mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EMAIL PRIVACY ACT
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-2-6

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Today, the House of Representatives will again vote to approve legislation that reforms and modernizes the Electronic Communications Privacy Act or ECPA. Last year, identical legislation passed with unanimous bipartisan support by a vote of 419-0. prgtoken Reforming ECPA has been a top priority for me as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I have worked with Members of Congress, advocacy groups, and law enforcement agencies for years on many complicated nuances involved in updating this law. prgtoken The resulting bill is a carefully negotiated agreement to update the procedures governing government access to stored communications content and records. prgtoken Thirty years ago, when personal computing was still in its infancy and few of us had ever heard of something called the world wide web, Congress enacted ECPA to establish procedures that strike a fair balance between the privacy expectations of American citizens and the legitimate needs of law enforcement agencies. prgtoken In 1986, mail was sent through the U.S. Postal Service, a search engine was called a library, and clouds were found only in the sky. In 1986, computer storage was finite and expensive. It was unheard of that a commercial product would allow users to send and receive electronic communications around the globe for free and store those communications for years with a third-party provider. prgtoken So much has changed in the last three decades. The technology explosion of the last three decades has prgtoken placed a great deal of information on the internet, in our emails, and on the cloud. Today, commercial providers, businesses, schools, and governments of all shapes and sizes provide email and cloud computing services to customers, students, and employees. prgtoken The Email Privacy Act establishes for the first time in Federal statute a uniform warrant requirement for stored communication content in criminal investigations, regardless of the type of service provided, the age of an email, or whether the email has been opened. prgtoken The bill preserves the authority for law enforcement agents to serve the warrant on the provider because, as with any other third-party custodian, the information sought is stored with them. However, the bill acknowledges that providers may give notice to their customers when in receipt of a warrant, court order, or subpoena, unless the provider is court-ordered to delay such notification. prgtoken The bill continues current practice that delineates which remote computing service providers, or cloud providers, are subject to the warrant requirement for content in a criminal investigation. prgtoken ECPA has traditionally imposed heightened legal process and procedures to obtain information for which the customer has a reasonable expectation of privacy, namely, emails, texts, photos, videos, and documents stored in the cloud. H.R. 387 preserves this treatme
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-2-6

in 2003, Congress mandated the Next Generation Air Transportation System known as NextGen, transitioning our radar-based system with radio communication to a satellite-based one, to increase safety and efficiency. NextGen deployment has been bogged with delays and cost overruns, highlighted by Government Accountability Office reports. Final implementation is to be completed by 2025. This legislation prgtoken would simply create measurable annual performance goals and hold Federal officials accountable to meeting these goals through the remainder of implementation. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Booker for being an original cosponsor of this bill, and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this legislation. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
HONORING COLONEL BYRON DEEL
Scott DesJarlais (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-2-6

I rise to honor Colonel Byron Deel, Chief of the Joint Staff, Tennessee National Guard, who will be retiring this week after 32 years of dedicated service. prgtoken Throughout his career, Byron has held numerous leadership roles with a wide range of responsibilities. Whether it be his command of the Joint Counterdrug Task Force or his current position as Chief of the Joint Staff, Byron has exemplified a work ethic and a regard for others that is second to none. prgtoken Colonel Deel's career includes two deployments: in 2001 to Bosnia and in 2005 to Afghanistan. His exemplary service is reflected in the numerous commendations he has received, including the Bronze Star and the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Service Medal, among a long list of many others. It is also important to mention that his wife, Mary Deel, whom Byron introduces as the ``better deal,'' serves in the National Guard as the Education Services Officer. prgtoken On a personal note, Byron has been an invaluable resource for me and my staff on issues that impact our guardsmen. While I am sorry that Tennessee is losing an officer of such high caliber, I extend a heartfelt thanks for his outstanding service and wish him the very best in his retirement.
EXPRESSING STRONG OPPOSITION TO D.C.'S ASSISTED SUICIDE PROGRAM
Jody B. Hice (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-6

