macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-11-13
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 5682. a bill to approve the northern portion of Keystone XL pipeline. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill because I support North American energy development. But I also rise in support of the bill because the Keystone XL pipeline has become an obstacle created by indecision and inaction. Keystone XL is not the first crossborder pipeline project built in North America. But if some opponents had their way. Keystone XL pipeline would be the last pipeline we built in North America. Today. the United States. Canada and Mexico are revolutionizing the world and the world of energy. These three North American partners are reshaping the geopolitical balance of the entire world. Between the three countries. we can satisfy our own energy needs for the first time in memory. But to accomplish this feat. we must be able to move products to market. My colleagues who oppose Keystone XL have forgotten that just because there isnt apipeline doesnt mean the products arent moving. In fact. they are moving just as rapidly as eve r. Unfortunately. the products are moving to market at the expense of other commodities and even at the expense of peoples schedules. Opponents cannot deny that pipelines are the safest. most effective way to move products to market. Opponents cannot say the State Department has failed to consider the environmental consequences of the pipeline. Opponents cannot say this project hasnt been reviewed by the proper authorities. If they do. they are incorrect. The Keystone XL pipeline is the most scrutinized project in as long as I can remember. If we built railroads. the way we built KXL. we wouldnt have a rail system. If we built roads. the way we built KXL. we wouldnt have a highway system. As we face the 114th Congress. we have real problems we need to address. Keystone XL pipeline is good for the United States. its good for North America and we should support this bill.
Date: 2014-11-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to highlight our Nations struggle to achieve a more perfect Union. As we look upon the political landscape this fall. it is impossible to ignore the backward steps we have taken. In years past. elections signaled a time of hope and renewal: Hope that partisan politics would be put aside and renewal of our working relationships across the aisle and across the Capitol. However. even as election results were being tallied earlier this month the new Republican majority was already highlighting the divisive actions they planned to undertake in the next Congress. Among these plans are efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act. and to shutdown the federal government or impeach President Obama over his immigration reforms. Mr. Speaker. I see nothing but divisiveness and partisanship in these plans. In fact. investigations into the creation of the Affordable Care Act or the Presidents immigration policy do nothing to advance the needs of everyday Americans who continue to struggle making ends meet. I urge my Republican Colleagues to abandon these frivolous efforts and instead focus on expanding opportunities for every American and creating a more perfect Union.
Date: 2014-11-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. it has been more than 500 days since the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform. But House Republicans have done nothing. They refused to act. If the Republicans are unwilling to use their power to act. then the President must act. In fact. recently. 117 of my colleagues and I sent a letter to President Obama urging him to act now. Since 1952. every single President. regardless of political party. has used their broad executive authority to shape our Nations immigration policy. So the Presidents decision to use executive action is not unprecedented. Neither is it ideal. But. unfortunately. it is necessary. We can no longer stand by while we separate mothers from their children. throw young people out of this country. The only strategy that the Republicans in this House have had has been deport. deport. deport.
Date: 2014-11-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I love living in a country. Mr. Speaker. that is known around the world for its humanitarian generosity. In the State of Texas. there are almost 1.3 million undocumented individuals. They are undocumented. but they are working. They are undocumented. but they are paying taxes. They are undocumented. but they love their children. many of them citizen children who everyday go to school or work or college to try and make a difference. Mr. President. you do the right thing. and that is to use your executive power vested in article II of the Constitution that allows you to give humanitarian relief as indicated by the Arizona decision in 2012. This is a time for courage. not politics. It is a time for truth. not misrepresentation. This is not amnestythis is prioritization. this is saving money. this is keeping families together. this is allowing children to not come home to places where their parents have been thrown from their places of work and taken away from them. I am excited about the courage of this President. I look forward to America finally understanding the gifts that you are given. Let us not be a selfish nation. Let us be a generous nation. and let us help those who are in this country who are working every day. including many of our soldiers.
Date: 2014-11-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I was unavoidably detained by a meeting on constituency matters on rollcall vote No. 521 and 522. If I had been present. I would have voted "no" on rollcall vote No. 521 and "no" on rollcall vote No. 522.
