mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-10-3

a tragedy took place in Las Vegas this week. It is a tragedy that has affected hundreds of families. It is a tragedy in which each and every one of us sends our prayers to those who have lost loved ones. And to those who have family members who are now hospitalized, we send our prayers to you as well, with the great hope that a full recovery is in their future. prgtoken This was an unimaginable event that occurred in our country. It is now time for us to talk about this issue. There are many people who say this is not the time to talk about it, but the truth is, the only thing the National Rifle Association wants more than to sell lots of gun silencers is to put a silencer on the debate about gun safety legislation. The only thing the NRA wants more than allowing nationwide concealed carry laws is to conceal the overwhelming support for background checks. The only thing the NRA wants more than to stifle smart gun technology is to stifle debate on gun violence prevention. prgtoken So to anyone who says having this debate now is too soon, it is already too late for at least 59 people in Las Vegas and hundreds of others who were wounded. We should not wait another day. prgtoken We need to pass commonsense gun safety legislation so that we can hold a moment of silence for the National Rifle Association's stranglehold on American politics. That is what must end in our country. prgtoken We need a debate on this floor on background checks. We need a debate in this Chamber on whether we are going to do research on the relationship between guns and violence in our society. We don't need to debate the issue of bringing silencers into our society that can be attached to guns and that would have made it infinitely more difficult for the police to find where the shooter was or for people to know that they needed to hide or move to a more secure location. That would not have happened. We would not have had 59 deaths; we could have had 259 deaths, 559 deaths, or 959 deaths because a silencer would have given less notice to all of those people that they should be moving and hiding and protecting themselves and their loved ones. prgtoken On concealed carry, the s are moving a bill that allows for someone to conceal a gun under a law in one State--because that State allows you to conceal a gun, you would be able to move into any other State and continue to conceal a gun even though that State's laws prohibit concealing guns. They want that law to move through. prgtoken So when the s talk about debating gun control, what they are talking about is lessening the safety around these guns, lowering the standards that would protect people, and allowing for silencers to now be proliferating on these assault weapons, these weapons of war that should not be on the streets of our country and that have the capacity to kill people without people hearing them. prgtoken They say they are needed because we n
Introductory Statement on S. 1907
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-10-3

I am the Senator from Florida, along with my colleague Marco Rubio. We, of course, have been at the forefront of this terrible tragedy that is going on in Puerto Rico, and I want to comment on that. prgtoken By the way, speaking of bipartisanship, there is a good example. Senator Rubio and I, when our State was hit by Irma, spent 3 days, going around together, showing that we were shoulder to shoulder trying to help Floridians overcome the tragedy that had just befallen them. We dished out food together. We went and surveyed the floods. We went into the poor, little cities. We went and thanked university students who had rescued the elderly, the frail, when they were abandoned. We went all across the State. The day after the storm, we went first into the Keys to see the destruction there. Senator Rubio and I have been joined at the hip. prgtoken When it comes to looking at what is happening in Puerto Rico, it is pretty obvious. Last week, a week had passed since the storm. In fact, the supplies were stacking up, but they were stacking up in the ports. They were not able to get out into the interior of the island. The two of us were pretty strong in our words; that you have to get the most capable organization in to do that when in fact it is almost like combat conditions, and that is the U.S. military. prgtoken Finally, Wednesday night of last week, they sent me a three-star general who started to get it organized. Now we are seeing it distributed out, but it is going to take more because it is an island that is just absolutely devastated. It is going to take a long time to recover, and it is going to take a lot more money. prgtoken Remember, these are our fellow American citizens. We saw the devastation in Florida. Now the continuing hardship is being tolled in Puerto Rico. It is a population where half are without drinking water, only 5 percent--and this is 2 weeks after the storm--of the electricity grid is restored, and cash is in short supply. prgtoken Whereas, in Florida we saw the flooded streets, the downed trees, the crushed cars, the flipped over mobile homes, limited access to critical supplies like gasoline. Property damage was everywhere, and it was the entire State. What we are seeing is--multiply that many fold, and that is what we are seeing in Puerto Rico. prgtoken We are working on a supplemental funding bill. Remember that right after the first storm in Texas, we passed a $15 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill. That is going to run out within the next few days so we have to have another supplemental funding bill. prgtoken As you can imagine, now it is not just Texas and Florida, but it is the Virgin Islands, it is Puerto Rico, and there are some other States as well. We are going to need to help the people cover the cost of recovery, and we are going to need to jump-start the local economy in those areas hardest hit by the storms. prgtoken Today I am going to intr
MUNICIPAL FINANCE SUPPORT ACT OF 2017
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-3

such time as I may consume, and I thank Mr. Messer for his leadership on this legislation. prgtoken He is absolutely correct. He worked very closely with Mrs. Maloney. This is a bipartisan bill. He correctly stated that we do sometimes get together and work on issues in ways that we can be helpful, not only to our constituents in general but to cities and towns. We have talked an awful lot about wanting to improve our infrastructures, and this is one way that it certainly can be done. prgtoken I would like to point out again the Federal Reserve's role in this because of the way that they recognized the problem and what they did to adopt a correction to the problem. So this bill again, as amended, takes the relief adopted by the Federal Reserve. prgtoken Again, this is a case where we had Members who understood this problem, moved forward on it, and recognized that the Federal Reserve also recognized the problem. When you have several entities who have recognized a problem, it certainly makes good sense and good public policy for everybody to come together to correct it. So with the Federal Reserve having come forward and adopting this relief, it means that it is extended to banks regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. prgtoken Again, I wish I could say that every city in the United States would benefit from it, but not all will. Not all need it. But for those who do, I think it is important for us to recognize that when we have the opportunity to come together and to help any part of our country, and when it is very easy to do so, I think we should do it. So I am very pleased that we have been able to do that. prgtoken , I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), who is the lead ic cosponsor of this bill.
HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. FLINT
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-3

I rise to celebrate the life of Mr. Mitchell Flint--a beloved husband, father, and former U.S. Navy fighter pilot--who passed away on September 16, 2017, at the age of 94. prgtoken Mitchell Flint was born on June 27, 1923, in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended Westport High School, where he took part in the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, graduating with honors. His father, Harry, was also a decorated U.S. fighter during World War I and introduced Mitchell to his lifelong love of flying. prgtoken Mitchell enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 18 to serve as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy's World War II effort. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp under the command of Admiral John S. McCain Sr. and earned three Air Medals and eight Navy Unit Commendations. After six years of service in the U.S. Navy, he continued flying for sixteen years in the United States Navy Reserve, ultimately achieving the rank of Commander. prgtoken Inspired by his Jewish heritage and the plight of Europe's Holocaust survivors, Mitchell then volunteered as an American fighter pilot in Israel's first aviation unit that fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was one of the founding members of the Israeli Air Force's first fighter squadron and helped train Israel's first military pilots. In 1949, he flew in Israel's First Independence Day Parade and for the first time Israel's entire fighter squadron of 12 fighter planes got in the sky at the same time, led by future Israeli President Ezer Witzman. Mitchell pulled up the rear and was the last plane from his squadron to fly over that day. Prophetically, Mitchell was the last living pilot of that group of flyers. prgtoken After his military service, Mitchell moved to Los Angeles, attended law school at UCLA, and became an attorney while continuing to fly. He practiced law for nearly 60 years and was the President of the Hollywood Bar Association. At the age of 90, Mitchell was honored by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during ceremonies recognizing the 65th anniversary of the birth of Israel. prgtoken Mitchell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce, and sons, Michael and Guy, whom I hope take comfort in the way Mitchell lived his life as a patriotic, selfless and caring Veteran who served his nation and its ally, Israel. May his memory be a blessing to us all.
TRIBUTE TO RAINER WEISS, KIP S. THORNE, AND BARRY C. BARISH
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-3

today the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics to Rainer Weiss, Kip S. Thorne, and Barry C. Barish for ``decisive contributions'' to the observation of gravitational waves. This landmark discovery marks a giant leap forward in human knowledge, and I salute these Americans on their honor. prgtoken Over 100 years ago, Albert Einstein predicted that massive objects and energy could distort space-time. In order to detect these ``ripples'' in the fabric of space and time, known as gravitational waves, scientists worked over many years to develop the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO. prgtoken On September 14, 2015, scientists working at LIGO detected a ``chirp''--a ripple in space-time. What was observed because of LIGO was the result of two massive black holes merging together over 1.3 billion light years away. This breakthrough discovery means that we now have an entirely new way of observing the universe. prgtoken This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr. Weiss, Dr. Thorne, and Dr. Barish, along with the countless scientists who helped with the project, including the National Science Foundation. prgtoken Two of the distinguished recipients hail from my home State. Dr. Thorne and Dr. Barish are professors at the California Institute of Technology, and I am proud of the role that Cal Tech played in making this discovery possible. I also recognize Dr. Weiss, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, for his achievement. prgtoken On behalf of all Californians, I commend these physicists on a well- deserved honor and for all that they have done to push our knowledge of the universe forward. Let us hope that this discovery will continue to expand the horizon of human knowledge and lead to new efforts in humanity's never-ending quest for enlightenment. prgtoken Again, I congratulate these three distinguished Americans and their families on this remarkable discovery and prestigious award.
TRIBUTE TO TIMUEL D. BLACK, JR.
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-10-3

