mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FAIR ACCESS TO INVESTMENT RESEARCH ACT OF 2017
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-9-27

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am pleased that the House is considering S. 327 today, the Fair Access to Investment Research Act. prgtoken This is the Senate companion to my bill, H.R. 910, that I had the pleasure of working on with my friend from Illinois (Mr. Foster) in this Congress and our colleague in the last Congress, now Governor Carney of Delaware. prgtoken , occasionally on this floor, we don't compliment our colleagues in the upper Chamber at the other end of the building, but we have to say today ``thank you'' to Senator Crapo and Senator Brown for advancing a number of securities-related bills in the last few days which we appreciate seeing coming back to the House, including S. 327. prgtoken This bill contains the same language as H.R. 910, which passed the House in May with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 405-2. prgtoken S. 327 also includes some Senate amendments that add some additional clarifications to the bill: prgtoken First, it clarifies the conflict of interest provision by precluding dealers from issuing research on affiliated exchange-traded funds. prgtoken Second, it carves out closed-end funds, including business development companies. prgtoken Finally, it includes a specific definition of ``affiliated person,'' which matches the definition of an ``affiliated person'' in section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. prgtoken Since starting an investment firm back in the late 1990s, I have watched exchange-traded funds grow amazingly. ETFs have grown from about 100 funds, in the late 1990s, with over $100 billion in assets, to now over 1,700 funds with over $3 trillion in assets. Exchange- traded funds can average 30 percent of the trading volumes by value on any given day on our markets. prgtoken Yet, despite their growing popularity and increasing importance to retail investors, most broker-dealers do not prgtoken publish research on ETFs. This is due to anomalies in our securities laws and regulations. S. 327 tackles those anomalies. prgtoken Given the importance of ETFs to investors, and particularly retail investors, steps to facilitate research on exchange-traded funds are long overdue. prgtoken The Fair Access to Investment Research Act is simple. It directs the SEC to provide a safe harbor for research reports that cover ETFs so that these reports are not considered offers under section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. This allows ETF research to be issued just like stock research on a corporate issuer. prgtoken This commonsense proposal, which mirrors other research safe harbors implemented by the SEC, would clarify the law and allow broker-dealers to publish exchange-traded fund research, thereby allowing investors to access that very useful and needed information in this rapidly growing and occasionally complex market of choices. prgtoken This bill also holds the SEC accountable to follow Congress' direction. The bill requires the SEC to f
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-9-27

last week the Senate passed the bipartisan Defense Authorization Act. The world is a very dangerous place. This legislation is very important to keeping our country safe. prgtoken Another thing we need to do to keep America safe is to get the economy going and growing. We need a strong and healthy economy in this country, and we need it now. A strong economy means a strong country with enough money to pay for the defense needs that we have at this time. prgtoken Over the 8 years of the administration, Washington doubled its debt. Why? Because our economy grew so slowly and the administration spent too much money. If this sort of thing continues, it is going to leave America in a much more vulnerable position. prgtoken America needs a stronger economy that grows faster. To get the kind of growth we need, we are going to have to provide real tax relief for America, for hard-working families, and for the economy. That means cutting tax rates, and it means simplifying taxes for everyone. If we get this right, we are going to be able to produce more jobs, Americans will have higher wages, more take-home pay, and we will have a stronger economy. prgtoken According to the Internal Revenue Service, Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year on taxes, just trying to prepare their taxes. Between businesses and individual families, we spend an average of 18 hours for every man, woman, and child in America, just trying to comply with Washington's complicated Tax Code. The National Taxpayers Union says that the total cost of all of this is $263 billion a year. That works out to about $800 for every person in America. This is not spending that does anything productive. It is just figuring out how much tax to pay, and how to do it in a way to send it back to Washington so that the IRS will not come knocking at your door--how to get your numbers right. prgtoken The instructions for last year's standard 1040 tax form were 106 pages long. These are the instructions--15 different worksheets for people to fill out just to try to fill out the forms. The people who can deal with this level of complexity are the ones who basically can afford to hire expensive accountants and lawyers, who then take full advantage of a very complicated tax code. It penalizes hard-working Americans who can't afford the high-priced help that helps them fill out and take full advantage of a complicated tax code. prgtoken We hear a lot about people who talk about how millionaires and billionaires are gaming the system so that they can pay less in taxes. If that is their concern, then maybe we should try to make this system simple enough that there is no system to game and everyone can understand it. prgtoken Just think about how much we could save this country if we simplify things even a little bit. All the time we could save, all the extra money in the pockets of hard-working American families--that would really help to grow the
Delrahim Nomination (Executive Session)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-9-27

