mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 43, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF FINAL RULE BY SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 69, PROVIDING...
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise today to speak against this rule and H.J. Res. 69, which we will be debating tomorrow. prgtoken Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service updated its regulations for national wildlife refuges in Alaska to prohibit the cruelest killing methods of wolves, grizzly bears, and other native mammals in Alaska. prgtoken The rule FWS put forward makes sense. It even makes clear that it does not apply to subsistence hunting or restrict the taking of wildlife for public safety purposes or in defense of property. Yet, here we are, just 6 months later, and s are pushing through this resolution to overturn the rule and make egregious and cruel hunting methods common practice in Alaska. prgtoken They are inhumane methods, such as denning of wolves and their pups, using airplanes to scout and shoot grizzly bears, and trapping grizzly bears with steel-jawed traps. These cruel methods should never be allowed anywhere. This resolution is irresponsible and inhumane. prgtoken As with other Congressional Review Act resolutions, H.J. Res. 69 will have a chilling effect. This and future administrations would be prohibited from ever issuing a similar rule, making inhumane and reprehensible hunting methods the law of the land. prgtoken This resolution handcuffs our Federal wildlife managers from protecting our refuges, our national resources, and our wildlife. We must ensure that our children and grandchildren will someday enjoy the majestic national beauty of the native mammals in Alaska and across our great Nation. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to reject this rule and also vote ``no'' on H.J. Res. 69.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO SCRUTINIZE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Gene Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise to highlight the growing number of executive orders issued by President and the silence from our House majority. prgtoken President has signed 12 executive orders in the first 5 weeks in office. Many, like the border wall, the Muslim ban, and the ACA sabotage order, are highly misguided and exceed the intent of the law. prgtoken Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee and investigate the actions of the Executive. To date the House majority has said little and taken no action to oversee the administration's abuse of power through executive orders. prgtoken When President sat in the White House, the House majority called his administration every name under the sun. Agencies were closely scrutinized. Federal officials were regularly subject to hostile questioning. prgtoken Where is the oversight, ? Where is the criticism? What happened to limiting executive power? prgtoken I hope my colleagues in the majority will uphold Congress' constitutional duties and vigorously scrutinize President 's actions and mounting abuse of power.
AMERICA 2.0
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-2-15

I appreciate the opportunity. I just want to say thank you to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for her great words and Congressman Crowley, who was here a little bit earlier, for his good words as well. prgtoken I am starting tonight a segment that I am calling America 2.0. I think we are in the midst of, obviously, some chaos in the United States, in Washington, D.C and in so many communities across the country that feel we are disoriented with our politics, disconnected from our politics, and we are disoriented around the idea of what is happening in our economy. Globalization, automation, all of these things have dramatically affected the American economy and American wages and standard of living. prgtoken We have actually seen, , over the course of the last 20 years, a huge decline, a sucking out of middle class wages that have gone primarily to the top 1 percent. Now, I am not here to bash rich people. I am not here to make any enemies, but I think it is important and instructive for us to look at where we were and where we are now. prgtoken If you look at where we were in 1980, of all the income growth in the Nation in 1980, 70 percent of all income growth went to the bottom 90 percent of Americans. So we had some significant income growth, and 70 percent of it went to the bottom 90 percent, 30 percent went to the top 10 percent. The wealthy were getting more, but the middle class, the upper middle class and the lower middle class, the bottom 90 percent saw 70 percent of the gains. prgtoken Fast forward from the early 1990s until just recently just a few years back, the bottom 90 percent, , got zero percent of the income growth that happened in the United States--zero. So the economy in 1980, for average families in Youngstown, Ohio, or Struthers, Ohio, or Akron, Ohio, saw that hard work paid off; that if you worked hard, you played by the rules, you did what you were supposed to do, and if you were in the bottom 90 percent, you saw some income gains. Fair enough. prgtoken Where the anxiety has come in now is that people are working harder, they are working longer hours, and they are not seeing any growth in their incomes. We have teachers, for example, in the Youngstown City Schools who have not seen a cost-of-living raise in 9 years--9 years. Police and fire, people who cut hair, people who are waitresses, people who take showers after work instead of before work, those people aren't getting ahead, and the cost of everything is going up. So that is where we are, erosion of our manufacturing base and globalization and automation. prgtoken I was just looking at an article earlier about a new Amazon project-- I prgtoken think it is called Amazon Go--where you can actually go into a grocery store--how cool is this? You can actually go into a grocery store and shop and pick out whatever it is that you want at the grocery store and walk out. Everything gets rung up, scans and all the rest, and yo
