macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

If the gentleman will yield. this is the omnibus territories bill. As recommended by the Interior Committee it has four provisions: First. it provides a mechanism for the recall of the Lieutenant Governor of Guam and members of. the Guam Legislature. Second. It authorizes an extension of the time for the transfer of excess personal property in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Third. it provides authority to appropriate up to $150.000 for a Caribbean educational. cultural and technical exchange program at the College of the Virgin- Islands. * Fourth. it authorizes juaranteed loans to the American Samoa Power Authority to finance sorely needed power generation facilities. The total authority is limited to $8 million. but. the provision specifies that in the case of defaultwhich we *would not expectthe U.S. Treasury would be reimbursed from funds that American Samoa would otherwise be entitled to receive under other provisions of law or other Federal programs. That Is a brief summary of the bill. as recommended by the Interior Committee.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill just passed.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the gentleman from California. looking at page 15 of the report. it indicates that during the hearings on the United Nations the committee reviewed actions of somfe U.N. programs which seemed to indicate violations of its own rules and regulations. It says: The committee Is disturbed by actions of certain U.N. voluntary agencies which violate the U.N. Charter. The committee will view any continuation of these violations with concern. Could the gentleman from California tell me whether or not the International Development Association. IDA. is making any loans to any countries that have violated the U.N. Charter?
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Does the gentleman know what type of procedures are used before any of these loans are made to see whether or not the countries who have violated the charter do not get any of these funds?
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I know that Senators atre aware of the recent series of accidents in underground coal mines in Kentucky. Tennessee. and my own State of West Virginia. Thousands of citizens In each of those States. ~and in many other States. daily descend Into mines to earn their living. Those mines should be as safe as possible. On Thursday. November 5. 1 offered along with Senator ARLEN SPECTER. an alnendmeict to the Labor/HHS appropriations bill for fiscal year 1982. when that bill was before the full Appropriations Committee. The amendment restored $48 million to mine safety enforcement programs. The $48 million had been cut in subcommittee. and our amendment brought the program level back to the Presidents originial budget request. An article In the Washington Post of December. 10 entitled. "Fund Cuts Impair Mine Safety. Union Says." tells of the growing concern of the people directly Involved with mining that reductions In Federal mine safety programs wil Jeopardize the safety of miners. The sad record of recent days cannot N~ Ignored as Congress moves toward final action on fiscal year 1982 funding levels. I ask unanimous consent that the article be inserted In the REcoRD at this point. [From the Washington Post. Dec. 10. 19511
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I support and Join in cosponsoring the resolution to express the sense of the Senate that the Farmers Home Administration continue Its present loan policies. As we approach the Christmas holidays. I believe that it is imperative for tis body to let our farmers and rural residents know that the Federal Government will not play Scrooge on January 1. when many FmHA loans come due. Farmers work on a large margin of credit. They are required to borrow large amounts of money to obtain the fuel. fertilizer. seed. stock. or other materials needed to produce a crop. milk. or meat. They borrow far In advance of knowing what market conditions will be after the crop comes in or *the milk Is ready to be sold. The free market risks of this nature borne by farmers are made much greater in a period of high interest rates and loan economic growth. The nati6nal economy Is In precisely that state at this time. Higher unemployment across the country means some decrease In demand for agricultural products. as people literally tighten their belts. The farmer or rural resident holding an FmHA loan Is being squeezed by this situation. The loan has been made. the crop has been produced. but now rising production costs or lower market prices make It Impossible for Immediate repayment. The policy of the Farmers Home Administration uinder such circumstances In the past has been to seek to accommodate the holder of the loan so that foreclosure Is avoided. The net benefit to our country that results from this policy is that farmers stay In business. those who have received disaster loans arc given a chance to recover. and those who have bought farms with ownership loans do not instantly lose their farms. .These are at present 22.672 FmHA loans In West Virginia. worth $933.468.614. It should be obvious what the effect of a wave of FmHA foreclosures would be on my State. The long stretch of very high Interest rates that are punishing our economy have made it tough on everyone. People are already In serious economic straits. and the Federal Government would exacerbate this condition by foreclosing on those In diffculty. This resolution tells the Farmers Home Administration that the Senate does not want that to happen. The purpose of the credit programs of FmHA Is to help our farmers and those who live and work in rural areas build a prosperous economic base. We cannot allow their efforts to help themselves be destroyed.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

