macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-25
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. today. I rise in honor of July 20. which is a special day of remembrance for the families and loved ones of all those who have suffered so greatly as a result of one of the biggest national tragedies in modern Greek history: the 1974 illegal invasion and occupation of the island of Cyprus by Turkish soldiers. It happened 39 years ago this week. The invasion forced nearly thousands of Greek Cypriots to leave their homes in the occupied area and become refugees in their own country. Their religious and cultural sites were damaged and destroyed. their religious freedoms restricted. and their rights disrespected. In violation of international law. the Turkish soldiers remain there still. occupying more than onethird of the island. They ignore all the U.N. resolutions pertaining to Cyprusand there have been many passed. As the cochair and cofounder of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus. I have worked diligently with my colleagues in the Caucus out of our mutual concern for the continued division and occupation of Cyprus. We continue to work to raise awareness of the Cyprus problem and the role the U.S. can play to support the negotiations. The people of Cyprus deserve a unified and democratic countryand we are working towards that end.
Date: 2013-07-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I rise today in strong opposition to the Fiscal Year 2014 Transportation. Housing and Urban Development. THUD. appropriations bill being considered before the House. This bill fails in almost every regard to prioritize our Nations crumbling infrastructure. expand affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderateincome Americans. and strengthen local economies through direct investment and job creation. The House bill cuts $7.7 billion from the enacted level for FY2013. slashing funds for vital community development programs. TIGER grants and highspeed rail projects. and even key assistance grants for our most vulnerable segment of the population: homeless individuals and families. This bill already cuts more than $4 billion below the postsequester amounts for FY2013. consistent with the terrible assumptions included in the Ryan Budget that the Defense Department will be spared from this shared sacrifice. Simply put. this bill will place the burden of these cuts squarely on the backs of low- and moderateincome Americans. The FY2014 THUD appropriations bill is just another example of House Republicans refusal to work across the aisle to develop a sensible and bipartisan budget agreement that does not threaten our economic growth and competitiveness. Instead. my Republican colleagues have deliberately chosen to ignore the demands of the American people by developing a budget that makes drastic cuts to public programs without any deliberation on the basis of need or the public good. Mr. Chair. the FY2014 THUD appropriations bill is simply unworkable in its current form. The drastic and indiscriminate cuts found in this bill will undermine critical investments in our Nations infrastructure. hollow out vital housing programs. and destroy jobs.
Date: 2013-07-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise to join my colleagues in strong support of the Community Development Block Grant program and the tremendous benefits that this program has afforded millions of low- and moderateincome Americans since its inception in 1974 under Republican leadership. The Community Development Block Grant is a vital tool that the Department of Housing and Urban Development uses to provide for new developments and affordable housing in local communities all across the country. The fiscal year 2014 House TransportationHousing and Urban Development appropriations bill indiscriminately slashes the grants by almost half. or $1.6 billion less than the current $3.3 billion for fiscal year 2013. These cuts do not reflect a change in need or have any basis in reality. and they would do incredible harm to local communities across the entire Nation. The House version of this bill is simply unworkable in its current form. and it plainly ignores many of the benefits that the CDBG program provides for the 1.209 State and local governments that receive these grants. Since 1974. CDBG has invested over $135 billion in local economies. Every dollar that has been invested leverages an additional $3.55 in nonCDBG funding. which can go toward improving existing infrastructure. new jobs. and housing repairs. as well as homeownership assistance. By slashing CDBG funding. the House majority will invariably bring harm to countless low- and moderateincome Americans. Im not prepared to do that. and neither are many of us. even many Republican colleagues. Cuts from years prior have already had devastating consequences. The city of Dallas. for example. is considering another round of cuts or eliminating certain programs entirely in light of projected budget reductions. For Dallas. this could mean eliminating grants for affordable housing developers. shrinking the Mortgage Assistance Program. and decimating new home construction in areas targeted by CDBG revitalization. Mr. Chairman. the fiscal year 2014 TransportationHousing and Urban Development appropriations bill will bring considerable harm. and considering it this week is just another example of the misguided policies of the current Republican majority. As long as the current majority Republicans refuse to work together with House Democrats to develop a sensible budget framework. the American people will continue to suffer the consequences of draconian cuts to invaluable social programs. When we shut down everything. it does not help us economically. It shuts us down. It moves us backwards. There is a right way and a wrong way. and we cannot continue to do it the way this current Republican majority is pushing. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-07-30
Speaker: NEGRETE MCLEOD (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2013-07-30
Speaker: NEGRETE MCLEOD (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. during the appropriation process. over 100 Members and I expressed our concern about the low funding level for Community Development Block Grants. These grants are one of the most successful. costeffective Federal programs that encourage economic growth in our cities and communities across the country. According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. every $1 of CDBG investment leads to an additional $3.55 of investment from outside sources. In Californias 35th Congressional District. the cities of Pomona. Chino. Ontario. Fontana. and Rialto. where people of all parties reside. currently receive Community Development Block Grant funding. This funding is used to build affordable housing. construct sidewalks. and invest in energy efficiency. water conservation. gang prevention. and afterschool programs. These programs maintain strong neighborhoods and promote a higher quality of life for residents in the district. With the proposed cuts in this bill. it is estimated that they will lose 50 percent of funding for next year. I strongly oppose these devastating cuts. I ask that other Members consider their communities and oppose these cuts too. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-07-30
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

