macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1981-07-28
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

On May 12 President Reagan submitted a plan to cut $88 billion in social security benefits over the next 5 years. Yet. last night the President said: I stated during the campaign and I repeat now I will not stand by and see these of you who are dependent on Social Security deprived of your benefits. How could he say this? The Presidents plan to cut social security benefits Includes the elimination of the minimum retirement benefit currently received by 3 million elderly Americans. In a few days. this cut will become law. Last night In his nationally televised speech. the President said: "You will continue to receive your checks In the full amount due you." 1!ow could be say this? The Presidents plan to cut social security benefits includes the elimination of the minimum retirement benefit currently received by 3 million elderly. Americans. In a few days. this cut will become law. In October. 1980. during the Presidential campaign Mr. Reagan said: Any reform of the social security system must have one overriding goal: that the benefits of those now receivingor looking forward to receivingsocial security must be protected. and that payments keep pace with the costofliving. Yet. In stark contrast. President Reagans plan to cut social security would reduce the benefits of those "looking forward to receiving social security" at age 82 by 40 percent. It would also delay the date on which benefits are adjusted for inflation. Last night the President said: "You have no reason to be frightened." But In recent congressional testimony 0MB Director Stockman said that the social security system would be bankrupt "on or about November 3. 1982."1 In his letter to the congressional leadership of July 18. the President promised to tell the American people the facts about social security. After last nights speech. we are still waiting to hear the facts. This brings us back to what I call the $88 billion question. This Is the amount the administration has said it would cut from social security retirement over the next 5 years. Has the President abandoned his plan to slice $88 billion in social security benefits? Or. was his statement to the Nation last night meant merely to calm the fears which have been flamed by David Stockman and others in the administration. The American people--the elderly of the Nation. especially--deserve -an answer. The President has a responsibility to clarify these inconsistencies.
Date: 1981-07-28
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table is agreed to.
Date: 1981-07-28
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I thank the distinguished majority leader. What time will the Senate likely resume consideration of this joint resolutic on tomorrow?
Date: 1981-07-28
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the In the meaning of section 8331(15) of title distinguished majority leader and the 5) for December of the calendar year preceddistinguished Senator from Kansas Ing the calendar year In which the taxable S. year begins over such Index for December of
Date: 1981-07-28
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. r move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. reserving the right to object. I have no Personal feeling about this matter. but I would hesitate to agree to the request without clearing it on my side of the aisle. That is why I suggest that the Senator might withdraw his request for the moment. .S 8719
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I send to the desk an amendment on behalf of myself. Mr. FORD. Mr. HUDDLESTON. Mr. INOUYE. Mr. JACKSON. Mr. RAN-
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the Chair. Mr. President. I am going to yield now to my senior colleague from West Virginia. Mr. RANDOLPH. and then to Mr. FORD. But before doing so let me express my gratitude to Senator DOLE. in particular. and to Senator BAKER as well and to I the ranking minority manager of the bill. Mr. LONG. for the patience that they have given to consideration of my amendment and for the helpfulness that they have rendered to me by making staff available in a effort to work out some of the problems that were concomitant to the amendment. This kind of assistance Is very gratifying. and I express my personal thanks to
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I want a rollcall on this amendment. but I do not want to inferfere with the speeches that two other Senators have to make. and I think the best way to proceed. If I may suggest this to the distinguished majority leader and Mr. DOLE. would be to allow Mr. LEVIN to speak on another subject. and Mr. STENNIrS to speak on another subject. after which the vote would then occur on my amendment. and that would then cause the followon vote on the committee amendment to be. I suppose. back to back.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I thank the distinguished majority leader for his words. I Join with him in compimenting the distinguished manager of the bill and the distinguished ranking manager of the bill (Mr. LON(.). Senator DOLE has demonstrated great expertise. great skill. and great patience. I express the feeling of all Senators. I .know. on both sides of the aisle when I saythis Is truly a remarkable bill and a remarkable performance on the part of those two Senators who have managed the bill. I compliment the distinguished majority leader on the skill that he. too. has demonstrated. I thank him. for the patience that he has displayed. Again. I think that he is entitled to a great tribute on the part of all of us. I would say that the President of the United State:. can be very grateful. very grateful indeed. for having the kind of majority leader that he has in Senator HOWARD BAKER. Mr. President. I personally admire Mr. BAKER and I think that. in the handling of this bill. he has demonstrated a high quality of leadership. We admire him for it and again. I thank him for the cooperation and the understanding that he has demonstrated toward my side of the aisle. Finally. Mr. President. I thank him for the unyielding courtesy that he extends to the members of the minority at all times. We appreciate it.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the nominations appearing on the calendar under New Reports.. including nominations placed on the Secretarys desk. have been cleared on this side of the aisle and the minority is ready to proceed.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

The allsavers certificate Is a special. statutory 1year certificate that will exempt from Income taxes the Interest thereon provided certain conditions are met. As the distinguished chairman of the Ways and Means Committee knows. such a certificate may well require special regulations to be issuedsome by the Treasury Department and some from other Federal agencies supervisIng and regulating financial institutions. Is It the intention of the Ways and Means Committee that all of the Government departments or agencies involved seek to Issue appropriate regulations to facilitate the sale of these allsavers certificates as soon as possibleand preferably by October 1. 1981?
