macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 3072. and I commend the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina for introducing this bill. This measure designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Main Street in Forest City. North Carolina. as the Vernon Tarlton Post Office Building. H.R. 3072 is supported by all members of the North Carolina delegation. Mr. Speaker. in all corners of our great Nation we find many citizens who give so much to their communities. It is true of my own district and of each and every Member of Congress. Vernon Tarlton is one of these individuals. A lifelong champion of Forest City in Rutherford County. North Carolina. Vernon Tarltons list of accomplishments is long. varied. and distinguished. He served on the Forest City Board of Commissioners and was named one of the Outstanding City Councilmen in North Carolina. He has received several awards to honor his community service. He was named the Rutherford County Volunteer of the Year. In 2000. he was honored by the Kiwanis Club as its Citizen of the Year. Furthermore. Vernon Tarlton received the North Carolina Governors Award for Outstanding Volunteer. Mr. Tarlton continues to take an active part in the Presbyterian church. serving as an elder and a trustee. Finally. although in poor health. Vernon Tarlton worked tirelessly with property owners and postal officials to locate the site on which the new postal facility is to be built. Mr. Speaker. it is fitting that we honor the many contributions of Vernon Tarlton by naming the post office at 125 Main Street in Forest City. North Carolina. for him. Mr. Speaker. I urge all Members to support this important legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. I again thank the gentleman from Indiana . the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform. and the gentleman from California . the ranking member. along with the gentleman from Florida . the chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization. and the gentleman from Illinois . the ranking member. for expediting consideration of this measure. Again. I urge all Members to support this measure. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 375 Carlls Path in Deer Park. New York. as the "Raymond M. Downey Post Office Building".
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

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. 3379.
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 3379 introduced. by my distinguished colleague. the gen2 tleman from New York . is an important piece of legislation that designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 375 Carlls Path in Deer Park. New York. as the Raymond M. Downey Post Office Building. It carries the support of the entire New York congressional delegation. Mr. Speaker. we lost many heroes in New York on September 11. but the loss of Chief Downey was an especially difficult one. A New York firefighter for 35 years. Raymond Downeys long and distinguished career is worth noting. He served with ladder and engine companies and with rescue squad companies. He commanded Rescue Company 2 for 14 years. Chief Downey became a battalion chief in August 1994. Most recently. Chief Downey led the Special Operations Command. whose dtities include rescue work. marine operations and the handling of dangerous materials. He was one of the Nations leading experts on rescue operations at collapsed buildings. Furthermore. Raymond Downey led a New York Fire Department special unit to assist in recovery fforts at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. directed rescue efforts at the 1993 attack at the World Trade Center. and assisted FEMA in forming a national network search and rescue team. Mr. Speaker. these remarkable accomplishments speak highly of Raymond Downey. Those who saw him work were awed by his abilities to bring order to even the most chaotic situations. Chief Downey achieved almost mythical status among his colleagues. Mr. Speaker. I would just like to say on a personal note. being married to a battalion chief in the Hampton Fire Department for 30 years. I know what these firefighters go through and I know what they are like. and I can just imagine what Mr. Downey did for his men that worked for him. and I know they are all very proud of him. as I am sure all of New York is. Since September 11. we have heard countless stories of heroic acts from members of New Yorks Fire Department. And yet. even in an organization filled with great men and women. Chief Raymond Downey stood out. That he would die in just the type of disaster for which he had received world acclaim was no surprise to those who knew him. For almost 40 years. he had been running into buildings as everyone else was running out. Raymond Downey was a cornerstone of the New York Fire Department. His commitment to public service and his fellow man will forever linger in the hearts and minds of New Yorkers and all Americans. Mr. Speaker. -it is fitting that we honor the memory of this great American hero by renaming the post office at 375 Carlls Path in Deer Park New York as the Raymond M. Downey Post Office Building. He is deserving of this great tribute. I urge all Members to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-18
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. I commend the distinguished gentleman from New York for introducing this legislation and working so hard to ensure its passage. I again urge all Members to support this important resolution and to reflect upon this great American. Raymond Downey. for the tremendous devotion that he gave to all New Yorkers during his tenure with the New York Fire Department. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill to provide for the installation of a plaque to honor Dr. James Harvey Early in the Williamsburg. Kentucky. Post Office Building.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 1714.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. Senate 1714. sponsored by Senator MITCH MCCONNELL. would install a plague to honor Dr. James Harvey Early in the Williamsburg. Kentucky. Post Office. Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this bill. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3698 Inner Perimeter Road in Valdosta. Georgia. as the "Major Lyn McIntosh Post Office Building".
