mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LIMIT MUELLER INVESTIGATION
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-5-9

today I am sending a joint letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to limit the Mueller investigation in two respects. The letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions states: We, the undersigned, urge you to, one, limit Special Counsel Mueller's investigation to, A, alleged Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential election, herein referred to as ``Russian interference,'' and, B, alleged collusion between the campaign and Russians with respect to the alleged Russian interference, herein referred to as `` collusion.'' Two, terminate the investigative phase of Mueller's authority no later than July 5, 2018, which is the 2-year anniversary of the date on which the FBI began investigating alleged Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential election. We respectfully request that you consider the following reasoning for our request. prgtoken First, with respect to limiting the Mueller investigation scope, the letter states: You recused yourself ``from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.'' This request does not conflict with your recusal because it asks that you direct Mueller to cease investigation of matters that go beyond allegations of Russian interference and collusion. For emphasis, matters beyond alleged Russian interference and collusion, if any, can and should be treated like any other matter investigated and prosecuted by Federal law enforcement officials and the Department of Justice. While public opinion must not always dictate justice, it is important to emphasize that the expansion of Mueller's work scope goes way beyond the alleged Russian interference and collusion that was the public basis for the appointment of a special counsel. As such, continuation of Mueller's work scope beyond alleged Russian interference and collusion betrays the public trust on which America's justice system is founded. prgtoken Second, with respect to termination of the Mueller investigation on the 2-year anniversary of when the FBI and Department of Justice began the Russian interference investigation, the letter states: The investigation of alleged Russian interference began almost 2 years ago. Two years is more than enough time for a competent and thorough prosecutor, backed up by the resources of the FBI and Department of Justice, to do his job. If no harm was being done by the tardiness of an investigation, that would be one thing. But in this instance, Mueller's tardiness is damaging America. The alleged Russian interference and collusion investigations have taken on the character of an endless political persecution that not only h
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3053, NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-5-9

I want to thank the Rules Committee for bringing this bill to the floor tomorrow. I appreciate the due diligence they did on scrutinizing those amendments that could be additive to it and also the one from my colleague, Representative Titus, so we can really put aside this debate on a consensus-based issue because we need to help educate the American people. We need to help educate our colleagues. prgtoken In the State of Nevada, 90 percent of all the land is owned by the Federal Government, and a big portion of that is at this location. prgtoken When people say ``not in my backyard,'' we think they are talking about the Rayburn Building. Not in my backyard, in this debate, we are talking about Baltimore. But in between here and Baltimore, there is desert; and in the 60-mile radius is a fenced-in enclosure where we used to set off atomic weapons and groundbursts. So there is a place in this land that is called Yucca Flats, and some of us have seen that. Yucca Flats is where we did atomic testing. prgtoken We need to make sure people understand this debate. Big area of land, Federal Government, really, the local consensus is us. It is the Federal Government. We are the landowners of this property. prgtoken This is a tough decision. No one wants nuclear waste or defense waste. I am glad my colleague, Mr. Newhouse, is managing this bill, because I have been out to his location. In Hanford, we have a lot of defense waste there. prgtoken So what are we trying to do? We will flesh this out more, obviously, tomorrow, but this issue is a multigeneration debate which we in this Chamber get a chance to move forward again after a long delay. prgtoken This goes back to World War II. This goes back to the atomic age. This goes back to winning the Cold War. This goes back to our weapons programs. When that occurred, they said: Now we have got this technology; let's use it for civil electric generation. prgtoken The government wanted to encourage that because we wanted to have nuclear scientists and we wanted to have energy generation, but we also wanted to have the experience and the expertise of nuclear scientists and engineers who could move back and forth from the private sector to the defense sector for our Nation's security, and, hence, we agreed. prgtoken In 1982, we had to address the spent nuclear fuel at nuclear power sites and we had to address the defense waste that is predominantly in Congressman Newhouse's district, a lot of it in South Carolina. There is a little bit in New York. We have some left in Colorado. That is just the defense waste, not including the 39 States and 121 locations that have nuclear fuel--a national issue, a national concern, and we are moving forward to a national solution. prgtoken In 1982, under the Reagan administration, they said: Well, how are we going to pay for this? So they decided to charge ratepayers who are using electricity that has been generated by nuclear power a fee, a fe
WORKFARE
George Holding (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-5-9

we must reform our Nation's welfare programs. prgtoken President Ronald Reagan once remarked: ``The Federal Government declared war on poverty, and poverty won.'' Unfortunately, his assessment remains all too accurate to this day. Over the past five decades, the United States Government has spent more than $22 trillion on welfare, only to see the poverty rate remain unchanged. prgtoken , to solve this problem, we must first properly diagnose the cause. Too often, Washington's prescribed cure is yet another government program or increased spending on existing programs. However, we already have 13 Federal agencies running more than 80 Federal programs that provide food, housing, healthcare, job training, education, energy assistance, and cash to low-income Americans. And we should not gauge the success of our war on poverty by how much is spent, but on how many people are actually able to get out of poverty. That is the point. prgtoken The root cause of the failed ``war on poverty'' is that the structure of our current welfare system entrenches a culture of dependency rather than promoting a path to self-sufficiency. prgtoken Overwhelming evidence supports what should be a commonsense conclusion: that there is a direct correlation between work and poverty. For example, before Congress reformed the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program to incorporate a strict work requirement, there were 4.9 million families on the rolls of this program. Two decades later, thanks to these workfare reforms, we have seen 3.3 million families come off of the welfare rolls. Now, that is a success. prgtoken In my home State of North Carolina, reforms to unemployment insurance benefits led an increase in both employment and labor force participation. Later research has found that Congress' decision in 2013 to not extend Federal unemployment benefits resulted in 1.8 million new jobs nationwide the following year. prgtoken Furthermore, in 2014, when Maine began enforcing strict work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food stamps, their caseload decreased by 80 percent within months. This requirement was paired with substantial job search assistance and job training opportunities. prgtoken , we should apply the lessons of these success stories to all government welfare programs, particularly food stamps and housing. It is imperative that welfare recipients understand that the government is not offering a one-way handout, but rather, a two-way deal. We are willing to help you, but only if you are willing to help yourself. And with the American economy growing, thanks to tax reform, opportunities are available. prgtoken , job openings recently hit a record-high of 6.6 million across the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By incorporating education and training, benefit time limits, and strong work requirements, we can move millions of Americans from welfare to work. prgtoken In a
JUSTIN ONWENU: PLAN B IS NOT AN OPTION
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-5-9

Rice University Student Body President Justin Onwenu was born in Detroit, grew up in Alabama and moved around a lot as a kid. He lived in rural, suburban, and urban Alabama with his mom. His moving around didn't bother him; in fact it was quite the opposite. He says it was instrumental in learning a sense of how to coexist and feel others' perspectives. He was a very successful high school student active in debate, basketball, and student government. prgtoken When he graduated, he knew exactly what he wanted: a small school in a big city. Rice University was the perfect fit. Justin had never been to Houston before his college visit to Rice, but once he saw the vibrant, diverse city, he knew it was the place for him--so much so, it was the only school to which he applied Justin just knew it was what he must do, he had no Plan B. prgtoken Justin chose Rice, in part, because of its research and extracurricular activities. Upon arrival, he knew he wanted to study medicine, policy, and international health. There was only one problem: Rice University didn't have that degree. Justin decided to create his own degree plan. He formulated the curriculum and the class requirements, submitted it to Rice, and created the Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Health and Policy at Rice University. Once again, , Justin knew it was the right thing for him to do, no Plan B. Justin told me, ``I think about what opportunity is out there that I want, then I go after it!'' prgtoken In his sophomore year, Justin became involved in student government and was instrumental in the university's first-ever student survey to gauge sexual conduct on campus. Justin felt strongly that a dialogue was necessary for students to discuss their expectations with their peers, not just be pushed to know right from wrong. As a result of Justin's work, Rice University led the nation with the first Critical Thinking and Sexuality course required of entering freshmen. Other college campuses are now following Rice's lead and engaging in real talk about campus sexual conduct Justin recently shared his work with Congress when he testified at my ``Breaking the Silence: Responding to Sexual Assault on Campus'' Field Hearing. He says he knew from the beginning this was such an important topic, he just had to give a voice to it. He had no choice. prgtoken Then Hurricane Harvey hit every Houstonian struggled to know how to respond to this devastating crisis. Justin knew he had to be involved with the school's Crisis Management Team, so he said he invited himself to their meeting. It was the first time the student body president was involved in such a high level tactical plan. Justin told me that throughout the meetings his thoughts were on the future. ``How can we prepare for post-Harvey? We need to think about volunteering, not just making sure Rice is safe.'' Justin said he went ``full in'' with this idea and decided to ``launch it first
PROCLAIMING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TUIDANG MOVEMENT TO INCREASING HUMAN LIBERTY IN CHINA
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-5-9

