macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-10-15
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. Id like to thank my colleague on our Energy and Commerce Committee and Health Subcommittee for allowing me to rush in from the airport to be able to put a statement on this bill. I rise. obviously. in support of H.R. 507. the Virion Care for Kids Act. This bill has been crafted in a very bipartisan fashion with the leadership of my colleagues. Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr.
Date: 2007-10-15
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Speaker. the rules of the House do not allow me to remove myself from cosponsor at this time of H.R. 811. but this statement serves that I am not to be perceived as a cosponsor of this bill at this time.
Date: 2007-10-16
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. President Bush and congressional Republicans know they have a perception problem with the American people when it comes to being fiscally responsible. The fact is. they inherited a record surplus from President Clinton back in 2001. and over the next 6 years they turned that surplus into record deficits. In fact. its so bad that President Bush has the distinction of borrowing more money from foreign nations than all of his 42 predecessors combined. That is not a record to brag about. And so now the President and some Republicans are attempting to wipe away 6 years of fiscal mismanagement by opposing a bipartisan bill that would provide quality health care coverage to 10 million children. The problem is. the bill that they are opposing is completely paid for. You see. when we took over the House in January. we restored payasyougo rules so that we could finally tackle our Nations deficit. The bipartisan childrens health care bill would not add one cent to our Nations deficit. And House Republicans need to realize that this bill is bipartisan for areason.
Date: 2007-10-16
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 3678. Mr. Speaker. the Internet is one of the main drivers of the United States economy. But we are quickly losing our edge over our global competitors on the Internet. Over the past year. the United States slipped from 12th to 17th in broadband adoption. and average broadband speed in the United States is only 1.9 megabits per second. Now. compare that to 61 megabits per second in Japan. France and Canadca also enjoy -broadband speeds well beyond ours. We made a commitment in the Innovation Agenda to reverse this trend and bring affordable broadband access to all Americans. H.R. 3678 furthers that commitment in three very important ways: first and foremost it prevents the moratorium from expiring on November 1. Expiration would be a disaster. leading to hastily imposed taxes that breed confusion and litigation. Even if we fix the problem later. the damage will already have been done. Second. the bill codifies an agreedupon definition of Internet access that clarifies what services are and are not taxable. Finally. the bill removes ambiguity that some States have tried to exploit to tax the Internet backbone. Eliminating that ambiguity is absolutely essential. We must remove obstacles to investment in the basic infrastructure of the Internet.As my colleagues and constituents know. I strongly favor a permanent Internet tax moratorium. That is why Im a cosponsor of my friend ANNA ESHOOS bill that would have made the moratorium permanent. Thats why I voted for the amendment offered by
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. today the House will debate the RESTORE Act. a bill that ensures the intelligence community has the tools that it needs to conduct surveillance of foreign targets outside of the United States. while at the same time restoring constitutional checks and balances that were omitted from the Bush administrations FISA bill. I do not pretend that this is the perfect bill. few bills meet that standard. However. the President has made many false claims about it. For example. he has claimed that this bill will unnecessarily delay the collection of foreign intelligence information and may cause us to "go dark" while chasing leads. Thats blatantly false.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I want to take this time to again thank Chairman OBERSTAR for his leadership on the issue of safety. The Managers amendment clarifies two important issues that have been dealt with in other legislation. The whistleblower protections and changes to federal preemption which the committee worked hard to fix. It also includes language that requires railroad owners to adopt measures that improve the safety of railroad bridges. and requires the Secretary to consider community concerns when granting exemptions for sounding locomotive whistles. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I want to commend the congresswoman for introducing this amendment. Shes a great addition to the Transportation Committee. but she has come with strong support for railroad safety. and I want to thank her. This is a perfect addition to this safety legislation. This amendment prohibits Mexican companies and inspectors from performing mechanical and brake inspections unless they follow U.S. safety. training and enforcement standards. It makes no sense to apply rail safety measures in the U.S. if they are not going to apply to trains coming in from Mexico. This is just a commonsense amendment. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I want to compliment Congressman PALLONE for his hard work on this issue of railowned waste transfer facilities. Yesterday. the Railroad Subcommittee held a hearing on railowned municipal waste transfer facilities. We .learned that there is a growing concern in the Northeast that some railroads are using Federal preemptions standards to shield themselves from important State and local environmental laws which are leading to a lack of environmental and healthrelated oversight of these facilities. This language may need to be refined to ensure that States and localities dont overregulate the industry. but this is the right first step in ensuring that railroad operated waste transfer stations are not posing a health or environmental risk to the communities where theyre operating. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. and I think we will work as we go toward conference to improve it and refine the language.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. Chairman. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this critical amendment that we are offering with my good friend Mr. PALLONE of New Jersey. Right now in districts across America companies are trying to skirt the law and put our communities at risk. In my district in Bensalem of Bucks County. Pennsylvania. a company is trying to construct a waste transfer facility despite widespread public opposition. A few months ago I stood with the leaders of Bensalem. Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and State Representative Gene DiGirolamo. as we urged Congress to close this loophole that allows this endrun around local and State laws. This is not a partisan issue. as these two Republican leaders of Bensalem will attest to. After all. ensuring that our neighborhoods are kept clean and safe isnt about politics. it is about doing what is right. With this amendment. we have an opportunity to protect our neighborhoods. I urge swift passage of this important amendment.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I know that this is. something that my friend Juanita MillenderMcDonald supported and worked hard to realize. Representing the Port of Jacksonville. I fully understand how important it is to efficiently and safely unload cargo and get it moving to its final destination. As business continues to grow at ports across America. it is becoming increasingly necessary to find alternatives to trucking this increased cargo through towns and communities. This pilot program is one option for transporting cargo outside major urban areas. and we need to seek other solutions. Mr. Chairman. I know that you addressed this issue. but can you tell us a little bit more how this pilot program will work? Will it limit itself to people in California. or would people in Jacksonville. all over the country. be able to participate in this pilot program?
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you. It is wonderful to be here with my good and longtime friend. Mr. MEEK of Florida. and our relatively new friend.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Okay. And I actually dont know how many of those 365 days are weekends. So. you know. if you discount those. I cant really calculate the math that quickly. but just a couple hundred. right. couple hundred days. and we were in session for 89. It was a record low for the history of the Congresses. We were known as the do nothingest of do nothing Congresses. So I think the President needs to take a look at history. maybe open a history book. maybe open a book. and take a look at what actually goes on here in the 110th since Democrats took control versus what was going on for the last 12 years. Were about making sure that we get the America peoples priorities in focus: childrens health insurance. making sure that we can focus on alternative energy sources. making sure we can expand health care for more individuals. truly end Americas addiction to foreign oil. recognize that global warming is a problem and not just say that it is and do nothing. We want to make sure that the future is really bright for the American people.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

The only thing I want to jump in on. Mr. ALTMIRE. is that the bottom line is that the track record of this administration is that generally the facts are not on the side of their argument. so they have to make it up. I mean. that has been their M.O. the entire. we are on 7 years now. their entire administration. When .the facts arent on your side. make it up. And just like Mr. MEhuK has said repeatedly on this floor during our working group sessions. make it up and repeat it over and over and over again. and hopefully people will believe it is true. Only the people are on to them now.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thats okay because we are all pretty worked up about this. This is really important when it comes down to making sure. I have kids too. And Mr. ALTMIRE has kids. One day Mr. MURPHY and Mr. RYAN are going to have kids. It really matters to all of us. But one of the important points that we have not made is how effective this program is. The SCHIP program. the Childrens Health Insurance Program provides health care to kids who need it and who wouldnt have it if there wasnt an SCHIP program. and there wont be an SCHIP program if we dont make sure we override the Presidents veto or pass a bill and make sure we keep putting it on his desk until he signs it. I think its interesting. the President likes to call himself The Decider. So its time for him to decide which of the families he thinks shouldnt get coverage. dont deserve health insurance. How about this family? The Wilkerson family in St. Petersburg. Florida. This is personal. this is the Mom speaking. This is personal not only to us. but for millions of parents across the United States. said Bethanys mother. Dara. in a telephone call Monday with reporters about why she and her husband. Bo. are allowing such a focus on their daughter. Dara Wilkerson said Bethany had to have heart surgery in 2005 when she was 6 months old after doctors told them she had been born with two holes in her heart and a valve that didnt close as it should. The Wilkersons said their annual household income is about $34.000 from their jobs. and they cannot afford private insurance. But even if they could. Bethanys preexisting condition. the heart problem she was born with. made enrollment in a private plan impossible. her mother said. Thanks to Floridas version of SCHIP. the State KidCare program. she said Bethany gets the care she needs to recover from her lifesaving surgery. Those are the kinds of kids that get coverage that wouldnt get it if not for the SCHIP program. Those are the kinds of kids that our colleagues who choose not to vote to override the Presidents veto tomorrow are going to deny. . And thats the last thing I wanted to say as we wrap up since weve got five of us here tonight. and I dont know who to throw it to.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

