mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Travel Ban (Executive Calendar)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-2-1

I came to the floor today to join with Senators and people across this country in speaking out against the President's misguided and, I believe, destructive Executive order that has abruptly closed our borders to all refugees as well as citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. prgtoken During the campaign, Candidate called for a ``total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.'' I had certainly hoped that once in office, he would receive wise and prudent counsel and he would realize that elevating such a Muslim ban to the status of official U.S. policy would have very negative consequences. prgtoken Instead, what we have seen is that a small group in the White House acting in secret produced this Executive order. They did so without legal review and even without the knowledge of the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, or the nominee to be Secretary of State. As a result, as we all know, we saw a weekend of chaos and confusion--a self-inflicted wound to our national security and to our reputation in the world. prgtoken The consequences go far beyond the scenes of disorder that we witnessed in recent days. By singling out Muslim-majority countries and banning their citizens from entry into the United States and by denying entry to all refugees, the President has greatly damaged America's image across the world and, perhaps, worst of all, this Executive order is a gift to ISIS, Al Qaeda, and to every other radical jihadist group. On social media they celebrated the travel ban as a confirmation to their narrative that the United States is at war with Islam and that they are engaged in a clash of civilizations. One ISIS sympathizer praised the Executive order as a ``blessed ban,'' comparing it to what he called ``the blessed invasion'' of Iraq, which inflamed anti- American anger across the Islamic world. This is dangerous because this is a powerful recruitment tool for our enemies. prgtoken I am also deeply concerned that this Executive order endangers our troops and our diplomats who are in the field. Today, more than 5,000 American troops are supporting Iraqi troops in the fight to reclaim Mosul and drive ISIS out of Iraq. By discriminating based on religion and nationality, the President's order undermines the local alliances and the trust established by our troops and diplomats in the field. This order is so ill-considered that, as originally drafted, it even barred Iraqi civilians, including translators who provided essential assistance to the U.S. mission. prgtoken Just to be clear, this Muslim ban is un-American. It is offensive to our Nation's core values and ideals. The right way forward is not to carve out small exceptions to the Muslim ban. It is to repeal the ban entirely. The President has called for what he has termed ``extreme vetting,'' but the truth is that our vetting procedures are already thorough and rigorous. It takes as lo
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2017-2-1

I stand in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 38, the resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule. prgtoken I would like to express both my support of the Stream Protection Rule as well as my deep concern over the use of the Congressional Review Act to derail smart regulations that protect our citizens' health while simultaneously creating a precedent of recklessly obstructing federal rulemaking. prgtoken The Stream Protection Rule is an effective and sensible regulation that has undergone years of development in order to compel big polluters and industry actors to responsibly dispose of dangerous waste so that our water supply and ecosystems remain free of toxic pollutants. The attempt to dismantle this rule will cause irreparable harm to clean drinking water sources for millions of Americans. The Stream Protection Rule provides Americans with an environmental monitoring system that assures the cleanliness of the water. prgtoken The residents of the 4th District of Georgia, like many of the constituents of my colleagues, live alongside and depend upon rivers to be protected from harmful pollutants and toxic chemicals that are the product of mining and industrial run-off. Run-off from mining and industry sources contaminate stream water with various lethal toxins, including lead and arsenic. These pollutants not only impact the lives of people living in close proximity to the run-off sources of heavy pollutants, but all people who live downstream. prgtoken The water protected by this rule is the same water consumed by our families, including children and the elderly. Those exposed to carcinogens in their water can suffer from birth defects, cancer, and even death. prgtoken Clean and safe water is in the interest of all Americans, regardless of their income level or political party. It matters not whether a state is red or blue, access to clean water will always be necessary, and it should be mandatory. Clean water is a human right and this rule ensures our country can provide clean drinking water to its citizens. prgtoken I ask my colleagues this question: if the Stream Protection Rule is overturned are you prepared to tell your constituents and their families that their water will be less safe to drink or use? prgtoken I am not alone in my stance. More than 70 groups representing the interests of a wide-swath of American citizens have expressed their strong disapproval with this resolution. Two of these groups, the Savannah Riverkeeper and Altamaha Riverkeeper organizations, represent the environmental concerns of my home, the great state of Georgia. These groups along with dozens of others have expressed to our country's elected officials that a resolution of disapproval for the Steam Protection Rule would significantly jeopardize the well-being of millions of Americans. prgtoken By subjecting the Stream Protection Rule to the Congressional R
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-2-1

