mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ACTIVE DUTY VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION OF NECESSARY CREDENTIALS FOR EMPLOYMENT ACT
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-6-26

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, authorized the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to exempt veterans from certain requirements in order to obtain a commercial driver's license if they had qualified experience while serving in the armed services or Reserve components. prgtoken H.R. 2258 would extend this exemption to individuals who are currently serving in either the armed services or Reserve components. prgtoken This is a bipartisan bill that will help current members of the armed services or Reserve components find employment in the private sector. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2258, and .
HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL PATRICK D. FRANK
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-6-26

I rise today to commend the administration for their recent work on enforcement of trade agreements. prgtoken Kansas is an export-dependent State. We supply food, feed, aircraft, and parts to countries all over the world. prgtoken As I have traveled the State over the past 6 months, I have heard repeatedly that we must find ways to open new markets for United States producers, including Kansans. prgtoken The good news is that this administration is focused on doing just that: opening new markets. The announcement that U.S. beef will be allowed back in China is a tremendous example. China is a $2.5 billion beef market, which the U.S. has been unfairly shut out of for 13 years. This bilateral success shows how serious the U.S. is about holding other countries accountable and that our negotiators are working on behalf of U.S. producers. prgtoken Recent confirmation that the U.S. is continuing World Trade Organization cases against China's import barriers for wheat, corn, and rice is also welcome news for United States farmers. China has flagrantly violated their WTO commitments, costing U.S. producers billions in lost farm income as China put up import barriers and stockpiled surplus grains that are weighing on world markets. prgtoken Our global rules-based trading system has brought tremendous benefits to American businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers. As global commerce has expanded, we have found that, when there is a free and level playing field, American producers can match any competitor.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-6-26

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-6-26

June is National Homeownership Month, and it is a time when we celebrate and recognize the many benefits of owning a home. prgtoken For generations of Americans, owning a home has been an essential element in achieving the American Dream. But since the Great Recession, we have seen homeownership rates drop to historic lows. prgtoken Young families often find themselves unable to save for a downpayment or to gain access to adequate credit. This is especially true for those in rural areas. prgtoken The United States Department of Agriculture places emphasis on helping rural Americans buy homes. USDA provides mortgage loan guarantees through partnerships with private sector lenders to help low- to moderate-income rural home buyers. prgtoken In 2016 alone, USDA worked with nearly 1,500 lenders to help 116,000 rural individuals and families buy homes. USDA has helped more than 4.1 million rural residents buy a home since the National Housing Act was passed 68 years ago. prgtoken , the benefits of homeownership have widespread benefits. Homeownership fortifies communities, creates jobs, and strengthens the local businesses that support our towns. prgtoken Thank you to USDA for your commitment to providing affordable housing for rural Americans. Happy National Homeownership Month.
WELCOMING PRESIDENT MOON
Thomas MacArthur (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-6-26

the friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea is based not only on shared, strategic, and economic interests, but also on shared values. We share a commitment to democracy and to political, religious, and economic liberty. It is a joy to welcome President Moon Jae-in to Washington, D.C. I congratulate him on his election, and I wish him a successful summit. prgtoken But, for me, the relationship with South Korea is also deeply personal. My wife and I adopted two of our three children, David and Isabella, from Korea. I am deeply grateful to the people of South Korea for my children and for giving me the family that I love so much. prgtoken But not every family on the Korean Peninsula is so fortunate. We remember those who live under the oppression of the North Korean regime that has no regard for the dignity of human persons. We condemn the horrifying crimes of that regime, and I express my hope for the reunification of Korea. prgtoken We express our firm commitment to the ongoing friendship with South Korea, rooted in our shared values of freedom and democracy.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARDS
Vern Buchanan (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-6-26

