mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-11-7

today I wish to shine a spotlight on the increasingly dire political, security, and humanitarian crisis in the ic Republic of the Congo. Senator Booker and I, along with Senators Durbin, Coons, Warren, Markey, and Brown, recently sent a letter to President urging the administration to take immediate action to ensure that the United States is prepared to do our part to help stave off further violence and human suffering. prgtoken The ic Republic of the Congo, or the DRC as it is known, is a country of vast natural resource wealth. It is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa by land mass, with ample arable land, a variety of precious minerals, and the world's second-largest river, the Congo, which possesses substantial hydroelectric potential; yet, despite an abundance of natural resources--indeed, because of it--the people of the DRC have endured centuries of exploitation and atrocities. In the postcolonial era, the country has struggled with decades of conflict, endemic corruption, and extreme poverty. The DRC ranks 176th out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index. Life expectancy is 59 years. An estimated 77 percent of the people live on less than $2 a day. More than 12 percent of children do not live to see their fifth birthday. Mothers die in childbirth in more than 7 out of every 1,000 live births. The statistics are truly alarming. prgtoken The 1997 to 2003 civil war involved at least seven countries in the region and, by some estimates, caused 5.4 million deaths from war and war-related causes. The conflict was characterized by massive human rights violations and introduced the world to the brutal consequences of the mining of conflict minerals. Eastern Congo has been referred to as the rape capital of the world, and sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon to traumatize and terrorize the population. prgtoken Despite the establishment of truth and reconciliation committees by the Sun City Accords in 2002, the installation of a unity government in 2003, and the deployment of the largest United Nations peacekeeping force in the world, the country remains unstable. The peacekeeping mission in DRC plays a critical role in protecting civilians in conflict areas and promoting stability; yet its capabilities are limited, and it is not a substitute for a political agreement respected and adhered to by all relevant stakeholders. Let me be clear: I fully support MONUSCO peacekeepers who seek to uphold their mandate. Though the mission has come under criticism over the years for not doing enough to protect civilians and for controversies regarding its own abuses, we must ask ourselves what would have happened--and what might still happen--if the UN were not present--or if the United States forces such significant troop reductions that the mission is rendered ineffective, which I fear we may be perilously close to doing. prgtoken Despite the deployment o
VETERANS
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-11-7

this week we honor America's veterans, a group of men and women with unparalleled courage and love of country. prgtoken We owe our veterans an eternal debt of gratitude. We made a promise to look out for them in exchange for their promise to defend our freedom, but gratitude is not enough. That is why I am fighting to maximize the care homeless veterans receive with my bill to improve reporting from our VA hospitals, to make sure no veteran, at any stage in life, falls through the cracks. prgtoken I also helped introduce the Patriot Employer Act, which would give tax incentives to American businessowners who employ veterans. prgtoken , on behalf of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I would like to thank all of our Nation's veterans for their service on this Veterans Day and every day.
SAVE LOCAL BUSINESS ACT
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-7

