mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery Effort (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-10-2

in 2015, the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, did something that can be all too rare Washington: It listened to the American people. After a record number of Americans spoke in favor of clear rules to protect a free and open Internet, the FCC voted to adopt strong net neutrality protections that accomplished this goal. These protections, which ensure that innovation and free speech can flourish online, are currently under threat as the FCC now moves to repeal them. On net neutrality and on many other key telecommunications policy issues, Chairman Pai has stood against consumers, startups, and small businesses. Today I choose to stand with them and with millions of Americans who support net neutrality by opposing his reappointment. prgtoken Vermonters have been clear that they want strong FCC rules in place to ensure that the Internet remains the ultimate platform for economic opportunity and free expression. These protections are particularly important for small businesses, which compete on the internet's global stage against the largest companies in the world. The Vermont Country Store is a great example of a small company that has taken advantage of the promise of an open Internet. Family-owned with a rich history dating back to 1897, the internet offered new opportunities to extend the company's reach. As fifth generation storekeeper Cabot Orton said when he testified in Vermont about the FCC's effort to craft net neutrality protections in 2014: We don't want to imagine an America with two Internets: a fast one for giant corporations and a slow one for everybody else. We don't want to imagine being held for ransom by telecom behemoths and cable monopolies just to reach our customers with the same speed and convenience that global conglomerates enjoy . . . A small business website that is no longer protected from giant Internet toll-keepers would have one choice: pay to play. Failing that, a company becomes the proverbial tree falling in the forest with no one there to hear it. prgtoken Chairman Pai has shown total disregard for the concerns of businesses like the Vermont Country Store. In proposing to repeal the existing net neutrality protections, he makes no mention of their importance to the small business community. Instead of recognizing the very real impact on small businesses of stripping away these protections, Chairman Pai claims that there are no possible harms these protections could be designed to prevent. prgtoken This is particularly clear when he discusses the current rule banning harmful paid prioritization agreements that would create the type of two-tiered internet small businesses fear. Chairman Pai claims that there was no need for this rule because some large internet service providers, ISPs, said they ``had no plans'' to engage in this kind of behavior. This is despite the fact that at least one major ISP
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-10-2

I think all of us felt a familiar knot in our stomach early this morning when we received news of what might be the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The numbers are hard to comprehend. They certainly aren't final. Fifty-eight people are dead, and perhaps over 500 have been wounded, either by the gunshots themselves or by the pandemonium that ensued once the thousands of concertgoers in downtown Las Vegas figured out they were being fired upon from above. prgtoken There is nothing wrong with sending every thought and prayer and every bit of your heart to Las Vegas, to all of the family members who lost loved ones, to those who are recovering, to the first responders, and to the community at large. It really does help. I lived through one of these as a witness in Sandy Hook. Many of those parents are still my friends. We are about the same age, and our kids are the same age. While there are absolutely no words and no gestures that can ever salve the wounds that come with losing a child--especially a first grader--it did not hurt to know that the rest of the world was thinking every single minute about that community. There was an overwhelming amount of stuff that showed up in Sandy Hook--the teddy bears that piled up in the days and weeks that followed. It was a reminder to that town that they weren't forgotten. It helps. It does. But it is not enough. prgtoken I want to just spend a few moments--I know I was preceded by a few of my colleagues--to talk about the work that we have to do here if we are to address what I would consider to be a festering, lingering paradox that exists in this country. What I mean by that is this. This is a country that leads. Almost every great magical invention in this world today--whether it be open economies, participatory democracies, communication through the internet--is essentially a modern American invention. prgtoken The reason that we were able to catapult the rest of the world in just a quarter millennium to a point of global preeminence is because we saw big problems and we solved them before anybody else did. Then we took those solutions and we exported them to the rest of the world. That is a definitional characteristic of this country--working harder than anybody else to solve big problems and then giving that solution to others so they can use it for themselves. The paradox lies here. We solved a lot of big problems: How to govern ourselves, how to order our economies, how to talk to each other, and how to save people from disease. Yet maybe the longest standing human concern is a very simple one--concern for our physical safety. prgtoken I can chart you a history of civilization based upon society's ability to protect more consistently our physical body. That is, in fact, one of the original reasons why humans found each other--to try to protect ourselves from physical harm that comes from the outside. The paradox lies in the fact th
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-10-2