Date: 2014-11-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. let me thank the ranking member. I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1422. the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act. H.R. 1422 is a continuation of the majoritys antiscience agenda. It benefits no one but the industry. and it harms public health. The bill before us today "reforms" EPAs Science Advisory Board not for the better. but for the worse. The supposed intent of H.R. 1422 is to improve the process of selecting advisers to serve on the Agencys advisory board. but. in reality. H.R. 1422 will allow the board to be stacked with industryaffiliated representatives while making it more difficult for the experts from academia to serve on the board. The role of the board is to provide independent scientific analysis and advice to the EPA. which includes reviewing the quality and relevance of scientific information used as the basis for regulations. My Republican colleagues seem to have a fundamental distrust of scientists from our Nations universities because these researchers. the ones with the most relevant expertise to EPAs mission of protecting public health. are denied the opportunity to provide EPA with their advice under H.R. 1422. It is difficult to understand how anyone could object to the most expert academics in the country being called on to offer their expertise to EPA. Who would know better whether EPA had mischaracterized the science on an issue than the people who are leaders in their respective fields? The board is supposed to be composed of experts. including those who may have. literally. "written the book" on a matter. What is the alternative? Should we find people to serve who are less expert? Equally troubling. H.R. 1422 goes out of its way to guarantee that industryaffiliated experts are the dominant voice on the board of experts. An expert with an industry association is far more likely to find that the science they are asked to review will have a financial impact on the employer. Academic scientists do not have such financial conflicts of interest with the boards advice or EPAs actions. To be clear. I am not arguing that industry should have no representation on EPAs Science Advisory Board. Their insight is valuable. But I do not support stacking the board with industry representatives. as would be the outcome if this bill passes. Another goal of H.R. 1422. as stated by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. is to "improve the science that goes into EPA regulations." H.R. 1422 falls shorts of that goal as well and. instead. weakens and delays the scientific review process. putting the health of every American at risk. As a former nurse. I cannot support legislation that endangers public health. and I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 1422. Mr. Speaker. I want to say that this bill came out of committee without a single Democratic vote.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California . the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California . the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. before I yield to my next speaker. I would like to enter in the RECORD a series of letters from outside groups opposed to this legislation. including the American Lung Association. the American Association for the Advancement of Science. League of Conservation Voters. and many others. In addition. I would also like to place a Statement of Administration Policy threatening a veto of this bill into the RECORD.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey . the one scientist we have with a Ph.D. in physics in our body who is retiring and. as of next year. will become the CEO of AAAS.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon . who is ranking member on the Environmental Subcommittee.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I appreciate Mr. GOSARs amendment. At least it clarifies the underlying intent of this bill in that this information relied on by the EPA should be thrown up on the Web site. The peerreviewed science relied on by the EPA often involves personal health information and other confidential data that is legally protected from disclosure. No legitimate researcher would violate the law and leak confidential informationfor example. to make a trade secret or information protected by HIPAA accessible to anyone who has an Internet connection. This amendment only makes the underlying problems with the bill that much more obvious. and I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Illinois .
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona .
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. let me begin by saying that this is the final amendment to the bill. which will not kill the bill or send it back to the committee. If adopted. the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. I have already spoken at some length about the problems with the underlying bill. The bill would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using the best science in its mission to protect public health. However. this motion to recommit highlights a specific and very troubling aspect of this bill. As written. the bill would prevent EPA from proposing. finalizing. or disseminating risk. exposure. or hazard assessments or guidance based on nonpublic information. I and my Democratic colleagues are concerned about how this language would impede the EPAs ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. I will give you an example. In my hometown of Dallas. we had a wellpublicized case of a man named Thomas Duncan tragically dying after being infected with the Ebola virus. This gentleman was originally sent home from the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital when his symptoms were not initially identified as Ebola. After Ebola was identified. great efforts were made to disinfect areas the gentleman had contact with while he was infected with Ebola. I have a picture displayed here. Here in my hand is EPAs list of disinfectants for use against Ebola virus. The EPA disseminates this critically important information on its Web site. However. under this bill. the EPA could be prevented from disseminating this type of information because EPAregistered disinfectants are frequently supported by legally protected information or confidential business information. In my hometown. not my district. two nurses who work at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital contracted Ebola. As a former nurse who worked in Dallas. I think it would be appalling to put our frontline health care workers. as well as the general public. at risk of the deadly Ebola virus or any other infectious disease all so we can take a political shot at EPA. As another example of how this bill could affect emergency response. EPA could be prevented from providing guidance during toxic chemical spills like the one that occurred earlier this year in West Virginia. If that guidance to local emergency responders were based on confidential business information. which is oftentimes the case when dealing with registered chemicals. then the EPA would be prohibited from disseminating vital information to the local authorities. What is remarkable is that the Natural Resources Defense Council warned the committee of this exact issue in a letter back in February. but the majority chose to ignore those warnings. That is plain irresponsible. My amendment would fix this problem by exempting any response to an emergency that could harm the health and safety of a community. The amendment wont fix all of the problems with this bill. but it will prevent one of the more morally objectionable outcomes of this legislation. I urge adoption of this amendment. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-11-19
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as one of the cosponsors and CoChair of both the Childrens Caucus and the Pakistan Caucus. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3583. the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act. Mr. Speaker. the passage of H.R. 3583 would provide numerous educational opportunities to Pakistani women in situations similar to Malala Yousafzai. According to the United Nations Education for All Global Monitoring Report. Pakistan has the secondlargest number of children not attending school. and nearly half of rural girls have never been to school. The Pakistanbased Merit and NeedsBased Scholarship Program awards scholarships to academically talented. financially needy Pakistani students from all regions to pursue bachelors or masters degrees at participating Pakistani universities. The Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act would require the U.S. Agency for International Development to award 50 percent of its Merit and NeedsBased Scholarship Program scholarships to Pakistani women each year through Mr. Speaker. Malala Yousafzai is the heroic Pakistani girl who rose to prominence as she stood against the oppressive policies imposed on the citizens of Pakistan by the Taliban. She is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. and was awarded the honor for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. Malalas devoted service to education. justice. and equality in Pakistan is deserving of recognition. which is why I introduced H.R. 60 to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Malala Yousafzai. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States. and Malalas legacy of inspiring young women around the world is truly commendable and worthy of this honor. It is fitting that this act. the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act. is named in Malalas honor. as she is a symbol of hope in a country long beset by violence. and her actions demonstrate the impact one person can have on the entire world. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3583 to help change the lives of Pakistani women. like Malala Yousafzai. by opening doors to education. justice. and equality.
