mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
QUESTIONS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-5-17

let me raise several questions for President . The American people and Members of Congress would like to know the answers. prgtoken I am deeply concerned the President is compromising the national security of our Nation. Why would a President share intelligence information with the highest ranking operatives of Russia close to President Vladimir Putin? prgtoken Though the President's cavalier and, frankly, outrageous behavior conveniently sucked up the airwaves last week, Americans cannot be distracted from his simultaneous firing of FBI Director James Comey, an official who spent his life protecting and defending the Constitution of our country on liberty's behalf. prgtoken Let me ask: Why were no U.S. journalists allowed into the President's historic meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Russia's Ambassador to the United States for many years, Ambassador Kislyak, one of probably the highest ranking intelligence officers as well as Ambassador from Russia to the United States? To my knowledge, no U.S. President has ever received officials from Russia in the Oval Office and then brought only Russian journalists with digital recording equipment into that office. Let me repeat that. We don't know who they were, but they brought equipment, digital recording equipment. prgtoken Think about that. Think about that. prgtoken Meanwhile, the President excluded American press. Not a single journalist from this country was allowed in. He replaced them with Russian state media operatives. Today, CNN reports that, how conveniently, President Vladimir Putin has now said he will prgtoken make available to America the transcript of that meeting. He is willing to share it. Well, isn't that nice? prgtoken It is further alarming that his National Security Advisor, General McMaster, said that, despite the President being unaware of the source of the information, at that meeting he made a spur-of-the-moment decision to tell the Russians what he knew about very important intelligence we received from an ally. prgtoken It is starting to pile up, : more and more reckless and cavalier behavior every day with America's security stakes very high. prgtoken I don't have to remind my colleagues, it is on the record. Russia has been buzzing into U.S. airspace over Alaska. Her submarines are along the East Coast. This isn't exactly a friend to us. If you want to make America great again, you do not compromise America's national security. prgtoken Not only is the President struggling for a coherent foreign policy that keeps Americans safe and secure and doesn't make our allies quizzical, he fails to keep his attention on promises to working Americans here on home turf, particularly on trade and jobs. Let's take the promises he made to our steelworkers in Ohio, that they will not lose their jobs, that America will be great again, that the coalfields will just boom; right? prgtoken Well, in Lorain, Ohio, thousa
HONORING JOHN EVANS
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today to honor Mr. John Evans upon the occasion of being awarded General Manager of the Year for a large property by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). Mr. Evans is the general manager of the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. prgtoken Mr. Evans was raised in Marysville, Washington, where his first job was working as a paperboy with two routes. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management from Friends University, after which he got his first start in the hospitality business at the age of twenty-four when his mentor, Jerry Smith, guided him in managing a small lodge. Before accepting his current position at the Silverado Resort in 2010, Mr. Evans worked as the interim general manager of the historic Seaview Hotel near Atlantic City, New Jersey and as the general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Half Moon Bay, California. prgtoken The AHLA awards their Stars of the Industry Awards to individuals who perform at the highest level of excellence, demonstrating superior leadership, dedication, and a passion for service. Mr. Evans exemplifies all of these traits. He successfully led his team through and out of the recent recession. Mr. Evans lists family values, integrity, and generosity as characteristics of leaders he strives to emulate. With over thirty-two years of experience leading teams and managing hospitality properties, Mr. Evans has been awarded the Six Sigma green belt and is recognized as first-level sommelier. prgtoken Mr. Evans also displayed the same leadership and organizational aptitude in his service on the board of Hands and Hearts for Children, an auxiliary of the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. prgtoken , Mr. John Evans deserves to be recognized as the General Manager of the Year today by virtue of his leadership, commitment, and passion for service. I am proud to have such a man working and living in our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor them here today.
