macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-22
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 34th annual celebration of Earth Day. I have a longstanding commitment to conservation and environmental protection. as well as to peace and justice. and I am pleased to join in todays celebration. Earth Day festivities take place all across the country. I would like to pay special tribute to my constituents in Dallas. Texas. who are so active in their support of environmental issues. I would like to give special recognition to TXU under the leadership of Mr. Earl Ney. who has shown a great deal of sensitivity in correcting many of the environmental damaging fumes from their electrical power plans. and to Mr. Stavely of Irving. Texas. who led the dry cleaning industry into taking a responsible position of establishing a State fund to share in cleaning up industrial waste. The city of Dallas will recognize Earth Day on Friday with a celebration of live entertainment and educational exhibits. I would like also to pay tribute to Bonnie Bowman. a north Texan. who has championed a host of environmental causes from clean air and water to recycling and tree preservation. Those efforts have garnered her special recognition this Earth Day in the form of an environmental awareness award from the League of Women Voters. and Trammel Crow who back over the years planted many trees back along the highways. In 1963 following President Kennedys death. the Nation was reminded of his words he had spoken the year before: "Never have the nations of the world had so much to lose. or so much to gain. Together we can save our planet. or together perish in its flames. Save it we can. and save it we must." We must ensure that diversity of life on Earth and enrich the quality of life now and for future generations. Today. however. many of the environmental gains .of the past 34 years are under attack or have been rolled back. The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have been weakened. EPA enforcement funds have been cut. The "polluter pays" principle for cleaning up toxic waste sites has been abandoned. Mining and logging on public lands have increased. protection from wilderness areas has been removed. and attempts are being made to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling and weaken protections for the California coast. Mr. Speaker. Texas is already the Nations mercury hot spot. and our children should not be suffering from the toxic exposure. Texas leads the Nation in mercury pollution from coal plants. Nineteen coalburning plants spew out nearly 9.000 pounds of toxic -mercury per year in Texas. Coal waste contains mercury that can leach into the waterways as well. Utilities. the largest source of mercury. 34 percent. are the only industry unregulated for this dangerous pollutant. I consider environmental protection to be a national priority. I pledge to work with my. colleagues to ensure the preservation of our natural resources and the protection of the publics health. Today. as we celebrate Earth Day. let us reaffirm our commitment to a cleaner and more peaceful world.
Date: 2004-04-27
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to offer my support for H. Res. 578. a resolution that would support the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month. Before I became a Congresswoman. I was a businesswoman. I started my own consulting firm in Santa Ana. California assisting public agencies and private firms with costbenefit analysis. strategic planning and capital acquisition. I have spent many years in the financial sector. and know firsthand the importance of financial literacy and education. As Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Banking and Finance. I am committed to increasing financial literacy in minority communities. Later this year. I will be holding an issues conference with leaders from the financial world to discuss ways of connecting the financial sector with Hispanic youth to educate them on business and career opportunities. We will also explore the obstacles minorities face in obtaining capital and examine the effectiveness of todays top financial companies in preparing Latinos as leaders in the banking and financial sector. Mr. Speaker. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of financial literacy. Financial knowledge enables individuals to become more successful. manage their money wisely and contribute to the economy. It is critical that we educate our young people and encourage them to seek out opportunities in the business world. I thank the Gentlelady from. Illinois for introducing this important bill. and would urge my colleagues to support it.
Date: 2004-04-28
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. today I rise in support of JOHN KERRY. the Democratic presidential nominee. the only candidate who has a real plan to build a stronger. more secure America. JOHN KERRY is committed to empowering our communities by creating good jobs. -improving our public schools and increasing home ownership. JOHN KERRY has the best combination of character. policymaking experience and national security credentials to get our neighborhoods and our country back on track. Back on track from what. one might ask? From a dismal GOP economic record. This administrations economic plan has created the worst job loss since President Hoover. A whopping 2.8 million jobs have disappeared since President Bush took office. including 1 million jobs that have been shipped overseas. Nevertheless. President Bush says our economy is strong. He should see how his economic plan has devastated hardworking families like in my home State of California where over 1 million Californians are looking for work. Clearly we need new leadership in the White House that has a strategy to create jobs. revitalize our economy and help all working families realize their dreams. JOHN KERRY is the man to do this.
