mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Building and Sustaining a Larger Navy (Executive Session)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-6-15

I wish to start this afternoon with a reflection on what happened yesterday. We are thinking today of the individuals who were hurt in the attack during the baseball practice in Virginia, and, of course, we are praying for those who were injured. I will list them. Many of the names we already know, but it is important to list them. prgtoken Of course, Representative Steve Scalise from the State of Louisiana-- we are thinking of his family and praying for them, and we hope for his speedy recovery. Matt Mika, who works for Tyson Foods, was also a shooting victim like Representative Scalise. Zack Barth, who works for Congressman Roger Williams, was a shooting victim, and Special Agent Crystal Griner, of course, of the Capitol Police, who exhibited such courage in the line of duty. We are thinking of Crystal at this time as well. prgtoken We know there were individuals injured at the scene, including Special Agent David Bailey of the Capitol Police, who was not shot, apparently, but suffered an injury and was released from the hospital. We are happy to hear he has been released. Representative Roger Williams, who was hurt at the scene as well--not a shooting victim but hurt--and, of course, two of prgtoken our colleagues were there at the time, Senator Rand Paul and Senator Jeff Flake. We are thankful they were not injured in any way. prgtoken On these days, we come together as a family to remember those who have been the victims, and we are thinking of them and their families and praying for them.
COUNTERING IRAN'S DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES ACT OF 2017
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-6-15

I thank Senator Gardner. prgtoken Indeed, this is an example of the Senate working together. There is, simply, a problem in the bill that was passed. prgtoken It is a technical problem, but it goes to the heart of our military- civilian space program. It goes to the heart of the cooperation that we have had with Russia that goes back to the Soviet Union days when, in fact, in 1975, in the middle of the Cold War, a crew from America rendezvoused and docked with the crew from the Soviet Union. Ever since that crew, which was led by Lt. Gen. Tom Stafford, of the United States, and General Alexey Leonov, of the Soviet Union, we have had cooperation in space, and that program continues today on the International Space Station. prgtoken Before I get into talking about the details of the amendment, as Senator Gardner has discussed so well already, I hope that the Senate will treat it as technical in nature because it corrects what was not intended. Unless corrected, it will be disastrous not only for NASA but for all of the burgeoning commercial space industry, which we are bringing back to America. What has happened over the last four decades, in the meantime, is that a lot of that commercial space industry has flown the coop to other launchers from other nations. But it is coming back to America. prgtoken prayers for the Victims of the Congressional Baseball Practice Shooting prgtoken , before I get into the substance, I just want to speak with regard to the terrible tragedy that occurred yesterday and of my feelings about this violence that has occurred. I don't know whether it has occurred because of the excessive rhetoric and the sharpness and the fact that politics has become a blood sport, but we are so divided. prgtoken This is what I want to say. We are Americans first, regardless of party. In times of threat, we come together. We are all on the same team. prgtoken This Senator has prayed, as I know others have, for the complete recovery of all of those who were wounded yesterday, two of whom were apparently grievously wounded. We pray for their full recovery. It was a heinous attack. Let's come together in bipartisanship. Amendment No. 250, as Modified prgtoken , right here is an example of coming together. Recognizing there is a technical problem, we are coming together to fix that problem. Let's do this in the spirit of what Americans do. We are Americans first. prgtoken I am obviously here, as I demonstrated in my vote yesterday, for the Iran sanctions bill, as well as the Russia sanctions amendment, which we adopted yesterday. Both were bipartisan efforts. I wish to thank our colleagues, especially the members of the Banking and Foreign Relations Committees. prgtoken This Senator is a cosponsor of the sanctions bill which addresses Iran's support for terrorism, ballistic missile activity, and human rights violations--these destabilizing activiti
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-6-15

