macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1981-07-21
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the Issue before the Senate is not a new one. We have considered it before. We all know the question: Are we going to take social security retirement incomne away from retired Americans. through the budget process? I remember. 5 moilths ago. when the President came before Congress to argue the merits of his budget plan. He said that budget savings would not be made by cutting the social security retirement program. He said that: (T)he full retirement benefits of the more than 31 million social security recipients will be continued along with an annual costorliving Increase. He said that retirement benefits would be preserved in the Federal budget as part of the Nations safety net. The amendment before the Senate offered by tho distinguished Senator from Michigan. Mr. RIEGLE. is another opportunity to vote for the Presidents budget pledge to hold true. The amendment would not extend the minimum benefit to future social security recipients. but it would preserve the retirement income for current retirees. Three million Americans are currently eligible for minimum benefit payments. More than 500.000 Americans. age 80 or older. have been receiving the minimum payment for 15 years or longer. The minimum benefit was designed to be a safety net under social securityto prevent the neediest retirees from living their retirement years in poverty. It is clearly Irresponsible to suddenly rip that safety net away from 3 million retirees and assume that they will survive financially. The question before the Senate today Is whether we are going to act to close one of the holes In the Presidents safety net. This may be our last opportunity to do so. Failure to adopt the amendment being offered by the Senator from Michigan will send a chilling message to Americans. We will be telling people that they are no longer entitled to the benefits promised to them by the social security system when they made their retirement plans. We will be telling them that if they need assistance. they should apply for welfare. We are talking about the integrity and purpose of the social security systema system which is vital to the wellbeing of the Nations elderly. I reject the notion that has been proferred by the administration that the neediest social security retirees should be asked to abandon the system and turn to the welfare svstem. I support a balanced Federal budget. But. that budget cannot be balanced on the backs of the Nations elderly.
Date: 1981-07-21
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the Senator. The Senator mentioned the minority leader. I hope the Senator does not mean to imply that the minority leader Is holding up action on this measure.
Date: 1981-07-21
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. reserving the right to object. I will have to object. not on my part. but for my side of the aisle until I clear it with my side of the aisle.
Date: 1981-07-21
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today In support of House Resolution 181 which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that necessary steps should be taken to Insure that social s4ecurity benefits are not reduced for those presently receiving them. These are hard times for our senior citizens. Just a few weeks ago this body passed a reconciliation biil which will impose severe hardships on millions of elderly persons. For example. approximately 80.000 elderly persons will lose homemaker and mealonwheels services under GrammLatta II. Approximately 322.000 fewer disabled persons. the vast majority of whom are senior citizens. will receive rehabilitation services. The list of impending hardships goes on ad infinitum. Under that same reconciliation bill the minimum benefit under social security will be eliminatedand not just for future retirees. but for people who are currently depending on those checks every month. This Is an extreme Injustice that must be corrected by this House and I am pleased to see that this Issue Is being addressed so quickly. Mr. Speaker. I cannot Imagine how we could. In all good conscience. tell the millions of senior citizens receiving the minimum benefit that we have changed our mind. that In order to save some money in the Federal budget we would like them to make some more sacrifices. You have to wonder sometimes what are our priorities. I. for one. am not going to ask the thousands of elderly persons in the U.S. Virgin Islands to give up what Is rightfully theirs. The high cost of living in my district already Imposes very severe hardships on these people. and now they have the effects of GrammLatta 11 to look forward to. It is time we drew the line. Taking away money from our senior citizens pockets Is unconscionable. Therefore. I urge the House to pass House Resolution 181.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the next to the last vord. and I rise in support of the committee bill.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. we should have 110 pretense about the consequences of the amendment proposed by the distinguished Senator from Kansas and the .dstinguished Senator from New Mexico
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

May I suggest to the distinguished majority leader to put a request that will allow for the interruption in the event that there is cloture Invoked. put a request that will allow for the interruption of further action under cloture until such time as time or action Is taken on this joint resolution or the House bill. as amended. not including conference reports.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I think the distinguished Senator from Hawaii has made a good suggestion. I would hope that the majority leader comes in early enough and stays late enough. if it is agreeable to the managers of the bill. so that when we reach that point we will not face that situation. but conceivably we could. I think the suggestion is a good one and I think the request the Senator has proposed protects Senators against that situation. and I would think that the hour by which the final vote on third reading would be moved up would also be a good suggestion.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. when the distinguished majority leader says "some other measure." would he confine such measure to reconciliation or the tax bill so it will not embrace anything and everything?
