mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Russia Investigation (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-22

since last week's all-Senators briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, some of my friends on the other side of the aisle have alleged that his appointment of a special counsel impedes the congressional investigation into Russian interference in our elections and whether the campaign was involved. Nothing could be further from the truth. prgtoken The executive branch investigation under the special counsel looks at criminal wrongdoing. The congressional investigation takes a broader approach. The two can proceed on parallel tracks, as has happened many times in the past. If anything the congressional investigation is doing potentially interferes with the special counsel's activities, the two parties will discuss it. It is a process called deconfliction. They know how to do it. They have done it before. There is no reason whatsoever for the congressional investigation to slow down or stop. prgtoken Mr. Mueller's appointment as special counsel in no way diminishes the need for Congress to play an active role in helping to get to the bottom of all the recent events. Let me repeat. This is our solemn constitutional duty, the very bedrock of the separation of powers and coequal branches of government designed by our Founding Fathers to preserve something we all cherish: American liberty and American democracy. Let me outline three things that should happen. prgtoken First, Intelligence Committee Chair Burr and Ranking Member Warner should continue to pursue their committee's investigation into these matters with just as much vigor. That investigation has been proceeding in a bipartisan way, and it absolutely should continue as such. For example, my friends Senators Burr and Warner have recently requested financial records of key campaign officials from the Treasury Department. They should be given that information and continue to pursue whatever other avenues they view as helpful to the committee's investigation. prgtoken Second, Mr. Comey should testify in both the Judiciary and the Intelligence Committees to discuss the events surrounding his dismissal. The committees should be given access to memos he reportedly drafted following interactions with President , and Congress should also be provided any transcripts or tapes the White House might have of Mr. Comey's conversations with President . prgtoken Third, the Intelligence Committee must be provided the details of transcripts relating to President 's reported disclosure of information to the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador. There is a great deal of dispute about what was said at that meeting. The committee should have access to both Mr. Comey's notes and the White House's notes. prgtoken Finally, the Senate must demand the next FBI Director be nonpartisan, independent, fearless, and of unimpeachable integrity, just as Mr. Mueller is. A career politician of either party or anyone who suggests a lack
TRIBUTE TO GENERAL DANIEL B. ALLYN
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-5-22

I would like to recognize GEN Daniel B. Allyn for his exemplary dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Army and to our Nation. For the last 3 years, he has served as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and is planning to retire next month. prgtoken General Allyn is a fellow New Englander from Berwick, ME. He was commissioned as an infantry officer from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1981. General Allyn and his family were also fortunate to make a midcareer return to New England while he was a student at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. prgtoken General Allyn has commanded troops from the platoon through corps level and served as commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, along with myriad other staff assignments. He served an overseas assignment in Korea and operational deployments for Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, two peacekeeping deployments to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, Operation Desert Spring in Kuwait, two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Unified Response in Haiti, and one tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. prgtoken During a recent interview, General Allyn reflected on his time in uniform by saying ``the only legacy we leave behind is the leaders that we develop on our watch.'' The U.S. Army is fortunate to have leaders like General Allyn, and those who have served under him have no doubt benefitted immeasurably from the mentorship he has provided. We should all be thankful for the generations of Army leaders who will follow in his footsteps and, in so doing, positively contribute to the security of our nation. prgtoken On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending GEN Daniel B. Allyn for over 36 years of service to our country. We wish Dan and his wife, Debbie, the very best in the years to come.
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-22

