macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. todays consideration of H.R. 176. the Truth in Savings Act. marks the second time that the full House of Representatives has considered this legislation. Just last year. the Truth in Savings Act passed on October 7. 1986 by voice vote under suspension. Unfortunately. the Senate failed to act on this legislation. The process started early again in the 100th Congress. with testimony from the Consumer Federation of America. the A.LCIO. and the American Association of Retired Persons. While banking groups were invited to testify. they chose only to submit statements for the record. It is my hope that this Congress will be the time for truth in savings legislation to become public law. Requiring simple. straightforward disclosure in the advertising of interest rates is a justifiable goalboth consumers and depository institutions must be on an even footing here. Truth in savings. and similar legislation. must prevail if we are to preserve the free flow of information for the market system to work. The purpose of the Truth in Savings Act is to require clear and uniform disclosure of interest rates and fees in order to provide consumers a meaningful way to compare deposit instruments. The act requires uniformity in the disclosure of the terms and cnditions on which interest is paid and fees are assessed relating to demand or interest bearing account advertisements. Depository institutions are also required to disclose a schedule of fees and the terms and conditions applicable to each class of accounts offered by the depository institution. Administrative enforcement and civil liability provisions are also provided for in the act. However. banks would not be held liable if the bank makes the necessary adjustments to rectify the problem. This years bill H.R. 176 is practically identical to the bill which passed last year and improves it in one important respect by addressing the issue of investable balance." During the consideration of truthinsavings legislation this year. it first came to our attention that some banking institutions. were paying less than full interest on the full amount of the savings account. Instead. they would deduct from the principal. before applying interest. a sum equivalent to the reserves that the banks maintain behind their accounts. It was uncovered that amounts ranging from 3 to 12 percent of the account were being deducted before banks applied interest. I find this practice outrageous. The bill now requires that institutions must pay interest on the full amount of principal in the account. for the stated calculation period at the rate of interest disclosed pursuant to the act. Thus. the legislation that was good to begin with. is even better now that it addresses a newly discovered problem in the area. Let me now thank Congressman LEHMAN. a committee member and the chief architect of Truth in Savings. for his efforts since the 98th Congress on this bill. and the ranking minority member on the committee. Congressman WYLIE. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 7 minutes to the chief sponsor of the legislation before us. the gentleman from California .
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (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. and to include extraneous matter on H.R. 176. the bill just passed.
Date: 1987-06-30
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. at this point in the process of approving our fiscal year 1987 supplemental bill. there is a good deal of confusion about what the Congress might approve by way of site selection criteria for the superconducting super collider. My home State of Texas would like to play host to the SSC. We have. in our State government. made a commitment to provide moneys to help pay for the cost of the SSCknowing the Federal Establishment is strapped for cash. Suddenly. Texas is an ogre. Suddenly the critics say we are taking unfair advantage of other States by offering to help DOE pay for the SSC and provide it a comfortable home. This is flat wrong. But to overcome this sentiment that Texasand other States which are making similar offersI have a solution. I invite the other States to make similar funding commitments to the Energy Departmentthen we will all be on the same level field. And if any particular State cannot make this type of funding commitment. I can fully understand why: money is tight everywhere. But if Texans bite the bullet and come up with some fundswhy should we be penalized in the site selection process for doing so?
Date: 1987-06-30
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. first let me add my commendation and my appreciation to my colleague. the gentleman from Texas . my colleague. the gentleman from Ohio . and all of the Members from the different committees who have worked on this legislation. I appreciate the work that was done by the respective members of our Committee on Agriculture. Beyond that. Mr. Speaker. I rise in enthusiastic support of the conference report on H.R. 558. the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. and ask my colleagues to give speedy approval to this important piece of legislation. The conference agreement is a sound and compassionate compromise between the House and the Senate that addresses one of the real tragedies of the 1980shomelessness. Mr. Speaker. I compliment my colleagues on the other committees who have worked on this conference agreement for the innovative and responsible approaches they have selected to attack this deepening problem. The conference agreement on H.R. 558 will make several administrative changes in the Food Stamp Program. and extend the TEFAP law. to ensure that appropriate nutrition assistance is made availble to homeless persons. TEFAP is an acronym for the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. and it provides for the orderly and efficient distribution of surplus Commodity Credit Corporation commodities. such as cheese. butter. and flour. to charitable institutions. such as soup kitchens and food banks. The conference agreement will require the Secretary of Agri. culture to distribute a variety of commodites that are most useful to these eligible recipieni agencies.
