mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S. 685
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-3-21

water is a basic foundation of life. In Montana, we depend on a steady supply of water to drink, irrigate our crops, water our livestock, and provide energy through hydropower. Water is a precious resource, and there are still rural communities that face barriers to access and are in dire need of clean drinking water. The struggle for water continues to create health challenges for Indian Country and nearby communities, in addition to making economic development more difficult. prgtoken There are approximately 35,000 Americans across 12 counties in both Montana and North Dakota whose existing public water supply systems are unable to provide them with water that meets the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. prgtoken The Bureau of Reclamation plays a critical role in managing the storage and delivery of water in the Western United States. Some of the earliest water projects built by the Bureau were built in Montana. These projects provided critical infrastructure for Montana homesteaders and were of critical importance to the long-term growth of our State. They are still vital today. prgtoken That is why I am introducing the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act. This legislation would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide Federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System and the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System in Montana and North Dakota. The Dry-Redwater and Musselshell-Judith rural water projects have spent 7 and 11 years, respectively, in deliberation with the Bureau, as well as $4 million and $3 million in State, local, and Federal funding. It is critical we provide the Bureau of Reclamation the necessary authorization to complete these projects and provide clean and reliable water to 35,000 Montanans and North Dakotans. prgtoken I thank Senator Tester for being an original cosponsor of this bill. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-3-21

this weekend, the city of Baton Rouge was reminded of how precious life is and of the harsh reality of law enforcement officers putting their lives on the line to protect us. prgtoken On Saturday, March 18, 2017, this past Saturday, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Deputy Shawn Anderson made the ultimate sacrifice while he and a fellow officer were conducting a rape investigation in Baton Rouge. prgtoken We honor Deputy Anderson's life and recognize him for his 18 years of faithful service to East Baton Rouge Parish, the State of Louisiana, and our Nation for his service and his having been enlisted in the U.S. Army. prgtoken Deputy Anderson embodied public service--taking action to help those in need. Deputy Anderson repeatedly put his life on the line to protect the lives of others. He spent 12 years as a member of the SWAT team and was recognized in 2014 for serving more than 60 high-risk warrants in the previous year with there having been no injuries or shots fired. prgtoken Last year, Deputy Anderson added midwifery to his job description after having delivered a child. With baby on the way and the hospital out of reach, a Prairieville, LA, couple turned to Deputy Anderson for help. In stopping before the hospital, with baby emerging, Anderson successfully delivered a healthy child before turning over the situation to arriving EMTs. A Louisiana family asked for his help, and Deputy Anderson answered the call. prgtoken This is the latest in a string of law enforcement tragedies to inflict our State. Since January 2016, Louisiana has lost 11 officers and one K-9 in the line of duty. I will read their names: prgtoken Here you see Deputy Anderson. Here we have Police Officer Michael Louviere, of the Westwego Police Department, aged 26; Police Officer Jude Williams Lewis, of the New Orleans Police Department, aged 46; Police Officer Shannon Matthew Brown, of the Fenton Police Department, aged 40; Deputy Sheriff Bradford Allen Garafola, prgtoken Sr of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, aged 45; Police Officer Matthew Lane Gerald, of the Baton Rouge Police Department, aged 41; Corporal Montrell Lyle Jackson, of the Baton Rouge Police Department, aged 32; Sergeant David Kyle Elahi, of the Sterlington Police Department, aged 28; Deputy Sheriff David Francis Michel, Jr of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, aged 50; Police Officer Natasha Maria Hunter, of the New Orleans Police Department, aged 32; Sergeant Derrick Morial Mingo, of the Winnsboro Police Department, aged 35; and K-9 Duke, of the Winnsboro Police Department. prgtoken , thousands of men and women in law enforcement put on the uniform, step into the community, and risk their lives daily to keep us safe. Far too often, the price of this safety falls on these officers and their families. Deputy Anderson represents the best of law enforcement. He and his family deserve our admiration and support. His sacrifice w
THE THREAT OF NORTH KOREA
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-3-21

