macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-01-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I filed a bill to support our troops in harms way. and I rise in support of them. and in support of this country and this Congress backing our brave men and women in uniform 100 percent. I fear what all the talk of Washington about pulling funding for our troops is going to do to the privates and sergeants stationed in Camp Blue Diamond. think about it. for the next 11 months. We are elected to protect our men and women in uniform. just as they protect our freedoms every day. Our guys are fighting for America. They are fighting for you and me. All this talk of doom and gloom hurts mission success and stifles troop morale. It is imperative our Nation backs our troops to the hilt. As long as we deploy men and women across the globe. we will never. ever leave a member of our military in harms way without support. That is our Congresss responsibility. Our troops are not the enemy. They deserve our full support. and that is why I hope folks will cosponsor my bill to support our troops in harms way.
Date: 2007-01-24
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. let me begin by expressing my profound respect for the Delegates in this House. and most especially for their constituents. But above all. I rise. Mr. Speaker. with profound respect for the documents that we all swear to uphold when we are elected. when we take possession of this awesome responsibility. an honor granted to us by our constituents. I think there can be few parts of the United States Constitution that are clearer when Article I. section 2 state "that the House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year by the people of the several States." Now. when in 1970. as you know Mr. Speaker. before there had been by law and precedent. Delegates of territories had been given some privileges in this House. And then in 1970 there was a clarification of those privileges. The vote was given to Delegates in standing committees in 1970. At that time. when the vote was given to Delegates in standing committees. there was some concern that that may be unconstitutional. In fact. there was a colloquy on this floor where Congressman B.F. Sisk of California asked future Speaker. then Representative Tom Foley. about that issue. And I would like to read what future Speaker Foley said. "Now. it is very clear that a constitutional amendment would be required to give the Resident Conimissioner." and he is speaking about all of the Delegates. "a vote in the Committee of the Whole or the full House." The point is that the constitutional issue does not touch preliminary advisory votes. which is what standing committee votes are. but only the votes which are cast in the Committee of the Whole or the full House. Those votes. Mr. Foley said. can be cast only by Members of Congress. Now the appellate court. interestingly enough. and I really find it difficult to believe that it was not appealed to the Supreme Court. because the appellate court said. well. true. but we are not dealing with votes in this rule.owe are dealing with a figment of our imagination related to votes because they do not count. If they do count in the outcome of an amendment. there is an automatic revote. So they are not really votes. So since they are not really votes. they are not really constitutional. I think that was not a serious. I respectfully say this. ruling by the district court. But obviously this time if it does pass. I would assume that it will go to the Supreme Court where perhaps there will be a more serious ruling.
Date: 2007-01-24
Speaker: TIM MURPHY (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Mr. Speaker. we certainly appreciate and admire all of the citizens of the United States and all those from territories. and they participate in debate hereOne of the things that helps us understand what takes place here. I would like to go back to what happens in Alleghany County where I live in the city of Pittsburgh. We have an Alleghany County Council. and they meet in the city of Pittsburgh regularly. and some members of that council are citizens of the city of Pittsburgh. but their jurisdiction is not the city of Pittsburgh. What would happen if they decided it would be their jurisdiction to vote on issues that affected -that city on matters of taxation and other issues that take place? I believe the courts would say that just because you are citizens of this area does not mean that your jurisdiction of your elected body extends to that city. and courts would strike it down. This is not an issue of whether or not we respect and admire our friends and fellow citizens from these territories. It is the matter of the rules of what our Constitution states and what people can represent and what should be allowed in this body. It concerns me that on the tote boards here of the list of votes. it does not say whether somebody is a full Member or a Delegate. That. I believe. is something that is also going to mislead the American public as to the vote totals here. But more than anything else. to be able to vote on issues that affect my -constituents. whether it is taxation or other issues of representation. it is simply not in our Constitution to have that there. and I urge Members to vote "no" on this.
