mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INF TREATY
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-27

recently, U.S. officials stated that Russia deployed a fully operational cruise missile. This is a violation of the arms control treaty between the United States and Russia. prgtoken The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty bans the U.S. and Russia from possessing, producing, or testing a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 to 5,000 kilometers. prgtoken We have suspected Russia of violating the treaty in the past--for at least the last 10 years--but the last administration didn't pay much attention to it. He asked the State Department to gently ask the Russians to please come back into compliance, but that did not work. So last year, in the NDAA bill, Representative Mike Rogers and I sanctioned Russia for INF violations for the first time. prgtoken Now we have introduced H.R. 1182, preparing the United States to develop its own missiles. It is not in the United States' national security interest to abide by a treaty when we are the only ones abiding by it. prgtoken And that is just the way it is.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2017
Lou Barletta (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-3-27

such time as I may consume. prgtoken We know earthquakes pose one of the greatest natural hazards here in the United States. They strike without warning and result in potentially catastrophic casualties and damage to buildings and infrastructure. prgtoken The Pacific Northwest is at risk of severe earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. According to the experts, a massive earthquake is coming to the area. We just don't know when. Six years ago this month, a 9.0 earthquake in Japan created a tsunami that killed over 15,000 people and caused a nuclear disaster. prgtoken Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but their impacts on life, property, and the economy can be managed. FEMA is responsible for coordinating the Federal response to a catastrophic earthquake, and has been diligently working to help States plan and prepare for an earthquake. Good planning and preparedness can save lives and property. prgtoken H.R. 654, the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017, directs FEMA to plan the development of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The bill also directs the President to establish an earthquake and tsunami task force to develop a comprehensive strategy and recommendations on how to prepare and plan for seismic events. prgtoken I want to commend the ranking member for his leadership on this critical national issue. He has been an advocate for his State and the Pacific Northwest, supporting preparedness and mitigation efforts and the development of a public West Coast earthquake early warning system. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and . House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, March 27, 2017. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear : I am writing concerning H.R. 654, the ``Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017,'' which was reported by your Committee on March 9, 2017. H.R. 654 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. In order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would request that, in any final version of the legislation, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology be included as a recipient of the reports c
ObamaCare (Executive Session)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-27

I am pleased that in the Senate we are about to take a vote on ratifying the protocol of the accession of Montenegro to NATO. prgtoken What I wanted to do was to take a few moments to explain to people why I think this is an important vote and an important moment for our security as a nation but also to protect our interests abroad and that of our allies. prgtoken We all know that NATO--the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--was started right after World War II. It was primarily designed in the Cold War to confront the threats posed by the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact. Of course those threats have changed since the end of that Cold War. prgtoken Here is what hasn't changed. What hasn't changed is the need for America and her allies in a strong way to remain engaged in the world. That need has not changed. What has not changed is the need for democracies to be able to come together and collectively defend not just their interests but the interests of all people around the world where freedom is threatened. The difficult, painful lesson of history is that dictators and tyrants are never pleased with what they have. They always want more. They always need more. That is why it is so important that those nations on Earth--luckily and in a blessed way, more people than ever before find themselves living in societies where the people get to choose their leaders. prgtoken These alliances we have around the world--NATO being chief among them--help advance our strategic and economic interests, but most importantly, they help to keep our country safe. prgtoken There is a lot of talk about how much countries are paying into NATO, and it is true that the United States is by far the largest contributor to NATO. I think that is a combination of two things: one, decisions that were made by some of our allies in Europe on how they want to spend their government's money, and the other is just the reality that we are the United States of America, and as the United States of America, we will always find that we are always making a disproportionate share and contribution on everything, from global aid to fight off hunger and disease, to collective security. prgtoken While we can urge our allies, encourage our allies, and ask our allies to make a greater contribution to their own defense, we should not fall into the trap of diminishing what they are doing and what they have done. prgtoken First of all, in Europe today, many of our NATO allies are increasing their defense spending. They are doing so in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and its increased aggression elsewhere in the region. Their soldiers are joining ours in deploying to Central and Eastern Europe to reassure our allies who are facing aggression and potential aggression from Vladimir Putin. prgtoken With all this talk about NATO and money and how much everyone is giving, I think it is important to take a moment to also understa
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-3-27

