macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-12-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of House Resolution 35 to express the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should provide increased federal funding for continued type 1 diabetes research. This legislation is particularly timely as roughly 3 million people suffer from type 1 diabetes across the country. It is important for us to move forward in the fight against this disease and increase funding for research that aims to prevent and treat diabetes. It is estimated that over $4 billion will be necessary to fund the National Institute of Healths research goals for type 1 diabetes through 2013. and as this disease continues to affect millions of people across America. it is imperative that we fund research at increased levels to see its end. I would also like to mention one of the efforts that we are undertaking in North Texas to help combat diabetes. Recently the Baylor Health Care System announced that it would be transforming the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center in south Dallas to the areas first and only diabetes health and wellness institute. This center will help to save lives by offering improved diabetes care. educational programs. and conducting research in addition to encouraging healthy lifestyles for those living with the disease. The center will also educate the community on preventative measures for type 2 diabetes so that a preventative lifestyle becomes a natural and normal part of everyday life in this neighborhood. It is my hope that increased funding for diabetes research will encourage similar centers to be created across the country. Mr. Speaker. I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution so that we recognize the need for diabetes research funding and help countless people across the country living with the disease.
Date: 2009-12-09
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to show my support for H.R. 4213. the Tax Extenders Package that includes several critical extensions important to Texas. The package will extend through 2010 the $1 per gallon credit for producing biodiesel and the $1 per gallon credit for producing diesel from biomass. which is especially important to my district as it is home to the struggling biodiesel industry. Texas is the leading producer of biodiesel in the nation. The industry supported up to 8.600 jobs in the State and over 50.000 jobs in the U.S. in the past year. It is both fiscally and environmentally responsible to extend these tax credits and to promote the development of biodiesel here at home. The biodiesel excise tax credit enables biodiesel to remain price competitive with conventional diesel. Without the prompt extension of the tax credits before they expire on December 31. 2009. we risk reducing the domestic production of low carbon. renewable energy sources that help our nation to significantly reduce carbon emissions. as well as our dependence on foreign oil. The biodiesel industry has already been forced to close several plants and is operating at about 20 percent capacity due in large part to the weak economy. A retroactive extension of the credit after December 31. 2009 could further exacerbate the industrys job losses. and place this important industry in a precarious position. I appreciate the bipartisan support of the following Texas members who recently joined me in sending a letter to House Leadership supporting the biodiesel tax extension: AL
Date: 2009-12-09
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. This legislation will provide businesses and individuals with $31 billion in tax relief over the next year to continue creating jobs and strengthening our economy. It is on time. fully paid for and deserves this chambers support. The R&D Tax Credit extension in this bill will enhance the competitiveness of nearly 11.000 corporations driving innovation in the global marketplace. The abovetheline deductions for school supplies and qualified tuition expenses will continue to support our teachers and students education. The IRA Charitable Rollover and Conservation Easement provisions maintain important incentives for critical work in our nonprofit sector. And the clean energy credits move us towards the energy independence. reliability and efficiency we know we must embrace in the 21st century. This is an important bill. strongly supported by the Obama Administration. For that reason. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to act expeditiously on H.R. 4213 so that the President can sign extenders legislation into law this year. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2009-12-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. it is said that a politician will always rise to the occasion. many have tonight. and many will. But it is also said that it takes a statesman to make the occasion. And I can say to you without reservation. hesitation. or equivocation. there is one great statesman among us tonight. and that is the honorable Chair of the Financial Services Committee who has made this occasion. And it should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer that he has made this occasion because of a mandate from the American public. but also in spite of the efforts of many. I would have us note that this newfound theory of "less is best." this newfound theory of 170 pages is better than 1.279 pages. that this newfound theory can be improved upon. Rather than have 170 pages. why not have just one page. one page with nothing on it. or because we are all educated. lets just have one page with laissez faire. because thats what got us here. laissez faire. invidious laissez faire. This is what produced 327s. mortgages with 3 years of a fixed rate and 27 years of a variable rate. 228s. 2 years of a fixed ratemany people are very much aware of what I speak because they have suffered from these insidious products2 years of a fixed rate and 28 years of a variable rate. And then we had these teaser rates that coincided with prepayment penalties. such that if you wanted to get out of the teaser rate