mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-12-18

I thank Congressman LaHood for yielding and for organizing tonight's Special Order about our great State, Illinois. prgtoken , I rise today because I am Illinois proud, and I rise today to celebrate our State's upcoming 200th birthday. prgtoken As you know, , I am privileged to represent Illinois' Second Congressional District--in my opinion, the best district in the entire country. This community starts at 53rd and Cornell around the Museum of Science and Industry, it then reaches south to include many suburbs in Cook and Will Counties. It stretches all the way to the border of Indiana and the border between Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, to include some of our Nation's most productive family farms. prgtoken While I am humbled and honored to represent the remarkable people and families of Illinois' Second District, as you have heard, I first moved to Peoria to attend Bradley University. prgtoken While at Bradley, I joined the Zeta Phi chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho and completed my BA in psychology and my MA in counseling. I am proud to have been a Bradley University trustee, since 2003, and to continue to be a part of this amazing institution that is preparing the next generation of leaders. prgtoken I lived in Peoria until 1992, when I moved to Matteson, Illinois, my current home in the great Second Congressional District, to become the village's director of community affairs. prgtoken In 2002, I was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, where I first met many of my current colleagues in the prgtoken Illinois delegation while serving together in Springfield. At the time, I also served with the State senator who would eventually go on to become President of the United States, . prgtoken As someone who has been privileged to live throughout Illinois and travel it extensively while working as a chief of staff to the State treasurer, I couldn't be more proud to represent this great State and the great people who will call it home, especially those who call the Second District home. prgtoken The Second District is truly a microcosm of Illinois and the entire U.S. It is urban, suburban, and rural. It includes parts of the city of Chicago and more than 1,200 farms. prgtoken In the Second District, Nucor makes American steel and our Ford facility makes American cars. We grow corn, soybeans, and raise American pork. We have local breweries and giants like Amazon, alongside world-class bike trails, scenic vistas, and the historic Pullman neighborhood, and we will soon be home to the new Presidential Library and Museum. prgtoken , the Second District is home to many universities and Blue 1647, a tech incubator, that are training the next generation of businesses, tech, and innovation leaders. prgtoken Our small, medium-sized, and family businesses like Pullman Cafe, K&S Tire, SA Piggush Financial Consultants, South Creek Animal Hospital, Two Whisks Bakery, Homewood Bat, and Affordable Flooring By Rodr
Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-12-18

first, I want to thank my friend Senator Nelson for his comments from the floor in regard to the tax bill that we will be voting on later this week. The experience I had this morning underscores the issues that Senator Nelson has brought to the floor. I had a meeting with the Greater Baltimore Committee. We had business leaders, labor leaders; we had advocates from different segments of our community; and we had graduate students there. They all expressed concern about our voting this week on a tax bill that we first saw on Friday evening--the latest version. prgtoken It is still fundamentally flawed, as Senator Nelson has pointed out. I say that it is fundamentally flawed because it gives significant, big tax cuts to corporations and high-income taxpayers and leaves middle- income taxpayers footing the bill. prgtoken The conference report makes it worse because they lower the highest tax rate from 39.6 percent to 37 percent--another advantage for high- income taxpayers. In addition, the estate tax is doubled, which affects 0.2 percent of the wealthiest people in this country. Corporations not only get the lower tax rates cut from 35 percent to 21 percent, but they also get relief from the alternative minimum tax. To make matters even worse, the tax relief for middle-income families is temporary, whereas the tax relief for businesses is made permanent. prgtoken It is definitely a tax bill that is going to hurt middle-income taxpayers. In my own State, independent analysis shows that 800,000 Marylanders will end up paying more in taxes. Guess who is going to foot the bill, who is going to pay for the big deficit. prgtoken If you look at the corporate tax cut alone, that is somewhere close to the $1.15 trillion we have been talking about, which is baked into the bill to increase the national debt by $1.5 trillion. I think that is unconscionable; I think it is unconscionable to say that we can afford tax cuts when we already have these large deficits that are going to make us borrow more money and make our economy more dependent. prgtoken The truth is, even the s are telling us, even with dynamic scoring, we are going to have a $1 trillion tax gap in the deficit. In reality, the $1.5 trillion is conservative. When you look at the individual tax relief, it is temporary; it expires. Some expire in 2 years. prgtoken Most of my friends have said: Just extend it. If you extend it, prgtoken there will be even a deeper hole in the deficit--closer to $2 trillion. Who is going to pay for that? Middle-income families are going to pay for it. They are not just being left out as far as tax relief is concerned; they are being asked to foot the bill for the tax cuts for corporations and high-income taxpayers. prgtoken In addition, it will affect other elements that middle-income taxpayers depend upon. This is a direct attack on Medicaid and Medicare. We see that. We saw that in the budget instruc
Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-12-18