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

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. 1432.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1432 would designate the post office located at 3698 Inner Perimeter Road in Valdosta. Georgia. as the Major Lyn McIntosh Post Office Building. Lyn Davis McIntosh was born in Valdosta. Georgia. on October 11. 1946. He went to school in Valdosta. graduating from Valdosta State College in 1968. He taught mathematics at Valdosta Junior High School. He enlisted in the Air Force and served overseas in Thailand. After returning to the United States. he was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. California. serving as a National Security Officer. Major McIntosh returned to flying. joining the 8th Special Operations Squadron as an aircraft commander in 1979. On November 4. 1979. Iranians seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. taking 66 Americans hostage. Major McIntosh volunteered for the rescue mission. This extremely dangerous and complex rescue attempt ended in disaster in an Iranian desert on April 25. 1980. Major McIntosh was among those who lost their lives during this rescue mission. In 1969. Major McIntosh married Ann Dixon and they had three sons. Scott. Mark and Stewart. Ann Dixon passed away on February 17. 2001. This bill is a fitting tribute to this American patriot. I commend the gentleman from Georgia and the other members of the Georgia delegation for sponsoring this bill. Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this bill. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. having no other speakers. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 1432. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 2657. the District of Columbia Family Court Act of 2001. as amended. This is an important bill that will provide the Family Court with the structural and management reforms it needs to efficiently and effectively serve the children in the Districts child welfare system. After the tragic death of 23monthold Brianna Blackmond. the D.C. Subcommittee held two hearing last year. which revealed the dire need for reforms to the various components of the Districts child welfare system. including the Family Court. The recent series of articles in the Washington Post highlight longternii systemic problems in the child welfare system. and reemphasize the need for Court reform. The Family Court must be equipped with the strategic tools and resource to assure the safety and wellbeing of the citys most vulnerable children. H.R. 2657 accomplishes this objective. It mandates longer judicial terms of serkice to ensure greater continuity in the handling of cases. New appointees to the Superior Court who are assigned to the Family Court will serve for 5 years. The bill also requires that judges appointed to serve on the Family Court have committed themselves to the practice of family law. Furthermore. it creates magistrate judges. who will be responsible for handling the backlog of 4.500 cases. The bill imposes the critically important "one family. one judge" requirement on the Family Court to ensure that a judge is familiar with a familys history in order to make appropriate decisions regarding the safety and placement of the child. The Court will create its own integrated computer system for use by judges. magistrate judges. and nonjudicial personnel. allowing them access to all pending cases related to children and their families. The bill also provides the judges and magistrate judges with access to information regarding the myriad social services available in D.C. In addition to these key provisions. I support the Senate amendments. These include a provision requiring that when judges leave the Family Court. all of their cases remain in the Family Court. However. the bill does allow the judges an additional 6 months. and under extraordinary circumstances and additional 12 months. to retain a case if they can demonstrate to the Chief Judge that removing the childs case from the Family Court will result in more expeditious permanent placement. Let me emphasize that the application of this provision is only intended in rare situations. The critical reforms in this legislation will help ensure that the Family Court can meet the needs of the citys children. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2657. as amended.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution to support the goals of the Year of the Rose.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that . all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 292.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 292. This resolutions supports the goals of the Year of the Rose and it encourages the President to issue a proclamation asking Americans to observe the year with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I commend my distinguished colleague. the gentleman from Louisiana
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. volved 11 contributing departments and Speaker. I am pleased to yield as much agencies of the Federal Government. time as he may consume to the gen- and the results of their ongoing retleman from Louisiana . search and development affect the Na-
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. what was just said is totally out of line. We are providink health care to people. Americans want action and they want it now. and for the second time in 2 months Republicans in the House have passed a bill to stimulate the economy and get Americans back to work. This bill does strike a bipartisan compromise. and it provides health insurance and benefits to those who lost their jobs. Unemployed workers and their families need extra assistance in order to afford health care coverage after they lose their jobs. In addition. dislocated workers need access to job training programs. child care. transportation. and other assistance in order to get back to work quickly. That is what we are talking about is creating jobs. National emergency grants which are in this bill are the right approach. It allows each Governor to implement a seamless package of assistance for the needs of dislocated workers in their State. Importantly. it recognizes that a displaced workers true goal ultimately is the right to return to work. It gives people more of their own money back. and it provides incentives to businesses to invest in new equipment and create new jobs. Mr. Speaker. the Members know there is $14 billion. $14 billion going to lowincome workers. There are stimulus payments. Also. the bill includes national emergency grants. which I just talked about. which I introduced. that target workers who are laid off by paying part of their health insurance. Can Members believe this: this government is going to pay 60 percent of the health insurance costs of laidoff workers. It makes no difference whether or not they had health care insurance when they were employed. we are paying it to the unemployed. The bottom line is this: the American people want. need. and deserve help. and it is time for one Senator to stop running for President.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of S. 1762. a bill that will ensure the longterm availability of higher education loans for students and their families. Our nations higher education loan system under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) is an example of government at its best. By working in partnership with students. parents. colleges and universities and private sector loan providers. the federal government has made the dream of college a reality for more than 50 million Americans through the education loan program since As families come together during this holiday season. those with children heading off to college next fall will be talking about not only where to attend college. but how to pay for it. For high school students and their families gathered around their kitchen tables. todays action means that the only question they have to ask is "where is their high school senior going to attend college." not whether they can afford it. For the past 35 years. education loans have been critical to the ability of Americas families to be able to afford the rising cost of college tuition. By passing this legislation today. we will maintain our national investment in welleducated. welltrained young people who can compete with workers anywhere in the world. In short. this legislation is good for students. families. schools. taxpayers and the economy. Finally. Mr. Speaker. I want to commend Chairman BOEHNER. Ranking Member MILLER and Chairman MCKEON for their leadership in assuring the continued availability of education loans for future generations of students. This is important legislation for out nation and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Date: 2001-12-19
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. although H.R. 2869 represents a step forward in addressing brownfields reform. I am concerned that the legislation before us does not encourage the clean up and redevelopment of all brownfields sites. Specifically. although H.R. 2869 includes prospective purchaser federal liability protection for "hazardous substances" defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). it does not include prospective purchaser liability exemption for petroleum based contaminants under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This is a critical issue that is being overlooked in this legislation. It is my understanding that the EPA has estimated that there are approximately 200.000 petroleumbased brownfields sites in this nation. If Congress is to address this important environmental issue. it is critical that we pass meaningful reform. I am disappointed that we have chosen not to do so with this legislation. I have to imagine that each one of us has an abandoned gas station in our district that could be cleaned up and redeveloped were it not for liability uncertainty. The reality is that without prospective purchaser liability protections for petroleum sites. developerswho did not cause the contaminationwill not be willing to take the risk of cleaning up these sites and legislation will fail to meet its goal. I encourage the House to address this oversight as soon as possible.
