mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BRINK Act (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-11-8

as we all know, President is now in China on an important trip, where his top priority is obtaining China's cooperation in confronting North Korea's nuclear weapons program. prgtoken While we should continue to seek China's cooperation in applying economic and other pressures on North Korea, we also need to send a very clear and strong message to banks in China and throughout the world that there will be a price to pay for lack of cooperation. prgtoken That is why I am pleased that yesterday, before President arrived in China, the Senate Banking Committee, on a unanimous basis, passed a bill to impose and enforce mandatory sanctions against banks and financial firms in China or anywhere else in the world that help to prop up the regime of Kim Jong Un. The bill is named the Otto Warmbier Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea Act, or the BRINK Act, for short. I introduced this bill with Senator Toomey earlier this year, after North Korea engaged in its threatening and provocative missile launches. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Toomey for his partnership in developing the BRINK Act. I want to thank Mr. Crapo, chairman of the Banking Committee, and Ranking Member Brown for their leadership in addressing the North Korean threat and working to pass this bill out of the Banking Committee with unanimous support. I want to thank all of the members of the Banking Committee for their bipartisan effort on this matter. prgtoken I also want to thank the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Corker, and the Ranking Member, Senator Cardin, for their bipartisan leadership in confronting the threat of North Korea, and also the leadership of the East Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, headed by Senators Gardner and Markey. They have been consistent in their efforts to address the North Korean threat and to seek a peaceful resolution of this crisis. prgtoken Back in August, I had the opportunity to visit South Korea, Japan, and China, as part of a bipartisan delegation that was led by Senator Markey. We had the opportunity to travel not only to the DMZ zone between South and North Korea but also to visit the city of Dandong, which is a Chinese city on the border between China and North Korea, along the Yalu River. That is where a lot of the cross-border trade and transactions between North Korea and China take place. prgtoken The threat posed by North Korea to the United States and our allies is very real. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dunford, testified in September that North Korea has the capability to strike the United States' mainland with an intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korea has ramped up the pace of its ballistic missile tests, firing two ballistic missiles over Japan in recent months. In September North Korea conducted its sixth test of a nuclear weapon--the largest yet. prgtoken The question is this: How do we d
VOTE EXPLANATION
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2017-11-8