National Police Week (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-5-17

pending before the Senate is the nomination of Rachel Brand to be the Associate Attorney General of the United States--the United States, not of the President. prgtoken We once had an Attorney General who told us on the Judiciary Committee that as a member of the President's staff, it is not the Secretary of Justice; it is the Attorney General of the United States. prgtoken I say this because her nomination to the third most senior position at the Department of Justice comes at an unprecedented time of chaos and upheaval--not only at the Justice Department, but also at the White House, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and across much of this administration. prgtoken We should all agree that it is more important than ever that the Justice Department be led by public servants with independence and integrity. Unfortunately, President 's Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General have failed this test. I did not expect Attorney General Sessions to show independence from the President, which is why I voted against his nomination. prgtoken But I had higher hopes for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Mr. Rosenstein's role in the dismissal of FBI Director Comey and his willingness to provide pretext for President 's interference in the Bureau's ongoing Russia investigation has precipitated a crisis of confidence in the Department. prgtoken The Senate must take steps to restore the independence of the Department of Justice. After reviewing her record and hearing her testimony at her confirmation hearing, I am not confident that Rachel Brand is up to that task. Like so many of the President's nominees, she carries a heavily skewed, pro-corporate agenda that would do further harm to the Justice Department and its independence. prgtoken Ms. Brand has long championed deregulation and the rolling back of vital environmental, consumer, and labor regulations protecting the American people. Ms. Brand has justified indiscriminate surveillance of Americans and defended broad assertions of Executive power. She even refused to say whether she would recuse herself from matters involving the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Litigation Center, her current employer. I cannot support a nominee who lacks an independent voice. I will therefore vote against her nomination.
National Police Week (Executive Session)
Joe Donnelly (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today to honor our law enforcement officers during National Police Week and to talk about the importance of supporting law enforcement, including their mental health. prgtoken During National Police Week, we recognize and remember the sacrifices of the law enforcement officers we lost in the line of duty in 2016. Every day and through every night in communities across Indiana and our country, law enforcement officers are patrolling our streets, arriving at the scenes of challenging and often traumatic incidents, and even putting themselves in harm's way as they do their best to keep our families safe. They help ensure that our children can be safe at the neighborhood playground and our seniors can sit peacefully on their front porch. They help keep drugs off our streets, they are called to the scenes of opioid and heroin overdoses, and they help stem the violence and crime that has plagued many of our communities for far too long. prgtoken Our law enforcement officers put on the uniform every day. They head out the door to serve us, while their family members say a prayer hoping they come back safely into their family's loving arms at the end of their shift. Sadly, sometimes they do not. prgtoken In my home State of Indiana, our law enforcement lost one of their own last year when the Howard County sheriff's deputy, Carl Koontz, was shot and killed during a raid in Russiaville, IN, last March. prgtoken Deputy Koontz was only 27 years old, in the prime of his life, and had dedicated himself to serving and protecting the communities he loved. He left behind his wife Kassie and their young son Noah. prgtoken Deputy Koontz's loss was felt not just in Kokomo, not just in Howard County, but in cities and towns across our State. He represented the very best our State has to offer. He was smart, talented, and service driven, working prgtoken to make his community a better place to live. prgtoken , I know your State was stricken this past year, as well, with the loss of the same kind of extraordinary individuals who went and served every day. That is at the core of what law enforcement officers strive for and why it is so devastating when they are lost in the line of duty. prgtoken While we pay our respects to those we lost, it is our solemn duty to support those who serve our communities today. As law enforcement officers go through their work, they are sometimes confronted with challenging or even horrific situations. prgtoken Recently, I joined with my friend and colleague from Indiana, Senator Todd Young, to introduce the bipartisan Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act. It provides tools for law enforcement agencies to help support the mental health and wellness of our brave men and women. prgtoken We were thankful to have the support from Senators Blunt, Coons, Cornyn, and Feinstein when we introduced the legislation. I am honored that Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cru
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-17

more than 3 million Illinoisans--about 20 percent of the people in my State--currently depend on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for healthcare. That is one out of five people in my State who need these programs to have basic health insurance for themselves and their children. prgtoken This includes 300,000 Illinois seniors and people with disabilities, 650,000 who were recently added as part of the Affordable Care Act. It also includes 1.5 million children. Half of all the kids in Illinois are enrolled in Medicaid and the CHIP program, which in Illinois is called ALL Kids. prgtoken Nationwide, the Medicaid Program helps pay for two out of three seniors in their nursing homes. It pays for about half of all children born in this country. It is the primary payer of all mental health and opioid addiction treatment. It provides healthcare to 25 percent of people in rural communities. It pays for special education in nearly half of all school districts and provides critical support for veterans with chronic conditions. prgtoken What does the House of Representatives Affordable Care Act repeal do to the programs I have just described? It ends the expansion of Medicaid. It would eliminate coverage for 650,000 people in the State of Illinois. Think about that. We had seven of our Congressmen vote for a program that will eliminate health insurance under Medicaid for 650,000 people in my State and cut $840 billion in Federal Medicaid funding. Well, if they are going to cut this money for Medicaid funding, what are they going to do with it? The House knew exactly what to do with it: They give it back in tax breaks to the wealthiest people in America. Is there justice in that decision? Is it too much to ask that those of us who are better off in life pay a little more in taxes so that those who are struggling have basic healthcare? I don't think so, but those who voted for the House plan do. The bill cuts healthcare for struggling families, women, seniors, and children in order to give a tax break to the wealthiest people in America. prgtoken Illinois would lose $40 billion over the next decade, and 3 million people would be at risk of losing their care. Absolutely no one believes Illinois is going to magically come up with $40 billion to fill this Medicaid shortfall. I doubt many other States will be able to either. With funding cuts this dramatic, even Illinois's Governor spoke out against the House action repealing the Affordable Care Act. He said it is going to force us to make significant changes in healthcare in Illinois. He would have to decide who gets healthcare and who doesn't. He would have to decide whether healthcare services are just too expensive to cover. prgtoken Hospitals, too, would be devastated by the proposed Medicaid cuts. I was born and raised in downstate Illinois. It doesn't look at all like the city of Chicago. I am proud to
INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK
Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-5-17

I appreciate that kind introduction. It was a remarkable time sitting at the airport right there on the Delaware River and understanding how much we depend on safe, secure travel in those airports around the country. prgtoken But to both Marc and Brendan, thank you for the Blue Collar Caucus and bringing to light many of the issues that at times we as a nation might have forgotten, quite frankly, those who work with their hands, those who are getting up each and every morning and going to work, having a job, taking care of their family, and I think focusing on that is so important. prgtoken I am myself involved with the Building Trades Caucus, and we are talking about something that is near and dear to everybody's heart, and it is called infrastructure. prgtoken In this day and age when people are wondering about what is going on in the country, I want to talk about the ``t'' word. No, it is not ; it is a trillion dollars, and that is the number that people have been talking about that we need for infrastructure. prgtoken Infrastructure means many things to many different people. If you are in Flint, Michigan, it is about having clean water. The pipes need to be replaced. We have a growing infrastructure that is many years old. prgtoken When we think back about one of the major components of infrastructure in this country, during the Eisenhower administration, it was building the interstate system, from north to south, from east to west, connecting coasts, connecting cities, connecting States. And that is something that has been so important to us. But apparently not important enough to keep and maintain. prgtoken I am very familiar with the systems that we have. I went to the other 4-year school; it was called an apprenticeship program, an electrical apprenticeship that I spent 4 years in. After graduating, I worked up and down the Delaware River at refineries, on bridges, and on our infrastructure. We know how important it is. prgtoken But in Congress, because of the Blue Collar Caucus and many others, we need to remember that the dignity of a job is so important. We have 211 attorneys here in Congress, but there is only one electrician. There is only one carpenter. There is only one ironworker, and there is only one painter. Diversity comes in many shapes and sizes, and our Founding Fathers understood how important that was. They were farmers, printers, attorneys, doctors, all coming together and bringing those experiences into this very House, this very floor, to remember why we are here. prgtoken Anybody who drove on a road to get here today understands what infrastructure means. prgtoken But somehow we haven't paid attention. We had the American Society of Civil Engineers brief us a few weeks ago to the Building Trades Caucus on the report card that they give each and every year: aviation, a D; bridges, a C-plus; ports, a C-plus; energy, a D; transit, a D. The overall report card was a D. <|
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of this measure. prgtoken Let me start by thanking the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, from California. I am also especially grateful to another colleague from California, Norma Torres, a valuable member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for authoring this bipartisan resolution, and also for her leadership as the founding co-chair of the Central America Caucus. prgtoken , when a child from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras arrives at our southern border, he or she didn't get there because it was an easy journey. It was because poverty, crime, or lack of opportunity at home left that child no option but to face that long, dangerous trek. No child anywhere should be forced to make that heartbreaking choice. prgtoken The best way to ensure that this doesn't happen is not to build a wall or isolate ourselves from our neighbors. It is to stop children from having to make that journey in the first place. It is by making long-term, strategic investments in a more secure and prosperous Central America. prgtoken Over the last 2 years, and s in Congress have come together to do just that. We made a bold, new foreign assistance commitment to Central America that helps address the root causes of child migration from the region. prgtoken A big part of this effort is supporting those individuals who are working day in and day out to root out corruption in Central America: the attorneys general in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; the heads of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala; and the Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras. prgtoken These brave individuals put their lives on the line on a daily basis. This resolution that we are voting on signals that the United States agrees with them and has their backs. prgtoken To Guatemala's Attorney General Thelma Aldana, Honduran Attorney General Oscar Chinchilla, Salvadoran Attorney General Douglas Melendez, CICIG Commissioner Ivan Velasquez, and MACCIH Chief of Mission Juan Jimenez: Today we come to the floor of the House of Representatives to say thank you and to proclaim that we stand with you and your institutions in the fight against corruption. prgtoken This measure sends a strong message that our Congress, which has the ultimate say over funding for Central America, stands with those who are committed to putting an end to corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. prgtoken We may have a new President in the White House and a new Secretary of State at Foggy Bottom, but Congress continues to have the power of the purse; and and s, alike, believe that continued international support for the attorneys general and CICIG and MACCIH is key to the continued success of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle. prgtoken In December, I led a letter to the attorneys
CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2017
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-5-17

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017. prgtoken Since 2011, the Assad regime's forces have killed an estimated 500,000 people, mostly civilians, by unconscionably targeting and attacking major population centers. According to Human Rights Watch, last month, the Syrian regime used a nerve agent in northwest Syria that killed at least 92 people, including 30 children. prgtoken Even more heartbreaking is the fact that this was not the first chemical weapons attack by the Syrian Government against its own people. To the contrary, reports suggest that the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons has become ``widespread and systematic,'' and it has dropped bombs with nerve agents on at least four other occasions since December 12. prgtoken Just yesterday, our own State Department revealed that the Syrian regime is actively using a large crematorium to dispose of the remains of thousands of Syrian men, women, and children, whom they continue to slaughter. prgtoken Not only has the Syrian Government become a source of such crimes against humanity, but Syria has also indisputably become a hotbed for terrorist activity, propped up by Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. Both ISIS and al-Qaida are operating near the Syria-Israel border, putting the Jewish State of Israel and our regional security in grave danger. prgtoken As a mother and a Jew, I cannot turn my cheek to this unadulterated evil. As a Member of the United States Congress, I have a duty to keep the American people safe and hold the Assad regime accountable for its war crimes and brutality. That is why I strongly support this critical legislation, and I thank Ranking Member Engel for all of his hard work in sponsoring it. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation would expand sanctions on those individuals who commit such monstrous acts of violence and inflict such extreme suffering upon innocent Syrians. It would ensure that the United States has the tools it needs to reach its ultimate goal of ending the Assad regime's campaign of carnage once and for all. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.