macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4158. to confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to artifacts from the astronauts space missions. and I thank the leadership of Mr. HALL and all of the cosponsors. This is a necessary bill which will protect our iconic early astronauts from needless harassment. This bill will ensure that any U.S. astronaut who participated in the historic Mercury. Gemini. or the Apollo programs will be able to keep the space artifacts which are still in their possession from those missions. At the time of these missions. it was accepted practice that astronauts could keep expendable equipment like checklists and hygiene kits as mementos of their missions. However. this was an informal policy. and those astronauts lacked paperwork establishing ownership over these items. This bill will protect those astronauts from any claims made by the Federal Government regarding any of these artifacts. Further. the bill protects our national interest by ensuring that any lunar rocks or other lunar material remain property of the United States. While I do support this bill and its passage today. I would be remiss if I didnt express my concern about a possible omission. This bill does not cover any of the shuttleera astronauts. The first American woman in space and the first African American in space were both exclusively shuttleera astronauts. and there were many other notable astronauts during this era. I think these astronauts are no less national heroes than the Apolloera astronauts and also no less deserving of that protection. Now. I understand this is a more difficult issue since NASA has not been able to identify when its own internal policies changed regarding astronaut artifacts. But I do think we need to figure that out and then address those astronauts situation as soon as possible. I do want to thank Mr. HALL for his leadership and for working with all of us on this bill. and I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my colleague. Mr. LEVIN. I was just listening to the previous speaker. The issue is not whether we reduce our longterm deficits. Weve got to do that. The question is: How? And every bipartisan group that has looked at this issue has said in order to do this in a smart and credible way. we have to make some additional tough cuts in reforms. But we also need to raise additional revenue. And if we dont raise any more revenue. it means that everybody else is going to get hit even harder. Seniors on Medicare will have to pay more through the voucher plan than our Republican colleagues have proposed. Kids education grants and loans will be cut. Our investment in infrastructure will be cut. So what weve said is. Lets take that balanced approach to reducing the deficit and that folks who have done very well should contribute a little bit more toward helping our Nation in that way. Our Republican colleagues have said. No. no. no. no. were not going to ask people like Warren Buffett or Mitt Romney or very wealthy people to pay one more pennynot onetoward reducing our deficit. And. Mr. Speaker. Ive got to say its astounding that our Republican colleagues would bring this bill to the floor of this House any day. but especially today. There is apparently no embarrassment factor about the fact that just yesterday this tape surfaced with Mitt Romney talking about the fact that 47 million Americans are not paying enough Federal taxes. that theyre somehow not taking personal responsibility. You might as well name this piece of legislation: Give Mitt Romney Another Big Tax Break. Because as the gentleman from Michigan pointed out. the real Buffett rule says to people like Warren Buffett and people like Mitt Romney and to people who have done very well: We need you to contribute a little bit more toward deficit reduction. just like you were doing when President Clinton was President. Just go back to paying the same rate as when President Clinton was President. And. by the way. President Obama has called upon this Congress to immediately extend tax relief to 98 percent of the American people and 97 percent of all businesses that do business passthroughs. What our Republican colleagues want to do is to say to Bain Capital and some of the Fortune 100 companies: You dont have to pay any more to reduce our deficit. And they use the language of small business as a cover for that. Now lets look at who was among those 47 percent of Americans that Governor Romney was talking about yesterday. Seniors who paid into Medicare. who paid into Social Security. who dont have any Federal income tax liability. Theyre being undertaxed. apparently. or theyre not taking personal responsibility. How about our soldiers? We decided that soldiers should not be taxed on their combat pay.
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. Soldiers who are fighting in Afghanistan. we decided that they shouldnt have to pay taxes on their combat pay. Apparently. Mitt Romney wants them to have to pay taxes on that money where theyre not taking personal responsibility. Millions of other Americans are working hard every day to make ends meet. They may be making $25.000. have two kids. And youre right. we have standard deductions and we have personal exemptions so that people making $25.000 a year dont get hit really hard with income tax. And yet those individuals are paying an effective tax rate more than Mitt Romney. As the gentleman from Michigan pointed out. if you combine the different parts of the payroll tax. theyre at 15 percent. Mitt Romney is at 13 percent. And you know what the Buffett rule would do. the real one? The real one would say for people like Warren Buffet and Mitt Romney. they should at least pay 30 percent over $2 million. Theres a phasein between $1 million and $2 million. Thats what the real Buffett rule does. And what adds insult to injury is that while Mitt Romney and Republicans are proposing a tax plan that would give a break for folks at the very top. the nonpartisan. independent Tax Policy Center says they want to pay for that by increasing taxes on middleincome Americans to the effect of about $2.000 a year more for an average middle class family. Those are people on top of the 47 percent who are just paying payroll taxes. So here we have a proposal by our Republican colleagues to provide big tax breaks to folks at the very top. and they want to come and make a mockery of the real Buffett rule. The real Buffett rule would actually generate $47 billion. Is that going to solve our deficit problem? Of course not. Will it contribute to helping it? Yes.
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

That would actually raise some money to help reduce the deficit and ask for some shared responsibility. This bill is the "pretty please" bill. Pretty please. Warren Buffet. pretty please. Mitt Romney. wont you help contribute a little bit more toward reducing our deficit? I can understand why people like Mitt Romney would love this bill because it asks nothing more of them at a time when we should be taking a balanced approach to reducing our deficit. Just last week. we had a debate here about sequester. Everybody agreed. Republicans and Democrats. it would be really bad to have these acrosstheboard cuts take place. Buzz saw cuts. Our Republican colleagues and we both talked about the negative impact on defense. also on the FBI. on border security. You know what? We had a proposal to pay for part of that to prevent the sequester with the Buffett rule and some other cuts. Our Republican colleagues talked about the terrible consequences of the cuts. but they just dont want to pay for them. They dont want to ask very wealthy Americans to contribute one more penny.
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the subcommittee ranking member on the Ways and Means Committee for his leadership. and I thank my friend from Texas. Congressman JOHNSON. for managing. and the sponsor of this legislation as well. Let me rise in support of what I think is a recognition. a recognition of the sacrifice that families make and those who remain behind after our soldiers fall in battlea fall pursuant to a servicerelated injuryand to not have the added burden of having any forgiven debt be included as income to be assessed by the IRS. I believe that this is a fair and important collaborative exercise. a reasonable response to taxation. I hope. as we come together around veterans and this removal of this burden. we can clearly see pathways to address the question of tax reform that responds to working Americans. that protects working Americans. for that is obviously what this family is. They sent a son off to war. or a daughter off to waror a mother or father or uncle or aunt. cousins. America is about family. Therefore. now we have the legitimate response that they would not. through some procedural snafu. be burdened by having that forgiven debt be part of the remaining familys income. particularly those who may have cosigned. I know the fallen soldier would not want that to happen. As I stand here. I cannot help make mention as well of the resolution that saluted the fallen in Libya. H. Res. 786. I just wanted to acknowledge the passion that all Americans have for Ambassador John Christopher Stevens. Foreign Service information management officer Sean Smith. and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee. I have often said that terrorism is franchised. It does not have to be an army of millions or thousands. it does not have to be a battalion. it doesnt have to be anything but one wanting to do evil. Therefore. it is important to say to the families of these men in particular. and others that fell. and others that were injured. and the men and women that serve as our facecivilian face. if you willin embassies and consulate offices around the world. particularly those who have served in the horrific backdrop of 9/11 in a region that is now overwhelmed with conflictto say to their families that our priority will be to offer you sympathy and to mourn with you and to love you and to indicate that we will not allow divisiveness to fall on the issue of who did it.
