mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-5-3

reflecting on his accomplishments to date in his administration, President recently said: ``I think we've done more than, perhaps, any President in the first 100 days.'' Throughout the campaign and since coming to office, President has repeatedly attacked politicians who are ``all talk, no action.'' It seems to be appropriate that, now that the first 100 days have passed, we should apply the President's standard. prgtoken Over the course of the campaign, Candidate promised to replace the ``very stupid people'' in our government who ``don't know how to win'' with the ``greatest minds'' and the ``best people.'' prgtoken He said that the Presidency was ``going to be easy'' and that the ``jobs are coming back, folks; that's going to be easy.'' prgtoken He promised a ``beautiful,'' ``terrific'' plan to provide ``such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost, and it's going to be so easy.'' prgtoken He promised to build a wall so fast that ``your head will spin'' and that Mexico would pay for it. ``Just rely on me,'' he said. prgtoken He promised to be the ``greatest jobs President that God ever created,'' to ``bring us all together,'' and to create a ``unified Nation--a Nation of love,'' he said. prgtoken He predicted: ``We're gonna win so much that you may even get tired of winning, and you'll say, please, please, it's too much winning, we can't take it anymore it's too much.'' prgtoken He outlined that winning plan in no other place than Gettysburg last October. There, on that hallowed ground, where Lincoln reflected on his own ``poor power'' and wondered whether the world would little note nor long remember what he said there, President --the man who said: ``I alone can fix it''--outlined his 100-day action plan to make America great again and restore honesty, accountability, and change to Washington. On that day, he promised that, on his first day, 18 different accomplishments would be achieved. He delivered just two of those. prgtoken Over his first 100 days, he promised to introduce and fight to pass 10 major pieces of legislation. That included a bill to ``grow the economy 4 percent per year and create at least 25 million new jobs.'' It included a bill to ``spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years.'' It included a bill to ``make 2- and 4-year college more affordable'' as well as bills to ``clean up corruption in Washington'' and ``discourage companies from laying off their workers.'' prgtoken Today, more than 100 days into the Presidency, where are we? prgtoken So far, the President's ``great'' team has not yet been assembled. There are 465 vacancies for which there are not even nominees yet. You cannot blame that on anything going on around here. There are 465 slots that still do not have nominees. Of the 10 pieces of legislation that he proposed on that day in Gettysburg, he has passed zero--none. prgtoken In his first 100 days,
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-5-3

we have a retirement crisis in this country. Today, among working families on the verge of retirement, about a third have no retirement savings of any kind and another third have total savings that are less than one year's annual income. prgtoken Let's be blunt. Social Security alone is not enough for a secure retirement. Hitting retirement with little or no savings means spending those last years hovering around the poverty line, with little or no money for important purchases, like dental care or hearing aids, or extras, like buying a birthday gift for a grandchild. prgtoken There are a lot of different reasons people hit retirement with no savings, but one big reason is that 55 million Americans don't have the ability to save for retirement through a workplace retirement account. For years, the -controlled Congress has done nothing to help the 55 million Americans who don't have an employer-provided retirement plan to save for their retirement--nothing--so seven States have actually stepped up. They passed legislation to provide retirement accounts to their constituents, and 23 more States are currently considering proposals like this. Massachusetts has stepped up, too, passing legislation to allow workers in small, nonprofit organizations to save for retirement in a State-administered plan. prgtoken These State efforts are a big deal. The actions of just those first seven States could expand coverage to 15 million Americans who don't currently have an employer-sponsored retirement account. These efforts would go a long way toward starting to chip away at the retirement crisis in our country, and both s and should be applauding the efforts of the Governors, State treasurers, and State legislatures who are doing this important work. But instead of passing legislation to incentivize States to continue their innovative work or instead of bringing up a bill on their own encouraging companies to offer retirement accounts to their workers, s are voting on a bill that would pull the rug out from underneath these State plans, jeopardizing all of the States' recent progress. prgtoken s are constantly saying they are the party of federalism, deregulation, and State flexibility. Over and over again for the past several months, my colleagues across the aisle have come down to the floor to overturn regulation after regulation because they claim those regulations ``limit the role of State and local governments.'' So why on Earth are they now passing a bill to run roughshod over the States? prgtoken The States certainly aren't asking them to take it up. The National Conference of State Legislatures--the bipartisan organization representing the legislatures of all 50 States--sent a letter urging Congress not to pass this bill because ``it will result in an unwarranted preemption of state innovation, will restrict the ability of millions of hardworking Americ
HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF GENERAL AMEDEO ``ARMIE'' MEROLLA
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-5-3

