macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1997-06-26
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. the tax plan presented by my Republican colleagues ventures far from the best interest of the average American citizen. However. the Democratic alternative runs parallel to the needs of middle income families. Mr. Chairman. the Republican tax plan is designed to benefit those who Eire in the least need of a break. Analysis shows that 50 percent of the benefits from the bill will benefit the wealthiest 5 percent of American citizens. The Democrats propose an alternative plan that citizens for tax justice estimates will deliver threefourths of tax benefits to middle- and lowerincome Americans. The bill will give a tax break to those individuals who own and sell stock bonds. leaving the average middleto lowincome American without tax relief. The Democratic alternative will give the tax break to homeowners. small business owners. and farmers. those who need it most. In addition. the alternative will give some form of tax break to every middle- to lowincome working family. The Republican tax bill. however. denies a $500 tax break to 15 million families by not extending breaks to those who qualify under the earned income tax credit [EITC]. The future of America rests on the education of our children. I am sure both Republicans and Dem6crats alike will agree to this statemenL The Republicans respond by giving a narrow $1.500 hope scholarship to the few attending certain colleges. Of course .this will only apply to those attending private expensive colleges. Colleges that lowincome Americans cannot afford. In contrast. the Democratic alternative will give scholarships to students of working families attending community colleges. The Republican tax plan does not answer the Nations plea for higher educational opportunity for all its children when their plan gives the wealthiest individuals $16.000 within a 4year span. This is more than the amount given to lowerincome families through a Pell grant. The message from such actions is that the education of the few is more important than the education of lower income children. We do not agree. The education of all children is vital to the growth and development of our country. Therefore the Democratic alternative plan will concentrate most of its resources toward the education of children from families with limited incomes that are struggling to pay for college. The conclusion is clear. Reject the Republican tax plan just for the wealthy and support the Democratic alternative plan that includes hardworking average Americans. Are we a government just for the rich or a government for all of its people?
Date: 1997-07-09
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Chairman. I. too. rise in support of the Conyers amendment to disclose the aggregate budget of the Committee on Intelligence to the full public. I think the important thing to remember is the presumption should always be in favor of disclosure. As I listened to the arguments against. I do not hear anything to rebut that presumption. I think the American public wants to know as much as possible about what we do back here. Part of the reason why this institution has the confidence problem it has with this country is they figure we are keeping stuff from them. that we do not trust them to know what is going on back here. and they feel left out of the process. There should be a strong presumption in letting them into as much of the process as is humanly possible. If there is some special reason here. why that cannot be done. fine. We can explain it and keep it secret. But no special reason has been offered during the course of this debate not to release the aggregate -figure that we spend on intelligence in this country. There have been some camels nose under the tent arguments about how in the future we might authorize the release of something that would cause a problem. but that is not good enough. That does not rebut the presumption that this body should have to disclose whatever possible to the public. I urge support of the amendment.
Date: 1997-07-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

and Messrs. PAUL. SPRATT. JEFFERSON. HALL of Texas. and STENHOLM changed their vote from "no" to "aye." So the amendment was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Date: 1997-07-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the Mink amendment. Mr. Chairman. I rise today to voice my strong support to Congresswoman MINKS amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment asking for financial support for programs that benefit girls and women. This is essential to help secure a future for millions of female citizens. Young adults need vocational education and job training because this will provide them the skills needed to succeed in todays workplace. We must provide women with these opportunities because only then will we contribute to lowering the number of women receiving welfare assistance. enabling them to become selfsufficient and independent. Struggling homemakers. single mothers. and teenage women will have an opportunity to live productively and comfortably by having the chance to become educated in employment areas where there is high demand for skilled workers. Vocational education and job training are directly linked to the reduction of welfare. If we want women to get off welfare. we need to provide meaningful job programs to train them. The participation in these programs results in higher wages and an increased number of work hours for women. I am -asking you to support programs that train women for nontraditional jobslike masons. computer programmers. and plumbers. Displaced homemakers and single parent programs are crucial to the wellbeing of the disadvantaged. It is crucial that we provide funding for these programs. Displaced homemakers and single parent programs specialize in individually targeted preemployment training and counseling services. Women will benefit from life skills development. career exploration. job training and placement. and support services. In my State of Texas. 52 percent of displaced women rated the displaced homemaker or single parent program as much better than any other government program in which they have participated. Texas needs financial support of these programs. These programs help all women: . There are 1.2 million displaced homemakers in Texas: 47 percent* of displaced homemakers are under 50 years old. and 39 percent of displaced homemakers are AfricanAmerican. Asian. and Hispanic. There are 561.342 single mothers in Texas: 61 percent of Texan single mothers are between the ages of 2544. 47 percent of single mothers are AfricanAmerican and Hispanic. and 53 percent are nonminority. I urge all of you to support this amendment: you will be building the foundation for displaced homemakers. single parents. and individuals training for nontraditional occupations.