I rise today to pay tribute to law enforcement men and women who have provided distinctive service to the people of Florida's 16th Congressional District. prgtoken Law enforcement is a demanding profession that requires sacrifice, courage and a dedication to serve others. Every day, brave men and women put themselves in harm's way to enforce the laws of our society and protect public safety. They deserve our gratitude and respect. prgtoken Six years ago, I established the 16th District Congressional Law Enforcement Awards, CLEA, to give special recognition to law enforcement officers, departments, or units for exceptional achievement. prgtoken This year, I have presented the CLEA to the following winners chosen by an independent panel comprised of current and retired law enforcement personnel representing a cross-section of the district's law enforcement community: prgtoken Officer Jason Nuttall of the Bradenton Police Department will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Captain John Walsh, Captain Debra Kaspar, Lieutenant Jon Varley, Community Affairs Director Kaitlyn Perez, Deputy Phillip Mockler, Detective Tim Speth and Investigator Lynn Thomson of the Sarasota County Sheriff's will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Detective Richard Wilson of the Palmetto Police Department will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Officer Alan Bores of the Holmes Beach Police Department will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Detective Justin Warren of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office will receive the Dedication and Professionalisrn Award. prgtoken Sergeant Robert Armstrong of the Sarasota Police Department will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Deputy Kevin Smetana of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will receive the Dedication and Professionalism Award. prgtoken Master Sergeant George Taunton of The Florida Highway Patrol will receive the Career Service Award. prgtoken Deputy Angel Buxeda and Deputy Grant Steube of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office along with Troopers Caleb Kerr and Trooper Brett Fitzpatrick of the Florida Highway Patrol will receive the Preservation of Life Award. prgtoken Sergeant Patrick Roberts of the Florida Highway Patrol will receive the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award. prgtoken Pastor Patrick Miller of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, Pastor Vincent Smith, Doctor Harriet Moore of the Trinity Youth and Family Services, Geoffry Gilot and AI-Muta Hawks with the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota will receive the Associate Service Award. prgtoken The Manatee County Special Investigations Division will receive the Unit Citation Award. The members of this unit are: Major William Jordan, Captain Todd Shear, Lieutenant Anthony Carr, Division Secretary Toni Burton, Administrative Assistant Cindy Hoffman, Sergeant Jason Powell, Detective James Parrish, Detective Kim Zink, Detective Gre
CONGRATULATING OUTSTANDING MUSIC PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-6-26

I rise tonight to congratulate Chaska Middle School West, the Minnetonka School District, the Osseo Area School District, and Salem Lutheran School in Loretto on being named best communities for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. They have all been recognized for outstanding commitment to their music programs. prgtoken Research has proven that music is vital to a student's education. Music education benefits language development, spatial-temporal skills, and can lead to a higher IQ and increased test scores. Music also brings students together and gives them incentives to practice and strive for more self-improvement. prgtoken , I would like to congratulate the administrators, the teachers, instructors, the parents, and the students in these schools and districts for their impressive dedication to music education. They put a lot of time and effort into their music programs, and all that hard work is really paying off.
HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-6-27

. Before Senator Cardin leaves the floor and we yield to our friend from Washington, who is also so knowledgeable about healthcare, on this point with the States being the laboratories of democracy, during the debate with my colleagues over the Affordable Care Act, we wrote a provision, 1332. It gives the States the authority to do better, to come up with, as the distinguished Senator from Delaware, Mr. Carper, said--it is a chance to do better and try out those fresh ideas on my colleagues. prgtoken The problem is, with the Senate bill, they are talking about giving the States the right to do worse, to waive out some of these essential protections. Again, I think this is natural for something that could be bipartisan, where and s could work together to really encourage States to do better. Let's not go the other way and abuse that provision in the Affordable Care Act so States can work.
HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-6-27

