macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1998-04-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. thanks to the gentlewoman from Connecticut for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker. this bill for dialogue is something I really support and agree with. As a matter of fact. I have already had a public dialogue. But this bill is worded so that the surplus could be spent to- create private retirement accounts. and that is favored by the gentleman from Georgia (Speaker GINGRICH) and the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget. the gentleman from Ohio . What they do not tell us is that they intend for these private accounts to replace Social Security benefits. In the State of the Union speech this year. President Clinton lost a national debate with the American people about what they want Social Security to look like in the 21st century. The President pledged to enter into negotiations with Congress by early next year on Social -Security reform legislation. Now I do not believe that we should preempt the American people by spending the budget surplus on private retirement accounts before we decide how and if private accounts fit into a comprehensive Social Security reform package. There are inherent dangers in relying on the stock market as something as important as Social Security that really must be discussed and people must be clear on that. Everyones retirement income would depend on the ups and downs of the market. Benefits for widows and children of deceased workers would be jeopardized. people would have to buy private disability insurance if they could find one to sell it to them for a policy that would be comparable to Social Security disability benefit at a price that they could afford. The fiscally responsible thling for Congress to do is to guarantee that all of any present and future budget sur-. pluses be used for Social Security reform in whatever form it might take after we complete the year of dialogue. Saving this money will reduce the Federal debt as well as shore up the Social Security Trust Fund. Such action is a much more effective means of assuring future retirement security for future generations than spending the budget surplus to establish these private funds. I do not believe we ought to leave the people at the whims of the stock market.
Date: 1998-05-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. Having functioned as a registered professional nurse. I have observed over the years persons who are afflicted and need frequent transfusions are more subjected to the risk of HIV than others on a normal basis. This has been one of the viruses that has come along in our history that we have not found any way to conquer it. That we must always be mindful of. Nothing is more important than assuring a family that when they have a loved one that needs a transfusion it is free of viruses and any other bacteria. We have gone a long way in that. We have had to deal with the virus of the 1930s for pneumonia and the virus of polio for the 1950s. Now we are having to deal with another major virus. the HIV virus. So many people are so unaware of their risk for this disease. for the disease which the virus will cause. We must do all that we can to protect the general public. and this bill goes a long way in protecting the hemophiliacs because they can not get around having the transfusions. I have observed too many families. heterosexual. intact families be destroyed by contamination from the young children and some young adults getting transfusidns. blood transfusions. I do think. and I agree with the gentleman that there is a public health responsibility of our Federal Government. and this is one of those major issues that. until we find medical breakthroughs. we as a government need to take the responsibility of ensuring the availability of safe. virusfree blood.
Date: 1998-05-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise in sup-. port of this bill. Much of my career was spent working with veterans at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Dallas. and I know full well the strides that they have attempted to make to improve services. The Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 serving North. Central and South Texas. has sought major construction assistance for over 10 years to replace its 58yearold mental health facility at the Dallas VA Medical Center. The North Texas VA Mental Health Enhancement Project was originally authorized in 1996. and I am very pleased that the Committee on Veterans Affairs saw fit to include this vital project in the major construction authorization bill for 1999. The Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 has the highest concentration of combat veterans in the U.S.. as well as the highest proportion of POWs and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder treatment programs. The Dallas Medical Center is the primary veterans mental health provider in the network. serving approximately 7.000 veterans with mental health needs each year. The Dallas VA has done an extraordinary job streamlining its mental health programs to better serve Texas veterans with mental health needs. But the age. limited space. and poor physical condition of the 1930aera mental health facilities have severely limited its ability to treat many veterans seeking mental health services. Some of these buildings are literally crumbling around our veterans. All are functionally obsolete. Our veterans really do deserve better. The mental health enhancement project will consolidate all mental health inpatient and outpatient programs currently scattered around VA campus in makeshift sites into one new building located adjacent to the clinical building. This will allow the Dallas VA to expand its outpatient programs and reduce its inpatient nursing beds.. As important. veterans will be able to go to one location for mental health and medical services rather than being run all over the campus. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. I know that this project. as essential as it is and just beginning to get some attention. I know how. important the rest of them are. and I hope we can support all of them.
Date: 1998-05-21
Speaker: THOI NBERRY (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that 10 minutes of my time be yielded to the gentleman from Virginia and that he may be entitled to yield time.
