macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-09-09
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 64. Disapproving of the agreement transmitted to Congress by the President on July 19. 2015. relating to the nuclear program of Iran. First. I would like to commend all of the individuals from the Obama administration and their counterparts across the globe for their tireless work in this agreement. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. this is as close as our country and the international community have come to signing a peace agreement. That progress did not come without significant sacrifice of personal and professional time. Unfortunately. Mr. Speaker. I cannot support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While I commend all those involved and recognize the importance of a comprehensive nuclear agreement. I do not believe in what we are getting. Over the past 30 years. the international community has been subjected to Iranian threats and bully behaviors. The international community has also had to tolerate Irans constant threats to destroy our Nation and the State of Israel. our staunch ally. For too long. the community of nations has dealt with Irans funding of terrorism throughout the Middle East and the world. I am unable to support a deal that would allow the Iranian regime to continue to perpetrate these actions without repercussions. It is important to mention that these are not just my beliefs. Since the announcement in July. my office has received hundreds of contacts from constituents opposing the Iran agreement. In the month of August. I held town halls. hosted meetings and conducted constituent visits. The majority of those interactions affirmed the people in our district do not trust Iran. The State of Israel should not have to worry about more threats and potentially expanded attacks funded by Iranian petrodollars. The United States shouldnt have to provide relief to a regime that continues to call for our destruction and those of our allies. I believe the delay and dismantlement of Irans nuclear program is a laudable goal. perhaps one of the most important in the world. I also believe that we should work to alleviate the pressures and foster the goals of the Iranian people. The young people in Iran are being held accountable for the actions of an autocratic. religiouslymotivated panel of leaders. However. we cannot ignore 30 years of unrelenting threats and condemnable behavior for a decade or less of nuclear concessions. In Texas. perception is often reality and if you are perceived as a bully. then youll be treated as one. We spent too many years bringing Iran to the table through sanctions and diplomatic pressures. We cannot easily forget the history between the two countries but we can hopefully work toward a better situation. As long as our friends and allies in the Middle East and around the world feel the threat of Iranian influence. our job as the United States is to hold the regime accountable in every way possible. It is my hope we work together to block this deal and use its framework to get a better deal. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.J. Res. 64 and I yield back.
Date: 2015-09-10
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I would like to start by thanking Democratic Leader PELOSI for her tireless and unyielding advocacy for the Iran nuclear deal agreed to between Iran and six major world powers. with the unanimous support of the U.N. Security Council. I very much share the leaders view that diplomacy and peace must be given every chance in our dealings with Iran before we contemplate the use of any other options. I also want to acknowledge the fact that. acting with the Presidents full support. Secretary of State John Kerry has done a masterful job of holding the P5+1 coalition together. It was far from certain that Russia and China. intent as each of them is on reducing Americas influence in the world. would continue their participation in the tough multinational effort necessary to get us to this point. This agreement proves that world leaders. despite being divided on a range of issues. can still work together and reach an agreement with profound implications for international peace and security. This is truly extraordinary. I support this agreement not because it is perfect. but because it is a deal that stands up extremely well as a barrier against nuclear proliferation for at least 15 years. It also establishes an intrusive inspections regimen to ensure that Irans program remains heavily monitored and exclusively peaceful for even longer. One of the most important provisions of this deal allows any permanent member of the U.N. Security Council who can show that Iran has violated the agreement the ability to snap back the tough sanctions that had previously been in place. Now. I know there are critics who believe that. by rejecting the deal and increasing sanctions on Iran. that the U.S. can somehow coerce the leaders of Iran to completely dismantle its nuclear program. As effective as the current sanctions have been in bringing Iran to the table to negotiate. they have not stopped Iran from becoming a threshold nuclear state. If Congress rejects this deal. it will not lead to a better one. If the U.S. walks away from this deal. we will have squandered the best chance we have to solve this problem through peaceful means. In fact. U.S. rejection of the deal is more likely to isolate the United States rather than Iran from the rest of the world. It would reinforce questions around the world about our commitment to multilateralism and American political dysfunction. Furthermore. it would seriously undermine our ability to lead any future diplomatic efforts on terrorism and on a range of other issues important to our national security interests. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. which is necessary for the success of the nuclear deal. the preservation of the international financial sanctions architecture. and for maintaining the credibility of U.S. diplomatic commitments in the future. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-09-10
