mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-10-17

I rise to express my outrage with regard to President 's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northeast Syria. This decision is dangerous, premature, and wholly inconsistent with what the facts on the ground in Syria and the advice from everyone--from our diplomats to our military advisers. prgtoken In just 1 week, President has managed to undo 5 years of hard- fought stability in northeast Syria. Just 1 week ago, over 10,000 ISIS fighters, including high-value prisoners who targeted American victims, were secured in prisons throughout northeast Syria. We face, today, a very different picture. Several ISIS prisons are already unmanned as a result of Turkey's incursion, and it is estimated that over 100 ISIS prisoners have been released already. We don't know what will happen in those other detention centers that have housed ISIS prisoners. prgtoken One week ago, a limited U.S. troop presence of 1,000 Special Forces stabilized a population that was once terrorized by the Syrian regime and later by ISIS. These forces secured a region of Syria that controls over two-thirds of Syria's natural resources. American troops have, today, either left or are preparing to leave this area, and the Syrian regime is moving in. prgtoken Russian troops have moved into U.S. military bases, and over 160,000 Syrian civilians have already fled their homes as a result of the spike in violence that has been instigated by Turkey. It is so hard to watch the videos on television that show Turkey-affiliated fighters assassinating Kurdish forces--Kurds with their hands tied behind their backs. prgtoken I traveled to Syria a year ago last summer. Lindsey Graham and I saw firsthand the work of the combined joint task force, Operation Inherent Resolve. We saw the work its partner forces, the Syrian ic Forces, were doing, and it was truly remarkable. The United States owes a huge debt of gratitude to the men and women of the SDF who sacrificed over 11,000 of their own lives in fighting ISIS so we didn't have to sacrifice our own. prgtoken Because of this sacrifice, when we were in northeast Syria last summer, we witnessed communities like Manbij steadily recover and rebuild after 3 years under ISIS's brutal occupation, and the widespread appreciation of the U.S. presence among local, multiethnic residents was a testament to the importance of our partnerships and our willingness to lead in times of crisis. As we drove down the roads, we saw kids flashing victory signs at our troops. When we were in the marketplace, we had people come out and tell us how relieved they were that the United States was there to help ensure that peace was being kept. We saw local governance taking place on the ground. prgtoken So it is incredibly difficult now to see images coming out of Manbij and the other places we visited in northeastern Syria. The Syrian regime has already moved troops back into this region, and Turkey's prox
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-10-17

I come to the floor today because our Nation is at a crossroads that strikes at the heart of our democracy. The increasingly outrageous actions of this President and his administration have brought us to this moment where we, as a nation, must make a decision about who we are, what we stand for, and what kind of behavior we will allow at the highest levels of our government. prgtoken As we continue down this road paved by the President's reckless actions and his complete disregard for our Nation's laws and democratic norms, I want to take a moment to step back and talk about how we got here and how much is truly at stake for our country and our democracy if we don't get this right. prgtoken Let's start by considering what we know for sure. The President has repeatedly sought foreign interference in our elections, which we should all find appalling. We know that President and his associates pressed the Ukrainian Government to meddle in our democratic process, pushing them to launch an investigation without basis into the President's political opponents in an effort to help his election. prgtoken We know that he has made overtures to China--out in the open--to do the same. This is important. We don't have to take anyone else's word for it. We saw President 's call record with the Ukrainian President, and we all heard the President and his associates admit to the surreptitious actions from their own lips on camera. prgtoken These facts are indisputable and can't be spun. President and his circle of friends have been clear about their actions and their intentions, and it is clear they are unacceptable, but even more seriously, there are still many questions about the extent of President and his associates' actions and their potential impact on our democracy, questions for which the American people undoubtedly deserve answers. prgtoken That is why the House is right to begin impeachment proceedings to determine if President has committed high crimes and misdemeanors, and why months ago I, too, called on the House to open an inquiry to investigate the President's deeply distressing actions because, for me and for so many other people across the country, this is not about partisan politics or any politics. This is about maintaining our Nation's security and defending the rule of law. It is about nothing less than the future of our democracy. Let me be clear: Because of President , all of this is on the line. That is how serious this is. prgtoken I have news for my colleagues: As much as you would like to stay silent on this, it is not an option. Our forefathers warned us against the power of foreign interference to undermine the foundations of our democracy, and their cautions echo as clearly and as strongly today as they did more than 200 years ago. prgtoken As Members of Congress, as representatives of the American people, we took an oath to defend our Nati
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-10-17

last month, both the Senate and the House of Representatives resolved, on a bipartisan basis, to terminate the President's declaration of a national emergency along our southern border. I was proud to lead the charge before this body to terminate that declaration--a declaration the President is using to raid congressionally appropriated military construction funds to build this border wall. Plain and simple, the President's emergency declaration is an end-run around Congress's spending powers and the Constitution. prgtoken Last week, a Federal district judge agreed and concluded that the President's declaration is ``unlawful.'' Article I, section 9, of the Constitution could not be clearer. It reads: ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law. . . .'' prgtoken The Founders gave Congress the power to appropriate--the power of the purse. This is one of the most consequential powers. Congress has this power to make sure that decisions about how public dollars are spent have widespread support and are not the product of an extreme minority, let alone one man. prgtoken Our power to appropriate is part of the system of checks and balances built into our Constitution. The Founders made sure that the three branches of government exercised their own separate and limited powers, and they made sure that no one branch and no one person could exercise too much power, especially over the use of taxpayer money. prgtoken The President's emergency declaration is an unconstitutional power grab. Congress has not fully funded his requests for border wall funding. We set different budget priorities. Our priorities include the $3.6 billion worth of 127 military construction projects across 23 States, 3 Territories, and 20 countries, and the President canceled them. prgtoken But this President will not accept Congress's judgment or our constitutional authority. His emergency declaration is an exercise of power that is just not his under the Constitution. prgtoken Our system of checks and balances only works if each branch has the will to check the other branch if there is encroachment. We have seen some good bipartisan pushback, but this is the point where we need more of that. It is up to Congress, the legislative branch, to guard our constitutional authority and to exercise the will to do so. prgtoken The President has now vetoed Congress's resolution, and it is up to this body to assert our constitutional authority and override that veto. Not only is a fundamental constitutional principle at stake, but the President's emergency declaration has real life impacts--impacts to our national security and impacts to the 23 States whose projects are now gone. prgtoken My home State of New Mexico is one of those 23 States. We are home to two military bases that will be hit by the President's raid on military construction projects to fund his wall. prgtoken Scuttled is an $85 mi
SEC DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVENESS TESTING ACT
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Mr. Chair, H.R. 1815 was drafted specifically for SEC disclosures that are required to be delivered to or intended or substantially likely to be materially relied on by retail investors, but not by sophisticated institutional investors like mutual funds or hedge funds. prgtoken Representative Sean Maloney's amendment clarifies that this bill is intended to protect retail investors. That is a commonsense amendment, which allows the bill to achieve our goal, which is to ensure that mom- and-pop investors are able to use the disclosures intended specifically for them. prgtoken I thank Representative Maloney for this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' prgtoken .
VOTE EXPLANATION
Kamala D. Harris (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-10-17

I was absent for vote No. 324 on S.J. Res. 53, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ``Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emissions Guidelines Implementing Regulations.'' prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted yea on the resolution.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-10-17

as the senior Senator from Maryland, I want to comment on the remarks by Leader Schumer about the great loss we had that we learned about early this morning--the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings. I found out about this as I awoke this morning. It is a sad day for Baltimore, for Maryland, and for our country. prgtoken Two days ago, I had a chance to talk with Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Congressman Cummings' wife, to inquire as to how the Congressman was doing. She explained to me that he was still in the hospital but he was using every ounce of energy he had to carry out his responsibilities as chairman of the Oversight Committee and as a Member of the House of Representatives. We all know that he used his energy every day on behalf of the people he represented. prgtoken Our Nation has lost one of the great champions for social justice. What a powerful voice he was for those whose voices would otherwise not have been heard. It is a great loss. It is a great loss for the people of Baltimore--his record of accomplishment on behalf of our city and our region is well known--and it is a personal loss for me. prgtoken I first got to know Elijah Cummings when he was elected to the Maryland General Assembly. I was speaker of the house. I recognized that here was a person coming in with incredible talent. I gave him an opportunity to use that talent, and he used it so effectively on behalf of the people of his district as a member of the Maryland General Assembly. prgtoken Congressman Cummings and I have a lot in common. We both attended the same public high school in Baltimore City, Baltimore City College High School--different years. He graduated from the University of Maryland Law School, and I also graduated from the University of Maryland Law School. We served together in the Maryland General Assembly, and we served together in the House of Representatives. prgtoken God gave him the talent to communicate like no one I have heard. There was incredible passion in his voice. I had the opportunity to see firsthand what he was able to accomplish on behalf of the people. What a legacy. He used every moment. He achieved the high position of chairman of the Oversight Committee but never lost his sense of purpose for the people he represented. He went home to Baltimore every night. You could see him in the community every day at schools and at church. He never lost the passion for the people he represented. prgtoken What a legacy he has left for all of us. We can't fill the void that has been created by Congressman Cummings' passing, but all of us need to step up and help carry out that legacy of public service. It is a terrible loss for the people of our community and a terrible loss for our Nation. prgtoken Our prayers go out to Maya Rockeymoore Cummings and his family in this incredibly difficult time. We will commit ourselves to carrying on the legacy of a great American, our friend Elijah Cummings.
SEC DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVENESS TESTING ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-10-17

. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under Director Cordray, engaged in extensive consumer testing of new disclosure forms that it was proposing for prepaid cards. It came up with two different proposed disclosure forms and then field-tested the two forms for months before finalizing the prepaid card rule. That is the kind of data-driven regulation that helps consumers, investors, and, ultimately, all market participants because it improves trust in the entire financial markets. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
MOURNING THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE ELIJAH CUMMINGS
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-10-17

there are many things that we come to this floor to do. In the midst of our duties, we stand in this well as armor and advocates for democracy. There are moments of joy, and there are moments of high debate, but I come this morning partly for a moment of sadness. prgtoken I am looking at my iPhone at a picture of myself and the late Congressman Elijah Cummings so many years ago. It tells the story of the breadth and depth of his life, when he invited Members of Congress to come to his district to challenge the scourge of HIV and to stand against the proliferation of addiction. prgtoken He was always standing in the gap for his constituents, his beloved Baltimore, and his beloved family. He always considered himself as someone who would find a cure for the ailments of society. prgtoken That is why, this morning, we have heard some of his words: ``Come on, people, we are better than this.'' prgtoken The wonderment of his words that really came from his strong spiritual connection--I want everybody to know that he was able to say all of this and remain that steady figure in the eye of the storm because he was a man of faith who had no shame in his love of God and the teachings of his parents, who he reminded us all the time, as they rest in peace themselves, that they were sharecroppers. prgtoken Look at him now. He ascended to greatness. As chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, his focus was not only on this recent impeachment inquiry. He looked at all aspects of wrongness that afflicted the American people, certainly one being the overuse of prescription drugs causing people to either lose their lives or not be able to take care of themselves. prgtoken He was also a man of justice who wanted criminal justice reform and wanted to work to ensure that our police persons and law enforcement could have the kind of training and understanding of culturally diverse communities. prgtoken He served us in many ways. He certainly was an icon amongst the Congressional Black Caucus, but he was not ours alone. He belonged to this Congress--s and --and he belonged to the Nation. prgtoken But, Baltimore, I cannot leave you out. He belonged to his beloved Baltimore and also the heritage of his parents. prgtoken I stand here today to give comfort to those who are mourning, to try to ease the pain that I am experiencing, and to be able to call upon a Nation that has the beauty of allowing us to pray to any God that we worship in any faith that we may have, that we call upon that faith today to be reminded of a giant like Elijah Cummings. prgtoken I conclude with just a moment to say that I pray for the families in Syria, the fleeing Kurds. I pray that this unmistakable disaster that has occurred, that we can put it right-side up with the Congress working to secure a no-fly zone and to have a cease-fire in northern Syria to be able to stop the bloodletting of women and children and the fleeing that is goi
S.J. RES. 53
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-10-17

I rise today to discuss S.J. Res. 53, the resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act on the Environmental Protection Agency's Affordable Clean Energy, ACE rule. I fully support passage of the resolution. prgtoken Every week seems to bring fresh evidence of the damage climate change is causing to our environment and economy. Increasing floods, heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, and snowstorms have wreaked havoc on communities across the country. We cannot continue to ignore that climate change is already happening all around us. We must take immediate action. prgtoken The administration's Clean Power Plan established Federal standards for emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-fired power plants. The plan set achievable carbon emissions reduction targets of 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 to be reached by reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants, shifting energy generation from fossil fuels to renewable sources, and promoting energy conservation. The Clean Power Plan not only helped drive the transition of our energy generation to cleaner sources, it also served as the centerpiece of U.S. efforts to lead the world in addressing climate change through the Paris Climate Agreement. prgtoken The administration's rule would take us backward by repealing the emissions reduction targets in the Clean Power Plan and replacing them with less ambitious targets based on narrow energy efficiency improvements that also wholly exempt natural gas-fired power plants. It is clear that the new rules will likely result in more carbon pollution, halt the accelerated trends toward low- and zero-carbon energy, and have dire implications for our air quality and public health. prgtoken For these reasons, I oppose the administration's rule and support passage of Senator Cardin's resolution--S.J. Res. 53--to disapprove of it. prgtoken Thank you. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
SEC DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVENESS TESTING ACT
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-10-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 1815 is a commonsense bill that is supported by our Nation's seniors, investment advisers, and investor advocates. Here is what they have said about the bill: prgtoken According to AARP, they wrote: ``AARP, on behalf of our nearly 38 million members and all older Americans nationwide, is pleased to endorse H.R. 1815, which would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct investor testing when developing rules and regulations about disclosures to retail investors. Robust investor testing of retail investor disclosures will assist investors in getting the information they need to make informed choices about their hard- earned savings.'' prgtoken According to the Financial Planning Coalition: ``The coalition believes that H.R. 1815 would provide the statutory framework necessary for the SEC to ensure to Congress and Main Street investors that disclosures required under SEC rules have been thoroughly and adequately tested by the SEC and are reasonably effective in achieving their intended purpose.'' prgtoken According to the Consumer Federation of America: ``Disclosure is both an important investor protection tool and a regulatory requirement that imposes significant cost on industry. We, therefore, have an obligation to make those disclosures as effective as possible. H.R. 1815 would help to achieve that goal by updating the SEC's approach to disclosure development. Anyone who supports commonsense, evidence-based regulation should support this legislation.'' prgtoken Mr. Chair, before , I include in the Record correspondence from the Financial Planning Coalition, the AARP, and the CFA, that is the Consumer Federation of America. Financial Planning Coalition, October 11, 2019. Re Support for H.R. 1815, the ``SEC Disclosure Effectiveness Testing Act''. Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the Financial Planning Coalition (Coalition), we are writing to express our strong support for H.R. 1815, the ``SEC Disclosure Effectiveness Testing Act.'' We encourage you to support the legislation when it is considered on the House floor in the coming week. A fundamental public policy goal of the federal securities laws is to ensure full and adequate disclosure of ``material'' information to American investors. The expectation is that the disclosure will assist investors in making an informed investment decision. Given this, we appreciate the work the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Office of the Investor Advocate has done to identify and confront the challenges to improve investor disclosure. Research conducted on behalf of AARP, Consumer Federation of America and the Coalition organizations, as