mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-2-2

I rise in strong opposition to this misguided resolution that will only imperil the lives of more Americans. prgtoken In 2007, this body passed the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement bill with a unanimous voice vote. prgtoken We all agreed that the background check system needed better information, especially after dangerous individuals slipped through the cracks and were able to purchase guns they never should have been allowed to buy in the first place. prgtoken Like Jared Loughner, who killed six people in Arizona who were at a grocery store to meet our colleague Gabby Giffords. prgtoken He passed background checks even though he had a history of drug use and disturbing behavior that should have been in the system. prgtoken So the Administration, at Congress's direction wrote this rule to make sure that federal mental health records make their way into the background check system, so that it can effectively deny purchases to individuals who are already prohibited from buying guns. prgtoken And let's be clear about what we're talking about. prgtoken This rule only affects those with very severe, long-term mental disorders, and who have been identified by doctors and psychologists as severely mentally disabled. prgtoken It does not paint disability recipients with a broad brush. prgtoken 8.8 million Americans receive Social Security disability benefits, yet SSA estimates only 75,000 would meet the criteria under this rule. prgtoken That is less than one percent. prgtoken Let's also be clear: this resolution is an attempt to hamstring our federal agencies and to keep them from improving the background check system. prgtoken Rather than work with a new administrator to improve the rule, the Majority would rather have no rule at all because this bill not only repeals this background check improvement rule, it also prohibits the federal government from issuing a similar rule in the future. prgtoken We've got it backwards. We shouldn't be repealing gun safety rules, we should be strengthening them. Gun violence is an epidemic in this country and we have done literally nothing in Congress about it since s took the majority in the House in 2011. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-2-2

there is a provision in the law which allows the Congress to review regulations within 60 days after they are written and decide up or down. That is what we are doing here. prgtoken This is about the stream rule that has a direct impact on mining operations, particularly coal mining operations. This has been a battle that has been going on for decades--decades--trying to establish a fair environmental standard for those in mining operations. Efforts have been made, some with limited success. Courts have thrown out earlier versions. So the administration decided they would tackle this. They spent 6 years rewriting 380 pages of rules. Over 150,000 public comments were solicited and received. prgtoken This is a pretty controversial matter, as you can tell. I have been amused by the critics of this rule who said: Well, just did that as he was going out the door. No. They worked on it for years. There were, as I said, over 100,000 public comments. It is not easy. It is tricky and it is challenging, but they produced it. Now today the s in the Senate and the House want us to wipe it away. prgtoken What difference would it make? If you don't live next to a coal mine, do you think, well, what difference does it make in my life? prgtoken I listened to Jeff Merkley, my friend from Oregon, talk about the streams and the rivers. Maybe I don't fish, and I don't care. I don't go out camping, either, and I haven't been hiking. Whether the fish are alive or dead or the streams are polluted or not, who cares? I guess some people feel that way. I don't, even though I don't use our natural resources as much as some. But there is a bigger issue here. This is not just about whether there will be fish alive in the stream or the lake. prgtoken Let me tell you what that issue is. The issue is the safety of our drinking water. Do you know what is going on when these mining operations dump all this debris into the streams? It rains. Water is flowing. The stream water goes downstream. Now follow the water from the dumping of the mining operations to the chemicals included in that dumping--arsenic, for example. As it goes downstream, it doesn't just kill the fish. In my State, 1 out of 10 people in Illinois depend on those internal river and stream sources for their drinking water. If you don't have honest, realistic, and safe standards when it comes to drinking water, you have decided to up the risk of the people who are drinking the water that comes out of the tap. prgtoken I think that is a problem. Have you had a conversation with your family at any point about what is going on? Why do we have so much cancer in this area? Why do we have so many problems in this area? Could it be the drinking water? We have asked that question ourselves in our own area of Central Illinois, and many other families have asked the same. prgtoken If we take the approach which we are being asked to today and wipe away th
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-2-2

the day after our new President spoke to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, we saw a surge in Russian aggression and attacks in eastern Ukraine. Every American must realize, Russia is testing our new administration's resolve to stand up for liberty. prgtoken Since Russia invaded Crimea in February 2014, 10,000 innocent Ukrainians have been killed by Russian aggression, and this has increased over the past week. Dozens more have been displaced--17,000, in fact. prgtoken These actions violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances that stated: the Russian Federation would respect the independent sovereignty and existing borders of Ukraine. prgtoken Russia's new aggression is another step in its campaign to undermine the democratic order that has existed in our Transatlantic Alliance since the end of World War II and cold war. prgtoken America must stand up for the people of Ukraine and our European alliances and denounce the actions of President Putin. We have to stand up or we face--Russia will face condemnation by the world community. Russia should withdraw her heavy weapons from that region. They should stop financing separatists. They should allow repairs for critical infrastructure and fulfill all of their agreements under the Minsk accords. prgtoken What is happening is a global shame.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 36, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A FINAL RULE OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 37, DISAPPROVING...
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-2-2

