mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LIMITING INHUMANE FEDERAL TRAPPING (LIFT) ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-27

today, I am reintroducing the Limiting Inhumane Federal Trapping (LIFT) Act, which would severely restrict the use of inhumane body-gripping traps on public lands and by public officials. Every year, countless dogs, cats, and wild animals are injured and killed in body-gripping traps such as leg and foothold, Conibear, and snare traps. The animals caught in these traps are subject to intense pain that can last for hours, or even days. If they don't die immediately from the injuries, animals can suffer from dehydration, predation, or when a trapper eventually finds them. Furthermore, pets and other companion animals can be the victims of these traps. Body-gripping traps are non-selective in their victims, and can be particularly dangerous if set in popular areas. There are many effective non-lethal methods that can be deployed in place of these cruel traps. prgtoken Despite these serious risks, body-gripping traps are used by federal agencies, local governments, private entities, and individual trappers to catch creatures for their fur, keep animals away from livestock and crops, and even for recreational purposes. Wildlife Services, a federal agency notorious for its secrecy and use of inhumane animal management techniques, often uses body-gripping traps as a first resort. This results in the death or capture of thousands of animals per year in these cruel body-gripping traps. Federal agencies too often avoid more humane, effective, and non-lethal control options to control animal species. The LIFT Act would ensure that federal agencies, including Wildlife Services, do a better job of regulating trapping by non- federal entities on public lands, thereby limiting cruelty and protecting public safety. prgtoken Inhumane trapping is a problem in Oregon and across the country. There have been too many unfortunate examples of wild animals and pets falling victim to these traps. This bill complements efforts by other colleagues in the House and Senate to crack down on the use of body- gripping traps in light of the growing public acknowledgement that we cannot and should not continue to endorse the widespread use of these inhumane devices.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-3-27

from South Carolina, particularly on the issue of Russian sanctions. prgtoken Yesterday, we saw the people of Russia, particularly the younger people, demonstrating peacefully in the streets of the cities and towns throughout Russia in order to protest the corruption and dictatorship of Vladimir Putin. At the time, the leader of the opposition was jailed. He was in the process of putting together a study that showed that Medvedev, who was Putin's puppet, was one of the wealthiest people on Earth. prgtoken I was heartened by the willingness and the courage of the people of Russia to stand up and protest a corrupt, dictatorial, and brutal government that, unfortunately, they are saddled with. prgtoken .
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-3-27

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar Nos. 25 through 30; that the nominations be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.
COMMEMORATING THE RETIREMENT OF BOB EPLING
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-27

I, along with Representative Ros- Lehtinen and Representative Curbelo rise to commemorate the retirement of Mr. Bob Epling. Bob began his career as an assistant bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Washington, D.C. From there, he moved to South Florida, where he would spend most of the next fifty years. Bob worked for several banks in South Florida, and has served as the President and CEO of Homestead/Community Bank of Florida for the last forty years. Through his work at the bank, he has consistently proven himself to be an honorable, ethical man. Bob has also been an active member of the South Florida community. He has served as the Chairman of the International Hurricane Center for the past twenty years, serves on the executive board of the South Florida Council of Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of the Military Affairs Committee of the Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce, among many other activities. Bob is also a Senior Advisor to the Orange Bowl Committee, after serving as its President in 1993. In his work with the Orange Bowl Committee, he was able to break ground on a renovation of the football stadium and field at Field Park in Homestead. This project is just one example of Bob's continuing commitment to making life better for his neighbors in South Florida. We have known Bob for several decades, and have been consistently impressed with the breadth of his involvement with the community. He has been a loyal friend, and is an honest voice who can speak to the positive qualities of his community as well as the challenges it faces. We congratulate Bob on a remarkable career and a lasting impact made we are honored to pay tribute to Mr. Bob Epling for his tremendous service to the South Florida community, and we ask our colleagues to join us in recognizing this remarkable individual.
CELEBRATING THE USS ``OMAHA''
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-3-27

