macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I agree with President Obama when he said this week that America is uniquely suited to take on the challenge of climate change. Those of us in the Northeast know firsthand what the President meant when he said that Hurricane Sandys destruction left our mightiest city underwater and dark. Sandy destroyed homes. businesses. and. in some cases. entire neighborhoods. It halted our markets and damaged the infrastructure that the country depends on. These costs are real and they are personal. Now is the time to improve the world our children and grandchildren will inherit. Now is the time to protect our beautiful natural resources. Now is the time to mitigate future natural disasters. and now is the time to take on the battle against climate change. We know where to start. We need to reduce carbon pollution. utilize more renewable energy. improve energy efficiency. and oppose the Big Oil subsidies on the floor this week.
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. we live in a world where its not enough for things to be right. They must also look right. And while it may be right for the Supreme Court to strike down section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. it doesnt look right. given that just last year we had a multiplicity of cases wherein it was found that insidious discrimination existed such that those cases accorded voters rights that they would not have but for the Voting Rights Act. Much is said about section 4 in the coverage. Little is said about section 4 and the optout. bailout provision that has allowed many jurisdictions that were under the purview of the Voting Rights Act to extricate themselves. The Voting Rights Act has functioned efficaciously. Im so glad that medicine is very much unlike politics. Because in medicine. when a drug functions efficaciously. we market it. we extol the virtues of it. and we keep it. In politics. when a law succeeds. we demean it and we eliminate it. I am here today because of the Voting Rights Act. I never thought Id sit next to the Honorable CHARLIE RANGEL in the House of the United States Congress. Thank God for the Voting Rights Act. We must revise it. We must extend it. Weve got to renew it.
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 2231. The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act and H.R. 1613. The Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act. H.R. 2231 directs the Interior Department to develop a new fiveyear offshore leasing plan that makes available for oil and gas exploration and development at least 50% of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production. and it creates a nationwide revenue sharing system so coastal states will receive a share of the federal royalties. It also requires that drilling be allowed off the coasts of California. South Carolina and Virginia and statutorily reorganizes the Interior Department agencies that oversee offshore leasing and permitting. safety inspections and revenue collection. While I do not agree with some of the environmental provisions in this bill. I support it because it is a message bill about the importance of accessing our offshore resources. While leasing and permitting has come back some since the Deepwater Horizon accident. it is not back to the level it was before the spill. Additionally with the President reneging on certain areas originally contained in his 20122017 Five Year Offshore Leasing Plan. our future access over the next decade is extremely limited. We need to open new offshore areas up for production instead of producing on the same lands we have for decades. H.R. 1613 would approve the February 2012 agreement between the United States and Mexico concerning transboundary oil and gas reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. It also provides guidelines that the administration must follow in implementing all future transboundary hydrocarbon agreements. H.R. 1613 is different than H.R. 2231 in that it is not a message bill. It gives the State Department the authority it needs to move forward on an important negotiated agreement with Mexico so that our respective countries can jointly develop in the Gulf of Mexico. I am hopeful we can get this bill to the Presidents desk for his signature soon.
Date: 2013-06-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Members. I rise tonight to honor a man that Im proud to call a good friend and a mentor. JOHN DINGELL. Recently. JOHN became the longestserving Member of the Congress. serving for 57 years. 5 months. and 26 days. surpassing the service record of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. JOHN has a storied career in the House of Representatives. and youll hear a lot about that tonight and already have. He has served with 11 Presidents. congressional icons like Speaker Sam Rayburn from Texas. and had the opportunity to vote on landmark legislation like the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He is the ultimate legislator for both Michigan and for America. Hes also played an integral part in groundbreaking legislation. like the creation of the Medicare program. the National Environmental Policy Act. the Endangered Species Act. and the Clean Air Act. just to name a few. I always think of him as chairman. though. Since 1996 Ive been fortunate to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. with JOHN as our committee leader for much of that time. While most associate JOHNs leadership on the committee with his tenacious government watchdog activities. I saw a leader that did not fall victim to the partisan politics that define the current House. but instead epitomized what we are here to dothe peoples business. Hes a true legislator. It has truly been an honor to serve with him and learn from him. and. most importantly. to call him friend. He has a partner in his wonderful wife. Deborah. and a friend who. like my wife. Helen. allows us to serve our respective districts. JOHN. I look forward to continuing our friendship and our work together.
