mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-9-14

I thank the majority leader for all the support and assistance we have been given on this issue. Of course, I regret that we finally had to turn to cloture. The fact is that we have incorporated over 100 amendments offered by Senators of both parties, and it means the NDAA becomes stronger as a result of including these amendments. Second, the process took a step in the right direction, as Senators were able to have their voices and opinions heard and reflected in this legislation. prgtoken I wish we had never had to come to voting for cloture, but I wish to say that we have made enormous progress. We have had debate. We have had amendments. We have had votes. All of these are the ``regular order'' that some of us have been arguing for that the U.S. Senate--in accordance with the Constitution of the United States. prgtoken I am very appreciative of the cooperation of Members on both sides, including Senator Reed. I believe we can be proud of our product. It came down to about four amendments on which we could never get agreement to move forward--that compared to the over 100 amendments we were able to adopt. prgtoken I still wish we had been able to go completely through this process without having to resort to cloture, but I do want to thank Members on both sides--as we approach cloture--for their cooperation, for their involvement, for their engagement, and for their dedication to the men and women who are serving us in the military. prgtoken We look forward to the next hours. We will have debate and hopefully some amendments proposed, vote cloture, and have it completed sometime early next week. The work that needs to be done will be done, accomplished before then. prgtoken I thank all my colleagues for their participation. I thank them for their engagement and involvement. I am proud of this product, which comes after hundreds of hours of hearings, of negotiation, of discussion, and of debate, because it proves that the first priority of Members on both sides of the aisle is the men and women in the military and their ability to defend the Nation. prgtoken .
TAX REFORM
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-9-14

comprehensive tax reform represents the single most important action we can take now to grow the economy and help middle-class families get ahead. It is the President's high priority. It is a priority we share here in Congress. The work of the tax-writing committees on tax reform goes back literally years, and it continues today. prgtoken This morning, the Senate Finance Committee will hold another in a series of hearings on comprehensive tax reform. Under the leadership of Chairman Hatch, the committee is working to simplify the tax system to make it work better for American individuals, families, and businesses. As Chairman Hatch knows, our current Tax Code is overly complex, with rates that are too high and incentives that often literally make no sense. prgtoken Senator Hatch understands how our broken code makes it harder for American businesses of all sizes to compete and win in an increasingly competitive global economy--how it actually incentivizes our companies to ship operations and American jobs overseas. Chairman Hatch and colleagues on both sides of the aisle understand how our broken code makes it harder for middle-class families to succeed--how it depresses wages, weighs down job creation, and crushes opportunity. prgtoken It is time to fundamentally rethink our Tax Code to make taxes lower, simpler, and fairer for American families. Fortunately, we have a once- in-a-generation opportunity to do that. prgtoken This morning's hearing in the Senate Finance Committee is a part of the wide-ranging conversation to shift the economy into high gear after 8 years of an economy that too often hurt the middle class and seemed to hardly work for anyone but the ultrawealthy. prgtoken With lower taxes and a growing economy, jobs can come back from overseas and stay here, families can keep more money in their pockets to spend in the way they want to, and individuals can have access to more opportunities to buy a new home, to start a new business, or to send their kids to college. To put it simply: Our efforts are about more jobs, more opportunity, and more money in the pockets of the middle class. prgtoken Without tax reform, American families will be forced to continue living under an unfair Tax Code with rates that are too high, American jobs will continue to be shipped overseas, and small businesses will be increasingly uncompetitive against foreign companies. That does not benefit the middle class. These are the real consequences of the current Tax Code, and we should all want to work together to put an end to it. Our friends on the other side of the aisle say they support comprehensive reform of the system, and I hope they will join us in this effort in a serious way. prgtoken Finally, I thank President and his team for their work throughout this tax process. We will continue to regularly engage with them, working together to bring relief to the American people. prgtoken I also tha
CRIMINAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER REMOVAL ACT
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-9-14

early this summer, on a Friday night, just about 30 miles from this Capital, I went on a ride-along in my district with our Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. prgtoken A young boy standing on the sidewalk along Sterling Boulevard in Sterling, Virginia, caught the eye of a veteran member of our task force. The young man on the street looked about 15 or 16 years old, but he was actually a 22-year-old member of the transnational violent street gang known as MS-13. He was covered in MS-13 gang tattoos--on his chest, his back, his feet. prgtoken It turned out, he had been in jail in El Salvador for murder as a teenager, and he had already been deported from the U.S. twice for engaging in violent crimes here. prgtoken Three other of the estimated thousands of MS-13 gang members that are just here in our Capital region were also picked up that night. There have been cases in northern Virginia where a suspected member of the MS-13 gang has been deported five times, yet returned again to continue their gang activity. prgtoken At a town festival in Herndon this year, the gang task force identified--because they go to these events and they see these people-- an estimated 200 to 300 suspected gang members milling about among the families who were getting cotton candy and hot dogs for their kids. They are right there looking to recruit in their own communities. prgtoken , since November 2016, at least eight murders have been committed and tied to MS-13 and other prgtoken gangs in our area, representing a 166 percent increase over the last year in the northern Virginia region. prgtoken An MS-13-linked vicious murder occurred in November 2015. Of course, I should acknowledge that they are all vicious when you are talking about MS-13. This happened on an Alexandria playground in the evening just about 8 miles from this Capital, and it resulted in the death of 24-year-old Jose Luis Ferman Perez. He was nearly decapitated in the machete attack. His body was left on the playground and was found by a woman walking her dog the next morning. It could have been one of the kids playing on the playground finding that. prgtoken The Washington Post has highlighted how the 2014 border surge has contributed to the MS-13 problem, saying: ``The violent street gang is on the rise in the United States, fueled, in part, by the surge in unaccompanied minors.'' prgtoken A recent Washington Post article documented the case of gang members who videotaped the murder of a 15-year-old girl, Damaris Reyes Rivas, who was savagely beaten by multiple people, and repeatedly stabbed by all of these gang members. The video of this was intended to be sent to MS-13 gang leadership in El Salvador to confirm that this greenlit murder had been carried out. prgtoken Tragically, MS-13 targets and preys upon their own community, on young people who may not have much of a family structure around them. Sadly, these children and young people were actually fleein
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-9-14

is this a partisan approach to healthcare? I don't think so, if Missouri does better. There is a representing Missouri. There is a representing Missouri. Here is the good news. We got the on board. We appreciate the . prgtoken Let me tell you how this works. prgtoken I like Massachusetts, I like Maryland, I like New York, I like California, but I don't like them that much to give them a bunch of money that the rest of us will not get. prgtoken If you live in Massachusetts, you don't get twice the Social Security or 50 percent more than if you live in Pennsylvania. How can this happen? Care, for whatever reason, favors four blue States against the rest of us. prgtoken Now, our friends in Mississippi, like South Carolina--we have a 31- percent African-American population in South Carolina--I think the highest in the country is Mississippi. Under this block grant approach, our friends in Mississippi get a 900-percent increase. How can that be? Well, that is money that was going someplace else other than Mississippi. prgtoken So what have we learned about Care? Rural poor, particularly African Americans, don't do so well. These four States--New York, California, Massachusetts, and Maryland, they have a lot of high wage earners. prgtoken We have some rural poor States. Missouri is a very wonderful State, with big cities and rural areas. How do you get more money? Well, under this formula, you are getting money that would have gone to the four other States. So 50 to 138 percent of poverty, and there are 45 million people in America who fall in that demographic. We can figure out how many live in Missouri. We use that as the basis for the formula. You are not limited to spending the money on 50 to 138 percent of poverty, but that seems to be a fair way to redistribute the money. By 2026, the goal is, no matter where you live, Missouri, South Carolina, or California, you are going to get the same basic contribution from the Federal Government, regardless of where you prgtoken live. What a novel idea. That means places like Missouri and South Carolina do better. prgtoken To our friends in New York and California, we are giving you a long time to come down. To our friends in Massachusetts--and we have a great Governor--I don't know how to explain the system where you get that much more money than everybody else. The goal is for you to have time to adjust, become more efficient, and Charlie Baker can do this. prgtoken Is it unfair for people like me, and Louisiana and Missouri, to say: No four States should get twice the amount of money for their population. I am trying to fix the problem in Care. prgtoken Who should get the money is another question. Should some bureaucrat you will never meet in Washington be in charge of your healthcare or should somebody you actually know and vote for be in charge of your healthcare? prgtoken The block grant h
CRIMINAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER REMOVAL ACT
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-9-14

. Madam , I rise in strong support of the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act. prgtoken Remarkably, under current law, membership in a criminal street gang does not in and of itself make a non-citizen inadmissible or deportable from the United States. prgtoken This common-sense bill corrects this dangerous loophole by requiring that criminal alien gang members be deported swiftly and never allowed back into the United States. prgtoken It provides law enforcement with another tool in their arsenal to combat dangerous and deadly criminal gangs--like MS-13. Criminal gangs benefit from loopholes in our immigration laws and today we are taking an important step to close the door to the United States for non- citizen criminal gang members. prgtoken Over the past 12 months, several thousand criminal aliens who were confirmed members of gangs were removed from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This year ICE is continuing its focus on making our streets safer by removing criminal gang members with a particular focus on MS-13 members. prgtoken It is past time that we strengthen our immigration laws, deport criminal aliens and secure our borders. We have a duty to make America safe for its citizens and H.R. 3697 is an important step in that direction.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-9-14

I would like to express my support for the ongoing deliberative process to address the very valid concerns raised with sections 881 and 886 of the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. Earlier today, I filed an amendment that seeks to clarify the committee's intent with respect to open source requirements and intellectual property rights and protections for U.S. technology vendors who collaborate with the Department of Defense. I want to be clear that this language does not represent the ultimate fix, but rather a step in the right direction as we embark on a longer policy discussion in conference. prgtoken I want to thank the chairman, my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and my counterparts on the House Armed Services Committee for their commitment to continue this conversation in conference. It is essential that we provide both the Department and industry the proper tools, protections, and incentives necessary to continue these mutually beneficial partnerships on the commercial off- the-shelf and the custom-developed software side. I am confident we can reach consensus and send the President language that clearly articulates a fair and sustainable model for existing and future contracts. prgtoken , as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, I would like to make a statement for the record about an item of special interest related to the Department of Defense's use of its intellectual property rights in certain drug products within the committee report on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018. prgtoken The committee report contains language that directs the Defense Department to exercise its rights under the Bayh-Dole Act ``to authorize third parties to use inventions that benefited from DOD funding whenever the price of a drug, vaccine, or other medical technology is higher in the United States'' as compared to prices in foreign countries. prgtoken This language is of concern to me for several reasons. The DOD and other Federal agencies face significant obstacles such as low procurement quantities, high regulatory risk, and complex Federal contracting regulations when working to attract the top vaccine and drug developers as partners in medical countermeasure development to protect the warfighter and America's citizens. Diluting intellectual property protections as a means of price control will not only fail to meet its objective, but it could significantly hamper the government's efforts to develop these critical medical capabilities. The report language could lead to decreased investments in medical countermeasures development and a drop-off in industry partnerships with DOD that can ultimately result in few new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. prgtoken Bayh-Dole has created a fragile ecosystem of collaboration among Federal agencies, public research institutions, and private industry, resulti
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-9-14

this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Albert ``Al'' Lee of Forsyth. Al has made a lifetime of contributions to our State and our Nation. Al's experiences as a veteran, rancher, long-serving volunteer, and renowned shooting sports enthusiast have made him a highly respected member of his community in Rosebud County. prgtoken After finishing his military service with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean war, Al returned to Montana State University and married Sharon, a fellow Bobcat. Al and Sharon soon settled near the Yellowstone River and began operating the family ranch. Over the years, the Lee family has opened large sections of their ranch to the Boy Scouts, hunters, and to the participants of the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match. The Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match recently completed its 26th annual competition in June. This prestigious shooting match has grown from a few dozen shooters the first year, to well over 600 shooters this year, including international competitors from six nations. prgtoken Al's love for shooting sports and his passion for sharing our Montana cultural traditions has been highly valued prgtoken at both the State and national levels. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has honored Al for over five decades of volunteering to teach firearms safety to rising generations of future hunters. In 2001, The National Rifle Association recognized Al with their highly esteemed public service award. prgtoken Montana cowboys like Al Lee give a unique character to the Treasure State. Thank you, Al, for the many years of service and for strengthening our Montana traditions.
HONORING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED SERVICE OF DR. JAMES DURELL TUBERVILLE
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-9-14