. The fact that these CRA proposals that we have before us have not gone through any sort of special order, regular order; the fact that CRAs are cumbersome and reckless tools; and the fact that all they do is take away protections from our air and from our workers should make it easy for every Member of this body to join me in voting ``no'' on this rule and on the underlying bills. prgtoken We should be keeping regulations and standards predictable that put Americans at the top of our priority list, not oil and gas companies, and not companies that are bad actors and violate our law by refusing to pay overtime to their workers. prgtoken We should value clean air, and we should value companies that play by the rules. We should value regulations that protect our taxpayer dollars rather than increase our deficit by $140 million. We can do all of these things by simply defeating this rule and defeating the underlying bills. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question, ``no'' on the rule, and ``no'' on the underlying bills. prgtoken .
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-2-2

I thank the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for yielding time. prgtoken , we are here today to stand up for workers, taxpayers, and small businesses. prgtoken We all agree employers who do business with the Federal Government should be held to high standards, and their employees deserve strong protections. That is why for decades the Federal Government has had a system in place to deny contracts to employers who violate Federal labor laws. prgtoken Time and again, s in Congress urged the administration to enforce the current system to ensure workers receive fair pay and safe workplaces. prgtoken Instead, the previous administration did the exact opposite. It went in search of a problem that doesn't exist. It took its eye off the ball, and we are here today to demand better. prgtoken The blacklisting rule empowers government agencies to deny employers Federal contracts for alleged violations of various Federal labor laws and similar State laws. That is right. Under this rule, bureaucrats can determine employers are guilty until proven innocent, and then deny them the ability to do business with the Federal Government. prgtoken This is one important reason why a Federal district judge recently blocked implementation of the rule because it would have a chilling effect on the due process rights of American citizens. But that is not the only reason why we are here today. Rather than streamline the procurement process to better protect taxpayers and workers, the administration added new layers of red tape on to a system plagued by delays and inefficiencies. Simply put, this rule is a bureaucratic nightmare. It turns our already complex Federal procurement process into a convoluted regulatory maze. prgtoken Despite what our colleagues will claim, this rule will actually hurt workers by making a system designed for their protection less efficient. Law-abiding small-business owners, the backbone of our Nation's economy, will be less inclined to bid on Federal contracts. prgtoken As a result, we will see less competition in the Federal contracting process. With less competition, hardworking taxpayers will be forced to pay more for goods and services provided to the U.S. Government. prgtoken Perhaps most concerning is the threat this rule poses to our national security. Higher costs and a delayed contracting process will jeopardize the resources our Armed Services depend on to keep our Nation safe. With men and women currently stationed in harm's way, this is simply unacceptable. prgtoken If workers, taxpayers, and small businesses stand to lose, then who stands to gain? prgtoken The answer is Big Labor. Union leaders often file frivolous legal complaints to gain leverage against employers. This is just one more partisan rule that stacks the deck in favor of union leaders. prgtoken The facts are clear: this rule is fatally flawed. It is not in the best interes
GROUNDHOG DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-2-2

today is a big day in the Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, specifically, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as our most famous resident had his day in the sun, literally. prgtoken Early this morning, Punxsutawney Phil, our weather-expert groundhog saw his shadow. For those of you who know the old German legend, this means that we are in for six more weeks of winter. prgtoken Punxsy Phil has been forecasting the weather since the 1800s. He drinks a magical punch annually on February 2, which is an elixir of life that extends his life by 7 years. prgtoken Crowds gathered on Gobbler's Knob before sunrise today for the 131st celebration. While there are many wannabes, accept no substitution for the original prognosticator. prgtoken The crowd chanted Phil's name repeatedly to awaken him, and then Phil, known in his hometown as the Seer of Seers, came to deliver the news. Records going back to 1887 show that Phil has forecasted a longer winter 103 times and an early spring just 18 times. prgtoken Today in Punxsutawney it was a balmy 30 degrees, so don't pack up your winter gear just yet. Phil says we have six more weeks. prgtoken Happy Groundhog Day.
IN RECOGNITION OF KAREN SHORTER
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-2-2

