mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-12-19

let me explain what is going on here. prgtoken My colleague from Hawaii has an amendment that he would like to make to the NDAA legislation that we passed recently. It has been described by our ic colleagues as a technical correction. prgtoken Well, I have a technical correction that I would like to have considered as well. So I think we have a good solution where we can both get the technical corrections we would like. We have been waiting on mine for 2 years, but the good news is that we have broad bipartisan support for mine. Every Senator supports it, and 13 are cosponsors of my legislation to make this technical correction. If my math is right, that means 66 Senators support doing this. There is huge bipartisan support in the House. So I would say let's fix both problems. The fix that I have in mind is to fix a drafting error from our tax reform bill from 2 years ago, and specifically, it would be to restore the ability of people who make leasehold improvements to fully expense that at the time it occurs. prgtoken That was always the intent. Nobody disputes that that was the intent, but because of a drafting error, when someone makes a leasehold improvement, not only are they unable to expense it in the year in which it incurs, but they have to depreciate it over 39 years, the exact opposite of our intention. This is a huge problem for restaurants and retailers generally, and every one of our States has how many retailers, how many restaurants that are adversely affected today by this technical error, and it is having an economic impact. prgtoken This category of business investment is the only category that has declined over the last year. It was down almost prgtoken 4 percent in the third quarter. That is because of the adverse tax treatment. That is not good for any of us. It is not good for the United States. It is not good for our States. In the omnibus bill that we just passed, we had all kinds of tax provisions--$427 billion, actually, worth of tax provisions announced at 2 in the morning on Tuesday, by the way. prgtoken It has things, including a resurrection of a special tax rule that was supposed to die in 2017. We are going to send checks to people for what they did in 2018, which will have no impact whatsoever, obviously, on changing incentives since it is the past. We did that. We reversed a deal that was struck in 2015 to phase out expensive renewable energy credits. We made two changes to the tax reform of 2017, but we weren't able to include the technical fix that 66 Senators want that would cost zero. prgtoken What we were told by our ic colleagues is that, if you want to do that, there is a price you have to pay. The price would be tens of billions of dollars of increases in refundable tax credits. That is checks being sent to people who don't pay taxes. Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Senator Wyden, said just t
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , 1 minute. prgtoken Madam , in sharp contrast to yesterday, today is the first time this Chamber can finally rally behind an overwhelming, bipartisan legislative win since the beginning of this Congress. prgtoken More than a year ago, President came together with the leaders of Mexico and Canada to sign a transformative trade deal that would revamp how we trade goods with our top two leading traders. Despite delay after delay from our ic colleagues, s never relented. prgtoken We understood months ago that the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement would deliver a much-deserved win for the American worker. Today is for them. It is for our hardworking farmers who have early mornings and long days maintaining their harvest and livestock. It is for our consumers who will be paying less money at the checkout for everyday goods. It is for generations of Americans that will be able to enjoy a more prosperous and financially secure future for decades to come. prgtoken And because of that s fought. We spoke to our constituents. We took to the floor to deliver speeches. I just did a report to see the number of times in the last year USMCA was mentioned on this floor. Ninety-one percent of all the times it was mentioned were from this side of the aisle and 9 percent on the other. I want to congratulate our members for never giving up. prgtoken We spoke about the wins the USMCA would deliver any chance we got, and we stayed in close contact with the administration to ensure that it would be the right deal worthy of the American workers' legacy. prgtoken s also understood that the ratification of USMCA would only make the United States stronger as we continue to negotiate a trade with China. prgtoken I am glad today is here, but it is a year late. Mexico is our number one trader. Canada is our number two. China is number three. For the last year we have been trying to negotiate an agreement with China. Our hand would only have been stronger if today happened months ago. I am glad today is here, but the delay has hurt us. prgtoken As we move forward, another goal that President continues to make progress on is our negotiations with China. Today will make him stronger and, hopefully, help his hand from the last year. prgtoken Our economy is booming, exceeding expectations on a regular basis. Thanks to this President and s in Congress pushing pro-growth policies, we are living through the best economy in a generation. prgtoken Regardless, if you are a or a , the strength of this economy is undeniable, and that is a fact worth celebrating. prgtoken The ratification of the USMCA will guarantee that the trajectory continues to move in the same positive direction. prgtoken After 25 years, a revised trade agreement was well past due. prgtoken I know other Presidents had promised they would be able to do this. It is no small feat and not eas
