macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1995-02-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H

who has fought for the interests of all Americans. who nearly gave his life. and who holds the record for the longest period of time in solitary confinement of any military person in the history of this country. who sacrificed not just for one type of American. but for all types. of Americans.
Date: 1995-02-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I want to clear the air. This bill is not about race or about a Republican plan to dismantle affirmative action. This is about providing a permanent 25percent deduction for health insurance to the 3.2 million hardworking selfemployed Americans. In order to provide funding for this deduction the Ways and Means Committee repealed section 1071 which is simply an FCC tax give away. Section 1071 was created in 1943 by the FCC to give tax certificates to radio station owners that were forced to sell one station. Under FCC regulations. at that time. an owner could not have two stations in one market. Since 1943. the FCC has ballooned section 1071 into a voluntary. loosely defined. unsupervised. openended tax giveaway entitlement program. They have kept sparse records of the tax loss to the taxpayers. and how if at -all. the program has enriched minority ownership. It is a program that has outlived its usefulness. Not to mention the fact that an independent agency should never be in the position. of implementing tax policy. this has and will invite disaster. Tax policy is only made by Congress and should be carried out by the IRS. Mr. Chairman. it is time to focus on the real issue at hand. giving the selfemployed a richly deserved deduction to help cover their health costs for themselves and their families. Americans want. need and deserve relief. We say support the selfemployed. support the passage of this bill.
Date: 1995-03-07
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I will not even address the lies coming from the other side. Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about tort reforms we are considering this .week. They are important to every citizen in this country. so important that each of the 50 States is currently considering some type of overhaul of their own legal system. In my home State of Texas. Governor Bush has declared a state of emergency to address these reforms and with good cause. Texas ranked fourth in the Nation in milliondollar verdicts between 1990 and 1993. Lawsuit abuse -is out of control. so out of control it is crippling businesses. destroying jobs. and costing every household in Texas $2.700 per year. Last year alone in -Texas prisons there were 1.000 suits filed by prisoners for crazy reasons. One for being licked. Yeah. I said licked by a horse while on a work detail. The time has come for my colleagues to take a giant step for America and answer the plea seen on a billboard in a town in south Texas that reads. "Stop Lawsuit Abuse Now."
Date: 1995-03-08
Speaker: TODD SEIDEL (republican)
Chamber: S

Director of National Sportsmanship Day. Institute for International Sport. University of Rhode Island. Kingston. RI. DEAR MR. SEIDEL: The Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to recognize March 7. 1995. as National Sportsmanship Day. The valuable life skills and lessons that are learned by youth and adults through participation In sports cannot be overestimated. Participation in sports makes contributions to all aspects of our lives. such as heightened awareness of the value of fair play. ethics. integrity. honesty and sportsmanship. as well as improving levels of physical fitness and health. The Council congratulates the Institute for International Sport for its continued leadership in organizing this important day and wish you every success in your efforts to broaden participation and awareness of National Sportsmanship Day. Sincerely.
Date: 1995-03-09
Speaker: TODD SEIDEL (republican)
Chamber: S

Director of National Sportsmanship Day. Institute for International Sport. University of Rhode Island. Kingston. RI. DEAR MR. SEIDEL: The Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to recognize March 7. 1995. as National Sportsmanship Day. The valuable life skills and lessons that are learned by youth and adults through participation in sports cannot be overestimated. Participation in sports makes contributions to all aspects of our lives. such as heightened awareness of the value of fair play. ethics. integrity. honesty and sportsmanship. as well as improving levels of physical fitness and health. The Council congratulates the Institute for International Sport for its continued leadership in organizing this important day and wish you every success in your efforts to broaden participation and awareness of National Sportsmanship Day. Sincerely.
Date: 1995-03-15
Speaker: PAT ROBERTS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Kansas