yesterday I was grateful to participate in a panel discussion at the dynamic Hudson Institute about the growing threat North Korea poses to the United States and our allies, with Hudson fellow research director Rebeccah Heinrichs and senior fellow Arthur Herman. prgtoken We discussed the growing threat of North Korea's testing medium- and long-range missiles, the gruesome capabilities of conventional weapons, and their rapidly proceeding nuclear program. prgtoken We further discussed the importance of missile defense, specifically the THAAD missile system and the boost phase interceptor system, and how they could deter the threats from North Korea. prgtoken I also spoke on the bipartisan resolution that I introduced last week, a resolution condemning North Korea's development of their missile program, calling for the consideration of all available options to protect the people of South Korea. prgtoken I look forward to working with Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce, Ranking Member Eliot Engel, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and President to ensure that all options are on the table when responding to the growing threat posed by North Korea. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-3-21

there have now been two speakers on the floor this afternoon speaking to H.J. Res. 69, which is the disapproval resolution on Alaska fish and wildlife refuge rule. I have come today to speak in strong support of this resolution, which will effectively overturn a rule imposed by the previous administration related to fish and wildlife management on millions of acres of refuge land in the State of Alaska. prgtoken I would like to start my comments by acknowledging Senator Sullivan, for his lead on this initiative, and Congressman Young, as he moved this measure through the House just a couple of weeks ago. What we saw in the House measure and the final vote was a bipartisan vote that secured passage through the House, and I thank Congressman Young for his able leadership there. prgtoken I also want to thank Senator Sullivan for his comments and for really doing an excellent job in outlining and explaining why this Fish and Wildlife Service rule is bad for Alaska, bad for hunters, bad for our Native peoples, and bad for America. prgtoken Like my friend and colleague, I am here to encourage Members of the Senate to see this rule for what it really is. It is a clear departure from Federal law. It is unwarranted regulatory overreach, and, from all accounts, it is a direct attack on States' rights. prgtoken Now, we will have discussion back and forth on the floor about various hunting practices, and we will see beautiful shots of wildlife and suggestions that, somehow or other, this is about a specific hunting practice. This is bigger than wildlife refuges in the State of Alaska. This is an issue that is not just isolated or contained in the State of Alaska. This resolution is specific to Alaska, but I would suggest to prgtoken my colleagues that for all of those of us who care about States' rights, who care about the promises made to our States about how they operate and how they manage activities in their States, this is something that we must all pay attention to because this is a direct attack on States' rights. prgtoken I look at this and suggest that this rule is a solution in search of a problem. Again, there are those who would say: Why is the Senate spending 10 hours to debate practices within a refuge in the State of Alaska? Is this not just so parochial an issue that it ought not take our time? However, I would contend that this foreshadows what is in store for the rest of the country if we are not adamant in ensuring that this rule be repealed by Congress. prgtoken Now, for those who may not be familiar with Alaska or gaming management laws within our State or within our national wildlife refuges in general, I think it is important to cover some basic facts and perhaps a little bit of history here to illustrate why this rule is so flawed. Alaska, like every other State in the Nation, holds primary legal authority to manage its fish and its wildlife, including on Federal refuge lands. prgtoken
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-3-21

today I rise to recognize and celebrate National Agriculture Day. prgtoken I proudly represent the largest agriculture-producing district in the country, the big First District of Kansas. In my home State, it is Kansas Agriculture Month, a month to celebrate our State's largest economy. prgtoken Today is an opportunity to remind my colleagues of the hardworking Americans who produce the bounty of American harvest and livestock. The food that sustains them doesn't originate in a grocery store. prgtoken Let us remember as we move forward with regulations and with trade policy that there are families with generations of history on their farm or ranch who face the consequences of every decision. They feed America and our economy. prgtoken This day and every day, we are grateful that God made a farmer.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1101, SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2017
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-3-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the manager's amendment that has been referred to was put on a public website last night. Everyone in the House of Representatives will have 3 days to read the manager's amendment. There is nothing secret about it. prgtoken Bills are not written in front of cameras. They are written so that they can be put on public websites for all of us to see it. This manager's amendment was handled like many, many other manager's amendments are handled, including the way manager's amendments have been handled by the other side when they were in the majority. prgtoken Let's remember, in 2010 when the reconciliation bill was passed that established the ACA, no amendments were allowed on the floor--none, zero. So if there is a precedent that has been set in this House, it was set by my friends on the other side of the aisle when they passed the Affordable Care Act and wouldn't allow any amendments by any Member of the House. That is the precedent. prgtoken There is nothing new about the way this manager's amendment was handled. It was handled the way manager's amendments are handled virtually all the time. Everybody in this House now has a copy of it, has plenty of time to read it and ask questions about it. Nothing secret going on here. prgtoken The truth of the matter is that we are moving forward with our plan, as we said we were, to repeal and replace Care, to give freedom and choice back to the people of America so that patients control their health care, not a bureaucrat in Washington. prgtoken .
HISTORIC PARALLELS
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-21