. I thank my friend and colleague for leading this Special Order and for taking the leadership on this very important issue. prgtoken , I am here to try to implore our leadership to bring H.J. Res. 27 to the floor and, hopefully, to enable us, the Members of the people's House, to strike down this deeply flawed and deceptively written Death with Dignity Act that has been passed in the District of Columbia. prgtoken This is not a bill about the elderly. It is not a bill about the sick and dying, as has been stated here. This is a bill that legalizes suicide. It actually attempts to normalize euthanasia. As you know, Mr this bill applies to individuals with ``a terminal disease.'' We all know that could be applied to almost anyone. We could have someone with diabetes, for example, who is able to live a perfectly normal life, in spite of the fact of having an insulin dependency, but without the insulin, it could be terminal--they would be. So this bill applies to individuals who also may have been misdiagnosed. prgtoken I appreciate Mr. Rothfus mentioning Jeanette Hall. What a powerful story that is--someone who actually voted for this bill in Oregon, and then a few years later comes to find out that she herself has cancer. She tries to have her doctor help her end her life. The doctor urges her to fight to have treatment. She does so, and now 16 years later, she is alive and healthy. prgtoken There is no reason for us to have this bill. If you look at the suicide rate in Oregon since that bill was passed in that State in 1997, they have 42 percent above the national average of suicide in that State. prgtoken I appreciate Dr. Wenstrup, too. Just the flaws that he identified that this bill has are alarming. The fact that it, more than likely, will--certainly, the potential is there--lead to elder abuse. The bill has no requirement that the death certificate lists the real cause of death. It will just be required to say ``natural causes'' when, in fact, there was a lethal drug injected. The drug itself is not required to be disclosed. The bill does not require a medical professional to be present to administer the lethal drug. prgtoken Furthermore, as was alluded to a moment ago, the bill bars law enforcement and, arguably, courts from reviewing medical records at the Department of Health, effectively potentially preventing them from doing their jobs in cases where there may have been foul play. prgtoken , please know that this does not simply apply to D.C. residents but to those who reside in D.C which would include everyone in this House. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join in cosponsoring H.J. Res. 27. I urge our leadership to bring this to the floor for a vote. I thank the gentleman for giving me the opportunity to speak.
Russia (Executive Calendar)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-2-6

I would like to say a word about the nominee we are about to confirm. We have long known our colleague from Alabama as Senator Sessions--and soon Attorney General Sessions--but it wasn't always this way. There was a time when the distinguished Senator from Alabama was known simply as ``Buddy.'' Buddy--the product of a small town called Hybart, the son of a country store owner, the inheritor of modest beginnings. prgtoken Senator Sessions' parents grew up in the Depression. They taught their son the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work. If our colleague wasn't at school or football practice, you were likely to find him at his dad's store lending a hand to customers. As anyone from a small town can attest, that little store served as far more than just a place to buy goods. It was also a local gathering place, a place where people were liable to share their hopes and concerns, and their dreams too. prgtoken This is where Jeff Sessions developed his core values. It is where he developed an appreciation for the everyday struggles of working people. It is where he learned the importance of listening first, of standing up for what matters, of putting others' needs before one's own. It made him a better person. It made him a pretty good politician too. prgtoken Senator Sessions is the kind of guy who, with just one conversation, can make you feel as if you have known him your entire life. He is usually the first to arrive at constituent events and the last to leave. He has also made it a priority to travel annually to every county in Alabama--all 67 of them. prgtoken His staff will tell you it is these trips home when Senator Sessions is really in his element. Driving across Alabama, from sunup to sundown, milkshake in hand, or maybe a Blizzard from Dairy Queen, Heath bar flavor, thank you very much, that is Senator Sessions. prgtoken Now, it is not hard to see why Alabamians keep sending him back to Washington. Last time out he scooped up a modest 97 percent of the vote. prgtoken Part of Senator Sessions' secret to success is simple enough; he is just a likable guy. prgtoken Our colleague is one of the most humble and most considerate people you will ever meet. He is a true Southern gentleman. He is pretty funny too. His staff would certainly agree. They still remember the time he accidentally ran his suit coat through the paper shredder. They saved the evidence too. Let's hope that one makes it into his archives. prgtoken Sessions' alums call this man a mentor. They remain ever grateful for his focus on their own development. I know they are going to miss grabbing a burger and fries with him at Johnny Rockets. prgtoken They are really going to miss his wife Mary as well. We will around here too. prgtoken Now, in Sessions' world, Mary Sessions is something of a legend. She has been our colleague's strongest supporter, no matter the task before him. She has been a source of encouragement and a f
THE RIGHT TO TRY
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-2-6

I rise today on behalf of the millions of Americans who receive the devastating news of a terminal diagnosis each year. Even with the amazing work done in American medical research and development, for too many families, access to these potentially lifesaving treatments will come too late, if at all. prgtoken It is time for this body to come together with Federal regulators and industry leaders to clear the path forward to take care of those brave Americans who are fighting simply for a chance to live. A bill introduced today jointly by myself and Congressman Biggs will offer these brave Americans a chance to extend their lives. prgtoken , the Right to Try Act would ensure that terminally ill patients, together with their physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers, will have the right to try investigational treatments where no alternative exists. In fact, this bipartisan idea is already the law of the land in 33 States of our Nation. prgtoken For patients and their doctors, the Right to Try Act affords them an opportunity to try therapies where the benefits far outweigh the risks. Whether it is a father courageously battling ALS or a brave child living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, all those fighting for their lives deserve a right to try. They deserve a right to live.
FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARY EXPANSION ACT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-6

. I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , the First Congressional District of Georgia includes all 100 miles of Georgia's coastline and barrier islands. It was on one of these islands that the founder of Georgia, General James Oglethorpe, built a fort in 1736 to protect the new British Colony from the Spaniards. He named the fort and nearby town ``Frederica'' in honor of the Prince of Wales. In 1742, Fort Frederica's strategic location helped the British win a decisive victory against the Spanish in the Battle of Bloody Marsh. After this battle, the Spanish abandoned their attempts to take over the territory, and Georgia was fully secured as a British Colony. Today, Fort Frederica National Monument is a popular destination in Glynn County, featuring portions of the original fort, a museum, and extensive hiking trails. prgtoken H.R. 494 would allow for a small addition of adjacent land that contains artifacts from prehistoric human settlements. With this addition, visitors will be able to see a more complete story of the history of Georgia--from its earliest human residents, to colonial times, to modern day. prgtoken I thank the chairman for his consideration of this bill, and I thank the Natural Resources Committee's staff for its efforts. I also thank the entire Georgia delegation for supporting and cosponsoring this legislation.
ISRAEL BONDS' ``A NIGHT ON THE BEACH''
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-2-6

this Saturday night is Israel Bonds' ``Una Noche en la Playa''--``A Night on the Beach''--in Miami Beach. prgtoken Over the years, I have had the honor of participating in many of Israel Bonds' programs. The work that Israel Bonds does is vital in expanding and growing Israel's economy and has helped Israel become a global leader and innovator in so many sectors. prgtoken With all of the threats now facing the Jewish state, the work of Israel Bonds is more important now than ever. The prgtoken guest speaker will be none other than the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, my good friend and Miami Beach native, Ron Dermer. prgtoken The Israel Bonds event will also serve as a commemorative tribute to Isaac and Nieves Olemberg. Isaac and Nieves were dear friends who did so much for the south Florida community, for the American Jewish community, for the Cuban American community, and for Israel, herself. Their memories will forever live on through their kindness and compassion.
NOAA BETRAYED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Lamar Smith (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-2-6

a whistleblower has charged that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration falsified data in a study that attempted to disprove the widely accepted 15-year halt in global warming. This was done in an effort to garner public support for the administration's Clean Power Plan and the United Nations' Paris climate agreement. prgtoken NOAA's officials suppressed internal debate about the study and actively obstructed the House Science Committee's investigations of concerns about the data. However, one brave scientist decided to step forward and blow the whistle on NOAA. prgtoken According to Dr. John Bates, NOAA put its thumb on the scale to justify their predetermined conclusions and support the President's agenda, even if that meant violating their own scientific integrity rules. prgtoken The Science Committee will continue to investigate this scandal. Americans have a right to unbiased science. prgtoken We can thank Dr. Bates for his heroic act and for having the courage to step forward in the face of the liberal media's smear campaigns.
Career and Technical Education Month (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-2-6

I come to the floor today to talk about Career and Technical Education Month. The month of February has been set aside as Career and Technical Education Month. It is an opportunity for us to talk about something that is working very well in some of our States and is giving our young people amazing opportunities, and it should be expanded. prgtoken Over the last 6 years, my home State of Ohio has come a long way. We have turned a record deficit into a billion-dollar rainy day fund. We have created lots of new jobs, but we also have a problem in Ohio and around the country, and that is a skills gap. prgtoken If you go on the www.ohiomeansjobs.com Web site right now, I think you will see about 122,000 jobs being offered. In other words, these are companies saying: We are looking for people. prgtoken At the same time, in Ohio today, we have about 280,000 people who are out of work. So how could that be, you ask? Well, if you look at the jobs and you look at what the descriptions are, many are jobs that require skills, and some of these skills are not available right now in the workforce. So you could get a lot of people put back to work just by developing these skills in Ohio. prgtoken At the same time, this is happening around the country, and this skills gap--this mismatch between the skills that are in demand in a local economy and the skills of a worker--is something that can be dealt with with more aggressive career and technical education. prgtoken Businesses want to invest more. They want to make better products, but they prgtoken can't do so if they can't find the right people. prgtoken By the way, when those skilled workers aren't available, often those jobs go somewhere else. So in the case of Ohio, some may go to other States--let's say Indiana--but some go to other countries--say India. prgtoken So if you don't have the skilled workforce, you are not going to be able to keep the jobs that we want here in America because workers are such a critical part of making a business successful. prgtoken The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the typical unemployed worker today has been unemployed for about 6 months. So we have this long-term unemployment again. The skills gap would help deal with that. There are 5.8 million Americans who are now stuck in part-time work who would want full-time work. So we have some challenges in our economy, and this skills training would really help. prgtoken According to a survey from Deloitte, 98 of the 100 biggest privately held employers in my hometown of Cincinnati, OH--98 out of 100--say they are struggling to find qualified workers. There is a shortage of machinists--machine operators. We are a manufacturing State. There is also a shortage of other jobs, IT skills, health care skills. Companies want to hire, but they have a hard time finding workers with the right skills. prgtoken By the way, it is not just in Cincinnati or in Ohio; it is
BLACK HILLS NATIONAL CEMETERY BOUNDARY EXPANSION ACT
Kristi L. Noem (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-2-6

. I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 337, the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act. prgtoken I thank the chairman of the committee and his staff for working so hard to move this bill through Congress. Their support means so much to our veterans and to their families. prgtoken Those who have served and those families who have sacrificed beside them deserve our Nation's eternal gratitude. Since 1948, the Black Hills National Cemetery has been one way that we have shown that appreciation to them. The cemetery currently covers about 100 acres of land and is home to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Its peaceful landscape serves as the final resting place for hundreds of servicemembers and their family members. prgtoken Chief David Beautiful Bald Eagle is among the brave men and women buried here. Born in a tepee in 1919, Chief Bald Eagle served our country in World War II as a paratrooper and as one of the legendary Lakota code talkers. We lost him last summer, but his life continues to be an inspiration to the Lakota people and those who knew him. prgtoken Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth was also laid to rest there. He was a man who flew 400 combat missions during World War II. He earned numerous medals and returned to the U.S where he eventually became wing commander of the Rapid City Air Force Base. In 1953, that base was renamed in his honor. prgtoken The surrounding community also does its part to honor this hallowed ground. On a brisk day this past December, Pennington County 4-H, the Sturgis Boy Scouts, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and community members came together and placed over 1,000 wreaths on the graves of servicemembers who were laid to rest at this cemetery. They upheld the vow that those laid to rest should never be forgotten. Now we must do our part to uphold that very same vow. prgtoken So we honor the legacy of these veterans and many others at the Black Hills National Cemetery, but the facility is not going to have the room it needs to continue serving future veterans without expansion. This bill would allow that expansion by transferring around 200 acres of adjacent land near Sturgis, South Dakota, from the Bureau of Land Management's jurisdiction to the Department of Veterans Affairs. My office worked with these agencies and the stakeholders in crafting this legislation, and all agreed that this land transfer is necessary. prgtoken The transfer of this land will provide the Black Hills National Cemetery with the additional burial space that is needed to assure that today's veterans and servicemembers, as well as their families, will be able to utilize the space and that we will be able to uphold our commitment and offer this Nation's eternal gratitude for everything that they have done for us. prgtoken Again, I thank the committee, my colleagues, and the chairman for supporting this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote.