macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to commemorate International Human Rights Day. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic. Social and Cultural Rights. Mr. Speaker. the United States of America was founded upon freedom. democracy. and liberty. and America must perform its role as an advocate and as a defender of these values. Today. more than 140 prisoners of conscience are currently imprisoned in Vietnam due to their political views and activities. These activists are victims of constant mental and physical harassment and oftentimes are forced to endure unsanitary prison conditions. Activists. including Tran Huynh Duy Thuc. Dang Xuan Dieu. and Ho Duc Hoa. were falsely tried and imprisoned simply for practicing their right to assemble. This year. in November. Burma. a country known for its horrendous human rights record. held its first free election. yet Vietnam continues to function as a singleparty system. Today. on International Human Rights Day. I urge Vietnam to finally open up its society and to empower its people.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my profound appreciation to the Speaker for his recent acknowledgement that he expects the James Zadroga 9111 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act to be part of the omnibus bill. I thank Leader PELOSI for her steadfast commitment and leadership in support of this important lifesaving legislation. I am grateful to every single Democratic Member of this Congress. all of whom are cosponsors of this important legislation. and the many Republicans who are sponsors of this bill. All of them have helped us to live up to our commitment that: "We will never forget." Heroic first responders and survivors of 9/11men and women from all 50 States and nearly every Congressional Districtwill now be able to breathe a little easier. and will certainly have a much happier holiday season when this bill is finally across the finish line. This is how Congress can. and should. work in a bipartisan way. doing the right thing more often. Happy holidays and Happy New Year. Now. when do we vote on this important lifesaving legislation.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman very much for his leadership. I do not have any further speakers. but I would like to close and thank the committee as well for considering a bill that is now being reviewedI want to thank the committeeH.R. 85. Terrorism Prevention and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. which I hope contributes to all of our discussions about securing America. This bill. Mr. Speaker. in particular. H.R. 3875. would consolidate important CBRNE activities within the Department of Homeland Security. I am hopeful that this reorganization will improve DHS ability to carry out its mission in this space. Today. Mr. Speaker. the diversity in the terrorist landscape is unprecedented. There are actors with aspirations to hit Western targets with deadly conventional weapons. There are also actors that are actively seeking to secure radiological and other nonconventional weaponry to exact maximum death. destruction. and chaos. The Department of Homeland Security. first established after 9111. has been designated and dictated to by the American people to keep them safe. It has an important role to play to address these threats. It is my great hope that this reorganization will help DHS take its CBRNE efforts to the next level. Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to support H.R. 3578. the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Reform and Improvement Act of 2015. First. I want to say to the gentleman from Texas. thank you so very much for your leadership. Again. we have a great opportunity working together. along with your ranking member. Mr. RICHMOND. and the chairman of the full committee. Mr. MCCAUL. and. as well.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. In order to meet the needs of those on the front line of homeland security activities from Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security to local first responders. the Science and Technology Directorate must rapidly develop and deliver innovative solutions that advance DHS mission. I am convinced that the whole matter of cyber technology are the new frontier of terrorism and that this Department must be. as it has been. very well prepared with human personnel being on the front lines of the first responders. and must give them extra tools through S&T to help to further the mission of the security of this Nation. It is a complex and difficult mission. H.R. 3578 puts S&T on a pathway to making smarter and quicker R&D investment in technology and tools that help our first responders do their jobs better and more effectively. With that. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3578. and I thank the proponent of this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing. I include for the RECORD an article dated October 19 from The Hill newspaper on boosting power grid defenses against ISIS. [From The Hill. Oct. 19. 2015]
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. State and local governments have been struggling to keep pace with the evolving threats posed by cyber breaches. They just cannot do it alone. We have the resources. This Department was crafted and designed to be able to reach out beyond these parameters to ensure that local governments and State governments felt that they were secure. I believe that the enactment of H.R. 3869 would send a clear message about our commitment to helping State and local governments address the perennial cybersecurity challenges that permeate their providing services for their constituents. which have been identified every year. according to the National Preparedness Report. In having formerly chaired this infrastructure committee. I know that the need still remains great and that we have an opportunity to keep building and improving on that resource. Again. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 3869. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2795. the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations. or the FRIENDS Act. as we have been very happy to call it as we have crafted it. First responders are our Nations heroes. We know that we are gathering together in these final weeks to make sure that we pass the 9111 health bill that provided for those who stood in the face of danger during the tragedy of 9111. We know that first responders run into burning buildings. that they rescue people trapped by dangerous floods. that they put themselves in harms way to protect others. and that. as we well know in these times. they deal with terrorism. Just last week. in San Bernardino. we saw brave first responders heroically pursue two individuals who were fleeing from the scene of a deadly attack at an office holiday party. We also know that. at the site of that incident. we saw a massive number of first responders who were going toward the building. Not knowing the threat or whether or not the individuals who had created this massacre were still there or how many there were. they ran toward the building. To do their jobs. first responders must leave their homes and families while the rest of us cling to ours. Whether it was to deal with the aftermath of a terrorist attack. like the attacks of September 11. or to give support during a catastrophic disaster. like Hurricane Katrina. first responders bravely leave home to save others. I had firsthand experiences of both of those incidences. one. a natural disaster and. one. a terrorist act. I watched as firefighters stayed day after day after day and would not remove themselves because they were engaged in recovering their colleaguestheir brothers and sistersand those others who had perished. They stayed day after day. That was a great hardship on those families. We know the stories. We know that some of them were dealing with situations in which they may have been the only parent or the only guardian. In the situation of Katrina. I saw the Coast Guard stay in the area time after time and the National Guard and other first responders come from all over the country and from even all over the world to be able to help those who were in need. and they stayed a very long time. Unfortunately. today first responders are asked to answer the call to action without knowing whether their families will be safe as they work to rescue others. Our first responders deserve better.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am prepared to close since I have no further speakers. and I yield myself the remaining time. One of the things that we wanted to do in the course of this legislation is to make sure that the stakeholders were fully informed and thought this would be a constructive addition to their ability to serve the public and to be on call and to be away for long periods of time from their families. which they have been called to do. As I begin to reflect. I reflected on the wildfires in the West. the enormous flooding that we have had. and certainly we cannot forget the issues dealing with terrorism. The terrorism investigations. as individuals who are victims are buried in California. the first responders. law enforcement. and others are still on the job investigating what is occurring. So. Mr. Speaker. I include a series of letters into the RECORD from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. who are indicating the importance of this legislation. a letter from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Houston. Mayor Annise Parker. who indicates that as first responders risk their lives in responding to terrorist attacks and other emergencies. they and their families are at increased risk. from the Houston Professional Fire Fighters. Association Local 341. who have written on behalf of the 3.800 men and women of the Houston Fire Department. indicating the need for this legislation to protect their families. from the National Association of State EMS Officials. the International Association of Fire Chiefs on behalf of nearly 11.000 fire service leaders for introducing this legislation that would provide adequate preparedness for their families. and an article which is entitled "Family Versus Duty: Personal and Family Preparedness Law Enforcement Organizational Resilience."
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as I began. let me thank the first responders of this Nation and thank their families for the sacrifice that they make. Our first responders rush into dangerous conditions to protect us. They deserve to have the peace of mind that their families are safe as they courageously help others and other families during disaster and crisis. Now. their plate is enhanced. It is fuller dealing with not only these disasters. but the potential of a terrorist act. So I want to extend my gratitude to all of those who have offered their support. again. in particular. the International Association of Fire Chiefs for their support in working with us. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as I have said today on the floor and yesterday. the American people expect us to keep them safe. Let me thank my colleagues for the support they have given the Homeland Security Committee on a number of bills and particularly note the legislation that I introduced. the FRIENDS Act. the sole purpose of which is to ensure that those who are first responders who have to be away for a period of time. that their families are protected. I also think it is an important moment for bridging and building on law enforcement and community. I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of police chiefs of major cities. We have introducedJOHN CONYERS and myself. along with a number of Membersthe Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act. which really is an opportunity and a bridge to be able to provide an accreditation pathway for the law enforcement agencies to build upon the improvement and the best practices that they may have. including a medallion for those who have fallen in duty. It is also important. as we look forward to the security of this Nation. to recognize the tragedy of San Bernardino. I offer to those families my deepest sympathy. There was a major failure which we need to correct. Members of Congress need to come together so that we are not behind the terrorist act. but in front of it. to protect the American people.
Date: 2015-12-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Let me thank the gentleman from Colorado and let me thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for the thoughtful discussion and for the tone in which it is offered. Mr. Speaker. I think all of us certainly are interested in coming to a place next week that embraces. really. the values of America and all of our concerns. and. obviously. riders that are toxic are obstacles we need to continue to discuss. In my district. I have senior citizens with blue tarps on the tops of their homes. blue tarps that have been there since the terrible Hurricane Ike. Obviously. we need the Housing and Urban Development to have funding that not only addresses affordable housing. but senior housing repair. It comes down through community development. In the manner in which we are going through this. we are looking for that kind funding to make sure that the plusup of $80 billion that came about through the budget agreement gets evenly distributed. if you will. What happens is that. with the extenders of tax provisions that are unpaid for. the blue tarps in my district continue to exist. Seniors have roofs that are falling in. I think that is an important issue at which many of us will be looking this weekend. and we will be looking to the appropriators to do what is right by the American people. We wrote a letter regarding the Minority HIV/AIDS Program. which was gutted out. Mr. Speaker. let me tell you that HIV/AIDS is resurging among young people and among minorities. This is no time to zero out that funding. As we go through this process. we are asking the question whether you are putting in toxic riders. but are not focusing on funding that is needed. The Thomas Street Clinic in my district needs the minority HIV funding. I know that my good friends Mr. POLlS and Mr. COLE are certainly interested in making sure that transportation funding matches the funding that came about through the bill. Then. certainly. I hope that. as I listen to the calm discussion by Mr. POLIS. we can find a way to eliminate the prohibition from the Centers for Disease Control to not do their work. Why are we preventing them from discerning the impact of gun violence on suicide? of the impact of gun violence on young people who are committing suicide? We have done research on drunk driving. We have done research on cancer. We have done research on diabetes. We have done research to move the country forward in a healthy manner. Why are we blocking the CDC from assessing what the impact is from gun violence? As a member of the Judiciary Committee. I now understand that the Internet Tax Freedom Act is in this legislation and it is in this legislation permanently. There was no hearing. I remember this bill on the floor of the House in June.
Date: 2015-12-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I have a number of letters to include for the RECORD. One is from Tom McGee. the President and CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers. One is from the NRF. One is from the AFLCIO. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE: On behalf of the 70.000 members of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). I am writing to urge you to oppose the conference report on H.R. 644. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. which contains a nongermane provision permanently extending the Internet Tax Freedom Act (PITFA). This is considered a key vote for ICSC. Because PITFA was included without being paired with long awaited remote sales tax collection legislation. the added fiscal pressure being put on states and local governments will result in less funds for first responders and infrastructure and additional pressure to increase other state and local taxes such as sales or property taxes. This will truly add insult to injury for thousands of local businesses across the country. As an organization. ICSC supports PITFA but strongly believes that a permanent restriction on states ability to tax telecommunications services should absolutely be linked with the restoration of states rights to collect sales taxes that are already owed in 45 states today. It is not only a missed opportunity to pursue good policy. but the manner in which this provision is being advanced certainly represents a departure from regular order. After more than 20 years. close to 40 hearings and a successful bipartisan vote in the Senate. it is time for Congress to do the right thing and update sales tax collection policy to reflect the 21st century marketplace. The shopping center industry has sales that represent 15% of U.S. GDP. employs 1 out of every 11 Americans and generates $141 billion in sales tax revenue. Our industry touches peoples lives every day and is essential to the economic. civic and social vibrancy of every community. We urge you to send an important message on state tax policy and oppose H.R. 644. Please vote NO when the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act Conference report is voted on later this week. Sincerely.
