macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-02-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I request to have it noted in the vote on Tuesday. February 23. 2016 due to important events in our district in Houston and Harris County. Texas. If I had been able to vote. I would have voted as follows: On passage of H.R. 4408. the National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act of 2016. as amended. I would have voted "yea." On passage of H.R. 4402. the Foreign Fighter Review Act of 2016. as amended. I would have voted "yea."
Date: 2016-02-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. there is senseless gun violence. Over the past weekend in our community. a young man who was 19 years old. who worked in a pizzeria. was gunned down. The story says that. during this robbery. he attempted to respond to the killers demands. In spite of that. he was gunned downmurdered. We have listened to the sad but eloquent comments of our colleagues from Michigan of vicious gun violenceof a person with 11 guns in his home. Yes. as many say. people kill. guns dontbut they use guns to kill. It is time for this Congress. as many police officers have said to me. to get its hands around the rampage of guns and gun violence. of senseless killings. of bad guyssome good guyskilling people with guns. It is important to close the gun show loophole. to be able to use and to demand science and safety restraints. I am appalled. but I am outraged. Enough is enough of innocent people being killed by gun violence.
Date: 2016-02-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. all of us were saddened in the last 2 weeks at the loss of the longest serving jurist. Justice Scalia. There is no doubt he loved the law and he loved the Court. With that in mind. Mr. Speaker. I think it is important that. in recognition of Justice Scalias love of the law and the love of that Court. we honor his memory by fulfilling the constitutional duty that the other body has to and the constitutional duty that the President has to. which is to advise and consent on a nomination made by the President or not consent made by the President of a Supreme Court Justice. The claim that this is an 80year precedent that has not been broken based upon the time that the President is now serving332 daysthere is no such term as a lame duck in the United States Congress is incorrect. It was recently done in 1988. under President Reagan. with Justice Kennedy. when he was nominated by a Democratcontrolled Senate. 970. It is important that we express to the American people that we are willing to do our duty. I would adhere to the Latin term in English: the last expression of the people prevail. The President of the United States was duly elected in 2012. His term has not ended. I applaud the President for doing his constitutional duty. I think it is important for us to do our constitutional duty. the Congress of the United States. and address the question on making sure the Court is full to do its duty.
Date: 2016-02-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker. let me state the obvious. All of us are appalled and saddened by the loss of this correctional officer. We express again our sadness and sympathy to his family although 3 years later. Eric Williams did not deserve to die. Our Federal prisons across America are dangerously overcrowded. Such conditions can frequently lead or at least contribute to unnecessary violence. High- and mediumlevel security facilities make up 42 percent of the total Bureau of Prisons population. In FY 2013. these facilities were operating 52 percent and 45 percent over capacity. respectively. Officers in these facilities must be equipped to protect themselves. In 2010. there were almost 1.700 assaults on BOP staff and about 49 per 5.000 inmates. BOP requires officers of regular duty to carry a radio. body alarm. and keys. Outside the pilot program and aside from the emergency situation and special teams. officers do not carry pepper spray all the time. Officers must rely on communication skills and training to deescalate confrontations. Sometimes that is not enough. These are important skills. We know that welltrained Federal correctional officers are generally able to use these skills to avoid violence. but not all the time. We must not have one single time where we have an officer at the risk of losing their life and they have no protection. In some instances. however. these skills may not be enough. When they are not. these officers must not be defenseless. Issuance of pepper spray alongside proper training will go a long way to assist these officers. We ask a lot of Federal correctional officers. In the comments made about Mr. Williams. he was engaged in counseling and rehabilitation discussions. We support these officers with training and skills. We do expect for them to interact. When faced with acts of violence against themselves and others. they must be well positioned to cut that violence short. So I ask my colleges to join in passing S. 238. I thank the author of the bill who persisted in introducing it on many occasions. my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. including Mr. MARINO. and others. our chairman and ranking member. I urge my colleagues to join me. the National Association of Police Organizations. the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. the American Federation of Government Employees. and the Council of Prison Locals in supporting the Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-02-24
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I was unable to vote on Wednesday. February 24. 2016. due to important events being held today in our district in Houston and Harris County. Texas. If I had been able to vote. I would have voted as follows: On the motion on ordering the previous question on the rule for consideration of H.R. 3624. the Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2015. I would have voted "no." On passage of H. Res. 618. the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3624. I would have voted "no."
