mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BROADER OPTIONS FOR AMERICANS ACT
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-2-14

I want to speak about our immigration debate and my amendment in particular, but first let me say we are going to find out just how serious our colleagues are about granting not just legal status to the Dreamers--people who came to this country or were brought here illegally when they were children and couldn't and shouldn't be held accountable for that action. The proposal that will be available for a vote later this week will not just grant legal status but will actually grant a path to citizenship. prgtoken It goes well beyond the illegal Executive order President issued, and it will be available to far more people than those who took up President 's illegal Executive order. It is really going to be an extraordinary moment. I hope we are able to reach an agreement on this because I think this needs to get done. prgtoken , I want to first address an amendment I have offered that is now up and pending--and I think we will be voting on it at some point this week--which is all about keeping our communities safer by addressing the terrible problem of sanctuary cities. This is a problem that one father in particular knows all too well. prgtoken On July 1 of 2015, Jim Steinle was walking arm in arm with his daughter Kate on a pier in San Francisco. Suddenly, a gunman sprang out and opened fire, hitting Kate. She pleaded, ``Help me, Dad,'' as she bled to death in her father's arms. prgtoken Now, any murder is appalling, but one of the things that makes this even more appalling is that the shooter should never have been on the pier that day. The fact is, he was an illegal immigrant who had been convicted of seven felonies and had been deported five times, but even more galling is, 3 months before the day he murdered Kate Steinle, this murderer was in the custody of the San Francisco Police Department. They had him. He was in custody. They had him on an old warrant for a previous crime. prgtoken When the Department of Homeland Security found out that the San Francisco Police Department had this guy in custody, they immediately reached out and said: Hold this guy until we can get someone there to take him into custody. We know he is dangerous, we know he is here illegally, and we want to get him out of this country, but the San Francisco Police couldn't provide that minimal cooperation. Instead, they released this man back onto the streets from which, 3 months later, he murdered young Kate Steinle. prgtoken Why would the police of San Francisco do a thing like that? Why in the world would they refuse to provide this minimal cooperation with immigration authorities with respect to a dangerous individual? The reason is because San Francisco is a sanctuary city. That means it has as its explicit legal policy a prohibition that forbids their police from cooperating with Federal immigration officials, even if the police want to. It extends to other law enforcement, like sheriffs and d
BROADER OPTIONS FOR AMERICANS ACT
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-2-14

I am pleased to come and talk today. prgtoken This is a week where we had all anticipated a return to the Senate, where ideas are widely debated. I was standing by the majority leader last week when he was talking about this, and he said that we will let a thousand flowers bloom. It didn't sound like something Senator McConnell would normally use as a reference, but he did, and I am thinking, well, that would be a good thing, to see a thousand different ideas widely debated on the Senate floor. prgtoken So far this week, there has not been any debate because we can't seem to agree on who votes on what first. I think that is a particular level of dysfunction that we should all be concerned about. For the Senate to do its work, we have to be willing to vote and we have to be willing to take some hard votes. My sense of politics today is, whether you have taken the vote or not, someone is going to accuse you of taking that vote. So you might as well not worry about the vote you take; just worry about the work we get done and whatever votes are necessary to be taken to get that done. prgtoken On this topic, it does seem to me that we have two issues here that should be solved, two issues on which there is broad agreement. I have said for a long time that there are really three questions in the immigration debate that need to be answered: No. 1, how do we secure the border; No. 2, what are the legitimate workforce needs of the country; and No. 3, what do we do with people who came and stayed illegally? prgtoken As we think about securing the border, by the way, half the people who are in the country illegally came legally and just stayed. So it is not all a border issue, but it clearly is partly and significantly a border issue. prgtoken One of the things that people expect a government to be able to do is to secure its own borders. Often, when we hear a story of a country somewhere in the world in which the government has disintegrated and is no longer in control of the country, one of the first things that are mentioned by people talking about that dysfunctional government is that they don't control their own borders. It truly is a legitimate expectation of a functioning government that you control your own borders. It is also a legitimate expectation of government that you look at prgtoken your economy and you look at what workforce needs you have that aren't being met and figure out the best way to meet those workforce needs. prgtoken In this debate, because we haven't controlled our borders and because we haven't kept track of people who legally crossed our borders and as a result, we have some number of people--usually the estimate is about 11 million people in the country--who are not here legally, what do we do with those people? prgtoken My view has always been that if the government met its primary responsibility, which is an immigration system that works, the American people would be very fo
RECOGNIZING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BUCKS COUNTY
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-2-14

