mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TARIFFS
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-6-5

yesterday on the floor I said I don't believe President will follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico. Why? First, because the President has a tendency for bluster. There are many examples of the President taking a maximalist position before eventually backing off and announcing some different solution. Nine times out of ten, after a few months, everyone realizes that the so-called solution isn't real and doesn't work, but the President needs a way out of his bluster. That may well be true with the tariff issue. prgtoken Second, most Senate s oppose the President's idea of slapping tariffs on Mexico. They know how that could destabilize our economy and Mexico's and that it could actually make the migration problem worse. prgtoken Publicly, the President has continued the tough talk on tariffs with Mexico--he responded to my statement on the floor with a tweet last night--but ultimately I continue to believe he will back off. That has been his MO. When he does, I would urge him to consider a real solution to the border problem, not some fake solution that he and the Mexicans announce, and then it does nothing--they don't follow through, it doesn't have effect, whatever. prgtoken Here is a commonsense policy that will actually reduce the problems at the border: Many of the migrants that arrive at our southern border are fleeing untenable situations--gang violence, drug cartels, corruption, domestic abuse, economic depravity. If you are starving, if you are worried that your child will be mugged, if you are worried that your daughter will be raped, you ain't staying there. The governments of those countries have failed to provide safety or security for people living within their borders in Nicaragua, in Honduras, and in El Salvador. Their citizens--or some of them--feel compelled to embark on a dangerous 1,000-mile journey on foot rather than stay put because staying put is even worse for them. prgtoken These are not evil people. The President would like to make them all out to be drug dealers or criminals. Most of them are poor people who are trying to escape the dangers created by the problems of gang violence, economic hardship, social oligarchy. prgtoken We have crafted legislation that would help address the problems in those three Central American countries that are causing the migrants to flee in the first place. prgtoken First, we would allow asylum seekers to apply for asylum within their own countries. That thousand-mile trek across Mexico is dangerous. It is often expensive. You have to pay a coyote or buy off drug dealers or other criminals. Let them apply in Honduras, in El Salvador, in Guatemala and not amass at the border. Second, we provide significant security assistance to Central American countries to build their capacity, crack down on the gangs and drug cartels and human trafficking that is endemic in those countries, and we would incr
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-6-5

today I am once again introducing legislation to allow the District of Columbia to receive funding and other benefits under the Coastal Zone Management Act. I am pleased to offer this companion legislation to a bill, H.R. 2185, introduced by the Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton. prgtoken Few of us realize that 70 percent of the District is located within the coastal plain. Similar to my State of Delaware, sea level rise, upstream sources of water, degraded infrastructure, and coastal subsidence mean that the District could experience serious future cleanup and repair costs due to flooding--including damage to federal property, which makes up almost 30 percent of the District. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that since 1950, nuisance flooding has increased by more than 300% in the District. And, since 2006, DC has experienced two 100-year flooding events, and District officials estimate that a future 100-year flood event could cause over $1.2 billion in damages. Needless to say, these events will become more and more common due to climate change-- including rising sea levels--and coastal subsidence. prgtoken The District of Columbia would use funding from the Coastal Zone Management Program for flood risk planning and environmental restoration to prevent and mitigate future flood damage. At the same time, this work would help to restore and conserve the District's coastal resources such as habitat, fisheries, and endangered species. prgtoken If included in the Coastal Zone Management Program, the District of Columbia would be eligible for $1 million or more of federal funding annually to assist in coastal flood-control projects, to combat non- point source water pollution, and to develop special area management plans in areas experiencing environmental justice and/or flooding issues. prgtoken The National Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in NOAA, was established through the passage of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. At the time, Congress recognized the need to manage the effects of increased growth in the nation's coastal zone, which includes jurisdictions bordering the oceans and the Great Lakes. prgtoken There are currently 34 jurisdictional coastal zone management programs, including both States and territories. In order for the District of Columbia to participate in the program, Congress must pass this amendment to the Coastal Zone Management Act that would include the District under the definition of a ``coastal state.''