Date: 1998-05-22
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Madam Chairman. I rise in strong support of the ShaysMeehan bill. Let me first say that I think it is good that people are interested enpugh in the process to contribute money to a candidate and -get involved. The key is to have a reasonable contribution limit so that some people do not have so much more influence than other people that those other people are discouraged from participating. Unfortunately. that is the system we have right now. ShaysMeehan does a very good job of fixing that problem by banning soft money. limiting issue advocacy. and beefing up the enforcement mechanisms the FEC has to enforce the existing laws. I think placing reasonable limits on contributions makes sense. and ShaysMeehan maintains those limits. I do want to caution folks about going too far down the road about how corrupt we are If we receive campaign money. I do not believe that to be the case. However. we do need to keep a ceiling on contributions so that certain individuals do not have undue influence. I think a limit of $1.000 per individual. $5.000 per PAC makes sense. The problem is that between soft money and thirdparty expenditures. those limits have been rendered meaningless. ShaysMeehan takes a first step towards fixing that problem. and I urge my colleagues to support that bill.
Date: 1998-06-10
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to strongly urge the House to pass the ShaysMeehan campaign finance -reform bill as quickly as possible. I also urge the House to reject all amendments and all substitutes to that bill. Opposition to campaign finance reform has been the main reason that it has not passed thus far. but another reason has been the lack of consensus among the procampaign finance reform members. There have been too many reform proposals to settle on one. and the confusion has stopped reform. Well. thanks to the work of Mr. SHAYS and Mr. MEEHAN. we have a consensus bill. Let us unite behind that legislation and pass it as soon as possible. I also urge this House to stop the sham on the campaign finance reform debate. The underlying bill currently has 11 substitutes and over 600 amendments filed. It is obvious that this is just a stalling tactic to stop reform. Promises have been repeatedly made on the floor of this House to bring up campaign finance reform and have a vote on it as soon as possible. Once again. those promises are not being met. Campaign finance reform is being thwarted. and a stalling tactic is replacing real reform. Let us vote on ShaysMeehan as soon as possible.
Date: 1998-06-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this week. we have been revisited by an ugly period in the life of our country. We know that we have had this in the past. and most of us thought it was a thing of the past. I know that it can happen. It happened in Jasper. My sympathy goes out to the families. to that community. to my colleague who has stood up and been on target with the family and his district. It is clear that we eannot allow this kind of incident to go unnoticed. It is time for us to talk about it. educate each other. to alert all of America that this kind of act will not be accepted in this country. It is clear that this community should not be singled out as a community that perpetuates this kind of attitude. This is not that kind of community. Butit is an alertness to this entire Nation that the time is here. that we must address this type of dastardly act.
Date: 1998-06-16
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I rise today in support of H.R. 3156. a bill that would give the President of the Republic of South Africa. Mr. Nelson Mandela. the Congressional Gold Medal. Led by Rep. AMo HOUGHTON. Speaker of the House NEwT GINGRICH and minority leader DICK GEPHARDT. this bill would bestow the Nations highest civilian honor on a much deserving candidate. It is an honor to be among the cosponsors of this bill. Mr. Speaker. since the first gold medal was given to George Washington in 1776 more than one hundred medals have been awarded. Most recently we awarded the gold medal to Mother Teresa. The Rev. Billy and Ruth Graham and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew. These honorable people along with all the recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal have been instrumental in thedevelopment of the societies and communities that span across the seven seas. helping to shape. the world as we know it. Nelson Mandela has lived his life within the confines of this longstanding tradition that the gold medal represents. Mr. Speaker. Nelson Mandela has made it his purpose in life to rid his beloved native land of the evil constraints of apartheid while empowering his fellow citizens with ademocratic society. For three decades. Mr. Mandela was imprisoned for his efforts yet he never compromised his beliefs or relinquished his commitment to freeing South Africa from its racist torment. This was made obviously clear when he became the father of the nation that incarcerated him. Mr. Speaker. he is a rare human being who emerged from prison to become president. Mr. Speaker. this will be Nelson Mandelas final year in office. Along with my colleagues. I feel that honoring him at this time would be most appropriate.
