macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1983-06-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. as the gentleman from South Dakota is aware. the legislation before us provides discretionary authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to a total of 300.000 tons of wheat now in the international wheat reserve and It will allow them to use if for domestic feeding purposes. as authorized in the jobs bill and H.R. 1590. The international wheat reserve was established by legislation in 1980 to provide a backdrop to international food aid assistance programs of the U.S. Government in the event that supplies of wheat are insufficient to fully meet the food aid obligations of the United States. I might also tell the gentleman. the reserve was originally intended only for use overseas and provision was made to insure that the wheat would not be available for use domestically. In providing authority to the Secretary to make use of a small portion of the reserve for the domestic feeding purposes laid down in H.R. 1590. the committee Is responding to an emergency need that exists today here In the United States. It is not the Intent of the legislation to in any way undermine the original purposes of the reserve.
Date: 1983-06-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Allow me to reaffirm for the gentleman my strong commitment to maintaining the integrity of the reserve as established in the 1980 act. Were it not forthe extraordinary circumstances that confront us today. I believe that resort to the reserve would not be merited at this time. However. under the circumstances. the committee felt it appropriate to allow some discretion to the Secretary to make use of some modest amount of the reserve for shortterm domestic feeding purposes. Let me reemphasize that in so doing. the committee does not intend to undercut the reserve. My amendment to the bill illustrates that. Replenishment of wheat used from the reserve for domestic purposes will be automatic in the event that disasters ownerseas require full utilization of the 6 million tons earmarked for such purposes In the 1980 act. and I will actively support an appropriation to replenish the reserve. if that is required.
Date: 1983-06-14
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit while the House is reading for amendment under the 5minute rule on Tuesday and Wednesday. June 14 and 15. The purpose of the permission is to allow markup of the following bills. all of which have been sequentially referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The sequential referrals on the first three bills listed end on June 15. H.R. 2867. to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act. H.R. 2970. Federal Trade Commission Authorization Act. H.R. 2797. Department of Energy National Security and Military Applications of Nuclear Energy Authorization. H.R. 1878. Shipping Act of 1983. on which the sequential ends June 30. The minority has been consulted.
Date: 1983-06-14
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Tuesday. June 14 and Thursday. June 16. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of these subcommittee meetings Is to conduct hearings on H.R. 2327 and related regulatory reform hills. The minority has been consulted.
Date: 1983-06-14
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank our colleague. Congressman DAVID MCCURDY from Oklahoma. for taking this special order to honor our deceased former colleague. Tom Steed. As you may know. Congressman Steed served in the House for 32 years. longer than any other Oklahoman. He served his constituents and this Nation with honor and dignity and I am deeply saddened at the news of his death. I was privileged to work with Congressman Steed on several occasions while he was in Congress and was always impressed by his grasp of other peoples problems and his open and friendly manner. There were many occasions when Tom Steed rose to help his fellow Americans in Guam and I will be eternally in his debt for his assistance. Tom was a very good friend and a fine public servant. This body and this Nation has seldom known his equal and I am certain that Congressman Steeds many friends both here on Capitol Hill and in the Government will long cherish his memory. On behalf of the people of Guam. I extend our deepest sympathies to Congressman Steeds family. We share your grief over the passing of a wonderful man. He will truly be missed..
