macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of my constituents in the Third Congressional District of Texas to introduce the Imprisonment for Tax Targeting of Americans Act of On May 10. the IRS admitted to targeting conservative groups. Worse. our broken Tax Code does not make jail time mandatory for criminal offenses such as political targeting. Mr. Speaker. Americans deserve better. The bottom line is that the use of the IRS as a political weapon is outrageous and unacceptable. Whats worse. this is the same agency that will be enforcing ObamaCare. As this blatant abuse of power continues to be fully investigated. this commonsense bill sends a loud and clear message to the IRS: if you do the crime. you do the time. No exceptions. no excuses. The American people want. need and deserve to know the truth and assurance that this never happens again. This bill is a step in that direction. I urge my colleagues to join my efforts.
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to thank Carl Meyer for his years of service to Parkland College and the Champaign County community. Carl originally moved to Champaign County in 1971 when he came to the University of Illinois to work as an assistant football coach. Years later. he left to work for the Universities of Arizona and Cincinnati before returning to Champaign County in 1992. In 1997. Carl was asked by thenParkland College president Zelema Harris to serve as the executive director of the Parkland College Foundation. Throughout his 16 years with the Parkland College Foundation. Carl oversaw a major gifts campaign. raising more than $14 million. as well as seeing projects like the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center and the Parkland Automotive Technology Center go from inception to completion. This is in addition to the more than 140 scholarships he established and the dozens of partnerships he created with businesses and academic departments. Words cant express how much Carl means to Parkland College and Champaign County. I would like to thank Carl for his commitment to Parkland College and its students. and for his leadership in the community. Enjoy your retirement. Carl. and know you will be missed. You deserve it.
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: MARCO RUBIO (republican)
Chamber: S

JEFF FLAKE. I admire every one of them. I am not going to forget about BOB CORKER. I am not going to forget about mentioning Governor HOEVEN. They allowed us to get votes. I will always admire these two. again. courageous men who stepped forward. stepped out of the crowd and did something that was right. They are wonderful. all of them. Senator Kennedy knew the day would come when a group of Senators. divided by party but united by a love of country. would see the fight to the finish. and that is what we did. That is what these 10 men allowed us to do. I am not going to ever forget about the man seated right behind me. Senator LEAHY. His markup will go down in history. It was why we are here today. He is my friend. As always. I will always admire how he handles everything he does but especially what he did on this bill. So today is the day. While I am sad Senator Kennedy isnt here to see history made. I know he is looking at us proudly and loudly. Remember that voice? And he is not alone. I have no doubt my fatherinlaw is here in spirit. Astrid Silva is here today. I am sure she is in the gallery someplace. and she will be looking down from where she is seated when the Senate votes to expand this countrys frontiers and move closer to its ideals. But she is not here alone. She is here representing millions of others just like herpeople who have hoped and prayed for this day. Their prayers have been answered. But these prayerstheir hopes and prayershave not gotten us to the finish line yet. The finish line is very close to here. down this very long hallway to the House of Representatives. In closing. I am reminded of a poem. a song. Here is what it says: I can see a new day. a new day soon to be. when the storm clouds are all past and the sun shines on a world that is free. I can see a new man. a new man standing tall. with his head high and his heart proud and afraid of nothing at all. I can see a new day. a new day soon to be. when the storm clouds are all past and the sun shines on a world that is free. Colleagues. I am confident the House of Representatives will pass this legislation because I can see a new man. a new man standing tall with his head high. his heart proud. and afraid of nothing at all. The bill . as amended. was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.
Date: 2013-07-08
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. on rollcall Nos. 305. 306 flight delays made me unavoidably detained. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes."
