mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IMPROVE OUR NATION ACT OF 2017
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-3

I thank the chairman for yielding and for his outstanding leadership on this very important committee. prgtoken , I rise today to implore my colleagues to put politics aside for the sake of the 232,000 children in my State of Georgia and the 8.9 million children across our Nation who are counting on us to reauthorize CHIP. Twelve States will run out of CHIP funding before the end of this year. So the idea of waiting around another 2 months before acting on CHIP is simply unacceptable. prgtoken Let's be clear why we are here today. Instead of having this discussion 2 months ago, we had to delay the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, the CHIP bill, because the other side of the aisle refused to even consider reasonable offsets to pay for the program. prgtoken I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: How was that objection related to fighting for the middle class? prgtoken Even President supported the change for high-income Medicare beneficiaries in his annual budget. prgtoken How are we supposed to look parents in the eye back home and tell them that we choose politics instead of choosing to relieve their concerns about coverage? prgtoken , let's do our job and let's reauthorize CHIP.
MERIT-BASED VISA PROGRAM
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-11-3

. Madam , Uzbekistan uber terrorist Saipov's attack in New York City is another example why the United States should end the diversity visa lottery. And I emphasize the word ``lottery.'' prgtoken The program should have ended years ago. Under this 1990 program, the State Department gives 50,000 visas each year to immigrants from different parts of the world using a lottery system. Getting into the United States is like playing bingo. It is a game of chance. prgtoken Our immigration system should be changed to accept the best and brightest throughout the world. It is time to go to a merit-based visa system. Grant visas to people who will benefit America. Stop the random system that allowed Saipov to come in; a system that rolls the dice where foreigners win and Americans lose. prgtoken And that is just the way it is.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-11-3

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I am excited about his question, because I am excited about this bill. prgtoken For more than three decades, we have waited for tax reform. Many people know the challenge of what they have with the government taking more than they should, and the challenge to see individuals raise their paychecks. prgtoken Ways and Means has announced that they will start markups next week. I assume that it will take them probably a week to get through the entire bill, going through regular order as we do, and then I would assume that we would bring that to the floor right after. We would like to get this to the American people as soon as possible. prgtoken I am willing to talk about the bill, I am willing to talk about the bill in any different manner, because we spent a lot of time working on this. prgtoken The very first thing that is going to happen for the American public, come January 1, they are going to get more in their paycheck, because what we do, we take the standard deduction, because in the current law today, a single individual in America, it is only the first $6,000 they have are tax free. Well, that is going to go to 12. For a couple, it is going to go to 24. prgtoken We take seven confusing rates and make it four. It is about cutting them. Every rate is lowered except the highest rate. prgtoken Then we go and look at: How can we make America competitive? I started my first business when I was 20 years old. Small business is the backbone of this country. Small businesses work harder than almost anybody else. We lower their rate to 25. That is the lowest it has been in 40 years. prgtoken Then all this money that is being pushed overseas that we tax too high so people won't bring it back--and there are trillions of dollars there--we are going to have that money come back. And what are they going to do? They are going to invest in America. prgtoken Now, the name of our bill is Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Just yesterday, I was with a company, Broadcom. We went into the Oval Office. I had worked with this company for quite some time. They started in America. Bell Labs was part of it, and others. Three companies got together. They are technology; they were building; they were growing. Then what they found was, America's Tax Code was so burdensome on them, that for them to compete around the world, they became a company that domiciled in Singapore. prgtoken Talking to them just the last month or so, laying out our tax bill, they said: You know what, we are so confident in you passing this, we are going to announce that we are moving back to America. prgtoken They have $20 billion a year in revenue. They invest $9 billion every year in R&D and manufacturing, those manufacturing jobs we care so much about. prgtoken So yesterday, we were sitting in the Oval Office, and this is exactly what the CEO said. You know what he talked about? He grew up in Singapore. He said: When I turned 18, t
HONORING WAYNESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN MENTOR COUNCIL
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-3

I rise to recognize some outstanding high school students from my district in Missouri, who have displayed a deep appreciation and respect for our Armed Forces. prgtoken Before the last regular season varsity football home game, members of the Waynesville High School Freshman Mentor Council presented pocket flags to the 763rd Ordnance Company, who will soon be deploying. The students also presented the pocket flags to Waynesville High School's Partners in Education, the 787th Military Police Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, to share with deploying soldiers. prgtoken The flags are part of the Pocket Flag Project, which provides military personnel on the front lines with personal pocket flags. Waynesville High School freshmen folded the flags and wrote personalized messages to accompany each flag on Patriot Day. prgtoken I applaud these students for taking the initiative to honor our men and women in uniform. With young people like these walking down the halls of schools, I am certain America has a bright future.
TOPICS OF THE WEEK
Ron DeSantis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-11-3

