mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-6-20

I rise today to introduce a resolution to mark World Refugee Day, and to address the ongoing displacement crisis across the globe. War, conflict and persecution have forced millions of people to leave their homes, creating more refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people than at any other time in history. Today, there are more than 65 million displaced men, women, and children worldwide, the highest level ever recorded in history. To put this number into perspective--if the global displaced population were a country, it would be the 21st largest country, more populated than the United Kingdom. prgtoken The global displacement trends we are witnessing now, due to conflict, severe human rights abuses, and climate change, are not going away. U.S. leadership in responding to these crises, whether it is the immense suffering of refugees from South Sudan or the plight of the internally-displaced in Syria and Iraq, is critical. How we respond--or whether we respond at all--will undoubtedly shape the landscape and the lives of future generations for years to come. prgtoken The United States has a long and proud history of providing safe harbor to the world's most vulnerable refugees--women and children, survivors of torture and other violence, and those with severe medical conditions. This included after World War II and after the fall of Saigon, when we resettled hundreds of thousands of refugees. prgtoken At the same time, we take the security of our citizens seriously. That is the reason the United States has the most rigorous refugee screening process in the world, involving the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Counter Terrorism Center. The process includes biometric checks, medical screenings, forensic testing of documents, DNA testing for family reunification cases, and in-person interviews with highly trained homeland security officials. prgtoken The U.S. Refugee Resettlement program has been and should remain open to those of all nationalities and religions who face persecution. The Administration's proposals that would have the U.S. State Department disqualify refugees from protection based on their nationality or religion fly in the face of the very principles this Nation was built upon. They also contradict the legacy of leadership our country has historically demonstrated, and dishonor our shared humanity. prgtoken It is clear, however, that the Administration is determined to undermine longstanding American tradition and values, and in doing so they weaken our National security. As we all know, one of President 's first executive orders sought to drastically reduce the number of refugees entering the United States and turn away refugees from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. This un-American policy, rooted in fear not fact, cannot be tolerated. We collecti
REPORTING EFFICIENTLY TO PROPER OFFICIALS IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM ACT OF 2017
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-20

I rise in support of the Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism Act, or the REPORT Act. prgtoken I introduced the REPORT Act a year after the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Our community has seen more than its fair share of gun violence, but this terrorist mass shooting claimed 14 lives, injured another 22 people, and shook my community. In the days and weeks after, we pledged to do all we could to prevent another attack like this from happening ever again. This is what this bill seeks to do. prgtoken The REPORT Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress when a terror attack occurs in the United States. Under the bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the United States Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the head of the National Counterterrorism Center will produce a report detailing the attack and how to prevent future attacks. prgtoken The idea is to have a uniform after-action report following a terrorist attack here in the United States. There is currently no legal requirement to create such a report. Specifically, this report will include policy recommendations for lawmakers to make our communities safer and to prevent the next San Bernardino, Boston, New York, or Orlando. prgtoken , this is a bipartisan bill. It also has the support of regional leaders in communities impacted by acts of terror. It has been endorsed by my region's law enforcement community: San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan and Sheriff John McMahon. Chief Burguan and Sheriff McMahon are my community's law enforcement leaders who led the heroic response on December 2, 2015, and stopped the violent rampage, preventing further loss of life. prgtoken The REPORT Act is a commonsense bill that will empower lawmakers with the facts they need to create meaningful laws to thwart future attacks of terror. prgtoken This bill is for the 14 killed and 22 injured in San Bernardino. It is for my community. It is also for every American city touched by these heinous acts of terrorism. prgtoken We can and must work together to protect our homeland, and I believe this is a smart, bipartisan step to achieve that.
REDUCING UNNECESSARY BARRIERS FOR RELATIVE FOSTER PARENTS ACT
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-20

I rise in support of H.R. 2866, and I want to congratulate my good friends, Representatives Sewell, Kelly, and Smucker for this legislation to reduce barriers for relative caregivers. prgtoken Ironically, in the 1990s, when the crack cocaine epidemic hit, that was the first time that women started using drugs equal to men. It hadn't happened before, and so families fell apart. One of the things that happened, in the early 1990s, was in the middle of the night a grandmother might be called and three grandchildren delivered to her by Children's Protective Services. The grandmother would take the children without any support and without any knowledge of how to deal with the trauma that the children faced. prgtoken During those years, we actually discriminated against relatives. We said very negative things about them such as: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree; and, if your daughter wound up on drugs, why should we give the children to you? prgtoken So during those years, we would rather pay a stranger--and there can be wonderful foster parents--but a stranger to take care of children instead of families. prgtoken One of the things we did in Los Angeles was we organized the grandmothers, and we trained them how to go before the board of supervisors and advocate on their own behalf. That happened all around the country. So there really was a movement of relatives who rose up and said: We want our children; we just need help. We might be on a fixed income, and we can't really support the children. prgtoken It is actually more expensive to put a child in foster care. So there began a national movement for relative caregivers to fighting for their rights and for services. So over the years, we really evolved to the point where we have legislation like this where we recognize the benefit of having relatives take care of children. prgtoken Ironically, the last piece of legislation we were talking about was about children aging out of the system. Before we prioritized relatives, what would happen is a young child who was aging out of foster care, we would put them on the street, and the first thing they would do would be to go look for their families because they might have family somewhere, and they would often do that. prgtoken This legislation, I think, is extremely important to allow flexibility for licensing of relative caregivers. Examples of grandmothers who I worked with directly who wanted to take in their grandchildren but they were told they didn't have enough bedrooms in their house, and so we were going to put the children in more expensive foster care and break them up and send them to different foster homes instead of leaving them with the grandmother or assist her in moving. prgtoken So legislation like H.R. 2866, I believe, will begin to address some of these challenges and do what every child needs, which is to be in a loving home with family.
WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY ACT OF 2017
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-6-20

, Congressman Joaquin Castro, for yielding to me. prgtoken I am so proud to rise in support of H.R. 2484, the Women, Peace, and Security Act, which I introduced along with my partner, Kristi Noem. We have been working on this bill for quite a while. prgtoken I want to really thank Chairman Ed Royce for not only his eloquent words today and his clear description about why this is so important, but for working closely with us to make this day a reality. I am hopeful that we will be able to go through the Senate and get this bill finally enacted. prgtoken The Women, Peace, and Security Act promotes the participation of women in the peace process and is a step forward for our security and our economic prosperity as well. When women are involved in peace negotiations, a peace agreement is more likely to last. In fact, the International Peace Institute found that a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last for at least 15 years if women participate in drafting the agreement. The study also found that with each 5 percent increase in women's participation in the political process, a nation is five times less likely to use violence when faced with international crisis or conflict. prgtoken When women and girls are equal partners in all aspects of decisionmaking, countries are more likely to be peaceful and economically prosperous. prgtoken Despite the strong evidence in favor of women's political participation, women remain underrepresented in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and the post-conflict peace-building efforts that are happening around the world, and the United States can help to change that. prgtoken The Women, Peace, and Security Act will build upon the 2011 National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, which made clear that the meaningful inclusion of women in peace and security processes is imperative for national and global security. And you heard how in Northern Ireland and all the way to Rwanda, the participation of women has been absolutely essential. prgtoken Our legislation establishes women's participation as a permanent element of U.S. foreign policy. It would encourage the United States to assist women mediators and negotiators by addressing barriers to their equal and secure participation in the peace process. prgtoken It would institute comprehensive training modules on the protection, rights, and specific needs of women in conflict and require the administration to evaluate the impact of U.S. foreign assistance on women's meaningful participation. prgtoken In addition, Women, Peace, and Security Act would require the President to report to Congress its strategy to promote women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution, and it would empower Congress to exercise oversight of that strategy's implementation. prgtoken The United States plays a crucial role in encouraging peace agreements all over the world. By making sure prgtoken that we bring
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Calendar)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-6-20

I come to the floor, like many of my colleagues, shocked at the majority's brazen, secretive effort to hijack the legislative process and pass a bill that would hurt millions of Americans. prgtoken I have served in public office for more than four decades, and never once in my 45 years as a mayor, a State legislator, a Congressman, or a Senator has it been so hard to understand the motivations of an opposing party. What kind of problems are s trying to solve with legislation that raises premiums, reduces coverage, decimates Medicaid, and increases costs for everyone? Certainly not any of the concerns I have heard in New Jersey. Never has someone come up to me at the local diner to say that their premiums are too low or that Medicaid covers too many children or that cancer patients don't pay enough out of pocket. prgtoken There is only one place in America where these bad ideas have any traction, and that is behind closed doors in Washington, where 13 men are working on a secret bill to take healthcare away from millions of people and raise costs on millions and millions more. They want no transparency, no bipartisan input, no hearings. prgtoken Those are the same s who in 2009 and 2010 accused of ramming healthcare reform through Congress too quickly. In fact, it was the majority leader who said at the time: ``This massive piece of legislation that seeks to restructure one-sixth of our economy is being written behind closed doors without input from anyone.'' Even the Vice President--a Congressman at the time--said it is ``wrong for legislation that'll affect 100 percent of the American people to be negotiated behind closed doors.'' Mind you, all of these complaints came during what was a far more open, transparent process. prgtoken I sit on the Senate Finance Committee. I remember the process quite well. I remember our chairman at the time, Senator Baucus, bending over backward to get input. We held 53 meetings--hearings, roundtables, briefings, and negotiations--on healthcare reform. Afterward, we held the longest Finance Committee markup in over 20 years--a markup that led to the adoption of nearly a dozen amendments, on top of the two dozen amendments we accepted before the markup began. prgtoken also made huge bipartisan overtures on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. They, too, held a transparent process and adopted over 160 amendments--160 amendments. prgtoken Then and only then did we bring the bill to the floor of the Senate, and when we did, we spent 25 consecutive days in session debating the bill on the Senate floor in front of the American people. prgtoken In short, spent months making compromise after compromise in the hopes of getting s on board, only to learn that they never had any intention of working with us at all. They never cared ab
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VERMONT LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-6-20

