House Proceeding 04-23-09 on Apr 23rd, 2009 :: 0:24:00 to 0:44:00
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0:21:20 to 0:24:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles W. Dent

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Charles W. Dent: mr. if you are fee from connecticut. -- mr. murphy from connecticut.

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mr. moran from kansas. california. mr. flake from arizona. mr. mchenry from north carolina. mr. hunter from california.

0:24:23 to 0:24:43( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: mr. souder from indiana. mr. neugebauer from texas. mr. cao from louisiana. for what purpo does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. the house for five minutes. the speaker pro tempore: without objection.

0:24:35 to 0:30:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Louie Gohmert

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Louie Gohmert: mr. gohmert: thank you, madam speaker. yesterday and today in the full judiciary committee we've been taking up a bill called by most people the hate crimes act. it sounds like somhing that everybody would be for. you know, who favors hate? nobody. perhaps the only kind of hate we should be in favor of is the

0:25:06 to 0:25:28( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: hatred with which we hate hate. but that's not what it's about. it is about creating new law, new crimes that are duplicates of what's in every state in the union. now, there are 45 states already

0:25:29 to 0:25:50( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: have hate crime bills but even there most are unnecessary. the case thaw often hear that is a reason we need hate crimes is the james byrd case where this poor gentleman, african-amecan was drug to death. now, i would be in favor of allowing the victim's family to pick the terrain and the manner of dragging the defendants once

0:25:51 to 0:26:12( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: they're convicted, but that's not allowed. the death penalty amendment was even voted down. so there's no enhancement, nothing that wld affect the poster cases that are constantly raised as a reason to have hate crime -- the hate crime laws. and in fact, when we hear over

0:26:13 to 0:26:34( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: and over there's these epidemics of hate crimes that we have to stop. actually, there were nearly a million assaults in 2007. 242 assaults included some kind of bodily injury in which there was some motive attributed to bias or hatred because of a

0:26:35 to 0:26:57( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: selected group. 242. and, again, there was a killing of a poor young man named nicholas west killed because he was a homosexual. his perpetrators were not charged under a hate crimes law. they were charged under a capital murder law for kidnapping and they've already got the death penalty.

0:26:58 to 0:27:18( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: just like the who worse perpetrators in james byrd's situation. so what is this about? well, perhaps it's about trying to create a special class of protected people who maybe shouldn't have protection. one of the last amendments we made today was going to at least

0:27:19 to 0:27:40( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: in this -- the term sexual orientation is included -- we kept trying to confine it to things tt were not just an aberration. and even the amendment to it least excludes pedophiles from the protected class was voted down on a strict party line. every democrat there voted to

0:27:41 to 0:28:01( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: protect pedophiles and every republicans voted to exclude them at least from the definition of sexual orientation. we were told, well, there is a definition in one of the other laws about sexual orientation. it confines it to heterosexuality. there's no reference to another law.

0:28:02 to 0:28:22( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: so as a former appellate judge i would be left in reviewing the law saying, what is the plain meaning? you can consider other definitions. well, some judge will do the right thing that a judge is supposed to do and say, hmm, sexual orientation means what it says, if that's toward child --

0:28:23 to 0:28:43( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: and the diagnostics statistics manual has about 30 different types of sexual orientation. so -- that includes voyeurism. it includes the pedophilea. it includes things like exhibitionism. it includes corpses.

0:28:44 to 0:29:06( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: but even under this law since exhibitionists are not excluded, then if you -- and i've had women tell me they have had people flash themselves, men flash themselves and they immediately react and hit them with a purse. under that scenario, under this law the exhibitnist committed a misdemeanor and the woman that

0:29:07 to 0:29:28( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: hit him with a purse committed a new federal felony under the hate crimes law. that is absurd. we don't need this law. there is no reason for it. we've even tried to include in there specifically the kinds of chuvens -- churches that were invaded in an attack for supporting the california marriage amendment.

0:29:29 to 0:29:50( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: and that was voted down on a straight party line. there should be no special classes, and the other thing here that will silence christian ministers and eventually rabbis or ahmans from quoting the koran where it condemns sexuality

0:29:51 to 0:30:14( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: because under this bill if a minister, a rabbi, imman quotes from those scriptures and says homo sexuality is an aberration or whatever rd they use, it hurts society d some nut hears them, goes out, commits a crime of violence, then under 18 u.s.c. 2-a they could be charged

0:30:15 to 0:30:27( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: -- arrested, charged as a principal. this is a bad bill. and it was a bad day for the law. the speaker pro tempore: thank

0:30:54 to 0:31:06( Edit History Discussion )

you. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 6, 2009, the gentleman from minnesota, mr. ellison, is recognized for 60

0:31:20 to 0:32:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Keith Ellison

0:31:37 to 0:31:57( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: majority leader. mr. ellison: well, thank you, mr. speaker, for recognizing me this eveng. i'm here with the progressive caucus. that caucus that brings to the people of the united states every week a progressive vision for america. i'm very honored to be joined by

0:31:58 to 0:32:07( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: our chair tonight, the only one who continues to fight week in, week out, every day for peace in our world who has the longest

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Lynn C. Woolsey: running record of five-minute speeches for peace, lynn woolsey. let me yield to the gentlelady for a welcome this evening. ms. woolsey: well, thank you, leadership on -- ellison, for your great leadership on the progressive message the message of average, normal american people.