I was necessarily absent due to a family funeral for the votes on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 384 and the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 407. prgtoken On vote No. 266, had I been present, I would have voted nay on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 384. prgtoken On vote No. 267, had I been present, I would have voted nay on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 407.
HYDROPOWER POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2017
Bobby L. Rush (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise in strong support of the Rush amendment in the nature of a substitute, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it as well. prgtoken , hydropower is backed by Members on both sides of the aisle. We all support hydropower, but the process for how we license these projects is far too important for us to get it wrong. prgtoken While many Members on the minority side have objections to the underlying bill, H.R. 3043, due to its negative impact on States' rights and States' prerogatives under the Clean Water Act, my substitute amendment addresses these issues in a more responsible way. prgtoken , H.R. 3043 will not modernize or improve the hydropower licensing process, but, rather, it simply places private profits for industry over the public interest. prgtoken , we certainly need a more balanced approach, such as the one provided in my substitute amendment, which contains bipartisan provisions that were included in the hydropower package that both sides agreed to in a fit of bipartisanship last December in committee. prgtoken , my amendment contains several provisions to improve the licensing process while also offering incentives to the hydropower industry. prgtoken This substitute contains a requirement to set up a new licensing process, but, unlike H.R. 3043, it protects the rights of Federal resource agencies, States, and Indian Tribes to impose conditions in accordance with modern environmental laws. prgtoken My substitute also amends the definition of renewable energy to include all hydropower, just as H.R. 3043 does; however, it expands the goals for Federal purchasing of renewable power beyond the 15 percent included in H.R. 3043 as an objective, not a mandate. prgtoken , my amendment also contains a ``reward for early action'' provision that authorizes FERC to take into account a licensee's investments made over the course of their license in order to improve the efficiency or environmental performance of their hydropower facility when setting the term of their new license. prgtoken , in testimony before the Energy and Commerce Committee, we heard, repeatedly, that a major cause for licensing delays was due to incomplete applications that do not include all the pertinent information necessary to issue a decision. prgtoken While H.R. 3043 does nothing to address this issue, my substitute does so by directing FERC and other Federal resource agencies to convene a negotiating rulemaking with all the stakeholders to develop a process in which a completed license application will be evaluated and issued or denied within a period of not more than 3 years. prgtoken , my amendment preserves States' and Tribal authorities by directing FERC and the Secretary of the Interior to issue guidance on best practices for engagement with Indian Tribes in the hydropower licensing process. prgtoken , we cannot allow i
HONORING PETE CIARROCCHI AND CHICKIE'S AND PETE'S CRAB HOUSE AND SPORTS BAR
Robert A. Brady (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise to honor my friend Pete Ciarrocchi, Chairman and CEO of the world famous Chickie's & Pete's Crab House and Sports Bar. Since 1977, Chickie's & Pete's locations have been rightfully called the best sports bars in Philadelphia. So none of us were surprised when they were voted ESPN's No. 1 Sports Bar on the East Coast. prgtoken Every Philadelphian knows that Chickie's & Pete's and Philly sports go hand in hand. The only thing better than pre-game, post-game or game watching at the restaurant is enjoying their food at the stadium. And of course, you can't leave without an order of Pete's world famous Crabfries. prgtoken But , Pete Ciarrocchi is more than a successful businessman. He's one of Philadelphia's finest citizens. He is one of the owners of the three time Arena Bowl champion Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team. He is also one of our leading philanthropists serving on the Aria Health Foundation Board of Trustees and on the Holy Family University Business Advisory Board. Pete is a Mummer, who is active with The Polish-American String Band. prgtoken But most importantly, Pete is a proud husband and father. His lovely wife Lisa and three sons Peter, Blaise, and Anthony are his first loves and the foundation on which the rest of his world is built. prgtoken , I ask that all of my colleagues join me in honoring Pete Ciarrocchi and Chickie's & Pete's Crab House and Sports Bar as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary tonight.
OPPOSING REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN
Albio Sires (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today in strong opposition to the tax plan. As I have said many times before, this plan gives tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, over the needs of American families, while adding a predicted $2.1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. prgtoken Particularly devastating for New Jersey is the partial elimination of the State and local tax deduction. More than 25 percent of New Jerseyans would face a tax hike over the next decade due to this change. prgtoken Per person, New Jersey taxpayers paid $3,478 more in Federal taxes in 2015 than they received from the government, more than any other State. Not only would the bill aggravate this disparity in New Jersey, it would also eliminate vital deductions that give relief to those burdened with high medical costs, student debt, and unexpected losses due to natural disasters. prgtoken , I will not support a one-sided plan that harms New Jersey and those who are most in need of tax relief.
OPPOSING H.R. 2936, THE RESILIENT FEDERAL FORESTS ACT
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-11-8

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017. The fire season this year was devastating in Oregon and across the west. It destroyed forestland, reduced air quality, and left a lasting mark on our communities. Congress must increase funding for wildfire suppression and fire prevention actions on public lands. At the same time, Congress can and must do this while maintaining foundational environmental laws. I cannot support this bill because it undermines the bedrock science- based decision-making processes undertaken by land management agencies, and would make it more difficult for states to receive federal funding for wildfire disasters. I strongly support provisions in the bill that would find new and innovative ways to use wood as a building material for tall wood buildings. Cross-laminated timber and other innovative wood products create sustainable building materials, generate more value from timber harvests, and translate into more jobs in rural Oregon and around the country. This legislation does not do enough to help communities fund wildfire suppression. It includes a process that would slow local access to much-needed funds, and it calculates funding without regard to true wildfire disaster needs. I joined my colleague, Congressman Schrader, in submitting an amendment that would address these problems and increase available funding for wildfire suppression. Unfortunately, the amendment was not accepted for floor consideration by the Rules Committee. I have heard from counties, families, teachers, and school administrators in forest counties in my district who have told me they will prgtoken face great hardship if they do not receive the Secure Rural Schools payments they are owed. The last authorized Secure Rural Schools payment was distributed in FY 2016. Earlier this year, I joined my colleague Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the program through FY 2017. I am frustrated the majority did not use this opportunity to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program and provide certainty to the forest counties who rely on these funds to educate students. I am also concerned that this bill limits public participation in the management of public lands. It reduces the consideration of forest management alternatives to two options--action or no action. It creates overly broad exclusions for projects to skirt environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. In addition, it reduces opportunities for the public to engage meaningfully in these decisions. As a former consumer protection attorney, I am concerned about the inclusion of an arbitration pilot program that would force many challenges to federal forest management decisions to go through an agency-run arbitration process instead of through the judicial system. We must manage our federal fore
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-8