I rise today to honor the life and memory of General Amedeo ``Armie'' Merolla--a dedicated patriot, a passionate legal mind, a community leader in Rhode Island, and someone whom I was proud to call a dear friend. prgtoken Armie's distinguished military career spanned 36 years, during which time he served in the United States Marine Corps and the Rhode Island National Guard. He served as assistant adjutant general for the State and retired as the first brigadier general of Italian heritage in the history of the Rhode Island National Guard. prgtoken As an accomplished attorney for more than 60 years, he provided legal counsel and advice to several public officials--myself included--and maintained a very successful private practice. prgtoken As a tireless community leader, he served as chairman of the Warwick School Committee and held leadership positions in local branches of charities and children's organizations. Above all, he prioritized his family, whom he loved dearly and to whom he devoted his life's work. prgtoken , it is an honor to remember Armie on the floor today, just as it was to consider him a trusted friend and adviser. Mr he made a difference, and he will be greatly missed.
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS ACT OF 2017
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-5-3

I want to thank my dear colleague, Mrs. Lowey, the ranking member of the committee, for yielding, and thank Chairmen Frelinghuysen, Rogers, and Ranking Member Lowey again for the hard work they did to push this bill across the finish line. prgtoken Yet today, I rise with frustration that it has taken us so long to finish doing our job. There is simply no good reason why, over 7 months into the 2017 fiscal year, we are only now taking a vote to fund this year's government operations. The American people deserve so much better. prgtoken There are many things in this bill with which I disagree, but I am pleased to see that the bill before us represents a bipartisan compromise. It also includes a lot of positive aspects. prgtoken For Ohio, the agreement brings welcome news to coal industry pensioneers. It also provides an important $600 million to fight the national opioid epidemic which has devastated our communities. prgtoken It also provides $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, assuring our critical work to improve water quality in the Great Lakes continues. prgtoken As ranking member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am well aware we have more work to do. But this bill continues our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and provides a modest increase for innovative science as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy for America's future and for our global leadership. prgtoken Once again, I believe it is who are getting the job done for America and leading the charge of bipartisan negotiations and compromise to avoid a government shutdown. Our side of the aisle continues to focus on making progress, moving the ball forward inch by inch and making progress, advancing progress for our country a step at a time. prgtoken A recent poll reported that this is what 77 percent of the American people want: compromising, working together, and moving forward. I hope that this agreement will be a beachhead in our efforts to fulfill their wishes. This bill demonstrates Congress can work together collegially for the 2018 fiscal year appropriations to follow to benefit our Nation's future. prgtoken I thank, again, Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Nita Lowey, and all of our dedicated staff on appropriations on both sides of the aisle for the hard, bipartisan work they put in putting this bill forward together for America's sake. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-5-3

Congress has spent the first 4 months of this year using an arcane, expedited procedure to roll back policies from the previous administration, while disregarding the impact these changes will have on American workers and families. prgtoken When you hold a belief that anything done by a Federal agency is bad, cutting programs seems like progress, but, unfortunately, it is not that simple. prgtoken I am all for streamlining government and making the process of doing business easier, but some rules--rules that keep workers safe, for example, or to protect consumers or to keep our air and water clean-- are protections that make sense. prgtoken In their ideological zeal, the majority has time and again made the decision to roll back important policies regardless of the impact on American people. prgtoken So far this year, just to name a few, the majority has rolled back environmental protections for clean water and allowed internet service providers to sell your personal browsing history to the highest bidder. The majority has also reversed rules that make workplaces safer and has even made it easier for corporations to bribe the governments of developing countries. prgtoken Now today, as the window closes on the majority's ability to rush through legislation under the Congressional Review Act, we are again facing a vote that could harm American families and make it harder for people to save for retirement. prgtoken As I have said on this topic before, for the people of Michigan, the American dream can take on many forms. But no matter who you are, there are a few fundamentals that I truly believe cut across the entire American society. One small piece of the American dream is the ability to retire with dignity and save enough to be able to pass along something to the next generation. prgtoken The measure under consideration today, which would repeal the Department of Labor's safe harbor for States developing retirement plans, would be a step backward, and it would make it harder for people to save for a secure retirement. prgtoken It is no secret that the American economy has changed in the last generation. One of the most profound changes for working families has been the dramatic shift from defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution plans. Our current system of IRAs and 401(k)s work well for many people, but it is unfortunately leaving millions of Americans behind. prgtoken If you work for a large, stable employer--like those of us privileged to work for the U.S. Senate--you will more than likely have access to a retirement plan. Americans, when they have access to these types of plans, make smart, prudent financial decisions. prgtoken Over 90 percent of Americans with access to a workplace plan report saving for their retirement. But not everyone works for a large employer, and for those who do not, the system has very large, gaping holes. prgtoken Nearly 60 million working Americans do not
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-5-3

for the second time in an administration that has just crossed the 100-day threshold, s in the Congress have teed up legislation that is going to make it harder for working Americans to save. This time, there is a proposal in front of us that goes after a brandnew program that my home State of Oregon is just now getting ready to launch. prgtoken Let me make my views on this proposal clear, quickly. This legislation puts the special interests before working people, and it is just that simple. prgtoken We all understand there is a savings crisis in the country. The typical American who works hard and brings home a paycheck every week or two is struggling to get money set aside for their retirement. prgtoken Just think of the economic challenges these families are up against every day. Millions of young people are buried under student debt, so the prospect of saving for retirement feels like a dream and will remain so for years and years. prgtoken Parents raising kids are faced with steep home loans and everyday bills. At the same time, it can seem as if the sticker price of a 4- year college education can match the GDP of a small island nation. prgtoken The numbers on the savings crisis are just alarming. More than half of workers approaching retirement have nothing. That means zero set aside in retirement accounts like IRAs or 401(k) plans. Tens of millions of Americans do not have access to retirement plans at work. In my view, addressing these kinds of challenges ought to be a bipartisan priority, a priority where both sides of the aisle get together and respond. prgtoken In response to this crisis, my home State, along with a few others, has looked to find a fresh approach to deal with retirement savings. We want working people and middle-income families--particularly those who don't have access to a savings plan today--to have more opportunities in the future to set money aside. prgtoken My home State found a way to do it. Oregon found a way to do it in a kind of Oregon tradition that eliminates a lot of hassle. We are one of a handful of States that has passed what is called an auto-IRA law. At home, we call it OregonSaves, and we are going to be launching it in just a few months. What it means for Oregon workers is that when you get a job, you are going to get a retirement account, so that is not really complicated. When you get a job in Oregon, you are going to get a retirement account. You can start setting aside a little bit with every paycheck. prgtoken By the way--and I want to emphasize this--it is not mandatory. People have the right to opt out. So when people say: Oh, government is going to force people to do this and that and something else, the Oregon plan is just the opposite. It is voluntary in all particulars. prgtoken What it means for business owners--particularly small business owners--is that they can offer a savings plan without crippling fees or the hassle of deali
THE BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE MY VOTE
Luis V. Gutiérrez (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-3

I will admit that I am pleased that the deal prgtoken worked out between ic leadership and s to keep the government open until October does not include funding for the President's ``tremendous'' border wall. But let's put that in perspective. prgtoken A border wall will not deport thousands of people living and working in cities across the Nation or moms and dads in my neighborhood. A border wall will not deport anyone, and I seriously doubt it would do any good keeping anyone out, either. prgtoken Building a 3,000-mile wall is a hugely expensive boondoggle to solve a policy problem many say we don't have. Border apprehensions have been going down steadily for years, and now we have people fleeing violence and persecution who are so scared of us they are deciding not to come to America and are applying for asylum somewhere else. They are not taking their legitimate claims for political asylum and safety to the Nation that is the hallmark of freedom. prgtoken So while even admits that border apprehensions are significantly down, he says, 75 percent, it is not necessarily for reasons we should be proud of. prgtoken But a wall? Are policy experts and pundits really discussing whether fifth century technology plays a role in modern homeland security? The Great Wall of China boosts tourism. It is not a factor in national security. prgtoken What concerns me more is the spending on deportation that is still in the bill we will be voting on today. $1.2 billion of 's original $3 billion request for border security and interior enforcement is still there. Any money we give those agencies at this point will find its way into funding the President's mass deportation agenda. prgtoken Now, imagine if we were applauding the approval of a budget that had $1.2 billion in new funding to roll back Roe v. Wade, additional funding from the Federal Government to restrict women's healthcare and reproductive rights. Well, I would never vote for that budget. prgtoken But what if asked us for $3 billion but we only gave him $1.2 billion to undermine workplace safety laws and labor rights? I would never do that. prgtoken Let's just say it was $1.2 billion to defeat environmental regulations that protect clean air and water. Would we celebrate? I don't think so. prgtoken Would we celebrate $1.2 billion in additional money to weaken the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts? Would we celebrate more money to combat and weaken same-sex marriage or take away transgender rights? I wouldn't. prgtoken Adding $1.2 billion to the budget to make it easier for the U.S. Government to deport people should never be celebrated by any of us, and certainly not in the era of when we know their number one policy priority is to scare immigrants into leaving or not coming in the first place. prgtoken Look, the people who will be deported with the money we are voting on are usually people with no criminal background a
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS ACT OF 2017
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-3