Date: 2004-05-04
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I have heard from a number of young people all across the United States about the burden of taking on that debt and trying to even work their way through college at the same time that they are assuming debt. It is very common now that a degree that used to take 4 years in order to complete now takes 5 or 6. I have heard of people who have actually. once they have graduated. have been so saddled with the huge debt of trying to repay their student loans. They have had to move in with their parents because the job economy and the job prospects are not bright for them. In many instances it can take several years for them to be selfsufficient. actually land a job to where they can be selfsufficient. Meanwhile. their student loan payments come due because they can only defer them for so long. and what we are finding is many young people. after they have worked to try to either get a 4year degree or an advanced degree. meet somebody. fall in love. and marry. they are having to wait an average of 4 years longer to purchase their first home because of the staggering student loan payments that they have to make monthly. and it is a very sad thing because I was brought up with my parents telling me that education is the key to success in this country. If one gets a college degree and a good education. the world is their oyster. and that is simply not the case for many young people today.
Date: 2004-05-04
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. if I could add a couple of things on to that. not only are the banking institutions trying to change the law to move away from a fixed rate to a variable rate. they are also trying to pass along the costs of generating these loans. more of the costs. on to students. Right now when students trying to take out students loans. they are responsible for their loan generation fees which end up being about $500 on average. So that is a further burden that is added to the students. Now they are trying to pass more of those costs on to the students. And. sadly. if we think about this in the long term. banks get these loans guaranteed by the Federal Government. That is our tax dollars. And every time somebody defaults on a student loan. it is the taxpayers who are coming to the rescue to pick it up. The banks have very little risk for these loans. and yet they want to make the interest rates fluid so that they can generate more profit. all the while fully knowing that if the loan becomes unbearable for a student to pay back and they default. they do not have to worry about it because the taxpayers step in and pay the bill. I just think that is wrong fundamentally to put that burden back on the taxpayers when we should be trying to move in the other direction to make these loans affordable for students so that they do not default so that the payback rate increases. which. again. is more sound for the economy and again saves taxpayers money in the long run. So with that. I will yield back to the gentleman and allow him to continue on the discussion on higher education this evening.
Date: 2004-05-05
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. today wecelebrate a day that represents the importance of freedom. liberty and determination for the people of Mexico and for Mexican Americans. On May 5. 1862. untrained. outnumbered and outgunned Mexican forces determined to protect their land. successfully defended the town of Puebla against the French. Against overwhelming odds. they managed to drive back the French Army. achieving a total victory over soldiers that were deemed the best trained and equipped in the world. For Mexico. this days represents a symbol of unity and patriotism. In this country. .Cinco de Mayo is also a celebration of the rich cultural heritage MexicanAmericans and all Latinos have brought to the United States. Unfortunately. Latinos do not have much to celebrate this year. This past month the Latino unemployment rate has remained an alarmingly high 7.4 percent. This is 28 percent higher than when President Bush took office and it is significantly higher than the national average. This administrations misguided policies continue to create economic uncertainty for all working families. Do not be fooled by the Marachis and pinatas at the White House today. This pomp and circumstance gives no relief to the 1.4 million unemployed Latinos.
