mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-5-17

. Thank you very much, . prgtoken I thank my friends from Oregon, Massachusetts, and Hawaii for their leadership on this very important issue concerning net neutrality. prgtoken , I rise today in opposition to the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to undermine critical net neutrality rules, which would change the internet as we know it today. prgtoken Tomorrow the FCC will vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking, which begins the unraveling of commonsense consumer protections that enhance our online experience. Net neutrality is a concept that requires internet service providers to provide equal access to online applications and content. It prevents internet service providers from discriminating against content and content providers, discrimination that can take the form of making certain web pages, certain applications, or videos load faster or load slower than others. prgtoken Net neutrality is integral to promoting innovation, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, and encouraging economic growth in my home State of New Hampshire and across the entire Nation. prgtoken In March, Washington s, with the support of the administration, voted to take away critical online privacy protections giving ISPs the green light to collect and use a consumer's online data without the consumer's consent. So it is no surprise that what corporate ISPs want next is to remove baseline protections that allow even the softest voice to be heard or the smallest of businesses to thrive against larger competitors. prgtoken I have heard time and again from Granite Staters who call and write to my office that we must fight to protect the net neutrality rules, rules that create an even playing field and protect consumers from unfair practices. prgtoken What we are seeing here in Washington is different. At the request of big cable companies and internet service providers, the - controlled FCC, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, is taking aim at commonsense consumer protections that could change the free and open internet as we know it. As rationale, Chairman Pai has claimed that since net neutrality rules went into effect 2 years ago, investments in U.S. broadband companies have dropped to historically low levels. prgtoken Quite the opposite has occurred. Since the rules went into effect, AT&T's share price has gone up more than 20 percent, Comcast has increased 26 percent, and several ISPs have reassured investors that net neutrality would have no impact on their broadband investments. So this is just another ``gimme'' to big cable and industry stakeholders who want to put profits ahead of customer service and consumer protections. prgtoken In New Hampshire, innovative, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating good jobs, stimulating economic growth, and net neutrality has been integral to their success. More than 1,000 startups, innovators, investors, and entreprene
INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-5-17

this is Infrastructure Week in the United States, and while Hallmark may not quite yet be making cards to observe Infrastructure Week, I hope those of us here in Congress can take a moment to recognize that this is a unique opportunity to talk about the importance of the state of our Nation's infrastructure. prgtoken This is a time, as I was mentioning, really to focus on all modes of transportation and our utility systems that most of us only tend to notice when they are broken. prgtoken Well, , there is a lot of broken infrastructure in our country to notice lately. In fact, even President has recognized that the roads, bridges, and all the other underpinnings that make our modern world possible are crumbling and need urgent attention. prgtoken So the President has vowed repeatedly, both as a candidate and as President, to invest at least $1 trillion in our infrastructure system. That was a key promise of his campaign and critical to his appeal to working class Americans, including in my home State of Pennsylvania. prgtoken But that promise is, so far, as broken as our Nation's infrastructure. Instead, 4 months into his administration, this President is laying the groundwork to shortchange American workers and manufacturers it is most disappointing. prgtoken I stood Monday morning at Philadelphia International Airport. I stood with the former Governor of our State, Ed Rendell, who is part of a bipartisan group called Building America's Future. I stood with both ic and Members of this body who happen to represent the greater Philadelphia area. I also stood with Senator Coons of Delaware, who, himself, lives not too far from the Philadelphia International Airport. We used that setting to talk about the importance of Infrastructure Week and reinvesting in our Nation's infrastructure today and for tomorrow. prgtoken I mentioned in those remarks something that I am going to mention here tonight: 100 years ago, there was no doubt that the United States of America was the leader in the world when it comes to infrastructure. Our roads, our bridges, our waterway systems, our mass transit, and our gas lines were rated number one. Today, if you seek out the report of the American Society of Civil Engineers--these are not ; they are not s; they are really nonpartisan; they are civil engineers--we are rated a D-plus. prgtoken The International Civil Engineers do not rate the United States of America in the top 20 when it comes to infrastructure. That should bother all of us, whether you are or or Independent or nonpolitical. prgtoken I have to say, as someone who believes in this country and believes that we should always strive to be number one, not even being in the top 20 bothers me, and it is simply not good enough. It is unwise economic policy. prgtoken Part of why the 20th century became known as the American Century is because
Venezuela (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-5-17