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. we have the same problem on our side. We convinced the Senator niot to press his request. We also cor vikced him to fashion a firstdegree amendment which he can craft.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the distinguished majority leader. First of all. what is the understanding with respect to the pending amendment by Mr. DOLE and Mr. DOMENICO?
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

The only reason I ask Is under the agreement it would not have to come down until third reading unless we have an understanding. my understanding is that it will come down immediately after this agreement is entered Into.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Further. Mr. President. what assurance can the majority leader give to the Scnate? I will only state this for the record. I know what the intent of the majority leader Is. But for the record. what assurance does the majority leader give that this measure will remain before the Senate until final action af ter third reading next Wednesday. that it will not be set aside. not be disposed of by motioning up another amendment?
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the majority leaders word is good enough for me. I Just want to make sure every opportunity is given to Senators wvhose amendments are enumerated to call up those amendments before the hour of 3 oclock is reached next Wednesday. Mr. President. can the majority leader and the two managers of the measure assure the Senate that sessions will be fairly lengthy during the interim?
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. If the majority leader will further yield. I hope that Senators whose amendments are enumerated In the request will call them up in timely fashion. I have seen situations like this occur so often in which Senators want to put their amendments off until the next day or the last day and. as a result. we have a glut of amendments on the last day. I hope thatand I am attempting to protect Members who have amendments. certainly those on my side of the aislethey will be prepared to call those amendments up in timely fashion so that they wvill be able to get the time that is allotted to Include them under the order.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. reserving the right to object. I think there is only one question I would like to have clarified. The request as propounded by the distinguished majority leader gives the leader one right that he does not. he would not. have otherxvise. and I believe that this should be clarified. He included In the request that in the event cloture Is invoked on the Johnston amendment that follewing the vote on cloture the majority leader would have the right to move to proceed to take up the House or Senate tax bills. certain conference reports. and one appropriation bill. ordinarily. Mr. President. he would not automatically have that right to move to take up the House tax bill. That is not a privileged measure. and I take It that his request wvas for the purpose of assuring Mr. JOHNSTON that in the event cloture Is invoked. the majority leader would only move to take up one of those bills or conference reports that ho specified. I would not wvant to accede to the request here that the majority leader proceed to the House tax bill In the event cloture Is invoked. I have no intention at the moment of Interposing any objection to a unanimousconsent request to go to that bill or obstructing. if I couldand in some circumstances I couldit is not my intention to obstruct the making of a motion to proceed to the House tax bill. But I would not want by this request to waive the right on the part of the minority or on the part of any Senator.
