mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Jason Smith (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-1-9

I thank the gentleman from Nebraska for yielding. prgtoken House s made a promise to the American people to fight for working-class families. And we made a promise that our first order of business under a new majority would be to repeal the $80 billion gave the IRS to hire 87,000 new agents to target American working-class families. prgtoken We are delivering on that promise today. prgtoken This bill rescinds the IRS funds in the Inflation Reduction Act--a law that does nothing to combat inflation but everything to empower an agency that has targeted Americans. They have leaked taxpayer information, and under the administration, they threatened to snoop into the bank accounts of millions of middle-class families. prgtoken We know this because President wrote such a proposal into his first budget as part of his agenda to expand the power of the IRS and shovel billions more to this troubled agency. prgtoken At that time, we asked the Joint Committee on Taxation how many Americans might be subject to such a scheme to spy into their bank accounts. The JCT said that up to 134 million taxpayers could be targeted. prgtoken So much for just going after the millionaires and the billionaires that our colleagues like to talk about. prgtoken While the administration--including Treasury Secretary Yellen-- has tried to dismiss concerns over how middle-class Americans would be targeted by the IRS, under the ' $80 billion infusion of cash, the Congressional Budget Office has affirmed undoubtedly families making less than $400,000 per year would be subjected to increased enforcement and, yes, audits by the IRS. prgtoken But of course this would be the case when you realize that more than half of the $80 billion gave the IRS is earmarked for enforcement. prgtoken The IRS does not need a raise. It needs a reckoning. And what starts today with rescinding this $80 billion continues through rigorous IRS oversight that ignored under their one-party rule. prgtoken Taxpayers deserve true oversight for an agency that leaked the tax returns of thousands of American taxpayers at the same time the White House was calling for tax increases on those individuals. We are talking about an agency with a history of targeting conservatives with woefully underperforming customer service and whose own commissioner under called this $80 billion more than three times the amount of money the agency actually needed. prgtoken House s are ready to provide oversight and accountability, and that starts today with ending this $80 billion pay raise.
IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-1-9

the men and women from sea to shining sea that wear a badge have sworn an oath to the Constitution. That oath is not to a sheriff or a marshal or a chief, it is to the people of their community and deeper, the principles that have built our country. prgtoken We put on our badges and uniforms, and we say good-bye to our wives not knowing if we will return. prgtoken For many, many years on my way to night shift I would tell my wife I loved her, and she would hand me my little lunch. She would say: ``Come home safe.'' I would say: ``Don't worry about me, worry about the other guy.'' That was our little ritual, but the truth was we never knew if I was coming home. prgtoken Right now men and women across the country are having similar conversations and wearing a badge. Just know we love you and respect you. This body supports you.
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2023-1-9

I rise today in strong support of the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act. prgtoken This bill defends American taxpayers against an unchecked, supercharged IRS and prioritizes customer service and tax return processing, two of the agency's most important functions. prgtoken Included in the ' reckless Inflation Reduction Act this past summer, the IRS received an additional $80 billion in funding, with over half directed toward enforcement. prgtoken What is worse, the ' bill failed to include any safeguards to protect low- and middle-income taxpayers from being unfairly targeted for tax audits. prgtoken While the IRS continues to beef up their audit division, the agency still has 3.7 million unprocessed tax returns and a total of 11.1 million returns awaiting action. This is simply unacceptable. The IRS should focus on processing these returns, along with addressing the awful level of customer service currently available to taxpayers. prgtoken Law-abiding families and small businesses in Illinois need their tax returns processed and phone calls answered, not more IRS agents knocking on their doors with burdensome audits. prgtoken , I urge the adoption of this bill.
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-1-9

on March 1, 2022, President made a promise to the American people during the State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress. I was sitting in this room as the President stated: ``Under my plan, nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in new taxes. Nobody.'' prgtoken , the President lied to us all because, in August 2022, CBO confirmed that the ' Inflation Reduction Act, which supercharges the IRS with 87,000 new agents, will, in fact, lead to more audits and enforcement measures and higher taxes for families making less than $400,000 a year. In fact, the CBO confirmed that lower- and middle-income taxpayers would see as many as 710,000 more audits. prgtoken Americans are suffering under harmful inflation caused by the irresponsible fiscal policies from President and our congressional . The last thing the American people need is burdensome IRS audits. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to make 's promise come true.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-1-9

