mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LAKE BISTINEAU LAND TITLE STABILITY ACT
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-6-25

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 3392 requires the Bureau of Land Management to disclaim interest in 230 acres of land in northern Louisiana. The land at issue was originally surveyed in 1842, transferred to the Bossier Levee District in 1892, and conveyed to private owners in 1904. prgtoken However, BLM conducted a resurvey in 1967 after realizing that certain lands were omitted from previous Federal surveys. The resurvey puts more than 200 acres of land previously thought to belong to Louisiana and private interests back into Federal ownership. prgtoken Until recently, the results of this resurvey were largely ignored or forgotten, and now there are several homeowners with clouded titles and some confusion regarding the ownership of mineral rights in the area. prgtoken BLM is currently working to evaluate ownership and authorized conveyance where appropriate under the Color-of-Title Act. The Color- of-Title Act authorizes the BLM to convey public lands that have been acquired by peaceful adverse possession often caused by historical surveying anomalies, such as in this case. However, the Color-of-Title Act does not authorize the transfer of mineral rights owned by the United States, which is why this bill is necessary. prgtoken To be clear, under most circumstances, we would not support legislation to transfer Federal mineral rights without fair compensation to the American taxpayer, but this is a very unusual and special case. Over 40 years have passed since the BLM attempted to enforce Federal ownership of this land. This lack of clarity and communication is unacceptable. For that reason, I support this bill and I urge its adoption. prgtoken , .
IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-6-25

as we recover from the chaos emanating from the White House and the tweeter-in-chief last week, it is important to recognize children are not invaders. Children must not be used as political pawns for reckless immigration enforcement policy. prgtoken I thank Justin Amash for being a lonely, but principled voice, reminding your colleagues, even if doesn't recognize the Fifth Amendment, that under the Constitution, nobody is denied of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. prgtoken There are over 300 other s in the House and Senate, and I hope America hears from them. And should welcome a contest of ideas and a contest at the ballot box, not shouting at restaurants. prgtoken It is important that we don't lose sight of the bigger picture. There is a reason that tens of thousands of people have come to the southern border: the chaos and violence in parts of Mexico, especially Central America, and the violence especially strong in the triangle of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. prgtoken The United States is not an entirely innocent bystander there. We have supported repressive dictators in those countries in the 1980s, and we have been meddling in their affairs for generations. prgtoken It is the lucrative American drug market that has fueled the drug trade and gang activity. Part of our failed drug policies have destabilized the lives of millions. The immense profits from the American drug trade drives that activity to the borders, corrupts governments, and has created a situation where we cannot even keep drugs and cell phones out of American prisons. prgtoken What is the answer? I would suggest that it is not to deny people fearing for their lives a right to prove their case as refugees seeking asylum. The answer is not to hold children hostages in a macabre, hateful drama that is a shame on all Americans. prgtoken The answer is not to forcibly take children out of the arms of their mother, and then lose them in the system. I mean, wait a minute. If the Postal Service and UPS can tell you where the sweat socks and the razors that you ordered a week ago are in the system, why can't we tell parents where their most precious possession, their children, are--and the notion that some are walking away from detention facilities. prgtoken The administration is talking about reorganizing essential government departments. Maybe if they want to do that, they ought to start with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They ought to start with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, all of the agencies that are a part of this embarrassing spectacle, to figure out how to do it right, how to do it humanely, in an open and transparent fashion, and stop the notion that somehow there will be zero tolerance; that we will separate children from their families at the borders; and we will criminalize people who are see
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-6-25