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the USMCA trade agreement. prgtoken For months, partisan politics and the ' impeachment charade have prevented us from finalizing this agreement, but it is clear to Members on both sides of the aisle that the President has negotiated a deal that will strengthen our economy and benefit all Missourians and Americans. prgtoken One of every three rows of crops is grown for export in the great State of Missouri, and this deal expands market access in Canada and Mexico for our farmers. prgtoken It is the first time that a U.S. trade agreement is specifically addressing biotech, and the St. Louis region is the Silicon Valley for ag-tech. prgtoken USMCA also includes the Wagner language on human trafficking. I worked with Ambassador Lighthizer to guarantee that the USMCA holds my Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, FOSTA, to help stop online sex trafficking here at home and now throughout North America. prgtoken A ``yes'' on the USMCA is a yes for victims, a yes for jobs, a yes for farmers, and a yes for the prosperity of all Americans. prgtoken Madam , I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote YES on the USMCA trade agreement. For months, partisan politics and the ' impeachment charade have prevented us from finalizing this agreement. But it is clear to members on both sides of the aisle that the President has negotiated a deal that will strengthen our economy and benefit all Missourians. prgtoken One of every three rows of crops is grown for exports in the great state of Missouri, and this deal expands market access in Canada and Mexico for our farmers. prgtoken The USMCA also includes the ``Wagner Language'' on human trafficking. I worked with Ambassador Lighthizer to guarantee that the USMCA upholds my Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) to help stop online sex trafficking here at home and now throughout North America. prgtoken A YES on the USMCA is a yes for victims, a yes for jobs, a yes for farmers, and a yes for the prosperity of all Americans. Thank you. . prgtoken This agreement also benefits Missouri's thriving ag tech community by addressing agricultural biotechnology, including new technologies such as gene editing. prgtoken This is the first time U.S. trade agreement is specifically addressing biotech, and the St. Louis region is the Silicon Valley for ag tech. The USMCA will help protect our intellectual property, and I hope it will be a standard for future trade agreements as well. prgtoken The Wagner Language allows our trading partners to enact domestic laws that enable victims to sue the websites that facilitate the sex trade and empower law enforcement to enforce criminal laws against the websites that sell women and children.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5377, RESTORING TAX FAIRNESS FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES ACT
Debbie Lesko (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-12-19

most people would think that the most surprising bill to me that we voted on this year was the Articles of Impeachment. Really, that wasn't a surprise to me because I serve on the Judiciary Committee, and since January, we have been doing investigations of President . Many s and I predicted all along that the majority, the in this House, were going to vote to impeach the President, so it really wasn't a surprise to me. prgtoken But this bill really surprises me, and let me tell you why. My goodness, I have served in the Arizona House of Representatives for 6 years and another 3 years in the Arizona Senate. For years, every time the majority would cut taxes so that it would boom the economy and help everyone, my ic colleagues then said: ``Oh, my gosh, those s, they are just helping the rich. They are just helping the rich. They don't care about the little guy. They don't care about the middle class.'' The same thing is said for years now, years and years, by my ic colleagues and others that: ``Oh, those s, they just care about the rich.'' Oh, baloney. prgtoken The tax cut s did in 2017, you can see the effect of those tax cuts. The economy is booming. prgtoken There are more job openings than there are jobs to fill them. prgtoken This bill is an interesting bill because, in the 2017 tax cut bill that the s put through, it said--you know what--States that are fiscally responsible, that don't have exorbitant property taxes, those constituents in my State of Arizona-- prgtoken What did you say, sir? prgtoken Did you say I was wacko? prgtoken Oh, thank you, sir. prgtoken , people in Arizona, we are responsible taxpayers. We don't have exorbitant property taxes. I know people who live in New Jersey, and I know how they complain how their property taxes are so incredibly high. prgtoken The people in Arizona are fiscally responsible, and that is why people are flocking to our State and other States with low taxes. People in Arizona and other States that are fiscally responsible, they don't want to subsidize the irresponsible States that have high taxes by giving them huge deductions on their Federal taxes. prgtoken So, in the tax bill, we capped the deduction at $10,000. It seems reasonable to me. In fact, the gentleman from New Jersey, I think, just said, recently, the average deduction is $9,000. Well, that is below $10,000. That is below the $10,000 cap, so they can deduct it. prgtoken But here in this bill today, want to raise the cap to $20,000 and then totally eliminate it in the next 2 years. prgtoken When the s put forward amendments, one of the amendments said let's not give this tax break to the top 10 percent of income earners. rejected it. prgtoken Then s had another amendment that said, well, let's not give this big tax break to the top 1 percent income earners. The Dem
RESTORING TAX FAIRNESS FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES ACT
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise in opposition to this bill. prgtoken First off, I do want to thank my colleague from Long Island, Mr. Suozzi. Mr. Suozzi and I have engaged in many conversations about this important issue, and I am sure that that will continue after today's debate. prgtoken I would like to clear up a few things about this legislation before us today to cut through some of what has been debated. prgtoken This bill permanently hikes taxes on individuals and small businesses to 39.6 percent for those currently in the 37 percent tax bracket--and for many in the 35 percent tax bracket as well--in exchange for a very temporary change of the SALT deduction only until 2021. So the SALT deduction is going to change very temporarily, but permanently we are going to be increasing taxes on individuals and small businesses. prgtoken We have to understand that 90 percent of U.S. businesses are passthroughs. They don't pay the corporate tax rate. They pay under the individual tax rate. Almost 100 percent of all passthrough businesses have less than 100 employees. We are increasing taxes permanently on all these small businesses in exchange for that short-term change. prgtoken I support multiple active bills that would change the State and local tax deduction without raising any taxes on individuals and small businesses. It is important to remember that the only SALT deduction legislation that will ever provide relief is legislation that can be signed into law, and this bill which permanently raises taxes on individuals and small businesses is not it. prgtoken In my district, from Main Street to wineries on the North Fork, this is bad news for small businesses up and down Long Island. I am focused on providing true tax relief for all hardworking Long Islanders.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5377, RESTORING TAX FAIRNESS FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES ACT
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-12-19

I want to just say today that I live in the State of Tennessee, and in Tennessee, we are a fiscally responsible State. We have the lowest per capita debt in the Nation. We have no income tax at all. We have no investment income tax. prgtoken When a State has superhigh taxes and you allow individuals to write that tax off, it is unfair to those well-managed States like Tennessee that don't tax our people as much. prgtoken So, when you raise caps or you raise deductions, those States that are poorly managed, those States that are high-tax States to their individuals are subsidized by the people in Tennessee. We wind up paying more tax so that those States that are poorly managed can pay less. prgtoken To say, oh, we have got to do this for the low-income individuals out there, well, how about those States just manage themselves better, tax their people less, and then there wouldn't be an issue? Why should the people of Tennessee have to subsidize States that can't manage themselves?
RECOGNIZING THE IRWIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM
Austin Scott (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the Irwin County High School football team from Ocilla, Georgia on their win against Marion County in the Class A Georgia State Championship on Saturday, December 14, 2019. With an impressive 56-14 win over the Marion County Eagles, the Indians football team finished their season undefeated (13-0) for the first time since 1975 and brought home the state title. This is the fifth time in six seasons that Head Coach Buddy Nobles has led the Indians to the state finals, all while battling Stage 4 stomach cancer. He called this team a ``team of destiny'' and there is no doubt his leadership and fighting spirit inspired Irwin County to bring home another state football title to Georgia's Eighth Congressional District. I want to congratulate the Indians, Coach Nobles, and the entire football and athletics staff at Irwin County High School for this accomplishment.
RECOGNIZING MR. ELWYN RAYMER FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-12-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize President and CEO of the Church Music Publishers Association's (CMPA) Action Fund, Mr. Elwyn Raymer, for his 50-year career dedicated to bettering the music publishing industry. prgtoken In 1966, Raymer moved to Music City and became Music Editor for Broadman Records and Music at the Baptist Sunday School Board, currently known as Lifeway. During his time as Music Editor, he produced and published the musical Celebrate Life. This musical touched the lives of millions nationwide and sold more than 600,000 copies. prgtoken As Executive Vice President of Triune Music and Triangle Records and President of Lorenz Creative Services, Raymer focused on his advocacy for songwriters, artists, and publishers. In 1990, Raymer joined Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) where he helped establish the group's entry and success into Contemporary Christian Music. During his tenure at BMG, he became a leader for his ability to carry out acquisitions and attract talented musicians and songwriters. While at BMG, Raymer redefined and expanded the group's scope by overseeing the purchase of Reunion Records and Music and the acquisition of half of the Sparrow Music catalogues. As a direct result, BMG went on to unleash a new era in the groups chapter of music making with songs such as prgtoken Change the World, which was performed by Eric Clapton and won the Grammy Award for ``Song of the Year'' in 1996. prgtoken In 2001, Raymer retired from BMG after spending over 20 years leading the group's development, but he never stopped fighting for artists, songwriters, and publishers. After retiring from BMG, Raymer became President and CEO of the Church Music Publishers Association's (CMPA) Action Fund, where he worked to protect the intellectual property rights of songwriters and publishers. prgtoken Throughout his five decades of work in the music industry, Raymer has received numerous awards for his work, including The Arnold Broida Award for Copyright Advocacy, CMPA Founders Award, the NSAI President's Award, and countless other recognitions from ASCAP, BMI, Sparrow Records, BMG, and the CMPA. prgtoken It is my honor to congratulate Raymer on his retirement and to thank him for being a tireless advocate for songwriters and publishers. I wish him and his wife, Linda, all the best as they enter this new season of life.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-12-19

I am here on the floor again for the third time in 3 weeks to talk about the U.S.-Mexico agreement, USMCA. prgtoken Just a few moments ago, this trade agreement passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 385 to 41. That is extraordinary. Trade agreements sometimes tend to be pretty controversial and, more recently in our history, pretty partisan. In this case, s and alike helped negotiate a good agreement, and s and alike supported it. prgtoken Let's now get that agreement over here. Let's not wait. The people in Ohio and all around in country who are going to benefit from it need those benefits now. prgtoken So I am very pleased that the President and his U.S. Trade Representative, Bob Lighthizer, patiently negotiated with Pelosi and House and were able to get something done, and now it is close to becoming the law of the land. All it needs is a vote over here from the Senate and then the President will sign it into law. prgtoken Thanks to important measures designed to strengthen our economy, create more jobs, and increase market access, this new agreement, the USMCA, actually helps to level the playing field between the United States and Canada and Mexico. prgtoken First of all, it is going to result in more jobs. The independent International Trade Commission has said over 170,000 new jobs. That is mid-range. It could be a lot more than that. prgtoken But they have also said that these are good-paying jobs. Jobs in trade tend to pay about 15 percent higher on average, and they have better benefits. So this is a bunch of good jobs. prgtoken By the way, they estimate that at least 20,000 jobs in the auto industry will come to the United States that would not have come otherwise. I come from Ohio, a big auto State. It is a State that cares a lot about manufacturing and, specifically, autos, and they are both going to be helped by this agreement. prgtoken Part of the way that it is going to create jobs here is by leveling the playing field on labor standards and enforcing those standards. prgtoken Also, it has higher content requirements for U.S.-made steel and intra prgtoken auto parts that go into an automobile. As an example, USMCA requires that 70 percent of the steel going into cars come from North America. There is no provision like that in the status quo, in the NAFTA agreement. So this is a big improvement for us to drive more jobs here in America with regard to the steel production that goes into automobiles. prgtoken But, second, it says that 75 percent of the overall content in USMCA automobiles that are sold through this agreement have to be from North America. That is a big jump. In the current agreement, instead of 75 percent, NAFTA has 62.5 percent. prgtoken What does that mean? It means that if you make a car, say, in Mexico, and it has a bunch of parts in it that come from other countries, say, Japan or China or Germany, they can'
IMPEACHMENT WAS A SHAM
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-12-19

for weeks, we were told that we couldn't wait, we had to go forward with impeachment before Christmas, that the Republic was at stake. And then this House passed a purely partisan impeachment yesterday, and the has decided to hold the Articles of Impeachment. prgtoken That underscores the word ``sham.'' That puts an exclamation point after the word ``sham.'' That shows what a ridiculous exercise we just went through. prgtoken We can't dictate to the Senate how they handle their trial. They get to pick that. prgtoken This shows that they got cold feet on the other side. They don't have a case. They can't win a fair trial in the Senate, and they know it, and they are afraid to send the articles over there where it will get the fair trial and not the kangaroo court we had here.