mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-11

today I am introducing a bill to improve the safety oversight of products that affect every single family on a daily basis. Whether it's shampoo or shaving cream, lotion or make-up, hair dye or deodorant, personal care products are a part of our everyday lives. I thank Senator Collins for her support and hard work on this important legislation. prgtoken However, even though our bodies absorb many chemicals in these products through our skin and even our nails, their ingredients are largely unregulated. It's time to modernize our safety oversight and correct this problem. Most people assume these products have up-to-date federal oversight, but in reality the Food and Drug Administration's authority to do so is sorely outdated--in fact, it's based on a law from the 1930s that has changed little over the past eight decades. There are questions about the safety of some ingredients in these products, which not only leads to health concerns but also causes uncertainty for companies working to innovate and expand domestically. prgtoken Over the last several years, Senator Collins and I have worked with a wide group of stakeholders that represent both industry and consumer groups. Those stakeholders include small and large companies, doctors, consumer advocates, patient advocates, scientists, and the Food and Drug Administration. Together, we have drafted bipartisan legislation that puts commonsense measures in place and has the support of both industry and consumer and health organizations. prgtoken The Personal Care Products Safety Act sets up a process for reviewing the safety of ingredients in personal care products. The bill requires manufacturers to register so consumers know who produces personal care products sold in the United States. prgtoken The legislation also modernizes authority for the Food and Drug Administration so the agency is better equipped to deal with public health concerns, such as being able to recall contaminated products if companies choose not to do so voluntarily. The updated system is completely paid for by industry fees. Companies will provide information about the ingredients in their products to the Food and Drug Administration, and attest to their safety. Many companies manufacturing in the United States currently follow strict voluntary standards for manufacturing under proper conditions, but the lack of federal standards leaves this to chance. Under this legislation, the agency sets Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines to ensure companies meet minimum requirements. Companies will also need to report adverse health events related to their products to the Food and Drug Administration. prgtoken Last year, we heard about WEN shampoo, a product that was causing significant hair loss. Among those affected were children, including a little girl named Eliana who lost all of her hair after using WEN. She shared her story with my office and several of my colleagues. What's
IN RECOGNITION OF BYRON BUNKER FOR BEING NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE SAMUEL J. HEYMAN SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDAL
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-5-11

I rise today to recognize Byron Bunker for being named a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's work as Director of Compliance Programs for the Environmental Protection Agency was key to uncovering Volkswagen Group's automotive emissions evasion scheme and safeguarding public health. prgtoken Since 1999, Mr. Bunker has worked for the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which conducts tests to certify that vehicles and engines meet the United States' emissions and fuel economy standards. As Director of the NVFEL's Compliance Division, Mr. Bunker tests automobiles and their components to ensure that they comply with clean air regulations. Working in conjunction with academic researchers and other federal officials, Mr. Bunker helped uncover and halt a scheme by Volkswagen to evade emissions standards through the use of software designed to intentionally fool regulators about the true emissions levels of its diesel vehicles. This discovery eventually resulted in the largest penalty ever levied against a car manufacturer and helped lay the foundation for additional criminal investigations. These have resulted in $4.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties, as well as indictments against Volkswagen executives. prgtoken Mr. Bunker's expertise and tireless efforts played a critical role in uncovering this wrongdoing and underscore the importance of the EPA's enforcement efforts. As a result of Mr. Bunker's work, the EPA was not only able to detect a sophisticated and widespread emissions evasion scheme, but also strengthen its testing procedures to prevent similar deceptions in the future. Through his rigorous work and collaboration with other officials in the EPA, Mr. Bunker has been an important driver of efforts to protect Americans' health and the environment, and it is my hope that he continues to effectively safeguard public health and safety in the years ahead. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Byron Bunker for being named a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's rigorous enforcement work has been important in protecting public health and safety.
Russia Investigation (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-5-11