Date: 2004-05-05
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H

for their suppdrt of H.R. This legislation would exempt small PHAs from being required to submit an annual plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under current law. PHAs are required to submit both a 5year plan and an annual plan to HUD. This legislation is needed to provide some regulatory relief to small PHAs who do not have the resources or time to do these HUD annual plans by themselves. Currently. small PHAs are having to hire expensive third parties to complete these annual plans. Furthermore. an indirect result of this bill would give executive directors of these small PHAs more time to focus on the important needs of their tenants. The exemption of these smaller PHAs will not have an adverse impact on the ability of tenant organizations to continue to have input with the managers of their developments. Language was incorporated into the legislation to ensure tenants participation. Additionally. I want to assure my colleagues that this legislation will still require smaller PHAs to provide the forwardtype thinking and advance planning as required under the 5year plans. The larger question. however. raised by this legislation is whether the planning requirements for smaller and larger PHAs alike can be a useful tool. It appears that the jury is still out on that question and the Committee will review the issue to determine how we can provide as much flexibility to the Public Housing Authorities. decrease unnecessary regulatory burdens as well as ensure that tenants have a stake in the communities where they live. In conclusion. I want to urge your support for H.R. 27. This bipartisan bill contains important provisions to reduce the regulatory burdens on small PHAs.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. American soldiers are serving with honor. and we stand behind them. We are grateful for their patriotism. courage and sacrifice. and we continue to support them as they finish their dangerous mission. The disgraceful acts in the Iraqi prisons have endangered our troops and made their mission more difficult to accomplish. They have endangered our chance to succeed in Iraq. and they have endangered our national security. Reports of mistreatment have been available for a year and a half at least. yet the Bush administration failed to take them seriously. These abuses occurred because soldiers were put into situations they were not trained for and for which they did not have proper supervision. This is a failure from the very top. and it is time for the President and Secretary Rumsfeld to stop shifting the blame and take responsibility. Congress must conduct. a full and open investigation.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to be here this afternoon. and I want to especially thank my good friend. the gentlewoman from California for her work in bringing us together here to recognize the contributions of people of Indian origin to the United States and the benefits of working together with India. Mr. Speaker. there are vital IndianAmerican communities in Texas. In fact. Texass IndianAmerican community is one of the leading ethnic groups in my home State. and its members have made important contributions to tie local economy and culture. As the largest immigrant group other than Mexicans. Indians account for 4.3 percent of North Texass foreignborn population. Indian immigrants in this area come from all over the subcontinent. but especially the western Gujarat province. Many of Texas IndianAmericans are professionals who play key roles in sectors like the technology industry and the field of medicine. Many others are business owners. About 1 million IndianAmericans live in the United States. Many Americans assume that IndianAmericans. because they are often welleducated. do not face the same problems as other minorities. They are wrong. In many parts of this country IndianAmericans are victims of hate crimes and racial harassment. They are victims of discrimination in business and in education. We. in Congress cannot allow people who come to this country seeking out the American Dream to be victimized or subjected to bigotry. IndianAmericans are proud of the tremendous strides their homeland has made. By the year 2050. India will be the most populous democratic country in the world. India and the United States today represent the greatest democracies on the face of the earth: the oldest and the largest. The United States is also one of Indias largest trading partners. Indias.economy has been advancing rapidly. with a. large stock market and strong hightech .-enterprises. like aircraft. a computer industry.. and its own space program. We must promote-.greater understanding between the United -States. . and India. particularly in the econmmic..political and cultural areas. Mr. Speaker. againT. would liketo taketls opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to theIndianAmerican community. I know my colleagues join us in recognizing the profound contributions IndianAmericans have made to American society. and .their descendants throughout the world.-
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 378. a resolution which calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Catholic Father and human rights champion Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly. I thank my colleague. the gentleman from New Jersey . for bringing this resolution to thefloor. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the bill. and I am proud to work with him on the bipartisan Vietnam Caucus. On this day. the 10th anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day and the 14th anniversary of the Vietnamese Manifesto of Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights. there can be nothing more appropriate action for this Congress than to pass this resolution about Father Ly. Why would that be? Well. we as Members of the United States Congress have a special responsibility. for. you see. it was testimony to this Congress. to this Nation. that Father Ly gave us that put him behind bars. fl 1645 In .fact. .we brought forward that testimony in a human rights caucus hearing on religious freedoms in Vietnam. or. should I say. the lack of religious freedom in Vietnam. So we have a particular responsibility to let the world know and to put pressure on the Vietnamese Government with respect to Father Lys incarceration. In reaction to Father Lys defense of human rights and his pronouncements on the need for religious freedom and nonviolent resistance. the Government of Vietnam branded him a traitor. a traitor. and prohibited him from carrying out his religious duties as a priest and sentenced him to 10 years of prison for "damaging the governments unit policy." The imprisonmefit of Father Ly is not only a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. it is a direct attack on each and every one of us who value human rights. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. and I thank the gentleman from California for being such a strong supporter of human rights in the world. and I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. subject to rule XXII. clause 7(c). I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 2660. Departments of Labor. Health and Human Services. and Education. and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 2004 The form of the motion is as follows:
