macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is with great enthusiasm that I support H. Res 502. recognizing June as National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in the United States. Since the founding of this great nation. homeownership has been fundamentally tied to the American Dream. However. the right to own land or a home has not always been an inclusive onefor many generations homeownership was denied to communities of color and women. While we have -taken great strides to rectify past injustices. much remains to be done. which -reflects the importance of. this resolution. Owning a home represents much more than a roof and walls to protect ones family from the elements. or a space to raise a family. A home is the single most valuable asset one can own. and the wealth it can generate over time is crucially important for rising out of poverty. This reason..alone. reflects the irrevocable damage that the foreclosure crisis is inflicting on our communities. The bursting of the housing bubble and the economic crisis have resulted in the loss of countless Americanhomes. countless dreams have been disrupted. and countless Americans are now struggling to deal with the ramifications of the actions of greedy. dishonest businesspeople more focused on personal gain than on truly honoring the dream of homeownership. We now find ourselves at a critical point in American history. The housing and financial markets are undergoing fundamental changes. and while the Administration and this legislative body continue to work to implement programs to sustain homeownership. we must not forget those of us who are still working to realize the dream of owning their own home. -I firmly believe that homeownership should be a dream realized by every responsible American. and believe that we should continue to work to provide opportunities to make those realizations possible.
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 498) honoring and congratulating the U.S. Border Patrol on its 85th anniversary.
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

to give it their support. fornia. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of consent that all Members may have 5 my time. legislative days in which to revise and Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker. I yield extend their remarks and insert extra- myself such time as I may consume. neous Material on the resolution under I rise in support of H. Resolution 498. consideration. celebrating the anniversary of the Bor-
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I now yield 3 minutes to my good friend. Mr. SILVESTRE REYES from the great State of Texas who. by the way. has probably over 30 years of experience in the Border Patrol Agency.
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman who authored this particular resolution. the gentleman from New Mexico .
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I am prepared to close. and I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman from Indiana. my ranking member on the subcommittee that oversees all of the border issues for America. Hes been a strong advocate for the Border Patrol as well as for all of the agencies. really. that sit within our jurisdiction. And so I thank him for taking the time tonight to be down here and helping to work on this bill. You know. the Border Patrol just doesnt work at the southern and the northern border. As .was mentioned. well see them in Puerto Rico and some other areas. and also we send them to other countries to train people as to the whole issue of border patrol and how to take a look at whats coming in. In fact. in Iraq weve sent several to help to set up some of the border patrol issues out there in that country. So we have a large group of men and women who come to work every single day. love America. and work very hard on behalf of the American people. And for this reason. Mr. Speaker. I wholeheartedly support House Resolution 498. honoring and congratulating the Border Patrolon its 85th anniversary. and I urge the rest of my colleagues to do the same.
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 498. a resolution honoring and celebrating the United States Border .Patrol on its 85th Anniversary. The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). a component of the Department of Homeland Security(DHS). The Border Patrol was founded on May 28. 1924 as an agency of the United States Department of Labor to prevent illegal entries along the MexicoUnited States border. The Border Patrols mission remains as the deterrence. detection and apprehension of illegal immigrants and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who 4enerally do not enter the United States through designated ports of entry. .Ever since its founding. the U.S. Border Patrol has been there defending our borders and homeland. They were there to prevent Ahmed Ressam. also known as the "Millennium Bomber." from entering this country and killing our citizens with explosives he intended to detonate at the Los Angeles International Airport during the holiday season prior to the 2000 millennium. They were there to apprehend Richard Goldberg. a suspected child molester. after he was arrested in Ottawa. Canada. Goldberg was on the FBIs "Top 10 Fugitive List" and was featured on "Americas Most Wanted." Further. just this month. they were there to seize close to $1.5 million in cocaine and marijuana along the Southern border. The Border Patrol is this nations first line of defense against many threats. They patrol over 8.000 miles of international borders with Mexico and Canada as well as the coastal waters around Florida and Puerto Rico. The brave men and women of the Border Patrol work tirelessly to secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations. including immigration and . drug laws. They keep our country safe from threats such as terrorists. illicit drugs. weapons. and criminals. Today over 18.800 Border Patrol Agents risk their lives in defense of our country. These brave men and women join thousands of others who have served our country in the Border Patrol over the last 85 years. America can rest assured that its borders and homeland will be protected by the courageous men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol. I commend the U.S. Patrol on its proud and distinguished history of protecting the United.States and strongly urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Date: 2009-06-09
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I submit for publication the attached copy of the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 111th Congress. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct originally adopted these rules pursuant to House Rule XI. clause 2(a)(1) on February 10. 2009. and made revisions to conform with House rules pertaining to the Office of Congressional Ethics on June 9. 2009. I am submitting these rules for publication in compliance with House Rule XI. clause 2(a)(2).
