macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. there is something we can all agree on in this Chamber and that is that only Americans get to vote. and they only get to vote once. But what we are talking about in this bill is disenfranchising many of those Americans. It is already a felony for a nonAmerican to vote. Now. when this bill was introduced. the committee made it part of Immigration August. We had hearings around the country.- and what we found out was that the issue of socalled illegal aliens voting basically does not occur. As the League of Women Voters has said. the voter fraud addressed by this bill is a rare problem. and the witness in New Mexico said she had. never seen it in her entire professional career. And if you think about it. it makes sense. Illegal aliens are sneaking across the border for a job. not to vote. We also got testimony that the impact of this will disproportionately affect poor people and African Americans. In fact. in a Milwaukee study. they found that 78 percent of the African American men aged 18 to 24 had no drivers license. Why? Because they are too poor to have a car and they do not have a license. In New Mexico. we heard from Mr. Yahzee. a Navajo. who told us that the Navajos basically do not have this ID and they cannot get it either because they do not have birth certificates. they do not have electricity. they do not have phones. They do not have the document. but they are the original Americans. They were the code talkers. They are entitled to vote. but under this bill they would not be able to vote. I do not know about this poll. but I think if you ask 81 percent of Americans whether the Navajo should not be allowed to vote. they would say. well. of course not. Now. recently there was a measure put into place to have Medicaid recipients have a photo ID. and we had to repeal that rule. And you know why? Because we would have had to see old people evicted from nursing homes because they could not come up with that photo ID. Well. I tell you. if you cannot come up with a photo ID to save your life. you are not going to be able to come up with a photo ID to vote either. That must be why the AARP is against this measure. So why is this before us today? We have no evidence there is A problem. We have ample evidence in the testimony that this will 4 disenfranchise many Americans. I must say that the Republican Party is doing this throughout the United States. This is the measure to disenfranchise African Americans. Native Americans. It is wrong and we will not stand for it.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I am the person from Florida where in the 2000 election. 27.000 votes was thrown out in my precincts. 7. 8. 9 and 10. that are 95 percent Democratic. And they say that President Bush won by 527 votes. But the unique thing is in the primary recently. in every single African American precinct. they sent thousands of Republican ballots. and only hundreds of Democratic ballots. That is unheard of. In every single precinct they sent thousands of Republican ballots and not sufficient Democratic ballots. Now. that is the stupid. incompetent right trying to disenfranchise those same voters. Let me just say that in the supervisors office. they carried the equipment home the night before the election. Where our men and women are dying in Iraq for the right for them to vote. we do not have the right right here in the United States of America. It is a crying shame. Shame on them. Vote down this terrible bill.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this legislative package. which will reauthorize important international fish and wildlife conservation programs and will expand national parks and wildlife refuges. In particular. I want to draw special attention to the Great Ape Conservation Act. The reauthorization thats before us today was introduced by Senator JEFFORDS last June. following a bill that I introduced in May 2005 with Rep. BAIRD. It has now been more than 5 years since the Great Ape Conservation Act was signed into law. In that time. this program has helped protect threatened primates. including chimpanzees. gorillas. bonobos. orangutans. and gibbons. Im very pleased that the House is now poised to pass this reauthorization. which is needed to continue progress in this important field. As the Fish and Wildlife Service testified in the Resources Committee last June. "Much of the success of the Great Ape Conservation Act has been a direct result of the unique small project focus on ontheground conservation projects in Africa and Asia." The funds provided by the Great Ape Conservation Act have gone to such diverse projects as: protecting chimpanzee habitat from logging operations. establishing antipoaching enforcement units. starting conservation education programs. coordinating gibbon population surveys and threat assessments. and implementing ape health monitoring programs. Like the other Multinational Species programs. Federal funds under the Great Ape Conservation Act are distributed as matching grants. meaning that the expense for these projects is shared between the Federal govemnment and project partners. This match requirement has leveraged over $7.7 million in nonfederal contributions over the period of 20012005 and has more than doubled the actual funding for copservation projects. But despite the ongoing successes of the Act. the threats to these noble primates continue. and time is not on our side. Press accounts and reports from the field indicate that these species continue to be placed in jeopardy by habitat loss. poaching. logging. and the bush meat trade. The bill before us today specifically authorizes funding to .address these root causes of threats to great apes. The contributions of the Great Ape Conservation Act have been very important in the international efforts to protect and conserve the great apes of Africa and Asia. but there is much work yet to be done. Accordingly. todays bill extends the programs authorization through the year 2010. As I said when I introduced the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000. the task ahead is daunting. But the ecological consequences of not acting are far more tragic if it means that great apes will cease to exist in the wild. I want to thank the Resources Committee staff. especially Dave Jansen. for their work in shepherding this bill through the House. and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speak- doesnt have super vision. you have er. I ask unanimous consent to speak super deaths. super atrocities. Where out of order. do we stand on one of the great chal-
