macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I have said really all I have to say on the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program of 2008. As mentioned. this will be a tremendous improvement to the development of American law. and I have given the support that has been expressed for the measure here today on the floor. I am hopeful that we will have a unanimous vote for this important measure. I thank the chairman of the committee. Mr. BRADY. for his tremendous support on this and in every Way. as well as the ranking member. Mr. LUNGREN. And I dont know if Mr. BRADY has anything further to add. If not. I would simply say please vote "yes" on H.R. 6475. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. Chairman FILNER. and thank you. Congressman MORAN. I live in Houston. Texas. I livb across the street from the DeBakey Medical Center. My district is such that you can traverse it in 1 hour. But this is America that we are talking about. not just the cities. not just the rural areas. All veterans in America ought to have access to a facility. and they ought to have immediate access. It is not enough for me to have the DeBakey Center in my district and have other veterans who have to travel 5 hours to receive medical attention. I am here to ask my colleagues to please. lets support veterans. What we do today will say to them what we think about the work they have done for us. If they can be there for us. willing to sacrifice their lives. we can be there for them to make sure that they have a good quality of life when they return home to the United States of America.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank you. I am so honored. sir. that you gave me this opportunity to have a word on this most important piece of legislation. It really is something that we must do for our veterans. I thank you. and may God bless you.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. first. let me thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue and for his tireless work on the committee and on behalf of the Nations veterans. I rise in support of H.R. 6832. the Veterans Programs Extension and Construction Authorization Act of 2008. I am pleased at the construction that has occurred in the State of Florida. My State has the largest elderly veterans population in the country. Everyone enjoys the warm weather. and veterans are no different. It is high time that we build the facilities that will take care of the heroes and sheroes. In addition. this bill increases the authorization for the construction of a new VA medical center in Orlando. We have waited over 25 years for this facility. and we have construction delays. We cannot allow construction delays because of the lack of money due to increased energy costs or inflation. It would be criminal to do this. In addition. this bill increases the authorization by $51 million to fund patient privacy at the Gainesville Medical Center. We need to make sure our veterans are treated with respect. Earlier this year. this Congress passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation under the leadership of Chairman CHET EDWARDS. I appreciate him including funds for these projects in the bill. along with the continuing development of the medical centers in Florida. I urge the passing of the bill and continued support for our Nations veterans. May God continue to bless America.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. how can words adequately describe someone who is larger than life? Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a changemaker and a risktaker. As a woman. she helped blaze a trail for generations to follow. first in her role as a prosecutor. then a judge. then as Ohios first African American female Member of Congress. To me personally. Stephanie was a mentor and a role model. Someone who didnt hesitate to pull me aside when I first came to Washington and give me advice. from my wardrobe to my hair. Stephanie kept it real. because that is exactly what she was in every sense of the word. Above all else. though. Stephanie was my friend. and one of my first friends here in Washington. Her roomfilling energy. her passion. her dedication. her voice for the downtrodden. all of these will be missed by the people of Ohio. Her intelligence. her expertise. her counsel will be missed by all of us here in this Chamber. And me? Well. Mr. Speaker. I will miss my friend.