Date: 1983-06-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today we gather to pay our respects to II 3950 one of our most popular former colleagues. Tom Steed. With his passing our country has lost a great statesman. I have lost a good friend. When I entered the House in 1965 I will never forget the kindness he showed to a freshman Member. He was courteous. accommodating. warmhearteda man of sprightly wit. tireless energy. and a genuine willingness to extend the warm hand of friendship. On many occasions I was the benefactor of his experience and wise counsel. As a Representative in Congress Tom had those qualities that are essential for leadershipsound judgment. patience. perseverance and unyielding adherence to the principles and policies advocated by his party for the welfare of the country. He was a dedicated and constructive Member of this body. one who labored tirelessly for the welfare of the people of his congressional district which he served so well. His character. achievements and faithful service will be an inspiration to generations yet to come. With his passing has been taken from us all a respected colleague. from the State of Oklahoma a dedicated Representative and from the people of the United States an outstanding legislator. May God let the light of His countenance shine upon him and give him peace.e #
Date: 1983-06-15
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Wednesday. June 15. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the subcommittee meeting is to hold a hearing on H.R. 2327. the Regulatory Reform Act of The minority has been consulted. and it has no objection to the request.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the bill be printed in the RECORD and open to amendment at any point.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. the amendment I offer is the product of cooperation and consultation between the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As I have stated. H.R. 1590 authorizes use of a limited quantity of wheat from the food security wheat reserve for the domestic food distribution program. The Foreign Affairs Committee has a jurisdictional interest in the reserve. as it was created for humanitarian food assistance abroad should shortages in domestic stocks exist. That committee has conveyed its concern that should the reserve be entirely depleted for its intended purpose. any amounts of wheat from the reserve used domestically would constitute a shortfall for foreign aid. To resolve this concern. our committees have agreed upon an amendment that provides that. in these circumstances. and if Commodity Credit Corporation stocks are not available for replenishing the Reserve stocks used for domestic purposes. the Corporations funds would be used. without prior appropriation. to Ourchase wheat to replenish any reserve stocks that had been used for the domestic distribution program. I believe that the amendment constitutes an entirely reasonable and effective resolution of the concerns of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I thank Chairman ZABLOCKI for his cooperation in this matter. and I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting the amendment.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman. I want to again express my appreciation to the gentleman from South Dakota for his understanding and his diligence in seeing that we vote to do what we have committed ourselves to do for our brethren throughout the world but that we address also the needy in our own country and that we afford. as we did with the amendment. the necessary protection so that we might achieve both ends within the means that we have available. The gentleman from South Dakota
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. as the Committee on Agriculture worked to fashion an effective program for emergency food assistance to the needy. it has on a continuing basis consulted with the Committee on Education and Labor on matters within its jurisdictional interest. Primarily. this involved the possible impact of H.R. 1590 on the ongoing food assistance programs such as those for children and the elderly. H.R. 1590 contains various provisions designed to meet the concerns of that committee. We have. however. jointly concluded that an additional amendment is desirable. The first part of the amendment would make clear that commodities required to be released under the act because they exceed Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commitments would be made available at the request of the eligible organizations. and that the Secretary may not limit the availability of surplus commodities on the basis of the type of eligible organizations requesting them. The amendment is the result of the concern that unless specific statutory directives are given. the Secretarys decision on how much and what commodities to release may turn on his determination of which type of eligible recipient organizations request them. rather than upon how much is actually available for distribution. This concern has been generated by the Secretarys decision to limit the release of certain commodities made available under the jobs bill. In effect. the amendment would make clear that the bill contemplates that the release of surplus commodIties would be based on the requests of the eligible recipient organizations. not on the type of eligible organization. As to the balance of the amendment. while emergency organizations will continue to have priority for funds for their local distribution costs. under the amendment the balance of administrative funds made available to the States will be required to be used without preference for the States costs of distributing commodities to the emergency and traditional types of organizations on an equitable basis. Our committees believe that this will insure that much needed administrative funding will be made available to enhance the effort of State agencies to get commodities to food banks. soup kitchens. and the like. as well as to other organizations operating ongoing programs such as those assisting children and elderly Americans. I appreciate the collegial spirit with which Chairman PERKINS and his committee have worked with our committee on these matters. I believe our joint efforts. as contained in H.R. 1590 and this amendment. merit and deserve the support of the House.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I would like to verify that the amendment now before us includes page 6. line 16 and page 8. line 16.