for one, I want to let the people of Montenegro know that this day has been a long time coming. We would not be here had it not been for Senator McCain's constant, persuasive, passionate voice, and this day has finally arrived in the Senate. prgtoken As to Senator McConnell, I want to thank him for making floor time. I regret we had to do it this way, but when one Senator objects, then, it puts the pressure on the rest of us. One Senator can stop legislation like this. It was one Senator, and he has every right to do so. But I want to thank Senator McConnell for putting aside floor time so that we can vote in the Senate to allow Montenegro to be a part of NATO. prgtoken Senator McCain has traveled the world as much as anybody I know. I have been to Montenegro with him at least once, if not twice. It is a beautiful place. They share our values. They want to move forward in terms of their democracy. They want to be part of NATO. They want to be part of free markets. They want the rule of law to replace the rule of the gun. Montenegro is trying to do everything that Putin hates--where you can actually vote for your own leaders, where you can have a judicial system that works, where people can walk the streets without fear, and where the leadership doesn't steal the country blind. prgtoken I want to let the people of Russia know--for those who went into the streets yesterday or the day before to protest the corruption of the Putin regime--that you have my undying respect and admiration, because I can only imagine how hard that was. prgtoken For the people of Montenegro, I know they have been waiting a long time for this day to come because Russia and, generally, Putin have been trying to overthrow their government. prgtoken To those people in this body who proclaim they are for freedom and liberty, here is what I suggest. If you are not for other people's freedom and other people's liberty, you will eventually lose yours. The idea that we can be safe and free and not engage the world and sit on the sidelines and watch people like Putin turn the world order upside down and not be affected is at best naive. It is worse than naive, but I want to be nice and say it is just naive. prgtoken What Putin is doing throughout the world is trying to break the backs of the world order, NATO, and the European Union. He is trying to drive a wedge between the NATO countries, and he will be the biggest beneficiary of that. He is trying to break the back of the European Union. Alliances of democracy are his worst nightmare. This is a huge step in the right direction. prgtoken I want to thank Senator McCain for being the most consistent voice in this body, and Senators McConnell and Schumer for allowing this vote. But our work is not done because it is one thing to vote in favor of Montenegro's entering NATO over Russia's objections. That is not enough. Senator McCain and myself, Senators Cardin and Rubio-- and
Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-27

earlier today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we considered the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve as the next Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. According to Judiciary Committee practice, that nomination was held over for a week, which means that Judge Gorsuch will be voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 3, and it will be available for floor action thereafter. prgtoken As the Nation--and perhaps even the world--knows, we held lengthy hearings last week to review his qualifications, his experience, and his approach to judging. I have to say that he really impressed everybody who approached this whole issue with an open mind about whether he was qualified to serve on the High Court. But unfortunately, as those of us who work in the Senate know, there has already been a threat by the ic leader to filibuster his nomination. prgtoken It is really important for the country to recall that there has never been a successful partisan filibuster of a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sometimes people want to talk about Abe Fortas in 1968, but ultimately Abe Fortas, who was nominated to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by his friend and mentor, Lyndon Johnson, asked to withdraw his nomination after one failed cloture vote and ultimately ended up resigning from the Supreme Court of the United States in disgrace. It is hardly a precedent for what have said they are going to do with regard to this good man and this good judge, Neil Gorsuch. prgtoken I understand my friend the ic leader has a tough job. He has a split caucus--those who want to take over the ledge and those who would like to try to find some way to work out a reasonable accommodation. Unfortunately, he is under a lot of pressure from the radical groups on the left to do whatever he can to tank this superb nominee. Again, this would be unprecedented in American history. prgtoken It is true that in 2013 did the so-called nuclear option, which has established a new precedent in the Senate with regard to lower court judges--circuit court judges and district court judges-- along with Cabinet nominees. Ironically, the so-called Reid precedent of 2013 has kind of come back to bite them a little bit, as President now has been able to see all of his Cabinet members confirmed with 51 votes, or, in the case of one, 50 plus the Vice President. prgtoken I was glad to see a quote from a report in a Vermont publication from our friend the senior Senator from Vermont, the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in which he said he wasn't inclined to filibuster the nomination of Judge Gorsuch and that he deserves a minimum of an up-or-down vote. So I hope others will follow the lead of Senator Leahy, who has been in the Senate a long time in the majority and in the minority. He realizes it is important to maintain a certain level of tradition and decorum here in the Senate,
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
George Holding (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-3-28

due to a personal matter, I missed the following votes on Monday, March 27, 2017: Roll Call Vote No. 195: To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA''. Roll Call Vote No. 196: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA''.
CONGRESSIONAL TEACHERS AWARD
Vern Buchanan (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-28

