designates themselves as a Republican called in and said. "Im through. Im a registered Republican. but Im leaning Democrat. Ive been listening to NPR for most of my life." Biased? No. Unbiased. NPR is a voice of reason. Federal funding frivolous? No. Federal funding allows the objectivity. And no one can account for the fact that we believe in the First Amendment. but yet we want to defund NPR. NPR. National Public Radio. speaks the truth on all of our cases. It provides the American people far and wide an opportunity to hear a fair and balanced presentation.
Date: 2011-03-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you very much. The resolution speaks nothing of fact why do you desire to cut NPR. Why do you want to put the burden of a budget or a CR on the NPR? The real issue is that no matter how much they keep doing. no one on the other side wants to address the cause of the issue of the deficit or the debt. that we have to balance. we have to bring in a number of issues that we have to address. We cant scapegoat. I refuse to scapegoat the National Public Radio. a reasoned and responsible voice for the people. no matter who you are. It is a ridiculous legislation. In my District. KPFT and KTSU are great public communicators for many of the poor in my districtdont shut them down! I ask my colleagues to vote against it.