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I want to rise at this point to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. GooDLINo) for his cooperation and his interest in this legislation and always for his understanding in the areas which we deal with. not only in this legislation. but other pieces of legislation that come from our committee. I certainly appreciate. and I am sure that the other members of our committee appreciate the gentlemans interest and always his sense of fairness but. most of all. his cooperation.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. this amendment would revise the authorization for funding administrative expenses for the commodity supplemental food program. Such funding is. under the 1981 farm bill. authorized at a level not to exceed 15 percent of the amount appropriated for the purchase of food for this limited but valued food assistance program. Since all food distributed under the program formerly was purchased with appropriated funds. this base provided an adequate amount for administrative funding for program purposes. More recently. however. the Secretary has also made more nonfat dry milk available from Commodity Credit Corporation stocks for the food packages under the program. rather than purchasing it. As a result. program administrative funds were effectively reduced. as a percentage of the value of the food made available. Title II of the 1983 Jobs bill. Public Law 988. addressed this problem for fiscal 1983. My amendment would likewise address the problem. beginning with fiscal 1984. by authorizing administrative expense funding equal to 15 percent of the sum of the total amount appropriated for the program plus the value of bonus commodities donated for the program. The amendment uses the language recommended by the administration. It is technical in nature and not controversial. and I hope my colleagues will support it.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for his contribution and always his assistance in matters such as we handle today. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE L GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the fact the amendment has been read. but there is some confusion here. Is this a rereporting of the amendment or just a rereading of the amendment?
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I make that inquiry because. as the gen1ieman from Texas recollects. there was no unanimous consent to dispense with further reading. Therefore. the amendment was not read in its entirety. and I would have raised a point of order at that time had the amendment been correctly read. Mr. Chairman. I will inquire. is it proper at this point. if the amendment has been rereported. to raise a point of order? Mr. Chairman. since there was some confusion. I felt obligated to bring the matter before the House. but I will state now that I would not raise a point of order at this time. and we may proceed on the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

The gentleman just does not have the facts. He has not read the bill. Yes. people have been convicted of fraud throughout the United States and the U.S. attorneys work very diligently on that.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I cannot give the gentleman the number. but I can supply it for the record. Let me tell the gentleman that the people who have worked with food stamps. the previous chairman and ranking member and this chairman and this ranking member have worked tirelessly to prevent fraud and abuse. I can categorically state to the gentleman that food stamps have become the litany of the right. that they complain about food stamps.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I just wrnt to make this one point. I can categorically state that if any person in the United States of America is receiving food stamps who is not entitled to them. either of two things happen. The person lied or someone made a mistake. Otherwise. we have tightened the program to such an extent that it is impossible for someone to receive food stamps who are not entitled to them. The gentleman keeps using the litany of fraud. fraud. fraud.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I agree with the gentleman about fraud. but I just want to make my personal viewpoint that being on NBC does not make it right or factual or the truth.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

But I said the gentleman has not read the bill. because we are dealing with public and private nonprofit schools. We are dealing with penal institutions and relief organizations.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

The other commodity the gentleman is talking about. cheese. is given to the Salvation Army. It is given to the Red Cross.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Well. it is given to them and if you are in Salt Lake City. Utah. and you have a soup kitchen. the gentlemans amendment says you have to bring a coupon.
Date: 1983-06-16
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. as the gentleman is aware. this legislation contains several safeguards to insure that the commodities distributed under H.R. 1590 go to the low income and unemployed needy for whom they are intended. This bill specifically states that should participants embezzle. willfully misapply. steal. or obtain such commodities by fraud. appropriate penalties must be assessed. These penalties for the violations cited are a fine or not more than $10.000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years. or both. if such commodities. products. funds. assets. or property are of a value of $100 or more. If such commodities or property are of a value of less than $100. the penalty is a fine of not more than $1.000 or imprisonment for not more than 1 year. or both. It is also the committees intent that the commodities distributed are protected against misuse by private companies that participate in the private sector inventory program. Whereas we strongly support USDAs efforts to allow private companies to take surplus commodities and process them into food products for use by eligible organizations. H.R. 1590 clearly prohibits companies from selling or otherwise disposing through commercial channels the initially processed USDA commodities. State governments and eligible organizations will also be prohibited from misusing or selling such commodities. These protections and penalties are included in H.R. 1590 to make sure that surplus commodities distributed go to only those in need and provide appropriate punishment for those who misuse such commodities.
