mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I will speak after the gentleman completes, but I would also just like to note that I agree with everything that he has been talking about for the last 20 minutes. I hope the American people start paying attention. prgtoken The fact is, the two of us are in a very small cadre of patriots that have been here in Washington for the last 20 years trying to stop this massive flow of illegal immigrants into our country, realizing that this doesn't only mean that people's wages would go down because we have people bidding down the wages of our people, not only is the crime in our area worse, not only is the money being drained from our health systems and schools--money that should be going to our own citizens are going to illegals--as we have always realized, with a flood of illegals into our country, some of the people riding that wave of illegals are terrorists who mean to destroy the American way of life and would kill our people in order to terrorize our Nation into retreat from involvement in the world. prgtoken I have been very honored to stand with the gentleman from Texas in these battles over these last 20 years. I would hope that the election of President reflects the fact that the American people are waking up to the significance of this issue. prgtoken We see people on the Senate side shedding tears for a temporary halt in immigration from areas where terrorism is known to exist and radical Islamic terrorism exists there. But they are shedding tears that a couple of hundred people, yes, were put in a bad situation. A couple of other lives were disrupted. They were innocent people. prgtoken But in order to save American lives, we are not going to put foreigners who are trying to come here at some kind of discomfort? Well, I think has demonstrated his primary objective is to secure the safety of the people of the United States of America. prgtoken I have been so proud to stand with the gentleman from Texas in getting behind Mr. on this very important goal.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 44, DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 57...
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-2-7

. the balance of my time. prgtoken , the gentleman talks about regular order. This particular regulation from the Bureau of Land Management was enacted very quickly and hurriedly without input from State and county governments. So, essentially, this was a hurried-through rule that didn't have the regular order input that it should have had, yet another reason why it should be reversed through this Congressional Review Act. prgtoken But it is also the case that this doesn't mean the BLM doesn't have any authority here. They can go back to their old regulation, which was already in place, and they can come up with a new rule so long as it is not a substantially similar rule, or they can come to us and seek specific authorization. The truth of the matter is this particular regulation has had so many problems, it cannot be tweaked or amended. They need to start all over again and take input from State and local government. prgtoken Now, I heard the gentleman talk about people who hunt and fish. I am a lifelong hunter and fisherman. In fact, I believe the gentleman has invited me to come to Colorado to go fishing with him, and I have invited him to come to the Gulf to come fishing with me. I spend a lot of my time with people who hunt and fish all over the country, and I have never heard anybody in the hunting and fishing community say: I really want the Federal Government to tell me when and how and where I can hunt and fish. Quite the opposite. My friends who hunt and fish want the Federal Government to stay out of it. They would rather let local and State people make those sorts of decisions, particularly as they pertain to land use management. prgtoken On the education issues, as I said before, I was an 8-year member of the Alabama State Board of Education. My colleague from Colorado said something that is so true: getting a high-quality, well-trained, caring teacher in the classroom is the most important thing we can do for our schoolchildren. I don't trust the Federal Government to do that better than I trust State and local officials to do it. prgtoken We had this law, No Child Left Behind, that gave the Federal Government the power to determine when a teacher was highly qualified or not. I don't think anybody in Washington knows better how to assess whether a teacher is highly qualified or not than the principal and superintendent that that teacher works for, than the local school board that that teacher works for. There is nobody up here who can know that better than they can. prgtoken There is nobody up here who can do a better job of looking at the teacher preparation programs and saying they are good or bad than State school boards, most of whom, like me, were elected by the people, accountable to the people, instead of somebody up here who sits in some office and makes that decision for them. prgtoken Do we really think that is what the American people want? The American people want contro
IN HONOR OF HENRY ``HANK'' ADAMS
Jeff Denham (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of an exemplary leader in the Turlock Assyrian community, Henry ``Hank'' Adams. The beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather died at the age of 92 on Friday, February 3, 2017. prgtoken Born and raised in Turlock, California to Reverend Isaac and Sarah Adams, Henry was one of eight children. His father is known as the patriarch of Turlock's Assyrian community and is honored each year at the annual Assyrian Festival. Isaac Adams was the driving force behind Turlock becoming home to the largest Assyrian population in California. He encouraged his fellow Assyrians to join him in the Central Valley and farm in the rich soils of the region. prgtoken In 1943, at the age of 18, Henry graduated from Turlock High School and received his draft notice to serve in World War II. Instead, he drove to Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Henry completed over 20 bombing missions in Japan on the Lucky Lady B-29 bomber. On August 6, 1945, he remained on standby, waiting for an order to take off in case of retaliation after the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima while stationed on Tinian Island. prgtoken Discharged at the rank of Lieutenant in 1947, Henry moved to San Francisco where he married his wife, Joanne Tuohey. He later worked at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale and retired in 1989. Following his retirement, the couple traveled across the world and settled back down in Henry's hometown of Turlock. prgtoken Henry had a genuine love for his country and his community. He was known for his service and contributions to the Assyrian community, where he continued the legacy that his father left behind. Henry leaves behind the love of his life and his wife of sixty-two years, Joanne, their two daughters, Nora Adams and Nellie Adams-Morse, two grandchildren, and sister Florence Essa Johnson. prgtoken , please join me in honoring and recognizing the life of Henry ``Hank'' Adams for his service to his country, his unwavering leadership and many accomplishments and contributions to the Turlock Assyrian community. God bless him always.
