macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1993-11-21
Speaker: MIKE OXLEY (republican)
Chamber: H

Without the efforts of all of these gentlemen. we could not have produced a timely bill of this quality. I urge its approval by the House. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Date: 1993-11-21
Speaker: FRED WERTHEIMER (republican)
Chamber: H

President. Common Cause. Washington. DC. DEAR MR. WERTHEimER I am writing regarding the Common Cause "Anticorruption Campaign" pledge which I signed during my campaign. I certainly believe that campaign finance reform is critical to increase the competitiveness of Congressional elections. That is why I support proposals to limit PAC contribution amounts. eliminate "soft" money. and require most of a campaigns funding to come from within the congressional districts State. Like you. I support the ability of the people. individual citizens. to participate fully in our republic and to contribute. within bounds. to the campaigns of their choice. This is what I interpreted as the meaning of "clean public resources" when I signed your pledge. Unfortunately. I have now learned that Common Cause interprets that phrase to mean congressional elections financed with taxpayers dollars. This will not make elections more competitiveit is another incumbent protection perk to Congress. I do not support nor do my constituents support the diversion of tax dollars to pay for partisan campaigns. I am very disappointed you used ambiguous and misleading language to obtain signatures to your pledge without clearly defining exactly what you meant. Thomas Jefferson said that "to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors. Is sinful and tyrannical." I agree with him. I regret this misunderstanding regarding taxpayer funded elections. but I am pleased that we share a desire to reform and improve our system of government. Best regards.
Date: 1993-11-22
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this conference report which appropriates $18.3 billion to the RTC. a new debt to America. The last time I remember voting on this thing. It was about 2 oclock in the morning and nobody wanted to vote because it is so bad. This bill extends the RTCs takeover authority by 18 months. z It retroactively extends the statute of limitations against officers of failed thrifts. It establishes. as we have already been told. minority contracting quotas. The main reason I oppose this bill. though. is because it wastes taxpayer dollars. You have already heard how much we waste. and you all know this body killed the super collider because you believed it wasted taxpayer money. Well. let me tell you. this bill wastes over $13 billion. or almost two times what the Congress wanted to save by killing the SSC. The RTCs own internal estimatessay they only need $4.4 billion. and we have talked about that. We have already said how much they have on hand. They just flat do not need to waste an unnecessary amount of money. Review the past amounts the RTC. the GAO. and the CBO believed was needed to finish the Job. You know. first they told us they needed $80 billion. Then it went to $45 billion. then $28 billion. then 25. 18. 11. and now it is down to $4.4 billion. - You know. if this economy stays on a roll like it has been and interest rates stay down. it takes an idiot not to make money with a thrift. They do not need any more. This kind of accounting makes me leery of giving them anything. You now. some RTC lobbyists caught me outside yesterday and tried to lobby me on this bill. I checked and found they have 16 people on the payroll of the RTC lobbying this Congress. That is taxpayerwasted money. Mr. Speaker. a vote for this bill is a vote to waste tax dollars. I urge you to vote against it.
Date: 1994-01-25
Speaker: VERNON J. EHLERS (republican)
Chamber: H

appeared at the bar of the House and took the following oath of office: Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. foreign and domestic. that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. that you take this obligation freely. without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. and that you will well and truly discharge the duties of the office upon which you are about to enter. so help you God.
Date: 1994-02-03
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mv. Speaker. I would like to talk about balancing our budget. You know. last night we talked about the rule which is coming up shortly on earthquake relief. I think there is not a single American who does not think we should support our fellow Californians. and I for one think we ought to do it now and immediately. But on the other hand. we are broke as a nation and we should at the same time pay for it. I think if you will listento the debate that follows. we will give you a way to fund it now and pay for it out of this years or next years budget. I think the responsible thing for America is to balance this out. I urge every Member to listen to the debate today.
Date: 1994-02-03
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the benevolence of the gentleman in yielding time. This is not a partisan issue. We need to get out there and help the people that were involved in that earthquake. But I think. and I think all of my colleagues agree. that Congress has to realize there are two emergencies facing this Nation. One of them is the devastating earthquake that hit southern
Date: 1994-02-09
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today the Washington Times headline reads "Rose Firm Shreds Whitewater Records." Employee says paper details Clinton involvement. " The bottom line is: What was the wrongdoing associated with the failed savings and loan that funded Whitewater and which ultimately cost the American taxpayer over $60 million? The administration is not cooperating. answers have not been forthcoming. From todays headlines. it looks as if documents with those answers have been destroyed. The time is about to run out on our ability to determine possible civil wrongdoing. As you can see from the calender. it runs out on the 28th of February. The other body of Congress has been made aware. and I urge my colleagues in this body. the House. to act quickly. time is running out.
Date: 1994-02-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the Armey amendment and the future of home schools and prvate schools in this country. Its Important that we clarify the language in this bill so that the Federal Govemment cannot tighten its grip In its quest for control. You know. during the last week I have received over 1.000 phone calls In support of the Armey amendmeit. and none against it. I would like to commend the citizens who took the time to call In and raise awareness of this important Issue. We must protect our childrens education and parents Godgiven rights here In America. Lets ensure the rightful independence of home schools and private schools by passing the Armey amendment.
Date: 1994-03-03
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Texas and tell the Members that I am not happy with this decision. either. I thought that we always protected the rights of our individuals in this Chamber when it was voting day. I would hope that we could continue to do it in the future. I am disappointed if we cannot do it in the case of Texas.
Date: 1994-03-07
Speaker: ROBERT DOLE (republican)
Chamber: S