in November 2004, the publication of ``Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party'' by the United States-based media outlet, the Epoch Times, revealed the brutal, deceptive, evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party. These ``Nine Commentaries'' led to the creation of the Tuidang movement. Tuidang literally means ``withdraw from the Party''. The Tuidang Movement is contributing to the liberation of the minds of the Chinese people and helping to peacefully break the cycle of indoctrination that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses against the Chinese people. Tuidang allows individuals to renounce the oaths they made to the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League and the Communist Young Pioneers. prgtoken Tuidang is not a political movement and does not provide political solutions. It simply helps Chinese people reclaim their God-given conscience. The Tuidang Movement, as one of the largest and longest grassroots movements in 5,000 years of Chinese history, is peacefully guiding Chinese people to renew the moral foundation of China that is grounded in authentic Chinese culture and traditions. The objective of the Tuidang movement, first and foremost, is to cut the spiritual ties of each and every individual to communism so that they can return to their traditional values and freely pursue God. The weakening of CCP from within would be beneficial to the entire world. The Tuidang movement has brought to the international community a renewed vision of a new China without CCP, and a world without infiltration of Communists. prgtoken Chinese people from all walks of life and from all over the country participate in the Tuidang Movement, irrespective of social status, age, religion, gender, dialect, place of birth, and ethnicity. In the United States, the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (the Tuidang Center), based in New York, has been providing volunteering services and coordinating the efforts of Tuidang world-wide. prgtoken , again, I applaud and stand with all the brave participants, volunteers, and supporters of the Tuidang movement. I look forward to the realization of a free China, complete with the pillars of a free society, and I take this opportunity to echo the words of Barry Goldwater when he said, ``I have great affection for the Chinese people, their culture, their skills, and their potential.''
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-5-9