. Thank you, . prgtoken , I rise to speak in opposition to the nomination of Rachel Brand to be the Associate Attorney General. prgtoken The Associate Attorney General is the third-most senior position at the Department of Justice. During these troubling times, I cannot in good conscience support Ms. Brand's nomination. prgtoken The American public must have faith in its institutions, and unfortunately that trust is eroding more and more each and every day. For the first time in recent history, we are facing questions about a significant interference from a foreign government in an American Presidential election. Even more troubling, there have been serious questions about a Presidential campaign's potential collusion with Russia, a foreign adversary. prgtoken We have an idea of the potential problem here, and the Justice Department is supposed to be a part of the solution. Unfortunately, the recent conduct of the President's appointees to the Department of Justice have only added fuel to the fire. prgtoken First, Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to reveal his communication with the Russians during his confirmation hearings. This omission led him to publicly pledge to recuse himself from Russia- related investigations. prgtoken Then, in an inexplicable turn of events, the Deputy Attorney General and the Attorney General advised the President to fire former FBI Director Jim Comey, who we know was in the midst of investigating the campaign's relationship with Russia. Let me be clear: That was a firing that the President himself admitted was related to ``the Russia thing.'' prgtoken Then the day after firing Director Comey, the President revealed highly classified information to Russian officials during a meeting in the Oval Office--a meeting that, I may add, was closed to the American press but oddly included only the Russian press. prgtoken You simply can't make this stuff up. The level of turmoil and the questionable behavior on the part of this administration are deeply disturbing, not just for Americans but for our allies all across the globe. prgtoken We are currently lurching from crisis to crisis, and we must pause for a moment and consider what is at stake; namely, the security and the future of our democracy. prgtoken My ic colleagues and I have repeatedly called for a special prosecutor to take over all of the Russia-related investigations, and recent events show that the need for a special prosecutor is greater now more than ever. It is time to put country over politics, and it is time for a transparent and thorough investigation into these concerns. If there is no wrongdoing, then the President should not be concerned about getting the American people the truth they deserve. Our constituents need to have their faith restored in our institutions and that will require transparency, integrity, and professionalism from officials at the Department of Justice. prgtoken I
BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIP ACT OF 2017
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-5-17

I include in the Record a letter from the Judicial Conference. Judicial Conference of the United States, Washington, DC, April 3, 2017. Hon. Paul D. Ryan, , House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear : On behalf of the Judicial Conference of the United States, I write to transmit the Conference's bankruptcy judgeship recommendations and corresponding draft legislation for the 115th Congress. The Conference recommends to Congress that it authorize four additional permanent bankruptcy judgeships and convert 14 existing temporary bankruptcy judgeships to permanent status, as set forth in the enclosures. The preservation of current on-board resources in these courts is of great concern to the Conference. All 14 temporary bankruptcy judgeships included in the Conference's recommendation have a lapse date of May 25, 2017. These bankruptcy courts would face a serious and, in many cases, debilitating workload crisis if these temporary judgeships were to expire. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, for example, would be crippled as five of their six authorized judgeships are temporary, all with the risk of expiring in 2017. Although bankruptcy filings nationwide have been declining in recent years, the districts included in these recommendations generally have experienced an increase in filings resulting in stress on existing judicial resources. Indeed, since the enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act in 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-8--the last time additional judgeship resources were authorized for most of the courts included in the Conference's recommendation--these districts have seen weighted filings increase by more than 55 percent. Section 152(b)(2) of title 28, United States Code, requires the Judicial Conference to recommend to Congress the authorization of additional bankruptcy judgeships. Following a formal survey of all judicial circuits, the Conference determines where additional resources are needed based upon the circuit councils' requests and established criteria including each court's workload and case filing statistics, geographic needs, and pertinent additional factors. As part of this survey, the Judicial Conference also considers requests from the circuits to convert or extend existing temporary bankruptcy judgeships based upon the district's needs for stable judicial resources. The Judicial Conference respectfully requests that you give your full consideration to the Judiciary's resource needs as identified in this proposed legislation. Additional caseload information co
OUR NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today with hundreds of business, labor, and advocacy organizations to recognize National Infrastructure Week. The purpose of this week is to highlight the state of the Nation's infrastructure and its critical importance to our economy and well-being. prgtoken Building and strengthening our infrastructure is vital to all of us, but it oftentimes goes unnoticed. Our Nation's deteriorating infrastructure is hampering our ability to compete in the thriving global economy and create jobs that our Nation needs. As an example, in my home State of Ohio, we face significant challenges: 17 percent of the public roads are in poor condition, and almost 7 percent of all the bridges are structurally deficient. prgtoken , we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to our Nation's infrastructure needs. Congress must work together to upgrade our Nation's highways, bridges, airports, water systems, energy grid, broadband network, and the like so that our economy can continue to lead the world in the 21st century and beyond.
AMERICA'S DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise to call urgent attention to America's drinking water infrastructure. Every day, more than 700 water mains break in cities, towns, and villages across our great country. Every day, 7 billion gallons of clean drinking water are lost due to leaks and breaks in our water infrastructure. That is treated water and our tax dollars down the drain. prgtoken With as many as 10 million lead service lines in use today and dozens of new unregulated contaminants, the threat to public health goes far beyond Flint, Michigan, and Hoosick Falls, New York. Our Federal Government has a duty to protect the people of this country. We must act decisively to address this growing challenge. prgtoken We maintain roads and bridges and ports and railways and so much more, but our investment in our water systems has not kept up, and now these systems are failing. Many State and local governments can't keep up. They prgtoken need our help. This job needs to get done now, this year, in this budget. prgtoken , I urge you to join me in supporting H.R. 1071, the AQUA Act. Let's respond to these great Nation's drinking water challenges with strength, compassion, and passion.
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT
Tom O’Halleran (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2017-5-17