Date: 1981-07-22
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I know that was the Intent of the majority leader. I ask that he Include in his request that any motion to proceed to the House tax bill or to one appropriation bill not waive any rule or right that any Senator presently has.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I am elated and gratified at the good news that the distinguished majority leader has brought to the Senate. I hope he will convey my good wishes to Mrs. Stevens and also to the proud father. and the good wishes of my wife. Erma.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the distinguished majority leader. I will ask the members of the Democratic policy staff to attempt in every way to keep Senators ofl my side alerted to the need for calling up their amendments. and we will try to assist in having a list of amendments by Senators who are ready to go throughout the day and the remaining days preceding next Wednesday.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYR (democrat)
Chamber: S

D. Mr. President. the strategic arms control policy of the United States is currently In limbo. Although President Reagan has expressed his desire to -engage in serious strategic arms reduction negotiations. the present policy can be summed up as "rearm first. talk later." This simple approach does the world an injustice and damages the cohesion of NATO. We must build and talk at the same time. If the Soviets are not interested in this process. a serious American effort will go far toward convincing our allies that our perception of the threat is correct and they must take further measures to contain It. The present course gives the Soviets the patently unearned advantage of posturing as the real exponents of arms control. It puts us in a difficult position as we. press Europe to expand its forces and commitments in a more equal partnership with us. And it may well require excessive diversion of funds from our conventional forces to our strategic arsenal. Mr. President. the distinguished senior Senator from Colorado . as a member of the Armed Services Committee. has followed arms control matters in a thoughtful and constructive way for many years. He recently wrote a perspective article for the New York Timies on the problems the present drift in arms control policy presents for the Nation. particularly in the areas of defense planning and the excessive diversion of resources from our conventional forces which would be necessitated by an uncontrolled arms race. I ask unanimous consent that the article. which appeared in the July 22. 1981. issue of the New York Time~s be printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that any remaining time I have may now be tranisferred to Mr. PfOXMIRE to be controlled by him when his order is executed.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I take the floor at this time to ask the distinguished majority leader what the program will be for the remainder of today and for tomorrow and Monday. If he can inform us.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the majority leader Indeed has no alternative. I am somewhat surprised to hear that we still have 101 amendments. On yesterday. I thought there were 90 amendments at the time we had our agreement.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. It Is not my desire to attempt to tell the majority leader what to do. I am really concerned about the number of amendments. Most of them are on my side of the aisle. So I think I am Justified In saying this: I suggest that my side at leastI will not tell the majority leader what to do on his sidebut I am going to ask my side to contact via the cloakroom. via the hot line. Senators to see if they would have any objections to cutting down the time on 30minute amendments to 20 minutes. and let us start there and perhaps the majority leader would want to think about having 10minute rollcalls after the first rollcall tomorrow and each day because I can see right now we are going to be in one big squeeze and someone is going to get squeezed if we do not take action early. and most or the amendments being on my side I feel I am Justified in making this suggestion because it is going to cut most deeply on my side.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the distinguished majority leader is correct in his evaluation of the situation. There will be the conforence report once the coiaferees finish action ca the tax measure and the conference report when the con~fert.s wind up on the reconciliation measure. The majority leader will have my support in advancing the action to third reading on this measure by the close of business Tuesday. I will do everything I can.
Date: 1981-07-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. in addition to the congratulations I have extended to the majority whip. the Senator from Alaska and his wife on the birth of their daughter. Lily. I should like to take this occasion to say that Senators on this side of the aisle are not going to be outdone. So I take this opportunity to inform my colleagues that a Senator on this side of the aisle. the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. TsoNoAs) and his wife are also the proud parents of a daughter. Molly. born Sunday. July 19. Mother and daughter and father are doing well. It appears that Senators are producing daughters this year. So if we might appropriately designate the year. I would say it is the year of the daughter. In addition to those two born this month. the Senator from Delaware and his wife also welcomed a daughter. Ashley. born just last month I know that all three of these Senators are extremely proud of the new additions to their families and all of us extend our good wishes to them.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Missouri In support of the Clinch River breeder project.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: PHILLIP BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