I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his continued leadership on behalf of America's workers. prgtoken , more and more employees today are working for a company whose name is not on the front of their office building. Instead of hiring employees directly, companies are renting employees from staffing agencies. Let me say that again. Companies are renting employees from staffing agencies and then evading responsibility for upholding the rights of those workers, even as they profit from their work. prgtoken For decades, sensible joint employment standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act have ensured that workers can hold employers accountable for violating wage and hour laws. prgtoken Instead of refining those standards to reflect the complex relationship between workers and employers in today's economy, this legislation sets a dramatically and intentionally narrow standard so that no large corporation can be held accountable if their contractors violate workplace laws. prgtoken , I include a letter of support in the Record, a letter by the National Employment Law Project and signed by more than 200 organizations opposing H.R. 3441 because it opens the door to widespread wage theft and hurts law-abiding small businesses. Hon. Paul Ryan, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Virginia Foxx, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Robert C. Scott, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott: The undersigned organizations write in opposition to H.R. 3441, the so-called Save Local Business Act, which would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to prevent workers from holding more than one employer jointly accountable for wage theft, child labor, equal pay violations, or unfair labor practices even when the employers jointly exercise and share control over working conditions. Under our nation's long-standing laws dating back as far as the late 1800s, employers who share control with their subcontractors over working conditions may also share accountability as joint employers for violations of workers' rights so that they will provide better oversight of working conditions, and in so doing, ensure broader compliance with basic labor and employment laws. H.R. 3441 seeks to dramatically narrow the long-standing definitions of ``employer'' in the FLSA and NLRA and it is neither good for workers nor for law-abiding businesses. prgtoken H.R. 3441 opens the door to widespread wage theft and worker harms in occupations across the economy, including in our nation's growth industries The bill would undermine protections fo
GOP TAX PLAN
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise in opposition to the tax plan. This bill is nothing but a giveaway to America's wealthiest and corporations on the backs of middle class families. prgtoken The GOP tax plan gets rid of commonsense policies that the American people rely upon: prgtoken It eliminates the student loan deduction that helps young people pay for college; prgtoken It eliminates the medical expense deduction, which helps families struggling with diseases like Alzheimer's afford care; prgtoken It eliminates the deduction for teachers that helps them purchase supplies for the classroom; and prgtoken It sharply reduces the State and local tax deductions that my constituents in Sacramento rely upon. prgtoken Meanwhile, when the national debt grows as a result of the GOP's unfunded tax breaks, s will turn around and justify cuts to earned benefits like Medicare and Social Security. prgtoken Middle class Americans shouldn't be punished so that the megarich and corporations get a break.
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-11-7

I include in the Record a letter from the Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance, which says that this legislation would not benefit small businesses that create good jobs. It actually would place such employers at a permanent competitive disadvantage to unscrupulous companies that seek to thrive solely at the expense of the workers and taxpayer-funded social safety net programs. Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance, Saint Paul, MN, October 5, 2017. Hon. Paul Ryan, of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,
REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-11-7

later this week, the House will begin marking up the tax plan in record speed, with no hearings, no real discussion. Unfortunately, Senate s are mimicking the House in trying to rush through their bill as well. It is said, the Senate s will unveil a plan of their own, although I don't expect there to be that much difference between the two. prgtoken What has united the tax reform efforts so far in this Congress has been a stubborn desire to reduce taxes paid by big corporations and the superrich. That is the core. The middle class ends up with the leftovers. Shockingly, millions in the middle class will actually see a tax increase, not just a handful but a large number. This morning's New York Times did an analysis. According to them, one- third of all middle-class families would pay more in taxes next year under the House bill, and by 2026, nearly half of all middle-class families would pay more in taxes--almost half. prgtoken Here is the newspaper article. This is the New York Times. They defined the middle class as households between $50,000 and $160,000-- the backbone of America. Here is their headline. I don't know if you can see it. `` Plan Would Raise Taxes on Millions of Middle- Class Families.'' Here is the headline again printed a little larger so everyone here in America can see it. `` Plan Would Raise Taxes on Millions of Middle-Class Families.'' prgtoken That is the case. They did their analysis. By the way, you say: Well, that is mainly in the coastal States. No. Even if it is not one-third, it is probably about 20 percent in the poorest of States. Large numbers of middle-class taxpayers in every State in this Union--coastal, noncoastal, New York, California but also Wyoming, Utah, and Nebraska-- would pay a significant tax increase. prgtoken Looking at the House bill, you can see why. s either reduce or eliminate several middle-class tax deductions. The elimination of the personal deduction, for example, which lets families deduct roughly $4,150 for each person in the household, would be costly to families of three or more. If you have a lot of kids, this bill is bad for you. Taxwise--if tax policy influences behavior--they are trying to discourage bigger families. What does that say? Ending the personal exemption makes the tax plan an anti-large family bill. prgtoken In many cases, the new benefits provided to the middle class are insufficient to fill the gap created by the loss of popular deductions, and, worse, many of the benefits are temporary, expiring after several years. So while some in the middle class may get an initial tax break, down the line, the break disappears, and taxes start to go up. prgtoken As pointed out by David Kamin, a professor of tax law at NYU--and they have a great tax department, proudly from New York--s have reduced the value of middle-class tax breaks significan
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-11-7

our EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, has a little problem. You see, the Supreme Court has ruled that greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Therefore, under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency, which Pruitt leads, is legally obligated to regulate greenhouse gases. They must do this as a matter of law. prgtoken Moreover, the EPA has determined that greenhouse gas emissions endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations, and Scott Pruitt has said he will not contest that endangerment finding. He is stuck with it. Why? Because he knows it is a contest he would lose by a landslide. The climate denial nonsense he espouses has never passed peer review, it is not real science, and it would get buried in any forum where facts and truth matter. prgtoken That is also likely why the White House released the Climate Science Special Report, part of the National Climate Assessment we mandated by law without significant alteration. Scientists had prudently disclosed what they sent to the White House so everyone could compare what went into the White House with what came back out of the White House. That put the White House in a box, and caught in that box, the White House went ahead and released the report without alteration. prgtoken The Climate Science Special Report affirms that climate change is driven almost entirely by human action. It warns of a worst-case scenario, where seas could rise as high as 8 feet by the year 2100, which is the scenario our home State planners are looking at for Rhode Island and which I know has occasioned dire forecasts for the Presiding Officer's home State of Florida. The report details a wide array of climate-related damage already unfolding across the United States. Here is what the report says: ``It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.'' The document reports: ``For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence.'' prgtoken No convincing alternative explanation. Well, we actually knew that because climate denial has all along been bogus, phony propaganda created by the fossil fuel industry and pushed out through its array of phony front groups. Nobody but the ignorant would seriously believe their nonsense, least of all in Congress, except for the fact that the propaganda is backed up by ferocious political artillery and an implacable fossil fuel industry position to deny, deny, deny as the ship goes down. prgtoken This will be a disgrace whose odor will last a long time as history looks back and recounts a Congress so subservient to the fossil fuel industry that it would ignore unanimous real science and go instead with the flagrant, self-serving falsehoods of the industry with the world's biggest conflict of interest--an obvious plain con
SAVE LOCAL BUSINESS ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-11-7

. Why would we further undermine a worker's ability to bring pay discrimination cases against their employer? We must stand with workers, defend the current definition of joint employers. prgtoken To those who claim that joint employer status is burdensome or confusing for companies, let me just ask you: What about the burden on millions of Americans who are experiencing pay disparity and pay discrimination? prgtoken I urge my colleagues, reject this bill. Take a stand for equal pay, for equal work. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter from our labor leaders rejecting H.R. 3441. July 28, 2017. Dear Representative: We, the undersigned unions representing millions of American workers, are writing to urge you to not support H.R. 3441, the joint employer bill introduced by Representatives Bradley Byrne and Chairwoman Virginia Foxx of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which would eliminate the National Labor Relation Board's (NLRB) decision in Browning-Ferris, and greatly restrict the definition of employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Congress should be working to strengthen the rights of working people and raise wages. The legislation would accomplish the opposite. Over the past few decades, the middle class has been struggling to stay afloat. As wages have often been stagnant or declining, more and more companies have used middlemen from staffing agencies, labor contractors and to subcontractors to maintain low wages, avoid accountability and prevent a large percentage of workers from organizing. It is important that when workers try to remedy illegal employment practices or organize to join a union that the party calling the shots is at the table and part of the remedy. And indeed, the current state of the law under both under the National Labor Relations Act and the FSLA balances the interests of workers and employers by requiring a fact specific inquiry to determine whether or not there is a joint employer relationship. This bill seeks to legislate around a century of consistent case law and established joint employer standards in labor and employment law. It redefines the term 'employer' so narrowly that many workers will have no remedy when their employers violate their union rights or wage laws. The legislation would overturn the Browning Ferris NLRB decision, a case which found a joint employer relationship between Browning Ferris and Leadpoint their subcontractor. In this case, Browning-Ferris, Inc. (BFI), the employer, controlled the speed of the conveyor belt where employees of contractor Leadpoint sorted materials, prohibited Leadpoint from raising wages above a specified cap without BFI's permission, and determined th
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ROGER PETERMAN
Joe Donnelly (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-11-7

