macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-02-25
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2751. the GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2003. I want to thank the leadership for bringing this important legislation to the floor. This legislation. which I introduced last year. has broad support in both Houses and on both sides of the political aisle. It was crafted in collaboration with Democrats on the Committee on Government Reform and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. In essence. H.R. 2751 expands the management flexibilities that the GAO already has. Among its provisions. this -legislation makes permanent the GAOs authority to offer early retirement and buyouts in order to provide GAO with the necessary tools to streamline and reshape its workforce. The legislation enhances GAOs ability to reimburse employees for relocation expenses and establishes an employee exchange program with the private sector in areas of mutual concern and positions where GAO has a supplyanddemand imbalance. It also permits the Comptroller General to increase the annual leave benefits for employees who joined the GAO in midcareer. Right now. for example. even seasoned employees who joined the GAO with extensive experience in the private sector are only entitled to 13 days of annual leave for the first 3 years with the agency. That is the same amount of leave that is given to a recent college graduate. Under this legislation. they could receive up to 20 days a year. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2751 also changes the name of the organization from the General Accounting Office to the Government Accotintability Office. which better reflects the agencys modernday mission. Most importantly. the GAO Human Capital Reform Act gives the Comptroller General more authority to reward employees for good work and establishes a meaningful payforperformance system. Annual pay raises would be based on individual performance. also taking into account inflation and differences in competitive compensation by locality. At both the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization. which I chair. and the full Committee on Government Reform. this legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support. It is endorsed by the Comptroller General. the GAO Employees Advisory Council.- and by outside observers of the civil service. This legislation will be a great benefit to the GAO and to Congress. which relies heavily on the expertise and skill of the GAO employees. The GAO has been a leader in creating a performancebased environment and will continue to do so when this bill becomes law. I urge passage of H.R. 2751. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2004-02-25
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I thought we had one other speaker on his way. but I would just urge that the House pass H.R. 2751.
Date: 2004-02-25
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. please include the attached exchange of letters between Chairman BILL THOMAS of the Committee on Ways and Means and myself in debate on H.R. 2751.
Date: 2004-02-25
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2751. the GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2003. Over the last couple of years. the Government Reform Committee has worked tirelessly to revitalize the federal civil service in an effort to bring the Federal workforce into the 21st century. In November 2002. Congress granted the new Department of Homeland Security the authority to develop its own human resources management system. largely outside of the confines of the 50yearold Federal civil service system. In June 2003. Congress authorized the Securities and Exchange Commission to utilize streamlined hiring procedures to address critical staff shortages at the Commission. In November 2003. Congress granted the Defense Department authority similar to Homeland Security to develop a human resources management system for its civilian workforce. In January of this year. Congress authorized a number of new workforce authorities for NASA that will enable. the space agency to compete with the private sector in recruiting and retaining a highly specialized workforce. Now GAOa legislative branch agency that helped us to craft these reformshas asked Congress to provide it with some of the same personnel flexibilities that we have provided to these other agencies. Civil Service Subcommittee Chair Jo ANN DAVIS responded by introducing H.R. 2751. which would provide GAO with the authority to offer early buyout packages. base employee compensation on performance. offer additional relocation bene-" fits. offer more flexible annual leave policies. and establish an executive exchange program with the private sector. H.R. 2751 was developed in coordination with the minority members of the Govemment Reform Committee. the General Accounting Office and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. all in a bipartisan manner. We in this body rely on the GAO to ensure the performance and accountability of the Federal Govemmeni. and this legislation will assist the Comptroller General in ensuring a vibrant and effective workforce to meet this important task. I urge Members to support this important legislation.