this is the beginning, not the end. Today, we claim an important victory because of thousands of people across the country. There are not enough Senators who support this healthcare plan, so there will not be a vote this week. Because of all of the people who spoke up, the realities of this bill are delayed--the tens of millions of people without insurance, a decimated Medicaid Program, the closure of health clinics and hospitals. Yet that is the key word here--that this bill is delayed. This bill is not dead. prgtoken Everyone who spoke up about this bill should take a victory lap. Pat yourselves on the back tonight. It is an extraordinary moment in terms of what grassroots democracy can accomplish. You did what you had to do with what you could, and you succeeded but only for tonight. Tomorrow morning, we have to get ready because the minute that the Senate comes back from the July 4 recess, they will have 3 weeks to ram through a bill. They are not done. prgtoken I heard the Vice President say today that they are going to keep working until they get it done. They are not giving up, so we cannot rest either. prgtoken Most importantly, we cannot let them forget that we are watching, that we are waiting, and we will still be here when they try to come back and jam this bill through. prgtoken I really hope that the s take another course. In setting aside the policy disagreements that we are having, there is really a better way. There is a way for the Senate to be a Senate, which is to empower two of the best Senators whom we have seen in generations. They are Lamar Alexander and Orrin Hatch--two people whose conservative credentials nobody doubts. They are the chairmen of two of the biggest committees in the U.S. Senate--the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Finance Committee. They have done bipartisan work-- prgtoken Orrin Hatch for decades and Lamar Alexander for decades. Both of them, relatively recently, have done bipartisan work on tax extenders and on repealing No Child Left Behind. These are not easy issues. For these two chairmen, because they understand the committee hearing process and because they earned those gavels, I can only imagine their frustration. prgtoken Look, I am a Progressive, and I support the Affordable Care Act, but if I were sitting there as a member of the HELP Committee or the Finance Committee and if these bills were going through and taking the country in a direction to which I objected and if I were the ranking member or were, maybe, a couple off from being the ranking member, I would be thinking to myself that I cannot wait until I get that gavel back. prgtoken I can tell you that I can have my own hearings, and I can listen to expert testimony, and I can craft a bill. That is what I want to do. The point of being a legislator is to actually work together on a bipartisan basis. Everybody knows that
HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-6-27

we have now reached a point where the Senate majority, the s, and President , have been unable to put together the package that allows them to take Medicaid and try to successfully turn it into a shadow of what it once was in our country, to turn it into a debt-soaked relic of what it is today by taking out $770 billion that otherwise would have gone to the families of those in our country who need healthcare services, who need help in providing for those who need it the most within our country. prgtoken The same thing was true in the House of Representatives when they were moving through their bill over there. People said: doesn't have the votes. The s don't have the votes. They are not going to be able to be successful. However, this Care Hail Mary that they threw in the House, notwithstanding the remarkable defense put up by the American people--the millions of phone calls, protests, and rallies--they still were able to find the votes to ultimately pass this incredible attack upon the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans. prgtoken What they did in the House is what they are doing in the Senate. The GOP retreats; they wait for the defense to disperse, but then they plow through to get this bill over the finish line, hoping that a 2-week hiatus will be sufficient for the energy level of the defense against these cuts to so wane that then they can come back and finish off the job on their second try in the same way they did in the House of Representatives. Right now it is only halftime. prgtoken It is halftime. They are coming back. The ball is in their court. They will attempt again to destroy the healthcare system of our country as we know it today. We have not defeated this bill yet. prgtoken Now is the time for those who oppose this bill to redouble their energy, to play even tougher defense against this attempt to undermine Medicaid, to undermine access to care to everyone in our country. Their bill is now down, so let's keep it down for the count. Let's make sure this bill cannot get up and come back and haunt us in the middle of July. prgtoken The Senate proposal right now has $188 billion, which is now going to be within the hands of the administration, in the hands of the leadership as a slush fund to be used to get the votes they need in order to pass their bill. That $188 billion is right now being divided up in a way that will help them to get the votes. prgtoken What is the ultimate goal of the GOP? The ultimate goal is to take a machete to Medicaid because they harbor an ancient animosity toward Medicaid, and I will throw in Medicare and Care--all of it. They see this as the best opportunity they have had in two generations to be able to leave these programs as debt-soaked relics of what they are today. When they say: Well, we are going to cap the funding and send it back to the States with more flexibility
SENATE HEALTHCARE BILL DENIES COVERAGE
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-6-27

I rise this morning because yesterday the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan organization that we rely on in this Chamber for truth, told us that the Senate healthcare bill--so- called healthcare bill--will throw 22 million Americans off of their insurance. Two-thirds of those, 14 million, are Medicaid patients--the poorest people in America, elderly people in nursing homes. prgtoken I don't have a voice in the Senate, , but if I did, I would say: I understand how important it is to deliver on the promise you have been making for 7 years to repeal Care. The base is demanding it, but it can't possibly be demanding the throwing off of their healthcare 22 million Americans. prgtoken , I also don't have a voice in the oval office, but if I did, I would ask this President, I would say: Sir, you promised to do three things: you promised to increase coverage, to lower deductibles, and to lower premiums for the American people. prgtoken I would say: , this bill in the Senate does the exact opposite of all three of those things. prgtoken So I would say: , if you keep your word, stop this Senate bill from passing.
REAFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION'S PRINCIPLE OF COLLECTIVE DEFENSE
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-27