Mr. JOHN BOEHNER of Ohio. JENNIFER DUNN of Washington. LINCOLN DIAZBALART of Florida. and ROBERT NEY of Ohio. The Democratsand I am sorry to say that the ranking minority member. Mr. FAZIO. is not with us today because of concerns over his wife and a hospital question. But Mr. F.AZID of California was supportive. Mr. SAM GEJDENSON of Connecticut was supportive. Mr. STENY BOYER of Maryland was supportive. And ED PASTOR of Arizona was supportive. What is so significant about a unanimous vote on a bipartisan basis out of the Committee on House Oversight is that the funding resolution. for all but one of the committees of the House. is $156 million. That is a 30plus percent cut from the 103d Congress. On a bipartisan basis we said we can live with less. We can live 30 percent less. We can do the job for American people by tightening our belts here in this institution in the funding of our connittees. Staff has been reduced by onethird. Committee funding has been reduced by more than 30 percent. Mr. Speaker. I want to commend all the members of the Committee on Oversight for a job well done. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 1995-03-15
Speaker: JACK WARD THOMAS (republican)
Chamber: H

Chief. U.S. Forest Service. Department of Agriculttwe. Washington. DC. DEAR CHIEF THOMAS: We write to continue our Important dialogue on the emergency forest health amendment contained in Section 307 of HR 1159. This amendment has bipartisan support in the House. and will shortly be considered in the Senate when that body takes up HR 1159. We thank you and your staff for the technical assistance you provided to us as we developed the provision. While we understand the Administration has yet to take a position on the measure. we nevertheless appreciate the nonpartisan assistance the Forest Service provided to make sure that the amendment is drafted in a technically and legally sound fashion. We are sensitive to the need to avoid saddling our federal resource management agencies with mandates that cannot be implemented on the ground. To this end we request one more review by your resource specialists and attorney advisors of the final language of Section 307. Enclosed is the final language and a floor statement -we made during House consideration explaining our intent in writing this amendment. We want to ensure that the amendment can be implemented in a manner that brings salvage timber to the marketplace as quickly as possible within the environmental process provided. We would like your review to assure that your specialists agree that the language would have the ontheground effect that we intend. Alternatively. if this is not the case. we would like to know which provisions are problematic. why this is the case. and what technical changes would better accomplish our purposes. Let me be clear that we are not asking whether the Administration. the Agency. or you support the amendment or agree with its intent. We respect any difference of opinion you might have with specific requirements. Nevertheless. we need to be sure that we have a common understanding that our intent is implementable under the term of amendment. If the amendment is passed by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President we will expect full implementation of its terms. Since the bill is being taken up in Subcommittee in the Senate next Wednesday. we will need your response by Monday. March 20. We apologize for the short notice. but we are victims of the legislative schedule. We appreciate your continuing assistance and cooperation on this matter. Sincerely.
Date: 1995-03-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I remember 2 years ago when we were arguing over the superconducting super collider and you guys gave the same argument against Texas. We had the same research from the departments that this was the greatest project in the world. and it definitely had and would produce results. And you know what. we stopped it. and it has 3 billion Federal dollars in it and a billion Texas dollars init to close it down. This is a little project. I do not see any reason that we should keep trying to find out how to fix coal. And I also remember in Texas a few years back when the Department of Energy made us switch from gas. natural gas. cleanburning natural gas to coal. and we now see coal going from Montana to Texas in 100 train carloads every day. You know what. it is not "clean. We need to stop this pork.
Date: 1995-03-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I think that if the gentleman from Indiana wants to conduct a colloquy. I will be happy to talk with the gentleman about it. But it seems to me that the Committee on Agriculture varied the Contract With America and from the change that the people in America have been asking for. and that is a smaller Federal Government and local control. And that is what we were sent here to accomplish. We are not eliminating food stamps. We are not eliminating food assistance. We are in favor of kids growing up good and strong. And good. healthy fat ones is what we want. right?
Date: 1995-03-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

So. I think that it is important that people understand in the world that the Education Committee designed three block grants for child care. for family nutrition. and for schoolbased nutrition. And all of those programs provide more money for all of the programs. And not only do they provide more money. but they allow the States to be their own judge of how to spend that money and move a little bit of it around to wherever the priority projects are in each State. based on each States needs. each kids needs. each schools needs. Would you agree with that?
Date: 1995-03-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I think the Committee on Ways and Means designed block grants for child protection and family assistance. so the two committees together have formed block grants that protect children. protect the school system. protect the pregnant women. infants. and childrens programs. and make America safer and better. And. in addition. ask only in return that they please work for whatever benefits that they receive. Do you think that is too much to ask for Americans to do?
Date: 1995-03-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

And we are going to give them that opportunity. along with greater and better benefits based on their own local input and needs. And I think there seems to be resistance in this town to doing things that would protect our children at home. Most people here would say that the resistance here wants to keep the massive Federal bureaucracy in operation. the massive Federal control over every individuals life. including the kids. And we are teaching the kids. I think. would you not agree. that we are teaching the kids that the Federal Government knows best? And I defy anybody to say. whether you or I. or anybody else In this House of Representatives or Senate. knows what is best for the children in their own hometown. in an individual school district. in an individual home. Would you agree?
Date: 1995-03-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

And I like your chart by the way. I did not get a chance to tell you that. But I think all the people that vote for the remainder of the welfare bill under block grants. but refuse to make this needed change should rethink their vote. because we think we need to be consistent. consistent with the Contract With America. consistent with the wishes of the American people. and consistent with the ideas and principles of the conservative party. the Republican party. Given America back to Americans. Thank you for letting me talk with you.
Date: 1995-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the gentleman that just spoke is quite right. and I think looking at old George Washington over there. he would have agreed that defending the country is primary in our interest. I think old George would also have agreed that we dont need welfare. and we dont need high taxes. In his day. there wasnt any income tax. I stand here to tell you that a promise we made to the seniors that we would give them tax relief by eliminating the 85percent tax on Social Security is in jeopardy. A promise we made to married couples that they would get relief from the marriage penalty is in jeopardy. A promise we made to give
Date: 1995-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as my colleagues know. that is exactly what is wrong here. the Federal Government in control. They want to control our lives and every aspect of it. As my colleagues know. George Washington over there did not want welfare. he did not want taxes. This week another historic debate is going to begin. another 40yearold broken welfare program will end. Today the Republicans are going to bring forward a welfare bill that promotes freedom. rewards determination. and establishes selfesteem. Today meanspirited Democrats. uncaring Democrats. will try to stop reform. cruel Democrats now defending a system that promoted dependency. rewarded complacency. and established selfdefeat. They are the ones defending big government. Mr. Speaker. that is why we believe in our Constitution. We believe that States. not the Federal Government. should be given the flexibility to design a program that will fix the problems that are unique to their communities. Mr. Speaker. let us not just talk about ending welfare as we know it. Let us do it. Vote "yes" for America. Vote "yes" for welfare reform.
Date: 1995-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. the proposal is the establishment of Chairman. Democrats are scared of los- the Work First Program. which funing 40 years of tightfisted control over damentally reforms the JOBS Program the States. This scares them so much of our current welfare system. The new they have embarked on a big lie cam- Work First Program requires participaign to defeat a bill that gives the pants to begin job activities as soon as States and individuals the power to they enter the program. providing indicreate solutions. They still believe viduals with the opportunity to immeWashington knows best. diately begin working their way toThis example is best illustrated by ward selfsufficiency. the Republican proposal to improve the Second. we change the focus of welschool lunch program. This bill does fare from a seemingly endless handout not cut lunches. It does not cut fund- to a temporary hand up. The perceping. We increase funding for the pro- tion of our welfare system as a permagram by 4.5 percent per year. Let me nent way of life has evolved through repeat. 4.5 percent every year. We are ea of p ing benefitd throcgh not taking away food from anyone. years of providing benefits to recipiRepublicans believe in change. and ents without a sensible plan for moving this bill represents it. The Democrats them off of the welfare system. Therecontinue to believe in the status quo. fore. we propose a time limited assistThis was shown by their event last ance program that would empower inSunday. And would you believe they dividuals to move from welfare to used children as props to help their work. As an incentive to work. the special interest friends raise money. plan would provide transitional assistbig labor unions. welfare state bureau- ance to make work pay more than welcrats and extremist organizations? fare. We extend the transitional mediMr. Chairman. I ask my colleagues to cal assistance from 1 year to 2 years so vote for the real change. Vote against that individuals do not have to fear big government. Vote for this bill. losing health coverage if they take a
Date: 1995-03-22
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it is a sad day within the Republican Party. A number of my colleagues bought into the divisive class warfare rantings of the Democrats. These Republicans have circulated a letter that endangers a major component in the Contract With America: the. $500 per child tax credit. It is unbelievable to me that they would deny tax relief to families making more than $95.000 per year. Are we putting a price tag on families? Tax relief was in the Contract With America. If it fails. we will have fallen prey to the Democrats big lie. They want to paint tax relief as rich versus poor. This bill is not about helping any one group over another. it is about returning to Americans what is rightfully theirs: their hardearned money. There is not a single American that deserves the huge tax burden that the Democrats have been heaping on them for the last 40 years. The question is not about rich versus poor. it is about stopping wasteful Government spending and the right of Americans to keep what they earn.