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-6-5

today I am introducing a set of three bills that will lower the cost of energy storage, increase flexibility in the power grid, and create a comprehensive set of grant programs to advance development of renewable energy technologies throughout the country. prgtoken Currently, many energy technologies--like energy storage--compete in unfair markets, making it hard for new innovations to measure up to more established technologies like those of the fossil fuel industry. Congress and the Department of Energy prgtoken can work hand-in-hand with industry to level the playing field, using a fair, tech-neutral approach when updating the electricity system, to benefit the American consumer. prgtoken My Reducing the Cost of Energy Storage Act will provide funding to the Department of Energy to research and develop ways to lower the cost of energy storage technologies. Ultimately, this bill will make it possible for renewable energy to be used on a more reliable and affordable basis. prgtoken To protect the power supply from disruptions caused by natural disasters, which can wipe out power to millions of homes, my Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act will require the Department of Energy to find and develop ways to make the power grid more flexible and responsive to these challenges. The bill will also connect displaced workers to training programs that will allow them to transition to high-skill clean energy jobs. Finally, this bill will provide States and utilities with resources to upgrade the flexibility and reliability of the power grid. prgtoken In order to ensure private sector growth in distributed energy technologies, my Distributed Energy Demonstration Act will create competitive, cost-share grant programs for new small-scale, grid- connected projects, such as rooftop solar panels, hot water heaters, electric vehicles, and modernized utility pricing technologies. prgtoken Together or apart, these bills will promote a more flexible electricity grid that can respond to power disruptions from natural disasters and ensure reliable, low-cost electricity for consumers now and in the future. They will also lower costs for energy storage technologies that make renewable energy more reliable and cost- effective, boost funding for cutting-edge research, and reward State and private sector innovations, which will make renewable energy more reliable and affordab1e for U.S. energy consumers.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for his comments. prgtoken Very frankly, the person who rejected the premise that this matter was over was Robert Mueller in a relatively short press conference in which he answered no questions, but he clearly demonstrated that he thought Mr. Barr misrepresented the fact that this was over. In fact, he said: If we thought the President had not done anything wrong and we were convinced of that, we would have said so. We did not say so. prgtoken Now, having said that, this is not related to impeachment. This is related to the Congress' authority, under the Constitution of the United States, to receive information from the executive on behalf of the American people. prgtoken Now, if Mr. Barr believes that the information requested need not be submitted, then he had nothing to fear, because what we are seeking is a court ruling, an independent body's ruling as to whether or not he ought to be held in contempt and directed by a court to provide the information to the Congress of the United States, acting pursuant to its constitutional duty. prgtoken Madam , I will tell my friend that it is a sad day when the s and do not stand together on behalf of not only this institution's constitutional authority, but responsibility to get the information it needs both with respect to, as, again, Mr. Mueller pointed out, the very serious issue of the Russians trying to affect our democracy and our elections. prgtoken There is no dispute of that fact. In fact, nine Russians were indicted by the Mueller special counsel for exactly that purpose. prgtoken Now, this resolution to which the gentleman refers authorizes the Judiciary Committee to pursue civil action to seek enforcement in Federal court of its subpoenas to Attorney General Barr and former White House Counsel McGahn, who is no longer a Federal employee. It also authorizes House committees that have issued subpoenas as part of their oversight and investigation responsibilities. Let me emphasize that: Investigation responsibilities, oversight. That is part of the constitutional responsibility of the Congress of the United States, which, by the way, your party pursued extraordinarily vigorously over the last 8 years of the administration, and, very frankly, in previous administrations. prgtoken We are seeking civil enforcement to have a determination as to whether or not Attorney General Barr, Mr. McGahn, and indeed others, who have refused to comply with constitutionally sanctioned requests by the Congress of the United States for information on behalf of the American people. The President of the United States, like Barr, said it is over. prgtoken Mr. Mueller says it is not over. Mr. Mueller says he did not have the authority pursuant to Justice policy to go further, but he pointed out that there are other bodies that have the authority and responsibility to do so. Who is that? Us, the Congress o
COASTAL AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION STRESSORS AND THREATS RESEARCH ACT OF 2019
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-5