Date: 1997-07-17
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H

of Washington): H. Con. Res. 117. Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the interference of the European Commission in the merger of the Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas. to the Committee on International Relations. By Mr. GILMAN (for himself. Mr. SOL-
Date: 1997-07-22
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Speaker. I too rise in support of this resolution and innppositionto European interference with the BoeingMcDonnell Douglas merger. What this should be about is competition. I think to the extent we move toward global competition rewarding the best competitor. the most efficient participator in a given market. then that is good and we are moving forward. The problem that the European Union and Airbus seem to have is that that best competitor right now has been Boeing for the last several years. They have consistently won the better contracts through fair and efficient competition. And we should reward that. not punish it. If the European Union raised an argument that Boeing was doing something improper. unfair competition on some levels. they would have a point and it would be appropriate. But they do not. and it is not. The type of things that they are raising is basic competition. It is almost like Airbus is negotiating this deal. not the European Union. and that is totally inappropriate. Airbus should compete on the economic field. in the marketplace with Boeing. not through the use of their government. as has been mentioned. Airbus is subsidized itself. Their complaints in this ring very. very hollow. The last point that I want to make is that our Government and our country must stand strong on behalf of Boeing. McDonnell Douglas and the entire country and not let the European Union unfairly use trade agreements to push us around and stop our economic advancement. It is in the best interest of the whole marketplace of the world in addition to the United States. and we must do it. I strongly urge the President to stand strong and stand behind Boeing for fairness. and I support this resolution.
Date: 1997-07-22
Speaker: ADAM SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Chairman. I want to express my strong support for the Carl D. Perkins VocationalTechnical Education Act. The Perkins program provides muchneeded vocational and technical education to students around the country. Federal investment in vocationaltechnical education is vital for assuring a welltrained work force for the upcoming century. The Perkins Act distributes vocational education funds to the local level to ensure that our students are taught the necessary skills to be productive citizens. Investing more in education and training our work force to better compete is a sensible and farsighted way to spend our Federal funds. Just last month. I visited Chief Leschi School in Puyallup. WA. My office helped them apply for their first Perkins grant. They won the grant. and they will receive over $370.000 to put toward vocational and technology programs. The grant money will fund computers and equipment for the vocational department. such as the auto. wood. and print shops and the photography lab. When I toured Chief Leschi. I saw how important these grants could be. I met motivated administrators. highquality teachers and students who were eager to learn. Its critical to provide them with the equipment and facilities they need to be successful. and because of the Perkins VocationalTechnical Education Act. Chief Leschi will soon have even stronger vocational and technical programs. Again. I urge my colleagues support to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins VocationalTechnical Education Act. The Perkins grant has made an important difference in the quality to our Nations vocational and technical education. and we should reauthorize the program to ensure it is maintained for the students of tomorrow.
Date: 1997-07-24
Speaker: TOM JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: S

President. CNN. Atlanta. GA. DEAR MR. JOHNSON: I am disappointed ove CNNs unwillingness to provide live. gave] togavel coverage of the Senate Govern mental Affairs hearings on campaign financ activities. If you had been carrying the heat ings. your viewers would have been able t watch the testimony of witnesses who gav compelling evidence of criminal wrongdoin by. foreign donors to the Democratic part: during the 1996 elections. The result of sue testimony even prompted a key Democrat o: the committee. Senator Joseph Lieberman c Connecticut. to publicly acknowledge tha there was a Chinese government plan to in fluence the elections. Unfortunately. CNI viewers were not given the opportunity t draw their own conclusions. Now. I have come to learn that your net work is planning to provide live coverage c this weeks scheduled testimony of forme Republican National Committee chairmar Haley Barbour. Unlike previous witnesse. who linked one Democratic fundraiser t possible charges of espionage and illegal in fluence buying and peddling. Mr. Barbou has not been charged with any crime nor ha he broken any laws. Why does CNN deem Mi Barbours testimony so important as t merit live coverage? Is your network "celet rity watching"-like "Entertainment Tc night"? What can be said about CNNs decision t only provide live coverage of Mr. Barbour testimony is media bias at best. and tabloi journalism at worst. Your intensive coverag of the O.J. Simpson trial suggests that th later is more accurate. Its apparent tha CNN has already decided what the public I I interested in watching instead of the public making that decision for themselves. S Sincerely.
