mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO DON SLAZNIK
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-9-12

today I wish to celebrate the distinguished career of Marshal Don Slaznik of O'Fallon, IL. Don is retiring as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, a position that he has the distinction of having held under three Presidents, being first nominated by President and confirmed in 2002 and retained by President in 2009. prgtoken Don has served his country with dignity and honor as an Active-Duty member of the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army in the 1960s and 1970s. prgtoken Since then, he has been the chief of police in Poplar Bluff, MO, Storm Lake, IA, and O'Fallon, IL, and served in leadership positions with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Southern Illinois Police Chief's Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. prgtoken In 2015, under Don's leadership, the Southern District of Illinois received the highest award given by the U.S. Marshal's Service: the Distinguished District Award. prgtoken While he will be missed, we will remember this public citizen for his tireless, dedicated, and honorable commitment to service Many thanks to U.S. Marshal Slaznik and his family for their sacrifices and contributions to our community. prgtoken Thank you.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-9-12

this amendment would reduce funding by 10 percent for programs administered by all accounts in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. By making it across the board, it makes it more difficult for the agencies to actually administer their programs, making it harder, if not impossible, for the government to protect its citizens by enforcing wage and protection laws, ensuring safe workplaces, ensuring education for students with disabilities, support for those with drug addictions. prgtoken The bill, as the gentlewoman has already indicated, is already underfunded, and this would just make matters worse. prgtoken , I would hope we defeat this amendment.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-9-12

I rise to discuss the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Dr. Hassett came through the Banking Committee with a mixed vote, not so much because of him and his qualifications but because of some of his past statements and because of the economic philosophy of the person who nominated Dr. Hassett. prgtoken After meeting with him and being impressed with his integrity and openness, I hope he will not forget where he came from. I hope he will approach the job in a thoughtful way. I hope that he will stay grounded in sound research and that he will be transparent about his methods. I would caution him about embracing ideas about economic growth that are not supported by empirical evidence. I hope his new colleagues will listen to him. prgtoken For too long, our trade policy and tax policy have encouraged a corporate business model that shuts down production in Hamilton or Middletown or Mansfield or Toledo or Youngstown, gets a tax break, cashes in a tax break, then moves production overseas and then to China or Mexico, and then ships production back into the United States. Fundamentally, that has become the business plan of far too many companies--that sort of outsourcing. prgtoken I had a long discussion with Dr. Hassett about that. As I said, I hope he remembers where he came from. He saw that happen as he was growing up, if I recall, in western Massachusetts, where production was shut down in his communities, moved overseas for production, and then the goods were made overseas, and then sent back to the United States. prgtoken I am concerned about the White House in which he will work. I am concerned that at that White House, it often looks like a retreat for Goldman Sachs executives. The President's tax proposal benefits the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations. Its budget is based on GDP predictions that are unrealistic. In fact, when it came to the issue of Social Security solvency years ago, Dr. Hassett found a sustained 3-percent growth rate too optimistic for planning purposes. That is the same rate--that same rate is what the budget uses to gloss over its true costs. prgtoken I plan to support Dr. Hassett. I think he is an honorable man. I disagree fundamentally on a lot of these issues. I again implore him, as I cast my vote in support of him--because the President is entitled to an adviser and to choose within a band, of course, of support from whom he wants--but I am hopeful, especially, that Dr. Hassett remembers what it was like when he grew up in Greenfield, MA. Greenfield is a town not much different from my hometown of Mansfield, OH, where bad tax policy and bad trade policy have dashed the dreams of far, far too many people in those communities. prgtoken I count on Dr. Hassett to do the right thing. I am hopeful that he will help President see what these communities look like, not from standing in a rally in fron
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2017-9-12

I rise today to speak in support of our bipartisan amendment, which would increase Legal Services funding by $10 million. I am willing to withdraw this amendment after my colleagues and I take a brief moment to speak about Legal Services. I know that the chair and the ranking member support Legal Services and may be able to help, but at some time in the future. prgtoken Our justice system is the envy of the world. Whenever we travel, people say what they really respect about America is the rule of law and our justice system, but it takes professional help by an attorney to navigate it. When they are poor--which most people don't have legal training--they are not going to be able to successfully compete against a private attorney on the other side. They need help. If they don't have that help, the justice system is not fair. prgtoken Legal Services helps ensure equal justice under the law. It helps all kind of folks: military families, homeowners and renters, families with children, the disabled, and the elderly. prgtoken It is vital all over the country, but in places like Houston, residents struggle from Hurricane Harvey. Lone Star Legal Aid, which is partially funded by Legal Services, is helping people navigate the legal hurdles when people need them most so that they can get their lives back. prgtoken Mr. Kennedy has been a strong supporter of this. He was supposed to be here today, but I think he has been detained. prgtoken , I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-9-12