Date: 2016-02-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. there is no greater voice of the civil rights movement here in this Congress and in this Nation than our dear friend. Congressman JOHN LEWIS. I am both excited and honored to be able to support this legislation that changes what was a "Site" in its early beginnings to the important designation of a National Historic Park honoring Martin Luther King. Jr. I first want to thank JOHN LEWIS for his conscientious and hard work on behalf of the King family. As I sat here and listened to Congressman LEWIS relaying his story. I had the slight privilege to have worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on the very street that he has mentioned. After him. I was able to come to the thenoffices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in this historic area.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise to highlight and pay tribute to one of Chicagos most effective public schools. the Andrew Jackson Language Academy. Andrew Jackson was opened in 1894 to serve children from the crowded tenement community surrounding the Polk Street station. a port of entry for immigrants. That very same year. one of the first public school kindergartens was established in Chicago. Since 1981. this school has offered foreign language instruction to its students. In 1988. Andrew Jackson Language Academy moved into a new. uptodate facility. The building is equipped with science and computer labs. a library. media center. and a large outside area for play and gardening activities. Today 550 students from diverse racial. ethnic. and religious backgrounds attend the school. Students at Jackson receive extensive instruction in Chinese. French. Italian. Japanese. and Spanish. The curriculum not only emphasizes the skill of understanding and using these languages. but also introduces students to the geography. history. and tradition of other cultures. As a result. students are more adequately prepared for the international marketplace and for success in the 21st century. The Andrew Jackson Language Academy is a wellorganized. safe. and orderly school with an excellent student code of conduct. and the dress code has been developed to promote a suitable learning environment. It has a wealth of school spirit. which is promoted through the Merit Club. family reading night. Project Backpack for the Homeless. musical performances. student ambassadors. Big Sisters and Big Brothers. a Chinese painting workshop. and the Weigi workshop. French and Italian shops are ongoing. Japanese students are learning to work in class. and Spanish students from kindergarten through eighth grade are working hard on building their Spanish skills. The Dads Club at Jackson is very active and sponsors a number of family events such as the annual basketball fundraiser. family skate night. the daddydaughter dance. and a number of other ways for dads to be involved. The Andrew Jackson Language Academy has a very strong and actively engaged local school council. Its chairperson is Ms. Angela Bryant. principal. Ms. Marilou Rebolledo. secretary. Ms. Margaret Kempster. members. Mr. Kevin Lopez. Ms. Mary Clare Maxwell. Ms. Tara Roden. Mr. Jeff Sadoff. Mr. Luis Oviedo. and Mr. Stephen Smith. The parents council at Jackson Language Academy is actively engaged and involved. led by Heather Alvarez. president. vice president. Rubi Alvarez. recording secretary. Emerlie Ilarde. Virgil Nita. and treasurer. Pamela Alfaro. I commend and congratulate all of those who work to make and keep the Andrew Jackson Language Academy the great Chicago public school that it is. Someoneperhaps a philosopheronce said: It takes great souls to make great schools. We thank all of those who have been involved in making the Andrew Jackson Language Academy the great school that it is. It takes great souls to make great schools.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this morning I spent some time. and last evening. communicating with leaders of my transit system. Houston METRO. that has received numerous awards. and I applaud them for working very hard. sometimes against odds. to provide mobility for the great citizens of the Houston. Harris County. metroplex area. I had a particular beef. or a particular issue. that we have been working on since last November. and that is to give disabled veterans in this very vast territory of Texas the ability to ride on what we call the HOT lanes for free. My premise is simple. When we ask our men and women in the United States to put the uniform on. we ask. with no qualifications. meaning no restraints. that they are expected to defend the United States to the utmost. In the course of that. some fall in battle. lose their lives. or are veterans who ultimately come to their demise by their age and illnesses. Therefore. I think it is enormously important that. when they make a request that helps them in their mobility. whether it is to doctors offices and family or going back to school. there should be no barriers. no restraints. So today my METRO board is meeting. and I made contact again. as I did this past week. with the committee. late into the night. to say that there should be no delay. no barrier in allowing those lanes to be used for free by disabled vets. I want this in the RECORD because I will pursue and persist. even to the extent that an emergency board meeting will need to be called. There just simply is no reason to delay. November. December. January. February. and near March. there is no reason to delay. I am waiting for the decision. and I will look forward to the Disabled Veterans of America and others reaching out to my office so that together. collectively. we can make sure that not only does this happen in Houston. Texas. but that it be a policy across America. We should find a way to be able to assist those who have willingly. without any hesitancy. and unselfishly. put on the uniform.