mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Bill (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-8-2

as we head into the month of August, many Americans are planning to spend time along our beautiful coasts. Our country is fortunate to have such a wide variety of natural resources along the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the east and west coasts. However, I am partial to America's best coast: The 4,500 miles of U.S. coastline along the Great Lakes. prgtoken Our coastal resources make it possible to move cargo and goods around the world. They provide opportunities for outdoor recreation like fishing and boating and trips to the beach. Our coasts are not only beautiful, providing some of the most scenic vistas and picturesque landscapes our country has to offer; these ecosystems also provide many tangible benefits. They serve as flooding buffers, critical habitats for fish and wildlife, and locations for ports and other marine infrastructure. prgtoken In the Great Lakes, our freshwater coastline contains one-fifth of the entire world's fresh water and provides drinking water for over 40 million people. We must be stewards of these areas prgtoken so that future generations can also benefit from them. In order to do so, we must properly document and keep track of this precious resource. prgtoken That is why I partnered with Senator Young to introduce the bipartisan Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2017 to require NOAA to update environmental sensitivity index maps and map products. The bill passed unanimously out of the Commerce Committee this morning by a voice vote and now heads to the full Senate floor for consideration. prgtoken Environmental sensitive index--or ESI--maps provide an inventory of our valuable natural and human-use resources along our coasts. These maps chronicle sensitive ecosystems and the presence of various species as they migrate through regions and habitats for threatened and endangered species. They also document where we can access coastal resources from beaches and parks to docks, ferries, and boat ramps. prgtoken We must maintain an up-to-date inventory of these precious coastal resources so that we know exactly where we need to focus our response efforts in a worst-case scenario of a harmful oil or chemical spill. Accurate documentation of these resources and their vulnerabilities is critical to both deploying the right response effort when a spill or accident occurs and assessing the damage and restoration efforts needed after the fact. prgtoken In places like the Straits of Mackinac, where a 64-year-old oil pipeline sits at the bottom of the lake bed, it should be our top priority to have a current inventory of what shoreline resources could be impacted by a pipeline leak. Models have shown that a pipeline spill in the Straits of Mackinac could likely result in oil reaching the shores of Mackinac Island within hours, which would be an absolute catastrophe for Michigan's top tourist attraction. prgtoken ESI maps don't just help with oilspill respon
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS DAY
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-8-2

for several years now I have regularly come to this floor to publicly acknowledge the contributions made by our great Federal employees. This is a tradition I inherited from one of our former colleagues, Senator Ted Kaufman of Delaware. Senator Kaufman, who had been a longtime staffer himself before he served as a Senator, would come to this floor on a regular basis to acknowledge and celebrate the tireless work and occasional heroics performed by many of our Federal employees. When Senator Kaufmann left this body, I gladly picked up that mantle and since then have come to the floor to draw attention to the extraordinary contributions of many of our Federal workers. prgtoken Over the past few years, this recognition has included a Social Security executive who eliminated a claims backlog to more quickly meet the urgent needs of thousands of Social Security recipients with grave terminal illnesses. We have also celebrated the work of a Department of Homeland Security official who saved taxpayers $750 million by streamlining her agency's procurement processes, and we proudly highlighted the work of a group of engineers at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, who, in 2010, designed a capsule that proved to be crucial in saving the lives of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground. prgtoken Too often, our Federal workers are disrespected and demeaned by those who would attempt to use them as scapegoats for all that is allegedly wrong here in Washington. In reality, thousands of our Nation's dedicated civil servants work tirelessly every day to make our government work for and by the people. prgtoken Today, I wish to focus for a moment on one such group of outstanding Federal employees--those who work across our Nation's intelligence agencies to keep our Nation safe. Most of these professionals work in anonymity. Many risk their lives far away from the limelight. That is how it should be, for they are sworn to secrecy, even from their families and loved ones. prgtoken Over the last decade and a half, our intelligence professionals have increasingly been deployed overseas into war zones and other high- threat environments. Regrettably, some have made the highest sacrifice--laying down their lives for their country. prgtoken For their service, the risks they take and the sacrifices they make every day and because they do not hear this nearly enough, let me say ``thank you'' to the intelligence community. prgtoken As a Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am proud to represent thousands of current and former members of the intelligence community who live, work, or retire in our great State. I am also proud to represent these individuals in my current capacity as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. prgtoken My colleagues and I on the committee have again submitted a resolution that marks July 26 as ``United States Intelligence Professionals Day.'' It was on that day 70
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-8-2

