mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEHOOD FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2017-3-2

I come to the House this afternoon because a very significant event occurred yesterday in the Senate. prgtoken The Mayor of the District of Columbia, the city council chair, a statehood representative, a statehood senator all came to the Capitol to deliver a petition from the residents of the District of Columbia. Residents voted 85 percent strong that the District of Columbia become the 51st State. At the same time, I introduced the bill to bring that about. prgtoken This afternoon I want to discuss why the residents of this city would want to become a State. I find that Members of Congress are almost entirely ignorant of the status of the District of Columbia, and, frankly, I cannot really blame them. prgtoken Members of Congress have no reason to be concerned about the District and its 670,000 residents. That is my concern. Candidly, I wish Members of Congress would not be concerned at all. There are a number of ways in which the Congress could leave the city alone. prgtoken Statehood is, of course, the ultimate reason and way; and it is the only way that the residents of this city can become equal to the residents represented by my colleagues. This is indeed, as we come now full throttle into the 21st century, in the name of democracy and of American values, why statehood for the District of Columbia simply must come. prgtoken On this House floor, the residents of the District of Columbia have no vote and, of course, they have no senators whatsoever. prgtoken What do they give to their country? prgtoken Let us begin with something very tangible. The residents of this city are number one per capita in the federal taxes they pay to support the United States of America. Let us translate that into a comparison to the taxes my colleagues pay. The residents of this city pay more in federal taxes than the residents of 22 States, and this city is not yet a State. prgtoken When a matter comes to this floor, every Member can vote on that matter, even when that matter involves uniquely the District of Columbia--every Member can vote on that matter, except the Member who represents the District of Columbia. prgtoken The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where the Member representing the District can vote, just voted to eliminate a District law. Imagine that. In the United States of America, the Congress of the United States, unaccountable to the residents of the city of Washington, D.C on local matters can overturn a bill. They have done so in committee on an admittedly controversial bill. prgtoken I don't expect every State and city to agree with the District of Columbia on matters affecting our city. The DC Death with Dignity bill would allow people to take their own lives with a drug in their possession administered by themselves. In order to do so, two doctors have to have found that the resident does not have more than six months to live, among other requirements. prgtoken A third of those who choose th
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF BROWNSVILLE
Filemon Vela (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today to honor the Rotary Club of Brownsville for their 100th year of service. prgtoken Located in South Texas, the Rotary Club of Brownsville was founded in 1916. Since its formation, the club has lived up to its promise of service above self. For 100 years, its members have dedicated time, money and energy to helping those who need it most. prgtoken The accomplishments of the Rotary Club include opening the city's first hospital, Mercy Hospital, in 1923; forming a Boy Scout troop; funding the Brownsville Endowment for Teaching Excellence Program; and establishing an Adoption Awareness program. Their achievements have extended beyond the region as this club joined Rotary members throughout the world to fund the Polio Plus Project, a $120 million effort to wipe the disease from the face of the earth. prgtoken The Rotary Club of Brownsville has made a lasting, positive impact in our community, and they will continue to play a critical role in the development of South Texas. I rise today to congratulate them for their century of success.
HONORING JAMES ALLEN ADAMS
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today to honor James ``Jimmy'' Allen Adams, whom the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce has named Employee of the Year in its annual Community Service Awards. This award recognizes individuals in our community who embody the industry and innovation which makes them exceptional employees. Mr. Adams is highly deserving of this award. prgtoken Mr. Adams has been a remarkable employee with Sunshine Foods for 12 years. He is a respected and well-liked coworker and an indispensable employee. Mr. Adams is a Navy Veteran, partner to Jim Villanueva for the past 23 years and the owner of two miniature schnauzer dogs. prgtoken Outside of his work with Sunshine Foods, Mr. Adams is a member of the Bay Area Stage Theater Group the On the Fringe acting group. He enjoys gardening and auditioning for different acting roles. He recently worked on the new Selena Gomez Netflix television show, 13 Reasons Why. prgtoken , Mr. Jimmy Adams is a diligent, hardworking employee in our business community and the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce has rightly recognized his great contributions. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.