it is my understanding that the Senator will take us through the closing script, and as a part of that, I will be recognized in the order to make my remarks. prgtoken With that understanding, . prgtoken What if I suggest that I begin my remarks, that you give me the high sign whenever the closing script is prepared--it is. Never mind. prgtoken .
Nomination of Neil Gorsuch (Executive Calendar)
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise today in opposition to Rex Tillerson's nomination to be our next Secretary of State. I don't believe Mr. Tillerson is an appropriate selection to be our Nation's chief diplomat. prgtoken During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Tillerson repeatedly evaded questions related to transparency and corporate responsibility. For instance, on multiple occasions Mr. Tillerson stated that he was unaware of Exxon's history of lobbying Congress; yet, according to lobbying disclosure forms, Exxon lobbied against a variety of Iran and Russia-related sanctions since at least 2010. When pressed on the matter, Mr. Tillerson even claimed he didn't know if Exxon lobbied for or against these energy-related sanctions bills. prgtoken Additionally, I am troubled by Mr. Tillerson's response to questions about Exxon's dealings with Iran, Syria, and Sudan. According to public documents, Exxon established a joint venture with Shell to conduct business with state sponsors of terror. That joint venture--Infineum-- sold petroleum products to Iran, Sudan, and Syria, when those nations were being sanctioned by the United States. prgtoken During that time, Mr. Tillerson rose from senior vice president to president and director and eventually to chairman and CEO of Exxon; yet, during his testimony, Mr. Tillerson claimed to be unaware of Infineum's purposeful evasion of sanctions. Instead of recognizing the larger national interest, Mr. Tillerson suggested that American companies could legally avoid sanctions by setting up shell companies outside of the United States. prgtoken Infineum is not the only example of Exxon's history of undermining American policy. Under Mr. Tillerson's leadership, Exxon signed oil exploration contracts with the Kurds in Iraq. Doing so undermined the United States ``one Iraq'' policy and exacerbated the long-simmering conflict between the central government and the Kurds. That is because Exxon signed contracts to explore oil at six sites. Three of those sites were on disputed land claimed by both the Kurds and the Iraqi central government. prgtoken By agreeing to explore in disputed territory on behalf of the Kurds, Exxon changed the facts on the ground in favor of the Kurds. Exxon's decision may have been good for Exxon, but it certainly did not benefit a stable, unified Iraq. prgtoken I am also concerned by Mr. Tillerson's response to questions about Russia. Russia has invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea, intervened in Syria, and meddled in our own elections; yet Mr. Tillerson refuses to offer support for international sanctions against Russia. prgtoken He refuses to describe Russia's bombing of Syrian hospitals and schools--and a U.N. humanitarian aid convoy--as war crimes. prgtoken Russia remains in violation of the Minsk agreement and continues to occupy Crimea, indiscriminately bomb in Syria, and hack American think tanks. prgtoken Now is not the time to remove sanctions against Russia, and I have
Nomination of Neil Gorsuch (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-2-1

my father served in the Foreign Service at the Department of State, so I spent some of my early years overseas. I was proud to be part of a family that represented our great country. I learned firsthand the critical role of our Nation's diplomats, the risks that they take to serve our country, and the part that they play in spreading American ideals of freedom and democracy around the world. prgtoken The cabinet position of Secretary of State is as old as our Nation. Thomas Jefferson served as President Washington's Secretary of State. The Secretary is the President's top foreign policy adviser and our Nation's chief representative abroad. Today the State Department reaches across the world, advancing our interests, shaping our relationships, advocating for human rights, and working to advance peace. prgtoken In addition, the Secretary of State will encounter a department of employees who are deeply concerned about the role that they will play and the actions that they may be expected to take in service to the new President. Last week, the Washington Post reported that the State Department's entire senior management resigned, including officials who had worked in both and ic administrations. This was an unprecedented loss of institutional knowledge. prgtoken And by yesterday afternoon, a dissent letter by State Department staff saying that President 's executive order to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries would not make the Nation safer had attracted around 1,000 signatures, far more than any dissent cable in recent years. prgtoken President 's campaign rhetoric has shaken our allies--wavering on our commitment to NATO, gratuitously escalating arguments with China and Mexico, and empowering an increasingly aggressive Russia. Mr. has made fawning statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin. In October 2007, Mr. said of Putin, ``he's doing a great job.'' In December 2011, Mr. praised Putin's ``intelligence'' and ``no- nonsense way.'' In June 2013, Mr. wondered if Putin would be his ``new best friend.'' And in July 2015, Mr. said, ``I think I'd get along very well with Vladimir Putin.'' prgtoken And Mr. has questioned the reality of climate change. He tweeted, ``The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing noncompetitive.'' prgtoken The Secretary of State thus must play a crucial role in maintaining relationships between the United States and our allies around the world. In the face of Mr. 's statements and actions, the need for a strong Secretary of State is all the more important. prgtoken President has nominated Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, to take on this critical role. Mr. Tillerson, who has never served in government, has spent many years building business relationships with Russia and Vladimir Putin, and in 2013,
U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONSHIP
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-1

. I thank Mr. O'Rourke for putting together this Special Order to talk about what is really an important issue and, with all of the things going on, something that has even got a little bit lost. prgtoken Madam , for the region that I represent in San Diego, the border is an economic engine--it is a job creator. Home to the Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, and Tecate ports of entry, San Diego-Baja is the busiest border crossing in the world. From life sciences to electronics, San Diego is an attractive place to start a business and to manufacture goods, in part, because of our proximity to border crossings and international trade. prgtoken Last month, Mr. O'Rourke and other members of the Congressional Border Caucus and I held a hearing with local leaders from chambers of commerce from around our districts to discuss real pragmatic solutions and issues around the border. I was joined by Jerry Sanders, who San Diegans well know as the former mayor. He is also the former police chief of San Diego and is now the current president of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. During that hearing, Mayor Sanders said that an efficient border is a safe border, and he knows something about safety from his time as a police chief. We also know that 99 percent of what gets screened at border crossings is safe and that there is no need to worry about its coming into the country. What we need is to get more efficient at approving the 99 percent of safe cargo and travelers and better at stopping the 1 percent that we don't want to come in. prgtoken One of the big challenges that we faced when I first came to Congress was in border delays. We saw that delays at the border crossing were costing us, at that point, $7.2 billion of economic activity in our county and 35,000 jobs annually--numbers so big that they are almost unbelievable, but those numbers came from independent assessments. prgtoken One of the great successes I have had in Congress, in working with my colleagues within our congressional delegation, is to have worked together to secure more than $500 million to finish the expansion and the improvements at the San Ysidro border crossing. We did that in working with Juan Vargas and Susan Davis and with s Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa because we all understood how important the United States-Mexico border is to our regional economy. prgtoken By investing in infrastructure and innovation in San Diego, Tijuana, and across the border, we are keeping Americans safe and supporting the export of goods made in America by American workers. In San Diego and in other communities, we are embracing this forward-looking approach of opportunity and job creation. prgtoken Now President wants to put us in reverse by building a wall, which we have assessed at $15 billion. I mean, I have heard estimates of its being from $18 billion to $20 billion. By any count, it is a waste of money. Let's say, for purposes of argum
TRIBUTE TO HONOR RAYMOND LAWRENCE SULLIVAN, JR., M.D. ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-2

