mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-9-7

so far this year, the Secretary of Commerce has declared nine disasters for fisheries, and another disaster assistance request is pending in Southern Oregon and in Northern California. prgtoken When these fisheries close, our fishermen and their families are in deep trouble. Their expenses don't disappear--the mortgages on their vessels, their mooring fees, their maintenance. Of course, they have to continue to be able to pay their basic living expenses. So when they are told they have to stay in port because a fishery is closed because of a fishing disaster, then, it is an enormous challenge to which we need to help to respond. It is not just for the fishermen themselves, but for the entire community--the recreational anglers, as well as the commercial fishermen, the processors, the gear stores, the boat repair facilities, and the tourism. All of it is impacted. prgtoken So let us not forget that we have nine declared disasters for fisheries, and we should make sure we respond and assist these communities.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2017-9-7

I am asking that we include my provision for raising funds for the Department of the Interior's assistance to territories in this en bloc amendment. prgtoken This is a very modest uptick of the $1 million in Federal support for the United States territories, namely the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. It is crucial that the Federal Government keep its commitment to address the pressing needs of Americans living in these territories as we face grave natural disaster and security threats. prgtoken Right now, thousands of people are feeling the effects of one of the most catastrophic hurricanes ever to strike the Caribbean region. Hurricane Irma has toppled buildings and leveled many homes. Making the Virgin Islands whole again will require massive and coordinated efforts spanning a long period of time. prgtoken Much of the Federal Government's support for Americans in U.S. territories comes out of this territorial assistance account, with funding channeled toward necessary community facilities like schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure systems. This support is imperative. prgtoken After this hurricane, one of our hospitals is partially destroyed. The other faces egregious deferred maintenance issues due, in part, to an extremely high proportion of uncompensated care because the territories face inequitable treatment in Federal health programs like Medicaid and Medicare. prgtoken Construction or repair to schools and hospitals account for much of the capital improvement project expenditures that come directly out of this assistance to the territories' account. prgtoken We are asking that the territories receive the same funding that they have received previously, and please approve this amendment to reverse this cut as a simple matter of fairness to the territories.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2017-9-7

. Mr. Chair, a little more than 2 years ago, an Environmental Protection Agency team was investigating a contamination at the Gold King Mine that caused a spill of 3 million gallons of wastewater, impacting New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, the Southern Ute Reservation, and the Navajo Nation. prgtoken I was in Farmington, New Mexico, in the Four Corners area when the toxic plume turned the Animas River yellow. I met with the community and heard their concerns about the toll that the spill was taking on businesses, farmers, families, and individuals. I attended different community meetings, not only in southern Colorado, but in that northwestern part of New Mexico. prgtoken Despite repeated promises by the EPA that it would fully address this prgtoken environmental disaster, progress has too often been needlessly slow. For example, in January of this year, the EPA and the Department of Justice announced a deeply disappointing decision that the EPA was not liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act for damages caused by the Gold King Mine spill. prgtoken And while I appreciate Administrator Pruitt's recent announcement that the EPA was reconsidering this misguided position, I believe that the EPA and the Congress should act to ensure that every impacted individual and community--especially New Mexicans and the Navajo Nation--receive the compensation they deserve. prgtoken The State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation should not have to sue the Federal Government to ensure that the government meets its moral obligation to the farmers, small business owners, and others injured by this spill. prgtoken This amendment, however, is about the long-term impact the spill will have on the river and all that that it sustains, from drinking water to providing water for farming and livestock. Robust long-term water quality monitoring is essential to ensuring that communities along the Animas River have the data they need to protect the health of all of those who rely on this water, and the State of New Mexico has developed a robust and independent monitoring plan that deserves the EPA's support. prgtoken That is why I am again offering an amendment to provide $6 million to direct the EPA to work with the affected States and Indian Tribes to support long-term monitoring programs for water quality on the Animas and San Juan Rivers in response to the Gold King Mine spill. prgtoken The same amendment was accepted by the House last year on a bipartisan basis. I thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this issue, and because monitoring now and well into the future is necessary to protect the health of all those who rely on this water, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-9-7