today I wish to recognize the Connecticut State Labor Council AFL-CIO as they celebrate 60 years of extraordinary and exemplary advocacy on behalf of Connecticut workers and their families. prgtoken Since its formation in 1957 with the merging of the Connecticut Federation of Labor and the Connecticut State Industrial Union Council, the Connecticut State AFL-CIO has demonstrated an impressive dedication to the wellbeing of workers across the State. The organization seeks fair and equal treatment for workers through collective bargaining on their behalf and promoting legislation to create good jobs and provide people with the skills needed for them. prgtoken Simply, they strengthen the middle class, allowing tens of thousands of people to own a home, raise their families, and retire with financial security. prgtoken Uniting workers and their families toward these common goals, the Connecticut AFL-CIO has fought continuously and ceaselessly for better wages, benefits, and conditions for the working families of the State. Throughout its six decades, the Connecticut AFL-CIO has facilitated union member access to insurance plans, credit cards, and beneficial mortgage programs. prgtoken Always looking for ways to raise the standard of living for our middle-class workers, the Connecticut AFL-CIO was one of the early leaders in the fight to achieve affordable and accessible quality healthcare, pay equity, and parental and medical leave for all employees. The Connecticut AFL-CIO also helps those who have lost their jobs, supporting fair unemployment compensation laws and education and job training programs. prgtoken Since its formation, the Connecticut AFL-CIO continuously puts the needs of workers and their families first. I applaud their numerous achievements and hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Connecticut State AFL-CIO on 60 years of service and commitment to Connecticut employees.
LAS VEGAS MASS SHOOTING
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-2

today I wish to voice my support for the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas. prgtoken This mass shooting was the worst in our Nation's history. There are more than 50 dead and more than 500 wounded. prgtoken It should shock every American that one individual, with easy access to weapons and ammunition, can inflict such devastation. prgtoken Sadly, it was only a little more than a year ago that we also experienced what had then been the worst mass shooting in our Nation's history. That was when 49 people who were enjoying an evening of dancing with friends and loved ones were massacred in Orlando. prgtoken Just 6 months before that, 14 people were killed and more than 20 injured in San Bernardino. prgtoken Two years ago, on October 1, 2015, an assistant professor and eight students were murdered at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, OR. prgtoken In 2013, 12 people were fatally shot at the Navy Yard, less than 2 miles from where I stand today. prgtoken On December 14, 2012, 20 children had their lives taken at Sandy Hook Elementary School. prgtoken These massacres have not and will not stop unless we do something. I believe we must acknowledge that these shootings are possible because of our Nation's weak gun laws. prgtoken Our laws permit criminal and domestic abusers to easily obtain weapons at gunshows and on the internet without a basic background check. prgtoken We know background checks work. States that require background checks on private handgun sales see fewer women killed by their partners and fewer law enforcement officers killed with handguns. prgtoken It is time we expand background checks to cover sales at gunshows and on the Internet. prgtoken We are still learning about what happened in Las Vegas, but we do know that the shooter had more than 10 rifles in his hotel room and that he may have used an assault weapon. prgtoken Today in the United States, military-style assault weapons may be sold legally to civilians. Assault weapons are not needed for either hunting or self-defense. prgtoken They are weapons of war designed to kill large numbers of people in close quarters. prgtoken This is not sustainable--and the public agrees. Just last year, a poll showed that 57 percent of Americans favor a ban on assault weapons. prgtoken In fact, from 1994 and 2004, we had laws that prohibited anyone from getting an assault weapon. I believed then and I believe now that those laws made all of us safer. prgtoken Unfortunately, right when the positive effects of those laws were taking effect, they were allowed to expire. Now, time and again, we have felt the costs of our inaction. prgtoken It is time that we finally take steps to ensure that other communities do not experience the pain that Sandy Hook, Washington, San Bernardino, Roseburg, Orlando, and now Las Vegas have gone through. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will join me in remembering the victims of this attack and will support legislati
COMMEMORATING THE 106TH ANNIVERSARY OF TAIWAN
John Conyers, Jr. (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-10-2

I rise to congratulate the people of Taiwan on the 106th anniversary of their republic, celebrated on October 10th. October 10th, known in Taiwan as ``Double Ten Day'', is revered by the Taiwanese people--just as Fourth of July is here in the United States. It commemorates the Wuchang Uprising, which triggered a revolution that led to the overthrow of China's imperial regime and the establishment of the Republic of China. prgtoken Since the Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, the people of Taiwan have developed a democracy of which they should be proud. They are our 10th largest trading partner, including more than $200 million in purchases from my home state of Michigan. They are an economically and socially growing nation, that has recently implemented a single-payer National Health Insurance (NHI) system. This system is similar to legislation that I have been championing in the U.S. House for more than a decade, and which Bernie Sanders recently introduced in the U.S. Senate. I believe that America has much to learn from this work, and I am eager to see them succeed in guaranteeing their citizens a universal right to healthcare--a practice America would do well to follow. prgtoken I also want to commend the people of Taiwan on their success this past year, in which they inaugurated their first female president--a first not only for the island, but also the first woman elected head of state in Asia in her own right, who was not related to a notable male politician. prgtoken I want to congratulate my friends across the ocean and wish them a very happy 106th Double Ten Day.
HONORING THE LIFE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL
Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-2

I rise today to include in the Record the following Proclamation to commemorate the extraordinary life of Thurgood Marshall and declare October 2, 2017 to be Thurgood Marshall Day in California's 44th Congressional District: prgtoken Whereas in 1940 while an attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Thurgood Marshall won the case of The State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell, which helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come; and prgtoken Whereas Thurgood Marshall was the Chief Counsel in the case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the landmark Supreme Court decision that declared state laws establishing segregated public schools to be unconstitutional; and prgtoken Whereas the Honorable Thurgood Marshall, on October 2, 1967, became the first African-American appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States of America; and prgtoken Whereas date of October 2, 2017, marks the 50th anniversary of this historic achievement; and prgtoken Whereas the legacy of Thurgood Marshall continues to serve as an example and inspiration to both individuals and groups that continue to fight for justice and equality for all throughout the United States of America: and Now therefore prgtoken I declare and hereby recognize October 2, 2017 to be Thurgood Marshall Day in the 44th Congressional District of California.
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2017-10-2

before my planned remarks on the Federal Communications Commission, I want to say a few words about the awful events that happened in Las Vegas. Our hearts are with the families affected by the tragedy and with the city of Las Vegas, and we do send them our best wishes and our prayers. But we can do more than send our thoughts and prayers to the grieving. We can do more than thank the first responders. We can do more than lower the flag to half mast. prgtoken We can take a stand against gun violence by passing commonsense gun safety laws. Otherwise, this becomes a ritual of mass murder, mourning, and moving on. Let's stop this awful ritual. Let's stop the violence. Let's do something about it. prgtoken , I wish to talk about the nomination of Chairman Ajit Pai to lead the Federal Communications Commission for another 5 years. When it comes to Chairman Pai, personally and professionally, I want to say that I believe in his integrity as a public servant, and I believe he is smart and qualified. But the FCC is supposed to create competition and protect consumers, and Chairman Pai isn't doing that. prgtoken First, Chairman Pai's FCC is trying to get rid of net neutrality. Net neutrality is a Federal rule that says ISPs--internet service providers--must treat all content equally. They can't discriminate by making certain kinds of content slower, charging more for other kinds of content, or blocking some content altogether. prgtoken That is the basic premise of the internet. Once you pay for your broadband internet access and then you jump on a browser, everything comes down to the same speeds. It is so foundational to the way we use the internet that it is actually hard to describe a future without net neutrality, but it could be that you pay your ISP, and certain websites download fast. prgtoken Certain websites are almost impossible to find. For certain websites, you have to pay a premium just to be able to capture their content. Forget what you may have to pay Hulu, Netflix, and others. The ISP will essentially control your access to the internet. That is why net neutrality was so important. It is not that, in that moment, things were necessarily undermining the current internet but that, without a firm rule, these companies may have incentives to change the internet as we know it. prgtoken When Chairman Pai announced that the FCC would review the rules on net neutrality, he said: ``This is a fight we intend to wage, and it is a fight that we are going to win.'' But that is not how the FCC is supposed to work. This is a quasi-judicial agency. They are supposed to propose a rule, allow the public to weigh in, and then the agency considers the comments before making a decision. Chairman Pai had made it clear from the beginning that he had already made up his mind. Even though there were 22 million individual comments from American citizens about what we should do with the free and open
WITH GUN RIGHTS COMES RESPONSIBILITIES
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-10-2

