mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PFAS ACTION ACT OF 2019
Lizzie Fletcher (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-9

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act, a comprehensive bill to address PFAS contamination across the country. And s for their commitment to bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I am glad that one of the bills I filed in this Congress, H.R. 2638, has now been included in this legislation. It directs the Environmental Protection Agency to issue guidance on minimizing the use of firefighting foam and other equipment that contains PFAS chemicals by firefighters and first responders. prgtoken Its purpose is simply to minimize the risk for our firefighters and first responders as well as for our environment. We know that these chemicals are dangerous for humans who have been exposed to them, and we know they are dangerous for our environment. prgtoken Unfortunately, we have seen the impacts in our community as recently as last year. During the ITC plant fire in Deer Park, Texas, in March 2019, firefighters used more than 130,000 gallons of foam to extinguish the massive flames in that fire. Not long after, high levels of PFAS chemicals were found in the water in the Houston Ship Channel and lower levels were found farther downstream, according to the Galveston Bay Foundation. prgtoken Our first responders risk their lives every day to protect our communities. We must do everything we can to protect theirs.
IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-9

I just can't really believe what I just heard. prgtoken It was the 2001 AUMF that specifically authorized our going after Osama bin Laden. He is the example of Congress getting involved. That was the authorization to get Osama bin Laden in Pakistan or anyplace else, and that is what we are trying to assure here, that things aren't just happening, that there is actual authority. Osama bin Laden is the wrong example, because we gave the authority to go after him. prgtoken , I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).
Iran (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-9

yesterday the Senate received a classified briefing for all Senators from the administration on the recent military operation that killed Iranian General Soleimani. Nearly the entire Senate attended, but only 15 Senators were able to ask questions before the administration decided they had to go. As many as 82 Senators were left hanging in the balance without a chance to answer their questions. It was a sight like none I have ever seen in my time in the Senate. prgtoken This is a crucial issue: war and peace. These were five of the leading people involved in the decision making, past, present and future. If they couldn't stay to answer questions in a classified briefing, that is the ultimate disrespect to the Senate. prgtoken I have to tell you, it was not just who were upset and not just on the side. Senator Paul and Senator Lee were upset. Four or five Senators came over to me, in that room, when I made the request that they come back, and said: Please count me in on that. prgtoken As Secretary Pompeo was practically running out the door, I asked the White House representative if they would come back and finish the briefing. Pompeo said no, on his behalf, but the White House representative assured me the group would be back in short order. prgtoken I said: Within a week. prgtoken In the room, in the SCIF, he said they will definitely come back. prgtoken This morning, the White House told me they would explore coming back. They are already backing off, as usual. This is imperative. We are asking, in as polite a way as we can right now, and s, that these five leaders--the head of DNI, the head of the CIA, the head of the Joint Chiefs, Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State--come before us within a week and answer the questions of the 82 Senators who were on the list and wanted to ask questions but couldn't. prgtoken The scene at yesterday's briefing was unacceptable, as Members of both sides of the aisle have attested. Eighty-two Senators--chairs, ranking members, appropriators, authorized--were snubbed by this administration on a matter of war and peace. They must return. prgtoken Again, this administration's thwarting of the exquisite balance the Founding Fathers put in place between the Congress and Presidency is something that would make the Founding Fathers turn over in their graves and strikes at the core of what America is all about. prgtoken Why is it important we have this briefing? Because the danger of war is still very real. There seems to be a sense that Iran's missile strikes on U.S. installations in Iraq, which resulted in no U.S. or coalition casualties, was a signal that our hostilities between our two countries are deescalating. If that is true, it would certainly be a good thing, but we all know Iran has many different ways of causing trouble in the Middle East. Over prgtoken the last decade, Iranian proxies have exported ter
Nomination of Paul J. Ray (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-9

