mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-11-16

before I begin, I include in the Record, first a letter from the Commissioner of Revenue Services in the State of Connecticut, who has detailed out the impact of this tax on Connecticut residents. November 8, 2017. Hon. John B. Larson, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Larson: Thank you for opportunity to comment on the federal tax changes being considered in H.R. 1. We appreciate your leadership in trying to set the record straight as this partisan effort is rushed to judgment with no real input and much fiscal uncertainty. Unfortunately, what we see so far from a national and state perspective is very troubling. Some of the proposals to reduce taxes on corporate and pass-through business income could provide needed economic stimulus nationally and for states like Connecticut. Unfortunately, on balance, H.R. 1 is fundamentally flawed: Even the low estimate of a $1.5 trillion cost is not paid for and is really massive federal tax deficit spending. The nation has been down this road before and surely we should have learned something from the worst economic recession in modern times. Otherwise unaffordable tax cuts have long been part of a political strategy to ``starve the beast.'' Due to its long term unfunded cost, this tax plan will compel big cuts in federal funding, such as Medicaid, that are important to states like Connecticut. Contrary to all the talk of a ``middle income tax cut,'' the plan actually represents a huge windfall to the very wealthiest federal taxpayers and is truly regressive. For our own state of Connecticut, over 75% of the tax cut goes to the top 1% who would pay 8.5% less on average. Everyone else would see a trivial 1.2% reduction in federal tax liability and many will actually owe much more in federal income taxes. As discussed more specifically below, the proposed plan shifts most of the tax cost and the least of any tax benefit to states in the Northeast, Great Lakes and West Coast regions of the country. Thus, Connecticut and similar states will even more disproportionately pay in federal taxes far more than is received in federal benefits--further subsidizing regions of the country where states make far less of a state and local tax effort. Drilling down a bit further, several aspects of this partisan plan will hit especially hard: Eliminating deductibility of state income tax paid is worth an estimated $8.7 billion to mostly middle income Connecticut taxpayers. Capping deductibility of local property tax paid at $10,000 will increase federal income taxes for a significant proportion of Connecticut taxpayers who claim $4.9 billion.
Republican Tax Plan (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-11-16

it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations will have greater opportunity and greater security than we inherited from our parents and our forebears. To accomplish this, we must put aside political expedience and take a sober look at the health of our national economy and our ability to keep our commitments at home and around the world. With this in mind, I rise to urge my colleagues to reject the partisan and fiscally irresponsible tax proposals in the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. When we strip away the rosy, but false, economic projections and ideologically motived economic theories the s have been using to hype this bill, it is clear this bill trades away our nation's long- term economic health and the well-being of working Americans, the poor, the sick, and the old in order to benefit the wealthy. Moreover, this bill will take us trillions of dollars deeper into debt at a time when the costs of 16 years of debt-financed wars continue to mount. s owe it to our country and to future generations who will be stuck with the multi-trillion-dollar cost of this bill to go back to the drawing board and produce a balanced and permanent bipartisan path forward on our Nation's broken Tax Code. prgtoken It does not take an economist to see that the tax bill is a historic $1.5 trillion transfer of wealth from poor and working Americans to the very wealthiest among us, but a few of its glaring injustices are worth mentioning. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, it gives over twice as much tax relief to millionaires as it does to Americans making under $50,000. Just 5,000 of the wealthiest American families will receive hundreds of billions of dollars over a decade in the form of estate tax breaks at a time when income and wealth inequality in this country are at historic highs. This transfer of wealth through estate tax repeal alone requires us to go back to the drawing board. On the other hand, the bill prgtoken raises taxes on 19.4 million households earning under $200,000 by as much as $500. Forty-six percent of households making under $100,000 and 50 percent of households making under $75,000 will either see their taxes go up over the next decade or see no change at all, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. While tax cuts for big corporations are made permanent, the bill plans to claw back what little it gives to everyone else after a few years, setting up even bigger tax hikes for the middle class down the line. This does not even begin to cover the return of Care that has been added to this bill, which would take healthcare coverage away from 13 million Americans and drive up costs substantially for the poor, the sick, and the elderly. prgtoken This bill is a bad investment and, frankly, it is one we can ill afford. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model provided by the University of Pennsylv
IN HONOR OF LTC MICHAEL MANNING
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-11-16