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I want to turn the attention of my colleagues to another issue of justice. and that is the fair existence of and respect for the three branches of government. This involves vets and nurses and schools and school teachers and families across America. It is a process that the Congress goes through every year. We call it the budgeting process. and it is an act of Congress and the administration. we hope. working together. That is the time that the Congress works on the plan for the American people. and it is. of course. the time when the President works on the plan for the American people. It includes reports like this. an economic report of the President. It includes the budget. which is the roadmap for the American people. Let me be very clear. We are all elected. but there is one personin this instance. one manthat has been elected by all of the people. and he has submitted a budget. I would not ever imagine in my tenure in Congress that we would have this Congress overlook a 41year tradition for the American people. on their behalf. whether you are for it or against it: the right of the representative of the President. in this instance. Shaun Donovan. the Presidents Budget Director. to make his presentation before the United States Congress. If I were not standing on this floor. Mr. Speaker. I might simply break down and cry. because I love this institution. I love the constitutional processes documented in the Constitution of the three separate branches of government. We have often disagreed. but we have and should never disrespect. G. William Hoagland. who was the Republican staff director at the Senate Budget Committee for much of the 1980s and 1990s. now senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center. could not recall a year. since the Martin budget process took effect in the 1970s. when a Presidents Budget Director was not invited to testify. Republican or Democrat. While the last budget of an outgoing President is usually aspirational and sets a tone for what he or she hopes will be followed up by. it is not and has not been a time to not see the Presidents budget. The Presidents budget is good for education and job creation and national security. and it does not cut. as the Republican budget does. Mr. Speaker. 46 percent in education. Where is our collegiality? Shame on us. Let the Presidents man speak on the budget.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this is the final amendment to the bill. which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted. the bill will immediately proceed to final passage. as amended. My amendment would simply ensure that those who have filed a suit in connection with sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor are exempt from the changes that this law makes. Mr. Speaker. this bill is an assault on the ability of everyday hardworking Americans to seek justice. and despite its misleading title. this bill has absolutely nothing to do with fraud and will do nothing to prevent it. This is just one more step by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to offer corporations every opportunity imaginable to take advantage of workers. consumers. and patients. By making it easier to move cases to Federal court. we make it easier for big corporations to play the long game. waiting out plaintiffs with limited financial resources. with limited capacity to travel far from home for hearings. and with limited ability to sit through the significantly longer Federal process. The current law has been around for centuries. based on the obvious logic that a State case belongs in a State court. The new burden that this bill would place on the average American is simply outrageous. The least that we can do is protect children who have already been victimized by sexual assault. My amendment is simple. It would ensure that we allow those who have filed lawsuits in connection with the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor to continue to operate under the completely operational and already efficient system currently in place. Most importantly. it will protect victims who have already experienced incredible emotional and physical trauma from being dragged through a long and costly court process far from home just to benefit some multinational corporation out to maximize its profits. This isnt a hypothetical situation. In one case heard in Washington State. plaintiffs were minors who were sexually exploited by instate defendants and by an outofState defendant who advertised the sexual services of the minors on the defendants Web site. When those plaintiffs brought claims against the defendants for sexual exploitation. assault. battery. unjust enrichment. and civil conspiracy. the outofState defendant attempted to move the case to Federal court. Federal courts rejected that defendants arguments. and the case remained at the State level. But if this bill is allowed to pass. that would no longer be the case. Mr. Speaker. this bill is reprehensible. Unfortunately. it is only the latest in a long line of efforts to put corporations beyond reproach and outside of any accountability. Lets at least ensure that young people. who have already been victimized. dont experience any further mistreatment for the sake of shareholders profits. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I was unable to vote on Thursday. February 25. 2016. due to important events being held today in our district in Houston and Harris County. Texas. If I had been able to vote. I would have voted as follows: On the Cartwright Amendment to H.R. 3624. the Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act. I would have voted "yea." On the Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 3624. I would have voted "yea." On Final Passage of H.R. 3624. I would have voted "no." On the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 2406. Sportsmens Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act. I would have voted "no." On H. Res. 619. the resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 2406. I would have voted "no."
