macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-02
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. Members of the House. next week the administration is poised to give us and the American people a rosy assessment of the situation in. Iraq. They are going to suggest that in fact there has been no escalation in Iraq. and that everything is just fine. Well. everything isnt just fine. and there is in fact an escalation going on in the violence all over Iraq. What the Presidents policy is is a baitandswitch policy. The American troops were sent to Iraq to fight al Qaeda. to fight terrorists. Now we see American troops inserted into combat. coming under fire. dying. and being wounded for the sake of one Shia political party that is afraid that it might lose an election in October. What are the American troops doing fighting for the electoral advantage of one Shia party over another? Recently. the Pentagon suggested that this was all a sign of success of the surge. I think we should watch those words closely. you may miss something. This administration earlier told the people that the troop surge was for the purposes of decreasing the violence and creating an environment of political reconciliation. The people who were supposed to create political reconciliation are now shooting at one another because they think they might lose an election in October. and they want us to sacrifice American lives to impose the majority that they hope to have in that election.
Date: 2008-04-02
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chairman. I rise in strong support of the critical bipartisan Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS. Tuberculosis. and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. We have a moral obligation to address the global pandemics of HIV/AIDS. tuberculosis and malaria. It was 5 years ago that Congress took leadership to address this crisis. Today. because of Congresss actions. the United States has become the leading provider in the world of HIV/AIDS assistance. treatment. prevention and care. AIDS continues to be the leading cause of death in subSaharan Africa. The United Nations estimates that 33 million people are infected with HIV worldwide. with an estimated 22 million HIVinfected people in subSaharan Africa. Approximately 1.6 million deaths in subSaharan African resulted from AIDS in 2007. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to combating this deadly epidemic by reauthorizing the 2003 law and will give more flexibility to host governments in planning. directing. and managing prevention. treatment and care programs that have been established with our assistance. I am pleased that the bill also includes a provision that authorizes funding for U.S. contributions to research and development of a tuberculosis vaccine. Tuberculosis is a deadly epidemic that faces our planet today. Nearly 2 million people die from it each year and approximately 9 million are diagnosed with tuberculosis annually. It is the largest killer of people with HIVtAIDS. accounting for onethird of AIDS deaths alone. The current tuberculosis vaccine is more than 85 years old and is unreliable against pulmonary tuberculosis. New tuberculosis vaccines have the potential to save millions of lives and would lead to substantial cost savings. Madam Chairman. let us honor the spirit of the two menChairmen Lantos and Hydewho guided the 2003 law through this body in bipartisan manner by passing this much needed legislation to combat these deadly diseases.
Date: 2008-04-02
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. this Monday. March 31. 2008. marked the 81st birthday of the late Cesar Chavez. a national hero who devoted his life to fighting for civil rights for all Americans. Today. I join the millions of Americans who will honor this migrant farmworker. labor organizer. and champion of social justice for his many contributions. Cesar Chavez was a civilrights and human rights leader who learned about the importance of justice early in his life. After graduating from the eighth grade. a young Cesar Chavez went to work in the fields as a migrant farmworker to support his family. In 1962. Chavez and Dolores Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association. later to be-. come the United Farm Workers. UFW. Chavez had the foresight to train his union workers and then to send many of them into the cities where they were to use the boycott and picket as their weapon. The UFW would soon become a significant political force. demonstrating that Mexican Americans could and would participate in electoral politics. Chavez was able to successfully organize farmworkers because of his tireless leadership and nonviolent tactics that helped pass laws which would permit farmworkers to organize into unions and allow collectiie bargaining agreements. He also helped make people aware of the struggles of farmworkers for fair wages and safer working conditions: His movement was the beginning of La Causa. "The Cause." a cause that was supported by organized labor. religious groups. minorities. and students. Cesar Chavez. the founder and president of the United Farm Workers of America. AFLCIO. died peacefully in his sleep on April 23. 1993. On August 8. 1994. Cesar Chavez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom. our countrys highest civilian honor. by President Clinton. Since his passing. ten States across the country have paid tribute to his memory by celebrating a statewide holiday name in his honor. including my home State of Texas. Cesar Chavez left our worid better than he found it. He taught us to face and overcome adversity with the rallying cry of "Si Se Puede". or "Yes We Can!". His legacy inspires not just the more than 45 million Latinos in this country but every person who believes in nonviolence as a means to achieve social change. He truly was. in the words of Senator Robert Kennedy. "one of the heroic figures of our time."
