mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-2-7

a few observations about the colloquy that has occurred. prgtoken No. 1, we had two friends of ours from the ic side of the aisle who spoke energetically in support of this nomination, but I found it striking that our ic friends had nothing to say to the union members who are faced with the risk of losing their jobs. Senate often portray themselves as friends of organized labor, friends of union members. Yet it was striking that when they came to the floor, they had no answer to union members in Philadelphia being told they are at risk of being unemployed because of a broken regulatory system. Instead, it is a conservative Texan who is fighting for the jobs of those union members. prgtoken I would also note that my efforts in this are not alone. Indeed, in December, I brought 12 Senators--12 Members of this body--to the White House to meet with the President, working to find a solution to this problem. Those Senators included Senator Cornyn, Senator Cassidy, Senator Kennedy, Senator Enzi, Senator Barrasso, Senator Lee, Senator Toomey, Senator Inhofe, and Senator Lankford. Those are Senators from a wide geographic array, all facing significant job losses, potentially, and all interested in a positive solution to this problem. prgtoken In the remarks we just heard on the Senate floor, none of the Senators proposed any relief to the potentially hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers being driven out of work by a broken regulatory system--no relief whatsoever. Indeed, none of the Senators disputed the fact that the RFS worked and worked just fine when RINs were selling for a penny. prgtoken This debate is not about the RFS--should we continue it or not. When I was a candidate for President, I campaigned on ending it. I didn't win. I lost that election. This is not a fight about ending the RFS. The current administration is committed to continuing the RFS. That is the prerogative of this administration. This is instead a search for a solution that would save tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of jobs. prgtoken The senior Senator from Iowa said: Gosh, it is not a free-market solution to cap the price of RINs. Well, if RINs were an actual commodity that existed in the real world, I would agree with that. I wouldn't support capping the price of corn or the price of gasoline or the price of widgets or anything else that people were making. But RINs are an artificial, made-up government fix. They don't exist. No one manufactures a RIN. It is a government ID number. And it worked initially when they were trading at 1 and 2 cents apiece. But when it skyrocketed, going all the way up to $1.40 each--it is now threatening thousands upon thousands of blue-collar jobs. prgtoken The Senator from Iowa suggested that RINs are not the cause of the bankruptcy of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery. Well, I would note that the explicit text of the bankrup
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2018-2-7

47 days is how long it has been since President signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, and what a 47 days it has been. We are already beginning to see what meaningful tax relief looks like for middle- and working- prgtoken class Americans. In just 47 days, well over 3 million American workers--the people who get up every day and go to work and obey the law and try to do the right thing by their kids--have received wage increases, benefits increases, and/or bonuses. prgtoken I have heard a number of so-called experts say--and it has been my experience that the experts are almost always wrong, but that is a separate subject--that if Congress reduced the corporate tax rate from 40 to 21 percent and if Congress lowered taxes on subchapter S corporations, LLCs, LLPs, sole proprietorships, and family farms, the benefits would only be felt by the so-called rich. I, respectfully, suggest that those 3 million Americans who have received bonuses and higher wages and more generous benefits--once again, in just 47 days-- would not agree with the experts. In those 47 short days, over 330 companies have passed along their tax savings to their employees. prgtoken I am from Louisiana. One of my State's largest employers, JPMorgan Chase, has increased its minimum wage and expanded benefits for its hourly workers--real money in higher take-home pay. JPMorgan Chase has also planned a $20 billion 5-year domestic investment that will benefit those Americans who own homes, who own small businesses, or those who would like to someday as part of the American dream. prgtoken Honeywell, another well recognized corporation, happens to have a manufacturing plant in Geismar, LA. Honeywell was quick to increase its 401(k) match for its employees, which helps to ensure certainty for people in their retirements. BancorpSouth, another company that does business in Louisiana, gave raises to 70 percent of its employees right off the bat--within the first 47 days. AT&T has 4,600 employees in Louisiana. Those employees are going to see $1,000 in bonuses and many other benefits of a $1 billion increase in investment by the company-- all as a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. prgtoken There are other businesses with footprints in Louisiana--businesses like Home Depot, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, Starbucks, Visa, American Airlines, Capital One, Southwest Airlines, Bank of America, Apple, Fidelity, Humana, Nationwide, Regions, Verizon, and FedEx, just to name a few. They also made the list of companies that are passing along their savings to the American worker. prgtoken Furthermore, in my home State of Louisiana, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is allowing small businesses to grow and reinvest in their employees and in their communities. Thanks to the TCJA, or the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--I hate acronyms, as does the Presiding Officer--the Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, which is a bank in Louisiana--actually, in th
MORTGAGE CHOICE ACT OF 2017
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-2-7

