macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-05
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the AMT is a sneaky tax. It is a parallel tax system where normal rules of income and deductions do not apply. You lose most of your deductions and your children become a liability. The bill we are debating today will keep this sneaky tax .from taking away the benefit of many of the 2001 tax cuts. However. we are just holding back th6 tide of the AMT that in 2008 will swamp the tax system and actually collect more money than the rest of the income tax system combined. Yes. it is going to be cheaper to repeal the entire income tax system than to repeal the AMT. I think this sneaky. destructive tax will finally cause the income tax system to implode. This bill today will buy us some more time so we can get on with building a consensus on replacing the income tax system. We need to replace our income tax system that is. as my colleagues know. economically destructive. impossibly complex. and overly intrusive. It has impeded our ability to create jobs. encourage savings and investment. and realize the American dream. When I speak with constituents. the biggest applause line I get is about abolishing the IRS. I think that the system. any replacement. any new system. should reduce the role of the Federal Government. encourage savings and investment. be simple. and most of all. it must be fair. AMT does none of this. and we must repeal it. but until we can repeal it. we must hold harmless those Americans whose taxes are being raised in the next year. One additional interim step we need to take is to help those trapped in AMT through exercise of incentive stock options or ISOS. In this instance. the AMT requires people who exercise options on their employers stock to pay tax on phantom profits. Many people stuck in AMT owe tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in AMT on phantom profits never realized because the bottom fell out of the market. We cannot justify a tax system .where taxes are owed when no gain was ever realized. I hope we will also be able to fix this inequity as this bill moves through the process. but for sure. we need to get rid of this sneaky tax now.
Date: 2004-05-06
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this morning the news indicates that some of our Democrats have politicized the war in Iraq. It is a war against terrorism. We have got to support our troops. Our Secretary of Defense is doing a super job. The question is. are we here in the United- States of America as citizens going to support them to the hilt? When I was in Vietnam as a POW. we were scared to death that the United States was going to turn on us. politicize it and end it without getting us out. They did get us out of Vietnam. but they did not get all of our people out of Cambodia and Laos. and it was because of the peaceniks who did not believe we could win. We have to support our troops. Our freedom. our Nation. our liberty depend on it. God bless the United States.
Date: 2004-05-06
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to join my colleagues in support of this resolution condemning the abuse of prisoners held in United States custody. Weve all seen the disturbing images of the unconscionable conduct carried out by a handful of our men and women in uniform. A swift and thorough investigation is needed. and needed now. For those responsible. justice must be swift and strong. Their conduct directly contradicts and undermines our mission in Iraq. The world is awaiting our response. We must do everything possible to reassure the world community that all those things we take as selfevidentthe honor of our military. our intentions in Iraq. our respect for human rightsremain as strong as ever. The vast majority of our troops. who perform heroically every day. are the best evidence of these tenets. In the wake of this crisis. let us not lose sight of the fact that there are 138.000 Americans in uniform who uphold the highest standards of professionalism every day. They do so in the face of extreme danger and hardship. We should not let the egregious acts of a very small group overshadow the integrity of our soldiers nor deter our Nation from its overall objective of developing a democratic Iraq.
Date: 2004-05-06
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

OBERSTAR. FILNER. BISHOP of New York and LAMPSON. For consideration of the House bill and Senate amendments. and modifications committed to conference: Mr. Cox and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi.
Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 577 noting the 50th Anniversary of formal relations between the United States and the European Union. Fifty years ago the United States government sent its first diplomatic representatives to what was then the European Coal and Steel Community because the U.S. Government was fully supportive of the integration of Europes economic systems as a way to help rebuild a wartorn continent. One year later. in 1954. the High Representative of the Coal and Steel Community opened an office here in Washington. In November. the United States Mission in Brussels held a ceremony marking the beginning of the anniversary. Last week. a similar ceremony was held at the State Department to continue the celebration. H. Res. 577 reminds us that over these past five decades. we and Europe have worked to develop a common bond based on values. shared views of the need to promote democracy and market reform and a commitment to stability and peace throughout the world. As our Europe Subcommittee Chairman has said. the relationship has not always been easy or friendly. We have had some serious disagreements. Never-. theless. it should be clear to this House that a strong and mature transatlantic relhtionship is critical to the longterm political. economic and security interests of the.United States. It is also clear that one of the central ingredients to a successful transatlantic partnership is a stable. integrated and dynamic Europe. Recently. I traveled to Europe with a delegation of our House Colleagues to participate in the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue. Our meetings with our Colleagues from the European Parliament were frank. but cordial. It reaffirmed the need for continuous dialogue and understanding of how we each view those common challenges which face us and how we should respond. I appreciate the fact that H. Res. 577 notes that the TLD is an important aspect of this U.S.-EU relationship. Mr. Speaker. in conclusion. I want to remind my Colleagues that on Saturday. May 1st. we witnessed yet another historic event in the evolution of the European Union. On that day 10 new nations of Europe joined the European Union. What began just fiftythree years ago as a Union of 6 has now become a Union of 25. As the U.S. Chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue. I look forward to meeting and working with the Parliamentarians of these newest members who soon take their seats in the European Parliament and who will be part of the next fifty years of U.S.-UE relations. I urge adoption of this Resolution.
Date: 2004-05-12
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I hesitate to disagree with my fellow representative. but. Mr. Speaker. the Presidents program and the House program this week is going to find a solution for the uninsured for health care. Small businesses are dropping health plans because they cannot afford it. This week. the House is going to take up the Small Business Health Fairness Act. and it will allow small businesses that would otherwise be unable to afford health insurance to join together to form association health plans which. by the way. is one of those things that we have had out there for a long time and needs to be passed. It will insure more people with quality care at lower rates. Another important step today will be lowering the cost of health care by putting consumers in the drivers seat through health savings plans. Those plans give more people options when it comes to their health insurance. and they are a great part of lowering the cost of health care and helping to lower the number of uninsured. Mr. Speaker. we are moving forward in this Congress. and we are going to move forward on these issues today for a better America.
Date: 2004-05-12
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am appalled at some of the rhetoric going on around here. The FDA is doing a good job. The FDA is controlling drugs. I have seen drugs out of Canada that are not good. so I think they are doing a good job. Mr. Speaker. I want to say I am here today to support the rule for H.R. 4280. the Small Business Health Fairness Act. The state of health care in America is reaching a crisis level. Costs. continue to escalate annually at unprecedented rates. Our employers are being forced to drop health care coverage. This disproportionately affects small businesses burdened with shopping for health insurance in the costly small group markets. Large employers bring bargaining clout to the table when they work with insurance companies. Small businesses have fewer employees. and thus have little or no. bargaining power. Not only that. but large employers and unions are exempt from burdensome State mandates already. These mandates dictate what health plans must cover and vary from State to State. Small employers do not have that luxury. We know that more than 60 percent of the uninsured Americans either work for a small business or are dependent upon someone who does. The clear course of action here is to help our small businesses afford health coverage by giving them those same opportunities that unions and large businesses have. Association health plans or AHPs do just that. Small businesses would be able to group together in bona fide trade associations. AHPs would then be able to use economies of scale to their advantage and provide more affordable health care for working families while avoiding administrative costs of State mandates. According to the CBO. AHPs would save small business owners and their employees as much as 25 percent on their health in.surance. I was pleased to see that the Senate task force on the uninsured included association health plans in their report just this week. They are not the only solution to the uninsured in America. but they are certainly an important part of any solution. This is a bipartisan bill. The time to act is now. I urge a yes vote on the rule and on the bill.
Date: 2004-05-13
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute a dear friend who I love and who my entire community loves. Sister Jeanne OLaughlin. president of Miamis Barry University. It has been a privilege to be able to work with Sister Jeanne. It has been one of the truly wonderful things I.have been able to do in Congress. You see. Mr. Speaker. Sister Jeanne is so special. it is difficult to choose only a few words to describe her. Talent. imagination. compassion. faith. perseverance. sense of humor. devotion. integrity. charisma. success. all those realities about Sister Jeanne are evident. But the meaning of one word outweighs all others in regard to her. one word describes her best. "love." Thank you. Jeanne OLaughlin. for loving your family. your neighbors. your community. for loving us all. Thank you for having put your love into action in your life and with your entire life.