Date: 2008-04-03
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. yesterday the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Ben Bernanke. was before us at the Joint Economic Committee. Chairman Bernanke noted many negative factors for the current economy. increased unemployment claims. increased food and energy prices. and it has reduced Americans confidence in the economy. Recently. we have all seen news reports about the Federal Reserves unprecedented actions aimed at increasing liquidity. stabilizing credit markets. and protecting a Wall Street investment bank from bankruptcy. Despite these dramatic measures. liquidity remains limited. and with only news reports to go on. the American public seems unsure about whether government is acting in their best interest. The Federal Reserve needs to start clearly informing the American public about the impact of its actions. This openness would encourage sensible economic policy. bring stability to the markets. and help restore individuals confidence in the government and in our economy. Millions of homeowners are struggling to make mortgage payments or have already lost their homies. and they do not feel like their government is helping them. The Federal Reserve needs to clearly communicate better to the American people. OBAMA
Date: 2008-04-03
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the State of Israel on its 60th anniversary and help kick off a series of weekly bipartisan speeches leading up to Israels 60th anniversary. As cochair of. the Democratic Israel Working Group. Tfwant td thank my colleague. Congressman REYNOLDS. and other members of the Republican Israel Caucus for joining us in this effort to honor and recognize the contributions Israel has made during the last 60 years. Ive been to Israel several times and can personally vouch for Israels contributions to the global community. particularly to agriculture techniques. solar power generation. seawater desalination. academia. telecommunications. and medical technology. In my home State of Texas. we have an economic cooperative agreement with Israel. which is one of the oldest statetostate relationships in our country. Israels success in innovative programs constantly serve as ideas for addressing problems facing citizens in Texas. In the last 60 years. Israel has faced many struggles. conflicts with its neighbors. terrorism on its borders and in its neighborhoods. and led peace efforts by leaving Gaza and southern Lebanon only to be attacked from these locations.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. Sadly. thousands of infants are born with a hearing loss each year. Fortunately. thanks to the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program that was established in 2000. today approximately 93 percent of all newboms are screened. Many infants with hearing loss and their families have benefited from early identification of hearing loss. The EHDI program allows babies with hearing loss to develop normally and lead productive lives by ensuring that they will be ready to learn when they enter school. However. many infants who are identified as having a hearing disability due to the screening tests do not receive timely followup care because of shortages in trained professionals needed for infant hearing screening programs. We must do better in ensuring that infants and their families have access to comprehensive hearing loss care. The bill seeks to accomplish this by presiding comprehensive information about family support. training. and information services to the family of children identified with hearing loss and ensure that they are given the opportunity to consider all the options of early intervention services. educational and program placements. This legislation will improve on the successful Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. I urge my colleagues to vote for this much needed bill.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act. Imagine having a child with a food allergy who is at school and can potentially eat something that will cause a lifethreatening or fatal reaction. This can especially be a very nervewracking experience for any parent when their child is away from home and spends most of their time in school. This commonsense legislation was brought to my attention by many schoolage children from my congressional district. They shared their experiences of what they have to do every day to manage their food allergies. They have to scrutinize everything they eat in order to make sure they avoid the allergyproducing ingredients. The least we can do for these children and their parents is to encourage school districts across the country to adopt uniform guidelinesin managing the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis. and develop emergency plans for children who suffer from this illness. This legislation would accomplish this goal by creating a new grant program to provide resources for those school districts who voluntarily implement these measures. Madam Speaker. by passing this bill. we can help reduce the number of lifethreatening allergic reactions and help children manage their food allergies. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance ofmy time.