mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HYDROPOWER POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2017
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-11-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3043, the Hydropower prgtoken Policy Modernization Act of 2017. This legislation, introduced by my friend and colleague from the Energy and Commerce Committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is an important step toward modernizing our energy infrastructure, creating jobs, and, yes, strengthening our economy. I want to thank her for her commitment to this issue. prgtoken The committee went through regular order with the bill. We held two hearings on background issues, one legislative hearing, and both subcommittee and full committee markups, where the bill was agreed to by a voice vote. Following the markups, bipartisan committee staff held more meetings to hear from over a dozen Tribal governments to gather additional views. prgtoken I think that the resulting bill strikes a careful balance. Changes were made to increase State and Tribal consultation requirements, and a very strong savings clause was added to protect States' authorities under the Clean Water Act. prgtoken Hydropower is an essential component of an all-of-the-above energy strategy for this country. Hydropower is clean; it is renewable and affordable base load power. It is good for consumers' electricity bills, and it is also good for jobs, which is why labor is strongly supportive of this legislation. prgtoken There is a tremendous opportunity to expand hydropower production on existing nonpowered dams. Less than 3 percent of the dams in the U.S approximately 2,200 dams, produce electricity. There are also opportunities to improve the process for the projects that are due for relicensing. By 2030, over 400 existing projects, with almost 19,000 megawatts of capacity, will begin the relicensing process, and these projects, in fact, may be at risk. prgtoken Fixing the licensing process would also improve safety. Upgrading the performance of existing dams and utilizing existing nonpowered dams, canals, and conduits would enable investments, which would address aging dams and, yes, improve overall safety. prgtoken The duration, complexity, and uncertainty of the hydropower licensing process creates significant challenges that prevent investments that would create jobs and benefit consumers. The licensing process for a new hydropower development project can last over a decade and costs tens of millions of dollars--significantly longer than the time that it takes to construct a natural gas-fired power plant of the same size. prgtoken This legislation, H.R. 3043, would level the playing field by modernizing the permitting process without compromising environmental protections. The bill improves administrative efficiency, accountability, and transparency. It requires balanced, timely decisionmaking and reduces duplicative oversight from the multiple Federal agencies that review hydropower applications. prgtoken This bill brings certainty and timel
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-11-8

healthcare is on the minds of the American people. According to the Washington Post, in the elections in Virginia yesterday, it was by far the biggest issue in voters' minds. Maine expanded Medicaid. prgtoken In my home State of Tennessee, because of the Affordable Care Act's structure, premiums have gone up 176 percent over the last 4 years and another 58 percent, on average, for 2018 is predicted. prgtoken Tennesseans, like millions of Americans, are going through open enrollment and have sticker shock when they see the prices of the health insurance they might buy, and the 178 million people who are getting their insurance on the job--that is 60 percent of us--know they might lose their job, they might change their job, and they might be in the individual market themselves and might find themselves exposed to these skyrocketing premiums and the chaos that results from them. prgtoken This is especially difficult for Americans who have no government subsidy to help them buy insurance. In 2016, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, there were about 9 million of those Americans. prgtoken There are 350,000 people in Tennessee who buy insurance on the individual market. That means they don't get it on the job. They don't get it from the government. They go out and buy it themselves, and 150,000 of those pay the whole brunt. So if insurance costs go up 176 percent over 4 years, another 58 percent this year, that means the songwriter, the farmer, the self-employed person has a very difficult time buying insurance. It is a terrifying prospect. That is why healthcare is on the minds of the American people. prgtoken One would think the American people might turn around and look at Washington and ask: Why doesn't the President of the United States and why don't Members of Congress--s as well as --get together and do something about the skyrocketing premiums? prgtoken Well, what would you think if I told you that last month the President of the United States, President , called me and asked me to do just that? prgtoken He said: I don't want people to be hurt over the next couple of years while we are continuing to debate the long-term structure of healthcare on the individual market. So why don't you get with Senator Murray from Washington--she is the ranking on the Senate HELP Committee-- and why don't you try to work something out so people will not be hurt during these 2 years. prgtoken He said: I have to cut off the cost-sharing payments because the court has said they are not legal, but we can put them back. Go negotiate. See what you can do. Try to get some flexibility for the States. prgtoken Fortunately, Senator Murray and I were already working on that and to have the President's call was encouraging to me. He called me three more times over the next 2 weeks, and the long and short of it is we produced a result. prgtoken Here is what the result looks
