mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
State of the Union Address (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-1-30

tonight the President will address a joint session of Congress in his first official State of the Union. I want to talk about what I expect the President to say and also what I suspect he will not. prgtoken The President will be eager to defend the accomplishments of his nascent administration and take credit for a healthy American economy, pointing to low unemployment, job growth, and a soaring stock market, but the truth is, these trends were present before took office. President was handed an already healthy economy by his predecessor. Like many things in his life, he inherited the healthy economy. prgtoken Here are two words we will not hear President say tonight about the prgtoken economy--thanks, --because much of the growth in 2017 was created by President 's policies and, by many measures, the growth under President was better than under President . prgtoken Under President , employment was driven from over 10 percent down into the fours. The tightening of the labor market finally started to reverse the stagnancy of median income. The stock market President often touts on Twitter was booming under President as well. prgtoken In President 's first year, the economy created 2.06 million jobs. That is less than the 2.24 million jobs created in 2016, the last year of 's term. prgtoken Again, President , President created more jobs in the last year of his term than you created in the first year of yours. So if you are going to pat yourself on the back, give a shout out to because he did even better than you in job creation. prgtoken In 2017, under President , average monthly job growth was lower than in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011, all under President . prgtoken Again, President , job growth in the first year of your term was less than in each of the last 6 years of President 's term. prgtoken How about the stock market. In the first 6 months of 2017, the percentage growth of the S&P 500 was lower than during the first 6 months of President 's term. In the first year of the Presidency, the percentage growth of the Dow was lower than during the first year of President . prgtoken So, again, here are two words we would like President to say tonight about the economy: Thanks, . We may never hear President say those words, but he ought to. prgtoken I also expect the President to speak about bipartisanship. President understands there is a very low bar when it comes to the topic. His first year in office has been so divisive, even a mere appeal to bipartisanship sounds like progress, but the proof will be in the pudding. Will President pursue real bipartisanship through his actions or will he fall back on empty rhetoric? When it comes to bipartisanship, President has to walk the walk, not just talk the talk intermittently. Mr. Pr
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-1-30

had I been present for the vote today on S. 534, Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act (Roll Call No. 45), I would have voted aye. This bill would require authorization to interact with minor amateur athletes to report any suspected incidents of child abuse, including sexual abuse, to the sport's governing body. prgtoken Additionally, had I been present for the vote on H.R. 1457 (Roll Call No. 682), I would have voted aye. This bill would allow banks and other financial institutions nationwide to use an individual's state-issued driver's license or personal identification card to verify the individual's identity when using a mobile device to initiate mobile banking or other online service.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 695, CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-1-30

I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so that we can immediately bring the Dream Act to the floor. prgtoken I stand before you today with a reopened government, ready to transform discussion into action. This is the 19th time that we have requested a vote on the Dream Act. prgtoken Congress did not create this emergency. This is a mere negotiation tactic brought about by the actions of a single man. prgtoken The time for tactics is over. Now is the time to put your vote to work and break the deadlock issue. prgtoken We are a nation of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. A great man once said: ``The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and the respected stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions, whom we shall welcome to a participation with all our rights and privileges. . . .'' prgtoken That man was George Washington, , our country's first President. prgtoken Now let us take a moment to reflect on this and how President Washington saw our country. George Washington would welcome an opulent and respected stranger, you know, like folks from Norway. However, we should also welcome the oppressed and the persecuted of all nations and all religions in the world. prgtoken Compare George Washington's words to President 's, who said: ``I do business with the Mexican people, but you have people coming through the border that are from all over. And they are bad. They are really bad. You have people coming in, and I am not just saying Mexicans. I am talking about people who are from all over that are killers and rapists, and they are coming into this country.'' prgtoken Please, , do not let this era be known as the day that America surrendered. Do not let our country go down the path of religious persecution. Do not let our country fall to the dictates of convenience. prgtoken The United States of America sets the tone for the rest of the world. In other words, , if we do not help the less fortunate than us, who can we count on? prgtoken It is not easy to say no, . It is easy to surrender. It is a rare occasion where an easy choice is the right choice. prgtoken It is up to us, the leaders of our country, to take the hard path, the path taken by our ancestors. prgtoken About 800,000 young people living in our country, also known as DREAMers, are facing an uncertain future. prgtoken Many criticize how DACA was created, some even criticize the granting of a status quo on immigrants. I say this is un-American. I say to these critics that it is time to become problem solvers for our country. prgtoken We only have a few days left under the current continuing resolution to pass a bill that provides DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship. We made a promise to the American people and to 800,000 DREAMers who are American in every way except on paper. prgtoken To all the DREAMers, I want you to know that I stand with you. prgtoken Today I call on every M
PROTECTING YOUNG VICTIMS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND SAFE SPORT AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-1-30