for the last month, in the wake of the tragedy in Las Vegas, I have been asking my colleagues to show some courage, stand up to the gun lobby, and take weapons of war off of our streets. prgtoken Now, we have all had to bear witness to another tragedy. Three days ago, in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a single person armed with an assault rifle murdered 26 people and left another 20 injured. This gunman walked into a church and opened fire on peaceful churchgoers, including children as young as 18-months old. A helpless toddler who barely learned to walk. Eight members of a single family were also lost. Eight. prgtoken The shooter had 15 magazine clips of ammunition--almost 450 rounds-- and used all of them. Ask yourself: how would you feel in those moments, with hundreds of bullets flying around and not knowing whether you will live or die, or whether you will be able to protect your child? Think about those children--terrified, witnessing their families being shot while in a place of worship. It is time that we ask what this says about us as a country. And what does this say about us to the rest of the world. prgtoken In 1996, after a mass shooting where a gunman opened fire on tourists at the sea side in Port Arthur, killing 35 people, Australia acted swiftly. Twelve days later, Australia's government enacted sweeping gun control measures. Since then, there has not been a single mass shooting in that country since. Mass shootings in America, however, have become common place. It is no longer a matter of if, but when, another one will happen. prgtoken If there are now mass shootings in churches, where are we safe anymore? Not concerts, not schools, not holiday parties. Just a month ago, we experienced the worst mass shooting in our nation's history in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire with multiple semi-automatic assault rifles that he had legally transformed into automatic weapons, killing more than fifty people and leaving more than 500 wounded. Among the victims were mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. prgtoken There was Kelsey Meadows, 28 years old, who after graduating from the University of California, Fresno, returned to her hometown of Taft, California to be a substitute teacher at her alma mater, Taft Union High School. She was described by the high school principal as ``smart, compassionate, and kind'' with a ``sweet spirit and a love for children.'' Her entire family and community was completely devastated. Kelsey could have been any of us attending that concert. My own daughter told me after the Las Vegas shooting that she was supposed to be in the city that evening, but her plans had to change. It was only a little more than a year before the Las Vegas shooting that we experienced what had then been the worst mass shooting in our nation's history. prgtoken That was when 49 people who were enjoying an evening of dancing with friends and loved ones were massacred in Orlando. Victims
Nomination of William Wehrum (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-11-8

later today we will start the process of voting on the confirmation of William Wehrum for Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation. I take this time to urge my colleagues to reject this nominee and vote against his confirmation. prgtoken The EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation supervises national programs and policies for regulating air pollution and radiation exposure. Notably, this office administers the Clean Air Act. prgtoken As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, I once again find myself using my voice to say that science and public health, not partisan politics, should drive the confirmation process. prgtoken If confirmed, Mr. Wehrum is expected to play a leading role in dismantling climate change regulations. Since the Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA in 2007 ruled that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are dangerous air pollutants, OAR is the office that accepted the endangerment finding and developed the Clean Power Plan to address carbon pollution. prgtoken Given the administration's own admission--or lack of suppression--in the latest update to the National Climate Assessment ``that it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century,'' it should be common sense to nominate and confirm Administrators who care about our environment and our future, including acting on climate change. It is inexcusable to confirm those who disagree with that. I am not convinced that Mr. Wehrum will act on carbon pollution or any other air pollutant. prgtoken It would take an extraordinarily independent Assistant Administrator to resist the current course at the EPA under EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. prgtoken We know that we have a challenge at the top. We need as the person to head this Agency a person of integrity who will stand up for what science tells us we need to do in protecting air quality. I would argue that Mr. Wehrum is not that person. prgtoken Let me go over some of the challenges we face. prgtoken For example, in January of 2017, the EPA issued itself a 6-month extension to respond to Maryland's Good Neighbor petition. The petition alleges that 36 powerplants in five neighboring States are preventing Maryland from meeting its own obligations under the Clean Air Act. That deadline expired with no EPA action on the petition. prgtoken On September 27, 2017, Maryland filed suit against the EPA. prgtoken On October 5 of this year, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed a similar lawsuit because pollution from powerplants is a source of nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. prgtoken On October 27, 2017, the EPA denied a separate Maryland petition asking the EPA to add nine States to the Ozone Transport Region, alleging that these States contribute to the v
THANKING ALL VETERANS
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-8

