mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-7-26

first, I thank Chairman Simpson for the committee's continued support for the Rahway River flood control project in the district I serve. This project is essential to the safety and security of communities in the district. These communities have worked extensively with the district office of the Army Corps, which, together with their colleagues at Corps headquarters in Washington, prepared a Tentatively Selected Plan. We are waiting for Corps headquarters to schedule an agency milestone meeting to finalize the details and begin the process of compiling a chief's report. prgtoken Is it the committee's intent in providing funding that the Corps should complete the Rahway River feasibility study?
TRIBUTE TO ELLEN SCHLECHTER
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-7-26

today I recognize the distinguished accomplishment of a young South Dakotan, Ellen Schlechter, a 2017 recipient of the National Federation of Independent Businesses NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award. Ellen is a recent high school graduate from Orient, SD, and the founder and owner of The Calving Book App, a convenient and simple way to keep calf records on a user's smartphone, tablet, or computer. prgtoken Growing up raising cattle, Ellen recognized a need in the agricultural sector for an application that would allow producers to document all of their cattle records in one place. Two years after the launch of The Calving Book App, Ellen has introduced an advanced version of the app and been featured in numerous ag publications and on local media in our State. prgtoken I extend my congratulations to Ellen for being recognized by the NFIB for her accomplishments and entrepreneurial spirit, and I thank her for the work she has done to help our producers become more efficient. I wish her continued success in the years to come.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-7-26

I thank the gentlewoman for her comments. prgtoken , reclaiming my time, in closing, I would remind the House that just yesterday we voted overwhelmingly in a bipartisan way to impose tough new sanctions on three aggressor nations: Russia, Iran and North Korea. Each pose their unique threats to our vital interests, their neighbors, and to global stability. prgtoken But little in history would predict that sanction alone will change the maligned behavior of these three regimes. prgtoken That is why we need to get this bill across the finish line, to guarantee that our military is always prepared to meet any threat from anyone anywhere, whether it be China in the Pacific; international terrorist groups like ISIS, al-Qaida, Al-Nusra, al Shabaab, Hezbollah, Hamas; and transnational drug smugglers and criminal gangs. prgtoken , I repeat: Congress' most important constitutional duty is to provide for the common defense. This appropriations package before us allows us to meet that solid responsibility. prgtoken I urge support of the bill, and .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-7-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the Davis-Bacon Act hinders economic growth and increases the Federal deficit. It imposes enormous burdens, stifles contractor productivity, ignores skill differences for different jobs, and imposes rigid craftwork rules. prgtoken The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Davis-Bacon Act will raise Federal construction costs by $13 billion between 2015 and 2023. prgtoken Now, wages are often set at or above the union scale, despite the fact that only 13 percent of the private construction workforce is even unionized nationwide, . prgtoken The Davis-Bacon wage determinations have also been known to be lower than the current market rate, which is equally problematic and especially detrimental for local contractors. It is just erratic. prgtoken The GAO, the Government Accountability Office, has repeatedly criticized DOL's Davis-Bacon wage determination process for its lack of transparency in the published wage rates and its tendency to gather erroneous data through unscientific wage surveys. prgtoken Repealing the DBA would allow the government to build more infrastructure and create 155,000 new construction-related jobs at the very same cost to the taxpayers. In fact, repealing Davis-Bacon would have saved the Federal Government $10.9 billion, and that was back in 2011. prgtoken This amendment would uphold the government's responsibility to deliver quality infrastructure improvements at the best possible price to the taxpayers, which is certainly what we owe them. It is imperative that all levels of government guarantee the general public that their tax dollars are being spent in the most effective way possible. prgtoken , I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Francis Rooney) for his work on this amendment, and I withdraw my amendment.
THE TAYLOR FORCE ACT
Carlos Curbelo (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today in support of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act. This legislation conditions financial assistance from the United States on the Palestinian Authority's termination of support for terror committed by individuals under its jurisdictional control. In order for the Palestinian Authority to receive aid, it would also be required to condemn acts of terror and cease providing payments to those who have committed such acts. prgtoken The bill is named after Taylor Force, a former U.S. Army officer who was stabbed to death during a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. prgtoken This legislation is a commonsense solution that we must address. The Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, has continued to support efforts that undermine attempts at peace between the Palestinians and our great ally Israel. prgtoken The blatant encouragement of terrorist activity by the Palestinian Authority must end. Why should we be rewarding this kind of behavior? prgtoken The Palestinian Authority perpetuates terrorism by paying salaries to terrorists who are in prison. To make matters worse, those salaries increase the longer they are in jail, thus encouraging these terrorists to commit more violent acts. prgtoken This is unacceptable. The United States must do something to end this conduct because the reality is it is costing innocent lives. I believe the goals of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act, are a step in the right direction, and I urge my colleagues to join me in calling for its consideration and passage in the House. Low Income Housing
RECOGNITION OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MIGUEL SANTIESTEBAN
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise to recognize Lieutenant Commander Miguel Santiesteban, who is receiving the U.S. Navy's nomination to be commander. Having fled Castro's regime at a young age, Miguel moved with his family to south Florida. prgtoken Driven by his desire to serve our great country, Miguel joined the Navy in 1989. While stationed in Japan as a deck seaman, Miguel was one of the few selected to attend the Hospital Corpsman ``A'' School. prgtoken He earned a master's degree in healthcare service administration at my alma mater, Florida International University. prgtoken Miguel was commissioned in 2001 and completed his first duty assignment at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is currently an administrative officer for research and development at the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. prgtoken Miguel has earned many accolades, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal several times. Miguel lives the Navy's core values of honor, courage, commitment. prgtoken I join Lieutenant Commander Miguel Santiesteban's family and friends in congratulating him on this well-deserved nomination. We are so proud of you, Miguel.
RECOGNIZING THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (Republican, WI) \u2014 2017-7-26