showing up here in like royal blue and orange wardrobe with a purse that had a gator on it. I remember that. So that was a little bit of dancing in the end zone. I am being polite. I didnt even mention the fact that the Ohio State Buckeyes football team was number one in the Nation. Im trying to be polite here. So if youd show me alittle respect.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Actually. Mr. RYAN. I think the last time. they were in the World Series they lost to the Marlins. come to think of it.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. my understanding of the rule that you just cited is that Members need to refrain from making direct accusations of the Presidents being deceptive or referring to the President as a prevaricator or any other word that might apply. What I did on the House floor this evening was read from a newspaper editorials opinion. I did not directly make any reference. So I wanted to make sure that we clarify that that was not a violation of the rules.
Date: 2007-10-17
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I will take that under advisement. - Mr. Speaker. but that is something that. I would like to look into on my own and would be happy to follow up with the Parliamentarian. Thank you.
Date: 2007-10-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. today we have the opportunity to right a wrong. the Presidents wrong in vetoing SCRIP reauthorization. Rather than admit that this veto is in error. the Bush administration has embarked on this- misinformation campaign. This legislation does not expand SCRIP eligibility. It does not extend coverage to households with incomes up to $83.000 a year. It does not promote governmentrun health insurance. Rather. this legislation has targeted uninsured American children living in poverty. children who already qualify for SCRIP but that dont have health care due to a lack of funding. One of the most important reforms in this legislation is the creation of an incentive fund. a fund for States to enroll the 4 million children who currently are eligible for the program but are not enrolled. Further. this legislation phases out the use of SCRIP funds to cover adults. Lets not forget it was the administration who allowed States to put adults into this program. Please. lets get this right. Override this veto.
Date: 2007-10-18
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the Chair of our Energy and Commerce Committee. Madam Speaker. we have a health care crisis in our country. And the President vetoing the SCHIP bill has made bad policy based on bad information. Weve heard it from the floor today from the minority. The President should know we target lowincome children below 200 percent of poverty. The President should know that we focus SCHIP on children and phase out parents and childless adults that were allowed by this administration. to be covered. The President should know that the bill covers 4 million children who are eligible for SCHIP but not enrolled. The President should know that we do not cover illegal alien children. Its frustrating. when we have a health care crisis in our country. that we cant cover the children. When the White House asked Congress just recently for a special $190 billion for the war in Iraq. over and above the hundreds of billions weve already spent. why cant we find much less than that for covering 10 million lowincome children. parents who are working in this country? We have a health care crisis. and the Republican minority and the President have turned their back on that crisis. especially to the children. Mr. Speaker we have a health care crisis in our country. In vetoing our SCHIP bill. the President has invoked a bad policy based on bad information. The President should know we target lowincome children below 200 percent of poverty. The President should know we focus SCHIP on children. and phase out parents and childless adults that were allowed by his administration. The President should know the bill covers 4 million children who are eligible for SCHIP but not enrolled. The President should know this does not cover undocumented children. Under the Presidents proposal. 6 million of our children eligible for SCHIP would remain without health insurance. And. an additional 700.000 children currently in the program would join them in the ranks of the uninsured. If the President is so concerned about adults and middle income families in the SCHIP program. he should sign this bill which effectively addresses those concerns. Americas lowincome children shouldnt suffer because the President cant get his facts straight. More than 8 in 10 Americans support this legislation to expand SCHIP for children. When the White House asks Congress for a special $190 billion for the war in Iraq. over and above hundreds of billions already spent why cant they find much less to cover 10 million lowincome children. This is the peoples House. and it is our duty to override this veto and listen to the American people.