I am doing this on behalf of Ms. DeLauro. As we know, her mother passed this weekend, and she is in our thoughts. prgtoken , this also incorporates two other amendments that we would have otherwise taken up separately under my name, but they are all-inclusive in here. So let me talk about what the amendment does. prgtoken This amendment would restore funding to worker protection programs to keep to the fiscal year 2017 levels. The bill, as it stands, has a cut of $59 million to worker protection agencies, including a cut of $21 million to OSHA, the elimination of the Susan Harwood training grants, and a cut of $14 million to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. prgtoken This is the lowest budget OSHA has seen since 2009. We need OSHA. It saves lives. Since 1970, occupational deaths have been cut in half, saving over 80 million lives. But there is plenty of work left to do. prgtoken Last year alone, 4,800 workers were killed on the job, and over 3 million were seriously injured. An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries, costing U.S. businesses over $170 billion. prgtoken The proposed budget would further reduce enforcement personnel by 140 investigators. That is 2,318 fewer workplace investigations. In addition, in the bill under consideration, safety training grants to reach workers in the highest risk jobs are eliminated, despite being a core OSHA program through every administration, and , since 1978. prgtoken OSHA has only enough funding to inspect every workplace under its jurisdiction every 159 years. Why would this bill eliminate funding for Susan Harwood training grants that protect and educate workers in the most dangerous jobs? prgtoken This program costs less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the Department of Labor's budget. This cut is irresponsible and reckless. We cannot cut NIOSH occupational health research, the primary Federal agency that conducts research to prevent work-related illness and injury. This research is a critical defense against tragedy. We must fund MSHA to keep our Nation's mines safe. There is too much on the line to neglect this sector. prgtoken This amendment would restore funding to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, which is tasked with enforcing labor provisions of free trade agreements that are intended to protect American workers. prgtoken Finally, this amendment would restore funding to the National Labor Relations Board, which protects the rights of workers under the National Labor Relations Act. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
ABOLISH HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT AND TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-12

today I wish to congratulate this body on its passage of two important antitrafficking bills: the Abolish Human Trafficking Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. prgtoken I am proud to have worked with Senators Grassley, Cornyn, and Klobuchar on these comprehensive bills and commend them and their staffs for the thoughtful and bipartisan manner in which they were drafted. prgtoken I would also like to thank the numerous law enforcement and antitrafficking organizations and, most importantly, the survivors, who have provided feedback and support throughout this process. It is my hope that the legislation passed last night will assist the tremendous work these groups do in the fight against human trafficking. prgtoken Both bills reauthorize a number of important programs that help victims and strengthen efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to human trafficking crimes. prgtoken The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which I authored with Senator Grassley, promotes victim-centered training for school resource officers, judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement. It ensures that trafficking victims are properly screened and that more comprehensive data about trafficking crimes are collected. prgtoken The Trafficking Victims Protection Act also includes one of my top priorities, which is to prevent the proliferation of trafficking offenses over the internet. I want to take a moment to discuss why I believe this to be a deeply important step in curtailing the criminal enterprise of trafficking. prgtoken The commercial sex industry is evolving. The use of the internet to sell commercial sex has escalated dramatically over the past several years. prgtoken Online platforms have provided an easily accessible and seemingly low-risk forum for buyers. In 2014, one website advertised nearly 12,000 advertisements for commercial sex in a single day. prgtoken Some of these sites have become hubs of human trafficking. Backpage.com, in particular, has been used to facilitate sex trafficking of minors for years. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has determined that Backpage.com is linked to 73 percent of all suspected child sex trafficking reports that it receives through its ``CyberTipline.'' prgtoken Indeed, just a few months ago in my home State, a 3-month investigation into Backpage.com led the Stockton Police Department to discover eight victims being trafficked for sex in the area. Some of these girls were as young as 14 years old. San Joaquin District Attorney's Human Trafficking Task Force said that advertisements on Backpage com offered sexual acts with the victims for as little as $20. prgtoken Under current law, it is a criminal offense to knowingly advertise commercial sex acts with a minor. Backpage.com has repeatedly asserted that it has no involvement with the advertisements posted on its website. However, after a thorough review of Backpage.com's screening methods and prac
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-9-13