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: KEN SALAZAR (democrat)
Chamber: S

Secretdry. Department Of Interior. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. SALAZAR: I am writing to express my continued concern about the Department of Interiors decision to reverse its stream buffer zone policy and ask the Department of Justice to file a plea with the U.S. District Court requesting thit the current rule be vacated. Coal mining is a top energy issue to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and consequently I have an extreme interest in the stream buffer zone rule. Aside from striking a balance between environmental protections. the now abandoned rule clarified- a long standing dispute over how the Surface Mining law should be applied. Issuance of the rule represented the culmination of a seven year process that was thorough and well vetted. While.I appreciate the comments that you and other members of the Department of the Interior have made regarding the importance of the role of our coal mining communities in our national energy landscape. I also believe that nearly a decade of examination of this issue should not be overturned lightly. I respectfully ask for your full commit-. ment to work with me as DOI determines how it will resolve the stream buffer zone matter.I further ask for a prompt written reply to this request. .I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact Sarah Timoney. of my staff. at 2022244343 should you have any questions. Best personal regards.
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE (democrat)
Chamber: H

JOHNSON Texas. I have an amendment at desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as lows: Amendment No. 24 offered by Ms. EI BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas: At the end ofsubtitle B of title II. add following:
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BER-
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Amendment No. 25 offered by Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas: At the end of subtitle B of title XI. add the following:
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chairwoman. let me begin by thanking Chairman BERMAN and Congresswoman ROSLEHTINEN for all of their hard work and dedication to improving peoples lives around the world. My amendment affirms that the use of child soldiers is unacceptable. It is a violation of human rights. and the prevention and elimination of child soldiers should be a foreign policy goal of the United States. Around the world. children are being recruited by armed forces and exploited as soldiers. Amnesty International estimates 250.000 children under the age of 18 are thought to be currently fighting in conflicts around the world. and hundreds of thousands are members of armed forces who could be sent into conflict at any time. The use of children as soldiers hasbeen universally condemned as horrible and unacceptable. yet over the last 10 years. hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world. Child soldiers are usually forced to live under cruel conditions with inadequate food and little to no access to health care. Theyre almost always .treated cruelly. -subjected to beatings and shameful treatment. Girl soldiers are particularly at risk of rape. sexual harassment and abuse while in combat. Theyre often forced into marriage arrangements and are at high risk for unwanted pregnancies. As a psychiatric nurse. I have seen firsthand the effects of war. The mental. social. and emotional abuses endured as a child soldier will last the rest of their lives. and theyll never know how to solve a problem without fighting. I am eager to. work with the State Department to ensure that children around - the world are off the frontlines of conflicts and in schools and on playgrounds. Children must have a chance to be children in order to be healthy. happy and productive adults. We must take a stand. Please join me in expressing to the global community that the use of child soldiers is unacceptable. I ask my colleagues to vote "yes." I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2009-06-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you very much. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BER-
Date: 2009-06-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of the Presidents decision not to make these photographs public for the reasons he has already expressed. Namely. the publication of these photos would not provide us with any additional benefit and may inflame antiAmerican sentiment and endanger our troops. However. the proper mechanism for this is through the courts or by issuing a Presidential Executive order. not through Congress. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has been an essential tool for promoting a more open. transparent. and accountable govemment. The Congress should not be addressing each separate FOIA request on an ad hoc basis. Amending FOIA through the legislative process sets an unwise precedent. I would urge my colleagues to allow the courts to rule on this very important matter.
