mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-12-19

the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will keep over $700 million per year in Montanans' pockets. That is not a number that I calculated; that came right from the Montana Department of Revenue. And that is just for the individuals in Montana. That $700 million will be moved from Washington, DC, back to the people of Montana. prgtoken I can tell you something: Hard-working Montanans could use a pay raise. In fact, in Montana, we have some of the lowest per capita wages in the Nation. Contrast that with what is going on in Washington, DC. In fact, if you Google ``wealthiest counties in the U.S.A.''--I challenge you to do that. Take your smartphone and Google ``wealthiest counties in the U.S.A.'' and look at what you find. The top three wealthiest counties in America are suburbs of Washington, DC. In fact, 6 out of 10 of those counties are counties adjacent to Washington, DC. Montanans don't need to send an additional $700 million of their money back to Washington, DC. In fact, according to the Montana Department of Revenue, nearly 99 percent of Montanans will see a tax cut under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. On average, Montanans will keep approximately $1,600 of their hard-earned money each year. prgtoken Moreover, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repeals once and for all Care's poverty tax--the so-called individual mandate. This tax has systematically penalized the low-income for not being able to afford health insurance. Frankly, repealing this tax is one of the most compassionate things we could do as part of this legislation. prgtoken Adding insult to injury, when you peel back what is going on with this poverty tax, 42 percent of those paying that poverty tax, that Care mandate tax, make less than $25,000 a year. In fact, 82 percent of the penalty payers paying this tax make less than $50,000 a year. Repealing this tax is the right thing to do. prgtoken At the end of the day, the question here is pretty simple: Who deserves more money? Who deserves more control? Is it right here in Washington, DC, or is it the American people? Is it the people of Montana? I think the answer to that question is pretty easy. I believe Montanans do. So I will be voting for hard-working Montana families so they can keep more of their own money. As we debate what we should do with the cash here in Washington, DC, whose money is it anyway? It came from the people of this country. It came from the people of Montana. I will be voting for Montana Main Street businesses, for the hard-working middle class of Montana so we can grow wages--some of the lowest in the Nation--and grow jobs. I will be voting to return some of Montanans' hard-earned money back to the people who sent it here in the first place. prgtoken , .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3312, SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-12-19

I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. We were in the Rules Committee last night, , and we were having this same kind of conversation. We were going through the list one by one by one of all the families and how folks were going to benefit, about the children and graduate students, folks facing medical challenges. We went through one by one by one and talked about all the folks who were going to benefit from this great tax cut, and it was powerful. prgtoken But I was reminded, , that when we started this conversation, it wasn't even a tax cut conversation. It was an economic growth conversation, . It was an economic growth conversation. Where we have ended up is there are going to be tax benefits for every single working family in the country, but where we started was how do we get those wages for working families up? How do we get job creation up? How do we get America growing, not at these stagnant rates of years, but back at powerful rates as we saw in the years, prgtoken as we saw in the Clinton years, as we saw in the Reagan years? That was the conversation. prgtoken , if we had historically normal economic growth--not fantastic economic growth--historically normal economic growth, we would have a balanced budget in this country today. There is an economic consequence of economic failure. What we have done in this bill, , by allowing businesses to expense their investment, allows them to make their employees more productive on day one. That is going to have a powerful impact, not just on employee wages, Mr but on economic growth across the entire country. prgtoken This bill is not about should we pay taxes. We must. This bill is about how we pay taxes. Can we do it better? Does America need to be the worst in the world? Or can we be first in the world? prgtoken We are answering that question today. We are answering that question today. And with every single vote a Member in this Chamber casts, it is not about is everything in this bill exactly the way you would have crafted it. I assure you, , for me, it is not. The question is: Does this bill move us in a direction of competitiveness across the globe? It does. The question is: Does this bill focus on wages and growing those wages? It does. The question is: In this opportunity that we have, did we take it or did we waste it? prgtoken We haven't answered that question yet, , but I believe that later on today we will. We are going to answer in the affirmative. Give us a chance. Should it have taken us 31 years to get to this place? It should not. Can we make a difference together today for the country? Yes, we can. It will be a lasting difference. It will be a powerful difference. It is going to be one of the proudest votes I have had an opportunity to take in this Chamber, and I appreciate the opportunity. prgtoken , I thank the chairman for his leadership on this.
TAX REFORM
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-12-19