VETERANS DAY
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-11-8

as we prepare to commemorate Veterans Day this weekend, I would like to offer my sincere appreciation to the dedicated veterans who have served our country so bravely over the years. Only in a great country such as ours do we have so many willing and able citizens who volunteer for duty. These selfless individuals understand the importance of protecting our country and are willing to give their lives to do it. prgtoken Many of these brave men and women make the ultimate sacrifice, such as my own brother, Jesse Morlan Hatch who was killed in World War II. SSG Aaron Butler of Utah also comes to mind. Staff Sergeant Butler was tragically killed in the line of duty last summer while serving in Afghanistan. The valor of patriots like Jesse and Aaron is indicative of all men and women who volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces. I have always had a deep-rooted respect for America's servicemembers and her veterans. prgtoken On behalf of the State of Utah, I would also like to express our humble gratitude for our Nation's veterans and active servicemembers. Throughout prgtoken this weekend, Utah will host a variety of ceremonies, all dedicated to celebrating our veterans. The town of Magna will be hosting its annual Veterans Day parade; the town of Howell will be naming its community center after SGT Rocky D. Payne, who was killed in Iraq in 2005; and the students of Granite Park Junior High School will be hosting a special Veterans Day assembly. With events being held all across our State, it is clear to see that Utahns hold our Nation's veterans in the highest esteem. I am honored to represent a State that honors our veterans. prgtoken I would also like to personally acknowledge the city of Layton, which will be hosting a grand Veterans Day parade to be followed by the groundbreaking ceremony of a new Vietnam War memorial wall. I could not even begin to describe the endeavor that Mayor Bob Stevenson, the city of Layton, the Utah State Legislature, and so many others have undertaken to bring this wonderful memorial to Utah. I am grateful for their leadership, and I am delighted to see this memorial become a reality. prgtoken I will close today by saying this: To all veterans and your families, thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your commitment, and for your dedication to this Nation and its citizens. Most of all, thank you for your patriotism and faith in America. To our Nation's veterans we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
TRIBUTE TO JENNIE BARANCZYK
David Young (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today to recognize and congratulate Jennie Baranczyk, head coach of Drake University's women's basketball team, for being named a 2017 Women of Influence honoree by the award-winning central Iowa publication, Business Record. prgtoken For 18 years, the Business Record has undertaken an exhaustive annual review to identify a standout group of women who have made a significant difference in business, civic and philanthropic endeavours throughout the Greater Des Moines Area. prgtoken Jennie is no stranger to success. During her time as a member of the women's basketball team at the University of Iowa she was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2003. Her outstanding athletics accomplishments early on in her career have translated into her new role as the head coach of Drake University's women's basketball team. In her first year as head coach, Jennie was given a team that finished with a record of 11-20 the prior year. Her unyielding commitment to excellence and hard work have turned the fortunes of the basketball program around, finishing last season 28-5, champions of the Missouri Valley Conference, and making an appearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. prgtoken , it is an honor to represent leaders like Jennie in the United States Congress and it is with great pride that I recognize and applaud her for utilizing her talents to better both her team, her community and the great state of Iowa. I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating Jennie on receiving this esteemed designation, thanking those at Business Record for their great work, and wishing Jennie a long and successful career.
VA MANAGEMENT ALIGNMENT ACT OF 2017
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today in support of H.R. 1066, the VA Management Alignment Act. prgtoken The men and women who have bravely served our country in uniform deserve the peace of mind that the VA will work for them--not against them. prgtoken Over the past few years, our nation's veterans have too often experienced outrageous wait times, long lines, and mismanagement at VA facilities across the country. In the wake of these scandals, the members of this body have passed multiple bills aimed to right these wrongs and improve VA functions. Unfortunately, we hear far too often of problems continuing to plague the halls of VA medical facilities. prgtoken The VA Management Alignment Act directs the Secretary of the VA to report to Congress the steps the Department will take to ensure that the organizational structure of the VA is both efficient and effective. prgtoken Supported by groups including the American Legion and the American Federation of Government Employees, this bill seeks to chart a meaningful path forward to better serve those who put their lives on the line to serve us. It is integral that the VA make clear the steps it will take to ensure that our nation's veterans have access to the quality, timely care that they deserve. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank veterans across the country for their service.