while the Senator from Maine is still here, let me just say what a great Senator she is and what a pleasure it is to do business in a bipartisan way, as the two of us have now done for several years here in the Senate, including the legislation the Senator from Maine just talked about. prgtoken I just want to say to the Senator from Maine that it is my hope, regarding the statements that have been made to the Senator, that these two pieces of legislation she referenced will be passed. I do believe the majority leader, Senator McConnell, will honor that with regard to the Senate. It is this Senator's concern that at the other end of the hall, in the House of Representatives, they may not honor that. I certainly hope the Senator feels like she has the statements of commitment by the leadership in the House of Representatives that they will do as Senator McConnell has indicated. prgtoken , I wish to talk about the tax bill. Needless to say, you are going to hear a different version from me than my good friend and the very distinguished Senator from Maine, because last Friday night we got the conference agreement on the tax bill. You can wonder why it was held until late Friday night, when nobody was paying attention to the details of the bill. prgtoken What is becoming increasingly clear is that this tax bill is not for ordinary folks. It is going to give a few nuggets to the middle class, but that is to mask the true intent. The real purpose of the bill is to give huge tax cuts to multinational corporations and to make it easier for them to shift jobs overseas. That is the bottom line. prgtoken Right now, under current law, corporations that send jobs overseas have to pay taxes on the money they bring back into the United States, but now, what this new GOP tax bill says is that corporations that send jobs overseas can bring that money back to United States tax-free. Once this bill passes, companies will come under increasing pressure to take advantage of the tax savings in the bill by sending their jobs overseas to low-wage countries--particularly those jobs that can't already be automated. prgtoken This is the exact opposite of what we should be doing. Instead of passing this version of the tax bill that will inevitably send American jobs overseas, we should be working on a bill that cuts taxes permanently for hard-working middle-class families. prgtoken Supporters of the bill will argue that a lower corporate rate will encourage companies to keep jobs here. They will argue that, rather than going to a country with a higher corporate rate, America's corporate rate will be lower. But that is ignoring the attraction that companies have to send jobs overseas, because of cheaper wages and lower environmental standards. prgtoken Take China. China has a corporate rate of 25 percent, except that they make exceptions for certain companies at 15 percent. So the 21 percent in this tax bill
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Joe Donnelly (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-12-18

today I wish to recognize and honor the extraordinary service and sacrifice of U.S. Army SGT Jonathon Michael Hunter of Columbus, IN. Dedication to his country, loyalty to his fellow servicemembers, and a deep love for his family were the qualities that defined Jonathon's life. prgtoken Jonathon graduated from Columbus East High School in 2011. While in high school, Jonathon played football for 4 years and was described by his coach as an unselfish player who put the team first. After high school, Jonathon pursued his dream of becoming a music producer in Nashville, TN, before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where he studied criminology and business. A selfless young man, Jonathon left college to join the Army. prgtoken In the Army, he was a member of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC. There he distinguished himself among his fellow soldiers as cheerful and a man of faith, who loved his country and fellow servicemembers. Jonathon enlisted in the Army because of his intense love for his country and wanted to make a difference in the lives of his fellow countrymen. prgtoken On Wednesday, August 2, 2017, Jonathon and one other American soldier were tragically killed in a suicide bombing attack on a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan, a mere 32 days into his first deployment. Among some of the awards he earned for his service were a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, NATO Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. Jonathon was also a proud paratrooper who earned the German Parachutist Badge and was also an expert marksman. prgtoken Jonathon put his life on the line in order to protect his country, and we are forever grateful for his service. prgtoken Jonathon was a devoted patriot, son, and husband. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife, Whitney; his parents Mark Hunter of Columbus and Kimberly and Brian Thompson of Nashville, IN; his brother, Marcus Hunter; his sisters Lindsey--and her husband, Andy--England and Kelsey Thompson; his grandparents Jack and Linda Gilbert, Keith and Beulah Thompson, and Theola Hunter; as well as many relatives, friends, his U.S. Army family, and Hoosiers from across our great State. prgtoken Jonathon set an example for others and will be remembered for his strong, selfless character and his drive to fight for justice and to make the world a better, more peaceful place. Let us remember and emulate the shining example this brave man set for us and honor his commitment to serving his fellow citizens. May God welcome Jonathon home and give comfort to his family.
REPUBLICAN TAX BILL
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-12-18