I want to report to the Senate on attending the detention center in my home State of Florida. I stood on the floor last week and reported that a lot had changed. I just returned again from South Florida, where I was finally allowed to go through the detention facility in Homestead where the number has been corrected from what we were told originally. We were told that of the 1,300 children who were there, 94 of them had been separated from their parents. The number I was given on Saturday is that 70 children there have been separated from their families. prgtoken This is the same facility that I had visited last Tuesday and where I was denied entry. Despite being the Senator from Florida and despite having oversight responsibility of the Department of HHS, which runs this detention facility, I was not allowed inside on Tuesday to check on the 94 kids being held there. prgtoken So I returned on Saturday, and while I was allowed to enter and go through prgtoken the facility and talk to the employees, I was still not allowed to see the 70 children separated from their parents or to speak with the one person who has the responsibility and who is in charge of reuniting these children with their parents. prgtoken I was told that this individual, and she was named, was not there on Saturday, as she works Monday through Friday. When I was given the name of this individual, I said: Well, I will be calling her on Monday. I must state that we have called and emailed several times and have not been provided the opportunity to speak to this one individual, identified as the person who tries to reunite the kids with their parents there in the Homestead facility. prgtoken Since I was given the name Barbara Flotus, why in the world would HHS not allow me to speak to her when she is back at the facility today? It is certainly in the interest of the American people to know that the children are being reunited. If this is the person that is put in charge at that center, then, why wouldn't they let this Senator from Florida speak to her? prgtoken Well, other than that, the main takeaway from that trip was that the Executive order that the President signed last week is a sham. It does nothing to reunite the children with their parents. prgtoken We have been told that there are over 2,300 children around the country that have been separated from their parents. We have also been told that there are attempts being made to reunite them. Then, why in the world would the administration not want us to be able to tell a good news story? prgtoken Based on what I was told by officials at the facility I visited on Saturday, there is no plan in place to reunify these families. Is that the reason they are prohibiting me from speaking to Barbara Flotus today, because there still is no plan? All of this is unacceptable. The American people deserve answers to these questions. prgtoken Well, tomorrow this Senator plans to get so
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-6-25

as we are all aware, the administration's border policy has resulted in thousands of families having been separated at the border over the past few months. Despite the administration's recent executive order, thousands of young children remain separated from their parents in cities across the country, across America. According to the New York Times, right now, there are 2,053 children who are stuck in limbo, waiting for various Federal agencies to reunite them with their families. prgtoken Some of the most basic questions about their whereabouts and the whereabouts of their families are unknown to Federal officials. Of the thousands of children having been taken away from their parents since the President's family separation policy went into effect, only about 500 children in CBP's custody have been reunited with their families. That is not good enough. Who will be held accountable if these children are not returned to their parents? Some of these children are even too young to know their names. prgtoken This unprecedented situation demands a Federal point person to manage the family reunification process and ensure it is resolved as quickly and transparently as possible. Multiple agencies have jurisdiction, including the Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice. We need someone in power to work across Federal agencies, cut through the bureaucracy, and lead the accurate, humane, and timely reunification of every child who has been separated by President 's policies. prgtoken I urge President to appoint a family reunification czar to manage this process. prgtoken The administration needs to bring in an experienced and competent person to impose order on the chaos that the President's decision has caused--someone to be accountable so that this doesn't go on for months or longer with different agencies pointing fingers at each other while children languish alone in detention. When multiple Federal agencies are involved in responding to a crisis, the response is often cumbersome and slow. Each agency has its different track, its different goals, its different paths. Without someone in the White House to bring order and have them work in sync, all too often, nothing happens. prgtoken A czar--this is a good czar, not a bad czar--would help to avoid the situation whereby the agencies would be at cross purposes and paralysis and inaction would result. We did this when Ebola occurred. There were many agencies involved when we were worried about the national threat of Ebola. President wisely appointed a czar--I believe it was Ron Klain. It worked, and the Ebola fear that we all had--thank God--didn't materialize. The same can happen here in the sense that a czar could help solve the problem. prgtoken It is agonizing--so agonizing--to see young children, with anguished looks on their faces, being separated fr
WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILY VALUES
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-6-25

