mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2018-5-9

throughout Military Appreciation Month, I join with my fellow Americans to remember the brave servicemen and -women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation and to honor the servicemembers who are still answering the call to duty today. prgtoken New Mexico is the proud home of over 16,000 patriotic servicemembers, who operate the premier military installations at Kirtland, Cannon, and Holloman Air Force Bases, and the Army's White Sands Missile Range. prgtoken Thank you for all that you do to keep our country safe and safeguard the freedoms and values that we all cherish. prgtoken I also want to recognize the devoted spouses, children, sisters, brothers, and parents of our men and women in uniform for their unending support. This month is dedicated to their service as well. prgtoken I hope everyone in this Chamber and those watching at home will take the time to thank a servicemember and their loved ones who continue to sacrifice so much for our country.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today on behalf of every family struggling to pay rent, every student facing homelessness, and every city that is seeing historic communities displaced. prgtoken We are facing an affordable housing crisis, and we cannot ignore this epidemic. Over 38 million families struggle to pay rent and put food on the table every day because they spend more than a third of their income on housing. Now, in my district, in the East Bay in northern California, the average renter in Oakland would be forced to spend a staggering--mind you, staggering--70 percent of their income on housing if they were to move today. That is 70 percent. Clearly, the affordable housing crisis is off the scale in my district. prgtoken In April, I sent an email to my constituents asking for their stories and suggestions on how to address this very important issue. Today I would like to share just a few of those stories which really touched my heart. prgtoken One woman shared how, being unable to afford a place to live, she had to put herself in harm's way to have shelter. She said: I stayed in an unsafe and shared housing situation much longer than I would have had I been able to find an affordable place to move. I have found a place now but no longer have any disposable income. I worry that an unexpected event could lead to being unhoused. I have many friends who are single mothers with children who are sleeping in cars or bouncing from couch to couch. prgtoken The housing crisis has also taken a devastating toll on seniors in my district. One woman wrote: Many of my longtime friends and acquaintances have been forced to move out of the State. My husband and I have lived in an old place for a long time, and the rent is relatively low; but the building may be sold, and I don't know what we would do. I am a cancer survivor and fear moving out of the State would make me lose my health insurance. I would also have a hard time finding a new job at 62. We have applied at numerous senior housing apartments, but all have long waiting lists. prgtoken These stories also highlighted the impact of the housing crisis on public sector workers and students in our community. prgtoken One gentleman wrote: As a teacher, I cannot afford to stay in Oakland. Home ownership is out of the question. Even as a dedicated public servant, I can't afford to work in urban schools in the Bay area. prgtoken A former student wrote me: I had to withdraw from classes at UC Berkeley so I could find stable housing and enough income to afford my monthly rent. prgtoken , our community, our country, cannot function without nurses, teachers, or young people living in decent affordable housing. We need to solve this crisis before it is too late. These stories represent just a small number of the responses I received. I heard from many constituents who are delaying having children and passing up opportunities to open a business or switch careers because they cannot afford to mov
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3053, NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2018-5-9

if today's vote on the previous question fails, we have the opportunity to vote on my amendment, the Jobs, Not Waste amendment, a proactive and innovative proposal to turn Yucca Mountain into something useful, a project that would create jobs without threatening the health and safety of Nevadans and other Americans across this country. prgtoken My amendment would prohibit the Department of Energy from moving forward with its current plan to ship nuclear waste by truck and rail through 329 congressional districts to Yucca Mountain until the Federal Government considers a number of other job-creating alternatives, including defense activities, like a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems, scientific research, the development of a secure electronic data center, or renewable energy generation. prgtoken One of the arguments I regularly hear from proponents of Yucca Mountain is that it will create jobs and that we have already invested billions in building a repository at this sight. Well, I am here to say that we can still create jobs without having to take on monumental health and safety risks that come with transporting over 100,000 metric tons of hazardous and lethal nuclear waste. prgtoken Congress should have the opportunity to vote on my amendment because it would give Members a chance to find a smart, strategic solution that repurposes this dangerous and costly project. This amendment gives us an opportunity to convert Yucca Mountain into a facility that could still provide economic opportunity, drive innovation, and create new, good-paying jobs. prgtoken Relaunching the failed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storing experiment will also cost the taxpayers an additional $80 billion to complete, minimum. Let me repeat that: $80 billion, minimum. prgtoken Instead of spending billions more of hard-earned taxpayer dollars on the project that is destined to fail, that will inevitably put Nevada families and your families in your districts at risk, let us consider these forward-thinking opportunities. prgtoken I strongly urge you to do what is smart and fiscally responsible, what is right for the health and safety of all of our constituents, by making my amendment in order. I therefore ask all Members to vote ``no'' on the previous question.
HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE ZELL MILLER
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-5-9

