mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LAWSUIT ABUSE REDUCTION ACT OF 2017
Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-3-10

I thank my distinguished colleagues in government and the lead on the House Judiciary Committee for their continued leadership. prgtoken My amendment would amend from the underlying bill all actions where whistleblowers allege misconduct or malfeasance in connection with the Federal Government. A whistleblower is defined as one who reveals wrongdoing within an organization in the hope of stopping it. prgtoken Our country has long recognized the importance of affording legal protections to whistleblowers. Under the protection and umbrella of these laws, whistleblowers have helped expose corruption, government waste, fraud, unconstitutional practices, and abuses of the public trust. They have risked, in many cases, their livelihoods to do what is right for this country and defend our democracy. prgtoken It should not be our objective to create barriers that will stop people in good faith from coming forward by subjecting them or their representatives to mandatory sanctions, but that is exactly what this bill is designed to do. prgtoken This amendment will ensure that whistleblowers are still protected under current law when they bring an action through our judicial system. The need for this amendment is clear now more than ever. prgtoken and his team appear, at times, to be paranoid about the information that comes out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. If the 45th President of the United States chooses to run the White House and the government in the same way that he ran many of his businesses, their fear may be well-founded. He does not have a great track record. prgtoken has been sued by the Department of Justice for violating Federal antidiscrimination laws, refusing to rent apartments to people based on their race. I note that that lawsuit in the early 1970s was brought by the Nixon Justice Department. prgtoken He was forced to shut down University, an apparent scam that he used to rip off students, swindling them out of tens of thousands of dollars. And he has repeatedly failed to pay his workers and contractors for their services--hardworking Americans. prgtoken He created a fake charity, the Foundation, which apparently has been used to pay for a portrait of himself and pay off fines and bills. He has declared bankruptcy four times in his career after losing billions of dollars. prgtoken Now, as President, this is the first time that has had to act in the best interest of someone other than himself or his family. prgtoken His Cabinet, however, consists of the superwealthy, many of whom are unfamiliar with the programs that their departments oversee and who are inexperienced in handling billions and billions of taxpayer dollars. Many others seem more concerned about helping out interests that are corporate in nature, not the people's interests. prgtoken In the words of the legendary Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis: ``Sunlight is the best of
THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AMENDMENT
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-3-10

it has been 7 years since the dreadful Citizens United ruling. prgtoken In upholding the rights of corporations to donate to political campaigns under the First Amendment, the Supreme Court created an election system that is now corrupted by limitless, unregulated donations. Ordinary citizens are left powerless, and politicians are increasingly beholden to wealthy special interests. prgtoken Since Citizens United, we have seen a major telecommunications company, oil companies, and the tobacco industry all attempt to dismantle regulations and disclosure rules by claiming First Amendment rights. Today, I am reintroducing the People's Rights Amendment to overturn Citizens United and declare, once and for all, that corporations are not people. prgtoken The Constitution was never intended to give corporations the same rights as the American people. Corporations don't breathe; they don't have kids; they don't die in wars. prgtoken The Preamble to the Constitution is ``We the people,'' not ``We the corporations.'' prgtoken Let us hope this Congress doesn't forget that.
LAWSUIT ABUSE REDUCTION ACT OF 2017
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-3-10

on Friday, March 10, 2017, I missed the following rollcall votes to H.R. 720: number 153 the Soto Amendment, number 154 the Jackson-Lee amendment, number 155 the Conyers amendment, number 156 the Jeffries amendment, number 157 on the ic motion to recommit and number 158 on final passage. Had I voted, I would have voted ``Aye'' on rollcall vote 153, ``Aye on rollcall vote 154, ``Aye'' on rollcall vote 155, ``Aye'' on rollcall vote 156, ``Aye'' on rollcall vote 157 the ic motion to recommit, and ``Nay'' on rollcall vote 158 on final passage of H.R. 720.
HONORING NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE GREAT JASON PAUL TAYLOR
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-10

I rise today to honor Mr. Jason Paul Taylor, a former Defensive End and Linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Mr. Taylor played 15 years in the NFL, most of it with the mighty Miami Dolphins. He owns NFL records for fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns, interceptions returned for touchdowns by a defensive lineman and defensive touchdowns scored, and tied for the record in fumble recoveries. prgtoken Mr. Taylor was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Akron Zips of the University of Akron before being drafted in the third round in the 1997 NFL Draft by Miami. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and four time first or second team All-Pro, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. Generous in all ways, he started the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004, dedicated to children in South Florida resulting in his receiving the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2007, the only league honor that recognizes those achievements made on and off the field. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, one of only four Dolphins players to be elected in their first year of eligibility. Following his retirement from the NFL at the end of the 2011 season, Mr. Taylor joined the ESPN television network as an analyst. He is also a board member of the NFL Players Association. prgtoken At Akron, Jason Taylor was a two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection as a junior and senior, as well as an All-American pick as a junior. In 1996, he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Virginia Tech, when he posted 12 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three stops for loss and tackled a punt returner in the end zone for a safety. Taylor also started for the Akron Zips men's basketball team. In 2004, he became the third person ever inducted into Akron's Ring of Honor. prgtoken , not content to rest on his laurels, Jason's recent appearance at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County's Inspiration Breakfast generated $40,000 for the financial assistance program that lets families in need use YMCA programs Mr. Jason Taylor is a fine athlete and great humanitarian. I want to thank him for all that he is doing for our South Florida community. I am so truly pleased to honor him today.
SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2017-3-10

I rise as dean of the South Carolina congressional delegation to recognize and honor the South Carolina Washington Semester Program for 25 years of offering outstanding young people from South Carolina colleges and universities the opportunity to come to Washington, D.C. to learn and serve. Each office in the delegation has benefitted from involvement with these students, who work for us in internships during the business day and earn college credits at night. The program was founded to ensure that South Carolina congressional offices had access to talented South Carolina students. These students have proven to be some of the brightest and most engaged to ever serve in our offices over the past quarter century.
WORST OF TIMES
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2017-3-10

when President was campaigning, he said that these were the worst of times for African Americans, conveniently or ignorantly forgetting slavery and Jim Crow. He said it couldn't get any worse. prgtoken Well, it is getting worse with a Justice Department that has already retreated on voting rights and that has empowered private prisons to take advantage of people which are disparately proportionate to African Americans for prison incarceration; a HUD department where the Secretary has said slavery was akin to immigration and where $6 billion is to be cut from the budget; an education department that doesn't believe in public education that has given African Americans a chance for the American Dream; and a healthcare bill that takes away health care from the poorest and makes it to where many will not have health care, and Medicaid will be decimated and possibility eliminated. prgtoken These are the worst of times and President , , is showing African Americans things can get worse. They are getting worse, and they are on a daily basis.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-3-10

I rise today to recognize the 130th Anniversary of Second Baptist Church in Long Branch, New Jersey. Its members will celebrate this milestone during Sunday service on March 12, 2017 and it is my honor to join them in marking this significant occasion. prgtoken Since its humble beginnings at the home of Ephraim Bell in 1887, Second Baptist Church has grown structurally and in membership, while continuing to provide outstanding spiritual guidance to the community. The construction of the church building where the church still stands today began in 1904, under the leadership of Rev. Asbury Smallwood. To accommodate the growing congregation over the years, an educational wing was constructed in the late 1970s and a second Sunday service was added in 2000. prgtoken Throughout its 130 year history, Second Baptist Church has also expanded its vision and service to the community. In addition to serving the spiritual needs of its members, Second Baptist Church is also home to the Portuguese congregation led by Rev. Aloisio Campos, Jr. The church has also served as a Monmouth County Head Start facility as well as a New Hope tutoring program location. prgtoken Its current pastor, Rev. Aaron N. Gibson, Sr serves as the 13th pastor of the church and has dedicated over 20 years of service to the congregation. Under his leadership, the church has seen significant growth and remains a mainstay of the community. prgtoken , please join me in congratulating Second Baptist Church on its 130th Anniversary. Its service to the community is truly deserving of this body's recognition.
LAWSUIT ABUSE REDUCTION ACT OF 2017
Darren Soto (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-10

. Mr. Chair, there is a sanction in place. You have to remove your claim or your assertion that is in question, and there is the cost of time that any attorney has to put in. But at the end of the day, we have already been down this road and it has failed. Now all we are going to see is more litigation again without the requisite increase in funding to our Federal courts. prgtoken And so what we are going to see is anybody who sued--whether you are a plaintiff suing or defendant--is going to now have far more complex, dual-track litigation, and that is going to increase costs on businesses and on individuals who are facing litigation in our Federal courts. I believe we need to keep the lessons learned from the past, and I urge Members to adopt my amendment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
TRUMPCARE IS DESTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-10

President and the Congress promised a better plan for health care that would be good for all Americans. prgtoken Now that we have seen their plan, we know the truth. Passage of the American Health Care Act will not improve health care or reduce healthcare costs. Instead, it will cut critical health access and benefits for children, older adults, pregnant women, communities of color, and people living with disabilities. prgtoken If Care becomes law, it will destroy Medicaid as we know it, while also increasing costs of health care for working class families across the country. prgtoken It is unconscionable that this kind of destructive legislation should be shoved through Congress without hearings or stakeholder input. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to reject this shortsighted bill and work with to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, a healthcare plan that is working well for millions of Americans.
LAWSUIT ABUSE REDUCTION ACT OF 2017
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-10

this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. prgtoken As has been amply discussed, the mandatory sanctions and fees in this bill would have a chilling effect on cutting-edge litigation. One type of cutting-edge litigation to suffer would be citizen lawsuits seeking enforcement of the foreign Emoluments Clause. The amendment proposed in this motion would exempt civil actions that implicate foreign emoluments. prgtoken Article I, section 9, clause 8 of the Constitution says: ``No person holding any office of profit or trust . . . shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.'' prgtoken Why did the Founding Fathers write this? Concern that foreign governments might try to control America. They wanted to make sure that nothing--no gifts, no payments, no advantages of any kind--could be received by officers of the United States, including the President, unless Congress approved it. They wanted to make sure that loyalty was completely to America, not divided by obligations to foreign powers. So receipt of emoluments is a serious breach of the requirements of the Constitution unless Congress approves the payment. prgtoken Congress has not voted to approve payments by foreign governments to our President. Some Americans are considering legal action to protect America from a Presidential violation of the Emoluments Clause. prgtoken President took the symbolic step of resigning from his businesses, but he still gets the income. Letting his family run his businesses doesn't solve the emoluments violations. prgtoken Here are some of the potential problems: prgtoken In February, China gave provisional approval for 31 new trademarks for The Organization, which have been sought for a decade, to no avail, until he won the election. This is a benefit the Chinese Government gave to the President's business. prgtoken At Tower in New York, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's large tenant, the United Arab Emirates, leases space, and the Saudi mission to the U.N. makes payments. Money from these foreign countries goes to the President. prgtoken The President is part owner of a New York building carrying a $950 million loan, partially held by the Bank of China. He literally owes the government of China. prgtoken The Embassy of Kuwait held its 600-guest National Day celebration at Hotel in Washington, D.C last month, proceeds to . prgtoken The President has deals in Turkey. When he announced the Muslim ban, Turkey's President called for President 's name to be removed from Towers Istanbul. His company is currently involved in major licensing deals for that property. prgtoken Shortly after the election, the President met with former U.K. Independent P
UNIVERSAL COVERAGE NOT UNIVERSAL CHAOS
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-3-10

I rise today in strong opposition to the American Health Care Act. prgtoken Over the past several weeks, I have held six townhalls where I have discussed health care with more than 800 of my constituents. Thousands more have called or contacted my office. prgtoken Erica, from my hometown of Arlington, told me that, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, her family can now keep their house and pay their mortgage. prgtoken Nancy from Bellingham told me she works with families who rely on Medicaid to avoid bankruptcy due to extra medical costs that come with caring for babies with disabilities. prgtoken So many Washingtonians support the Affordable Care Act and benefit from it. And of my constituents who oppose the Affordable Care Act, none of them have asked me to support legislation that would cover fewer people. None of my constituents have asked Congress to make poor people pay more for insurance. And not one of my constituents have asked Congress to give the rich a massive tax break, but that is prgtoken what the American Health Care Act will do. prgtoken This bill, , will hurt people--women, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and middle class families. It will result in universal chaos, not universal coverage. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this measure.
WORKING FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER THAN TRUMPCARE
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-3-10

right now s are racing to pass Care, legislation that repeals and replaces the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken They are racing to pass it to because they know when the American people find out what is in this bill, they won't support it. prgtoken But let me tell you what Care does, . prgtoken It gives huge tax cuts to insurance companies and the top 1 percent. prgtoken It allows insurance companies to raise premiums by 25 percent for older Americans. prgtoken It eliminates funding for Planned Parenthood, denying millions of women critical care. prgtoken It cuts lifesaving support for the most vulnerable: children, Americans with disabilities, the frail elderly, and nursing home residents. prgtoken And it slashes funding for Medicaid. prgtoken Care is a great deal for the wealthy. Care is a great deal for insurance companies and drug companies. It is a raw deal for everyone else. prgtoken Millions will lose healthcare coverage. And let's be clear, people are going to die when this happens. Millions more will end up paying for more lower quality care, and s don't even have a plan to pay for their proposal. prgtoken After 7 years, this is it. This is the best they have got: tax cuts for the rich and bad health care for everyone else. prgtoken Working families deserve better.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-10

I thank the gentleman for that insightful comment. prgtoken Let me say this, Mr. Leader, if, as we did in the Defense Appropriations bill, if we follow the template where we will reach bipartisan agreement on those bills in committee without any poison pills language in them--which you did on the appropriation bill, and, as you saw, we appreciated that, and we were overwhelmingly supportive of that effort--I would hope that, Mr. Leader, you would urge--and I think, very frankly, I am a big fan of Mr. Frelinghuysen, who is the chairman of the committee. I think he is a Member that I have worked well with over the years, and I think he is somebody who is going to do the committee proud as its chairman--but I am hopeful that we can do, as we did with the appropriation bill for the Defense Department, a similar procedure. So I think that the majority leader will be pleased with our support if, in fact, that can happen. prgtoken , I yield to my friend.
LAWSUIT ABUSE REDUCTION ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-10

reading again from the Judicial Conference letter, it says: The facts do not support any assumption that mandatory sanctions under H.R. 720--that is what the bill is about--deter frivolous filings. All it does, after a decade of experience, is that it demonstrates that it failed to provide meaningful relief from the litigation behavior it was supposed to address. prgtoken What it will do is it will punish the small business. By eliminating the mandatory fee-shifting provision, the 1993 rule discouraged satellite litigation. Reinstating this mandatory fee-shifting rule, as H.R. 720 does, will again have a chilling effect. prgtoken The Jackson Lee amendment would give the courts discretion to protect against the mom-and-pop business from having to pay because they mistakenly thought big bank XYZ did them in, and it really was a mistake on their part. prgtoken Sanctions are more often imposed against plaintiffs than defendants, more often imposed against plaintiffs in certain kind of cases, primarily civil rights and certain kinds of discrimination cases. prgtoken The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka might have been perceived to be outrageous--how dare you try to strike down the separate but equal--and yet it has had an amazing impact and a case of moment in history. prgtoken Or the Loving v. Virginia, when two individuals who loved each other still were kept out of Virginia because they were of different races, it was absurd to file that lawsuit at that time. Yet, if they had not, or if these kinds of penalties were in place, they might be suffering mandatory sanctions and kept out of the courthouse. prgtoken A leading study on this issue showed that, although civil rights cases make up 11.4 percent, 22.7 percent of the cases in which sanctions have been imposed are civil rights cases. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. In order to foster justice, support the Jackson Lee amendment, which restores to the courts judicial discretion on penalties and sanctions, if you will, and listen to the Judicial Conference: this is a curse worse than the problem. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge support of the Jackson Lee amendment, and .
AN EXERCISE IN SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Al Lawson, Jr. (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-10

the plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is an exercise in smoke and mirrors. prgtoken This proposal would give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans while burdening the hardworking families with higher healthcare costs. The plan also allows soaring new healthcare costs for our seniors and shortens the life of the Medicare trust fund, endangering seniors and disabled Americans who depend on Medicaid coverage. This is completely unacceptable to Floridians. prgtoken We need to hear from the Congressional Budget Office about what this bill would really mean in numbers. The American people deserve to understand what the s are trying to do with their health care. prgtoken I will continue to fight to ensure that Floridians with preexisting conditions don't have to worry about losing their healthcare coverage, and that young adults can stay on their parents' insurance until they reach age 26, and that we are going to do all we can to make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans and not just for a select few.
HONORING MARJORIE J. McCONNELL
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-10

I rise today to celebrate Marjorie J. McConnell of Boca Raton, Florida who turns 100 years old today. prgtoken Marjorie J. McConnell was born just outside of St. Louis, Missouri on March 10, 1917 to Ethel Franklin and Benjamin Hughes Johnson. She was interested in art from an early age, and she obtained degrees in Art and Art Education at Washington University in St. Louis and later at Columbia Teacher's College in New York. prgtoken She dedicated herself to her students for over three decades in her career as an art teacher, which took her to Ossining, New York and Plainfield, New Jersey. Together with her husband, the late Robert K. McConnell, Jr she raised a son and continued her creative pursuits through weaving, ceramics, and painting. Her work received recognition at art shows from New Jersey to Ohio. Marjorie has always been a staunch supporter of environmental initiatives and progressive causes and continues to create art in Boca Raton, Florida, where she resides today.