macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-09-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague from Illinois for yielding to me. The EPA is currently developing a tier 3 rulemaking that would further reduce sulfur levels in gasoline to an average of 10 parts per million. a 70 percent change from todays already low standards. while reducing the gasoline volatility. The EPA is expected to issue a proposed rule by the end of this year. The problem we have is that in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. section 209 required the EPA to conduct a study 18 months after the enactment to determine whether the renewable fuels required by the section would adversely impact air quality and not later than 3 years after that enactment. The problem is EPA has not finished that study we require them to conduct even before these new regulations. Now theyre moving forward with a rule with a halfbaked study. and thats why I support this amendment to the TRAIN Act. Mr. Chairman. This is not a delay amendment. This is just to make sure we dont get the cart in front of the horse. and we need to have that study finished before the EPA moves forward with that sulfur criteria. Thats why I support my colleague from Illinois and my colleague from Texas amendment. and I encourage my colleagues to support it. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois .
Date: 2011-09-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

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 11. line 10. strike "90" and insert "120". The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 406. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Date: 2011-09-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me indicate to the gentleman first of all that I thank him for accepting the amendment. and I conclude my remarks by saying that my asking for a roll call vote is not in any way a reflection of my lack of acceptance. but I am just so gratified for this timeframe that I hope that the gentleman will encourage those to support the amendment. Therefore. let me say to the gentlemanI finish on this notethere is some thought that we are putting in another regulatory scheme. but I think the important point from my perspective is that there was value when Richard Nixon signed the bill on how do we find a way to make this work so that we save lives and we create jobs. I think my amendment provides the opportunity for that kind of input. and I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chair. I rise today in support of my amendment #4 to H.R. 2401. "The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act." which extends the public comment period from 90 days to 120 days. The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act establishes a committee to conduct studies and review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations based upon the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard Rule (MATS) and the Cross State Air Pollution (CSAP) Rule promulgated. This committee is composed of Administration officials from different federal agencies and under H.R. 2401 will analyze the effect of the regulations on the economy. U.S. competitiveness in the global market. employment. and energy production and cost. In effect this is creating more regulations and more bureaucracy at time when Republicans are calling for all of us to tighten our belts. So now before us is a Super Committee for the Budget and again we are going to have a Super Committee for Clean Air. We already have an agency charged with protecting our air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been up to the task for 40 years. According to the EPA. the pollution reductions required by the rule they have proposed will yield health benefits of $120 to $280 billion per year. which is 150 to 350 times the cost. I have always been a stalwart for a firm balance between the needs of the energy industry and our environment. But then there is just plain common sense.
Date: 2011-09-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII. further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas will be postponed.
Date: 2011-09-23
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following vote: Welch (VT)/Rush (IL) Amendment to H.R. 2401. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes" on this amendment.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to discuss H.R. 686. "Utah National Guard Readiness Act." The bill requires the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams. Utah. to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard. Our National Guard and in some instances combat soldiers of tomorrow must have access to training. Our troops must receive the training they need prior to being deployed in combat zones. By allocating parcels of land for that purpose helps to ensure our nations security. Camp Williams. located 26 miles south of Salt Lake City. is a professional training environment operated by the Utah Army National Guard. The Utah Training Center consists of 24.000 acres of combat areas resembling the same types of environments encountered by those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those facilities include small arms weapons firing ranges. artillery firing points. demolition. grenade and crew served weapon ranges. This parcel of land will allow for specialized winter. desert. mountain. and amphibious training. Urban environments include the Mac MOUT Shoothouse. dismounted/mounted maneuver areas and the recently opened FOB. Leadership and individual training is enhanced by utilizing the rappel tower. leadership reaction course and Afghan Village. This facility seems to be well equipped for training the Utah National Guard. The Utah National Guard has possessed facilities and trained at Camp Williams