nearly a year ago, I met with six gymnasts. All of these young women were world-class athletes. All of them had put their faith in USA Gymnastics. And all of them were sexually abused by an adult who had earned their trust. prgtoken It was one of the most difficult meetings I have held as a Senator. Listening to their stories of abuse and how the system let them down left me with equal parts sadness and rage. prgtoken These young women weren't telling me their stories to get legislation passed, but that afternoon, I promised them I would do all I could to make sure no one else ever experienced the agony that they had. prgtoken I am proud that the Senate will come together and pass the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act in order to send it to the President's desk. prgtoken This bill is intended to protect young athletes who participate in amateur sports from the sexual abuse that these gymnasts had to suffer. prgtoken In the House, Representative Susan Brooks from Indiana and Representative Lois Frankel from Florida, who cochair the Women's Caucus, partnered with us on this bill. They have been strong champions in protecting young women from abuse. prgtoken This bill wouldn't have been possible without the courageous survivors who shared their stories. prgtoken Some of the same women who I spoke with in February came back to Washington in March to speak about the bill. It was a very powerful hearing that touched many of us. prgtoken One of those brave women was Jamie Dantzscher, who won a bronze medal in 2000. prgtoken Jamie told the Judiciary Committee in moving testimony that she fell in love with gymnastics at a very young age. Her parents had to beg her to leave the gym after practice because gymnastics brought her such joy. prgtoken While she competed with the national team led by USA Gymnastics, team doctor Larry Nassar was assigned to provide her with medical treatment. prgtoken As any young woman would, Jamie put her faith in Nassar, who was employed by USA Gymnastics, but her faith was turned on its head in horrifying ways. In Jamie's words: ``What I have only recently come to understand is that the medical treatment he performed for my back pain and other injuries was sexual assault. Dr. Nassar abused me at the USA National Training Center in Texas. He abused me in California and at meets all over the world. Many times the abuse took place in my own room, in my own bed. Worse, he abused me in my hotel room in Sydney at the Olympic Games.'' prgtoken Jamie went on: ``When I first spoke out about my abuse at the hands of Dr. Nassar, I thought I was the only one. I was disbelieved and even criticized by some in the gymnastics community for bringing this disturbing issue to light.'' prgtoken It is impossible to imagine the horror that Jamie felt, but what we do know is that Jamie wasn't the only victim. prgtoken Jessica Howard was a 15-year-old rhythmic gymnast wh
HONORING LASA JOINER
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-1-30

I rise today to honor an extraordinary Georgian and a great American, Lasa Joiner. Lasa has been involved in Georgia legislative issues for over thirty years, and is well known throughout the State of Georgia and around the country for her interest and expertise in mental health issues. Lasa Joiner first began serving as an advocate for and advisor to the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association during the 1988 Session of the Georgia General Assembly and became their Executive Director in 2003. So respected for her leadership, the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association awarded her with the 2008 Dancing Elephant Award for excellence in administrative leadership. Lasa was the first woman to Chair the Board of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the largest department in state government. She also chaired the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Committee and the Rehabilitation Services Committee. Lasa Joiner's years of outstanding advocacy for psychiatric professionals and their patients and her tireless efforts to improve access to quality mental health care in Georgia, have undeniably made our state a better place for all of its residents I congratulate Lasa Joiner on her retirement, and extend my sincerest wishes for her continued health and happiness. God bless Lasa Joiner.
Introductory Statement on S. 2362
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-1-30

. Today, I am introducing the Control Your Personal Credit Information Act, which seeks to give consumers greater control over when and how their consumer reports are shared by consumer reporting agencies. prgtoken Under existing law, the current consumer reporting system is backwards. Consumer reporting agencies collect vast amounts of personal information on consumers, often without our knowledge, in order to compile consumer reports. These reports are then shared with financial institutions and others without our consent in all cases. prgtoken In the wake of Equifax's failure to secure troves of valuable personally identifiable information it collected on over 145 million Americans, it is clear that this system must change. Indeed, the National Consumer Law Center's prgtoken Chi Chi Wu stated in her October 2017 testimony before the House Financial Services Committee that the Equifax breach ``means half of the US population and nearly three-quarters of the consumers with active credit reports are now at risk of identity theft due to one of the worst--if not the worst--breaches of consumer data in American history. These Americans are at risk of having false new credit accounts, phony tax returns, and even spurious medical bills incurred in their good names.'' To make matters worse, the risks of identity fraud may not dissipate over time because as Ed Mierzwinski, U.S. PIRG's Federal Consumer Program Director, points out ``unlike credit card numbers, your Social Security umber and Date of Birth don't change and may even grow more valuable over time, like gold in a bank vault. Much worse, they are the keys to `new account identity theft.''' prgtoken My legislation attempts to address these concerns and fix the current upside down system by giving consumers greater control, at no cost to the consumer, over when and how their consumer reports are released when applying for new credit, a loan, or insurance. Under my legislation, consumer reporting agencies must confirm a consumer's identity and obtain their written authorization before releasing consumer reports in the instances that are especially vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. In addition, my bill requires every consumer reporting agency to take appropriate steps to prevent unauthorized access to the consumer reports and personal information they maintain. These steps are designed to make it tougher for criminals to fraudulently open new credit or insurance accounts in other people's names. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this commonsense legislative effort, and I thank the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), U.S. PIRG, Americans for Financial Reform, Public Citizen, Consumer Federation of America, and Consumers Union for their support.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-1-30

I was necessarily absent for the January 29, 2018, vote on calendar No. 294, motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2311, the Pain-Capable Unborn Children Protection Act. I would have voted nay. prgtoken , I was necessarily absent for the January 29, 2018, vote on Executive Calendar No. 622, motion to invoke cloture on David Ryan Stras, of Minnesota, to be U.S. circuit judge for the Eighth Circuit. I would have voted nay.
THE VITAL ROLE OF MENTORS
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-1-30

I rise today to speak about the vital role that mentors play in the lives of young people every day. Mentors provide our young people with guidance and support at a time when they begin to make important decisions that will affect their lives forever. prgtoken Mentoring programs have demonstrated positive impacts on youth across the country. Young people who meet regularly with their mentors are 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs. Young people who are at risk for dropping out of high school but who had mentors are 55 percent more likely to enroll in college and 78 percent more likely to begin volunteering regularly in their own communities. prgtoken We have great mentoring programs in our San Joaquin Valley that I have the honor and privilege to represent filled with individuals dedicated to providing support and guidance to youth. Some of the critical programs include, but are not limited to, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California, Focus Forward, and Care Fresno. prgtoken When I was a senior at Fresno State, just a few years ago, I was a mentor in the Big Brother program. And let me tell you, my little brother, Phillip Yancey, I still remember to this day. I thought I was doing a good thing by giving some of my time, but I will tell you that I gained much more in appreciation for the challenges that this young man had. For the 18 months I was his mentor, I hope I made a difference; but, clearly, I know that Phillip made a difference in my life. So, it is a two-way street. Mentoring is not just helping those young people in our communities, but, I will tell you, it is a rewarding experience. prgtoken Sadly, still, there are an estimated 9 million young people throughout the United States who do not have mentors or positive adult role models as a part of their lives outside of their home. That is why I join with many of my colleagues in cosponsoring the resolution to make January National Mentoring Month. We need to raise awareness of the significant roles that mentors play in the lives of young people across the United States, and we need to promote the creation and expansion of quality mentoring programs. prgtoken Lastly, I want to take a moment to thank out there all who have participated in various types of mentoring programs across this great country of ours. You are making a difference. Honoring Theresa DiMaggio
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-1-30

