mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT-- Continued
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2018-3-13

I am Tom Carper, and I approved this message. prgtoken I have had the privilege of serving on the Environment and Public Works Committee for--oh, my gosh--17 years and now serve as the senior on the committee. I have had the opportunity of serving with Sheldon Whitehouse for more than half of those years. He is a senior member of our committee, a good friend, and, I think, someone who is respected by and s and Independents alike here in the Senate. He is the junior Senator from Rhode Island, but he casts a long shadow on a lot of issues, none less than the issue we are discussing here today. prgtoken I join my friend Senator Coons in thanking Sheldon sincerely for his passion and for his persistence in highlighting what the vast majority of the world recognizes as the greatest environmental challenge of our time, and that is climate change. prgtoken Our friend from Rhode Island is a well-known climate champion, but what some may not know is that Sheldon has spent over 500 hours here on the Senate floor in reminding all of us that it is long past time to wake up, that it is time to wake up and get serious about addressing this ever-growing threat. I learned early on in the Senate that if we want to get anything done, we have to be persistent, and we have to stay on message. He has been staying on that message through 200 floor speeches, and the theme has always been ``time to wake up.'' For nearly 6 years now, Sheldon Whitehouse has reiterated what his constituents in the Ocean State and what constituents in our State, the First State, see every day--climate change is real, human beings are making it worse, and it is threatening our economy and our way of life. Those of us living in coastal States also know all too well that we can no longer ignore the issue or wait to take real action. prgtoken While our friend from Rhode Island is--what they like to say in Rhode Island--wicked smart, you don't have to prgtoken take his word for it that climate change is a growing threat, for leading scientists in our country and around the world have been saying this not just for a couple of years but for decades. Scientists and medical professionals have also linked climate change to increased air pollution, deadly high temperatures, and more pests in our food and water--all of which negatively impact our health and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable among us. prgtoken These days, you don't need a degree in science or medicine to see the disastrous effect of climate change on the world in which we live. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events from climate change are the new norm. In 2017 alone, we had multiple category 5 hurricanes--I think maybe for the first time in history. We had the second hottest year on record, catastrophic fires in the West, and severe flooding in the East. These events place extreme burdens on the American people, on our economy, and on ou
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2018-3-13

I ask unanimous consent that the following statement be printed in the Record on behalf of AASA; the School Superintendents Association; Afterschool Alliance; Alliance for Excellent Education; American Association of School Librarians; American Association of School Libraries; American Federation of Teachers; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations; American Library Association; American School Counselor Association; Americans for ic Action; Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Association of Educational Service Agencies; Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents; Association of School Business Officials International, ASBO; Center for American Progress; Clearinghouse on Women's Issues; Council for Exceptional Children; Council of Administrators of Special Education; CUE; EDGE; Education Networks of America; Every Child Matters; GLSEN; Higher Education Consortium for Special Education; Learning Disabilities Association of America; Learning Forward; MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Association for Bilingual Education; National Association of Black School Educators; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of School Psychologists; National Association of State Directors of Special Education; National Black Justice Coalition; National Center for Learning Disabilities; National Council of Jewish Women; National Council of Teachers of English; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Education Association Retirees Organization, NEARO; National Education Association; National PTA; National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium; National Rural Education Association; National School Boards Association; National School Public Relations Association; National Science Teachers Association; Network for Public Education; New Teacher Center; People for the American Way; Project Tomorrow; School Social Work Association of America; Stop Sexual Assault in Schools; Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children; and University Council for Educational Administration.
TRIBUTE TO LARRY GREEN, HOUSTON CITY COUNCILMAN AND A SPECIAL HUMAN BEING WITH AN UNSURPASSED EXUBERANCE AND PASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-3-13

