mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-12-19

I rise in strong support of H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. This legislation ratifies the USMCA, an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement agreed to by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico last year. prgtoken Over the past year, House have made the USMCA a better deal for the American people. New provisions in this trade agreement improve the original language by strengthening provisions related to labor and the environment. Most importantly, House fought hard to ensure Congress kept its authority to address the rising costs of prescription drugs by stripping out a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry that would have locked in high prices for biologics across North America. prgtoken As the dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, I know how important trade is to my state. This is an issue that unites and s across Texas. Whenever trade is brought up, everyone pays attention because it's one of the drivers of our economy. In North Texas, Canada is one of our largest trading partners, and many goods that are transferred between the three countries in this agreement make their way through North Texas either on our highways, through the DFW International Airport, or through the Union Pacific Dallas International Terminal Inland Port in my district. While the energy sector created jobs and built the economy in North Texas, NAFTA and other trade agreements have only made our economy stronger. prgtoken Last year, I invited Ambassador Lighthizer to speak to the Texas Congressional Delegation about the USMCA and the profound impact it would have on our state. Ambassador Lighthizer and his staff at the office of the United States Trade Representative held similar meetings with other congressional delegations and working groups so that they could prgtoken understand all points of view on this agreement. Their willingness to work tirelessly alongside House to make this agreement a better deal for the American people deserves recognition. prgtoken , trade policy shouldn't be an issue that divides the members of this chamber on partisan or regional lines. We see here today what can be done when both sides come together to advance the causes of American workers, farmers and consumers. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I support the USMCA, NAFTA 2.1, because we are doing this in a bipartisan way. prgtoken I thank Pelosi and the working group and Chairman Neal and his staff for working so hard; my Texas colleague Kevin Brady and his staff for working so hard; Ambassador Lighthizer and our friends to the south, the Mexicans, for working together. prgtoken My district is the epicenter of trade between the U.S. and Mexico. My city of Laredo handles 14,000 to 16,000 trailers every single day. The Laredo customs district handles 60 percent of all the trade between the U.S. and Mexico. prgtoken That means more than $1.7 billion of goods flow between the U.S. and Mexico every day. That is over $1 million every single minute. Trade is good. It means jobs, jobs, jobs. prgtoken I thank the committee for adding the signature environmental safeguard, the North American Development Bank. That is total, with the EPA, over $500 million for drinking water and for waste treatment plants. prgtoken Members, pass USMCA. It means one thing: jobs, jobs, jobs.
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise in support of the resolution. prgtoken The Central Valley sent me to Washington to tackle our toughest issues, like skyrocketing drug prices, polluted water in rural communities, and the struggling farm economy. That's why we just passed a bill to bring down prescription drug prices, I introduced two key bills to address our Valley water needs, and I got the president to sign my Family Farmer Relief Act. prgtoken They also sent me to Washington to defend the Constitution, because that's what protects all of our rights and freedoms. prgtoken Here are the facts: Our president abused his power and used your taxpayer money to advance his own personal interest, and when Congress fulfilled its duty to investigate, the president acted as if he were above the law, obstructing the investigation by withholding witnesses and subpoenaed documents. prgtoken Both of those actions violate our sacred Constitution, which only identifies one remedy for Congress to hold the president accountable. In obeying that solemn duty to my constituents and the Constitution, it is my responsibility to cast votes in favor of both articles of impeachment, for abuse of power and for obstruction of Congress.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-12-19

. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of S. 3104, the Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I thank Chairman Neal for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 5430. prgtoken Last year, Virginia exported $4.3 billion worth of goods to Canada and Mexico. One out of six Virginia manufacturers exports to these two countries, and of these firms, 64 percent are small- or medium-sized businesses. prgtoken These businesses are the backbone of our economy, and today they are looking to Congress to take this vital step towards securing long-term trade stability. prgtoken Earlier this month, I made that point clear at a meeting with the vice president. During our discussion, I underscored the USMCA's potential to stimulate growth across the Seventh District of Virginia. prgtoken For central Virginia businesses, today's vote is a welcome step forward towards modernizing NAFTA and staying competitive in the 21st century. prgtoken For Virginia's crop and livestock producers, today's vote means protecting and expanding relationships with critical buyers in Canada and Mexico. prgtoken And for central Virginia's workers, today's vote carries with it a commitment from our trading partners to live up to their labor commitments. prgtoken I know that central Virginia's economy and the hardworking men and women who spur it forward have waited patiently for this day to arrive. prgtoken Madam , I thank everyone for their work on this: , Mr. Ranking Member, Ambassador Lighthizer, and my colleagues on the working group. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support USMCA.