Date: 2012-09-19
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

What we will do is to raise the flag as Americans and evenhandedly and quickly investigate the source of this horrific incident to our family members. We will not let their memory be diminished by quarreling and squabbling about pointing the finger as much as it will be to investigate what actually happened. I think it is time now. as we saw occurring just a few days ago with the welcoming home of their bodies. that America draws together to show that we are united around those who have fallen in battle and those who have served. to express our deepest respect. and of course our deepest honor for them. I will go forth to work harder to ensure that we are protected with secure Council offices and embassies and enhanced security for those who are willing to put themselves on the front line. I think this is appropriate in conjunction with this present legislation. H.R. 5044. that helps our fallen veterans as well. I thank my colleague for yielding the time.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to allow the ranking member of the full committee to control the remainder of the time.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I will be brief. I do feel the need to address the issue that the chairman has raised. I think he misunderstands the issue. We have. in U.S. universities. graduating in STEM fields 10.000 Ph.D. and 30.000 masters degrees a year. Assuming that all 40.000 want to stay in the United Statesand that is not a valid assumptionwe will not use up all of the 50.000 visas. It is true that the EB2s might apply. but many of them did not go to American universities. So the easiest way to make sure these visas are not eliminated is to do what happens in all the rest of the immigration EB categories. which is to allow those visas to flow. Finally. I just have to say I have never once been asked by a hightech company to have some online university be the awarder of the Ph.D. Its not a demand. its not an interest that anybody in the technology field has ever expressed to me.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this partisan bill. Its unfortunate. Maintaining this countrys advantage in science and technology is an important issue. and it should not be a partisan issue. Democrats have long supported efforts to increase STEM careers in this country and to address the question of STEM visas. We all recognize how important these careers are to the future economic strength of this country. We could be working together in a bipartisan way to address these issues in a fair and thoughtful manner. but this bill does not do that. Instead of working together. the majority has chosen a partisan route. This route puts American workers wages at risk at a time when they can ill afford it. It allows a dangerous race to the bottom that will drive wages down for American workers. It allows employers to pay visa holders less than the actual wages paid to similarly situated workers at those employers. A U.S. worker and a visa holder could be working right next to one another. doing the same work. and the foreign worker is cheaper. We know what this will mean for U.S. workers pay and job opportunities. Depressing families wages is not what our country needs. Thats why I joined with Congresswoman LOFGREN on legislation that would require a visa holder to be paid at least the actual wage being paid to a U.S. worker with similar experience. I also have deep concerns that this partisan bill is also a payoff for predatory forprofit education institutions. The Republican bill includes language that specifically allows forprofit institutions to participate in this program. Why is that? Tech and other highskilled employers have not been pushing to get more foreign graduates from forprofit schools. This provision would allow these institutions to find new. potentially lucrative revenue streams for their shareholders without regard to the actual needs of the American labor market. Mr. Speaker. the American people have made it clear that they are fed up with the powerful special interests gaming the system to increase their bottom line. They are fed up with partisan exercises meant to gain political advantage during an election cycle. It is no surprise that for 2 years this Congress had an opportunity to have a full and open debate on this very important issue but that the Republicans have chosen partisanship. obstruction. and polarization over moving this country forward. Thats why we see this bill at the last minute. and thats why we see this bill requiring a twothirds vote.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Im most grateful. Thank you very much. To the Speaker and to my colleague from Texas. this is the perfect infrastructure for collaboration and bipartisanship. We have worked together on this issue. and we have confronted the issue that I mentioned to Congresswoman LOFGREN on which we will continue to work. which is to ensure the outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Hispanicserving colleges for the engineers and scientists who are prepared to work in Americas technology industry. and I expect that that will happen. I am supportive of STEM visas to provide for the infrastructure of workers for the dynamic technology. Silicon Valley software. Austin. Texas. and beyond to be able to be vibrant and thriving. But as I just left the President of Malawi. a woman who has inspired Malawians to look to the future. and as they look to the future. we have said that we want to ensure that America has a future with the continent. To remove the diversity visas that create diversity. to take away opportunities from a continent that. by and large. has been an ally and friend to the United States. whose African citizens have come to be reunited with families. who have generated outstanding businesses. from South Africans. to Kenyans. to Guineans. to those from Cote dIvoire and those from Nigeriain my town. Nigerians have created the most successful brand of small businesses from being seamstresses to doctors and lawyers and others. I cannot vote for a bill that will allow us to remove the component for diversity visas as an exchange or substitute for this kind of approach. We must have balanced and comprehensive immigration reform.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

If we pass the American Jobs Act. we will help Hispanic youngsters. Anglo youngsters. African American youngsters. and all Americans. However. what an insult to Americas values to suggest that those who come to this country to give by way of a legal process. diversity visas. are not contributing. I do not want to insult anyone who comes with the idea of helping America. That means wherever theyve come from: Africa. Iran. elsewhere. If they come for a good reason through the diversity visa to reunite with their family. that is the American way. Immigration by law. that is the American way.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I think this is a disappointing day at a time when we look for leadership on the part of the majority to bring us together. Instead. we have a partisan bill before us. We have 54 cosponsors on the bill that weve introduced. The remarkable thing is that we have support across the entire breadth of the Democratic Caucus for STEM visas. The things that have been said about the Diversity Visa today are simply wrong. They remind me of the warnings we got a short while ago about the "terror babies" who would somehow emerge after 21 years. Its absurd. We need to vote against this bill. but I think we can quickly reconvene and get to the bipartisan effort that this country deserves.
Date: 2012-09-20
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chair. I rise today to oppose this bill because its a mere political messagenot a solution for the Nations coal mining communities. Simply put: Jobs are being lost in the coalfields because natural gas is cheaper. Adopting this bill will do nothing to change those market forces. Likewise. this bill has nothing to do with protecting coal miners or ensuring they return home safely after their shift. Its been more than two years since 29 miners died in the Upper Big Branch mine. And for more than two years. families who lost a loved one in the mine have demanded congressional action. They want to ensure that the system does not let unscrupulous mine owners cover up unsafe conditions. All they want is to be sure that no other family will have to go through what they did. Well. more than two years and four investigative reports later. this Congress still has not acted. Ive met plenty of miners in my day. Theyre smart enough to see through this stunt. I urge my colleagues to vote "no" on this bill. and turn our attention to job creation and job safety.
Date: 2012-09-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on August 3. 1962. a life changing decision was made by Dr. Denton Cooley in the founding of the Texas Heart Institute. As I listened to the words said this morning. he chose wisdom over ignorance with respect to diagnosing cardiovascular disease. the most devastating killer of Americans. killing a life every 33 seconds. 2.600 lives each day. and nearly 1 million lives each year. Dr. Cooley was honored this past week with tributes from President George Bush and President William Jefferson Clinton. joined by his wife and extended family. Over the years. he has been able to help men and women and children. He has done a magnificent job with respect to the amount of surgeries that have been performed. He performed more than 118.000 openheart operations. 258.000 cardiac catheterizations. and 1.270 heart transplants. The Texas Heart Institute. along with St. Lukes Hospital. continues to serve the world and continues to do research to improve the lives of those who suffer from heart disease. Dr. James Willerson is the new CEO. His demeanor and temperament. his research abilities. and his leadership has taken this great institution to the 21st century. What a great honor to be with those who honor Dr. Denton Cooley for his wisdom and his ability to challenge medical profession science to be able to save lives. Today. children live. families are reunited. and we are stronger in our health because of the existence of the Texas Heart Institute. It is my privilege to congratulate them for 50 years of saving lives.
Date: 2012-09-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Strike section 503 of the committee print. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 788. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Date: 2012-09-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. this is an amendment. I believe. that common sense would allow us to work together and pass. This amendment would simply maintain the current deadline that existed under the previous administration of 90 days under the Clean Air Act by striking section 503 of the bill which artificially limits agency comment periods on water quality permits to 30 days with no possibility of extension. This existed under President Bushs administration. Why. then. would my friends on the other side of the aisle not join with me to say lets have regular order? Lets ensure that we give everyone a reasonable opportunity for a response on their quality of life. On the surface. the intent of H.R. 3409 appears to be to prevent the Interior Department from revising a Bush administration midnight regulation that significantly weakened mountaintop protections on the destructive practice of mountaintop removal mining. Let me remind you. they did not alter the comment period. Mountaintop removal mining. as many of us know. is a very challenging. environmentally difficult process. For many. they say. it creates jobs. What we are trying to do is to ensure that there is a balance between that industry and. as well. the fairness of allowing those to be able to comment. As its presently drafted. this bill would reach. in fact. it would make it much more difficult. if you will. to deal with the question of rulemaking. The people in the State of Texas and the city of Houston appreciate the ability to drink cool. fresh water. So does everyone else. The idea of not being able to comment on the impact of this particular process is challenging. I ask my colleagues to consider the importance of coming together and extending. or going back to. the 90day comment period to balance. if you will. the timeframe and to ensure that all are heard on any aspects that would impact the environment. impact the environment of this particular procedure. With that. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2012-09-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. may I ask how much time remains. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas has 21/2 minutes remaining.