I thank my friend Buddy Carter for yielding to me. prgtoken For the record, I want it to be known that it was he who called me yesterday to find out what color suit and tie I was going to wear. prgtoken , I rise today to pay tribute to a great Georgian and a great American, former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller, who died at the age of 86 in March. prgtoken He was a north Georgia mountain boy of humble beginnings, who was raised by a single parent after his daddy died when he was just 2 weeks old. He was raised in a house that his momma built with her own hands. prgtoken Former Presidents, Governors, and dignitaries from all over the country and the world have honored Mr. Miller, who launched the State's HOPE Scholarship and led Georgia into the 21st century. prgtoken He was a true statesman, who served Georgia and his country as, first, a United States Marine, then as mayor of Young , later serving as a State senator, thereafter as Lieutenant Governor, and then as Governor, and finally as United States Senator. prgtoken Zell Miller dedicated his life to public service. He was a man physically compact and a bit short, but he walked tall and he walked strong, and he left a towering legacy. prgtoken A small town mountain boy from the little town of Young , Zell Miller made a big impact on the affairs of Georgia and, indeed, the affairs of the Nation. prgtoken Zell Miller left a huge impact on Georgia's judicial system. He literally changed the face of the State bench. prgtoken I include in the Record an article I found of particular interest from the Fulton County Daily Report, dated March 23, 2018, by managing editor Jonathan Ringel. The article is entitled, ``The Late Zell Miller Diversified the Bench.'' The Late Zell Miller Diversified the Bench (By Jonathan Ringel, March 23, 2018) The news today that former Georgia governor and U.S. senator Zell Miller has died at age 86 prompts us to look back on the mark he left on Georgia's legal system--that of being the first governor to appoint a large number of minorities and women to judgeships. As a staff reporter here, I wrote the following article, which was published Dec. 28, 1998, a few days before the end of his eight-year tenure as governor. The Zell Miller Legacy: Diversity on the Bench When he leaves office next month, Gov. Zell Miller will have appointed 37 percent of Georgia's 287 trial and appellate court judges. Those numbers include four of the 10 judges now on the state Court of Appeals and five of the seven state Supreme Court justices. Moreover, Miller changed the face of the state's bench, carrying out his pledge to concentrate on diversity. Twenty-five of Miller's appointments have been black. Forty-two have been women. Eleven have been both, meaning he has added 56 black and fem
Net Neutrality (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-5-9

I am honored to be here today to join Senator Markey to talk about the importance of strong internet neutrality protections. He also came to Minnesota this past month and was able to meet with a number of our small businesses, including a woman who started a business making children's clothes and who saw growth because of the internet. He met people who never would have had that opportunity if we didn't have net neutrality. prgtoken Today we took a major step forward on this issue by forcing the Senate to hold a vote on legislation to save net neutrality. I believe, in the end, we will have the votes to get this done. prgtoken It will send an important message that the internet should remain free, open, and equal to all who use it. It will then be considered, we would hope, by the House because our goal is to actually get this done. Why? Because net neutrality is the bedrock of a fair, fast, open, and global internet. It holds internet service providers accountable for providing the internet access consumers expect while protecting innovation and competition. prgtoken It is also one reason the internet has become one of the great American success stories, transforming not only how we communicate with family and friends but also the way companies do business, how consumers buy goods, and how we educate our kids. prgtoken At its best, it is an equalizing force because it means kids on Tribal lands in Minnesota or kids that are in extreme rural areas are going to be able to access the same classes as people in urban areas. prgtoken It means that a small business in Ada, MN, is going to be able to sell their goods on the internet just like one of our big companies in the Twin Cities, like Target or Best Buy. It is an equalizing force. prgtoken Earlier this year, the FCC approved Chairman Pai's plan, unfortunately, to eliminate net neutrality protections. Despite the millions of comments from the American people asking the FCC to protect a fair and open internet--not to mention a half million comments from Russian emails--the FCC voted in December to move forward with Chairman Pai's plan to end net neutrality. prgtoken Under Chairman Pai's plan, the FCC gives major internet service providers the ability to significantly change consumers' experiences online. Big internet service providers may soon be able to block, slow, and prioritize web traffic for their own financial gain. They could begin sorting online traffic into fast or slow lanes and charging consumers extra for high-speed broadband. Internet service providers could even block content they don't want their subscribers to access because they would prefer other content that might benefit them financially. prgtoken The only protections maintained under the proposed order are requirements for service providers to disclose their internet traffic policies. But for consumers with only one choice for internet service, like so many in my rural areas in
Net Neutrality (Executive Calendar)
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-5-9

