mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Gulf of Mexico Oil Drilling Moratorium (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-4-26

I want to address the Senate on the occasion of the solemn memorial of 7 years since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the resulting oilspill, where 11 workmen were tragically killed. prgtoken The oilspill fouled the sensitive gulf ecosystem in ways that we still do not fully realize. Yet we are hearing today that the President is expected to issue an Executive order this week that ignores the implications of that tragedy, which was also the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, by blindly encouraging more drilling in very sensitive areas. prgtoken I can tell you that drilling off the coast of Florida's neighboring States poses a real threat to our State's environment and our multibillion-dollar tourism industry, and that is because a spill off the coast of Louisiana can end up on the beaches of northwest Florida, just like a spill off the coast of Virginia or South Carolina can affect the entire Atlantic coast. prgtoken BP, as a result of Deepwater Horizon, agreed to pay more than $20 billion in penalties to clean up the 2010 oilspill and repay gulf residents for lost revenue. But, apparently, that wasn't enough, if BP's recent spill in Alaska is any indication. prgtoken So we shouldn't be surprised, since oil companies and their friends have fought against any new safety standards or requirements, that the President still wants to open up additional waters to drilling, despite the fact that we haven't applied the lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon. This is at a time when the United States has been able to find all new reserves of oil and gas onshore. So we are not in a time of a shortage of discovery or a shortage of oil reserves. Our domestic energy market is being affected by the low price of natural gas, since so much of the reserves are just tremendous here in the continental United States. prgtoken The most visible change since the Deepwater Horizon spill is the division of the Minerals Management Service into the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. All of those changes were made as a result of trying to improve things after the BP spill, but it doesn't seem to have made any major improvements in oversight, according to a report issued by the GAO last month. prgtoken So I have come to the floor to try to alert other Senators about the importance of preserving the moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It makes no sense to put Florida's multibillion-dollar, tourism-driven economy at risk. prgtoken And there is something else at risk. prgtoken The Department of Defense has stated numerous times--I have two letters from two Secretaries of Defense that say it--that drilling and oil-related activities are incompatible with our military training and weapons testing. That is the area known as the gulf training range. It is in the Gulf of Mexico off of Florida. It is the largest testing and training range for t
REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS SELECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-4-26

. Mr. Chair, today I voted against H.R. 1695, the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act. As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Library of Congress Caucus, I care deeply prgtoken about the services and the mission of the Library, including the U.S. Copyright Office. It's past time to bring the Library and the Copyright Office into the 21st Century, and I strongly support efforts to modernize and reform existing practices. H.R. 1695, however, might unnecessarily politicize the Copyright Office and the position of the Register and could make its work less transparent and less neutral to all parties. We should allow Dr. Carla Hayden to continue to guide the modernization process by selecting a Register, a decision enjoyed by all of her predecessors to hold the office of Librarian. While it is unclear that H.R. 1695 would do more good than harm, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of aisle on future efforts to reform and modernize the Library of Congress the copyright system.
NOMINATION OF ROD ROSENSTEIN
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-4-26

I supported Rod Rosenstein's nomination to become Deputy Attorney General. Throughout his 27-year career, Mr. Rosenstein has earned a reputation as a fair and focused administrator of justice. He has served in Maryland in both and ic administrations and has earned the distinction of being the longest serving U.S. attorney in the country. prgtoken I had the honor to introduce Mr. Rosenstein to the Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing. He has aggressively prosecuted not only dangerous gangs and criminals in Maryland but also elected officials who violated the people's trust. He has shown impartiality in these investigations, and his successful prosecutions have led to ethics reforms that increased transparency and public confidence in Maryland. prgtoken When Mr. Rosenstein and I met recently, I asked him if he supported the consent decree negotiated between the administration and the city of Baltimore. He assured me that, if the court formally entered the consent decree, he would support its implementation. Attorney General Sessions, however, has frequently expressed skepticism about consent decrees. Baltimore is the only city to invite the Justice Department to conduct a thorough, methodical analysis of its police department in order to foster transparency and increase trust between police officers and Baltimore city residents. As the former U.S. attorney in Maryland, Mr. Rosenstein is well acquainted with the challenges that the city faces. He has prosecuted corruption charges against Baltimore city police officers and should recognize the importance of reform and effective community policing. I trust Mr. Rosenstein will keep his promise to support the consent decree. prgtoken In addition to being a top-notch lawyer, Mr. Rosenstein is known for the professional manner in which he runs his current office. In his letter of support, Maryland's Attorney General Brian Frosh notes that Mr. Rosenstein ``inherited an office in turmoil'' when he became Maryland's U.S. attorney, but with a ``steady hand and superb management,'' created a department that is now universally respected. Those skills will be put to the test immediately. Mr. Rosenstein will assume the office of Deputy Attorney General at a tumultuous time for the Justice Department. His job will be to serve justice, not political leaders. prgtoken As Mr. Rosenstein and I discussed, the question for him is the same that then-Senator Sessions posed to Sally Yates during her hearing to become Deputy Attorney General. Senator Sessions said: ``You have to watch out because people will be asking you to do things you just need to say no about.'' Senator Sessions then asked: ``Do you think the Attorney General has the responsibility to say no to the President if he asks for something that's improper?'' Like Sally Yates, Mr. Rosenstein said that he would be willing to put his job on the line to uphold the
REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS SELECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-26

