mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE SERVICE OF ARTHUR RADFORD BAKER, JR.
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-12-21

I rise to commemorate a distinguished public servant, and one of the ``dedicated men and women of law enforcement.'' Mr. Arthur Radford Baker, Jr will retire from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on December 31 of this year, after 30 years of service. prgtoken During his tenure at the FBI, Art has served in various capacities. He has led colleagues as a supervisor on counterintelligence and espionage matters out of the Baltimore Field Office, using sophisticated investigative techniques straight out of Hollywood spy thrillers. He has investigated organized crime, including La Cosa Nostra and Asian and Russian syndicates, out of the Detroit Field Office. Art even attained the highest marksmanship award the Bureau has to offer, qualifying for his name to be enshrined on a wall at Quantico as part of the FBI's elite ``Possible Club.'' In large part, though, it has been Art's service to our country as a Congressional detailee that stands out as one his fondest memories, including many legislative successes to which he contributed that are now memorialized and framed as ``redlines'' of passed laws. prgtoken Art served faithfully for nearly 3 years as a detailee from the FBI to the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. During his tenure, Art was a consistently reliable and capable staffer and legal counsel, and a great colleague. He was particularly beloved by our departed colleague and friend, the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman Howard Coble. prgtoken In his work at the Judiciary Committee, Art staffed Chairman Lamar Smith and Subcommittee Chairman Coble for a multitude of assignments, including issues that spanned a spectrum of pressing matters, including Patriot Act hearings and legislation on child exploitation and trafficking. Art was a dedicated, crucial staffer upon whom Members could rely. prgtoken After returning to the FBI, Art served with distinction in the Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA). His service in OCA spanned a transitional era in American history, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the espionage leaks of Robert Hanssen, and the resulting reformulation of the FBI. Through it all, Art was a vital cog in our nation's premier law enforcement agency, and a steadfast friend to the Judiciary Committee. It is often said in Washington that legislating is the ``art'' of the possible. How appropriate that we say that today. prgtoken Throughout his career, Art Baker has been a loyal public servant. For years, my staff has relied on his insight, his wise counsel, and his consistent ability to make us laugh. Many marvel at his various skills and interests, earning him a legitimate moniker as a ``Renaissance Man.'' We expect that the forthcoming stage of his life in retirement will not be any less varied or adventurous. prgtoken I salute Art for his many years of distinguished service.
HONORING THE LIFE OF GILBERTO F. OLIVA, SR.
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-12-21

today I rise to recognize the life of the premium cigar patriarch, Mr. Gilberto Oliva, founder of Oliva Cigar Co. Gilberto passed away peacefully in a hospital in South Miami on Saturday, December 16, 2017, surrounded by his family and close friends. prgtoken As a young tobacco farmer in Cuba, Gilberto built his endeavors on the blueprint of the American Dream. As an early adult, he moved from his family farm to pursue tobacco trading. The growing conflict under the Cuban dictatorship forced Mr. Oliva to flee to Nicaragua where he became a pioneer in tobacco cultivation. prgtoken While Nicaragua was his home, Gilberto's business grew all over the world, including Honduras, Mexico and the Philippines. His product quickly became known around the world for its quality. In 1995, he established his own brand of cigar, and in 2006, he launched the Oliva Serie V, which Cigar Aficionado Magazine named Cigar of the Year in 2014. prgtoken In early 2016, Mr. Oliva was honored by the Asociacion Nicaraguense de Tabacaleros, the Nicaraguan Tobacco Association, with a lifetime achievement award. Yet for all his many successes, he never forgot his roots. He yearned for a free Cuba, and he instilled in his children a respect for personal responsibility and hard work. prgtoken Gilberto is succeeded by his wife Carmen, his five children-- including my former colleague and friend, Florida House Representative Jose Oliva--and his fourteen grandchildren. prgtoken , on behalf of the United States Congress, I want to recognize the life of Gilberto F. Oliva. He was a great man, a world leader in the field of cigar manufacturing, and the patriarch of a wonderful family.
TAX CUTS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-12-21

I rise today in light of the passage of once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-generation tax relief for millions of middle-income families, including the vast majority in my district. prgtoken Some, however, are not satisfied with cutting taxes for every income level and are unnerved at the thought of seeing more money in their own monthly paycheck. prgtoken I am here to tell those people today that there is a very simple solution to their problem. prgtoken As you can see here--outlined on page 92 of the IRS handbook, those individuals who feel right now that they are undertaxed and want to pay more of their income to the U.S. Government can do exactly that. When filing their income tax return, one can simply include a check payable to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. prgtoken The best part is they can help pay down the debt without raising taxes on everyone else--America's hardworking families who deserve a tax break. prgtoken So just a reminder, no one is stopping those who are feeling undertaxed from paying as much additional money to the government that they would like. I am sure Uncle Sam would appreciate the Christmas present. prgtoken So don't complain about what your neighbor is paying. If you are feeling guilty about it, when you have the opportunity, feel free. Send it in.
HONORING KEVIN LYNCH
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-12-21

I rise today to honor a dear friend, Kevin Lynch, who, following a five-year battle with cancer, passed away this past week. prgtoken Kevin was a great Hoosier, a public servant, a tremendous leader, and a tireless advocate in advancing southeastern Indiana. He served as Dearborn County Commissioner and as the president of the Ohio-Kentucky- Indiana Regional Council of Governments. prgtoken Kevin was a giant Reds fan and a loyal friend with a positive spirit, quick with a smile and an encouraging word. prgtoken Kevin served Lawrenceburg and Dearborn County with pride, but his most important priority was his family. He was the loving husband to Mary Jo (Joey) for 27 years and the proud father of Michael. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Lynch family and all those who knew Kevin. prgtoken Congratulations to my good friend Kevin on a tremendous life well- lived. prgtoken Godspeed.
FURTHER SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-12-21

let me first thank the chairman of the committee for his spectacular work on this bill. prgtoken Look, this bill provides much-needed relief and resources to Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, California, and Puerto Rico. I have heard a lot in this debate, but let's be very clear. This bill treats Florida, the folks in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and California exactly the same--exactly the same. prgtoken Significant portions, , of my district were hit hard by Hurricane Irma. Communities are still working to get back on their feet, communities like Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Plantation Island, Immokalee, and Montura Ranch. prgtoken This bill helps meet our Federal obligation to ensure the full, appropriate Federal commitment is there for long-term recovery. prgtoken , for highways, this bill funds repairs for the 2017 storms and clears the backlog of prior years. prgtoken On the housing side, this bill provides $26.1 billion for Community Development Block Grants. Of that, $13.6 billion is provided to meet all remaining unmet housing, business, and infrastructure needs for those hurricanes, and, yes, that includes the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. prgtoken The remaining $12.5 billion is provided for mitigation grants, again, also to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Florida and California and Texas. All of those are treated exactly the same. So, again, these grants provide resources to our communities so that they can rebuild. prgtoken Additionally, I am pleased that $3.8 billion is allocated for the Department of Agriculture. This will go a long way to help those affected, those farmers, like the ag industry and the citrus industry in the State of Florida. prgtoken So, again, I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on this important supplemental. prgtoken I once again want to thank the chairman, Chairman Frelinghuysen, for his leadership, for his courage, for bringing forward a good bill that helps the folks in our country and that treats everybody equally, equitably, and fairly.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF ROBERT ``BOB'' WILMERS
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-12-21

today, we remember the life of Robert ``Bob'' Wilmers, a visionary, successful business man, loving father and husband, who passed away this past Saturday. prgtoken In 1983, he became Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank and held those positions until his recent passing. Under his leadership, M&T grew from $2 Billion to $120 Billion in assets in 35 years. He saw the bank's reach grow from Buffalo to Maryland and the D.C. area, as well as Pennsylvania. Through it all, he never lost touch with his customers. prgtoken Bob's annual letters to shareholders were legendary and he was critical of over regulation that hurt regional banks. prgtoken His even handed, steady analysis will be missed. In addition to his successful career, Bob shared a deep commitment to the city of Buffalo, New York through his charitable giving and service to the community. prgtoken He was fiercely loyal to his work and bettering the community, an example we can all learn from. I extend my condolences to his family and friends. He leaves a large void that will be felt for years to come.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Kevin Brady (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-21

I want to take a moment to reiterate the importance of dynamic scoring as part of the tax legislative process. prgtoken Ever since 1996, when the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation began to investigate how best to apply macroeconomic analysis to tax legislation, Congressional scorekeepers have continued to hone their expertise and produce ever more sophisticated analyses of various tax reforms. All of this hard work culminated in 2015 when macroeconomic analysis, commonly known as ``dynamic scoring,'' was formally adopted in the House of Representatives for the purposes of official cost estimates for major legislation. prgtoken Ever since the formal adoption of dynamic scoring, first in the House and later in the Senate, the goal has been to produce pro-growth tax reform that was informed by the dynamic scoring process. Although a dynamic estimate was not used for official scoring purposes with respect to H.R. 1 due to constraints in the reconciliation process, macroeconomic analysis will be critical to major legislative efforts in the years ahead. It is important that members of Congress be informed by non-partisan analysis about whether legislation under consideration would shrink or grow the economy as well as how that change in growth would affect the nation's finances and, most importantly, the American people.
HONORING MR. SAM POLLAK
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-12-21

it is with great respect that I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Mr. Sam Pollak on the occasion of his retirement. Mr. Pollak is retiring after 20 years of dedicated service to the Oneonta and Otsego County community as editor of the Oneonta Daily Star. prgtoken Having worked for decades in newsrooms throughout the Nation, Mr. Pollak brought many years of experience and a proactive leadership to The Daily Star. prgtoken I thank Mr. Pollak for his commitment to the people of the State of New York, and I wish him and his wife, Julie, every happiness as they embark upon this new chapter in life.
VETERANS HEALTHCARE
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-12-21

I am glad to join my colleague Senator Tester from Montana on the floor for a discussion of our Veterans' Affairs, our accomplishments over the last 3 years and our challenges for the future. prgtoken I want to start out my part of the conversation by saying this. Three years ago, the Veterans' Administration was making big headlines. Those headlines were that they weren't working well, our veterans were waiting too long for care, there were failures in our system throughout, and people were looking for an alternative to the VA system because it was in such a quagmire. Thanks to the work of our committee, which the Presiding Officer today is one of those members, we set out to fix a lot of the problems. No. 1 was the hospital in Denver, which is 40 percent finished. It was 3 years behind, and we closed in. That hospital is open today and operating because the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the Senate buckled its shoes, got to work, got the VA fixed, and got the hospital finished. prgtoken The most challenging thing we faced were long wait times for appointments for our veterans and veterans' services for healthcare. It was longer than 30 days just for a routine appointment, sometimes being as long as 6 months to wait, and sometimes they were dying before they got called up from the waiting list, which happened in the Arizona case in Phoenix. prgtoken We had some tragic stories that came through. Our committee came together and said: We are going to fix this. We are going to put our shoulders to the grindstone, we are going to work out hard, and we are going to make it happen. Like always, fixing anything requires one element, and that is hard work. prgtoken This Committee has worked hard-- and s alike. They have been willing to get the new Secretary, Secretary Shulkin, confirmed. To all of his aides--Tom Bowman, who has been a great aide to our committee for a long time, and now is a direct aide to the Secretary. The committee has asked: What is it we need to do to get it fixed? prgtoken We started out this year with 11 bills introduced for the Veterans' Administration improvements in terms of healthcare. Ten of those eleven have passed. There is one left. We are going to have a perfect 11-for- 11 year, if we get the votes before the end of this year, we get the CARE bill passed for our veterans, but even if that doesn't make it, we have dealt with long waiting lines for determination of benefits for the VA. Those long waiting lines are beginning to dissipate. prgtoken We don't have hospitals being shut down because they can't be finished. We have CBOCs being opened because they are being finished. We don't have near as many cases of horror stories in a VA health facility because the facilities are being run better. prgtoken Do we have problems? Sure, we have problems. Anytime you have the second largest agency of the Federal Government--which the VA health system is--you are g
CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2017 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-12-21

I rise this evening to call up and adopt a resolution recognizing this year's NCAA champions in women's volleyball--the Huskers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This is the program's fifth national championship and second title in 3 years. prgtoken During the NCAA tournament, Nebraska played remarkably well, winning 18 sets and finishing on a 19-match winning streak. They were so fun to watch. prgtoken The entire team contributed to the outstanding victory, and I want to acknowledge their extraordinary effort: Annika Albrecht, Mikaela Foecke, Hunter Atherton, Hayley Densberger, Allie Havers, Briana Holman, Kenzie Maloney, Kelly Hunter, Chesney McClellan, Sami Slaughter, Lauren Stivrins, Jazz Sweet, Anezka Szabo, and Sydney Townsend all had their hard work pay off and they worked together to win a championship. prgtoken The Nebraska coaches worked hard, helped train our athletes, and strategized this championship run. prgtoken Head coach John Cook won his fourth national champion as a Husker head coach. He was joined by assistant coach Tyler Hildebrand, assistant coach Kayla Banwarth, volunteer assistant coach Ryan Coomes, director of operations Lindsay Peterson, video coordinator Kelly O'Connor, and graduate managers Joe Klein, John Henry, and Bre Mackie. Together, as a team, they guided that outstanding group of women to another national championship. These coaches have created a foundation and a winning tradition--winning the national championship in front of a record-setting crowd of Husker fans--the best fans in college football. Nebraskans couldn't be more proud of this volleyball team and the coaching staff. prgtoken The Huskers won this national championship the Nebraska way--with hard work, sportsmanship, and determination. They deserve to be saluted by the Senate, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution and recognize their outstanding accomplishment. prgtoken I congratulate them on their victory and know they will continue to be great role models to girls and athletes everywhere. prgtoken Thank you. prgtoken .
BUDGETARY REVISIONS
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-12-21

. Mr President, section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, BBEDCA, establishes statutory limits on discretionary spending and allows for various adjustments to those limits, while sections 302 and 314(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 allow the chairman of the Budget Committee to establish and make revisions to allocations, aggregates, and levels consistent with those adjustments. The Senate is considering the House Amendment to H.R. 1370, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, which provides emergency funding for national security accounts. prgtoken This legislation includes language that increases security discretionary budget authority by $4,686 million this year and designates it as emergency funding pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(1) of BBEDCA. CBO estimates that this budget authority will increase discretionary outlays by $803 million in 2018. prgtoken As a result of the aforementioned designations, I am revising the allocation to the Committee on Appropriations by increasing the revised security budget authority limit by $4,686 million and outlays by $803 million this year. Further, I am increasing the budgetary aggregates for 2018 by those same amounts. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying tables, which provide details about the adjustment, be printed in the Record.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYDRAULIC INSTITUTE
John J. Duncan, Jr. (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-12-21

almost every member of Congress says a need in their district is more good jobs. Good business people that provide good jobs are not recognized enough. That is why I rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and pay tribute to the exceptional role that pump manufacturers have played in improving the delivery of water to American homes, American industry and American agriculture over the past century. Today, pump systems touch the lives of every American and the Hydraulic Institute has a central role in developing the policies and standards needed for safe, reliable and efficient pump operations. prgtoken On April 18, 1917, the nation's leading pump manufacturers met in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago for the purpose of forming a trade association that would ``promote friendship and cooperation among manufacturers in improving overall pump performance.'' The Hydraulic Institute provides the technical expertise required to set pump standards that reflect the evolving priorities of society. prgtoken In recent years, energy efficiency has emerged as a national priority and the Hydraulic Institute has worked closely with the United States Department of Energy to improve the efficiency of pumping systems. These systems now account for over 20 percent of domestic electrical energy use and the standards, laboratory testing and labelling advanced by the Hydraulic Institute will ultimately save consumers and businesses billions of dollars. prgtoken Pumping systems protect our communities from flooding and fires, deliver drinking water to our homes, irrigate our farms and bring water and fuel to American manufacturers. prgtoken As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Clean Water Caucus, I am keenly aware of the role that pump manufacturers play in providing safe, clean, affordable water to our citizens. It is my honor to stand today to acknowledge the 100th Anniversary of the Hydraulic Institute and to wish their continued success in advancing standards that improve the lives of every American.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-12-21

I rise in support of the provision within this legislation that would authorize and appropriate $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice Program. prgtoken Choice was created by Congress in 2014, following a nationwide Department of Veterans Affairs access and accountability crisis. Make no mistake about it: Choice has certainly not been without its faults in the last 3 years; however, the program has also resulted in millions of veterans receiving care they otherwise would have had to wait longer or travel further for--or maybe not receive at all. prgtoken Absent passage of this provision, the Choice Program is expected to run out of money in early 2018, which could jeopardize the care that veterans across the country are receiving in their communities. This is totally unacceptable. prgtoken The committee has been working diligently to create a permanent care in the community program to replace and improve upon Choice. In fact, I was proud to introduce H.R. 4242, the VA Care in the Community Act, last month. That legislation was favorably reported out of my committee just this week, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on community care reform. In the meantime, we cannot allow the care our veterans receive in the community through the Choice Program to be jeopardized by lack of funding. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter Secretary Shulkin sent me earlier this month. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, December 12, 2017. Hon. David P. Roe, M.D Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear : I write to raise issues for your consideration regarding the financial status of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP), established by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, Public Law 113-146, as amended (Choice Act). Current projections indicate that VCP could be unable to create new referrals or authorizations within several weeks. Without additional funding before the end of the year, there will be a dramatic impact on the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide care to Veterans. As of December 7, 2017, VA has approximately $490 million in VCP funds remaining, once December obligations of approximately $300 million and reserve funding of approximately $300 million are accounted for. The average spend rate of VCP funds ranges from $200-$400 million per month, with the possibility that unexpected obligations would push this above and beyond the reserves. As a result, we believe we have 3 to 5 weeks of funds left, which could change based on Veteran utilization. Nearly 1.9 million unique Veterans have sought care through VCP since its implementation. VA has focused on improving VCP through streamlined bu