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-2-15

on February 14, 2017, I was absent from the House and missed Roll Call Votes 88 through 92. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 88, on ordering the previous question, I would have voted ``No.'' Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 89, on agreeing to the resolution, H.Res. 99, providing for consideration of H.R. 428, the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act, and H.J. Res. 42, Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to drug testing of unemployment compensation applicants, I would have voted ``No.'' Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 90, on ordering the previous question, I would have voted ``No.'' Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 91, on agreeing to the resolution, H.Res. 116, providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 66, Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by States for non-governmental employees and H.J. Res. 67, Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by qualified State political subdivisions for non-governmental employees, I would have voted ``No.'' Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 92, on passage of H.R. 428-- Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act, I would have voted ``No.''
DISAPPROVING RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELATING TO SAVINGS ARRANGEMENTS BY STATES FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
John P. Sarbanes (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise today in opposition to yet another reckless attack by the majority on the retirement security of millions of Americans. I don't get why the majority is so determined to go after the retirement security of so many millions of Americans across this country, but that is what H.J. Res. 66 would do. prgtoken It may get harder for everyday Americans to prepare for their retirement. The resolution we are considering today would prevent State governments--it doesn't make any sense to do this--from providing retirement savings opportunities for their citizens. prgtoken The fact of the matter is, as was just alluded to, this resolution was designed at the behest of Wall Street and well-connected lobbyists to sideline competition and transparent financial products in the retirement savings market. But this isn't the first time. prgtoken They put all their energy behind blocking the automatic IRA when it was a proposal that came forward a few years back, even though it was a Heritage Foundation proposal. Then they went after the fiduciary rule that President and the Department of Labor sought to put in place that would protect our retirees from unscrupulous investment advisers. prgtoken Then President comes in with an executive order to undo what the Department of Labor was trying to do. So we shouldn't be surprised by this action, but we ought to be furious about it. prgtoken My State, Maryland, was one of the States that tried to figure out how to protect retirees because we couldn't get it done up here. Now, what are we doing? The party of states' rights is advancing a Congressional Review Act resolution designed to hinder State legislatures that are working to provide access to safe and affordable retirement savings options for their citizens. We shouldn't allow this to happen. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to reject this senseless resolution.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-2-15

unfortunately I don't share the enthusiasm of my colleague from Arkansas for Mick Mulvaney to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. In fact, I have great concerns about this nominee's views on a whole range of issues. prgtoken Because those views are far outside the mainstream of this country, I intend to vote against his confirmation. First and foremost, I am concerned about Mick Mulvaney's repeated votes against raising the debt ceiling and his reckless willingness to shut down the government in order to advance his extreme views. prgtoken It is Representative Mulvaney's longstanding position that failure to raise the debt ceiling would not precipitate a crisis. He said: ``I have yet to meet someone who can articulate the negative consequences.'' Well, let me articulate the consequences in very simple terms. If we refuse to raise the debt ceiling, we would default on the national debt, destroy the credit worthiness of the U.S. Government, and trigger a global financial crisis. prgtoken As the Governor of New Hampshire, I worked very hard with our State treasurer and with the legislature, through some very challenging fiscal times, to maintain New Hampshire's State bond rating. We did that because we knew that lowering the State's bond rating would mean an increase in costs for businesses trying to borrow money, for the government trying to borrow money, for taxpayers because they would have to pay those increased costs, and it would have a ripple effect across the economy that would have a real impact on the people of New Hampshire. prgtoken Representative Mulvaney does not seem to appreciate what would