today I rise to commemorate the past and future of the United States Navy, the strongest and the best Navy in the world. prgtoken On this day, March 27, President George Washington signed an ``Act to Provide a Naval Armament'' authorizing the construction of six frigates, which includes the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. prgtoken The passage of the Naval Act of 1794 was, in part, a response to threats to American merchant ships from the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. 223 years later, the men and women of the U.S. Navy continue to protecting the goods and information we transport via ships and undersea cables to our overseas trading partners. prgtoken This includes securing the resources and services we import to fuel our industries. Paraphrasing Admiral Jonathan Greenert: the mandate of the Navy in modern times is to be in the right place, at the right time, ready and able to respond. prgtoken The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review signed by then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel--may I add a Nebraskan--states that in order to support this mission, we need to ``continue to build a future Fleet that is able to deliver the required presence and capabilities and address the most important warfighting scenarios.'' prgtoken In that light, I look forward to the commissioning of the USS Omaha this fall, and to congratulating the crew of the newest addition to the United States naval fleet. prgtoken The USS Omaha, LCS-12, is an Independence-class littoral combat ship, and the fourth ship to bear the name USS Omaha. It is a chain dating back to the commissioning of a sloop-of-war in 1869. The last USS Omaha was a nuclear attack submarine that served in the Navy from 1978 to 1995. prgtoken According to the Omaha World-Herald, a great source of intelligence, the ship is the sixth in line of Independence-class littoral combat ships with a futuristic trimaran design that sits high above the water. prgtoken Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work once compared it to a Klingon Bird-of-Prey ship in the movie ``Star Trek.'' The ship was christened on December 19, 2015, by Susie Buffett. prgtoken The ship's Latin motto is derived from its namesake, the city of Omaha, Nebraska. It translates to ``Courageously in Every Enterprise,'' which denotes her crew's willingness to brave any future endeavor. prgtoken While I am very proud of the future crew of the USS Omaha, I am equally proud of the members of the Nebraska Navy League and their counterparts for supporting the Navy's missions, their personnel, and their families. In an effort to strengthen the connection between the USS Omaha and the citizens it serves, the Nebraska Navy League has committed to bringing several members of the crew to our community each year. This endeavor helps to enhance the morale of the Active Duty personnel and their families, but it also helps to inform the American public of the importance of a strong United
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-3-27

it is important to know what just happened. We closed off the debate, and as far as a filibuster goes, we are having a debate and a vote. What they wanted was a rubberstamp and an easy passage without debate. We are having a bit of a debate, and that is good. Unfortunately, we will not be allowed to amend the bill. prgtoken My amendment is germane to the bill. It has to do with what article 5 means in the treaty we are signing. What it says is that we will not necessarily take article 5 to mean that we are going to war, that we would do the constitutional duty, and that is to vote about whether we go to war. So the amendment is very clear that we would obey the Constitution. prgtoken By blocking the vote, we have to realize that those blocking the vote have decided that really it should be automatic, that your sons and daughters will be sent to war automatically without a vote, without a declaration of war. You say: Well, maybe they don't mean that. Maybe they would obey the Constitution. prgtoken They don't now. So everything in evidence shows us that the chance that in the future they will obey the Constitution is about zero. But so ashamed are they of the fact that we will fight more wars without a declaration, without a vote--they won't allow a vote on the amendment because they would be voting against the Constitution. So, instead, they will block the amendment. prgtoken That is essentially what this debate is about: Are we automatically obligated to go to war without a vote by Congress? That is what the vote is about. It is incredibly germane. It goes to the heart of the bill. It goes to the heart of the NATO treaty. Does article 5 mean you automatically go to war, or would you go through the normal processes of going to war? Now, some will say: Oh, well, we would never go to war. It might not be so bad, but it would be difficult. prgtoken Do you know when we have gone to war? We have actually gone unanimously when we have done it the right way. When we were attacked on 9/11 and they came to Congress, do you know what the vote was? Unanimous. We are not about letting people attack us as a country, and I would have voted for that. prgtoken When we were attacked in Pearl Harbor, what did FDR do? The thing that great leaders would do--and I am not a huge fan always of FDR, but he did the right thing. He came to Congress the next day. I think it was on December 8 that they voted unanimously to go to war. That is the way it was done once upon a time. prgtoken When you are attacked, people do rally to the country and they rally to the flag, but we shouldn't have an automatic stamp that says: We are going to war anywhere without any restraint, without any control or separation of power. prgtoken So I object strenuously to this, and I wish we were more open in this body and in our country to a debate about when we are going to go to war.
CELEBRATING JUANITA SEARFOSS ON HER 90TH BIRTHDAY
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise today to honor Juanita Searfoss, a great Hoosier who is celebrating her 90th birthday today. prgtoken Juanita M. Searfoss was born on March 27, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana, to Dorotha M. and Herschel A. Sharp, who were loving Christian parents. She also had three brothers, David C. Sharp (deceased), Jerry D. Sharp of Bonita Springs, Florida, and Ronald (Mary) Sharp of South Bend. prgtoken On October 7, 1950, she married Clifford L. Searfoss. They were married for 55 years until his death in 2005. Their loving marriage produced six children, 16 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. prgtoken Juanita graduated from Central High School in South Bend and Indiana University in Bloomington with a degree in medical technology. She worked for the South Bend Medical Foundation, retiring after 21 years of service. prgtoken Juanita has always been active in her church--she has been a member of the Sonlight Fellowship Wesleyan Church since the age of ten--and various volunteer and service organizations. For many years she has planned and made a meal every two months for Hope Ministries. She was a member of Faith in Action, did respite care for several families, and helped support several missionaries, as well as the Northern Indiana Food Bank and Chiara House. She is a member of the St. Joseph County Home Extension Normain club, a Bible study group, Gleaners, a Red Hat Society group, and a hospice organization, just to name a few. In 2008 she was awarded the Golden Hoosier Award for her volunteer work. She still loves to read, travel, play the piano, crochet, and spend time with her family and friends. prgtoken Many have benefitted from her strong faith, her kind and caring nature, her quiet wisdom, and her unconditional love. prgtoken Happy 90th Birthday, Juanita.
CONGRESSIONAL TEACHERS AWARD
Vern Buchanan (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise today in recognition of outstanding public school teachers in Florida's 16th Congressional District. I was once told that children are 25 percent of the population, but they are 100 percent of the future. And it's true. The education of a child is an investment, not only in that student, but in the future of our country. Therefore, I established the Congressional Teacher Awards to honor educators for their ability to teach and inspire students. An independent panel has chosen the following teachers from Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough Counties to receive Florida's 16th District 2015 Congressional Teacher Award for their accomplishments as educators: Danielle Murphy for her accomplishments as a teacher at Boyette Springs Elementary in Riverview Carol Pelletier for her accomplishments as a teacher at Sarasota Military Academy Prep in Sarasota Emilee Vermilion for her accomplishments as a teacher at Southeast High School in Bradenton On behalf of the people of Florida's 16th District I congratulate each of these outstanding teachers and offer my sincere appreciation for their service and dedication.
OBAMACARE IS NOT OKAY
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-3-27

