mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Order of Procedure (Executive Session)
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-16

I am offering a reservation to these treaties that would maximize the benefit for individuals and businesses that are impacted by these tax provisions. prgtoken My proposed reservation would establish only for the United States-- and only for our tax purposes--an effective date of January 1, 2019. By entering into these treaties, the United States and our partners are committing to the same set of tax rules and solving the problems of double taxation that plague businesses that operate in several countries. prgtoken Senate debate on the merits of these treaties has taken many years, and there is no reason to punish American companies that paid their foreign taxes but then were double-taxed by the IRS due to the lack of a ratified treaty. prgtoken As I have said many times, I support the benefit of these treaties. I wish we added privacy protections, but I do support the benefits of avoiding double taxation. prgtoken I also support making whole those who have been double-taxed, and I think it is the right thing to do to backdate these to the beginning of the year. My proposed reservation would grant these companies and the IRS the additional benefit of having a uniform tax for 2019. prgtoken To give an example of a company in my State that would benefit, North American Stainless cannot pay dividends without being subject to double taxation. If we were to make this retroactive, we would not punish this company in my State. It is disappointing to me that the senior Senator from Kentucky led the opposition to this amendment because it would stand to greatly benefit a Kentucky company. It also would stand to greatly benefit many companies around the country if we were simply to make this retroactive. prgtoken We talked to the countries involved, and there is not one country that expressed any reservation about this. It is with great disappointment that I have to oppose the senior Senator from Kentucky, who is opposing this amendment and rallying those in the body to prevent this from being retroactive. This would in no way slow down the treaties, and it is inappropriately said by some that it would. These treaties would go through with flying colors, and the reservation would apply only to our country. prgtoken I hope those who are thinking about how to vote on this will consider voting to make these treaties start in January 1 of this year.
TREATIES
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-16

speaking of economic growth and development, the Senate will soon turn our attention to a number of bilateral tax treaties with important U.S. trading partners. We have these kinds of agreements in place to reduce tax evasion, tax avoidance, and unfair double taxation of U.S. citizens and businesses who conduct businesses overseas. The four we will consider this week are agreements with Spain, Switzerland, Japan, and Luxembourg. prgtoken The U.S. Government and each of these foreign governments have painstakingly negotiated updates to existing agreements about how certain kinds of commerce would be taxed and which country will tax them. In short, Senate ratification of these protocols would mean less confusion, more certainty, and, often, fewer taxes for U.S. job creators--and, by the way, a simpler rule book for overseas investors who want to invest their money here. Fairer treatment for our own American job creators and more enticement for foreign investment to head to our country--that is what we would call a win-win. prgtoken We are talking about a serious economic impact. In addition to the four countries we are tackling this week, there are three more nations with tax treaties pending which I know the administration is continuing to work on with the Foreign Relations and Finance Committees to finalize work on these remaining agreements. prgtoken Combined, these seven foreign countries invest more than $1.2 trillion in the United States. That is more than $1 trillion in foreign investment and, by some estimates, hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs are tied up, either directly or indirectly, in trade with these countries. prgtoken These trading relationships touch all 50 States. Every one of my colleagues is familiar with communities that benefit from the foreign investment. For my part, that includes thousands of workers in Kentucky. prgtoken One major manufacturer with ties to Spain employs 1,500 people in my State. It accounts for more than one third of all the stainless steel produced in the United States every year. Over the three decades it has operated in Carroll County, the surrounding communities benefited from more than $60 million in tax revenue. prgtoken That is just one of many job creators in my home State, and it is far from the only one with a serious interest in seeing these measures get across the finish line. From consumer goods makers to industrial suppliers, Kentucky continues to welcome job-creating investment from around the world. prgtoken I think practically every American is familiar with Hot Pockets, a culinary staple of busy families, workers, and college students everywhere. But not everyone knows that, as of several years ago, every single Hot Pocket is cooked in Mount Sterling, KY. The facility employs more than 1,000 Kentuckians. The parent company is Nestle, based in Switzerland. So there are not only hard-working Kentuckians but also a lot of hungry consume
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORT KENT, MAINE
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2019-7-16

today I wish to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the town of Fort Kent, ME. The motto of our State's northernmost community, ``The Little Town That Could,'' describes a past of hard work, courage, and determination. ``The Little Town That Can'' describes Fort Kent today: a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. prgtoken Located where the Fish River joins the St. John River, Fort Kent has a rich history. For thousands of years, the region has been the home of the Micmac and Maliseet. French explorers, led by Samuel de Champlain, first visited the area in 1604. In the early 1800s, French-speaking Canadians began settling in the area, laying the foundation for the robust Acadian culture that is so important in Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and as far away as Louisiana. prgtoken The Acadian settlers created a vibrant community. They cleared farmland, established lumber and grain mills, schools, and churches. The namesake of the town is the Fort Kent Blockhouse, a fort named for then-Governor Edward Kent and carefully preserved today, which was built in 1839 during a long-running border dispute between the United States and British Canada. Settlement to the region increased dramatically when the ``Bloodless Aroostook War'' ended peacefully with a treaty in 1842. prgtoken Fort Kent's dedication to education began shortly after the town became established. In 1878, the Madawaska Training School was established in Fort Kent, one of the first institutions in Maine dedicated to preparing students for careers as bilingual educators. That school continues today as the University of Maine at Fort Kent, which in 2019 was named for the 14th consecutive year as one of the best prgtoken northeastern colleges by the Princeton Review. As the only institution in the United States located at the center of French culture in northern Maine, the University of Maine at Fort Kent offers opportunities for students of all heritages to study and live in a bilingual community. prgtoken Today, more than 60 percent of the town's residents speak French, and they continue to uphold the Acadian traditions of great food, music, and dance, and of close-knit families and lasting friendships. The Maine Acadian Heritage Council continues to help preserve these traditions and is working to teach the next generation about the Acadian heritage through programs like the Youth Renaissance. prgtoken The can-do spirit of Fort Kent is evident today. It is an agricultural powerhouse. and the potato industry remains an essential part of its economy. The town is home to an Olympic biathlete training center and frequently hosts world-class biathlon competitions. For 26 years, the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog race has attracted teams from around the world. The International Muskie Fishing Derby highlights the valuable fishing grounds and the pristine environment the people of the community work to preserve. The Fort
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (Executive Session)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-7-16

. Thank you to the senior Senator from North Dakota for his great work in pulling us all together. A number of us on the floor really appreciate the agricultural sector. We heard from my senior Senator just a bit ago. prgtoken Why am I so enthused about the USMCA? It is because, in the great State of Iowa, one out of every five jobs is tied to trade. prgtoken Over 87,000--87,000--farms make Iowa our Nation's top egg, pork, corn, soybean, and ethanol producer. prgtoken With Canada and Mexico being two of our biggest trading partners, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement--or what we have been talking about here, the USMCA--is a huge deal for the State of Iowa. prgtoken Last year alone, my home State of Iowa exported $6.6 billion worth of products to just Canada and Mexico. That is more than we exported to our next 27 top export markets all combined--27 combined, and it still wasn't greater than what we send to Mexico and Canada. prgtoken This deal will allow those numbers to grow exponentially by creating new export opportunities for our dairy industry, greater access for our egg producers, and reducing nontariff trade barriers that previously hampered our exporting abilities. prgtoken So it is critical--it is critical--that we get the USMCA across the finish line, not just for the sake of getting a tremendous win for our agriculture community but finalizing a deal that will impact the livelihoods of our hard-working Iowans and all Americans across the country. prgtoken Ninety-five percent of the world's population lives outside of the United States of America, which makes our exports all that more important. prgtoken Having USMCA in place means certainty--certainty in a time where prices have been low and markets have been eroded from other trade negotiations. prgtoken This trade deal preserves our duty-free access to Mexican and Canadian markets, which many of our ag producers and manufacturers benefit from. prgtoken I have heard from countless equipment dealers and processors all the way down to the farmers growing the crops and raising our hogs. Ratifying this agreement will be a shot of positive energy into their businesses, their homes, and to folks all across rural America. prgtoken When it comes to trade with our neighbors to the north and the south, it is simple. We need the USMCA passed through Congress as soon as possible. prgtoken It has already been ratified by Mexico; they are done. The deal is done with Mexico, and it looks like Canada is set to follow suit. prgtoken The USMCA was signed on November 30 of 2018. That is right--2018. That is 228 days ago--228 days. I would say it is about time that Pelosi and our friends in the House signal their full support for this agreement. prgtoken It is time to get moving. We have to get this deal done. We have to get it across the finish line. Iowa's farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses are counting on us to get this done. prgtoken With that, I would like t
CONDEMNING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RACIST COMMENTS DIRECTED AT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-7-16

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam , I will not belabor this. I have made many of the points that I have said before. I think this was rushed to the floor. I think this is what happens, unfortunately, when things are rushed. prgtoken There are things that need to be done, and the decorum of this House is important. We have had a long lesson of that today. prgtoken The very essence of the resolution, which has issues beyond, needs to be considered. When we do this, then I think, as I said in my opening-- and I will stick by what I said then--this needs to be voted down. This does not need to go forward. prgtoken We need to get to a certain time when we are back to, literally, doing the people's business. This is the third time, Madam , that I have been on the floor doing this--third time--more time than I have done on immigration, more time than I have done on any other bills, bills that could actually get signed into law. prgtoken As my whip said a few moments ago, there are things we could sit down and find common ground on, but it seems like common ground is gone. prgtoken There are some of us willing to reach our hands across the aisle and say, ``Let's find common ground because people are hurting. Why don't we solve those?'' Instead, we continue, seemingly, to want to continue to go to the press release or to the political statement, which is frustrating. I understand, but we have to get better. prgtoken We have to look at this and ask: What happens to the American people? What happens to the people who sent us here, who are looking at this and asking what they need to do to make their lives better, not the lives in this body? prgtoken When we understand that, that is when we come together. That is when we take the decorum of this House. That is when we find ways to speak to each other as friends who have been elected to serve a common purpose. That is our higher aim. When we denigrate that, we are not being honest with ourselves. prgtoken Let's get to the people's business. There are budget issues looming. There are caps looming. There is a debt ceiling looming. There are still problems at our border, which is a crisis. These need to be fixed. prgtoken Let's take up those bills. Let's have honest debate. I will put a bill up; you put a bill up. Let's do what we are supposed to do here, have markups, run things through committee. Let's take seriously what we said to do. prgtoken We both, at times, as parties, have been guilty of not doing that. Let's focus now--at least where we are now--and say this is not the way forward and this is not where we need to be because of the many problems inherent in the resolution itself but, also, the way it was brought to us. We have seen that play out on the floor today. prgtoken Is that really how we are going to leave it with the American people, that rules can be broken and then nothing is done about it? Is that really where we are going to be, t
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3494, DAMON PAUL NELSON AND MATTHEW YOUNG POLLARD INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEARS 2018, 2019, AND 2020; RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE...
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-16

. Today, I introduce the Citizens Count Census Act of 2019, a bill that would require a citizenship question on the United States Census. prgtoken If we defeat the previous question, as the gentleman from Georgia said, then we will be able to consider my bill. prgtoken It has always been common sense to include a citizenship question on our Nation's Census. The purpose of the Census Bureau and all Census surveys is to include data used for apportionment and to better inform the public about the population, business, and economics of the United States of America. prgtoken The collection of citizenship information during a population census is a common practice among countries. This is not new, and it should not be controversial. A citizenship question is asked on the census in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, to name a few. In fact, , the United Nations recommends that countries gather citizenship information about their populations. prgtoken Knowing how many legal and nonlegal individuals are within our borders is a perfectly appropriate question to ask on our Census, and I hope we can pass this measure to see that happen. prgtoken , I strongly urge all of my congressional colleagues to vote for this commonsense legislation to ensure we know exactly how many citizens reside in this country.
DAMON PAUL NELSON AND MATTHEW YOUNG POLLARD INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEARS 2018, 2019, AND 2020
Chris Stewart (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-7-16

my amendment is very simple. It adds the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to the list of committees that will receive a briefing from the Director of National Intelligence on emerging infectious disease and pandemics. prgtoken The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health has jurisdiction over all public health and quarantine, as well as the Centers for Disease Control. prgtoken Given the Energy and Commerce Committee's and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's jurisdiction over the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, which plays an integral role in our Nation's public health and security, it is imperative that these committees be included in this briefing. prgtoken , .
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (Executive Session)
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-7-16

it is true. I am a mainstream entrepreneur, and I have been involved with business my entire life, including the farm markets. I started a turkey farm back in 1979 from scratch, and I was involved in it for 32 years. I sold my share of it to my partner's kids and grandkids. My wife has had a business in downtown Jasper, my hometown, for years. prgtoken I have been an entrepreneur. I have dealt with how hard the marketplace is even when things are going well. prgtoken I stand to make the point on behalf of Hoosier farmers and businesses and to express my strong opinion that we need to get the USMCA across the finish line. prgtoken This agreement is vital to secure our hard-fought market access for American agriculture. At a time when agriculture could never have more challenges, from chronically low prices to the increasing concentration among farmer-suppliers with big corporations, this is one piece of uncertainty we need to eliminate. prgtoken In stressing the importance of the USMCA, I would state that despite the fact NAFTA had its faults, it was quite successful in securing markets for farmers. The USMCA is better. It provides stronger access to Canadian markets for U.S. milk, wheat, poultry, and egg products. It ensures that Hoosier wine and spirit makers are treated fairly on Canadian shelves. And it secures the Mexican market for Indiana pork, cheese, and grain. prgtoken The USMCA improves on NAFTA in other areas of the economy as well. It adds modern rules for digital trade and stronger protections for American intellectual property. We know how important that is with regard to dealing with the Chinese. prgtoken It contains new rules of origin that ensure more manufacturing is conducted in North America and has brand-new rules to bring more of that production back to the United States. prgtoken When President ran for office, he ran on a few simple things, and negotiating a NAFTA improvement was one of his core promises to the American public. At the time, Congress had two requests: Follow the guidelines from the trade promotion authority and move quickly--move quickly--to minimize uncertainty. President upheld his end of the bargain. He has delivered an agreement that is better than the original NAFTA in nearly every respect. prgtoken This week Congress is ready to vote, and yet we can't. Why? Because House will not bring it to the floor. Don't believe me? Look at this letter, dated July 8, from several House . prgtoken They say in plain English: Do not send this agreement to the Congress. Do not send this agreement to the Congress. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter dated July 8, 2019, to Robert Lighthizer.
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (Executive Session)
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-7-16

. I want to thank my colleague Senator Hoeven for organizing this very important event. prgtoken I think you sense a theme building here. Many of my colleagues have spoken about the economic benefits USMCA holds for their specific States, and I would like to add Arkansas to the list. prgtoken According to the Arkansas World Trade Center--which, by the way, does an excellent job promoting trade in my State and growing opportunities for our exporters--Canada and Mexico are Arkansas's top trading partners by far. Arkansas goods and services are exported to 181 countries, but Canada and prgtoken Mexico combined for over one-third of our exports in 2017. Our exports to these two countries added $2.1 billion to Arkansas's economy that year. Nearly 69,000 jobs in my State are dependent on trade with Canada, and another 41,000 jobs are affected by trade with Mexico. Arkansas exports about $1.3 billion in goods to Canada and another $182 million in services. I could go on, but we have already covered a lot of statistics here today. prgtoken It is important to remember that there are real people behind this data. They are the workers in the paper mills in South Arkansas, the employees of the steel mills in Northwest Arkansas, the family farmers producing rice in the delta, and the line workers at the poultry- processing plants in Northwest Arkansas. prgtoken These Arkansans, and many more, work in the industries that produce our top exports to Mexico and Canada. For them and countless others, the announcement that a trade agreement has been reached with Canada and Mexico was very welcome and promising news. Arkansas farmers, business leaders, and workers understand how vital it is to have free but also fair trade, particularly with our neighbors to the north and the south. It helps create the sense of certainty that has been sorely missing for our manufacturers, small businesses, and the agriculture industry. prgtoken For our agricultural community, it is particularly crucial that we push this agreement across the finish line. Our farmers face a very tenuous situation right now. Commodity prices are well below the cost of production. Farm incomes in 2018 dropped sharply again for the fifth consecutive year. Total farm debt has risen to levels not seen since the early 1980s. A rainy fall and spring have hampered planting season and, in the case of Arkansas, produced one of the worst floods in the State's history. All this combined has placed Arkansas's rural communities in dire conditions. Far too many family farms are barely hanging on, and, sadly, many more are filing for bankruptcy. prgtoken Arkansas has a diverse economy, ranging from aerospace and defense to steel production, to the world's largest retailer, but agriculture is by far our largest industry. It adds around $16 billion to our economy every year and accounts for approximately one in every six jobs in Arkansas. prgtoken In my discussions with farmers on how we