mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise to discuss four amendments that I have submitted to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would strengthen this legislation in ways that are important to our middle-income families. prgtoken I express my thanks to the majority leader, my colleagues, and the administration for working with me on these proposals. prgtoken The first amendment would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in State and local property taxes. In recent years, more than 95 percent of all of those who itemize on their tax forms and 28 percent of all Federal income tax filers deducted State and local taxes, including property taxes. Yet the Senate bill would eliminate this deduction altogether. prgtoken The deduction for State and local taxes has been part of our Tax Code since 1913, when the income tax became law. It was intended to prevent a Federal tax from being imposed on a State tax. In other words, it was to prevent double taxation. prgtoken This deduction is especially important to the people of Maine. In my State, 166,000 itemizers deducted a total of $725 million in property taxes on their Federal income tax returns. This amendment would allow the vast majority of Mainers who itemize to continue to fully deduct their property taxes. prgtoken Improving the bill in this way--by preserving the property tax deduction up to $10,000--is crucial for middle-income taxpayers across the United States. In fact, for filers earning less than $75,000 who itemize, the State and local property tax deduction is typically larger than the State and local income tax deduction. prgtoken While I would prefer allowing the deduction of both State and local income and property taxes, the benefits of the property tax deduction are particularly important to middle-income families with less than $75,000 in income. In addition, by allowing the deduction of up to $10,000 in property taxes, my amendment parallels the provision that has been included in the House version of the tax bill. prgtoken My second amendment would strike a provision that could lessen the retirement benefits of church, charity, prgtoken school, and government employees, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers. I appreciate very much that my colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman, has cosponsored this amendment. prgtoken We are in the midst of a retirement crisis in this country. According to the nonpartisan Center for Retirement Research, there is a $7.7 trillion gap between the savings that American households need to maintain their standards of living in retirement and what they actually have. As Americans are living longer, seniors are in danger of outliving their savings or of no longer being able to enjoy the comfortable retirements they once had envisioned. We must do everything we can to encourage people to save more for retirement, not less. prgtoken Employees of churches, charities, schools, and local governments are generally paid less than their counterp
HONORING BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN WELLNESS
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to pay tribute to the Grand Opening of the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness in Sonoita, Arizona. Boulder Crest Retreat is a facility that provides free accommodation, recreational and therapeutic activities, and breakthrough combat stress recovery programs for veterans and their families as they make the transition home from war. This desert oasis focuses on healing activities for our Nation's bravest. Here, they have the opportunity to participate in a range of outdoor recreational activities such as hiking the Arizona Trail, and are provided with a number of positive growth activities including meditation, journaling, and music, canine and equine therapies. This is complemented by Boulder Crest's signature Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes (PATHH) programs, which is based on the science of post-traumatic growth. Its success is visible by the testimonials from those that have benefitted from this program. I would like to recognize Ken and Julia Falke, who founded Boulder Crest Retreat, the hardworking staff, volunteers and the organizations that have been so charitable in funding these important facilities. Additionally, I would like to recognize the A. James and Alice B. Clarke Foundation's generous donation, which paved the way to bring Boulder Crest Retreat to Southern Arizona I have a strong appreciation for our veterans, their families and the sacrifices they made so that our fellow citizens may enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that make America great. I wish only the greatest success for this facility going forward in its mission to help our service members focus on strong, positive growth.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4182, ENSURING A QUALIFIED CIVIL SERVICE ACT OF 2017, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1699, PRESERVING ACCESS TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING ACT OF 2017
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-11-30