H.R. 1153, the Mortgage Choice Act, provides needed clarity to the calculation of points and fees for qualified mortgages, or QM, especially for those companies affiliated with real estate brokers. prgtoken Established under the ability-to-repay/QM section of the Truth in Lending Act, H.R. 1153 would amend the definition of points and fees and allow more loans to qualify, thus increasing choices for all borrowers. prgtoken Chairman Huizenga's bipartisan legislation does not create a QM loophole like some would argue. Instead, H.R. 1153 rightly attempts to level the playing field, regardless of whether the lender is affiliated with a title agency or not. prgtoken In addition, H.R. 1153 does not allow high-cost loans to qualify as QMs. By allowing loans with the same points and fees to be treated equally under the law, Chairman Huizenga's bill corrects one of the many flaws of the post-Dodd-Frank era. prgtoken Thanks to the Mortgage Choice Act, it will now be easier for low- and moderate-income Americans to buy a home. I commend my colleague, Chairman Huizenga, for his bipartisan work on this issue, and I urge all Members to support this legislation.
DEBT JUNKIE SPENDING BILL
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , s won the House in 2010 in part because of the danger posed by America's 4-year string of trillion-dollar deficits. prgtoken House s sliced America's deficit to $438 billion in 2015, but then our finances took a dramatic turn for the worse. America's deficit surged to $585 billion in 2016 and $666 billion in 2017. Congress is expected to soon vote on a debt junkie spending bill that blows America's deficit sky-high by hundreds of billions of dollars in 2018 alone. prgtoken Madam , there is a narrow path between adequate national security funding and avoiding a national insolvency that decimates our military and risks American lives. That path is as narrow as Zion National Park's Angels Landing Trail. One misstep left or right and you fall hundreds of feet to your death. prgtoken The Senate spending bill is a debt junkie's dream, a nightmare, and a misstep that plunges America into disaster. It must not pass.
ASKING FERC TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR DOWNEAST MAINE
Bruce Poliquin (Republican, ME) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , Downeast Maine, along the Canadian border, is one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the world, but, sadly, it is also one of the poorest. prgtoken During the past 30 years, Madam , most of our paper mills in Maine have closed because of high taxes, harmful regulations, unfair trade, and a declining demand for paper. However, Madam , the Woodland Pulp and tissue mill is doing quite well: 500 well-paying jobs with benefits, the largest private sector employer in Washington County, in Downeast Maine. prgtoken Today, Madam , the Federal Government has a chance to help. Since 1836, the Woodland mill has managed an upriver Forest City water storage dam to make sure the river and the lake levels in the area are properly maintained, and this makes sure that the fragile and world- class salmon and bass fisheries are protected. prgtoken But now, Madam , the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is demanding that the Woodland mill spend $6 million on a fish ladder and other requirements in order to renew its license. But the dam already has a fish ladder that works fine, and it does not generate any electricity for the mill, and it cannot afford the $6 million price tag for these unnecessary requirements. prgtoken Now, the Maine Legislature, Madam , has already voted to allow Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to assume control of the dam to make sure this wildlife habitat and the property owners are protected and that the mill can continue to prosper without these undue and unnecessary regulations. prgtoken Madam , I ask today, right now, that FERC do what is right and allow the transfer of the ownership of this dam from the mill to the State of Maine, which solves this critically important problem in one of the poorest areas of the country.
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2018-2-7

from Missouri for his terrific explanation, 60 days hence, of voting for the tax reform bill and the effects it is having in his great State. I would like to join him today to talk about what I think are the positive effects of tax reform, not just across the country but particularly in my small State of West Virginia. prgtoken Last Wednesday, Vice President and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross came to West Virginia to talk about this at a small business, Worldwide Equipment, which employs 1,100 people across the country, 200 or so of which are in West Virginia at 7 different locations. We learned from owner Terry Dotson how he feels about tax reform and the effect it has had on his business, his employees, his ability to grow his business. What we learned is that Mr. Dotson is going to be investing $8 million more in the operations and in his workforce, whether it is through bonuses, expanding the facilities, buying new equipment. But particularly for the men and women working for Worldwide Equipment, it is the bonuses that are going to have people seeing the immediate effect. He attributes this all to tax reform. prgtoken The men and women of Worldwide Equipment join hundreds of thousands of workers all across this country at companies like Walmart, AT&T, Comcast, Fiat Chrysler, and many others who will receive bonuses or salary increases because of this bill. The good news doesn't stop there, and that is good. prgtoken Those of us who voted for this bill--and I did, very proudly--said that the effects of this tax reform are going to be felt in many different ways. Mr. Dotson has a relatively small business. He mentioned how he is feeling it. But many workers will see their take- home pay increase in the coming weeks, as employers are adjusting the tax withholding based on the new law. prgtoken People like Robert from Berkley Springs, WV, wrote me last week: Thank you for helping my family by voting yes on the tax bill. My family saw a significant increase in our take-home pay today. prgtoken Edward from Hurricane, WV, said: I really want to thank you and the President for the tax breaks! Please keep working to help the American workers. prgtoken Dennie from Charleston wrote: The recent tax bill that was passed will provide a great boost to our economy in many ways including more employment opportunities and money in people's pockets. prgtoken And Robert, who is a small business owner from Huntington, wrote: I want to thank you for your yes vote on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation recognizes the importance of small business. prgtoken In a State like ours, 95 percent of the businesses are small businesses. Many of them are family-owned. Other West Virginians will soon see the benefits. prgtoken I would like to tip my hat and congratulate our State auditor, J.B. McCuskey, because he took the
HONORING PETER McINTOSH
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-2-7

I rise today to recognize Rabun County's Peter McIntosh, a northeast Georgia photographer who has dedicated years to producing scenic snapshots of our mountain home. prgtoken Recently, the Georgia Council for the Arts selected three of McIntosh's photographs to hang in the state Capitol as part of its ``Art of Georgia Ill: Celebrating Home'' exhibit. The three photographs--``Chattahoochee Headwaters,'' ``Tallulah Watershed Sunrise,'' and ``Sunset--Blackrock Mountain State Park''--were selected as part of the exhibit's ``North Georgia'' category, which represents 76 of the state's counties. prgtoken This year will mark the third year that McIntosh's work has been selected for this honor. Like his previous photographs, this year's collection will take their place on the walls of the Gold Dome, magnifying our state's natural beauty and cultural traditions. prgtoken I stand with Governor Deal in congratulating Peter McIntosh on his work and look forward to seeing the next sights he captures.
EXPRESSING HOPE FOR AN IMPROVED IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
John R. Curtis (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , I realize that few policy topics are more tenuous and challenging than immigration reform, but I believe, before us now, is a unique window of opportunity that will allow us to solve some of these complex problems. prgtoken We can make this a historic time for our country. As we come together to find solutions for more than 800,000 DREAMers, we need to take advantage of this moment to also address additional aspects of our broken immigration system. My hope is that Congress will pass a bill that provides certainty for DREAMers while also bringing meaningful improvements to our visa programs for seasonal workers and our highly skilled immigrants, along with providing resources for enhanced border security. prgtoken We know that not every special interest group will get everything they want, but I believe, if we work together, we can give the American people exactly what they expect: an improved immigration system that we desperately need.
HONORING FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BEACH BOYS, MIKE LOVE
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , I come to the House floor today to speak about a husband, a father, an avid environmentalist with over 55 years' experience in just one profession. Madam , I come here to speak about and to honor the life of Mike Love, a founding member of The Beach Boys, one of the most popular music groups of all time, a group that has entertained us on The Mall of the Capitol more than any other band in history, a patriotic group that speaks in lyrics that are timeless. prgtoken Love has spent an extraordinary 55 years and counting as the group's lead singer and one of its principal lyricists, with 13 gold albums, 55 Top 100 hits, and 4 singles alone. He, himself, wrote the lyrics to the great pop classics ``Good Vibrations,'' ``California Girls,'' ``Surfin' USA,'' and ``Kokomo,'' for the father. prgtoken The Beach Boys, from their California roots, have, in fact, been a global ambassador for California and for America. But more importantly, at a time in which words are sometimes vulgar or unintelligible, that is never the case with The Beach Boys. They sing of the greatness of our country, of our lands, and particularly of California. prgtoken So, with the unprecedented success and continuation of this band under Mike Love's leadership, I ask that we honor him again as a father, a husband, an environmentalist, and, yes, a man who has given us the most beautiful, layered music of American modern history as it continues 55 years on.
MORTGAGE CHOICE ACT OF 2017
Jeb Hensarling (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , 10 seconds to say that, if the ranking member would read section 8(a) of RESPA, she would realize everything she said was false because it prevents any fee, kickback, or thing of value. prgtoken Second of all, what she describes as a harmful and fraudulent policy was supported by half of her , including her vice ranking member, Mr. Kildee from Michigan. prgtoken Madam , I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), who is the sponsor of the legislation and the chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investments.
RECOGNIZING THE HEROISM OF PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER SEAN GALLAGHER
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-2-7

I rise today to thank and recognize the heroism of a constituent of New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District. prgtoken This past December, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey came under attack by a terrorist set on the destruction of American lives. One of the officers responsible for thwarting the terrorist's plot was Port Authority Officer Sean Gallagher. Many lives were saved that day as a direct result of the quick and decisive actions of Officer Gallagher of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. prgtoken Those who know Sean Gallagher personally were not surprised when they learned that he had played a decisive role in foiling the attack and apprehending the Port Authority bomber. In the aftermath of the attack, many of Officer Gallagher's friends and acquaintances were asked what character traits Officer Gallagher possessed, and a common theme emerged: a strong work ethic and a patriotic desire to protect his community and Nation. prgtoken Mr. Gallagher will receive the Port Authority PBA's Cop of the Year award this Friday. I cannot think of an officer more deserving than Officer Sean Gallagher, and I congratulate him for his heroism.
CELEBRATING THE 325TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
Stephanie N. Murphy (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-2-7

. Madam , as a member of the class of 2000, I rise to celebrate the 325th anniversary of the College of William & Mary. prgtoken William & Mary may be the second oldest college in America, but it is first in the hearts of its students and alumni. The college educated many of our Nation's Founding Fathers and continues to take pride in producing graduates who enter public service, including four current Members of Congress. prgtoken Like it has for so many others, William & Mary changed my life. As the daughter of refugees from Vietnam who became residents of Virginia, I was the first woman in my family to attend college. I arrived on campus feeling a little alone and more than a little nervous. Yet, from the moment I walked through Wren Portico as a freshman to the moment I rang the Wren bell after my last class as a senior, William & Mary always made me feel that I was part of a close-knit community, a tribe, if you will, bound together by pride and tradition. prgtoken I learned so much during my 4 years on campus, creating friendships and making memories that have lasted a lifetime. So, to William & Mary the institution and to those whose efforts have made it such a special place, I say, ``Thank you, and happy birthday.''
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1892, HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-2-7

I will vote no on H. Res. 727 because of my strong objections to the majority's refusal to do Congress' work on time and their rejection of regular order for debate on critical national priorities. prgtoken H. Res. 727 makes in order H.R. 1892. This bill is entitled the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act, but in its current form this legislation has nothing to do with recognizing our first responders. In fact, the version of H.R. 1892 the House will consider under H. Res. 727 denies our first responders the certainty they deserve by providing them just 43 days of federal funding. prgtoken Discord and delay is no way to run our government. Instead of playing political games, it is time that s join to reach a bipartisan budget agreement that keeps our government open, protects our national security, and meets our commitments to hardworking families.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF PHILIP JOHN CARRIGAN, JR.
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-2-7

I rise today to honor Dr. Philip Carrigan, a dear friend and extraordinary community leader, for his dedicated service to Lake County as a lifelong advocate and volunteer. It is hard to find a community organization or charity in Lake County not touched by Phil's tireless activity. He worked closely with the Waukegan Township-based transitional housing programs for people experiencing homelessness at Eddie Washington Center House and Staben House. He was also particularly dedicated to his regular Friday shift at the PADS Lake County homeless shelter, and one year even threw his birthday party there rather than miss a week. Phil was an active volunteer with local prison reform groups, the John Howard Society and Prisoner Visitation and Support, and worked with the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism to help former inmates reintegrate into and succeed in society after serving their time. In 2005, Phil was elected as a trustee of the College of Lake County Board, where he served two six-year terms. CLC board Chairman Richard Anderson described Phil as, ``a dedicated supporter of CLC's students, a strong advocate for the Waukegan community and a person of extreme integrity.'' The Faith Food Pantry in Zion, the Lake County Community Action Project, the CEASE FIRE Advisory Council, the Lake County NAACP board, and many other organizations benefited from Phil's activism as well. Professionally, Dr. Carrigan began his career as a pharmacist in Boston. He later moved to Lake County in 1974 to begin work with Abbott Laboratories, where he worked for 30 years, primarily in pharmaceutical research and development. In recognition of his important contributions to the field, Dr. Carrigan was inducted into the Volwiler Society at the company. Phil will be remembered for his big heart and sage wisdom, and as a friend and supporter of all those in the Lake County community. He will be missed by the many people whose lives were touched by his service. I extend my sincerest condolences to Phil's wife Mary Clare Jakes; daughter Erin Carrigan; and the many other family, friends, and colleagues who were changed by his life and now mourn his loss.