Date: 2008-09-09
Speaker: LINCOLN DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

One last word. This issue demands and requires leadership probably more than any other issue that weve addressed in this Congress. leadership on doing whats right. not fabricating an issue that we can solve it by just drilling our way out of it. Its going to take leadership to give us an energy policy that will sustain Americas future.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. as we acknowledge the anniversary of 9/11. we ask God to bless America. And when we go home to our congressional districts this weekend. we should all ask our constituents one question: Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago when President Bush came to Washington? An overwhelming majority of Americans believe they are worse off today than back in 2000. And no wonder. Lets consider the record of overseeing our Nations economy. Over the last 8 years. the median household income has fallen by $1.000. 3.4 million more Americans are unemployed. 5.7 millionmore Americans are living in poverty. and. foreclosure rates are at a record high. with 2.5 million homes projected to enter foreclosure this year. Madam Speaker. the Republican policies led to this economic condition that Americans face today. And rather than being sympathetic. the Republican Presidential candidate is accusing Americans of being whiners. How can we expect any help if this man is HONORING THOSE WHO PROTECT elected to the White House? US
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I rise today to honor Sister Eileen McNerney.. executive director of Taller San Jose in Santa Ana. California on the occasion of her retirement at the end of this month. Sister McNerney first arrived to the great city of Santa Ana in 1992. and she has made a significant contribution to bettering the lives of the Santa Ana youth through the workshop that she founded over 12 years ago. a workshop called Taller San Jose. Students at Taller San Jose learn to leave behind the violence of gangs. the harm of drugs and alcohol and the trauma of becoming a teen parent by training for a career in construction. computers and yes. even medicine. Taller San Jose. or Workshop San Jose. is a highly respected and recognized trade school within the city of Santa Ana. and it has received many domestic and international grants. awards and recognition. Sister McNerneys dedication to the youth of Santa Ana continues in her retirement. as she is encouraging Taller San Jose to find someone new. new leadership to infuse that leadership into that group. She is an extraordinary example of community leadership. She is a friend. and I thank her for her years of service to our community.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. today we commemorate the seventh anniversary of the most terrible terrorist attack ever on American soil. We remember those who suffered injury and mourn with the families who lost loved ones. But we also remember the indomitable spirit of America that lit that dark day and the days that followed. The courage of the first responders and ordinary citizens who risked. and in some cases sacrificed. their lives to save others. The men and women of our armed forces who have worked honorably to defend our Nation from future harm. The millions of Americans who volunteered and supported efforts to rebuild New York and Washington and care for those who were injured there. These individual acts of bravery and sacrifice remind us that even in times of fear and pain. the flame of liberty does not falter. In the face of grave threats. the world can stand together. And with the power of our ideals and the strength of our resolve. we can build a more peaceful world.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

The yeas and nays were ordered. Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. PursuSenate Amendment to H.R. 6532. a bill to ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to Chairs prior announcement. further restore the Highway Trust Fund balance. proceedings on this motion will be As an original cosponsor of H.R. 6532 I am postponed. delighted our colleagues from the other body finally decided to act on this vital piece of leg- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER islation. Moreover. I was delighted to learn PRO TEMPORE that the White House has now reversed its position on vetoing this important bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. PursuOur Nations highway trust fund serves as ant to clause 8 of rule XX. proceedings the lifeblood for funding our Nations transpor- will resume o questions previously tation infrastructure. postponed. Regrettably. the fund is facing an imminent Votes will be taken in the following shortfall due to decreased revenue into the order: approval of the Journal. de novo. fund. This shortfall comes at a most inoppor- motion to suspend the rules on H. Res. tune time as many States across the country 1420. by the yeas and nays. motion to are struggling to provide funding just for ade- suspend the rules on H.R. 652. by the qae srglaymingtreuningt fore aew yeas and nays. quate highway maintenance--let alone new The first electronic vote will be conconstruction. ducted as a 15minute vote. Remaining I feel it is important that while many observ- electronic votes. will be conducted as 5ers have attempted to frame discussions of minute votes. the highway trust fund in terms of a "bail out" by the general fund. H.R. 6532 is not a bail out. The measure essentially restores $8 bil- THE JOURNAL lion that was transferred out of the account in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursua 1998 budget reduction arrangement. ant to clause 8 of rule XX. the unfinEnsuring the solvency of the Highway Trust ished business is the question on agreeFund is important to my home State. as Texas ing to the Speakers approval of the has one of the most extensive surface trans- Journal. which the Chair will put de portation networks in the world. novo. Texas has more than 10.000 miles of rail The question is on the Speakers aptrack. more than 300.000 miles of roadway proval of the Journal. and more than 50.000 bridgesmore than The question was taken. and the any other State in the Nation. Our transpor- Speaker pro tempore announced that tation network is bursting at the seams. and the ayes appeared to have it. failure to enact this bill will render a significant RECORDED VOTE blow to transportation construction and main- Mr. SAM JOINSON of Texas. Madam tenance jobs across my State. Speaker. I demand a recordedvote.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: DENNIS J. KUCINICH (democrat)