Date: 2013-06-28
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. none of us get to where we are by ourselves. I was very proud to see the former chairperson of the Financial Services Committee. Chairperson Frank. who is no longer with Congress. not only address DOMA. but also address section 5 of the Voting Rights Act by way of section 4 and the importance of it. Human rights are birthrights. They are rights that courts can recognize they should not deny. What the Court did with DOMA was correct. I support the dignity of human beings to have equal opportunities in the greatest country in the world. I thank Chairman Frank. and I want him to know that he stands with us. and I stand with him. and I stand with all persons who are being discriminated against in an invidious way. Human rights cannot be denied. because they are birthrights.
Date: 2013-06-28
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

in our effort in helping one of our servicemen. Some people around the country say. Why cant people get along on both sides of the aisle? When we disagree on issues. we say that. But when we work together. because of our common goal to make the country better and to help those who have been unfairly treated. we work together. Its a pleasure to do so. So I thank my friend from Texas
Date: 2013-07-08
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia and Mr. CICILLINE changed their vote from "yea" to nay." So (twothirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill. as amended. was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 2013-07-08
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Last week. Houston lost a wonderful daughter and a great leader by the name of Doris Marie Jones Hubbard. This morning. we buried her. finally. in the Houston Veterans Cemetery. I rise today to pay tribute to someone who truly believed in democracy. who was an advocate for the poor and for people who did not have. She shared her talents. was a pioneer in her own right by integrating and forcing opportunity in the Democratic Party of Texas. Some would think that its party politics. I would think simply that that is making sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate and to share in the opportunities that this country gives you to have your voice heard. More importantly. she loved her daughter. Kqisha. and she was a valiant champion in the Acres Homes community. We will sorely miss Doris for she shared. she mentored. she gave. and she believed in America with her husband. Ernest. who served in the United States Marines. She was honored today by being buried in the Houston Veterans Cemetery alongside her beloved late spouse. Together. I call them American heroes.
Date: 2013-07-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable man. a former Committee Chair. Majority Whip of this distinguished body and an outstanding American. Congressman Bill Gray. In 1972. Congressman Gray succeeded his father to serve as the Senior Pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia. a position he held until 2007. It was through the church and his family where he first learned the benevolence of kindness and value of public service. Congressman Gray. first elected to Congress from Pennsylvanias 22nd District in 1979. worked tirelessly to promote the civil rights of all people. His dedication to this cause extended further than the boundaries of our country and touched countless lives. In Congress. Congressman Gray was instrumental in passing legislation aimed at ending apartheid practices in South Africa. Throughout his tenure in Congress. Congressman Gray achieved many firsts. Most notably. he rose to become Chairman of the Budget Committee. a first by an African American. He also served as Majority Whip. the top three job in the House leadership and the highest position occupied by an African American elected official up to that point. Congressman Gray was a strong advocate for educational policies. and later led the United Negro College Fund. which supports scholarship programs for African American students and more than three dozen private historically black colleges. In 1999. Congressman Gray helped to secure a $1 billion pledge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for scholarships to be administered by the fund. This is believed to be the largest single act of philanthropy in the history of American higher education. I had many opportunities to personally speak with Congressman Gray. Congressman Gray was an advocate of strong family values. as he displayed in his marriage with his wife. Andrea. and three sons. William IV. Justin and Andrew. Mr. Speaker. it is incumbent upon this body to acknowledge Congressman Grays achievements and life of public service which have improved our Nation. On behalf of the people of the 30th Congressional District of Texas and the United States Congress. I extend my heartfelt sympathy and celebrate his life of service.