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 1237, the COAST Research Act of 2019. Our Nation is facing an invisible but growing threat: ocean acidification. For the last 200 years, the oceans have soaked up about one-third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels causing the oceans to become more acidic. prgtoken The science is clear. As spelled out in the Fourth National Climate Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report, ocean acidification is causing the chemistry of the oceans to change at an unprecedented rate. prgtoken Ocean acidification makes it more difficult for shelled organisms like oysters, mussels, clams, and corals to build their shells and skeletons and has potentially devastating effects on marine ecosystems. prgtoken The effects of ocean acidification are already being seen and felt today in our coastal communities around the Nation. prgtoken Congress acted and passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act in 2009, which catalyzed research and monitoring efforts prgtoken to better understand ocean acidification and its impacts. While this bill has successfully increased our understanding of ocean acidification, the Federal investment in research has been relatively small compared to the size of the problem. prgtoken H.R. 1237 updates and reauthorizes our Federal ocean acidification response and expands the scope of the Federal efforts on this important issue. prgtoken H.R. 1237 also designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the lead Federal agency, which formalizes the leadership role it has played in conducting ocean acidification research and monitoring over the last decade. prgtoken Ocean acidification threatens the vitality of our coastal economies. We need to get ahead of the problem of ocean acidification before it causes even greater economic harm to our coast. We need to have a much better understanding of ocean acidification in order to mitigate and adapt to its effects. prgtoken H.R. 1237, along with the three other ocean acidification bills being considered today, offers a path toward solutions. If we don't act now, we risk going down an irreversible path. prgtoken June is World Oceans Month, and I see no better time for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation to support the health of the oceans than now. prgtoken I want to take a brief moment to recognize the efforts of the sponsor of the bill, the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici). She has been a champion of this issue during her time here in the House and has been relentless in her efforts to authorize this program. prgtoken , I include in the Record letters from Earthjustice, Ocean Conservancy, the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems, the Integrated Ocean Observing System Association, and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association in sup
HONORING GUNNERY SERGEANT HENRY BAUL
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , it is a great honor to be able to recognize Gunnery Sergeant Henry Baul, the fifth African American marine in the Nation to be inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 following President Franklin Roosevelt's Executive Order 8802, which ended discrimination in the Armed Forces. prgtoken Although the executive order may have intended to end all discrimination, it did not end segregation. Between 1942 and 1949, approximately 20,000 Black marines trained at a segregated facility named Camp Montford Point, New River, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The Montford Point Marines is derived from the name of the facility, and Mr. Baul trained there. prgtoken In 2011, President and the 112th Congress passed legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Montford Point Marines at a special ceremony here at the U.S. Capitol and at the Marine Barracks here in D.C. prgtoken Mr. Baul, age 96, is a resident of the city of Detroit. He is also the founder and president emeritus of Montford Point Marines of America, Inc a nonprofit organization. prgtoken I am proud to recognize Mr. Baul and his work and service. Mr. Baul and so many others decided to serve our country even in the face of adversity and discrimination right here at home. prgtoken Today I lift up the veterans across the 13th Congressional District in Michigan in recognition of their service and commitment.
COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY AND REMEMBERING THE MEMBERS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION WHO SAVED FREEDOM IN THE WORLD
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , tomorrow, June 6, marks the 75th anniversary of Allied Forces' audacious amphibious landing at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. prgtoken This joint undertaking to liberate the continent of Europe from the clutches of an evil aggressor enemy was the first and most emphatic demonstration of the invincible strength of democratic nations when acting collectively. prgtoken For nearly seventy years, from April 4, 1949 to January 20, 2017, peace in Europe has been secured and no adversary, not the old Soviet Union or the contemporary Russian Federation, has dared to risk war by attacking a European ally of the United States because every American president has made clear that the United States is committed to Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty which holds that an attack on any NATO member is regarded as an attack on all of them. prgtoken Madam , ``Operation Overlord,'' as D-Day was formally known, was the largest single amphibious assault in the history of warfare. prgtoken The success of D-Day, which was far from certain at the outset, led to the liberation of Western Europe, signaled the death knell of the German Wehrmacht, and paved the way to unconditional victory by the Allied Forces over the evils of Nazism, fascism, and Japanese imperialism. prgtoken It is no exaggeration to say that D-Day changed the course of human history. prgtoken The aim of the meticulously planned D-Day operation was to open a second front in the European war theater from which the Allied Forces could attack the German army and push east to capture Berlin. prgtoken With the Russian Army advancing from the east, coupled with the southern front opened by the Allied invasion of Italy from North Africa in 1942, the opening of a western front would set in motion the pincer movement that would catch the German Army in a trap from which there would be no escape. prgtoken The formidable German Army expected that the Allied Forces would try to launch an invasion from the western beaches of France. prgtoken They just did not know when or where. prgtoken So, in anticipation of an Allied invasion, the Nazis constructed the infamous Atlantic Wall, an extensive system of coastal fortifications built along the western coast of Europe and Scandinavia. Under the direction of Field Marshal Rommel, the Atlantic Wall was reinforced by the addition of concrete pillboxes built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns and light artillery. prgtoken Mines and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches themselves and underwater obstacles and mines were placed in waters just off shore. prgtoken By the time of the D-Day landing, the Nazis had laid almost six million mines in northern France. prgtoken And awaiting Allied soldiers who made their way onto and away from the beaches were gun emplacements and minefields extended inland. ``War is hell,'' said General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. prgtoken And that is an apt descr
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MONTH
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , I rise today to remind everyone that we have a responsibility to do everything we can to address the epidemic of senseless gun violence that is plaguing our nation. prgtoken June is Gun Violence Prevention Month and we must use this opportunity to come together to not only raise awareness of gun violence but also take action. prgtoken We're reminded again after the recent Virginia Beach Shooting that too many of our loved ones are lost to senseless gun violence that could be prevented by keeping firearms out of dangerous hands. prgtoken That is why I was proud to vote for H.R. 8 and urge my Senate colleagues to do the same. prgtoken This common-sense bill will prevent private firearm sales to prohibited purchasers, and close online and gun show loopholes. Thus, we will move towards ensuring firearms are obtained responsibly. prgtoken While this bill does not cover everything, it is a step in the right direction that will make the United States safer for our families and communities.
HONORING THE ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS WHO HELPED RESTORE ELECTRICITY TO PUERTO RICO
Ruben Gallego (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , it is my privilege to honor the service of dozens of Arizonans who worked around the clock to repair the Puerto Rican electrical grid in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Their life-saving efforts helped restore food production, transportation, education, and health care services. prgtoken In the fall of 2017, Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico in quick succession, less than two weeks apart. A Category 4 storm, Maria's 155 mph winds and rainfall compounded Irma's damage, and further devastated an island that is deeply vulnerable to the extremes of climate change. Flash floods and high winds damaged neighborhoods, houses, roads, schools, and businesses in a matter of mere hours. The storm also completely destroyed Puerto Rico's electric grid: 89 percent, or 2,100 miles of the island's transmission lines, and 24,000 miles of distribution lines, were gone. prgtoken This was the largest blackout in United States history. All 3.4 million of our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico lost power, including those for whom access to electricity can make the difference between life and death. Thousands of citizens, for example, rely on electricity for essential medical needs--to power their respirators, refrigerate their insulin, and sustain their dialysis treatments. prgtoken In the wake of Maria's landfall, with death tolls rising to 2,700, Puerto Ricans went to sleep each night in total darkness and uncertainty. This is why we recognize the commitment of the 83 Arizona Public Service line workers who, between January and March of 2018, traveled 3,000 miles from Arizona to Puerto Rico to rebuild and reenergize the island's electric grid. These Arizonans left their families for more than six weeks to work alongside new friends and fellow Americans in Puerto Rico. Together in partnership with Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and 12 other public power utilities, APS workers helped install 5,000 poles and 4,400 miles of wire, restoring power to 97 percent of the island's residents. prgtoken I want to thank them for their service at a time of such dire need. As Puerto Ricans continue to rebuild after the hurricane, residents have rallied around the saying, ``Puerto Rico se levanta!''--Puerto Rico is rising again! But the APS line workers who served in Puerto Rico have demonstrated something more: ``Cuando Puerto Rico se levanta, el mundo se levanta tambien.'' When Puerto Rico rises, the rest of the world rises in tandem, alongside them.
GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Lizzie Fletcher (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , each day, 100 Americans are killed by guns; 100 mothers mourn the loss of a child; 100 siblings lose a playmate; 100 friends lose a confidant; and 100 communities are left reeling--all in 1 day. prgtoken These deaths are 25 times more likely in the United States than in any other high-income country, and we have seen that in the news day after day and week after week. prgtoken One hundred days ago, this House passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. prgtoken One hundred deaths per 100 days--how much longer can we stand to wait? prgtoken It is time for the Senate to act--not one more day, not 100 more lives.