Date: 1997-07-24
Speaker: TOM JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: S

President. CNN. Atlanta. GA. DEAR MR. JOHNSON: I am disappointed over CNNs unwillingness to provide live. gaveltogavel coverage of the Senate Governmental Affairs hearings on campaign finance activities. If you had been carrying the hearings. your viewers would have been able to watch the testimony of witnesses who gave compelling evidence of criminal wrongdoing by foreign donors to the Democratic party during the 1996 elections. The result of such testimony even prompted a key Democrat on the committee. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. to publicly acknowledge that there was a Chinese government plan to influence the elections. Unfortunately. CNN viewers were not given the opportunity to draw their own conclusions. Now. I have come to learn that your network is planning to provide live coverage of this weeks scheduled testimony of former Republican National Committee chairman. Haley Barbour. Unlike previous witnesses. who linked one Democratic fundraiser to possible charges of espionage and illegal influence buying and peddling. Mr. Barbour has not been charged with any crime nor has he broken any laws. Why does CNN deem Mr. Barbours testimony so important as to merit live coverage? Is your network "celebrity watching"-like "Entertainment Tonight"? What can be said about CNNs decision to only provide live coverage of Mr. Barbours testimony is media bias at best. and tabloid journalism at worst. Your intensive coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial suggests that the later Is more accurate. Its apparent that CNN has already decided what the public is interested in watching instead of the public making that decision for themselves. Sincerely.
Date: 1997-07-25
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 325. I was detained by constituents in my office. Had I been present. I would have voted "no."
Date: 1997-07-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to ask my colleagues to remember and reflect upon the life of a great leader. His faithful service to the judicial system and to our Nations citizens benefited the lives of those he came in contact with and the Americans that were affected by his landmark decision makings. He played a pivotal role in the Brown versus Board of Education bringing an end to the falsely named separate but equal political and economic status for AfricanAmericans. I speak of none other than the Honorable Justice William J. Brennan. a man who secured his place in the pantheon of this Nations greatest Supreme Court Justices. Overcoming the stigma and prejudice that came with being born to an immigrant family. Justice Brennan began his service to the community as a humble laborer. Through hard work and perseverance he became an influential labor leader and the city commissioner of public safety. After graduating in 1931 from Harvard Law School. he began practicing law in Newark. NJ. before being named to the States judiciary system. His excellence and commitment to justice placed him on the New Jersey Supreme Court. where he faithfully served before being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Eisenhower. Those who knew Justice Brennan admired him as a man of great principle and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of all citizens. regardless of race. creed. gender or economic status. His legal theories and writings provided the foundation for the most progressive aspects of our presentday legal system. He will be remembered as a man whose sole responsibility was defending the rights of all individuals. including the poor. the disenfranchised and the vulnerable. Justice Brennan fought for the rights of those individuals who did not have a voice in the legal system. and who were subject to inequitable treatment in our countrys courts. I am deeply grateful to Justice Brennan for his years of hard work and struggle. particularly during his latter years on the Supreme Court when his voice was one of the few that cried out against reactionary judicial activism. Justice Brennans legacy is epitomized by the Frederick Douglass quote. "Without struggle there is no progress." Thanks to the dedication of Justice Brennan to truth and justice. we are making progress in perfecting our system of justice and individuals are realizing something that is rightfully theirsjustice. Goodbye and God speed. Justice Brennan.
