mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-5-17

I thank my friend from Massachusetts for not just today but all of the years in which he has led this battle. He is right. We have served together now in both Chambers and, in fact, when I was here and he was in the other body, we talked often about why this was such a bedrock principle. prgtoken You know, sometimes you listen to the head of the FCC and you get the sense that somehow he is saying that the internet either is broken or is about to break--that some horrendous set of problems are going to ensue without his ill-advised ideas. The fact is that the internet is not broken. The Federal Communications Commission is not trying to help consumers by rolling back net neutrality protections. They are doing it to make it easier for the big cable companies to be in a position to shove out true and real competition. That, I would say to my friend Senator Markey and my friend from Hawaii, Senator Schatz, who has been championing these efforts in the Commerce Committee, is what this is really all about. prgtoken You know, the reality is that the internet is now the shipping lane for the 21st century. It is that place--a global marketplace--where you have the free exchange of ideas, and today's rules protect that shipping lane of the 21st century--the freedom for Americans and people worldwide to compete online. It exists so that the powerful interests, those who have the deepest pockets, do not go out and swallow the little guys up every single time. prgtoken Now, as we talk about net neutrality and why it is so essential for jobs, free speech, political engagement, education, economic opportunity, and better competition, there are really just three points. First, protecting the free and open internet under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, in my view, is the best way to proceed at this point. It is the only way, at present, to ensure a free and open internet, and that is, by rejecting this idea that somehow the internet is broken and we should upend the current rules. The Federal Communications Commission should not only leave the current net neutrality rules in place, they ought to aggressively move against companies that violate those rules. As my friends from Massachusetts and Hawaii know, there is not exactly a lot of evidence that the Federal Communications Commission is doing that either. prgtoken Net neutrality, in short, protects the internet's ability to give a fair shake to every single person in America and literally in the world with a good idea--they don't have to have money. They don't have to have lobbyists. They don't have to have PACs. All they have to have with net neutrality and the internet is an idea to compete with the establishment. This level playing field is a prerequisite for protecting free speech. prgtoken A level regulatory playing field means that these powerful interests--the cable companies, specifically--can't pick winners and losers because of their poli
RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today to honor the 75th anniversary of the evacuation and incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II, recognized today as the Day of Remembrance. Thousands of Japanese- Americans gather on this day to mark the solemn occasion of one of the darkest moments of American history. prgtoken On February 19, 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The order allowed for forced removal and internment of anyone of Japanese descent, many of whom were American citizens and legal permanent residents. A total of 120,000 Japanese-Americans were imprisoned between 1942 and 1946. All those held were never charged with any crime, their only ``crime'' having been their cultural heritage. Innocent families were forcefully stripped of their home, jobs and livelihoods. Families were given ten days to dispose of their property and possessions, only allowed to bring what they were able to carry. prgtoken My district included two of the sixteen temporary detention centers, located at the Fresno and Merced Fairgrounds Most of the 5,344 held at the Fresno ``Assembly'' Detention Center were there for six months before being transferred to concentration camps in Arkansas. Over 4,600 people were held in the Merced ``Assembly'' Center during the spring and summer of 1942, before eventually being taken by train to a concentration camp in Colorado. prgtoken Achieving peace today requires recognizing the dark parts of our history and honoring the memory of those who were affected. Through the hard work of community members, today both the Fresno Fairgrounds and Merced Fairgrounds are home to memorials dedicated to the victims. Both sites feature plaques with the names of those who were imprisoned and stories depicting their harrowing experiences. In Fresno, the Fresno County Historical Museum features a permanent display entitled ``Japanese in the San Joaquin Valley'', highlighting those who have made significant contributions to our Valley. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in recognizing the 75th anniversary of the evacuation and incarceration of thousands of innocent Japanese-Americans. It is both fitting and appropriate that we mark this solemn day and pay tribute to the thousands of Japanese-Americans that were imprisoned and their families, who today are staples not only in my district, but across the United States.
BORDER ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TASK FORCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise in support of H.R. 2281 the ``Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017.'' prgtoken As a Senior Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security; and former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I know well the importance of protecting our nation's borders. prgtoken Congressman Vela for sponsoring this bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program. prgtoken An escalation in drug trafficking and transnational criminal activity along our nation's southern border has led to record levels of violence and drug trafficking-related homicides. prgtoken Despite significant efforts to combat the drug trade, many governments in the region suffer from overwhelmed criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies. prgtoken There must be a multi-pronged approach to solving the drug crisis in the United States, it must include treatment upon demand; education; increase resources for border interdiction and seizure of illicit drugs and advanced technology to detect and track those who may be engaged in illegal activity along the border. prgtoken The Border Enforcement Security Task Force is accomplishing the important law enforcement component of border security. prgtoken The Border Enforcement Security Task Force achieves its goal of border security enhancement by facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information among such agencies. prgtoken The BEST program is currently administered by DHS, and involves information sharing and law-enforcement operations between personnel from federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law-enforcement agencies to combat criminal activity near the United States borders. prgtoken This program has established teams of law enforcement agents from over 100 law enforcement agencies that form units to investigate transnational criminal activity. prgtoken This approach supports better cooperation and collaboration among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies when investigating criminal activity along the southwest and northern borders, as well as at the nation's major seaports. prgtoken Since their inception, BEST Units have collectively initiated more than 10,654 cases. prgtoken These actions have resulted in more than: prgtoken 2,718 criminal arrests prgtoken 7,245 administrative arrests prgtoken 110,711 pounds of cocaine prgtoken 5,517 pounds of ecstasy prgtoken 1,764 pounds of heroin prgtoken 1,036,749 pounds of marijuana prgtoken 6,325 pounds of methamphetamine prgtoken 2,988,561 rounds of ammunition prgtoken 4,657 vehicles $130.2 million in U.S. currency prgtoken 15,062 weapons prgtoken This bill instructs the Secretary
Yemen (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-5-17