the confirmation of Makan Delrahim has been a top priority of mine. I know the man. He worked with us. He headed our Judiciary Committee staff. Amidst the rising controversy over antitrust law in the 21st century, he is precisely who we need in that position. I commend the President for having picked him. prgtoken All of us, and s, liberals and conservatives, are going to make sure that our markets remain free and competitive. Cheap talking points are not going to cut it; only serious debate will. prgtoken I am pleased that recent efforts to rise above the partisan fray and treat this subject with the seriousness it deserves have paid off today. prgtoken I expect our colleagues to vote for Makan because of the high-quality lawyer he really is. prgtoken s for joining me in this debate. I congratulate Makan, who is sure to make us all very pleased with the way he can run things and the way he can begin this important work that he knows is important. We know it is important; I particularly know it is important. prgtoken Makan has been an honest, decent, wonderful man. He is a good father. He has been a terrific staffer here on Capitol Hill. He has worked with both and s in good faith. I think almost all of them, if they are honest, will say he was a very, very good person to work with and a wonderful person to fill this position. prgtoken It is a blessing that someone like Makan, who comes from a very humble family, could rise to the top in this particular position in antitrust, and I am sure he will do an honest, decent job within the antitrust laws as they are configured and written. prgtoken I am proud of him. I think the world of him. I hope everybody will vote for him. But if not, I will commend him, and I know he will do a good job in this particular position. prgtoken , .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-9-27

today I would like to recognize an outstanding small business located in my home State of Idaho. Dedication, hard work, and the entrepreneurial spirit are some of the guiding principles that define us as Americans. It is these traits that have enabled so many of our fellow citizens to achieve the American dream. As our workforce moves further into the 21st century, new opportunities are created every day by the American people themselves to ensure that they can achieve a better standard of life, without reliance on others. My State of Idaho knows this and is proud to serve as an incubator for many small businesses that seek to expand these values through their unique entrepreneurial spirit. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my pleasure to recognize LiveRez as the Senate Small Business of the Month for September 2017. LiveRez is one of a good number of software companies in Idaho, which provides services to American businesses nationwide and serves as a true example of hard work in pursuit of the American dream. prgtoken LiveRez is based out of Eagle, ID, and was founded by Tracy Lotz in 2008, after years of research and development within the vacation rental sector. Tracy started his journey with vacation rentals in 1994, when he launched First Choice Vacation Properties, one of the few early websites where managers were able to advertise their vacation rentals in cyberspace. It wouldn't be until 2002 that Tracy and his nephew Jeremy would start building websites for their clientele of professional vacation rental managers, and within a year, they were pioneering online bookings in real time. It would not be until 2005 that the Lotz's would shift from providing the service at an incremental level to designing software that would be 100 percent cloud-based. In January 2008, LiveRez was launched as the first all-in- the-cloud management system. From there, they have continued expanding and innovating with the establishment of the First Advisory Board, mobile websites, and other technical applications that enabled their software to be one of the most sought after management systems for managers not only in the United States but also around the world. prgtoken Perhaps what makes all of this success even more incredible is that Tracy was able to do all of this organically, utilizing the revenue from the company's early days to continue to grow. He did not seek out venture capital for the company, nor did he take on debt. Today Tracy and the team at LiveRez host their annual partner conference, which includes classes, tech reveals, networking, and more amenities for members of the industry. prgtoken I would like to congratulate Tracy Lotz and the employees of LiveRez on their innovation and hard work and the commitment that they have to their partners and clients. I wish the best for LiveRez, and I am confident that they will continue to provide inno
Tarbert Nomination (Executive Session)
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-9-27

I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Mr. Heath Tarbert to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets and Development. This position is both a critical national security and international economic policy job. prgtoken A critical part of the Assistant Secretary's job--and the reason for which this position was created by statute and passed in the Banking Committee--is to marshal the procedures and processes of the interagency, Treasury-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which protects our Nation from hostile foreign transactions designed to undermine U.S. national security interests. prgtoken This is now a very time-sensitive post because Senators on both sides of the aisle are working to introduce legislation to change the CFIUS process for the first time in a decade. prgtoken Confirmation of Mr. Tarbert is critical so that he is available to provide necessary input on any proposed changes and to swiftly implement any new legislation. prgtoken Mr. Tarbert would also serve as the principal policy advisor to the Secretary on international economic matters, including serving as the Treasury's representative at the Financial Stability Board. prgtoken Finally, Mr. Tarbert has strong bipartisan support and was voice- voted out of the Banking Committee. prgtoken Mr. Tarbert has served in senior roles in all three branches of government and is an experienced lawyer and a recognized financial expert. prgtoken In short, he is an important asset whom the Congress and Treasury Department do not want to lose to further delay. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to support Mr. Tarbert's nomination today and to vote for his confirmation. prgtoken With that, .
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-9-27

one of the Senate s' most important priorities for the rest of this year is passing comprehensive tax reform. Why? Because comprehensive tax reform is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to get our economy back on the path to long-term health. Comprehensive tax reform done right will boost jobs. It will increase wages. It will provide much needed tax relief for middle-income taxpayers and families. It will help businesses reinvest in their operations, employees, and new products. And most importantly, it will help us achieve strong, consistent economic growth. prgtoken Over the past few weeks, leaders from the House, Senate, and White House have been meeting to develop the framework for the tax reform bill we will take up later this year. This morning, they unveiled that framework. The framework supports s' five principles for tax reform: providing tax relief for the middle class; increasing wages, jobs, and economic growth; prgtoken keeping good-paying jobs here at home; increasing American competitiveness in the global economy; and simplifying the Tax Code. prgtoken The framework released today emphasizes tax relief for the middle class. prgtoken First and foremost, we are going to ensure that working families receive a much needed increase in take-home pay. Right now, 50 percent of families are living paycheck to paycheck, while one-third of people across this country say they are just $400 away from a financial crisis. That is not acceptable. prgtoken Our tax reform plan will ensure that these families are no longer left behind. Our plan will increase the standard deduction, which will provide tax relief to those families who need it the most. It will also enhance the child tax credit, and I don't need to tell anyone that the important work of raising a family is getting more and more expensive. It is time for hard-working families to get a break with a larger child tax credit. Finally, we will be lowering the rates on middle-class families. By collapsing the seven income tax brackets to three, we will ensure that working families get to keep more of what they earn. prgtoken Second, our tax plan will increase wages, jobs, and economic growth by lowering taxes and improving cost recovery for American businesses and job creators. The framework released today lays out a goal of a 20- percent corporate tax rate. Right now, our corporate tax rate is the highest in the developed world. Our competitors pay an average rate of 22.5 percent, while U.S. companies face a 35-percent tax rate. That is a big problem. Our uncompetitive tax rate has driven companies to move their headquarters and jobs overseas and led to wage stagnation and a lack of opportunity for American workers. Lowering the corporate rate will create jobs and increase wages for working families across the country. prgtoken An equally important priority laid out in the framework is lower tax rates for sma
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-9-27