Date: 1987-06-30
Speaker: BE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I offer a concurrent resolution (H.. Con. Res. 150). and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate reconsideration.
Date: 1987-06-30
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr.. Speaker. in the typing of the conference report there werethree typographical errors made in the section supplied by the Agriculture Committee. This resolution instructs that in the enrolling. those typographical errors be corrected.
Date: 1987-07-13
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. and I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman. the gentleman from Texas makes a point based upon philosophy. about the spending of this Congress. but he ignores the fact that the slight increase here Is 3.5 percent for inflation and $61 million for capital. I cannot overemphasize the importance of funding these projects. especially with regard to the capital expenditures. The general demise of rail passenger service that took place during the 1960s can be attributed in large part to the inability of many of the leading railroads to maintain their physical plants. Only through continued maintenance and improvement can Amtrak continue to make the stridesand it has made stridestoward reducing its dependence upon general support. In these days. when the United States has already achieved a number of dubious distinctions. the transformation of the greatest creditor nation to a debtor nation. exporting jobs to the extent that we have by far the greatest trade deficit in the world. and having a colossal national debt. do we want to add to this list the dubious distinction of being the only great nation without a viable passenger rail system? If Amtrak ceases to exist. 21 million passengers will have to find other means to get to work. if they can. The ideology expressed here today will not replace the 5 billion miles of passenger H 6206 CO: service that were rendered last year. The Federal Government has made a substantial investment in Amtrak since it was established In 1970. I say that it would be tragic to pull the rug out from under the riderswho rely on Amtrak at this time when the most productive system has been accomplished. We have been reducing that dependence. and this budget will enable us to continue to reduce that dependence.
Date: 1987-07-13
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. that is the gentlemans argument. that the response is that there is a slight amount for inflation. an appropriate amount. a slight amount for capital. I did understand the gentleman .from Texas. but he did get into the philosophical argument about spending by this Congress. That is what I was addressing myself to. that kind of general. nonspecific argument.
Date: 1987-07-13
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. reclaining my time. what is happening is that we are nibbling away at the system. and we are denying it the capital to refuel. to refurbish. and to keep it going. That is exactly what happened to rail services in the first place. That is what got them started on this slippery slope.. and if we want to recover. we are going to have to put something back in the system and keep it on an even keel.
Date: 1987-07-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I could not pass up the opportunity to join with the -distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee in insisting that an appropriation bill is not the place to enact legislation. that legislation should be considered in its proper forum with due and proper consideration in the legislative committees. So I would urge my friends that tonight. and on every appropriation bill- hereafter. that we heed the words of our distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee and that we work with the legislative committees in enacting legislation that properly should be in the legislative committees. Therefore. I would hope that this issue be considered in due form and in proper order in the committee whence It belongs.
Date: 1987-07-14
Speaker: TOM CARPER (democrat)
Chamber: H

who has joined with us in this bipartisan coalition that I spoke of earlier to build the momentum that has brought this resolution to the floor with its 234 cosponsors. Mr. Speaker. in saying that. I do not want the RECORD to show that the gentleman from Delaware has not led on the issue of a balanced budget amendment. In the last Congress. when the gentleman from Texas and I offered an amendment and were able to build considerable support. the gentleman from Delaware also introduced his own balanced budget amendment and got considerable cosponsorship. I think his presence here tonight demonstrates how Important we in a bipartisan sense believe this issue to be. how critical it is that it be brought to this floor. to the well in which I stand. for the appropriate debate and for the appropriate upanddown vote. His presence in joining with us in this coalition that has crafted the balanced budget amendment was critical in broadening our base of support. So. Mr. Speaker. I not only welcome our colleague here tonight. but I thank him for his direct and aggressive participation in this critical issue. I now yield to the gentleman from Delaware .