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I support H.R. 2406. the Sportsmens Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act or SHARE Act. Recreational hunting and fishing are some of the oldest traditions in America. I went on my first hunting trip in the early 70s and have loved gaming ever since. The sport was a great way to bond with my fatherinlaw and a great tradition to pass on to my own son. I am not alone in enjoying this great tradition. Sportsmen and women contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. support thousands of jobs and enrich our culture. Texas is home to 2.713.000 hunters and anglers. making it the second biggest state for sportsmen and women in the nation. H.R. 2406. the SHARE Act. is supported by more than 50 of the nations leading conservation groups and includes provisions that will expand access for hunters and anglers and protect the environment through conservation efforts.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington . who is a member of the select panel that will undoubtedly be examining some of these issues.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we thank you for this opportunity to raise what is a very important issue in 2016. Women are being attacked on several fronts. whether it is on cases that are being brought before courts or whether it is in this House. We have got to recognize that this decision. the decision for a woman to make with regard to her reproductive rights. have already been established. And we as Congress and we as a society of lawmakers and policymakers need to do all that we can to facilitate those rights to ensure that we do not discriminate against people. To discriminate against women in this regard is illegal. and it is unacceptable. It is time for us to recognize our responsibility to be stewards of the laws which have been put before us and to uphold the Constitution that we have pledged to support and to uphold and to recognize that the abridgement of a womans right is the abridgement of a civil right. and that is unacceptable. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of this Special Order.
Date: 2016-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Beginning at page 14. line 3. strike title III. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 619. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Date: 2016-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. let me. first of all. thank the Rules Committee for making my amendment in order. Let me also thank Mr. WITTMAN and Mr. BEYER for their leadership on this issue. Let me state for the record that I am from Texas. where there are many fishermen. many hunters. and many sportsmen and -women. but we are also a people that understand unto whom much is given. much is expected. My amendment speaks to that very issue. My amendment No. 3 strikes title III of the underlying bill that creates a loophole in the Marine Mammal Protection Act that would allow a handful of hunters to import polar bear trophies into the United States. Let me provide for my colleagues a simple bit of information. Most people do not know. but polar bears are officially classified as marine mammals and. as such. are included under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are also listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. affording the iconic animals further protection against hunting. trapping. and capturing. Over the last few years. these laws did not stop a handful of wealthy individuals from flying up to Canada to bag a trophy polar bear for their collection back home. even though they were warned that U.S. law would prohibit the importation of skins. heads. and other products from bears that they were hunting. In 1994. wellfunded hunting interests convinced Congress to amend the act. allowing a limited number of bears from trophy hunts. but only if the animal came from a designated population that could withstand the loss. Then in 2007. the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule to list the polar bear as threatened. This continues. In the Humane Society letter that supports my amendment. it is indicated that. in fact. we may lose twothirds of the polar bear population by My amendment is smart. it is right. it is humane. It responds to the conscience and the rightness of this country. I am saddened to see these lovely animalsif I can call them thatbecome trophies to make someone else feel good. I ask my colleagues to recognize the importance of taking care of what God has given us. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. how much time do I have remaining? The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas has 212 minutes remaining. The gentleman from Virginia also has 212 minutes remaining.
Date: 2016-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I have a letter from the Humane Society that I will include in the RECORD. along with an article regarding polar bear hunting.
Date: 2016-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. how much time do I have remaining? The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas has 112 minutes remaining.