sometimes, when I am asked to describe my politics, I say, ``I believe in the Gospel of Saints Paul''--Paul the Apostle, Paul Douglas, Paul Simon, and Paul Wellstone. prgtoken Paul the Apostle was, of course, one of the most important figures in the history of the early Christian Church. Paul Douglas, Paul Simon, and Paul Wellstone were Members of this Senate and champions of human rights and human dignity. prgtoken This Friday, another champion of human rights and human dignity--Dr. Timuel Black--will honored by Citizen Action Illinois with its ninth annual Pauls Award, named for Paul Simon and Paul Wellstone. prgtoken I am lucky enough to have been friends with both Pauls--Simon and Wellstone. I am sure that they would have approved heartily of the decision to honor Dr. Black with an award bearing their names. prgtoken Dr. Timuel Black is a decorated World War II veteran, an educator, author, labor leader, civil rights activist, and historian--and a bender of the moral arc of the universe. He is a visionary and--for me and so many others--a personal hero. prgtoken Timuel Black was born in 1918, in Birmingham, AL--the son of a sharecropper and the grandson of slaves. prgtoken He was 8 months old when his family moved to Chicago--the first wave of the great migration of African Americans from the Deep South to the North. They settled in a part of town called the Black Belt, now known as Bronzeville. prgtoken He attended DuSable High School, a legendary all-Black public high school, where his classmates included Nat King Cole and John Johnson, who would go on to found Jet and Ebony magazines. prgtoken On his 23rd birthday, Japan bombed U.S. Navy ships at Pearl Harbor. prgtoken He served 2 years in a segregated U.S. Army. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the invasion of Normandy and the liberation of Paris, and he earned four battle stars. prgtoken He thought he had seen the worst of World War II--then he witnessed what had happened at Buchenwald, the Nazi concentration camp. prgtoken The horrors that he witnessed at that death camp changed his life. prgtoken For a time, he was filled with despair. Then he resolved to spend the rest of his life doing whatever he could to advance the causes of human rights and human dignity. prgtoken He returned to Chicago and earned an undergraduate degree from Roosevelt University and a master's degree from the University of Chicago. prgtoken He helped establish the Congress of Racial Equality. He also helped found a labor union that helped me work my way through college: the United Packinghouse Workers of America. prgtoken He began his professional career as a social worker, but he quickly discovered that his real love was ``teaching young men and women about the world they live in and how to be responsible citizens of that world.'' prgtoken He spent more than 40 years as a teacher, including positions at DuSable and other Chicago public schools, as well as Roosevelt
The Budget and Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-10-3

we need tax reform that helps small businesses close these tax loopholes that are taking jobs overseas. Instead, we need to create those jobs at home. We need tax reform that puts money in the pockets of middle-class families in Michigan and all across the country, and we need an American budget that shows what we value as Americans. prgtoken Too often, we think of budgets as sterile numbers on a spreadsheet. In reality, budgets are about people. They are about the middle-class Cass City parents who are sitting down to do their taxes and feeling as if it is they, not the wealthiest 1 percent, who are carrying the heaviest burden. They are about helping small business owners in Pontiac, MI, family farmers in Cadillac, and Michigan companies that are creating good-paying jobs. They are also about ensuring that the most vulnerable among us--our children, senior citizens, people with disabilities--are valued and protected. prgtoken We cannot consider a budget without considering people. Will it help middle-class families thrive? Will it help small business owners grow? Will it help protect people who cannot protect themselves? Unfortunately, the budget and tax plan suggest that we do not value people, plain and simple. prgtoken There are 47 million Americans who depend on Medicare--seniors and people with disabilities. Yet the budget resolution we will be considering tomorrow in the Budget Committee will cut $473 billion from Medicare. For the low-income children, parents, seniors in nursing homes, and people with disabilities who depend on Medicaid, in that budget resolution, Medicaid would be cut by $1 trillion. prgtoken We just went through this debate twice in efforts to gut healthcare, to gut Medicaid, which would take away healthcare from tens of millions of people. The American people said no, and the Senate said no--twice. Yet we are right back again. Here they go again on the budget resolution, putting forward huge--even bigger--cuts in Medicaid. This time, it is not just Medicaid, it is Medicare, which was not in the last two proposals that we rejected, because they hurt too many people by taking away their healthcare. prgtoken Now we have a budget resolution that will be coming to the floor of the Senate. I am assuming they will have enough votes. They certainly will not have mine or those of my ic colleagues, but if every in committee votes for it, we will have on the floor a budget resolution that will cut Medicare by $473 billion and Medicaid by $1 trillion. prgtoken Why is that being done? It is being done to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. In fact, 80 percent of the tax cuts would go to the top 1 percent. It would be 80 percent who would receive a cut of about $200,000 a year--a cut. The majority of people in Michigan do not make $200,000 a year, but this would be a tax cut of $200,000 a year, on average. This is not what I was talking abo
PROTECTING GIRLS' ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN VULNERABLE SETTINGS ACT
Albio Sires (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-10-3