it has been an interesting couple of days. We heard from our President, and that was a great privilege this morning to hear from him at our Conference. We were reminded what an amazing victory President had last November. Some said it was so very historic, maybe as historic going back clear to Andrew Jackson's victory in 1828. prgtoken That took me back, being a lover of history, being convinced over the years, as I majored in history in college because I knew out of the Army 4 years, when I finished that, I figured I would major in what I loved, and that was history. Although my mother thought I should have majored in math or either been a doctor or a college math professor. prgtoken But history I loved, and I continue to learn from history. The old adage is those who refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it. The corollary that is not as well known is those who prgtoken do learn from history will find new ways to screw up. prgtoken But the 1828 election that saw Andrew Jackson become our President actually happened after four abysmal years, some would say the least productive 4 years any President has ever had, and it was actually a President who was a hero of mine, John Quincy Adams. He was the first son of a former President to be President. Some have said he was probably the best educated President we have ever had, having been educated at the best Massachusetts had, England had, and France had. He wrote books in German, fluently spoke French. prgtoken Of course, if he had had his way, he would have been married to an American, but when his mother, Abigail, was not too pleased with the girl he thought was the love of his life, he ended up being directed to England where he ended up falling in love with Louisa, and she ultimately became his wife; but apparently his mother didn't think she was quite fit. Louisa became the first--used to be able to say the only--First Lady the country has ever had who was not born in the United States. Like I say, if he had had his choice--first choice--then his wife would have been born in the United States. But that is the way things fall. He loved his wife dearly. prgtoken He was quite accomplished. He kept the most complete journal of anybody we have ever had who was President. He knew slavery was wrong. He knew slavery was destroying our country, that we could never reach the potential that God had for this country unless we eliminated slavery. He had corresponded to England with a guy by the name of William Wilberforce, who had dedicated his adult life since his twenties to eliminating slavery in the British Isles and British territories. prgtoken He ran for President in 1824. No one won with the electoral votes. It was thrown to the House of Representatives. John Quincy Adams garnered the favor of Henry Clay in the House. And when Clay threw his support behind John Quincy Adams, Adams then won the Presidency. prgtoken Adams had some friends who we
CONGRATULATING ROTARY CLUB OF MIAMI
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-21

I would like to congratulate the Rotary Club of Miami on its 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated through the Century of Service Gala this Saturday, March 25. prgtoken The Rotary Club of Miami is the fifth oldest rotary club in Florida, and has been working around-the-clock to make positive and long-lasting contributions to our beautiful south Florida community. Through community service projects and philanthropy, this organization has helped establish several institutions that aim to assist some of the most vulnerable members of our society, including the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, the YMCA of Greater Miami, and Boys Town of Florida. prgtoken Since its inception, the Rotary Club of Miami has been headed by extraordinary individuals with a vision to make south Florida an even better place in which to live. Its first president was Dr. James Jackson, who was prgtoken instrumental in establishing Jackson Memorial Hospital, which is now the third largest public hospital and the third largest teaching hospital in our great country. prgtoken Another Miami staple of the Rotary Club of Miami is the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which was established by one of the club members, and is ranked the number one eye hospital in the United States. prgtoken The Rotary Club of Miami also helped found one of the largest burn centers in the south, the Bone and Tissue Bank at the University of Miami. And the Rotary Club of Miami has also supported education by providing scholarship opportunities for high school, college, and postgraduate students. prgtoken , I am honored to recognize the Rotary Club of Miami for its impressive legacy. I thank everyone who is involved in this club supporting this wonderful organization. And I wish the members of the Rotary Club of Miami much continued success in the decades to come. Tribute to Congressman Robert Garcia
NOMINATION OF NEIL GORSUCH
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-3-21

I am here today to discuss the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. So far this year, we have heard that it is too early to do everything, that the process of putting the President's Cabinet in place, which took longer than any administration since George Washington and is still not completed, was somehow too early. We heard that every single nominee was being handled too quickly, even though every previous President since the first President has managed to have a Cabinet confirmed by the Senate quicker than this one. prgtoken Clearly the process going on right now--hours of questioning beginning today for Judge Gorsuch, who has a 10-year record as an appeals judge on the Tenth Circuit, where all of the other judges in the district courts under the Tenth Circuit's jurisdiction see their cases go to be appealed. prgtoken The Supreme Court is ``distinctly American in concept and function,'' according to Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, and there is, frankly, nothing quite like it in any other constitutional government. It is a Court that was supposed to be part of this very unique at the time idea of a government that was so finely balanced that it would run itself, a machine that was so finely balanced that it didn't take a King, it didn't take the intervention of somebody to decide who would be the one person who would run the country. prgtoken The Supreme Court--the only Court mentioned in the Constitution--is a uniquely American court. In the history of the country, only 112 people have had the honor to serve on the Supreme Court. On the last day of January, President nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to be one of those unique individuals who get to serve on this Court, to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Since his nomination, he has visited individually with a significant majority of Members of the Senate. I think he has had 70 visits with Members of the Senate in their offices. Many of my colleagues on the other side--several of whom I will mention in a minute--voted for Judge Gorsuch to have the job he currently has. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle left their meetings with Judge Gorsuch impressed by his character, by his intellect. Here is what just a couple of our colleagues on the other side said: ``He did a very good job in the meeting with me. He presents himself very well.'' prgtoken Another one of our colleagues said: ``He's a very caring person, and he's obviously legally very smart. . . . I think we are dealing with someone who is impressive.'' prgtoken Another one of our colleagues said they ``had a thorough conversation about the importance of the rule of law and of a judiciary that is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.'' prgtoken As more Senators had a chance to meet Judge Gorsuch, they came to see him as an independen
REPEAL AND REPLACE
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-3-21

any discussion of the American Health Care Act needs first to consider where we would be without it. prgtoken Care is collapsing. More people are paying the State tax penalty or claiming hardship exemptions than are choosing to buy Care policies. In a third of the counties across America, there is only one provider to choose, and we are now seeing counties where there are no providers at all. prgtoken Care premiums soared an average of 25 percent last year, and we are warned that this year will be worse. I have strongly advocated that the House address this crisis in a single, comprehensive bill that fully repeals Care and replaces it with a healthy, competitive market. prgtoken Instead, we have to rely on the reconciliation process in order to bypass ic obstructionism in the Senate, and this only allows us to repeal parts of Care and enact only parts of a replacement. Finishing the job will require administrative actions and followup legislation in the Senate, both somewhat speculative enterprises. So we need to ask if this bill alone is enough to produce a better healthcare system for the vast majority of people. prgtoken Its biggest defects are its failure to restore to consumers the failure to shop across State lines and to fully free consumers from having to purchase coverage they don't need and don't want. I am afraid in States that have insurance commissioners who refuse to approve innovative replacement plans, consumers will be stuck in a market still governed by Care mandates. This will require followup measures. prgtoken Critics cite the Congressional Budget Office estimate that 24 million Americans will lose their coverage, but this conclusion is largely based on the premise that unless people are forced to buy health insurance they won't. In fact, people won't buy health insurance that is not a good value for them; and, clearly, they believe Care isn't. prgtoken We envision a vigorous buyer's market where plans across the country compete to offer consumers better services at lower costs, tailored to their own needs and wants. This is the AHCA's biggest achievement: replacing coercion with choice for every American. prgtoken It ends the individual mandate that forces Americans to buy products they don't want. It ends the employer mandate that has trapped many low-income workers in part-time jobs. prgtoken It begins to restore consumers' freedom of choice, the best guarantee of quality and value in any market. prgtoken It allows Americans to meet more of their healthcare needs with pretax dollars. prgtoken It relieves the premium base of the enormous cost of preexisting conditions by moving them to a block-granted, assigned risk pool. prgtoken In making this transition, though, it is important to leave no one in the lurch, and that is where we need to heed the CBO's warning. The fact that many low-income families could no longer afford basic health care is wha