Date: 2007-01-24
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I rise today in opposition to House Resolution 78. This is an uncomfortable decision for me since for many years I have tried to convince the Republicancontrolled Rules Committee to grant my friend. the Representative from the District of Columbia. a vote in the Committee of the Whole. In the beginning I did so because the right to vote in the Committee of the Whole. which has little meaning in practice. carried important symbolic. meaning to people who had no representation at all. Over the past 4 years. I have embarked on a journey to give D.C. a real vote in the House of Representatives. Working with Congresswoman NORTON and numerous legal sclfolars and many colleagues on my side from across the ideological spectrum. we have crafted a bill that was politically neutral. gave real rights to the District of Columbia. and solved Utahs special problem created in the last census to boot. The Speaker of the House hasbeen a cosponsor of my legislation. The majority whip says he expects the bill to be brought up quickly this session. It is clear that if our bill. the D.C. FAIR Act. were brought to the floor today. it would pass with solid support from both parties. Todays resolution muddies the waters. It fails to recognize the fundamental difference between. the District of Columbia and the territories. It ignores the carefully constructed bipartisan compromise we reached in the D.C. FAIR Act. It amounts. as The Washington Post opined today. to little more than "dithering." I hope this vote. which grants illusory voting rights to Delegates. i designed to expose the strong support that exists for full D.C. voting rights. But pardon me if I appear cynical. To the cynic in me. this resolution smacks of obfuscation. What the majority is doing today threatens to delay action on the real injustice that has plagued the District for more than two centuries. I am looking for assurances that this is not the case. Admittedly. we could have avoided this awkward grouping of governmental apples and oranges if the Republican leadership had brought the bill to the floor at the end of last year.
Date: 2007-01-24
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 78. This bill reverses the last 12 years of precedent and returns our House Rules to a questionable practice of delegates voting in the Committee of the Whole. Our Constitution clearly states that Members of Congress should be chosen by residents of States. As much as we appreciate the contribution of our great territories and the District of Columbia. they are not States. If the other side would like to change that. they are welcome to propose a constitutional. amendment. Instead. this bill makes an end run around the Constitution by granting Delegates this privilege. Opponents are arguing that the courts approved this practice as long as the House revotes on an issue if the Delegates make a difference in the outcome. We are taking time away that we could be spending on more important issues by forcing a superfluous voting exercise on every closely divided Issue. This was a bad idea in 1992. A Chicago Tribune article at the time said: "This change would subvert the Constitution to give the territorial delegates the power to vote. but guarantee that any time their votes really count. they wont be counted." And this is a bad idea today. Todays Washington Times .editorial said: "Despite Democratic protestations to the contrary. its hard to see this rule change as anything other than an attempt to add four more votes to their majority." Frankly. we are creating a rule today that will waste our time and waste the American peoples time.
Date: 2007-01-29
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. Americans are fed up with elected officials acting like they are better than everyone else. We have seen scandal after scandal on a bipartisan basis. and people are sick of it. Just last year. in the face of several inappropriate acts from Members of this Congress. some of our leaders decided that we were above the law. I cannot disagree more. When a local business fails to file its taxes. we investigate. When a parent abuses a child. we investigate. If a Member of Congress abuses his or her position. law enforcement officers must have the authority to follow the evidence regardless of where it may lead. Listen up America. Last week I introduced H.R. 88 that declares to our constituents that we agree with them: Members of Congress should not be above the law. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation.
Date: 2007-01-30
Speaker: DAVID DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of this resolution. Tennessee is known as the Volunteer. State because we have consistently been willing to go and to serve. There are approximately 70.000 veterans in the First District of Tennessee. My district is also the home of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. a 500bed teaching medical facility located in northeast Tennessee. Veterans possess special qualities and skills such as a strong work ethic. training. discipline. and dedication to make the ideal candidates for employment. Our dedicated.men and women have sacrificed so much for us. Now it is our turn to support them. I would like to encourage President Bush to issue a proclamation calling upon employers. veterans service organizations. and Federal and State and local government agencies to lend their support for an increase in employment for the men and womenwho have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Date: 2007-01-30
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam Speaker. I rise. today in very strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 5. When men and women of our country separate from the military. they. leave with some of the best training and discipline in the whole wide world. While one would think that the private sector employers would jump at the opportunity to hire those individuals. that unfortunately is not always the case. In fact. recently discharged veterans see a higher unemployment rate than the national average. Todays bill supports the goals of Hire a Veteran Week and sends an important message to support both our Nations veterans and employers. Moreovei. employers will receive a strong reminder of the highly motivated and skilled segment of our labor force that is sometimes overlooked. Listen up. America. it is time to help our veterans find jobs as they transition back from the military. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.