Date: 2004-05-13
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as the House moves forward with its competitiveness agenda to make Americas businesses more attractive and efficient. it is imperative that we help the backbone of our economy: small business. Health care costs are rising at a rate of 15 percent annually. and double that for many small businesses. What is astounding is that according to the Congressional Budget Office. for each percentage point rise in health insurance costs. the number of uninsured increases by 300.000. That is a terrible ratio. Since this trend shows no sign of slowing. it means we need to act now. By allowing small businesses to band together in trade associations. this bill will give small businesses access to more affordable health care. give them freedom from costly Statemandated benefit requirements. and lower their administrative costs by as much as 30 percent. Some critics of the bill say there will be a loss in consumer protection because AHPs* exempt small business from burdensome State mandates such as covering in vitro fertilization. Obviously. these mandates just cost the States more money. Large employers and unions have been exempt from State mandates since 1974. and they continue to offer fantastic coverage to working families. We ought to act now to help small businesses enjoy that same privilege or they will not be able to offer any health coverage to employees and their family members. In my home State of Texas. a shocking 27 percent of all employed or selfemployed adults are uninsured. according to a recent study. The facts are clear and the facts demand action. An overwhelming majority of small businesses agree that AHPs are the right solution. This bill has the support of NFIB. the Associated Builders and Contractors. the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. and many others. I would like -to be sure and thank my good friend. the gentleman from Ohio . and other cosponsors of this legislation: the gentleman from Georgia . the gentlewoman fromNew York . and the gentleman from California . They have shown their commitment to small business -employees and their families. by supporting this legislation. and I commend them for it. This bill gets to the heart of health care reform. Let us just do it.
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my support for the legislation introduced today by my colleague from Georgia. I think that all 4 of Mr. NORWOODs bills on the floor today will improve workplace safety. level the playing field for small businesses. and ensure that employees and employers are treated fairly. H.R. 2731 encourages OSHA to really look at the merits of a case before it brings unnecessary enforcement actions to court against small businesses. Current law does allow small business owners to recover attorneys fees if they successfully challenge a citation But in the real world of OSHA. this simply does not work for small businesses. In the last 23 years. small business employers have been able to recover costs from OSHA only 37 times! Last year alone. only one employer was awarded attorneys fees. despite more than 80.000 citations issued by OSHA. H.R. 2731 limits its scope to small businesses with 100 employees or less and less than $7 million in net worth. thereby assuring targeted and meaningful relief to those businesses that are least able to cope with these hefty and ongoing litigation costs. This reform is necessary for the vitality of Americas small businesses and the job security of Americas workers. Again. I applaud my colleague from Georgia for introducing this much needed legislation and I look forward to seeing it pass today.
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2432 and to include extraneous material thereon.
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. There can be little question that sometime in the last decade. the United States entered a new and very different phase of its economic history. In this new phase of global competitiveness. this Nation is being challenged to step up once again and set new standards for innovation and efficiency. At the outset. it should be said that this country welcomes this challenge and we are confident that we have the tools necessary to succeed in this new economy that was largely created at our insistence. The Paperwork and Regulatory Improvements Act of 2004 is designed to give Congress the tools it needs to respond to the challenge of a global open economy. This bill was originally sponsored by the gentleman from California
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Chairman. I certainly want to commend the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Virginia for taking this very bold step on regulatory reform. There is no question that we need regulatory reform: It has been estimated that Americans pay more than $800 billion a year to comply with regulatory burdens. and that amounts to about $8.000 per household. I am talking to you. Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer out there. The IRS alone accounts for about 80 percent of the paperwork burden on the public. In the House budget language. and I serve on the Committee on the Budget. I inserted some language on regulatory reform. and I would like to read just part of it: "It is the sense of this House that Congress should establish a mechanism for reviewing Federal agencies and their regulations with the express purpose of making recommendations to Congress when agencies prove to be inefficient. duplicative. outdated. irelevant. or fail to accomplish their intended purpose." Clearly. this will be the result of the gentleman from Californias very fine bill. Obviously. in accordance with the language in the House budget resolution. somd of the provisions I would like to detail are that they strengthen the Congressional Review Act by providing Congress with more information much earlier in the process. It also provides Congress with inhouse expertise comparable to the administrations experts at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Certainly. additional reforms are necessary. We need regulatory reform that goes even further than this very fine bill. And I am sure we will be seeing that later this year or next year. We must remember that the Constitutional responsibility in article 1. section 8 "to make all laws which are necessary and proper" rests with us. Congress is elected by the people. for the. people and is held accountable to the people. Having a regulatory system that reflects these principles are not only outlined in the Constitution but are reflected in this bill.
