mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REVEREND LARRY DUNHAM, O.F.M. CELEBRATES HIS FIFTIETH JUBILEE OF PROFESSION OF VOWS
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-11-30

on August 16, 2017, Reverend Larry Dunham, O.F.M observed his 50th anniversary of the profession as a member of the Order of Friars Minor commonly known as the Roman Catholic Order of the Franciscans. Since 2013, Father Dunham has served the people of Washington, D.C. as Guardian and Commissary of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America with devotion and dignity. prgtoken In this capacity, he has provided for the spiritual, pastoral and temporal assistance of residents of the city, including the development of a volunteer-run city farm that provided over 13,000 pounds of fresh produce for the city's low-income residents. Prior to his current role, Father Dunham served his nation selflessly as a chaplain in the United States Navy during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as Provincial Minister of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province from 2000 to 2009 and as President of the English Speaking Conference of the Order from 2003 to 2005. prgtoken , I congratulate and applaud Reverend Larry Dunham, O.F.M. for his 50 years of dedicated, spiritual service.
BROWNFIELDS ENHANCEMENT, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT, AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
David B. McKinley (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-11-30

I, too, rise today in strong support of H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act, and I am pleased to be a sponsor of this bipartisan effort along with my colleagues, Chairman Walden, especially Chairman Shimkus, and Ranking Members Pallone and Tonko for their work. I also want to thank the work of my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who also were cosponsors of this legislation, Mr. Katko and Ms. Esty. prgtoken The bill represents a broad, bipartisan compromise that will reauthorize the brownfields program for the first time since 2006. In addition to the reauthorization, the bill makes several key improvements that you have heard about here today that will result in more brownfield sites being cleaned up and returned to productive use. prgtoken A little history can explain why this bill was so important to pass. prgtoken When America's industrial manufacturing facilities and factories were being constructed, they typically were located on prime property along rivers, railroads, and roads. But, over the years, technologically there were prgtoken changes that took place that transformed how our economy operates. It also had to deal with unfair imports coming into America. As a result, many companies failed and the sites became abandoned. prgtoken Rusting hulks of former factories and weed-infested sites have become an eyesore and deter investment in downtown and urban areas. Today, these locations could still prove to be valuable in creating jobs, and that is what our prime responsibility is here. We need to improve this negative stigma that these sites pose to communities and restore these brownfields into productive resources. prgtoken America has, indeed, been identified as having 450,000 brownfield sites across the country, but only 27,000 have been cleaned up. This reauthorization is long overdue. prgtoken One great success story is Pietro Fiorentini, a supplier to the natural gas industry who recently broke ground at a new manufacturing facility in Weirton, West Virginia, that was cleaned up through the brownfields program. Pietro Fiorentini spent 5 years preparing this site because of the level of contamination. prgtoken I especially want to give a shout-out to Pat Ford, the executive director of the Business Development Corporation in the northern panhandle. His efforts have been tireless, working to do great things like creating jobs in the First District of West Virginia. prgtoken His corporation, the Business Development Corporation, has already received $2.5 million over the years in brownfields grants and has leveraged those projects into $75 million in private sector money. It has resulted in over 1,250 new jobs, and another 128 have been preserved. prgtoken You heard earlier from Chairman Shimkus, talking about the 16-to-1 ratio. Pat Ford's group has a 35-to-1 ratio. For every dollar that we put in for the Federal Government
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-11-30

Members are advised that votes are now expected in this House on Monday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. Members should be prepared to vote on the motion to go to conference and the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. prgtoken I strongly encourage all Members to be here present and voting. If there are any further changes to the schedule, I will be sure to let all Members know.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-11-30

