mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2018-3-21

first, let me begin by expressing how honored and humbled I am to be a Member of this body and to represent the great State of Alabama. prgtoken Fresh out of law school in 1979, I began my career right here, working as staff counsel to Senator Howell Heflin on the Judiciary Committee. From when I served as a staffer, there are only three Members of the Senate who continue to serve today--Senator Leahy, Senator Hatch, and Senator Cochran. Two of those three, Senators Hatch and Cochran, will be retiring this year--Senator Cochran, in just over a week--and a grateful nation thanks them for their service. prgtoken For me, personally, I am honored to have come full circle with them, from a young staffer to a junior colleague, and I wish them well in their life after the Senate. prgtoken s on both sides of the aisle for welcoming me to this body, many of whom are here with me today, braving the wintery weather outside. Thank you for your friendship, your advice, and your willingness to include me and my staff in the great work you are doing. prgtoken I particularly want to thank my senior colleague from Alabama, Senator Shelby, and his staff. I appreciate their graciousness and patience in helping me as I navigate my new role as a freshman Senator. prgtoken I thank my family: my amazing wife Louise; incredible kids, Courtney, Carson, and Christopher, who so fully supported me in my quest to reach the Senate but more importantly in my life. I have grown with them and certainly because of them; of course, my sister Terrie; wonderful parents, who I am blessed to have around today; and my grandparents who are not. They instilled in me the values of family, faith, patriotism, respect for others, and a work ethic that has guided me throughout my life. prgtoken Finally, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to pay special tribute to my mentor and former Senator whose seat I now hold-- the late Howell Heflin of Alabama. He was a remarkable man whose large, lumbering frame and southern drawl would often mask his amazing intellect. His compassion and sense of justice for his fellow man forged a path for myself and so many others who worked for him over the years. prgtoken He came to the Senate in 1979, at a time when bipartisanship was more than just a campaign slogan or a sound bite. In those days, when Senators spoke of bipartisanship, they truly meant it. They would never compromise principles but would compromise with their colleagues on the serious issues of the day in order to move this country forward. prgtoken By the time he left the Senate in 1997, Senator Heflin sensed a change in the political climate, and he was concerned about it. In a parting essay he wrote: Our Constitution itself came about through a great series of compromises; it was not written by ideologues who clung to ``their way or no.'' Compromise and negotiation--the hallmarks of mod
OUTSOURCING U.S. JOBS AND WAGES
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise to bring much-needed attention to a critical issue: the outsourcing of U.S. jobs and wages. prgtoken I have been fighting on behalf of working people to stop outsourcing, to stop sending our jobs overseas; and fighting against low-income wages that outsourcing has caused since the day I came to the Congress. prgtoken Right now, we have an opportunity to make real progress, pushing back against outsourcing. But in order to make that opportunity reality, we cannot accept the status quo on the North American Free Trade Agreement. prgtoken Any renegotiated NAFTA must eliminate the incentives for outsourcing jobs, raise wages, and level the playing field for North American workers. It is our job to ensure that the prgtoken administration keeps its promises to the middle class, and put an end to the outsourcing of jobs by fighting for strong, enforceable labor and environmental standards. prgtoken The U.S. labor proposal in NAFTA must dramatically improve to stop the outsourcing of good-paying jobs and the suppression of wages for working people. Unless we rewrite NAFTA with the workers at the center of our goals, we will repeat the same mistakes that we have made in the past. prgtoken The North American Free Trade Agreement has already facilitated the outsourcing of a million American jobs to Mexico where corporations can pay workers poverty wages and dump toxins into the environment before bringing products back into the U.S. for sale. prgtoken American workers and the environment lose. In fact, in 2004, in my district in Connecticut, we lost 300 good jobs at the BIC plant in Milford, Connecticut, because the company moved their razor operation to Mexico. prgtoken Beyond BIC, NAFTA had a tremendously negative impact on my home State in Connecticut. In fact, we lost more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs since it was enacted and since China was allowed to join the WTO--the period between 1994 and 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That amounts to nearly 40 percent of the manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, taking into account both jobs created by exports and jobs displaced by imports. prgtoken As these jobs moved overseas, the percentage of all private sector jobs that are manufacturing jobs in Connecticut declined from 20 percent to 11 percent during the NAFTA-WTO period. I watched and I fought against the slow death of the Ansonia Copper and Brass Company as they suffered under these policies. prgtoken In Connecticut, more than 25,000 workers are certified as having lost their job due to imports or outsourcing under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program--companies such as Carrier, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical, The Hershey Company, 3M, and others. prgtoken So manufacturing jobs, good-paying jobs that you can support a family with, took a big hit in Connecticut because of NAFTA--workers who made electrical products, medical products, machined par
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-3-21