over the past 31 years, our Tax Code has become broken. As our Tax Code is currently written, I have been told by many that it fails to support families across the country with the resources they need in order to properly plan for their futures. Our Tax Code has left those behind who are struggling to make ends meet, and that is unacceptable. prgtoken Today is a historic day because that is all about to change. We have heard you. Today we will vote on comprehensive tax reform. prgtoken During consideration of H.R. 1, Andrew from Indianapolis contacted me, asking that we craft a tax plan that helps the middle class. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill does just that. Thanks to the reduced personal tax rates this bill provides, the average family of four, earning $73,000, will pay $2,000 less in Federal taxes. prgtoken We heard you, Andrew. prgtoken A single mother earning $40,000 will see $1,300 more in her paycheck. Those savings represent the ability for parents to save for opportunities, including future education costs for their kids, retirement savings; or for unexpected times when an emergency fund is needed to cover unplanned costs. prgtoken I heard loud and clear from a lot of people in the Fifth District-- students and parents--about the importance of protecting graduate student tuition exemptions. To ensure we continue to support hardworking students pursuing their career goals, this bill continues those exemptions. prgtoken We heard you. prgtoken Deborah from Anderson called my office asking that we preserve the mortgage interest deduction. This bill does that. It makes no changes to deductions for current mortgages and it keeps the deduction in place for new mortgages of up to $750,000. prgtoken I heard you, Deborah. prgtoken I was also contacted by a young married couple from Zionsville, in my district, who said, thanks to this bill, they have done the calculations and they think they are going to receive a $5,000 tax cut. They will use that money to boost their savings so that they can buy their first home sooner than they expected. prgtoken I heard you. prgtoken Providing our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones the freedom to pursue their dreams--like buying a first home or saving for college--is what allows our society to improve and better itself. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to also listen to the American people to show that we have heard them, and to support this bill. I believe it will help provide security for families across the Nation and it will help turn their dreams into their new reality.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3312, SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-12-19

I thank the chairman for yielding and his continued leadership. prgtoken We are on the cusp of something truly historic that will make life better for millions of people across the United States. By reforming the Tax Code, we will be able to put more money in people's pockets and create a fair and simpler tax system. prgtoken Under the current Tax Code, well-off individuals and big businesses can higher lobbyists and lawyers to help them find loopholes and special interest giveaways, all at the expense of working Americans. prgtoken With our plan, the Tax Code will be simplified, loopholes will be closed, and the playing field will be leveled. prgtoken I want to make one thing clear: if you are looking for a tax plan that benefits the elite, the well connected, and the 1 percent, then you need to look at the current Tax Code. prgtoken , my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to great lengths to defend the current Tax Code that truly benefits the top 1 percent. For example, the ic leader has called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ``the end of the world.'' So, apparently, giving the hardworking people in this country a tax cut is, to her, ``Armageddon.'' prgtoken Let's stop with all the doomsday political rhetoric, cut to the chase, and say what this bill really does: prgtoken It cuts taxes on hardworking Americans and allows them to keep more money in their pockets; prgtoken It supports American families by increasing the child tax credit and doubling the standard deduction; prgtoken It grows the American economy by making the corporate Tax Code actually competitive with other industrialized countries; prgtoken It benefits Main Street businesses in Alabama and across the country with a new 20 percent tax deduction for passthrough income; prgtoken It will lead to greater economic growth, higher wages, and more jobs, which is exactly what the American people sent President and the Congress to Washington to do. prgtoken So let's save the political hyperbole for another day. Let's pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and let's give the American people a real Christmas present and put more money in their pockets.
HONORING MR. MARTIN TRUEX, JR.
Thomas MacArthur (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-12-19

