mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MEDIA IGNORES DONATION TO ANTI-COP GROUP
Lamar Smith (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-10-11

you may have heard of Colin Kaepernick, the football quarterback who started ``the kneel'' to protest the national anthem at NFL games. He was the originator of the resistance movement in the NFL against police officers. But you likely haven't heard that he donated $25,000 to a group that was named after a convicted cop killer. prgtoken Neither national broadcast stations nor major daily newspapers reported the donation to an organization honoring Assata Shakur, who escaped prison and fled to Cuba after being found guilty in the 1973 murder of police officer Werner Foerster. Assata is currently on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list. prgtoken Why did the liberal national media think this story was not newsworthy? Do they agree with Kaepernick? Do they approve of contributions to organizations named after cop killers? prgtoken The liberal national media seems to have a grudge against law enforcement and patriotism, as well as religion and traditional values, based on their lack of fair coverage of those subjects. This might explain why the media's credibility is at a record low.
THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Stephen Knight (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-10-11

I want to thank the chairman for his hard work and for his leadership, and I want to thank my partner in this, Congresswoman Murphy, for her cosponsoring of this bill and for her work on this important piece of legislation. prgtoken A 21st century military requires a 21st century acquisition process, one that is agile, efficient, and effective. I represent California's 25th District, and nowhere will you find a more exemplary place that demonstrates the important role that small businesses play in both our aerospace and defense industrial base. prgtoken I see firsthand the innovative effect small businesses make and how they can positively impact government functioning. prgtoken The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer--SBIR and STTR--programs are critical to this impact. Now that these programs have been reauthorized until 2022, it is important that we continue to focus on spurring innovation. prgtoken That is why I introduced H.R. 2763, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Improvements Act of 2017. My bill reinforces agency accountability by requiring the Small Business Administration to provide Congress with better information and reasonable, hard deadlines. It clarifies congressional intent of the previous authorization to ensure that taxpayers reap the benefits of SBIR and STTR programs by tying them to long-term projects at the DOD. It also allows participating agencies to establish a new, separate commercialization assistance pilot program and extends three popular pilot programs through FY 2022, when the full program will need a full reauthorization. prgtoken With the use of SBIR and STTR programs, we can increase small business participation in the defense and aerospace industry while tapping into the true potential their American innovative spirit represents. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2763, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Improvements Act.
NATIONAL CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION ACT
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-10-11

today I rise in support of S. 920, the National Clinical Care Commission Act, sponsored by Senator Shaheen. prgtoken This legislation has been around for a while. It has been championed in the House by our good friend and fellow Texan, Representative Pete Olson, as H.R. 309. This bill has strong bipartisan support. It passed this House unanimously earlier this year. prgtoken Diabetes and other endocrine disorders have been a great cost burden on Medicare and, in fact, our Nation's healthcare system in general. Thirty million Americans have diabetes, 84 million Americans have prediabetes, and three out of four Americans on Medicare have diabetes or prediabetes. And $1 out of every $3 Medicare spends is spent on diabetes. prgtoken This bill will establish a clinical care commission to evaluate and recommend solutions for better coordination and use of Federal programs aimed at improving care for people with diabetes and other related endocrine disorders. This commission will be tasked with identifying gaps where new approaches are needed, eliminating duplication across Federal agencies, and leveraging the Federal resources and tools available to enhance the quality of patient care. prgtoken I am confident their work will improve the lives of tens of millions of Americans living with diabetes and with other endocrine disorders while beginning the process of reducing the staggering impact of these diseases. prgtoken , I certainly want to thank and commend our colleague, Representative Pete Olson, for spearheading this important initiative. I want to thank him for bringing it to the floor of the House as many times as he has. This has been a lengthy process, but today, with the passage of this bill, we are voting on final passage, and this bill will be sent to the President's desk for signature Mr. Olson's long and arduous journey now will be completed with the passage of this bill, and we should all look forward to that.
NATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-10-11