I rise to pay tribute to Houston City Councilmember Larry Green who passed away suddenly on March 6, 2018, at the age of 52. prgtoken I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of my dear friend, Councilman Larry Green, and my heart goes out to his family and loved ones. prgtoken Although the years of his life were short, the life lived in those years by Councilman Larry Green was vibrant, dynamic, purposeful, and directed toward service to others. prgtoken Larry Green was an extraordinary human being with an unsurpassed exuberance and passion for our city, its neighborhoods, its future, and most of all, its people. prgtoken Councilman Larry Green was devoted to providing opportunities for his constituents, indeed all Houstonians, to realize their potential and their dreams. prgtoken Larry Green worked as my District Director, and in this role he helped me to serve the constituents of the 18th Congressional District. prgtoken I am proud to have served as one of his mentors. prgtoken In fact it was during this service to my office that I observed first hand his dedication to the community that claimed him, because he was one of Houston's own. prgtoken But as anyone who knew Larry Green can attest, you also learned a lot from him because he was so generous with his knowledge and expertise. prgtoken Larry Green was a lifelong Houstonian. prgtoken You often hear it said that greatness is measured by the magnitude of one's service. prgtoken By that measure there is no greater public servant than Larry Green, whom we lost entirely too soon. prgtoken Larry Green proudly served the citizens of District K on Houston's City Council for almost six years. prgtoken Larry Green was a native Houstonian; a graduate of Madison High School, the University of Houston, and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. prgtoken It was in my office that Larry Green honed the skills for which he is well known for: hard work, long hours, attention to details regarding the lives of those he serves, getting the job done, and making sure that the needs and interests of the poor and vulnerable would never be forgotten. prgtoken As the shock and grief over his untimely death recedes, left in its place is our memory of his dedication as a public servant; his sense of humor when faced with a challenge; his tireless work for the people of District K, and omnipresence at community meetings was legendary. prgtoken In fact, it was at those community meetings where his love for his constituents shined brightest. prgtoken As members of the community attested after he passed: ``Larry was everywhere--he's at the civic club meetings; the coalition meeting; he was like your friend. I'd call him all the time.'' prgtoken The loss of Larry Green's leaves is heart breaking. prgtoken I am reminded of the common refrain that ``all death teaches us is that nothing is promised, but only that life was worth it.'' prgtoken Larry Green lived that wisdom and always sought to give bac
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT-- Continued
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-3-13

I rise today to commemorate the 200th speech the Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Whitehouse, will make here on the floor of the U.S. Senate on the need to act on climate change. prgtoken When global challenges arise, countries throughout the world look to the United States for leadership. Climate change is an issue that affects billions of people worldwide, and the United States can and should be a leading voice in combating it. prgtoken Despite making significant progress under President , President has decided to reverse course and take a backseat while the rest of the world tackles this issue head-on. Over the last year, the United States has pulled out of the Paris Agreement, weakened air and water protections here at home, moved away from renewable energy, and implemented drastic funding and staffing cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. prgtoken President 's decision to retreat from our commitment to combating climate change comes at a critical time for the state of our environment. His abdication of responsibility is calamitous. The vast majority of scientists have concluded that climate change is real and caused by human activity, and Americans are already feeling the effects. prgtoken Last year, for instance, our Nation experienced one of the most destructive hurricane seasons on record and a series of deadly wildfires. On top of this, sea levels continue to rise at record pace, posing an existential threat to coastal communities throughout the country. This is especially dangerous for the State I represent, as many Marylanders live in areas that are acutely susceptible to rising tides and flood damage. As such, much of our essential communication, transportation, energy, and wastewater management infrastructure is at risk. prgtoken This begs the question: What kind of environmental legacy do we want to leave for our children and grandchildren? I believe that it is our responsibility to leave our beaches, farms, towns, and wetlands healthier than we found them. prgtoken The most recent research suggests that our actions over the next 5 years will shape the course of sea level rise for generations. Therefore, the time is now to take decisive action on climate change. If we fail to do so, we will be left to explain to the next generation why we failed to act in the face of so much incontrovertible evidence. prgtoken Some of my colleagues argue that tackling climate change is too costly an undertaking. They claim that any action we take to protect human health and the environment will inevitably cost jobs and hurt the economy. The reality is that nothing poses a bigger long-term threat to our economic and national security than climate change. prgtoken As sea levels and temperatures climb higher, so do the costs of doing business. Changing weather patterns increase risk for homeowners. Our attempts to cool a heating planet will strain our energy supply. These are j
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT-- Continued
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2018-3-13