today I recognize Lieutenant Colonel Michael Manning of the United States Army for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Colonel Manning will soon transition from his current assignment as the Rhode Island Army National Guard Liaison to serve as the Battalion Commander of the Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion. prgtoken Colonel Manning began his military career as Distinguished Military Graduate of Providence College's ROTC Class of 1997. He then deployed to the Republic of Germany with the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. prgtoken He subsequently deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian II as a Brigade Reconnaissance Troop Leader for Task Force Falcon. In 2002, after joining the Rhode Island Army National Guard, he was appointed Commander of the 173rd Infantry Detachment Long Range Surveillance, which was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2004. He again deployed, this time with Special Operations Detachment Global, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Caribbean and Central America in 2008, where he served as the Deputy Chief for the Regional Engagement Branch. prgtoken He then graduated with distinction from the College of Naval Command and Staff at the U.S. Naval War College with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies before once again deploying with Special Operations Detachment Global, serving with the Senior Special Operations to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Having served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Providence College and as a State Partnership Program Coordinator, he continues to impart his wisdom to those around him as the current Secretary of the General Staff. prgtoken As the primary liaison between the Rhode Island Congressional delegation and the Rhode Island Army National Guard, Colonel Manning has provided me and my staff with the ability to better comprehend and appreciate the National Guard and its unique mission set both at home in the Ocean State and in Washington, D.C his first-hand knowledge of the military, its culture, and its traditions has been of tremendous benefit. prgtoken Throughout my time working with Colonel Manning, I found him to be a thoughtful, intelligent, and dedicated Soldier in the best traditions of those called to serve from the great state of Rhode Island, and his future is extremely bright. prgtoken , it has been a pleasure to work with Colonel Manning during his time as a National Guard Liaison in Rhode Island. On behalf of a grateful Nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Manning, his wife, Meg, and their children, Michael, Jack, and Shannon. I wish them the very best as they continue their journey in the United States Army National Guard and thank them for dedicating their lives to the service of our Nation.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-16

I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 277, on the nomination of Joseph Otting, of Nevada, to be Comptroller of the Currency. Had I been present, I would have voted nay. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 278, on the motion to invoke cloture on Donald C. Coggins, Jr of South Carolina, to be United States district judge for the District of South Carolina. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 279, on the motion to invoke cloture on Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, of California, to be United States district judge for the District of Columbia. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 280, on the nomination of Donald C. Coggins, Jr of South Carolina, to be United States district judge for the District of South Carolina. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
TAX BURDEN ON HARDWORKING FAMILIES
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-16

just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the House of Representatives, we saw a vote on what has been called the middle class tax cut. Unfortunately, I am here to remind all of us, Mr that it really is a tax scam. prgtoken When we have looked into the many communities across America and seen families like the hardworking families in the district that I represent in California, the average family or household that files a tax return every April 15 makes an average income of about $69,000. prgtoken That family, according to what was just passed on this floor, is going to be leaving behind over $1,000 more than they normally would have when they do their taxes. That hurts. That family is a hardworking family. That family cannot afford to miss out on $1,000 of their hard- earned money. prgtoken I heard people say earlier that that is not going to happen. That is just not true.
RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ST. HELENA STAR AND NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS TASTING PANEL
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-16

I rise today to honor the St. Helena Star and Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Panel upon the occasion of their 10th Anniversary of informing wine lovers with thoughtful information about Napa Valley wines. prgtoken In 2007, David Stoneberg from the St. Helena Star, Terry Hall from the Napa Valley Vintners and Stefan Blicker from Blicker, Pierce and Wagner Wine created the Tasting Panel. Each month, the 20 to 25 person panel hosts a wine tasting and judging. This community tradition has helped journalists and the wine community build stronger relationships. prgtoken In March 2017, the Editor & Publisher, a trade publication for the newspaper industry, recognized the Tasting Panel in their article, ``10 Newspapers that Do It Right.'' This article praised the Tasting Panel for creating ``a better way to report on the wines they were recommending to readers.'' prgtoken The Tasting Panel has held more than 100 tastings of Napa Valley wines. The articles that journalists write about these tastings help consumers learn about wine and appreciate the hard working winemakers in our community. prgtoken , the St. Helena Star and Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Panel has been providing quality information to our community about Napa Valley wines for the past 10 years. I am proud to have such a great tradition to showcase the best wine in the world. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor them here today.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-11-16