I come to the floor tonight, once again, to talk about this tax bill being rushed through the House and the Senate. This is the first time in 31 years that a tax bill of this magnitude has been considered. I don't refer to this as tax reform because it is barely reforming anything. prgtoken It seems a shame that we didn't follow in the footsteps of what then- President Reagan chose to do when he had the opportunity to reform the Tax Code. The bill he worked on, which was every bit as consequential as the one in front of us, commanded the vast majority of votes in this Chamber-- and s voting together--after years of process, years of committee hearings, years of hearings even out in the country, listening to business owners, economists, and citizens talk about what they thought our prgtoken Tax Code needed to be competitive and to be fair to the American people. prgtoken I would say through the Chair to the pages that I was in college when the last bill was passed. Now, 31 years later, we are on the verge of passing a bill in the Senate without one ic vote--not a single one--and without a single hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, on which I serve--not a single hearing about the text of this bill, not a single hearing to tell the American people that, on the individual side of this bill, we are borrowing $34 billion from our kids to give a tax cut to the 572,000 taxpayers who are fortunate enough to make more than $1 million a year. That is 572,000 taxpayers who are fortunate enough to make $1 million a year. We think it is so essential that each one of them get a $59,000 tax cut that we are willing to borrow that money from our children to do it. We can't think of a better use than that. prgtoken A better use is not to give a tax cut to the middle class, because we know what those numbers look like in this bill. There are not a half million people who make $50,000 and less in this economy. There are 90 million people. Those people are not getting $34 billion. Those people are getting $13 billion. If we do the math, it adds up to about $160, on average, per taxpayer making $50,000 or less, in the first year. That is the best year. So 2019 is the best year. That $160 per taxpayer works out to about $7.50 a paycheck. prgtoken So we are justifying $34 billion going to 572,000 families because we say at the essence of this is a tax cut for the middle class that is worth $7.50. I think it is disgraceful to call this a middle-class tax cut. What is as disgraceful is the fact that we are blowing a $1.4 trillion hole in our deficit. prgtoken There are people on the other side--and I grant them this--who say we will grow out of this and that the tax cut will pay for itself. This is exactly what President said in 2001, when he cut taxes. It is exactly what he said in 2003, when he cut taxes. Remember that when became President of this country, he inherited a
HONORING JOSEPH TRAN-MALAN
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2017-12-18

I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Joseph Tran-Malan for his participation in the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). prgtoken The CAC began in 2013, and has since grown to include nearly 4,000 students across 33 states and territories. Specifically, the CAC encourages students to learn how to code through an annual district- wide competition. prgtoken For his CAC submission, Joseph chose the video game Overwatch. In particular, he created a video that described why he chose Overwatch, and what he would do to make the video game better as part of his app. prgtoken Currently, Joseph is in the third grade and attends Harmony DC Public Charter School, which has a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program. In addition, the school organizes two major STEM events every year: the Harmony Science and Engineering Fair, which serves as a way for students to learn more about the scientific process; and the Stem Festival, where students prgtoken participate in various STEM demonstrations and explain the science behind them. prgtoken Joseph is a proud big brother and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jose and Kim Tran-Malan. In his free time, Joseph likes to travel and see new things, but is content with spending quality time at home with his family. He also loves to dance and use his imagination by building with LEGOs or by creating new worlds in the video game Minecraft. I am very proud of Joseph. prgtoken Therefore, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring achievement at a very young age by recognizing Joseph Tran-Malan for his participation in the Congressional App Challenge.
Compton Nomination (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-12-18

I rise to oppose the nomination of Paul Compton, which came out of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. I might add that he is President 's nominee to serve as general counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. prgtoken Mr. Compton is a longtime affordable housing and financial services attorney in the State of Alabama. Mr. Compton, if confirmed, would bring a deep familiarity with affordable housing to the Office of General Counsel. That part I like. With 11 million families paying over half their income for rent and with homelessness on the rise for the first time in years, a nominee who appreciates the importance of affordable housing could be a positive addition at HUD. Think about that. There are 11 million families who pay more than half their income on rent. prgtoken In a book written by Matthew Desmond called ``Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,'' the author said of the people at that income level: When your paycheck comes, the rent eats first. Everything depends on being able to stay in your home and not being foreclosed on. When 11 million people pay over half their income on rent, homelessness is going to be on the rise. prgtoken I appreciate Mr. Compton's commitment to me during our Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing that he would look out for the interests of renters and homeowners if confirmed, but I am voting against him because I am concerned about the administration's approach to fair housing protections and the role that he will likely play in helping to carry that out. prgtoken I was troubled to learn that Secretary Carson had said that he plans to ``reinterpret'' HUD's affirmatively furthering fair housing--or AFFH--rule. Since 1968, the Fair Housing Act has required HUD and its grantees to affirmatively further fair housing. Unfortunately, in the 50 years since our country passed the Fair Housing Act, HUD has not provided enough direction to help communities meet this goal. prgtoken A 2010 General Accountability Office report recommended that HUD improve its processes for meeting its obligations to affirmatively further fair housing. In response, HUD developed a revised rule to finally help local governments across the country support and foster fair housing policies throughout their communities. prgtoken The rule gives clearer guidance to communities to help them think in new ways about how to create housing opportunities for all of their residents regardless of race or religion or disability or the size of their family. The rule helps them to assess their own fair housing needs, and it provides them publicly available data with which to inform their decisions while they set their own goals and timelines. prgtoken Since its adoption 2-plus years ago, HUD has been working with communities to implement the new guidelines. That is the good news. The bad news is that the Secretary has said that he wants to rein
TRIBUTE TO STEVE JOHNSON
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-12-19