I am here to deliver my ``Time to Wake Up'' speech, which I do every week that the Senate is in session. We have been out of session for a few weeks, so there is a fair amount to talk about that happened while we were gone. prgtoken One of the first things was a new study in my home State of Rhode Island. Rhode Island is a coastal State. We have considerable worries about sea level rise, and we have a State Coastal Resources Management Council that has done what is probably the best modeling anywhere in the country of prgtoken the effects of sea level rise and the risk of ocean storms on our shores. In conjunction with them, there has been a report from the Rhode Island Division of Planning--this is the State government--which has identified roads and bridges that are most likely to be underwater as the tides climb higher and as waves push farther inland. prgtoken The State's 10 roads most vulnerable to sea level rise are Hope Street in Bristol, which everybody knows--a beautiful, historical street; Memorial Boulevard in Newport; Wampanoag Trail in Barrington; Conanicus Avenue in Jamestown; North Road in Jamestown; County Road in Barrington; Beach Street in Narragansett, Main Street in Warren; and State Highway 24 South in Tiverton. prgtoken Throw in storm surge on top of sea level rise, and the 10 most vulnerable roads are County Road North in Barrington; Phillips Street in North Kingstown; America's Cup Avenue in Newport; Route 138 West onramp in Newport; Hope Street in Bristol; Highway 24 North in Portsmouth; Centerville Road in Warwick; Narragansett Avenue in Narragansett; Main Street in Warren; and Route 38 West in Jamestown. prgtoken The report goes on to identify the 10 bridges most vulnerable to sea level rise and the 10 bridges most vulnerable to a combination of sea level rise and storm surge. prgtoken Overall, Warwick, Narragansett, Newport, Barrington, and Providence are our top five municipalities most vulnerable to climate change- related road damage. So when I come to the floor to talk about this, this is not some hypothetical, liberal concern. prgtoken The Coastal Resources Management Council in my home State is predicting 9 vertical feet of sea level rise by the end of this century. As the Presiding Officer knows, Rhode Island is not a huge State. We don't have a lot to give back to the ocean. Nine feet of sea level rise is potentially catastrophic. And when my State Division of Planning is highlighting the roads and bridges that we are going to lose to sea level rise and to storm surge, don't expect me to sit idly by. prgtoken There is a larger context, of course, for all of this. I am pretty Rhode Island-centric, but, boy, are we seeing a lot going on. prgtoken Let's start off with what is going on out West. We have an extraordinary wildfire situation happening in the American West. I am reading a news story here: Wildfires burned across hundreds of thousands of acres in
WE MUST PASS THE DREAM ACT
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-7

America is founded on the promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, then we will have a place for you. prgtoken That is the American Dream. There is no reason it shouldn't extend to people who were brought here as young children and have been working since then to build a better life. prgtoken San Diego is home to 38,000 residents who could be eligible for DACA, the seventh most of any county in America. prgtoken DREAMers are our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers, and our economy is more prosperous because of their contributions. prgtoken Like so many, I was saddened and angry at the decision by President to end the DACA program. It was a cruel action, rooted in fear, that only makes us weaker. prgtoken Congress must act swiftly to correct this economic and moral catastrophe. We must pass the Dream Act to protect DREAMers, and give them and their employers the certainty that they deserve. prgtoken The time is right now for Congress to finally step up and do its job.
SUPPORT FOR THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION ACT
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-9-7

today I introduce the Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017. prgtoken Across America, too many of our urban neighborhoods are absent of stores where prgtoken community members can purchase fresh, healthy foods. There are more than 23 million individuals residing in these so called ``food desert'' neighborhoods, where there are no stores within one mile in which they can buy healthy food. prgtoken Without healthy options, people are forced to eat unhealthy, processed, junk food, because that is all that is available and affordable. This bill is a step to correct this unacceptable trend. prgtoken I am pleased to recognize and support the growing resurgence of locally grown and produced product. I see it in my own district at places like the Toledo Farmers Market, the Robert J. Anderson Urban Agriculture Center and Farm, and the Old Brooklyn Cheese Company in Cleveland, Ohio. prgtoken Individuals, non-profits, and co-ops are stepping up and taking action to address the challenge of access to healthy food, by developing local food sources like community gardens to provide fresh, affordable produce throughout underserved communities. Not only are they growing product to provide to communities though, they are engaging and encouraging community participation all throughout the process. They are teaching community members how to farm. prgtoken The Urban Agriculture Production Act encourages economic development in undernourished, underserved communities by furthering the mission of local farming. It shore ups the Department of Agriculture and their programs to support urban farmers and inspire communities to create self-sufficient food production systems that stimulate development and healthy eating options. prgtoken All throughout our urban communities, there is an abundance of unused land and space that are conveniently located in neighborhoods that are ripe for agriculture development. We must support and encourage the means to develop these plots so they become local sources of wholesome food options. prgtoken Community gardens, Greenhouses, Farmers' Markets, and other local agriculture initiatives have tremendous power to help diversify American food production. They can also help the nation rely less on foreign imports and create American jobs that cannot be outsourced. prgtoken Moreover, communities that lack access to fresh, nutritious affordable foods are facing growing epidemics of obesity related diseases. We must get serious about addressing nationally recognized increases in preventable disease in all our communities, but especially in those communities that have limited food options. Prevention is paramount, and encouraging a balanced diet while also providing access to healthier foods, through agriculture, is an obvious solution. prgtoken The Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017, therefore, sets out to spur the development and expansion of community agriculture in typically non-traditional agricul
DACA
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-9-7

I rise today to speak for just a few minutes about the Dreamers in our country, the young people about whom we have had a debate recently and will continue to debate about with regard to the so-called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, known by the acronym DACA. prgtoken The United States is a proud nation of immigrants, and ending this program does not make sense either morally or in terms of our economy. Rescinding the program will cost the United States jobs. It will hurt our national security, and it is a total betrayal of the trust of the Federal Government. prgtoken Dreamers are young people who have lived in our country for a long time, since they were children. They have been law-abiding residents, they have learned English, and they pay taxes. They have secured jobs that support themselves and their families. prgtoken Our Government promised them that they would be protected if they came forward, and now the administration is breaking that promise. President 's actions with regard to DACA are an insult to America and are an insult to American values. This action is unjust, it is immoral, and it is without regard for basic fairness. Tearing apart the lives of these young people will make our Nation less safe and will harm our economy. prgtoken Ending DACA also does not make sense financially. In Pennsylvania alone, estimates are that ending DACA would cost Pennsylvania $357 million per year in GDP losses. Nationwide, the number is $460 billion from the GDP over the next decade. Ending DACA would remove approximately 685,000 workers from the U.S. economy. According to the Cato Institute, deporting DACA residents would cost more than $60 billion. Finally, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that 1.3 million young people enrolled in or eligible for DACA pay some $2 billion each year in State and local taxes. prgtoken Let me just share one story of many about a Dreamer that I met. In this case, it was back in April of this year. I was proud to meet with this individual from Lancaster. Her name is Audrey Lopez. Audrey is one of those Dreamers. She came to the United States as a child with her parents, who were seeking a better life for her and for her family. She grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from college. The United States is the only home she knows. prgtoken When I met Audrey, she was worried about the debate about immigration and immigration policy. The debate that we have been having in Washington mostly since January of this year was causing great fear and uncertainty in her community. Audrey is obviously concerned about the immigration debate and, in particular, what happens with DACA. prgtoken She has worked with Church World Services, an organization that helps resettle hundreds of refugees each year in Pennsylvania. They provide services to help new arrivals adjust to their new home and become successful members of their local neighborhood
RECOGNIZING SERGEANT JOHN D. LYNN
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-7

I rise today to recognize Sergeant John D. Lynn of the Salinas Police Department for over 25 years of dedication to the residents of the city of Salinas. After leaving active duty in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, John Lynn opted to serve his community by entering an officer training program for law enforcement in 1990. Upon completion, he was assigned as a patrol officer in the city of Salinas, California. In 1993 he became a D.A.R.E instructor, educating the students in Salinas High School and Washington Middle School about the dangers of drug abuse. Over the ensuing years, as a community service resource office, Officer Lynn coordinated neighborhood watch meetings and organized crime prevention presentations. Sergeant Lynn also conducted the Salinas Police Department's first ever National Night Out event, in which neighbors and police convene for a night of community conversation, casual dining and community festivities. In 2000, Sergeant Lynn became a traffic motorcycle officer, tasked with leading major traffic collision investigations. Over the years, he was promoted to sergeant, served with various capacities in the Salinas Police Department, including the personnel and training unit, patrol, supervision of the traffic unit, internal affairs, and a role coordinating a DUI enforcement campaign. In a dramatic episode in November 2015, Sergeant Lynn and two fellow officers successfully prevented an attempted suicide by hanging of a man. He is a hero and was honored as Monterey County Officer of the Year. For the past six years, Sergeant Lynn has been the S.P.D representative for the Special Olympics of Northern California. Only a few weeks ago, a golden torch passed through Salinas, escorted by several local officers, an event that raised more than $13,000 for the program. It is yet another example of Sergeant John Lynn's dedication to this community. On behalf of California's 20th District, I thank him for his many years of service, and I wish him the best of luck in his well-earned retirement.
PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3354, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-9-7

