macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5987. "Supporting the Seniors Protection Act of 2010." Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative EARL POMEROY for introducing this very important legislation into the House of Representatives as it is important that we recognize the struggle that a certain segment of our Nation endures and support them by ensuring that we give attention to this matter. As you may know. H.R. 5987. directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse a $250 payment to recipients of Social Security. SSI (Supplemental Security Income under title XVI of the Social Security Act). railroad retirement benefits. and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits if no costofliving adjustment (COLA) is payable in 2011. I support the Seniors Protection Act of 2010. This Act will provide immediate relief to seniors struggling on fixed income with increasing expenses. The legislation will provide 54 million Social Security beneficiaries and others with a onetime $250 payment. in lieu of a COLA. Now more than ever this emergency spending of $14.5 billion would provide targeted economic relief to our most vulnerable citizens living on fixed incomes. and struggling with rising health care. food and utility costs. For many. social security checks are the primary source of income and for others. social security checks are the only source of income. It is both fair and appropriate to now provide a second payment to help stimulate our Nations economy and at the same time assist seniors. people with disabilities. children and other Social Security beneficiaries who did not receive a cost of living adjustment in 2010 and will not get one again in 2011. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has determined that the cost of medical care services has risen by nearly seven percent in just the last two years. This $250 payment would represent a small step toward reversing the erosion in benefits caused by the skyrocketing cost of health care. Therefore. I am requesting that we. the Congress urge President Obama to include a $500 payment for seniors in his Budget Request for next year. This $500 payment represents an inclusion for the lack of COLA in 2010 and 2011 years. While I understand that this will not totally eradicate the financial strain. I believe this allotment will serve to ameliorate some financial hardships. It is important that Congress guarantees resources to our seniors that will assist them in not only surviving. but also thriving. Mr. Speaker. I strongly support H.R. 5987 and ask for its immediate adoption.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me first say I want to thank my colleague for bringing both these bills up. H.R. 5987 and also S. 3789. First let me talk about Congressman POMEROY. He and I came to the Congress together in 1993. and we worked together on a lot of issues. he coming from a very rural area. But we found out about 3 or 4 years ago thatand you can tell my Texas accenthis State has grown dramatically in the production of natural gas and oil. and also they have a refinery in North Dakota. I have five refineries. but Im glad they have one up in his State. We have worked together for the last few years on energy issues for our country. and I want to thank him for his service to our country. EARL. we will miss you. And I will miss your friendship and your leadership on the Ways and Means Committee. I am proud to be here today to support not only S. 3789. the Social Security Number Protection Act. but also H.R. 5987. the Seniors Protection Act of 2010. For the second year in a row our Nations seniors and veterans and people with disabilities have been denied a cost of living adjustment. their COLA. The Seniors Protection Act would provide 54 million Social Security beneficiaries with a onetime $250 payment in lieu of a COLA. This bill would provide targeted economic relief for our Nations most vulnerable citizens. I have seniors in our district who get Social Security. theyre married. and some of them are in terrible shape because of their circumstancesI have one who. her husband is disabled. she takes care of him. but because of a family situation she is taking care of three of her grandchildren. This is the second year she would not get any assistance or any increase in her Social Security. That is why this bill is so important. Almost two out of three seniors and 70 percent of people with disabilities rely on Social Security for half or more of their income. Onethird of seniors get more than 90 percent of their income from Social Security. Its important that our Nation continue the promise that Americans should be allowed to retire with dignity. which has lasted for 75 years.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to improve compliance with mine safety and health laws. empower miners to raise safety concerns. prevent future mine tragedies. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6495 into the RECORD.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. the Immigration Subcommittee. which I chair. held 17 hearings in 2007 to examine every aspect of immigration reform. and one of the most memorable in the series of hearings was the hearing on the plight of undocumented young people who have been brought to the United States as children. including Tam Tran. then a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA who tragically later lost her life in an auto accident. They grew up in the United States. attended American high schools. often knowing no other country as home. no language other than English. yet they were faced with a dead end once they graduated from high school. Their immigration status prevented them from working. paying taxes. serving in the military. They could never get right with the law. even though they had done nothing wrong. The only thing they had done was to obey their parents.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

