macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1983-11-15
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this bill H.R. 3922. amends section 1322(c) of title 31. United States Code. to establish a 1year limitation on the filing of claims for unpaid accounts formerly maintained In the Postal Savings System. The Postal Savings System was created on June 25. 1910. to provide facilities for deposit of savings at Interest with the security of the U.S. Government for repayment. Authority to accept additional deposits Into the Postal Savings System was terminated in 1966 and the responsibility for administering payment of claims on the remaining 580.000 accounts was transferred from the Postal Service to the Department of the Treasury In 1967. Since 1967. payment to 119.000 depositors or their successors in interest has been made leaving approximately 467.000 unpaid accounts with a $5.8 million balance. Of the remaining accounts. at least onehalf are estimated to be worth $2 or less. with the remaining onehalf valued at an average of $24. The original $65 million transferred to the Department of the Treaury has been exhausted. use to the claims on the unpaid accounts and the distribution of $6 million in 1971 to the States. territories and District of Columbia. This distribution was authorized by Congress In lieu of allowing claims on the basis of state unclaimed property laws. The Secretary of the Treasury Is presently required to hold in perpetuity the balance of the accounts formerly held In the Postal Savings System. The bill provides that no claim for any Postal Savings System deposit may be brought after 1 year from date of enactment. Considering the notice to be provided. the notice given at the time of termination and transfer to the Department of the Treausry 16 years ago. the bill adequately protects the interests of depositors. their successors in interest. and the U.S. Government.
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as most of my fellow members of the House delegation to Grenada found. U.S. intervention there was not only necessary.. it was right. Truly a rescue mission. it rescued our citizens from the dangers of being taken hostage or being harmed. It rescued the region from the dangers of the Grenadian front for SovietCuban expansionist aggression. It rescued a friendly people from the dangers of the Communist chaos forced upon them. What mission. then. remains for our troops? Principally. It Is to provide stability for the interim government until Grenadas fellow Commonwealth countries can help fill a local policing gap created by years of dictatoriship. This should not take long. certainly not more than 60 days. So. I was happy to learn that our Ambassador believes our troops can be home by Christmas. If they are not. though. it could counteract some of the good we have already done. We would let our true motives be misinterpreted as an occupation. We would lead the Grenadian people Into a reliance that would undermine their return to Independent democracy. As the only representative of the Engishspeaking Caribbean in this Chamber. I can advise that our real mission now is not military in Grenada. it is economic in the region. With Grenada secure and free. we must not make the mistake of thinking that Grenada is an isolated case. Instead. It is Imperative that we meaningfully contribute to the viability and development of the eastern Caribbean as a whole.
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: DE A GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2838. a bill that would authorize the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to provide .donated or surplus tree seedlings and technical assistance to volunteer groups andorganizations for planting on lands owned by State or local governments or the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker. the purpose of this bill is plain and simple: When the Federal Government Is confronted with an unforeseen loss of millions of taxpayer dollars. let us. in effect. give the money back to the taxpayers in the form of trees for parks and other public areas. This is not only a wise and judicious resolution of a fiscal problem but plain commonsense as well. Before I proceed further. allow me to explain how such a situation develops and why we bring this legislative resolution before this House. The U.S. Forest Service projects timber harvest levels and reforestation needs several years before the harvestIng and reforestation actually take place. Therefore. the Forest Service places seedling orders with forest nurseries 3 to 4 years prior to harvest so that when the timber is cut. the agency will have thetrees it needs to reforest the land. After 1980. the housing market virtually collapsed. As a result. much of the timber that was scheduled for harvest remains uncut. At the end of fiscal year 1983. In Washington and Oregon alone more than 18 billion board feet of Federal timbera 31/2year supplywere sold but remained uncut. Faced with this unprecedented backlog of unharvested timber. the Forest Service found itself with a surplus of seedlings. Under constraint of Federal law. the agency attempted to sell and give away as many seedlings as possible to other government agencies and volunteer organizations. Dumping the seedlings on the market would have seriously damaged p)iivai- commercial nurseries. so the Forest Service was forced to destroy them. Wh.n economic fluctuations reduce planned harvests. fewer sites are available for replanting. As a result. surplus saedlings that are 2 and 3 years old. are destroyed at the optimal age for successful planting. By mnaking the surplus seedlings available for planting in schoolyards. parks. and along our public highways. the Government Is assured of a return on its investment in the form of a healthier. more beautiful and more diverse environment. The tree planting program established by H.R. 2838 is Intended to achieve two main objectives. First. it would improve the overall quality of life in the United States. since trees reduce noise. filter impurities from the air and water. moderate extreme weather conditions. prevent soil erosion. and provide additional habitats for wildlife. Second. it would instill In the volunteers. and particularly the young people participating in the program. the sense of pride and accomplishment. that comes from making a valuable contribution to society. I ask all Members to oin me in supporting enactment of R.R. 2838.