Raymond Lawrence Sullivan, Jr was born in San Francisco prgtoken on October 4, 1942. He was the second of six children and grew up in San Francisco and Hillsborough. He has three living siblings, Phillip Sullivan, Mary Sullivan Ward and Mother Agnes of the Cross, CJM. Larry was educated at St. Catherine's Grammar School in Burlingame, Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, the University of San Francisco, and the UCSF Medical School. He did his residency in Anesthesiology at Stanford, and served our country in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1968 to 1970. Larry married Victoria Growney on August 13, 1966. Together they have raised three magnificent children: Larry Sullivan III; Kasey Sullivan Bradstreet, JD; Loretta Sullivan Chang, MD; Brian Sullivan; and Jason Lally, their foster child who is part of their extended family. Their four grandchildren, Liam, Andrew and Thomas Chang, and Oscar Bradstreet bring them untold joy. Dr. Sullivan joined the medical staff of O'Connor Hospital as an anesthesiologist in 1975 and has served there until his retirement. From 1982 to 1988 he served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at Stanford University School of Medicine. At O'Connor Hospital he was Anesthesia Department Chair, a member of the Critical Care Committee, President of the Medical Staff, Member of the Hospital's Board of Directors, and Chair of the Medical Staff Advisory Committee. He was honored in 2011 with the Vincentian Spirit Award given by O'Connor Hospital. Dr. Sullivan has given generously of his time and talents to his professional community as a member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association, the American Medical Association, The California Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA) and the California Medical Association. From 1997 to 2006 he served on a Specialty Delegation to the CMA House of Delegates and received the Distinguished Service Award from the CSA in 2009. Larry served as a referee and coach of the American Youth Soccer Association in Palo Alto, and was Scoutmaster of Troop 57, Stanford Area Council, where he guided 35 Scouts to Eagle Scout rank I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an extraordinary physician, a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, vital member of our community, and a treasured personal friend. Larry Sullivan is a man of integrity and he lives a life instructed by his faith. I have never met a finer human being or a finer family. How proud I am to call them my friends and to have the privilege of representing them. I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in wishing my dear friend Larry, a great and good man, and his devoted wife Vicky, every blessing that retirement has to offer.
THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-2-2

I am delighted to be here with my colleague Pramila Jayapal from Seattle, Washington. We wanted to talk about what has been happening over the last week with the executive orders on immigration and asylum that have taken place, and we want to try to take a broad perspective on this; to put it in some historical, legal and constitutional context; and then also to talk very specifically about the executive orders and what has been taking place with them in different parts of the country; and about the multiple Federal judicial rulings imposing injunctions on enforcement of those orders. prgtoken But I wanted to begin, actually, by stepping back from the heat of the current crisis and looking, instead, at the idea of America. prgtoken Well, what is the idea of America? America was created, as the great Tom Paine said, as a haven of refuge for people fleeing political and religious repression from all around the world. prgtoken Remember the radicalism of the American Revolution and our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We were the first Nation on Earth conceived in revolutionary insurgency against monarchy, dictatorship, autocracy, theocracy, and the merger of church and State. prgtoken The American colonists were rebelling against, not just the king and all of the whimsical depredations and abuses of the crown, but also against centuries of religious warfare in Europe between the Protestants and the Catholics, holy inquisition, holy crusades, witchcraft trials, endless wars between the Catholics and the Protestants. prgtoken Our forefathers and foremothers wanted to break from that history and put into our Constitution the separation of church and State--as Jefferson called it, the wall of separation between church and State, the establishment clause, the idea of free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, the right to petition for redress of grievances, the right of people to assemble, freedom of thought, freedom of conscience in the United States. prgtoken But it would be a land that would be open to people who were fleeing authoritarianism, who were trying to get away from repressive regimes, and kings, and monarchs, and princes, and tyrants, and dictators, and despots everywhere. That was the idea behind America. prgtoken Well, then in this Presidential campaign, then candidate said that he wanted to impose a Muslim ban, a ban on Muslims coming to America, which would cause our forefathers and foremothers to turn over in their graves to hear that somebody running for President of the United States wanted to impose a ban on the immigration of people based on their religious faith, in a country that was designed on the principle of free exercise of religion, designed on the principle of no establishment of religion, designed on the principle of no religious tests for public office or political participation that suddenly we would say we are not going to accept people--in the 21st