Date: 2014-11-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the Affordable Care Act. Over 8 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance plans for 2014. almost 20.000 in the district I represent. Overall. the number of uninsured residents in our district has declined by 8 percent. 33.000 people in the district purchased quality. affordable care through the new health insurance marketplace. 11.000 young adults were able to continue coverage through their parents plans. For 84 percent of those enrolled in the health insurance marketplace. the cost of the average plan was reduced to $72 a month. Unfortunately. 52.000 individuals who would otherwise have health insurance remain uninsured in our district because Texas did not expand Medicaid. The open enrollment period for 2015 through the marketplace began Saturday. November 15. I encourage all Americans to take advantage of the opportunity to access quality. affordable coverage and enroll. Please. for your family and for our community. we need more people insured so they have that certainty.
Date: 2014-11-20
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this is not the first year or the second year or the third year of the administration. In actuality. we are going towards the end of the term of this administration. From my perspective as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security on the Committee on the Judiciary. every single year. this administration has extended its hand of collaboration to this Congress to intervene in the desperate lives of those who have been stolen from their children. deported. or families that have been disunited. if you will. wanting to be reunited. I stand with the President tonight as he gives his message to America that we are a humanitarian country and that "under my constitutional authority. as can be documented by scholars across this Nation. I have the authority to be merciful to give humanitarian relief." citing the U.S. v. Arizona case in 2012. when Justice Roberts said that the President has the authority for humanitarian relief. Every difficult decision. unfortunately. in this Nation. from freeing the slaves to making the armies or the militaries integrated. took courage from Presidents. Lyndon Baines Johnson had courage when he signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Mr. President. you are doing the right thing. I stand with you on exercising your executive authority. We need mercy for these people who are desperate.
Date: 2014-11-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague from Kentucky for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to H.R. 4795. It was my hope to resolve the issues of this bill during the committee. Unfortunately. that was not the case. H.R. 4795. the Promoting New Manufacturing Act. could be a solution to a longstanding problem. The problem relates to Federal permitting. in this case. New Source Review permits. While the majority of permitting takes place at the State level. the EPA plays a critical role in the permitting process. When EPA promulgates a final National Ambient Air Quality Standard. called NAAQS. States and industry must respond through implementation and application. respectively. EPA should work as quickly as possible to offer States guidance on how to implement these new standards. Lack of guidance can lead to significant permitting delays as industry is forced to submit incomplete New Source Review applications. While I will support the intent of the bill. I cant support the bill itself. H.R. 4795 is ultimately a lengthy delay in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards implementation. and then a NAAQS standard cannot be implemented. and this bill does not reflect current negotiations over that NAAQS implementation. Until this point. the administration and the EPA have indicated a willingness to work on this issue. Further. EPA has not proposed these new National Ambient Air Quality Standards. so I see this bill as a solution to a problem that doesnt yet exist. I want EPA to be transparent and work with the industry. and H.R. 4795 does not support a collaborative working relationship. Additionally. the New Source Review permitting and the construction of new facilities are important to the economy. but we must also have a balance between economic growth and the protection of public health. The bill. unfortunately. does not strike that balance effectively. and. for that reason. I am unable to vote in favor of it.
Date: 2014-11-20
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I missed the following votes: Waxman/McNerney Amendment. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes" on this bill. Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 4795. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes" on this bill. H.R. 4795Promoting New Manufacturing Act. Had I been present. I would have voted "no" on this bill.
Date: 2014-11-20
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

H.R. 5765. Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article I. Section A. By Mr. OIROURKE: H.R. 5766. Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article I. Section 8. Clause 3: The Congress shall have Power *** To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations. and among the several States. and with the Indian Tribes. By Mr. PAULSEN: H.R. 5767. Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article 1. Section 8. By Mr. POE of Texas: H.R. 5768. Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article 1. Section 8. Clause 4.
Date: 2014-12-02
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on Sunday. November 30. we had a seminal moment occur in the history of our country. When those football players came out and held their hands up. they were speaking to the masses. and they were using these words. "Hands up. dont shoot." in this symbolism. I believe so strongly in what they have done that I will have flags flown over the Capitol of the United States of America in honor of each of those players. and I will pay for the flags with my personal U.S. dollars. I also want to mention something that happened this morning on the Morning Joe show. The question was posed: "What is wrong with these people? Dont they know that this is a lie?" meaning what happened in Ferguson in terms of the hands up. dont shoot. I want to tell you what is wrong with these people. These people refuse to accept an invidious whitewash. I will say more about this tomorrow when I will have 5 minutes around 10 a.m. or sometime shortly thereafter. because I want the American people to know that there are some people who are willing to take a stand.