Hoosiers don't like Care, and they have worked hard for 6 years to stop it: electing a House majority, a Senate majority, and, eventually, President , all on the promise to repeal and replace this failed law. prgtoken That is what has made last week's failure to vote in the House so disheartening. It is inside baseball, politics as usual, and it is not okay. prgtoken It is not okay to the millions of families facing soaring premiums and worse health care under Care, and it shouldn't be okay to any of us. We cannot walk away now without even a vote with so much at stake. prgtoken This debate has gotten really complicated, but to me, it is really simple. We need to do what we said we would do: keep our promise to the American people, and repeal this failed law with something better.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise today in favor of the resolution of ratification for Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, better known as NATO. prgtoken Many of my colleagues are unaware of the fact that the State of Maine has a special relationship with Montenegro. It is through the National Guard State Partnership Program. prgtoken I thank the majority leader, Senator McConnell, Chairman Corker, Senator McCain, the ic leadership, Senator Johnson, Senator Murphy, and all of those who were instrumental in bringing this resolution to the floor for consideration today. prgtoken Montenegro's accession to NATO will serve the strategic interests of the United States, it will help to promote stability in the Balkans, and it will make us safer. Montenegro has already proven its support for American interests, having sent troops to Afghanistan in support of NATO- and U.S.-led operations there. Although not yet a member of the European Union, Montenegro also voluntarily joined the EU sanctions regime against Russia in response to Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilizing actions in eastern Ukraine. Most important, I have great confidence that Montenegro will meet the collective defense obligations of NATO membership. prgtoken For the past 10 years, with the assistance of the Maine National Guard through the State Partnership Program, Montenegro has worked hard to reform its military and to strengthen the rule of law to come into compliance with NATO requirements, as defined in NATO's Membership Action Plan. Even today, Maine National Guard members are deployed to Montenegro to assist its Ministry of Defense in furthering its integration into NATO standards and processes. prgtoken I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of the prgtoken members of the Maine National Guard who have participated in this operation, including the former and current adjutant general, GEN Bill Libby and GEN Doug Farnham, as well as our current guardsman stationed in Montenegro, Army CPT Nicolas Phillips. All of them have worked very hard during the past 10 years to help Montenegro get ready for this highly significant moment. prgtoken We must be clear-eyed about the fact that the Russian Federation has undertaken an extensive overt and covert campaign to derail Montenegro's bid to join NATO. These efforts include a brazen plot to disrupt Montenegro's elections last October and to turn the public against the pro-NATO ruling government there. According to Montenegro's special prosecutor assigned to the investigation, at least two Russian intelligence officers actively participated in this plot, which fortunately was disrupted. prgtoken Ratifying Montenegro's NATO membership demonstrates our firm resolve against Russia's efforts to deny other countries the opportunity to participate in NATO free from outside interference. That is why the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe and NATO
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-3-27

one of my chief responsibilities as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is to help protect the men, women, and institutions that keep America safe, including not only the State Department but the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. prgtoken NATO was founded in 1949 as an alliance that was committed to the collective defense of its members--that an attack on one constitutes an attack on all. The alliance's self-defense clause has only been invoked once, after 9/11, when our allies deployed with us to Afghanistan. prgtoken Our militaries, in their working together, allow NATO to function. NATO members have committed to spending 2 percent of their GDPs on their militaries, but only the United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Greece, and the United States currently hit that goal. While the other members are working on growing their defense budgets, I have long held the belief that they must do so faster. prgtoken Regardless, part of what makes NATO great is its open doors. States that are interested in becoming allies are encouraged to join the Partnership for Peace. When those states then meet the criteria for membership, they are welcomed into the alliance. prgtoken This process is exactly what occurred with Montenegro. Just after becoming prgtoken an independent country in June of 2006, Montenegro joined the Partnership for Peace in December 2006. Exactly 3 years later, Montenegro obtained its Membership Action Plan. Six years after that, NATO recognized that Montenegro had met all of the necessary standards for membership and invited the country to begin talks to become part of the alliance. Then, in May of 2016, NATO's Foreign Ministers signed the protocol to formally open the way for Montenegro to join. As of today, every other NATO member has already ratified this treaty and Montenegro's inclusion. prgtoken Beyond such procedural steps, Montenegro has long been contributing to shared security challenges. For example, Montenegro actively supported the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan from 2010 until its end in 2014 and now is supporting the follow-on mission to train, advise, and assist Afghan security forces. It is important to note that Montenegro has taken these steps despite Russia's best efforts to undermine their progress every step of the way. prgtoken I thank Senator Ben Cardin; the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee chairman, Ron Johnson; and my other colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for their support and constructive work during this process. prgtoken We have moved this treaty ratification twice now--once in the last Congress and again in January--to demonstrate our commitment to NATO and to Montenegro. prgtoken I also thank Senator McCain, both as a former member of our committee as well as the chair of the Armed Services Committee, for his unwavering support in bringing Montenegro into the alliance. prgtoken Lastly, on behalf of the committee,
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-3-27

35 years ago yesterday, ground was broken on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Today, there are 58,272 names listed on that memorial. We still have work to do. prgtoken There are 1,615 names listed as MIA. As a Vietnam veteran, I want to call your attention to all of the men and women who served, the 2.7 million who served in Vietnam, a lot of whom are with us today, and a lot of those who will continue to celebrate the losses of our comrades. prgtoken Please remember that we all served honorably at the request of our government, and we will continue to serve as long as the cause is just.
NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR THREAT
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-3-27

the bizarre totalitarian regime in North Korea continues to threaten American families and our South Korean allies by testing nuclear capabilities and intermediate- to long-range missiles. I am grateful that, this week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will consider H. Res. 92, a resolution I introduced in February, condemning North Korea for their recent missile testing and calling for additional sanctions. prgtoken The committee will also consider H.R. 479, designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, and H.R. 1644, to enhance sanctions with respect to companies and individuals doing business and enabling the regime in North Korea. prgtoken I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee as we address the threat posed by North Korea, where its dictatorship has reduced its citizens to starvation. prgtoken Additionally, congratulations to the University of South Carolina men's basketball team and Head Coach Frank Martin on their victory at the Elite Eight last night in New York. I look forward to joining the rest of Gamecock Nation and cheering the Gamecocks in their first-ever Final Four participation on Saturday. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.