or Mr. JOHN L. BURTON. but knowing those gentlemen. I am sure that the gentleman himself may be able to consult on that.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: PHILLIP BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise at this time. having watched the clock. hoping this will prove to be a successful effort to qualify in the course of revising my remarks to note certain motions to strike with reference to the various pending tax proposals.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the Ne~w York Times of July 23 contains an article entitled "ThreeDay Battle in Kabul Suburb Called one of Biggest for Afghans." The report describes a major clash between the Afghan freedom fighters and 88viet and Afghan Army units Just outside Kabul. While it is difficult to obtain detailed information on much of what occurs inside Afghanistan. even the Sovietdoinated Karmal regime cannot hide evidence of the battle that occurred last week near Kabul. The clash. as the Times report makes clear. was hard on the Soviets and their Afghan Army clients. The rebels once again fought bravely against very heavy odds. and apparently inflicted several hundred casualties. Sadly. several hundred Afghan -!vilians may also have died during the Soviet attacks. This battle shows that the will and spirit of the free Afghan people cannot be broken. They are at the point of the Soviet dagger. where tough talk is meaningless. and the price of liberty Is often life Itself. They deserve the help of freedomloving countries and the admiration of all. I ask unanimous consent that the article be inserted In the RECORD at this point.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I want to say a few words In memory of Denver Dickerson. a veteran of many years of able and loyal Senate service. who died at his home in Bethesda. Md.. on Sunday afternoon. July 19. He was 67 years of age. He retired early in 1980 after 7 years as staff director of the Joint Committee on Printing. Earlier he had served with distinction as professional staff member of the Committee on Rules and Administration. under the chairmanship of my distinguished colleague. Mr. CANNoN. and during the 1950s as press secretary and later as executive assistant to former Senator Alan Bible of Nevada. Son of the late Gov. Denver S. Dickerson of Nevada. Denver was born in Carson City and studied at the University of Nevada in Reno. He became a highly regarded newspaperman and columnist on newspapers in Carson City and Reno. and had a brief career as a state legislator as well. including a term as speaker of the Nevada Assembly. to which post he was elected when he was 28. His long and varied experience also included service as a technical sergeant in World War II: director of the Nevada State Employment Security Department. press officer for the U.S. Embassy In Burma. and Lieutenant Governor of Guam under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Mr. Dickerson was widely and affectionately knbwn among Senators and the Senate community in general. who share a sense of deep loss with his family.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I do support the request. and I wish to see every Senator given an opportunity to adequately debate his amendment. I think there is ample time remaining in which to do that. but I am also very desirous of seeing the conferences go forward on the reconciliation metsure and on the tax bill and with respect to the latter as soon as possible after the House of Representatives passes the bill. I also wish to see the August recess become a reality which is a matter of law. Senators have planned on it. and I hope we do not have any problems confronting us with respect to airline reservations in the early part of August. I suggest. therefore. that we redouble our efforts to complete action on this measure as soon as possible. I wish to address my comments to my side of the aisle because we have most of the amendments over here. Is there any objection on my side of the aisle to moving the third reading on this joint resolution forward by 1 day? In other words. instead of having a third reading at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. is there *iby objection to making that. say. 6 p m. q...uesday? This will give us the regnainder of today. it will give us all day 19tonday. ind all day Tuiesday to get our amendments in place and have adequate debate on them and vote on them. Then. it will give the conferees. the managers of the measure. and the staff an additional day within which to get ready and for the conference. I have discussed with the distinguished Senator from Louisiana this morning the length of time that he feels a conference would require. and I am constrained to believe that based on what he said and what Mr. DOLE has said that if they had an additional day we might think in terms of having our August recess begin If not Saturday of next week certainly by Monday the following week. I hope that I will get a positive response on my side to that suggestion.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I was contemplating the same agreement that we entered into yesterday which. based on the suggestion by Mr. MATSUNAGA. would provide for at least 5 minutes equally divided time on any amendment that was reached at the hour. and In this instance I suggest 6 pm. on Tuesday. at that hour Senators would at least have 5 minutes within which to explain the amendments so that no Senator would be shut off from offering his amendment. The majority leader Is providing for the Senate to convene on Monday at 10 a.m.. with resumption of action on this Joint resolution. which I think is a good idea. With 2 full days it seems to me that If we worked diligently and hard we could dispose of these amendments. I understand several of them will not be brought up. others can be packaged together. I believe. may I say to the distinguished Senator from Delaware. that there is time within which to call up the amendments. debate them. and finish on Tuesday by 6 p.m.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I did not say tonight. I said Tuesday night. Perhaps it would be better to say 9 oclock Tuesday night. May I say I do not make this statement without having some idea of what we have up and without already having done considerable canvassing. But this is not just a shot in the dark. It Is an effort to move us on. get the conference going. and be able to keep our scheduled appointments back home with the people. I merely throw out the suggestion. We will consider it more. I will be glad to further canvass the Senators. may I say to the distinguished Senator from Ohio. before we accede to such agreements.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I want to reserve the right to object on decreasing the time on that matter. I want to discuss It with the Senator. S 8336 cuis
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the minority is ready to proceed with nominations on page 2. beginning with Department of Transportation. but not including the first nomination under Department of Energy. all the nominations on page 3. all the nominations on page 4.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. President. the minority Is ready to proceed on the measures enumerated by the distiguished majority leader. The minority Is ready to proceed.
Date: 1981-07-24
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.