today I rise to speak in opposition to the nomination of Paul Ray to be the next Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, more commonly known as OIRA. prgtoken Although not many people outside of Washington have heard of OIRA, this office wields an important amount of influence over regulations that impact families, businesses, and communities in countless ways. prgtoken If confirmed, Mr. Ray would be responsible for reviewing health, labor, environmental, and many other protections, from safeguarding our source of drinking water to ensuring the cars we drive are safe. prgtoken In Michigan, communities like Flint, Oscoda, and Parchment cannot drink water from their own faucets without fear of ingesting toxic chemicals like lead or PFAS. prgtoken When meeting with Mr. Ray, I stressed the need to prioritize protections that provide safe and clean drinking water and preserve our Great Lakes and other natural resources. I appreciate that Mr. Ray listened to my concerns. He is clearly very smart and passionate about administrative law and the rulemaking process. However, Mr. Ray is relatively new to Federal service and has relied primarily on his recent tenure at the agency to demonstrate his qualifications. prgtoken Given his prior role, the best way for us to understand what Mr. Ray will do if confirmed is to take a closer look at what he has already done. In order to thoroughly examine his qualifications, we asked Mr. Ray to provide information about his tenure, which included reviews of proposals that would weaken critical protections for workers, veterans, children, disadvantaged communities, and the environment. prgtoken Unfortunately, the nominee and the agency's Office of General Counsel have refused to meaningfully respond to committee members' request for information or fully participate in the Senate's efforts to meet our constitutional responsibilities. While Mr. Ray expressed a commitment to transparency, his inability to ensure compliance with the committee's requests--including for material that is routinely provided to the public in response to the Freedom of Information Act--raises serious doubts about whether he will cooperate with Congress if confirmed. prgtoken Given the unprecedented actions taken by this administration to roll back safeguards, it would be irresponsible to confirm Mr. Ray to OIRA without an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate his record. I have sought to carefully consider Mr. Ray's nomination, but due to this serious lack of transparency, I cannot support his confirmation. For that reason, I will be voting no, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken .
PFAS ACTION ACT OF 2019
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-9

. I appreciate the gentleman's concern. prgtoken I think we may simply have a disagreement as to whether or not there is a legitimate Federal role in ensuring that this information is readily available. prgtoken I understand the point about States, but I believe this is a national interest in part because it is the Federal Government very often which is the biggest culprit here. prgtoken The community, for example, that I represent in Oscoda, where so many individuals had their private wells affected, they were affected by the Federal Government's poisoning of the groundwater.
Impeachment (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-1-9

this is an interesting time. I was thinking that over the holiday break. I was home, and I talked to many Vermonters. These are Vermonters who are s, , Independents, and across the political spectrum. All of them expressed concerns about how the Senate will handle the impeachment of President or the trial. He has been impeached, but now it is the trial. I suspect that all 100 Senators had similar conversations. prgtoken I have been asked not just about President 's actions in Ukraine but also about how the Senate will conduct a trial and whether the Senate is even capable of holding a genuine, fair trial worthy of our constitutional responsibilities. prgtoken I would remind Senators that at the start of an impeachment trial, we each swear an oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws. During my 45 years in this Chamber, I have taken this oath six times, and I take this oath extraordinarily seriously. But I fear the Senate may be on the verge of abandoning what this oath means. prgtoken The majority leader has vowed a quick acquittal before we hear any witnesses. He has boasted that he is ``not an impartial juror,'' and he has pledged ``there will be no difference between the President's position and our position as to how to handle this.'' He ignores the fact that the U.S. Senate is a separate and independent body. Actually, what the majority leader said is prgtoken tantamount to a criminal defendant being allowed to set the rules for his own trial, while the judge and jury promise him a quick acquittal. That is a far cry from the ``impartial justice'' required by our oaths and the U.S. Constitution. prgtoken Given this, I understand why Pelosi did not rush to send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. A sham trial is in no one's interest. I would say a sham trial is not even in the President's interest. A choreographed acquittal exonerates no one. It serves only to deepen rifts within the country, and eviscerates the Senate's constitutional role. prgtoken Now, how the Senate conducts the trial will be up to each of us. It is not up to one or two Senators, and it is certainly not up to the President. The duration and scope of the trial, including whether to call witnesses or compel document production, will be decided by a simple majority of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I know many on the side have said we should postpone any agreement on witnesses. They argue that the Senate did that for President Clinton's trial, so why not now. That argument sounds reasonable--until you look at the facts. You know, facts are always troublesome things. prgtoken Today, following President 's instruction, nine key witnesses-- key witnesses--with firsthand knowledge of the allegations have refused to cooperate with the House investigation. Because of President , they are told they are not allowed to testify. Now, compare that to the Cli
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 83, IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-1-9