Veterans Day (Executive Session)
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I wish to thank Senator Blunt, the distinguished Senator from Missouri, for his eloquent remarks on veterans and in support of all the things the Presiding Officer and I have tried to do on the Veterans' Affairs Committee and for pointing out the many reasons we in America are so proud of the veterans in service, who allow you and I to be here today. Were it not for our veterans, this Republic would not exist. prgtoken I was wondering how I would start out this speech. I did an interview with a reporter who wanted to ask me a number of questions about the current administration and what we were doing for veterans. It turned out to be a 35- or 40-minute interview. prgtoken I said I had to go, and he said: I have one more question for you. prgtoken This was by phone. So I couldn't look him in the eye, and he couldn't see me. prgtoken He said: I have one more question for you. prgtoken When you hear that from a reporter, that means the zinger is coming. prgtoken He said: Don't you think we could save a lot of money if we didn't fight in any more wars? prgtoken I thought for a minute. I said: We probably could, but there wouldn't be any reason for you and me to exist if we didn't fight any more wars, because prgtoken America is the place where everybody wants to be because we are safe and we are free and we are independent, because we fight and defend what we have as a country. I thought I would bring that up in my speech today because that is the reason we celebrate veterans today. So we give thanks to the men and women who volunteer, who served our country in the wars overseas, in the battles overseas, and, sometimes, in the challenges domestically to protect us and keep us free. prgtoken America is a great country. We don't find anybody trying to break out of the United States of America. They are all trying to break in and for a very good reason. It is a safe and free place to raise a family, to start a business, and to serve in many other ways. prgtoken So this year, on the 11th day, at the 11th hour and the 11th minute of November, when we celebrate Veterans Day, pause for a minute to say thanks for those who have come and gone and for those who are still here who fight to serve and protect us. prgtoken Always remember that the Congress, shortly after the end of World War I, decided that the 11th day--the day the armistice was signed--of the 11th month, November, with the 11th hour being 11 o'clock in the morning, would be the time the bell would toll to celebrate and pay tribute to those veterans. So at 11:11:11 this November 11, we are all going to toll that bell one more time to give thanks for our veterans for all they have done for us and for all they will do for us in the future. prgtoken It is best, when you talk about veterans, to talk about them as the people they were and the people they are, whether they are alive or whether they have passed on. I want to talk about two veterans whose paths
RECOGNIZING JOSEPH DOUEK
Ralph Norman (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today to recognize a great American whom I had the privilege of meeting at the Library of Congress, Mr. Joseph Douek. prgtoken Mr. Douek hails from a great family. His father came penniless to America some 70 years ago. He did what is now becoming a lost art in this country--he went to work. prgtoken He went to work as a laborer and, eventually, worked his way up to where he owned a successful photography shop. He bought real estate, and he has now retired to a great retirement life, which he has earned. prgtoken Joseph, his son, has dedicated himself to public service. He has been on the New York City Planning Commission for 5 years, and he was just reelected. He is an example of somebody who has given his time, his tithe, and his talent to serve in the great State of New York and our great country. prgtoken , please join me in celebrating what he has done and really encouraging other people to do what he has done in that he has gone to work. He has done what Americans do.