Date: 1987-07-15
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to amend and extend certain laws relating to housing. and for other purposes. with House amendments thereto. insist on the House amendments. and agree to the conference asked by the Senate. o 1225
Date: 1987-07-15
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would say to the gentleman this Indeed has been cleared with the gentleman from Ohio . the ranking minority member.
Date: 1987-07-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

M ask unanimous consent f rliate cnnsideration of th Visclosky The reason for that is that the necVolkmer Vucanovich essary adequate funding is contained Walgren in the Trade Act. and since there may Walker be a delay in that legislation this Watkins would allow the Secretary to utilize Waxman Weber available funding. Weiss Mr. SCHUETTE. Mr. Speaker. I Weldon thank the distinguished gentleman Wheat from Texas for that explanation. I Whittaker Whitten concur in the comments of the gentleWilliams man from Texas . Wilson chairman of the House Committee on Wise Wolf Agriculture. on this resolution. It is Wolpe important that we move and ship our Wortley grain. The chairmans comments with Wyden Wylie respect to the trade bill are very accuYates rate. and I urge this bill be considered. Yatron Mr. Speaker. I withdraw my reservaYoung (AK) tion of objection. Young(FL) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
Date: 1987-07-23
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. First let me thank my dear and respected colleague. the gentleman from Michigan . for allowing us to proceed ahead of his legislation. Mr. Speaker. this is a very simple resolution that is the sense of the Congress that the export enhancement program. which is a very successful agricultural program. be continued. and that we urge the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize all available funding for this program.
Date: 1987-07-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to authorize the establishment by the Secretary of Agriculture of a plant stress and water conservation research laboratory and program at Lubbock. TX.
Date: 1987-07-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide continuing authority to the Secretary of Agriculture for recovering costs associated with cotton classing services. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 1987-07-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide for study and research on the decline in U.S. forest productivity and to determine the effects of atmospheric pollutants on forest environments. and for other purposes.
Date: 1987-07-27
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. 2663. H.R. 2971. H.R. 2399. and H.R. 2401. the bills previously passed.
Date: 1987-07-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers may have until midnight. tonight. July 29. 1987. to file a conference report on H.R. 27. the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987. The ranking minority member concurs in this request.
Date: 1987-07-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I too would like to just take this time to pay tribute to a gentleman that I negotiated with and worked with during his tenure in office as Secretary of Commerce. He was a neighbor from the neighboring State of Connecticut that borders the great State of Rhode Island and Providence plantations. Working with him. the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs approved a very unique concept. something new known as allowing bank holding companies to have export trading companies. the purpose being to enhance our position as far as our balance of trade is concerned. Over the long period of time that we negotiated with Secretary Baldrige on this legislation I found him to be a very knowledgeable gentleman with a great deal of expertise. The United States of America was fortunate to have had such a wonderful man with such ability to serve as Secretary of Commerce for such a long period of time. I too. along with many Americans. are going to miss working with him in the best interests of our Nation.
Date: 1987-07-30
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers may have until midnight. Friday. July 31. 1987. to file aconference report on H.R. 27. Federal Savings and Loan Recapitalization Act of 1987..