We will have a $2.2 billion deficit reduction over the next 10 years. So we can do the right policy and also have the right fiscal impact by passing this bill. I recommend that we help these innocent children who did nothing wrong.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. to my friends on the other side of the aisle. these children have not broken the law. these are not criminals. and the only nightmare that I can imagine is the nightmare of violating the rights of these wonderful children who want an opportunity to serve America. First of all. they have to be in the country for 5 years already. and they cannot change their status for another 10 years. It could be almost 20 years. And then you have the opportunity for them to invest in this country after they have received their education equaling up to $1 trillion. Do we violate our rights and our beliefs that we all are created equal? So I ask my colleagues to support a DREAM Act that invests in America. that allows individuals to serve America. It is not amnesty. it is people wanting to serve this country. to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Stand for what is right. Vote for the DREAM Act. Believe in our values. We are all created equal. I rise today in strong support of the Development. Relief. and Education for Alien Minors Act. better known as the DREAM Act.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the DREAM Act. It is good for our country. it is good for our economy. and it is very important to the future contributions of these young people to American society. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the DREAM Act. This is common sense. bipartisan legislation that is a win for our economy. First. in this economy. we need the best. the brightest. the most capable and the most qualified to be a part of the American workforce. This legislation will allow a limited group of very capable. high achieving young people to help contribute to the economic wellbeing of this country. These are young people who didnt come to this country through their own free choice. But. they are young people who have worked hard to graduate high school or obtain a GED. These are young people who have contributed to their communities and to this country. If we turn our backs on these students. then were turning our backs on a qualified and competitive workforce. Second. Mr. Speaker. simply put. this legislation is the right thing to do. Critics who argue that the DREAM Act would diminish opportunities for students in this country with full citizenship must not know anything about our colleges and universities. Our Nations higher education institutions have the capacity to welcome these students. as many already do. without closing the door for other students. This Congress has passed historic legislation to increase college access and opportunity for all students. The bill before us today continues to provide that access to a higher education not only by providing these students a path to citizenship. but allowing them access to critical student aid through loans and workstudy. The financial cost of a higher education is too often a barrier to attending higher education. It is critical that this bill ensures access to student aid. and gives students a chance at affording a higher education. By passing this legislation. we can reward smart. civicminded. goaloriented students and provide access to the American dream. Lets not punish students and the future of this country. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the United States of America has a proud tradition of diversity. We are. after all. a nation of immigrants. Yet we are also united by the American Dreamthe ideal that all Americans. regardless of the circumstances of their birth. have the opportunity to prosper and succeed. Note that the dream is not that everyone will be affluent. but that everyone will have the chance to achieve great things. That is exactly what the DREAM Act offers to a select group of hard working young people. It applies only to those who were raised in the United States and went on to further their education or serve in the military. It allows individuals who are truly outstanding to continue contributing to our nations prosperity. without punishing them for the decisions of their parents or other relatives. Let me be perfectly clearthis is not an amnesty program. The individuals covered by the DREAM Act are not being offered citizenship. Initially they are assigned a conditional status. during which they are not eligible from most forms of government assistance. This includes Medicaid. food stamps. and federal grants. After ten years. this limited group would be offered a chance or earn permanent immigrant status. This is available only if the applicant can prove he or she has paid taxes. can read. write and speak in English. has maintained a good moral character. has lived continuously in the United States. and has either pursued higher education or military service. He or she must also demonstrate that they are not likely to be deported. as this program is not meant to be a safe harbor for deportees. Individuals who have benefited from the DREAM Act would be extremely constrained in their ability to sponsor family members for United States citizenship. There is also a strict time limitan individual must apply for conditional status within a year of graduating high school. entering college. or the date of the bills enactment. As you can see. the path laid out by this legislation is not an easy one. There will be many individuals who want to take advantage of this program who will be denied. There will be others who are inspired to greater heights of achievement. with the hope of attaining permanent immigrant status. Our nation will only benefit from encouraging and retaining these exceptional young people. To do otherwise would belie the promise of the American Dream.