I rise to join and thank Senator Whitehouse for his ongoing commitment to give a voice to the issue of climate change and the threat it poses to our country and, frankly, our world. Senator Whitehouse has provided real, moral leadership on this issue, and I wish to express my gratitude for his unrelenting focus. prgtoken Let there be no doubt that climate change is real. The question is not whether it is happening but how we will address it. Are we going to do all that we can to leave the next generation a safer and healthier world? prgtoken As my friend from Rhode Island has impressed upon us with due urgency week in and week out, climate change will be tremendously costly to our economy and to our very way of life. The longer we wait to act, the more costly these impacts will be. prgtoken The State of Wisconsin has been a proud home to environmental leaders who have worked to pass on a stronger environment to future generations. I think of Aldo Leopold. I think of John Muir. I think of Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day. prgtoken As a Senator for our great State, it is one of my top priorities to follow in this legacy and to preserve our natural resources and quality of life for future generations. It is not hard to see why Wisconsinites deeply value environmental protection. From looking out at the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior from its South Shore to standing atop Rib Mountain and gazing at the forests and farmlands of Central Wisconsin, to casting your fishing rod in the world-class trout streams of the Driftless region in the southwest of our State, there is no question that we are blessed. We are blessed with natural beauty in the State of Wisconsin. prgtoken The impact of climate change can already be seen on these very landscapes and the economies they support. We see it in agriculture. Growing seasons are shifting, and extreme weather events are harming our crops. We have increasing concerns about drought and groundwater. In fact, NASA recently warned that droughts will not only become more severe, but our ecosystems will be increasingly slower to recover from those droughts. Decreased soil moisture will put stress on farmers and their livestock, on private wells, and on our municipal drinking water systems. prgtoken These prolonged droughts, combined with the increased intensity of storms and changing temperature patterns, will force farmers to change how and what they grow. It is extremely troubling as agriculture is an $88 billion industry in the State of Wisconsin. prgtoken We also see the negative effects of climate change on our Great Lakes. In Lake Michigan, for example, we see changes in precipitation and evaporation patterns due to climate change that may cause more dramatic fluctuations in lake levels than we have already seen. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that average surface water temperatures have increased in all five Great Lake
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT-- Continued
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2018-3-13

when we discuss climate change, we often speak about the future--a future in which rising temperatures and seas displace millions from their homes around the globe, devastate agriculture, and damage critical infrastructure. This future is not far off. prgtoken Climate change will impact every State in our country and every country in the world. In island and coastal communities like Hawaii, the impact will be particularly severe. prgtoken Climate scientists across the world agree that without decisive action, seas will likely rise by at least 3.2 feet by the end of the century. To put this in context, a child born today will likely experience these effects in their lifetime. prgtoken I will focus my remarks today on the foreseeable impact on Hawaii. prgtoken The State of Hawaii investigated and issued a chilling report about what a 3.2-foot sea level rise would mean for our State. The report concluded that 3.2 feet of sea level rise would inundate more than 25,000 acres of land across Hawaii. Over 6,500 hotels, malls, small businesses, apartments, and homes would be compromised or destroyed, and 20,000 residents would be displaced in the process. prgtoken The economic cost of this damage--$19 billion. If anything, this is a conservative estimate of the total economic cost of climate change in Hawaii. The State report, for example, doesn't estimate the total cost of damage to Hawaii's critical infrastructure. prgtoken Climate change and sea level rise would damage sewer lines in urban Honolulu and other low-lying areas across the State. These phenomena would also lead to chronic flooding across 38 miles of major roads, such as the Kuhio Highway on Kauai, Kamehameha Highway on Oahu, and Honoapiilani Highway on Maui. prgtoken The State's report certainly outlines the serious challenges that climate change will pose for the future, but we are already living with its effects. prgtoken Each summer and winter, the specific placement of the sun and moon combined with the rotation of the Earth produce extraordinarily high tides. We call them king tides. Most years, scientists can predict when these tides will happen and how bad they will be. Last year's king tides, however, were the worst on record. Scientists believe that these historic king tides provide a glimpse of the increasing severity and frequency of the coastal flooding driven by climate change. Hawaii also experienced an exceptionally rare king tide on New Year's Day, and a larger than normal north swell caused major coastal erosion on Oahu's north shore. prgtoken Coastal erosion is a critical issue for Hawaii, where our beaches draw millions of visitors from around the world every year. According to research from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, 70 percent of the beaches in Hawaii are eroding, and 13 miles of public beach have eroded completely. In other words, they are gone. prgtoken During last year's king tides, Sea Grant mo
TRICKETT WENDLER, FRANK MONGIELLO, JORDAN McLINN, AND MATTHEW BELLINA RIGHT TO TRY ACT OF 2018
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-3-13