r am advised that this is a separate account and that Moneys cannot be shifted from other accounts to this account. They can be shifted from within the mine safety. and health administration account but indeed they cannot be. shifted from. other iaccounts to this account.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I am concerned that without this amendment the amount for this Item will be $6 million below the 1981 level. Even though there can be a shifting within the account. the overall amount for mine safety and health enforcement would be reduced. Moneys cannot be shifted from other accounts into this account to prevent that from happening. So I see this amendment as the only way to preserve that amount for mine safety and health. And I believe. In light of the three very recent happenings that have been highly publicized. that the amendment is not only Justified but that It Is necessary.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the real world situation to which the Senator referred Is that 27 coal miners have been killed within the last 10 days. and the mines In which these tragedies occurred were not necessarily small operations. The fact remains that even through the distinguished Senator says that language in the report would emphasize dealing with those mines that appear to have the most hazardous situation. the fact remains that all coal mining is hazardous. and the fact remains that you cannot get more inspections and better Inspections with less money than they have been operating with in 1981. This amount of money. as I stated. represents $6 million. We otherwise would be $6 million below the 1981 level. and that does not even consider the impact of inflation on funding of inspections. I say. Mr. President. that this Is the real world In which we are living. There should not be a price tag on the lives of coal miners who are asked to help us solve this Nations energy problems. I hope the Senate will adopt the amendment.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I will not be blunt about anything. I am Just grateful to the distinguished manager of the resolution for his reasonableness and for his courtesy in this Instance. None of us would attempt to assess any blame. I try to be on the floor at all times whenever I can to protect the rights of the minority. Fortunately. we have a majority leader here who bends over backward. also to protect the rights of the minority and we have other Senators on the other side of the aisle who do the same. I think in doing that they realize. as we realized when we were in the majority. that there has to be a spirit of comity. courtesy. cooperation. reasonableness. and understanding here if we are going to get the Senates work done. So nobody is attempting to assess blame. We. on this side. just assumed that there would be a rollcail vote. If we had assumed otherwise. if we had understood otherwise. some of the Senators on this side would have certainly notified me or the managers of the bill. and they would have been put on notice. The managers are correct. They were not told about a rolleall. But it was Just assumed. I think. that there would be one on a continuing resolution. which is a big appropriations measure. In connection with which there has been a lot of heated controversy. We just took it for granted there would be a roilcall vote. The Chair acted with due diligence. The Chair has the responsibility to put the question on a matter if no Senator seeks attention. So there Is no attempt to blame anybody. I appreciate the statement by the distinguished Senator from Oregon . I appreciate the very generous statement that has been made by Mr. PROXMIRE. I appreciate the attitude of the majority leader. Again. I thank the Senator from Oregon for attempting to get us out of this little problem. I hope that his request will not be objected to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. is there objection to. the unanimousconsent request of the Senator from Oregon?
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I have asked the majority leader to yield in order that I may inquire of him what the program Is for the remainder of today. whether or not there will be aL Saturday session. what the program Is for next week. and if he can foresee a date for sine die adjournment. to indicate what that date is. December .11. .1981
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I thank the majority leader for his very lucid statement. I think we should be able to determine our schedule accordingly. I hope the schedule he has laid out can be expedited. We will do everything on our side that Is possible to help expedite It.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. rules does not run. we will have ample Mr. KASTEN. Mr. President. If the I understand the majority leaders tribu- time to exercise our legislative veto the Senator will yield further. we have 47 colations and I sympathize with him In first 3 months of the next session. so sponsors of the meksure. and I would this regard. but we are clearly to under- there Is no need to prohibit it from going guess that we could probably have as stand. then. that there will be a Saturday Into effect in the next 4 or 5 days. many as 50 or 55 cosponsors. The legissession because of this objection. Mr. JOHNSTON. I would urge the lative veto process was not meant to be
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Madam President. may we have order In the Senate? Would the Chair clear the aisle so that I can see the Senator who is speaking?
