macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-14
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I ride today to express my firm support for the amendment offered by my colleague Ms. VELAZQUEZ and for continuous and increased funding for the Small Business Administration 7(a) loans programs. Designed as a publicprivate partnership. the 7(a) program helps small businesses that otherwise could not obtain a commercial bank loan. By minimizing the risk to lenders. the SBAs 7(a) loans program secures access for small businesses to the affordable capital they need to start. develop and flourish. 7(a) loans are the most widely used SBA program. These loans provide critical funding for startups. real estate acquisition. business expansion. recapitalization. working capital. and machinery and equipment purchase. The 7(a) loan program has proved to be an insightful and successful initiative. Just in 2003. these loans benefited more than 70.000 small businesses. And over the last decade. they provided resources for over 424.000 small businesses. Today. 7(a) loans provide 30 percent of all longterm loans for small business lending. Unfortunately. the budget under consideration today. fails to provide the resources that small businesses in this country require to continue flourishing. It fails to restore funding for the SBAs 7(a) loan program and to decrease the harsh conditions that small businesses confront to access affordable capital. I would remind my colleagues of the critical importance and contribution that small businesses represent for our country. Small businesses are the most important driving force of our economy. But they require access to capital in order to continue as the catalyst for the U.S. economy. The rationale behind the 7(a) program is thatof investment. cooperation and success. It is a national partnership for growth. productivity and welfare. For all these reasons. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. which will benefit all Americans..
Date: 2005-06-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I oppose legalizing marijuana. but I support this amendment. Just like the other voters in California. I do not see why we should prohibit doctors from providing for pain relief for their patients. I will talk to you about someone I knew. I will call him Mr. X. He had terminal cancer. and he could not eat. and the only thing that could get him an appetite was marijuana. Mr. X. who was my age. had to go out and buy marijuana illegally. It was so horrible for him. Why should we force the indignity on terminal cancer patients of having to do that? That is why my State voted to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana. so that cancer patients who cannot eat have the chance to get some nutrition. For the life of me. I cannot understand why we would interfere with that. and I strongly. strongly urge. on behalf of all cancer patients. please support this amendment.
Date: 2005-06-15
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Vermont for the time. Mr. Chairman. Pericles. a 5th century B.C. Athenian statesman. once said that "freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it." I rise today in support of this amendment and to speak on behalf of freedom. H4540 � Jane 15. 2005 Librarians. booksellers. and everyday Americans across the country are deeply concerned about the chilling effect of section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. which clearly encourages individuals to selfcensor their reading sources. USA Today in June of 2004 reported that an FBI agent actually went to a Washington State library branch and requested a list of people who had borrowed a biography of Osama bin Laden. The librarian refused and informed the agent that he would have to go through legal channels before the names could be released. The FBI then served a subpoena to the library a week later demanding a list of everyone who had borrowed the book since November of .With government having the ability to easily obtain records of books that everyday Americans. our constituents. are borrowing. all of us forfeit the freedom to learn more. Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act clearly gives the Federal Government an unwarranted amount of power. There must be a higher standard of suspicion to justify this invasion of privacy. This amendment only applies to the records that contain information about the books and reading materials that are checked out of the library or purchased from a bookstore. It is important to note that prior to September 11. law enforcement was able to arrest Ted Kaczynski. the Unibomber. via his library records. The authority already existed in law without the secrecy and overreach of section 215. The adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" can be upheld via the freedom to obtain knowledge about those who wish to do us harm. I urge my colleagues support.