I want to recognize National Charter Schools Week. prgtoken Minnesota was a pioneer in the charter school movement, opening the Nation's very first charter school in St. Paul in the fall of 1992. prgtoken Charter schools are tuition-free, independent, public schools that are open and welcome to all students, no matter ability or need. They are governed and operated jointly by licensed teachers, parents, and community members. prgtoken Today, more than 56,000 Minnesota children are educated every day in charter schools, many of them from low-income families. A child's ZIP Code should not determine the outcome of their education. prgtoken As co-chair of the Charter School Caucus, I am pleased with the bipartisan work we have been able to do to strengthen charter schools and enable the replication of successful charter programs nationwide. prgtoken , I want to recognize the great work being done in charter schools across the country and thank the teachers and community leaders who work so hard educating their children.
IN RECOGNITION OF BOB NAEREBOUT RECEIVING THE BISHOP MICHAEL DRISCOLL AWARD
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today to recognize the service of Bob Naerebout, a longtime champion of Idaho's dairy and agriculture industries. Bob oversees government affairs for the Idaho Dairymen's Association and formerly served as their Executive Director for 15 years. He was recently recognized by the Catholic Diocese of Boise with the Bishop Michael Driscoll Award. The award recognizes individuals ``who have served in love and justice the needs of those in our community who are less fortunate, left behind, or in any way marginalized.'' Bob's passionate cause is bringing agricultural laborers out of the shadows. Bob's service to laborers in Idaho's dairy and agriculture industry has been a brave service of moral and economic importance. prgtoken Prior to coming to Idaho, Bob graduated from Michigan State University and managed the Dairy Research and Teaching Center, as well as his own dairy in McBain, Michigan. Bob and his family went west to Utah when he worked for Dairy Farmers of America, a marketing cooperative of nearly 14,000 farm families. In 2002, he moved to Idaho, where he served as Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymen's Association. prgtoken From his first days in Idaho, Bob brought a fresh perspective to addressing the challenges facing Idaho's growing dairy industry. Bob went to work on a number of regulatory reforms affecting the industry. These included a memorandum of understanding between the industry, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that ensured practical and effective environmental regulation of Idaho's dairies. In Idaho, policymakers know that if you want to talk dairy, you had better visit with Bob Naerebout. prgtoken Idaho's dairy industry has rapidly expanded its economic footprint across the state, especially in the Magic Valley. Bob has played no small role in this growth. As producers and processors alike looked for a new home where they could expand, Bob would seize opportunities to introduce them to Idaho. He would help find a way to ensure that Idaho would be a great place to do business. For example, Bob worked to bring Chobani to Idaho to build the largest yogurt plant in the world. prgtoken Today, Idaho is the third largest dairy state in the U.S. The Boise Diocese's Driscoll award recognizes Bob's work with these most vulnerable of new citizens, many of whom are Catholic and all of whom are trying to make a better life and a fresh start for their families. Theirs is the same pioneer spirit that settled our country--from Virginia to Michigan to Idaho--since its founding. prgtoken Bob's work on behalf of the dairy industry recognizes a very simple fact about immigration--it is an issue of vital economic and moral importance. Bob believes every corner of Idaho benefits from the tremendous strength and productivity of our agricultural industry. prgtoken Bob has advocated for common sense immigration reform, and has been part of a team
CONGRATULATING CALEB ZEHR AND SAM RUBA
Rod Blum (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the two-person West Delaware High School team that competed at the National Auto Skills Competition in New York, NY. Teammates Caleb Zehr and Sam Ruba, both seniors at West Delaware, placed 2nd in the Nation with the guidance of their instructor Jason Guyer. prgtoken The West Delaware team spent two days competing against 29 other teams attending the competition. The first day consisted of tests on tools, measuring instruments, vehicle components, and job interview skills. The following day, each team was put to the test by diagnosing and repairing various problems on an assigned car. After assessing each team, Caleb and Sam earned the highest standing in the history of West Delaware High School's participation in the National Auto Skills Competition. prgtoken These students are bright, hard-working individuals that represented their high school and community in high regard. I wish them the best in their future automotive industry endeavors.
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-5-9

as I have said before, s had two goals when it came to tax reform. First we wanted to put more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans right away. Second, we wanted to create the kind of economy that would give Americans access to economic security for the long term. To achieve the first goal, we cut tax rates across the board, nearly doubled the standard deduction, and doubled the child tax credit. Americans are already seeing this relief in their paychecks. To achieve the second goal, we reformed our Tax Code to make it easier for businesses to create jobs, increase wages, and expand opportunities for workers. prgtoken I am proud to report that less than 5 months since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, we are already seeing an improved playing field for American workers. There are a lot of things that go into giving a worker a secure economic future: a good job, good wages, opportunities to grow, good retirement benefits, and opportunities to achieve the education necessary for that good job or that wage hike. Sometimes a degree or certification can make all the difference between an OK job and the kind of job that brings financial security for the long term, but getting that degree or certification isn't always easy. Sometimes it can be cost-prohibitive, and sometimes it can be difficult to fit the degree requirements around an existing job. prgtoken As I have said before, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is already improving the playing field for workers and creating the kind of economic environment that will give more Americans access to economic security for the long term. Businesses are creating new and better paying jobs. They are increasing and raising wages, and they are expanding opportunities. All of these are essential elements of giving workers access to the careers that will give them access to long-term financial security. But that is not all. Businesses are also increasing benefits, including, in several cases, education benefits. prgtoken Grocery store chain Kroger recently announced its Feed Your Future program, which will provide employees with up to $3,500 a year to put toward their education, whether the employee is working toward a GED or an advanced degree. Both full- and part-time employees will be eligible for the program, which will provide employees with up to $21,000 for their education. The company is even introducing an educational leave of absence, which will allow employees to take time off for approved studies without losing their place at the company. prgtoken It is not just Kroger. McDonald's is accelerating increased investment in its Archways to Opportunity education program, thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program will now offer workers $2,500 a year toward their education costs, up from $700 a year previously. There is no lifetime cap on the amount an employee can receive for his or her education. Plus, employees can now