I include in the Record The Washington Post op-ed, ``The tax plan's five worst dangers,'' by Secretary Rubin, dated November 15, 2017 [From the Washington Post, Nov. 15, 2017] The Tax Plan's Five Worst Dangers (By Robert Rubin) The deficit-funded tax cuts advancing through Congress are a fiscal tragedy for which our country will pay a huge price over time. While the details of the tax plan remain in flux, its fundamental contours will not change. Nor will its $1.5 trillion of deficit funding, the amount stipulated in the recently passed budget resolution. Perhaps it's hopeless to expect those in Congress who have long bemoaned deficits and the debt to oppose the plan. If, however, as a matter of conscience or renewed reflection they decide to take heed, here are the fiscal dangers posed by the plan. To start, the tax cuts will not increase growth and, given their fiscal effects, would likely have a significant and increasingly negative impact. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center's latest report estimated that, over 10 years, the average increase in our growth rate would be roughly zero, counting the crowding out of private investment by increasing deficits but not counting other adverse effects of worsening our fiscal outlook. The Penn Wharton Budget Model, using the same approach, estimates virtually no increase in long-term growth. Goldman Sachs projects an increase of 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent in the first couple of years and an average increase over 10 years of just 0.05 percent per year, not counting any of the adverse fiscal effects. These estimates reflect three underlying views held by mainstream economists. First, individual tax cuts will not materially induce people to work more. Second, corporate tax cuts will likely have limited effect on investment or decisions about where to locate business activity, given the many other variables at play. Third, deficit-funded tax cuts will have little short-term effect on growth, except perhaps for some temporary overheating, because we are at roughly full employment. With no additional revenue from increased growth to offset the tax cuts' cost, the publicly held debt of the federal government would increase by $1.5 trillion. An additional danger is that the actual deficit impact would be increased by abandoning the Congressional Budget Office's nonpartisan evaluation that has been used for decades by both parties in favor of partisan calculations by those pushing the tax cuts. Adding $1.5 trillion or more to the federal debt would make an already bad situation worse. A useful measure of our fiscal position is the ratio of publicly held government
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-11-16

I include in the Record a letter from 17 environmental organizations opposing this legislation. November 8, 2017. Dear Representative, on behalf of our millions of members and activists, we write to urge you to oppose the leadership's tax legislation, the misnamed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). This plan would lavish huge and permanent tax cuts to the richest 1% and corporate polluters that are destined to be paid for by the health and environmental well- being of communities across the country. The bill's debt- busting tax cuts for the wealthiest are sure to mean deep cuts to federal and state programs and safeguards that protect our air, water, lands, and wildlife that benefit people across this country every day. The plan puts at risk our clean energy future by preserving tax breaks for dirty energy sources while slashing them for cleaner forms of energy. And if the tax plan itself weren't harmful enough, it is also being packaged in the Senate with unrelated, controversial legislation that hands over the pristine and sacred Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to exploitation by Big Oil. This plan steers most of its tax breaks to the wealthiest people in this country and corporations and adds at least $1.5 trillion to the deficit. Americans across the country will suffer because those tax cuts are likely to be paid for by slashing services and safeguards that our government provides, from healthcare to education to environmental protection. The health of communities across the nation will suffer if the Environmental Protection Agency is further hampered in its mission to protect public health and hold polluters accountable for violating laws like the Clean Air Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. The people who work in and benefit from America's thriving outdoor recreational economy will take a hit if the national parks and other lands stewarded by the Department of the Interior are forced to suffer further cuts because of this reckless tax plan. This tax plan also steers our nation's energy policy in the wrong direction by leaving in place the vast majority of existing tax preferences for polluting industries like oil, gas, coal and nuclear and reducing, phasing-out, and eliminating incentives for cleaner sources of energy. Permanent tax breaks for fossil fuels dwarf those for renewables by a margin of 7:1, yet this bill would suddenly eliminate the tax credit for purchasing an electric vehicle, disrupt the wind industry by reducing the credit for future projects by a third and placing into jeopardy the eligibility of existing projects, and eliminate the commercial solar investment credit. While some clean energy t
HONORING LARRY JOE MILLER (1943-2017)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-11-16