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. please include the attached exchange of letters between Chairman BOB GOODLATTE of the Committee on Agriculture._ Chairman JIM NUSSLE of the Committee on the Budget and end of the debate on H.R. 2432 under general leave.
Date: 2004-05-18
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to this amendment. We had a very similar measure at the committee markup and defeated it there. The amendment is supposed to create an expert commission to study the politicization of science and make recommendations for how to protect science in the regulatory process from political and ideological manipulation and interference. The problem with a commission like this is it is designed to find a problem and highlight it. Whether the problem is real or serious the commission fails if it finds nothing at all. This is the kind of unfair fishing expedition that can only harm and destroy public faith in the Federal rulemaking process. Even worse than being unnecessary. the commission is expensive and duplicative. and its powers are questionable. It will cost $5 million. The commission will also duplicate the work of the permanent congressional office of regulatory affairs the base bill creates. And. the commission would have the authority to enter into contracts. btit it is unclear if such contracts could be awarded without any competition. Certainly my colleague didnt intend to provide sole source authority to the commission. There is no question that the Bush administration is surpassing previous administrations in its commitment to good science. Under this administration. OMB has issued the first information quality guidelines that establish rigorous quality standards for using science when developing regulations. Mr. Chairman. it does not make sense to fund an unneeded commission with a predetermined finding that will misrepresent the good work of this administration. Im opposed to this amendment and I ask that all Members vote to defeat it.
Date: 2004-05-19
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. for the last 8 years. without fail. this body has voted against funding abortions in DoD medical treatment facilities. and I trust today that we -will make that 9. Mr. Chairman. American taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for abortions directly or indirectly. wherever they occur. Supporters of this amendment claim that taxpayer dollars would not actually pay for abortions. However. I want to point out that this is simply not true. Taxpayers would be paying for these abortions by subsidizing the cost of the physician services and theabortion equipment. Our current law protects against this. and I urge my colleagues to keep this commonsense policy intact. As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services. I am strongly committed to our national defense. I am also strongly committed to preserving life in all its stages. I urge my colleagues to choose life and oppose the Davis amendment. Mr. Chairman. I rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by my colleague from California. For the last. 8 years. without fail. this body has voted against funding abortions in DOD medical treatrient facilities. I trust that today we Will make that 9. . 1. ). Military physiciaqs and personnel are tasked to provide life saving and nurturing care to our men and women of the armed services. By requiring them to conduct elective abortions. we are asking them to facilitate in the exact opposite of their mission. Particularly at a time when their resources are devoted to addressing the needs of service members suffering from wounds and trauma sustained in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. we must continue to support the doctors and nurses of the military in their effort to save and sustain life. Mr. Chairman. American taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for abortions. directly or indirectly. wherever they occur. Supporters of this amendment claim that taxpayer dollars would not actually pay for abortions. however I would point out that this is simply not true. Taxpayers would bepaying for these abortions by subsidizing the costs of the physician services and the abortion equipment. Our current law protects against this. and I urge my colleagues to keep this .common sense policy intact. As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services. I am strongly committed to our national defense. I am also strongly committed to preserving life in all its stages. I urge my colleagues to choose life and oppose the Davis amendment.
Date: 2004-05-19
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman. I ask this question for myself and my colleagues. the gentleman from Virginia . the gentleman from Virginia and the gentleman from Maryland . I note on Wednesday. March 31. with 299 votes. the House passed House Resolution 581 regarding pay comparability for Federal employees. That language is not included in the resolution. Is it the gentlemans understanding that the language of that resolution is the position of the House?