macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-12-16
Speaker: BRENDAN F. BOYLE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsyl

vania. Well. for anyone to believe thatI know there are some right now who are running for President trying to denigrate America and talk about what is all supposedly wrong with us. I would point out that the whole history of our country has been seeing enormous challenges and meeting them and defeating them. That has been the entire history from Valley Forge. which I am privileged to represent. all the way through to the present day. I would also say to the men and women of my generationof our generationwho might be understandably skeptical on this issue because each and every month they hear the same statistics we do that this past month was the hottest month on record. only to be beaten by the succeeding month. that we have actually been here before in terms of dealing with environmental degradation. As for our parents generation. they faced two particularly strong issues that seemed very difficult to meet and defeat. One was with respect to the ozone layer. If we were having this conversation in the early 1970s. a great deal of the talk was about repairing the ozone layer. Even when some of us were kids. that was an issue. Notice that you dont hear about that anymore. That is because we made the important changes that were necessary. and we solved that problem. A second was with respect to our waterways and rivers. I am proud to represent. Mr. Speaker. and to my colleagues here. the Delaware River in Philadelphia. which actually separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey. It is a beautiful waterway. It is also a very historic one. as that is where. famously. on Christmas Day 1776. George Washington and our soldiers crossed the Delaware into the Battle of Trenton to defeat the Hessians and help launch our young Nation on its way to independence. Well. a previous generation ago. that waterway. as well as the Hudson River and countless others. was in its worst state ever. Today. that same Delaware River is cleaner than at any point in our grandparents lifetime. That is an enormous achievement. It is one that. 40. 50 years ago. most people would have predicted could not have been accomplished. So I would say to all Americans. but especially to those of our generation. yes. this is an enormous problem. but. yes. we can also defeat it. Yes. we can also rise to the occasion. just as we have with each and every other major challenge our Nation has faced.
Date: 2015-12-16
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mother Nature does not discriminate. Whether you are 20 years old. a Republican or Democrat or a member of the Green Party. the laws of physics and the laws of chemistry do not negotiate. We are now in a danger zone when it comes to carbon pollution. If we dont act quickly to reduce carbon pollution. in the coming decades we are going to be in a world of hurt. We are going to have far more extreme weather events. far more national security issues. So. working together. it is my hope that we can pass strong legislation through this Congress. and I believe we will because. in a democracy. the side with the facts eventually wins. Thank you. Representative SWALWELL. for having this terrific Future Forum event on the floor today.
Date: 2015-12-16
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject matter of my Special Order.
Date: 2015-12-16
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of House Resolution 518. Honoring and Praising the American Jewish Committee on the Occasion of its 109th anniversary. and to more broadly commend and celebrate the work of AJC. Thank you to my colleague Representative AL GREEN for organizing this special order hour. Originally founded to raise awareness about the targeting of Jewish communities in Russia. AJC has become a leading voice and advocate against racism and prejudice here in the United States and around the world. Rooted in the Jewish values of tikkun olamrepairing the worldand of being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. AJC has been a key actor in pivotal movements and legislative victories including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. the Voting Rights Act. and for comprehensive immigration reform. As we continue to work to fulfill the complete visions of those movements. AJC will continue to be on the front lines. AJC has partnered with governments all over the world to promote tolerance and understanding and successfully worked to restore and preserve Jewish historical and cultural centers from India to Morocco to Argentina. This work is critical not only for supporting Jewish communities and historical memory abroad. but also for the broader goal of promoting intercultural and interreligious understanding in the face of hatred and violence. On a more personal level. as a young legislator in the Florida House. the American Jewish Committee took me on my first trip to Israel in 1995. That mission was nothing short of transformative. Although I felt a connection to the land of Israel as a Jew. that trip was the first of many that has deepened my connection to the land. to the history and reinforcing my steadfast commitment to supporting the state of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. With threats coming from across and within her borders. our support for this relationship has perhaps never been more important. So again. I commend the American Jewish Committee for its work on behalf of the Jewish community. on behalf of Israel. and on behalf of all the people its work impacts.