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I am glad to hear that. As chairman of the BankIng. Finance and Urban Affairs Committee. I am hopeful that the Secretary of the Treasury. as well as the other members of the Depository Institutions Deregulation Committee will. at their next meeting. discuss and promulgate regulations which will authorize these certificates by October 1. There are several questions that will arise and need to be resolved. For example. should the early withdrawal penalties on the 6month certificates and other certificates of a 1year term be waived if the certificate holder prefers to convert his existing certificate to the allsavers certificate within the samne Institution? I am sure there will be other questions that will need to be addressed as the DIDC promulgates rules and regulations for the depository Institutions under its jurisdiction concerning the allsavers certificate. I am sure many people. Including Members of Congress. will be contactIng the DIDC on the allsavers certificate. I want to commend the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for his work in thisf tax reform bill. and thank him for his response to my question.
Date: 1981-07-29
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I am not going to delve Into statistics. I am going to speak for Just a moment or two why I believe that the HanceConable proposal Is the better of the two proposals. One Is that I believe the American people. who have been covered up and inundated over the past several weeks with both of these packages. are demanding it. I know that the mail that I have received from the First District of Texas and other places Is absolutely overwhelming in favor of the HanceConable or the Presidents proposal. I received a call this morning from a woman who resides in Sumner. Tex.. whom I do not know. a town that contains as of the last census count. 164 people. She is presenting to my office in Paris. Tex.. a petition signed by 900 people asking that I support the HanceConable proposal. Those are the people that I have listened to and who have caused me to throw my support for the Presidents proposal. Mr. Chairman. I would ask that all of us who are here today not knuckle down to any pressure except what we think Is best for this country. I believe that last November the American people gave out a clarion call that they wanted a change. and I think that those of us in this House. representing the greatest Nation on earth owe it to the President of the United States to have an opportunity to see if his program will work. I propose to do just that. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. Presidei 11. the tenacity of the Afghan freedom fighters deserves the admiration of all the worlds people. Some 85.000 Soviet soldiers and the most modern equipment in the Russian army and air force cannot subdue this fiercely proud people. As noted In a recent edition of The Wall Street Journal: The Moslems arent winning against these odds. but diplomats and others observing the clash of cultures describe the situation as a stalemate. They say the Russians. eppear to have decided to protect the cities and their military bases. leaving the countryside to the insurgents. The Kabul government hasnt any presence In 95% of the country. one observer says.... It Is a holy war for this predominantly Moslem population. As one 19yearold Moslem youth pointed out: Well fight until the last breath In our bodies. If the Communists decide not to leave for 100 years. then we will still fight them. If the Soviets believe they can wear down the freedomfighters. history is not on their side. The British found they could not subdue these proud and Independent people. And the Soviets will discover the same. Yet. this tragic bloody occupation continues. The world should note with horror Soviet action in Aghanistan The Stalinist purges have been revised In what was a neutral. Third World Moslem nation whose -people dared to challenge the Red army. I ask unanimous consent that the article from the July 24. 1981 Wall Street Journal be printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Madam President. I take the floor to Inquire of the distinguished majority leader as to what the program is for the remainder of the day. for tomorrow. for the week. and If he. can foresee it.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the Chair. Madam President. I am getting a lot of questions on my side of the aisle from my colleagues as to what the program is for the remainder of the week and as far into next week as possible. if the Senate is going to be In next week. and I am sure the distinguished majority leader may not be able to answer all questions. but we would appreciate it If he could tell us what he can at this time with respect to the program for the remainder of the week and if we are In next week what It will be then.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Madam President. I ask one further question. with the Senators indulgence. As I understand the distinguished majority leader. there will be no business other than the action on the tax legislation. the conferenca report. the action on the reconciliation measure. and the action on the nomination of Mr. Lee?
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Because I want to change the answer I gave to the majority leader. I said I hoped It would. The answer Is. "Yes." to his question. that S 8846 C: this Is the only business remaining. as he has said. the conference report on the tax bill. the conference report on the reconciliation bill. and the nomination of Mr. Lee. That is all.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

The minority Is ready to proceed with those nominations with the exception of the two nominations under the Department of Agriculture.
Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as you know. deep concerns exist about the current game being played by the Nations largest corporations and some international ones as well. These firms are engaged In bidding wars seeking to take over other large firms. The most visible of these involves Conoco. Mobil. Seagrams. and DuPont have all engaged in a high stakes game to determine who will acquire Conoco. This international game of monopoly Is being fueled by lines of credit from syndicates of the largest banks in the world. U.S. banks are playing a prominent role in developing these lines of credit. These developments suggest that the current restrictive monetary policy Is inequitable especially for small businessmen and women around the country who are starved for credit. Recently. I wrote to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker expressing my concerns for such use of our scarce credit resources. At that time I strongly urged the Federal Reserve Board to use its power and Influence to "~make it clear to the Nations money center banks that this is a~ very Inappropriate moment for huge chunks of the Nations available credit to be used for corporate takeovers and other nonproductive purposes." An article in todays Wall Street Journal is a clear indication that these funding endeavors continue unabated. Cities Service Co. according to the article. has arranged a $. billion line of credit and will fight any takeover bid. The article also suggests that the company might use the funds for acqiuiring someone Itself. On the other hand. another Wall Street Journal article reports on actions taken In Canada on the same subject. The finance minister of Canada. it is reported. has requested Canadian banks to reduce takeover lending. Apparently my recommendations had more Impact In Canada than they did in the United States. I urge the Federal Reserve Board once again to use Its influence and power to make It clear that these. takeover lines of credit are inappropriate.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. In response to the gentleman from Louisiana. let me state that I would reply in the affirmative to the Issues that he has just raised regarding the provision In title III which would prohibit new flood insurance on undeveloped barrier islands. In response to the last question raised by the gentleman with regard to the list of undeveloped coastal barriers that have been developed by the Department of the Interior. the gentleman states that his Impression was that it was not tbe intent of the conferees to endorse any of these maps. Let me say that It was the conferees expectation that these maps would be used as a basis for the designation. Mr. Speaker. I would not want to leave the Impression that the conferees did endorse or did not endorse any particular maps that have been developed by the Department of the Interior. Let me direct the gentlemans attention to the statement of managers which from our part clearly outlines our Intentions with regard to this matter. The statement of managers states: The conferees note that In 1981 In response to a request from the Congress. the Department of the Interior developed a list of undeveloped coastal barriers which may meet the criteria In this section. The conferees expect that this inventory may provide a basis for the designation by the Secretary. However. the conferees expect the Secretary to review carefully the definition contained in section 321 In preparing tlie report of findings and proposed designations of areas covered In this section. The point that I am trying to make to my colleague is that these maps will serve as a basis upon which the Secretary of Interior will be reporting back to us in 1 year as to what these barrier islands are. They are not the final list. Certainly there will be changes. revisions. deletions. and additions. but they -ihould serve as a basis upon which the Secretary will be reporting to us.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I appreciate what the distinguished majority leader has said. I am sure that everyone on this side of the aisle appreciates whatever information the majority leader can give us so that Members on this side can plan their schedules over the weekend and for the early part of next week.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the distinguished majority leader is welcome. Does any Senator on my side of the aisle wish some additional time? I have some time under my control. Mr. President.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that 5 minutes of my 15 minutes be used by Mr. Paywi and that 10 minutes may be used by Mr. KENNEDY.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. Presi.dent. reserving the right to object. I .think on a motion the Chair ought to always put the question. If the majority leader asks unanimous consent on a matter. I think that is quite a different thing. Senators can object or reserve their rights to object. or do nothing. But on a motion. I think the question ought to be Put. We can have a voice vote. "Th nose in favor say aye. opposed. no. The ayes appear to have It. The ayes have Mt" We seem to be continuing to present notions as unailnllousconsent requests. This Is not in criticism of the Chair. I think the Parliamentarian ought to help the Chair in these situations. I wsant the Parliamentarian to know that when these most controversial issues arise. there are some people oin the floor who should be very careful of their rights. I amn sure the majority lendecr will help protect the minority rights in every way hie canl. but lie cannot if the Chair says. "Without objection. it is so ordered." because that is (lone. Then. unless the Chair gives us anl opportunity to reserve our rights. which hie has been doing. a Senator Is at the mercy of thle Chair. I would hope that the Chair would put the question onl a motion. This is not said in criticism of thle Present occupant of the Chair. I hlave been w~atching this go on for quite a while. I would hope we would proceed in thalt fashion. if the distinguished majority leader will agree.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

It is not a matter that I would insist on in all matters. but where we have a situation as we do nowv before the Senate. wthere a Senlator may want to he recognized. lie niay not have heard the Chair. That would be what I am referring to. I hope that the Chair will proceed to put the motion. I know that is correct. I thank the Chair.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Does the distinguished imajority leader maintain that It Is in order to move to go into executive session to take up a nomination on the Executive Calendar that is not tihe first nominee on the calendar?
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I think It Is preeminently appropriate that the majority leaders motion be In order. that hie move to take up a particular nomination on the Executive Calendar. I thought it was right when I was malorIty leader: I think It is right now that Mr. BAKER is doing a very able Job as majority leader. so I am willing to let the matter rest there.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. it is not possible at this time. I shall have to canvass further my side of the aisle At the moment. I must reluctantly say no.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I am. I thank the Chair. and I thank my distinguished senior colleague for getting order in the Senate. Mr. President. I think we ought to try for an hour equally divided on the reconciliation measure. I have been talking In terms of 2 hours. but I find that some of my colleagues over here would be discommoded if the matter were carried on that long. I suggest to the majority leaderand I have talked with the ranking manager and he has talked with the majority manager of the resolution and it seems that an hour equally divided might be sufficient time.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. will the distinguished majority leader simply get an order that the rights of the Senator from Michigan may be retained so that we can proceed to let the messenger in and proceed with the majority leaders request.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. there are Senators who are going to be discommoded because once we get into that discussion we may go for 10 or 15 minutes. May I suggest to the majority leader respectfully that he simply get an order protecting the rights of Mr. RIEGLE and others and let the messenger come on In and proceed with his request for a time limitation on the reconciliation bill? Let us go ahead with the reconciliation resolution and then following that Mr. RIEGLEs rights would be protected. He could stand then as he stands now if thit order were entered.
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. reserving the right to object. I am trying to protect the Senators who need to get away from here and catch an airplane. and all I wish to do is preserve the rights which Mr. RIEGLE has at this moment. May I ask the distinguished majority leader will he propound an order that will preserve those rights and let us get on with this message. dispose of it and then return to this matter so that the Senator from Michigan can exercise his rights?
Date: 1981-07-31
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the distinguished Senator from Washington I have asked the distinguished majority leader If he would at this time tell us what the business of the Senate will be for the rest of the day. what the pro. gram will be for the rest of the week and what the Program will be for thi early part of next week if it Is necessar3 to return.