IN RECOGNITION OF CRONIG'S MARKET
William R. Keating (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today in recognition of Cronig's Market on Martha's Vineyard, which on March 10th will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary. prgtoken The Cronig Brothers grocery store was opened in 1917 by the four Cronig Brothers, Sam, Ed, Theodore or ``Tebby'', and Henry Cronig, first generation immigrants from Lithuania. Sam Cronig, the oldest son of ten siblings, came to the United States in 1904 and arrived on Martha's Vineyard in 1905 to work on a farm in Eastville. He soon moved on to work for several established grocery stores up until 1917, when he and his three brothers opened the Cronig Brothers grocery store. prgtoken Though the store experienced the trials and tribulations of a small retail business of that era, by 1923, the Cronigs had 51 employees on their payroll. Through the early years of business, it has been referred to as Cronig Bros. Public Market, The Public Market and Vineyard Haven Public Market. It continued its rapid expansion from a store front to occupying an entire building by 1940. prgtoken 1957 marked the end of an era. Sam Cronig retired and handed over operational control to his sons, Robert and David Cronig. A decade later, Jeffrey and Donald Cronig had also joined the store. Robert and David then went on to add a second supermarket to the growing business, eventually handing over management to Steve Bernier in 1986. prgtoken Today, Cronig's has expanded to three locations, the larger Down- Island Cronig's, the cozy Up-Island Cronig's, and Healthy Additions, a two floor health food and supplement store. A pillar in the Martha's Vineyard community, Cronig's has remained committed to its customers by providing fresh, local ingredients and has led the way with several eco-friendly initiatives. prgtoken , I am proud to recognize Cronig's Market on this joyous occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating the Market's centennial year and look forward to a future of continued prosperity.
REMEMBERING EDWARD ``ED'' GARVEY
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-3-2

today I wish to honor the life of my friend Edward ``Ed'' Garvey. Ed spent his lifetime fighting for equality, justice, and fairness for all Wisconsinites and Americans and did so with passion, joy, and a great Irish wit. prgtoken Ed was born in 1940 in Burlington, WI, to Edward and June Garvey. His legacy of leadership and service began at a young age. He emerged as a young leader in Wisconsin through Badger Boys State and as student body president at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. prgtoken Ed's lifelong commitment to social justice and racial equality began in college. As a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Council, Ed traveled to the South to join the African American civil rights movement. Following 2 years serving our Nation in the Army, Ed attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1969. prgtoken Thereafter, Ed joined the Minneapolis law firm Lindquist and Vennum and worked for the newly formed National Football League Players Association--NFLPA. For 12 years, Ed fought for labor rights for NFL players and workers, first as the NFLPA's attorney and eventually as its first executive director. He won greater freedom and economic fairness for the players, securing a fair share of profits for players who at the time needed second jobs to supplement their $35,000 salaries. prgtoken Ed was never shy or deferential. He spoke truth to power and challenged the system anywhere he found an injustice. He loved a good fight, and he took great pleasure in the battles, but he was always respectful and driven by the progressive values that guided him. In moments of the greatest conflict, Ed would often use humor to disarm others while making a point. Even his greatest adversaries appreciated his principled positions and enjoyed his wit and intellect. prgtoken After more than a decade with the NFL, Ed returned home and was named Wisconsin Deputy Attorney General, where he took on big polluters and fought for environmental protections. He ran for the Senate twice, and in his bid for Governor in 1998, Ed not only fought for campaign finance reform, he led by example because he has always been deeply committed to changing a system where powerful interests have too much influence over public policy. While Ed came up short in his campaigns, he never gave up his fight for the ``little guy'' as a respected lawyer and as a leading progressive voice in our State. prgtoken Ed understood how important it is to pass on to the next generation our proud, progressive tradition in Wisconsin. He founded ``Fighting Bob Fest'' to honor the legacy of former progressive Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Robert ``Fighting Bob'' LaFollette. Each year, Ed brought progressives together from across the country to share this tradition and give people a voice. prgtoken Ed's list of accomplishments and successes is long and has one thing common: He was committed to something bigger than he was. I
Introductory Statement on S. 503
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-2

today I am introducing the Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act. This bill is a necessary step to restoring public information on animal cruelty that was removed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, website under the administration. prgtoken On February 3, 2017, APHIS removed information from its website related to oversight and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, AWA, and Horse Protection Act, HPA, including animal inspection and licensing reports for more than 9,000 licensed facilities that use animals--facilities like commercial dog breeding operators, animal research labs, roadside zoos, and horse show participants. Since 2009, APHIS has made this information public to increase transparency and hold violators of these animal cruelty laws accountable. This information is now hidden from the public and is only available through a Freedom of Information Act Request, which can take months and sometimes even years for an agency to respond. prgtoken The Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act restores transparency by requiring APHIS to once again make AWA and HPA inspection reports accessible to the public. In my view, transparency is key when it comes to giving animal lovers and consumers information about whether their pets or the products they buy are the result of heartbreaking beginnings. These inspection reports also help law enforcement officials track and understand trends in animal welfare violations. prgtoken Preventing animal cruelty starts with getting facts out to consumers. By shedding light on AWA and HPA violations, the Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act holds accountable puppy mill operators and other businesses that use animals for breeding, research, and testing. prgtoken To ensure that taxpayers are not paying for entities that violate animal welfare laws, the Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act also prohibits businesses that are found to be in violation of the AWA or HPA from collecting certain tax benefits. prgtoken Under current tax and accounting rules, companies can write off the value of breeding and working animals on their taxes using accelerated depreciation, as if those animals are machinery. They keep that preferential and valuable tax benefit, even if they violate animal cruelty laws. The Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act puts an end to this practice and holds companies accountable for breaking the law by prohibiting businesses found to have violated AWA or HPA from claiming accelerated depreciation for tax purposes for five years. prgtoken The Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act is a much needed step to restore transparency in animal cruelty and to hold companies accountable for violating the law. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
CALLING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-3-2

as recently as 2006, Hawaii relied on imported fuel for 92 percent of our energy needs. This was bad for our economy and bad for our environment, and it needed to change. Today, Hawaii has the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the country, and we are working toward becoming 100 percent energy self-sufficient for electricity by 2045. In order to meet this ambitious goal, we are investing in a renewable energy future. It means cleaner air and water to enjoy, and it is driving a lot of local innovation. Let me give you a few examples. prgtoken Last Friday, I attended a blessing for a new biofuel project in Maui's central valley. Pacific Biodiesel, run by Bob and Kelly King, is repurposing 115 acres of land previously used for commercial sugar cultivation in order to test the energy potential of different sunflower varieties for biofuels. If they are successful, this project could grow to provide hundreds of jobs on the island and help Hawaii on its path to energy self-sufficiency. prgtoken Bob and Kelly got their start in repurposing used cooking oil. They have grown their company to run the Nation's first commercially viable biodiesel distillery on Hawaii Island, and they employ 80 people. Along the way, they have received support and funding through the Hawaii Military Biofuels Crop Program, which has allowed them to experiment, learn from their mistakes, and, ultimately, succeed. prgtoken Yesterday, I met with Naveen Sikka, the founder and CEO of TerViva, which is a startup that grows pongamia trees that produce an oil seed that can be used for biofuels. In working with Hawaii's Energy Excelerator, TerViva is already growing pongamia trees on 200 acres on Oahu and is looking to expand its operations across the State. prgtoken TerViva and Pacific Biodiesel are working together to explore how to help Hawaii achieve its renewable energy goals. prgtoken In 2015, I met with Global Algae Innovations, a company that is pioneering the production of algae for use in biofuels on Kauai. Funding from the Department of Energy, or DOE, has been instrumental in its research. Support from the Department is vital in helping them and other algae biofuel companies finish scaling up commercial production at competitive prices. prgtoken These stories provide a compelling counternarrative to the President's belief that we should prioritize fossil fuel extraction over renewable energy development. These stories also demonstrate the role government can play in encouraging energy innovation. prgtoken During the administration, our country made significant progress in confronting the challenge of climate change, investing in clean energy research and development, and growing our renewable energy economy. Unfortunately, by nominating Rick Perry to serve as Secretary of Energy, the President is sending a clear signal. Instead of continuing the progress we have made, he wants to take us backward. prgtoken During
CALLING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-3-2

in the minutes remaining before this vote, I want to briefly call attention to an impending constitutional crisis we are facing in this Chamber and in this country as a result of recent revelations coming to our attention, literally within the last 24 hours, about contacts between now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, our former colleague, and the Russian Ambassador. prgtoken Nearly 2 months ago, my Judiciary colleagues and I were told by then- Senator Sessions--and the Presiding Officer is on the Judiciary Committee. We were told in no uncertain terms that he ``did not have communications with the Russians,'' and we took him at his word. prgtoken Last night, we learned that Senator Sessions' statement was inaccurate. These inaccurate, possibly intentionally false, statements misled us. They misled me, personally, and I feel they failed to provide the whole truth about his communications with and ties to the Russians, likely on behalf of the campaign. These contacts were in the midst of an unprecedented attack on our democracy, an act of cyber warfare against our democratic institution that not only violated our law but subverted our electoral process. prgtoken The potentially false statements on this topic by then-Senator Sessions were not only deeply relevant and critically important in their own right, but they leave us with the question: What else is missing or misleading in that testimony, and the consequential questions about his fitness to lead the Department of Justice must be answered. prgtoken Unless Attorney General Sessions can provide a credible explanation, his resignation will be necessary. Senator Sessions' false statements heighten my deep concern about credible allegations that the campaign, the transition team, and the administration officials have colluded with the Russian Government, not only in actions prior to the election but possibly since then in what may amount to a coverup. Unless the whole truth is uncovered--and if there is a coverup, truly the adage will be fulfilled that the coverup is as bad as the crime. The only way to deter Russian aggression and continued cyber attacks on our democracy is to uncover the truth and deter this kind of aggression in the future. prgtoken At the time of his meetings with the Russian Ambassador, Senator Sessions was chairman of the campaign's National Security Advisory Committee. Ambassador Kislyak is, of course, the same individual whose repeated covert contacts with former LTG Michael Flynn, President failed to disclose both to the American public and to his own Vice President. General Flynn's failure to make those disclosures led to his own termination as National Security Advisor. prgtoken Contacts between these two men would raise concerns under any circumstances, but Senator Sessions' decision to, in effect, conceal them makes them even more troubling. I use that word with regret because I sat in the comm
CALLING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-3-2

I am strongly opposed to the nomination of Rick Perry to be the Secretary of Energy. prgtoken While Governor Perry has a long record of public service, he is the wrong choice to lead the Department of Energy. He does not possess the technical expertise or necessary qualifications. Moreover, his past statements calling for the elimination of the Department and questioning the science behind climate change, coupled with his reported lack a understanding about the scope of the Department's responsibilities, call into question his ability to lead an agency that is so critical to our national and economic security. prgtoken What Governor Perry learned during this confirmation process is that the Secretary of Energy not only oversees our country's energy initiatives and strategies, but is also the steward of our nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. The National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, a part of the Department of Energy, ensures the safety, security, and effectiveness of our nuclear weapons. The NNSA brings together exceptionally dedicated men and women from our Armed Forces to work alongside some of our best scientists and engineers to provide expert advice in nuclear nonproliferation and counterterrorism. The Secretary of Energy must understand their work and advise the President on our nuclear arsenal capabilities and national security issues. Governor Perry has no experience in these areas and is not qualified to lead the agency tasked with maintaining our nuclear deterrent. prgtoken The Department of Energy also protects our Nation's security by strengthening the electrical grid's resilience in the face of natural disaster and cyber attacks. Its Office of Electricity works with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and utilities to protect the electrical grid; yet the administration has reportedly proposed eliminating this office, something which Governor Perry has not sought to dispel. prgtoken The Department of Energy leads the country and the world in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency. For my home State of Rhode Island, renewable energy from the wind, sun, and ocean is not just a path to local energy production, but also a source of well-paying jobs ranging from steelworkers to scientists. Last year, Rhode Island became the first State to build an offshore wind farm, off the coast of Block Island, proving that offshore wind can be a viable renewable energy source for the United States. prgtoken This technological feat could not have been accomplished without the science, engineering, and policy research supported by the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. This office drives the research in wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy that has made affordable renewable energy a reality. However, Governor Perry, in his written responses, refused to comment on reports that the administration would cut funding, or even worse, eli