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in favor of this rule that would allow the House of Representatives to debate legislation I introduced, H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act. prgtoken Homeownership, for many, is part of the American Dream; however, overbroad and burdensome regulations arising out of the Dodd-Frank financial control law are limiting the ability of Americans to realize this dream. prgtoken Specifically, a one-size-fits-all regulation issued by the unaccountable Consumer Financial Protection Bureau makes it harder for lenders to offer mortgages to hardworking Americans who simply want to buy a manufactured home. By expanding the range of loan products considered ``high cost'' under the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, the CFPB has failed to recognize the unique nature of manufactured housing loans. Because of the increased legal liabilities and stigma associated with making a so-called high-cost mortgage, some lenders have simply stopped making these loans. prgtoken According to recent Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, data that is submitted to the government, the number of manufactured homes of $75,000 or less has plummeted by 22 percent since this regulation went into effect. As a result, the CFPB's overzealous regulation harms lower and moderate-income families, particularly in rural areas, who just want to purchase a manufactured home but, now, cannot access the necessary financing. In addition, existing homeowners are harmed because they won't be able to sell their homes. prgtoken These rules are hitting Americans in rural and suburban areas and those with modest means the hardest. Take, for example, the hospital worker, in Kentucky, who applied for a loan of $38,500 to finance a manufactured home. He had an 8 percent downpayment. His monthly income was $2,200 per month, plenty to cover the all-in housing costs of $670 per month. The payment he would have been investing in his own home would have been less than what he was spending on rent, but he was unable to get financing. He contacted local banks and credit unions, but they no longer finance manufactured homes. prgtoken The reason for this crippling lack of lending is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its so-called high-cost loan regulations and the definitions of ``mortgage originator'' and ``loan originator'' established in Dodd-Frank. These regulations fail to take into account the unique circumstances associated with manufactured housing and the fixed costs associated with any home purchase, large or small. They fail to recognize the simple mathematical fact that fixed costs on smaller loans translate into higher percentages of the total loan. prgtoken Even if interest payments on manufactured homes are more than your average home, the payments are still more affordable than the all-in cost of a site-built home--or even rent, in many markets. That is not p
VETERANS ESTEEM TEAM
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise to honor the Veterans in my district, and those who support them. Earlier this month, I attended a Veterans Esteem Team meeting in Lapeer County. prgtoken It is a dinner organized and prepared by local Junior High and High School students from North Branch, Almont, and Dryden to honor area veterans. Those who have served our nation are the best one percent this country produces. Words will never be adequate to capture the debt of gratitude owed to the men and women of our military who have enabled our nation to continue to be safe and prosperous. I'm honored to serve them, and the students in my district who took the time to recognize and organize this event for our veterans. prgtoken Therefore, I would like to include in the Record the names of students and sponsors of the Veterans Esteem Team: prgtoken Veterans Esteem Team Board Members--President: Benjamin Koning, Vice- President: Brian Garner, Secretary: Robert Heugh, Treasurer: Wayne Jacobs, Director: Glenn Ream. prgtoken Veterans Esteem Team North Branch chapter: Mr. Robert Heugh--Advisor, Darius Boulton, Liberty Cooper, Ms. Dusty Olivia Heugh, Gabe Hutchins, Ayden Marshall, Elizabeth Oland, Logan Sawson, Peyton Shepherd, Valerie Trombley, Spencer Wesch, Karter Shingledecker, Jack Enen, Ryan Rogers. prgtoken Veterans Esteem Team Almont chapter: Mr. John Reinhard--Advisor, Hannah Chaney, Seth McCarthy, Emily Kruk, Josh Boyd. prgtoken Veterans Esteem Team Dryden chapter: Abigail Koning.
IN APPRECIATION OF IDAHO HUMANITIES COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICK ARDINGER
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to recognize the service of Rick Ardinger, the executive director of the Idaho Humanities Council. I wish to congratulate him on his retirement after 26 years of service leading the state's efforts to promote and inspire the study of history, literature, philosophy, jurisprudence, cultural anthropology, comparative religion, art history and criticism, music history and other interpretive disciplines. prgtoken A Massachusetts native, Rick moved to Idaho to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing and quickly acclimated to the local writing scene. In 1976, Rick and his wife Rosalind started producing a literary publication, The Limberlost Review. The publication quickly turned into the Limberlost Press, an independent publishing company that has produced books by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist John Updike and Idaho native Sherman Alexie, among others. prgtoken Rick joined the Idaho Humanities Council staff in 1991, and became executive director in 1996. During his tenure, the IHC broadened its outreach not only by awarding grants for humanities projects and programs throughout the state, but also by sponsoring a number of flagship council-conducted initiatives to bring attention to the importance of lifelong learning in the humanities. prgtoken Under Rick's leadership, the Council also launched a successful $1 million fundraising campaign to establish an Endowment for Humanities Education with the Idaho Community Foundation, providing a sustainable source of support for the Council's annual, weeklong, residential