today I pose the question: Why do many people--too many--how many is too many? prgtoken The number that can have an adverse impact. prgtoken Why do too many people--not all--why do too many people deny the existence of circumstances that can have an invidious impact upon society? Why? prgtoken Why would people deny that there is a link between smoking and cancer? prgtoken Why would people deny that invidious discrimination existed when there were laws on the books that encouraged invidious discrimination? prgtoken Why would people deny the existence of climate change with all of the empirical evidence available to us to peruse and scrutinize? Why? Why, ? prgtoken Because if you deny it, you don't have to do anything about it. If you deny the linkage between smoking and cancer, you don't have to do anything about it. If you deny the links between invidious discrimination and the impact on persons who are discriminated against, you don't have to do anything about it. If you deny that climate change exists, that there is something going on, then you don't have to do anything about it. prgtoken , notwithstanding denials, we have to acknowledge that, as of late, in Houston, Texas, we have had three major events--three major hurricanes--to have to cope with. And these three major events, while there may be some debate about whether they are 100-year floods or 500- year floods, everybody agrees that they are billion-dollar floods, plus, I might add, because the empirical evidence is there to support it. prgtoken With all of these hurricanes that are traversing the Atlantic Ocean and coming into landfall here in the United States, the frequency of them has to get our attention. So whether you think it is climate change or whether you think that these are acts of God--and the law recognizes such language--or whether you just can't explain it but you recognize that it is occurring, I think we have to do something about what is going on. prgtoken , we can no longer assume that the old normal is going to apply to our circumstances. There is a new normal that we have to cope with, and this new normal has much to do with how we will provide for the welfare and safety of the people of the United States of America. prgtoken How will we approach flood insurance? prgtoken The National Flood Insurance Program is in debt that we acknowledge to the tune of $24.6 billion. That is what we acknowledge. But after Harvey and after what has happened recently in Florida and in the islands, , that number is going up exponentially. prgtoken If we are of the opinion that there is no climate change, this is just sort of a freak of nature that is occurring right now and things will go back to the old normal and we just stay with that, then we won't take the necessary steps to provide flood insurance that is going to cover people so that they are not lost in a storm of red tape and bureaucracy. prgtoken We have to change the dynamics that relate
SOLVING PROBLEMS OF REPETITIVE FLOODING
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-9-13

as we watch the horrific scenes of destruction from Hurricane Harvey and Irma, I must say that I have been taken back in time. prgtoken I came to Congress 20 years ago in the aftermath of serious flooding in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. I was Portland's Commissioner of Public Works at the time, and we had to scramble to try and prevent flood damage into our central city. prgtoken Since that time, I have spent a great deal of time and energy focusing on what we can do to solve problems of repetitive flooding, having Federal policies in place that makes it less likely that people will be in harm's way. Sadly, over the course of over 20 years, we are very slow to learn these messages. prgtoken First and foremost, we continue to provide payments to properties that are repeatedly flooded. When we started over 15 years ago on a program for reforming the flood insurance program, one of the best examples that we used for the need for reform was a home in suburban Houston that had flood insurance payments 17 times in less than 20 years. The total was over $1 million for a piece of property that was less than $120,000 in value. We would have been far better off buying it at a generous price and returning it to its natural state, saving the taxpayers money and minimizing future flood damage. prgtoken Such is the case when we looked at what was going on with Hurricane Katrina, where we have problems in Louisiana over the years, a city, New Orleans, that is slowly settling, and has engaged in development in some areas where people, like in the lower Ninth Ward, were repeatedly subjected to flood damage. prgtoken But what we have done too often in the past is we have put people back in harm's way. We shouldn't be spending Federal flood relief to put people back in the same situation and having a problem with rising tides because of global warming, changing weather patterns that are going to cost us more money and put more people at risk. prgtoken There are some simple steps. First, we ought to get rid of the deficit for the flood insurance program. There is no way that premiums are going to make up a deficit of over $24 billion that is going to be even bigger after the bills become due for Irma and for Harvey. Let's stop pretending that. prgtoken Wipe the slate clean, like we did with the so-called doc fix, and get down to solutions. Part of the solution is to make sure that people pay actuarial rates for flood insurance. Pay what it has cost. Disguising that cost gives people a false sense of security and reduces that economic incentive to get out of harm's way, while it makes it less likely that the program will be self-supporting. prgtoken Have adequate, accurate flood insurance maps. We ought to immediately move towards accurate flood maps so that people get the right signals. Now, actuarial rates, actual flood insurance maps will cause some disruption and financial problems for some people, so this should be phase
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-9-13