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I just want to conclude, if I could, in opposition to this bill by quoting some of the former FDA Commissioners. prgtoken This is from Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who said: I am deeply concerned by the draft legislation being considered to remove the FDA from the proposals around right to try. Excluding the FDA will not benefit those patients and would be a mistake. There is no need to create a new potentially dangerous paradigm by passing this legislation which does not address the real issues at hand and could have unintended negative consequences, leading to a possible impediment of the development and approval of safe and effective therapies. prgtoken And then, finally, is the former FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner, Joshua Sharfstein, who said: FDA review allows doctors and patients to tell the difference between a medication that works and one that does not. Evidence also orients the pharmaceutical market towards developing products that produce meaningful benefits for patients instead of just hope. Undermining FDA review by giving a right to patients to try anything at any time will leave more patients in desperate situations with fewer options and less understanding of what could really make a difference. prgtoken Again, , I would urge opposition to this legislation. prgtoken , .
ECONOMIC GROWTH, REGULATORY RELIEF, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT-- Continued
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2018-3-13

the news about climate change certainly feels daunting. In the United States, we have historic wildfires, hurricanes, storms, and floods. Severe weather has upended people's lives, destroyed businesses and homes, and is now costing the economy tens of billions of dollars every year. Around the world, it can sometimes seem even bleaker. Cities are running out of water, and drought has distressed entire regions and pushed people out of their homes and fueled conflict. prgtoken Meanwhile, here in Washington, DC, the administration is actively undermining our ability to address climate change. At the EPA in particular, Scott Pruitt is allowing polluters to violate the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. He plans to eliminate limits on methane emissions and protections that keep toxic chemicals from polluting our waterways. He is rolling back the Clean Power Plan and fuel efficiency standards that keep too much carbon from polluting the air. He has cut the number of fines for polluters by more than half, and he has reduced the EPA's staff so that it is down to the same level that it was in 1984. There are 700 EPA employees, including 200 scientists, who have left since the beginning of the administration. In other words, this administration is not just ignoring climate change and its impacts, it is actually throwing fuel on the fire. prgtoken So is there any reason for hope? Let me give you three reasons to actually be hopeful. prgtoken First, the rest of the world is going to move forward with or without leadership. Every single nation in the world is working to lower its emissions and meet its commitments as part of the Paris Agreement. Experts said that even without the United States, the Paris Agreement can succeed if nations follow through, and there are some promising signs that this is happening. prgtoken In China, experts predicted that coal consumption would peak between the years 2020 and 2040, but Brookings reported earlier this year that the country's consumption of coal has already peaked. One-third of global investments in renewable energy today come from China. In 2018, they will likely make up half of the entire global market for new solar installations. prgtoken China is not the only one making progress here. The world is in a race for clean energy. A coalition of 22 countries and the EU is investing more than $30 billion a year in clean energy research and development. prgtoken That brings us to the second reason to have hope on climate change, and that is economics. Here in the United States, financial incentives remain the law regardless of what Scott Pruitt wants the law to be. We still have the investment tax credit and the production tax credit for solar and wind, and they are pushing us toward clean energy. Last year, more than half of the prgtoken new energy generation that came online in the United States was that of wind and solar--more than coal and natural