next week is National Forest Products Week, which the Nation observes from October 15 through October 21. Each year since 1960, our Nation has celebrated the achievements of the forest product manufacturers and organizations throughout this country. prgtoken The forest products industry is an integral part of U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 States. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this industry is home to 265 wood products, paper, and packaging manufacturing facilities that make more than $16 million in products, annually, and contribute nearly $3 million to State and local economies through wages and compensation. More than 53,600 hardworking men and women in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are employed by the forest products industry. prgtoken Forest products continue to meet the evolving needs of people across the country and around the world. The forest products industry directly employs about 900,000 people and supports 2.4 million jobs. It is 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion, annually, and manufactures almost $240 billion in products every year. prgtoken One-third of the United States is forested--751 million acres. Privately owned forests supply 91 percent of the wood harvested in the United States; State and Tribal forests supply approximately 6 percent; and Federal forests supply only 2 percent of the wood used by the forest products industry. More than 56 percent of U.S. forests are privately owned, much of it by family forest owners who manage their lands to provide value to future generations. prgtoken The industry has tremendous impact on our environment, too. A single tree can absorb more than 10 pounds of CO2 each year. In the United States, forests and forest products store enough carbon to offset approximately 12 percent of the Nation's CO2 emissions. prgtoken Forest products play a valuable role in the life of every American every day. Two-thirds of the Nation's drinking water comes from forests. From paper and packaging to wood products, tissue and other personal care items, these products are at the heart of modern life and a modern economy. prgtoken Paper products allow us to communicate, teach, and learn. They provide safe packaging for goods and consumables, as well as personal hygiene and cleanliness. Wood products provide shelter and necessary components of daily life. prgtoken , because the industry plays such an important role in the life of everyday Americans, in 1960, Congress designated the third week in October as National Forest Products Week. Next week, the country celebrates with events and advocacy campaigns to mark that occasion I wholeheartedly join those across the Nation who applaud the forest products industry for its many contributions.
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-10-11

after a decade of inadequate economic growth across America, there is new growing optimism that our economy is about to be set free again. Consumer confidence in the economy is the highest it has been since 2000. Why? I believe this is because the American people expect us to reform our broken Tax Code, and they are excited about it. prgtoken Our outdated and overly complex Tax Code has held our economy down for the past decade. It is time we fix this and empower working families in America. prgtoken Real tax reform will be the best way to help America climb up the economic ladder. A stronger economy will bring higher wages and better jobs. The goal is to make our Federal Code simple and to make it fair. prgtoken The Tax Code, as it is, only benefits the rich and well-connected who can prgtoken hire an army of lawyers to protect their interests. This is why s are looking to enact real reform for all Americans. The argument against tax reform is this: the plan is just a tax cut for the rich. prgtoken The reality is, this tax reform framework is focused on helping middle class families. The tax system is laid out by s that allows low- and middle-income workers to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks in order to save for their children's college, for their retirement, or any other things that they want. prgtoken I implore my colleagues across the aisle to do what is right and help to fix our antiquated Tax Code.
NIST SMALL BUSINESS CYBERSECURITY ACT
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-10-11

I rise in support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Small Business Cybersecurity Act, a bill that I am proud to cosponsor. This legislation will help promote stronger cybersecurity practices amongst our Nation's small businesses, and it is fiscally responsible. prgtoken The well-being of our small businesses is important to the overall health of our economy. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 55 percent of total jobs in the United States. In my home State of Nebraska, small businesses employed 390,000 people in 2016. prgtoken Some small businesses are not able to prioritize cybersecurity efforts over other aspects of their business or they lack the resources to secure their networks and systems. We must promote greater preparedness to protect small businesses from cyber attacks. prgtoken H.R. 2105 directs NIST to disseminate guidance to help small businesses identify, assess, manage, and reduce their cyber risks based off NIST's extensive expertise. This is a big step towards promoting better cybersecurity practices amongst our Nation's small businesses. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2105.
NIST SMALL BUSINESS CYBERSECURITY ACT
Daniel Webster (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-10-11