Date: 2004-02-25
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. today I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bill. the Un.born Victims of Violence Act. and to urge my colleagues to pass this critical piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker. it amazes me to hear the arguments of the opponents of this bill. not wanting to protect the rights and the will and the wish of this mother who chose the right to carry her child to full term and to protect the rights of the father for having justice against the murder of the child that they chose to keep. It just amazes me to hear that argument. Recent studies by State health departments have shown that homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality. as we heard our previous speaker say. and it results in the death of both the mother and her child. the child that she chose to carry. However. under current Federal law. there is only one victim. This bill is not about abortion. This bill is about. as my colleague from Indiana said. it is about justice: justice for. that family. that father who has lost not only his wife but his child as well. Mr. Speaker. this simply does not make sense. It is time for the Federal Government to recognize what the rest of the country already knows. that crimes against pregnant women create two victims. the mother and the child. We must afford pregnant women and their unborn children the full protection of the law that they deserve. Mr. Speaker. our Nations laws must protect our most vulnerable members of society and fully prosecute those who commit violent acts against them. By passing this legislation. we guarantee that protection for women and their unborn children. and we create a deterrent against future attacks on women of childbearing age. I do not see how this bill takes away any rights of protecting those women. who are harmed by violence. This is not taking the focus off that. This is just adding justice for that family who has lost not only the mother but the child as well. I urge the House to pass the rule and the underlying bill. the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.
Date: 2004-02-26
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. this being February. many of us in our districts attended various fuffdraisers for domestic violence shelters. and most of the titles of the fundsraisers that I attended this month were "Love Does Not Have to Hurt." We need to have some Federal sentencing guidelines. because they currently fail to adequately cover the death or injury of an unborn child. For example. if a woman survives an attack but loses her unborn child. current law says that a murder has not taken place. Federal law does not recognize the death of Laci Peterson and her son Conner as a double murder. Many times the intended target is the unborn baby itself. Failing to classify this as a murder defies reasonable notions of justice. We hear a lot of debate.about is this really related to the abortion issue? The debate over this legislation has been twisted by some into a debate over abortion. However. the abortion debate is really over a womans right to choose. This legislation affirms a womans right to choose by punishing the criminal that has robbed her not only of her choice. but also of her child. Nothing in the Roe v. Wade decision prevents Congress from recognizing lives of the unborn children outside the parameters of the right to an abortion. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the original provisions of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act because they recognize clearly what most Americans back in our districts feel. that violence against an unborn child is a crime just as heinous as the attack on its mother.
Date: 2004-02-26
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to join my colleagues in support of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. It is imperative to ensure those "most vulnerable" in our society are. in fact. protected from criminal assailants. and that we impose a penalty when acts of violence against these unborn victims fall under Federal criminal law. Some clah this measure will infringe on a womans right to choose. But currently. 29 States have statutes that criminalize the killing of a fetus or "unborn child". and none of these laws have affected States practice of legal abortion. Criminal defendants have brought many legal challenges to the state unborn victims laws. based on Roe v. Wade and other constitutional arguments. but all such challenges have been rejected by State and Federal courts. We cannot turn our backs on mothers. fathers. and grandparents across our Nation who lose unborn babies due to heinous acts of violence every year. This will serve as an additional deterrent to crimes against pregnant women. I commend the sponsors and leadership for bringing this to the floor and I urge an "aye" vote.
