mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

in the wake of the destruction that this historic hurricane season has wrought on Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast, I am very pleased that, in addition to the emergency relief funds for wildfires that are burning on both ends of California, the bill also includes liquidity and emergency nutritional assistance for Puerto Rico, where they are facing particularly difficult challenges in their recovery efforts. This bill also provides for partial debt forgiveness of $16 billion for the National Flood Insurance Program. prgtoken I am encouraged to see that the administration finally understands what we have been saying for a long time: we need to forgive the debt of the NFIP, which FEMA has repeatedly stated it will never be able to repay. prgtoken Following the losses that will be incurred as a result of the recent hurricanes, the NFIP needs debt forgiveness more than ever. But let's be clear. The partial debt forgiveness will leave the NFIP with a crushing level of debt. Although this is a step in the right direction, we should forgive all of the debt that the NFIP has accrued from catastrophic storms like Katrina and Sandy instead of burdening the NFIP policyholders with hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments every year. prgtoken Before this hurricane season, NFIP policyholders were already paying more in interest than the entire NFIP spends on salaries and expenses or funding mitigation or paying for flood maps.
RESPONSE TO THE REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN
Ro Khanna (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

. Madam , I thank Representative Raskin for his thoughtful points and comments on the President's tax policy. prgtoken I have a few other points before we conclude. The President has said that we can't afford foreign aid given our deficits, but the President thinks that the average American doesn't know math the average American can do math. prgtoken The deficit is $20 trillion. Our foreign aid every year is no more than $30 billion to $40 billion. Your proposal would increase the deficit between $200 billion to $500 billion. So this red herring that somehow foreign aid is responsible for the deficit is just false. prgtoken What is responsible for the deficit is the massive tax cuts that you are proposing that would add, according to conservative economists, between $2 trillion to $5 trillion more to our deficit, and it is all to finance the corporate interests, all to finance the investor class. prgtoken We have, on the ic side, on the progressive side, proposed an alternative, and that alternative is based on the view that we need to encourage job creation and raise wages for mainstream America, that we need to invest in the people actually doing the work. It is based on the thinking of people who used to be s and people like Jack Kemp, who said: Let us invest in areas that don't have jobs and economic growth and have heavy investment for training on the technologies of the future. That used to be the thinking on the other side of the aisle. We used to have differences, but there used to be creativity and a sense of what is actually going to invest in people to grow the economy. prgtoken And now, under this President, it is just a mantra of tax cuts for the very wealthy, tax cuts for the people who need it least, tax cuts for corporations, no sense of actually investing in new industries, investing in the training and skills of the 21st century, investing in bringing capital to places that need them. I hope and believe that as people in good faith will look at the two contrasting proposals, one that says tax cuts for corporations, the other that says let's invest in American workers, let's invest in American communities, that they will conclude that the way to actually raise wages, the way to actually create jobs, the way to actually grow our economy is by bottom-up economics by investing in the American workers and in those Americans who are part of the middle class. prgtoken Madam , .
CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTE AMERICAS
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise today to commemorate Arte Americas on the occasion of their 30th anniversary. Arte Americas is the largest Latino Cultural Arts Center in the San Joaquin Valley, located in the heart of my district in downtown Fresno, California. Since its creation 30 years ago, Arte Americas has made a significant impact on the Valley by making the arts accessible to the local community. prgtoken Beginning in rented space in downtown Fresno in 1987, Arte Americas has developed into a significant center on Van Ness Avenue, housing the Valley's Latino arts culture. Arte Americas serves the important role of both preserving Latino culture and introducing it to the Valley. The museum not only showcases Arts in Mexico, Latin America, the Southwest, and California, but an array of cultures from throughout the Central Valley. Arte Americas has become a hub of activity for the Latino and arts communities, frequently hosting receptions, meetings and special presentations. They frequently collaborate with local groups furthering their mission ``To make Central California a flourishing place for Latino arts.'' prgtoken Over the years Arte Americas has been fortunate to have the support of a truly dedicated and vibrant staff, board members, and devoted volunteers. Their hard work has been the key to their years of successful events, installations and exhibits. Over the years poets, musicians, playwrights, novelists, sculptors, writers, dancers, and painters both local and from across the world have been featured at Arte Americas. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating Arte Americas' 30th anniversary. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to work together to further the arts in the Central Valley. Once again, congratulations on this special milestone.
TRIBUTE TO BILL HENDERSON
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-10-12

today I rise to recognize Mr. William Henderson of East Lyme, upon his retirement, for his outstanding 47- year career with the Connecticut Union of Telephone Workers/CWA and a lifetime of service to his community, country, and family. prgtoken Mr. Henderson has dedicated himself to the Connecticut Union of Telephone Workers/CWA as a steward and eventually as CWA Local 1298 president. Throughout his distinguished career, Bill has fought for justice and an even playing field in the workplace for men, women, and minorities. As a member of the CWA's Family Care Committee, he has worked diligently to assist employees in balancing work and family life. prgtoken Additionally, Bill has served his local communities of Waterford and East Lyme in countless roles, including as a member of the East Lyme Board of Education and the Waterford Board of Selectman, and as chairman of the Waterford ic Town Committee. He has coached little league, basketball, and lacrosse, and taught Sunday school. He is currently a deacon at Flanders Baptist Church and a justice of the peace. Bill has served not only his local community but also his country in the submarine force as a Navy sonar technician, achieving the rank of Second Class Petty Officer. He is the loving husband of Brenda and a father to four children and six grandchildren. prgtoken On a personal note, Bill was a tireless supporter of mine in every campaign I've run--even when it wasn't so easy during my first two races as a challenger. I will be forever grateful to him for his loyalty, amazing energy, and friendship over the years. prgtoken Please join me in congratulating Mr. Henderson on an impressive career of service with the Connecticut Union of Telephone Workers and Communications Workers of America. We thank him for his unrelenting dedication to his community and wish him a wonderful retirement.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017
José E. Serrano (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-10-12

I thank the ranking member for yielding. prgtoken This bill is a first step in helping Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. It will provide FEMA and the governments of the islands with the funds needed to address immediate relief needs and begin the recovery process. prgtoken I do want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their commitment to this issue and for taking my phone calls at all different times, on weekends. You have been very helpful and very supportive. prgtoken Both will be visiting the island tomorrow and will be able to see firsthand the dramatic and comprehensive needs that Puerto Rico is facing. prgtoken Right now, 85 percent of the island still lacks electricity more than 3 weeks after the hurricane hit. One-third of the island doesn't have access to clean drinking water. Most of the island still lacks cellular service, hampering the vital information to deliver assistance in the areas that are needed. prgtoken Federal employees on the island now are doing important and vital work, but we need more boots on the ground. This funding provides them with the resources needed to do that in the short term. prgtoken But to succeed, there needs to be a commitment from the highest levels of government to ensure the recovery of all areas that are part of our Nation, including its territories. Unfortunately, given the President's latest Twitter rant this morning, it seems unlikely that we have that focus and commitment. prgtoken So it is up to us in Congress to make sure that the Federal Government doesn't forget about Puerto Rico, and that is what I intend to do in the days and months ahead. But to both of you and to our membership here, thank you for not forgetting Puerto Rico. This is an ongoing battle and an ongoing issue.
TAX REFORM
Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-10-12

. Madam , I rise today because I came to Washington to cut taxes for the residents of north Jersey. Our taxes are simply too high. prgtoken This morning, at The Heritage Foundation, the claimed that the rest of the country is propping up New Jersey. That is backwards. Currently, New Jersey pays in so that States like Wisconsin can cash out. prgtoken New Jersey is already a grand subsidizer of other States. We are one of the top 3 percent taxpaying districts in the entire country and at the bottom in what we get back. We need to change that. prgtoken New Jersey only gets back 33 cents for every dollar we send to Washington. New Jersey residents get $3,076 less, as this shows, than what they pay in. West Virginia, for example, gets $4.23 back for every dollar it sends in. prgtoken New Jersey is not America's piggybank. prgtoken Our one saving grace has been the State and local property tax deduction: the ability to deduct those higher State, local, and property taxes before we have to send in our tax checks every April. It allows us to avoid double taxation. Eliminating these State and local tax deductions will cost New Jersey an average of a $3,500 tax increase per resident. Property values will go down more than 10 percent. prgtoken So I am fighting to remove this tax hike provision from the tax reform bill that can hurt our businesses and our citizens.
HONORING THE LIFE OF HANNAH AHLERS
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

on October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire on thousands of innocent people at a music festival in Las Vegas. prgtoken As our families mourn, I want to honor the life of Hannah Ahlers, a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend to many, and beloved by her community, whose life was taken too soon. Her brother recently told me: ``She was loved by everyone that met her . . . she was our sunshine.'' prgtoken Her beautiful personality was felt by all, from her family and friends, to the mothers she worked with in her children's schools, to the volleyball team she volunteered with. As her husband shared: ``She wasn't too good for anybody; beautiful inside and out.'' prgtoken At 34, her dedication to family and community is felt in her home in the city of Beaumont and across the Inland Empire. prgtoken On behalf of my wife, Monica, and the entire 36th Congressional District, we join together as a community to mourn her heartbreaking loss and celebrate her life. prgtoken To Hannah's husband, Brian; her children, Briannah, Brice, and Hailey, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We commit to take up Hannah's mantle of dedication by serving our own communities. Her love and devotion will never be forgotten.
RECOGNIZING RABBI JONATHAN BIATCH OF TEMPLE BETH EL
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-10-12

I include in the Record the following Proclamation: prgtoken Whereas, Temple Beth El was founded in 1939 as Madison, Wisconsin's first and only Reform Jewish congregation; and prgtoken Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Biatch has been the spiritual leader supporting the vision and mission of Temple Beth El since 2004; and prgtoken Whereas, boys celebrate Bar Mitzvah when turning 13; and prgtoken Whereas the Temple Beth El community proclaims Rabbi Jonathan Biatch a ``Bar Mitzvah'' celebrating his 13th year of service, prgtoken Now, therefore, I congratulate Rabbi Jonathan Biatch on his 13 years of leadership at Temple Beth El.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-10-12

I want to thank both the gentleman from New Jersey, the chairman, and the ranking member from New York for their work. prgtoken , the people of Puerto Rico, 3.5 million of our fellow citizens, are suffering. The mayor of my home town, Yabucoa, where Maria made landfall, is predicting that as many as 5,000 residents are potentially facing starvation. prgtoken More than 85 percent of the island is without electricity. One-third of Puerto Ricans lack access to drinkable water, which will surge the number of bacterial infections and mosquito-borne illnesses. prgtoken As Puerto Rico faces this humanitarian crisis, the President of the United States is tweeting out threats to withdraw assistance. That is an outrage. It is an insult. It is an abdication of the President's solemn duty to protect the safety and security of the American people. American citizens everywhere deserve better. prgtoken Where the President is failing to lead, Congress must act, and act now. prgtoken The legislation we are debating today is far from sufficient. It is not enough, but it is a start. It is a downpayment in helping the response process. It will keep FEMA operating, removing debris and distributing food and water. prgtoken It also helps Puerto Rico's Government address a looming cash shortfall. With the government running out of money by November 1, vital services could be suspended when residents can least afford it. prgtoken This bill would provide a short-term cash infusion for the government to keep going. The way this assistance is structured under the law, these funds will likely not be paid back, which is reasonable, given the challenges Puerto Rico faces. Some of those challenges have been created by the lack of action of the Congress when it comes to Medicaid.
DR. CHRIS KIRKPATRICK WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT OF 2017
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-10-12

I thank Ranking Member Cummings for yielding me time to speak about this important legislation to protect whistleblowers. prgtoken , I share the concerns that were brought up yesterday in the Rules Committee and today on the floor about the procedure for bringing this bill to the floor without full House committee process. However, I will support the bill because it is so important. prgtoken The Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act will provide protection for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs who blow the whistle on wrongdoing in the agency. prgtoken As the ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I know full well that whistleblowers are vital to the VA to protect the health and well-being of the men and women who have so bravely served our country. Although we have numerous protections currently in place for whistleblowers, those who are committed to silencing them still manage to find ways to retaliate, which we saw with tragic consequences at the Phoenix VA Health Care System and in Dr. Kirkpatrick's case. prgtoken In addition to serving on the House Veterans Affairs' Committee, my role as the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force makes VA's retaliation against another VA doctor, Dr. Kirkpatrick, an especially troublesome tragedy. When he tried to raise the alarm over concerns that another VA doctor was overprescribing opioids that may have led to patient deaths, he was aware that doing so could be harmful to his own position at the Tomah VA Medical Center. prgtoken Dr. Kirkpatrick's action was laudable. Veterans have been acutely impacted by the opioid epidemic, and his efforts to reduce prescription rates for veterans is not only a good example for VA physicians, but for all physicians in the U.S. today. prgtoken Title II of this bill puts in place a number of requirements for the VA to protect VA employees from several retaliatory measures. It requires the Secretary to put in place a plan to prevent unauthorized access to medical records of VA employees, along with outreach to ensure that VA employees are aware of mental health services available to them. prgtoken These and other improvements in title II will not only help prevent the type of retaliation that Dr. Kirkpatrick suffered, they will improve care for veterans to also help make the VA a better place to work. prgtoken , I am pleased to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-10-12

