mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PRESERVING ACCESS TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING ACT OF 2017
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-12-1

I rise today in support of the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017, legislation of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor. prgtoken In west Tennessee, where I am from, and in other rural areas across the country, there is no doubt that manufactured housing is a critical and affordable option for many families. In fact, more than 8\1/2\ million families--that is roughly 22 million Americans--have chosen this option because of the affordability and the value. Where I am from, one out of ten west Tennesseans has chosen manufactured housing as the best option to make their home. prgtoken For this reason, our legislation is essential to protecting consumer choices and financing options for those seeking to buy a manufactured home, while also leaving in place important consumer protections. prgtoken In fact, close to 60 percent of new manufactured homes sell for less than $70,000, and are usually available at lower monthly payments than what it prgtoken costs to rent. Manufactured homes are offered as a fixed rate, fixed term option. prgtoken , I am pleased to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, which will allow many Americans seeking the American Dream of owning a home to continue to have access to affordable manufactured housing.
PRESERVING ACCESS TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING ACT OF 2017
Barry Loudermilk (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-12-1

I thank the chairman for yielding time. prgtoken Clearly, , the overregulation of Dodd-Frank, coupled with unfettered agencies like the CFPB, have hurt Americans from Wall Street to Main Street. But today, , I am not here to talk about Wall Street or Main Street but a little two-lane street in Cassville, Georgia, named ``Mac Johnson.'' prgtoken Cassville is a rural community that has a small post office, a little country store, and a lot of hardworking people who call it their home. Many of the people who live in Cassville work at one of the many factories in the local area. prgtoken While these hardworking Americans are not the upper middle class, they are the backbone of America's economy. And like 22 million other Americans, many of them live in a manufactured home. Along Mac Johnson, you will find a number of manufactured homes--some on individual lots, some on farmland, and some in quaint, little mobile home parks. prgtoken As it is across the Nation, almost half of those living in these homes have incomes of less than $30,000 a year, and many are retired or disabled. Historically, manufactured homes have allowed families, who couldn't afford the cost of a traditionally constructed house, the ability to achieve the American Dream. prgtoken However, the CFPB has expanded enforcement of regulations that were designed for mortgage lending on traditional homes to include manufactured home retailers. This has made it much more difficult for consumers to obtain financing for these homes. prgtoken , this bill reins in Federal regulations just enough to give needed relief to the manufactured housing industry and allow families access to these affordable homes. prgtoken I fully support this bipartisan bill, which gained the support of two-thirds of the Financial Services Committee industry, and I commend my colleague from the great State of Kentucky for bringing this bill forward.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONTINUED
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-12-1

from Michigan for focusing on the issue of wages because that was the promise--right?-- that if you give corporations a tax cut of more than $1.3 trillion-- with a ``t''--all of a sudden, you are going to see wages go up, and workers are going to do a lot better. We know that hasn't happened in recent history. We will see if the argument is correct. prgtoken I want to put a few facts on the record in light of the debate this afternoon. Many people in both parties have been referring to the documents of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the JCT. I am looking at one of the documents right now to go through some data. This is dated November 27. It is D-17-54 for the Joint Committee on Taxation. Here is some basic data. prgtoken The Joint Committee on Taxation, which is, of course, Congress's official scorekeeper, finds that in 2019--right away, early in the implementation of the bill, if this bill is to pass and if the version we just received is to pass--the Senate plan increases taxes on nearly 13 million families earning under $200,000 a year. That is what the document tells us. prgtoken That is the under-$200,000 category and 13 million families just in 2019. If you break it down further in terms of folks making between, say, $50,000 and $75,000 and then $75,000 and $100,000, almost 20 percent of Americans earning between $50,000 and $75,000 a year will see a tax increase or a tax cut of less than $100. That works out to be about $9 a month. Those individuals will have that tax consequence in 2019. So between $50,000 and $75,000 will see either a tax increase or a tax cut of $100 or less.
REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN BAD TAX POLICY
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-12-1

the tax plan that provides massive, permanent tax cuts to the largest corporations and tax increases for millions of middle class Americans is bad tax policy. prgtoken Let's be honest about what it does. This $1.5 trillion tax cut will trigger cuts to domestic programs in the amount of $150 billion every year, including $25 billion in cuts to Medicare, with 55 million Americans who rely on it being put at risk if this bill becomes law. prgtoken , it is bad enough that this tax policy favors the largest corporations over middle class Americans, but to effect these kinds of massive cuts by tricking the American people in order to try to do it is shameful. prgtoken We have to defeat this bill, prevent these massive cuts, and protect the 55 million Americans on Medicare from a $25 billion cut.
COMMEMORATING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE METHODIST DALLAS MEDICAL CENTER
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-12-1