I want to thank the gentleman from Washington and the sheriff. prgtoken , I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities. prgtoken In 2016, two brave Arizona officers died as they responded to calls: David Van Glasser, Phoenix Police Department; and Darrin Reed, Show Low Police Department, which is in my district. Both of those men left behind family and loved ones. prgtoken As a former police officer and homicide investigator, National Police Week has a special meaning to me. I have lost friends, partners, brothers, and sisters in the line of duty. I have grieved with their families during the most difficult times, and I have experienced firsthand the real sacrifices they make. prgtoken Each of the 135 officers from across the country who died in the line of duty in 2016 worked to keep our neighborhoods safe. While we can never repay the debts we owe them and their families, we will forever remember their service. prgtoken As we look to the future, it is important to highlight the work being done in cities and towns across the country to not only better protect our families, but also the lives of our law enforcement officers. In Arizona, successful community policing programs in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and countless other cities and towns have improved relationships. prgtoken I am proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the House Law Enforcement Caucus. I look prgtoken forward to continuing the bipartisan work we are doing to identify and solve the challenges facing our law enforcement community.
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-5-17

I begin by thanking my colleague and friend Senator Schatz for his extraordinary leadership in this area that has brought us to the floor. I am proud to speak against the Federal Communications Commission Chairman's proposed order that is in fact slated for a vote at the open commission meeting tomorrow morning. That vote would undo the open internet order. prgtoken What is at stake here is, really, First Amendment rights to free speech. Those rights are threatened. Net neutrality has never been more important. Allowing broadband providers to block or discriminate against certain content providers is a danger to free speech and the freedom of our press. These principles are fundamental to our democracy. We should safeguard them by stopping this proposed repeal of the open internet order. prgtoken The internet's astonishing economic success is due to its being open and the access that it provides as an open platform. Anyone with a good idea can connect with consumers. Anyone who wants to reach across the globe to talk to others or to pitch and promote ideas and products encounters a level playing field, and that ought to be the reality. prgtoken On February 25, 2015, the FCC adopted the open internet order to preserve that open nature of the internet. The order, essentially, embodies three rules--no blocking, no throttling, no paid prioritization. Those principles are now at risk. In fact, they are in grave jeopardy. Those principles guarantee people, within the bounds of the law, access to different web content regardless of the political views expressed and regardless of the wealth of a site. They assure that the internet is open--that it is not a walled garden for wealthy companies. A lot is at stake here, and consumers and others should prevail because their interests are, ultimately, what is involved. prgtoken Ultimately, the Administrative Procedure Act requires, in my view, that Chairman Pai prove, through a fact-based docket, that something has significantly changed in the market since the open internet rule was established in February of 2015. Without that change in facts, the decimation of this rule cannot be justified. We cannot allow Chairman Pai to succeed in this plan to gut neutrality at the behest of moneyed internet service providers. Chairman Pai's proposal, if it succeeds tomorrow, will deprive the American people, startups, and businesses of important bright-line net neutrality rules. For that reason, I will fight it, and I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort. prgtoken , . prgtoken .
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Al Franken (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-5-17