since 1912. H.R. 686 would convey 420 acres of land within the boundaries of Camp Williams. without consideration. The acreage proposed for conveyance is already withdrawn for military use by the Guard. This land transfer will open access to property along a major transportation corridor with all the utilities and services necessary to support expanded military use. The Utah National Guard already owns and operates several buildings. an air traffic control tower and a tactical airfield on portions of this property. Placing the land in the States name for use by the National Guard consolidates ownership patterns in the headquarters area and allows the State of Utah to bond for future Guard facilities. Transfer of title to these lands expedites the building and expansion of Camp Williams training facilities and would improve the readiness of the Utah National Guard. Additionally. the bill includes a provision directing that the land revert to federal ownership if it stops being used for National Guard or national defense purposes.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 473. "Help to Access Land for the Education of Scouts Act." which requires the conveyance of specified National Forest System land in the Ouachita National Forest in Oklahoma to the Indian Nations Council. Inc.. of the Boy Scouts of America. This legislation is appropriate and necessary for the continuation of the very principles that Boy Scouts of America stands for. Currently. the Indian Nations Council serves more than 28.000 youth and 5.500 adult volunteers throughout 18 counties in eastern Oklahoma. Over the past century. the Council has positively impacted hundreds of thousands of Scouts and their families. However. due to the increased growth of the scouting program in Eastern Oklahoma. attendance at Camp Tom Hale has surpassed the maximum number of available campsites and program capacity. In turn. the organization has been forced to turn away many scouts and their families. There is a critical need to serve more scouts. However. more land is needed to ensure the quality of camping and experience for the scouts. Boundaries need to be extended to help accommodate more scouts. and to maximize their camp experience. Boy Scouts of America is a prominent valuesbased organization that has helped to mold young boys into model citizens. while simultaneously building character and promoting physical fitness. I do not feel that anyone. or the lack of sufficient land should deprive more of our youth from taking full advantage of all of the possibilities that Boy Scouts of America. specifically. the Indian Nations Council provides. I believe it is the responsibility of myself. as well as my colleagues. to ensure that we do everything in our ability to ensure that we pass H.R. 473 so that we can aid our young men in their development. If passed. H.R. 473 will allow the Indian Nations Council to purchase an additional 140 acres of U.S. Forest Service land immediately adjacent to the existing Camp Tom Hale facility. To add to this. the Indian Nations Council can expect to have more scouts participate in their summer camps. without the burden of having to turn eager scouts away. H.R. 473 can benefit the overall well being of the public by providing the Indian Nations Council of Boy Scouts of America with the adequate and necessary space needed to accommodate the growing number of scouts. It is essential that we pass H.R. 473 because organizations such as Boy Scouts of America are the driving force behind the leaders of tomorrow. By providing these young men. as well as their adult leaders with the proper space they need. we will simultaneously provide our youth with a place where they can live up to the morals and standards of the organizations mission.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 470 "Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011." which Amends the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 to modify. commencing October 1. 2017. certain statutory schedules governing contracts for delivery to specified localities in Arizona. California. and Nevada of hydroelectric power generated at Hoover Dam. The Hoover dam represents hope and prosperity that is possible if we. as legislators. do our job well. To many the Hoover Dam represents hope. and with this bill we can ensure good management of this facility into the future and hopefully create more jobs! In the depths of the Great Depression. when like today a slow economy and high rate of unemployment caused great strife in the lives of American citizens. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt showed enormous leadership in launching the Hoover Dam project. Instead of abiding by the general wisdom of the era. that isolationism and fiscal austerity would insure the quickest economic recovery. FDR chose to use government resources to help those who were suffering the most. Through public works programs like this one. the President was able to put a massive amount of Americans back to work and construct some of this countrys most impressive and meaningful structures. After construction began in 1931. it took only five years to complete. finishing two years ahead of schedule. The initiative and perseverance shown by the American workers. many of whom gave their lives to the dam. exemplifies the American spirit at its best. When people have a reason to believe in their government. they will respond accordingly in their own lives. Now it is our turn: we must ensure effective management of the dams power production into the future.