I rise today to recognize the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County, which has served tens of thousands of kids in our community since its founding in 1963. prgtoken The Bucks County chapter is unique. Since 2015, they have piloted an expansion of their mentorship program, which pairs elementary schools with high school mentors to include children with autism spectrum disorder. This tailored program caters to the students' unique needs, providing these children with two specially trained high school mentors rather than one to ensure a greater level of stability. prgtoken The program has been so successful that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County is now looking to expand it. Their community mentorship program matches at-risk youth ages 6 to 16 with volunteer mentors. This program provides caring adult role models who consistently spend time with their ``littles'' to help them make good choices so that they may become productive, responsible, and engaged young adults. prgtoken I want to highlight the story of John Wilson, the board president and an individual who himself benefited from Big Brothers Big Sisters. John's father passed away when he was 5. He was matched with a big brother when he was 12 at a point when, in his own words, he was at a significant risk of heading in the wrong direction. He credits his mentor with having a profound impact on his life, without whom his life could have turned out very differently, in John's words. prgtoken John graduated from college, enjoyed a successful career, and now gives back as president of the board. John is still in contact with his big brother and working hard to pay back the investment made in him years ago. To all those involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters, including John, we thank you for your work in helping our youth in Bucks County. Save Stone Meadows Farm
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF SARAH JANECEK
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-2-14

I rise today to recognize and thank Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson for his incredible 31 years of service to the people of Minnesota. In Jim's three-plus decades on the force, Sheriff Olson oversaw some of Carver County's most exciting and turbulent times. prgtoken When the Ryder Cup was held in Chaska, Minnesota, in 2016, Jim managed safety operations and maintained a family-friendly environment for everyone. After the passing of Minnesota legend Prince, Jim ensured that Paisley Park in Carver County remained a safe place for Prince's fans to mourn. prgtoken Jim has dedicated his life to Carver County, serving as an instructor of the Carver County Citizens Academy to inform the public about the services and role of the sheriff's office. Impressively, he also serves as a member of the Carver County Mental Health Consortium to spread awareness of mental health resources. He has been a faithful, selfless servant leader to the citizens of Carver County. prgtoken Sheriff Olson, thank you for your service. We wish you the best in your retirement. Recognizing Outstanding Businessman Butch Ames
BROADER OPTIONS FOR AMERICANS ACT
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-2-14

I rise to talk about the topic of the week. prgtoken Although some of us have been working on this for some time, many of us in this body have actually been addressing this for over the last 20 years or so. I am new to this body, as I have only been here a few years, but, last year I got involved in this. We are dealing with the immigration issue today, not just the DACA issue. prgtoken Our current immigration system is outdated, threatens our national security, and does not meet the needs of our economy. The issue before the Senate this week is not just about DACA, which is but one manifestation of our broken immigration policies. Rather, President , while offering a generous solution for DACA recipients, has proposed a broader solution to our legal immigration system that will ensure that we are not back here in just a few short years to deal with this same problem again. Over the past 11 years, Congress has failed to fix our broken immigration system three times, primarily because it has attempted to solve the entire situation, the comprehensive problem, which would be the legal situation, the temporary work visa problems, and then the illegal situation. prgtoken The Secure and Succeed Act only deals with our legal immigration policy. From the onset of these negotiations, President has been consistent with what he has wanted as part of any immigration deal that deals with the legal immigration system. Months ago, he gave us a clean framework. He said that any plan that didn't fit that framework would never become law. The Secure and Succeed Act, which we are dealing with this week, is the only plan that actually fits that framework. It is the only plan the President has said he will sign into law. The framework that has been laid out by President has four parts. prgtoken First, it provides a solution for the DACA situation and ends the program. It does so in a compassionate, responsible way that every Senator on the other side of the aisle should support and has supported at various times. President went out of his way to reach across the aisle to the when he expanded the population that was being discussed in the DACA situation, and he actually talked about providing long-term certainty for this population group. prgtoken Second, this bill secures our borders with additional border security and a wall where required. It puts $25 billion in a trust fund toward border security and a wall system. This money would be spent over the next few years to provide better national security for our country's borders. It ends policies like catch and release, which encourage more illegal immigration. It makes critical changes to the immigration court system to clear out backlogs, expedite court hearings, and give law enforcement the resources it needs to do its job properly. prgtoken Third, this bill fixes the flaws in the current immigration system that spurred this DACA
HONORING COUNCILMAN JIM BAYMAN
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-2-14

I rise today to recognize Whitley County Councilman Jim Bayman. For 36 years, Councilman Bayman has represented all or parts of Washington, Cleveland, Jefferson and Columbia Townships. I had the honor of serving with Councilman Bayman in 2009 and 2010, and I saw firsthand the positive influence he has had on the people of his district and our County. Councilman Bayman is hard-working, honest and a caring public servant. I wish him the best as he begins the next chapter of his life. Whitley County will miss his leadership and commitment to public service.
TRID IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017
Jeb Hensarling (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-2-14

the balance of my time. prgtoken , once again, I want to hear the voices of hardworking Americans, not just Washington, D.C letterhead groups. prgtoken We heard from a community banker, who said: A local union member wanted to refinance his primary residence. He was currently laid off due to the winter season. His tax return showed he was generally laid off for about 6 weeks each year during the extreme cold but was always called back when weather improved. Since he was laid off, we could not meet the requirement to validate his current income that would continue for 3 years. We had to deny the loan. prgtoken Yet again, , more Washington red tape taking away home opportunities from hardworking Americans. It is wrong. We must do something about it. It is why, on a bipartisan basis, so many of us have gotten together to pass H.R. 3978. prgtoken Yes, we want to make sure that people can buy homes, they can buy cars, they can put groceries on the table, and right now, when the economy is finally starting to improve, thanks to President and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we want them to have opportunities. prgtoken , I encourage all Members to support H.R. 3978, and .
PROTECTING CONSUMERS' ACCESS TO CREDIT ACT OF 2017
Scott R. Tipton (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-2-14

it is interesting being able to listen to this debate. The common ground is we want to be able to have consumers have access to capital, and we also want responsible lending. We now need to reset this debate to the reality that is being faced on the ground. prgtoken In an already challenging loan environment for many banks nationwide, the Madden v. Midland decision has further limited the ability of national banks to be able to issue credit. Because of the court's decision not to apply the valid-when-made doctrine to its decision, which would have preserved lawful interest rates originated by a bank for nonbanks and third parties, access to credit and risk mitigation tools have been placed into jeopardy. prgtoken The legal uncertainty resulting from the Madden decision has led to a reduction in responsible and affordable lending, and has limited consumers' access to better and cheaper choices. prgtoken Fortunately, the vice chairman's legislation, the Protecting Consumers' Access to Credit Act of 2017, would reassert the valid-when- made principle, to ensure that a loan that is valid at its inception cannot become invalid or unenforceable upon a subsequent transfer to another person or party. prgtoken This legislation promotes healthy financial markets and would help improve the often-limiting loan environment facing banks nationwide. This prgtoken measure is important for our families and small businesses, for whom access to credit is critical to success. prgtoken Further, this legislation ensures that innovative marketplace lending remains intact while simultaneously providing safe consumer protections. prgtoken I would like to thank Mr. McHenry for supporting and developing this bipartisan legislation to be able to help preserve access to credit for those who need it most, and I encourage my colleagues to support the measure here today.
RECOGNIZING DAVID LONG
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-2-14

I rise today to recognize a tremendous Hoosier public servant, leader of the Indiana State Senate, David Long, who recently announced his retirement from office. prgtoken David has served in the Indiana Senate for 22 years and as president pro tempore for the last 12. He is a remarkable leader who has been central to every major policy achievement in Indiana at a State level over the past decade. prgtoken He led the charge on cutting taxes, passing right to work, enacting Major Moves, creating one of the biggest and best school choice programs, and permanently capping property taxes. prgtoken On a personal note, David Long is my mentor. We are both graduates of Wabash College, and we both overachieved in marriage. I will always be grateful for his friendship, advice, and counsel. prgtoken I thank David for his years of service.
TRID IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-2-14