. Thank you, . prgtoken I rise to discuss the administration's effort to undo the open internet order. Together we must protect net neutrality and ensure that all content on the internet receives equal treatment from broadband providers regardless of who owns the content or how deep their pockets are. prgtoken Two years ago, American consumers and businesses celebrated the FCC's landmark vote to preserve the free and open internet by reclassifying broadband providers as common carriers under title II of the Communications Act. The vote came after the SEC received nearly 4 million public comments, the vast majority of which urged the agency to enact strong rules protecting net neutrality. prgtoken Consumers urged the Commission to protect their unfettered and affordable access to content. A wide range of advocacy organizations pressed the Commission to ensure that broadband providers couldn't pick and choose which voices and ideas would actually reach consumers. Small and large businesses alike asked that the internet remain an open marketplace where everyone can participate on equal footing, free from discrimination by companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T. prgtoken The FCC responded by establishing rules that are strong, clear, and enforceable; rules that prevent broadband providers from blocking or throttling lawful online content, and rules that stop providers from charging websites for access to fast lanes. prgtoken Perhaps, most importantly, the FCC implemented these rules within the time-tested legal framework that allows the agency to respond to challenges to net neutrality that arise in the future. Following the commonsense path I have long urged, the FCC recognized that broadband access is a title II service--a classification that the DC Circuit has upheld and had previously signaled was necessary in order to establish strong rules. prgtoken The FCC's vote to implement strong net neutrality rules was an important victory for American consumers and for American business, and that victory demonstrated the overwhelming power of grassroots activism and civic participation. In 2014, millions of Americans from across the political spectrum organized to ensure that their voices were heard, and in the process, they redefined civic engagement in our country, but in the 21st century, that kind of participation requires an open internet, a place where people can freely share information and engage in meaningful public discourse. prgtoken Because of net neutrality, a handful of multibillion-dollar companies cannot bury sites offering alternative viewpoints or attempt to control how users get their information. Because of net neutrality, people from across the Nation can connect with each other, share their ideas on the internet, and organize a community effort. prgtoken I have always called net neutrality the free speech issue of our time because it embraces our most basic constitutional freedom
Russia Investigation (Executive Session)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today to discuss the recent firing of FBI Director Jim Comey and Russian interference in our democracy. Jim Comey was my law school classmate, and I know that in my State he has a lot of respect from our agents and also from law enforcement in general in our State. prgtoken When we had the stabbing in the mall in St. Cloud, MN--it was just with our police chief from St. Cloud--it was the FBI that came in and helped at the crime scene and with other things, because for a smaller police department it is difficult to deal with something like that and because they also had work to do working with the community to calm people. prgtoken The result was a good one because of the courageous work of an off- duty police officer. While people were injured, no one was killed, and the investigation was completed. prgtoken This is just one example of the work the FBI has done when Director Comey was in charge. I think we focus very much on what goes on in this town, but there are a lot of agents and law enforcement out there who have deep respect for him. prgtoken Last week, when Director Comey was fired, I came to the floor and said that in the recent months foundational elements of our democracy-- including the rule of law--have been questioned, challenged, and even undermined. Today I return to the floor with the same concern. prgtoken In the last 48 hours alone, we have learned that, in addition to sharing top secret intelligence information with Russia without checking about it ahead of time--and we know Presidents have the right to share information and declassify it, but in instances of which we are aware, the President checks with intelligence agencies ahead of time. Was this shared with an ally? No. This was shared with Russia, a country that 17 intelligence agencies in the United States of America established was trying to undermine our election; Russia, which was found responsible for trying to shoot down and successfully brought down a plane, killing innocent people in Ukraine; the same regime that has poisoned dissidents; the same regime that has put people to death for simply expressing an opinion that is different from Vladimir Putin's. That is the country with which the President chose to share this information. prgtoken What else happened in the last 48 hours? Well, President allegedly urged Director Comey--this news dropped in the last 48 hours--to end the investigation into ties between Russia and General Flynn and to put reporters who publish classified leaks in prison. This was information I didn't know before. It happened in the last few months, of course, but it all came out in the last 48 hours. prgtoken The American people are looking to Congress for answers in the face of this assault on our democracy. It is our job to give them the answers they deserve and to right this ship. That is why I continue to call for a special prosecutor. Ever since the Attorney General had to r