With that. Mr. Chairman. I withdraw my amendment. I hope that we can find that common ground that you mentioned. and I look forward to working with the ranking member who has always done whatever he can to help our veterans as well. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection. the amendment is withdrawn.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 1911. the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act. Last month. I urged my colleagues in this House to take up and help our students because the interest rate was going to double on July 1. The Senate has already acted. and this week we have a chance to make things right. The Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act will not only reverse the July 1 student loan interest rate hike. but it actually makes things better for our students. As students around the world are acquiring higher education. masters and training. its imperative that our students here in this country also receive the opportunities to compete on a global scale. By making higher education more accessible. H.R. 1911 accomplishes that. When it is signed by President Obama. it will give $25 billion in debt relief over the next 6 years. It will give students the ability to lock in the interest rate for the life of their loan so they know exactly what they are going to be paying in interest. and it will save thousands of dollars and lower interest payments. I look forward to sending this bill to our President.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself 30 seconds. I would not want the Members of this House to believe that somehow this bill that were going to vote on in a few minutes is the same as the Republican bill. This bill saves $25 billion for those students over the next 5 years. The Republican bill that was voted on in this House costs those students a billion dollars. So theres a big difference. As I say. it was well worth the wait. So lets understand very clearly. The Members of this House are getting a better deal with this legislation if they vote "yes" on this bill. both sides of the aisle. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut .
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Im just delighted to be able to say that the leadership of the Senate realized that the Republican bill would have overwhelmed our young people. I was just talking to someone just a few minutes ago. and they were saying we need to have a commitment that every person that graduates from college has a job. We should also have a commitment that every young person that wants to go to school and get a higher education should not be burdened with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. For over 2 years. our good friend. Mr. COURTNEY from Connecticut. Democrats. the Education Committee. and
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I didnt mean to interrupt. I thought you were going to yield back your time. I just wanted to ask you for 30 seconds. I thank the gentleman for yielding. We have these differences at the Member level and the institutional level. I just forgot. before I sat down. to thank the staffs of both sides of our committee for their professional work. Because whatevers going on on the surface here and surface warfare. we know that. underneath. the staff is trying to make it work out whatever direction we decide to move in. So I just want to thank so much the staff both of the majority and minority side for their help.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my opposition to the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911. the Smarter Solutions for Students Act. This bill returns federal student loans to a system of marketbased variable rates. an imprudent policy that seeks profits for deficit reduction at the expense of students struggling with the substantial and climbing cost of postsecondary education. While the bill may appear to reverse the interest rate hike that occurred on July 1. setting rates at 3.8 percent for this year and 4.6 percent for next year for undergraduate Stafford student loan borrowers. it is essentially a bait and switch that will pile extra debt onto students when the current recordlow rates inevitably rise. This is unacceptable. Student loan debt is a major drag on the American economy. reaching $1 trillion and climbing. and recently surpassing credit card debt as the largest form of consumer debt. Approximately 60 percent of students take out loans to attend college. and increasing the costs of borrowing will prevent millions from being able to pursue higher education. While the interest rate caps are a step in the right direction. they are too high to meaningfully protect students when the temporarily low rates give way to rates that are even higher than the 6.8 percent rate this bill attempts to fix. College educated students are the future engine of our country. and anyone who wants to pursue a postsecondary education should have the opportunity to do so without going into crushing debt. I urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation and instead. extend the current interest rate of 3.4 percent until Congress enacts a true longterm solution to the cost of college that is worthy of our Nations young people.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. with respect to all of my colleagues and the various positions that are being put forth. I support H.R. 850. a copy of which I happen to have in my hand. and I would point to page 38. line 11. which deals with exceptions for the sale of agricultural commodities. food. medicine. and medical devices. I wanted to bring some clarity to this issue. With global security at risk. I dont think that we can take the risk. I do believe that we can proceed with diplomacy and sanctions at the same time. I support H.R. 850.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise to express concern about the decision to bring H.R. 850 to the floor for a vote today. We must act strongly and strategically to prevent a nucleararmed Iran. and I believe diplomatic negotiations are currently the best possible means at our disposal for achieving this goal. Unfortunately. I am concerned that voting on H.R. 850 now may undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful. negotiated elimination of Iranian nuclear capacity. At a time when a new Iranian Presidentelect has made statements indicating a greater openness to diplomacy. returning this message with a vote on tougher sanctions only serves to empower Iranian hardliners and weaken Iranian moderates. U.S. policy must make it clear that the goal of sanctions on Iran is to elicit verifiable concessions from Iran that have a material impact on its ability to develop a nuclear weapon. In order to achieve this goal. the President must have the ability to waive sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions. Yet H.R. 850 places significant restrictions on the Presidents authority to waive sanctions. Mr. Speaker. while we must maintain a credible military threat towards Iran. we must also make every effort to promote the success of diplomatic negotiations with Iran. If we fail to negotiate a solution that ensures the safety of the U.S. and our close ally Israel by verifying that Iran does not have the capacity to develop nuclear weapons. we will be left with few alternatives but military engagement. I urge my colleagues to come together and support tough but fair diplomacy with Iran.