. Madam , I thank my friend from Iowa for his leadership. prgtoken Madam , it was really distressing to hear that Christ Church in Alexandria is removing a monument honoring its most famous parishioner, George Washington. It just made me think: What is this world coming to? prgtoken Now, Christ Church is free to do as it pleases, but I think we are also free to criticize such an absurd course of action. If we can't honor the Father of our Country, then we truly are drowning in a sea of knee-jerk political correctness. prgtoken George Washington was one of the few truly great men, an American original without whom we would not be standing here today as free people. prgtoken I just want to tick off a few things before to my colleague from Iowa, but this is important. prgtoken His stewardship during the American Revolution brought America a victory that we really had no right to win against the most powerful army on Earth. prgtoken He only had one-third of the country behind the revolutionary cause, yet, against all odds, Washington led our country to victory. But then having won that military victory, what does Washington do? prgtoken Throughout all of human history, when you win a military victory, that commanding general then seizes power for themselves and creates a society which is at that individual's beck and call. prgtoken That is not what George Washington did. He famously surrendered his sword to the Continental Congress and gave up power voluntarily because he wanted to establish a republic. Then he went home to Mount Vernon. When word of Washington's relinquishment of power reached King George III in England, he was flummoxed. He said: Well, if that is really true, then Washington is the greatest man in the world. prgtoken It is unheard of that you would relinquish power in that way. Napoleon, on his deathbed--obviously, he had a lot of trials and tribulations--said: Look, they wanted me to be another Washington, and I just couldn't do it. prgtoken Washington presided over the Federal Convention in 1787, which created our Constitution. Had Washington not been willing to lend his legitimacy to that proceeding and to the Constitution, I think it is pretty clear the Constitution would have never been ratified. prgtoken He gets elected the first President of the United States unanimously. I think we really needed somebody with Washington's character and stature to be able to launch this new ship of state. If you had had anybody else--and there were many great Founding Fathers--you may not have been able to launch it successfully. He was that type of man. prgtoken He was also somebody who has offered some of the most eloquent defenses of religious liberty in our country's history. I want to quote from a letter he wrote to the Hebrew congregation at Newport in 1790. prgtoken He said: ``It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-11-3

. Madam , it is certainly an honor and pleasure to follow my dear friend from Iowa with whom I got to share a little time last prgtoken weekend, be out in God's nature and just enjoy the best Iowa has to offer, and Steve King is one of those best things. prgtoken Well, we have heard a great deal about the New York terrorist, although I believe Governor Cuomo told us there are no terrorist ties initially, before he had any time to know anything, really. But that seems to be kind of the way most mayors where these terrorist attacks occur respond. They immediately declare, ``This is not terrorist. No terrorist ties.'' And then, lo and behold, we find out, eventually, there certainly are. prgtoken One of the problems that has been created during the last 8 years and a little bit during the last part of the administration is the development discussion of countering violent extremism. But I do want to touch on something about the diversity visa lottery program. prgtoken My first year in Congress, in 2005, we eliminated the diversity visa lottery program--at least voted in the House to eliminate it--but the Senate would not take it up, wouldn't take it up. We had a majority in the House and Senate, and the Senate wouldn't take it up. prgtoken Then, in November of 2006, we lost the majority in both Houses. And, of course, the ic majority in both Houses loved the diversity visa lottery program. In fact, I have a floor speech from Senator Chuck Schumer where he extols the virtues of the diversity visa lottery program. Here are some highlights. prgtoken Senator Schumer said--this is May 24, 2006: ``As a Member of the House, I helped create this program, which my colleague, Senator Kennedy, created in the Senate in 1990.'' prgtoken He said: ``In fact, my city of New York has dramatically benefited from this program, and diverse countries such as Ireland, Poland, and Nigeria have had large numbers of immigrants to be able to come, set roots, and help the diversity of New York and of America. ``So this is an excellent program. Nobody has said it has done a bad job.'' prgtoken Those were his comments in 2006. prgtoken Well, I am here to say it has done a bad job. So now nobody can say that nobody has said it has done a bad job, because I am saying it has done a bad job. prgtoken No matter how noble the original idea was, you should never trust the country's security to a lottery. That is insanity. prgtoken Of course, in a speech back in 2006, then Congressman Schumer, now Senator Schumer, said--or, actually, he was a Senator in 2006. But Senator Schumer said: ``I think America should admit many more of those people but not at the expense of this small, successful program that guarantees that other countries, such as the Irelands, the Polands, and the Nigerias that are unable to have immigrants come in for family reasons, can get people to come into this country.'' prgtoken Senator Schumer also said, about the
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-11-6

on Friday, November 3, 2017, I was unavoidably detained attending to representation duties in my district and was not present for rollcall votes 605 and 606. prgtoken I would like to have reflected in the Record, on rollcall vote 605, I would have voted ``yes'' on the motion to recommit with instructions for H.R. 3922, the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017. prgtoken On rollcall vote 606, I would have voted ``no'' on the passage of H.R. 3922, the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017. prgtoken On Friday, November 3, 2017, I was unavoidably detained attending to representation duties and was not present for Roll Call Votes 605 and 606. I ask the record to reflect that had I been present I would have voted as follows: prgtoken 1. On rollcall 605, I would have voted ``yes.'' (On the Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 3922, the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017). prgtoken 2. On Rollcall 606, I would have voted ``no.'' (On Passage of H.R. 3922, the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017).
TEXAS CHURCH MASS SHOOTING
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-11-6

yesterday there was another gun massacre and horrible circumstances. I know the Presiding Officer came to the floor earlier today to say a word about his feelings and the feelings of his family. They are shared by all of us. It is heartbreaking to think that some person so demented, so unusual would come into a worship setting and kill innocent people. prgtoken Yesterday, in Sutherland Springs, Texas, at least 26 people were killed and 20 others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church. The reported shooter, Devin Kelley, used an assault rifle to commit this mass murder. The victims range in age from 18 months to 77 years. About a dozen of those who were killed were children, including the daughter of the church's pastor. This is heartbreaking. Our nation grieves for the victims and their loved ones. prgtoken The shooter reportedly drove up to the church wearing a bulletproof vest and tactical gear, and he began firing in the parking lot before entering the church. At some point, a local resident who lived near the church began firing back. The shooter then drove off, with two residents in pursuit, eventually crashing his car. He was found dead from a gunshot wound, which may have been self-inflicted. prgtoken President and others have said that this exchange of fire with citizens responding saved lives and shows that the policy response to the shooting should be to arm more good guys with guns. Let us not forget that 46 people were shot before these citizens came on the scene. prgtoken This reported shooter, 26 years old, had served in the U.S. Air Force from 2010 until 2014, working on logistics readiness. In 2012 he was court-martialed for two counts of assault on his then-wife and child. He was sentenced to confinement for 12 months. He received a bad conduct discharge in 2014. He remarried in 2014, and had worked as an unarmed security guard at a water park. He reportedly bought four guns, one each year from 2014 to 2017, and three of those weapons--the assault rifle that he used in this crime and two handguns--were found at the scene. prgtoken Local law enforcement said that the shooter was likely motivated by a domestic situation. His wife's grandmother was one of the victims. prgtoken There are so many things that come to mind. First and foremost is the grief and sorrow we all feel for the families who were affected. It is so sad that when people go to church on Sunday, they are not safe from gun violence and gun massacres, which are occurring way too frequently across the United States. Just over two years ago, nine people were killed by a gunman in the Charleston Emanuel AME Church. And just last month we saw the worst mass shooting in modern American history in Las Vegas, with 58 people murdered and over 500 wounded. In Chicago, at least 29 people were shot, five fatally, over this past weekend. prgtoken There are things that we need to
Texas Church Mass shooting (Executive Session)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-11-6

I rise to speak about the mass shooting in Texas yesterday--the latest mass shooting in what seems like never-ending gun violence in our country. My heart breaks for the victims and their families and for the community of Sutherland Springs in Texas. prgtoken We are still gathering all the facts about this specific crime. We are still learning about what happened, how this murderer was able to purchase a gun, whatever his twisted rationale was for walking into a house of worship in a small town and slaughtering more than 20 people, including young children, with an assault weapon. Our incredible law enforcement officials are working hard to answer all of that, but the most important fact of all is something we already know very well. This was yet another case where someone on American soil who had absolutely no business getting his hands on a weapon of war was able to get one and use it to commit heinous mass murder. prgtoken Of the five worst mass shootings in our history, three of them have occurred in just the past 17 months. Think about that. In a small town in America, nearly 7 percent of the town's population was slaughtered just because they went to church that day. The weapon he used was based on a military weapon designed for a war zone, but this was not a war zone. It was a church. People were singing and praying and savoring life. prgtoken I reject the notion that it is too soon to act. If not now, then when? We should ban assault weapons and bump stocks today. People who don't want to have an honest conversation say we need to wait. Well, for how long? Because we wait, and we wait, and we will see evil rear its ugly head over and over again, and we are told to wait again. prgtoken We have enough information today for Congress to do its job and try to keep our constituents safe from gun violence. We had enough information before yesterday to act, but what Congress does not have is the political will to act. My friends, this must change. Thoughts and prayers are not going to stop the next mass shooting. Merely talking about doing something about the mentally ill obtaining guns isn't going to stop the next deranged person with hate in their soul from committing yet another mass murder. The Second Amendment does not mean that Americans should have to risk getting shot because they walked down the wrong street in a city or decided to go to a music festival in Las Vegas or a night club in Orlando or an elementary school in Newtown or a movie theater in Aurora or a church on Sunday in Texas. prgtoken After each of these horrific acts of violence, what happened here in Congress? Nothing. More than a month after Las Vegas, we still can't even tackle the most obvious fixes like banning bump stocks. Plain and simple, Americans are being slaughtered and Congress is refusing to protect them. prgtoken I hear my colleagues who rightly say we can't pass laws to stop every instance of a deranged gu
EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE EQUALIZER
Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-6

I rise today because I think education is the number one equalizer. It is the door to opportunity, yet the GOP tax plan will make it harder to afford to be able to go to college. prgtoken When I was a kid, my parents--both immigrants from Mexico, where mom only had a third grade education--told me that I had to become a doctor or a lawyer. That was the only way to get out of the poverty that we lived in. prgtoken As a result, I went to college. I was saddled in student loan debt when I came out. As a matter of fact, I still have over $50,000 of student loan debt. It shouldn't be this way. prgtoken Congress should be working to make it easier to go to college so that there is debt-free college, or at least make it more affordable. Unfortunately, that is not the case. prgtoken Instead, Congress is considering a terrible GOP tax plan that proposes to eliminate the student loan interest deduction and lifetime learning credits. Under current rules, borrowers paying off education loans can deduct up to $2,500 of interest paid on student loans. prgtoken Deductions lower your taxable income. About 12.4 million people claimed it for the year 2015. You can claim the student loan break for several years after college while paying off the loans. prgtoken The GOP tax plan would destroy this key deduction for young graduates and workers getting the job training they need to succeed in the 21st century economy. prgtoken Millenials and young workers, if you disagree, rise and have your voice heard today. Just say no to the GOP tax plan that only makes it harder to afford college.
TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS AND OTHER ISSUES OF THE DAY
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2017-11-6

I thank the gentlewoman so very much for her moving words. I know that this is an issue that is very close to her heart, being of Haitian-American descent, and we are grateful for her leadership on this, being supportive of the letters to the President, letters to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for her working in a bipartisan fashion to support the people of Haiti as well as other countries on this issue. prgtoken , from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus who is leading us in this discussion that is affecting the people of Haiti as well as other countries, along with the President's tax plan and how it would affect those Americans who are the least of us and would have the most repercussions for that.
PROVIDING FOR A CONSISTENT ELIGIBILITY DATE FOR PROVISION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEMORIAL HEADSTONES AND MARKERS FOR ELIGIBLE SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-6

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 3656, as amended, which resolves an inconsistency in the eligibility for nonveteran spouses and children receiving memorial headstones. The legislation ensures a consistent applicability date for memorial headstones and markers for eligible nonveteran individuals whose remains are not available. prgtoken Under current law, a surviving spouse who dies on or after November 11, 1998, is eligible for a headstone or marker. But for dependent children who pass away, the date of eligibility for a headstone or marker does not occur until December 22, 2006. prgtoken This arbitrary difference causes situations in which VA can provide a marker for the parent, but not the dependent child. Clearly, this change would make it easier for surviving family members to make funeral and burial plans. prgtoken H.R. 3656, as amended, is supported by the major veteran service organizations and enjoys bipartisan support in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. prgtoken , I support H.R. 3656, as amended, and I urge my colleagues in the House to do the same. .