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee. the gentleman from Tennessee .
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from California for his contribution. I would like to clarify though that the intent and the immediate purpose of this legislation is to serve the needs of farmers and other domestic users. although there Is a collateral benefit that could Involve Mexico. but this legislation is aimed entirely at allowIng the Secretary to work with the landowners so that the salinity of our lands Is corrected and a benefit of that would be cleaner water In the Colorado. The purpose here is to work with our landowners and as a benefit thereon collaterally would be that clean water would flow into the Colorado for all users. including that which is now utilized In the gentlemans area. an amount that conceivably would diminish In the near future as Arizona reclaims some of Its water.
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers may have until midnight tonight to file a conference report on the bill. to provide equity to cotton producers under the paymentinkind program.
Date: 1983-11-16
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

I have one question I would like to ask. I notice in the DSG. and I have had some calls about it. that the conference agreement contains several provisions that were not included in the House bill. one being that the measure relieves physicians who were overpaid during fiscal 1982 of any liability for the overpayment. Could the gentleman explain to me what that means?
Date: 1983-11-17
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I hereby give notice that under the rule I plan to bring up the conference report on the bill. H.R. 3385. as soon as practical. The copies of the report may be yesterday.
Date: 1983-11-17
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I think that during this period when we hear many complaints about the trading policies of some other nations. we should pay some attention when a piece of good news comes along. One piece of such news is the recent announcement by Premier Sub Yunhsuen in Taiwan that he has directed officials of his government to concentrate Taiwans corn purchases as much as possible In the United States. The reason the Premier gave for his decision is instructive and welcome. He said the purchases should be made to strengthen economic and trade relations between the Republic of China and the United States and to narrow the unfavorable U.S. trade balance with Taiwan. Earlier. a ranking official of the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs Indicated that his governmenit will concentrate bulk purchases of products like soybeans. wheat. cotton. sorghum and barley in the United States. Taiwan currently buys most of its supplies of these crops from the United States. but In recent years it has made some purchases of items including cotton and sorghum from other countries. Now. in a determined effort to balance the United StatesRepublic of China trade relationship. America will get more of this business. Any signs of strengthening foreign markets are welcome these days. because many of our farmers are still suffering economically and a dependable export market is extremely important to the outlook for the future. What is especially welcome is the indication of a policy geared to balance and mutual advantage. It is a policy ixvhich should play a major role in our relations with many countries.e
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to both of these gentlemen and their staffs for shepherding this measure through both Houses of Congress with obvious success. This past April I was fortunate enough to chair a hearing of the Housing Subcommittee in my district in Stockton. Calif.. where witness after witness testified to the effectiveness of current housing programs. and provided evidence of the urgent need for the continuation and expansion of these programs. After suffering substantial cutbacks on funding for housing programs during the last session of Congress. this measure will be the first housing reauthorization bill to pass the House In over 2 years. The bill will reauthorize a long list of programs that provide housing for many lowincome Americans. assist first time home buyers is purchasing their first homes. and give sorely needed assistance to our cities through the use of community development block grants. urban development action grants. and other programs that I know are effective because I have seen firsthand the results produced by these programs in my district. as well in communities across the country. The $15.6 billion In this bill will not only provide housing for thousands of Americans. It will provide jobs for construction workers. much needed business for homebuilders. and a restored sense of civic pride for many of our communities. The bill has received bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress. and I know that my colleagues in the House will see fit to approve this measure today. Mr. Speaker. if we are to keep our commitment to provide decent. affordable housing for all of our citizens. we need to pass this bill.