Date: 2013-07-31
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New

Mexico and Ms. SPEIER changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." Messrs. CICILLINE and BUTTERFIELD changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So (twothirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was concurred in. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. the dangers of a nuclear Iran are real and represent one of the greatest threats to our country and to our allies. In addition to the existential threat to our ally. Israel. Iran is a growing source of violence in the Middle East. propping up the Syrian regime. arming Hezbollah. and undermining a fragile peace in Iraq. More troubling. the Iranian regime is pursuing an active nuclear capability. which we cannot allow. While we have strong laws on the books already. we can and must go even further to isolate the Iranian regime and the major sources of funding that support it. The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act will cripple that countrys energy sector and tighten sanctions on Irans radical leadership and human rights violators. For the first time. the bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any entity that maintains significant commercial ties with Iran. Without question. we must come together to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join us in sending a clear message to the Iranians that we will stand firmly with our friend. Israel. until the Iran regime forsakes this reckless course and rejoins the peaceful community of nations.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. the American people have said loud and clear that what they want the most from Congress is jobs. And what is Congress giving them? Jabsthreats to bring the government to a halt. threats to let the United States Treasury default. threats to slash the funding for mass transit that brings people to their jobs. And the tentacles of sequestration will strangle growth even more. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that sequestration will cost us 900.000 fewer jobs next year. Its time to stop playing politics with our economy and do the peoples work. We need to provide a strong workforce. a strong infrastructure. and manufacturing sectors. We need to provide a living wage to grow the middle class and strengthen Americas standing as a leader in education and pioneering research. But still. our friends on the other side of the aisle are marching to the tune of their own drum when what they should be listening to is the cry of the American people for more jobs.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this is a picture of a homeless young person. 19.000 of them are in Houston. according to 28 school districts. And just think. on the floor of the House before it went thud. there was a housing bill that cut the housing appropriation for homeless and veterans and working Americans to $44.1 billion. But more importantly. under the sequestration amount offered by the Republicans. even the Senate. in a compromise manner. put it at $54 billion. So I rise today to ask. is anyone speaking for these young people. such as those who reside in a place called Lil Audrey in my district. where I sat down with young people who had lived in a crack house. not because they were on crack. but because that was a place for them to live until they found Lil Audrey? Or the young lady that was abused until she found Lil Audrey? Or the twins who were homeless with no parents until they found Lil Audrey? Im going to ask the city of Houston to use its public facilities money. money that it has been blessed to have from the Federal Government Housing and Urban Development. to help build a facility for Lil Audrey. and Im going to insist that when local communities get Federal dollars that we fight so hard for. to be able to use them creatively to serve people. to serve the taxpayer. to serve the homeless. to serve homeless youth. How long are we going to have to cry out for young people who suffer from mental concerns and others who have no place to live? I hope Houston will listen. and I hope my friends on the other side of the aisle will have mercy on those who need housing.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in opposition to this rule. Every weekend. I go home to New Mexico. and my constituents always ask me: Whats going on in Congress? What is Congress doing to create jobs and grow the economy and end the sequester? There are currently 2.000 constituents in my district who are getting furloughed every week. and they want to know. There are countless teachers. construction workers. small business owners. and first responders. and they want to know. Unfortunately. the answer is "nothing" because of the House Republican leadership. They simply cannot govern. Yesterday. Republicans pulled the Transportation. Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill from the schedule. illustrating that the sequester and the Republican budget are not feasible. Tomorrow. we will adjourn for a 5week district work period. and we still havent passed a jobs bill or a budget that replaces the sequester or that reduces the deficit. and we havent passed comprehensive immigration reform. Instead of addressing any of these critical issues. House Republicans have decided that its more important to vote one more time to repeal the Affordable Care Actfor the 40th time. Mr. Speaker. New Mexicans and Americans want Congress to focus on jobs and economic growth.
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. ANDREWS. Ms. JACKSON LEE. and Mr. OROURKE changed their vote from "no" to "aye." So the amendment was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. Stated against:
Date: 2013-08-01
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong opposition to this legislation. the Stop Government Abuse Act. I would feel much better about it if it were labeled the Promotion of Government Abuse Act. because it encourages government to roll back the clock and take away rights that workers have earned from working hard. Can you imagine being fired after youve worked up to the ranks of the SES. which is very difficult to get to. and being told that youve been let go on the basis of an IG report? Where is the equal protection under the law there? There is none. I think that its unfortunate that we would treat our Federal workforce this way. They work hard. deserve better. and I oppose this legislation.