Date: 2007-01-31
Speaker: DAVE HOBSON (republican)
Chamber: H

who just spoke a moment ago. and all of the members of the Energy and Water Subcommittee for their dedication and cooperation. And while I am at it. I would associate myself with the remarks of Mr. HOBSON relative to the negotiations with the other body. I am disappointed that we are here today finishing a CR from last year. I would have liked my first role as the chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee to be focused on next years responsibilities. instead of cleaning up the fiscal mess that was left to us. Mr. Speaker. most importantly. this bill provides $300 million to improve the Department of Energys ability to proceed with vital renewable energy and conservation research and development. This will allow the Department of Energy to pursue more technologies that would hold promise for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and the importation of foreign oil while supporting the growth of our economy. Given the energy crisis facing our Nation. and the implications it poses for our economy. our environment. and national security. these investments in energy research simply could not wait any longer. This measure also provides $200 million to bolster physical science research. This increase is a first step in a long overdue imprpvement in government support for research into physical sciences. Looking ahead. I hope to work with my partner. Mr. HOBSON. as well as again. all of the members of the subcommittee. And I would indicate to my colleagues that I remain very concerned about the size of our weapons complex and the lack of progress being made to rationalize it in conformity to existing treaty agreements and current international circumstances. Given this. and several other major initiatives being proposed by the Department of Energy. coupled with its fundamental failure to bring major projects in on time. let alone under budget. I will ask for the subcommittee to carefully and judiciously examine. all major initiatives being undertaken so that we may fulfill our responsibility as good stewards of the peoples money.
Date: 2007-02-05
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of my bill. H.R. 514. which will rename the aviation post office in Brooksville. FL. after Sergeant Lea Robert Mills. Lea was a resident of my district in Masaryktown who gave his life for his country while serving in Iraq. At 21 years old. Lea was proud to serve his fellow citizens. and even requested to be sent to Iraq. After being inspired to volunteer for the military after the September 11 attacks. he felt it was his duty as a Marine to go where the mission was. Lea told his father that the marines would give him the best opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. He joined right after graduating from Hemando High School in 2002. and had just recently reupped for a second stint with the Marines. Tragically. he was killed by an lED explosion. leaving behind a young wife and a grieving family. Sergeant Mills was a true patriot and a brave hero. and our community feels his loss immensely. His dedication to his .country and turning his ideals into actions are truly inspiring. It is a sad truth that in a cynical world. we are surprised by courageous acts. Learning about Lea from his family and friends helped me to have faith that not everyone is just trying to get bysome are trying to change the worid for the better. I hope that in renaming this post office. we will memorialize Leas courage and never forget his sacrifice for this great Nation. I urge my colleagues to supportthis bill. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-02-05
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam Speaker. over the last 2 years Americans have heard story after story about what my constituents very frequently call. "Members Gone Wild." Duke Cunningham. James Traficant. Bob Ney. Frank Ballance have all been convicted of crimes and are serving time in prison. These are all former Members of Congress and hail from both sides of the partisan divide. Madam Speaker. constituents are fed up with this behavior. They expect their elected representatives to be held to a higher standard. When the FBI gets an authorized search warrant and enters the office of a sitting Member accused of taking bribes. it just makes sense to constituents and to me that Congress should not interfere. Last week. I reintroduced my legislation. H. Res. 88. a resolution that declares to our constituents that we agree with them: Members of Congress should not be above the law. Listen up. America. Turning a blind eye to alleged indiscretions by elected Members of Congress will no longer pass muster. I urge my colleagues to join with others who are cosponsoring this resolution.