today I wish to pay tribute to Steve Johnson who is retiring on December 22, 2017, from his position as the manager of the U.S. Senate Dining Room. prgtoken Mr. Johnson is a well-respected member of the Senate family. For over two decades, Mr. Johnson has managed the Senate Dining Room with care, enthusiasm, poise, and the utmost hospitality. He understands the rich history and importance of this institution and has witnessed much of its tradition over the years, serving Supreme Court Justices, Vice Presidents, and many of my Senate colleagues. prgtoken Starting in 1995, Mr. Johnson's leadership has kept the Senate Dining Room running smoothly and efficiently. Whether it is tallying receipts prgtoken at the end of the day or providing specialized off-menu items to guests, everything Mr. Johnson does is done with the utmost attention to detail. Mr. Johnson treats everyone the same and always maintains a high level of professionalism. prgtoken Mr. Johnson's work ethic and perseverance are visible throughout his personal life as well. In addition to his impressive tenure, he has completed 18 marathons while working in the Senate Dining Room, including the Boston Marathon a total of seven times. prgtoken My colleagues and I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude for Mr. Johnson's 22 years of service. His institutional knowledge and unparalleled courtesy are greatly appreciated and will be deeply missed. Please join me in wishing Mr. Johnson and his wife, Joanne, a long and healthy retirement.
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-12-19

as in many other industries, the insurance sector, both property/casualty and life, have become more globalized than any time in history. Disasters such as 9/11 transformed the property and casualty industry. The life insurance industry has followed, with an increasing amount of insurance risk transferred to affiliates and nonaffiliates around the globe. prgtoken This business model is impacted directly by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which moves the United States from a mostly global international system, where we tax American companies and individuals on their worldwide income, toward a territorial system. Under the new system, companies are to be taxed in the United States on the income derived here and are to be taxed on their foreign earnings by the nations in which that income is derived. prgtoken What we are seeking to do here is to encourage enterprises to start in the United States, to expand in the United States, and to bring as many foreign operations home as they can while remaining not only competitive, but innovative leaders in creating new products and services. The new 21-percent corporate rate will help do just that. However, this bill does not take us fully to a territorial system. The bill applies a minimum tax on certain payments to foreign affiliates. At 21 percent, the U.S. can compete with virtually any nation in the world, but if some nations have a corporate rate of, say, 5 percent or less, then the new system will incentivize companies to move their operations overseas, so the bill includes a minimum tax. It is called the base erosion antiabuse tax. prgtoken The first year, the base erosion tax is essentially a minimum tax of 5-percent tax without deduction for certain payments made by a U.S. company to its foreign affiliates. Starting in 2019, that minimum tax increases to 10 percent. prgtoken We do not want companies moving mobile assets around the world to find the lowest corporate tax rate. However, prgtoken I do not think we should be taxing enterprises on payments that never actually leave the U.S but instead are obligations that are combined with obligations from the foreign affiliate to the U.S. parent. That is where clarification is needed as to how this base erosion tax will work in the context of U.S. insurance policies that are reinsured overseas. prgtoken Under current law, reinsurance is already subject to a gross premium excise that serves as an antibase erosion tax of sorts. Adding the base erosion tax on top of that could be detrimental to these U.S. insurance companies. However, how the base erosion tax is computed may be determinative of whether the tax is tolerable. I believe that, with respect to reinsurance, the base erosion tax was intended to apply only on net payments actually made. prgtoken Under certain forms of reinsurance that are commonly used in the life insurance industry, called modified coinsurance or funds withheld coinsurance, underlyi