summer institutes and workshops in the humanities for K-12 teachers. In 1997, the Council held its first annual Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner in Boise, an event which has brought to Boise a long list of nationally prominent novelists, journalists, and historians to speak before hundreds of supporters every fall. prgtoken In addition to the annual event in Boise, the Council also hosts Distinguished Humanities Lectures in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Coeur d'Alene. The Council also sponsors statewide reading and conversations programs, supports the work of the City Clubs of Idaho Falls and Boise, brings annual tours of Smithsonian traveling exhibitions to the state, hosts an ongoing Humanities s Bureau, and funds the statewide annual ``Let's Talk About It'' program in partnership with the Idaho Commission for Libraries. For several years, the Council has underwritten Idaho Public Television programming, and has produced a number of publications that have explored Idaho history and recently an anthology of essays about the meaning of wilderness in Idaho. prgtoken As a supporter of local and national arts and humanities programs, I consider Rick a friend and an advocate for sharing Idaho's cultural significance with the world. It's hard to imagine the Idaho Humanities Council without Rick, but I know he leaves the organization in a good place. For his enduri
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-11-30

. That is one part of the debate: How much economic growth is going to come out of these tax reforms that we are putting forward? We know there will be a lot; the question is, How much? But this is all based on a Congressional Budget Office estimate of growth over the next 10 years, the GDP growth, the economic growth. So we are sort of in a straitjacket. Although we believe this tax reform proposal will help in terms of that growth, we have to go by this number of 1.9 percent. So 1.9 percent is anemic growth. That is sad. If we can't do better than 1.9 percent, we have real problems in this country, and that is over the next 10 years, projected. prgtoken As the Senator has said, it is kind of interesting that they are projecting 1.9 percent and others are projecting higher numbers. In the context of us having just finished a quarter that was 3.3 percent--it was adjusted yesterday to 3.3 percent--and then the quarter before, the second quarter of this year, was 3 prgtoken percent. So 3 percent, 3.3 percent over the last two quarters, yet they say 1.9 percent. There is a private forecast that indicates there will be between 3 and 4 percent growth next year. The average, as Senator Thune said, even with a lot of things happening, such as a recession and hurricanes and other natural disasters, is 2.5 percent or more. So this is not normal. In other words, this is a relatively low rate. prgtoken I know we can do better. I don't say, as some do, that this is somehow the new normal. We have to do better. If we don't do better, we can't begin to get wages back up again, which have been flat really for the last couple of decades when you take inflation into account. We know we can do better. That is why this tax bill is so important, to give the economy that shot in the arm. prgtoken But let's assume for a minute that it will be only 1.9 percent-- dismal growth. Let's assume this tax proposal passes. Let's assume we get the benefit of the increased revenue from that. prgtoken By the way, what we say in the tax proposal is that about $1.4 trillion to $1.5 trillion of tax relief will be part of this, and that is out of $44 trillion over the next 10 years. That will provide a little bit of a tax relief because we know the growth will come from that. So let's assume that this is true. Let's assume you use the right policy baseline, assuming that we are going to continue with the current extenders, which we always do. We end up--stick with me here-- with about a $533 billion deficit over the next 10 years if we assume this really low rate of growth. prgtoken If you assume that instead of 1.9 percent, we go not to 3 percent, not to 2.5 percent, not even to 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, but let's just say 2.1 percent growth--again, very conservative, and I sure hope we will do better, and I believe we will--but let's assume it is 2.1 percent. That will generate enough revenue, because it is up to $270 billion per every 0.1 percent, to have thi
THE GRAND CANYON FFA TEAMS RECEIVES A GOLD MEDAL
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to congratulate the Grand Canyon FFA for bringing home the gold at a recent national competition. prgtoken The Wellsboro High School team of 10th graders recently traveled to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The team competed in the Conduct of Meeting event that is focused on parliamentary procedure. prgtoken As part of the competition, the team performs a meeting demonstration that includes an opening ceremony and a surprise issue to debate. They make motions and resolve the issue within 13 minutes. Each team member has to answer oral questions and take a knowledge exam. prgtoken , I am incredibly proud of the Grand Canyon FFA team for advancing to the Gold Level Round and placing sixth overall in the Nation. prgtoken It is clear that the FFA is making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their leadership skills, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. prgtoken , I congratulate the members of the Grand Canyon FFA team on a job well done: Kylie Butler, Nina Coolidge, Rayann Pierce, Austin Richards, McKenzie Sweigart, Katarina Swendrowski, and Taylor Wetherbee.