as I stated several hours ago, I stand firmly with colleagues who believe more must be done to fight the scourge of sex trafficking and, particularly, to put these monsters behind bars. The bill before us, in my view, takes a flawed approach. What is going to happen is that the criminal sex trafficker is going to head toward the dark web. This is a place you cannot access with a traditional search engine. It is going to be harder when they are in the shadowy corners of our country, of the internet, in order to prosecute them. It is also going to chip away at the foundation of the net, which is so important for vulnerable people. It is why the Human Rights Campaign Fund has made it prgtoken clear that they are opposed to the bill. We shouldn't be putting at risk vulnerable groups and small startups. prgtoken Given that, I believe that this bill, which will clearly pass, will be something the Senate will come to deeply regret. I will be opposing the bill.
PROTECT THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-3-21

make no mistake about it: through their words and actions, President and his allies are doing everything they can to destroy the independent investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller through provocative tweets: a witch hunt; prgtoken Through reckless actions: firing Director Comey and Assistant Director McCabe; and prgtoken Through provocative statements: his personal attorney calling for an end to the investigation. prgtoken The question, , is not what the President wants to do or may do. The question is: Will Congress do what it must do, which is protect the Mueller investigation? prgtoken A number of us have a bill that would do just that. Our bill would require a three-judge panel to approve any dismissal of Mr. Mueller. prgtoken , no American is above the law, no Member of Congress is above the law, and no member of the executive branch is above the law, including President . prgtoken , let the House vote on our bill. Make each one of us be accountable to our constituents on the rule of law. prgtoken Will we vote to protect the Mueller investigation or will we acquiesce to the President's threats and temper tantrums? prgtoken , let us vote.
IN MEMORY OF OFFICER GREGGORY CASILLAS
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise to honor and remember Pomona Police Officer Greggory Casillas, a constituent of mine who was struck down in the line of duty. prgtoken It was Greggory's dream to be a police officer. He studied police reports after hours, and he always carried flashcards and books to prepare for the police officer exam. prgtoken His hard work paid off. Friday, March 9 was the final day of Officer Casillas' ghost phase, the last day before he went out on his own. As one colleague said: ``I've never met someone so eager to become a police officer.'' prgtoken Tragically, that was also the day Officer Casillas was shot, trying to make contact with a suspect who had fled the police. Officer Casillas put himself at risk so that we could be safer, and we can never thank him enough. prgtoken I am so grateful for heroes like Officer Casillas, and I join the hundreds of others who have attended vigils in his honor when I say that he will never be forgotten for his sacrifice.
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-3-21

I am voting for this legislation because, on balance, I believe it will provide important legal recourse to victims of sex trafficking and will help hold accountable those websites that seek to exploit them. Protecting these victims should be our top priority. prgtoken There have been concerns raised that this legislation may have an unintended--and harmful--impact on one of the key laws underpinning the free and open Internet. That key law is section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, CDA 230, which promotes free expression and innovation by protecting online platforms from a range of laws that might otherwise hold them unfairly accountable for everything their individual users may say and do online. This law defends free speech online and has encouraged innovations ranging from the earliest online bulletin board systems to today's platforms for social media and user- generated video. Without the protections of CDA 230, the internet would be a very different place today. prgtoken Today's legislation amends CDA 230 by, among other things, prohibiting construing that law to limit Federal or State civil liability for conduct that involves ``knowingly assisting, supporting, or facilitating a violation of'' Federal child sex trafficking laws. Clearly, CDA 230 was never intended to be a shield to protect child sex traffickers, and it should not, but there is concern this legislation could potentially open up providers and websites who operate in good faith to new liability risks for what their users say or do, which could harm free expression. Also, the threat of this liability will fall especially hard on smaller platforms that have fewer resources to fight lawsuits, even ones without merit, which could harm innovation. prgtoken As a result, I do not take amendments to this core protection for free expression and innovation online lightly. I am voting in favor of today's legislation because we must balance those possible risks against the very real scourge this legislation will forcefully combat: sex trafficking, including trafficking of underage youth. Just earlier this week, Senators Collins, Heitkamp, and I reintroduced our bipartisan bill to curb youth homelessness and support young victims of trafficking, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. This is an issue I have long been committed to addressing. Today's legislation represents a step in the right direction, and I will support it.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2018-3-22

we have the opportunity today to take immediate action to lower the cost of health insurance by as much as 40 percent and to increase the affordability of insurance for millions of Americans who purchase plans in the individual market. prgtoken I commend Senator Alexander, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, for his extraordinary leadership and hard work in this area. prgtoken I am also very pleased with the work that has been done by Representative Greg Walden, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Representative Costello. prgtoken We have come together, along with a substantial number of our colleagues, including Senators Graham, Rounds, Isakson, and Murkowski, among many others, on this very important insurance stabilization and rate reduction package. prgtoken Let me begin by outlining the major provisions of what it is that we are proposing, because there has been, unfortunately, a lot of misunderstanding and, dare I say, misinformation. prgtoken First, our legislation, based on the Alexander-Murray bill, would fund the cost-sharing reduction subsidies for 3 years. These are vital for Americans who have incomes that are below 250 percent of the poverty level. CSRs provide government assistance to help them pay for their deductibles and their copays. prgtoken Second, our proposal also improves the ability of the States to take further steps to lower insurance premiums for their citizens. We provide meaningful flexibility for States by revising section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, which authorizes State innovation waivers. prgtoken Third, based on a bill that I authored with Senator Bill Nelson, our proposal provides a total of $30 billion over 3 years for States to have reinsurance, or invisible high-risk pools, by applying for a waiver under the section 1332 program I just mentioned. prgtoken As I know the Presiding Officer well knows, reinsurance is a proven method for dealing with high-risk, expensive claims. It reduces uncertainty and has benefits not only for those who have preexisting conditions and need expensive healthcare but for the entire individual market, and it has been proven to work in States like Maine and Alaska. prgtoken We have also included $500 million to assist States with the planning of the designs of their own reinsurance, or invisible high-risk pools. In the House, the Costello bill also had a Federal fallback in recognizing that we were late in the year and that we wanted to provide help immediately, which we have included for 2019, to give States prgtoken time to apply for waivers under section 1332. prgtoken What does our bill not do? prgtoken Our proposal does not change the Affordable Care Act's essential benefit requirements. It does not change the guarantee that an individual will be able to buy insurance. It does not change the protections for people with preexisting conditions. Yet it ensures that
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-3-22

I rise today to pay tribute to a long-time friend, a revered public servant, and a true southern gentleman, Senator Thad Cochran. prgtoken Thad Cochran will be retiring at the end of this month, bringing an end to more than 40 years of exemplary service to Mississippi and our Nation. prgtoken Senator Cochran is a Mississippi man through and through. He was born in Pontotoc to a mother who was a school teacher and a father who was a principal. After graduating as valedictorian at his high school, Thad attended Ole Miss, where he earned both his bachelor's and juris doctor degrees. After serving in the Navy, he practiced private law in Mississippi for several years, but it wasn't long before he entered politics. prgtoken After serving in the House of Representatives, Thad first came to the Senate in 1978, just 2 years after my own election. The truth is, I hardly know this place without him, and I can hardly imagine what things will be like when Thad is no longer sitting here. prgtoken It is difficult to describe the special bond you share with someone who has been your close friend and partner here on the floor and colleague for more than four decades. Thad and I have been here through some of the most formative events in modern history, including the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of American hegemony, the creation of the internet, and the coming of the digital age. As Members of this body, we have had the privilege not only to witness history but also to help shape it. prgtoken Whether as chairman of the Senate Conference, the Agriculture Committee, or the Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran has spearheaded some of the most significant policy initiatives of the last several decades. With an equal mix of healthy persistence and pure southern charm, he quickly earned his reputation as the ``quiet persuader.'' I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say he will be sorely missed. prgtoken Thad Cochran is so much more than the senior Senator from Mississippi. He is so much more than the legislation he has passed and the titles he has held and the awards he has received. Thad Cochran is a fixture of American politics, a man synonymous with the Senate, who embodies in every way all that is right and good about this body--a commitment to comity, character, and respect. prgtoken I think my colleague Senator Leahy put it best when he said that Senator Cochran represents the old school. He personifies a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of bipartisan and compromise, and I believe that these very virtues have been the keys to his success as a legislator. prgtoken Even in recent years, as our politics grew ever more divisive, Thad reminded us that in the era of endless gridlock and perpetual polarization, there is no alternative to civility and healthy debate. Thad is always someone you could trust to put the good of others above self, someone you could count on
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-- MOTION TO PROCEED
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-3-22