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Three and a half years and hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars later. this administration still hasnt figured out how to implement their healthcare law. What more proof do they need? More now than ever. its clear that this law is too complicated. too expensive. and worst. failing American families. Last week. the Obama administration announced they would no longer require businesses to offer health insurance to workers next year. nor require States to verify residents income before signing them up for insurance. While these actions provide muchneeded relief to our job creators. who have been forced to shrink paychecks and freeze hiring. it still requires individuals and families to obtain insurance. It also opens the door to more waste. fraud. and abuse of precious taxpayer dollars. American families want. need. and deserve patientcentered care. not the governmentknowsbest healthcare system. Its time to repeal and shred this broken law into ribbons. Lets start over with real. commonsense reform before its too late.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I will not take 5 minutes. I actually wanted to come down here in support of this bill. the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. I would like to commend Chairman FRELINGHUYSEN and the entire subcommittee on developing a strong bill that balances the needs of our Nation with fiscal responsibility. This bill cuts spending by nearly $3 billion from FY13 enacted levels while maintaining critical funding for navigation. infrastructure. and our Nations domestic energy needs. One issue of particular importance to me and my home in southwest Washington is the maintenance of our waterways and small ports. Sediment buildup has essentially blocked commerce. leaving communities in Wahkiakum County. Chinook. and Ilwaco without their largest and most critical industries. When one of these channels is blocked for communities in my district. its no different than if a towns main highway were completely blocked or washed away. We need to treat the maintenance of our Nations small ports with the same level of urgency. The underlying bill makes great strides to alleviate these challenges by including $1 billion from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for Army Corps dredging and no less than $30 million specifically for small ports and waterways. While this will not completely fulfill all of our Nations needs. it certainly illustrates the chairmans dedication and our dedication to our ports in towns and counties and States across the country like my home in southwest Washington. As a member of the Appropriations Committee. I am proud to have played a role in securing this funding. I strongly support the bill and encourage all of my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Hanford. as the gentleman mentioned. was the reactor used for the Manhattan Project and was used to build the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War. I recently had an opportunity to tour Hanford with the gentleman and so firmly believe in this amendment because this is a Federal Government responsibility. this wasnt a choice by a local community. The cleanup just is simply beyond the scope of the communities involved. This matters to people in my district and up and down the Columbia River. which is adjacent to your area. I would urge my colleagues. this isnt somebodys pet project. this isnt somebodys good idea. This is a responsibility. The gentleman said "a legal responsibility"-I would add to that a moral responsibilityof the Federal Government to put this money here and help aid the cleanup at Hanford.
Date: 2013-07-11
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this bill. While I know that many people who I have worked with. who I have a tremendous amount of respect for. oppose the way forward here. I rise because it is the only way forward. Throughout this entire process. there were many things that we agreed on. The agriculture industry needs certainty. Our farmers who produce our food and fiber need the ability to plan so that they can produce a safe. reliable. and affordable food source for our country. I know that many of us who are on the committee would have preferred that the last bill pass. I too would have preferred that it pass. As a small business owner. I can attest to the importance of having the ability to plan. If we are able to get these titles that we agree to. these 11 titles that we agree to. passed into law. then our farmers will have that ability. I appreciate being part of the process. The farms and families in this country need the certainty of this agriculture policy. I ask that you support this bill.
Date: 2013-07-11
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Thank you to my colleague from Oklahoma for his leadership on this issue because. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this farm bill. One thing Ive learned in my 6 months here in Washington is that the farm bill has not been easy. It has been a 3year saga. but I was proud to help produce a strong. bipartisan farm bill out of committee. Three weeks ago on this very floor. we had a farm bill that cut $40 billion. including direct payments. It kept crop insurance as a key risk management tool. It made commonsense reforms to a food stamp program that helps feed those who need a hand up. but unfortunately. a majority of my friends on the other side of the aisle and a minority of folks on my side said "no." I came here to govern. and this bill includes an amendment I authored to help family farmers by giving agriculture a seat at the table when EPA considers regulations that affect our producers. Today is another opportunity to govern and to get to conference so we can iron out our differences as reasonable people. If we fail today. Im not sure we will get another chance. and reverting back to 1940s law or getting into a perpetual cycle of uncertain 1year extensions is not an option. Some of us are blessed to represent districts with amber waves of grain. but even if you dont. everyone is impacted by the farm bill. All one needs to do is to go to the rotunda. which is a few steps away from here. and look up at the Apotheosis of Washington. It depicts a scene that makes this country great. and that is American agriculture. This vote is about helping our family farmers. Its about providing certainty to the ag economy so that the men and women employed in agriculture can survive and thrive and so that our family farmers can continue to feed the world. Lets move this process forward today by cutting $20 billion and by preserving crop insurance as a vital safety net for the many producers in central Illinois and in southwestern Illinois who produce the food we eat so that our farmers can continue to feed the world. I ask my colleagues for their vote on this bill today.