first, I would like to say a few words about the retirement of my chairman, Rodney Frelinghuysen. Chairman Frelinghuysen has carried out his responsibilities with fairness and earnestness, and it has been such a pleasure to serve as ranking member during his chairmanship. prgtoken I look forward, however, to working together for the remainder of this year on our shared goal: bipartisan and responsible full-year funding for all discretionary investments. prgtoken Today, we are considering the FY 2018 Defense Appropriations bill for the third time, a time-wasting consequence of an agreement between the and rightwing s--the third time. Last week, leadership kicked the can down the road and passed yet another continuing resolution delaying investments in our military, education, infrastructure, biomedical research, and so much more. prgtoken Yet again, the bill before us removes Congresswoman Barbara Lee's amendment to debate a new Authorization for Use of Military Force which received bipartisan support in the Appropriations Committee markup. This undemocratic maneuver, which the majority has repeated once again, is outrageous. prgtoken In addition to the many procedural inequities, the majority's effort to increase defense spending is a mirage because the bill would turn off sequestration for defense in FY18, allowing s to violate the spirit of our budget laws and increase defense spending while ignoring other investments that grow our economy, create jobs, and further provide for our security. prgtoken This is hardly about fiscal responsibility. If it were, the majority would eliminate the seven slush funds in this bill that equals $28.6 billion for a department that would receive far more than it requested. prgtoken Four months into the fiscal year, the Federal Government is irresponsibly operating on the fourth continuing resolution. We do not have an agreement on top-line spending numbers, let alone an omnibus spending package ready when the current CR runs out next week on February 8. So, my friends, prgtoken this is not the time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. On the contrary, we should be settling down and working together to pass spending bills for FY18. prgtoken If the majority were serious about funding our military, then they would move forward toward a full-year, bipartisan omnibus that could pass both Chambers. Instead, they continue to show their inability to govern by leading us down a path that will require another CR that is detrimental to our men and women in uniform. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
HONORING STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK L. SALAZAR
Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2018-2-2

I rise today to honor State Representative Nick L. Salazar who is retiring at the end of the 2018 legislative session after 46 years of outstanding and selfless service to New Mexico. prgtoken Representative Salazar was born on April 18, 1924 in Chamita, New Mexico. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attained the rank of sergeant. Representative Salazar attended the University of New Mexico and the University of California-Santa Barbara. He and his wife, Mari Ana Abeyta, have three wonderful children, Yvonne, Earl, and Gregory, as well as three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. prgtoken Representative Salazar started his long and storied political career as a commissioner for Rio Arriba County. In June 1967 while commissioner, he was held hostage by Reies Lopez Tijerina in the infamous courthouse raid in Tierra Amarilla. Representative Salazar also worked at Los Alamos national laboratory as a fusion and thermonuclear researcher where he continues to serve as a member of the lab's board. prgtoken In 1972, Representative Salazar was first elected to New Mexico House of Representatives for District 40 where he has served diligently and with distinction ever since. Throughout his career, Representative Salazar has proven a staunch advocate for Native American issues and constantly traveled throughout the State to visit tribal communities. Additionally, Representative Salazar championed senior issues throughout his career. For years, he has set aside funds in the annual budget to increase support services for New Mexican seniors. Representative Salazar prgtoken has also been one of the strongest advocates to increase funding for New Mexico's colleges and universities, especially for Northern New Mexico College. prgtoken , the New Mexico House of Representatives will not be the same without Representative Salazar who has been a fixture and an institution for over 4 decades. He is the longest-serving legislator in New Mexico's history and one of the ten longest-serving members of any legislature throughout the country. It amazes me to think about just how many lives Representative Salazar touched and improved throughout his decades of public service, and I am certain that his numerous accomplishments will be felt for generations to come. Representative Salazar's service to our state is unmatched, his integrity is second to none, and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues, constituents, and friends.