Date: 2015-12-11
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. I am extremely frustrated that. after the long path to get us to the conference report before us today. I wont be able to support the bill. As I said during our conference committee meeting earlier this week: if Customs were truly all that this bill was about. it would pass overwhelmingly on the floor. I strongly support the bulk of what is in the final bill. Trade enforcement should always move in lockstep with our trade policy. It is only when countries live up to agreedupon laws and regulations that we can truly have robust trade. but robust trade also requires strong enforcement. Particularly for me. I am pleased that the bulk of the ENFORCE Act is finally at the finish line after many years of work. One of my biggest priorities for several years has been finding a way to combat the blatant abuse and duty evasion by some foreign producers that undercut American industry. Foreign companies use schemes to avoid paying the duties they owe on goods that they bring into the United States. We will finally give some real teeth to our enforcement procedures and send the right message to domestic manufacturers. employers. and workers that this Congress cares about Customs enforcement. This idea doesnt hinder free trade. Instead. it promotes fair trade and sends a strong signal to foreign producers that the U.S. will not tolerate abuses of internationally agreed upon trade rules. By increasing our Customs security measures. we ensure that American companies that play by the rules are not disadvantaged as a result of evasion by foreign competitors. Unfortunately. unrelated TPA language included in the final bill will keep me from being able to support something that I have worked on for many. many years. In this bill. we fail to address currency manipulation in a meaningful way. The conference report also falls short in the areas of climate change and human trafficking. Specifically. we should not tie our hands when it comes to combating climate change. nor should we be rushing to increase our trade with countries that persist in allowing human trafficking. To me. these are not the values of this country. They are nobrainers. and they shouldnt be in this bill. But today. we fell short. For those reasons. I cannot support the final Customs package that we have before us today.
Date: 2015-12-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I was unable to vote on Friday. December 11. t was agreed 2015 on the fiveday Continuing Resolution and the Conference Report for the Customs s announced bill due to a family engagement in my district in Houston. was laid on If I had been able to vote that day. I would have voted as follows: on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule pros. Mr. Speaker. viding for consideration of the Senate Amendle to vote due ments to H.R. 2250. I would have voted "no." y. 1Had I been On H. Res. 560. the rule providing for consideration of the Senate Amendments to H.R. ION 2250 and Conference Report to H.R. 644. I on rollcall No. would have voted "no." the Rules and On the Democratic Motion to Recommit the *Science and vemenct ofd Conference Report to H.R. 644. I would have )vement Act of vtd"e. been present. voted "yea." On Agreeing to the Conference Report to notion to Table accompany H.R. 644Trade Facilitation and ir. I am not re- Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (H. Rept. I would have 114376). I would have vote "no." motion to susAmended. First ergency Needs not recorded. e voted "aye." ng the previous for considerReport to Acacilitation and 5 and the SenFurther Con6. I am not reI would have le providing for ference Report de Facilitation 2015 and the 2250Further 2016. I am not I would have tion to Recomrecorded. Had ted "nay." doption of the ny H.R. 644nforcement Act Had I been e..1 ION was absent on overy from eye
Date: 2015-12-15
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I stand here today to remember the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in San Bernardino. California. Among these victims was a young woman from my district named Tin Nguyen. She was from Santa Ana. California. Tin was only 31 years old. and she had been working for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health for 4 years as a food inspector. and she was planning her wedding to her longtime boyfriend when she was taken on that day of the shooting. At the age of 8. Tin and her family fled Vietnam. They fled a war. famine. and all sorts of terrible situations to come and find a new life in California. Despite the challenges of being an immigrant. Tin graduated from Valley High School in Santa Ana. and she received her undergraduate degree from Cal State. Fullerton. Last Saturday. family and friends gathered at Saint Barbaras Catholic Church in Santa Ana to mourn the death of this young woman who was known for her incredible spirit and a heart bigger than the sun. Let us honor the memory of this extraordinary young woman. She gave so much. but her life was tragically cut short by these shootings.