HONORING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF KEYSTONE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Keystone Community Services' 80th anniversary. For 80 years, this nonprofit organization has provided critical programs and services that empower youth, families, and seniors in Saint Paul and Ramsey County, Minnesota. prgtoken Founded in 1939 as Saint Paul Community Services, a small, neighborhood community center, it provided youth programming and services to its neighbors. Programs included athletics, Color Guard, hobby clubs, and preschool-age programming. In 1941, volunteers contributed 60 hours per week to assist a total of 700 individuals. Today, more than 340 youth participate in Keystone programs that develop and sharpen their academic, social, and early employment skills, helping young people become successful adults. prgtoken In 1971, Keystone expanded to provide food shelf services to hungry neighbors. Last year, Keystone distributed 2.3 million pounds of quality, healthy food to neighbors in need. Today, more than 26,000 people each year depend on Keystone's food shelf services. Keystone's Programming for Active Seniors started in 1972, which included education, fitness classes, and social activities for low-income older adults. Today, more than 1500 older adults participate in a variety of senior programs at Keystone's two community centers in Saint Paul. Additionally, Keystone's Meals on Wheels Program provides seniors and adults with disabilities with nutritious meals and keeps them living in their homes as long as possible. prgtoken Keystone is aptly named for the essential wedge-shaped stone of an arch that locks the other pieces in place. Programs that meet basic needs, provide crisis support, build communication, and help navigate and coordinate services are the keystone of its work. Keystone Community Services has grown to serve over 30,000 people annually, in large part due to volunteers who donate 700 hours each week. prgtoken Madam , please join me in honoring the 80th anniversary of Keystone Community Services strengthening Saint Paul and Ramsey County, Minnesota communities.
RESTORING TAX FAIRNESS FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES ACT
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I strongly support this legislation to eliminate the cap on the State and Local Tax (or SALT) deduction. Two years ago, s capped the SALT deduction to force districts represented by ic Members to pay for the bulk of their Tax Scam. That cap raised over $662 billion in revenue for tax priorities, nearly all of it from ic states like New York. New York State already pays $48 billion more to the Federal government than it gets back, and the loss of the SALT deduction was responsible for a $2.3 billion revenue hole in New York last year putting critical services at risk. prgtoken Some of my colleagues claim that the SALT deduction will just benefit the wealthy. Wrong. In 2016, 1.2 million New Yorkers used the SALT deduction, and more than half of those taxpayers earned less than $100,000 per year. We are not talking about a loophole used by the richest Americans--many of which, I will point out, were preserved in the Tax Scam. We are talking about the largest deduction for the teachers, office workers, and first responders who make up the middle class in my district. prgtoken We must remove this cap and stop punishing the hard-working people of New York simply because of where they live. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Suzan K. DelBene (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the implementing legislation. prgtoken Congressional worked hard to secure labor-specific enforcement tools and robust environmental provisions that make this agreement a substantial improvement over the original NAFTA. prgtoken Most importantly, this new agreement helps many of my constituents. Now, our dairy farmers will have greater market access to Canada, and our wineries will have an easier time selling their wine in British Columbia. prgtoken When this new agreement is in place, it will be the first U.S. trade agreement with a digital trade chapter. It includes provisions on data localization, cross-border data flows, and other requirements that preserve a free and open internet. That is important to all segments of our economy. prgtoken My district is home to a vibrant technology industry that is responsible for thousands of good-paying jobs and helps power America's large trade surplus in digital services. prgtoken Madam , I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this agreement.