. Mr. Chair, despite all the rhetoric, this bill does really just one thing: it takes the appointment of the Register away from Dr. Carla Hayden, the most qualified Librarian we have ever had at the Library of Congress, and gives it to President . prgtoken Now, the policy excuses for this are simply unpersuasive. Proponents say that this would give greater transparency to the Congress and the operation of the Copyright Office. I think this is a ridiculous statement. prgtoken Once a Presidential appointment is confirmed, there is no greater attention to the desires of Congress or transparency than for any other non-Presidential appointment. The conflicts that the Congress had with President 's Environmental Protection Agency and IRS appointees are testimony to that truth. prgtoken There are vague claims of elevating the Register and modernizing the Office, but, in fact, the Library is finally making progress on modernizing the Office. This bill would actually disrupt that progress. prgtoken When you talk about conflicts, the Library doesn't have a conflict with this, but who does have a conflict is President . He holds 30 copyrights. So I don't think the idea of President being a superior selector of the Register because of his elevation or his expertise as a writer really holds any weight. prgtoken I would like to mention the amendment that our colleague Sheila Jackson Lee had offered. I am extremely fond of my friend Sheila Jackson Lee, but the amendment does nothing because you cannot limit Presidential appointment power through statute. The President is limited only by the advice and consent of the Senate. prgtoken Finally, I would like to say that the potential for empowering special interests in this bill is very high. We ought to say ``no'' to this bill.
THE IMPACT OF STOPGAP SPENDING BILLS ON STATES AND LOCALITIES
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-26

it looks like Congress has avoided another government shutdown for now. We will probably pass another short-term spending bill or two before this latest stopgap bill runs out, threatening to bring us to the brink once again. prgtoken This is no way to govern. As a former mayor and State legislator, I know that our States and cities need to be able to plan ahead. They can't do that if Federal funding is up in the air and subject to the latest political tug of war. prgtoken If we expect 50 States to pass a budget every year, there is no reason Congress can't do the same. It is time for Congress and the White House to stop playing games and to do the job that we were sent to Washington to do.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-4-26