and Howard Baker. and probably I could list some shenanigans from the other side. But I will not do that in good humor. But I.just could not resist responding a little bit.
Date: 1994-03-10
Speaker: HARRIS FAWELL (republican)
Chamber: H

and FRED UPTON. Their amendment to House Concurrent Resolution 218 balances the budget in 5 years. It calls for over 500 specific cuts. The SolomonFawellUpton amendment cuts over $600 billion in Federal spending. This plan does not raise taxes or touch the Social Security trust fund. Many of the cuts contained in the SolomonFawellUpton plan stem from recommendations from the Concord coalition. the Grace Commission. the Congressional Budget Office Citizens Against Government Waste. the National Taxpayers Union. the Heritage Foundation. the Porkbusters coalition. and the administrations reinventing Government proposal. As a strong supporter of a balanced budget amendment. I am also highly supportive of the SolomonFawellUpton budget which balances the budget within 5 years without raising taxes. affecting the Social Security retirement trust fund. or cutting the benefits of veterans. I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to resist the status quo budget presented by the majority and to support the bold. progressive. and innovative budget blueprints presented by the Republican members of the Budget Committee and the SolomonFawellUpton budget.
Date: 1994-03-11
Speaker: ALAN SIMPSON (republican)
Chamber: S

ARLEN SPECTER. and JAMES JEFFORDS. Mr. President. this bill would increase. effective December 1. 1994. the rates of compensation paid to veterans with serviceconnected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation. or DIC. paid to the survivors of certain servicedisabled veterans. The rates would increase by the same percentage as the increase in Social Security and VA pension benefits. The compensation COLA would become effective on the same date that the increase for those benefits takes effect. Mr. President. we have a fundamental obligation to address the needs of the 2.2 million servicedisabled veterans and 332.250 survivors who depend on these compensation programs.- The needs of these veterans and survivors are uniquely related to veterans enormous sacrifices on behalf of our great Nation. Addressing these needs is a top priority of mine as chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. I represent a State where military service is held in the highest esteem. Ever since I entered public life. to serve the people of West Virginia. I have worked very closely with our veterans and their families. The compensation payments that this bill would adjust have a profound effect on the everyday lives of over 2 million veterans and veterans survivorsincluding over 20.500 in West Virginia. It is our responsibility to continue to provide increases in compensation and DIC benefits in order to ensure that the value of those toppriority. serviceconnected VA benefits is not eroded by inflation. Most recently. on November 4. 1993. Congress enacted Public Law 103140. providing a 2.6percent increase in these same benefits. effective December 1. 1993. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the December 1. 1994. Social Security and VA pension COLA will be 3 percent. This is a preliminary estimate. but I expect the actual increase will be close to this estimate. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 3percent COLA would cost approximately $340 million over current law. Mr. President. I am proud that Congress has provided annual increases in VA- compensation rates every fiscal year since 1976. and I urge all of my colleagues to continue to support these necessary increases. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1994-03-11
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. when Bill Clinton ran for President. he promised the American people change and less spending. Looking at his budget proposal. the more the President talks about change. the more things stay the same. he Presidents status quo budget keeps higher taxes. cuts little. and. worse yet. health care. welfare. and crime are -not even on the budget. Mr. Speaker. the Republicasr alternative to the budget is a serious effort to enact real change. It reinvents government to save the taxpayers billions of dollars. It gives tax relief to middle class families. and it provides the funding for welfare -reform. health care reform. and anticrime initiatives. Mr. Speaker. it is time the President -stops talking and starts acting. His budget is all bluster and no change.
Date: 1994-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I offer an amendment. This amendment was printed on page 684 of ruary 23. by the gentleman from Tennessee .
Date: 1994-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. let me just withdraw my objection. I would like to listen to the gentleman. but I would" just like to be able to ask him some questions before he is done.