. Madam , I rise in strong support of the TRID Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill). prgtoken I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation, which combines three bipartisan proposals that will improve the home buying process, protect intellectual property, and help emerging businesses thrive and create jobs. By reforming confusing regulations that make it difficult for prospective buyers or businesses to get title insurance, this legislation will help get more families into homes and help local businesses grow. prgtoken By protecting the intellectual property of investors, we are improving the access to capital that is essential for growth and job creation in communities on Long Island, where my district is located, and all across our country. prgtoken And last but not least, by reforming the outdated definition of what constitutes an emerging growth company, this legislation takes important steps towards fostering innovation and ensuring that new businesses are not discouraged from expansion and job creation. prgtoken The sum of these important bipartisan solutions are more innovation, more hiring, and a more vibrant economy. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this important piece of legislation Congressman Hill, for his leadership with it, and Chairman Hensarling and his great staff for all their efforts to get this bill to the floor.
BROADER OPTIONS FOR AMERICANS ACT
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-2-14

today a group led by Chairman Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee formally introduced a bill to address the DACA issue--the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals issue--that we have heard so much about, as well as border security. I think it is a good starting point, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of the legislation, which is called the Secure and Succeed Act. prgtoken Perhaps the most important thing about this bill is that it actually has a good chance of becoming law. That is because the President supports it. It encompasses the four pillars the President has laid out for us in any solution to the DACA challenge. prgtoken The Secure and Succeed Act provides legal status and a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million people who meet the specific criteria of DACA. This is a far larger number than the number of individuals covered by President 's Executive order. The fact is, this President has not only said to the 690,000 DACA recipients ``You are going to have a better, brighter future and a pathway to American citizenship''; this President has also offered all of the young people eligible but who might not have previously signed up that same opportunity. What an extraordinarily generous offer. prgtoken This bill also provides for a real plan to strengthen border security, utilizing the three things that Border Patrol has always told me are essential: more boots on the ground, better technology, and, yes, some infrastructure in hard-to-control locations, along with enhanced ports of entry. prgtoken I know there has been some confusion about that. The President likes to talk about the wall. It is true that back in roughly 2006 or 2007, Congress called for something called the Secure Fence Act, which got the support of then-Senator , then-Senator Hillary Clinton, and, of course, current Senator Chuck Schumer. They supported the Secure Fence Act, as did an overwhelming majority of Senators from both parties. prgtoken When the President has talked about the wall, he has made pretty clear what he is really talking about is a barrier similar to what was supported on a bipartisan basis. He said that the Border Patrol is going to have to be able to see through it. Indeed, as he has conceded, in many places it doesn't make any sense at all to have a physical barrier. That is why technology and boots on the ground are so important. prgtoken This legislation also reallocates visas from the diversity lottery system in a way that is fair and continues the existing, family-based categories until the current backlog is cleared, which would take, probably, about 10 years. I am proud to cosponsor this commonsense solution. But I know other colleagues have been working hard on their ideas, which I look forward to reviewing as the debate continues. prgtoken One group I haven't heard from much, though, is our ic colleagues, who literally shut down the government to force this
THANKING STENOGRAPHERS DURING NATIONAL COURT REPORTING AND CAPTIONING WEEK
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-2-15

I rise today to celebrate National Court Reporting and Captioning Week. prgtoken As an attorney, from firsthand experience, I can say that court reporters have had and continue to have an enormous impact on our legal system, both in a practical matter but also in an important historical sense. As we attorneys talk away, court reporters tirelessly capture every single word. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. Without their record, there would be no Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, or countless other legal decisions of importance to the American people. prgtoken Captioners also do wonderful work to help better the lives for millions of Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing by providing captioning realtime. prgtoken So, on National Court Reporting and Captioning Week, I want to thank the thousands of Americans who work in this industry for their hard work and dedication.