it is my privilege to honor the life of Larry Joe Miller, artist-in-residence for the City of Hollywood, Florida. Larry served our nation in the United States Air Force where he earned a distinguished record of overseas service. prgtoken A true renaissance man, Larry was renowned for his music and art. He was known in South Florida as ``Mr. Rockabilly'' from his 50 years as a touring musician. During his touring days, he played with several popular bands, including the Thingies, Larry Joe Miller and the Rockabilly Rockets, and the Delusions. He was a lifelong artist who delighted Hollywood residents and all who visited. prgtoken As artist-in-residence, he hosted weekly community art events, including classes for students in need and his famous ``Paint for Fun'' nights, which allowed hundreds of South Florida residents to paint for free in Hollywood ArtsPark. prgtoken Above all, Larry was a beloved husband and father who impacted the lives of all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Amy; his sons Clay, Tyler, John Paul (Shelli), and Dennis (Stacy); and his grandchildren Aradia, Olivia, Phoenix, Owen, Quinn, Jessica, and Jason. prgtoken The City of Hollywood and the entire South Florida family lost an icon who will be sorely missed; however, I am confident Larry Joe Miller's legacy will live on through his work and the lessons he taught so many in our community.
TRIBUTE TO JACKIE DOUGAN JACKSON
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-11-16

in a few days, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that is filled with meaning and memories and, if we are lucky, sumptuous meals shared with family and friends. prgtoken Thanksgiving began as America's national harvest festival, a day to give thanks for our rich and fertile land and the great bounty of food it produces. prgtoken On this long Thanksgiving weekend, I plan to spend a few hours reading the latest book from one of my favorite friends whose works capture in loving detail life on her family's Wisconsin dairy farm, but even more, the rock-solid values that sustained her family and her life. prgtoken The book is called ``The Round Barn: Biography of an American Farm.'' As one reviewer wrote, reading it ``is like sitting on the porch of an early 20th century dairy farm and watching an era in American history pass right before your eyes.'' prgtoken The Round Barn books--there are three of them now--are the creations of Jackie Dougan Jackson, a novelist, poet, professor, mentor to generations of writers, and one of the best-loved residents in my hometown of Springfield, IL. prgtoken She lives in a big, old home in Springfield which, legend has it, was once visited by another master storyteller, Abraham Lincoln. prgtoken Loretta and I are lucky to count Jackie as a dear friend of many years. She is a kind, creative soul who never fails to reach out to help others. At the age of 89, she is still filled with energy, empathy and curiosity about nearly everything. prgtoken The Round Barn books keep a promise that Jackie made to her grandfather W.J. Dougan when she was just 15 years old. She vowed then that one day she would write a history of the dairy farm that W.J. had founded in 1906, the farm on which three generations of Jackie's family lived and worked. prgtoken Jackie Jackson throws open the Round Barn doors at the Dougan family farm to tell us an American story. She gives us a rich history of farm life at the mercy of the forces of science and the market but grounded in rock-solid Midwestern values. prgtoken Some of those values were painted onto the silo of the family's round barn. W.J. titled the list ``Aims for the Farm.'' They were: ``#1. Good Crops; #2. Proper Storage; #3. Profitable Live Stock; #4. A Stable Market''--and most important of all--``#5. Life as Well as a Living.'' prgtoken W.J. Dougan was a deeply spiritual man and a hard worker. He struggled for years to put himself through college and became a Methodist minister, but encroaching deafness forced him to give up the religious life he loved. prgtoken In 1906, he bought a dairy farm near Beloit, WI. prgtoken The Round Barn was built in 1911. W.J. chose the unusual shape because he believed that a barn braced on a central concrete pillar was cheaper to build, more efficient for a dairy operation, and less likely to blow away in a tornado. The Round Barn quickly became a county landmark. prgtoken W.J. marketed himself a