I want to stand in support of the statement just made by my colleague from the Commonwealth of Maryland. He knows, as I know, that our responsibilities as U.S. Senators include important votes. Some of the votes we cast will blur into history, and we will be hard pressed to remember them. But certainly any vote involving sending America to war is a vote you will never forget--at least not this Senator. Many of those votes cast over the years in the House and the Senate have created sleepless nights before the vote because you understand that even under the best of circumstances, people will die as a result of your vote. Not just the enemy but even our own risk their lives and die in defense of the United States. prgtoken It was 9/11/2001 when this U.S. Senate was faced with the awesome responsibility of voting to go to war. There were two votes. The first was on the invasion of Iraq. There were 23 of us--22 and 1 --who voted against the authorization for the use of force and the invasion of Iraq. I continue to believe that when it comes to foreign policy, it is the most important vote that I have ever cast. Twenty three of us voted no. prgtoken The second vote was on the invasion of Afghanistan and a different vote completely. We had just gone through 9/11, and 3,000 innocent Americans had been killed. The images are still in my mind--and will be until I die--of what I saw as a result of that heinous attack, that atrocious attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center, on the Pentagon, and, of course, what happened in the fields of Pennsylvania. prgtoken So the vote came to the floor, and they basically said: When it comes to the invasion of Afghanistan, we are going after the people responsible for 9/11. I joined every other U.S. Senator of both political parties in voting yes. We had to make clear to terrorists around the world that when you strike the United States, you will pay a price. We will hunt you down, we will find you, we will bring you to justice or bring you to your end on Earth. I voted for it, and I knew it was the right thing to do. That is what I was sent here to do. prgtoken Little did I realize, having cast that vote 15 or 16 years ago, that I wasn't prgtoken just voting to go after the terrorists responsible for 9/11; I was voting for the longest war in the history of the United States of America, a war that continues to this day in Afghanistan. I don't think there was a single member of the Senate--either party on the floor--who would have believed that was what we were voting for. It has happened. prgtoken To date we have lost almost 2,400 American lives, tens of thousands have been injured in Afghanistan, billions and billions of dollars have been spent, and there is no end in sight. Who is responsible for that? Ultimately, Congress is responsible for that. The Constitution and the people who wrote it made it clear that we have the responsibility to
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2017-9-13

I would like to speak briefly about the amendment just voted upon by this Chamber, an amendment brought forward by Senator Paul. prgtoken As my colleagues know, the Paul amendment would have repealed the 2001 authorization for the use of military force, or so-called AUMF, which authorized military operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban. It would also repeal the 2002 AUMF, which authorized operations against Saddam Hussein and Iraq. These repeals would take effect 6 months after the adoption of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken Senators of both parties owe it to the men and women of our Armed Forces to debate in public the merits of continued conflict against ISIS, al-Qaida, and the Taliban in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, where the brave men and women who serve us and keep us safe are currently engaged in service to our Nation and our security. prgtoken I am very sympathetic to my colleagues' concerns about the potential consequences of repealing the 2001 and 2002 authorizations. I don't want our troops fighting overseas to see our debate on this amendment as a lack of support for their vital mission. I don't want to see our enemies emboldened. prgtoken I, however, chose to support the Paul amendment, but my commitment to our troops and my commitment to defeating our enemies is as strong as ever. This body can and must immediately get to work to craft a legal authorization relevant to our current conflict. That is why I supported the Paul amendment, which would have provided a 6-month window to allow Congress to demonstrate oversight, vigorous review of the status of our military operations around the world, and to pass a new authorization relevant to our current national security threats. In other words, it would have required Congress to do its job. prgtoken Although the Paul amendment was tabled, I look forward to continuing to discuss this important and pressing issue with my colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee, where it should more appropriately be debated, and bringing it forward for a final vote in this Chamber. prgtoken If we are to do our job under the Constitution of the United States, we owe those who fight and serve and strive to keep us safe nothing less than clarity about Congress's willingness to do its job under the Constitution and our willingness to consent to the actions that are essential to keeping us safe.