Date: 1998-06-17
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Chairman. confusion has been as big an opponent of campaign finance reform as outright opposition. There seem to be 100 different plans. 100 different ideas out there. and that confusion has stopped us from getting the consensus we need to pass a bill until now. the gentleman from Connecticut
Date: 1998-07-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I just got back from home as well. and what I heard is that the people really want us to give attention to the Patients Bill of Rights. They want to be able to choose their own physicians. They feel legislation has been introduced and it is time for us to hear it on the floor so we can vote it. It is the number one concern throughout this country. Patient care has totally left the hands of physicians and is in the hands of our insurance companies and our corporate leaders. who will not pay any more for coverage. It is time for us to address the issue. bring it to the floor. debate it and send it to the Senate. It is long past due. We have enough people to pass it. and I would simply call on our leadership to bring it to the floor.
Date: 1998-07-20
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. during roll call vote number 301 on the Wicker Amendment I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present. I would have voted yes.
Date: 1998-07-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. I wish to thank the chairman for his kindness. and also I do believe. although we disagree. that the first amendment had merit. Obviously. I would have supported it. but I hope we can recognize that even though the amendment was not put to the floor for a vote. that there are issues that we should all discuss about saving our forests and our trees and hope that we will continue this discussion. Mr. Chairman. my only concern. and I would like to yield to the gentleman .as we rise. we are still continuing in -title II for tomorrow as we resume. is that my understanding?
Date: 1998-07-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the chairmans kindness and I think we can continue to go forward and work these issues out.
Date: 1998-07-22
Speaker: JACK LEW (democrat)
Chamber: S

Director Designate. Office of Management and Budget. Executive Office Building. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. LEW: In March of this year. Franklin Raines. then Director of OMB. sent us a letter expressing the Administrations views on S. 981. the Regulatory Improvement Act. shortly before its scheduled markup in the Governmental Affairs Committee. Mr. Raines stated that -while "the Administration believes strongly in responsible regulatory reform." it has "serious Issues remaining" with respect to S. 981. Mr. Raines then enclosed "a set of modifications to the bill that would remedy" these concerns. As you know. the bill was reported by the Committee on a vote of 10 to 5. and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. In the interest of addressing the Administrations concerns so we can join together in support of S. 981. we have enclosed our response to each of the proposed modifications included in the attachment to the March 6th letter from Mr. Raines. Our effort has been undertaken with the objective of seeking to eliminate any cause for confusion or misinterpretation about the specific provisions in the bill while doing no harm to the important remedial and beneficial effects of our legislation. We would be willing to offer a Managers Amendment on the floor during Senate consideration of S. 981 which would make these changes. Because such an amendment would meet your concerns. we would do so with the understanding that the Administration would then support this important legislation. The path to this point has not been easy. Regulatory reform legislation over the years has engendered a great deal of distrust and friction among the interested parties. Yet we feel deeply that this moderate proposal will bring important analytical tools and openness to the very complex issues involved in federal regulation and will give the American people the effective and efficient protections they deserve. If its true that nothing worth doing is ever easy. then S. 981 may prove to be one of the most valuable pieces of legislation well have enacted in a long time. We welcome your support and look forward to your response. Sincerely..
Date: 1998-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. The first thing I want to do Is thank the people of Cleveland for sending Lou STOKES here. I watched Lou STOKES many years before I had the opportunity to come here. When I came. I left the Texas Senate. where we had battles through debate. But Lou STOKES has taught me that that is not necessarily the way to get things done. and he has taught me that without ever saying a word to me on that issue. I simply had to watch him and that taught me. When you go before the committee where Lou STOKES is. it is the most wonderful experience because of his partner. Congressman LEWIS. so kind and respectful. that even when you dont get what you go for. you cant even get angry because they have been so nice. But Lou STOKES has been steadfast. He has taken care of the very basics for every American. When it comes to housing. when it comes to education. when it comes to health care. there has never been a time when he has not had his finger right on the mark. Everyone in those areas throughout this country. notwithstanding their heritage or background or race. know LouiS STOKES for those areas. There are very few Americans that cannot be very grateful for the many things that he has done. The veterans know about LouIs STOKES and health care..And of course. every poor person and every AfricanAmerican knows that Louis STOKES has spoken up for all of the persons who have not. and Louis has done it with class. dignity. integrity. Within our Congressional Black Caucus. we have a little private joke when we talk about the romance between the gentlewoman from Florida and LOUIS STOKES. She got there before I did because she was on the same committee with him. We are going to miss that. We are going to miss you. Louis. There is no replacement for him. There is not a single Member of this body who could tell us about any harsh word that Louis STOKES has ever spoken. There is not a Member of this body who could tell us- that he ever disrespected them. I do not think there is even a Member of this body. even when he could not deliver on that committee. who would tell us that he has ever hurt their feelings. It is only once in a lifetime that we have such a giant in a body like this. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served with him after admiring him for so many years. And for a committee thatpleases so few people. they have some of the greatest leaders. people that are kind and respectful. smiles on their faces. And I have a feeling that Louis STOKES helps to influence all of it. We are grateful for you. Louis. We thank you. We love you.