I rise today to recognize National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. prgtoken National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is an opportunity for citizens to recognize the difficult and sometimes impossible jobs police officers have chosen to do. prgtoken There is no doubt that morale across law enforcement in our country has decreased due to negative public sentiment over the last few years. prgtoken However, our selfless public servants have not let that deter them from doing their jobs. prgtoken To have a strong police force, the officers must know that their communities support the work that they are doing. prgtoken That is why I am proud to recognize our men and women in uniform. prgtoken I encourage everyone in the First Congressional District to go above and beyond today and every day to show their appreciation to our law enforcement. They are the best among us and deserve our unwavering support.
HONORING PASTOR FRED WOLFE
Jerry L. Carl (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-1-9

I rise today to remember the massive impact Brother Fred Wolfe had not only on the City of Mobile, but the thousands of individuals across the country who had the opportunity to meet him and spend time with him. Brother Fred was more than a pastor to me. He was my friend, my mentor, and my spiritual guidance for decades. prgtoken Brother Fred had so many wise sayings, and I'll always remember him telling me, ``You went through what you went through, and people need to know that, so they know they can get past it too.'' These words remind us that we all have a story to tell, and our stories matter. prgtoken God called Brother Fred to ministry during his study at the University of South Carolina. He went to work immediately, spending many of his days serving in small churches surrounding the university. Brother Fred went on to complete his Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from what would become the University of Mobile. prgtoken Brother Fred's pastoral career took him to numerous church establishments across the country, from his native South Carolina, to North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and finally Alabama. He eventually settled in Mobile as pastor of Cottage Hill Baptist Church. Under the guidance of his 25 years there, the church saw attendance grow by thousands of members, and welcomed 5,500 baptisms. prgtoken Brother Fred's ministry left a legacy of faithful service to his community. While we deeply mourn his passing, we have no doubt he heard ``well done, my good and faithful servant'' when he met the Lord face to face. His service and love did not disappear when he took his final breath on earth. It is the priceless gift he gave all of us to sustain us until we meet again.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-1-9

let me just say at the outset, Mr. Cole has probably had the hardest job in Washington the past 4 years. Being the ranking member of the Rules Committee is a difficult position. He has done it extremely well, so I know he is going to excel as the chairman of the Rules Committee during this term of Congress. prgtoken Clearly, , the American public spoke with a clear voice. They want the Nation to go in a new direction. They want a path away from tax-and-spend politics advanced by the in the last Congress. In this rules package, we have laid out how we intend to accomplish just that. prgtoken The era of legislating for the few at the expense of the many is over. This new majority today begins this serious task in ways that will make this Congress more transparent, more accountable, and more accessible to the public and the Members that serve the institution. prgtoken This majority will implement voting procedures on the floor so that recorded votes can be conducted in a straightforward manner, rather than what we have seen over the past 3 years that literally strands Members of Congress on the floor for hours when they cannot do any other work in their committee or anywhere else. prgtoken , I believe our friends in the previous Congress squandered their opportunity by focusing on the politics of division instead of what we were all sent here to do, and that is the people's business. prgtoken Tackle inflation, tackle lawlessness, the threats abroad--these are the urgent issues that the American public demands that their Representatives address. Instead, Americans were treated to the petty and divisive agenda of the last Congress. prgtoken Thankfully, , s will utilize this majority. s have proposed an agenda that will address these vital issues and put our Nation back on track to fiscal prosperity. prgtoken With this majority, we offer Americans a governing agenda that will ensure that the 21st century remains an American century.
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-1-9

I rise today in support of the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, one of the first legislative acts of the new majority. prgtoken Main Street America has suffered 2 years too many of ' one- party rule. Inflation continues to hover at record highs, and small businesses continue to struggle. prgtoken The last thing that these small businesses can afford right now is 87,000 new IRS agents not only targeting their enterprises but targeting their livelihoods. With 11 million tax returns still awaiting IRS action, the IRS should be focusing on doing their job rather than weaponizing their agency. prgtoken This isn't new. The have used the IRS and the Tax Code as a weapon before and are attempting to do it again. The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act rescinds new IRS funding intended to target middle-class families. prgtoken This cannot wait. prgtoken , I urge passage of this bill so our small businesses can thrive absent any fear of IRS agents knocking at their door.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS
Jeff Duncan (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-1-9

I rise today to support the rules package and our return to common sense in the people's House. prgtoken I want to point out a few line items in the rules package for particular praise. prgtoken This bill returns to the historical norm of in-person meetings and in-person votes. No more proxy voting or remote committee hearings. Let's do the work in the people's House. prgtoken This bill returns to the Holman rule. If ever there was a time for this House to stop paying the salaries of bad bureaucrats, it is now. Tony Fauci deserves that step. prgtoken I think knowing this rules package was coming is one of the reasons why he has now mercifully left government service. The power to fire unelectable bureaucrats who abuse their power is a central reason to support this package. prgtoken In the past the 3-day rule has been abused--bills being dropped in the dead of night to be voted on 2 mornings later is just wrong. Moving to a true 72-hour rule will end that abusive practice. prgtoken Eliminating the Gephardt rule to ensure that this House has a true debate over whether or not to raise the debt limit is a move in the right direction for fiscal sanity in the people's House, and so is the three-fifths majority requirement to raise taxes. prgtoken I thank my fellow Freedom Caucus members and my friends in House leadership for making these necessary changes to the House rules package, and I ask my colleagues to pass this package. prgtoken Now, since Ranking Member McGovern mentioned the IRS bill coming up, let me just point out that we need to rescind that. prgtoken , do you know what 87,000 IRS agents equates to? prgtoken It equates to 200 new IRS agents in every congressional district in this country. That is 1,740 new IRS agents in every State for one purpose: to go after small businesses and hardworking Americans to try to raise money to pay for reckless spending--reckless spending that has cost $31 trillion in debt in this Nation. prgtoken This is the right thing to do. prgtoken I tell you what, , we could repurpose those agents to the southern border, or we could repurpose them and let them build the Keystone XL pipeline. prgtoken There were an estimated 61,000 lost jobs with the Keystone XL pipeline when the administration canceled that project. But yet we turn around, and the government hires 87,000 new IRS agents to go after your constituents and mine, . prgtoken I mentioned earlier the number. Look it up.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-1-9

I thank my friend from Oklahoma for yielding. prgtoken Certainly, my colleague from Massachusetts knows my deep affection for him, but since I walked on the House floor tonight, I keep hearing this reference to this rules package, that somehow it is not posted on our website and that we are debating something else called an addendum to the rules package. prgtoken I wanted to come to the House floor as someone who worked quite passionately last week on behalf of our new , working on an agreement with all of my colleagues so that we are unified in the House Conference, to say that there is no addendum to this package, . prgtoken There is no 3-page addendum. There is no extra stuff. Everything in the House rules package is posted on the House website. prgtoken We made one addition as a Conference, and that was the change in the vacate the chair motion. prgtoken , I want to be clear in the Congressional Record, for those watching on C-SPAN, and to my colleagues: There is not a 3-page addendum to the rules package. prgtoken I greatly respect my good friend from Massachusetts and my friend from Oklahoma.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-1-9

the balance of my time. prgtoken In closing, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution establishing the rules of the 118th Congress. The changes we are proposing today will ensure that the institution is set on a path of success for the new Congress. prgtoken They will ensure that Members return to Washington and do their work here. prgtoken They will set up an institution to hold the administration accountable. prgtoken They will put in place budgetary rules designed to prevent the kind of reckless spending spree recently engaged in. prgtoken I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-1-9

only in Washington can one defend doubling the size of the IRS and spending $80 billion to hire 87,000 new IRS agents. prgtoken According to my friends across the aisle, that is a good thing because the billionaires and the millionaires don't pay their fair share. Yet, according to the IRS, the top 25 percent of income earners pay 89 percent of all income taxes. prgtoken Does anyone really believe that the 87,000 new IRS agents and employees are going to really stop there? Of course not. prgtoken How else will the fund their out-of-control and reckless spending? There aren't enough billionaires and millionaires in the United States to pay for it. prgtoken My friends on the other side will do what they always do. They will target hardworking taxpayers, families, and small businesses that are the lifeblood of our economy. It has to stop. prgtoken Coming from a State like New York, we need to cut taxes. We need to reduce the cost of living and make it more affordable for our hardworking families. prgtoken , I proudly support this legislation and urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and end the 87,000 new IRS agents that are going to terrorize hardworking Americans.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-1-9

I thank my friend from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for yielding. prgtoken I am delighted to be down here on the floor of the House of Representatives in a majority, and I am delighted to be talking about a rules package crafted by that majority and that reflects what I think is a fundamental transformation of this House to ensure that the people can be represented by their Representatives. That is the point. prgtoken There is a reason that I have had great conversations with some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about why having 72 hours to read a bill, or why having a bill that isn't littered with Christmas tree additional subjects rather than single subjects, as my friend from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) articulated so well, or whether having germane amendments and being able to open up the floor by virtue of changing the rules or restoring the Holman rule so we can have an impact on agencies that are out of control and not responding to the people's House, there is a reason why those rules are so fundamentally important: to restore this body and to restore the people's House. prgtoken That is why we are here. Everybody keeps running around in classic swamp speak talking about secret deals, a secret addendum. prgtoken What we are talking about is how people come to an agreement in this town to ensure that we are going to carry out what we have said we are going to do. prgtoken The rules package is on full display. The rules package has been on full display and publicly available since Friday or earlier last week. prgtoken The text of that rules package has been something we can look at. My friends are right. A good chunk of that text is the agreement reached a while back, a couple of weeks ago, 1 week or 2 weeks ago, with one significant change: the single-person motion to vacate which is in the spirit of that which goes all the way back to Jefferson. In fact, we are currently now operating not under any rules. That is why we are having a debate. We are about to debate on adopting the rules. prgtoken I can walk down right there into the well and file a motion to vacate a single person right now because that is the precedent. That is what we are operating under, because that goes back to Jefferson. prgtoken The whole point here is trying to ensure that we are continuing the great history of the people's House. prgtoken Yes, we have had conversations and agreements as individuals are supposed to do, looking each other in the eye and saying that we are going to bring balanced budgets to the floor of the House. prgtoken You bet that we have agreements that we are going to do that. You bet we have had agreements that we are going to bring the Texas border plan to make sure that we secure the border rather than perpetuating the fraud that the President of the United States continues to perpetuate endangering the American people. You bet that we are bringing forward a promise to have legislatio
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-1-9

I include in the Record a Ways and Means Committee release explaining that Senate voted down an amendment that would prevent increased audits on taxpayers making less than $400,000 a year and House refuse to take up a bill that would do the same. [From waysandmeans.house.gov, Aug. 17, 2022] Fail To Protect Middle Class From IRS Audits voted against guardrails that would have protected lower- and middle-income taxpayers from more audits as a result of supercharging the IRS with 87,000 new agents. Instead, they hope you'll just ``take their word for it'' that the IRS won't target American families who are living paycheck to paycheck. Various news outlets have circulated these claims as facts, but the bill text says otherwise, Reason Magazine's Matt Welch reports. claim they won't target lower- and middle- income earners with their expansion of the IRS by 87,000 agents . . . ``. . . top have been busy escalating their already implausible claims that goosing the IRS enforcement budget by 69 percent over a decade, hiring 87,000 additional new staffers at an agency that currently employs 79,000, and nabbing an estimated extra $124 billion in tax revenue will miraculously not bring any percentage increase in audits performed on Americans earning less than $400,000 a year.'' . . . but the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts boosted IRS funding will increase audits for all taxpayers . . . ``CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel estimated that boosting IRS funding by $80 billion would increase tax revenues by $200 billion (the number would later rise to $207 billion, before settling at $204 billion), adding that `the proposal . . . would return audit rates to the levels of about 10 years ago; the rate would rise for all taxpayers' (italics mine), though `higher-income taxpayers would face the largest increase.' '' . . . and voted against amendments preventing lower income earners from being targeted by higher audits. ``In the final IRA bill, in fact, $45.7 billion is earmarked for `enforcement,' and $25.3 billion goes to `operations support.' There is no reason to conclude from those dollar amounts that the number of resulting audits will be less than originally projected.'' Many ``fact checkers'' have refused to verify claims by : ``As Liz Wolfe has reported repeatedly in the pages of Reason, none of these assurances live in the text of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) itself. One amendment ``to prevent the use of additional Internal Revenue Service Funds from being used for audits of taxpayers with taxable incomes below $400,