I am pleased to be here with my partner, our chairman, Mr. Frelinghuysen. I know that he understands, as we all do, this is not a or ic issue. This is our responsibility, to face the tremendous challenge that we see: people are suffering, schools are closed, more than three-quarters of the island does not have any energy, no clean water, need for food, need for basic services. prgtoken I am very pleased to work with the chairman of the committee, Mr. Frelinghuysen, and I know that we will both be going to the island of Puerto Rico to actually see firsthand what has to be done, and it is clear it has to be done now. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE LIFE OF LESTER MANDELL
Stephanie N. Murphy (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise to honor the life of Lester Mandell, who transformed countless communities in central Florida though his work as a builder and transformed countless lives through his generosity as a philanthropist. Lester passed away recently at the age of 96, leaving behind a large and loving family, but his legacy will live on. prgtoken Born in a hardscrabble Brooklyn neighborhood, and a veteran of World War II, Lester did not graduate from college. However, neither his lack of formal education nor the anti-Semitism he frequently faced could stop Lester from achieving his professional goals, because they were no match for his talent, tenacity and toughness. Lester's life was a quintessentially American story of success earned though hard, disciplined, joyful work. prgtoken As one of Lester's grandsons said about his grandfather: ``He believed that, if you did things the right way, you would get the right result.'' This is the essence of character. prgtoken Lester was a master builder, in both the literal and figurative sense. The homes, neighborhoods, and public parks he developed throughout central Florida over the course of many decades are his most visible legacy. prgtoken Lester also built bonds of a more intangible nature. He donated generously to many causes he cared about, from scholarships for inner- city children to support for the Jewish community he loved so much. Lester often donated anonymously and rarely spoke about his donations, even to his own family. prgtoken As his grandson recounts, Lester was a serious man who did serious work, but he did not take himself too seriously. He had a sense of humor and light-heartedness that disarmed friend and stranger alike. prgtoken Lester's greatest legacy, of course, is his family. He leaves behind his wife and partner for life, Sonia. They were married for 70 years. Sonia and Lester had four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. prgtoken I know they miss Lester. But I hope their loss is eased by the knowledge that Lester was a great man and, even more importantly, a good man.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF JIM McLOUGHLIN
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise today to honor the memory of Jim McLoughlin, an outspoken advocate for working families for over forty years. The San Antonio Redevelopment Plan's twelve story tower located in the heart of downtown San Jose, constructed in 1975 and 1976 thanks in large part to his efforts, will be renamed in Jim's honor. Jim first joined Local 428 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (then the Retail Clerks International Association) in 1937 as a clerk at Piggly Wiggly. A quick learner and a natural leader, he was elected to lead Local 428 that same year. His leadership continued for the next forty-three years, during which time Jim expressed solidarity for his brethren in labor throughout the world by serving as a trade union delegate to labor organizations in China, Argentina, Israel, Iceland and Sweden. Jim dedicated his life to organizing and civic engagement. He was a member of the Committee on Political Education and the AFL-CIO for over forty years. He participated on various state task forces, including Governor Pat Brown's Committee on Automation and Employment in 1958, the Industrial Commission-Mercantile Wage Board in 1972 and the California Attorney General's Volunteer Advisory Council in 1973. Serving as Vice President among the 1.5 million members in the California Labor Federation from 1972 to 1980, Jim made a substantial impact for a generation of working families in California. Committed to social justice, Jim became a lifetime member of the NAACP in 1955 and was a delegate to the Labor Assembly for Peace in Vietnam in 1967. He served on the Santa Clara County ic Central Committee for over twenty years and acted as a McGovern delegate on behalf of Northern California Labor at the ic National Convention in 1972. Jim advocated for ``guaranteed employment rights, wages, and benefits which match the cost of living to enable workers to be a force and active contributors in the communities.'' His worldview that the treatment of workers is critical to the wellbeing of the community remains as relevant now as it was in Jim's time. I am proud to have been Jim's friend, and thankful for the many ways in which Jim advocated for workers in California and throughout the world.