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. We have heard a lot in these debates that have gone on today. I would like to take this opportunity to try to reinforce the tremendous support that we have for this deal. I would like to also debunk the idea that somehow this administration is not concerned enough about the security of this country. Let me just share with you the tremendous support that this deal has. I will do that by reading some excerpts from and insert into the RECORD an open letter signed by 36 retired U.S. generals and admirals who make the case that addressing the risk of a nuclear conflict with Iran diplomatically is far superior than trying to do it militarily. In their letter. these retired military leaders say about the nuclear agreement with Iran. "There is no better option to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon." "If the Iranians cheat. our advanced technology. intelligence and the inspections will reveal it. and U.S. military options remain on the table. And if the deal is rejected by America. the Iranians could have a nuclear weapon within a year. The choice is that stark." Recognizing the importance of strong multilateral coordination and action. the retired military leaders go on to say. "If at some point it becomes necessary to consider military action against Iran. gathering sufficient international support for such an effort would only be possible if we have first given the diplomatic path a chance. We must exhaust diplomatic options before moving to military ones." Mr. Speaker and Members. while I have great respect for all of the Members of this House. for the most part. I do not accept the notion that Members who have not served in the way that these generals and admirals have served this country would know better about our security. So I would like to insert that letter into the RECORD.
Date: 2015-09-10
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

And. further. I would like to share with you something from someone that I came to know very well. It is a Washington Post article that I am going to quote from. The quotes will be from Republican and former Treasury Secretary Paulson. He will not only make very strong statements about his support for this deal. he slams the naysayers of this Iranian deal. Let me read from the Washington Post article from August 14 in which former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson was asked what he thought about the viability of maintaining multilateral nuclear sanctions against Iran if the United States decided to walk away from the nuclear deal that has just been agreed to between Iran and the international community. It is important to note that former Secretary Paulson. a Republican. was in charge of administering the administrations sanctions under President George W. Bush during the period when the international community was just beginning to enact the current regime of punitive sanctions over Irans nuclear ambitions. This was his response. "Its somewhere in between naive and unrealistic to assume that after we. the United States of America. has negotiated something like this. with the five other parties. and with the whole world community watching. that we could back away from thatand that the others would go with us. or even that our allies would go with us." Paulson also viewed as farfetched the idea that the United States could force other nations into lockstep on a more hardline approach to Iran by threatening them with secondary sanctions. Again. Mr. Paulson said: " I think its totally unrealistic to believe that if we backed out of this deal. that the multilateral sanctions would stay in place. Paulson said. Im just trying to envision us sanctioning European banks or enforcing them. or Japanese banks. or big Chinese banks." In fact. the former Treasury Secretary could barely hide his disdain for those who think they could strike a path to a better deal than one that has been reached. Further. he said: "I had a seat in Washington when we dealt with a big. intractable. messy problem. where there werent any neat. beautiful. elegant solutions." He said: "You were deciding between doing something that objectionable or doing nothing at all. which could even be more objectionable. So I dont particularly like it when people criticize something thats big and important thats been done if they dont have a better idea." [From the Washington Post. Aug. 14. 2015]
Date: 2015-09-10
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. having said that. I would like to discuss a point that I do not think has been given enough attention yet in this debate. Iran could move in any direction over the next 15 years and the postagreement dynamics in Iran would play out in a number of ways. We are aware of the less benign scenarios. There is also the scenario in which the agreement helps to amplify the voices of those in Iran who want peace in regional and international accommodation. I have hope with respect to this latter possibility. and I will tell you why. It is because more than half the population of Iran todayalmost 55 percentis under 30 years old. and the youth unemployment rate is somewhere between 27 and 40 percent. I hope that these young people. given the opportunity to work. to achieve prosperity. and to live peacefully. will. in fact. help animate the kind of change in Iran that will. indeed. move it to become a responsible member of the world community. This is a possibility that I urge Members to keep in mind when they vote on the resolution before us today. I have no more time. but I would just urge my colleagues to support this important deal and agreement. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-09-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise after careful consideration and review of the JointComprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and would like to extend my full support of the deal negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 countries. This historical agreement between the United States. China. France. Russia. the United Kingdom. plus Germany. is in the best interest of our country. our major ally in the Middle East. and the global community. The agreement. which will face Congressional scrutiny. has won endorsement by more than one hundred former American diplomats. The group that contains Republicans and Democrats described the deal. negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest J. Moniz as a "landmark agreement." It would make no sense to reject this diplomatic movement towards stability and peace in the region. Twentynine top American scientists have also endorsed the deal. noting that it will "advance the cause of peace and security in the Middle East. and can serve as a guidepost for future nonproliferation agreements." The group of scientists includes six Noble Laureates. In a letter to President Barack Obama. they pointed out that Iran was only "a few weeks away" from having fuel for nearby weapons. The agreement would stop Irans nuclear program. the scientists wrote. In the JCPOA. Iran agrees that it will not develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. The deal also includes a permanent ban on Irans development of key nuclear weapon components and is based on four clear objectives. blocking the highly enriched uranium route. allowing no path to plutonium. intensive monitoring. and incentives for compliance Without the agreement. there will be no restraints on Irans nuclear program. There will more than likely be an arms race to acquire and develop nuclear weapons by various nations in the Middle East. Such a climate would not be in the best interest of our country. and certainly not in the best interests of our ally. Israel. and the global community. It is my firm belief that if this deal is not implemented due to a Congressional blockade. we risk devastating military conflict. I am hopeful that we can continue on this trajectory of peace and diplomacy as opposed to an unavoidable nuclear arms race and armed conflict in the region. As we move to the next phase and allow Congress to study and debate this agreement. we must listen to the nonproliferation experts who have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward. I urge my Congressional colleagues to support the deal. It would be negligent to walk away from a nuclear deal at this point.
Date: 2015-09-11
Speaker: JUDY CHU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise today against this measure to restrain President Obama from lifting sanctions and to support the Iran dealthe most important step that we could take to secure the future of this planet by stopping Irans nuclear program for 15 years. A nuclear Iran is an unacceptable danger. Irans support of terror and aggression throughout the world. its stated threats to Israel. and the nuclear arms race they would trigger are the reasons the worlds major powers came together to put crushing sanctions on Iran in the first place. Currently. Iran can produce enough material for a nuclear weapon in 2 to 3 months. Under this deal. Iran must take several unprecedented steps that would prevent them from having a nuclear weapon in 15 years. This deal goes further than any agreement in history by including inspections of Irans entire uranium enrichment supply chain for up to 25 years. Additionally. Iran will be subject to inspections forever under the additional protocol. It is those crushing economic sanctions that brought Iran to the table to finally accept the nuclear deal. What is critical to remember is that our terrorism sanctions still remain in place. and if a military strike is necessary. the U.S. will have the time and intelligence to intervene but without the threat of a nuclear bomb for 15 years. In contrast. without this deal. sanctions will be lifted anyway. and we will be left with nothing but fear. uncertainty. and an unfettered Iran. Considering the anxiety of recent years. when the prospect of a military strike on Iran felt imminent. this deal is a welcome alternative. and the risks of rejecting it are too great. For the sake of our security. the security of our allies. and our position as a trustworthy global leader. I urge my colleagues to support the deal and to reject this resolution.