Date: 2013-07-16
Speaker: JEFFREY D. WIESE (republican)
Chamber: H

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. U.S. Department of Transportation. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Washington. DC. DEAR JEFF: Thank you for your letter received on March 4. 2013. seeking agreement by NACE International on action to be taken in concurrence with the Pipeline Safety. Regulatory Certainty. and Job Creation Act of 2011 (PL. 112 90). Section 24. NACE International agrees with the action requested in the letter. with a proviso that PHMSA will notify NACE International prior to issuing proposed rulemaking that references NACE standards. This proviso is made in response to the statement that NACE "... has also agreed to post on the Internet any updated. revised. or new NACE consensus standards that PHMSA proposes during rulemaking ..." NACE has many standards available to NACE members. but publicly posts only standards that are referenced by PHMSA. To ensure that NACE proactively posts the NACE standards covered in our agreement. NACE personnel would need to know of their IR status from PHMSA. Jeff. thank you for your service to pipeline safety. Kind regards.
Date: 2013-07-16
Speaker: JEFFREY D. WIESE (republican)
Chamber: H

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. U.S. Department of Transportation. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adninistration. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. WIESE: Thank you for your March 4. 2013 letter regarding incorporation by reference of voluntary consensus standards for pipeline safety regulations. As you know. API made the decision in the fall of 2010. well before the passage of the Pipeline Safety. Regulatory Certainty. and Job Creation Act of 2011. to place all of APIs Govemmentcited and safety- standards on APIs website for free public viewing. This site can be found at http://www.api.org/publications. It is our understanding that this action fully meets the intent of the Act. It is APIs policy to maintain this website and to include on this website any API consensus standards that PHMSA proposes during formal rulemaking to incorporate by reference into Federal regulations. to ensure that all users of the website have access to APIs most up to date best industry practices. Again. thank you for your letter of March 4. 2013. and please let me know if you have any further questions. Sincerely.
Date: 2013-07-18
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. for the last 30 years. Social Security has been required to make personal information of deceased Americans public through the socalled "Death Master File." Unfortunately. identity thieves use this file to steal Americans identities and obtain fraudulent tax returns. Worse. the criminals target deceased children like 4yearold Alexis Agin whos right here. whose family joins us today in the balcony. Worrying about the stolen identity of a loved one is the last thing a grieving family should do. I salute the Agins for their tireless advocacy. and I thank you. Today. I humbly join their efforts by introducing the Alexis Agin Identity Theft Protection Act with my Democrat colleague and ranking member on Social Security. XAVIER BECERRA. This commonsense bipartisan bill will protect families. prevent further abuse of taxpayer dollars. and its time to stop the public sale of the Death Master File. Mr. Speaker. in honor of Alexis Agin. I urge my colleagues to join us and get this bill signed into law.
Date: 2013-07-23
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. this is a sensible. bipartisan solution. It helps the country by helping those who work at our depots and other areas. I would just ask that my colleagues join this bipartisan coalition thats working in support of this amendment.