House s continue to profess that ``family values'' form the bedrock of their decision making. Yet, time and time again there is action being taken to the contrary. We have seen that the same ``family values'' that s claim to have are not evident in the debates here on the floor, the legislation brought forth, and ultimately what is voted on in Congress. prgtoken Whether the topic is food nutrition for our children, Supplemental Security Income benefits for older Americans, or immigration policies, the average American family does not stand to benefit from many of the proposals considered by my colleagues. Even when it comes down to the physical well-being of our citizens, s have shown through their actions that they value profits more than lowering the cost of health care for millions of Americans. In fact, the recent corporate tax bill passed by the party is have directly associated with a 15% spike in premiums at the expense of middle- and working-class Americans. The nonpartisan CBO also reported that another 3 million will be pushed off their coverage altogether. prgtoken I have even greater concerns as to how House s are strengthening families while the GOP Farm Bill that passed last week will kick at least 2 million people off food stamps, and cut total food stamp benefits by more than $23 billion. Meanwhile, s refused to include limits on subsidies provided for crop insurance--one of the few federal programs without eligibility caps or payment limits. Moreover, Supplemental Security Income is truly a provider of last resort and is vital for those who depend on it, yet my colleagues continue to impose devastating cuts to a program that benefits our most vulnerable. On the immigration front, s are unwilling to allow migrant families to remain together and are instead separating them at our southern border. prgtoken , these are just a few examples of how what we do here impacts millions of families all across the country. I believe many of my colleagues will agree with me that strong families form the foundation of a strong nation. Any decision on policy, whether economic or social, should be made to the overall benefit of the everyday American family. However, we must be extremely careful not to do so at the expense of millions of middle and lower class Americans who are already struggling to get by.
MAKING TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN MARINE FISH CONSERVATION STATUTES
Darren Soto (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-6-25

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4528, a bill to make technical changes to certain marine fish conservation statutes. prgtoken , I thank Chairman Bishop--and, , I did ask my third cousin; he is in support, too--as well as Ranking Member Grijalva for all of their collaboration and support on this important bill. prgtoken H.R. 4528 makes technical amendments to two marine fish conservation statutes, the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012 and the Shark Conservation Act of 2010. prgtoken First, the bill amends the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012. It clarifies that the exemption from marlin and billfish fishing in Hawaii and Pacific insular areas, as is tradition, can only be sold locally. More specifically, it clarifies these fish cannot be sold to the other 49 States. This strikes a balance between preserving traditional cultural fishing in these areas and the overall intent to prevent large-scale commercial fishing of these billfish. prgtoken Second, it clarifies that, under the Shark Conservation Act of 2010, there is no language in the Shark Conservation Act that alters existing authority of the Secretary of Commerce to manage Atlantic highly migratory species under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. It also cleans up language in the Shark Conservation Act by removing an expired offset. prgtoken The main goal of this is to ensure protection against shark finning. H.R. 4528 will fix confusion within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to allow rulemaking to go forward for the Atlantic smooth dogfish, a type of shark. prgtoken This bill has support from both the sportsmen-anglers communities and conservation groups. prgtoken Again, I thank the Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for working with me on this. Without their support, this legislation would not be on the floor today. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues in the Chamber to support H.R. 4528, and .
BOLSTER THE U.S. JUDICIARY'S DEFENSE AGAINST PUTIN'S KLEPTOCRACY
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-6-25

while there has been much talk about Russia's interference in last year's election, there has been much less focus on another serious matter that deserves attention on Capitol Hill. I am referring to Russia's attempt to manipulate the U.S. judicial system to pursue their corrupt goals and persecute victims of the Kremlin on U.S. soil. I include in the Record a recent piece written by Atlantic Council Russia scholar, Anders Aslund, which calls attention to this growing problem. I was especially troubled to learn that the courts of my home state of New York have been targeted as venues for this manipulation of justice. We must remain vigilant in the face of these efforts to corrupt our democratic institutions. Just as any intrusion into the U.S. electoral system must be met with proactive measures to safeguard our voting process, the exploitation of our courts by Russia and others demands a robust response as well. I plan to work with my staff to explore this issue further and would urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same. [From the Hill, May 25, 2018] Bolster the U.S. Judiciary's Defense Against Putin's Kleptocracy (By Anders Aslund) United States citizens are outraged about the Kremlin's incursion into the U.S. electoral system, but that is unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg. Russia is also trying to hijack the U.S. judiciary for corrupt purposes, expropriation and political repression, which has received little attention. Unlawful seizure of private assets and private companies by the Kremlin has been the norm since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000. Russia's law enforcement agencies and courts are regularly used for the enrichment of the ruling elite. Annual State Department and Freedom House reports underscore that the Russian judicial system lacks independence from the country's powerful executive branch. The Sergei Magnitsky case is the best-known example of the Russian state's co-opting of the courts to support its kleptocracy. A cabal of Russian tax and law enforcement officers conspired to defraud Russian taxpayers of $230 million, the largest tax fraud in Russian history, by targeting Bill Browder's company, Hermitage Capital. When Magnitsky, Browder's tax attorney, discovered the fraud and notified authorities, Hermitage and Magnitsky were charged with their own fraud. Magnitsky was then arrested and died in pre-trial detention at the age of 37. Since then, Russian authorities have repeatedly called on Interpol to disseminate red notices to harass Browder and other victims. Interpol, which is meant to facilitate cross- border coordination among law enforcement agencies, is susceptible to abuse as it passes on requests and notices from states wi
GENERAL MOTORS
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-6-25