Date: 2007-10-18
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of overriding the Presidents veto of the Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. I was deeply disappointed that the President exercised his veto pen on a bicameral and bipartisan bill. Not so long ago. the President pledged to expand coverage of CHIP to include eligible children who are not yet enrolled in the program. In his September 2004 speech to the Republican National Convention. the President statedand I am quoting here. "We will lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for the governments health insurance programs. We will not allow a lack of attention. of information. to stand between these children and the health care they need." With this veto. the President has reversed course and turned his back on Americas children.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: COST SHARE (democrat)
Chamber: H

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as "Secretary"). in consultation and cooperation with the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority. is authorized to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a four reservoir intertie system to improve water storage opportunities. water supply reliability. and water yield of the existing nonFederal water storage system. The feasibility study shall document the Secretarys engineering. environmental. and economic investigation of the proposed reservoir and intertie project taking into consideration the range of potential solutions and the circumstances and needs of the area to be served by the proposed reservoir and intertie project. the potential benefits to the people of thatservice area. and improved operations of the proposed reservoir and intertie system. The Secretary shall indicate in the feasibility report required under subsection (d) whether the proposed reservoir and intertie project is recommended for construction. (b) FEDERAL COST SHARE.-The Federal share of the costs of the feasibility study shall not exceed 50 percent of the total study costs. The Secretary may accept as part of the nonFederal cost share. any contribution of such inkind services by the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority that the Secretary determines will contribute toward the conduct and completion of the study. (c) COOPERATION.-The Secretary shall consult and cooperate with appropriate State. regional. and local authorities in implementing this section. (d) FEASIBILITY REPORT.-The Secretary shall submit to Congress a feasibility report for the project the Secretary recommends. and to seek. -as the Secretary deems appropriate. specific authority to develop and construct any recommended project. This report shall include(1) good faith letters of intent by the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority and its nonFederal partners to indicate that they have committed to share the allocated costs as determined by the Secretary. and (2) a schedule identifying the annual operation. maintenance. and replacement costs that should be allocated to the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority. as well as the current and expected financial capabilityto pay operation. maintenance. and replacement costs.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to amend title 5. United States Code. to authorize appropriations for the Administrative Conference of the United States through fiscal year 2011. and for other purposes.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. regulations play a critical role in virtually every aspect of our daily lives. yet there is no independent. nonpartisan entity that Congress can utilize to scrutinize and approve the regulatory process. Accordingly. it is critical that we reauthorize the Administrative Conference of the United States as soon as possible so that it can fill this serious void. I realize that this may not be the sexiest issue on the docket today. but I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Madam Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend October 2.2 2007 the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 721) recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Mendez v. Westminster decision which ended segregation of Mexican and Mexican American students in California schools. and for other purposes.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members be permitted to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials for the RECORD.
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the distinguished gentleman Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of Califrom Utah for his kind words. and at fornia. Mr. Speaker. I yield 5 minutes this time I would like to yield 5 min- - to the gentlewoman and my sister. Loutes to the distinguished gentleman RETTA SANCHEZ. from Texas and the author of this bill. Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ. of Cali-
Date: 2007-10-22
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. in closing. I would like to say H. Res. 721 appropriately honors the courage of the Mendez family to challenge discrimination and help open the doors of opportunity to all nonwhites through education. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from Utah for their work on this resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary of the historic Mendez v. Westminster decision. a decision that laid the groundwork for the Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education. Again. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.