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I have been told that all that glitters is not gold. There isnt much that is absolutely perfect. and this extender package certainly is not. However. I am pleased to note that it does make the child tax credit permanent. the American opportunity tax credit permanent. the earned income tax credit permanent. extends deductions for expenses for elementary and secondary schoolteachers. extends deductions for State and local general sales tax. extends deductions for certain charitable giving. and extends deductions for research activities. which helps to create jobs. The new market tax credit has been beneficial to districts like mine all over the country. and I am indeed pleased to see it extended. The work opportunity tax credit is a godsend for longterm unemployed. I have worked on an issue called Work Colleges. and I am pleased to note the exemption for students who work under this provision. I am also pleased to note the elimination of residency requirements for disabled individuals who are eligible for the ABLE program. I am also pleased to note the exclusion for wrongfully incarcerated individuals. Mr. Speaker. these extensions are good. I am not sure that they are going to do enough. They are not paid for. and I am not sure that they are going to do as much for low- and moderateincome families and communities as I had hoped. or for job creation or for disadvantaged areas. I am convinced that they will do good. but I am not sure that they will do enough.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the PATH Act. This bill does take some good steps. but the failure to close special interest tax loopholes to offset permanent businesses tax provisions leads to a massive loss in federal revenue. and proves once again that Republicans are committed to using accounting gimmicks that would make Enron blush. This bill does include extension of some important enhancements to the EITC. Child Tax Credit. and American Opportunity Tax Credit. These are vital prowork. profamily income supports. and making the enhancements permanent will help tens of millions of Americans. But. while a permanent extension of these provisions is a positive first step. this bill stopped short of doing more for working families. The child tax credit did not get indexed. so will not rise with the cost of living. Each year. the credit loses value in real dollars. making it harder and harder for lowincome families. There is also bipartisan agreement that the EITC for childless workers is far too low. and yet the EITC for childless workers was left out of the PATH Act. I believe not taking these steps today is a missed opportunity. The unpaidfor tax cuts in the PATH Act are also more proof that the Republicans claims of fiscal discipline are at best gimmicks. and at worst outright fabrications. Between the PATH Act and the tax provisions in the omnibus spending bill. federal revenue is being reduced by $680 billion over the next ten years. Since my Republican colleagues probably wont say it. I will remind everyone of one key factwhen Republicans passed their budget and claimed that it would balance in ten years. they relied on every single dollar of revenue that is being cut today. Let me repeat that. so it is very clear. Every. Single. Dollar. The Republican budget never really balanced in March. and it certainly does not balance now. Here are some things which the PATH Act does not do: it does not close the loophole giving a lower tax rate to hedge funds managers. it does not close the inversion loophole allowing companies to dodge their taxes just by changing their mailing address. it does not end all the tax subsidies for the oil and gas industry. and it does not touch the 17% of all tax expenditures that go to the top 1% of earners. We could have significantly reduced the lost revenue if we closed these and other special interest tax loopholes. and failure to do so is another missed opportunity. So. next time Republicans come to the floor claiming that they care about fiscal discipline. lets all be reminded of just what happened todaymore budget gimmickry that doesnt pass the smell test.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I stand here today to praise the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act. a landmark piece of bipartisan legislation that fixes the outdated policies of No Child Left Behind. This legislation takes into consideration the collective criticisms of teachers and students and parents and. well. everybody really involved with education. The Every Student Succeeds Act benefits lowincome students. minority students. and English language barriers to learners by requiring schools to include student data about these groups into their accountability process. Highstakes testing will no longer monopolize our class time. Schools will now have the flexibility to pilot innovative testing measures. allowing more time for learning in the classroom. I was also proud that both Chambers included final language. which I supported. to include statistics for homeless students so that we can identify and aid some of our most needy students. Every child has a right to a quality education. I am so happy we were able to pass this act.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

My colleague has spoken so eloquently about the impact of the omission of Puerto Rico in the omnibus bill and what it does to the territory of Puerto Rico and the citizens that are there. My colleague has spoken eloquently as to the proportionality questions in this omnibus bill. in general. that would not only negatively impact Puerto Rico but Puerto Rican and other citizens here in the United States of America. whole communities. whole cohorts of working class families. Would my colleague just use a little bit of his time to talk about that issue of fairness and proportionality that I have heard you so eloquently speak about. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I appreciate that and I thank my colleague and friend. I appreciate your perspective on the proportionality issue. Who is going to pay? We are going to pay. Who is going to pay when the bill comes due? It is the working families. It is the most vulnerable. And let us not get so excited about a $30 billion increase when we recognize we have been under sequestration. What does that mean? I thank the gentleman for sharing his time with us. Mr. Speaker. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota .
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman very much for sharing his wisdom with us and his perspective on those issues that we are confronting in the very near future. Mr. Speaker. could you tell me how much time I have left?
Date: 2015-12-17
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia. I appreciate his comments and thank him for sharing his wisdom and experience with us. Mr. Speaker. I yield to my classmate and colleague from Arizona
Date: 2015-12-18
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. Lillian Vernon. a woman who personified the American Dream and inspired generations of girls and boys. passed away this week. Lillian was born Lilli Menasche in Leipzig. Germany. in 1927. Her family arrived here in 1937 after fleeing the new Nazi regime. She attended NYU for a couple of years before leaving to get married. And shortly after her nuptials. the newly pregnant Lillian gathered together what little wedding money she had to start a mail order business from her home in Mount Vernon. New York. She took the name Vernon as her own. and the Lillian Vernon Company was born. She put an advertisement in "Seventeen" magazine for a personalized purse and belt for $5. and within weeks. she had $34.000 dollars in orders. By 1970. Lillian Vernon had her first milliondollar year. A few decades later. she had nine catalogues. 15 outlet stores. two Web sites. a businesstobusiness division. and yearly revenue close to $300 million. She was a role model for women. She started her company when working mothers were often criticized and female entrepreneurs could rarely get credit. But undeterred. she persevered. She was also a trailblazer outside the business world and was known for her charity and her devotion to so many causes. including her dedication to the Lillian Vernon Foundation. which supports the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Literacy Volunteers of America. and a number of other charities. In 2011. Vernon was honored with the Project Sunshine Award for Philanthropic Leadership and was appointed by President Clinton as chairwoman of the National Womens Business Council in 1995. Above all. she was a mother. She was dedicated to her two sons. David and Fred. both of whom worked in the family business with her. I had the pleasure of meeting Lillian throughout the years. And I can say that even a reading of her accolades and accomplishments would fail to give a sense of just how special this wonderful woman truly was. We have lost a great American. and she will be sorely missed.
Date: 2015-12-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and honor all the brave men and women who have served and are currently serving our country today in the Armed Forces. Today over 70.000 servicemembers are overseas protecting America and Americans. These men and women sacrifice their lives fighting wars overseas so that the wars dont come to our shores. This year many American families have endured the tragedies of war through the loss of their family members. We must never forget their service. As we celebrate this holiday season. let us remember all of our military servicemembers and their families as they continue to serve our country and fight for our security and freedoms. Too many American soldiers. sailors. marines. airmen. and airwomen will be away from their families at this holiday season. I would like to express my gratitude for their service and wish them all happy holidays.
Date: 2015-12-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. my first task. a wonderful task. is to wish all the men and women of the United States military a happy holiday. For your unselfishness in putting on the uniform. without question. standing in the gap. protecting the American people. we thank you. we thank your families. and we are greatly appreciative. We ask you to be safe during this holiday season as you put yourself on the front lines of defense.
Date: 2016-01-05
Speaker: BRENDAN F. BOYLE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsyl

vania. Mr. Speaker. I rise to honor Staff Sergeant Peter Taub. one of six victims of a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan on December 21. Peter was a remarkable young man. He was raised in Wyncote. Montgomery County. which I am proud to represent. He served 8 honorable years in the Air Force. assigned to the Office of Special Investigations. and stationed at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. At just 30 years old. Peter was a devout father. husband. and son. an exemplary soldier and public servant. an American hero. I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends Peter left behind and my greatest thanks for his service to our Nation. He gave us all the ultimate sacrifice. My heart especially goes out to Peters family: his 3yearold daughter. Penelope. his wife. Christina. expecting another child. his mother. Arlene. his father. Joel. and his brother. Jonathan. No parent should be predeceased by a child. and no child should have to grow up without a parent. These tragic losses are a reminder of the gravity of our foreign policy decisions and military engagement overseas. We must never take these responsibilities lightly. We must never forget the sacrifice that Staff Sergeant Peter Taub and his family have made to protect our freedoms. May God bless Peters family.