I had the privilege of sitting on the floor and listening to this debate on tax reform. Our friends to the left and center have done a really good job of painting a picture of fantasyland, a land that does not exist in America. prgtoken Frankly, when I think of fantasyland, I think about the fact that sugar-free cookies will not help you gain any weight. Anyone who has had sugar-free cookies and too many of them can attest to the fact that may not be an accurate picture, but these, they may, in fact, be sugar- free. prgtoken My good friend to the left oftentimes speaks in illustrious language, compelling words, but they are not necessarily always accurate. prgtoken When I think about our tax reform package, it really comes down to some very simple concepts--families. Too many American families feel invisible because so often we hear folks talking about people before they actually talk to people. When you talk to the average American family, what you will hear, time and time again, is that it is very difficult for the average family to get their ends together, making ends meet. Working paycheck to paycheck is too often, in too many places, the norm. prgtoken So when we start talking about helping the average American family, when we start talking about helping single parents, we are talking about helping them keep their dollars. In other words, we believe they know better than government how to spend their money. prgtoken If you are an average American household with only one breadwinner, the fact is, our plan delivers a 75-percent tax cut if you earn around $41,000. Why do we talk about $41,000 for a single-parent household? It is because the average single-parent household with a couple of kids earns around $40,000. So we want to paint a clear picture, not a picture filled with facts but facts that lead you to the truth. That is not what we are hearing all the time in this Chamber. prgtoken When you think about an average family, a typical American family, with two earners in the household, the average family in America makes around $73,000. Our tax cut for that average, typical American family is 60 percent. prgtoken Here is what I struggle with. Why is it not a bipartisan objective to deliver tax cuts to hard-working families, too often working two jobs to make their ends meet? Why is there not a bipartisan coalition working to make sure there is a tax break in every single bracket? prgtoken I just can't figure out why doubling the standard deduction for an individual to $12,000 is not a bipartisan activity. I really can't appreciate why taking a single-parent household from a standard deduction of $9,300 to $18,000 is something my friends on the left are resistant to do. prgtoken I cannot explain to you or to the folks back in South Carolina why almost doubling the standard deduction from $12,700 to $24,000 isn't a bipartisan exercise. prgtoken I can't explain to you why families who are strapped w
RECOGNIZING SOUDERTON AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOR ITS DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL BANNER UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to recognize a school in my district. On November 30, 2017, Souderton Area High School will be recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics' International headquarters. Through the diligence and compassion of Athletic Director Dennis Stanton and Supervisor of Special Education Megan Zweiback, the introduction of Unified Sports into to the school has greatly enhanced the curriculum of special needs students and allowed them to compete with typical students in interscholastic competition. One of only four schools in the nation, and the first in Pennsylvania to have been honored in this respect, I am proud of work done at Souderton Area High School to support and enhance the educational and recreational development of all students.
NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of our Nation's great lawyers and judges and, for me, a mentor and a great family friend, District Court Judge Tom Eisele, who passed away this past Sunday at the age of 94. prgtoken Tom faithfully served our Nation as a private in the Army in World War II; as an adviser to Governor Winthrop Rockefeller in the 1990s; and for the past 41 years as a member of the Federal judiciary, following his appointment by President Nixon in 1970. prgtoken During his career, Judge Eisele was named Best District Court Judge in the Eighth Circuit by The American Lawyer and Outstanding Federal Judge by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He was a role model and a friend to many across the State of Arkansas and our Nation. prgtoken I extend my respect, affection, and prayers to his friends, family, and loved ones. Love Little Rock Initiative
AMBASSADOR HALEY'S STERN WARNING TO NORTH KOREA
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-11-30

on Tuesday, North Korea, ruled by a tyrannical dictator, tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that may have the capacity to reach the United States. prgtoken North Korea's latest nuclear missile test was its most provocative to date, putting American families at risk of nuclear attack, in addition to the families of South Korea and Japan, with also a threat to China and Russia of regional chaos. prgtoken During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley issued a stern warning to North Korea: ``We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it. If war comes, it will be because of the continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday.'' prgtoken Ambassador Nikki Haley was absolutely right when she urged China and its President, Xi Jinping, to do more to stop North Korea from pushing the world closer to a nuclear war. prgtoken Ambassador Haley and President are promoting peace through strength to keep American families safe, and we should support the call for China to cut off oil to North Korea. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-11-30

. Let me finish my point. Then . prgtoken , obviously, it would be malpractice for us to allow them to kill this that way. So we have taken an approach that fully allows unlimited ic participation, but at the end of the process, it is a simple majority vote, and a minority will not be able to kill this bill by filibuster. prgtoken In every step along the way, our ic colleagues have had every opportunity to weigh in, to engage. We had I don't know how many hearings on this. We had a full markup in the committee. Unlimited amendments were offered, debated, voted on. Here, over the next--I don't know--day or two, I expect that we will have many more amendments. There is no limit to the amendments that our ic colleagues can offer. It is not true to say that the reconciliation process precludes bipartisan participation. I hope that it doesn't. prgtoken This bill cuts taxes for middle-income families. That is a fact. It is not a convenient fact for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, but it lowers taxes for working-class families and for middle-income families. That is a fact. It is going to help encourage tremendous economic growth by allowing our businesses to be competitive. That is a fact, and we will get into why, and we will get into prgtoken the details. The fact is that this is exactly what our economy needs right now. More importantly, it is exactly what our constituents need right now. prgtoken There is nothing about this process that precludes my ic colleagues from offering their amendments, engaging in a debate, and supporting the product in the end. By the way, I am still hopeful that there will be some support in the end because I think that it is going to be pretty hard to explain opposition to working-class and middle- class tax cuts and corporate tax reform that is going to generate strong economic growth. prgtoken from Ohio.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4182, ENSURING A QUALIFIED CIVIL SERVICE ACT OF 2017, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1699, PRESERVING ACCESS TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING ACT OF 2017
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-30

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the gentlewoman raises a lot of important points. I am absolutely concerned about funding the United States Government, but, sadly, in a way that has become systemic as we talk about who we are as a people, , we can either be glasses half full or we can be glasses half empty. prgtoken Is it true that the number of days we have left in this continuing resolution are limited? prgtoken It is. prgtoken Is it also true that this House has fully funded the government ahead of schedule for the first time since the good people of the Seventh District elected me to Congress? prgtoken It is. prgtoken This House has nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, this House should be shouting it from the rooftops: The United States Constitution gives the United States Congress a job to do. The House has done its. Senate, get to work. prgtoken This is the first time, , that we have been able to fund all the appropriations bills--there are 12 of them--before the end of the fiscal year since I was elected in 2011. The Senate has passed, I believe, zero appropriations bills so far this year. prgtoken , let's not give anybody a pass on getting the good work done. Let's do hold people accountable, but let's not chastise ourselves and create an atmosphere of failure. prgtoken Success begets success. We succeeded together for the first time in a long time. Let's not waste that opportunity to get that bill across the floor of the Senate. prgtoken Similarly, , we are talking about civil service protections today. There is not a man or a woman in this Chamber who doesn't want the absolute best Federal workforce that we could find; not one. prgtoken The question today is: Do we lock you in and give you all of those ironclad protections that every American knows the civil service system offers? prgtoken We all know that it is hard to get fired from a government job. We all know that. prgtoken Should we extend the probationary period where folks can be monitored, trained up, disciplined, worked with from 1 year to 2 years? prgtoken If that gets us a better Federal workforce to serve the American people, the answer should be a unanimous yes. prgtoken I say to my friends who oppose this bill: If it doesn't end up in that result, I will vote with you to repeal it. But I believe it will end up with a more highly qualified workforce, that it will end up with an American taxpayer who feels like they are getting their money's worth. prgtoken I will tell you the best thing we can do for our civil service employees is to end the narrative that civil service is a place of failure instead of a place of success, it is to end the narrative that substandard people work for the Federal Government as opposed to exceptional people work for the Federal Government. prgtoken I represent employees of the CDC in my part of the world, Mr. . The Centers for Disease Control is second to no one in the i
RECOGNIZING SOUTH FLORIDA'S HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise in recognition of the Jewish Community Services of South Florida and the second generation of Miami- Dade Holocaust Survivors. Together, these two organizations will join forces to hold a Cafe Europa, a function that honors Holocaust survivors and their families. The name ``Cafe Europa'' is derived from a small lounge in Stockholm. Here, survivors from liberated concentration camps would search for family and friends after the war, share stories and experiences, and begin to rebuild their lives. prgtoken Today, the practice remains strong in its commitment to bring survivors together, where they can share insight and thoughts on topics surrounding our world today. prgtoken Cafe Europa also allows us to honor these individuals and gain vital knowledge about this dark period in history. prgtoken This event this year will be held at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center on Sunday, December 3, at 11:30. My constituents David and Irene Mermelstein, Herbie Karliner, Joe Sacks, Alex Gross, David Schaeter, and Wendy Rothfield will attend this important event. Holocaust survivors will share stories, grieve over loved ones lost, and recommit that these horrendous days of our history that they survived will never again be repeated. prgtoken , we must cherish the time that we have left with these brave souls, to listen and to learn about their tragic stories, stories that must be passed along to future generations about this brutal period of injustice, and ensure that no such tyranny ever happens again. Congress Must Act on a Legislative Solution for Our DREAMers
BROWNFIELDS ENHANCEMENT, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT, AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
Bob Gibbs (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise in support of H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017. prgtoken There is bipartisan support for the EPA program that proves when the Federal-State partnership operates as intended, work gets done. prgtoken Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment benefits the environment, the community, and the local economy. This legislation reauthorizes the brownfields program and expands eligibility for nonprofit organizations to receive grants. prgtoken In my home State of Ohio, the brownfields program has leveraged over $1 billion for property revitalization. In my district specifically, brownfields funding was used to restore a former industrial manufacturing site, now used as Chesapeake Energy Company's office complex. prgtoken I thank the sponsors for introducing this bill and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
BROWNFIELDS ENHANCEMENT, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT, AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-11-30