I rise today to honor Mr. Martin Truex, Jr of Ocean County as the 32nd driver in the NASCAR Cup Series history to be crowned Champion. Since his Cup series rookie season in 2004, Martin has racked up 15 wins, 67 top 5's and 160 top ten finishes with 6,519 laps led throughout his hard fought and resilient career. prgtoken Beyond his great success on the race track, Martin is committed to giving back to his community. In 2007, he and his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex started the Martin Truex, Jr. Foundation to support children with pediatric cancer. When not driving for Colorado based Furniture Row Racing team, Martin and Sherry devote much of their time together to furthering cancer research and awareness. The Martin Truex, Jr Foundation has committed over one million dollars in aid to help grow the emergency room at the Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Additionally, their efforts contributed to the grand opening of a new Pediatric Care Center at Southern Ocean Medical Center, in August of 2013. prgtoken Martin was raised in Mayetta, NJ, a very small and not so populated area inside of Stafford Township in southern Ocean County. In 1998, he graduated from Southern Regional High School, while racing for the Modified Division at Wall Stadium in Wall Township, always striving to accomplish his childhood dream, which was to become a NASCAR Cup Series Champion. prgtoken , the people of New Jersey's Third Congressional District are tremendously proud to have Mr. Martin Truex, Jr as an involved member of their community. It is my honor to recognize his outstanding accomplishment of being crowned the 2017 Champion in the NASCAR Cup Series and his continued commitment to giving back to his community, before the United States House of Representatives.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-12-19

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-12-19

I am so pleased to join Mr. Luetkemeyer in supporting his bill. I am so encouraged that this is a bipartisan bill. prgtoken Listening to the Members opposed, I am concerned that the bill is being highly mischaracterized. It occurred to me that when the Member opposed mentioned that 97 percent of banks would not be affected by this, that it automatically excludes 97 percent of banks from being affected by this. prgtoken Mr. Luetkemeyer doesn't pick a number and say big is bad. He says: Let's judge the bank by its behavior, not by the size of its balance sheet. prgtoken This is a rational, measured approach, and that is why it has drawn bipartisan support. It is focused on solving the problem, not driving regulatory burdens. prgtoken Let me explain that the SIFI designation is an arbitrary number, and it subjects banks with $50 billion or more in assets to the same standards as trillion-dollar globally important financial banks. prgtoken So a bank with $51 billion would be regulated the same way as JPMorgan Chase, for example. prgtoken Even former Chair Barney Frank, as has been mentioned, seized the problem. Janet Yellen seized the problem. prgtoken People look at it and say: What can be a solution? prgtoken The Federal Reserve has seen a possible solution as judging the character of the business activity. Mr. Luetkemeyer's bill firmly addresses that. prgtoken A simple asset threshold captures numerous banks that are widely perceived to be no threat to financial stability. It also distorts growth decisions.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-12-19

tonight the Senate will vote on a tax bill that will provide large corporations and wealthy individuals with a massive tax cut. The bill will result in well over $1 trillion in debt that will be passed on to our children and our grandchildren. prgtoken The bill will result in dramatically lower taxes for people who earn their living off of stocks and investments, for people who inherit millions of dollars from their parents, and for the CEOs of multinational companies. By the time the bill is fully implemented, it will lead to higher taxes and higher healthcare costs for millions of hard-working Americans who show up each and every day to do their job and to earn a living. prgtoken This bill we are voting on today was written in secret in an entirely partisan fashion, without input from nearly half of the Senate. prgtoken But it didn't have to be this way. If we wanted to give middle-class families a real tax cut, we could have. Instead, we are voting on a bill that has benefits for middle-class families that will expire just to pay for permanent tax cuts given to multinational corporations. prgtoken If we wanted to reform the Tax Code, to take away loopholes for offshoring our jobs, and to help create good-paying jobs here in the United States, we could have. Instead, we are voting on a bill that does nothing to target offshoring or job creation. prgtoken What will it do? Well, CEOs have told us directly that they are going to buy back stock, which mostly benefits the wealthiest shareholders and the CEOs with stock options. prgtoken When we know that over a third of the stocks that trade on the market are held by foreign investors--foreign investors are holding half of the value of the stock market--it is just impossible to argue that this bill is focused on Michigan families. prgtoken If we wanted to make the Tax Code simpler for small businesses, we could have. Instead, we are voting on a bill that includes some of the most complicated provisions you could possibly imagine for a small business owner. prgtoken If we really wanted to tackle our fiscal challenges in a responsible way, we could have. Instead, we are voting on the most fiscally irresponsible bill that I have ever voted on, adding $1.5 trillion to the debt that our children and grandchildren will be responsible for, all while doing next to nothing for middle-class families. prgtoken This is not the way we are supposed to make policy in this country. The bill that is on the floor tonight is here without any hearings. We didn't hear from a single expert on the specifics of the bill--not a single economist, not a single small business owner, not a single middle-class family. It is simply wrong. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote no and to defeat this bill. prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF LILLIE BIGGINS
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-12-19

I rise today to honor my neighbor in east Fort Worth and my friend, Lillie Biggins, who will soon be retiring from the Texas Health Methodist Hospital after 45 years of service. prgtoken Lillie joined the Texas Health Fort Worth family back in 1997, serving as vice president of operations. Her role was critical in overseeing major departments, such as emergency services, trauma services, and restorative services. prgtoken During her tenure, she helped cultivate a vision of success for the Texas Health Fort Worth community. Not only did Lillie dedicate her time in the health community, but she also volunteers all around the city of Fort Worth. Lillie often mentors and helps others in the area of health, education, youth, senior citizen services, businesses, and so many areas in our city that are underserved. prgtoken For her dedicated service to the community, she has been awarded so many awards, including her induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 2014. prgtoken , I wish Lillie all the best as she moves on into her relaxing retirement, but I know that she probably won't be that relaxed and that she is going to be very active in the community. I wish her the best in the future.
SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2017-12-19

as the ic lead on this bill, it is very important for me to point out that I worked very closely with Chairman Barney Frank and the administration, both of which admitted at the time that it was a mistake, a blunt instrument, to be able to just put an arbitrary figure of $50 billion and say they are a threat to our financial stability. prgtoken No. Our banking system deserves better than that. The American people deserve better than that. It is not the amount of money that you have got in your assets that caused the problem; it was what they were doing that caused the exposure. prgtoken So we want to substitute the $50 billion to make sure that we have a five-point test that the Feds will give that will be able to determine if they are a threat to our security and then tailor a program of advanced supervision that would prevent them from causing us this problem. prgtoken It is a great bill. It is time we corrected it, and I ask all of my colleagues, both and s, to do the right thing for the American people, and let's have a resounding ``yes'' vote for this SIFI bill.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3312, SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Keith Ellison (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-12-19

I ask the American people to ask themselves: Have they ever seen a big-time tax cut for the wealthy and big companies ever trickle down to them? prgtoken If you look over the course of these things that they do every few years, all they do is concentrate wealth at the very top and take money out of the hands of working people. They starve government and make it more difficult for your government--which is of, by, and for the people--to help you with prgtoken disaster, with Social Security, with Medicaid, with Medicare, or with any kind of program that you need. It just starves the government of its ability to make your life better. prgtoken But, do you know what, ? prgtoken There is another thing about this particular tax bill. They have been studying it, and there is going to be one tremendous beneficiary of this tax bill. It is going to be Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo, which will see its corporate tax rate drop down to 21 percent from the 35 percent it is now is going to make, on average, a 13 percent increase in earnings per share. prgtoken Do you remember that big company that opened up a bunch of accounts people didn't need and sold people insurance they didn't need? prgtoken They will be doing better. American families will be doing worse. prgtoken Vote ``no'' on this rule and vote ``no'' on this tax bill.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2017-12-19

the majority is ramming this tax bill through, calling it a Christmas gift to the American people. I have never seen such intellectual dishonesty in my life. It is more like the Grinch who stole Christmas. prgtoken In poll after poll and through elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and my home State of Alabama, the American people continue to send a message that they do not want this tax bill to move forward. But here we are watching the fiscal hawks of the Party blow through every red light on the way off the cliff, adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit. prgtoken What is the rush, I ask you. Last week, the American people in my home State of Alabama spoke up and spoke out. We deserve to have our duly elected Senator to vote on this bill. prgtoken What is the rush? Not one hearing, not one expert testifying, and no regular order. I ask you, , what is the rush? prgtoken I believe the rush is because they know this is not tax reform. It is a tax sham. The American people deserve better. My constituents from Alabama deserve better. We should vote ``no'' on this tax bill.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TAX REFORM
Tulsi Gabbard (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-12-19

there is no doubt that the American people need and want real tax reform, but rather than passing a strong, inclusive bipartisan bill focused on helping hardworking middle class families, today s passed a bill filled with massive corporate giveaways and loopholes for the ultrawealthy. prgtoken For example, the top 1 percent in our country will receive over 82 percent of the entire tax benefit in the bill they passed today. prgtoken As long as Congress continues to pass legislation for partisan political reasons that seriously serve special corporate interests instead of the families that are struggling just to get by every day, where lobbyists have more input in the writing of this legislation than many Members of Congress, the American people lose. prgtoken , I oppose this legislation today. It is a disappointment and a huge lost opportunity to actually help so many struggling families all across the country.