0:32:10 to 0:33:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lynn C. Woolsey

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Lynn C. Woolsey: and we know it and we're proud to sak it because theres noing like the issues stand for with the progressive caucus, our progressive promise that hits home to the american people like what we're promising to work on. and tonight we're going to talk about our earth, i believe.

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Lynn C. Woolsey: mr. ellison: that is. ms. woolsey: and thank you for bringing that to us. will you, thank you for recognizing in 300, i believe, nienhouse speeches on the floor regarding iraq and peace in general and afghanistan, now that we're looking like we don't know when we're going to get out of there. you know, we can talk about

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Lynn C. Woolsey: saving the earth, but if we

0:33:18 to 0:33:38( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: destroy it with war, then we won't have an earth to save. so thank you for doing this tonight. mr. ellison: well, thank you, the gentlelady, for yielding back for a moment. you are right. i do want to commend you. i don't know if anyone has a longer running number of five-minute speeches on any issue than you do. so i'm proud to know that the

0:33:20 to 0:37:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Keith Ellison

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Keith Ellison: longest running series of five-minute speeches is on the subject of peace, is on the subject of iraq, is onhe -- is by -- dedicated leader as yourself. mr. speaker, we want to welcome folks to the progressive message and let peoplenow they can

0:34:00 to 0:34:21( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: plug in to the progressive caucus, the email address is stated below. people, i hope, will communicate. it's very important that we stay in touch and that this is the progressive message. and tonight, you're right, the subject is clean energy jobs and our earth. let's start out with just a few basics.

0:34:22 to 0:34:42( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: the progressive energy policy, global climate change and green jobs, has to be made up of a few essent the fact is that u.s. energy policy is everyone's business. u.s. energy policy touches nearly every aspect of american life, our homes, our natural environment, and most importantly our economy and the

0:34:43 to 0:35:03( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: earth itself. last year americans spent $400 billion buying oil outside the united states. in is a tremendous expenditure on our economy and sends dollars outside of our economy. and that american families spent about

0:35:04 to 0:35:24( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: $3,000 apiece, each, on fossil fuels that contributed to the disastrous changes in our global climate. i think it's important to point out that we are here now, we're approaching the first 100 days of the new administration. haven't been here long but we have been here strong. there is no doubt that energy

0:35:25 to 0:35:45( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: policy will be a major component of the next two years and it's critical to point out that the democratic caucus and the progressive caucus are here to lead the way on this discsion. you know, i like to stay positi but we have to make sure we have a good record. and the record requires that we revisit some of the things that have been proposed over the last

0:35:46 to 0:36:07( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: eight years that have not been so good. one, the republican plan has not been a good plan. this plan, people contends, efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions will create undo hardships for americans in the midst of the recession. the fact is if we don't do with

0:36:08 to 0:36:30( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: this global crisis, greenhouse gas emissions, we are going to be in much more trouble than we are right now. right now is in fact a good time to deal with the crisis in our economy. it's a chance to rebuild. it's a chance to strengthen. it's a time to invest in infrastructure. and i think chairwoman woolsey, it's a good time to just point

0:36:31 to 0:36:51( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: out that it was during the civil war that abraham lincoln made the decision we're going to have a railroad go -- span the united states. it was during the -- it was during the 1930's, the depression, that we saw rural electryification be a major

0:36:52 to 0:37:12( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: commitment to -- of the united states government under franklin delano roosevelt. it was under eisenhower, a recession, where we talked about that we now enjoy today. in fact, in times like this, it's no time to shrink, no time to be afraid but it's a time to be bold.

0:37:13 to 0:37:26( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: let's not go for any naysayers or fear mongers. let's go further. let me yield to the gentlelady for any comments about this of, is this a time to be bold?

0:37:27 to 0:37:47( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: is this a time to shrink or be afraid or is it time to be bold and policy? let me yield to the gentlelady. ms. woolsey: madam speaker, thank you for being here with us tonight. we honor you. you know, as co-chair of the congressional progressive caucus with recall grijalva, it's

0:37:30 to 0:40:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lynn C. Woolsey

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Lynn C. Woolsey: really an -- raul grijalva, it's really an honor to be here to represent the progressive caucus and the people of this country and the people of my district. and we're doing this right now because it's earth day yesterday was earth day, i believe, but we couldn't do this yesterday. so before we get into the question you asked me,

0:38:09 to 0:38:30( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: congressman, let's talk about earth day and how it happened. i think it's good for people to remember that earth day is a day designed to promote awareness and foster appreciation for our environment. now, yesterday, yes, that's right, it was yesterday, it was

0:38:31 to 0:38:52( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: the 29th anniversary of the very first celebration. that celebration was determined and we've over the 29 years recognized on earth day something that we should be recognizing every single day and every minute of our lives that we have a need for a healthy environment and we have to work to protect it.

0:38:53 to 0:39:14( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: it won't happen on its own because we're working very hard, it appears, to destroy our environment. so we have a lot of work to do. so let's talk about what are the roots of earth day itself. although the specific day was set by former senator -- well

0:39:15 to 0:39:36( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: with, former u.s. senator gaylord nelson of wisconsin, his motivation came from the horrific santa barbara and the california coast in that was such a horrible experience for all of us in california. earth day is the perfect time and he knew it, to highlight

0:39:37 to 0:39:57( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: that event and to work to ensure that oil spills never happened again. of course, over 29 years, there have been her oil spills, but he was so sincere that he put earth day together to emphasize, no more oil spills. so many in our country who don't

0:39:58 to 0:40:19( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: have a strong connection to santa barbara oil knew that -- how important it was to california and they come to districts and they learn over and over again what a disaster like that will do and it could happen in their areas, too. it could happen on the great lakes and certainly could happen on the atlantic coast.

0:40:20 to 0:40:35( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: down in the gulf of florida. so everybody pays attention, particularly to the oceans. but there's more to earth day than our oceans and it's our air, the our water and it's our

0:40:36 to 0:40:56( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: trees and eart day has become the basis for what we know we must be doing to solve global warming. but, happy birthday, earth day, yesterday. mr. ellison: i thank the gentlelady for that important recognition. in fact, it is our appreciation and gratitude for this beautiful earth that we live on that drives our dedication.

0:40:40 to 0:44:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Keith Ellison

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Keith Ellison: we're not really here from the progressive caucus talking about what we're against. we're talking about what we are for and we are for a clean earth in which everyone can breathe, can drink, can live and enjoy this wonderful planet we have and not just human beings, but all creation. and i think it's very important that you set us on the right

0:41:19 to 0:41:41( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: trajectory for that. and i think as we are looking back and remembering the 29th anniversary of earth day, it's important to remember that the course of action we've been fo at's been helpful. in fact, it's brought to us a very difficult situation. we've seen the energy plan over the last eight years essentially

0:41:42 to 0:42:03( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: be made up of tax breaks for oil companies, drill, drill, drill, remember that one? ms. woolsey: i remember that one. mr. ellison: you better believe we heard that one, which resulted in more pollution, which taxpayers have to clean up and no fundamental investment in a green energy economy like the

0:42:04 to 0:42:25( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: investments we've been talking about. the investment in an earth day to commemorate and rededicate our commitment. the investment in our economy over the centuries, when progressive leaders like lincoln and f.d.r. made those important investments i referred to a moment ago. no investment in a green energy

0:42:26 to 0:42:47( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: economy that will lessen our dependence on oil and reduce global climate change and perhaps most importantly create jobs. you know, earth day, earth day is a wonderful time to have this conversation about american clean energy jobs. because earth day is not simply about fighting pollution.

0:42:48 to 0:43:08( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: it's also about enhancing our natural world and our existence in it. it's about development along the lines that are smart and green, clean and renewable. we can do both. i will say that i do appreciate some of our republican colleagues and i respect them all and enjoy them a lot, but i

0:43:09 to 0:43:29( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: think it's important to point out that their vision was on display on sunday morning talk when one of the republican leaders said that he dismissed as, quote, almost comical the idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen, that it's harmful to

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0:43:30 to 0:43:52( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: our environment. and the proof and evidence was that, you know, that carbon dioxide must be safe because humans exhale it and caos deposit it -- cows deposit it. well, that's not a definition of whether it's a carcinogen or harmful substance. we do have a science gap, we can do an hour on that, but i think it's important to just point out

0:43:53 to 0:44:16( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: that we are not only on earth day and in commemoration of earth day talking about fighting pollution, we're talking about enhancing our world, our green planet, the one that -- the only one we have, by the way, and, again, as you know very well, the gentlelady from california knows our chair of the progressive caucus, that if we