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speak- population. We stand for justice. for er. I rise to remind my colleagues that the least. the last and the lost. We Dr. King was right when he proclaimed stand for making sure that no decent. that the measure of a person is not selfrespecting company does business where a person stands in times of com- with Darfur. Any coml any that does fort and convenience. but. rather. business with Darfur commits a sin. where a person stands in times of chal- This is one of the great tragedies of our lenge and controversy. time. We stand for standing against I have a question for my colleagues. those businesses that are allowing this Mr. Speaker. The question is: Where do tragedy to continue. because if you do we stand on one of the great challenges business with this country. you are and controversies of our time? Where doing business with those who are perdo we stand. Mr. Speaker. on the ques- petrating genocide. tion of genocide. in Darfur? A question So. Mr. Speaker. I want you to know that transcends race because there that there are good people in this really is but one race. and that is the House. and we are calling on people of human race. a question that transcends goodwill to take a stand against one of gender because what is happening in the great challenges and controversies Darfur is happening to persons of both of our time. genders. Where do we stand on one of the great questions. one of tfhe great - The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a controversies of our day? previous order of the House. the genIt has been said that hundreds of tleman from Missouri is thousands have been killed. Nobody recognized for 5 minutes. really knows how many. millions dis- (Mr. HULSHOF addressed the House. placed. but nobody really knows how His remarks will appear hereafter in many. Where do we stand on this great the Extensions of Remarks.) challenge and controversy of our time? I have been to Darfur. I was there in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the month of August. I have seen the previous order of the House. the genthrongs of humanity living in huts tleman from Missouri is made of straw. living on the ground recognized for 5 minutes. and off of the land. persons living Mr. SKELTON addressed the House. under conditions that we would not His remarks will appear hereafter in want animals and lower life forms to the Extensions of Remarks.) live under. I have seen these conditions. No running water. no electricity. no sanitation facilities. Where do we GENOCIDE IN DARFUR stand on one of the great challenges Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker. I ask unaniand controversies of our time? mous consent to speak out of order.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

that you talked so eloquently about just a couple of days ago here on this floor when you took the opportunity to walk the Members through what they havent done and what they should do? We want to respect the memory of those -individuals. we want to respect those first responders who put their lives on the -line. climbed up that building. some lost their lives. some are still living with the aftermath of their heroism. If we want to respect them. then lets do what they said do. And if you are a Republican. Independent. or Democrat. you have to have a problem with the fact that these Members are coming to the floor representing one thing and doing another. So they can burn all kinds of Federal jet fuel and taxpayers expense allthey want to. Mr. DELAHUNT. And your frustration as it relates to Afghanistan when we had them on the run and now we have commanders. need it be NATO commanders or need it be U.S. commanders. saying we need help. General Abizaid. he had a press conference 48 hours ago. says. no. troop levels wont be coming down. we are going to still have 140.000 troops in the war in Iraq. We have 147.000 troops right now in the war in Iraq. and we will probably end up having 147.000 trool s that are on their fourth and fifth deployments. Yesterday in Iraq. we lost four marines. leave alone the countless number of Iraqi individuals that are not even wearing a uniform. just trying to make a living. that have lost their lives. We have a policy here in the U.S. Congress of saying. because the President said stay the course. and we have a rubberstamp majority that is not even exercising Article 1. section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The lack of oversight and the lack of legislative authority. and this is what we get. We get individuals coming to the floor making statements that they know full well are not true on the reality of the appropriation and the reality of the direction of the policy of this country. Follow the President. So shall it be written. so shall it be done. That is not the democracy that the American people woke up early one Tuesday morning to vote for representation here in this House.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

If the gentleman would yield. this is obviously not a playing field I can participate in terms of the debate or the discussion. given the difference in my stature. and I mean physical stature. versus yours. But Mr. RYAN. I will point out as your athletic prowess absolutely precedes you. given the baseball performance and now the football performbnce. perhaps you should become a charitable donor henceforth as opposed to participant on the field.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

had a joint press .conference on breast cancer today. I think it is important that we lift those individuals up because I know that there are Americans who could not make it. My sister is a breast cancer survivor. I went out with Mr. RYAN this evening to sign the wall for Florida. and I put my sisters name in. She couldnt be here. I called her and told her that I put her name on the wall. I had an opportunity to sign it. I know that we in the Congress. all of us. are a part of making sure that we have enough research to be able to look and find ways that either we can prevent cancer from happening. or find medicines and procedures that can take away the issue of cancer. I know there is a commitment by 2015 to eradicate all cancer here in the U.S. So that is very. very important. I just wanted to lay that out because I know we wanted to all commend them. We have serious issues that we are talking about. but at the same time. Mr. Speaker. we have got to lay out the commitment of those who did come up here.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you. Mr. MEEK. I am glad you touched on that. I lost both my grandmothers to lung cancer. and. unfortunately. in America we all know someone who has been touched by cancer. and it is so incredibly important that Congress redouble its effort and commitment to funding the research so that in our lifetimes as 30somethings. we can see a cure for not just lung cancer. but cancer of all types in our lifetime and during our congressional careers. So I know we all are committed to that.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

talked about the minimum wage and she focused on domestic issues. We have a war in Iraq. but we have a huge challenge here in the United States of America. We hate a huge challenge. We have blue and red States that are suing the Federal Government for lack of funding on Leave No Child Behind. which was a bipartisan piece of legislation that we felt we could move forth in.a bipartisan way. not only in this Chamber but also in the Senate. But it takes a majority to bring about true bipartisanship. We have shown that we have been able to do it. We have shown on this side of the aisle that we can balance the budget and secure the future of not dnly Social Security but also secure the future of our country. not having other countries having their hand in the pocket of the American taxpayer. Earlier Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ talked about the whole issue of border security. It was an hour that the majority had. not the last hour. the hour before that. talking about how we are securing America and we are strong. this. that. and the other. and coming to the floor and sharing words without thirdparty validators. Who are the thirdparty validators? Our thirdparty validators are the American people who are saying that they are concerned about what is happening in this country because we ddnt have the kind of balance that our democracy calls for. Who is going to hold in check an administration that is willing to. do anything to make sure that. you know. lets say the poll numbers. or to use 9/ 11. something that is not dealing with honoring those families and those first responders. but to talk about a false agenda as far as securing America. We can do a better job. Have the majority done some things? Yes. they have done some things. I am a levelminded person. and there are some things that have been done. But have we secured America in the way we should? As it relates to our agenda and securing America. we have put that up front. Not just as it relates to uniforms and badges. but. also from a fiscal standpoint. we are saying we dont want Americas back broken because of the recordgaining debt of this administration and the Republican Congress.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I sleep well knowing that we spend every moment that we can here on this floor until the clock runs out by the rules of this House to allow us to come here and give voice to those Americans that deserve better. We are saying that we are willing to put this country in a new direction. not just saying it in fiction. It is on the Internet. It is on housedemocrats.gov. We have press conferences. We file amendments in committee. And the only reason why those amendments and that legislation does not have breath in the lungs of the legislation that we file. the reason why it doesnt have a heartbeat. is the fact that we are in the minority. Now. the only way that can change. Mr. Speaker. is that we need a majority of this House to bring accountability back to this government to make sure that we have balance. to make sure we have fiscal responsibility. to make sure that we stand up on behalf of children who cant even vote. and to make sure that we give voice and to make sure that we give direction and to make sure that we have the backs of our men and women that have sand in their teeth right now in the war in Iraq. and to make sure that those individuals that are in Afghanistan that are standing on behalf of the hope and the prayer and hopefully the willing desire of this Congress. to make sure that we have their back. to make sure that we have a true coalition. to make sure that other countries can look at this country and know when that whatever the Presidents says. it does not necessarily mean that that is the final word. Yes. we support our President. But at the same time. Mr. Speaker. we have to be able to allow this Congress and this legislative branch to function in a way that it is supposed to function. And right now that is not the case because individuals are willing to rubberstamp exactly to the word. to the comma. to the period to what the President calls for. And it is on domestic policy. and it is also on foreign policy. And I think it is important. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. that we carry out our duty. No other President in recent times. Mr. Speaker. I must add. -has been able to celebrate the kind- of rubber stamp that the Bush administration has received. That is not good for America. That is not good for any party affiliation anyone may have. and that is not good for the future of our country. And that is the reason why we are here in that light.