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of the reauthorization of the Traumatic.Brain Injury Act. Traumatic Brain Injury. TBI. is a leading cause of death and disability in young Americans. Approximately 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States. The most common causes of TBI are falls. traffic accidents. and assault. These brain injuries result in shortterm or longterm disabilities and can severely impact how people live their lives. Congress took an important step in 1996 by passing the Traumatic Brain Injury Act to promote brain injury research. education. treatment. and prevention. It is the only Federal law that specifically addresses the issues faced by persons with brain injury. This law has successfully improved access to health care and other services for individuals with TBI. Without the TBI Act. State governments and these -individuals would be left to their own devices. More recently. we have seen an increasing number of traumatic brain injuries in servicemembers retuming home from combat operations. The programs in the TBI Act can help the thousands of troops wounded in combat and suffering from brain injury. We have an obligation to assist these soldiers. and I am proud that Congress has provided funding in the recent appropriations bill to address TBI in retuming personnel. The reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act builds on the success of the original 1996 law by continuing to educate the public and provide much needed data on TBI forscientists. health care providers. and policy makers. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: NANCY PELOSI (democrat)
Chamber: H

calling on the Government of China to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The recent violence in Tibet. which was triggered by the Buddhist monks asking for religious freedoms. should be a great concern to everyone concerned about human rights. China needs to end the violence and engage in open and honest dialogue with the Dalai Lama to achieve peace and rec.onciliation. China must come to realize that Tibetans deserve more autonomy and the world community will not be silent until they achieve it. As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. I am very concerned about human rights in China but in particular the political and religious freedoms of Tibetans. I urge the resolutions adoption and appreciate this resolution coming to the floor.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. as the Chinese Govemment was repressing peaceful Tibetan protests last month. I visited Dharamshala. Indiathe recognized home of Tibetans in exilewith Speaker Pelosi and several of my colleagues. I had the honor and privilege to meet His Holiness. the Dalai Lama. and I was moved by the infinite patience and courage he exudes in the face of overwhelming odds. I was touched by the large population of Tibetans in exile who worry about family members they have left behind. These are people who left their homeland due to repression of religion and language. by the Chinese Government and the constant violations of basic human rights and dignity in their own land. The Speaker. along with everyone else on our trip. was incensed at the atrocities conducted by China. Our first order of business upon returning to the United States was to draft this important resolution before the House today. Through this resolution. we call on the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to end its crackdown on nonviolent Tibetan protestors and its continuing cultural. religious.economic. and linguistic repression inside Tibet and to begin a dialoguedirectly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The freedom of press is something we take for granted in the United States but Tibetans unfortunately do not enjoy this privilege. as all press inside Tibet. and all of China in fact. is closely monitored and controlled by the state. This resolution calls on the Chinese Government to allow independent international monitors and joumalists. free and unfettered access to Tibet. It is clear by the conviction and sentencing of human rights activist Hu Jia. who has been an outspoken critic of the human rights record of the Chinese Government and called on the international community to hold Beijing responsible for the promises it made when bidding to host the Olympic games. that China has no intention of unilaterally changing its human rights record. The government of China has been and continues to be an abuser of basic human rights despite the State Department decision to not include China in a list of countries that most systemically violate human rights. This resolution asks the United States Department of State to publicly issue a statement reconsidering its decision. The cause of the Tibetan people is a desire for freedom of religion. freedom to speak their own language. and to express their unique identity. It is a cause every American can relate to. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this resolutionto vote in support of Tibet.
Date: 2008-04-04
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. today. the 2008 Olympic torch arrives for the first time on American soil. It almost didnt make it. After violence erupted in Paris and London between police and demonstrators protesting Chinese human rights abuses. there were serious discussions about ending the torchs journey across the world before it arrived in the United States. Despite ongoing complaints by the international community about Chinas human rights abusesand its restrictions on freedoms of speech--China refuses to take corrective action. This resolution is an attempt to pressure the Chinese Government to address international concerns of human rights abuses in that country. This resolution is also a reaction to six decades of cultural and religious repression of the Tibetan people. Now is the time to bring the suffering of the Tibetan people to an end. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to encourage the Peoples Republic of China to enter into discussions with the Dalai Lama and respect the human rights of all its citizens.