Date: 2005-06-16
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. while we are on the subject of arrogance. as a new Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. the Republican majority. I noticed. has become so arrogant that they are now attempting to silence even the opposition from the minority party. preventing us from giving any opposing testimony. The latest abuse comes from the gentleman from Wisconsin . the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. As the committee prepares to vote on the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act. Chairman SENSENBRENNER has conducted 12 hearings on the issue. biut has refused to allow almost any testimony from those who oppose the PATRIOT Act or its provisions. Opposing testimony was allowed only after the gentleman from Michigan
Date: 2005-06-16
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker. last week it was an honor to begin my new assignment as a member of the Committee on the Judiciary. This Nation was founded on the principles of ensuring that the rights of the minority are protected from the tyranny of the majority. The display that I witnessed and experienced at our committee hearing last Friday was. honestly. the most egregious abuse of power witnessed in my 13 years of combined public service in three legislative bodies. This is a political institution. with individuals who feel passionately about their views. and this is an institution that runs on power. But my hope is that even when we disagree. we Will treat each other with respect and dignity. Respect and dignity were nowhere to be found at that hearing last Friday. and it was a shame. I was particularly surprised and disappointed by the disposition demonstirated by the chairman during the hearing. and found it ironic that the Committee on the Judiciary. whose responsibilities include reviewing. safeguarding and upholding our Constitution. thought nothing of trampling the rights the minoritys witnesses by severely limiting their opportunities to be heard. After 9/11. the vast majority of Americans were and remain willing today to give up some of our freedoms and civil liberties in order to keep us safe. When the USA PATRIOT Act was adopted by Congress. there were 16 provisions that were troubling enough to most Members that they were required to be reviewed by Congress before they could remain in law past this year. I think I share the views of many when I say that I may ultimately support all 16 provisions remaining in law. However. it did not seem too much to ask to thoroughly review those provisions. and not just hear a drastically lopsided set of witnesses called by the majority party. If we are going to restrict civil liberties in the name of national and homeland security. it is more important than ever to shine the light on these provisions and make sure they can withstand a rigorous test. Forfeiting civil liberties is not merely an inconvenience for our citizens. It must be a conscious decision. made with full disclosure and review and for good reason. If this forfeiture Cannot withstand a review where proponents and opponents have their concerns aired. then our citizens cannot be expected to give up rights they were born with and for which our forefathers and foremothers so desperately fought. It is my hope that. like the other committee on which I serve. the Committee on Financial Services. which operates in an spirit of bipartisanship even on the most contentious of issues. that we can withstand the test. and this should be done without the abuse of power and trampling of democracy that we experienced last week.
Date: 2005-06-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. due to official business that has great importance to residents of the 30th Congressional District of Texas. I was not present on June 17. 2005. Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 274. On Agreeing to the Royce of California Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "aye." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 275. On Agreeing to the Fortenberry of Nebraska Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "aye." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 276. On Agreeing to the Flake of Arizona Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "aye." Mr. Speaker. on rolicall No. 277. On Agreeing to the Chabot of Ohio Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "aye." Spratt Strickland Stupak Tauscher Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Tierney Towns Udall (CO) Udall (NM) Van Hollen Velazquez Visclosky Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Watt Weiner Wexler Woolsey WU Wynn Mr..Speaker. on rollcall No. 278. On Agreeing to the Pence of Indiana Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "no." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 279. On Agreeing to the Gohmert of Texas Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "no." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 280. On Agreeing to the Stearns of Florida Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have vote "no." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 281. On Agreeing to the Lantos of California Amendment (House Resolution 2745). had I been present. I would have voted "aye." Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 282. Final Passage of H.R. 2745. the United Nations Reform Act of 2005. had I been present. I would have voted "no."
Date: 2005-06-20
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of this bill which I am pleased to see includes an additional $20 million for the Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program. In an era of extended and repeated deployments. our military families are under more strain than ever before and the services of the Family Advocacy Program are desperately needed. DOD has made progress in its efforts to prevent domestic violence. but I hope that some of this additional funding will also be used to strengthen intervention programs which are still in need of improvement. As important as the Family Advocacy Program is. let me stress that it is only one part of the total domestic violence prevention and response effort envisioned by the Defense Task Fqrce on Domestic Violence in its 2003 final report. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the future to ensure that the recommendations of the task force are fully implemented and that our military families get what they deserve. I would like to thank the subcommittee chairman and my good friend. the ranking member. the gentleman from Pennsylvania . for recognizing that there remains significant work to be done on this issue and for making the safety and wellbeing of military spouses and children a top priority in this bill.
Date: 2005-06-21
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. Senator DURBIN spoke for millions of Americans who are horrified and shocked about the treatment. the mistreatment of prisoners who have not been given the right to be notified of where they are. prisoners who were hung by their arms. who reported homicides. the scandals and the coverups. Yes. these are dangerous people that are in these prisons. Many of them may be guilty of very serious crimes. But the fact of the matter is America canWell. that is what those Guantanamo _ not be a beacon for freedom and justice Bay prisoners had for breakfast today. and liberty whenit is doing it by abusMeanwhile. American troops in Iraq* ing prisoners. As Senator DURBIN said. if you have read these without knowing the country. you would be horrified because. these are the practices that are associated with dictatorships and countries without the rule of law and countries of repression. The fact of the matter is. this administration should have an independent investigation of the treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. They should do it immediately so that we do not continue to have these incidents become magnets for the recruitment of the insurgents. If somebody is worried about our troops. maybe the Republicans and the President could apologize for sending them into battle without body armor. for sending them into battle without sufficient numbers to protect them. to send them in battle without properly armed Humvees. because that is what causes parents to grieve for the loss of their lives.
Date: 2005-06-21
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to extend my support for House Concurrent Resolution 160. a resolution that honors the national significance of June 19. 1865 when slaves in Texas were finally freed. I would like to thank Congressman DAVIS for his leadership and all of the supporters of this important piece of legislation. On June 19. 1865. General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston. Texas and announced the freedom of the last American slaves. belatedly freeing 250.000 slaves in Texas nearly two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The day coined "Juneteenth" was first celebrated in the Texas state capital in 1867 under the direction of the Freedmens Bureau. Today. Juneteenth remains the oldest known celebration of slaverys demise. It commemorates freedom while acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions made by courageous African Americans towards making our great Nation the more conscious and accepting country that it has become. Not until 1979 when my friend State Representative Al Edwards introduced the bill did Juneteenth become a Texas state holiday. It was first celebrated as such. in 1980. Now 25 years later the United States House of Representatives will pass House Concurrent Resolution 160 as our Nation celebrates Juneteenth. As the Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Texas. I am pleased to join my colleagues in acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth as we remain evervigilant in recognizing that "history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future." Civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr. once said. "Freedom is never free." and African American labor leader A. Phillip Randolph often said "Freedom is never given. It is won." We should all recognize the power and the ironic truth of those statements and we should pause to remember the enormous price paid by all Americans in our countrys quest to realize its promise. Juneteenth honors the end of the 400 years of suffering African Americans endured under slavery and celebrates the legacy of perseverance that has become the hallmark of the African American community and its struggle for equality. As we celebrate the 140th anniversary of Juneteenth. I ask that all of my colleagues join me in reflecting upon its significance. Because it was only after that day in 1865 when General Granger rode into Galveston. Texas. on the heels of the most devastating conflict in our countrys history. in the aftermath of a civil war that pitted brother against brother. neighbor against neighbor and threatened to tear the fabric of our union apart forever that America truly became the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Date: 2005-06-21
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for yielding me time. Mr.Speaker. I rise to oppose the rule with a very simple question: What is the House Republican leadership afraid of? We say wewant to promote democracy around the world. We say we want to set a good example to others. and yet the House leadership seeks to block a vote today. That is what this argument is about. a vote today on the Waxman amendment. which would simply create an independent. bipartisan commission to investigate abuses at Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo Bay. and other places around the world. Unfortunately. the only example we seem to be setting these days is the example of the ostrich. to bury our heads in the sand. to ignore the facts. to ignore the truth. The Bush administration and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say that the reports of human rights abuses at. these facilities have been greatly exaggerated. Then what are they afraid of? The chairman of the Intelligence Committee just says. these are serious issues. They are serious issues. We do not want quartertruths. we do not want halftruths. Let us get at the full truth. the good. the bad and the ugly. People around the world look to the United States. not just for the statements we make. but for the actions we take. And Americans have been shocked at the reports of abuses because they know these actions do not reflect our values. and that is what this is about. our values. And they do not represent us as a people. The United States throughout its history has been a great beacon of human rights. And very sadly. that beacon has been dimmed by the abuses that have been taking place. And the best way to reclaim our credibility on this issue is to squarely face the facts and those abuses. We must lead by our example. We must show we will not run from the truth even when it is unpleasant. Only by confronting the truth can we learn from our mistakes. Only by examining our own conduct can we credibly talk about the misconduct of others. Let us show the world that a strong. competent Nation does not run from or hide from the truth. Let us once again lead by example.
