mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-10-4

last week I joined with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the National Economic Council, our Senate majority leader, the of the House, and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in releasing a unified framework for tax reform. prgtoken This is a big step in the ongoing effort to overhaul our Nation's miserable Tax Code. I have been in the Senate awhile, and I can only remember a few times when the White House and the House and Senate leadership were in agreement on an issue as complicated as tax reform so the current state of affairs is pretty remarkable. Still, as we made clear in the framework document, this is only a step; it is not a final product. prgtoken The House and the Senate tax-writing committees will be tasked with putting together legislation that is aimed at meeting the goals and principles that are outlined in the framework. Therefore, as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, my top goal at the moment is to produce a comprehensive tax reform bill that can get at least 14 votes in the committee because, without that, there likely will not be any tax reform. Yet, before we can get to that point, we have to pass the fiscal year 2018 budget resolution. prgtoken Make no mistake, the budget resolution is critical to our tax reform efforts. If we are going to move a tax reform vehicle in the current environment, we need a resolution in place with a workable reconciliation instruction that will allow us to produce a bill of sufficient size and scope to give middle-class taxpayers a pay raise, grow our economy, and create more American jobs. prgtoken As we all know, the Budget Committee will begin marking up its resolution later today, and it will include the type of instruction we need in order to produce a bill that will fix our broken tax system, boost economic growth, and give a pay raise to middle-class Americans. prgtoken I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Enzi and all of our colleagues on the Budget Committee for their work in crafting the resolution, and I urge everyone who supports tax reform, whether he is in Congress or elsewhere, to support the budget resolution. prgtoken Once again, that is the next big step in this process, and it is an absolutely essential step. Once that is done, the Finance Committee will be able to move forward on crafting and marking up a tax reform bill. prgtoken Some have said tax reform is a do-or-die moment for the GOP. I wholeheartedly believe that to be true, not just because we might lose an election or that our poll numbers might go down, it is that s have promised, for some time now, that we will deliver meaningful, comprehensive tax reform that will spur economic growth, increase wages and well-paying jobs, and simplify our existing system. We need to deliver on that promise and not just because we will suffer politically if we do not. We need to deliver because the cost of doing nothing
HONORING THE LIFE OF NOLAN WATSON
Jody B. Hice (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-10-4

I rise today to honor the life of Nolan Watson, a Georgia resident and veteran of the United States Air Force, who joined our Heavenly Father earlier this year after battling kidney cancer for over a decade. prgtoken In 1966, Mr. Watson was one of the heroic men during the Cold War who was involved in the cleanup efforts after a B-52 bomber collided with a KC-135 tanker over Palomares, Spain, releasing four hydrogen bombs. After his service, Mr. Watson suffered from severe medical problems and was ultimately diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2002. prgtoken Nolan is survived by his lovely wife, Nona, who has been a fierce and devoted advocate for her husband, working tirelessly throughout the years to prgtoken garner the recognition these young men deserved for the sacrifices they made responding to this unfortunate disaster. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to stand with me and join me for a moment of silence to honor the life and legacy of Nolan Watson, a hero who deserves our respect and who will be sorely missed.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-10-4

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m Thursday, October 5; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Quarles nomination, with the time until 10 a.m. equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.
RECOGNIZING CARE NET PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-10-4

I rise today to recognize the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central New York. prgtoken Founded in 1989, Care Net provides free, confidential services for women facing an unplanned pregnancy across our region. Nationwide, Care Net has a network of over 1,100 pregnancy centers. prgtoken Through its work, Care Net of Central New York has provided guidance and compassionate care to over 24,000 prgtoken individuals, equipping women with the resources they need to make an informed decision about their pregnancy. prgtoken From pregnancy counseling to postabortion recovery services, Care Net offers a wide range of support and assistance to women considering this life-changing, difficult decision. prgtoken During an emotional and challenging time, Care Net staff provides an unparalleled level of compassion, support, and dedication to the women and men they serve. prgtoken Care Net continues to lead the way in the mission to protect the sanctity of life, helping to save the lives of thousands of unborn children each year. prgtoken It is an honor to stand here today to recognize Care Net's service to our community and its unwavering commitment to future generations.
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-10-4

it is always such a privilege to come to the floor and hear Senator Isakson, of Georgia, speak, as he speaks so eloquently. He comes here and makes perfect points. He was talking about the tax system looking to the future. What we have is a tax system that looks backward, regrettably. A number of years ago, we had a Treasury Secretary named Bill Simon, who said: ``The Nation should have a tax code that looks like someone designed it on purpose.'' That is what we are trying to do now--have a Tax Code that looks like it was designed on purpose. prgtoken The person who really understood this was Ronald Reagan. As we take a look at tax proposals, it is not about taxes; it is about much more-- about a better life for the American people. Ronald Reagan said that tax reform is the door to a bigger future and, I would add, to a brighter future. He said it was the door to a future as big and hopeful and full of heart as the American dream. That is what we are talking about here today, a bright, big future, as big and bright as the American dream. That is what we are aiming at with this plan, a big and hopeful future for all Americans. prgtoken It all starts with increasing the amount of money Americans get to keep in their pockets as a result of their hard-earned paycheck dollars. That is the most important thing. That is what families are concerned about. That is what I hear about every weekend in Wyoming. Under the outline the s have proposed, every working man and woman in this country will be better off. That is our goal, to make everyone better off and to make the country better off, more prosperous, with a strong, healthy economy. That is what we are hearing about today on the floor and what we heard about from the Senator from Georgia. prgtoken When we cut the amount of money people have to pay in taxes, it is essentially like giving them a raise. That is what this is about, giving people a raise. We want working people to keep more of their hard-earned money. One of the ways you can do that, which is very popular, is by doubling the standard deduction. It is easy math to do. The current standard deduction is around $12,000 for a couple who files jointly. The proposal doubles it to $24,000. That means the first $24,000 of a couple's income will not be taxed at all. prgtoken Beyond that, we are going to reduce the number of tax brackets. People will like that. It is so complicated, the system we have now. We will move people into lower brackets. Isn't that what we are trying to do? Yes, it is. If you used to be in a bracket and paid 25 percent, there is a pretty good chance that a significant amount of your income is going to be moved down to the 12-percent range. For most people, that is like getting a big raise when they take a look at their paychecks at the end of the week. That is what tax relief looks like. prgtoken The second thing we want to do is to actua
TAX REFORM AND THE BUDGET
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-10-4

yesterday, Chairman Hatch held another hearing on a subject that is incredibly important to the economic future of our country: tax reform. prgtoken For too long, our economy has failed to live up to its full potential. For too long, Americans have suffered through stagnant paychecks, a lack of steady work, and retirement that can seem to slip further away by the day. These are the forgotten men, women, and families of the last decade. For many Americans living on the coasts, working in Silicon Valley, or in finance, the recession of 2008 to 2009 may seem like just a moment in history, but for too many Americans, the last 10 years have been a lost decade where our economy has stumbled along and opportunities have declined for American workers and their families. prgtoken Tax reform represents the single most important thing we can do today to get our economy back on track and give American workers a leg up. It is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to replace an outdated tax code that holds us back with one that works for American families and small businesses. We want to lower taxes and simplify rates. We want to expand job creation and grow paychecks. Put another way, we want to take more money out of Washington's pocket and put it in yours. That is the essential goal of tax reform. That is our message to the American people. It is what I believe. It is what Chairman Hatch believes. It is what Chairman Enzi believes as well. prgtoken Chairman Enzi has an important role to play in this process, too, because later today he will lead his committee in marking up a comprehensive budget for fiscal year 2018 that will help our country achieve balance by reining in Federal spending. It will also help our economy grow, and one of the ways it will do so is by providing legislative tools to advance tax reform. I thank the Budget Committee for all its good work so far, and I look forward to its continued efforts to get our fiscal house in order and our economy back on a path to solid growth after the lost decade of disappointment I just spoke about.
CONFIRMATION OF HALSEY FRANK
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-10-4

I wish to express my strong support for the confirmation of Halsey Frank to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. Mr. Frank has 30 years of experience working for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, and in Maine, and he is highly qualified to assume this crucial law enforcement position. I thank the Senate for swiftly confirming him. prgtoken Mr. Frank is an intelligent, highly competent, experienced law enforcement professional. Mr. Frank has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Maine for the past 17 years, during which he has shown an indepth knowledge of our country's criminal justice system and significant experience in both criminal and civil law. In this role, he has prosecuted Federal crimes related to fraud, drugs, white-collar offense, violence, civil rights, and environmental violations. He has defended the United States in civil cases and handled numerous appeals. Prior to his current post, Mr. Frank was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, one of the country's largest offices, where he worked on a wide range of civil and criminal matters. He is presently a resident of Portland, ME, and a graduate of Wesleyan University and Boston University School of Law. prgtoken Based on his demonstrated proficiency and character, I have every confidence that Mr. Frank will successfully lead and coordinate local and Federal law enforcement activities in Maine to faithfully uphold our Nation's laws and ensure public safety and order. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Mr. Frank has shown a strong commitment to public service, and I am confident that he will serve the State of Maine and our Nation very well.
CRITICAL BILL FOR AMERICAN AVIATION
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-10-4

today, most actions in Congress are viewed through a partisan lens, but the 21st Century AIRR Act is a bill with significant support from both s and , as well as a number of groups representing a wide array of political ideologies. prgtoken Modernizing air traffic control has historically been a bipartisan issue. In fact, 20 years ago, then-President Clinton said: ``The FAA's 20-year effort to modernize its air traffic control technology simply has not been able to keep pace with either the emergence of new technology or the growth and demand for air travel. . . . We can continue on the current course and continue to experience crowded airports, flight delays, and even higher passenger frustration. But if we act now to improve our infrastructure, we can ensure that air travel in the 21st century is the safest, most cost-effective, most efficient in the world.'' prgtoken These words are still true today. prgtoken Because we have failed to act decisively, the FAA is struggling to give Americans the 21st century air traffic control system they deserve. We have the opportunity to change that with the AIRR Act. prgtoken Many former top administration officials from both parties support reform as well as a broad coalition of stakeholders. prgtoken Air traffic control reform hasn't been a partisan issue, and it shouldn't become one now. I urge all my colleagues to pass this critical bill for American aviation.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-10-4

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank her for her leadership on this important issue. prgtoken , for the first time in many years, this budget uses reconciliation for the purpose it was intended: to bring mandatory spending under control. prgtoken The appropriations that dominate so much of the debate comprise less than one-third of our total spending, and that is called discretionary spending. The budget sets a level; the appropriations process spends to that level. That is everything from general government to defense. prgtoken We have actually been able to bring that under control, but the other two-thirds of spending is called mandatory spending. It is beyond the annual control of Congress. It continues automatically until and unless the statutes that call for it are actually changed. prgtoken It is the mandatory spending that is eating our country alive. Mandatory spending is supposed to be controlled by reconciliation. Instructions are sent to the various authorizing committees to make whatever changes are necessary in current law to stay within our means. But this powerful fiscal tool has been ignored or squandered in past budgets, and this neglect is undermining the solvency of our country. prgtoken For the first time in many years, the House budget finally restrains mandatory spending by instructing our committees to find at least $200 billion in savings over the next decade. That means this budget will get us back to balance within the decade, and this is why it is so important. prgtoken If the had their way and we maintain our current path, the Congressional Budget Office warns that in just 4 years, in 2022, our deficits will surpass $1 trillion a year. That is where economists warn we run the risk of damage or even loss of our access to credit, a sovereign debt crisis. prgtoken If you want to know what that looks like, Venezuela is going through it right now, and within our own territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico--pension systems implode, basic services falter, the economy collapses. prgtoken Two years after that, in 2024, 6 years from now, the CBO warns that the annual interest cost on our debt will reach $654 billion. That is more than we currently spend on defense. prgtoken I would remind my friends on the left that you cannot provide for the common defense or promote the general welfare if you can't pay for it, and the ability of our country to do so is being undermined by our spending trajectory. prgtoken At the same time, we charge the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, sending trillions of dollars of capital and hundreds of thousands of jobs to other countries. In the last 8 years, we have averaged only half of our postwar economic growth. prgtoken I remind my friends that corporations do not pay corporate taxes. Corporate taxes can only be paid in one of three ways: by consumers through higher prices, by employees through lowe
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-10-4

. Thank you, . prgtoken I appreciate the opportunity to speak today. Like last week, I didn't plan on speaking on this subject, so my staff is probably wondering once again what their boss is going to say. But I was thinking that maybe we could translate a little bit of what we are trying to do with tax reform, because we talk about tax rates, exemptions, exceptions, and simplification--all this stuff that is important because it gets baked into the bill--but we don't spend a lot of time explaining why we are trying to do what we are doing. prgtoken The last time we had real, meaningful, impactful tax reform was back in 1986. That is when s and came together and decided that the stagnant economy that I grew up in--I graduated from high school in 1978. I didn't immediately go to college. I moved away from home when I was 17 years old, and I was working. It was an economy that was not unlike today's. In many respects, it may have been a little bit worse. The environment was the same. Iran was behaving badly, and Russia was behaving badly. We had sort of the same sort of global environment that we have today. We had the threats that we have to confront every single day, and we had the threat to the future of a generation. I mean, literally, people had no earthly idea, if they were getting an education, whether they would be able to get a job because the job-creation numbers when I was 26 years old were terrible. People were worried about whether they could pay for college. prgtoken So why are we doing tax reform? We are doing tax reform because it is time for the American economy to grow back to what it is capable of doing, what it has done in the past. prgtoken We need tax reform so we can create economic expansion that lets us pay down our debt, which many people in the military say is the single greatest threat to our national security. prgtoken We need tax reform and we need to grow the economy because we owe it to this generation to have the same opportunities that I did. prgtoken It can be done, but we have to do it probably through reconciliation because right now, even though many of the proposals that we are putting forward--the tax rate and the kinds of policies we are putting forward have been supported by our colleagues and many of my friends on the other side of the aisle. For some reason, they don't make sense anymore. They made sense back in 1986 when and s joined together to do tax reform. If you were in your midtwenties then, you saw prosperity unlike anything we have seen right up to today. That was the last time we saw great growth in our economy. We need to get back to providing those same sorts of opportunities. prgtoken People will tell you that we are not giving a cut to the little guy or the working man. Well, one thing you don't see when you see the percentage rates that we are talking about on individual tax rates that we are targeting i
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-10-4

I rise in support of the budget resolution, and I commend Chairwoman Black on her leadership and tireless efforts. prgtoken Much has been said about our $20 trillion debt, and I would like to add that we know that that debt can only be paid back with tax dollars that will be extracted from future taxpayers. prgtoken We debated and passed 12 appropriations bills in this Chamber. As heated as those debates were, they were on less than one-third of Federal spending. To attack our debt, we have to attack mandatory spending. This budget does that. prgtoken As I traveled around my district and talked to people in my district, I have been pleased to hear that business is good. Businesses want to grow, and they want to expand. But I have not been pleased when they told me that they cannot find employees. So I went back and looked at data. Arkansas has our lowest unemployment rate ever right now, but we have also got the lowest labor participation rate. prgtoken In the years from 2008 to 2016, we saw a 5.7 percent population growth. We saw a decrease in unemployment from 6 percent down to 4 percent, or 5\1/2\ down to 4 percent, but we had fewer people actually working in 2016 than we had in 2008. We had a decrease of 0.8 percent of people working and a decrease of 2.4 percent of people in the labor force during that time period. prgtoken We have to put plans and programs in place to get our economy growing. We have to get more people back to work. During that same time, we saw an increase in SNAP benefits. We saw 330,000 people, or over 14 percent of our State's population of able-bodied, working-age adults, getting their health insurance through Medicaid expansion. prgtoken We need to focus on addressing our budget woes. We need an economy that is growing and a labor force that is working. We need a military that is strong. We have to address the 70 percent component of spending that is driving our debt. This budget is the first step in achieving those results, and I urge everyone to vote for this budget.