Date: 1981-12-11
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: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the Wall Street Journal has displayed eminent good sense in prominently displaying the economice talents and thoughtfulness of my good friend. the Senator from New Jersey . Senator BRADLEY has been a vital part of Democratic thinking about the economy since he first took his seat in 1978. He serves as chairman of the Senate Democratic Economic Task Force. which I appointed at the beginning of this year. Senator BRADLEYS thoughts on IndustryGovernment cooperation. and the impact of International competition on domestic businesses reflect the cutting edge of economic concerns In these areas. All Members on this side of the aisle share the Senators strong convictions that partisan squabbles are of no value to this economy or to the longterm political prospects of the Democrats. If this country is to recover from its long bout with economic stagnation. we must look to the basic structure of our economy and to the job training and education programs that are the ifeblood of a skilled work force for relief. I commend Senator BRADLEY on his economic work in the Senate. anid urge all of my colleagues. from both sides of the aisle. to read this Wall Street Journal article about the Junior Senator from New Jersey. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the Wall Street Journal article be printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1981-12-11
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I opposed the conference report on the Food and Agriculture Act of 1981. There aie some features of the agreement worked out by the conferees that I support. particularly the establishment of a workfare system for food stamp recipients and improvements In our soil conservation programns. I could not support the conference report. however. based on the language contained in the dairy title. That title divorces the concept of parity from the dairy program and replaces It with wvhat are. In effect. target prices. The net result of the system established by the dairy title Is to put small milk producers at risk. Larger producers have a greater nmargin to work with in order to recover their costs of production. Small producers do not have such a margin. and they will be In jeopardy in future marketing years tinder the new system. If a small producer has bought new milking stock in the past 2 to 3 years. he will have to keep his milk production high in order to maintaini his cash flow and geta return on his investment in the new cows. The abandonment of parity for the dairy program leaves the small producer in the lurch.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. events in Poland over the weekend are cause for grave concern among all Americans. It is my sincerest hope that the latest crisis in that country will be resolved peacefully. It is my sincerest hope that the Soviets will see It in their Interest to avoid intervention. directly or indirectly. in the present crisis facing Poland. I! . The Poles must be left* ilone to resolve the differences between the ruling Communist elite and the 10millionmember Solidarity union movement. The declaration of martial law by the *ruling Military Council and the detention of an estimated 1.000 Solidarity union leaders present a potentially explosive situation in Poland. There Is room for cautious optimism. however. Reports indicate that Solidarity leader Lech Wilmsa has flown to Warsaw for talks with Polish authorities. It is my hope. and that of all Americans. that these talks will succeed and the state of emergency will be lifted. The liberalization effort In Poland which began in the shipyards of Gdansk during the summer of 1980 hasbeen a remarkable development. It has been a Particularly welcome development in light of the special relationship the peepeof thb United States have had with Poland over the years. I was. therefore. heartened by Secretary of. State Alexander Haigs statement of yesterday. which noted: - 2 . * A senior Polishforeign officialhad assured the United States andother western nations that reforms will continut despitethe mllitarli takeover.. * I support the Secretarys statement that the United States ".will watch very carefully whether this promise will be kept": and "the political experiment underway in Poland* sh~ould be allowed to proceed unimpeded." Mr. President. Americans join with Pope John Paul II inpraying that bloodshed will be avoided. The Poles have endured enough suffering Ithroughout their hitr.It Is time for mutual restraint. cciitton.. and cooperation in resolvIng the economic ills plaguing that country. And in this connection. I stand by the efforts of our Government to assist In this endeavor.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. all nominations on page 2 and going through page 41 have been cleared on this side of the aisle.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. with the exception of the nomination which appears on page 2 in connection with which Senator PROXMIRE wishes to speak. this side Is ready to proceed en bloc.