these are not ordinary times. It is not ordinary for a winning Presidential campaign to be under investigation for collusion with a foreign adversary to influence our 2016 election and undermine our democracy. It isn't ordinary for a President to fire the man responsible for conducting this very investigation. It isn't ordinary for a President whose campaign is under investigation for having ties to Russia to hold an Oval Office meeting with that country's Foreign Minister and only invite the Russian press. This meeting came only a day after firing the person in charge of the Russia- investigation. Yet, here we are. The question is, What should we do next? prgtoken The events of the past 48 hours have been shocking and concerning. Firing FBI Director James Comey in this manner, under this pretext, and at this time is a total disservice to the American people. prgtoken President hopes the American people will believe he fired Director Comey because of how he treated Hillary Clinton during the Presidential campaign. President hopes, as his Deputy Press Secretary said on Tuesday night, that the American people think it is ``time to move on.'' President hopes his attempts to distract us from the importance of getting to the bottom of the Russia- matter will succeed. President 's hopes are misplaced. If anything, President 's firing of Director Comey has resulted in an increased concern about the team's connections to Russian interference with our 2016 Presidential election. prgtoken The country is asking, , what do you have to hide? prgtoken We are learning practically on an hourly basis about how the President made this decision to fire Director Comey and why. This information does not square with the official line coming from the White House, which also changes. prgtoken Most recently, the Washington Post reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein threatened to resign after the White House misrepresented his role in the decision to fire Director Comey. CNN reported that President fired Director Comey because he would not provide ``assurance of personal loyalty.'' Both CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported that the decision to fire Director Comey came after the FBI's investigation was accelerating. All of this information has emerged in the last 48 hours or so. prgtoken This kind of Presidential interference, through the firing of the FBI Director during an ongoing investigation, is unprecedented, suspicious, and deeply concerning. These revelations and those that are sure to come further argue in favor of appointing a special prosecutor to fully investigate the Russia- matter. A special prosecutor with full autonomy can follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute as appropriate. prgtoken I call upon s of conscience to stand up and join the call for a special prosecutor. prgtoken Over the past few da
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-5-11

today I wish to recognize the Rutgers University-Newark senior debate team of Nicole Nave and Devane Murphy as they celebrate back-to-back national championships with their victories at the National Debate Tournament, NDT, and the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament this year. prgtoken Last year, I stood on this floor to recognize Rutgers University- Newark's victory at the National Debate Tournament at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This year, I am extremely proud to be here once again congratulating Rutgers-Newark on another collegiate National Debate Tournament championship. This is truly an impressive and historic accomplishment. It is only the second time in collegiate debate history that the same team has won both national championships in a single year. prgtoken In addition to the national championship, Nicole Nave and Devane Murphy were also honored individually at the National Debate Tournament this year. Devane was named the NDT's top speaker, and Nicole received the NDT second place speaker award. At this year's Cross Examination Debate Association National tournament, Nicole earned a record- shattering five perfect scores out of eight. Nicole and Devane, the two best collegiate debaters in America, use their life experiences to shape their uniquely Rutgers-Newark debate style, one which has led the Rutgers University-Newark team to remain ranked as the No. 1 team in the Nation. prgtoken The Rutgers University-Newark debate team, founded in 2008, is sponsored by the school of public affairs and administration and the office of the chancellor, Newark. Under the leadership of prgtoken Rutgers University-Newark chancellor Nancy Canton, debate director Christopher Kozak, and debate team head coach Willie Johnson, the team has been ranked first in the Northeast for 4 consecutive years. In the 2014-2015 year, the team was ranked 14th nationally. Nicole, Devane, and the rest of the Rutgers University-Newark debate team have brought pride to my beloved city of Newark and to the entire State of New Jersey. I am honored to join with these outstanding students, their families, and the Rutgers University-Newark community in celebrating another landmark achievement in the Rutgers University-Newark debate team's history. prgtoken Thank you.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-5-11