I join my colleagues, Senators Markey, Wyden, and Hassan, on the floor to add my name to a resolution to overturn the FCC's decision, which is ill-advised and very wrong as it relates to growing an innovation economy. prgtoken The internet is one of our most important national economic drivers. In 2017, our internet economy produced more than $1 trillion in output and created nearly 200,000 new jobs. In my State, Washington, it has provided a platform for new innovation across many platforms and applications. As a result, 13 percent of our economy is based on innovation and technology. This economic activity supports 250,000 jobs. To say that the FCC's stymieing of the internet is acceptable is fighting words for the State of Washington. prgtoken From increasing access to healthcare, such as telemedicine, to making sure we find more affordable healthcare, to reforestation after natural disasters--the internet is providing great tools and solutions for all of these things. prgtoken Last week, several companies from my State joined me in expressing opposition to the FCC and calling on Congress to pass this congressional resolution sponsored by my colleague Senator Markey and all of the . These companies know this resolution is important. prgtoken Redfin, an internet company based in Seattle, is trying to address new ways of doing real estate business. It is a full-service real estate online tool that has helped save $400 million in how we process home sales. prgtoken Another company, Deja vu Security, spoke about how, if you really want to be great on attacking cyber intrusion, you need to know when it happens, not after the fact or after a 20-minute delay because you are not paying the highest rates. prgtoken Seattle-based DroneSeed uses drone technology to help reforest lands after natural disasters. prgtoken All of those companies joined me in saying that they wanted to see the FCC's actions overturned and that they wanted this resolution to pass. Why? Because they know this is a big part of our economy. prgtoken Tech innovators got to where they are by having an open internet and a level playing field. This really is about cable versus the internet. It is about big cable companies that want to charge more to consumers and businesses versus startups and individuals who want access to these new applications. prgtoken Just three big cable companies control access to the internet for 70 percent of Americans, and over the past decade, the prices that Americans pay these kinds of companies have risen almost twice as fast as inflation. What the FCC is doing is giving cable companies the ability to raise your rates even more. That is what this debate is all about. prgtoken I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will at least take a chance and look at this and understand that by giving all of that power to three big cable companies, they are going to charge more for internet access;
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-5-9

competition is the lifeblood of the American economy. Competition is what makes capitalism work. It is competition that has established the United States as the world's dominant economic force for over a century. prgtoken American competition is driven by innovation. We created the light bulb, the automobile, and the internet. prgtoken We all know that the internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, learn, and do business. A free and open internet allows students in Houghton, Lancing, and Mount Pleasant to access research and to collaborate internationally. A free and open internet allows startups in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint to reach customers across the globe. A free and open internet allows a small bed and breakfast in Traverse City or Muskegon to reach millions of potential guests that they couldn't otherwise reach. prgtoken While the internet has been a potent force for innovation and economic growth in recent decades, our economy has been facing some serious headwinds. I am deeply concerned that we are seeing increased business consolidation--big firms are getting bigger--and we are seeing fewer new small businesses and startups. A recent study found that across 900 different industries, over two-thirds have become more concentrated in the past decade. The formation of new companies is falling. The number of jobs created by new businesses has fallen, even as our workforce has grown. prgtoken We have seen a large national internet service provider acquire a similarly large media company. We have recently seen the largest online retailer acquire one of our Nation's most successful grocery chains. Now we are seeing two of the four largest wireless carriers making preparations to merge. prgtoken Certainly, consolidations and mergers are a part of our economy, but we need rules of the road to level the playing field, to help small businesses and startups to compete, and to drive innovation. This is exactly why we need net neutrality. prgtoken Net neutrality protections prevented internet service providers from blocking, slowing, or prioritizing web traffic for their own financial gain. Without net neutrality, we could be subject to a two-tiered internet. Without net neutrality, large corporations, which keep getting larger and larger, can pay for a fast lane and buy the power to slow down or to block content. Without net neutrality, consumers, small businesses, and startups can be forced into the slow lane. Simply put, net neutrality keeps America competitive. prgtoken Unfortunately, net neutrality is under attack by the administration. In December, the FCC voted to repeal crucial net neutrality protections, despite the fact that 86 percent of Americans wanted the rules to stay in place. The decision to scrap these net neutrality protections is anti-consumer, anti-innovation, and anti- competitive. It disadvantages small businesses, startups, and families all across our coun
MARCH FOR OUR LIVES STUDENT SPEECHES
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-5-9