. I thank Senator Young for making it clear in his prepared remarks that while we are focusing on the Saudis because we are part of this coalition, the Houthis do not have clean hands here either. Part of the reason humanitarian supplies have a hard time getting to places that need them is because there are roadblocks put up by the Houthis as well. And there is this known connection between the Houthis and the Iranians--sometimes, in my opinion, a bit overplayed by some foreign policy thinkers, but it is real. prgtoken To your second point in answer to my question, Senator Young, that is, to my mind, also a likely result of a deepening of the military conflict. If the Houthis had nowhere to turn, then the calculation might be different, but because the Iranians are there as a support system to lean on, a continued military campaign against Hodeidah would push them deeper into a corner and just broaden the scope of the military conflict. prgtoken There ultimately has to be a political resolution here, and by simply upping the military ante and continuing the humanitarian crisis, you get further away from that political negotiating table rather than closer to it.
HONORING CPL. HAROLD WESBECHER (RET.)
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-5-18

I rise today in recognition of Harold Wesbecher's honorable service to our nation during the Korean War. prgtoken Born February 16, 1929, in Evansville, Illinois, Harold graduated from Red Bud High School in 1947 and was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 19, 1952. prgtoken Faithfully serving our country over a two year deployment in the Southwest Pacific, Harold toured Mt. Fuji and Sendi, Japan alongside Pusan and the Chun Chon Valley of Korea. Guarding the Neutral Nations Inspection Team in Korea until May of 1954, Harold returned home to continue farming beef cattle and row crops for 60 years upon being discharged from the service. prgtoken The husband to Gerry Wesbecher and father of two children, Harold is known to his family as ``The Boss'' because of his hard work, integrity, and honesty. Today, he continues to be a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he serves on the parish board. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the service that Harold dutifully gave to our nation during the Korean War. We are forever grateful for his service.
THIN BLUE LINE ACT
Martha Roby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-5-18

I am proud that the House, this week, is taking action to support our law enforcement officers and their families as we mark National Police Week. prgtoken We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to law enforcement officers at all levels: State and local police officers, sheriffs, firefighters, first responders, and our Federal agents. They all put their lives on the line to keep this country and our communities safe. prgtoken Congress must always ensure that our law enforcement agencies have the proper tools and resources to get the job done, and I am honored to play a role in this important work through my service on the Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science. prgtoken But, , law enforcement officers need more than equipment and funding. They need our support. They need our support because they are under attack. The last few years have seen a disturbing uptick in the instances of police being targeted by violent criminals just because they are wearing a badge. prgtoken According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, at least 64 police officers were shot and killed in the line of duty last year, 21 of which were ambush-style killings. Attacks in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Chicago, and other places were chilling reminders of the dangers these brave individuals face when they go to work. prgtoken It is time to send a clear, strong message: If you kill a law enforcement officer, you will be brought to justice and punished to the full extent of the law. That is why I am proud to support H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act. prgtoken Under current law, killing a Federal law enforcement officer is an aggravating factor when considering a death sentence for the offender, just as it should be. However, the same deterrent and prosecution is not extended to State and local police officers, firefighters, or first responders. The Thin Blue Line Act would change this by making the murder of local law enforcement an aggravating factor when considering a death sentence. prgtoken , had this provision been in place just 4 years ago, it would have applied to the Boston bombing case when the bombers killed a local campus officer. It would also apply when State and local officers serve on joint law enforcement task forces. prgtoken States all over the country are taking action to support law enforcement through stronger protection for officers and stricter penalties for criminals, and I believe Congress should do the same.
The Internet (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-5-18

the internet worked great in 2014 when there were no Federal net neutrality rules. Truth be told, even after the -era Federal Communications Commission applied depression-era phone monopoly regulations to broadband in 2015, most Americans saw little or no difference in their internet experience. The internet still creates jobs, expands educational opportunities, keeps us in touch with loved ones, and, as a bonus, it is often entertaining. prgtoken This internet that we know and love isn't going to fall apart anytime soon, no matter what the FCC decides. But there are important policy questions that need to be answered about how the internet will grow and develop into the future. Let's put the apocalyptic rhetoric and fearmongering aside. prgtoken The internet doesn't belong just to s, , big Silicon Valley tech companies, internet service providers, small Silicon Prairie startups, or the Federal Government. It belongs to everyone. It is global. It is best when it is free and open. prgtoken Today, as the FCC reconsiders the flawed broadband regulations it issued only 2 years ago, Congress should look back at the path that we could have taken but didn't. In November of 2014, I offered former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler an opportunity for and s to come together to craft a permanent legislative solution banning controversial practices known as blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of internet traffic. With colleagues in the House of Representatives, I even put forward a draft bill doing exactly that. It wasn't a final offer but, rather, an outreach to get the conversation started. I thought the time and opportunity to protect the open internet on a bipartisan basis had arrived. Through bipartisan legislation, I believed Congress should put into statute widely accepted principles of network management, commonly referred to as ``net neutrality.'' prgtoken Our idea for legislation was straightforward: Combine protections ensuring that owners of broadband infrastructure can't use their role to manipulate the user experience with those guaranteeing a continuation of the light-touch regulatory policies that helped the internet thrive for two decades. prgtoken But Chairman Wheeler rejected our idea for bipartisan legislation. Instead, he and his staff lobbied to block such discussions from even happening in Congress. He then, with only partisan support, issued an order that gave the FCC authority to regulate the internet under old laws designed for phone monopolies and eliminated all the authority the Federal Trade Commission had to police broadband providers. prgtoken I represent South Dakota, a rural State that is home to small but still very innovative technology businesses. In other parts of the State, communities lack access to high-speed broadband. In the debate over the FCC regulating broadband with rules designed for phone monopolies, there were many
DC CENTRAL KITCHEN HELPS THE UNDERSERVED
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-5-18

earlier this week, I had the privilege of visiting the DC Central Kitchen, which is a nonprofit that fights hunger and poverty here in the Nation's Capital. But it fights hunger differently. Yes, DC Central Kitchen feeds people who are hungry. It also offers the training, empowerment, and career opportunities that allow people to finally be free from hunger and poverty. prgtoken As chairman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition of the Committee on Agriculture, this visit was especially important to me, and I am grateful that I could volunteer and tour the site with my colleague and subcommittee ranking member, Congressman Jim McGovern. prgtoken DC Central Kitchen is located in the basement of one of the Nation's largest homeless shelters. It focuses its services on addressing the deeper issues that have plagued generations: hunger, homelessness, incarceration, and, ultimately, poverty. prgtoken CEO Michael Curtin made it very clear that DC Central Kitchen isn't merely offering handouts to those in need. He said, ``You can't feed your way out of poverty,'' and I wholeheartedly agree with him. DC Central Kitchen puts as much emphasis on training those who come through its doors to prepare them to earn living wages as it does to provide meals to Washington's marginalized citizens. prgtoken People who receive services there truly do have a chance to escape poverty. They find employment right at DC Central Kitchen or in Washington's hospitality industry. DC Central Kitchen is helping people find jobs that pay living wages and obtain lasting careers. prgtoken In 1989, a nightclub manager named Robert Egger founded DC Central Kitchen. He was frustrated with his volunteer experiences at traditional charitable responses to help end hunger and homelessness. His idea was to create a ``central kitchen'' where wasted food could be turned into balanced meals for shelters and nonprofits and jobless adults could be trained in the culinary arts. prgtoken Of course, the critics said it couldn't be done. It was unwise. It was unsustainable. The concept was just not possible, they said. Well, they were wrong. And Robert was ahead of the curve and ahead of his time. prgtoken DC Central Kitchen's successes have been celebrated nationally. Its story has been featured in outlets ranging from National Geographic to The Washington Post to The Chronicle of Philanthropy and many more places. It works every day to transform food that would otherwise be wasted into nutritious meals for homeless shelters and nonprofits. It serves farm-to-school menus to low-income schoolchildren, all while creating job opportunities for unemployed adults who have completed its culinary job training program. prgtoken The numbers are clear. Last year, 91 individuals graduated from the program; 88 percent of them found good-paying jobs. Fifty percent of last year's graduates received a wage increase within 12 months of being on that job. prgtoken DC Central Kitch
Tribute to Michael Carson (Executive Session)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-5-18

every week I have been coming to the Senate floor to talk about someone in my great State of Alaska who makes Alaska a better place for all of us--for the community, for everybody living there. I call this person our Alaskan of the Week. To be honest, it is one of the most fulfilling things I get to do as a Senator, recognizing back home and across the country special people in my State. prgtoken There is no doubt that many here in the Chamber and the people who are watching from home have seen pictures and television shows about Alaska. We are a little biased--I know one of our pages is an Alaskan-- that we have the most beautiful State, not only in the country but in the world. So we want to encourage everybody watching to come visit Alaska. It will be the trip of a lifetime, absolutely guaranteed. It is truly the people of Alaska who make our State so special, people with big hearts who band together to solve challenges. Like all places, we have challenges. prgtoken This week I would like to recognize Michael Carson for his work to help people in Alaska who are struggling with addiction. We know this is a problem that is impacting every single State in our great Nation. Michael lives in Palmer, AK, a picturesque town about 45 miles from Anchorage in Alaska's vast Matanuska-Susitna Valley--what we just call the Valley or the Mat-Su. It is about the size of West Virginia, so don't get me going on the size of Alaska. It will embarrass most of my--actually all of my colleagues here, unfortunately for them. Palmer is flanked by the rolling Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the saw- toothed Chugach Mountains to the south. It is a close-knit community where most people know each other. prgtoken Many people in Palmer and the Mat-Su across the State know Michael Carson's name. Like many Alaskans, Michael's story is one full of adventure. Originally from California, he received his undergraduate in early childhood development from the University of Texas. After hitchhiking through Africa and spending a summer in Mexico, he took a job teaching in Nome, AK, in 1974. A few years later, he moved to the Mat-Su to teach and taught our students for many years. prgtoken He retired from teaching, but his yearning to help people, particularly our youth, did not leave him. He got a job at Covenant House in Anchorage, which is a homeless youth shelter. It is a wonderful place, by the way. I am a little biased on this one; my wife Julie happens to work at Covenant House. Michael's shift started at 8 p.m. and ended at 8 a.m. That is what he was doing at Covenant House. He spent those hours walking through the city, reaching out to kids on the streets, sharing his own story, and inspiring our youth because his story also involves recovery. It is a privilege to say here on the Senate floor that Mike has been sober for 29 years. prgtoken Eventually realizing that kids in the Mat-Su Valley also needed a place to g
RECOGNIZING HERNANDO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Daniel Webster (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-5-18

I am honored to recognize Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, City of Brooksville Police Chief George Turner, and the law enforcement officers who keep Hernando County safe every single day. This week marks the annual observance of Police Week. Though we set aside one week a year to honor law enforcement, I encourage all Americans to join me not only this week, but every day, in recognizing the honor, courage, and commitment of America's law enforcement. Our law enforcement officers are heroes in the community. They keep us safe, and are willing to put their lives on the line every day in the course of their duties. It is impossible to fully express our gratitude or adequately recognize the professionalism of the men and women who voluntarily put their lives on the line for our safety and security. It is with deep respect that we pause today to honor the memory of the heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion and made the ultimate sacrifice. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, City of Brooksville Police Chief George Turner, and the law enforcement officers who bravely and selflessly serve Hernando County. It is an honor to recognize them and all men and women in law enforcement.