I rise today to speak about the omnibus bill that we are going to be voting on either later today or tomorrow. prgtoken I came to the Senate almost 12 years ago. I have 9 months left in my term. I told folks back home that I couldn't imagine serving more than two terms. Yet it has been an incredible privilege to be here. When I ran, I ran concerned about our Nation's fiscal issues, and I ran on the combination of pro-growth tax reform and entitlement reform and dealing with the tremendous deficits that our country has. I really thought we would do something about it. prgtoken We had the financial crisis that took place back in 2007, 2008, 2009--building in 2007 and occurred in 2008. We dealt with much of it over 2009. I remember talking to people around our country not just about the financial crisis but about the tremendous deficits that our Nation was creating. I was still hopeful in my first term that we would rise to the occasion and actually deal with the fiscal issues that are going to haunt these young people who are our pages sitting before me. We have $21 trillion in debt today and over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities with our long-term programs, our mandatory spending programs. So during that period of time, near the end of my first term, I kept saying to people around the country: There is no question that the Senate and the House, with leadership from the executive branch, will deal with this fiscal issue. prgtoken I am convinced today that that is not going to happen until there is a crisis in our Nation. Let me say it one more time. Without extreme leadership at the very top, I do not think we will deal with this issue until there is a crisis, because I just don't see the will here to do the things that need to be done. prgtoken During December we had a debate on the pro-growth tax reform side of this, and I think it is well documented that I had concerns about it. As a matter of fact, when the bill came through the Senate, I voted against it. I continued to work with some of my counterparts on the ic side--Chris Coons and others--and the White House, to see if there was some way to potentially alter the bill so that if growth projections didn't achieve what we thought they might be, we had some way of ensuring that we would not have deficits. At the end of the day, when it came to the floor, I supported it--pro-growth tax reform, again, being one of those things that I ran on back in 2006. prgtoken What concerns me is that today, or maybe tomorrow, we have a 2,232- page omnibus bill before us that sets a base in spending that will be about $2 trillion in deficit spending over the next 10 years. By the way, that doesn't include some of the supplemental items. I am talking about just the baseline in spending. prgtoken I think everyone knows that, like the Presiding Officer, I am a very strong supporter of our men and women in uniform. No doubt we all understand that
PROTECT MINNESOTA'S LIBERIAN COMMUNITY
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-3-22

time is running out. Unless the administration takes action by March 31, members of Minnesota's Liberian community who have been here for more than 20 years after fleeing a vicious civil war and making new lives here in the United States could be forced to leave. prgtoken Minnesota is home to one of the largest Liberian communities in the country. More than 16,000 Liberians, including 4,000 children, have made Minnesota their home, and for decades, they have been productive members of our society and our economy. prgtoken Since the early 1990s, Presidents of both parties have ensured that they can stay. A bipartisan group of my colleagues and I are asking and joining together to ask the President to act to do the same. prgtoken I have also coauthored bipartisan legislation to allow these families to stay because, , we are asking the President: Don't let this happen. Do the right thing. These families are fundamentally American, and they are a part of the very fabric of what we have in Minnesota as a community.