I rise to honor the Methodist Dallas Medical Center for its 90 years of service in the Dallas community. The medical services provided by the United Methodist Church in the greater North Texas region have played a major role as our community continues to grow. prgtoken In 1924, a group of Methodist ministers and civic leaders came together to bring quality healthcare to the city of Dallas. With the help of many donations from the Methodist Church, local congregations, and others, the Methodist Dallas Medical Center, a 100-bed facility, was opened in 1927. prgtoken The hospital persevered through the Great Depression and started to thrive in the middle of the century. The construction of new facilities, including a three-story student nurse's residence provided classroom space for nursing education and community programs. Additionally, the hospital itself grew to include 420 beds, expanding to more than four times its original size. prgtoken In 1995, Methodist hospitals expanded to opening the Family Health Centers. Currently there are 24 centers located across north Texas including locations in Arlington, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Midlothian, Richardson, Waxahachie, and Wylie. prgtoken The Methodist Dallas Medical Center is now the main teaching and referral center for the Methodist Health System and one of the leading teaching and referral hospitals in all of Texas. The Medical Center now features 585 beds and 250 physicians that specialize in more than 60 medical specialties. It has been recognized among the top performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission because of its evidence- based clinical processes that have been shown to improve care for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and strokes. prgtoken Its presence in the community is grounded in faith, and the hospital's ties to the United Methodist Church is strengthened by the presence of Methodist ministers and church members on governing boards, and its commitment to pastoral education, 24-hour chaplain services, and health ministries at local churches. Additionally, its wide variety of outreach activities, including mobile health screenings and local clinics help bring its services even closer to the community. I want to recognize the Methodist Health System, specifically the prgtoken Methodist Dallas Medical Center, for its remarkable service to the Dallas community by improving the community's member's health and well- being.
REASONS WHY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP SHOULD BE IMPEACHED
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-12-1

I thank the leadership for this opportunity. I greatly appreciate any opportunity to stand here in the well of the Congress of the United States of America. prgtoken I rise today, , because I do love my country. I rise because I want persons to know that there are certain things that are not being presented properly, and one of the things that is not being presented properly as it relates to impeachment is the notion that a President has to commit a crime to be impeached. I would like to talk about this for a moment and then address some of the issues associated with impeachment. prgtoken A President doesn't have to commit a crime to be impeached. Article II, section 4 of the Constitution of the United States of America is where we find information, if you will, on impeachment. It is stated in Article II, section 4 that a President can be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. prgtoken , it is important to note that a misdemeanor is defined as a misdeed. There is a definition associated with criminology, but when the Framers of the Constitution decided that impeachment would be a remedy for a President who might be styled a runaway President, they decided that ``misdemeanor'' would mean misdeed. prgtoken In fact, we have had a President impeached for a misdeed. Andrew Johnson, in 1868, President, was impeached for the high misdemeanor, misdeed, if you will, of saying things that were unkind about Congress. prgtoken He committed no crime. He breached no statute. He spoke ill will of Congress, and as such, he was impeached in article X of the Articles of Impeachment that were placed against him. prgtoken I would like to share some intelligence from some others who have spoken on this issue. prgtoken Gene Healy has spoken on the issue. He is with the Cato Institute, and his article is styled ``The Overcriminalization of Impeachment.'' In this article, he states explicitly, on the second page, for whose who might have a copy of it--I have filed this with the House previously--``Impeachable offenses aren't limited to crimes.'' He indicates that that is settled quite well among constitutional scholars. prgtoken He also goes on to say: ``Had the Framers restricted impeachment to statutory offenses, they'd have rendered the power a `nullity' from the start.'' prgtoken In the early Republic, there were very few crimes, and certainly not enough to cover the range of misdeeds--important word, ``misdeeds''-- that would rightly disqualify public officials from continued service-- misdeeds, misdemeanors. prgtoken He goes on to say that it is important to get this straight because confusing impeachment with a criminal process can be harmful to our political health. It may lead us to stretch criminal law to get the President or his associates warping its future applications to ordinary citizens. prgtoken It is important that we get this straight because a crime, obviously, can be an impeachabl
TAX SCAM
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-12-1

the tax scam picks clear winners and losers, yet our colleagues are rushing it through Congress faster than President can retweet British racists. prgtoken Let's be clear: the winners in this tax scam are the country's wealthiest, including , his family, and his billionaire cronies in his Cabinet. Meanwhile, students, middle class families, homeowners, and seniors across this country are the losers. They are left holding the bag. prgtoken Californians get an especially raw deal because my colleagues want to impose an unfair double tax on the State and local taxes that we pay. prgtoken There is more bad news for Californians. Homeowners will be hit by a new cap on mortgage interest deductions, students will have to start paying taxes on student loan interest, graduate students will lose tax- free tuition waivers, and biotech companies who focus on ultra rare diseases will see their tax credit disappear. prgtoken The tax bill is unbelievably bad and historically unpopular, for good reason, but it is not too late for my colleagues to stop it.
HONORING BISHOP S.F. MAKALANI-MAHEE (1972-2017)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-12-1

today it is my privilege to honor the life of Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee, a minister and transgender activist from Oakland Park, Florida, who was the youngest pastor ever commissioned by the Unity Fellowship Church. prgtoken S.F. was born on July 5, 1972 to Barbara MaHee and the late Adisa Makalani. The family's Sundays were spent in church, where S.F. enjoyed serenading the congregation with gospel renditions of ``Jesus Can Work It Out.'' S.F. found his love of Broadway at the Julia Richman High School in New York, where producer Cheryl Weisenfeld cast him in a production of Grease. prgtoken After moving to Atlanta with family, S.F. began teaching theater courses, as well as lecturing for Georgia State University, Soapstone Center for the Performing Arts, and Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. He also founded the Heart Theater, a youth theater troupe, where he wrote and directed Journeys, an educational play focused on HIV/AIDS. prgtoken Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee came to South Florida in 1997 where he found his community, his congregation and his purpose. S.F. began working at the PRIDE Center in Wilton Manors, as well as many other non-profits. He founded Black Gay Pride South Florida and co-founded BLACKOUT, South Florida's first African-American LGBTQ Film Festival. S.F. was the first transgender person to be appointed to the Broward County Human Rights Board. He was also an active member of the Dolphin , the longest continually-operating LGBTQ advocacy group in the South. prgtoken Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee spent his life loving others unconditionally. Before his untimely passing, S.F. served as the Coordinator of the Transgender Program at the Broward County Department of Health, where he advocated for fellow members of South Florida's transgender community. S.F. passed away on November 20, 2017, this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance. He is survived by his mother Barbara; his siblings Darcy, Jeffrey, Justin, and Marsha; and several nephews. He is also survived by a community of friends across South Florida, Atlanta, and New York who he considered his family.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONTINUED
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-12-1

I am here to support the motion offered by Senator Cantwell, to speak out against a tax bill that is nothing short of highway robbery on New Jerseyans. prgtoken This tax plan is about one thing. It is about cutting taxes for wealthy corporations and asking working families to pay for it. It is especially bad for middle-class families in New Jersey, New York, Washington, Maryland, and other high-earning States that make bold investments in education, that drive the most innovation, that generate the most Federal revenue. prgtoken Don't let the s fool you if they airdrop an amendment at the last minute that throws a few crumbs at New Jersey families and call it a victory. Carve-outs, caps, and exceptions are nothing but gimmicks meant to distract the public from what is really going on. No matter how you slice it, gutting or even limiting the State and local tax deduction is a direct assault on middle-class families in America's highest earning, most economically productive States. By gutting the SALT deduction, s will literally force millions of middle- class families across America to pay taxes on their taxes. prgtoken In 2015 alone, nearly 1.8 million New Jersey households deducted a combined $32 billion in State, local, and property taxes from their Federal tax bill. These families aren't living large. They are middle- class folks who had to work hard for every dollar they have. In fact, IRS data shows that more than 85 percent of taxpayers who claim the SALT deduction make under $200,000 a year and over half make under $100,000 a year. So it is wrong to ask millions of Americans who had to fight their way into the middle class to pay more just prgtoken so big corporations can pay less, and rubbing salt in their wounds is the fact that s let corporations keep on deducting their State and local taxes on top of the huge tax cuts lavished on them by this tax plan. prgtoken If deducting State and local taxes is so important for big corporations that make billions of dollars each year, s should understand why it is so important for middle-class families in cities and suburbs across America. That is why I am offering this motion with Senator Cantwell to send the bill back to committee to fix this fatal flaw and restore the SALT deduction. If it is good enough for huge corporations, it should be good enough for middle-class families. prgtoken I have heard many of my colleagues complain about the SALT deduction as if it is some subsidy for States like New Jersey, and that hypocrisy is just amazing to me. Far from subsidizing successful States like New Jersey or New York, the SALT deduction actually benefits the entire Nation, which is able to share in the economic rewards created by the high-powered economies of States like New Jersey, and now s want to take even more. Well, we are sick and tired of it, and we want our money back. prgtoken I w
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONTINUED
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-12-1

. In going over the history as to how the income tax came about, it really was part of Federalism. They needed the consent of the States to change the Constitution. It was a partnership with our States, and that is why, from its inception, there has been respect for State and local taxation as a deduction from the Federal income tax. prgtoken This is not a special interest; this is how we finance government. We finance government at the Federal level, the State level, and the local level. If this bill becomes law, we are violating it. prgtoken , I will ask my colleague from Oregon to let me have a minute more for two or three more points on this that I think are important; that is, there are effects that are going to take place as a result of the limitation of State and local taxes. We are going to see effects on property values. The Realtors and real estate industries have made that clear. It is going to affect the tax base of local government. prgtoken This bill is going to affect charitable giving. Why do I say that charitable giving is part of this? Because I was talking to the mayor of Baltimore, Catherine Pugh, earlier today. She has serious problems with law enforcement in Baltimore. She is depending upon private groups and their generosity to help deal with the problems of Baltimore. It is going to be much more difficult for private groups to be able to get charitable contributions if this bill becomes law. So there will be impact on this that will affect our State and local governments, in addition to the elimination of the State and local tax deduction. prgtoken Here is one last point, if I might make it, in regard to middle- income taxpayers. I respect greatly my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the charge that they show, but these charges don't include the effect of the increase of the estate tax because that has not been made part of the calculations. It does not take into consideration 13 million people who no longer are going to have health insurance. That has not been taken into consideration in the charge they are showing. prgtoken It doesn't take into consideration, in the charge, that the corporation profits they are going to make as a result of these tax cuts are going to most likely go to stock buyouts, rather than helping the workers. That is not reflected. prgtoken So when you take a look at all of it--and we do have some analysis that has been done that is objective--middle-income taxpayers are at a disadvantage under this tax bill. prgtoken I thank my friend from Oregon for yielding me that time.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONTINUED
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2017-12-1

I thank my good friend, the Senator from Oregon. prgtoken I want to put this in perspective. I don't think there is a person more bipartisan than I am. I don't think there is a person who has signed more bills in a bipartisan way with my friends than I have--who has voted on more bills or more amendments than I have as a . prgtoken I am really so frustrated. I thought that we could make this place work. That was my purpose in being here. I truly have done everything I possibly could. I reached out. The White House was kind enough to reach out to me. I sat down and I talked to all of the people who are in charge of writing this legislation from the White House. I sat down with my colleagues. I gave them some suggestions and ideas. We brought people together, thinking we could find a bipartisan way. prgtoken I will tell you, as I see it unfold tonight, this has been designed not to have even me, as one , on the bill, and I want to be. I want to be part of a reform for the first time in 30 years. I look back at Ronald Reagan. He was a hero to all of us. He had 97 votes; 97 Senators voted for the legislation that he crafted. There were adjustments--a give-and-take. But every time, I would think, well, if I have some ideas, shouldn't you at least listen to me; listen to what we think? prgtoken Two days ago, we did a press conference. I invited all of my colleagues. I thought: Well, I and Senator Heitkamp from North Dakota and Senator Donnelly from Indiana--I knew the three of us would show up. I had 14 other colleagues who were craving to be involved; they wanted to be involved. I saw my good friend, Bob Corker, Senator Corker from Tennessee. I asked him: Can we have a few more days to look at this? That was denied. prgtoken I don't know what it is going to take. Maybe we have hit the proverbial wall. This is the first time I know of, in the history of the United States of America, that we have ever done this type of major reform without having a bipartisan objective for it. There is not one bipartisan vote on this piece of legislation, and I am looking; I have been looking and trying. prgtoken People have called me today from my home, asking: What have you seen? Do you like something? I said: I haven't seen that much. I am still trying to find the bill. I promised them: I will see something before I vote on it. I won't be able to read it, but I am going to see it. I want to see something. prgtoken I would love for us to take the time to sit down and work on this and see it. I think you would be surprised. I think not only could we get to 60, we could get above 60 votes on this, and that is what it should be. prgtoken In 2010, I thought my ic colleagues who voted for the Affordable Care Act with not one on it were wrong. I thought that was wrong. I understand from the history--I wasn't here; I was a Governor at that time-- prgtoken tha