Date: 2006-09-20
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Mr. HULSHOF. for 5 minutes. today Speaker. we have all of the charts and and September 21. particularly the quotes. about Social Mr. TIAHRT. for 5 minutes. today. Security. and what the administration has said about their desire to privatize EXTENSION OF REMARKS Social Security and the direction they would take Social Security on our By unanimous consent. permission to website. our 30 Something website. revise and extend remarks was granted www.housedemocrats.gov/30something. to: . We also have our New Direction for Mr. KUCINICH and to include extraAmerica pamphlet on that as well. We neous material. notwithstanding the encourage the Members and anyone fact that it exceeds two pages of the else who would like to learn a little bit RECORD and is estimated by the Public more about the direction we would Printer to cost $2.599. take the country to go on to that website. ENROLLED BILL SIGNED Mr. Speaker. we thank Leader PELOSI for the opportunity to talk to the Mrs. Haas. Clerk of the House. reMembers tonight. Mr: MEEK. thank you ported and found truly enrolled a bill for joining me once again and for your of the House of the following title. leadership in the.30 Something Work- which was thereupon signed by the ing Group. Speaker: IIR. 5684. An act to implement the United StatesOman Free Trade Agreement.
Date: 2006-09-21
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my Michigan colleague for yielding me this time. I rise to oppose H.R. 6095. but let me follow up on what the chairman of the committee talked about. If somebody Septeniber 21. 2006 committed a crime. and they were here legally or illegally. the standard practice for local law enforcement is to pick. that person up. arrest them. and then they will be punished. Then they will be turned over to ICE. Immigration Control and Enforcement. What this bill would do is allow for our local police and sheriffs and constables to actually be standing in the place of immigration officers. I support strong law enforcement of our immigration laws. but we shouldnt burden our local law enforcement officers to enforce Federal immigration laws. This Congress and this administration has cut the COPS program since 2001. Asking our local law enforcement agencies to enforce Federal immigration law without any commitment of funds is unfair and takes officers out of our neighborhoods and off our streets. The role of local law enforcement is to protect our property and our families.Most local -police departments are already stretched thin as it is. In Houston. our officers have had the challenge of protecting an additional 100.000 people who evacuated to Houston from New Orleans over a year ag6. Adding immigration enforcement to their duties would make their jobs tougher and our neighborhoods less safe. Currently if law enforcement officers catch someone committing a crime that is here illegally or legally. they are turned over to Immigration Control and Enforcement. and they are deported. Now. they need to pay their debt to our own county or State. but they will be deported. If someone breaks into my home. either the Houston Police Department. the sheriffs department or the county constables will show up. not the Border Patrol. not Immigration Customs Enforcement officers. They dont come to protect my home. Securing our borders is a Federal responsibility. This body is responsible for ensuring that there is enough funding for detention beds and Border Patrol Qfficers. We shouldnt put the responsibility on our local law enforcement officers- to fill the gaps. and we should be doing our own part to ensure the security of our borders and interior enforcement. The cuts in funds for local police make it hard to protect our lives and property. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 6095.
Date: 2006-09-21
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 210. to support the goal of eliminating suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. Cancer is one of the most dreaded diagnoses a person can get. Every one of us has been affected by cancer. whether personally or through the experience of a family member or loved one. In fact. cancer affects one out of every two men and one out of every three women in this country. According to the American Cancer Society. 1.3 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year. with 1.500 Americans dying from cancer every single day. " While the statistics are still staggering. the promise of a cure is closer than we had ever imagined. Thanks to the commitment of the Federal Government and our research institutions. cancer rates declined by nearly 10 percent in the 1990s. and new treatmerits are being developed every day. Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach. the former Director of the National Cancer Institute. set a goal for the countiy to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. In my hometown of Houston. we were proud to have Dr. von Eschenbach serve at MD Anderson Cancer Center. one of the top cancer centers in -the country in terms of both research and patient care. With all of his experience as a leader in the field of cancer research. if Dr. von Eschenbach thinks we can achieve this goal. I am confident that our hope for a cure is within reach. I thank my colleague. Mr. SHAW. for introducing this important resolution and encourage my colleagues to join me in support of it.