all gave some, and some made the ultimate sacrifice. This Saturday is Veterans Day, a day we pause to honor the brave men and women from our communities who have served our country. Veterans represent the best in America. Veterans embody loyalty and honor by always putting their fellow soldiers and country before themselves. prgtoken Veterans prove this determination in getting the mission done. This country has made a promise to every person who puts on that uniform. You stand for us, and we will stand for you. Their mission was protecting us. Our mission in Congress is to protect them. prgtoken To all of our vets, thank you for your service. Thank you for serving our country.
GI Bill Fairness Act (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-11-8

one of the great privileges of this job and the honor of representing Oregon in the U.S. Senate is seeing the way Oregonians of all backgrounds and beliefs come together to support those who wear or have worn the uniform of the U.S. military. When it comes to honoring our veterans, Oregonians and so many across the country think in terms of patriotism, not politics and certainly not partisanship. There is not a ic or a way to support our veterans; there is an American way. prgtoken Recently, I was very pleased to join Senator Moran and Senator Tester to introduce bipartisan legislation that would expand the presumption to veterans exposed to Agent Orange in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The VA currently presumes that veterans who served in the Korean DMZ from 1968 to 1971 were exposed to Agent Orange, but there is evidence that veterans were exposed to toxins all the way back to 1967. Our bipartisan bill would extend the presumption date back, making it easier for veterans to apply for and receive care and benefits. prgtoken It is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. As we head to Veterans Day, I want to make it clear that I am going to do everything I can to make this bill law soon. prgtoken Given the fact that we will all be home this weekend, I also want to take a few minutes to discuss another bipartisan piece of legislation that is important to the welfare of our veterans and a proposal that recently became law. prgtoken A few years ago, I learned that wounded members of the National Guard and Reserve were losing out on benefits under the GI Bill for time they spent in rehabilitation and recovery. These are men and women who put their lives on hold to serve our country abroad, and when they suffered injuries in the line of duty, their time spent recovering didn't count toward GI Bill benefits, even though it did for Active-Duty servicemembers in the same situation. prgtoken I think it is an understatement to say that is certainly a real head- scratcher, to not stand up for our Guard and Reserve to make sure they are not losing out on benefits under the GI Bill for the time they spend in recovery and rehab. In effect, the Federal law was adding insult to injury by robbing wounded guardsmen and reservists of benefits they earned and should have been receiving all along. Estimates show that more than 20,000 servicemembers across our country were affected. prgtoken I approached our friend and colleague from Arkansas, Senator Boozman, and he graciously agreed to team up with me. Senator Boozman made it clear that a fellow from Arkansas and a fellow from Oregon were going to team up, leave the politics behind, and fix an injustice. We brought together a bipartisan group. We worked with the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and we were able to get the bill across the finish line. As of now, wounded guardsmen and reservists will get the education benefits they have rightly earned
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-11-8

I was not present for the following votes because I chose to remain in my congressional district in Miami for safety reasons due to serious threats I received. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: YEA on Roll Call No. 569; YEA on Roll Call No. 570; YEA on Roll Call No. 571; NAY on Roll Call No. 572; NAY on Roll Call No. 573; YEA on Roll Call No. 574; YEA on Roll Call No. 575; YEA on Roll Call No. 576; YEA on Roll Call No. 577; YEA on Roll Call No. 578; YEA on Roll Call No. 579; NAY on Roll Call No. 580; YEA on Roll Call No.581; NAY on Roll Call No. 582; NAY on Roll Call No. 583; NAY on Roll Call No. 584; YEA on Roll Call No. 585; YEA on Roll Call No. 586; YEA on Roll Call No. 587; NAY on Roll Call No. 588; NAY on Roll Call No. 589; and YEA on Roll Call No. 590.