Date: 2004-03-03
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourng today. it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Date: 2004-03-04
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I cannot agree more with the gentleman from North Florida about all of the gains that veterans have made during the Republican administration. There have been so many legislative accomplishments on behalf of veterans that have been made since 2000. .r The issue of concurrent receipt stands out actually as the primary example of Republican achievement versus Democrat rhetoric. The injustice of concurrent receipt actually existed for well over 100 years. The gentleman from Florida introduced the bill every session of Congress. and it has been here for about 15 years. Veterans need to know that Democrats never led on this issue because under their control it never saw the light of day. It took a Republican President and a Republican Congress to end this unfair penalty on disabled veterans. The battle over concurrent receipt is well over 100 years old. We finally began to respond to the need and address every disabled veteran so that they will now be able to receive benefits for 50 percent or greater disability. that there will no longer be that offset. Veterans deserve no less than this. and. In fact. they actually deserve more. As history has demonstrated. Americas veterans can count on the Republican majority to support them and to honor them when they return home.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (It. Res. 519) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the earthquake that occurred in San Luis Obispo County. California. on December 22. 2003.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 519. introduced by the gentleman from California . honors the victims and affected residents of the earthquake that occurred in San Luis Obispo. California. . on December 22. 2003. The earthquake registered a 6.5 on the Richter scale. and it killed two people and injured 50 others. This was the largest quake to hit the counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara since 1994. The historic town of Paso Robles was hit the hardest. Many of the buildings in that area were unreinforced masonry structures built over a century ago. and they were unfortunately no match for the earthquakes power. The two deaths occurred in Paso Robles. In addition. the earthquakes tremors were felt in San Francisco to Loj. Angeles. and more than 30 aftershocks were reported in the following hours. The quake knocked out power to approximately 75.000 residents. and many others were forced to evacuate. This resolution remembers the victims and those who were injured and underscores the heroic sacrifices made by countless disaster relief workers and emergency personnel after the earthquake. Following the wildfires that scorched hundreds of thousands of acres in October. the December 22 earthquake concluded a difficult fall season for so many California residents. Therefore. I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for introducing this resolution. It helps us all remember the victims of this disaster. The resolution also appropriately recognizes the public safety officials and emergency response personnel who helped limit the earthquakes effects on the region. Many individuals. businesses. and organizations in surrounding areas provided muchneeded assistance to victims in the days and the weeks following the tragedy. I commend the gentleman from California for the resolutions important focus in commending these charitable groups as well. Mr. Speaker. I strongly urge all Members to support House Resolution Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California . the distinguished sponsor of this resolution.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I am certain the number of retirees in North Carolina are increasing all of the time. and I think it is important to remember that because women actually outlive men by about 5.4 years that so many times women are left living at the poverty level or just slightly above it. This certainly will help so many women because. for example. a woman who is a widow. or without her husbands insurance. will now have a prescription benefit available to them that will save approximately 60 percent of all drug costs if they choose to enroll. It is going to be a godsend fbr so many women. certainly for the retirees in North Carolina. and I know in Florida.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. HMOs have used the PBMs. the pharmacy benefit management. concept for so long because they realize that they are excellent at negotiating the prices of prescription drugs. Several of the HMOs in Florida have done that and have had significant savings that they then could pass on to the seniors who are actually in the Medicare+Choice plan. When you have somebody who knows how to drive those prices down. why reinvent the wheel.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. one of the other things that we need to point out is that there is a scheduled copay. that was supposed to take effect for home health care. That is postponed in the bill. and it is eliminated in the bill. Additionally. there was a $1.500 therapy cap. I recently broke a bone in my arm. and $1.500 might be okay for a broken bone. but somebody who has a stroke. $1.500 worth of therapy would not even touch their needs. So we eliminated the $1.500 therapy cap. which I know there are many seniors out there that are very grateful for that. That is one of the small parts of this bill which means so much to so many seniors.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield to the gentleman from Texas . It is good to have two doctors. one on each side of me here.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the good gentleman from Texas for being here. He is absolutely right. you cannot have it both ways. Mr. KERRY cannot vote against meaningful tort reform. and then all of a sudden be worried about the high cost of healthcare. when we all know what a very high peicentage of it is. Certainly I have known percentages. anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of the cost of healthcare today is because we have become such a litigious society. I am very happy to yield to the gentleman from my neighbor State of Georgia . also a freshman Member.
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. it certainly is much needed and certainly long overdue. and I think any senior who has been out there waiting will tell us that. Mr. Speaker. I would like to yield to the gentleman from Indiana
Date: 2004-03-09
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

stan and. hopefully. reveal to the view- on September 11 and instead preparing ida. Mr. Speaker. I have been very for- ing audience some information that ourselves and ultimately carrying tunate to have been named the chair of they may be unaware of. Mr. Speaker. through an attack on Iraq. which has the Womens Caucus. and so much of I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii turned into a disaster. an unmitigated this bill tonight. for my remaining . disaster for this country. We have not time. I would like to emphasize the im- Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker. I daptured Osama bin Laden. we have portance of the bill to women who are thank the gentleman from Massachu- not stopped or eliminated the Taliban retired. setts. Again. Mr. Speaker. as the gen- threat in Afghanistan. we have not Mr. Speaker. in Florida alone. there tleman indicated. this is Iraq Watch. come to a conclusion with respect to are 167.000 elderly women who live Several Members. some of whom voted the stability of Pakistan. and we have below the poverty. level. There are for the resolution with respect .to tle. created a situation in. Irpq which is. about.750.0P0.ol!erJy women who are at a.k in Ir d some nwh 9.&i . hea eo r plica!. e and. Sqbetween the povety level..444 the .50. have h eEnT.. prticipeting.1T~aejieasq.r ciq.1.disaserT:.1 L r . p. . fu
Date: 2004-03-16
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak as the vice chair of the Womens Caucus in this House. Women outlive men by 5.4 years. Unfortunately. women are also spending 18 percent more on our health care. Couple those statistics with the fact that the average woman in Medicare earns half the income of a man and we are facing a very serious problem. that is. affording pharmaceutical drug coverage. My colleagues and I responded to the problem and created a new voluntary prescription drug benefit in the Medicare bill which we passed last year. The millions of female seniors left widowed. or without a husbands employer insurance coverage. will now have a benefit that will save them almost 60 percent off prescription drugs. if they choose to enroll. Mr. Speaker. 167.000 elderly women live in the great State of Florida below the poverty level. That is more than two times the number of men in poverty. I am proud to say that my colleagues on the Womens Caucus and I finally did something to assist lowincome. elderly women who do not have insurance coverage.
Date: 2004-03-17
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. exactly 1 year ago. taking advantage of the attention of the world on the liberation of Iracr where U.S. Armed Forces and coalition forces eliminated a dangerous madman from power. that formerly oppressed country. the Cuban dictator 90 miles from the United States utilizing that cover of attention on Iraq. commenced a campaign to throw dozens of peaceful prodemocracy activists. librarians and economists and journalists and students and workers and others into the totalitarian gulag where they joined the thousands of others who languish as political prisoners in that enslaved island. Mr. Speaker. each day we must remind the world of the existence of the totalitarian gulag 90 miles from the United States. We must demand the release of each and every political prisoner on that island. We must not rest until they are all free.
Date: 2004-03-17
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. I think it is appropriate on the 1year anniversary of the liberation of Iraq that we focus on that monumental and extraordinary event on the floor of this House today. The resolution before us congratulates the valiant men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the Coalition for having liberated the people of Iraq. and it states that because of that heroic effort by the Armed Forces of the Coalition and principally the United States. the world is safer today. The world is safer. Mr. Speaker. Each time a dangerous madman is removed from power anywhere in the world. the entire world is safer because there is one less madman kidnapping power in a -country and holding the entire people of that country hostage and linking with terrorist groups throughout the world. Saddam Hussein was not the only dangerous enemy of freedom and peace in the world. but he was a dangerous enemy of freedom and peace in the world. and the entire world is safer because Saddam Hussein is gone from power and facing justice. I would ask the people of Iraq if they feel safer after having seen the regime deposed or if they do not feel safer. The entire world is safer and especially. I believe. Mr. Speaker. the people of Iraq are safer. Just like we can ask the people of Albania if they feel safer because Hoxha is no longer in power or in Romania because Ceausescu is no longer in power or in Russia because Stalin is no longer in power. I think that we should ask all those peoples if they believe that they are safer or not safer because their former totalitarian despots are no longer in power. Or ask the people in Cambodia if they feel safer because Pol Pot is no longer in power. Each time a madman is removed from power. not only the people that that madman had kidnapped and was torturing and oppressing are safer. the entire world is safer. Or is it that when we talk about Iraq. Iraq is not on planet Earth? The entire world is safer. but especially the people of Iraq are safer and the American Armed Forces are the primary liberators of that people. They deserve the commendation and the admiration of the entire world and most especially of this House. That Is why I thank the authors for having brought it forward at this important occasion. the 1year anniversary of the liberation of Iraq.