Date: 1981-12-14
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: 1981-12-14
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. last July. as our economy sank Into recession. after the shortest expansion period since 1919. Treasury Secretary Regan said: All I know is that our economy is slowing down. and I think thats healthy. Then in October. Commerce Secretary Baldrlge said: A slight recession. I think. is almost necessary right now. Well. the administrations tight money policies have now produced a recession. Nine million people stand In unemployment lines. stripped of the basic dignity of a Job. 15.892 businesses haye padlocked their doors forever. and housing starts are at a* 16year low. Economic retrenchment Is an expensive. cynical. and painful policy. It Is a Policy without a heart. The Republican Governor of Vermont. Richard Snelling. recently told the League of Cities Annual Convention in Detroit that: Frankly. I think that what is happening Is that we are having an economic Bay of Pigs. Unfortunately. the frontline soldiers of the economic assault are unwilling conscripts who have lost their Jobs or their businesses. * The only way we will bring our budget into balance. lower Interest rates. and *beat Inflation Is to put our people back to work. High unemployment means lower Government revenues and greater IGovernment spending. It means more crime. lower productivity. and Increased tension in our cities. Instead of new growth. we have got ino growth. Instead of new economic vistas. we have got a. new economic wasteS 15174 Co land. Instead of Hoovcrs Dustbowi. we have got Reagans Rustbowi as our Industrial heartland stands Idle. This administrations policies could have led nowhere but here. Aks David Stockmans musings have revealed. the administration had no plans beyond its roller coaster rhetoric which hid a program of pain and suffering for the savers. investors. and workers of this country. and reward for the speculators and truly wealthy Tile Democratic Policy Committee has assembled the facts about this administration!!. economic program In a document entitled the "Recession Review." This review shows clearly that its policies are not working. This admninistrationts socalled economic recovery plan has failed. and the patients vital signs are weakening. I call on the admninistration to prescribc a course of treatment. instead of simply pulling the plug on our economy. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the "Recession Review" be included in the RECORD.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: J .ONES (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: North Carolina

0mn M.The Chair recognizes the gentleman Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that fo nin M.BIJWO all .Members who wish to do so mayfrmIdaa(. Eix . have 5 legislative days in which to Mr. BENJAMIN. Mr. Speaker. I revise and extend their remarks on the yield myself such time as I may conSenate bill. S. 1003. sume.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to permit to become effective certain Farm Credit Administration regulations which expand the authority of financing Institutions. other than farm credit system Institutions. to borrow from and discount with Federal intermediate credit banks and ask for Its Immediate consideration In the House.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would be very happy to explain this bill. Mr. Speaker. this is a bill to permit to become effective certain Farm Credit Administration regulations which expand the authority of financ-. ing institutions. other than Farm Credit System institutions. to borrow from and discount withFederal intermediate credit banks. The Farm Credit Act of 1971. the statute which governs the operation of both the federally chartered. privately owned Farm Credit System and the Farm Credit Administration. the Federal supervisory agency. was substantially amended by Congress last year. One. of the most significant changes gave assurances to rural banks and other lending Institutions that. when necessary. they could discount loans with and borrow from the Federal Intermediate banks. which are units of the Federal Credit System. It was the objective of Congress that these other financial institutions have access to adequate funds to finance their farm. ranch. and aquatic borrowers. The Farm Credit Admintistration has been formulating regulations to Implement the new statutory provisions since early this year. During the rule-* making process. comments and suggestions of various interested parties were addressed. The Subcommittee on Conservation. Credit. and Rural Development of the Agriculture Committee was briefed on the matter from time to time. On October 22. 1981. the Farm Credit Administration issued Its final regulations on this subject. Because of a question which arose. a clarifying amendment was published The 1980 amendments to the Farm Credit Act subjected regulations Issued by the agency on this subject to a twoHouse legislative veto. They provided that. at the earliest. regulations could not become effective until 60 days of continuous session of Congress after their promulgation. This provision is the source of the problem we must remedy. It Is obvious that the 60day period of continuous session after promulgation of the regulations and the amendment will not expire before adjournment of the first session of this- Congress. Sine die adjournment would break continuity of session for this purpose. Therefore. under the legislative veto provision of law. the 60day period would begin to run anew. upon convening of the the second session of this Congress. This would necessarily postpond the effective date of the regulations and the amendment at least into March 1982. In view of the dire economic circumstances now facing American agriculture. It Is highly likely that the additional sources of credit which the regulations would make available will be sorely needed long before next spring. The purpose of S. 1948 is simply to make these regulations and the amendment effective as of the date of enactment of this bill. Adoption of this bill will not necessarily indicate approval of the regulations by Congress. It will. however. promptly make additional sources of agricultural credit available and thereby accomplish one of the main purposes of Congress in adopting the 1980 farm credit amendments. I urge my colleagues -to join in adopting S. 1948.
Date: 1981-12-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days In which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate bill just passed.
Date: 1981-12-15
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Madam President. I wonder if the distinguished majority leader would be in a position to announce the program at this time for the remainder of the day. for tomorrow. and for Thursday If necessary.