on March 24, I was in Morristown, New Jersey, with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikie Sherrill, where we attended the March for Our Lives. prgtoken The March for Our Lives was organized by students around the country to speak out against gun violence and call for action in Congress to strengthen our gun laws. This march came just days after a deadly shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary's County in my district, and it came in the wake of horrific incidents of mass gun violence at a school in Parkland, Florida, and at places of worship, entertainment, and even public streets across the country. prgtoken Congress can and should act. Nine in ten Americans, 90 percent of our fellow citizens, believe we ought to do so. We have the ability right now to strengthen background checks and ban the kinds of assault weapons that make our communities unsafe. prgtoken Law enforcement wants us to get this done. So do parents and so do teachers. In Morristown, we heard directly from students, nine of whom spoke at the march that Ms. Sherrill and I attended. I was moved by their words. prgtoken Because they are too long to insert here together, , I will be submitting these students' speeches individually into the Congressional Record in the coming days. But today, let me just share with you some excerpts from each of them that capture the spirit of the march and the fears and hopes of these young Americans. prgtoken One student, Bella Bhimani, summed it up very well, and she said this: ``All we want is to make the world safer, which is something, I think, everyone can agree on.'' Would that that were true, . prgtoken Another, Caitlyn Dempsey, said this: ``We have been learning that actions speak louder than words since kindergarten. So we walked out. So we've written our Congressmen. So we planned this march.'' They took action. prgtoken Senior Isabella Bosrock from West Morris Mendham High School lamented: ``It is horrible that as adolescents we have become used to the idea that gun violence is a method of dealing with our problems.'' prgtoken Another student, Mia Paone, a sophomore at Chatham High School, declared: ``I am not old enough to vote yet, but I am old enough to speak out against gun violence.'' She concluded: ``I will not be silent.'' prgtoken Nile Burch, a student at Morristown High School, shared his hope that: ``Piece by piece, we will inspire other students to gain the courage to stand up for what they believe in.'' What a lesson for all of us. prgtoken Luna Aguilar declared: `` . . . we, the youth, the future of our country, are deciding--right here, right now--that our lives are worth more than the right to own an assault weapon.'' prgtoken One of the students, Benjamin Douglas, spoke about how he rides with Team 26, a group of cyclists who ride in memory of the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School where so many children and teachers lost their lives. They stop along the way to raise awareness of
RELEASE OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN NORTH KOREA
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-5-9

secondly, I would like to address the news this morning that Secretary of State Pompeo will be returning from North Korea with the three Americans who were held there against their will. We are all glad to see them returning home. Their families are delighted. We are all delighted. prgtoken Let's not forget, this is not some great give on North Korea's part. We cannot forget that no regime has the right to hold American citizens in captivity without cause. Under no circumstances should American citizens be viewed as bargaining chips by foreign capitals. I hope President and Secretary Pompeo are clear about that because the same goes for other countries wrongly detaining Americans--Iran, China. If countries in the world think they can detain Americans and get something in return, we will see many more hostages. prgtoken So we are all rooting for the diplomacy with North Korea to succeed and, in that respect, I urge the administration to work with our allies with a coordinated and considered strategy to see if we can denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but the hostages shouldn't be part of it. We are happy they have returned, but North Korea shouldn't gain by taking Americans and then releasing them.