before its set to an adjusted rate you had to pay an enormous prepayment penalty that locked people into these teaser rates. And of course we had the naked shorts. People were actually betting that the market would go down without money to cover the bets. And of course we had what we called the credit default swaps. the whole notion that you can bet that something wont fail and not have the money to cover your bet. Even in Vegas you have to have the money to cover your bet. AIG was engaging in a gambling racket that at any other time and place could have been declared unlawful and people could have gone to jail. And of course this laissez faire. handsoff attitude gave us the socalled "too big to fail". too big to fail. which is just the right size to regulate. just the right size to separate into smaller pieces. and just the right size to eliminate. which is what this bill. H.R. 4173. does. It puts "too big to fail" in a position such that it will not only be regulated. but it will be eliminated. And it will be done in an orderly process. very much akin to the way we move in when banks are failing. and on one Friday it closes. and on Monday a new bank opens. perhaps not as fast. but the concept is the same. "Too big to fail" will no longer exist. So. Mr. Chairman. I want to commend you. and I want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of this process and a part of this legislation. I want to thank you because I want you to know that there would be no H.R. 4173 without your leadership. Your leadership has clearly made a difference in the lives of people in this country. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Date: 2009-12-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

And it is my absolute belief that when historians look back through the vista of time. they will say that the chairperson of this committee left big tracks in the sands of time. and that he made a difference in our lives for all time.
Date: 2009-12-10
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. Ive been here 17 years. and I really believe that you have got to stand for something or fall for everything. Today. as subcommittee Chair of Railroads. I am appalled that we are including language in this omnibus bill that allows people to carry guns on Amtrak. This is a failure of leadership on every single level. We are passing legislation that endangers the safety of 27 million passengers who ride Amtrak each year. This language was opposed by both the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Homeland Security Committee as well as opposed by numerous other Members. Yet we are forcing this unnecessary provision on millions of passengers and are jeopardizing homeland security for absolutely no reason. I have traveled the rail systems throughout the world. None of them allow guns on their systems. We are taking a dangerous step backwards and are stripping Amtrak of its ability to set security standards and to protect its customers and employees. There was a deadly terrorist attack in Russia just 2 weeks ago on a train. The same thing happened in Madrid. Spain. in Mumbai. India. and in London. England. Each attack has emphasized the importance of passenger rail security. These incidents also clearly demonstrate the fact that security in rail environments presents unique opportunities for terrorists. Trains are not like airplanes. You dont have metal detectors. and you dont have the TSA officials there or law enforcement officers processing passengers through these stations. We havent provided Amtrak the resources to fully fund this operation. let alone the additional costs and manpower that will be needed to comply with this legislation. The traveling public deserves better. I am asking each Member to vote "no" on this rule so we can come back and get a fair rule pertaining to the traveling public.
Date: 2009-12-10
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. Im very pleased to join with my colleague. Mr. STUPAK. in offering this amendment. I want to commend Chairman FRANK and Chairman PETERSON for bringing a strong bill to the floor. Its time to finally hold Wall Street and the big banks accountable and never allow them again to hold the American economy hostage and leave the American taxpayer holding the bag. We cannot ask the taxpayers to pay for bad bets made by Wall Street bankers. This amendment strengthens what is already a good bill. And as my colleague. Mr. STUPAK. has said. what it calls for is simply greater transparency in transactions. Transparency in the overthecounter derivatives market will shift the information advantage to a small group of Wall Street bankers to businesses. municipalities. nonprofit organizations and to the taxpayer. Why are we afraid of a little sunshine? That is what this amendment is about. I want to read to the Members a letter that we received. Mr. STUPAK and I. from Gary Gensler. the chairman of the CFTC. and it was addressed to us. It says. "Your amendment accomplishes the critical goal of promoting transparency without imposing any additional costs on business as it does not require these enduser trades to be cleared by central counterparties." I want to emphasize that point because there are certain trades obviously in this legislation that do need to be cleared through central counterparties and clearinghouses. But this is for the remainder. We are saying what is left over should at least be transparent. We should know about it. The taxpayer should know about it. People who want to look at the market and make decisions should know about it. He goes on to say. "Your amendment separates mandatory trading on transparent trading venues from a central clearing requirement that would require businesses to post margin. The two should not be confused." This does not require anyone to put up a margin. Were saying these transactions have to be transparent. Finally. he makes the point that "transparency can be required while leaving the clearing decision up to the parties involved in particular transactions." Lets vote for transparency. Lets vote for sunshine. Lets vote for this amendment.