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. I would like to state in our discussions and in my deliberations with Treasury on this. I come away and my understanding of the language is the Secretary has to. must certify and notify the committees of the House. I shall make sure he does in every Instance. But in addition to that. at the beginning of each year I will put in a blanket request that the Secretary ef Treasury to appear in each and every instance on these.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I call up the conference report on thle bill to provide equity to cotton producers tinder tile paymentinkind program.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consuime. Mr. Speaker. this Is the conference report that contains dairy legislation which is almost identical to that which passed the House by a vote of 325 to 91. It contains additional Items on the nocost tobacco program. It contains an additional item to provide assistance for farmers and ranchers inI the drought area through reduced prices on sales of Governmentowned feed and grains. It also has an egg promotion article. Those are the Items In the conference report. I am happy to Inform by colleagues that all our members of the conference committee. Democrat and Republican with one exception. signed the conference report. The wishes of thle House in relation to protecting or attempting to protect as best as possible the cattle. pork. and poultry industries. were diligently studied. and the conference report contains good provisions to this end. Mr. Speaker. we have come a long way. If I might just take a couple of minutes. let me say that we began this process almost a year ago. The subcommittee. the committee. the House. and then the Senate. all gave thorough consideration to these issues and we now have reached this point. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support the conference report. Let us proceed with the business of assisting otir farm sector that Is in terrible need at this time.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would inform the gentleman that I have basically no requests for time. We would hope that we could vote.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

No. the dairy part Is almost identical. It has a couple of refinements. so I would say in the dairy part that it is 95 percent of what we considered In the House.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Working with the industry. and also not forgetting the consumers. I would tell the gentleman that we had what we considered a good part of that legislation to address that issue. That has been modified. we think. to make it more workable. giving more discretion to the Secretary of Agriculture. but yet providing the guidelines that at no time should the Secretary under the discretion given him allow a detrimental impact on beef. pork. or poultry. We give him basically the tools to work In that area.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

No. the 15month period of the legislation is not enlarged. but the Secretary is authorized to work within that timeframe in the different quarters of the diversion program. I think he has the necessary discretion to act in a positive manner and we hope that he does so forcefully.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I have just repeated to the gentleman from New Mexico that we have part of the provision that was enacted In the House bill. We have also given authority to the Secretary and we have put In the report language guidelines for the Secretary. They are well and amply protected. to the best of our ability to do so. with this legislation.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker.- I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report Just agreed to.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture may have until 5 p.m.. Friday. December 9. 1983. to file reports on H.R. 2714. Agricultural Productivity Act of 1983. and H.R. 3050. rural electrification and telephone revolving fund amendments.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. if the gentleman will yield. this chairman is not apprised if it has been cleared or not. It is merely to file a report. It encompasses no action by the committee.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. If the gentleman will yield. the gentleman from Texas requested permission to file reports at a later date than when we may adjourn.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I personally apologize to the gentleman. The staff Informed me that they needed the time. That is the reason I asked. Ordinarily. the gentleman would understand we would expect that it has been cleared. In this case It was not. If the gentleman desires. I will withdraw my request.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentiemnan for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I would like to join with the gentleman and add that those of us that are from a different party from the administration always respect. and I think Mr. Duberstein was the foremost. had thle courtesy and always the attention which he gives to your requests. The factual presentation of your side. win or lose. you know that the gentleman has treated you with respect and that your side had been presented factually and correctly. For that. I admire him and respect him.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to authorize $15.500.000 for capital Improvement projects on Guam. and for other purposes. with Senate amendments to the House amendment thereto. and concur in the Senate amnendments to the House amendment.