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I move that the managers on the part of the House. at the conference on thedisagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 2660 be instructed toinsist on repopting an amendment to prohibit the Department- of Labor from using funds under the Act to implement any portion of a regulation that would make any employee ineligible for overtime pay who would otherwise qualify for overtime pay under regulations under section 13 of the Fair Labor Standards Act in effect September 3. 2003. except that nothing in the amendment shall affect the increased salary requirements provided in such regulations as specified in section 541 of title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. as promulgated on April 23. 2004.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. millions of Americans throughout this country share my growing concern about the alarming language being used to demean anyone raising questions about American policy in Iraq. But we have been there before. We have endured the excesses and the shame of the Palmer Raids. of McCarthyism. of J. Edgar Hoover. and Nixons Enemies List. It is a sad. but historical. fact that in these times of national crisis and stress. some resort to challenging not merely the ideas of our fellow citizens. but their character. their integrity. and even their patriotism.. Some would prefer that we ignore such blasphemy. that we treat such exaggerated rhetoric with the indifference it deserves. I respectfully disagree. I believe that we have learned a sad lesson from history of this and other countries that ignoring vicious political slurs encourages further abuse and undermines free speech and open debate. We have substantial disagreements about the wisdom of our course in Iraq. Those who disagree with our policies include highly decorated veterans. intelligence experts. some of our closest allies and millions of our constituents. a growing number every day.. And yet. when a widely respected Member of the House. an honored veteran who has been a staunch supporter of the defense community through 30 years of congressional service. offered a somber analysis about the misdirection of our Iraqi effort. he was denonnced by other Members as conducting "a calculated and a craven political stunt." Now. the author of that statement has a tendency towards loose language and personal invective. and most people do not take his words too seriously. I do. because he is the majority leader. He was speaking about our distinguished colleague. the gentleman from Pennsylvania He called him "craven." The gentleman from Pennsylvania . craven? Craven is a strong word. It means gutless. It means spineless. It means cowardly. weak. fearful. It is a word that should never be used by a Member of Congress to describe another. and could never be used to describe the gentleman from Pennsylvania . LI 2015 The gentleman from Pennsylvania
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. It is really great to be here. We are also joined by another colleague of ours. the gentleman from Alabama
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I just want to make this one observation: When I was young I played sports and inevitably was plagued with injuries from time to time. and my mother once told me something. and I hate to admit when my mother was right. but she was so right.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mom. here goes. She said. "You do not feel it now because you are young. You have energy. you are strong. you recover quickly and you think you are indestructible. But when you get older. these injuries are going to come back to haunt you." I do not particularly consider myself very old. but it is true. As somebody in my thirties. my soccer ankle that I broke three different times playing bothers me. For young people who do not have access to health care. who do not have access to treatments and medicines that can help prevent a minor injury from becoming a severe injury down the road. or prevent a mild form of a disease or an illness from becoming something fullblown. the sole thing standing between them and some kind of chronic illness or really devastating health problem is early access to preventive medicine and early access to medicine and to therapies that are going to help them. Again. it is kind of hard to think when you are 18 years old that you are going to be old and sick and frail one day. but if you do not have access to health care and you cannot get a head start and make sure that you get yearly visits so that you are checked out for any potential conditions. that is a potential that is a very real potential down the line. So. for young folks. again. I cannot stress this enough. I think sometimes we think. well. we are young. we are just starting out. we do not have the dream job that we are hoping for. but I am working fulltime to put myself through school or working fulltime right now and have no health care benefits or very minimal health care benefits. You deserve better. Again. iou need to exercise your voice and make sure that you are getting better.
Date: 2004-05-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. if a motion to table this motion on overtime pay prevails. will it have the effect of prohibiting the House Members from even discussing the administrations overtime pay rules at this time?
Date: 2004-05-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. so to be clear. that means that the body will not be debating overtime pay today. is that the impact of the motion to table. to deny us a vote on the overtime pay?