PALLONE-THUNE TELEPHONE ROBOCALL ABUSE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND DETERRENCE ACT
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-19

thank you. This is a big day for consumers in the United States, and I want to begin first by thanking my friend, Senator Thune, for his tremendous partnership on this legislation and the issue that we are discussing today, robocalls. That is because there are no blue robocalls. There are no red robocalls. There are only despised robocalls. That is what is bringing this Chamber together today. So I thank Senator Thune for his great leadership. prgtoken I thank Senator Wicker and Senator Cantwell for helping us to navigate this political pathway. Today is a big day. The daily deluge of robocalls that Americans experience is more than a nuisance in 2019. It is a consumer protection crisis. Today, the U.S. Senate is sending Americans a holiday gift on everyone's list: stopping the plague of robocalls. Americans across the country face an epidemic of illegal and fraudulent robocalls bombarding their phones. prgtoken While their telephones were once a reliable means of communications, they have been turned against us. They are now mechanisms for scammers and fraudsters who wish to cheat and to defraud. The numbers are staggering. In 2019, consumers have received an estimated 54 billion robocalls. That is 6 billion more than 2018, and we still have 2 more weeks to go. The year isn't even over. In November alone, an estimated 5 billion robocalls were made to Americans. That is 167 million robocalls per day. That is 7 million robocalls an hour. That is 2,000 every second in our country. In the time it takes me to make these remarks, 10,000 robocalls will have been placed across this country. prgtoken In 2019, already almost 600 million robocalls have been placed to my constituents in Massachusetts. Enough is enough. The reality is that we no longer have confidence in our phones. Our phones have become tools for fraud, for scams, for harassment mechanisms by which those with bad intent can access our homes, our purses, or even our pockets at any time. Caller ID is not trusted. Important calls go unanswered. Innocent Americans are defrauded. Our seniors in particular are targeted. prgtoken Years ago, scammers needed expensive, sophisticated equipment to robocall and robotext consumers en masse. Today, they just need a smartphone to target thousands of phones an hour at relatively little expense, and readily available software permits them to spoof their numbers, which means their true caller ID is, in fact, concealed from the person picking up the phone. These new technologies allow illegal robocalls to conduct fraud anonymously, both depriving Federal regulators and consumers the ability to identify and to punish the culprit. prgtoken Today, the U.S. Senate is putting robocall relief in sight. I have been proud again to partner with Senator Thune on the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or TRACED Act for short. We introduced it earlier this year; today is the culmination
ALTERNATIVE FUEL MIXTURE CREDIT
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Thank you for that background, . I agree with you that it is clear that the benefit some in the oil and gas industry are seeking from this provision is illegitimate. However, given the significant amount of taxpayer dollars at stake should these companies somehow prevail in litigation, it is also important for Congress to provide clarity in this area, to protect the public purse. The tax package under consideration in the spending bill addresses this by amending the alternative fuel mixture credit to more explicitly deny the credit for butane mixed with gasoline, consistent congressional intent. This clarification is effective for any claims filed on or after January 8, 2018, when the IRS issued a formal revenue ruling putting taxpayers on notice that a mixture of butane and gasoline does not qualify for the credit. However, this does not mean we agree that such mixtures prior to January 8, 2018, qualify for the credit, and, in fact, we are of the opinion that they do not. Do you agree ?
TRIBUTE TO ROBERT GREENSTEIN
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-12-19

I rise today to recognize Robert Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, for his work over nearly four decades, fighting for a more just and equal society. prgtoken Bob founded CBPP in 1981 to push for policies that expand opportunity for the lowest income children and families, and ensure that this country's prosperity is shared with the workers who create it, not just the wealthiest CEOs and the largest corporations. He built CBPP from the ground up and transformed it from a tiny organization with a shoestring budget to one of the most influential policy shapers in the country. prgtoken Under Bob's leadership, CBPP combined in-depth analysis and research with clear-headed strategy to drive the debate and deliver results. We worked together to spearhead efforts to permanently expand the earned income tax credit and child tax credit in 2015, and Bob was vital to our success. It is probably the most important thing we have done to life people out of poverty in the last 25 years, and it could not have happened without Bob's leadership on this issue, stretching back decades. prgtoken Of course it is not only tax credits; from passing the Affordable Care Act to strengthening SNAP, from protecting and expanding Medicaid, to fighting for more affordable housing, Bob's work at CBPP has meant that millions of ordinary Americans have more food on the table, more money in their pockets, and a little more economic security. Over his career he has touched so many lives, and he has so much to be proud of. prgtoken We know we have a lot more work to do, and while Bob has earned his retirement, I have faith that he will continue to be a force for the progressive change that our country needs.
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , the United States House of Representatives will vote to impeach the President. prgtoken This is one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in my seven years in Congress. Since I came to Congress, my goal has always been to help the lives of the people of the San Fernando Valley. prgtoken And in the past year, we have done just that. prgtoken We've passed legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, combat climate change, secure our elections, make sure our veterans have the care that they need, and that our children attend safe schools. prgtoken Impeachment was not our only goal. prgtoken This president left us no other choice. prgtoken After reading the facts, listening to the testimony of witnesses, and seeing how this President put his own personal political interests above the American people, I will vote to impeach . prgtoken This is not something I take pleasure in. prgtoken This is a solemn moment for our country. prgtoken This vote is about the safety of the American people and the future of our democracy. I cannot, in good conscience, ignore his outright disregard for the rule of law, his continued obstruction of Congress, and the use of his office for personal gain. President 's most recent abuse of power was the breaking point. prgtoken For a sitting president of the United States to actively seek the interference of a foreign government in our election by withholding critical military aid is a violation of his oath of office. prgtoken President has purposefully damaged the integrity of our elections and put American lives at risk. prgtoken The founders of this great country and the authors of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances so that no single branch of government would become too powerful and abuse that power. prgtoken They devised a mechanism for removing a president from office should a person like , use the office for their own personal, unscrupulous reasons. prgtoken I came to my decision after reviewing the mountain of evidence and the testimony of several high-ranking White House officials who have testified and confirmed his malfeasance. prgtoken I do not take my responsibility as Representative for California's 29th District lightly. Serving the people of my district is one of the greatest honors of my life. prgtoken It is my constitutional obligation to do what is right for my district and for all of the American people. prgtoken Madam , President remains a threat to our democracy and by voting to impeach, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty and living up to the oath I swore before the American people.
RESTORING TAX FAIRNESS FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES ACT
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise today to support H.R. 5377, to begin to repair some of the damage from the GPO's tax scam legislation which passed this House 2 years ago. prgtoken I said it at the time, and I say it again: It is one of the worst bills I have ever seen, and it blows a hole in the budget. prgtoken So much for fiscal responsibility on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken One of the more egregious provisions in that bill was capping State and local tax deductions at $10,000. This deduction has been part of our tax code for over 150 years. prgtoken This cap hurts my constituents, who often have property, income, and sales taxes exceeding $10,000. prgtoken New Yorkers already pay more to the Federal Government as a donor State than we receive back. We receive only 84 cents for every dollar we send to Washington. This imbalance is greater than any other State and grows because of the SALT cap. Homeowners are already seeing home values decline because of the SALT cap. prgtoken Earlier in this year, I introduced H.R. 515, with 20 of my colleagues, to repeal this harmful tax provision. I am pleased to see my New York colleague Mr. Suozzi's measure containing much of my bill here on the floor today. prgtoken In conclusion, let me say we need to reverse some of the harm the GPO's tax scam bill has inflicted on so many Americans, especially my New York constituents. Support H.R. 5377, and let's be fair once and for all.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Ron Kind (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise in proud support of this trade agreement. It is important that we have a strong trading relationship with our two border neighbors, Mexico and Canada, our two biggest export markets. prgtoken I just caution my colleagues who choose to vote ``no'' on this that a ``no'' vote is a return to the failed policy of the old NAFTA, the status quo, rather than this more modernized version. prgtoken I am happy that dairy farmers in America are going to have greater access to the Canadian market. prgtoken We made progress on poultry and eggs. prgtoken We also tightened up the sanitary and phytosanitary standards so that those decisions have to be made on sound science rather than arbitrary decisions to block our agricultural exports. prgtoken We have, perhaps, the strongest worker protection chapter ever in the trade agreement, enhanced environmental standards, all to level the playing field for our workers, our farmers, our businesses so they can fairly compete rather than trying to compete in a race to the bottom. prgtoken Perhaps most importantly, we have the strongest enforcement chapter ever, and we look forward to working with Mexico and Canada to implement it the right way to make sure we are all playing by the same rules. prgtoken So this is solid, and I want to commend the chair, the ranking member, the working group, but also the staff for the countless hours that they put in to get us to this place, but especially Ambassador Bob Lighthizer for his perseverance and patience throughout these months. prgtoken These were difficult negotiations. This is what bipartisanship looks like on the House floor, where we are able to get this across the floor. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to support this agreement, support the Northern Hemisphere economy. Show the rest of the world that we are back in business.