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate amendments to the House amendment be considered as read and printed In the RECORD.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to authorize $15.500.000 for the capital improvement projects on Guam. and for other purposes. with Senate amendments to the House amendments thereto. and concur in the Senate amendments to the House amendments.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. south Texas will be celebrating a very special centennial observation on November 21. It will be the 100th birthday of Mr. John E. Conner of Kingsville. Tex. There is no hyperbole when I say that his lifetime accomplishments stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest personalities of our great State of Texas. And In particular. John Conner is synonymous with the life of south Texas. He was born in 1883 in Pontotoc. Tex. In 1924. he earned his bachelors degree In history. graduating Phi Beta Kappaand in 1927. earned his masters degree in history. He has been a resident of Kingsville in south Texas since 1925. He was the first academic dean of Texas A&I University from 1927 to 1954. Amiong his too numerous honors to list in this space. he was chairman of the Kleberg County Historical Commission and still sits with the prestigious South Texas Historical Association. He is the author of four booksthe lastest being his memoirs. And Texas A&I University is proud host to the John E. Conner Museum which houses the history of treasures that make up our south Texas heritage. There is not a single south Texan who does not know the name John Conner. If ever there were one individual who could be said to represent the past hopes and future dreams of an entire region. it would be John Conner. He is a man of warmth and depth of feelinghistory students from generations past still visit their towering mentor years after leaving his tutelage. To have been a John Conner student was to have learned from the very source of the subject. In my own dealings and correspondence with this gentleman. I came to recognize a keen interest he always had in the quality of life in south Texas. When I wrote to him 1 year ago. on his 99th birthday. I Joked about the days when he and I were working to eradicate the cattle fever tick. so damaging to our south Texas livestock. Well. I am still battling the critter and John Conner still beats them with a stick at the age of 100. Emminent sir. we will get them yet. If every single American citizen had but half the dedication and lover of his land that John Conner possesses. this country would be a grand utopia. But it Is not. The rest of us must stand blind when we gaze at the likes of John Conner. And we realize hie is one of those rare moments in a century that is fixed like a star to guide the rest of us. A man such as John Conner does not need my words. and his life needs no embellishment. There is nothing to do but think of him In HI 10595 wonderand I. for one. hold him In my highest regards.*
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture be discharged from the further consideration of the Senate bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to release on behalf of the United States a reversionary interest In certain land in the State of Delaware. and ask for Its immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I will be happy to explain to the gentleman. This bill deals with 6 / acres of public lands in the State of Delaware. The Federal Government gave to the State of Delaware considerable acreage. 1.500 or so acres in which was Included a tract of 104 acres. and It -has the usual reversionary clause that if it is not used for public use that it will revert back to the Federal Government. What happened here is that accidentally 6 / acres of this land was encroached upon by another block. The persons who encroached on the land are willing to give 6 / acres of similar lands. similar value. But yet to correct the technical encroachment we would have to allow the Secretary permission to not revert and to accept the other 6 / acres. equal value of land. and that is the purpose of the bill.
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. Is it permissible at this time to wish all of the Members of this body a happy holiday season?
Date: 1983-11-18
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. at this time of the year. during this season. I would like to wish every Member of this body. those who are working here as employees and Members. a very fine. happy. and prosperous holiday season.
Date: 1984-01-23
Speaker: ED DUCKERS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Office of Senator Dole. Hart Senate Office Building. Washington. D.C. DEAR ED: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and Mike for meeting with us in Salina on Monday. We did have a good turnout considering the weather. I am sure it was much b"ner than it would have been the next day. We got 10 more inches of snow. You mentioned that you were going to prepare a questionnaire and mail to the companies that were in attendance. I am enclosing a list and address of the 36 companies that the Kansas Coordinating Committee represents. This is everyone with the exception of Bell. United. Continental and Council Grove Telephone Company. If you need anything else. please call. Thank you. Yours very truly.