REMEMBERING ROGER ROTH
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-11-30

today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Roger Roth, who passed away on November 21, 2017, at the age of 70. Roger grew up on a farm near Chelsea, SD, and graduated from Cresbard High School in 1965. prgtoken In 1969, Roger began 39 years of public service as a postal carrier and then the postmaster at Warner, SD. His dedication to the people he served was recognized in 2001 when the National Association of Postmasters of the United States named him the Postmaster of the Year. prgtoken We are also grateful for Roger's 38 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve in both Aberdeen, SD, and Alexandria, VA. prgtoken For many years, Roger was also a coach and umpire for many youth sports teams from midget league to college. He coached and helped coach the Warner American Legion baseball team for more than 25 years and was a South Dakota American Legion athletic commissioner for 5 years. He was a positive force in the lives of thousands of young people and was admired by all who met him. prgtoken He also played baseball and softball for many years and was inducted into the Aberdeen Area Softball Hall of Fame and the South Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame. prgtoken He was the official scorekeeper for Warner High School boys' and girls' basketball teams and for the Northern State University men's and women's basketball teams. He even drove the bus for the Presentation College baseball and volleyball teams. prgtoken Roger was a member of the Warner Volunteer Fire Department, the Warner Sanitary Sewer District Board, the Warner-Stratford Lions Club, the Moose Lodge, the League Postmasters, and the Local National Active and Retired Federal Employees organization. prgtoken In the small town of Warner, whenever help was needed, he was there to help meet that need. prgtoken Above all else, Roger was a loving, caring husband to his wife, Judy, and to his children, Jim and Becky. He is gone now, but memories of him will live forever in the hearts of thousands of South Dakotans.
HONORING JOHN ROY DODSON, JR.
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-30

I rise today to honor Mr. John Roy Dodson, Jr a World War II veteran and a shining example of patriotism. We in the 7th District of Missouri are proud to share our home with folks like him. prgtoken In 1943, Mr. Dodson went to basic training at Camp Robinson in California. This was the first step in a fruitful career of service that took him from Hawaii to New Zealand on a troop ship to repel encroaching Japanese forces. He was part of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division that secured Guadalcanal after the Guadalcanal Campaign, and from there he was sent to battle on Bougainville Island and later to the Philippines. There, half of the division was responsible for taking Manila while Mr. Dodson was part of the effort to secure the mountains. As a member of the planned invasion of Japan, Mr. Dodson was 50 miles away from the shore of Osaka when the U.S. dropped its atomic bomb. Finally, he was part of the occupying force that kept order in Japan. prgtoken This December, Mr. Dodson will be honored for his service by peers and loved ones. Newscaster Tom Brokaw wrote that those who fought in WWII were part of the ``greatest generation any society has ever produced.'' They served not for fame or fortune but simply because they loved their country, and having grown up during one of the most tumultuous times in our nation's history, these men and women exemplify the resilient frontier spirit that makes America great. prgtoken , I am proud to have the opportunity to honor Mr. Dodson and veterans like him any chance I get. The 7th District of Missouri, as well as the rest of the United States, are forever indebted to John Roy Dodson, Jr. We thank him for his service and wish him all the best in all future endeavors
WE NEED LOWER TAXES
John J. Duncan, Jr. (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-11-30

it has been proven all over the world that the most wasteful, least economical, least efficient way to spend money is to turn it over to the Federal Government. If this was not true, then places like Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela would be heavens on Earth. Socialism simply does not work. prgtoken Money left in the private sector does much more to create jobs and hold down prices than does any money turned over to government. A business that continually wastes money and operates inefficiently will eventually go out of business. prgtoken A government agency that wastes money or operates inefficiently just uses that as an excuse to ask for higher appropriations. This is what the tax cut bill is all about: an effort to leave more money in the private sector, where it will create jobs and hold down prices. prgtoken Wealthy elitists come out ahead, even under our socialist, Big Government systems. Lower income people come out better when more money is left in private hands to create jobs and hold prices down. prgtoken College graduates often wonder why they can't find good jobs. In large part, it is because our Federal, State, and local corporate taxes are too high, and this has caused us to lose millions of good jobs to other countries. prgtoken , we need lower taxes.
BROWNFIELDS ENHANCEMENT, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT, AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-11-30

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I am just going to sum up, too, with thanking my ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Pallone; obviously, my ranking member on the subcommittee, Mr. Tonko; the associated staffs on both that had been mentioned numerous times. They did a lot of work in this process. It was good to get to know the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee a little bit better, and we look forward to working with them more.