. Madam , the War Powers Resolution simply requires the President to consult with the Congress and with the American public before going to war with Iran. prgtoken Our constituents held their breath on Tuesday. Thankfully, no lives were lost in Iran's retaliatory attack, but serious concerns remain about the rationale and the ramifications. prgtoken We do not mourn the loss of Qasem Soleimani. He was responsible for actions that harmed and killed American personnel and allies, and I condemn that. But any U.S. military action, especially one that could spark catastrophic consequences, needs to be carefully considered, fully justified within the law. prgtoken President failed to consult the Congress, failed to secure specific authorization, failed to cite with specificity the imminent threat. In a classified briefing for Members of Congress, the administration would not, could not provide any specifics about what constituted an imminent threat. They couldn't tell us what the targets were, nor would they divulge any of the timelines for the attack. prgtoken It is unprecedented the level at which this administration is seeking to obscure the facts from the Congress and the American people. The rationale is in doubt, the ramifications as well: The U.S. announced it will suspend our fight against ISIS; Iraq's Prime Minister and the legislature moved to expel our troops; the Iranian leaders announced they would no longer abide by the 2015 nuclear deal. prgtoken President 's actions have dramatically increased the possibility of war with Iran and Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Today, America and our allies are less safe as a result of the administration's actions.
IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Tom Malinowski (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-1-9

we may be relieved that an impulsive act by President has not immediately led to war with Iran, we may be relieved that an evil man is dead, but as that evil man wished, our troops have now been asked to leave Iraq, and if they stay, their ability to work with Iraqis to fight ISIS has been shot. prgtoken As he wished, the protest movement in Iran and Iraq that threatened the Iranian regime has been silenced. prgtoken As he wished, Iran is now breaking free of all restrictions on its nuclear program. prgtoken We are not safer today. prgtoken In this moment of danger, there is just one question that this resolution asks. It is not do you support what the President has already done, but should Congress play our constitutional role in deciding what happens next. prgtoken I support this resolution because passing it will protect us against going to war with a tweet, but it also ensures that, if we do go to war, which we may have to at some point, we will do so with the American people united, not divided, as the Framers intended, as our national interest demands.
PFAS ACTION ACT OF 2019
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-1-9

. Mr. Chair, as much time as I may consume. prgtoken I want to first thank Chairman Pallone, Chairman Tonko, and Congresswoman Dingell for this comprehensive package. prgtoken We know PFAS-related substances remain in our bodies and environment for years, if not decades. Coupled with widespread consumer use and pollution, PFAS toxins could result in long-lasting public health problems. prgtoken This legislation confronts PFAS contamination, spurs cleanup efforts, and sets a drinking water limit. It is critical for government agencies to inform the public of the risk posed by PFAS-related substances. prgtoken My amendment would require the EPA to develop a national risk communication strategy to share the best prgtoken available science about PFAS and its hazards, notify the public about risks and mitigation measures, and consult with States with effective statewide risk communication strategies of their own. prgtoken In my home State of Maryland, PFAS has been identified in the water at eight DOD installations, tainting neighboring communities' local wells and seeping into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I am proud that Maryland is committed to PFAS transparency and research and is taking this issue seriously. prgtoken Mr. Chair, there are some communities that are especially vulnerable to PFAS exposure, among them, firefighters at military installations. To stop the spread of fire at training sites, fire departments use a type of firefighting foam that contains PFAS-related substances. prgtoken Over the course of their careers, these firefighters put themselves in harm's way, unaware of the toxicity of these chemicals and the health issues they can cause down the road. We owe these servicemen and -women an unrecoverable debt, and it is our duty to communicate to them the hazards that they were exposed to while risking their lives protecting the public. prgtoken Whether it is former firefighters, military families living on bases, or the American people at large, the exchange of information between communities, risk assessors, and scientists is critical. prgtoken As we continue to learn more about the full range of health problems linked to PFAS, we must also communicate that risk to the public. Sharing this risk, the knowledge of the risk, is an important step to give the public the resources they need to defend against PFAS contamination and the adverse health impacts it can cause. prgtoken Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment and the underlying bill, and .
IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-9

I rise today on behalf of #13DistrictStrong. This is a district that believes in leading with compassion. They believe in a full stop to endless violent wars that only result in loss of life and the destruction of lives forever changed. prgtoken For us, , it is important to protect our democracy and promote global peace. We must remove political motives and for-profit schemes from the decisionmaking process to go to war. If we don't, it would only lead to more warfare and death. prgtoken We cannot allow a process that is tainted, secretive, or encompasses lies to make that choice. We need a country that easily chooses peace for generations to come. prgtoken I proudly represent a district that believes in the rule of law. That is why I rise today as their voice in support of a War Powers Resolution that will give them a say in whether or not our country goes to war.
IOWAN OF THE WEEK--DR. MIKE WELLS
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2020-1-9

. Madam , I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Mike Wells, Superintendent for the Hamburg Community School District for his effort to create a unique and engaging learning environment for K-8 students in the Hamburg Makerspace Program. The Makerspace Program and Farm School serving elementary and middle school students in Hamburg, IA has been a major hit with both students and community members. Students have the opportunity to experience immersive learning environments where they gain hands on experience in a number of areas including: embroidery, wood working, culinary arts, screen printing, video game design with virtual reality, book making and so many other amazing programs each Friday for nine weeks. I had the opportunity to see these students at work, building a house for a family in their community that was hit by devastating flooding in the Spring of 2019. The plan is for a new home to be built each year moving forward and sold to a local family at a below market rate. Dr. Wells brings an amazing learning opportunity for his students and is using it to lift up our community. Dr. Wells has created an expectation in Hamburg Community Schools where students lead projects and obtain valuable, hands on experience. This includes The Farm School, started up in 2016, which is an effort to introduce hands on, agricultural education experiences through a functioning small farm on school property. This endeavor includes a garden, green house, poultry, and livestock. The students supply the local food pantry fresh produce and eggs year-round. Dr. Wells has made the school the center of the community and is a source of pride and learning for all residents of Hamburg, IA. It is an honor to commemorate the outstanding achievement of Dr. Wells and his staff in the Hamburg Community School District. I have great respect and admiration for our educators and am particularly thankful for the strong foundation they are giving our kids. As the mother of two boys, I know that a quality education is crucial to success. I hope the well-rounded training and techniques they found successful in the classroom becomes a model for other districts and the country as a whole.
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-1-9

in the fall of 2016, just 4 years ago, I heard Candidate repeatedly promise to get rid of the North American Free Trade Agreement--to pull out of it, to renegotiate it, or to fix it so that it worked better than it did. prgtoken I didn't support for President. I think he has been a less than honest President with whom I disagree in terms of his character and in terms of his work product, but that is really not the point. The point was prgtoken that I liked what he said about getting out of NAFTA. I know what NAFTA did to the Presiding Officer's home State of Indiana. I know what it did to Dayton, OH; to Cleveland, OH; to Canton, OH; to Youngstown, Toledo, Mansfield, Springfield, Zanesville, and to almost every community in my State. So I welcomed the President's saying that. prgtoken The reason I thought these trade agreements were so bad for our country was that these trade agreements were always written by corporate interests to serve the needs of the executives and the major stockholders of the corporations. In fact, they not only were not written for workers, but they undermined workers. I have never voted for a trade agreement. I voted against NAFTA, and I voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement. I voted against permanent normal trade relations with China--one after another after another--because I saw that these trade agreements were written for corporate interests and that they betrayed workers. prgtoken What happened is that companies would shut down production in Canton or in Niles or in Bryan or in Lima, and they would move overseas, build factories there, and sell those products back into the United States. That was what happened with these trade agreements. Corporations liked them because they could exploit low-income workers. They liked them because their profits could be greater. They liked them because they had no responsibility to their workers when they would move overseas and sell the products back. That was their mission. That was the way these companies did business. So I welcomed the President's doing that. prgtoken Then, about a year ago, the President presented the new NAFTA. He called it the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the USMCA. When he presented it to the Congress, it was more of the same. It was almost exactly the same. It had a few little tweaks, but fundamentally the President again betrayed the workers, as all of these trade agreements do. The President's bill, the President's USMCA, was again a giveaway to corporate interests. In fact, there was a provision in there for the drug companies that was maybe worse than I had ever seen in a trade agreement. The White House, I admit, does look like an executive retreat for drug company executives except on Tuesdays and Fridays, when it looks like a retreat for Wall Street executives. prgtoken The President presented this USMCA to us, and it was the same ol, same ol. It fundame
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 83, IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2020-1-9

. Madam , late last week, President ordered the assassination of a high-ranking Iranian official while he was in Iraq. prgtoken This action threatens to cascade the United States into an ill- advised, not authorized war with Iran, and is already setting into motion a series of disastrous unintended consequences for American security and interests in the Middle East. prgtoken The President trashed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Iran was following and that put in place the first real restraints on Iran's nuclear program. The world and America were safer under the JCPOA framework, period. prgtoken Enter , and now we see Iranian rockets firing, U.S. forces being pushed out of Iraq, and alliances strained as we all await further retaliations. prgtoken Oh, history is replete with the misery befalling those poor empires who first fight and mistake that for might. prgtoken This escalation with Iran must end, Congress must reassert its war powers authority, and I urge adoption of the resolution.