Date: 2015-09-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. they sound like warmongers. dont they. those Iranian leaders? And so we sit here today. humbled at the task before us. We sit here as Members of the worlds greatest legislative body. debating the future of our country and the future of the world. Because Iran with a nuclear weapon is a threat to the world. And after months of intense review and passionate conversation with the people I represent and with advisers. with my colleagues. after 19 years on the Armed Services Committee. 17 of those on the committee that deals with nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation. chairing that committee for the Democrats. I believe that diplomacy first is the best path for the United States and our allies. We stand here to discuss the issues of war and peace. of whether we believe in diplomacy with verification or armed engagement. We sit here and we reflect on all of those that will be affected by our votes: my family. our family. the soldiers. and countless others. Can we look them directly in the eye and say we did all that we could do? Can we tell them we did not give diplomacy a chance? So dont get me wrong. I am no fan of Iran. When so many in this Chamber rushed to war in Iraq. I stood up and said no and I said at that time Iran is where we need to keep our focus. We need to ensure that this deal is implemented. and we need to hold those accountable to implement it correctly. That is our role as Members of Congress. No deal is perfect.
Date: 2015-09-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. what a weighty responsibility to stand on this floor on September 11. For those of us who were here in this body on that day. there is no more solemn responsibility than the national security of this Nation. For that reason. I am gratified to my ranking member for being able to serve with him through those very difficult times and to be one of the original members of the new Homeland Security Committee. I have stayed on both of those committees. who hold in their hands the constitutional privileges and rights. but. also. the national security. So I rise today with a heavy burden to speak to this very difficult decision. So I start by saying I stand here as a mother. and I will choose to speak to that child in Israel and the child in urban and rural America and the children around the world. I would ask my colleagues the question: What is our burden and responsibility to those children. that. if we have an opportunity not for peace. but an opportunity to stop a potential nuclear rogue. would we not take that opportunity or would we find all kinds of obstacles? I rise in opposition to the underlying bill. and I rise today in support of this Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty. I thank the President and Secretary Kerry. but I thank. more importantly. Republicans and Democrats and Independents. I thank the negotiators. Mr. Speaker. what we have is the statement and the agreement signed by Iran that it will never. never become a nuclear power. This agreement creates an enforceable roadmap for dismantling Irans nuclear program. Before the interim joint agreement in 2013. Iran went from operating approximately 164 centrifuges to 10.000. and then they went to 19.000. But this agreement brings them down to 6.000. Is that not a standing in the gap against a known actor of terrorism? And then. of course. we have them at 300kg enriched uranium. and they are only allowed to enrich 3.67. We have a roadmap for the various entities that contributed to their ability to make a nuclear bomb. Make no mistake about it. You cannot take away knowledge. Even if you bomb Iran through war. you cannot take away the knowledge. And they will ultimately have the ability to come back again. Now we have an agreement with the P5+1. This is not Munich. for Munich was a capitulation. No one in this agreement is capitulating to Iran. We are demanding that Iran cease and desist. Tell American people the truth. This is the best pathway to ensuring the scientist in all. And for those who say that it is a reckless regime or scheme. rather. of inspection. they are wrong. Because the only 24day process deals with the undeclared and even that has an ultimatum that the sanctions will snap back.
Date: 2015-09-11
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. after listening to this debate. I commend President Obama and Secretary Kerry for their leadership and resolve in crafting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached between the P5+1 nations and Iran. I do so because this is a plan which promotes peace and security. not war or the continuous threat of war. Yes. no agreement is perfect. and no agreement will fully satisfy everyone. but I can tell you that. for me and the constituents of the Seventh District of Illinois. we say lets give peace a chance. We say lets support the position of our President. but we also say lets support the position of our experts. lets support the position of our allies. lets heed the words of the prophets who say. "Come and let us reason together" or we shall all be "utterly destroyed by the edge of the sword." Yes. we say lets support the most rational. the most logical. the most comprehensive. and the most effective path to peace that we know. Yes. it is not about supporting the position of any single individual. but it is about supporting what is good for America. It is about supporting what is good to help stabilize our world so that we can exist with the idea that peace is. indeed. possible and war is not inevitable. Yes. I support the President.