yesterday we had a horrific tragedy here in the capital area. I know I speak for all of my colleagues who are holding the victims of that attack in their hearts and in their prayers: Congressman Steve Scalise, still in critical condition; Zack Barth, legislative correspondent who works for Congressman Williams of Texas, who was injured; Matt Mika of Tyson's Foods, who represents them here on the Hill; and two of our police officers, David Bailey and Crystal Griner of the U.S. Capitol Police. Without those two police officers present, this could have been a much more tragic event. prgtoken We have to reinforce the understanding that we are blessed to have the opportunity to raise our voices in our democratic Republic. We are able to raise them by speaking to our members who are elected in local and State and Federal Government, by writing to them, by meeting with them in townhalls. In my State, you can call them up, and they will sit down with you in a cafe. We have an opportunity to weigh in through writing letters to the editor, by protesting in the streets, by overflowing the email lines and flooding the phone lines. We have all kinds of ways to weigh in, in America, but violence is absolutely unacceptable. We have to try to diminish and eliminate the hate speech, which so often becomes the foundation for hate violence. prgtoken We have had a very divisive 18 months here in America, where various folks have sought to increase the divisions between groups of Americans, to attack women, to attack African Americans, to attack Hispanics, to attack Muslims, to attack LGBT citizens. We need to eliminate that strategy of division. prgtoken Here, in America, we are a tapestry of talents from all over the world, of different cultural backgrounds who come together to make this Nation incredibly strong. Unless you are 100 percent Native American, you are either an immigrant yourself or the son or daughter of immigrants. We bring that diversity to bear and we make this Nation powerful in ways few other nations could even come close to having. prgtoken Let's take this as a moment in which we seek to encourage public participation in all the legitimate forms of free speech but put hate speech out of bounds and hate violence out of bounds.
SENATE RESOLUTION 192--CONGRATULATING THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS FOR THEIR HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY IN THE 2017 NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FINALS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise to introduce a resolution recognizing and heartily commending the Golden State Warriors for their dazzling season and 2017 World Championship victory. prgtoken After going 16 and 1 in the postseason, earning the highest win percentage in NBA playoff history, and defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 129 to 120 in game five of the NBA Finals, the Warriors have become champions for the second time in just 3 years. The best part: they did something for their fans that had never been done before--they won the title at home, in Oracle Arena. As a bay area native myself, I know how much this means to all of Dub Nation. prgtoken Everyone who is a part of the Warriors Organization--the video staff, the trainers, the owners, coaches, players and fans--deserves praise for a hard-fought and historic 2016 to 2017 season. The year was primarily marked by highs. Among my favorites was Klay Thompson's astonishing 29-minute, 60-point performance against the Indiana Pacers. And who could forget Steph Curry's mind-boggling, half-court buzzer- beater against the Clippers? prgtoken The Warriors undoubtedly played remarkable basketball this year, but they also overcame their share of obstacles. When Coach Kerr was forced to take a leave of absence, the team rallied behind him and, under Mike Brown's leadership, continued to earn wins in his honor. When starters were sidelined due to injury, bench players stepped in and stepped up, demonstrating the team's depth and heart. When the Warriors were knocked down by the Cavaliers in game four of the finals, they woke up the next morning, flew home, and got straight to work--running hours of drills so they could come back stronger in game five. prgtoken The Warriors are a team with resolve and great character. They are highly focused but still manage to have fun together. They take care of each other, and equally as important, they take care of their community. The Warriors recognize that they are in a unique position to give back and effect positive change. prgtoken Over the past several years, the Warriors Foundation has awarded $5 million in grants to support educational initiatives in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. The foundation, along with individual players, has also refurbished over 60 basketball courts throughout the bay area, creating safe and beautiful places for our young people to play. prgtoken So, to MVP Kevin Durant, Coach Kerr, Coach Brown, Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, Rick Welts, Bob Myers and all of the players, coaches, staff, family, friends and fans, I say thank you. Thank you for making California proud both on and off the court, and congratulations on a job well done. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the resolution be printed in the Record.
U.S. EMBARGO ON CUBA
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-6-15