Date: 2002-01-21
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker.- I thank my colleague for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of S. 1762. a bill that will ensure the longterm availability of higher education loans for students and their families. Our Nations higher education loan system under the Federal Family Education Loan Program is an example of government at its best. By working in partnership with students. parents. college universities and private sector loan providers. the Federal Government has made the dream of college a reality for more than 50 million Americans since 1965. Right now there are families with children heading off to college next fall who are talking about not only where their children will attend school. but how they will pay for it. For high school students and their families currently facing these daunting questions. todays action will resolve half of that equation and leave them with the more pleasant task of determining which college or university is right for them. not whether they will have the means to afford it. By continuing the current formula for setting student loan interest rates. we will avoid the volatility that certainly would have set in had the current system been allowed to lapse. This will ensure stability in the Federal Family Education Loan Program and guarantee the loan system that serves 80 percent of Americas schools and millions of our students. For the past 35 years education loans have been critical in enabling Americas families to afford the rising cost of college tuition. By passing this legislation today we will maintain our national investment in welleducated. welltrained young people who can compete with workers anywhere in the world. In short. this legislation is good for students. families. schools. taxpayers and the economy. Finally. Mr. Speaker. I would like to point out to all of my colleagues that this bill is.supported by both loan providers and student advocacy groups. In fact. the State PIRGs Higher Education Project predicts that the typical student borrower will realize a savings of $680 over the life of the loan. I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio . the ranking member. the gentleman from California and the gentleman from California for their leadership in assuring continued availability of education loans for future generations of students. This is important legislation for our Nation. and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Date: 2002-01-23
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that I might hereafter be considered as first sponsor of H.R. 548. a bill originally introduced by the gentleman from Florida. Mr. SCARBOROUGH. for thepurposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprints pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.
Date: 2002-02-06
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. it is my honor today to pay tribute to a true American patriot on his 91st birthday. President Ronald Reagan. As we in Congress wrestle with the Defense budget. I recall the words of Ronald Reagan when he submitted his Presidential budget. He said. We start by considering what must be done to maintain peace and review all the possible threats against our security. Then a strategy for strengthening peace and defending against those threats must be agreed upon. And. finally. our defense establishment must be evaluated to see what is necessary to protect against any or all of the potential threats. The cost of achieving these ends is totaled up. and the result is the budget for national defense. Mr. Speaker. as we debate on the proper amount for the defense of our Nation. the greatest tribute we can pay to Ronald Reagan is to build on the strong defense foundation that he laid and provide our military the funding and resources to defend the Constitution and protect the values under which this great Nation was founded.
Date: 2002-02-07
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I have here the National Taxpayer Advocates Annual Report to Congress. As my colleagues well know. the National Taxpayer Advocate is an independent agent within the IRS that helps our constituents resolve their tax. problems. It should interest Members of this body that the very agent within the IRS tasked with helping our constituents has suggested that we abolish the alternative minimum tax. As my colleagues well -know. the AMT was the subject of considerable debate when this body voted to pass not one but two stimulus bills. As I recall. my colleagues on the other side of the aisle complained that eliminating the AMT would only help the wealthy. I ask my colleagues to consider that a mother of five who earned $45.000 in 2000 had to pay $1850 in AMT alone. That is a lot of money. I find it disconcerting that Members of this body would oppose commonsense tax reform that would help the economy and really help their constituency. I do not take any word from anybody. and I do not expect Members to accept my words. Mr. Speaker. but read this report for yourself. Unless the opponents of the AMT are prepared to call the National Taxpayer Advocate the handmaiden of the wealthy. then I think it is time that we heed the Tax Advocates recommendations and eliminate the AMT.