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his extraordinary leadership on the committee, as well as the bipartisan nature of this legislation that Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel are bringing to the floor. I associate myself with the remarks of the distinguished former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. prgtoken , this bipartisan resolution reassures our friends, it rebuffs our foes, and it reminds the world that America's commitment to NATO's common defense pledge is ironclad. prgtoken When President Truman signed the NATO Treaty nearly 70 years ago, he called the alliance, ``a long step toward permanent peace in the whole world.'' prgtoken NATO has guaranteed the security of the American people and our allies for decades. Now some people don't remember what those decades were like, fighting the threat of communism. Article 5, the collective defense provision, is the core of that security guarantee. prgtoken Article 5, as the gentlewoman just mentioned, was invoked only once: when America's allies joined in the fight against al-Qaida after the September 11 terrorist attacks on our country. prgtoken I, like many of my colleagues, have traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places and seen that our NATO partners have shed blood in the name of article 5 in our common fight against terrorism. prgtoken Our commitment to article 5 is a commitment to brave men and women across the world who risk and give their lives for the NATO alliance. Previous administrations, both ic and , have strongly and unambiguously stood by NATO and article 5. prgtoken I was very sad, I will be very honest with you, my colleagues, when meeting with NATO leaders at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, a building dedicated to the victims of the 9/11 attacks, President refused to clearly and unequivocally reassure our NATO partners that he would honor article 5. prgtoken We in this Congress of the United States, acting in a bipartisan way, want to remove all doubt that the U.S. commitment to the principles of a mutual defense embodied by NATO are ironclad. I keep using that word. Every day, Putin searches for cracks in our NATO alliance. We must convey to him that this alliance is ironclad. prgtoken And now, just on another related subject, it is about our national security. While we are glad to be passing this resolution affirming America's commitment to article 5, the bipartisan bill sanctioning Russia languishes in the House. While the White House caters to Putin, Congress must hold Russia accountable for its actions by passing the Iran-Russia sanctions bill. It passed the Senate 98-2--98-2--strong bipartisan support for a bill that contained the Iran and Russia sanctions. prgtoken We can't go home for the Fourth of July without passing that legislation. It is my understanding it was just a blue slip problem that could be easily resolved. That is how it was characterized w
HONORING MARGUERITE AND H.F. ``GERRY'' LENFEST
Robert A. Brady (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-6-27

I rise today to honor Marguerite and H.F. ``Gerry'' Lenfest on being named the winners of this year's Carnegie Medal. The Lenfests are true philanthropists who have given an incredible amount to the city of Philadelphia. prgtoken The Lenfests first founded the Lenfest Foundation in 2000. However, unlike most foundations, the Lenfest Foundation was not meant to remain in perpetuity. Rather, its purpose is to give all of its funds to deserving causes and then dissolve. Their approach embodies the philosophy of Andrew Carnegie himself, who said that ``the man who dies rich, dies disgraced.'' prgtoken The Lenfests' contributions to the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas have been innumerable. Their contributions helped build the five-story Lenfest Pavilion at Abington Memorial Hospital, they have left a lasting endowment to the Curtis Institute of Music, and they also sponsor the Lenfest College Prep Scholarship, which offers support to Pennsylvania students who would normally be unable to afford elite college preparatory private schools. Perhaps most importantly, The Lenfests have done more than anyone else to ensure that Philadelphia's important cultural events live on. Through their unparalleled support of the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund, they kept events and organizations such as the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Steuben Parade, Puerto Rican Day Parade, Columbus Day Parade, Pulaski Day Parade, Greek Independence Day, Odunde, Pride Day, Mummers Parade, Chester Fine Arts Center, Philly Pops, and the Martin Luther King Day Celebration alive. prgtoken Their extraordinary philanthropic spirit has led them to give more than $1.2 billion to deserving causes. Whether the beneficiaries are children at overnight camps, the Michener Art Museum, or the rowing team at Temple University, the Lenfests' generosity has touched countless Philadelphians. I cannot imagine more deserving recipients of this honor. prgtoken The City of Philadelphia would not be the same without the generosity of the Lenfest family I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Mr. and Mrs. Lenfest on receiving this tremendous honor.