if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 3440, the Dream Act, this bipartisan, bicameral legislation. We have thousands of young people who are Americans in every way except on paper. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-9-7

I appreciate my colleague's effort to boost funding for a successful assistance program such as the Merida Initiative. The flow of drugs into the United prgtoken States is a serious concern and more emphasis should be put on both the demand and supply side of the issue. However, I cannot support an amendment to take from another very successful program such as the Fulbright Program. prgtoken The Fulbright Program is our flagship public diplomacy program. It has run for over 70 years and boasts more than 370,000 alumni that are now in leadership positions and have a positive connection with the United States. These alumni include 37 current or former heads of state, 57 Nobel Laureates, 82 Pulitzer Prize winners, 29 MacArthur Fellows Foundation, 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, and thousands of leaders across private, public, and non-private sectors. prgtoken There are 1,300 U.S. institutions that actively participate in the Fulbright Program, either receiving or sending students to become global citizens, a requirement in today's interconnected economy. prgtoken In our challenging times, , we cannot hinder such an effective diplomatic tool as the Fulbright Program.
HURRICANE IRMA
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-9-7

I am here to give a report on behalf of Florida to the Senate. Senator Rubio and I were there all day yesterday in Miami and in other parts of South Florida, and we are preparing for what will be another Andrew. prgtoken Andrew was thought to be a category 4, but it actually was a category 5, with winds in excess of 155 miles per hour. Likewise, that is what we have now. I see the leader has come in. I will speak for just a few minutes, then, giving an update. prgtoken There are a number of things. I believe the Federal Government is prepared, unlike we were 25 years ago with Hurricane Andrew. prgtoken The Federal Government is certainly prepositioning supplies, but look at the situation with regard to FEMA. FEMA is stretched, and of all things, FEMA runs out of money unless we act by tomorrow. prgtoken Thus, I left Florida in the middle of the night to come back to make sure that it has my stamp of imprimatur on this legislation. prgtoken I am very glad that the majority leader has agreed to double the prgtoken amount, basically $7.5 billion for FEMA and another $7.5 billion for CDBG's, or community development block grants, both of which would be for natural disasters. Because of that, it gives the flexibility to FEMA that some of the money will be used in case Irma hits Florida. But there is also the fact that Irma has already devastated our fellow U.S. citizens in the Virgin Islands, as well as Puerto Rico. So as to this package, it is essential that we pass this legislation and pass it quickly, and especially pass it before tomorrow. prgtoken There are some needs that need to be called to the attention of FEMA. I have emailed yesterday to the Administrator of FEMA Brock Long. People are trying to get out, but they are stuck on the roads, and now they are running out of gasoline. prgtoken Looking at the pictures on anything going north out of Florida, the roads are jammed. The interstates and the turnpike are jammed. The phenomenon that is occurring is that people need gasoline and they are running out on the road, which adds all the more to the chaos. They are going to the gasoline stations and the gas stations are running out of gasoline. So I made an urgent plea yesterday, and I would make that to FEMA again, that we get gasoline into the State of Florida and down into the peninsula, so as the evacuation orders come along the coast, as the hurricane gets closer and closer, people will be able to flee. prgtoken This is an unusual one. Usually, we will see the tracks from the National Hurricane Center move around. Basically, the track of what is expected from the National Hurricane Center has stayed fairly steady for last 36 hours. prgtoken We will get our next update at 11 this morning, but it will hit South Florida somewhere in the Miami area, and it will go right up the coast. It will go on up the coast of Georgia, South Carolina, and into North Carolina. That is a massive population along the e