mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-15

I wish to thank my colleague from Colorado. I will not tell him what I was doing in 1986, the last time we adjusted the tax rate, but I just want to remind our colleagues today that we are in a moment of crisis in the United States. prgtoken Today we have a national debt crisis. I have been to this floor many times, and many of my colleagues have as well, to talk about this debt crisis. It affects our ability to do the things that we know are right to do--to deal with the victims of hurricanes, with national security, and with our healthcare situation. prgtoken Folks, we are losing the right to do the right thing. prgtoken To solve this national debt crisis, we have to do many things. But one of the ways we can deal with this debt crisis--and one of the first things we have to do--is to grow our economy. The way to grow the economy is to roll back regulations, unleash our energy potential, and, yes, finally, once and for all, fix this archaic tax system, which keeps us from being competitive with the rest of the world. prgtoken In 1986, we had the third lowest corporate tax rate in history, in the world, and over the next 15 years we benefited from that. But at the same time, the more our economy grew, the lower the tax rates were taken in the rest of the world. Today, American businesses are taxed at one of the highest rates in the developed world: 35 percent. Meanwhile, for example, Japan's statutory corporate rate is just 23 percent; Germany is at 16 percent; Mexico is at 30 percent; the U.K. reduced theirs in 2009 from 30 percent to 19 percent, and they are about to go to 17 percent as we speak. As a matter of fact, the average rate in Europe is just 18 percent, while in Asia the average corporate tax rate is 20 percent. prgtoken Why is the corporate tax rate so important to an American worker? The corporate tax rate we have in America is the greatest burden the American worker has today. Why? Because it makes that American corporation less competitive with the rest of the world. It also makes that American corporation vulnerable to foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies and then the moving of those headquarters and factories and jobs offshore. prgtoken The No. 1 thing we can do for the American worker is to become competitive from a tax standpoint with the rest of the world. I have lived this. I have lived in Asia; I have lived in Europe. I have worked here most of my career, and I know when this gets out of balance, and it is out of balance today. We are penalizing the American worker because of it. prgtoken It is no secret, a lower corporate tax rate would make us more competitive globally. Our tax plan fixes this. We are one of the last countries that still has a tax on unrepatriated earnings. In other words, if we have a U.S. company that makes money overseas, it pays taxes over there; when they bring it over here, they have to pay tax here. We are the last country in the world that real
AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY USES FOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS TO REDUCE DEATHS AND SEVERITY OF INJURIES CAUSED BY AGENTS OF WAR
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2017-11-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter to the Senate Committee on Armed Services from the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, November 14, 2017. Senator John McCain, Chairman, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC. Senator Jack Reed, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCain and Ranking Member Reed: Thank you for your commitment to our Nation's service members and for your leadership in enhancing the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) medical countermeasure authorities and collaborations with the Department of Defense (DoD). FDA shares your goal of protecting our Nation's military service men and women by advancing safe and effective medical products, strengthening our partnerships with the DoD on behalf of our Nation's warfighters, and ensuring that this critical work is prioritized by the Agency. Our Nation's troops face unique risks on the battlefield, and my colleagues and I at the Agency are committed to implementing a lasting framework that not only considers these unique risks, but prioritizes the warfighters' needs by expediting the development and review of medical countermeasures needed in the face of emerging threats. The bipartisan bill that will be considered alongside the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 would codify these commitments to ensure that the warfighters' needs for safe and effective medical countermeasures are met on a priority basis and in strong partnerships with DoD. For instance, I believe this new authority and enhanced collaborations with DoD will help enable FDA to approve freeze dried plasma as soon as 2018, addressing a key medical priority. Further, it will put in place a permanent process for strong engagement between FDA and DoD on any future medical products DoD determines are necessary to address military emergencies. Additionally, under these provisions, FDA would be able to recognize military threats in advance and provide an emergency use authorization for a fuller range of medical products that could help save lives on the battlefield. Thank you again for your dedication to our Nation's service members and for working with FDA on this meaningful framework to better serve and protect our warfighters. Please be assured that I am personally committed to this effort. I will make it one of my highest priorities as Commissioner to rapidly implement the framework that is called for under this legislation and work with my colleagues at FDA and DoD to create an enduring pathway for the efficient developm
FOUNDATIONS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING ACT OF 2017
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-11-15

I rise today in support of H.R. 4174, the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017. prgtoken I am pleased to see the bill's sponsors and the move forward with the reforms proposed by the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. prgtoken H.R. 4174 aims to create and use technology to assess and solve problems; in other words, to make sure tools exist to gauge whether programs work to best serve the American people. It is about utilizing the data we already have to find out what works, what doesn't work, and what could work for some changes. prgtoken The bill requires agencies to develop evidence-building plans, key outcomes and return investment for the money the taxpayers pay, and creates the position of a chief evaluation officer. Imagine that, we have to actually create a position to evaluate because we prgtoken aren't doing it effectively now. It establishes an advisory committee to study the Commission's recommendation that Congress create a National Secure Data Service. It includes the OPEN Government Data Act, which ensures that government aggregate data is available to consumers in a usable format. prgtoken As my colleague said on the other side of the aisle, to make the data malleable, to make the data open format so that, in fact, people can assess not just in government agencies, but out in the public what the data is saying about the programs that they pay for that we fund. prgtoken Finally, the bill also creates procedures to share that data across Federal agencies and to require protection of individual data that makes up all that aggregate data. prgtoken All of these provisions are critical to setting our government on a path toward better serving the people in this country. Washington can no longer assess quality based on how much money we dump into programs, how many people we enroll--outcomes that don't tell us whether or not they are succeeding. This can only be done with quality, accessible data. prgtoken By allowing key data to be connected and reported, we can build evidence to determine what does and doesn't work. More importantly, the American people can see the evidence of what does and doesn't work rather than just bureaucrats in Washington. prgtoken I would also like to point out how the reforms are working here to lay the foundation for government and Congress to create new policies that apply this information in novel ways. prgtoken This act, in its call for transparent, efficient, and well-designed data systems, dovetails with other efforts in Congress for transparency and sharing data. prgtoken A bill I am working on, the College Transparency Act, would do just that for student data and outcomes data from colleges and universities to better enable students and families to make more informed decisions on one of the most important part of their lives: what postsecondary education they pursue and what the outcome will be. prgtoken This bill, and my bill, streamlines an
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-15

for 8 years, working families have seen their wages stay pretty much exactly where they were and, in some cases, they have seen their wages go down and their income go down. prgtoken I will say again that the goal of this tax proposal should be to immediately do what we can to see an increase in take-home pay for those families and to do everything we can in the Tax Code to make us more competitive, to see that they have better jobs to start with and more competition for the good work they do. prgtoken Our Tax Code clearly is broken. It is taking money out of the pockets of hard-working families and standing in the way of stronger economic growth, and we can and should and must do something about that. That is why the Senate is moving toward the passage of a bill that will address that Tax Code from both ends--more take-home pay now, better jobs with more pay to start with, and more take-home pay later. prgtoken According to the Tax Foundation, under the Senate's proposal, middle- income families in Missouri will see an estimated increase of about $2,400 in their aftertax income. When we consider the fact that nearly 6 in 10 Americans say they don't have enough savings to cover a $500 emergency or a $1,000 emergency, $200 a month really matters. There may be people talking about how the Tax Code doesn't do enough of this and enough of that, and at the higher end we should do more or we should do less, but no family who is working hard every day in the middle range of income in our country doesn't think that $200 a month makes a difference to them. At another level--at the $50,000 level--I think for that family, it is about $1,100 a year, so $100 a month makes a difference as well. prgtoken This proposal would make our Tax Code simpler and easier to understand by just simply cutting out all of the deductions that only a few people are able to take advantage of so everybody looks at the Tax Code and has more reason to believe that everybody is not only going to be treated fairly, but everybody is being treated the same. prgtoken There are deductions in this bill we should keep where they are. There are deductions like the child tax credit that we should increase. In fact, the Senate proposal that that committee will start, with the opportunity to amend further tomorrow--the Senate proposal doubles the child tax credit to $2,000 per child. prgtoken Senator Klobuchar, my friend from Minnesota and the cochairman of the adoption caucus, and I were on the floor yesterday, pleased to be talking about tax credits, and certainly I am pleased to see that the adoption tax credit continues to be in this bill. prgtoken The new mark also reduces individual rates. The current rate of 22.5 goes lower. The 25-percent rate goes to 24 percent, and the 32.5 goes to 32 percent. What does that mean? That is all very complicated, but what people know, or at least their accountant knows, is that everybody sort of pays the
SR. CHIEF RYAN OWENS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Scott Taylor (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-11-15