Date: 2010-12-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is great news that we gave an opportunity to young people today by passing the DREAM Act. but shame on us that we did not pass the Seniors Protection Act of 2010. Democrats rallied to make a commitment to the Nations seniors for a $250 refund as they listened to the horrible pronouncement that they would not get a costofliving increase. We owe them. We owe them because of the hard work that they have contributed over the decades to build this Nation. They have provided us with years and years of work. of investment and production and of part of the manufacturing history of this country. How can we leave this session and not provide our seniors with relief? So I call upon my colleagues to rally together for what is right for those seniors. who have carried the flag. who have fought in our wars. who have nurtured the sick. who have raised our children. and who have invested in America. It is time to pass the Seniors Protection Act of 2010. We should not leave this Congress and not finish this year without passing this relief for the seniors of Americapatriots. deservingall of them.
Date: 2010-12-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Human Rights Day. Today. people around the world recognize the human rights violations that continue to occur in so many countries like Vietnam and China. It is also a day where we honor the men and women who sacrifice their freedom in order to fight for human rights. At this moment. there are three individuals imprisoned in Vietnam for exercising their rights of free speech and expression: Tran Khai Thanh Thuy. Le Thi Cong Nhan and Pham Thanh Nghien are three women democracy activists who have been denied their basic human rights by their own government. Vietnam. The people of America enjoy the freedom to speak and worship freely. but it is important for us to remember those who do not have the same freedoms as we do. So. today. lets remember all those freedom fighters and lets work together in the coming year to ensure that people like these three women are allowed to express themselves.
Date: 2010-12-09
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 5987. the Seniors Protection Act. 2011 will mark the first time that Social Security retirees and other beneficiaries will receive no automatic cost of living increase for 2 consecutive years. At the same time. seniors must stretch each dollar further as health care and other costs continue to rise. And in these tough economic times. seniors have even fewer assets to help them make ends meet. The Social Security program is in its 75th year of helping our seniors. and we must stay true to President Roosevelts vision of economic security for all of our citizens. This legislation will help more than 4 million seniors in my home State of Florida alone. many of whom struggle to meet their everyday living expenses. As we move forward. let us rededicate ourselves to strengthening. not weakening. this vital program. I want to thank Congressman EARL POMEROY for sponsoring this muchneeded legislation.
Date: 2010-12-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I would like to address a few items for my colleagues. First of all. I am very proud today to introduce H.R. 6510. which will allow Texas veterans to have a Texas military museum. We look forward to this moving through this Congress and saying "thank you" to our veterans. I think it is important that we move quickly to pass the Senior Protection Act of 2010 to get $250 to our seniors. And I rise as well to support H.R. 4994 that we voted on. so that physicians do not get a 25 percent cut in their Medicare payments. That we also are able to provide for Medicare therapy that many of our seniors have. That as well that we will have a mental health addon that many of my constituents. including MMHRA. will need. And as well that we are providing to make sure that we have enough money to pay for those in poverty to be able to pay their Medicare payments. Medicare Part B. Mr. Speaker. it is time to address the needs of Americans who have worked. including the veterans who celebrate a veterans museum. including those doctors who work for us. and certainly seniors who need these Medicare benefits. This is a time for us to stand for them.
Date: 2010-12-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you very much. Madam Speaker. and let me thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota for organizing this. I rise this evening to honor a longtime Member and the current chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr. JAMES OBERSTAR. the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota. It has been my pleasure to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for 18 years with Mr. OBERSTAR. We have had some really good moments. As a matter of fact. as I was listening about the bridge. we were right here on this floor the night that the bridge collapsed. We were talking then about an aviation issue. The other thing is. being from Texas. I only speak one languagethats Texas Englishand sometimes people dont understand it here. Mr. OBERSTAR speaks many languages. and I was always very pleased when he was there to help me pronounce some of those names that came before our committee. To those of us who serve on the Transportation Committee and to many others in this Chamber. Chairman OBERSTAR has been an historian. our friend. our expert. our champion. and our admired leader. To think of the Transportation Committeeand certainly our Housewithout our beloved colleague leaves a vast hole among our ranks and in our hearts. During his tenure on the committee as a staffer. later as a member. and then as chairman. Mr. OBERSTAR has played a key role in every major piece of transportation legislation that is law today. and no one would even try to dispute that he is widely held as a foremost transportation expert among us. His dedication cannot be matched regardless of the issue. whether its transit. highways. aviation. water. infrastructure. Coast Guard. railways. maritime. and so much more. He has steadfastly worked to achieve the best results for the American people. I will dearly miss my colleague. my friend. my chairman. but I also expect that none of us will shy away from seeking his advice in the months and years to come. During his tenure. we really have come to respect him as the expert. and we will regretfully miss him so much.