it is with profound sadness that I rise today to recognize the life and dedicated service of one of the Lord's most humble servants, Dr. James Durell Tuberville. He made it his life's work to help others during difficult times, and he was a beacon of light and a towering figure in the life of countless many people, including my own family. His lasting influence on our community cannot be expressed enough. I am humbled to rise and pay tribute to his life, his resolved stewardship and unwavering commitment to the people of Northwest Louisiana. prgtoken James Durell Tuberville was born on October 25, 1958, in Shreveport, Louisiana and on Sunday, August 13, 2017, he left this world to be with our Lord. After graduating from Southwood High School in Shreveport, Dr. Tuberville continued his education at Grawood Christian School and Southwestern Assemblies of God College. He majored in pastoral ministry at Southwestern University and received a master of arts in counseling from Louisiana Tech University. prgtoken He did all things for the glory of God, and brought care and compassion to multitudes. Dr. Tuberville served his early ministry as a youth pastor in Luna and Natchitoches, Louisiana. He later served as pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Shreveport for more than II years, before becoming counselor on the pastoral staff at Shreveport Community Church, and president of Personal Solutions, Inc. He selflessly aided those suffering through some of the largest disasters of our lifetime, including the horrific earthquake in Haiti, the Oklahoma City bombing and the great tragedy on September 11, 2001. prgtoken Known and loved by all, Dr. Tuberville also served selflessly as chaplain for the Caddo Parish Sherriff's Office, Caddo Fire District 3, and as National Chaplain of the firefighters' Brother's Keepers Motorcycle Club. It is difficult to imagine our community without the larger-than-life, always encouraging presence of Dr. Tuberville. His legacy and example are an enduring lesson for all of us. We are comforted to know he has been received by the Lord with that ultimate affirmation, ``Well done, good and faithful servant.'' prgtoken , on behalf of the United States Congress, it is a privilege to honor Dr. James Durell Tuberville and to celebrate a life exceptionally well lived. My wife, Kelly, and I extend our prayers and sincerest condolences to his wife and soulmate, Susan, and two sons, Joshua Durell and Dustin Bruce, to the entire Tuberville family and all those whose lives were changed by this giant of a man.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-9-14

I rise today to speak on the Defense authorization bill. prgtoken Congress has passed this bipartisan legislation every year for the past 55 years. Once again, this year, the Senate is debating this critical legislation to provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to keep America safe. prgtoken This is a bipartisan bill. It represents the combined efforts of Members from both sides of the aisle. It was approved unanimously by the Senate Armed Services Committee. All 27 of our members voted for it. That is more than a quarter of this body. prgtoken The distinguished chairman, the senior Senator from Arizona, spoke on the Senate floor on Monday about the geopolitical challenges we are facing and the need for this legislation. He is absolutely right. prgtoken The number and the complexity of the threats we face today are unprecedented. North Korea is relentlessly pursuing long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to our shores. Americans are informed about the sobering threat from the Kim regime because it has dominated much of the recent news, but it is by no means the only significant challenge we face. We remain a nation at war, with thousands of men and women in uniform still deployed to the Middle East and Afghanistan. Russia and China continue to undermine rules-based international order by developing advanced military capabilities designed specifically to counter U.S. defense systems. Iran continues to pursue regional dominance and regularly harasses U.S. ships and planes operating in that region. prgtoken These are needlessly provocative acts that carry risks of an accident or a miscalculation that could spiral into serious confrontation. Additional low-intensity conflicts continue to smolder across the globe, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, and each one has the potential to impact U.S. national security. prgtoken The global turmoil of today highlights why the bill before us is so very important. It will provide the resources necessary to defend our Nation in the face of those challenges. But the NDAA is about more than just answering these threats; it is about helping us here at home as well. prgtoken Last Friday, I visited Naval Station Norfolk and had an opportunity to meet with some of our Nation's best--the sailors and officers of the U.S. Navy. As we stood on the pier, we watched the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier depart and head out into the Atlantic and join other U.S. Navy ships responding to the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. prgtoken Fighting and winning wars is the primary mission of our military, but the American people depend on it for so much more. The destruction and the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have brought this point home. prgtoken This bill authorizes the resources our men and women in uniform need to respond to these crises and to do the job the Nation
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-9-14

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey). prgtoken Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio) would have voted ``yea'' and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey) would have voted ``yea''.