when workers and families fought back against President 's first disastrous pick for Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder, they made it clear that they want a Secretary of Labor who will fight for their interests, especially as President continues to break promise after promise he made to workers on the campaign trail. I couldn't agree with them more. As bad as Puzder would have been, our standard cannot be ``not Puzder.'' prgtoken Never has it been so critical to have a Secretary of Labor who is committed to putting workers' protections and rights first, even if that means standing up to President . It is with this in mind that I cannot support Alexander Acosta to run the Department of Labor. prgtoken Given Mr. Acosta's professional history, I have serious concerns about whether undue political pressure would impact decision making at the Department. My concerns were only heightened at his nomination hearing, when Mr. Acosta said he would defer to President on the priorities of the Department of Labor. The administration has already cemented a reputation for flouting ethics rules and attempting to exert political pressure over Federal employees. We need a Secretary of Labor who will prioritize workers and the mission of the Department of Labor over special interests and political pressure. prgtoken Unfortunately, Mr. Acosta's time leading the civil rights division at the Department of Justice suggests he will not be the mission-focused Secretary of Labor workers across the country have demanded. A formal investigation by the inspector general showed that, under Acosta's tenure, the civil rights division illegally considered applicants' political opinions in making hiring decisions, ignoring their professional qualifications. As Assistant Attorney General, Acosta chose to recuse himself from consideration of a Texas redistricting plan, instead, allowing political appointees to overrule career attorneys who believe the plan discriminated against Black and Latino voters. prgtoken Mr. Acosta's past raises questions about whether--instead of making workers' rights and protections the priorities of that Department--he will allow political pressure to influence his decision making. prgtoken Mr. Acosta's refusal to take a strong stand on many of the most pressing issues workers face today was equally concerning. We need a Secretary of Labor who is committed to expanding overtime pay to more workers, fighting for equal pay, and maintaining protections for our workers. But in responding to questions about those priorities, Mr. Acosta made it clear that he simply plans to defer to President , who has already made it abundantly clear that he will not stand up for workers. prgtoken Mr. Acosta continued to evade addressing my concerns about how he would prioritize workers' interests at the Department of Labor in our followup questions. We need a Secretary of Labor who will rem
REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS SELECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-4-26

. In the amendment, it has that the of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the Librarian of Congress will be, in fact, the deciders of who gets nominated to be the Register of Copyrights. prgtoken As we well know, the AFL-CIO has provided a letter of support, along with the American Federation of Musicians, the Authors Guild, the Directors Guild of America, the Graphic Artists Guild, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and Screen Actors Guild. All of these create jobs and all of these unions have representatives all around the Nation. prgtoken Finally, I would say it is extremely important that the musicians and artists of color have indicated that they see no bias in this particular legislation against the present Librarian and have written a letter indicating that they believe that there is no bias.
REMOVAL OF DAVID PULPHUS' PAINTING FROM THE CANNON TUNNEL
Wm. Lacy Clay (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2017-4-26

I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio. I certainly appreciate her support. prgtoken In closing, let me say that the student artist in question, my constituent, David Pulphus, is a great young man. He is academically gifted, artistically talented, and is now a freshman in college. He is doing everything that we encourage young Americans to do to become successful citizens. prgtoken His winning entry is a colorful, symbolic representation of the great anger, pain, frustration, and deep deficit in trust for local law enforcement that many young African Americans feel in their hearts. The painting also reflects generations of struggle, sacrifice, abuse of power, and tenuous relationships between minorities and a system of justice that still provides equal justice for some, but not for all. prgtoken So the larger, much more fundamental question is: Why does this young American feel that way, and what can we do as leaders of a compassionate and just nation to finally remedy that? prgtoken I am so thankful for the remarkable public service of my exceptional pro bono legal team who are guiding this case, including Dr. Laurence Tribe of Harvard University School of Law, Dr. Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and others. As a Member of Congress who reveres the Constitution, I am confident that freedom and justice will prevail. prgtoken , .
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FUNDING
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2017-4-26

on Tuesday, Rotary International recognized champions who have worked to eradicate polio around the world. Rotary International has done a great job, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has, too. prgtoken But as one of two congressional Members who were purple hearts of the polio years, I wish to thank them, but also say how dreadful it is--and awful--that the budget that is being proposed will reduce funding by almost 20 percent to the National Institutes of Health and also to the CDC. prgtoken The CDC and the National Institutes of Health protect us from health scourges and look for cures and treatments that can protect people in the future. The National Institutes of Health needs to have more funding, not less, and so does the CDC.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-4-26