Date: 2009-06-11
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. Mr. Chairman. Im supporting this legislation because it addresses both war and peace. And if I may. Id like to focus on the peace initiative because. truth be told. the great issue of our time is not whether a superpower can police the world. A superpower can police the world. The great issue of our time is whether..a superpower can bring peace to the world. This piece of legislation helps us not only with war but also with peace because it helps us with economic development. It helps us to give people the opportunity to take care of themselves and sustain themselves. but it also helps us with education. The wealth of a nation is the education of its people. It helps us to bring the peace and stability that will be needed when the war is over. War can help us to provide a certain degree of security. but it wont provide the salvation that we need to have the peace. I support this bill because it helps us when the war is over to have the peace and stability that Pakistan will need. I thank you. Mr. Chairman. Its a great piece of legislation.
Date: 2009-06-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the AfghanistanPakistan Security and Prosperity Enhancement Act. The legislation. originally introduced as H.R. 1318. was subsequently incorporated into H.R. 1886. to authorize Democratic. Economic and Social Development Assistance for Pakistan. introduced by Congressman BERMAN. the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. This legislation is aimed at protecting our homeland and those of our allies in the fight against AlQaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan by providing tools for economic development. We worked with the Bush Administration to craft the framework of this legislation. This initiative was subsequently embraced by President Obatna who specifically incorporated it into his counterinsurgency strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan. This bill authorizes the President of the United States to designate specific trade zones. known as Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs). in Afghanistan and in certain regions of Pakistan to create economic opportunities. These ROZs will allow qualified businesses dutyfree access into U.S. markets for designated p roducts. thereby providing significant employment opportunities where few currently exist. A ROZ program could go a long way to bolster economic -development in this critical region of the world where extremists have tried to exploit the lack of economic opportunities to gain recruits for their radical agenda. Enhanced security efforts by the United States. as well as a strong foreign and rilitary assistance program. are needed to disrupt and weaken AIQaida and the Taliban. These extremist groups exploit the poor socioeconomic conditions. such as high unemployment. in the border areas. to gain adherents to their nefarious causes. With no meaningful alternatives. young men in particular are vulnerable to their entreaties. This legislation was endorsed by the Washington Post in an editorial on March 22. 2009. Moreover. in a letter to the Speaker this week. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. the State Department. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. reiterated the Administrations support and noted that "ROZs are an important component of the Presidents comprehensive national security strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. and we need enactment of ROZ legislation as quickly as possible to help facilitate success." I urge all Members of the House to support this valuable program and vote for this bill today. I ask unanimous consent to insert..into the RECORD. the speech of President Obama. the letter of Ambassador Holbrooke and the Washington Post editorial with my statement.
Date: 2009-06-12
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. I thank my colleague from the Rules Committee for allowing me to speak for 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker. I respectfully disagree with my colleague and member of the Energy and Commerce Committee from Indiana. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1256. the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I am an original cosponsor of the bill. and I am pleased that we will finally send this piece of legislation to the President. Again. I respectfully disagree with some of the statements earlier. For many years. Congress has tried to address tobacco use and the impact it has on our country and on our people. Nearly 21 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes. which is actually a reduction over the past few years. but almost 23 percent of high school students are smokers23 percent. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. every day. 1.140 young adults start smoking. Over 1.000 young people start smoking. Every day that these young adults start smoking. theyre entering a lifelong addiction. Therefore. the number of young adults who start smoking every day is tragic. especially when you consider that cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death in our country. Once youre addicted to tobacco. its with you for life and death. Most smokers start at 13. 14 or 15 years old. The Family Smoking PreveAtion and Tobacco Control Act will give the Food and Drug Administration. the FDA. the authority to regulate tobacco for the first time. As was said earlier. we dont regulate tobacco now. Were finally giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate it. This bill is fully paid for. and the .FDA activity on tobacco will be fully funded through a user fee. not through the FDAs existing budget. These new funds will not take away or affect any of the FDAs current activities. This bill will also subject all new tobacco products to premarket review. It will give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to restrict the sale. distribution and promotion of tobacco products. The Secretary will be able to establish tobacco product standards and require manufacturers to provide the Secretary with a list of harmful ingredients in tobacco products. We dont even know what were smoking today. The bill will establish new labeling requirements to tobacco products. I believe the bill is long overdue. and I am pleased that this bill has the support of tobacco manufacturers such as Philip Morris as well as public health groups like the American Cancer Society and the Campaign for TobaccoFree Kids. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act is a step in the right direction to address the issue of smoking in our country. I ask Members of Congress: How many loved ones and constituents do you know who have died from lung cancer caused by smoking? This bill can help those 13-. 14- and 15yearolds. who are growing up now. not to become addicted to tobacco. I strongly support the bill. and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.