my heart goes out to the victims and the families impacted by the horrific shooting in Las Vegas. Gun violence is a public health crisis that has claimed thousands of innocent lives, and we prgtoken must do everything we can to address it. prgtoken , the American people are tired of being outraged, of sending thoughts and prayers, of seeing men, women, and children die because the gun lobby puts profit over people. That is not what our Founders intended by the right to bear arms. prgtoken With rights come responsibilities: the responsibility to stop gun sales loopholes, to enact protections that make sure our kids and those with severe mental illnesses don't have access to guns, to address funding for mental health, and to oppose any efforts to make it easier to purchase silencers. prgtoken , 87 percent of gunowners and 74 percent of NRA members support those commonsense solutions, like criminal background checks. prgtoken I have a plea for gunowners across this country: urge the NRA to represent your views; show them that you mean business by speaking out or even terminating your NRA membership; show them that you care about your fellow Americans. Act now. Enough is enough.
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-10-2

I wish to begin by offering my condolences to the victims of the massacre in Las Vegas last night and to their loved ones. I am heartsick for the residents of Las Vegas and everyone around the country who woke up to the horrendous news of last night's attack and who is worried sick about whether their family members, friends, and neighbors are OK. prgtoken Thoughts and prayers are good, but they are simply not enough. Thoughts and prayers are not enough when more moms and dads will bury their children this week. Thoughts and prayers are not enough when sons and daughters will be forced to grow up without their parents. prgtoken Attacks like the one last night have happened all too often in America. Enough is enough. We have to have a conversation about how to stop gun violence in America, and we need to have that conversation right now. prgtoken , I want to take some time to discuss the vote we will be taking shortly on the nomination of Ajit Pai to serve as the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC. prgtoken One thing that last night showed us is the importance of connections. Every day, moms and dads pick up their phones to check in on their kids, students go online to do research on homework assignments, and families sit together to watch the newest hit television show or movie. It is just a fact--media and telecommunications services play a vital role in helping American households connect with their loved ones, communities, and the world around them. prgtoken The FCC makes sure those services are available and accessible to all Americans, whether they live in a rural community or in a large city-- at least that is what the FCC is supposed to do. There are a lot of powerful companies that want to change that picture, companies that want to change the rules so they can line the pockets of their corporate executives and their wealthy investors. Those powerful companies have launched an all-out assault on every branch of our government with only one goal: to make sure the government works for them and for their buddies. If it leaves everyone else in the dirt, they don't much care. prgtoken As powerful companies know, it is good to have friends on the inside, and they have invested a lot of money in making friends. Giant corporations have spent unlimited amounts of money to elect politicians who will promote their views and to flood Congress with lobbyists who will work around the clock to destroy laws and rules that the industry doesn't like and to reshape those laws to suit corporate interests. But electing politicians and inflating Congress with lobbyists isn't enough. Their buddies in Congress can only do so much. Powerful corporations need weak agencies that will not hold them accountable, so they work to fill those agencies with their allies-- friends who can undo the rules that giant corporations don't like, friends who will not go after tho
HONORING ROBERT REESE
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-2

I rise today to recognize Robert Reese, an outstanding constituent in my district on the Central Coast of California. Robert has served as the executive director for the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts for over 30 years. His dedication to preserving a vibrant artistic culture that pays homage to the traditions of the original artists' colony of Carmel, CA has served to make the central coast a hub of innovative art and science. Whether it be through sculptures, paintings, concerts, poetry readings, recitals, or multi-media performances, the Center for the Arts has consistently provided the invaluable service of allowing residents the opportunity to see themselves, and their community, through a different lens. Throughout his tenure as executive director, Robert has remained true to the founding vision of Jeanne D'Orge, who founded the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in the 1940's. Famous for producing and hosting some of the world's greatest artists, poets, and writers since the turn of the 20th century, Carmel-by-the-Sea continues to nurture original art and new forms of theater, a wonderful public service that Robert has contributed to tirelessly over the past three decades. His keen eye for fully exploring the ``ethos'' behind any given piece of artistic expression is a gift that served him well at bringing the community the best kind of art--that which challenges our preconceived notions, and changes the way we think. In addition to being an expert curator of fine arts, Robert is also a former journalist and award-winning writer. His writing earned him an anthology in the publication Best Spiritual Writing, and the Monterey County Cultural Arts Benefactor Award. A man of great civic virtue, he also regularly volunteers as a chaplain for the Monterey County Jail, and at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula I invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing Robert Reese for his many accomplishments and contributions to his community. In these polarized times, bringing people together in any way possible is of the utmost importance, and there is no better way to accomplish this than through appreciation of great art, whatever form that may take.