Date: 1994-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I just want to tell Members that the Supreme Court. first of all. says it is unconstitutional to deny a student the right to pray. According to the gentleman from Montana . the gentleman wants to not l~ve the Federal Government get involved because he says it is not unconstitutional for a student to pray. I say the gentleman is wrong. I cannot believe that the gentleman would try to say. it is kind of humorous at* best. that allowing a child to pray on his own accord is a Federal mandate. The JohnsonDuncan amendment does not do anything that requires a school to do anything. All it says -is they must not prevent a constitutional right to pray.
Date: 1994-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman. I think what you have got to look at is the language in the amendment. The language in the amendment strikes the whole DuncanJohnson amendment. the whole thing. It strikes the words prohibition against protected prayer. It strikes constitutionally protected prayer in public schools voluntarily. Nothing is left that protects prayer in school. I think it is also interesting to note that in 1989 the gentleman from Montana voted against a school prayer amendment passed by a margin of 269 to 135. Clearly the gentleman has created for himself a problem of conflicting votes on the issue of voluntary prayer in school. trying to raise just another issue. that of Federal mandates. To begin with. this whole bill is a Federal mandate of pretty large degree. I think since we understand now that it does not perfect the amendment. It guts the entire language. it is creating a giant loophole for schools to violate the Constitution. not uphold it. I still say it is our. constitutional right in this Congress to protect the Constitution as written. and this language. in our bill will do it. not the amendment that is on hand. I suggest Members vote against it.
Date: 1994-03-21
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I say we should. and I think the gentleman trying to amend our amendment is taking that constitutional authority away from the Congress.
Date: 1994-03-22
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. yesterday the chairman of the Banking Committee. and my colleague. the gentleman from Texas abruptly canceled Thursdays scheduled oversight hearings involving the Resolution Trust Corporation [RTC]. As required by law. should Congress not obey the law?
Date: 1994-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. just 2 nights ago. 345 Members of this body supported a vitally important amendment to H.R. 6 which protects voluntary prayer in schools. On February 23. this body overwhelmingly instructed conferees on another education bill. Goals 2000. to agree with this identical language. The other body passed this same language by a steadfast 75 to 22 vote. Judging from the vote margins on three separate occasions. this Congress supports protecting the constitutional right of children to pray. Mr. Speaker. I am disappointed that a handful of Members have taken the school prayer amendment and. Im afraid. the constitutional right to pray. and played the shell game within the confines of a conference committeeLets be consistent on this. We should return to the original language which has already been affirmed by both bodies of Congress. Lets protect the rights of our schoolchildren and recommit this bill back to committee and insist that the will of Congress prevail. not the will of a handful of conferees. I urge a yes vote on the motion to recommit Goals 2000 with Instructions. After the overwhelming support that voluntary school prayer received this week. there Is no better time than today for Congress to take action to protect the constitutional right to freely exercise ones religion. If you supported Mr. DUNcANs instructions to conferees on Goals 2000. If you supported the Johnson amendment to H.R. 6. if you support voluntary school prayer. you should support the motion to recommit.
Date: 1994-03-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H

of T his vote from "nay" to "ye So the motion to recon jected. The result of the vote wi as above recorded.
Date: 1994-03-24
Speaker: STEVE IRONS (republican)
Chamber: H

Supervisory Special Agent. White Collar Crime Unit. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Two Financial Centre. Suite 200. Little Rock. AR. Re: No. 7236 Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan. Little Rock. Arkansas--In Receivership (11/29/90). Criminal Referral Number C0004. DEAR SIR: Certain matters have come to our attention which may constitute criminal offenses under Federal law. Enclosed is a report of an Apparent Criminal Irregularity. Information in this referral may have been derived from financial records of customers of federally insured financial institutions. I hereby certify that (A) there is reason to believe that these records may be relevant to a violation of Federal criminal law. and (B) the records were obtained in the exercise of the RTCs supervisory or regulatory functions. Due to the extensive nature of the exhibits relating to this referral. they are being submitted to the U.S. Attorneys office under separate cover at a later date. Please direct any inquiries to the Investigator identified on the referral form. or to Lee 0. Ausen: Department Head/Criminal Investigations. Kansas City Consolidated Office. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-03-24
Speaker: JOE MADDEN (republican)
Chamber: H