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 670. "To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam. the Virgin Islands. and American Samoa have in their submerged lands" conveys to the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands submerged lands surrounding such Islands and extending three geographical miles outward from their coastlines. The Act provides the American public. more specifically the occupants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. with added ways to use and enjoy land surrounding their coastlines. It is in a spirit of encouraging the most beneficial use of natural resources that I support the idea of providing an expanded use of otherwise unused land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It is the responsibility of all Members of Congress to fulfill our moral obligation to promote harmony between Americans and their natural resources. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 670. to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam. the Virgin Islands. and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 29 authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol for an event to present the Congressional Gold Medal. collectively. to Neil A. Armstrong. Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin. Jr.. Michael Collins. and John Herschel Glenn. Jr.. in recognition of their significant contributions to society. Their hard work and perseverance exemplify the work ethic we stand for as a nation. and I can think of no place better than the rotunda to honor their leadership and sacrifice in service to this country. The rotunda of the United States Capitol offers the perfect venue to show the necessary respect to three men who risked their lives to change the course of history in the name of the United States of America. In the tension of the Cold War. when it seemed the existence of the free world had been brought into question. these three men stepped directly into harms way in service to their country. A ceremony in the rotunda will evoke the honor and respect that we owe to these three brave men. and I offer my full support for the use of this space. The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by Congress for outstanding deeds or acts of service to the security. prosperity. and national interest of the United States. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award. and these men are deserving recipients. The importance of this event is particularly relevant to the 18th district of Texas given the city of Houstons role in the Apollo legacy. Not long after President Kennedy set our nation on the course of putting a man on the moon. Houston became a key player in the realization of that goal. Before uttering his famous phrase. Neil Armstrong. communicated with Johnson Space Centers Mission Control Center from the surface of the moon. stating "Houston. the Eagle has landed." The historic lunar landing remains a cornerstone of the American legacy. and at a time when the very existence of NASA sits in question. it is especially important that we deliver a ceremony that will propel the memory of NASA pioneers into future generations. Neil A. Armstrong. Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin. Jr.. Michael Collins. and John Herschel Glenn. Jr. were called to service by their country. in a time when two great nations challenged each other and boldly raced into space. In the bleak years of the Cold War. we conquered a new frontier. and in turn understood things about the universe we never thought possible. These men played an important role in American history that will benefit generations to come. and are well deserving of this honor. It is in a spirit of deep appreciation that I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting S. Con. Res 29. authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol for an event to present the Congressional Gold Medal. collectively. to Neil A. Armstrong. Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin. Jr.. Michael Collins. and John Herschel Glenn. Jr.. in recognition of their significant contributions to society.
Date: 2011-10-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. all of us value constructive conversation and dialogue. In fact. I believe the Republican debates that have been occurring are valuable and insightful for the American people. I have no quarrel with the First Amendment and ones right to speak as one desires. But I take issue with Mr. Herman Cains very insulting and demeaning comment on a whole body politic of people. African Americans. when asked the questions why they have made choices. political choices as they have made. and he chose to suggest that African Americans are brainwashed. I take issue. Mr. Cain. with your very unfortunate choice of words. because if you look chronologically and historically at African Americans. they voted Republican. they voted Democrat. They were in love with the idea of President Lincoln. who. of course. is known to have freed the slaves. and voted for Republicans for a number of years. Democrats and African Americans both vote their interests. their interest in saving Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security. their interest and investment in this Nation and relief from the burdensome taxes by the Bush administration. So. Mr. Cain. get your facts right. Were not brainwashed. and I am absolutely insulted by your ludicrous insinuation of African American intellect in choosing their political party.
Date: 2011-10-04
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. its time for this House to act on the American Jobs Act. It not only makes good sense. it makes dollars and cents for businesses. Businesses that hire persons who have been looking for work for more than 6 months will get a $4.000 tax credit. If that person happens to be a veteran. it becomes $5.600. If that veteran happens to have a disability that is service connected. it becomes $9.600. Its time to act on the American Jobs Act. It makes good sense. It also makes good dollars and cents for business.
Date: 2011-10-04
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia changed her vote from "yea" to "nay." So the resolution was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 2011-10-05
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

This Friday. October 7. marks the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. Our men and women in uniform have fought valiantly in this war over the last decade at great cost. More than 1.700 American soldiers have lost their lives as they fought to destroy al Qaeda and hunt down Osama bin Laden. Thousands more have come home with very serious lifelong injuries. When Im at home in California and talk with veterans and their families. I can see how much our soldiers have sacrificed. I want to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the men and women in uniform who have carried out their duty in Afghanistan. As the anniversary approaches. I am thinking particularly of Army Captain John Hallett III of Concord. California. in my congressional district. and his family. Captain Hallett was killed in action in southern Afghanistan on August 25. 2009. I was honored to have provided him a congressional nomination to the West Point Academy. This week. all of us should honor the tremendous sacrifices our men and women in uniform made for their country in Afghanistan. And our objective in Afghanistan has been achievedOsama bin Laden has been killed. and few al Qaeda members remain in the country. Yet. unfortunately. our troops in Afghanistan are now bogged down in an unending and deadly war with the Taliban and defending the corrupt Afghan Government. To this day. the government in Kabul. led by President Karzai. has not been able to take charge of its country. even as it has been able to provide enormous favors for the Presidents cronies and family. In these difficult times. we cannot afford to spend tens of billions of dollars per month defending a corrupt regime. We cannot afford to continue to provide payments to contractors who turn around and use those payments to pay off the very same Taliban who are killing our troops in Afghanistan. But above all. our soldiers cannot be asked to continue to risk their lives for years and years to come. Instead. it is time to bring all of our troops home and to invest in America instead. By doing so. we can honor the enormous sacrifice that our troops have made. and at the same time ensure that they have a strong and prosperous country to come home to.
Date: 2011-10-05
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. last week I had the pleasure of visiting small businesses that created jobs. anyone from doctors who worked 7 days in their office to companies who could sell anything to anybody to a beauty school that had people who were trying to be independent contractors. they created jobs. And Im going to talk about them in the weeks to come. So Im begging. Im begging this bipartisan House to put the American Jobs Act on the floor. Thats because the GOP. of course. for 39 weeks has put one bill after another. One put off or destroyed 700.000 jobs. That was the spending bill. Another. about the Patient Bill of Rights. destroyed 300.000 jobs. But 65 percent of Americans say we want jobs. Theyre at First and Independence right now. Theyre down at Wall Street. Theyre on Main Street. Theyre telling us. we want jobs. We want our teachers back. our firefighters back. we want our police back. We want to rebuild our schools. We need payroll tax relief so our small businesses can hire someone else. We want J0BS. its a simple point. Put the American Jobs Act on the floor. Listen to the American people. the people in Wall Street that are arrested. 700 of them are crying out in pain. Lets respond to the American people. That is our job.
Date: 2011-10-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise in opposition to this legislation. which would delay for another five years Clean Air Act standards for cement kilns that are already thirteen years overdue. Like so many other bills the current House Leadership has brought before us. this bill is premised on a fundamentally false choicethat we cant have good jobs unless we are willing to breathe dirty air. I dont believe that. And I dont think most Americans believe that. In fact. the entire forty year history of the Clean Air Act demonstrates conclusively that it just isnt true. The Clean Air Act protections at issue in this legislation will for the first time limit mercury. arsenic. soot. hydrochloric acid and other dangerous emissions from cement kilns. The proposed reductions will prevent as many as 2500 premature deaths and 17.000 asthma attacks annually. and produce $7 to $19 in public health benefits for every $1 spent on cleanup costs. Which is why the protections have the support of reputable public health organizations like the American Lung Association. the American Public Health Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Rather than undermining our nations public health. we should be focused on enacting a real jobs agenda to put Americans back to work and accelerate our economic recovery. I urge a no vote.