today I rise to recognize the 27th Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Congress passed the ADA to break down the physical and societal barriers that kept disabled Americans from fully participating in the American Dream. From creating standards for wheelchair accessibility in places open to the public, to requiring 911 phone lines to be equipped to respond to hearing-impaired callers, the ADA has transformed the lives of millions of Americans. The progress we've made is remarkable, and I'm proud to have been part of these efforts. Throughout my career, I have seen few pieces of legislation that bring all people together as much as the ADA. Not only did this historic legislation pass both chambers with large bipartisan majorities, but the ADA Amendments Act passed unanimously in 2008. This legislation shows that Congress can come together to solve problems for the betterment of the American people. I proudly stand with the thousands of advocates who come to Washington, D.C. this week to continue the fight for the rights of all Americans.
HEALTHCARE
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-7-26

the Senate took a critical step yesterday afternoon to finally leave the failed experiment of Care in the past. It marks an important moment for our country. It signals a positive development for the countless Americans who continue to suffer under Care's skyrocketing costs and diminishing options. prgtoken I thank every colleague who voted to begin the debate. I thank the President, his administration, and our friends in the House for the roles they have played. prgtoken Now we have to keep working hard. We are determined to do everything we can to succeed. We know our constituents are counting on us. We will work through an open amendment process. I know Members in both parties have healthcare ideas they would like to offer. If you have one, bring it to the floor. prgtoken Last night the Senate considered a comprehensive Care repeal- and-replace substitute. That amendment was subject to a 60-vote threshold because the Congressional Budget Office had not provided a score for that provision as yet, but it represented a number of important healthcare reform ideas developed by our Members. prgtoken Later today, the Senate will vote on another alternative that is based on the Care repeal legislation that passed Congress in 2015 and was vetoed by President . prgtoken We will consider many different proposals throughout this process from Senators on both sides of the aisle. Ultimately, we want to get legislation to finally end the failed Care status quo through Congress and to the President's desk for his signature. prgtoken This certainly will not be easy. Hardly anything in this process has been. We know that moving beyond the failures of Care is the right thing to do. We have put a lot of hard work already into this. We have had important successes, as we saw with the vote to proceed yesterday. We have to keep up the work now so we can get this done.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-7-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I would like to read the amendment because I think there must be some confusion on this, and it will become important later in the debate: ``The Budget Analysis Division of the Congressional Budget Office, comprising 89 employees with annual salaries aggregating $15 million is hereby abolished. The duties''--underlined duties, because it is only duties--``imposed by law and regulation upon the employees of that division are hereby transferred to the Office of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.'' prgtoken That is the simple amendment, . prgtoken , I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise in strong support of H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act. prgtoken First, I would like to commend Chairman Frelinghuysen for his tireless work to report out all 12 appropriations bills in the Appropriations Committee. He did it in record time and deserves a great deal of credit for getting us to this point today. The four bills included in H.R. 3219 reflect hours of hearings, staff work, Member