Date: 2009-12-10
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I want to thank my colleague. Mr. STUPAK. I am pleased to join with him and Ms. DELAURO and Mr. LARSON in offering this amendment. I think we should make one thing clear: We all know that. when used properly within an appropriate regulatory framework. derivatives can be valuable tools for hedging commercial risk and provide important consumer benefits. That being said. we have learned all too painfully over the last year that derivatives used improperly and outside of an appropriate regulatory framework can become what Warren Buffett has described as "financial weapons of mass destruction." When that speculation is permitted to spin out of control on unregulated dark markets. it can create a magnitude of systemic risk sufficient to threaten the entire economy. Thats what we saw with AIG and others. This amendment that we are offering today will provide important additional oversight to that market by giving regulators the explicit authority to ban abusive swaps. prevent abuse of the end user exemption. and ensure that victims of illegal transactions cannot be held liable for payment to their predatory counterparties in a court of law. I urge adoption of the amendment and thank Chairmen FRANK and PETERSON for their support of this amendment.
Date: 2009-12-14
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 160. honoring the American Kennel Club on its 125th anniversary. As someone who is proud to have three loveable fourlegged members of my own family. Chavo. Baloo. and Pippin. I was eager to be an original cosponsor of this resolution. The American Kennel Club provides invaluable services to dog owners and breeders across the country. For the past one hundred and twentyfive years. this organization has been counted upon to promote best practices for training. regulation. inspection. and registration. Most Americans know the club for its annual dog shows. but it does much more. The American Kennel Club awards nearly $170.000 in scholarship money per year to veterinary students and has donated nearly $22 million to the Canine Health Foundation. Younger owners also learn proper skills for treatment and care of their dogs through the National Junior Organization. Every dog owner knows the bond that can develop between a family and its fourlegged member. The American Kennel Club has worked to cultivate and encourage this relationship. The individuals of the AKC have selflessly worked to achieve high standards in each club function and for this they are to be commended. I want to thank the bill sponsor. Representative PRICE and my fellow cosponsors for their strong support of the American Kennel Club.
Date: 2009-12-15
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

and others such as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance who point out that onethird of all American women do not undergo regular screening. Many of those who go without screening are African American and younger women. According to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance the failure of ageappropriate women to undergo mammography costs lives and reflects problems with access to care and breast cancer education. Mr. Speaker. we need to work as rapidly as possible to correct these deficiencies. and continue to fund research and education designed to eliminate health care disparities. We want to eliminate any impediments to regular mammography screening for women age 50 and below. While there may be disagreement about the exact timing of breast cancer assessments. I believe there is unanimous consensus over the importance of guaranteeing access to screening. New screening approaches and more individualized recommendations for breast cancer screening are urgently needed. I support research initiatives designed to improve screening. and believe that it is imperative that this research move forward rapidly. Furthermore. I encourage African American and other women with unresolved questions about breast cancer screening to engage in discussion with their health care providers. If the new guidelines have done nothing else. I believe it has at least raised awareness. not only amongst women. but amongst all Americans. As such. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 2009-12-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. today we will impose sanctions. We will sanction with this legislation or we will sanction the unacceptable status quo. to which I say not on my watch. Let history record that even if I could not do enough. I did do all that I could. I support sanctions to avert a tyrant from acquiring nuclear weapons of mass destruction capable of creating an inferno unlike that which even the mind of Dante could imagine. To act later may be to act too late. I rise in support of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act . This legislation will restrict refined petroleum imports to Iran by strengthening the Presidents authority to impose sanctions on companies that provide refined petroleum or help Iran maintain or expand its domestic refining capabilities. While Iran is one of the largest producers of crude oil. it lacks adequate refining capability to meet its own domestic needs for gasoline and is forced to import 25 to 40 percent of its refined petroleum needs. This legislation will prevent Iran from importing the gasoline it needs as a way to put pressure on the Iranian government to suspend its uranium enrichment program. For over a decade. the United States has played a central role in diplomatic. political and economic efforts within the international community to deter Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capabilities. H.R. 2194 continues those efforts and is particularly important in light of recent intelligence indicating that Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. The latest International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA. resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on November 27. 2009. notes with serious concern how Iran has constructed an enrichment facility at Qom in breach of its obligation to suspend all uranium enrichment related activities. Many experts believe that with further processing of lowenriched uranium. Iran could have the capability to produce a nuclear weapon by the end of this year. reinforcing the sense of urgency to address this threat. A nucleararmed Iran would lead to a nuclear arms race and increase the likelihood that such weapons might actually be used against the United States and our allies. As such. it is a threat not only to the Middle East. but to the entire world. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and hope that it will be an effective step towards preventing such a threat.