Date: 2016-01-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this past week in Harris County. Texas. we lost a giant of a man in the name of Commissioner El Franco Lee. who served the Harris County Commissioners Court and the people he loved for 30 years. One could never describe Commissioner Lee as a typical politician. As he walked through his district. I truly believe his giant footsteps touched everyone and everyones heart. He was a lover of seniors and created opportunities for them to enjoy their life and swim in a fantastic pool at the Hester House. More importantly. he coddled and nurtured and created the Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital that has served so many from all over the county and State. The Baylor Teen Clinic called him a guardian angel. providing healthcare services for vulnerable teens. And. yes. he believed in something called the Olympics. not around the world. but right in Harris County. 10.000 children during the summer would have the opportunity to test their athletic prowess. And he was an athlete as well. He was a friend of Mickey Leland and Craig Washington. More importantly. his beautiful family. wife. and children lived in his beloved community. Fifth Ward. He was a friend of the community. He did so much as a county commissioner. He left behind wonderful parks and the opportunity for trails. He was a man in our community who knew about flooding. He was a strong. strong proponent of making sure that the infrastructure in Precinct 1 was the kind that would give a better quality of life. Mr. Speaker. as I close on this wonderful public servant. let me say may he rest in peace. working until his tragic death. and offering to the people who were left behind our praise for him. May he rest in peace. Thank you. Commissioner El Franco Lee. for being the giant of a man who reached low and touched all. loved us all. and brought us to a day in Harris County where we can be so proud of all that you have done.
Date: 2016-01-06
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong opposition to the Senate amended Budget Reconciliation Act. a bill with several extreme provisions. including the repeal of the core of the Affordable Care Act for the 62nd time and the revoking of Federal funding for Planned Parenthood for the llth time in this Congress. It is a new year. but instead of bringing legislation to the floor that helps and makes Americans healthier. safer. and more secure. we are repeating the same old partisan fights. Last year. many of my colleagues took advantage of a political stunt by an antichoice group that released falsified videos to damage the credibility of Planned Parenthood. There were congressional hearings. Statelevel investigations. and even a select committee formed to investigate the organization. The inquiries have resulted in no evidence of wrongdoing and have been a waste of taxpayers money. There are 2.7 million women in America who rely on Planned Parenthood for their basic healthcare services that they otherwise cannot afford and cannot access. There is no replacement for Planned Parenthood in many parts of the country. so taking away its Federal funds needlessly risks the health of millions of American women. The CBO estimates that dismantling the Affordable Care Act will cause 22 million Americans to lose their health care. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote "no" on H.R. 3762. Thank you. Peggy Sampson. for your dedicated service.
Date: 2016-01-06
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker. it is a brandnew year. but you wouldnt know it if you look at what we will be voting on this week. Across the investigations of three separate committees in this body. eight States. and four Federal court cases. not a single shred of evidence has been found indicating that Planned Parenthood has broken any laws. In fact. the Oversight and Government Reform chairman. JASON CHAFFETZ. has admitted that he found no evidence that Planned Parenthood did anything wrong. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to ignore the facts here. Planned Parenthood is a healthcare organization serving 3 million Americans each year. In the course of their lifetime. one in five Americans will receive care from Planned Parenthood. Despite arguments to the contrary. there are simply not enough health centers to fill the gap. If we defund Planned Parenthood. we will be denying care to millions of families. We will be taking away options from underserved communities across the countryrural. urban. and otherwise. We will be saying to women. once again. that how and when they get health care is not their choice. it is the choice of a body overwhelmingly run by men. When I got to Congress last January. I thought I would be voting on legislation that would improve the lives of my constituents. Mr. Speaker. giving them better wages. jobs. stronger education. and an economy that started at a level playing field. Instead. I have been on the floor more times than I want to count urging my colleagues on the other side to give up the attacks on womens health. It is a new year. Mr. Speaker. We have a new Speaker. Enough is enough. I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule and the underlying bill. I thank the gentleman for giving me this opportunity.