last Friday was a dark day for American workers and a dark day for the American auto industry. On the very same day that General Motors laid off the entire prgtoken second shift at the historic Lordstown plant in the Mahoning Valley in Northeast Ohio, we got word that GM plans to build its new Chevy Blazer in Mexico. That is right--the company bypasses American workers, lays off an entire shift, and sends more jobs to Mexico. All this comes on the heels of the windfall GM got from the tax bill Congress passed last year. prgtoken GM now can bring some $7 billion in overseas cash back to the United States at a dramatically lower tax rate, they can immediately deduct the cost of any new investments in plants and equipment, and their overall corporate tax rate dropped by about one-third. They could use that extra cash to invest in Lordstown, to build more cars in America, but what do they do instead? They lay off 1,500 workers--1,500 Ohio workers, 1,500 families affected--in Niles, Ravenna, Kent, Reminderville, Youngstown, Girard, Lordstown, and all over the Mahoney Valley and beyond. That is just a year after they laid off the third shift--more than 1,000 workers--at the same plant. They have some nerve. prgtoken The workers at this plant are among the best in the world. The car they make, the Chevy Cruze, beat out the foreign competition in its class last year. For the 2018 models, J.D. Power and Associates named the Cruze among the top two cars in its class. They named the Lordstown plant among the six top plants in the Americas. Anyone who has been to Lordstown wouldn't be surprised. prgtoken Ten years ago, the Federal Government rescued the auto industry. prgtoken Eight years ago, I actually drove one of the first cars--with Governor Strickland and others--off the line, one of the first Chevy Cruzes coming out of the Lordstown plant. prgtoken Two years ago, I stood in Lordstown for the plant's 50th anniversary, and I saw the pride the community takes in that plant. GM estimated that more than 10,000 people--young and old, families with children, workers who had been there almost the entire 50 years, vintage car buffs, former workers--turned out to watch the parade and to celebrate the plant. The line to get into the plant for a tour stretched down the street and around the block. That is what this plant means to the communities it serves. That is what the auto industry means to the communities it serves. It appears General Motors has forgotten some of that. That is why we worked so hard to save this industry, including General Motors, after the economic crisis. prgtoken In addition to the Federal auto rescue, the State of Ohio gave GM more than $80 million in tax incentives. But now, after Ohio gave millions to this company, GM turns its back on Ohio--all while making record profits, all while reaping the rewards of the tax bill paid for by taxpayers. prgtoken As a country, as a State, we are inv
CELEBRATING THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FRESNO ELKS LODGE
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-6-25

I rise today to commemorate the Fresno Elks Lodge on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of its founding. Since its formation on June 25, 1898, the Fresno Elks Lodge has supported and improved the local community through charity and fellowship, providing neighbors and families a place to come together and serve others. prgtoken As a charitable fraternal organization, the Fresno Elks Lodge has served the greater Fresno area through many community service projects. Since the organization's founding, members have worked with the local community to ensure efforts towards it's happiness and progression. Such efforts include inviting a clown troupe to visit children in schools and hospitals and entertaining veterans. prgtoken Over the years, the Fresno Elks Lodge has been honored for its community work for schools and veterans. The Fresno Compact named them one of the Top Ten Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations. They were also honored by the Fresno Veterans Hospital for their work with veterans. prgtoken Each year, the Fresno Elks Lodge organizes several events for the community. Members hold an annual Flag Day ceremony and other patriotic events in an endeavor to promote good will in the community. Other philanthropic efforts include supporting the California Hawaii Elks Association Major Project, which provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language training and preschool vision screening for disabled children throughout California and Hawaii. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Fresno Elks Lodge's 120th anniversary. I commend the service of all the members of this organization who have worked collectively to invest in the community and help improve the quality of life for many in the Central Valley.