I rise in support of this measure, and as much time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to thank our chairman on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, and our ranking member, Eliot Engel, as well as the authors of this bill, Mr. Chabot of Ohio and Ms. Kelly of Illinois. Both of these Members have worked hard on the bill to expand access to education around the world. I agree with them that this is an important priority for our foreign policy. prgtoken When children are able to get basic education, it pays massive dividends down the road. Those girls and boys grow up with great opportunity, and they play a bigger role in their economies and their communities. prgtoken We have seen research that, when children can learn about certain issues like nonviolent civic engagement, support for violence drops. That adds up to stronger and more stable countries and better partners for the United States. prgtoken Children belong in a classroom, , no matter where they happen to be born, but in too many places, that access just doesn't exist. What happens then? prgtoken We know in places like the Middle East, in north Africa, violent extremists are happy to fill in the void, to recruit and indoctrinate the next generation with their hateful and violent ideology. This problem is especially acute among refugees of displaced populations. prgtoken , 3.7 million schoolchildren under the U.N. refugee agency's mandate have no school to go to. Some countries are trying to tackle this challenge, like Lebanon, where the government has taken steps to enroll Syrian refugees in schools, but the need is just too great. Out of 500,000 school-age refugees, nearly half are out of school. prgtoken This bill aims to help address those really desperate situations. It calls for the USAID to ramp up access to these children, and particularly young girls. It will help us gather more data to assist government and NGOs that are also grappling with this problem, and it authorizes the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator to prioritize this issue, to work with multilateral organizations, and to seek out partners in the private sector and civil society that will bring innovative new approaches to expanding access to education. This bill will put more young girls in the classroom in places around the world where this help is badly needed. I am glad to support it. prgtoken , .
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-10-3

first, the Nation continues to reel from the awful events of Sunday night in Las Vegas--the most deadly mass shooting in modern American history. It has gotten even deadlier in the last 24 hours, with 59 dead and 527 injured--some wounded by gunfire, some injured because they were trampled in the chaos. There were 22,000 concertgoers who fled for their lives from the scene. The police found 23 guns in the hotel room of the monster who committed this atrocity and 19 more at his home. Some of them had been modified to cause even more carnage. prgtoken Of course, as always, the beauty of the American people and the first responders pulled through. I saw on TV today a man who had been shot. Two young women came and risked their lives while those shots were going. They took off his belt and tied a tourniquet around his upper thigh because he was bleeding profusely from his leg. They saved his life. He said he will never know who they are, but they saved his life. That story, I am sure, will be repeated over and over again. The valor, the bravery of the average American and the greatness of our first responders is the only counterpoint to the evil, the carnage, the horror we have all witnessed. prgtoken We cannot banish evil or madness from the Earth, but we sure can do what we can in our power to make our country a safer place. We need commonsense reforms, and these reforms have broad public support. prgtoken In the face of tens of thousands of gun deaths every year, too many s in Congress have tried to enact the dream agenda of the NRA and the gun lobby. They have pursued a national concealed carry law. Can you imagine if that were to have passed? This horrible man could have concealed carry under the laws of Nevada and gone to Times Square in New York City or to Walt Disney World in Florida and just shot away. prgtoken Most of our police organizations are against this concealed carry bill. In light of the carnage, in knowing of the evil that exists, with the power of evil magnified by guns and automatic weapons, how can we try to pursue it? prgtoken What about gun silencers? There is a move actually in this Congress-- it is in the House right now, and I am sure it has support on the other side of the aisle in the Senate--to make it easier for citizens to acquire silencers. Why? Let me tell you something. One of the few ways the police had to go after the shooter was trying to hear the sound of where the guns were coming from. prgtoken Thank God our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have pulled back on this bill. It is not the first time. They had to postpone a hearing on the bill when the congressional baseball team was attacked during an early morning practice. When two mass shootings force you to delay a bill that would make those mass shootings harder to detect and stop, maybe it is a sign that you ought to let go of the bill once and for all. prgtoken Of course, we have this abs