representing central New York, the issue of blighted properties and contaminated land that remain from previous industrial hubs is all too familiar to me. prgtoken The brownfields program has been pivotal in the redevelopment and reuse of previously uninhabitable and unusable properties throughout my district. prgtoken Earlier this year, I worked with Congresswoman Esty to advance brownfields reauthorization legislation through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am proud to now see this bipartisan comprehensive bill advancing through the House. prgtoken This measure contains many of the important reforms authored by Representative Esty and myself, including language clarifying liability for local governments and lease holders, and expanding eligibility to assessments and remediation grants. prgtoken These provisions are intended to increase the effectiveness of brownfields grants and will lead to faster cleanups. prgtoken , I want to thank Congresswoman Esty, Chairman Shuster of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, his staff, and Representative McKinley for working to advance this important legislation to preserve and enhance this critical program. prgtoken , I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-11-30

I have sat here and listened to , year after year, talk about how they are so much more committed to the middle class and to the poor, as they have driven us right into bankruptcy. prgtoken Instead of trying to work on these matters so that we are not driven into bankruptcy, it is more and more spending, more and more Federal Government, more and more regulations, and more and more controls, all of which tend to make us less and less efficient, less and less successful, less and less able to do the will of the people, less and less able to really do the things we have been sent here to do. prgtoken Now we are having a lot of complaining about what is going on right now, but, to make a long story short, the are pushing a financial system that was bound to take us right into bankruptcy. We might have had 2 more years where payments could be made, but we have gone right straight to hell as far as being able to handle the matters that are so important to every one of us in this country. prgtoken Now, I have to admit that our side has some flaws, too. Some of our people think that we should do a better job without any money, or that we should do a better job without any increase in taxes, or that we should do a better job without the Federal Government. Both sides have been in error. Both sides have been, from time to time, wrong. prgtoken But I have to say, as a former when I was coming up in Pittsburgh, PA, when I went to Brigham Young University, by the end of my time at Brigham Young University, I thought: My gosh, how could I have ever believed this stuff--which is more and more government, more and more spending, more and more bureaucracy, more and more controls over all of our lives, and less and less freedom. prgtoken I can remember the days when we couldn't get the other side to work as hard as we should on national security issues, which were critical. prgtoken Both sides have room to grow. Both sides have room to improve. Each side could do a better job here, and I have lived for the day when we both could work together, arm in arm, for the betterment of this country. But the betterment of this country isn't to go to socialized medicine, which is where the actually took us, until we finally pulled them back a little bit. Now, they had the help of some s to do that, but the fact of the matter is that they were moving us right to socialized medicine, which really has never worked anywhere. It is as though they prey on the poor as though they are the only ones who could help them, when in fact they are part of the reason we are poor. prgtoken The government cannot do everything. The government should not do everything. We, as a people, have to help ourselves and do a lot to help our country in the process. prgtoken I get a little disgusted sometimes when I see the lack of communication between the two sides, the lack of working together. One side b