happen if the Federal Government defaulted on our debt. He has argued that the Treasury Secretary could avoid such a crisis by prioritizing interest payments; in other words, paying foreign holders of U.S. debt but not Social Security beneficiaries or the men and women of our Armed Forces, but there is no legal authority to do this. It is impractical, and recent Treasury Secretaries have denounced the idea. We got a foretaste of the consequences of default in 2011, when Representative Mulvaney and others blocked legislation to raise the debt ceiling, a crisis that took nearly 3 months to resolve. prgtoken That manufactured crisis shook financial markets, caused a spike in interest rates on U.S. securities, and it lead Standard and Poor's to take away America's AAA credit rating, and it cost $18.9 billion. Who does Mick Mulvaney think paid those $18.9 billion? It was the people of this country. Representative Mulvaney has repeatedly threatened to shut down the Federal Government. prgtoken He helped lead the charge in shutting down the government in October of 2013 in a failed and misguided attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In 2015, he threatened to shut down the government again in order to defund Planned Parenthood. Both of those programs are critically importa
Andrew Puzder (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-2-15

before I begin to speak about the nomination before us right now, I did want to comment on the breaking news regarding the nomination of Andrew Puzder. prgtoken There is some good news today for workers and women and families in America. Back on the campaign trail, President promised to put workers first, but from the start, it has been pretty clear that his nominee for Secretary of Labor, who has now withdrawn, was a clear signal that President had no intention of keeping that promise, and instead he planned to rig his Cabinet with the staunchest allies for Wall Street--big corporations and special interests--that he could find. prgtoken So I am not surprised that when workers and families heard about the pride Mr. Puzder takes in objectifying women, that he called his own workers ``the best of the worst,'' and that his vision for our economy is one in which workers are squeezed so those at the top can boost their profits higher and higher, they said no. They spoke up loud and clear that they want a true champion for all workers in the Labor Department. prgtoken I just want to thank all the workers who bravely shared their stories in the last few months. It is clear today that your words are powerful, and I am going to keep bringing your voices here to the Senate, and we will keep fighting. prgtoken With that, , I wanted to be here today to speak about OMB Director Nominee Mulvaney. I submitted comments on this nomination in the Budget Committee, and I want to bring them to the full Senate today. prgtoken I am here today to urge my colleagues to oppose Congressman Mulvaney we all know that a budget is more than just numbers on a page; a budget represents our values and our priorities, the kind of Nation we are now and the kind of Nation we want to be. prgtoken Congressman Mulvaney is not shy about where he stands on this. When I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago, he made it very clear that he would use our budget to radically reshape our country in a way that I believe would be devastating to families, to seniors, to veterans, to the middle class, and to many others. prgtoken Congressman Mulvaney has said he wants to make drastic, radical cuts to Federal investments, trillions of dollars across the board. His budget proposals would slash Federal funding for education, leaving students across the country with fewer opportunities to learn and to succeed. They would cut investments in jobs and training, leaving our workers scrambling to keep up with the changing economy. They would eliminate support for children and families who need a hand up to get back on their feet. They would eliminate basic medical research that creates jobs and leads to lifesaving cures. They would continue the work President has done to destroy healthcare in America and create even more chaos and confusion. They would lead to dramatic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, betra
CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise this morning to address the events of General Flynn's resignation as National Security Advisor on Monday night and the need for a full, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the facts of the case. It is now readily apparent that General Flynn's resignation is not the end of the story. It is merely the beginning of a much longer story. prgtoken The circumstances of General Flynn's contacts with the Russian Ambassador during the transition, the recent reports of potential high- level contact between the campaign and Russian intelligence, including General Flynn, should raise hairs on the necks of everyone in this body and every American of goodwill--, , conservative, liberal, Independent. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue about our country and how it is governed. It is also an issue about our security. We are now left with more questions than answers, and it is imperative to find the truth. With every hour that goes by, more and more questions are raised. Every White House press briefing and early morning tweet seemingly introduces new inconsistencies and contradictions that demand a full accounting. Every report that suggests deeper ties between the campaign and the Russian Government needs to be followed up on and verified. prgtoken We need to get all the facts. prgtoken So in the days and weeks ahead, the administration needs to answer some serious questions. These questions must be asked by an independent and unbiased law enforcement authority. They must be answered truthfully by administration officials. Any attempt to lie or to mislead must be countered with the full force of law. prgtoken There needs to be an independent and transparent investigation on two fronts: one in the legislative branch, where we have an obligation to conduct oversight, and one in the executive branch, which has the responsibility of finding and prosecuting potential criminal liability. prgtoken Today I wish to address the investigation that must occur in the executive branch. prgtoken The new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, cannot be the person to lead that investigation. In fact, Justice Department regulations specifically prohibit individuals who have political ties to the subjects of an investigation from leading that investigation. It is a clear conflict of interest. I want to read the regulations of the Department of Justice. They are right here, and every American should see them because they are clear as can be. No Department of Justice employee may participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with any person or organization substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution or who would be directly affected by the outcome. prgtoken No employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prose
WORKING TO INTEGRATE NETWORKS GUARANTEEING MEMBER ACCESS NOW ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise in support of H.R. 512, the Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act, (``Wingman Ace''), which amends title 38. United States Code, to provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain employees of State or local governmental agencies with access to case-tracking information of the Department of Veterans Affairs. prgtoken H.R. 512 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an accredited, permanent congressional employee with read-only remote access to the electronic Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claims records system of a represented veteran, regardless of whether the employee is acting under a power of attorney executed by the veteran. prgtoken The DVA shall ensure that success does not allow the employee to modify system data. prgtoken Each Member of Congress who elects to have an employee participate in the system shall bear the certification cost which shall be paid from the Member's representation allowance. prgtoken The amended version would also require the DVA to implement the bill using appropriated funds, and allow as much as $10 million to be used from fiscal 2017 through 2020 for that purpose. No funds could be used to train congressional staffers. prgtoken An accredited, ``permanent congressional employee'' is an employee of a Member of Congress who assists constituents with issues regarding federal departments or agencies. prgtoken , I support H.R. 512 and urge all members to join me in voting for its passage. For that reason I support this bill.
CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF KENNETH WILLIAM THOMPSON
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-15

I rise today to honor Downey resident, Mr. Kenneth William Thompson on the occasion of his 100th birthday. prgtoken Ken was born on February 9, 1917, to William and Eleanor Thompson in Virginia, Minnesota. The third of four boys, he spent his childhood in nearby Duluth, where the Thompson family survived the many challenges of the Great Depression. In 1940, the family moved west to California. prgtoken In 1942, at the outbreak of World War II, Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a Radar Technician (T5). Two of his brothers also served in World War II, in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty from 1942 to 1945, Ken served overseas in France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in five major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and at Bastogne. When the war in Europe ended, he was one of four in his unit who was scheduled to go to Japan because of his radar training, but the war ended before he shipped out. prgtoken After the war ended, Ken returned to California, where he met Vivian Laura Oden of St. Paul, Minnesota. They were married in 1948, and settled in Downey, California, where they raised their three beautiful daughters: Joan, Kathy, and Mary. prgtoken Ken was employed by Maytag for 35 years, where he worked in many positions until he retired in 1982. His loving wife, Vivian, died on February 19, 2000. Today, their family includes nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. prgtoken Ken has made his home in Downey for 67 years, and has been very active in the community schools, for which he was awarded the Honorary Service Award. He has also been prgtoken actively involved with the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton and the Trinity Baptist Church in Downey. prgtoken According to people who know Ken, and that is quite a large group, his life is built on love for faith, family, friends, a good wit, laughter, service to others, hard work, and a deep and abiding passion for his country. prgtoken Ken became 100 years old on February 9, 2017, and is celebrating this significant milestone on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Trinity Baptist Church. prgtoken I am honored to join with local leaders, and with Mr. Thompson's family and friends, in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday.