macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I thank my friend for supporting 2 or 3 hours of debate on onesixth of our economy. I would point out that. pursuant to House rules. the deeming. which is presumed will occur with regard to the Senate bill in the debate on the rule itself. that debate is limited to 1 hour. So I would assume the 2 or 3 hours total would be after that bill. the Senate bill. is deemed to have passed by the 1 hour of debate on the rule. But suffice it to say. it is an improvement that. with regard to onesixth of the economy. our friends are saying that we should have 2 or 3 hours. But we will continue pressing. Anyway. I would ask my friend if he has any further speakers. I have none.
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. having said that. since there are no more Members on this side of the aisle who have requested time. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Actually. I was going to inquire. because I yielded my time back as my friend knows because we had no further speakers. but Mr. LUNGREN has arrived and would like to address the House.
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I would have to ask. if you were to make this a question for a fifth grade government class or a fifth grade U.S. history class as to whether or not that is the way in which you restore the confidence of the American people in their institutions of government. I suspect I know what the answer would be. But of course we are not fifth graders. We are presumably adults around here. We have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. And while we might technically get around that requirement by following the letter of the Constitution. wouldnt it be better if we followed the spirit of the Constitution? And so once again. Madam Speaker. we are presented in this case with a bill that sounds very good for a worthy cause but gives no consideration whatsoever to the ultimate cost to the American taxpayer because. in many cases. they are 2.000 and 3.000 miles away. they are not here. So out of sight. out of mind. Oh. yes. And lets forget August. It didnt exist. And the people who were here have been described by some on this floor as unAmerican and not representative of the American people. I would suggest they are representative of the American people. and I would say that we. at some point in time. have to get away from our business as usual and get back to the peoples business. This would be a good place to start. I hope we will have a strong finish on that this weekend when we come to our senses and recognize that the bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the firsttime homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees. otherwise known as the takeover of medical care in this country. that we should come to our senses and say enough is enough.
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker. hosanna and hallelujah. We have just heard the solution to all of our problems. Its spelled government. government. What I just heard from the gentleman from Florida is all of our problems will be solved by government. If you have a program. make it larger. If you have three. lets have six. If you have Medicare going broke. lets make it go broke faster. If you have Medicaid going broke. lets make it go broke faster. If you have Social Security. which just this last week now is having to cash in the IOUs because its in a deficit position on an annual basis. then just make it larger. The American people are smarter than that. The gentleman talks about the fact that he doesnt know where these American people are that are against this bill. I guess he has amnesia. I guess he wants to join the Speaker in pretending that August didnt exist. Those town halls were made up of cutout figures. They werent real people. The folks that are calling our offices are not real people. The 1.000 emails I got in 2 days this week in which 59 of them were in favor of the bill and everybody else against. I guess they dont count. This is funny since we happen to be representing the people in the peoples House. supposedly. although its hard to tell if were going to do the Slaughter rule which suggests that we wont even have an opportunity to truly vote on it. And by the way. the Constitution says that we are supposed to initiate revenueraising bills. not the Senate. So they took a bill in the House. kept the label on it. took everything out. every single word of content. and put a whole new bill in. and sent it back to us. That is called bait and switch if youre someone in the private sector. The American people are asking for more. So it is interesting to hear much of the histrionics on the floor. But the fact of the matter is every single national poll shows the American people dont want this bill. Now. the canard that we are hearing is therefore you dont want to cover 32 million people. Untrue. We have a better plan. We have a plan that doesnt go to Big Government. It goes to Big Competition. It goes to the individual rather than the government. I am not one who hates government. but I do believe this. when government gets inordinately larger. the individual gets smaller. That is not the essence of America established in our Constitution. Now. some people want to just throw that out and say. government is the answer. government is always better. so we can combine the worst parts of our health care system with the worst parts of the post office. with the worst parts of the Internal Revenue Service. and we will get what? The bill that we are going to not have a chance to vote on except sort of vote on it. But we all know what it means. I thank the gentlelady for the time.
Date: 2010-03-19
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the resolution establishing Womens History Month. I do this on behalf of my 92yearold mother. my four sisters. my two daughters. my three granddaughters. and in memory of my grandmother. who graduated from a small Nebraska college in 1898. And I also do this in honor of some great women in my life. the Catholic nuns who taught me. who taught my brothers and sisters. who taught my children. and who this day are doing an unlimited number of acts of mercy around this country. On their behalf. I would like to clarify the record because the Speaker has said today that the religious communities of nuns across the country support the health care bill as a lifeaffirming bill. and therefore. do not agree with the Catholic Bishops Conference that. in fact. it fails the test of protecting life in the consensus that has been established on this floor for the last 30plus years. A statement from Sister Mary Ann Walsh. director of media relations. the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: "A recent letter from Network. a social justice lobby of sisters. grossly overstated whom they represent in a letter to Congress that was also released to media. Networks letter. about health care reform. was signed by a few dozen people. and despite what Network said. they do not come anywhere near representing 59.000 American sisters. This letter had 55 signatories. some individuals. some groups of three to five persons. One endorser signed twice. There are 793 religious communities in the United States. The math is clear. Network is far off the mark." says sister Mary Ann Walsh. On behalf those great nuns that Ive had the privilege of being influenced by during my lifetime and those that have done considerable amounts of mercy in communities that I represent. the record ought to be straight. My wife and I had the privilege of knowing the Carmelite nuns in Georgetown. California. and we have had the privilege on an almost annual basis to visit with them. They are more than just a handful of individuals. and they and others like them stand for life unequivocally. They understand the protection of life. They understand that for the last 30some years. we have had a consensus on this floor in the Senate and in legislation passed by a number of Presidents and. that is. Federal funding of abortion is to be limited. The language in the Senate bill changes the law. Let the record be correct.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: TIM MURPHY (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Mr. Speaker. over the past 14 months. I have held 235 meetings and town hall meetings. received and sent hundreds of thousands of emails and mail. and heard from my constituents loud and clear. There is much we can agree on with each side of the aisle. but we still did not fix the underlying problem of health care. We still will have $700 billion in waste. We still will have $50 billion wasted each year in hospital infections alone. Well have a Medicare program thats going bankrupt. and. instead. we take another $500 billion from Medicare. We take $52 billion from Social Security. We cannot confuse anger with action. passion with policy. or rancor with results. We have to understand that we will not give up on real health care reform that really cuts costs and saves lives to make it acceptable to all. We will never. never. never give up. But above all. we have to make sure that this is not a moment that divides America. And to use the words of Abraham Lincoln. we must end this debate with understanding that we must have malice towards none. with charity for all. and to bind up the Nations wounds. And that will include working together in the future to make sure we have real health care reform and help take care of those in need.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida changed her vote from "yea" to "nay." So the question of consideration was decided in the affirmative. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I truly hope this massive bill is not passed by the House today. If it does become law. it will constitute a decisive step in the weakening of the United States. At precisely the time when we should be implementing necessary reforms to strengthen and save Medicare. for example. this legislation raids Medicare by more than $500 billion in order to pay for a new. massive entitlement. At a time when it would still be possible to enact entitlement reforms to prevent a Greecestyle fiscal catastrophe in the future. when genuinely painful economic medicine will be needed. we are creating a massive new entitlement. We could have avoided the social convulsion and profound pain that prolonged fiscal irresponsibility inevitably brings to nations. but this President and this Congressional majority went with dogma instead. And when the time comes for the United States to have to face economic reality. and painful traumatic reforms are implemented by a future President and a future Congress. the U.S. military posture. our standard of living. the American middle class as we know it. those interconnected realities which have been so wonderful in characterizing modern America and which this President and this Congressional majority apparently seem to take for granted. those realities will be but historical memories. This legislation is dishonest. It is irresponsible. It should be defeated.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. in the famous play. "A Man for All Seasons." there is a tremendous scene there where Sir Thomas More looks out and sees Richard Rich. who used to be a supporter of his. who was giving testimony against him. And he notices that he has a medallion on him designating that he happens to be the new attorney general for Wales. And. in response. Mr. Thomas More says. Richard. it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world. But for Wales? Mr. Speaker. for those of us who have worked so hard in the prolife movement for years and years and years. and who understand the importance of the historic effort made by our former colleague. Mr. Hyde. I beg those who have joined us over these years to understand what they are doing if they sign off on an executive order. An executive order is not law. The reason we have had to have the Hyde amendment over the years is that the courts have said that there is a statutory mandate to provide abortion unless we say it does not exist. Therefore. an executive order does not take precedence over the law. People should know where they are. Dont be like Richard Rich of Wales.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: BONO MACK (republican)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in very strong opposition to this flawed bill that imposes new taxes. increases costs to consumers. and adds to our already massive deficit. This bill and the outrageous abuse of process and all the backroom deals needed to secure passage is simply the wrong approach. My father was a teaching physician at USCLA County Medical Center. He would have been appalled that a massive new bureaucracy will now be making the health care decisions for his patients. In my district. thousands of seniors will lose their preferred Medicare Advantage coverage that serves them so well and has saved lives. This bill is little more than a shell game that shifts costs. picks winners and losers. and does nothing to achieve real reform. The American people have resoundingly rejected this dangerous approach. True reform should be accomplished with bipartisan cooperation. not strongarm tactics. The only thing that is truly bipartisan tonight is opposition to this deeply flawed bill. We can and must do better. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting "no."
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. todays vote defines what kind of America we want to live in. I for one know exactly what that is. it is the America I fought and sacrificed for. and all the freedoms we hold dear. Freedom from a $2.6 trillion Washington takeover of health care. freedom from skyrocketing taxes. freedom from bureaucrats coming between you and your doctor. freedom from Medicare cuts to seniors. freedom from exploding debt. freedom from the government forcing you to buy health insurance. I ask my colleagues. what kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren? Will you cave to the demands of Speaker PELOSI. or will you listen to the pleas of the hardworking American people who elected you. Join me in this fight for freedom. vote "no."
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. the Democrats on the other side of the aisle believe that the American citizens can no longer be trusted to manage their own health care in the best way that they see fit. You must now do things in their socialist way or face the wrath of the IRS. Unfortunately. the size of the Federal Government isnt the only thing thats going to grow as a result of this bill. So will your insurance premiums. because the cost of insurance will grow. Thats right. The bill increases premiums for every American who has insurance. Our national debt will grow. Your taxes will grow. The only thing that wont grow are the benefits that the seniors who are in the Medicare Advantage plan have. They will be losing their doctors because doctors are refusing to take Medicare patients and will once this bill becomes law. Mr. Speaker. this bill cuts Medicare. raids Social Security. and we need to reject this bill.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. because of confusion over its legal effect. I ask unanimous consent that the text of President Obamas Executive order referring to abortion funding. that it be considered as a freestanding amendment to the text of H.R. 3590 and we be allowed to vote on it separately.
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. is such unanimous consent request. is it. in fact. in order under the rules of the House?
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. When I am informed that it must be cleared. do I understand that to mean it must be cleared by the Speaker or the majority leader?
Date: 2010-03-21
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my strong opposition to the eventual government takeover of health care that took place on the floor of the House today. Though I strongly believe that America needs health care reform. I cannot in good conscience cast a vote for a bill that will take our country down the path of bankruptcy. This deeply flawed legislation raids Medicare. which faces insolvency in 2017. by over half a trillion dollars in order to create a massive new entitlement program. It raises taxes on our families and small businesses by over half a trillion dollars. It will lead to increases in insurance premiums. increase overall spending on health care by over $200 billion and will result in job losses. This bill will also increase the national debt and deficit. leaving our children and grandchildren to pay the price. Today Democrat leadership abused and manipulated the legislative process for political gain. in an effort to force an eventual government takeover of health care that the American people do not want. This legislation was drafted in secret and is loaded with backroom deals for certain Members of Congress and special interests. The American people need. demand and deserve health care reform that will increase access. improve quality and lower costs. What the American people do not want is this illconceived legislation that will bankrupt our country and leave a lasting negative impact on generations to come. Nothing is more sacred in this country then our freedom and democracy. These are the fundamental principles that make America the greatest country in the world. and I cannot and will not vote for legislation that jeopardizes the freedom. democracy. prosperity and opportunity of future generations of Americans.
Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I remember before the era of President Obama and trillion to trillionandahalf dollar deficits. $200 billion. I remember. used to be a lot of money. President Clinton. I remember his budgets. since the era of the 1990s was just mentioned. called for at least $200 billion budgets ad infinitum. And I remember the great struggles between the Republican congressional majority in the 1990s and the Clinton White House that finally led to a balanced budget. despite President Clintons submittal of budgets with at least $200 billion of deficits indefinitely into the future. So thats setting the record straight. What is important to note at this point. I think. is that increasing taxes in a recession is the worst thing that we could do. and the Democratic majority continues to do it time and time again. I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished ranking member of the Rules Committee. Mr. DREIER.
Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. what I attempted to point out is that we disagree. When foreign companies hire workers in the United States. we disagree with raising their taxes. We think its a good idea for foreign companies to be encouraged to hire workers in the United States. and what this bill is doing is exactly the opposite. I would reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I think its important to keep in mind the seriousness of the fiscal situation the Nation is facing. For the current fiscal year. President Obama submitted a $3.6 trillion budget. Remember. a trillion is a million millions. Thats a lot of money. a $3.6 trillion budget. But our revenues. the revenues of the Federal Government. total $2.4 trillion. For the following fiscal year. the President submitted a $3.8 trillion budget. but our revenues. the Federal Governments revenues. are $2.6 trillion. That situation is not sustainable. Thats why we are facing a situation that was alluded to earlier by Mr. DREIER. that our AAA bond rating is at risk already. Obviously there are few issues that are more serious than the ones we are discussing today. Madam Speaker. I will be asking for a "no" vote on the previous question so that we can amend this rule and allow a vote on Ranking Member CAMPs substitute amendment to the bill. The Camp substitute would provide a meaningful tax benefit for small businesses that would. unlike the majoritys bill. create new jobs. Small businesses employ about half of all private sector jobs. and they have created nearly 80 percent of the new jobs in the Nation in recent years. They are the engine of economic growth and job creation in the Nation. and they must be the key to our economic recovery. Its unfortunate that the majority of the Rules Committee blocked Mr. CAMP. despite the tradition of allowing on Ways and Means bills a substitute amendment. The Rules Committee blocked Mr. CAMP from offering his amendment. Obviously there are always exceptions to tradition. to precedence. In this case. the exception is this majority. a majority that continually blocks Members from both parties from offering amendments to all legislation. I urge my colleagues to return to regular order and allow Mr. CAMP to offer his substitute amendment. and to vote "no" on the previous question now so that we can have a full and open debate on the minoritys substitute. Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment and extraneous materials immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the gentleman for his explanation of a moment in history that left a mark on this country and changed this country forever. These three individuals. James Chaney. Andrew Goodman. and Michael Schwerner. whose blood was spilled in 1964 in their quest for freedom for civil rights. that blood was spilled and it became part of a wave of change that swept our country towards civil rights. Others also sacrificed a lot for those efforts. Its fitting that this building will be named for them. It will be a memorial not only for them. for their sacrifice. and for those others who sacrificed as well. but also a reminder as to how far we have come from those sad days in 1964. These three gentlemen gave their lives. but it was not in vain. Weve seen the changes ever since. So. again. I think this is a fitting memorial and a fitting reminder for all of us as to the sacrifices that many have made and to how far we have come. With that. Mr. Speaker. I would reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I would like now to yield such time as he may consume to the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. the gentleman from Florida .