Date: 2005-06-22
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague and classmate for yielding me this time. I rise in support and as a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 10. an amendment to the Con-
Date: 2005-06-23
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. and to the Republic for which it stands. one nation under God. indivisible. with liberty and justice for all.
Date: 2005-06-23
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the 33rd anniversary of title IX. Title IX creates opportunities for female athletes. Since its inception in 1972. female participation in sports has increased 400 percent in colleges and 800 percent in high schools. As a young girl. I played on several sports teams. These experiences fostered my love of competition. But they have far greater benefits. Girls who play sports are less likely to have an unplanned pregnancy. more likely to leave an abusive relationship. and are less likely to suffer from depression. Unfortunately. under President Bushs administration. the Department of Education has created a huge title IX loophole. By bending title IX rules. it is now easier for schools to evade their responsibilities to provide opportunities for female athletes. It is wrong for this administration to reverse the progress made over the last three decades. Tonight. I will be joining my colleagues in the annual congressional baseball game and when I join the lineup in RFK Stadium. I will be on the line for title IX. Mr. President. I hope you can join us in supporting title IX by repealing these damaging new rules instead of slamming the door of opportunity in the face of women. 0l 1015
Date: 2005-06-23
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. what is it that the Republicans really do not like about Social Security? The Social Security system has provided retirement security for millions of Americans. But every time these Republicans start talking about Social Security. things get worse for those retirees. In the Senate the other day they talked about a new plan for Social Security that drastically cuts the benefits of future retirees and current retirees. Then the Republicans on the House side here decided they had a new plan yesterday. and what did they decide? After borrowing $700 billion from the Social Security trust fund. yesterday the Republicans in the House decided to end that trust fund. to get rid of that trust fund. to make the solvency of Social Security worse now than it is today. That was their plan. In the Senate. they cut the benefits and here they end the solvency of Social Security by ending the trust fund. They have taken $700 billion out of the trust fund since George Bush was elected. Bill Clinton left them a $5.6 trillion surplus. They squandered it. It is gone. And the President has suggested. he is not planning to pay it back. the first President in the history of the country that said he would not pay back the Social Security trust fund. and now these boys want to end the whole thing.
Date: 2005-06-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to address something of great concern to the tens of thousands of students of all ages in my district: the need for more responsible funding for education. The Presidents !budget would have eliminated over. 50 programs that benefit students. Unfortunately. the President called for the elimination of programs such as TRIO. GEAR UP and the Perkins program. I was shocked to find these programs on the Presidents chopping block because they benefit the students who come from lower in. come families and are trying to be the first person in their family to go to college. and in some cases. to graduate from High School. I commend Chairman LEWIS and Ranking Member OBEY for agreing to keep these programs so that many more students can achieve their goals of getting a good education. While Im glad to see TRIO and Perkins programs in this bill. it still does not do enough for students in districts like mine. Enrollment rates are increasing in our area and throughout the country. Yet we increase funding for education to a level that can not begin to meet that need. Every Congress. we shrink the amount of funding increases to education. This time. weve brought it to a new low by raising our education funding by 3.6 percent. Under this Oill. Title I funding is increased by $1 billion. The thousands of students who benefit from Title I funds will greatly appreciate this increase. However. this is still $7 billion short of what is authorized for Title I under No Child Left Behind. I support the efforts the committee has made to restore the TRIO and Perkins programs and increase Title I funds. We should always do our best to fully fund these initiatives. This bill falls short of what we should be investing in education.
Date: 2005-06-23
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the legislation. Mr. Chairman. I oppose the Republican education appropriations bill because it makes huge cuts to our critical education programs. The Republican education measure will force millions of students. elderly. disabled" and veterans to foot much of the bill for billions in unprecedented tax giveaways to corporations and the super rich. This bill compromises our ability to build a highly skilled workforce and strong economy. just at the time when we need the investment themost.