I rise in support of H.R. 3109. prgtoken , one of society's greatest challenges is honoring and recording with immortal honor the names, the deeds, and the history of our heroes. prgtoken But I believe it is an easy choice to honor Sr. Chief SEAL Ryan Owens, who was deployed to a country most Americans would struggle to find on a map. He spent countless times away from his family, protecting our Nation so that we didn't have to. prgtoken Most people will never understand the sacrifice required to keep evil outside of our gates. Ryan did it for our country, for his family, and for the soldier on his left or his right. He traded comfort for hardship time and time again, and ultimately his life. This to preserve our right to think, our right to believe, and our right to become whatever we want in this life. prgtoken His shining example and sacrifice will be a beacon for generations to come who will step up to fight, if needed, for a God-given inheritance of freedom, no matter the cost. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this United States Post Office designation to a great American man and warrior, Sr. Chief SEAL Ryan Owens.
RECOGNIZING THREE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS IN MICHIGAN
Mike Bishop (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-11-15

I am honored to be here today to recognize three National Blue Ribbon schools in my district. prgtoken Each year, the Department of Education recognizes some of the top schools from across the United States. The Blue Ribbon award is a remarkable achievement that recognizes the outstanding work done by exceptional educators and the hard work of dedicated students. prgtoken I would like to congratulate Hamlin Elementary School; Brewster Elementary School; and my own alma mater, Rochester Adams High School, for being recognized as being some of the best educational institutions there are. prgtoken I know this personally, as two of my children attend Rochester Adams High School. From my experience with these schools, what sets them apart is the teachers don't wait to generate enthusiasm for learning. Each and every student is empowered to do things for themselves, to take on challenges, to push their minds, and to think of things in different ways. prgtoken All of these schools are exceptional and are filled with the love of learning and are devoted to preparing students for all stages of life. All three schools serve the Rochester community and my hometown of Rochester. prgtoken , congratulations again to all these outstanding schools. Their selfless devotion to their students is something for which we all can take to heart. Our children are our future, and these Blue Ribbon schools are committed to making it a bright one.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-11-15

I thank Senator Cassidy for his words. prgtoken Senator Cassidy is also a Member of what we call our bear den, the class of 2014. He came here with the idea of getting things done. prgtoken Another Member of the class of 2014 who is with us today is the Senator from Alaska, Mr. Sullivan. Senator Sullivan comes with a fine and distinguished career in his having worked in the U.S. military, but he also has a strong interest in seeing economic development in the United States continue. He recognizes the need for tax relief. prgtoken At this time, I turn to Senator Sullivan.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-11-15

the last 8 years were really hard for a lot of families. They have seen their wages stagnate and their benefits not go up. Indeed, what they have been paying for health insurance and flood insurance and many other things has risen even though their wages have not. So the goal of this bill is to decrease taxes on those middle-income, working families in order to give them the opportunity to have better wages, better benefits, and to bring relief to situations that are peculiar. Are they peculiar to Louisiana? No, they are not peculiar to Louisiana, and I will elaborate on that in just a second. prgtoken What could middle-class families in Louisiana do with better wages? They could pay off debt. They could provide more for their children. They could just live life a little bit more robustly and not have to, perhaps, move out of one home and into another because they can no longer afford the mortgage on the first. The goal of this is, first, to bring tax relief to working families and middle-class families. It is all part of an effort to cut taxes particularly for them. prgtoken Now let's talk about raising their wages. Folks want to have more money in their take-home pay after taxes, but prgtoken they also want to have higher wages and better benefits. This bill definitely creates that. prgtoken Our current Tax Code encourages companies to move overseas. When they earn money overseas, they keep it there and build plants and factories in other countries. They employ folks in other countries but do not bring that money home, employ Americans, or raise wages or give better benefits to those Americans. This changes that. Not only do we have tax cuts for the middle class, for working families, but we also encourage businesses to invest here, to create better paying jobs here. prgtoken I have heard some say: Well, wait a second. Unemployment is low now. Why does it matter? prgtoken Now is the time when workers most benefit if there is investment that creates more opportunity for those here in the United States. If there is a worker who is a welder and if he can either work here or there, businesses are going to bid for his services. They are going to pay more to get him to work. As they do that, just from supply and demand, wages will go up for the average American worker, for the average American family. Benefits will rise for those families, and the children of those families will have more opportunity. This is what that is about. prgtoken There is another way in which we bring relief to those middle-income families. Part of what we are doing here is repealing the mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Americans hate the government's telling them what to do. Yet, as part of the Care mandate, it tells someone: Even if you cannot afford that insurance, even if you don't buy it, we are going to make you pay a fine. prgtoken In 2015, more than 100,000 folks in Louisiana paid a fine for not having health i
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT, AND PROVIDING FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 17, 2017, THROUGH NOVEMBER 24, 2017
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-11-15

those of us in Washington are really good at talking in big general statements that don't mean much to the average American. I want to tell you what the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will actually do for the families I represent back in southwest Alabama. prgtoken According to data from the IRS, almost three-fourths of the tax filers in my district claimed the standard deduction instead of itemizing. Well, under our plan, the standard deduction will be doubled. prgtoken Just consider the medium family of four in southwest Alabama. That family earns a little over $77,000 a year. If that family takes the standard deduction, as most do, they will see a tax cut of $1,739 a year. That comes out to almost an extra $150 a month. prgtoken Now, that may not sound like real money in Washington, but for families in Bay Minette or Citronelle or Monroeville, that is important. That is extra money for a car payment. That is additional savings for a child's college. That is money to help pay for home repairs. That is real money. prgtoken When you add in the fact that we are fixing our corporate and business Tax Code to make it fairer and simpler, then we can truly make America boom again. President has called it the ``middle class miracle.'' prgtoken By making our Tax Code more competitive, we can unleash our full economic potential, bring jobs back to America, raise wages, and ultimately get more money in the pockets of working Americans. Mr this is exactly what President promised and what the American people sent him and us to Washington to do. prgtoken Now, my colleagues on the other side like to say this bill helps the 1 percent, and they vehemently defend the current Tax Code. prgtoken You know who benefits from the current Tax Code? The 1 percent-- people who can hire lawyers and lobbyists to help them get a special tax break, people who can spend thousands of dollars a year on specialty accountants. If you want to help the 1 percent, then keep the current complicated and confusing Tax Code that only helps the elite and well connected. We can do better than that. prgtoken We can pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we can put more money in people's pockets, and we can unlock America's full economic potential.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-11-15

I rise today to engage in a colloquy. prgtoken , I want to first commend Chairman Brady and the Ways and Means Committee for their outstanding work on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will provide tax relief to millions of hardworking families and businesses. prgtoken I would like to address a small provision in the bill that inadvertently impacts Berea College, a small private college in Berea, Kentucky, that is a member of the federally recognized Work Colleges Consortium. prgtoken Work colleges, by definition, do not charge their students tuition, and they also require their students to hold jobs. For over 125 years, Berea College has fulfilled its mission of providing a tuition-free education to students with limited economic resources, primarily from Appalachia, and who are often first-generation college students. Berea pairs its strong academics with a student labor program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work. prgtoken Berea could not fulfill its unique and special mission of providing free tuition to all students without a healthy endowment. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act includes a 1.4 percent excise tax on private college endowments over $500,000 per student. There are two federally recognized work colleges with endowments above this level, including Berea College in my district. prgtoken I was pleased to learn that the Senate version of the bill exempts schools with fewer than 500 tuition-paying students from the excise tax. This provision would effectively exempt work colleges from the tax, because they do not charge tuition. prgtoken I understand it was never the committee's intent for this legislation to negatively impact work colleges that use their endowments to provide tuition-free education. In fact, I understand the intended purpose of the excise tax is to encourage colleges to use their endowments to keep college costs down. In this case, Berea College uses its endowments to defray 100 percent of the cost of tuition. prgtoken , I thank the chairman for his willingness to work with me on a solution in conference, either acceding to the Senate position or another mutually accepted solution that exempts work colleges and allows them to continue their unique mission.