Chamber: H

Member of Congress. relative to the impeachment of the President. pursuant to the Constitution of the United States. which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise today to introduce the Medicare Hospice Protection Act to help preserve Medicare beneficiaries access to hospice services. I am pleased to be introducing this legislation with my colleagues JIM RAMSTAD and MAURICE HINCHEY. Established as a Medicare benefit in 1983 to ensure that all beneficiaries could access high quality endof~life care. hospice. is a comprehensive model of care that encompasses the physical. spiritual. emotional. and practical needs of the patient. Considered to be the model for quality. compassionate care at the end of life. hospice care involves a teamoriented approach of expert medical care. pain management. and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patients wishes. Hospices around the country provide invaluable services and care by enhancing the quality of life for the terminally ill. The Medicare hospice benefit has significant cost savings. A Duke University study showed that patients receiving hospice care cost the Medicare program about $2.300 less than those who did not. Unfortunately. the Bush Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a final rule that would eliminate the budget neutrality factor in the Medicare hospice wage index. This will result in a $2.18 billion reduction in Medicare hospice reimbursement over 5 years and threatens the ability of hospice providers to care for the terminally ill. This legislation seeks to prevent CMS from implementing this shortsighted rule until October 2009. I initiated a letter in April 2008. signed by 49 House members. to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt urging him to reconsider issuing this rule that phases out the current budget neutrality factor in the Medicare hospice wage index. That letter was ignored as the Administration has moved forward and issued this misguided regulation. Madam Speaker. as our nation faces the continuing challenges of meeting the health care needs of an aging population. now is not the time to cut back on Medicare reimbursement for hospice services. which is cost effective and saves Medicare money. I invite my colleagues to join us to pass the Medicare Hospice Protection Act to ensure access to hospice services for the patients and families who need it.
Date: 2008-09-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of my constituent Dr. Ichiji Tasaki. Dr. Tasaki has worked at the National Institutes of Health for 54 years. since November 1953. and has made invaluable contributions to the scientific community. Dr. Tasaki was born in Japan in 1910 and attended medical school at Keio University Medical School. Upon earning his medical degree. Dr. Tasaki began a career in research. After completing a Rockefeller Fellowship in Switzerland and England. Dr. Tasaki immigrated to the United States in.1951. where he began work at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. Missouri. helping to develop the field of audiology. which serves as a foundation for diagnosing and treating numerous hearing disorders. Dr. Tasaki began his career at the National Institutes of Health as a Section Chief in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Blindness. He went on to become a Laboratory Chief and later a Senior Research Scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health. where he remained for twentytwo years. Most recently. Dr. Tasaki was associated with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Hurricane Ike came through Texas. landed near Houston. Much of the area in my State. especially in the HoustonGalveston area along the gulf coast. has been decimated. It will take billions of dollars for us to recover. We are asking that this House understands the needs of the people of Texas and the areas that have been devastated. We will have to lend some assistance to the areas that need our help at a most important time. For fear that someone may not understand. we are truly all in this together. Dr. King reminded us that life is an inescapable network of mutuality tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever impacts one directly. impacts all indirectly. Though you may live in some far corner of the United States of America. there are earthquakes. there are fires. there are storms that will come into your life. We are all going to need some help at some point. So I am begging those of you who can. please understand that we have got to help Texans and Americans through this.
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the BushCheney energy plan. supported by the Republican majority here in Congress. is 95 percent implemented. Yet the prices have increased by 150 percent. For the last 12 years. up until this term. the Republicans have been in the majority. along with the President. Democrats have been the majority less than 2 years. and we are trying to put together a piece of legislation that brings in every aspect of some type of resolution for the energy shortage. All of us know that drilling alone is not the answer. We can drill all we want to. The population of the world has gotten so large that there is no way its going to be enough to do what we need to do. We have got to do alternative fuels thats in this bill. even including the possibility of nuclear energy. I will support this bill strongly because it has a multiple number of ways to address this problem.
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H

of Mr. Speaker. earlier this wee difficult to tell President B Senator MCCAIN apart. On when the stock markets fell 50 President Bush described it as more than an "adjustment." w ator MCCAIN declared the "fu tals of our economy are strong. Are President Bush and MCCA1N serious. or are they touch? What about the mil Americans who have lost their are having trouble finding a simply because the BushMcCa to pass n prices t end its vehicle ree decapproxid an hismerican prices 15 be othts presomy has shed 600.000 more jobs this year than they have created? What about middle class families who are worse off today than they were 8 years ago? They have seen their real wages fall over 8 years by $300. Mr. Speaker. when it comes to economic issues. there is no difference between President Bush. Senator MCCAIN. and former President Herbert Hoover.