Date: 2008-04-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to support desig- .nating the post office located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street. INndianapolis. IN. as the Julia M. Carson Post Office Bilding. April 9.-2008 This past December. my friend and colleague. Julia Carson. lost her battle with cancer. She had devoted her life to public service and her loss is still felt greatly. Congresswoman Carson was an extraordinary -person. and a woman of principle who unabashedly championed the issues in which she believed. Her constituents and the Nation have lost a great legislator and an outstanding leader. Congresswoman Carson made history in 1996 by becoming the first woman and the first AfricanAmerican Indianapolis has ever sent to Congress. And she came to Congress with .one missionto improve the lives of the people of her community. Even as she rose to a position of prominence in this body. she never forgot the people she was sent here to serve. She truly dedicated her career to themand for that. earned the respect and gratitude of all Americans. Since her days in the Indiana State Senate. Congresswoman Carson was committed to helping seniors live with independence and dignity as they age. Throughout her career. she has provided exceptional leadership and devoted service to Americas senior citizens. Congresswoman Carson was also a strong proponent of civil rights movement. scaling the barriers imposed by. poverty and sexism. She was a leader in advocating for voting rights. and worked diligently for the health and income needs of people experiencing homelessness and families at risk of homelessness. Today her grandson continues her legacy here within the House of Representatives. I know that this honor is very meaningful to the Carson family and to her constituents in the 7th District of Indiana. and Im certain if Julia were here today she would be touched as well. This post office designation is a fitting honor for a woman so dedicated to public service. and I fully support this resolution.
Date: 2008-04-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I was unavoidably delayed and missed the vote on H. Res. 1084. the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2016. the National Landscape Conservation System Act (rolicall 165). Although H. Res. 1084 passed by a vote of 220188. I respectfully request the opportunity to record my position. Had I beqn present I would have voted "yea" on rolicall
Date: 2008-04-09
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Exactly. A lot of us are saying. its time. that it is time to begin the drawdown. to begin to bring our troops home. Many of us that believe it is time to begin the troop withdrawal. were not talking about precipitous withdrawal. Our friends on the other side of the aisle like to. you know. theyre really excellent at using strong language and scare tactics. And its always interesting to listen to them try to exaggerate beyond all reasonable proportion what it is were saying instead of actually listening to what were saying. It would be nice if they would also listen to their own constituents because I have a feeling that theyre not hearing anything different than what were hearing when we go home. particularly when they are staring down the following facts: Nearly 1.7 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 2001. 1.7 million U.S. troops. Thats 1.7 million different individuals. More than 599.000 have been deployed more than once. More than 782.000 servicemembers. Mr. RYAN. have been deployed to Iraq and .Afghanistan that are parents with one or more children. Forty percent have been deployed more than once. Nearly 35.000 troops have been separated from their children for four or more deployments. And
Date: 2008-04-09
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I think its clear. and youre absolutely right. I think its clear that the time has come. And this is not just our opinion. but its clear that Americans believe that the .time has come to shift our focus to the dire situation that we have with our economy. And I can tell you. anecdotally. when I went home to my district during our recess. I had town hall meeting. and I do at least one town hall meeting every recess. when I did this last one. I actually. Mr. RYAN. had to bring Iraq up myself. otherwise the entire focus of the questions and the comments from my constituents would have been the economy. I actually had to affirmatively talk about the war in Iraq. And there was significant responsiveness on the part of my constituents. who agreed. it is long past time to bring the troops home. But really. at the top of their mind right now is the economy. And just to illustrate that point. there was a new poll done recently by the New York Times. a CBS poll that showed 89 percent of those surveyed believe the cost of the war has contributed a lot or some to the United States economic problems. When they were asked. from what you know. how much do you think the cost of the war in Iraq has contributed to the U.S. economic problem. a lot. some. not much. or not at all. 66 percent of people who responded to this survey said that it has affected the economy a lot. And add 22 percent more to make 88 percent who believe that it has affected the economy even at all. Now. this week oIviously it was a big deal that General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker were coming to testify in front of Congress on the progress. or lack thereof. that has been made. There were lots of newspaper headlines with pictures of the general testifying. a plea from Petraeus in the Washington Post. and "Petraeus Urges Halt in Weighing New Cut in Force" in the New York Times. The Washington Times. "Petraeus Warns of Iraq Backslide." "Iraq Troop Levels Left Open" in USA Today. But arguably. the newspaper in America that most closely focuses on the economy and on the financial health of our Nation is the Wall Street Journal. This is todays Wall Street Journal.
Date: 2008-04-10
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. and to the Republic for which it stands. one nation under God. indivisible. with liberty and justice for all.