PULL THE MUSLIM BAN DOWN
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-2-7

let me again repeat my concern, when the United States is compared to the thuggish behavior of Russian leadership, the attempt to poison individuals who are activists and opponents to that kind of oppression. prgtoken But I want to speak today to what is impacting our neighbors, Mr and that is the executive order that has been issued by the President of the United States. I want to dispel any myth that Members of this body who oppose the executive order are against security for this Nation. prgtoken I am a years'-long member of the Homeland Security Committee, the Transportation Security Committee, the Border Security Committee, and work hard to write a stiff border security bill. But, frankly, this is a Muslim ban, and when a 17-year-old, 16-year-old from my community, from Jordan, was stopped and held for 48 hours and shipped to Chicago, that is a Muslim ban. prgtoken What I say to those who have executed it is that you have to realize that the order that you tried to copy from President was not the same. It was stringent review; it was not rejection. You are rejecting Muslims and allowing others. prgtoken As a Christian, I know that Christians are not being subjected to the same kind of scrutiny. This is a Muslim ban. I ask the White House, as we go to court this evening: Why don't you reconsider and pull that Muslim ban down?
DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2017-2-7

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , using the CRA to repeal this rule would freeze Federal land managers and the places they manage in 1983. That is the year the previous rule was written, and that is the rule we would be stuck with if this resolution passes. prgtoken Voting for this resolution means voting for outdated science; it means voting for a return to managing individual parcels with blinders on to the larger landscape; and it means continuing to ignore our changing climate. prgtoken Overturning BLM 2.0 means you are okay with ignoring the overwhelming scientific and public support for the planning updates implemented in the rule. prgtoken Don't get me wrong, . There were plenty of great things from the early 1980s: movies like ``Return of the Jedi'' and those early cell phones that were the size of bricks. And don't forget the fashions of the 1980s. I am sure people thought they looked great in parachute pants, but eventually we all updated our wardrobes. prgtoken We might have had early cell phones back in the 1980s, but we didn't have modern computing, current technologies for mapping, or even GPS. There is no doubt that it is time to update our land use planning to take advantage of these technologies and respond to new challenges and to current times. prgtoken So why are congressional s so interested in blasting us back to the past? Why are they so eager to throw away 2\1/2\ years of public input into a modern, transparent, science-driven planning process? prgtoken They allege some local counties aren't happy, but we have got letters from counties saying that they support the rule, and thousands of pages of comments from the agency demonstrating that they responded to any concerns. This can't be the real motivation, . prgtoken No, the true purpose of this resolution is to tie the hands of Federal land managers so they can't manage special places in ways that might hinder pollution or cut down on private profiteering. Apparently, congressional s have decided to give Representative Zinke a parting gift as he leaves to be Secretary of the Interior. That gift is a pair of handcuffs. prgtoken If you have updated your wardrobe or your cell phone since 1983, or if you enjoy the luxury of Google Maps or GPS, I urge you to oppose this resolution because it fails to update our ability to protect our precious public lands. prgtoken , .
DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise in opposition to this resolution which would do away with the new procedures established under BLM Planning 2.0. prgtoken Planning 2.0 encourages, at its foundation, early and frequent public input. By rolling back this planning effort, public input--in particular, tribal input--will be removed. prgtoken Federally recognized tribes have the right to engage in government- to-government consultation, and, under Planning 2.0, tribal rights to participate in the planning process are clearly enumerated and protected. prgtoken By introducing the resolution we are considering today, the majority is making clear it doesn't value tribal input in the development of BLM's resource management plans. In this updated planning process, the BLM worked hard to ensure government-to-government consultation was accomplished. Tribes were encouraged to submit comments through the formal comment period and through government-to-government consultation. But BLM recognizes the hard work of tribes and has been inclusive of tribal concerns. prgtoken In fact, BLM has recognized the quality and value that tribes' traditional ecological knowledge brings to planning efforts. It is important to incorporate this information to avoid resource conflicts and to protect hunting and fishing grounds. prgtoken In many areas, the BLM and tribes actually have to manage resources together. How can they do this when tribes are not invited to be a part of the consultation process? By including government-to-government consultation early in the planning process, all taxpayers benefit in the long run because we can develop a stronger plan that doesn't end up in court being litigated. prgtoken We want BLM to be an agency that actively embraces the people who live on and use the land they manage. By formalizing the tribal consultation role and recognizing the value tribes bring to the planning process as Planning 2.0 does, the BLM is taking important steps to fully engage with all their constituents. prgtoken Land management is about looking at the bigger picture, and tribes understand that more than anyone. They deserve to be recognized in the planning process, and Planning 2.0 does that. prgtoken Repealing this rule through the CRA is shortsighted and wrongheaded. BLM prgtoken Planning 2.0 allows for the very kind of oversight and public input my colleagues claim to want, and helps avoid the costly court battles they complain about. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure and keep Planning 2.0 in place.
DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RELATING TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Niki Tsongas (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-2-7

last week, the majority pushed through legislation attacking clean air, clean water, and blocking public transparency into payments made to foreign governments by oil and mining companies. prgtoken Today we are considering legislation that will roll back opportunities for the American people to have a say in how our Nation's public lands are managed. The idea that there should be national public lands that belong to and are managed on behalf of the American people is a value that dates back to the founding of our country and is embedded in our Constitution. prgtoken Generation after generation of Americans has endorsed the idea that our public lands should be managed to balance many competing uses: recreation, responsible economic development, sustainable resource extraction, renewable energy, military purposes, and conservation of historic American landscapes, just to name a few. prgtoken We all want to see this important aspect of our national heritage managed in an effective and efficient manner, balancing conservation for future generations with sustainable productivity for local communities. prgtoken The Bureau of Land Management's Planning 2.0, as it is known, will help us better achieve this balance on the approximately 245 million acres of land managed by the BLM. As American citizens, we all have a right to provide input on how we would like to see these public lands managed; but the current process for doing so is slow, lacks transparency, and fails to incorporate over 30 years of updated science and understanding of our changing climate. In fact, this process hasn't been substantially updated since the Reagan administration. States, local governments, and other stakeholders all agreed that the process was in need of updates. prgtoken BLM agreed with this consensus and began a 2-year review, receiving over 3,000 public comments on what changes needed to be made. Two years, 3,000 public comments, this was no midnight regulation. Their final product, which the resolution before us today would permanently overturn, increases transparency, enhances the role of science and decisionmaking, and strengthens the role of the public's voice earlier in this planning process. prgtoken Planning 2.0 also upholds the Federal Land Policy and Management Act's commitment to States, local government, and tribes in land management decisions. prgtoken The Bureau of Land Management made several changes in between the draft rule and the final rule to clarify coordination requirements and promote consistency with local land use plans, all in response to concerns raised through the public input process. prgtoken According to a BLM fact sheet on the final rule, ``The new rule does not change the special relationship and opportunities provided by statute for cooperating agencies,'' and, ``The final rule establishes several new opportunities for coordination between the BLM and our government partners.'' prgtoken W
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO TEACHER PREPARATION ISSUES
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-2-7

. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 58, the joint resolution of disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to teacher preparation programs. prgtoken This resolution would not only block the rule in question, but according to the rules of the CRA, it would tie the hands of this and of any future administration from re-regulating the provisions until a successful reauthorization of the Higher Education Act might take place. prgtoken , this rule in question provides clarity to States on how to increase teacher preparation program quality, transparency, and the equitable distribution of well-prepared teachers. It was promulgated to enable compliance with the statutory provision included in the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. prgtoken According to a study by the Education Schools Project, more than 60 percent of new teachers feel unprepared to enter the classroom. We also know that disadvantaged students are taught disproportionately by new, inexperienced, and underprepared teachers. Congress sought to address this in the HEA reauthorization through the inclusion of requirements that are clarified by this regulation. Congress clearly intended for these equity-focused provisions to be meaningfully implemented; however, absent Federal regulation, the bipartisan intent of Congress has gone unfulfilled. prgtoken Despite statements made by many on the other side of the aisle, the Department of Education did engage in extensive consultation with stakeholders and the public in drafting and then in finalizing this rule. The draft rule put forward in 2014 lacked the appropriate flexibility and was met with overwhelming resistance. Through an extended comment period, the Department worked for more than 2 years to revise the rule and produce a final rule with considerably more flexibility for States and institutions. prgtoken Regardless of how flexible the rule is or not, I believe that, upon careful review of the regulation and the statutory provisions, the final rule is clearly within the scope of the agency's regulatory authority. Whether one thinks prgtoken the rule is perfect or flawed, the substance of the final rule is reasonable and is clarifying an interpretation of how to comply with statutory requirements. prgtoken It is now 2017. Federal requirements to improve teacher preparation program quality and transparency have gone largely unfulfilled since the 2008 reauthorization. In such an instance, it is well within the purview of the implementing agency to regulate and more clearly interpret statutory requirements to prompt meaningful compliance and inform Congress and the agency in subsequent reauthorizations. prgtoken The executive overreach or illegality of a rule and the disagreement with the substance of the rule are not two sides of the same coin. s now control the executive branch. President has admi
DENOUNCING HOLOCAUST DENIERS
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-2-7

I rise today to denounce this sad reality: the depraved beliefs of Holocaust deniers have somehow crawled into our national conversation. What is worse is that it is occurring at a time when our government has decided to turn its back on refugees fleeing violence and oppression. prgtoken What is deeply concerning is that all of this is emanating from the White House, clearly directed by President 's top political strategist, Stephen Bannon. Mr. Bannon was the force behind Breitbart News, an alt-right outlet that traffics anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and White nationalism. prgtoken When President picked Mr. Bannon as a chief strategist, countless groups condemned it. The Anti-Defamation League's Jonathan Greenblatt warned us that Bannon's views were ``hostile to core American values.'' That concern was made crystal clear by the statement President issued on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, about 10 days ago. prgtoken The statement inexplicably left out the defining aspect of the Holocaust--the systemic murder of 6 million Jewish people. It is crucial to understand why this global day of remembrance even takes place. The United Nations created this calendar event in 2005, partly because fewer Holocaust survivors with personal accounts of the horror they experienced were still alive. prgtoken Another reason was to combat the smoldering bigotry that still attempts to minimize the death of millions of murdered European Jews. The failure to mention this basic fact on such a day--as all past administrations have--is unbelievable and unacceptable. prgtoken What is bone-chilling in its insensitivity and callous indifference is that, when questioned about the omission, President 's White House spokeswoman acknowledged it was intentional. His spokeswoman said in defense of leaving out any reference to Jews or anti-Semitism in the statement: ``Despite what the media reports, we are an incredibly inclusive group and we took into account all of those who suffered.'' prgtoken Compounding this refusal to acknowledge that Jews were the main target of the Holocaust, the White House spokesman called critics of the statement ``pathetic'' and ``nit-picking.'' He tried to gloss over it by suggesting a Jew helped prepare the statement. prgtoken The fact is, undeniably, that the Holocaust was about the Jews. Hitler established what he called the final solution, a state-sponsored policy to exterminate the Jews and rid them from the planet. prgtoken Omitting any reference to Jews as the primary driver of Hitler's and the Nazi's intentions, is nothing short of sanctioning Holocaust denial by blurring the hatred that was its driving force. Yes, it is vital to recognize that others were systematically targeted for extermination, but the number of Jews murdered and the great lengths taken to identify, capture, and annihilate prgtoken them are unprecedented in human history. prgtoken This is why we mourn those who