there are two reasons why every Member of the Senate should vote against confirming Marvin Kaplan to the NLRB. The first is that he is just not qualified. prgtoken The NLRB is the Federal agency that enforces our labor laws. It protects the rights of workers and the private sector to organize for better wages and better working conditions. It is up to them to make sure that their employers follow the law and that when there is an issue between employers and employees, everyone acts reasonably. prgtoken and s who have served on the NLRB have been the top labor and employment attorneys in their fields. They have had long careers working on labor issues, either as lawyers or as law professors. Many of them have spent time as staffers on the NLRB board. In other words, they understand the labor issues better than anyone. They may have a unique perspective on it one way or the other--sort of pro-management or pro-labor--but there is no question that previous nominees and previous members of the Board know labor law. prgtoken Marvin Kaplan doesn't fit this profile. He is not a lawyer with any relevant labor experience. He has no record and no public positions on relevant labor law. What he is is a well-connected Capitol Hill staffer. His only qualification, that I can find, is that he has drafted some legislation for a committee in the House of Representatives. That does not stack up against the resumes of any other member who has served on the Board-- or . prgtoken This lack of experience is dangerous. It means he will not know the intricacies and the historical development of labor law. He will simply be a rubberstamp who brings a political agenda to the Board, because he has no on-the-record opinions on these issues of his own. prgtoken That was clear from the hearing on his nomination, when he would not properly commit to recuse himself from any issues he had worked on and to approach issues with an open mind, which brings me to the second reason. If somehow Senators can make an excuse for his lack of experience, we can't prgtoken deny that this is the opposite of the message that Congress should have received during the 2016 election. prgtoken In November, Americans made clear that Washington had failed working families and that we have not done enough to stand up for American workers. prgtoken Now here we are about to confirm a nominee to the NLRB, and the only experience he has is that he has drafted legislation to hurt American workers. prgtoken The Board is about to face some important decisions. They could reverse a decision that holds big companies accountable for how their contractors treat workers. The future of American workers and their ability to organize will be influenced by this Board, which includes any members confirmed by the Senate. prgtoken If Mr. Kaplan is appointed, it will further silence workers who already feel that they aren't being heard i
TRADE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-8-2

. Finally, , on the issue of trade, according to reports, the administration is preparing an open investigation into China's trade practices, focusing on economic espionage and the theft of intellectual property. prgtoken I certainly applaud the sentiment. I have been decrying for years how the Chinese have been taking advantage of us in a way that has sent trillions of dollars of American wealth to China and millions of jobs to China so we should certainly go after them. The problem is, we don't need another investigation to know what China is up to. That is what the President called for: Let's investigate--another investigation. prgtoken It is clear what China is up to. By dumping counterfeit and artificially cheap goods into our markets, denying U.S. companies fair access to its markets, and relentlessly stealing and exporting intellectual property of U.S. companies, China, as I said, has robbed the U.S. economy of trillions of dollars and caused the loss of millions of good-paying U.S. jobs. prgtoken Estimates by our own government--already made estimates; we don't need a study, President --pin the cost of cyber espionage alone at $400 billion a year to the U.S. economy--$400 billion a year, and 90 percent of it comes from China's Government. This is not a benign process. This is not some rogue company. This is the Chinese Government. prgtoken Here is what our four-star general, Keith Alexander, the former Director of the National Security Agency and commander of the U.S. Cyber Command said. He called the loss of industrial information and IP through cyber theft ``the greatest transfer of wealth in history''--the greatest transfer of wealth in history. prgtoken That pains me--this country, with its entrepreneurial vigor, with its acceptance of people from all corners of the globe for centuries to go work hard and create good things, China is stealing it. They are not doing it on their own. Every American, when they hear that statement, it should make them cringe. It makes me cringe almost every day. prgtoken Those are the facts. So I would say to President : We don't need another study that takes months and months to complete while no action is taken. We need a plan of action now. prgtoken Unfortunately, this is what the administration is doing on all issues of trade. They really talked tough on the issue of steel and aluminum dumping. As someone who has aluminum plants in the State up there in Massena--Alcoa--and all along Lake Ontario--what used to be called Alcan is now called Novelis--I know the issue of aluminum dumping. It hurts jobs in my State. The President early on talked tough, tweeted tough on illegal steel dumping, illegal aluminum dumping, but it is 7 months into this administration, and we are still reviewing its effects on our economy. prgtoken The administration failed to secure any deal with China in a number of forums, and they continue to delay on action th
CONFIRMATION OF CHRISTOPHER WRAY
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-8-2