let me take this opportunity to thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding. prgtoken , I am pleased this legislation contains $295.9 million for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, which is running out of resources. Absent action, hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens could lose health care. prgtoken Make no mistake, we are in this situation because of years of neglect from Washington. So, here we are again, fixing a hole created by Puerto Rico's second class treatment under Medicaid. prgtoken The funding in this bill is a first step toward rectifying the longstanding unequal treatment of Puerto Rico. By the way, , and , last time I checked the history books, it was the U.S. Armed Forces who landed in Puerto Rico in 1898, and invaded Puerto Rico. So we have a moral obligation toward the people of Puerto Rico, American citizens. prgtoken Now, to the creditors, let me say this, and let me be clear: this money was not appropriated to line hedge funds' pockets. This money, and funds that would otherwise go to Puerto Rico's healthcare system, is for Puerto Ricans. prgtoken So I support this funding and look forward to seeking solutions for the island's long-term growth. prgtoken Finally, let me thank Leader Pelosi, Mr. Hoyer, Ranking Member Lowey, and Minority Leader Schumer for their efforts in securing these funds. prgtoken s.
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-5-3

it looks as though we are at it again. Instead of fighting to make things even a little bit better for hard- working, middle-class Americans, Members of this body just want to make life harder for those hard-working, middle-class Americans. prgtoken We have had the debate on Capitol Hill about how to strip healthcare from 24 million Americans. We have had a conversation on Capitol Hill on how to reduce the taxes phenomenally on the very richest Americans. We have seen the President's one-page description of a tax plan that consisted of a goody bag for the richest Americans, the multimillionaires and the billionaires. But here we have another provision just trying to sucker punch hard-working Americans because those hard-working Americans work for companies that often don't have a retirement plan, so they do not have a convenient way to put funds away to prepare for retirement. prgtoken Along came the States. The States said: You know, for those workers who don't have a retirement plan at their work, why don't we design one, present one, so that they could automatically sign up and have their wages--a small amount of them--put away for retirement automatically? prgtoken Then they would go to a different job, and that job would not have a retirement plan. Well, then, in that new job, they could have a little bit of their wages put away automatically for retirement--not in a manner that requires people to save. They could ``unsign'' themselves up. This is called automatic opt in. They could say: I don't want that 3 percent put into a retirement plan. Make it 2 percent, make it 1 percent, make it 5 percent, or make it 0 percent. They would have the control, but when they first start the job, it automatically puts away a little bit for retirement. prgtoken I think about my son and daughter--my son who is 21 and my daughter who is 19--and they have worked a whole series of modest little jobs, from pouring coffee to coaching sports teams to working as a lifesaver and so on and so forth. prgtoken What if for every single job in those companies that were not providing those retirement plans, workers automatically had 3 percent of their funds put away toward retirement in a low-cost option--the same kinds of low-cost options that U.S. Senators have when they come here to the Senate, the same types of low-cost options that every Federal employee has? Why not give that same opportunity to ordinary working Americans? That is what we are here talking about. prgtoken We already made it harder to set up such stand-in plans--plans that stand in when there is no retirement plan provided by the employer. In March, we passed another CRA making it difficult to impossible for municipalities to create such a plan for their citizens, but the plans probably made more sense at the State level. prgtoken Now come my friends across the aisle to say: It is not enough. It is not enough that we hit them once by stopping the muni