Date: 2009-12-15
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I am a strong supporter of H.R. 2194. the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanction Act. I believe Iran remains the number one national security concern for the international community. Irans continued pursuit of nuclear capabilities is extremely concerning and remains a serious threat to the United States of America and the entire world. Irans refusal to respond to the United States diplomatic engagement is especially disconcerting. Id like to thank Chairman BERMAN for his willingness to add language to this legislation at my request. highlighting Irans unwillingness to cooperate with the international community and the governments insistence on rejecting the United States efforts at engagement. When Irans secret nuclear facility was revealed in September. my colleagues and I demanded that the Government of Iran immediately disclose the existence of any additional nuclearrelated facilities. and provide openaccess to its Qom enrichment facility. The Obama Administration set a deadline for Iran to open the facility for inspection. However. Iran did not meet this deadline. Iran was also required to ship its lowenriched uranium stockpile to Russia and France for conversion. Yet again. Iran refused to accept this deal. Iran has systematically refused to live up to any of its promises of transparency and cooperation with the international community. Instead. Iran decided to act against our efforts at engagement by announcing that it would enrich its own uranium to 20 percent. and that it would build 10 new enrichment plants for purportedly civilian purposes. These actions are unacceptable and the U.S. House of Representatives must ensure that our country is not investing in companies and institutions that enhance Irans petroleum resources. which may be used to fund their nuclear ambitions and terrorist groups. However. I also believe the international community must come together to help neutralize the threat Iran poses to the rest of the world. All states must take responsibility for maintaining peace and security in the region through multilateral sanctions and efforts to force Iran to denuclearize. In order to be successful. I believe these efforts must be international in scope. The passage of H.R. 2194 is an important step towards continuing to show Iran that we will not stand by idly while they continue to threaten the peace and security of the rest of the world. I regret that I am unavoidably detained in California. However. as a cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 2194. I would have voted "aye" on this critical legislation.
Date: 2009-12-15
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. today I will vote against H.R. 2194. the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. This legislation seeks to expand economic sanctions against Iran. I believe that the foundation of this act reflects a misguided and selfdefeating approach to United States foreign policy. Economic sanctions will target the Iranian people not just the Iranian government. These sanctions seek to make the Iranian people miserable enough so they will pressure their government to change course. We have seen from the past Iranian Presidential elections that public pressure directed at the government has. and did not. work. We have seen from the past with countries. such as Cuba and Iraq. that these sanctions harm the people and not the ruling government. I believe that these economic sanctions take authority away from the President and States of Department by tying their hand from achieving a diplomatic national security strategy. Let me be clear. I do not approve of Irans nuclear program or of this governments human rights record. I believe that we must trust in our President and State Department to lead international pressures on Iran. Madam Speaker. I have always promoted diplomacy. peace. and human rights. In 2001. I created "A World of Women for World Peace" to bring greater visibility to peacemaking and peacebuilding activities in communities around the world. I firmly believe that the burden of peacemaking. peace building. and nation building cannot be left to one institution. gender or political party. It must be a shared responsibility that encompasses all. regardless of race. class. gender and religion. If these sanctions are passed. they will block Americans and Iranians from working together promoting peace. nation building. and human rights.
Date: 2009-12-15
Speaker: JOHN LARSON (democrat)
Chamber: H

and along with many of our standing Chairs. like GEORGE MILLER and. certainly. Speaker PELOSI. All of us working together can make this happen. There are great ideas that every Member is feeding this body. and we need to move forward aggressively but effectively and intelligently so as to create the package which is the greatest pronouncement of economic recovery that we can imagine. Representative SUTTON. it is great to work with you. I am inspired because of the sort of intellect that you bring to the discussion. and there are many people with whom we have partnered who have it within their hearts and souls and minds to make a difference.