Date: 2010-12-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

It is moving to hear so many members of the United States military who have served to come to the floor and honor the flag and the Constitution. I am not that fortunate to have served in the military. but I have been fortunate enough to travel amongst them. from Kosovo to Bosnia to Albania to Iraq and Afghanistan and places within those nations. If I have observed anything. Ive observed men and women who understand the Constitution and take great pride to be on the front lines to be able to say I live in a country of the land of the free and the brave. So I ask today for my colleagues to be brave and to be free. to unshackle themselves of stereotypes and to repeal the Dont Ask. Dont Tell and vote for the rule and the underlying bill. Do it in the name of my constituent. a young man by the name of Seaman Provost. who had the unfortunate circumstances. I believe. of being considered someone who should not be in the United States Navy. So I would call upon those who believe in the Constitution. who understand the values of the human rights campaign of which I had the privilege of receiving notice from. that we all are created equal. It is time now to bust this unholy alliance that suggests that men and women whose lifestyles may be different do not have a heart of gold and love the red. white. and blue. It is time now for America to be America. Let us vote for this rule and the underlying bill. Let us vote for freedom. stand for all those who are brave. and stand behind the men and women who fight for us every single day of their lives. God bless all of them.
Date: 2010-12-15
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I regret that I was unable to participate in seven votes on the floor of the House of Representatives today due to a family medical issue. The first vote was H.R. 5546To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa. Florida. as the "Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office." Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question. The second vote was H. Res. 1759Expressing support for designation of January 23rd as "Ed Roberts Day." Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question. The third vote was S. Con. Res. 72A concurrent resolution recognizing the 45th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program. Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question. The fourth vote was H.R. 6205To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx. New York. as the "Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office." Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question. The fifth vote was H. Res. 1764Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2965Dont Ask. Dont Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Had I been present. I would have voted "nay" on that question. The sixth vote was H. Res. 1761Congratulating Auburn University quarterback and College Park. Georgia. native Cameron Newton on winning the 2010 Heisman Trophy for being the most outstanding college football player in the United States. Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question. The seventh vote was H. Res. 1743Congratulating Gerda Weissmann Klein on being selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on that question.
Date: 2010-12-15
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Speaker. today we have a chance to do what is right. not just for gay and lesbian troops serving in our military. but what is right for national security. When I deployed to Iraq as a captain with the 82nd Airborne Division. my team and I didnt care about someone elses sexual orientation. We cared whether everyone could do their job so we could all come home alive. Already. dozens of other nations allow their troops to serve openly. including our greatest military allies. Great Britain and Israel. with no detrimental impact on their units cohesion. Its an insult to the troops I served with and to all our servicemembers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to say that they are somehow less professional or as mission capable as the members of these foreign militaries. Now. we have heard every excuse under the sun. First it was. well. we need to study the issue. Well. the Pentagon finished their study and learned what weve known all along: repeal will not harm our militarys operation. Then it was we need to hear from our military leaders and our troops. They have spoken. The Secretary of Defense. the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. the Commander in Chief. and the majority of our troops believe this policy should go. Enough. Enough of the games. Enough of the politics. Our troops are the best of the best. and they deserve a Congress that puts their safety and our collective national security over rigid partisan interests and a closedminded ideology. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mike Mullen testified that this issue comes down to integrity. the integrity of our troops and the military as an institution. Well. this is also about the integrity of this institution.