today I would like to talk about a topic that most of us don't want to discuss, and that is taxes, except today is different. This time, you don't have to groan over spreadsheets and calculations or worry about how much of your hard-earned pay you are going to have to send to Uncle Sam. Today, leaders in the House and in the Senate will unveil their core principles for tax reform. The President will travel with our colleague Senator Young to announce his support for these core principles. prgtoken Taxes can be confounding and complicated and painful to deliberate, but for folks back home, what I believe describes our tax principles is to say more take-home pay, and that works for everybody. In other words, you actually reduce your living costs because Uncle Sam takes less of your paycheck, meaning you get to keep more of it and take that home and spend it on things that you would prefer to spend it on. So more take-home pay is our bottom line. prgtoken I look forward to working with the chairman of the Finance Committee, on which I have the privilege of serving, and Ryan and Chairman Kevin Brady of the House Ways and Means Committee--another good Texan-- on their ideas, which I know were born from many long hours and tough conversations. prgtoken But this is going to be a national conversation, starting with the President kicking this off this afternoon in Indiana. He is going to invite the American people to express their views on what tax reform should look like. prgtoken For me, in addition to more take-home pay, I am looking for a tax code which is shorter, simpler, and which makes us more competitive in the global economy. prgtoken It is a great relief, believe me, to have a President who understands how taxes and the uncertainty they place on job creators stifles economic growth. The reason economic growth is so important is that when the economy grows, more jobs are created, and for the jobs that exist, the people who have them will actually earn more money and be able to pursue their dreams. prgtoken Just as importantly, though, this President understands that the job creator is not the enemy. A former colleague of ours, Gordon Smith from Oregon, once told me that the problem with some of our ic friends is that they claim to love the worker, but they hate the job creator. To me, that sort of summarized it pretty well. I know he didn't mean ``hate'' in the traditional sense, but he did mean Congress--and particularly our folks on the ic side--likes to implement additional burdens, such as higher taxes or more regulation, more obstacles in the way of our job creators, when we should be tearing down those walls, reducing that regulation, and lowering taxes so that they can be successful, and in the process, we can all succeed. Well, this President understands that our economy, too, is crucial but extremely fragile, and he joins all of us in wanting to do everything he can
DISASTER TAX RELIEF AND AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2017
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-9-27

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken , there has been a lot of talk during this discussion about the flood insurance program, about making sure we are providing for the hurricane victims. There is talk about the FAA. prgtoken Let me be clear: we support the FAA. We support making sure that we provide all the resources necessary for the hurricane victims, from Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, and Maria. Where things are getting distorted is that this bill includes extraneous provisions that will actually undermine these very objectives. prgtoken I want to explain. prgtoken Under the legislation that has been attached--the flood insurance legislation--it does allow private insurers to come in, which all of us support, but not in a vacuum. What is going to happen when you do this in a vacuum is that you are going to cause premiums to be diverted from the program. prgtoken This is the program where these people have been paying premiums for years, and the program is not going to have the resources to pay their claims, which means it is going to have to borrow more money, which is going to make the premiums go up even greater. prgtoken You are going to see the private insurers come in and cherry-pick low- and moderate-risk policies, which is only going to leave the high- risk policies in the program trying to pay a debt and not having a diverse portfolio of low-, moderate-, and high-risk policies. prgtoken This is a flawed approach. It needs to be addressed on December 9, when this current program expires. We should be addressing this holistically. prgtoken I want to say it again. Those of you who have hurricane victims are undermining their very recovery by supporting this legislation. prgtoken One of the other major flaws is this, . This shows flooding in Louisiana last year, flooding in Texas this year.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-9-27

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of Calendar No. 95, the nomination of Heath Tarbert to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Calendar No. 106, the nomination of Makan Delrahim to be Assistant Attorney General. I further ask that there be 5 hours of debate on the nominations, equally divided in the usual form, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed, with no intervening action or debate, and that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
WELCOMING PASTOR DENNIS JOKELA
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-9-27

I rise today to recognize a proud son of Portage, Michigan, Pastor Dennis Jokela of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department. prgtoken He has been a pillar of our community through his work as a small- business owner, a judge for the Michigan Vocational Education Society, and as a corporal and chaplain at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department as well. prgtoken I know I speak for many as we thank, in particular, our first responders all across the country, sheriffs, and police officers, and pray to keep them and their families safe. prgtoken Pastor Jokela's dedication to public service runs deep as a seven- time decorated veteran of Vietnam and Cambodia--overdue medals my team was able to help him obtain--a pastor with the Michigan Boot Camp for Troubled Teens at Fort Custer, and his work with the homeless. His commitment to community and country are unquestionable. prgtoken , I thank Pastor Jokela for his service here and at home. We are all so honored to be with him today. I thank him for his kind words.