Date: 2013-07-25
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I proudly recognize the fifth anniversary and expansion of My Possibilities. a nonprofit organization serving disabled young adults in north Texas. My Possibilities began with the vision of three dedicated mothers of special needs children. These mothers dreamed of something more for their kids beyond a high school education. After 2 years of hard work. they created the first fullday. fullyear continuing education program for disabled Texans. In fact. last week. they commemorated the grand opening of a new facility in Plano so even more Texans could become lifelong learners. My Possibilities stands as a testament to the American spirit of freedom and free enterprise. Three moms took an idea to fill a need in our community and made it a reality. Thats truly remarkable. The folks at My Possibilities live up to their motto: "Make every moment count." To the staff. board of directors. and Chairman Charmaine Solomon. thank you for your tireless efforts and your dedication.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. in May. the IRS proved to the American people it cannot be trusted to fairly enforce laws. As if the intentional targeting of Americans was not troubling enough. ObamaCare will give the IRS even more power in just a short month. Thats right. the agency that bullied Americans for exercising their right of free speech will be the same agency involved in enforcing health care. Patients and their doctors should make the decisions that work best for them. not Washington. much less the IRS. Allowing the IRS to enforce ObamaCare opens the door to more abuse. targeting. and intimidation of Americans. Thats why I join my colleagues in support of a commonsense bill. H.R. 2009. Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act. that will stop the IRS from enforcing or implementing any part of ObamaCare. Its time for our friends across the aisle to listen to the American people. Keep the IRS out of our lives and out of our health care.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

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: Page 6. beginning on line 12. strike "sections 804(2)(A). 804(2)(B). and 804(2)(C)" and insert "clauses (i) through (iii) of section 804(2)(A) or within section 804(2)(B)". Page 20. beginning on line 11. strike "the Administrator". and insert "(A) the Administrator". Page 20. line 15. by redesignating subparagraph (A) as clause (i). Page 20. line 17. by redesignating subparagraph (B) as clause (ii). Page 20. line 21. by redesignating subparagraph (C) as clause (iii). Page 20. line 25. strike the period at the end and insert ". or". Page 20. insert after line 25 the following: "(B) is made by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and that would have a significant impact on a substantial number of agricultural entities. as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (who shall publish such determination in the Federal Register).". Page 22. insert after line 8 the following: "(6) The term agricultural entity means any entity involved in or related to agricultural enterprise. including enterprises that are engaged in the business of production of food and fiber. ranching and raising of livestock. aquaculture. and all other farming and agricultural related industries.". The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 322. the gentleman from Illinois and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman. I rise today to offer the bipartisan DavisPeterson amendment. which helps address the disconnect between the EPA and the agricultural community. Under our amendment. EPA rules that have a significant impact on a substantial number of agricultural entitiesas determined by the Secretary of Agriculturewould be considered "major rules." Under the REINS Act. major rules need congressional approval. We view this as another way to give agriculture a stronger voice when it comes to EPA regulations. As I travel throughout the 13th District of Illinois and listen to farmers and producers. one of their top concerns is regulatory actions by EPA. Ag has been a bright spot in our economy. For every $1 billion in agriculture exports. more than 8.000 jobs are supported here at home. With USDA projecting $139.5 billion in ag exports for fiscal year 2013. American agriculture will support more than 1 million jobs. This is a good story. and my colleagues and I on the House Agriculture Committee do our best to tell it. However. our farmers remain concerned that the EPA does not understand production agriculture. These are concerns we take very seriously. We arent the only ones that see this problem. EPA recognizes it as well. Acting Administrator For Water. Nancy Stoner. told me when I asked her if her agency was aware of the disconnect between EPA and the agricultural community: We are actively working with those groups to improve communication on issues as to which we have had some difficulties. And I will acknowledge that we have had some. and we are doing the very best we can to improve that situation. This amendment provides a solution to the problem by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to examine EPA regs and identify those that have a significant impact on a significant number of agricultural entities. The USDA must be included in these decisions and equipped with the authority to identify these rules. This agency understands farmers and works best with them on a daily basis. We believe this amendment would improve communication between EPA and the USDA. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

I yield myself an additional 30 seconds. It would improve communication between the EPA and USDA. give agriculture a place at the table during the process. and ultimately result in getting government out of the way to allow our family farmers to do what they do best. I urge support of this bipartisan amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Chairman. I respect and thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his comments on Richard Nixon. However. I was not yet in kindergarten when Mr. Nixon served. so. therefore. I do not remember him creating the EPA. but I thank him for reminding me of that. Mr. Chairman. I yield 112 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia . the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I wonder. even though I dont remember Richard Nixon getting up and flying away. I wonder if the EPA would let that helicopter leave Washington. D.C.. today. But I have to tell you. this is a commonsense. bipartisan amendment that gives our farmers a stronger voice and a better place at the table when EPA is considering these regulations that impact the ag community. And I want to thank Ranking Member PETERSON for supporting this effort as well. I urge my colleagues support. I want to say thank you. Mr. Chairman. to my colleague from Tennessee for making this actually a lively debate tonight. And hopefully a few more viewers on CSPAN are smiling this evening because of it. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois .