macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. I want to thank all of .he participants for the level of debate and the tone that has been set. I am still frustrated with inaccuracies that vere floated out. but I will accept that here is part of peoples interest peronally on one topic. one subject matOr. I. as chairman of the committee. have to deal with the spectrum. as my colleague. the chairman of the Subcommittee on Appropriations. does. And to all who have heard pay now or pay later. you have heard my pledge to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Appropriations that we will not let this happen. that we have. shared our responsibility. we have met our responsibility. we will continue to meet our. responsibility. and no one can point the finger at us. Also I would like to say. this has nothing to do with WIC or with any of the other programs. They have to make those decisions. but it comes all out of one pot. This bill. with my amendment. will cut $226 million in 5 years. But what I want Members to see is this. The red is ad hoc disaster. $2.3 billion. 1994. $3.4 billion. 1951. OMB. USDA Secretary Espy. Mr. Ackerman of Crop Insurance. all of them say the Penny amendment will have a tendency to harm the program. If you harm the program. you are back to ad hoc disasters. Mr. Chairman. it was mentioned by one of my colleagues. the policy is if it rains for one straight day in any one of our 50 States. in the morning the Governor is calling the White House wanting an emergency disaster declaration. And look what they cost. in the billions of dollars. Here in the green is the crop insurance. We share. And all we are saying is the experts tell us we need time. So we fund for 3 years. We pledge ourselves to fulfill the rest of the requirement. if it be needed. but in the interim have a GAO report. a GAO study. so we can have the accuracy that we need to legislate. Why do we need accuracy?. 1 could just as well go along and say pay now. to heck with it. What happens to our food supply? What happens to our exports? Agriculture is the only one bringing money back from abroad at this time. Everything nonagriculture collectively is in a deficit. And you heard the amount of the deficit. Agriculture is the only one bringing money back from abroad. We are feeding all our people and half of the world. and you might risk this by willynilly saying. well. we are just going to cut. Pay now or pay later. It sounds good. It sounds verygood. But I do not want to have the responsibility of saying. "Hey. we are out of food. because we cut out the safety net which we called crop insurance." A vote yes on the de la Garza amendment is a vote for the American people. it is a vote for the consumer. it is a vote for fiscal responsibility. It is an AI. allAmerican vote. and I urge you to vote aye. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. I would like to advise the Members that we have pending three minor conforming amendments that the committee will accept. Then we will go to final passage. It is not the intention of the committee to call for a recorded vote on final passage. I thank the Members for their patience and kindness and their vote. 01400
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding. We have considered his amendment and we have no objection to accepting it.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that. in the engrossment of the bill H.R. 4217. the clerk be authorized to correct the table of contents. section numbers. punctuation. citations. and cross references and to make such other technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect the actions of the House in amending the bill.
Date: 1994-08-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4217. the bill just passed.
Date: 1994-08-08
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate certain lands in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a national scenic area for protection of the watershed and scenic values. recreation use. protection of wildlife and their habitat. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 1994-08-08
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself spch time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2942. as amended. would establish the George Washington National Forest Mount Pleasant Scenic Area out of a 7.580acre tract within the George Washington National Forest in the State of Virginia. The legislation. introduced by the gentleman from Virginia . would provide permanent protection for the Mt. Pleasant area. Although the forest plan for the George Washington National Forest provides protection of many of the values within the area. that plan is subject to amendment or revision. The specific management requirements contained in H.R. 2942 would provide for permanent protection and were developed in consultation with the Forest Service. theAmherst County board of supervisors. and local citizens. environmental. and timber representatives. The scenic area designation would provide protection for the headwaters of the North Fork of the Buffalo River. which is a highquality source of drinking water for the town of Amherst. VA. The scenic area designation would also protect groves of old growth oak. yellow poplar and ash. fish. and wildlife that are found. in the Mount Pleasant area. The Committee on. Agriculture modified the bill to include a new section 3(i). which is a provision relating to mining. The Committee recognizes the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources in regard to matters relating to mining interests generally. according to House rule X. The bill is not intended to alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture or the Committee on Natural Resources in any way. In addition. we recognize the right of the Committee on Natural Resources to be represented in any conference proceeding that may be held with respect to section 3(i). The Committee on Agriculture appreciates the cooperation of the Committee on Natural Resources in allowing the bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker. the bill received bipartisan support in the Committee on Agriculture. and I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 1994-08-08
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2942. as amended. the bill just passed.-
Date: 1994-08-09
Speaker: LEWIS PRESTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

President. The World Bank. Washington. DC.. DEAR LEW: I write regarding the proposed World Bank loan for the Arun III Dam Project in Nepal. Several environmental. social. economic. and equity issues have been raised with respect to the project. I believe these issues warrant further scrutiny and consideration to ensure the long term sustainability of the project if it goes forward. Among the concerns are: The magnitude of this single project ($764 million). which exceeds the annual budget of Nepal. raises doubt about its sustalnability. The proposed funding would finance phase one of the twostage Arun IM project. the scope of the Arun project would divert limited resources from Nepals social sector which is already underfunded. the dam would result to an inequitable distribution of benefits because It would serve principally the urban capital. rather than the rural poor who comprise 90 percent of Nepals population. environmental concerns have been raised about a proposed 120 kilometers road to be built. The road would cut through a virgin forest. considered a blodiversity "hotspot." biologically rich. and containing at least a dozen species unique to the Arun valley. The road could induce migration to the valley and result in erosion. floods. and landslides. alternatives to a large dam may not have been fully addressed. Nepalese groups have recommended that small and medium hydropower projects be pursued. Small and medium sized projects could be less costly. less environmentally damaging. bring benefit to rural populations. and utilize and strengthen local expertise and capacity. Recent events in Nepal provide an important opportunity to reassess this project and consider its many and complex ramifications. I urge you to ensure that thorough and thoughtful analysis of the social. environmental. and economical viability of the Arun project and its alternatives be developed. At stake are both the longterm development of Nepal. and the credibility.of the Banks invigorated efforts to promote environmental considerations and sustainable development. I appreciate your consideration of this matter. With best regards. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-08-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So the bill Was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 1994-08-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker.. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture be- discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill to establish the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission. and for other purposes. and. ask for its immediate: consideration in the House.
Date: 1994-08-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Act. would establish a commissionto study and make recommendations regarding the economic development. needs of the rural northern Great Plains States of South Dakota. North Dakota. Nebraska. Minnesota. and Iowa. Mr. Speaker. S. 2099. the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Act. would establish a commission to study and make. recommendations regardingthe economic development needs of the rural northern Great Plains States of South Dakota. North Dakota. Nebraska. Minnesota and Iowa. The legislation seeks to achieve this objective by seeking and encouraging the participation and input of a broad range of interested citizens in these States. The Commission proposed in the bill would. be comprised of 10 members. Five are to be selected by the States with each Governor appointing one member. and five are to be selected by the Federal Government with- the Secretary of Agriculture appointing one member from each of the five States. The legislation requires the Commission to hold hearings. conduct studies and determine the. appropriate strategies for promoting development in the rural areas of the Northern Great Plains. The bill also states that the Commission will terminate in not less than 2 years. Mr. Speaker. S. 2099 will provide a mechanism for State and local leaders. working with USDA. to develop a longterm. cooperative plan that enables the rural areas of these States to build on their shared and. unique strengths and to overcome their common problems. I commend the gentleman from South Dakota for introducing in the House the companion bill to this measure. The bill has support from lawmakers in all of the States included in the bill. The Committee on Agriculture has approved this legislation by voice vote. And I urge my colleagues in the House to support its passage.
Date: 1994-08-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to call up the bill to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to make such act consistent with the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of March 19. 1991. to which the United States is a signatory. and for other purposes. and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1994-08-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to make such Act consistent with the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of March 19. 1991. to which the United States is a signatory. and for other purposes. and ask for Its immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1994-08-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the two bills just considered and passed.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: GEE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is appropriate that you are in the chair this morning. Yesterday.. a threejudge Federal panel in Houston. all of whom were appointed by Republican administrations. ruled that three Texas congressional districts were unconstitutional. They stated these districts were drawn to maximize participation of minorities. H8603 that they violated the 14th amendment to the Constitution. The 29th District. which I am honored to represent. is one of these minority districts. It is comprised of hardworking men and women who share more than their race or their ethnicity. The people of this district are workingclass citizens that are the backbone of this Nation. and this court ruling seeks to divide them and to minimize their voices and to even confuse the electorate even more on what district they live in. This court case is not about the pigmentation of someones skin. It is about politics. We in Washington sometimes let our partisanship get in the way of- lots of issues. but it should not happen in a Federal court and that is what is happening now. In the end I am certain that we will prevail and that this district that I am proud to represent will remain intact. We cannot allow a partisan ploy by a threejudge Federal panel to disrupt the election process. whether it be in Louisiana: North Carolina. or Texas.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. Mr. Chairman. I want to commend the gentlewoman from California for this legislation. I had the pleasure of serving in this House back in 1972. while Phil Burton had the great vision about the Presidio. At that time he had the vision to say. and to put into legislation. that at such time as the military would no longer need the -Presidio. it should be turned over to the national park. I. know a little about the Presidio. During the occupation of Japan I used to ship out from Fort Mason nearby and I trained at the Presidio. And when I went out recently for the dedication of the statue in memory of Phil Burton. I visited the Presidio then and I visited it again on a recent trip. because to me I think thank everyone who is connected with this legislation should be commended. Mr. Chairman. this shows the type of creativity that can hold precious resources for our people for all time. Yes. it will cost money. but they have put together a privatepublic plan here that makes it financially possible to retain this precious piece of property. As I walked in the Presidio last time down by the bay. I thought. "Why. Phil. you really knew what youowere doing to preserve this for the people." Mr. Chairman. I want to commend the gentleman from Minnesota. BRUCE VENTO. chairman of the subcommittee. and I commend the gentleman from California. GEORGE MILLER. my chairman. and I want to commend those on the other side of aisle who support this legislation. This is a good bill. and I urge its support.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

One of the things that impressed me the most on my visits to the Presidio were the numbers of visitors to this area. Not only American citizens but people from all over the world were visiting this area. This is a great piece of legislation. and I urge all of the Members to support it. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 3433. legislation to provide for the management of the Presidio. and to commend the gentlelady from California for her efforts and dedication to the preservation of this most spectacular area. Mr. Chairman. the Presidio is an approximately 1.500acre military base located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. When the Golden Gate National Recreation Area was established. in 1972. my good friend and our former colleague. Phil Burton. recognizing the uniqueness and magnificenceof the area. provided that if the Presidio was ever determined to be excess to the needs of the Army. it would be turned over to the National Park Service and would become a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Because of concerns that operating and repairing the Presidio would drain money from the other national parks. even though millions of dollars would be transferred from the DOD budget to the Park Service. H.R. 3433 would establish a public benefit corporation to manage certain properties at the site to generate - income to support park operations. H.R. 3433. Mr. Chairman. is supported by the National Parks and Conservation Association. the Sierra Club. the National Audubon Society. the Wilderness Society. the Friends of the Earth. the National Trust for Historic Preservation. the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. the AFLCIO and several other national organizations. This is a good bill. Mr. Chairman. The gentlelady from California deserves our support. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Could I just get a clarification. Madam Speaker? Are you speaking about the working people that have no opportunity tobe covered on their jobs by private insurance. those people that other working people have to take care of. simply because they have no mechanism by which to pay their insurance? Is that the population you are speaking about?
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

What is. this going: to cost the working people. unless they have the opportunity to pay for their own insurance? A lot -of working- people do not have the opportunity to pay for their own Insurance.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

They already are. paying for those people who have no opportunity to pay for their own private insurance because their companies will not offer them a plan. These are the. companies that are pulling out of the taxpayers pockets because they will not offer an opportunity to people to pay for their own insurance. .. Mr. WALKER. The gentlewoman has a rather strange view of the American economy. but I would say that I thoroughly agreeas I said to beginmy remarks. I thoroughly believe that there are many people on your side who believe that bigger Government leads to a better America That is exactly what I am hearing.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

We are not talking about a bigger Government. We are talking about an opportunity to stop paying so many taxes for working .people. We want them to have the opportunity to pay the taxes for themselves by having an opportunity to have their own insurance.
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I just want to clarify with my colleagues. When working poor. marginal workers. whatever way you want to define them. have no opportunity to. pay for their own insurance. are you not keenly aware that taxpayers pay that bill? Are we not going to look for an opport4nity for them to have a way to pay their own way with it being shared by the employer? Or do you expect that the working people are going to continue to pick up the tab for both the employer and the employee?
Date: 1994-08-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Are you assuming that employers are just that unscrupulous? It sounds to -me that you are assuming that the employers are irresponsible. that they do not want to take on their proper share.
Date: 1994-08-24
Speaker: CAROL NEGUS (democrat)
Chamber: S

President. Council for Americas First Freedom. Richmond. VA. DEAR Ms. NEGAS: The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom is a document whose historical significance transcends the place and time which gave its birth One who delves into the circumstances surrounding the Statutes drafting and enactment will better understand the origins and meaning of religious freedom in America. In 1776. the Virginia Statute was enacted. a more complete statement of religious liberty and thereby come into being. This history of the Virginia Statute is intertwined with that of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court of the United States. in interpreting the First Amendment. has often made reference to the Virginia Statute. That enactment remains a seminal document for any inquiry into the application of the First Amendments religion clauses even two centuries later. The Statutes significance is not confined to concerns about church and state or religion in the conventional sense. I can think of no document which more eloquently states Thomas Jeffersons concern for liberating the human mind from any manner of bondage. A splendid emanation of enlightenment thinking at his best. the Statute proclaims that at the heart of our conception of freedom lies freedom to believe what one will. In an age when many countries are putting a totalitarian past behind them and are laying the foundations for constitutional democracy. the Virginia Statute points the way to aspirations which. if acted upon. would help mute the passions of national and ethnic rivalry. In my own work in Central and Eastern Europe. I have used the Statute as an example of an approach to religious freedom that would be worthy of emulation by constitutional draftsmen in the fledgling democracies. The Virginia Statute is a document for the ages. I applaud the plans to commemorate its meaning and to undertake public education in its teachings. Sincerely..
Date: 1994-09-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to thank the distinguished chairman and ranking member for the courtesies extended to us for some of the needs that we had in Texas. principally on the border in areas called colonias. and even though we have had a technical legislative problem. that cooperation has been such that hopefully we might be able to resolve the problem down the line. In all of the other areas of this bill. I appreciate the cooperation where we have interests from our area and from my district. So I thank the distinguished chair- clean water quality standards. Among man and the Members of the sub- these communities with special needs committee. - are greater Los Angeles and the unin01710 corporated areas along the United StatesMexico border.
Date: 1994-09-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. pursuant to rule 37 of the House Democratic caucus. I rise to inform Members of my intention as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture to seek a modified open rule that will provide for the consideration of H.R. 3171. the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. I anticipate seeking floor consideration of thebill next week. At this time it is my intention to request a rule that will require some type of preprinting requirement for amendments. I want my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to be fully aware of my anticipated rule request so that they will have adequate opportunity to prepare and make available to the Committee on Rules any amendments which they may wish to offer. If any Member has questions. please feel free to contact Mr. Andy Baker. one of our committee counsels. at 2251663. Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues for their cooperation.