soon President will announce plans to reinstitute an almost 60-year U.S. embargo on Cuba. This embargo was lifted by President in 2014, and today, over 75 percent of Americans support continued normalized relationships with Cuba. prgtoken The new, open relationship with Cuba has helped grow the U.S. economy, and the President's plan to close Cuba will cost the U.S. economy over $6.5 billion. prgtoken Roswell Park Cancer Institute in my home community of Buffalo, New York, is today partnered with the Center for Immunotherapy in Cuba to clinically test, in the United States, CIMAvax, a lung cancer vaccine giving advanced lung cancer patients new hope. prgtoken The Roswell Park-led clinical trial, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, was only possible because of normalized relationships with Cuba. President wants to destroy that relationship, and this Congress needs to stand up to this President and on behalf of the millions of Americans who benefit, including millions of cancer patients, from open relationships between the United States and Cuba.
Introductory Statement on S. 1374
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise today to speak about the introduction of the bipartisan Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act, or CARERS Act. The bill would make our Federal laws dealing with medical marijuana fairer and help ensure that Americans have access to the care they need. I am proud to introduce this legislation, and I want to thank Senators Rand Paul and Kirsten Gillibrand for working with me on this bill. I also want to thank Senators Lisa Murkowski, Al Franken, and Mike Lee for joining the prgtoken CARERS Act as original cosponsors and Representatives Steve Cohen and Don Young for introducing a House companion bill. prgtoken Right now, regardless of whether you are in a State that has legalized medical marijuana, it is illegal under Federal law. This inconsistency puts growers, distributors, and patients at great risk of Federal prosecution even though they are in compliance with State law. prgtoken In 2013, the Department of Justice issued guidance to Federal prosecutors to refrain from prosecuting individuals that use, purchase, or sell marijuana in States where it is legal as long as a State regulatory framework exists that maintains certain standards, such as a ban on sales to minors. As a result of this guidance, more and more States have taken steps to legalize medical marijuana. prgtoken Sadly, despite this guidance, the inability of the Federal Government to be aligned with States regarding the legality of medical marijuana has resulted in confusion and uncertainty for State lawmakers and the public about what the law requires. This lack of clarity is only part of the problem. Individual users of medical marijuana in States with legalized medical marijuana continue to be targeted by the Drug Enforcement Agency. prgtoken And now, more than ever, I am especially concerned with Attorney General Jeff Sessions as our Nation's top law enforcement officer. His radical stance on marijuana is way out of the mainstream, and he has taken steps to reinvigorate the failed War on Drugs. Recently, he wrote a letter to Senate and House leadership asking them not to renew an appropriations rider that prevents the Justice Department from spending money on cases that involve individuals who are in compliance with State medical marijuana laws. He said, ``I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime.'' Contrary to Attorney General Sessions' views, this is not a problem we can jail ourselves out of. prgtoken Individuals who use medical marijuana in States where it is legal should not fear prosecution simply based on prosecutorial discretion. It is time for Congress to act. prgtoken Today, I reintroduced the CARERS Act. First, and most importantly, the bill would end the Federal prohibition of medical marijuana. Million
VETERANS EQUAL TREATMENT ENSURES RELIEF AND ACCESS NOW ACT
Ron Kind (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-6-15

I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding me this time. prgtoken , I rise in support of the VETERAN Act, the legislation before us today, and I do so for a very simple reason: This merely codifies what is already existing law under the Affordable Care Act, or so-called Care, something that was done through rulemaking that I presume has bipartisan support. prgtoken Yes, it is important to protect the veterans, but the reason we are on the floor today is another example of one of the greatest legislative malpractice acts ever committed in Congress: trying to pass a healthcare bill with no oversight, with no hearing, no public input, and no experts testifying to run the traps for us as far as the intended and the unintended consequences. prgtoken The reason we are on the floor now 1 month after passage of that bill is to try to correct just one of the deficiencies that exist in it. prgtoken I say it is a so-called healthcare bill because what it really is is a $900 billion tax break to the most wealthy individuals in our country, including insurance companies and drug companies, under the guise of healthcare reform and asking 23 million Americans, including 2 million veterans, as my friend from Massachusetts just pointed out, in Medicaid to give up their healthcare coverage to pay for that massive tax cut. prgtoken It also will discriminate against older Americans in a rural congressional district, such as mine in western and north central Wisconsin, by allowing insurance companies to charge them higher premiums. It will also allow insurance companies to once again discriminate against individuals that have preexisting conditions. prgtoken It does absolutely nothing to control the costs of healthcare--which have been rising--especially prescription drug costs that are affecting all Americans, and it was done in a way to jam this Congress and jam the American people about the consequences of this so-called healthcare bill. prgtoken So, yes, let's fix and make sure that we are protecting veterans who are getting their healthcare outside the VA medical center so that they, too, qualify for premium tax credits, which this legislation allows. prgtoken But let's do healthcare the right way by studying the implications of what will affect one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy and almost one- half of all Federal spending. Let's regroup and do it the right way, through normal legislative process. That is having bipartisan discussions, committee hearings, and talking to the experts--consumers and patients alike--so we know what we are getting into when we are trying to take a run at the importance of healthcare in our country. prgtoken One area that I think we can reach bipartisan agreement on or should be focused on are further steps to reduce the cost of healthcare to make it more affordable for all Americans. Again, we are missing that opportunity because of the lack of hearings and because of ho
COUNTERING IRAN'S DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES ACT OF 2017
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-6-15

. That review process will give Congress the right role to review executive actions so we are stronger, working together. It also gives the President a stronger hand in negotiating with Mr. Putin and Russia because Congress has said: You must accomplish certain objectives, such as getting Russia's aggression to end in Ukraine or get Russia to stop supporting war crimes in Syria, to stop interfering with our democratic election systems. That is what we say, and we are very clear about that. prgtoken Then we take the third step, which I think is very important; that is, provide the wherewithal of U.S. leadership, working with our European allies, to protect our democratic institutions. prgtoken All of that is included in the bill that we are going to have a chance to vote on in a few minutes, and I want to thank all who were involved. I am going to include staff who worked so hard on this. prgtoken They were here 24/7 putting this bill together--Damian Murphy, in my office; Margaret Taylor; and Jessica Lewis, Dana Stroul, Lowell Schwartz, Sean Bartlett, Chris Barr, John Ryan, Leslie Bull, Danny Ricchetti, as well as Todd Womack, Rob Strayer, David Kinzler, and Ben Purser. prgtoken They were extraordinary in helping us reach this day.
HONORING MR. WILLIE SPAN
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-6-15