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. t Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 6899. the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Taxpayer Protection Act. I dont know why my Republican colleagues cant take yes for an answer. We are opening up over 305 million acres. Now. granted. its a compromise. But when you were in charge. we opened up 8 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Id like to open up more. but. again. like you had to make compromises. we have. But for the first time were going to open up more Outer Continental Shelf opportunity than anytime in history. even under years of Republican House control. Senate control and the President. I support opening ANWR. but that didnt happen even when the Republicans were in control. The royalty share. Id love to share royalties with our States who allow drilling. but CBO wont let us. Maybe the Senate vill bring up that point. But I dont know why we cant take yes for an answer. If you want to drill in our country. this is the bill. Now. if you want a political issue that you think youll ride into the November election on like you tried in August. which was more theatrics than anything else then vote "no." But Ill tell you what. the American people are going to see this for what it is. And its a comprehensive bill that will go forward. Were going to invest that royalty into renewable energy research. I dont think its economically feasible now. but we need to get there. But were going to produce domestically. and send that message to the world which. you know. maybe a bill on the floor has helped us with that oil prices going down every day per barrel. I want to thank my esteemed colleagues. Chairman RAHALL. Chairman MILLER and Chairman DINGELL. as well as Speaker PELOsI and Majority Leader HOYER and the entire Democratic Caucus for working together to craft legislation that our majority. our Congress and our country can be proud of. Now. I know some of my friends in Congress and maybe the energy industry and the environmental community may be asking themselves one question: "How in the world can an unholy alliance of GREEN. MILLER and RAHALL ever come together to introduce a comprehensive energy plan. The answer is very simple. Americas energy needs demand it. We need to do whats environmentally good. but we also need to make sure we can keep the prices of our current fuel costs low. and whether its for lighting our homes or cooling
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

President Bush waited 72 years to eliminate the executive moratorium. And the Democratic Congress has only taken 11 years. It improves the management of the Strategic Petroleum Reservean idea first offered by my good friend from Texas. NICK LAMPSONby allowing a swap for heavy crude which could immediately lower prices for consumers. Most dramatically. our proposal will help utilize our own domestic oil and natural gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf. Our legislation incorporates many of the offshore drilling provisions I and other "Energy Democrats" first introduced in the LEASE Act by directing the immediate opening of all areas beyond 100 miles off our coasts. Thats over 305 million acres in the OCS that are -automatically opened for oil and natural gas leasing. States are also given discretion to "optin" to additional drilling from 50 to 100 miles off their coasts estimated at an additional 90 million acres for production. -My friends from the other side of the aisle will argue this bill does not open up enough acreage offshore. In some instances. as in the Eastern Gulf o Mexico. I agree. But lets not forget one fact: during the height of Republican rule. under both a Republican President and Congress. Republicans were only able to direct the opening of 8.3 million acres for leasing in the Gulf of Mexico President Bush after almost 71/2 years in officE removed the Presidential moritorium. Today. Democrats are directing the openinc of over 305 million acreswith state concur rence. SE H8213 This is hundreds of millions more acres that are directly opened than in the Senates "Gang of 20" proposal. or in Senate Republican Leader MITCH MCCONNELLS "Gas Price Reduction Act". which has the support of 44 Republican Senators. Most importantly. we use the revenues from oil and gas production to transition America to a clean energy future. Our bill will create a fund to invest in clean renewable energy. energy efficiency. the Land and Water Conservation Fund. carbon capture sequestration. and the LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program. And we extend many of the critical tax credits for wind. solar. and other renewable energy sources that expire this year. While I believe its also fundamental to allow states to share in any offshore revenues. "paygo" rules require any revenue sharingprovisions to be offsetwhether its included in this legislation or any other OCS proposal. Mr. Speaker. our legislation isnt perfect. But we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good. Lets pass this bill and for the first time a Democratic Congress. Our constituents. and our Nation. can no longer wait for Congress to act on a balanced energy policy that will provide the conventional energy we need to fuel our economy and to develop the clean energy sources of tomorrow. I urge my colleagues to support the RahallGreenMiller legislation. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-09-16
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the chairman for yielding and thank him for bringing this legislation to this floor. Im honored to be a cosponsor of this legislation along with