in Vermont, we believe in forging resilient communities through strong local governments and in fostering well- informed leaders to understand and respond to the many complex issues facing us today. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, VLCT, embodies these principles and more, and I am delighted to contribute in honoring the league and its members on its 50th anniversary. prgtoken Established in 1967, the VLCT was created to help improve local governance. Local officials needed a way to help towns best serve their constituents and to connect members of their communities with their local governments. In response, a handful of municipalities formed the organization that provided these services. Beginning with VLCT's first executive director and continuing through today, this organization has consistently worked to represent the values of all Vermonters. For the first time in 1995, every city and town in Vermont had joined as members of VLCT, demonstrating how valuable this institution is for all of our communities regardless of their size. prgtoken For many years, I too have worked alongside VLCT to improve the lives of Vermonters. Whether through their efforts supporting the State's recovery from Tropical Storm Irene or improving the water quality of Vermont's rivers and streams, their dedication to Vermont's way of life and quality of life makes us all better. They provide direction and advice and support our municipalities in their timely and important but often underfunded responsibilities. prgtoken As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, VLCT will always be there to support us, to support Vermont communities. Our great State is made better by the involvement of organizations like the VLCT, and I wish them continued success over the next 50 years in bettering the lives of all Vermonters.
HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF MRS. IDA JOHNSON
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-20

I rise today to honor the life and achievements of Mrs. Ida Johnson. Mrs. Johnson dedicated her career to serving her community, both in education and as an advocate for low income youth and families in Merced County. Mrs. Johnson was passionate about the pursuit of equality, driven by her love and compassion for others, and committed to creating opportunities for students and teachers in Merced County. prgtoken Mrs. Johnson was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended the University of San Francisco, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior in 1984. Mrs. Johnson then continued her education at Chapman University, where she received a Master's degree in Educational Systems Management in 1988. She worked on gender equity as Director and Coordinator for the California Department of Education for almost 12 years, and also worked for 33 years for the Merced County Schools in various capacities, including teaching computing and business classes. prgtoken Beyond her professional career, Mrs. Johnson was elected to the Merced Union High School Governing Board in 2005, where she served 8 years as a Trustee. Additionally, Mrs. Johnson was involved with numerous community and educational organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, League of Women Voters, and the 4-H Club. She also worked with the Merced Equals Program, where she spent countless hours providing teachers, parents, and students with the tools necessary to improve math skills within the county, and she secured a significant amount of grant money. prgtoken With Mrs. Johnson's passing, the Merced community mourns her loss but also rejoices in her lasting impact and legacy. The lives Mrs. Johnson touched with her career in education and devotion to her community will not be forgotten. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life and achievements of Mrs. Ida Johnson. Mrs. Johnson's achievements cannot be measured through grants or educational programs, but in the lives she touched. Mrs. Johnson's trajectory as an educator has given students and teachers in Merced County a role model to admire and emulate as they move towards the future.
MOBILE WORKFORCE STATE INCOME TAX SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 2017
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-6-20

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken I want to quote from a letter from the president of the Federation of Tax Administrators and commissioner of the Oklahoma Tax Commission regarding this bill. She writes: This bill breaches the core of the relationship between the Federal Government and State governments, a relationship that is fundamentally important to the voters of Virginia and of Michigan. It is a clear example of the Federal Government crossing a line that is seldom breached and, in this instance, should not be. The attached resolution from the State tax agencies, all of them, offers in detail to explain the State's positions against the mobile workforce. prgtoken Here are the three most compelling facts: One, States have in place a combination of laws, rules, and compliance standards that effectively eliminate an unfair outcome when it comes to recordkeeping and taxation of wages earned in a State by a nonresident; Two, these approaches, which include model legislation developed by the Multistate Tax Commission, take into account information that is available to employers and de minimis activities; and Three, H.R. 1393 goes beyond what is necessary to ensure fair outcomes and a reasonable reporting burden, in particular, because the bill takes away the states' rights to require proper wage reporting and withholding even when the employer already has the information to easily do so. It opens up opportunities for tax avoidance. prgtoken In closing, let me note that this legislation would not just harm New York and not just to a de minimis amount--$100 million to $120 million is hardly de minimis--but it would also have a similar effect on other States. That is why this bill is opposed by a broad coalition of labor and tax organizations, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, the International Union of Police Associations, Federation of Tax Administrators, Multistate Tax Commission, and many others. prgtoken Whether or not your State is hurt financially by this bill, however, all Members should be concerned by legislation that so brazenly strips from a State one of the fundamental hallmarks of sovereignty: the ability to tax economic activity that occurs entirely within its own borders. If we can target New York and other States with this bill, what is to say we won't come after your State next. prgtoken I must also add that this bill is one in a series of bills that we have seen over the last few years that chip away at the revenue-raising and taxing ability of the States. Especially as the current majority and the current President seek to shift more responsibilities to the States and away from the Federal Government, we should not be depriving the States of their ability to raise revenues as they see fit within their own sovereignty. prgtoken I urge my colleagues t