I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Willie Span of Tamarac, Florida. Willie was a constituent of mine, who tragically passed away on October 2, 2014, after being struck by a vehicle while on his way to the William ``Bill'' Kling VA Clinic in Sunrise, Florida. prgtoken Since this heartbreaking accident, Willie became a symbol for pedestrian safety and for veterans in our community. Veterans had advocated long and hard for a crosswalk and traffic light to the Bill Kling Clinic, yet they were told that there were not enough pedestrians crossing the street to warrant the changes. In the time since the accident, Willie's wife, Doris Span, has continued to push for a safer way for veterans to cross the street from the bus stop to get to the clinic. prgtoken The bus stop has been temporarily removed and replaced with paratransit service for veterans, and we are all anticipating a lasting solution to avoid future tragedies. We must do everything we can to create safe places for pedestrians through the placements of crosswalks and lights. Too often, this does not happen until a terrible accident occurs. prgtoken , Willie Span was a veteran of the war in Vietnam, having served as a private in the United States Army, 8th Infantry Division. He and his wife had been married for eight years before purchasing their first home together, something that had always been his dream. prgtoken On Monday, June 19, 2017, Willie's family, friends, and representatives of the U.S. Army, the Miami VA Healthcare System, the William ``Bill'' Kling Veterans Clinic, the Broward County Veterans Coalition, and Broward County Transit will gather at the location of the accident to honor his memory and place a memorial plaque. He is remembered as a soft-spoken and honorable man, beloved by his family and friends. I am very pleased to honor his life and legacy.
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ACT OF 2017
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-6-15

I came to the floor to talk about healthcare, but I wanted to be here on this occasion to join my distinguished colleague from Texas in supporting this measure because it is so vital to protecting children. prgtoken Like the distinguished Senator from Texas, I, too, was attorney general, and we in Connecticut have been at the forefront of fighting this internet and cyber threat to the welfare of our children. prgtoken So I want to express my thanks to him for working in a very bipartisan way. At a time when the public, many commentators, and media question whether we work together across the aisle, this bill is a very apt example of how we can and we must work together to protect our children, to advance our national interests, and to make sure that criminal justice is effectively enforced in this country. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleague in making sure this measure becomes law. prgtoken .
RECOGNIZING ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF, PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-6-16

I rise today to recognize a world leader for her tireless work in securing peace for their home country. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia has spent decades advocating for peace and democracy in Liberia. She is a role model for all those who believe world peace is achievable through public service. prgtoken Throughout her career President Sirleaf has never been afraid to stand up and speak out for what she believed was best for Liberians. Her career in public service began in 1972 as an assistant minister of finance under President William Tolbert. She was forced to flee Liberia in 1980 after publicly speaking out against the government of Samuel Doe. She returned to Liberia in 1985 to seek public office only to be sentenced to ten years in prison for her comments criticizing the government. President Sirleaf watched from afar as Liberia was terrorized and almost destroyed through two violent civil wars. She advocated for Liberians to put down their weapons and come to a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that plagued the country. prgtoken In 2005, President Sirleaf was elected by the citizens of Liberia to be the country's 24th President, shattering the glass ceiling and becoming the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa. President Sirleaf has helped her country and its people recover from the unrest and violence that preceded her presidency. Her hard work and dedication has revived national hope by strengthening the institutions of national security and good governance, leading to the revitalization of infrastructure within the country along with the national economy. President Sirleaf's persistence in transforming the image of Liberia has restored the country's credibility and reputation on the global stage. prgtoken In 2011, President Sirleaf, among others, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in advocating for peace, democracy and gender equality in Liberia. When the Norwegian Committee granted this prize, it was their hope President Sirleaf would help bring an end to the suppression of women, to realize the great potential for democracy, and to epitomize the peace that women can represent. prgtoken , I congratulate President Sirleaf for working towards that goal, for her many accomplishments, and for being a pioneer in African politics. She is truly an inspiration to not just the women in Liberia, but to women around the world. Because of President Sirleaf, the world is stronger, smarter, more diverse, and more equal than it has ever been before, and the future of Liberia is forever brighter.