20 years ago, when I was elected to the U.S. Senate, a group of people came to me and asked me to sponsor a bill. It was a bill that had been sponsored many times by Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey. He retired shortly before I arrived. prgtoken The bill related to the Utah wilderness. I remember saying to those who approached me: This isn't my State. It is the State of Utah. prgtoken They said: This is a bill which we are having some controversy with when it prgtoken comes to the Utah congressional delegation. prgtoken Secondly, I said: It is a wilderness bill about a part of the world that I have never seen. I don't feel right introducing it. prgtoken They said: Why don't you come out and look at it? prgtoken I did just a few weeks later. My wife and I went and took a look at the Red Rocks Wilderness area in Utah. I will tell you, initially, as a midwesterner, when I looked at the stark landscape, I looked around thinking, what are we trying to preserve here? I took a closer look, which everyone should, and found a unique part of America--a wilderness area which can't be found anywhere else and a wilderness area which boasts archeological and historic and environmental significance way beyond what many people in the rest of the lower 48 might appreciate. prgtoken Today, I am reintroducing the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act. It would safeguard 9.2 million acres of Park Bureau Land Management land in Utah as wilderness--some of the last great wild places in the lower 48. prgtoken Throughout my time in the Senate, I have worked with the committed volunteers of the Utah Wilderness Coalition to protect the stunning, fragile desert landscape. These unique lands are rich in archeological resources and provide a habitat for rare plants and species. They offer unparalleled research, educational, and recreational opportunities for scientists, teachers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families. prgtoken The Bureau of Land Management has confirmed that the vast majority of the majority of the lands meet the qualifications for a wilderness designation. However, despite their pristine condition and their historical significance, these lands are threatened by oil and gas development, as well as rampant off-road vehicle use. prgtoken Although these activities are appropriate in some places, they don't belong in such a fragile landscape. Designating these lands as wilderness would safeguard wildlife, protect ancestral lands, help mitigate climate change, and provide access to future generations of hunters, anglers, hikers, boaters, and lovers of the natural world. prgtoken Last December, President took an important step in protecting some of Southern Utah's fragile lands by designating the Bears Ears National Monument, which contains some of the lands that would be protected by my Red Rocks bill. prgtoken The 1.35 million-acre swath of land covers forested mesas and red rock canyons, and the designation protected the
Remembering Jay Dickey (Executive Session)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-4-26

I am honored to speak here today in support of Alex Acosta, and I wholeheartedly encourage my colleagues to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of Labor. I know this nominee well. As a fellow Floridian and as a native of Miami, I have been familiar with his work for many years. As I said when the President nominated him, I think he is an outstanding choice to lead the Department of Labor. prgtoken Alex has an impressive academic record. He has two degrees from Harvard--the first from Harvard College and then from Harvard Law School. prgtoken He also has a sterling record of public service in the State of Florida and in the United States of America. He was a member of the National Labor Relations Board. He was appointed by President and served from 2002 to 2003. From there, he was selected by President to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he also served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in that office. He also served our Nation as the U.S. Attorney in one of the most challenging districts in our country--Florida's Southern District. prgtoken Most recently, Alex has served the State of Florida as the dean of Florida International University College of Law, where he has been instrumental in raising the still young school's profile and in its graduating young men and women who are now well prepared to excel in their legal careers. prgtoken With every challenge he has confronted throughout his distinguished career, he has demonstrated his ability to effectively tackle with ease the problems at hand. He is a brilliant legal mind, someone with a deep knowledge of labor issues, and he is a proven leader and a proven manager. It is for these reasons and many more that I am confident that Alex Acosta will serve this Nation admirably. prgtoken He was--listen to this--previously confirmed unanimously by the Senate for three different positions in the U.S. Government. This man is not even 50 years old, and he has already been confirmed unanimously by the Senate for three separate positions. I believe that in a few moments, he will be one step closer to being confirmed to his fourth. He is well qualified for this role, and I look forward to working with him to ensure that Americans are equipped with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st-century economy. prgtoken .
CONGRATULATING CONGRESSMAN STEVE STIVERS ON HIS PROMOTION
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-4-26

I rise today, along with my colleagues in the Ohio delegation, to congratulate Congressman Steve Stivers on his promotion from colonel to brigadier general of the Ohio National Guard. prgtoken Ohio is a State rich in history and a long list of American leaders who call it home. Steve's promotion marks another milestone in our great State's history. prgtoken Steve Stivers, a native of Ripley, Ohio, and proud Ohio State Buckeye, is the first brigadier general since Rutherford B. Hayes to represent Ohio in Congress. prgtoken Rutherford B. Hayes represented my district, the Second District of Ohio, from 1865 to 1867, before going on to serve as Governor of Ohio and then President of the United States. prgtoken On behalf of the Ohio delegation, we offer congratulations and our gratitude for Steve's service. prgtoken , Steve Stivers' leadership adds to our State's storied legacy of servant leaders and citizen soldiers. Our State and our Nation are fortunate that Steve Stivers has dedicated his life to defending the cause of freedom both in the ranks of the National Guard and in the Halls of Congress.