and good friend, Chairman Hatch, for his courtesies. We have worked very closely together on this nomination. This was a challenging task, and I thank Chairman Hatch for his cooperation. prgtoken Mr. Lighthizer needed a waiver because he had represented foreign interests. It was extremely important that we work with Senator Manchin and other colleagues to address the enormous needs of the miners, and we had a whole host of Members with a variety of extremely important trade issues--matters like steel, aluminum, and digital goods in our part of the world; we also care about softwood lumber tremendously. prgtoken Chairman Hatch and I worked with all the members of the Finance Committee. It was a unanimous vote, and I thank him for his cooperation. prgtoken We have talked a little bit about trade and what a modern trade policy is going to look like. The Lighthizer discussion is the beginning of the debate on trade in this Congress, and I have tried to be clear about my agenda. My agenda is to create more red, white, and blue jobs in America--high-skilled, high-waged jobs. Very often, the trade jobs pay better than do the nontrade jobs because there is more value added in them; there is a higher level of productivity. So my view is, as we set out on this journey to get more high-skilled, high- waged jobs, look to Asia where there are going to be 1 billion middle- class people there in a few years. What we ought to do is focus on growing them in the United States, making them in the United States, adding value to them in the United States, and then shipping them somewhere. That is my idea of a modern trade agenda. prgtoken So far, the administration's trade agenda amounts to a muddle of 140- character tweets, mixed messages, and overhyped announcements that seem to be backed by not much substance. I think we are going to have to put together a coherent strategy quickly to promote our exports and fight back against trade cheats. That is not exactly what we have seen from the administration to date. prgtoken We can almost suffer whiplash from the reports about what happens with various trade deals. Late at night, it was reported that the President is about to pull the United States out of NAFTA; then suddenly there is another prgtoken report saying he has changed his mind after a conversation with the Canadians. Next, at a moment of extreme tension on the Korean Peninsula, it is reported that the President is threatening to pull out of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement. Then suddenly that threat is walked back. So the President has made some major statements with respect to trade deals on the books, but he has yet to give us much in the way of specifics on how he would like to bring that about. prgtoken If one is trying to run a business in Oregon or around the United States that exports to foreign markets, it is pretty hard not to feel rattled and confused by some of the President's stat
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Resumed
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-5-11

there is a saying, an old adage, that history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes. prgtoken Over the past week, the dramatic firing of James Comey has recalled past events--history that involved one of the major scandals in our Nation's past--the Watergate scandal. prgtoken In Watergate, the saying originated--another very common saying--that the coverup is worse than the crime. The danger now in the United States--the greatest country in the history of the world, with the most effective and fair justice on our planet--is that, in fact, there may be a coverup, and that the truth will be stifled, and people who should be held accountable will not be. That is the danger. prgtoken In this instance, in comparison to Watergate, actually, the crime is extraordinarily serious. In Watergate, there was a two-bit break-in or burglary, and the coverup, in fact, involved obstruction of justice. What we have here is a deliberate, purposeful assault on our American democracy by the Russians through a cyber attack that involved, really, in effect, an act of war--a combination of cyber, propaganda, and misinformation spread deliberately; it involved hacking into both major parties and the spread of the results of that hacking for one of those parties--possibly influencing the outcome of the election. prgtoken The issue of whether and how the outcome of that election may have prgtoken been influenced will be discussed and contended through the annals of history. Regardless of your point of view on what the impact was, the fact is, the criminal action by the Russians interfering with our election must be investigated aggressively and impartially, and the Russians, and anyone who aided and abetted them, must be held accountable. That is what the American people want. They want the truth uncovered, and they want to hold accountable anyone who colluded with the Russians in this attack on our Nation, anyone who aided and abetted or assisted them, anyone who bears a responsibility and should be held criminally culpable. prgtoken The Watergate scandal was eventually successfully prosecuted. It took years to do so. The appointment of a special prosecutor was key to that effort. In fact, Elliott Richardson was not only requested, he was required to appoint a special prosecutor as a condition of his confirmation. He was specifically directed by the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate, and he agreed to do so. Archibald Cox was appointed, and then President Nixon fired Elliott Richardson as well as his deputy, William Ruckelshaus, because they refused to dismiss Archibald Cox. prgtoken The principle here--the rhyming of history if not its repeating--is that sometimes investigations come so close to power and the truth about the power that there is an effort to stifle them. prgtoken Watergate involved a two-bit burglary. This crime involves the theft of our democracy by the Russians and by others who may have colluded with him. So
CELEBRATING ANGEL DEL VILLAR FOUNDER AND CEO OF DEL RECORDS
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-11

I rise to salute Angel Del Villar on his service as prgtoken founder and CEO of DEL Records, a flourishing music company located in Bell Gardens, California, in my 40th Congressional District. Since his launch of DEL Records in 2008, Angel has built the label into a place where young and independent Regional Mexican artists can develop their talents and find success. Angel's passion for music, his business acumen, and his civic and philanthropic efforts have built DEL Records into a vibrant, thriving part of the local community. prgtoken DEL Records exists because of Angel's vision: he knew that the entertainment industry was full of talented artists who were not signed to a label and were not receiving the support they needed in order to build a career. When he began DEL Records, Angel spent time searching YouTube for young musicians. In the years since, his hard work has paid off: today, the label boasts a broad slate of major artists. Musicians like Gerardo Ortiz, Luis Coronel, Chiquis, Jose Manuel Lopez, and the late Ariel Camacho are just a few of those who have been a part of the DEL Records family. prgtoken Angel has used his success at DEL Records as a driving force to create positive change in the community. He has been tireless in giving back time, effort, and resources to help his neighbors. Angel and DEL Records work to lift up the less fortunate, and to give individuals of all ages the opportunity to thrive and excel. As we work to build communities that protect the vulnerable and support those in need, the good works of civic-minded community leaders like Angel are invaluable to that endeavor. prgtoken With the help of his sister Maria, and guided always by the inspirational example of his parents Jose Angel and Frances, Angel Del Villar has made DEL Records a key Southeast LA County business and a vital voice in the Regional Mexican music scene. I commend Angel and his team at DEL Records for their achievements in music and contributions to the community, and wish them all the best for the future.
HONORING DR. MANUEL BACA
Grace F. Napolitano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-11

