mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S. 731
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-27

I speak on behalf of myself and Senator to reintroduce legislation to establish the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, California's first National Heritage Area. I am very pleased to work with Senator , Congressman John Garamendi, and our colleagues in the State on this much needed legislation. Our legislation will establish a new national heritage area in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to promote environmental stewardship, heritage conservation, and economic development across five delta counties. prgtoken The Delta Protection Commission will manage the heritage area in accordance with California law and in partnership with delta communities. The management planning process provided by this legislation will be open to the public and collaborative. Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, private property owners, and all stakeholders will have a voice in the management planning for the heritage area. prgtoken The goal is to conserve and protect the delta, its communities, its natural resources, and its rich history. prgtoken In short, this legislation does not affect water rights or water contracts, nor does it is impose any additional responsibilities on local governments or private landowners. Instead, this legislation authorizes federal assistance to support local projects as part of an inclusive process required by State law. prgtoken The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the largest estuary in the Western United States and perhaps the most productive and ecologically important watershed in North America. This extensive inland delta is a natural marvel and national treasure that must be protected. The delta offers recreational opportunities enjoyed by millions of Californians and out-of-State visitors alike, who come each year for boating, fishing, hunting, and sightseeing. prgtoken The delta provides critical habitat for more than 750 wildlife species, including sandhill cranes and other migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. It also provides habitat for iconic native fish like the chinook salmon, some as large as 60 pounds, which return each year to travel through the delta to spawn in tributaries upstream. prgtoken These same waterways provide freshwater to millions of California households and irrigated farmland south of the delta and elsewhere in the State. prgtoken Before being converted for farmland starting in the 19th century, the delta flooded regularly following the springtime snowmelt and once supported the continent's largest Native American communities. prgtoken Later, the delta served as the gateway for the California Gold Rush, after which Chinese immigrant workers built hundreds of miles of levees to make the delta's rich peat soils available for farming and to control flooding. prgtoken Japanese, Chinese, Italian, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, South Asian, and other immigrants began the area's farming legacy and established proud com
HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE ANTHONY BEILENSON
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise to celebrate the life of the Honorable Anthony C. Beilenson--father, husband, grandfather, California legislator, and United States Congressman--who passed away on March 5, 2017. prgtoken Tony Beilenson grew up in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1957, he moved to Los Angeles to practice law in the film industry. Always striving to give back to the world and do as much good as possible, Tony decided to forgo his legal practice to serve the public and he was elected to the California State Assembly in 1962. In 1966, he continued his service to the people of California and was elected to the State Senate. prgtoken During his tenure in the California State Legislature, Tony worked hard to protect the environment and reproductive rights, and was respected by his colleagues regardless of party for his unparalleled collegiality and civility when working to address the most challenging issues of his time. He was widely known for voting and acting according to his thoughtful and well-informed conscience, which inspired his colleagues to eschew partisanship and elevate constructive discourse. prgtoken Tony continued his legacy of effective and impactful lawmaking when he was elected in 1976 to serve in Congress, representing parts of the San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills. He will forever be remembered for his landmark 1978 legislation that established the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, protecting part of Southern California's most treasured natural landscape for future generations to explore and enjoy. prgtoken As a Member of Congress, Tony fought hard to support environmental initiatives such as the Clean Air Act and securing funding for the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Refuge and Lake Balboa Park, which was renamed the Anthony C. Beilenson Park in 1998. He was a powerful advocate for reducing government waste and promoting efficiency. Tony's former colleagues share a deep respect for the integrity, class, and sensibility that he championed throughout his tenure in office. prgtoken Tony is survived by his wife, Dolores; his sons, Adam and Peter; his daughter Dayna; and nine grandchildren. I hope that his family will take comfort in the remarkable legacy that he established at every turn of his life as an accomplished public servant. May his memory be a blessing to us all.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-3-27