I rise today in recognition of outstanding public school teachers in Florida's 16th Congressional District. prgtoken I was once told that children are 25 percent of the population, but they are 100 percent of the future. prgtoken And it's true. The education of a child is an investment, not only in that student, but in the future of our country. prgtoken Therefore, I established the Congressional Teacher Awards to honor educators for their ability to teach and inspire students. prgtoken An independent panel has chosen the following teachers from Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough Counties to receive Florida's 16th District 2017 Congressional Teacher Award for their accomplishments as educators: prgtoken Danielle Murphy for her accomplishments as a teacher at Boyette Springs Elementary in Riverview. prgtoken Carol Pelletier for her accomplishments as a teacher at Sarasota Military Academy Prep in Sarasota. prgtoken Emilee Vermilion for her accomplishments as a teacher at Southeast High School in Bradenton. prgtoken On behalf of the people of Florida's 16th District I congratulate each of these outstanding teachers and offer my sincere appreciation for their service and dedication.
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF WAUSAU-AREA TRAGEDY
Sean P. Duffy (Republican, WI) \u2014 2017-3-28

it's with a heavy heart that I rise today to recognize the loss of four members of our greater Wausau community. It was last week that four lives were taken from us all too early. Karen Barclay was warm and caring to everyone around her. At Marathon Savings Bank, she made sure that no child left the bank without a lollipop. Dianne Look, known as `Dee-Dee,' celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary last month. Dianne loved to make jewelry; raising money for the American Cancer Society. Sara Quirt-Sann had an infectious laugh and ran her own law practice. She proudly served as a Guardian ad Litem for kids in our community. We also lost Detective Jason Weiland of the Everest Metro Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty. Serving 18 years in what was described as his `dream job,' Detective Weiland wore the Everest Metro PD uniform because he wanted to protect people and keep his community safe. On behalf of this institution, I rise to extend my deepest regrets to their families--the mothers and fathers, husbands, wives, and children who no longer have a special member in their homes.
THE MARCHANT FAMILY
Pete Olson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-28

I must confess, as my wife and kids know, I am not the most romantic guy. I have never dreamed I would be a matchmaker. Believers say the Lord works in mysterious ways, and, Mr those words are, oh, so true. prgtoken In 2007, I came home and ran for Congress. It was brutal: a 10-person primary, a runoff against a former Member, and a general election against an incumbent. But I had a secret weapon on my campaign: this man, Luke Marchant. Luke is the son of our colleague, Kenny. Luke would show up in a campaign office with ratty flip flops, in wrinkled, baggy shorts, and an unwashed T-shirt. Luke was a beast. But a beauty showed up like out of Disney: Katie McDonald. The matchmaking began. Beauty and the beast fell in love. prgtoken I was there on June 12, 2016, when they were married. Last week, Walker Ross Marchant was born to these two amazing young friends. prgtoken Katie and Luke, congratulations. In the future, for number two, maybe Peter Graham Marchant should be a name you all should consider.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-3-28

border security is one of the Federal Government's most important responsibilities, and the Federal Government has no better partners than local law enforcement agencies from border communities like those in my home State of Arizona. These officers and deputies serve on the front lines. They provide critical assistance to the missions of Federal agencies. prgtoken Unfortunately, these efforts are expensive and the locals end up picking up most of the tab. For example, local law enforcement agencies hold those facing immigration violations at county-operated jails, and they provide medical care for the undocumented inmates while they are in custody. In providing these services, Arizona's counties have incurred more than $310 million in costs associated with criminal undocumented immigrants since 2009. That is $310 million since 2009. prgtoken Despite these enormous costs, the Federal Government has left many local jurisdictions to shoulder the burdens of illegal immigration on their own. This is particularly frustrating when so many of our local law enforcement agencies are already struggling to carry out basic duties on overstretched budgets. prgtoken I hope we can all look forward to a time when we have the appropriate resources for securing the border, the means for those seeking to fill the needs of our economy to enter the country legally, a remedy for those who are here already illegally, and also a way for employers to ensure that those whom they hire are legally present. prgtoken These critical steps toward solving our immigration problems will require Congress to act. However, in the meantime, we can't continue to allow the Federal Government to pass off immigration responsibilities onto cash-strapped local agencies. prgtoken That is why I wish today to introduce a bill to reauthorize and reform the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, better known as SCAAP. This bill is cosponsored by my friend and colleague, John McCain, and is supported by the Arizona Sheriffs Association. prgtoken SCAAP is a Federal program that reimburses State, local, and Tribal law enforcement for the costs associated with incarcerating and caring for criminal undocumented immigrants while in custody. prgtoken To ensure that local law enforcement receives sufficient reimbursement under SCAAP, my bill would make some commonsense reforms under the program. The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reauthorize SCAAP through fiscal year 2021. Reauthorizing this program will provide local law enforcement agencies in Arizona and across the country with the certainty that any costs incurred from incarcerating criminal immigrants will be covered by Federal reimbursements. prgtoken Our State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies are committed to partnering with the Federal Government on immigration enforcement. But that partnership can't succeed unless the Federal Government provides the necessary
The President's Budget (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-28

I came to the floor to talk about the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to serve as the next Supreme Court Justice, and I happened to walk in while the ic leader was speaking. In the brief time I heard him comment this morning, I concluded that basically the are against everything. They are against everything. He knows as well as anybody that when the President sends over a budget, it is a proposal by the President that Congress routinely changes, arriving at its own budget priorities, working with the White House.
PROTOCOL TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY OF 1949 ON THE ACCESSION OF MONTENEGRO--Continued
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-3-28

I rise to comment briefly on Russian interference in the electoral processes in this country and across the West and governments of many of Russia's own neighbors. prgtoken We are in the middle of a civilization warfare crisis of public trust in this country. This isn't about the last 2 months. This isn't just about the last Presidential election. This is fundamentally about the last few decades of declining public trust in a broad range of our institutions: the press, political parties, executive branch agencies, the Congress, and beyond. prgtoken Russia is not unaware of our own distrust of each other. Russia is not unaware of our own increasing self-doubt about our shared values. Russia is today very self-consciously working to further erode confidence in our self-government by pulling at the threads of our public and civic life. Moscow's influence campaigns don't start by creating wholly new problems out of thin air, but rather by exploiting fissures that already exist in our civilization. The simplest way for Russia to try to weaken us is by trying to exploit the places where we are already weak, the places where we are already distrustful, and the places where we are failing to pass along a shared understanding of American values to the next generation. prgtoken The sad state of modern politics and the explosion of digital media are proving to be ripe targets for many of our own internal doubts and our own discord. We--all of us, s and , the legislature and the executive branch--are ill-prepared for the challenges that are already on our doorstep, let alone what comes next with the acceleration of these kinds of technologies. prgtoken Today in the Wall Street Journal, we in this body were rebuked-- rightly rebuked, I think, and rebuked in a bipartisan way by former Congressman Mike Rogers. Chairman Rogers, a , served as the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 through 2015. I am going to read his op-ed rebuke into the Record today, but I would humbly ask that all 100 Members of this body calmly and self-critically consider carefully Chairman Rogers' argument, for his argument is not fundamentally against s alone. It is not against alone. He is offering double-barreled criticism of all of us in the Congress--criticism of both parties. Why of both parties? Because Russia's influence campaign is a really big deal. Are we s listening? Also, because our response to Russia's influence campaign is not primarily about who you supported last November in the Presidential election. prgtoken Listening to the , it is sometimes hard to understand if that side of the aisle remembers that basic fact about what Russia's influence campaign was up to. Russia's goals in our most recent election were not initially about one candidate versus another candidate. We need to underscore this. There are particulars that those of u