Date: 1983-06-21
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 2972. the Military Construction Authorization Act of This measure will authorize $7 billion in new authorization for the Pentagon over the coming year. This amount is $577 million less than DOD requested. As a member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction I believe that this measure represents a fair and wellbalanced approach to the needs of the military over the coming year. Our subcommittee chairman. Representative RONALD DELLUMs. deserves a round of applause for doing an outstanding job in his first year as head of the subcommittee. He has spent countless hours working on this measure and there is no question in my mind that Chairman DELLUMS has a very good grasp of the legitimate requirements of the Pentagon and is more than willing to do what is needed to help meet that need. As the Delegate from Guam I have a special interest in H.R. 2972. since that measure authorizes $33.950 million in construction for my island. The majority of this amount. $22.3 million. will be used to build a new ammunition pier for the U.S. Navy. I have called for this project to be funded for many years and am pleased to see that the end is near for my efforts. We on Guam are very concerned that the Navy has been forced to load and unload ammunition in our civilian harbor. A new pier would remove the specter of a blast from our commercial area by relocating the activity to a lesser and safer developed region. I am equally pleased to see the Air Force receive nearly $10 million for new enlisted personnel housing and a new upgraded power facility. I urge my colleagues to give this measure their approval today. Thank you.
Date: 1983-06-21
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. for the last 20 years the transportation policies of our Nation have been guided in large part by one man. and now to our sadness we have lost him. Fred Burke. large in physical stature. seemed larger than life when you considered his influence on public transportation. He was the one everyone looked to for the legislative formula that could work politically. He was the one everyone depended on to pull hundreds of competing interests together to first rescue and later rebuild our transit systems. All of us who called Fred our friend have our favorite stories about him. I am pleased that so many of our colleagues have joined with me today to share some of them. To those I have selected five othershis eulogy delivered by one of his closest friends. Clark Tyler. a prayer of an anonymous friend. a resolution adopted by the Conference of Mayors. a Washington Post article by another close friend. Douglas Feaver. and finally his obituary. also from the Washington Postthat I ask be included here to complete the portrait of a truly remarkable man.
Date: 1983-06-22
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Thursday. June 23. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the subcommittee meeting is for a hearing on H.R. 2327. the Regulatory Reform act of 1983. The minority has been consulted and is agreeable.
Date: 1983-06-22
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am privileged and honored to join my egteemed colleague. Congresswoman BARBARA KENNELLY. in this special order to express congressional support on the occasion of Pope John Pauls pilgrimage to his homeland. My fellow citizens of Guam and I fully understand and sympathize with the agony of the Polish people in their lives under the restrictive conditions imposed by their Government leaders. Our own suffering at the hands of the Japanese occupation forces during World War II was somewhat parallel. Because of their courageous and undaunted fight for human rights and social justice. the Poles have earned the admiration and respect of freedom loving people all over the world. The longlived troubles of that great nation are tragic. but they would be even more so if the light of hope for triumph over adversity were dimmed. The uplifting spiritual message of Pope John Paul to his countrymen is truly a strengthening of the faith and determination of the people to withstand their constrained way of life in their continuing struggle for freedom. In speaking to the basic truth about the freedom of Poland. the Holy Father stated: The nation perishes if It deforms the spiritthe nation grows when its spirit is ever more purified and no external path is able to destroy it. Indeed. Pope John Pauls message is an inspiration to all peopleto those who continue the pursuit of freedom and to those who fight to preserve its blessings. Thank you.e
Date: 1983-06-23
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I have a live pair with the gentleman from Texas . If he were present. he would have voted "yea." I voted "nay." I withdraw my vote and vote "present."