Date: 1997-07-31
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I want to stand here and applaud the leadership. especially the gentleman from New York . for what we have been able to achieve in this bill. Clearly. as it left the House originally I would not have been able to support it because we had left the real backbone of this economy out. the middle income and lower income earners who did not get a break. But as we stand here today. there is indeed some equalization and fairness in this tax bill that I can truly support. It is clear that when people make less money. and they are employees primarily. they pay a much more assured leverage of taxes. When we can make sure that they get a break. then I know we have accomplished something. I am not against the wealthy. They really do give a lot to this Nation. But all of us know that they have the greatest advantage when it comes to paying taxes and they did not just deserve a tax break unto themselves. All of Americas workers deserved a tax break. And in this bill. Mr. Speaker. they get it. I appreciate this leadership and the White House and I am willing to support this bill today.
Date: 1997-07-31
Speaker: CHARLIE RANGEL (democrat)
Chamber: H

and with poor people and working people. and great ethnic diversity. so I also stand in the well of this House acknowledging that there are some stumbling blocks in this tax bill. Nevertheless. I cannot thank CHARLIE enough for staying in there in the fight. never forgetting where he came from. So we now have in place for those people making $30.000 a year tax relief.
Date: 1997-09-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague. the gentleman from Texas . who is chairman of the caucus for missing and exploited children.
Date: 1997-09-30
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

won this election by 1.000 votes. There were other much closer elections in 1996. and no others have been subjected to this kind of a witch hunt. The sore loser in this case was Bob Dornan. a man who cannot believe that he lost. a man whose vendetta against the gentlewoman from California is unprecedented. and a man whose behavior is so offensive that this Congress actually barred him from the floor of this House. The Republican Party has chosen to go after a seat held by a Democratic Hispanic woman in a race where Hispanic votes may have determined the election. This is a deep insensitivity to the right of Latinos and Hispanics in this country to be able to vote. It is clearly an attempt by the Republican Party to create enough smoke to steal this election. If they cannot do that they hope simply to wear down the gentlewoman from California . depleting her time. her energy. her financial resources. in order to weaken her for reelection. It will not happen. She will be reelected to this body. Do not disgrace the peoples House tonight. Do not let this body allow for this sort of partisan political purpose. Vote down this resolution.
Date: 1997-10-07
Speaker: DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Mr. TOM FOGLIETrA. and the gentlewoman from California. Ms. JANE HARMAN. who not only accepted interns in their office. but who also have themselves come to the floor to speak of their experience with our students and to commend the young people. I will include for the RECORD their statements and other materials from this experience. Congress was due back at the same time the schools were due to open in the District. General Julius Becton and other school officials tried desperately to find ways to get schools open. but an extraordinarily rigid and restrictive court ruling made this impossible. Shortly before we were due back. it became clear to me that all options had been exhausted. With only a few days to go before September 2. the day school was to open. my staff and I got to work to recruit Members to accept interns. My first "Dear Colleague" produced * an immediate response of 20 Representative& and Senators and the numbers mounted quickly with each "Dear Colleague." The Speaker also generously sent his own "Dear Colleague." Initially using an application process. we had only a handful of students. I then put aside this process. With the energetic help of atlarge board of education member Tonya Kinlow. we went straight to the source. We enlisted principals to call some of these students directly. On September 2. we had so many students that we had to give each student a number and some had to be called by phone at home as our own phone calls to Members of the House and Senate produced more places. Ultimately. we placed every student within a couple of days. These students found universal receptivity among Members of the House and Senate. for which I am very grateful. Throughout the 3week period. I was constantly stopped by Members and staff members who heaped praise on these youngsters. The D.C. students they said were very helpful in assisting with many significant tasks. They spoke of the energy. enthusiasm. hard work. and collegiality of the students. Some Members have already invited students to continue to work in their offices. Not every Member could accommodate a student for a longer period. However. I have been encouraged by this experience to establish a permanent D.C. congressional intern program. The program will be flexible to meet the needs of Members and to give students what many regard as a rich. once in a lifetime chance. to work here with us in the House and in the Senate. Mr. Speaker. through the brief intern program. Members got to see District residents in a way that is seldom available. These students were not the District government or even the District. These were young people. the young people I feel very fortunate to represent. Because of your gracious generosity. these D.C. high school students put a new face on the District of Columbia. They are our best face. I hope you will keep these bright young faces in mind when the D.C. Congressional High School Intern Program comes knocking. Mr. Speaker. I include the following for the RECORD.