I rise to recognize the 15th year anniversary of the organ donation made by one of my constituents, Karen Shorter, of Manassas Park, Virginia. On July 30th, 2002, Ms. Shorter donated one of her kidneys to Janet Melson Burns, a neighbor in need. Together they volunteered at the National Kidney Foundation as members of their 's Bureau. Through the Foundation's 's Bureau they both came to Capitol Hill where they spoke on the importance of the prevention and treatment of various kidney diseases. prgtoken Every year, Ms. Shorter and Ms. Burns celebrate a Happy Life Day on the anniversary of their transplant. These two have a ferocious friendship that transcends distance made. This is evident by the fact that even though Janet and her husband live in Atlanta, Georgia, she and Karen still make time for their Happy Life Day celebration. Through the transplant they have come to know personally each other's direct and extended family. This action has brought them closer together as people, neighbors, and friends. I am proud to have Karen Shorter as my constituent in the 10th district and hope she continues to share her heartwarming story on organ donation. In addition to her selfless act of kindness, Ms. Shorter recently retired after 25 years of government service to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, DC and I thank her for her service. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Ms. Shorter for her actions and volunteer work and to wish them a ``Happy Life Day'' when they meet in Charleston, South Carolina this July.
REMEMBERING THOMAS J. MAHONEY, JR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-2

I rise today to remember Mr. Thomas J. Mahoney, Jr. of Savannah, Georgia, a highly-respected local attorney and community leader. He passed away on January 20 at 80 years of age. prgtoken Mr. Mahoney graduated from Savannah's Benedictine Military School in 1954 and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina. prgtoken In his first career after college, he worked as an FBI Special Agent in Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington. During this time, Mr. Mahoney met the love of his life, Judy, with whom he had four children. prgtoken After 2 years in the FBI, Mr. Mahoney returned to Savannah and joined the law firm Mahoney & Cole, P.C. Through his hard work and determination, he worked up the ranks to become its president and CEO. prgtoken He used his legal knowledge to make coastal Georgia a better place to live, serving as the Chatham County attorney, city attorney for Tybee Island, judge for Tybee Island, and assistant city attorney for Savannah. He also served as the special assistant attorney general for the Georgia Ports Authority since 1987, helping it to grow to its current, impressive size. prgtoken Thank you, Mr. Mahoney, for everything you have done for the Savannah community. You will be missed.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Sam Johnson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-2-2

as the ACLU said: ``We oppose this rule because it advances and reinforces the harmful stereotype that people with mental disabilities, a vast and diverse group of citizens, are violent. There is no data to support a connection between the need for a representative payee to manage one's Social Security disability benefits and a propensity toward gun violence.'' prgtoken , we must act today to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. prgtoken , I urge the adoption of H.J. Res. 40, and .
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-2-2

I rise to address the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken I will address Mr. Gorsuch's qualifications and his extensive legal experience in a moment, but first, I invite my Senate colleagues to consider: What do we seek in a nominee to our Nation's highest court? prgtoken Maybe it is easier to say what we don't want. We do not want a lawmaker. Washington has plenty of those, 100 Senators and 435 Members of Congress. We do not want a crusader for a cause. Most of all, we do not want a trailblazer. prgtoken What we want is a follower of the Constitution. We want a Supreme Court Justice who will follow the laws, as written, and uphold the rule of law. This demands discipline; it requires the rarest of virtues: humility. There is no room for hubris on the Supreme Court. prgtoken We do not want a Justice who believes he knows better than our Founders. That is not his job. A Supreme Court Justice should neutrally apply the laws as written by Congress and as understood by the Framers of our Constitution. They must not impose their personal preferences upon the law or upon the American people. I want to say again that we want someone who will follow the law and uphold the rule of law. prgtoken We also seek a keen legal mind. A nominee must possess the sharpest intellect and only the most rigorous academic qualifications. This person may be one of nine human beings who will resolve questions affecting the freedoms and the rights of millions. Therefore, in addition to ironclad commitment to the rule of law and brilliant intellect, this person must be a known quantity. There must be a reliable record for us to carefully assess. prgtoken In exercising our constitutional power of advice and consent, we don't make guesses here in the U.S. Senate. We hold hearings; we ask probing questions. This is how we will determine if Mr. Gorsuch is the legal disciple, brilliant mind, and known quantity the American people need and the person the American people deserve. The evidence so far suggests that he is. prgtoken As a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, Mr. Gorsuch has served 10 years in extraordinary fashion. He was confirmed by a voice vote here in the U.S. Senate. His opinions reflect a history of upholding the rule of law. His conduct on the bench demonstrates an exemplary judicial temperament. He is enormously well qualified. His educational background is impressive: an undergraduate degree from Columbia, a law degree from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from Oxford University. Judge Gorsuch clerked for the Supreme Court. Further, he is well within the mainstream. prgtoken Among his many impressive academic distinctions, he is a Truman Scholar. This sizeable financial award is given by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation to young people pursuing a career in public service. I note that my colleague from Delaware, Senator Coons, is a Truman
BOND COUNTY BICENTENNIAL
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-2-2

this year, beautiful Bond County, located in the southeastern part of Illinois, celebrates its becentennial--200 years as a county is a great honor. prgtoken Bond County was one of the state's original 11 counties when Illinois applied for statehood prgtoken in 1818. It was named after the first governor of Illinois, Shadrach Bond who helped develop the first big transportation and infrastructure project for Illinois. prgtoken Bond County has witnessed many moments in our nation's history. Both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas gave speeches there in 1858 for their Senatorial election and the Liberty Bell made its way through the county in 1915. Additionally, President Ronald Reagan appeared there in 1980 for a campaign speech. prgtoken Bond County is also home to Greenville College, a 4-year Christian university founded on prayer that focuses on the pillars of faith and community to advance students' learning. Greenville facilitated multiple mission trips, study abroad programs, and home-service projects in 2016. prgtoken There is much for the citizens of this county to be proud of. A county with such a rich history of beauty, politics, and pride deserves to be recognized after 200 fantastic years.
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-2-2

. Thank you, . prgtoken I come to the floor this morning to speak on the resolution of disapproval that is before us, but I want to make just a few comments following my colleague, the minority whip. prgtoken I am pleased to hear him say that he does look forward to the opportunity for a hearing on Judge Gorsuch and the opportunity for a vote. I think we recognize that we have in front of us an individual who has truly a stellar legal reputation, who has committed himself to the law in a remarkable way. When he was before this Senate for confirmation leading up to the Tenth Circuit, he enjoyed very strong support. I would like to think that on yet further review of this very strong individual, our colleagues will do the due diligence that is necessary as we perform our constitutional role of advise and consent. prgtoken There is so much that I will respond to at a later time when I go into more detail about my support for Judge Gorsuch and why I think he is exactly the type of individual we want to see named to the Supreme Court, but the comment has been made, not only by my colleague from Illinois but from others, that somehow or other Judge Gorsuch is for Big Business and not the little guy. It seems that the criticism is based on this viewpoint that courts should not defer to Federal agency interpretations of their own rules, and certainly Big Business is a frequent challenger of government overreach. But, as the Presiding Officer and I both know, so are ordinary Americans--people like John Sturgeon, an Alaskan who took on the Federal Government, took on the agencies, and took on the Park Service because he was told he could not use a hovercraft in an area where he had operated one for decades. John Sturgeon, with the help of a few friends, who did everything from garage sales to fund his litigation, and with just the generosity out of their own pockets, took all the way to the Supreme Court the question of whether or not the Park Service's regulation had exceeded their legal authority. prgtoken I happen to believe very strongly that Judge Gorsuch is clearly on the right track here when he questions the deference that courts give to our government agencies. I think most Alaskans would probably agree with us on this point--that when we are talking about the scales of justice, they should not be tipped in favor of our Federal agencies. prgtoken Again, I am pleased to hear that the minority whip agrees that a filibuster is not appropriate, is not the way to proceed with this fine nominee. I look forward to learning more about Judge Gorsuch but also to be able to share more of my observations at a later point in time. prgtoken , I wish to join my colleagues in support of H.J. Res. 38 to disapprove and nullify the Department of Interior's so-called stream protection rule. I wish to begin my comments by thanking Majority Leader McConnell and Senator Capito of West Virginia for sponsoring
NEW MEMBERS WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-2-2

. Well, I look forward to working with the gentleman from Georgia, and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to try to fix what is wrong with our country today, to improve on what we already have, and to create a sustainable future for all Americans. This is why I ran, and that is why I am here. prgtoken I thank the gentleman from Georgia for the opportunity to come before the House to speak with him today.