I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. prgtoken , I rise today in support of the Child Protection Improvements Act. I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop) who has been an excellent partner working with me on this bill, the first version of which was introduced in 2007. prgtoken , I would also like to thank Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers for their work on the bill as well. prgtoken I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters many years ago. I was paired with an extraordinary young man named David who is now himself a Big Brother. I have always said that I have learned as much or more from David and the program as he ever learned from me. prgtoken The experience also helped me understand the huge amount of trust that we put in volunteers at organizations all around the country. In the vast majority of cases, that trust is well placed. But, unfortunately, there are exceptions. prgtoken For that reason, in 2003, Congress created the Child Safety Pilot Program to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing youth-serving nonprofits to access FBI background checks. prgtoken The FBI maintains the database of criminal histories from every State in the Nation, searchable by fingerprint. An FBI search is really the gold standard when it comes to background checks, as it cannot be evaded by using a fake name, and it will find convictions from every State. I believe that the gold standard is what we should strive for when it comes to protecting children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities who are put in a potentially vulnerable situation. prgtoken Between 2003 and 2011, youth-serving organizations were able to run over 100,000 background checks through this pilot program, and about 6 percent of the potential volunteers were revealed to have criminal records of concern. Applicants were found with convictions for everything from murder to child abuse, to sexual assault; and frequently those convictions were from out of State, so only a national background check would have found them. prgtoken H.R. 695 ensures that every child-serving organization in America will have access to the most comprehensive and effective background check possible. H.R. 695 will also protect the applicant's privacy and does not allow for the individual's specific criminal record to be disclosed without explicit consent by the potential volunteer. prgtoken We have demonstrated that background checks for nonprofits working with children can be conducted quickly, affordably, and accurately. It is time to create a system that is permanent and that will protect children and other vulnerable populations while ensuring the privacy of volunteers. prgtoken I urge the passage of this bipartisan bill.
WELCOMING OUR HONORABLE VETERANS TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2017-5-22

today I am incredibly honored to rise and recognize a group of 25 heroic veterans who have traveled from West Virginia to visit our Nation's Capital as part of the eighth Always Free Honor Flight. On behalf of our State and Nation, it is a true privilege to recognize them for their courageous service and unparalleled sacrifice as they tour the memorials that have been built in their honor. prgtoken With one of our country's highest per capita rates of military servicemembers and veterans, West Virginia is undoubtedly one of our Nation's most patriotic States. According to the Department of Defense, West Virginia had the highest casualty rate in the Nation during the Vietnam war, and I am so proud that the Honor Flight will allow these West Virginia veterans to pay homage to their brethren at the Vietnam Wall. Throughout our State's history, West Virginians have demonstrated selflessness and courage time and again in making tremendous sacrifices to defend our freedoms and to keep our homeland safe. As these veterans tour the monuments made in their honor, I offer my sincerest thanks to them on behalf of our Nation for their service. prgtoken The veterans joining us in Washington range in age from 62 to 94 and hail from the coalfields of West Virginia and Virginia. These patriots come from seven West Virginia coal mining counties and three Virginia counties. Of the Honor Flight veterans attending, two served in World War II, one served in the Korean war, two served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, 18 served in the Vietnam war, and two Veterans served stateside. They have participated in decisive overseas battles and won a myriad of accolades for their accomplishments in uniform. prgtoken I would especially like to recognize our World War II veterans who will be on this Honor Flight for the second time. Ninety-four-year-old former SN William ``Ray'' Calvin Sexton from Tazewell joined the Navy in Bramwell, WV, in 1943 and was a gunner stationed in Panama and the Galapagos Islands. We will also be joined by Machinist Mate 3rd Class Marion Grey Noel who joined the Navy in the 1940s and bravely fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. prgtoken These men represent our Nation's Greatest Generation, and their sacrifices and valor embody American patriotism. They fought in such a pivotal war, in an era that threatened our existence as a nation. Unfortunately, as the years go by, we are losing so many of our World War II veterans, and we must show them our utmost gratitude each and every day. prgtoken As I mentioned, we will also be joined by veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. These men and women served courageously in a variety of ways, working both at home and abroad. They engaged in combat all over the world. They were pilots, helicopter gunners, and radio operators. One of these veterans is MSgt Reese Williamson Moore who joined the Air Force in 1951 in Bluefield, WV. He was first stat
TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DENNIS H. HOLTSCHNEIDER
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-22

I would like to take a few moments to thank Reverend Dennis H. Holtscheider for all he has done to bring educational excellence to our State. prgtoken After nearly 13 years as president of DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the country, Father Holtschneider will be retiring later this summer. He originally planned on stepping down in 2019 at the end of his contract, but always putting DePaul first, he decided that wouldn't fit with the university's planning cycle. After leading the university through two successful strategic plans, he said, ``It's best for DePaul if I step aside in the summer of 2017 so that a new leader can assist the institution to name and ambitiously pursue its next set of strategic objectives.'' What a class act. It is no surprise, for more than a decade, Reverend Holtschneider has put DePaul University first. prgtoken During Father Holtschneider's tenure, U.S. News and World Report recognized DePaul University as among the country's ``Most Innovative Universities.'' While many colleges and universities shift their missions over the years, Reverend Holtschneider has always remained committed to DePaul University's founding principles--a devotion to first generation students. He has raised about $460 million in philanthropic support for this noble cause, including $333 million for the ``Many Dreams, One Mission'' campaign to ensure access to high quality education for future generations of DePaul students. prgtoken Born in Detroit, Father Holtschneider graduated from Niagara University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, studied for the priesthood at Mary Immaculate Seminary, and also received a doctorate in higher education administration from Harvard University. Prior to joining DePaul University, Father Holtscheider served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of his alma mater, Niagara University. He also was the director and rector of Vincentian College Seminary and has been a faculty member in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Since 2014, Father Holtschneider has chaired the board of Ascension, the Nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system, but will be stepping down to become executive vice president and chief operating officer later this summer. prgtoken Father Holtschneider has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the ACE Council of Fellows Mentor Award for his work preparing the next generation of academic leaders in higher education. He has been listed on the Diversity MBA Magazine's Top 100 and Under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders. I especially want to thank Father Holtschneider for his leadership on comprehensive immigration reform, which was honored by the Archdiocese of Chicago with its ``Strangers No Longer Award.'' prgtoken I congratulate Reverend Holtschneider on his many accomplishments throughout his long and distinguished career. I thank him for always being a trustworthy counsel
Haiti (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-5-22

I join the Senator from Iowa in supporting Governor Branstad as our next Ambassador to China. I have the opportunity of being the ranking on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I knew of Governor Branstad's reputation as the Governor of Iowa--that he was well thought of and that his leadership was recognized not only by the people of his State but in our Nation. prgtoken So I was, before the nomination was made, impressed by his dedication to public service. I then had a chance to meet with him in my office. I must tell you that I was extremely impressed about how he was prepared to move on to be the Ambassador to China and how he spoke in favor of our strong ideals. prgtoken We then had a confirmation hearing in our committee, and that very much confirmed his knowledge of the challenges that he has, his dedication to public service, and that he would be a strong advocate for American values. So I support his nomination and I urge my colleagues to confirm Governor Branstad. As Senator Ernst pointed out, our mission in China is a particularly important international responsibility. prgtoken We know that China plays a significant role--maybe even a dominating role--in regard to North Korea and in trying to get North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal. We also know that China has a very checkered record on protecting the human rights of its own citizens. We have major trade issues between the United States and China, in which our Ambassador needs to be engaged to protect American commercial interests. prgtoken We have the continuing saga between Taiwan and China and living up to our commitments to protect the integrity of Taiwan. Then, we have a very dangerous situation in the South China prgtoken Sea, where China has done many provocative activities that will require the diplomacy of our Ambassador in Beijing in order to encourage the use of the rule of law in direct negotiations between the parties and not claiming territory by provocative actions. prgtoken So, for all of those issues, we need an experienced Ambassador in China to represent our interests. What really impressed me about Governor Branstad is that I do believe he has a passion for American values. prgtoken I particularly appreciated his willingness--and would even say he was anxious--to represent American and global interests for China's improving their human rights record and dealing with the right of religious minorities, dealing with the right of dissent, and dealing with the right of free expression and the press. He very much spoke about the need for the rule of law. So while we welcome the emergence of a prosperous China, we want one that follows international institutional laws and norms. That is going to be the challenge for our next Ambassador. prgtoken Let me comment on what I believe the administration is doing that is going to make our next Ambassador's responsibilities even more challenging than perh
RECOGNIZING BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Jeb Hensarling (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-23