Date: 1995-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today an important amendment will come before us. an amendment that will blockgrant food stamps and complete the historic transformation of the Democratcreated. heinous. disastrous. and destructive Federal welfare system. We must pass this amendment to efisure that the Governors have all the tools they need to create welfare solutions for their States. Without this amendment. our work here will be incomplete. Two out of three committees responsible for change stood fast and fulfilled their promise to the States. giving them the flexibility they need. but unfortunately one committee did not. Food stamp block grants will repair that weak link and provide the States with the means to completely break down and bury a system whose time bas long since come and gone. Cur Governors want. need. and deserve nothing less than full welfare reform.
Date: 1995-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of the gentlemans amendment to block grant food stamps back to the States. and I understand that the chairman of the committee really says that he wants to do that. but he did not do it. and I believe this is a very important amendment because it will complete the historic transformation of the most disastrous. cruel. and meanspirited and destructive Federal welfare system ever created. We owe it to the States. the counties. the local communities. and the people currently trapped in this system to pass this amendment. This amendment will ensure that the Governors and local officials have not just some. but all. of the tools they need to create real solutions to serious problems facing their communities. Without this amendment our work here is actually incomplete. I remember when we first began the task of designing solutions to end the welfare bureaucracy. We agreed the best thing we could do for the truly needy Americans was to return control of all major -programs back to the States. We agreed on this approach because the current system run by Washington is broke. it does not work. I cannot understand why we would now -turn around and say. "Well. block grants are good. but not for food stamps." That is what I just heard. If local control is the solution for school lunches. family nutrition and child protection. which we believe it is. then it must also be the answer for reforming food stamps. The Governors need and deserve all the flexibility we can give them to solve the problems that they understand best. I say to my colleagues. "To only give them twothirds of the tools they need is like playing golf without a putter. You cant finish." Two committees I served on stood fast. and fulfilled their promise and passed out a tough. but fair welfare bill. Despite all the Democratic rhetoric. I strongly support and believe in the block grant proposals contained in this bill. but I cannot believe the Committee on Agriculture caved in to the big farm lobbyists and failed to fulfill their Contract With America. By doing this they have put our entire effort at real reform at risk. This system was designed by the Governors and the Congress as an integrated system that works simultaneously. together. It was to work as one. each section supporting the next. This is why it is so important we pass this amendment. Let us get back to the State authority that our U.S. Constitution demands. Mr. Chairman. The Governors would not need and deserve nothing less than full welfare reform.
Date: 1995-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I say to the gentleman from New York . I heard him yesterday talking about how we had left out our felons who were getting welfare. left them out. That is what we are talking about right now is an amendment to correct that and make it happen. The Deal bill does not even talk to that. In fact. it destroys any welfare reformthat there is going. I cannot believe that our FederalGovernment actually pays with taxpayers dollars. I might add. welfare benefits to criminals who are fleeing prosecution from the law. I heard the gentleman say that. I would like to list for those who do not know the benefits criminals get while on the run: Criminals. criminals under current law can and do receive AFDC. SSI. and food stamps. Instead of giving benefits to those who truly are in need we are giving them to individuals who have broken the law and are trying to escape from it. The real question is why does this atrocity continue to happen. The answer is because current law prohibits Federal welfare agencies from sharing information with local law enforcement communities. What this means. if your local police officer calls the Federal welfare agency that administers those benefits and asks for the address of a knovn felon. that welfare agency by law is forbidden even from giving the most current address to the police. I cannot believe that this is happening in our country. It is just one more irritation that our police officers currently have to hurdle in their attempt to stop crime. This is simply outrageous. Whoever said crime does not pay never understood how Government bureaucracy works. I urge all of my colleagues and I hope the gentleman from New York . too. will support this amendment and stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to criminals and allow welfare agencies to help our police officers fight the war on crime.
Date: 1995-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I will maintain control of the time. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. I yield 1/2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs.