mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
Ron DeSantis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-2-7

the Founding Fathers believed that our constitutional system of checks and balances and separation of powers were the people's primary protection for their liberty, and they saw the usurpation of authority by a single branch to be dangerous to the constitutional system. prgtoken Now, there has been a focus this weekend on Presidential tweets regarding the courts, and I think this deserves attention. My view is that the President's broadsides against the courts will likely hurt the government's case on appeal, and were, therefore, counterproductive. I would advise to focus on substance rather than on general broadsides. prgtoken But I think it is also important to point out and to criticize the substance of the decision that was made by the Federal court in Seattle because that decision represented a departure from the judicial role. The judge in that case exercised his political will, not his legal judgment, which is the antithesis of how Alexander Hamilton described the proper role of the courts in the Federalist Papers. prgtoken The judge there--if you read the opinion, it is a cursory opinion-- didn't even attempt to wrestle with the law at issue in the President's executive actions on immigration. The reason why that is important is because the law is very, very clear. prgtoken This Congress has enacted a statute, section 1182(f) of the immigration laws that says that the President has the authority to suspend entry of foreign nationals when the President finds that entry would be detrimental to the interests of the U.S. And so that is what was cited. That provision of the law has not been questioned in over 60 years. prgtoken The court in Seattle, though, questioned effectively the wisdom of the executive order, not really the legality. And there was a part of the oral argument before the judge issued his temporary retraining order where he said that there hasn't been any terrorism from any foreign national from any of the seven countries that were enumerated from the visa suspension. It is Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan. And he said confidently that that had not happened. prgtoken Well, that is not true. If you look at just recently, you had the attacker in St. Cloud, Minnesota, September 2016, who was a Somali refugee. You have the Ohio State attacker. That was just 2\1/2\ months ago. He was running people over on campus and wielding a butcher knife going after people. He was a refugee from Somalia. prgtoken You had the two Iraqi refugees arrested in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They came as refugees, even though they had been active in fighting and in killing American soldiers and Marines in Iraq. prgtoken You also have the case, the Federal case in Houston last year with the conviction of Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan. He came as a refugee from Iraq and did get a green card, but he was convicted of material support to ISIS for trying to bomb the shopping malls in Houston, Texas. prgtoken So you have
CONGRATULATING MR. & MRS. MICHAEL MILLER ON THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Roger Williams (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to honor Mr. and Mrs. Michael Miller on the 50th Anniversary of their marriage on February 23, 1967. Their 50 years of dedication and love for one another should be an inspiration to us all. Michael Joseph Miller and Margret Anne Miller met in Plymouth, England in 1965 while Michael was on assignment as a submariner in the Royal Canadian Navy. Following their marriage and the birth of three children, Sarah, Mark, and Simon, the Millers lived and worked in both Canada and England before moving to Michigan in 1979 just prior to the birth of their youngest child, Miles. On July 4, 1996, the day of our Nation's independence, Mr. and Mrs. Miller became naturalized U.S. citizens. Inspired by this, all of their children have become naturalized citizens, while their youngest son, Miles, currently serves as a Captain in the United States Army. In 2007, Michael and Margret retired to Lakeway, Texas, which is in the district which I represent. They live happily there to this day, enjoying the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country I would once again like to congratulate them on this happy day for them, their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
COMMENDING THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-2-7

I wish to commend the medical staff of The George Washington University Hospital who cared for me during my stay in January. prgtoken On the evening of January the Eleventh I suffered an allergic reaction and was taken to The George Washington University Hospital for treatment. During my stay, I was cared for by an incredible medical team. I offer my most sincere gratitude to Dr. Mayce Haj-Ali for her insight and swift action to treat the allergic reaction I suffered. prgtoken I also wish to commend the incredible nursing staff who cared for me: Andrea Gavurin, Megan Johnson, Alelcunda M'mari, Ophelia Hunter, Mary Synder, Christina Gale, Danielle Sier, Chaquonna Watson, Crystal Nyguyen, Perla Adames-Castillo , Mamta Jazier, and Jaquece Mudd. In particular, I want to acknowledge Andrea, Megan, and Alelcunda for their continued diligence in looking after me to make sure I made a quick and full recovery. I owe this entire group a debt of gratitude. It is because of their care that I was able to recover and return to work representing the people of Florida's Fourth Congressional District. prgtoken The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 2.5 million nurses work in the United States. These women and men provide and coordinate patient care, educate individuals about their health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family. I am grateful, not only for the nurses who recently took care of my needs, but for all nurses across the U.S. who work diligently to ensure the health of their patients. I ask my colleagues to take a moment to remember these individuals who work in the nursing profession and the care they provide to the American people.
RECOGNIZING THE POLISH LEGION MOTORCYCLE RIDING CLUB
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to recognize the Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club. Since 2011 this organization has brought together members of our community of all ages who share a passion for riding motorcycles. I would like to give special recognition to the group's President, Szymon Moskal. Millions of citizens in the United States own and ride motorcycles, making ridership as much a part of our identity as baseball or apple pie. The Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club continues the proud tradition of motorcycle ridership and enthusiasm found in my district, and across our great nation. It is my privilege to assist them during their trip to our nation's capital.
INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN LAND TRANSFERRED TO ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to introduce legislation to remove deed use restrictions on one acre of property used for the Plains Area Day Care Center in Broadway, Virginia. For over 25 years, the Plains Area Day Care Center has utilized this land to provide childcare on a sliding scale to many families who otherwise could not afford such a benefit. prgtoken In 1989, the federal government deeded, with restriction, three acres of land to Rockingham County, a county in the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia, which I represent. The government transferred this land to the county on the condition that this property be used for public purposes. Rockingham County then decided that the non-profit day care center could benefit from the use of the old buildings already housed on the land. Therefore, in 1990, Congress enacted Public Law 101-479, which allowed a specified portion of the three acres of the transferred land to be used for a child care center. prgtoken Donations by the community totaling $75,000 turned the garage building into a nursery, daycare, and afterschool care facility. Additionally, the creation of the day care center provided for the construction of a playground that the center supports, which is open for public use. As one would imagine, after two decades of consistent use, the day care facility is in desperate need of repairs. Unfortunately, because of the narrow way Public Law 101-479 was drafted and because of the terms of the deed, the day care center has been unable to secure a loan to complete the much-needed renovations. prgtoken To solve this issue, my legislation would remove the deed use restrictions from the one acre of property on which the building resides. This would allow the day care center and Rockingham County to make needed upgrades. This legislation, which was approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 407-0 in the 114th Congress as H.R. 2288, is a simple formality. However, it is of great importance to those being served by this day care center in the Rockingham County community. prgtoken By passing this legislation and allowing Rockingham County more authority over the land, it will ensure that more children and more of the community will be served by this land. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation in the 115th Congress.
REMEMBERING DANIEL DeLOACH
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to honor the life of Mr. prgtoken Daniel DeLoach of Savannah, Georgia, who passed away on Sunday, January 29, from complications of Proteus disease. He was 30 years old. prgtoken Mr. DeLoach was born in Savannah to Mike and Julia DeLoach. His parents and his siblings, Michael and Kathleen, were his greatest source of support as he battled his disease. prgtoken Though his debilitating condition required more than 100 surgeries in his lifetime, Mr. DeLoach wasn't known for his disease; he was known for his zest for life. Mr. DeLoach never regretted having the disease. Instead, he brightened every room he entered and never ceased to have a positive outlook on life. This outlook led him to accomplish some amazing feats while battling the illness. prgtoken In 2005, he graduated from the Benedictine Military School in Savannah and went on to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned a degree in industrial design. With his education and personal experience, it was Mr. DeLoach's goal to improve the care of patients and teach others how to best interact with them. prgtoken Daniel continues to be an inspiration to all of us who were lucky enough to meet him, and his story bears repeating so it may inspire many others for years to come.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 44, DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 57...
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-2-7

I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne) for his leadership on this issue. prgtoken , I represent a part of the country that is the economic engine of not only Texas but our entire Nation. My Houston area district and the surrounding districts are responsible for some of the strongest economic growth in our entire country. These are good, well- paying jobs. There are few places in the Nation where you can graduate from high school, get some trade school certifications, and then be earning close to six figures just a couple of years out of high school. prgtoken You can do that in my district, where the petrochemical plants are thriving because of the low cost of crude oil and natural gas. Manufacturing is coming back and growing strongly in the petrochemical sector. Over $150 billion is being invested by American chemical countries across the Nation, with the largest concentration in the Houston area. prgtoken The previous administration took numerous steps to stop the oil and gas boom, and the Bureau of Land Management rule that was published in the waning days of the administration was an example of one such overreach. This ill-advised rule was aimed at removing States and localities from prgtoken the BLM decisionmaking process and centralizing decisionmaking by a few political appointees here in Washington, D.C. prgtoken This move simply undermines local communities and States. It undermines our ability to develop oil and gas resources on public lands. It threatens American jobs. prgtoken I call on my colleagues to put American manufacturing first. A vote for this bill today is a vote for American manufacturing jobs, many of them high-paying, blue-collar jobs and many of them union jobs across America's petroleum and chemical plants. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to support and vote for this bill.
DIMINISH THE BLIGHT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to bring attention to efforts to diminish the blight of human trafficking on my district, the country, and the world. prgtoken Each year, millions of individuals worldwide, most often children and those living in poverty, fall victim to human trafficking. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, approximately 550 cases were reported in Florida last year. prgtoken In my district, Pasco County law enforcement officials have been hard at work to combat human trafficking and protect victims locally. We have seen it too many times in our own community. prgtoken I also wish to highlight the commitment to end human trafficking worldwide by the Greek Orthodox Church. This week, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hosted a forum in Istanbul, Turkey, alongside religious leaders, scholars, and policymakers to address the issue of modern-day slavery. prgtoken I commend their cooperative leadership and stand with them in promoting peace and human dignity internationally.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATE PLANS
Todd Rokita (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-2-7

30 seconds. prgtoken The effect of this action will not halt State implementation efforts. Let me say that again. The effect of this action will not halt State implementation efforts. prgtoken Our intent is to require clarity and consistency so implementation can, in fact, continue. States are continuing to develop State plans that comply with the law, as you have already seen being done across the country. The States and school districts are in the driver's seat here, , and they should continue moving forward. prgtoken , .
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATE PLANS
A. Drew Ferguson IV (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 57. Voting in support of this resolution ensures that the Federal Government will stay out of our children's classrooms and give the power back to the local authorities to make good, solid education decisions. prgtoken Throughout my congressional campaign, the people of the Third District of Georgia of all backgrounds and income continued to express their frustration that the Federal Government continued to get involved in policies that should be the domain of local and State governments. prgtoken I have spoken with education leaders in the Third District of Georgia, in places like Troup County and Fayette County, and they were very pleased with the bipartisan effort of the Every Student Succeeds Act passed last Congress. They told me that they felt hopeful with the new flexibility written into the law granting the power to the States and the local leaders to decide what accountability measures work best for their students. However, as time went on, they expressed great concern as the Department of Education began writing this new accountability regulation. prgtoken The accountability measures that will work for my home State of Georgia and my home district won't always work best for students elsewhere. Trying to educate students in the Third District of Georgia the exact same way you do students in Detroit, Michigan, or Spokane, Washington, or Prescott, Arizona, just simply will not work. prgtoken Every child deserves access to quality education, but imposing a nationwide standard will only hamper this goal with burdensome regulations, and we have seen that failed policy under the No Child Left Behind Act. This resolution pulls back the Federal overreach, ensuring that the decisions will remain at the local level, and that is why I support H.J. Res. 57 today.
DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-2-7

I am pleased to speak on this different kind of rule. It is basically a rule defining a rule that defines future activity. So it is somewhat convoluted. prgtoken But this is a regulation--one more of those broad, midnight regulations--that affects 250 million acres of land, almost all of which is found in the West. Even in my own district, it will affect 3 million acres of land; that means something that is bigger than the State of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. It affects us with disastrous consequences. As has been said, this dilutes local and State voices and centralizes power here in Washington, D.C. prgtoken By law already, the agencies have got to meet with local and State leaders and coordinate, which they are not doing well. This undermines that specifically, and it stacks the deck from the very beginning against counties and State voices and against multiple use. prgtoken This puts special interest groups above elected local officials, which is not the way it was ever intended to be. There are 60 different organizations that are begging us to repeal this bad rule. prgtoken In my district, the Duchesne County Commissioners wrote us to say: ``Our constituents are good stewards of the land, dedicated to meeting environmental requirements, while developing and supplying affordable energy to consumers. We believe Planning 2.0 presents multiple challenges that will prejudice multiple use interests with a bias. . . . '' prgtoken That bias is clearly there. That bias is shown in the mitigation factor within this. Within the bowels of the Department of the Interior, they have shown us how they are going to implement this rule, which means if there is any kind of economic or recreational opportunity and you want to develop, say, like 50 acres to do that, they will insist that you go out and buy either State or private land as a mitigation for those 50 acres. And if you can't find additional private or State lands, you hold up the entire process. prgtoken Either way, you expand the amount of acreage the Federal Government will do, and that is part of this Planning 2.0 process. That is why it is so ludicrous. prgtoken Duchesne County participated in the rulemaking process for Planning 2.0, but like all the other counties, States, and local governments, their concerns were ignored and their opinions were excluded in the final rule. We had two separate hearings on this issue, but all the testimony that was heard was also ignored and no input was given to them at that time. prgtoken Look, counties like Duchesne are in dire situations, especially in the West. They need to be consulted. That is their role and responsibility. That is what a democracy in the republican form of government does. prgtoken This rule bypasses them. It cuts out their voice, and it puts in programs like that mitigation, which is definitely scary and has absolutely negative connotations for the future. prgtoken This is a perfect rule that
1982 VOTE MACHINE RIGGING
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-2-7

fake news by the leftist Washington Post has gotten even more shrill and more irrational since became President. prgtoken At a meeting in Philadelphia, a felony was committed by the illegal tape recording and subsequent publication of my private conversation with Vice President about voter fraud. The Washington Post reported that I said: ``In my first election in 1982, rigged about 25 percent of the voting machines to vote for everyone on the ballot but me. That's 11 of 45 machines.'' prgtoken Rather than reporting about my being a voter fraud victim or about something else I said that a Federal court decree opened the floodgates for illegal alien voting, The Washington Post did a partisan fake news hit piece and gave me, the voter fraud victim, a four-Pinocchio score on truthfulness. prgtoken , I proudly wear The Washington Post four Pinocchios like a red badge of courage. I know what the truth was. I was there. Here are the facts: prgtoken In 1982, I was a candidate in Alabama House District 18 at a time when dominated Alabama. All 31 of Alabama's statewide elected officials were . held every partisan elected office in Alabama's Tennessee Valley. prgtoken On election day, angry voters called me nonstop about rigged voting machines that would not allow them to vote for Mo Brooks. As a former assistant district attorney, I knew how to conduct an investigation. I talked with witnesses. I examined documents. Another attorney did the same. When the polls opened, 11 of 45 voting machines registered votes for all candidates on the ballot except for Mo Brooks. Not once was my opponent or any other candidate blocked on any machine. prgtoken My hometown is the birthplace of America's space program and many of America's high-tech weaponry. We know math. Mathematically, if there were 26 candidates on the ballot, which there were, and only one name is blocked out, the odds of a particular candidate being blocked out are 1 in 26. If there are two machines that each has one name blocked out, the odds of Mo Brooks being blocked out both times is 1 in 26 squared, or 1 chance out of 676 chances. prgtoken If there are 11 machines that each have one name blocked out, the odds that all 11 blocked names are Mo Brooks are 1 chance in 26 to the 11th power. Hence, the odds that my name, the only name, was accidentally blocked out on 11 different machines, as The Washington Post would have you believe, are 1 chance out of 26 to the 11th power, or 1 chance out of 3.6 quadrillion chances. prgtoken Conversely, the probability that these 11 voting machines were rigged is 3.6 quadrillion to 1. The evidence is overwhelming. There was no accident. The voting machines were rigged. prgtoken Who rigged the voting machines? prgtoken In 1982, every single elected official with control over voting machines was a . In 1982, I was campaigning in a hotly cont