today, I wish to recognize and honor the extraordinary service of retired U.S. Army COL Roger Peterman, a Greenwood, IN, resident and dedicated veteran and public servant who served his country with honor. prgtoken In 1967, Roger Peterman enlisted in the Army National Guard. He served in the field artillery in both enlisted and officer positions. He eventually moved through the ranks and rose to command two artillery batteries, an artillery battalion, the 38th Division Artillery, and held numerous staff assignments before retiring in March 2000. prgtoken Colonel Peterman's Army service was one of distinction, as evidenced by his numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal with two oakleaf clusters; Army Commendation; Army Achievement Medal; and the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with a silver oakleaf cluster and two bronze oakleaf clusters. In 2012, he was presented the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal, and in 2014, the National Guard Association of the United States awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal. In addition, Colonel Peterman was recognized with the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara Medal by the U.S. Field Artillery Association. prgtoken Colonel Peterman has distinguished himself beyond his military service. The transition from the military to civilian life can be a difficult one for our veterans. We are grateful for Roger's post- military service mission to help veterans and military families through that transition with his work as a transition assistance adviser with the Indiana National Guard. Roger is also chairman of the Board for Operation: Job Ready Veterans, which aims to prepare our veterans for success in civilian employment; the Indianapolis Veterans Court Advisory Board; the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund; the American Legion; and AMVETS. Roger also serves on the board of directors for the Indiana chapter of the Association of the United States Army and is on the executive board of Indiana Blue Star. As Roger enters his ``second'' retirement, we thank him for his dedication and service to helping Indiana's veterans. prgtoken Colonel Peterman's life has set an example not just for his two children and six grandchildren but for all Hoosiers. His commitment to defending our country and supporting our veterans is commendable. His integrity and tireless efforts have helped to make Indiana and this country a better place to live, work, and raise a family. We thank Roger's wife Carolyn, children, and grandchildren for sharing him with our country. We wish Roger well in retirement.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise today to strongly oppose the legislation that has emerged from the House of Representatives that pretends to provide tax relief to middle-class Americans, but if you take a look at it and you look at the analyses that have already come out, what it really is, is another big tax giveaway to millionaires, billionaires, and big, multinational corporations. prgtoken I believe we should do tax reform. We should take our Tax Code and clean up a lot of the junk that has gotten into our Tax Code that is not there for good public policy reasons and is there because someone had a high-powered lobbyist. We need to clean up our Tax Code, we need to reform our Tax Code, and we need to do it in a way that helps the middle class and doesn't add more big breaks for big corporations. prgtoken Unfortunately, this plan does the opposite of tax reform. What it does is doubles down on big tax breaks for big corporations and the superwealthy. prgtoken There is a headline today based on the analysis. The New York Times looked at it. `` Plan Would Raise Taxes on Millions'' of middle-class families. I can tell you that is very true in my State of Maryland. In fact, it is going to be true in States throughout the United States of America. We are going to see millions of middle-class families paying more under this plan. In fact, this analysis that is discussed in the Times found that 45 percent of middle-class families will see a tax increase under this plan once it is fully implemented. That means that families making between roughly $50,000 a year and $160,000 a year--about half of them are going to end up paying higher taxes under the plan. prgtoken Here is one of the double standards that you see continuing throughout the tax plan: Big corporations not only get big tax cuts--$1.5 trillion--but they are going to go on forever. In middle-class families, many people will see an immediate tax increase. Others will initially see a little tax cut. But for individuals and families, it is the great disappearing tax cut--a little sweetener to make the bill look good in the early years, but the bill takes away all those tax cuts for middle-class families, on average, and then actually increases the burden on a family of four making $59,000 under the plan. prgtoken For corporations, a $1.5 trillion tax cut over 10 years--permanent. For folks in the middle, many will see an immediate tax increase, and the tax increase will stay in place. Others will see a little tax decrease, but as the years go by, many of those are going to see their taxes go up. It is a major corporate tax cut financed in large part by millions of middle-class families paying higher taxes. prgtoken Just to give a sense of how well the folks at the very top will do, there is a headline from the Wall Street Journal--this is not a ic-leaning newspaper--``Banks Sidestep a Big Tax-Plan Pitfall.'' Right here