Commissioner. Arkansas Securities Department. Little Rock. AR. DEAR MR. MADDEN: I am writing in reference to the House Banking Committee Minority investigation of the failure of Madison Guaranty -Savings and Loan (Madison). As you know. Madison was taken over by federal regulators in March 1989 and resolved by the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) in November. 1990. To assist in this investigation. I request that the Arkansas Securities Department provide access to all documents related to Madison and its subsidiaries. Such documents would include. but not be limited to administrative files. examination reports. interoffice memorandum. notes and minutes of meetings (including telephonic meetings). correspondence. electronic mail. and supervisory actions. Furthermore. please provide the names and titles of all State Securities Department employees involved with the examination and supervision of Madison. Please have your staff contact Mike McGarry at 2022252258 to discuss arrangements to review these documents as soon as possible. I appreciate your assistance and look forward to your cooperation. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-03-24
Speaker: CHARLES D. CAMPBELL (republican)
Chamber: H

Vice President. Security Bank. Paragould. AR. Re: Note #957585. Bill Clinton. DEAR MR. CAMPBELL: Enclosed is a White Water Development Corporation check for $7.322.42. representing principal payment of $5.000 and interest payment of $2.322.42. on the above note. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely.
Date: 1994-04-14
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I am favoring this cut and I tell you why: It seems like every time we get in here we argue about whether or not to cut. People are tired. tired. tired of hearing more spending. more spending. more spending. And can we cut the budget? Yes. we can cut the budget. Do we have a surplus? No. we do not have a surplus and. no. do we have a strong defense? No. I agree with the gentleman from Mississippi . we do not. But we do not have to cut defense. We can vote for this reduction in spending and get this country back on track. and it is a minimal cut. without cutting defense. Madam Speaker. I would say that no American in his right mind would cut our defense any further than it has already been cut in view of what is going on in the Nation today. So let us vote for these reductions and keep our country strong.
Date: 1994-04-28
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the gentlewoman from Maines motion to recommit. This is the first opportunity this body has had to vote on this issue. and I commend my colleague from Maine for challenging the other body. You know. to commend Vietnam for being an enemy. for being a Communist nation. is plain wrong. The decision of President Clinton to lift the trade embargo on Vietnam was illtimed and. I think. deceptive. United States policy clearly stated at that time that certain actions were to have been taken by the. Vietnamese in order for the embargo to be lifted. Servicemen still missing in action were not accounted for. We had guaranteed that to our servicemen. to our Nation. and to their families. While the President might claim that the Vietnamese provided more than 21.000 documents. photos. and artifacts since 1992. only 1 percent pertained to missing Americans. Think about that. One percent. The bottom line is the Vietnamese did not hold up their end of the bargain. and we allowed them to get away with it. Just like most U.S. foreign policy decisions as of late. and it made us look weak and sent that message to the world. More importantly. the President. betrayed the trust of the American people. He promised during the campaign that there would be "no normalizing of relations with any nation that is at all suspected of withholding any information on the POWMIA issue. POWMIA families relied upon the President and now have nothing left to hold onto. Ironically. those in the administration who pushed for lifting the embargo were never personally involved either through direct captivity or through family members. and that includes those members of both the Defense and State Departments. I was moved by the words of CBS anchorman Dan Rather. who said: Politicians break campaign promises all the time. But this time the Presidents hand wasnt forced. He did this on his own initiative. Dan Rather goes on to say: This reporter wonders: Did it occur to President Clinton that night. February 3. to go tothe Wall? That is the POW Wall. Its only a short walk from the White House to the Wall. the Vietnam Memorial. where 58.000 Americans names are carved in the Galden of Stone. Those Americans may have gone to the wrong war. but they went for the right reason. Out of respect for those who served and a lack of that respect from the executive branch. we here in this body must do what we can to insure a full accounting of those who fought to protect this country and our rich freedoms which we so often take for granted. Vote "yes" to recommit.
Date: 1994-04-28
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I concur with what the gentleman from Florida says. but he also said he would not lift the embargo until we had the full accounting. So how can we believe what we hear?