Date: 1998-07-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to pay tribute to a great friend and a valued colleague. Louis STOKES has been a trailblazer and. indeed. he blazed the trail for me and many others who have struggled against racism. prejudice and economic injustice. Since 1968. Congressman STOKES has dedicated himself to fighting for economic and social justice for all Americans. regardless of race. creed. color or gender. While he has been a steadfast champion for the rights and welfare of his constituents in Cleveland. he has been no less dedicated in his pursuit of equality and faimess for all of Americasand the worlds--disenfranchised. downtrodden and persecuted people. I looked to the example of Congressman STOKES service in Congress as a guide during my service in the Texas Houseand Senate before I came to Congress. I took heart from his determination and perseverance in the face of long odds during my struggles to advocate for the poor and dispossessed. As an AfricanAmerican. I owe Congressman STOKES a particular debt of gratitude. Louis STOKES exemplifies the finest qualities of leadership. dedication to public service and compassion for his fellow men and women. He has served with distinction in the House. including his chairmanship of the VAHUD Subcommittee on the Appropriations Committee for 2 years beginning with the 103rd Congress and two stints as Chairman of the Ethics Committee during his 30 years in the House. Congressman STOKES stands as a living symbol of the American dream. rising from humble beginnings to the halls of Congress. the legislative body for the most powerful country in the world. It is noteworthy. that Congressman STOKES has never forgotten where he began. that he has remained committed and loyal to the community that nurtured him in his youth. Since my election to Congress in 1992. I have turned to Louis STOKES for advice and counsel. for guidance on how to increase my effectiveness as a representative of my constituents. Congressman STOKES has always been unfailingly helpful and generous with his time and support. Congressman STOKES pOSsess an amazing ability to bring clarity to debates. to cut to the heart of the issue that is being debated. He possesses an equally special talent for offering fair and equitable solutions to problems that seemingly are intractable. His knowledge. wisdom and leadership will be sorely missed in Congress by Democrats and Republicans. In considering the sadness of Congressman Louis STOKES retirement from Congress. there is only one bright spot. The Stokes family. who unselfishly surrendered husband. father and grandfather because of the demands of public service. will now have the opportunity to reclaim his time. It is my hope that. while he will be no stranger to Washington. that he will take a welldeserved rest and enjoy the luxury of having quality time to spend with his family. In closing Mr. Chairman. I thank Congressman STOKES for his leadership and friendship over the years. and I wish him all the best for the future.
Date: 1998-07-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is ironic that I stand here and know so well that every taxpaying American has paid for much of the research that persons now are denied the result of. I wish this was not such a partisan area. because we are dealing with the most basic need and right of the American people. and that is health care. No insurance company has the right to only insure young. healthy people. I have heard all kinds of rhetoric about the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy rests with the insurance companies who are doing everything they can to deny care so that health care premiums can be used as cash cows. That is most unfortunate. Can we imagine someone who goes to an emergency room. very ill. very confused and frightened. and then be told they have to wait to get permission to take care of them. That is where we are today. I do not understand. frankly. how we can become so committed to an industry. the insurance industry. that we forget that we are here to protect people. Mr. Speaker. I rise against this rule because I do not want it to continue to gag physicians who have been educated and trained to take care of patients. I do not want to support a system that only makes money for the insurance companies. It has been never intended that health care services be cash cows for insurance companies. This is a terrible rule. I hope we all understand that the people are crying out for help. They do not mean help the insurance companies. They want help themselves. We owe it to the American people to offer them this protection. We have failed to do it with this Republican plan. and I rise against this rule and ask everyone to vote against it until we can produce a decent plan.