I rise to honor the long career of public service provided by an outstanding educator in my region, Dr. Manuel Baca, who has served the students, staff, and faculty of Rio Hondo College with distinction for the past 32 years. prgtoken Dr. Baca has been an invaluable resource to me and my staff, and will be truly missed at Rio Hondo College. Dr. Baca has served in many capacities as Professor of Political Science, Director, Dean, Vice President, and Interim Superintendent/President of Rio Hondo College. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of one of the largest community colleges in the Country, Mt. San Antonio College, and is the immediate past President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. prgtoken I have been privileged to work with Dr. Baca in numerous areas that have improved educational opportunities for students and the needs of our region. We have worked together on expanding transit services to the student body and staff by offering free and reduced price transit passes and buying shuttle buses for enhanced connectivity, Dr. Baca has supported the growth of Rio Hondo College's police, fire and first responder training programs that have benefited the greater Los Angeles Community by providing a well-educated workforce for our public safety agencies. prgtoken I am particularly thankful for the work Dr. Baca has done to increase educational opportunities at Rio Hondo College for veterans. As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Dr. Baca understood the important role Rio Hondo College could play in helping post-9/11 veterans and all veterans receive workforce training and other services to start new careers and assimilate into civilian life. In addition, Dr. Baca has assisted in organizing veteran student summits throughout the State of California. Our nation is grateful for Dr. Baca's service as a Marine and his continued service to the men and women of our military. prgtoken Dr. Baca has been a role model and leader in opening up opportunities for Latino/a students by advocating for legislation at the state and federal level to support Hispanic-Serving Institutions. prgtoken , on behalf of the Rio Hondo College Community and the many people he has impacted in the greater Los Angeles Region, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Manuel Baca on his retirement, and thanking him for his long career of public service to Rio Hondo College, the State of California and our nation.
IN HONOR OF MR. FREDERICK VAN HOOSE'S FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-5-11

I rise today in recognition of Frederick Van Hoose, Executive Director of the Northwest Field Office of SourceAmerica, who is retiring after 40 years of service. prgtoken Mr. Van Hoose grew up in the agricultural heartland of eastern Washington, where he learned at a young age the value of honest work. He also came to understand work as a social connection--an activity that, in bringing people together for a common purpose, validates our collective worth and impact on each other. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Central Washington University and his MBA from City University of Seattle, Mr. Van Hoose built a career centered on the needs of persons living with disabilities. As an executive manager at Provident Industries in Yakima, Washington, and Northwest Center Industries in Seattle, he developed employment opportunities that increased the quality of life for hundreds of workers with disabilities. prgtoken In March 1997, Mr. Van Hoose secured a position as an Operations Manager with National Industries for the Severely Handicapped--now SourceAmerica--a non-profit agency that works through the provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act to facilitate meaningful employment for persons living with disabilities. Mr. Van Hoose has helped scores of non-profit agencies build business systems to expand their capacity to compete for contracts, and he has worked with Federal procurement professionals to find contracting solutions that enhanced the double bottom line: quality services and products for a fair price, while supporting access to employment for persons living with disabilities. prgtoken During his tenure with SourceAmerica, Mr. Van Hoose has served as a model of the selfless spirit and inspired leadership that has helped the program grow to employ many individuals living with the full range of disabling conditions, including many wounded warriors. Mr. Van Hoose's dedication to enhancing the lives of Americans living with disabilities extends to his personal life, as he serves as guardian to a man living with a severe disability. prgtoken For his years of dedicated service, it is appropriate to express our deep appreciation for Frederick Van Hoose's long and exceptional career and his outstanding volunteer service, and to wish him well on his retirement.