Date: 2007-02-05
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam -Speaker. I rise today about my bill. H:R. 514. which passed the House earlier today. The bill will rename the Aviation Post Office in Brooksville. Florida. after Sergeant Lea Robert Mills. This is the Post Office that Lea used because it is close to his parents home in Masaryktown. Florida. Lea was a resident of my district who gave his life for his country while serving in Iraq. At 21 years old. Lea was proud to serve his fellow citizens. and he actually requested to be sent to Iraq. After being inspired to volunteer for the military after the September 11 attacks. he felt it was his duty. as a Marine. to go where the mission was. Lea told his father that the Marines would give him the best opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. He joined right after graduating from Hernando High School in 2002. and he had just recently "reupped" for a second stint with the Marines. Tragically. he was killed by an lED explosion. leaving behind a young wife and a grieving family. Sergeant Mills was a true patriot and brave hero. and our community feels his loss immensely. His dedication to his country and turning his ideals into action are truly inspiring. It is a sad truth that in a cynical world. we are sometimes surprised by such courageous acts. Learning about Lea from his family and friends helped me to have faith that not everyone is just trying to get by. Some are trying to change the world for the better. Dee Mills. who is Leas mother. was so brave and so patriotic at the funeral. I dont think I will ever. ever forget that. While others who have lost loved ones grieve in very different ways. Dee Mills. like her son. decided to help change the world. Dee has put together a 501(c)(3). and it is called Leas Prayers and Postage. And the purpose of this organization is to raise money to send packages to our young men and women currently serving in Iraq. What a wonderful cause. what a wonderfulway to work out ones grief at losing her son. I can. only hope that in renaming this Post Office we will memorialize Leas courage and never. ever forget his sacrifice for this great Nation. Both Lea Robert Mills and Dee Mills. his mom. have given so much to the community and so much to America that I am very proud to represent the Masaryktown area and certainly the Mills family.
Date: 2007-02-06
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 512. and yield myself as much time as I may consume. I Latinos have played an integral part in American history since the founding of the United States. In fact. they were on the continent for more than two centuries prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Despite the growth of Latino inclusion programs at the Smithsonian over the past decade. supporters of H.R. 5121believe that the "mosaic portrayed in the Washington museums" is incomplete without a museum dedicated to the community. This bill passed the House in the 109th Congress. but we have concerns that this legislation requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide administrative services. facilities and funds for the operation of the commission. In a hearing on the bill. the National Park Service testified that the commission would fit better at the General Services Administration. whose mission is well suited to serve the commission. If the bill had been crafted this way. it would have enabled the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide its expertise on these issues. Despite these concerns. I support the bill. commend the authors. including Congresswoman ILEANA RosLEHTINEN for her persistence and hard work in helping craft this measure. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-02-06
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida . a coauthor of the legislation.
Date: 2007-02-06
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 235. There were many lastminute questions about this bill mainly because a hearing wasnt held on it. I hope this will not be the standard procedure for how the majority party brings legislation to the House floor. That is why I am pleased that the majority has made additional inquiries regarding this bill and has decided to offer an amendment to address some concerns. With this amendment. I will not oppose the legislation. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-02-06
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 386 and yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 386. sponsored by our colleague. the gentleman from Washington . conveys 9 acres of federally owned land and administrative buildings to the YakimaTieton Irrigation District in Washington State. No project facilities. such as dams. diversion structures or canals. are included in this title transfer. The transfer has been in the works for almost a decade. This legislation. also introduced by the junior Senator from Washington State. will enhance more private ownership and decrease the Federal Governments liability. It is a win for the local community and a win for the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I also rise in support of H.R. 365. the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. that was introduced by our colleague Mr. GORDON. who is obviously the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. along with ranking member
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield. myself 30 seconds. I just want to also thank the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. the gentleman from Tennessee . for putting this on the top of his agenda. at the top of his priorities. It is an important issue. and I want to thank him for doing that. Mr. Speaker. we have no further requests for time. and so I would yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise also in support of House Resolution 72. recognizing the incredible work and the accomplishments of Mr. Max Mayfield. the director of the National Hurricane Center. the Tropical Protection Center. again. of the National Hurricane Center. which is located in Miami. Florida. He has recently retired. I want to also commend my colleague from Florida