Veterans Day (Executive Calendar)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-11-8

this Saturday is Veterans Day, a day when we honor the brave women and brave men who have served in the defense of this great Nation. We need to take a moment to reflect on the freedoms that we enjoy every day--and sometimes take for granted--as American citizens, and we need to take that moment to thank those who have devoted their lives to serve and protect the greatest Nation in human history, the United States of America. prgtoken , as you know, our country is home to over 20 million veterans, and I have the privilege of representing more than 250,000 veterans in my State of Louisiana. Today, I would like to talk about two of those veterans from my State who are illustrative of the extraordinary service that all of the veterans in Louisiana have offered their country. prgtoken The two gentlemen I would like to talk about, the two brave Americans, are Ira Schilling and Earl Louis Messmer. prgtoken Ira Schilling is from Shreveport. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps in October of 1941, at the age of 16. He was 16 years old. After completing his training, Ira was assigned as a rifleman to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, and he took part in combat operations on Guadalcanal during the final weeks of that bloody campaign. prgtoken Ira was discharged from Active Duty in October 1945. In 1948, Mr. Schilling tried to reenlist in the U.S. Marines Corps. He was married at the time. The Marines Corps turned down his request. Undaunted, Mr. Schilling just went over and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and he spent another 2 years on Active Duty in defense of this country. Ira is now 92 years young, and he lives in Haughton, LA, and he is a Civil Air Patrol wing chaplain. prgtoken Mr. Earl Louis Messmer was born in New Orleans, in the southern part of my State, in 1923. He is very proud--and we are all proud of him-- for serving in the Battle of Peleliu from September 15 to November 15, 1944. prgtoken That battle was a fight to capture an airstrip in the Western Pacific Ocean. The United States won. We prevailed due to the bravery of the Army's 81st Infantry Division, of which Earl was a member. prgtoken Upon his return from World War II, in 1945, Mr. Messmer went to Tulane University. prgtoken Earl has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren, prgtoken all of whom are enjoying the freedom of this country for which he fought so gallantly. prgtoken Earl has resided in Metairie, LA, since 1942. prgtoken It is imperative, in my judgment, that this Veterans Day--and every day--we honor the service and sacrifices made by our women and our men in uniform. That is why I have introduced a bill. It is the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act. I say to the Presiding Officer, I hope you will vote for it. This bill would authorize a commemorative coin to mark the milestone anniversary and the historic sacrifices of what has been aptly termed
ORDER OF PROCEDURE
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-11-8

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 9, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Wehrum nomination, equally divided between the leaders or their designees, and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Wehrum nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; further, that following disposition of the Wehrum nomination, the Senate stand in recess until 1:45 p.m and that at 1:45 p.m the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Kan nomination with no intervening action or debate.
HYDROPOWER POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2017
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today in support of amendment No. 2 to the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, offered by my friend, Representative Babin of Texas. prgtoken My colleague's amendment, of which I am a cosponsor, is a commonsense addition to this important piece of legislation, which will allow the government to take more reasonable steps to mitigate the damages of flooding and hurricanes. prgtoken , I participated in rescue operations in Texas in the immediate wake of Hurricane Harvey. The last rescue I personally responded to was early on Friday, around 1 or 2 in the morning, less than 2 days after Harvey's landfall. prgtoken The elderly gentleman we rescued told me something I will never forget. With tears in his eyes, he said: Sir, I have lived in my home since 1968 and it never flooded. In 50 years, I have seen this much water fall, but I have never seen this much water rise. prgtoken , no one in this body batted an eye when we approved hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency appropriations relief to the victims of this year's hurricane season. It is time we as the people's House move past the reactionary era of addressing the need to repeal and rebuild after natural disasters and start focusing on proactive solutions to mitigate potential damage before natural disasters. prgtoken A proactive spirit should be fully implemented in our regulations and how we invest in infrastructure. If we had invested, over the last few decades, just a small percentage of the people's treasure that we have granted postdisaster as emergency relief appropriations into premitigation efforts, such as the cleaning and maintenance of our existing water management systems, both natural and man-made, much of the resulting damage would not have occurred and many fewer American families would have suffered. prgtoken Representative Babin's amendment will allow a procedural tool for the FERC to review licenses for any project located in a region declared by the President to be a disaster area, which will allow us to better and more strategically manage our dams, floodgates, and reservoirs when we know storms like Hurricane Harvey are imminent. prgtoken , I thank Congressman Babin for introducing this amendment, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense solution, as well as the underlying bill.
NATIONAL STEM DAY
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today, during National STEM Day, to recognize the importance of encouraging our youth to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. prgtoken As technology continues to advance, STEM occupations continue to grow and become more valuable to the development of our society. Over the past decade, employment in STEM occupations has outgrown non-STEM occupations by nearly 20 percent. prgtoken I commend the House's work in implementing the annual Congressional STEM App Challenge for students across our Nation. This competition allows students to compete by creating an idea for an app on a platform of their choice and is designed to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in STEM fields. prgtoken As a member of the Congressional STEM Education Caucus and the father of a STEM student in college, I will continue to support the growth of STEM education throughout Arkansas and our country.