I wish to voice my support for Christopher Wray's confirmation to be the next Director of the FBI. After meeting with Mr. Wray and reviewing his record, I believe he possesses the independence and integrity necessary to lead the Bureau through this tumultuous period. prgtoken This vacancy arose because President abruptly fired then- Director James Comey. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Comey's firing are alarming and suspicious. Mr. Comey testified under oath that the President not only demanded his personal loyalty on numerous occasions but also intimated that Mr. Comey should stop investigating then- National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Russian interference in the 2016 elections. prgtoken Mr. Wray will face numerous challenges as the new Director of the FBI. He will have to deal with a President who has shown a complete disregard for traditional protocols designed to ensure the agency's independence. During our meeting, Mr. Wray assured me that he would remain independent from the President and would reject any attempts by President to inappropriately intervene in the work of the FBI. prgtoken During our meeting, I also impressed upon Mr. Wray the importance of consolidating the FBI's staff in one building. The FBI has long outgrown its current space and the building is deteriorating, which compromises the agency's mission. I look forward to working with him to give FBI personnel the facilities they deserve. prgtoken As Mr. Wray takes his position, he will need to work immediately to affirm the FBI's independence and restore the confidence of an agency shaken by the President's inappropriate conduct with respect to Mr. Comey and other matters. This Congress must conduct vigorous oversight to ensure that Mr. Wray maintains the high standard of integrity that he has promised and to respond to any attempts by the President or his political advisors to exert undue influence at the FBI. I pledge to do everything I can to support his important mission and the vital work of the FBI.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Continued (Executive Session)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-8-2

for months the American people have been gripped by the sideshow surrounding President . It seems like every day another shoe drops on the Russia investigation, another White House staffer is fired, and President tweets something that upends the government and causes our allies to move even further away from us. prgtoken Despite all of this commotion, all of the drama, and all of the disorganization, there is one thing that and the s in Congress have carried out since day one with complete precision. They have carried out a comprehensive all-out assault on American workers. Day by day, week by week, month by month, President and congressional s have acted to undermine the safety and economic security of hardworking Americans. prgtoken Just observe what they have done. On December 8, President nominated Andrew Puzder, who was then CEO of fast food giants Hardee's and Carl's Jr to lead the Department of Labor. That is right. His first major announcement affecting workers was to nominate a man who made his fortune on the backs of hard-working Americans to the top position in government charged with protecting American workers. prgtoken On February 1, just days after he was inaugurated, President delayed a rule protecting workers from workplace exposure to a lethal cancer-causing substance called beryllium. On February 3, President stood with big bank CEOs to announce an Executive order to make it easier for investment advisers to cheat hard-working Americans out of $17 billion a year in retirement savings. On March 1, the administration delayed the rule protecting workers from lethal cancer- causing beryllium a second time. On March 6, congressional s followed the directive of big business lobbyists and voted to make it easier for government contractors to steal wages from their employees. On March 16, President released his budget blueprint, proposing to slash funding for the Labor Department, whose job is to stand for American workers, by 21 percent. On March 22, congressional s voted to make it easier for employers to hide injuries and deaths that their workers suffer on the job. On March 24, the administration delayed a rule that required mine operators to conduct safety inspections and tell miners about any hazardous conditions they discovered before the workers go into the mines. On March 30, congressional s voted to block cities from offering retirement accounts to more than 2 million employees who don't have access to a retirement account at work. On April 4, President delayed the rule preventing investment advisers from cheating hard- working Americans out of their retirement savings. This 60-day delay alone cost Americans an estimated $3.7 billion. On April 6, the administration delayed a rule protecting construction workers from deadly silica poisonings. On May 3
TRIBUTE TO MARY ALICE McKENZIE
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-8-2

it is a privilege for each of us to represent our constituents, and it is a great honor to be able to recognize the contributions many of them make to our communities at home. On this occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mary Alice McKenzie, a fixture in the Burlington, VT, community. Ms. McKenzie has served as the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington since 2007, and during her tenure at the club, she has had a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of Vermont children. The community is grateful for her service. prgtoken Ms. McKenzie comes from a business and legal background--a nontraditional path to her current position that provided her with a unique set of skills. Mary Alice began her work at the Boys & Girls Club after serving as the chief executive officer of McKenzie Meats from 1985 to 2000. She then spent several years in the Vermont State college system as general counsel and served with the law firm Paul Frank & Collins before taking over at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington in 2007. prgtoken At the Boys & Girls Club, Mary Alice has focused her efforts on education. When she realized how few club kids were going on to higher education, she enacted the Early Promise program, which targets children at a young age who may need additional academic services and then provides college scholarships to older youth. As of today, the scholarship fund has investments totaling $2.3 million from which to draw. In a short time, the club hopes to be able to help 60 Burlington children achieve their academic goals in high school and beyond. prgtoken The Boys & Girls Club plays an important role in the lives of more than 1,000 Burlington children. Aside from the academic services, the club also works to ensure a safe and stable community for its young members. When Ms. McKenzie began hearing reports of suspected drug use occurring in a park across the street from the club, she assembled a task force of local law enforcement officials, social workers, and policymakers to work towards a solution that would ensure the safety of club kids. The Boys & Girls Club expanded activities in the park and eventually took over use of an old storage building which is now an academic center. prgtoken Ms. McKenzie has also focused her efforts on children who have experienced trauma. Under her leadership, the club has started a program to help children deal with the issues that stem from trauma at a young age. Their goal is to create stability for children whose home lives may be turbulent due to issues such as homelessness and addiction. These are profoundly difficult situations for youth to handle, and the efforts of the staff at the Boys & Girls Club are surely appreciated. prgtoken These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Not only is Ms. McKenzie beloved by members of the club who tell stories of her kindness and generosity, but in 2014, Ms. McKenzie was granted Champ
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-8-2

. Thank you, . prgtoken I rise to speak in opposition to the nomination of Marvin Kaplan to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Kaplan has spent much of his career as a staff member in Congress, where he worked to undermine unions and the rights of workers to bargain collectively. prgtoken A key role of the National Labor Relations Board is to preserve the right of workers to bargain collectively. The Board itself is charged with enforcing the National Labor Relations Act, which Congress passed in 1935 in the depths of the Great Depression. The act gave workers the right to join unions, and it encouraged and promoted collective bargaining as a way to set wages and settle disputes over working conditions. prgtoken This law that passed in the 1930s--and is still in effect today--is not simply a benefit to workers; it also benefits businesses, and it also benefits the economy. Section 1 of the act says, in pertinent part: ``The inequality of bargaining power between employees . . . and employers . . . substantially burdens and affects the flow of commerce, and tends to aggravate recurrent business depressions, by depressing wage rates and the purchasing power of wage earners.'' prgtoken There are a lot of important words there. When you have inequality of bargaining power, the findings of the Congress at the time said that would burden and affect the flow of commerce. So that tells you the impact on commerce. It also says that when you have inequality of bargaining power, that aggravates business depressions, and the result of that is depressing wages and depressing purchasing power. prgtoken Everyone here knows that when we are measuring the American economy today--I am sure this has been true for many generations but especially today--the consumer plays a substantial role in our economy. So if that consumer, that worker has lower wages, that is not good for anyone. So giving workers the right to both organize and collectively bargain allows them to demand higher wages, thereby increasing their incomes and that purchasing power which is so critically important. That, in turn, of course, increases consumption and demand for goods, which, of course, increases production and employment. So all of these are tied together. Wages and benefits affect the economy, not just the worker and his or her family. prgtoken I believe there is now a concerning trend to weaken the National Labor Relations Act and to tilt the Board against workers. Mr. Kaplan's nomination is another sign of this disconnect between the rhetoric of the administration claiming to be pro-worker and its actions that are of late anything but pro-worker. The administration claims it is here to support workers, but at every turn, we have nominees who have spent their careers working in the opposite direction. prgtoken We know that in the 1950s and 1960s, the economy worked well for working Americans because 35 percent of