input, and bipartisan cooperation. prgtoken I would also like to express my gratitude to the chairs and ranking members of the Defense; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch Subcommittees. prgtoken In particular, the Energy and Water division provides robust funding for water infrastructure--over $67 million--to create needed water storage in the West. I want to thank Chairman Simpson and his staff for their hard work. prgtoken As a member of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, I thank Chairwoman Kay Granger for her leadership and her unwavering support of our men and women in uniform. prgtoken I also would be remiss if I did not mention the professional staff of the subcommittee, who dedicated countless hours to craft a bill that meets the needs of the Department of Defense and reflects the will of Congress. prgtoken Our greatest responsibility as Members of Congress is to provide for the resources necessary to the men and women of our Armed Forces. This bill includes $584.2 billion in base defense funding and $73.9 billion for overseas contingency operations. It provides for a 2.4 percent military pay raise and additional funding to increase end strength. prgtoken The bill provides robust funding for shipbuilding, aviation, combat vehicles, and more. It invests in our greatest assets, the men and women who wear the uniform, through increased funds through training, equipment, and the best healthcare. prgtoken We are at a crossroads. Right now, our military continues to operate at high tempo to carry out the national security interests of the United States. However, in order to meet the next challenge, whatever that may be, we must invest now. We know the situation we are in. prgtoken National Security Advisor McMaster has stated that the U.S. is outranged and outgunned by potential adversaries. Out of the 58 brigade combat teams, the Army only has 3 that are combat ready. prgtoken We have the lowest number of ships since World War I. And while capability is important, the vast oceans of the world desperately need our presence. prgtoken Only 7 out of 10 aircraft in the Air Force are ready to fly, and the average age of aircraft across the service is 27 years. Airmen are flying the same planes as their grandfathers. prgtoken Only 43 percent of the Marine Corps total aircraft inventory is considered flyable. Our marines deserve better. prgtoken Today we have a chance to correct the cours
HONORING THE LIFE OF CURRY TOMMY HAYNES
Jody B. Hice (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today to honor the life of Curry Tommy Haynes, a longtime Georgia resident and brave hero of the Vietnam war, who joined our Heavenly Father on July 16 after a long battle with cancer. prgtoken Mr. Haynes was one of the most decorated soldiers in our Nation's history, earning 10 Purple Heart awards for his bravery in combat in the jungles of Vietnam. Mr. Haynes remained an active member of the community after returning from duty by launching the Newton County EMT services, teaching locals to fly and skydive, and serving as a VA counselor to his fellow servicemembers. prgtoken , while serving in Vietnam as part of the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade, Company C of the 503rd Infantry, Mr. Haynes was wounded prgtoken multiple times. He was shot in the arm, the thighs, the hand; he lost two fingers in one enemy ambush alone. Yet despite the multiple injuries, he never quit fighting. prgtoken In 2015, he was presented with a special letter of proclamation issued by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal during a special ceremony recognizing his sacrifice. prgtoken When asked how he survived combat with his numerous injuries, Mr. Haynes simply replied: I don't believe in luck. I owe it all to Jesus Christ. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to please stand with me and join me in a moment of silence to honor the life and legacy of this American hero who deserves the respect of all Americans.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
John Abney Culberson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-26

last year, over 7,000 cases of human trafficking were reported in the United States. Unfortunately, the city with the largest number of cases was our hometown of Houston, Texas. prgtoken Human trafficking is an absolutely despicable and deplorable crime that demands swift action. prgtoken As chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I have spearheaded efforts to make sure that our Federal law enforcement officers have all the resources they need to crack down on these human traffickers, who are exploiting our children and young women coming across our borders. prgtoken We have to work together to provide justice and relief for these victims. That is why Congress has passed 16 bipartisan bills to combat this human trafficking epidemic. prgtoken These bills ensure that all law enforcement officers at the State, Federal, and local level have the resources they need and the support they need to fight this overwhelming crisis. prgtoken I am proud to support these measures, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that we crack down and drop the hammer on human traffickers.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3219, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2017-7-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to respond very quickly to my good friend from Oregon. I just remind him this is a long and prgtoken winding road. It is a long process. As he said, the Senate may very well move in a different direction. prgtoken I tend to focus here on veterans' issues as issues that have largely brought us together. Quite frankly, this bill has a very substantial increase in spending at the VA, and that is something that I know, in committee, garnered wide bipartisan support. Let's wait and see where we go. prgtoken I just want to say I think there will be continuing discussion about this, but there is also a concern, always, on something like this that is controversial. We have seen our friends do this before. Sometimes you will put an amendment in but you won't vote for the final bill. prgtoken When you are trying to calculate whether you pass something, you can't have amendments that cost you votes, that don't get you votes. I am not suggesting that is my friend's purpose. It is not at all. I know it is not. I know he is very sincere in this. I am saying that could easily be the effect. prgtoken All I can tell you is we will continue to work through the bill. I suspect when we get there, at the end of the day, this will be a very bipartisan bill. It will pass with a very bipartisan majority. prgtoken , .
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-7-26

Karen from Missoula County wrote to me about how her daughter can't afford to buy insurance. Care imposes a tax penalty on Americans who don't buy insurance. In fact, in 2014 and 2015 alone, they collected over $5 billion in fines. prgtoken It turns out, this tax has hurt poor and middle-income Americans the worst. That is why I refer to this as Care's ``poverty'' tax. For Karen from Missoula, paying Care's poverty tax is cheaper for her so she pays the IRS a fine because she can't afford healthcare insurance. prgtoken Take Debbie from Roundup, MT. She lost her own healthcare insurance. She couldn't afford the $1,700 per month premiums so she, too, was subject to Care's poverty tax and was forced to pay the IRS. prgtoken Take Mike from Kalispell, MT. He is concerned for his son who can't afford a health insurance plan either. The poverty tax he is forced to pay to the IRS is expensive. It is hard to come up with money to pay it. There are American families who can't afford health insurance because of Care, and what does Care do? It fines them. This is adding insult to injury. prgtoken These are just a few of the stories I have received from my constituents back home in Montana, where Care is doing more harm than good. Yes, it is doing some good, but it is doing more harm than good. In fact, 40 percent of the 34,250 Montanans who paid Care's poverty tax made less than $25,000 a year; 80 percent made less than $50,000 a year. This is not a tax on the rich. In fact, just 3.4 percent make more than $100,000. This is a tax on the poor. prgtoken Instead of helping these vulnerable Montanans to make ends meet, Care puts a poverty tax on them for being too poor to afford health insurance. In fact, in Montana alone, they paid nearly $7.8 million to the IRS. This individual mandate--this poverty tax--is immoral. It is unfair. It is a tax on freedom. It needs to be repealed immediately, and these poverty taxes must be paid back to the poor who have paid them. prgtoken Our friends across the aisle will say we want to get rid of taxes on the rich, but the rich aren't paying this tax. The poor are paying this tax. I think the right thing to do--the handshake agreement we have back in Montana as Montanans, where a man or woman's word is worth something--the right thing to do is, they should be paid back. prgtoken That is why I will be offering an amendment on the floor when we debate. We should pay back this poverty tax to the poor who have paid it. The poverty tax is just one of the many problems of Care, and I look forward to continued debate. prgtoken By the way, if you take this to the higher level here nationwide, nearly 8 million Americans have paid this poverty tax. As we looked at every State's numbers, it all is about the same: Somewhere between 40 percent and 50 percent of those Americans make less than $25,000 a year. In Indiana, it is 176,000 Indiana
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Charles W. Dent (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-7-26

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for his genuine concern and thoughtfulness with respect to veterans' homelessness. It is indeed a very severe problem. I do look forward to working with him on this issue, but I also want to mention that I think our bill does respond quite admirably in many ways to the homelessness challenge. prgtoken We support more than $7.3 billion in medical care, housing, social service, and job training assistance for homeless veterans, and that is about $197 million more this year than in fiscal year 2017 and almost $450 million more than 2 years ago. But Congressman Green is correct that we can always do more and that this challenge continues to plague us. We have made great progress in this country, but I pledge to work with Mr. Green on this issue.