I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I have had many opportunities in my career to come to this House floor and speak about topics of great importance, but few are as near and dear to my heart as is Scouting. prgtoken So, one, I want to thank the gentleman from New York for his leadership and the gentleman from Texas for his leadership and keeping Scouting alive not only in their hearts, but in the heart of the House and in the hearts of so many young men in America today. prgtoken , as I think about my own life, I think how terribly blessed I have been. I think about the molders of my character, and, certainly, I thank the Lord for the blessing of being able to worship Him in the land of the free. And I think about the impact my church has had upon my life. prgtoken I think how blessed I am to have parents like Charles and Ann Hensarling, who raised me in College Station, Texas, and how proud I am to be my mother's son and how proud I was to be my late father's son. But I also think about what Scouting meant as a molder of my character. prgtoken , that is not what originally drew me to Scouting. I was originally drawn to the fun of it, to the high adventure, to the camping trips, to those Capture the Flag games that went on to the wee hours of the morning. Little did I know how long one could actually hunt for a snipe back in the early days of my Scouting career. And so I was drawn to Indian lore and canoeing and camping, and that was so exciting to me. prgtoken So when I think about my Scouting career, , I think about, you know, the fun I had. I think about the friendships. There are people I haven't seen for decades, but, you know, I think about a friend by the name of Dennis Gary, whom I haven't seen in decades. But if I saw him tomorrow, I would know him because I would know him through his heart, because we experienced Scouting together, and so many others. prgtoken I think about the many practical things I learned in my Scouting career. I hope I never fall into a hole and break an arm, but if I did, even today at my ripe old age, I could still tie a one-handed bowline. I still know how to do that. prgtoken I hope I am never lost in the forest for days on end, but, you know, , I know that, as distasteful as it would be, I could survive off of cattail root and dandelion leaves because that is what Scouting taught me. prgtoken So Scouting is about fun; it is about friendship; but it was about practical things that I learned there is even a far more important aspect to Scouting, and that is values, the values that we learned. prgtoken So even today, as a Member of Congress, I know how important it is to be prepared, to be prepared before I come to this House floor and try to convince fellow Members of this august body on actions that we should take in the life of a great nation. prgtoken As we deal with so many issues about the lives of a great nation, I also remember, for example,
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-5-23

. There is widespread agreement in the community and in our State that this site is not just a part of Arkansas' history, it is a part of our national heritage. prgtoken Central High stands as a reminder of an article Billy Graham published during the crisis, ``No Color Line in Heaven.'' It was a hard-won lesson and one I think we should do everything we can to pass on to the next generation.
PUT TRAFFICKING VICTIMS FIRST ACT OF 2017
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-5-23

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 2473, the Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken Human trafficking has plagued communities and neighborhoods across America. Victims have endured horrific trauma, violence, and reoccurring abuse. As a result, there is a tremendous need for expanded victim services, improved data on the prevalence and trends of human trafficking, and effective mechanisms to identify and rescue trafficking victims. prgtoken H.R. 2473 takes reasonable steps to increase victim services while improving upon the tools already available to combat human trafficking. The bill directs the Attorney General to provide a report on the effectiveness of State safe harbor laws to ensure these laws are based upon a survivor-centered approach. prgtoken In addition to the report, the bill instructs States to recognize coping mechanisms and the symptoms of trauma as local law enforcement interacts with victims of human trafficking. prgtoken Furthermore, the legislation provides for increased training and technical assistance for State and Federal agencies, prosecutors, and law enforcement on how to take a victim-centered approach to preventing human trafficking. This provision promotes evidence-based training in order to improve the physical and mental health services provided to victims. prgtoken The bill's focus on supporting victims continues as H.R. 2473 instructs the National Institute of Justice to establish detailed methodologies to review the modern trends and detail the prevalence of human trafficking throughout the United States. The survey will not only assess how victims of trafficking are accessing services, but, in addition, help estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States. prgtoken Moreover, H.R. 2473 will provide assistance to trafficking victims seeking restitution, many of whom still face many obstacles in Federal court. The bill directs the Attorney General to report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution for victims by providing Congress with data involving the number of Federal cases related to human trafficking in which restitution was ordered, as well as the participation rate of victims in trafficking criminal proceedings. prgtoken Finally, the bill expresses the sense of Congress that States should implement trauma-informed, victim-centered care for all trafficking victims. prgtoken , Congress' intent is clear: Protecting victims from the heinous crime of human trafficking is of utmost concern. I commend the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. prgtoken , . Committee on Education and the Workforce, Washington, DC, May 23,