Date: 2009-06-12
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. this is a very important and historic day for the American people. I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. of which I am a proud original cosponsor. I want to thank and acknowledge the leadership. of Chairman WAXMAN. Senator KENNEDY. and so many others who have fought the battles for so many years to see this day happen. Granting the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products is long overdue. The legislation is a critical step .in protecting the health and well being of millions of Americans from the deadly effects of tobacco use. It is a shame that tobacco products were hot regulated in this country. Though the FDA has the authority to regulate products that are not addictive. we always had this gap in their regulatory authority when it came to the very addictive products of nicotine and tobacco products. For far too long. the tobacco companies have taken advantage of this loophole and have exploited it by marketing their deadly . products to young people. Generation after generation. the tobacco companies knowingly targeted our kids through flavored cigarettes. manipulating the ingredients in their products. false advertising and other deceiving methodsall to ensure that their profit margins remained high. In fact. they had to do that. In order for these companies to continue to make their profits. they had to find ways to hook people on tobacco products. I am very proud of the efforts Maryland has taken to curb the effects of tobacco use. It has increased the tobacco tax and youth smoking has declined. Maryland also passed a comprehensive smokefree indoor air law in 2007. I am also proud that the Congress took steps earlier this year to decrease tobacco use by increasing federal excise taxes on cigarettes as part of the reauthorization of the State Childrens Health Insurance Program. Lets make sure that future generations of young people do not get addicted to tobacco products. Addiction to tobacco products has had a huge cost to our society in terms of lives and money by killing over 400.000 Americans each year. This legislation will save lives and money. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in putting an end to this deadly cycle and vote yes on this very important bill.
Date: 2009-06-12
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. Chair. I rise in support of this essential amendment recognizing Israels right to defend itself from an imminent nuclear or military threat from Iran and other countries and organizations. As Iran forges ahead with its quest for a nuclear weapons capability. it is vital for Congress to recognize Israels urgent need to deal with the looming threat of a nucleararrhed Iran. Like all sovereign nations. Israel has not only a right. but moreover. an obligation. to. ensure the safety and security of her citizens. An imminent nuclear or military threat from Iran would certainly endanger her citizens. 1nd that is why. in the strongest of terms. I support my colleagues vital amendment. According to the U.N.s nuclear watchdog. Iran has sped up its production of nuclear fuel and has increased its number of installed centrifuges to 7.200more than enough to make fuel for two nuclear bombs per year. If Iran possessed nuclear weapons. it could share this technology with terrorist groups to carry out attacks against both Israel and the United States. Let me be very clear. A nucleararmed Iran would certainly constitute an existential threat f Remarks June 12. 2009 to Israel. but would not only threaten Israel. As the leading state sponsor of international terrorism. a nucleararmed Iran would pose unacceptable threats to global security. This rogue nations possession of a nuclear weapon would likely lead to nuclear proliferation elsewhere in the region and around the globe. while fundamentally altering the strategic balance of the Middle East. and endangering U.S. national security interests. Undoubtedly. now is the time for us all to stand together in support of Israel and global peace and security. I urge my colleagues to support this critical amendment. and pray that Iran suspends its nuclear program. and starts working towards peace instead of terror.