last week s in Congress came within an inch of ripping health insurance away from 24 million people in order to give tax breaks to rich people. That collapsed, and it collapsed because the American people stood up and said no--no to kicking seniors out of nursing homes, no to booting kids with rare diseases off of their treatments, no to gutting funding for opioid addiction. prgtoken All across this country--in every corner of this country--for months people spoke up about how the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid are saving their lives and saving their families from financial ruin. They poured their hearts out, they raised their voices, and they demanded to be heard. Last week they won. prgtoken The collapse of the s' cruel scheme is a huge relief to millions of people in this country, but I am not here to celebrate. I am here to warn the American people about what is coming next, because instead of listening to the American people about what they want, the President of the United States has threatened to sabotage healthcare in America. It isn't subtle. One hour after the s admitted they didn't have the votes in Congress to destroy the Affordable Care Act, President sat behind his desk in the Oval Office and told the entire Nation that he wants to trigger a meltdown of our healthcare system because he thinks that would be helpful to him politically. prgtoken Just so there is no confusion, I want to quote him word for word. He said: ``The best thing we can do, politically speaking, is let Care explode.'' prgtoken Now let's be clear. It is deeply wrong for the President of the United States--whose one and only job is to look out for the American people--to root for the failure of our country's healthcare system. It is deeply wrong for the President of the United States to announce that he is going to drag down our entire healthcare sector--a sector that accounts for more than one-sixth of the entire U.S. economy--just so he can stand on top of the wreckage and waggle his fingers and say: I told you so. prgtoken Healthcare for millions of Americans is not a game. It is not entertainment. It is not a reality TV show. Healthcare is literally life and death, and it touches everyone in this country from elderly grandparents to tiny babies. prgtoken President is responsible for making healthcare in this country work. It is his job. He is President of the United States. His party controls both Houses of Congress. A legitimate President doesn't clap and cheer when things get worse for the American people. A legitimate President doesn't pound his chest about sabotaging the health and security of the American people because it is politically expedient. A legitimate President does his job. prgtoken The President's admission that he wants our healthcare system to collapse is a dangerous sign of where things are headed. For 7 years s in Congress have roo
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE: $54 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-27

I thank the assistant leader. I really appreciate his comments, and I want to thank him for standing up for these students and everyone else out there who is trying to do something to help eliminate poverty. prgtoken The gentleman's 10-20-30 plan was really hailed as something that we should all take a closer look at. It was a bipartisan approach and a look at poverty because it affected so many different people's districts. I just want to thank the gentleman for being an advocate in this area. prgtoken , from the great State of California (Ms. Bass). prgtoken Karen Bass also is someone that really takes these topics seriously. She has always been someone who has delved very deeply into the budget and into domestic spending and how it impacts our communities. I just really appreciate her taking part to really share what we think is important as it relates to this budget.
Russia and Trump Campaign Investigation (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise this afternoon on a few topics. First, on the investigation into the campaign's potential ties to Russia, this is a matter of such gravity, we need to get it right. There should be no doubt about the integrity and impartiality of the investigation, either in the executive branch, where the FBI and Department of Justice are looking into it, or in Congress, where the Intelligence Committees of both Chambers are conducting an investigation. prgtoken Unfortunately, the House Intelligence Committee has come under a cloud of suspicion and partisanship. A few months ago, Chairman Nunes spoke to reporters at the request of the White House to tamp down stories on the links between the campaign and Russia, which is exactly what his committee now must investigate. This past week, Chairman Nunes broke with the committee process and tradition to brief the President on information he had learned but hadn't yet shared with the committee. We have learned this morning that Chairman Nunes was at the White House the day before that event--doing what? We don't know. It could very well be the case that Chairman Nunes was briefing members of the administration about an investigation of which they are the subject. prgtoken Chairman Nunes is falling down on the job and seems to be more interested in protecting the President than in seeking the truth. You cannot have the person in charge of an impartial investigation be partial to one side. It is an inherent contradiction, and it undermines decades of bipartisan cooperation on the Intelligence Committee, which handles such sensitive information paramount to national security. It undermines Congress as a coequal branch of government meant to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions, and it corrodes the American people's confidence in our government. prgtoken If Ryan wants the House to have a credible investigation, he needs to replace Chairman Nunes. Congress was meant by the Framers to be separate and equal, and I sincerely worry that under his direction, Mr. Nunes is pushing the committee into a direction of obsequiousness and not one that is asking the hard questions and getting the important answers. prgtoken There has always been a grand tradition of bipartisanship on the Intelligence Committee. When Members go into the SCIF, the room where they get secure briefings, they check their partisanship at the door. Chairman Nunes is right on the edge of doing permanent damage to that grand tradition of bipartisanship. Chairman Nunes seems to be more of a partisan for the President than an impartial actor. He has not been cooperating like someone who is interested in getting to the unvarnished truth. His actions look like those of someone who is interested in protecting the President and his party, and that doesn't work when the goal of the committee is to investigate Russia and its connection to the President and his campaign. prgtoken
CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-27

I rise today to introduce a resolution Celebrating the Importance of the 15th Anniversary of the Arab Peace Initiative as a Meaningful Effort by Arab Countries to the Commitment of Peace in the Middle East. prgtoken I recently travelled to Israel for the 18th time as a Member of Congress. While in Israel and Jordan, I attended a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings focused on security and the outlook for the region in the coming year. I always welcome these opportunities to meet with senior leaders on such a wide range of issues, and our conversations touched on political developments, regional security in the Middle East, the peace process, and strengthening the bilateral relationships between the United States and these nations. prgtoken Although the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a major challenge, I believe we must stay actively involved in peace negotiations. I am happy to say that recently, Israel and some Muslim- majority Arab nations in the Middle East have made progress in regional cooperation. I believe that, using the Arab Peace Initiative as a baseline, these recent developments present a renewed opportunity for progress--one that we cannot afford to miss. prgtoken , my resolution highlights the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative and urges the nations to continue the hard work of fostering stronger relationship. Under the right circumstances, the Arab Peace Initiative allows for gradual progress towards the normalization of bilateral relations between Israel and its neighbors. We all know that the relationship between America and Israel is paramount, and I have faith that, in time, the relationships between Israel and other nations will also strengthen. I commend the regional countries that have taken steps to facilitate the end of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, while simultaneously strengthening regional security through discussions with the State of Israel. I urge all parties to continue these important dialogues. prgtoken I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's ascension to the Presidency of the Arab League. The United States established relations with Jordan in 1949 and our countries have a long history of cooperation. Jordan has taken on an important role in pursuing progress for the region. I congratulate my friend King Abdullah II and wish Jordan the very best as it assumes this new leadership role for the foreseeable future. prgtoken , I am pleased to introduce this resolution today, and recommend its expeditious consideration and passage.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE: $54 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING
Val Butler Demings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-27

I spent 27 years in law enforcement, and I realized early in my career that we cannot arrest our way out of the challenges that we face, that we have to address some of the social ills that cause decay in communities in the first place if we are going to make those communities better. prgtoken In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson commissioned a group to look at crime in America. I would like to share just a short paragraph of their report. It says: ``Every effort must be made to strengthen the family, now often shattered by the grinding pressures of urban slums. ``Slum schools must be given enough resources to make them as good as schools elsewhere and to enable them to compensate for the various handicaps suffered by the slum child--to rescue him from his environment.'' prgtoken , I want you to know that we are still trying to rescue children that that particular child represents from their at-risk environments. If we are going to put America first, it starts with putting the American people first.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE: $54 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-3-27

. I thank the gentleman for his good work on the budget. prgtoken , the budget is about choices, and those choices involve arithmetic. Apparently, the strategy on the budget does not recognize arithmetic. When you start with a deficit, their strategy to deal with the deficit is to increase defense spending and to pass massive tax cuts. That will not end up helping the deficit. prgtoken As we have seen with the choice in health care, they made bad choices. Whatever you think about the Affordable Care Act, their plan was demonstrably worse. Their plan would increase the number of people uninsured by 24 million, bring higher prices and worse policies, but tax cuts for millionaires. prgtoken What I couldn't understand was not what were the ups and downs for politics, but who was for that--24 million more uninsured, higher prices, and worse policies? prgtoken will work with s to improve the Affordable Care Act, but we are not going halfway and saying only 12 million uninsured and slightly higher prices and slightly worse policies. If we are going to have a policy to increase the number of insured, lower prices, and provide better policies, we will work. prgtoken We can also produce a better budget. For almost an hour, we have heard the problems with the budget introduced by the President of the United States. The Congressional Black Caucus is not just about complaints. We have a budget, and it is a responsible budget. prgtoken We make choices. The choices avoid those devastating cuts that we have heard about. The Congressional Black Caucus budget is realistic. It requires $3.9 trillion in additional revenues, but it outlines over $10 trillion in choices that could be made to come up with prgtoken that money, possibilities like canceling the tax cuts. That is $3.9 trillion right off the bat. Over $10 trillion in total choices. prgtoken First, with that revenue, we cancel the sequester both for nondefense and for defense. Then we make investments in the future of American families with investments in education, job-creating infrastructure, the environment, scientific research, and maintain a strong social safety net. In the end, we reduce the deficit by a cumulative amount of an over $2 trillion reduction in the deficit. prgtoken So let's be clear. we are going to make choices with the budget, choices like we made a few years ago. People say a lot about the proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders and $900 billion for free college. Could we afford that? Just think, a couple of years ago, we passed, with one vote, an extension in tax cuts of $3.9 trillion. We could have, with the same amount of money, extended $3 trillion in tax cuts, and with the money left over, free college, but we didn't make that choice. All $3.9 trillion went to tax cuts. The $900 billion could have gone to free college. prgtoken Make no mistake about it, we are making choices. This year, again, we will make choices with o
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE: $54 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-27

. I thank the gentleman, Mr. Veasey, and also Mrs. Demings for their leadership in this hour. prgtoken I know that our theme is ``What Do We Have to Lose''? That is something that the President, during his campaign, asked the African- American community: What do you have to lose? Why don't you think about voting this time? prgtoken So I was a part of the group that Mr. Clyburn referred to that went and met with the President last week. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus Executive Committee met with the President. We went over to the White House to answer the question: What do we have to lose? prgtoken As my colleagues who have spoken before me mentioned, we believe that we have a lot to lose. I think that the budget is a reflection of all that we have to lose. prgtoken As my colleague, Val Demings, said, a budget is a reflection of your values. It is a reflection of where you think taxpayers' money should be spent. So, in the opportunity that I had to speak with the President, I mentioned to him that I was sure that he was aware that, in the United States, over 2 million people are incarcerated. In fact, we incarcerate more people in the United States than any other country on the planet. prgtoken What I told him that he probably wasn't aware of was that this was an issue--a bipartisan, bicameral issue--that Members of Congress in both Houses were looking at because we recognized, over the years, that incarceration is not the solution to communities that are experiencing crime. We told him that there was a trend in Congress to actually reconsider policies that led to overincarceration. We told him that the Congressional Black Caucus was concerned about messages that we heard from him: one that is reflected in his budget; two, that was reflected in his new deal for Black America where the focus was on law and order. prgtoken We told him that we were concerned about his proposals to address problems in poor communities, and our chair, Cedric Richmond, specifically pointed out that he was concerned about the way African- American communities were consistently described as riddled by violence and as almost uninhabitable. prgtoken We told him that we thought he probably wasn't aware that 95 percent of prisoners return to communities and that maybe he was not aware that many of these inmates return to certain ZIP Codes. If you have a community in certain ZIP Codes where a number of people have been released from prison without any services, then, naturally, you are going to have a problem with recidivism. We have people coming out of prison who then find out that they are prohibited from working and that they are ineligible for public benefits, including even a driver's license. prgtoken In the State of California, we had a program in State prisons where we trained you to be a barber, but then we didn't allow you to have a license if you had been a prisoner. So we had to change State law to change that.