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. As we debate this rule. it has now been a little over a week since interest rates on loans for millions of the neediest college students doubled thanks to Republican obstructionism. With that doubling. those who can afford it least will continue to be burdened under a mountain of debt with no end in sight. Because Congress has not acted in a responsible way. this rate increase will cost borrowers an additional $1.000 per student per loan. The doubling of interest rates did not have to happen. Rather than making it more affordable for students and families to pay for college. House Republicans decided to pass a bill that would make college more expensive. The bill was dead on arrival in the Senate. It was dead on arrival in the Senate because it was worse for students than the doubling of the interest rates. and it left the students without an option other than the doubling of the interest rates. Thats why we must act today. We must defeat the previous question so that we can deliberate this and get a solution until we can work on a longterm. bipartisan agreement on this one. The Republican plan that passed the House was totally irresponsible. It was simply not a smart solution. It has been advertised by my friends on the other side as a longterm fix. but we all know the truth. The Republican bill adds more debt onto the students. even more than doubling the interest rates. The Republican bill also puts students in a yearlyadjustable student loan. which will result in great unpredictability and soaring loan costs to the students and to their families. And the insistence from the GOP that the students pay down the national debt is outrageous and offensive. The student loan program is a program that the Federal Government makes $50 billion off the back of the students. and the Republicans response is that the students should pay higher interest rates so they can pay down the national deficit. The student loan program itself is paying down the national deficit because of the profit the Federal Government makes. Its time to stop that and make student loans affordable for students and for their families. This Congress simply has not done right by students. They are forcing these students to continue to graduate with an increasing mountain of debt while. at the same time. they lament that students are graduating with increased debt. Thats what the Republicans offered. Thats why. as my colleague from Colorado said. it was dead on arrival when it went to the Senate. It was dead on a bipartisan basis when it went to the Senate. The time has come now to defeat the previous question so that we can bring the 1year fix to make sure that students are protected from the doubling of the interest rate that is now occurring because of the inaction by the Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you for your explanation. I dont disagree with you. but I do feel that we cannot cut our research and think that we will have a prosperous future. So I would ask you to help me find a spot in which we. perhaps. can use the dollars and postpone some of the cleanup. This is urgent and it is needed. and I would ask you to agree to assist in our restoring some of this research.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I clearly understand the explanation. This amendment does not strike all of the funds. It strikes about a third. I know the dangers of having all of the waste that needs to be cleaned up. but I also think that its important not to close the doors on the future of this Nation while we do it. I really think that research has been the element that has brought us here thus far and that it is going to be research and innovation that carry us forward. We cannot close the door on research while we talk about cleaning up waste. We are only asking for a third of that money. So I want to make another appeal that we not close the door on the future of our Nation by shutting down our research.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentlelady. and I thank my good friend from New Jersey. But I do want to cite that nearly 10 years ago. President Clinton produced Executive Order 12898. thereby highlighting the importance of not only giving greater attention to our underserved communities. but also how we can help our citizens by educating them on the areas in which they live. That falls under the particular account that Im utilizing. and I would therefore like to go forward in this instance. Let me just be very appreciative of my good friend. the chairman of this subcommittee. and the ranking member. I am very appreciative of how difficult it is under sequester. But what I would say is that these entitiesHistorically Black Colleges. minorityserving and tribal collegesin the course of what were trying to do. these resources. added to what the gentleman has already indicated. the $3.2 million. $3.4 million is meager in what they could do with protecting communities. educating communities about their environmental needs. So thats environmental justice. It is expanding the reach so that communities are far more protected than those that weve seen. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Let me sort of clarify. because the chairman has made a point about a certain area where it is referencing Historically Black Colleges. They are referencing several areas. I am speaking specifically to environmental justice. which is represented in the Departmental Administration account. So Im focusing on the important work that these colleges can do as it relates to educating our poor. impoverished communities and communities of which they have a direct ability to communicate with. I will tell you. bringing forth environmental experts out of these jurisdictionstribal colleges. minorityserving. and Historically Blackis a great asset to improving the quality of life of all Americans. So I would ask my colleagues to support the amendment. So mine is one of the references. There are many references where Historically Black Colleges are. but this is specifically dealing with environmental justice.
Date: 2013-07-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII. further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas will be postponed.
Date: 2013-07-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. so much left undone. Our students are crying out. Maybe theyre saying. "Mercy." To avoid this 6.8 percent increase in their rates. putting hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt on our college students. Congress must act immediately. and we must push and drive those who believe our students are not important. Undone. The high unemployment of youth. In our meeting with the President yesterday. I mentioned the idea that we must construct a program that deals with underemployed or unemployed youth. particularly those high numbers in our minority community. And then. of course. the prevention of youth violence. gun violence. that is a crucial issue for all of us. The Congressional Black Caucus will be working extensively with the President to help drive legislation that will pass reasonable gun violence prevention legislation but. more importantly as well. keep our young people alive. keep them in school. and. yes. keep them studying. understanding and preventing gun violence from making them a victim. This Congress must act now and end sequestration to make sure that America is treated well by this Nation.
Date: 2013-07-10
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. I rise to amend H.R. 2609. the Energy and Water appropriations bill. for the purpose of addressing several issues in New Mexico. More specifically. my amendment would increase the construction account by $15 million to ensure local governments. like the city of Rio Rancho. the county of Benalillo and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. get reimbursed for the work that they have done in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers works with local governments in New Mexico to construct levees. implement flood control measures. and other important infrastructure for the safety of the public. More specifically. the city of Rio Rancho entered into a reimbursement contract with the Army Corps of Engineers and has not been paid back for several years due to the lack of appropriations. The same goes for the county of Benalillo and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. and others across the country. This delay in reimbursement has led to interruptions in financing for other city projects and also has the potential to hurt the credit ratings of these entities if they do not recover these funds via reimbursement. as stated in their contracts. By increasing the dollar amount in this account. which includes a number of programs and accounts that are critical to local governmentslike engineering. construction. technical assistance. flood control. and environmental infrastructurewe can get these entities reimbursed and get these liabilities off the books of the Army Corps of Engineers to get the projects going. Mr. Chairman. local governments have been left holding an IOU from the Federal Government for doing work based on goodfaith written agreements with the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Chairman. I understand that there may be opposition from the Republican majority. but Im hoping I can persuade the chairman to support me in this effort. Section 593 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 is under which the city of Rio Rancho and these other local governments entered into agreements with the Army Corps of Engineers. If the Republican majority disagrees with the authority. they should repeal it. but lets make these local governments whole. When city and local governments enter into reimbursement contracts. they expect to be reimbursed. They have annual budgets with the expectation they will get paid back. Congress should live up to these obligations in the authority given to the agency by Congress. I understand the constraints that the subcommittee dealt with with the allocations given to them. but we need to make sure that were working to make these local governments whole. Again. going forward. if this is an authority that the Republican majority feels we should do away with. we should do away with it. But lets make these local governments whole. With that. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-07-10
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Madam Chair. I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairman and ranking member on the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program at the National Nuclear Security Administration. The Laboratory Directed Research and Development. LDRD. program at the National Nuclear Security Administrations national laboratories has. over the past two decades. made it possible for these labs to develop capabilities that have been critical to meeting the future mission needs via highrisk. highpayoff R&D. For example. at Los Alamos National Laboratory in my district. LDRD has supported a key technology that is now being applied toward the detection of nuclear and radiological threats and is a winner of this years R&D 100 awards. LDRD is also very important to recruiting and retaining top scientists and engineers. At Los Alamos. LDRD supports about onehalf of the postdocs who have gone on to become the labs permanent employees and is one of the key and leading sources of new lab employees. The funding for the program is derived through a certain percentage of each labs operating budget. Currently. that percentage is limited to not more than 8 percent. The bill we are considering today would lower that to be not more than 4.5 percent. I am very concerned that such a low level could harm the national labs ability to meet future mission needs and ask the chairman and ranking member to work with us in making sure that the levels allowed for LDRD do not adversely impact the national security capabilities of the labs. With that. Madam Chair. I would yield to the gentlelady from New Mexico .