Date: 1987-07-31
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: S

pursuant to the order of the House on July 30. 1987. submitted the following conference report and statement on the bill to facilitate the provision of additional financial resources to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and. for purposes of strengthening the reserves of the Corporation. to establish a forbearance program for thrift institutions and to provide additional congressional oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Federal home loan bank system:
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (ILR. 1340) to improve the administration of the Department of Agriculture commodity distribution activities. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank once again all who have worked to make this bill possible. I extend my appreciation to all of them. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 1987-08-03
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. 1340. the bill just passed.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2309 which amends the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Act that was passed during the 98th Congress. In brief. H.R. 2309 will help the Commission. which currently operates on a staff of only three. to increase its staffing and fundraising capabilities. and will extend the life of the Commission through December 31. 1993. to accommodate for Columbus .second voyage. This last point is of particular interest to me and to my colleague. the Resident Commissioner -of Puerto Rico. since it was on his second voyage in 1493 that Columbus landed in Salt River on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Is-. lands. and -on Puerto Rico. This is significant because these two locations are the only landing sites of Columbus under the U.S. flag. After Columbus historic visit almost 500 years ago. the Virgin Islands became a frontier of the Old World in the new and were caught up in all the tidal changes which swept over the entire world in the intervening centuries. .Now the U.S. Virgin Islands stands tall -among her West Indian friends and family. a bastian of American democracy in the Caribbean. xWe continue to be a -link between nations and people. and time and history. and we are 1proud to take an active role in the worldwide commemoration of the voyages of Columbus. I must commend Mr. John Goudie. Chairman of the National Columbus Commission. and his staff for their excellent progress in seeing that the celebration will be a success. I also wish to thank my colleagues from California. chairman .of the Subcommittee on Census and Population. and my good friend from Michigan. chairman of the Postal Committee. for their :expeditious handling of this bill. and.their staff for their cooperation and assistance.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 236. I call up the conference report on the bill to facilitate the provision of addition financial resources to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and. for purposes of strengthening the reserves of the Corporation. to establish a forbearance program for thrift institutions and to provide additional congressional oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Federal home loan bank system. and against the consideration of such conference report.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. OAKARI. a member of the committee and of the conference committee.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I to make banks dismantle these proyield 1 minute to the gentleman from grams or their plans to undertake Kentucky . a member of them. Indeed. as a practical matter. the committee and of the conference looking at the banks track record with committee. securitization of bank assets will be
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker. I would like to in these brief closing moments state that on many occasions in the past few years. I have expressed a desire. a hope. a wish that we could work on financial institutions legislation on a onebyone item basis. We attempted that in the last Congress. We came to the floor with a bill. sent it to the other body. came to the floor with another bill. sent it to the other body. We did that with three or four bills with no reaction from the other body. In the early days of this Congress. we sent as we did in the last Congress the delayed funds availability. the checkcashing bill. to the other body. and it languished there. Obviously. the desire to legislate one on one. one item by one item. so that when we come to the floor we are not buying a package. swallowing some things we are not too happy with. is still a dream that is to be realized. We see it not only from this committee. but from most of the major committees. It has become the legislative "how to do It." I do not think it is the best way to legislate. but it seems as if it is the only way to legislate. and when things have to be done. you have to do it. For that reason. we are before the House today with a comprehensive bill. In listening to the debate today. it becomes clear as to why the controversy. So many Members came up with differing problems with differing sections of the bill. Maybe. just maybe. it is about the only way we can do It. We are before the Members with a package that has been finetuned. agreed to by the administration. so in these waning moments. I would like to say to the staff who have worked weekends. nights. holidays since the end of the formal conference. thank you for your yeomans service. i would like to say thank you to Senatbr PROxMIRE and Senator GARN. and to the gentleman from Ohio . for a job well done. and also staff on both sides of the aisle. and also to Secretary Baker. I must say. he is some kind of compromiser. Without him. we would not be here today with a bill that the President has said he would sign. For these reasons. I say to the Members. sure. it is not the perfect package. but like Bismarck once said. "It is a legislative sausage. Eat it and enjoy it. Dont let one or two little parts of it give you a stomach ache." Mr. Speaker. I move the previous question on the conference report. The previous question was ordered.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (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 and to include extraneous material on the conference report on H.R. 27. which has just been adopted.
Date: 1987-08-03
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Committee of confer- ing action was taken by the Speaker: ence. Conference report on H.R. 27 (Rept. H.R. 2629. The Committee on Merchant 100261). Ordered to be printed. Marine and Fisheries discharged. rules susr e following pended. H.R. 2629 considered as amended [Pursuant to H. Res. 26. teoawn. and passed. reports were filed on July 31. 1987]