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank the leadership for giving us this time to debate this important bill. It is especially timely as October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, so taking up this bill at this time is a perfect time. We must come together to protect all businesses--large, small, and medium--from the constant threat of cyber attacks. prgtoken America's small businesses are the backbone of our economy, accounting for 54 percent of all American sales and 55 percent of American jobs. Unfortunately, small businesses are especially vulnerable, with some reports noting that 43 percent of cyber attacks specifically target them. These small businesses are more susceptible to attacks due to the limited access to the tools they need to prepare for such an event. Implementation of the NIST Framework into these small businesses will protect small business owners, their employees, and their customer base all while contributing positively to the economy. prgtoken H.R. 2105, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Small Business Cybersecurity Act, will help small businesses better address their cybersecurity risks to help them survive and thrive in the face of such adversity. prgtoken As an owner of a multigenerational family air-conditioning and heating business, I understand firsthand the importance of equipping and empowering small businesses to tackle these challenges so that they can grow and prosper. prgtoken About 10 months ago, my sons called me and said that there was a message on the screen of one of our computers that said: ``Your data has been frozen. You have been attacked.'' It had a little clock on there ticking down. ``If you don't pay a ransom by a certain time, then we will destroy your data. It is inaccessible.'' prgtoken Well, there was something we had done, fortunately--not that we do every day, but we had done several days before--which protected us from that. We were able to fix our problem and wipe it clean and get started all over. But most small businesses may or may not--including ourselves--have done that just a few days before. prgtoken Thus, I introduced H.R. 2105 with the support and cosponsorship of many of my colleagues on the committee, including Chairman Smith, Chairwoman Comstock, and Ranking Member Lipinski. prgtoken H.R. 2105 would provide small businesses in my district, State, and across the country with the tools they need to meet the threats and challenges of the modern world. prgtoken This bill describes the vital role played by small businesses in the U.S. economy, the devastating impact of cyber attacks on a majority of small businesses and large businesses and what they need to develop to specifically help themselves. prgtoken It directs the NIST Director--within a year of the act's enactment-- to disseminate clear and concise resources, which are defined as guidelines, tools, best practices, standards, methodologies, and
ALLEN COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-10-11

on Monday night, I had the privilege of attending the Allen County Right to Life's 20th annual Uniting Our City for Life Banquet. prgtoken The event was a wonderful time with fellow Hoosiers who share a common concern for the sanctity of innocent human life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. It also was a celebration of the fact that our culture increasingly is recognizing the value of human life. prgtoken A poll released last year found that a majority of young Americans support increasing restrictions that protect the unborn. Another recent poll found that 61 percent of Americans oppose using tax dollars to fund abortions. This prgtoken growing recognition that life is a precious and sacred gift is due, in large part, to the tireless efforts of organizations like Allen County Right to Life. prgtoken I want to express special thanks to Allen County Right to Life Executive Director Cathie Humbarger and Operations Director Abigail Lorenzen for all they do in northeast Indiana to promote life and defend the unborn. prgtoken I also want to congratulate Pat Miller on receiving the Daniel Award for pro-life commitment during Monday night's dinner. Throughout his career, he has been a consistent and compassionate voice for the cause of life, and there is no one more deserving of this prestigious award.
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
Ron DeSantis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-10-11

I thank my friend from North Carolina for yielding. prgtoken , if you were trying to do damage to the United States and you wanted to design a Tax Code that hindered economic growth, that diverted a lot of productive energy, that basically kept America from reaching its economic potential, you probably couldn't do much worse than designing the code that we have. prgtoken It is enormously complex--70,000 plus pages. I confess, there is no way I can do my own taxes, and I think that is true for millions and millions of Americans. There is a frustration with that, but it also costs massive amounts of money and diverts energy. We are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars that get diverted to complying with the Tax Code, and that is not optimal for economic growth. prgtoken It repels capital and incentivizes companies to relocate overseas and take jobs overseas. You see companies reincorporating in Ireland or Canada. That is because we have the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world. We are almost trying to send businesses overseas. prgtoken It doesn't allow middle class families to keep enough of the money they earn. If you look over the past decade or so, family income really hasn't risen by that much, yet the cost of living has gone up. So by taking more and more from taxes, it makes it harder for middle class families to make ends meet. prgtoken So reforming the Tax Code, doing a nice, big tax cut, I think is long overdue. It would be a boon to our economy. You would have a simple system--no more 70,000 pages. Fill out your taxes on a postcard. That not only is more economically efficient, it gives people a lot of peace of mind to know they can do their taxes themselves. It is going to incentivize us to bring all of the trillions of dollars in overseas profits, and bring it back to the United States so that we can invest it here through our companies and create more jobs here. prgtoken It will make our American businesses more competitive. Our business tax system is outdated. It is uncompetitive. This, I think, will change a lot of that by having a competitive business tax rate, and I think that that will mean more economic growth. prgtoken So I think all that is pretty obvious to most people who look at this in a fair way. The question for us now is, we have to produce this bill. We have been talking about tax reform for a long time this year, and I think that is great, but it is time right now for us to produce this bill, debate it here in the House, pass it, and send it over to the United States Senate. prgtoken I am not encouraged when, given the urgency of this, we are going on a recess next week. The House is not going to be here. You are not going to have a tax bill marked up in the Ways and Means Committee or unveiled to the public. Members are not going to be debating that. I think it is time that we do that, and I think there should be a sense of urgency with that. prgtoken W
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
Ralph Norman (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-10-11

I rise today to support the Study Committee's three promises in 3 months' pledge to repeal Care, secure the border, and enable comprehensive tax reform. prgtoken I applaud RSC's Chairman Mike Walker for his leadership on this and on this initiative. On the promises to repeal and secure, the House has begun to deliver by passing the American Health Care Act and providing $1.6 billion in border wall funding. prgtoken Tonight, I want to focus on the third promise: passing comprehensive tax reform. Our Nation's Tax Code affects every family, business, and worker and is a key driver behind America's economic competitiveness. Congress has not passed comprehensive tax reform since 1986. That is 31 years. prgtoken The average cost of a new house then in the United States was $89,430. For a new Ford F-150 pickup truck, the average price was $8,350 it has been way too long before we have taken comprehensive tax reform into consideration. prgtoken Since then, the number of pages in the IRS code has increased by nearly 50,000 pages. The corporate tax rate is at 35 percent, which is the highest in the industrialized world. Ireland's, to give you an example, is 12 percent. This is inexcusable. prgtoken Congress took an important step forward last week through passing a budget resolution, and now it is time for the Senate to do their job on the budget so that we can deliver comprehensive tax reform for the American people. prgtoken , our tax reform plan is both profamily, and proworker. The typical American family will receive a $4,000 pay raise under our plan and will turbocharge the economy through enabling gross domestic product growth to reach 3.2 percent minimum for the next 5 years. prgtoken , I look forward to working with the House leadership, Chairman Brady, and all of the congressional Members to pass this fair and simple tax reform package to make this country as great as it can be.
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Roger Williams (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-10-11

today, I would like to recognize the Army National Guard's 236th Engineering Company. Located in Stephenville, Texas, they were the first on the ground in Houston to assist with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts on August 27. Over the course of a week, they rescued approximately 2,300 civilians and 380 animals from flooded areas. prgtoken , these men and women who serve our country are true heroes, and I am honored to represent them in the 25th Congressional District of Texas. I had the opportunity to meet with these soldiers a few weeks ago and personally shake their hands to thank them for a job well done. prgtoken They stepped up in a moment of absolute crisis and when the people of Texas needed them most. They put their lives on the line in order to save others. Without them, the number of deaths could have been significantly higher. prgtoken It is because of selfless people like these that America is able to remain the strongest country in the world. The Lone Star State cannot thank them enough for their swift and noble actions, and we will always remember their heroism. prgtoken Hurricane Harvey victims are still recovering, and all of America is behind them. We will rebuild together because we are all Texas strong. prgtoken God bless Texas, God bless the military, and God bless the United States of America. prgtoken In God we trust.
HONORING DAVE DAVIS
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-10-11

I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine, Dave Davis, who passed away recently. Dave was a giant Purdue fan, but we first met at a UCLA basketball game over 20 years ago. prgtoken We immediately struck up a friendship, and in 2000, when I announced I was running for Congress, Dave was all in and, despite the long odds, took vacation time to drive me all around Madison County. We didn't win that one, but that is the kind of guy Dave Davis was. He put others first, sharing in your successes and your struggles as if they were his own. prgtoken Dave had a great smile and a rare quality: he saw everyone for who they could be, not just what they were. prgtoken Dave spent his career in public service for our State and our Nation, but his most important priority was his family. He never passed up an opportunity to talk about his wife, Robyn; or his kids, Alex, Amy, and Eric. prgtoken Dave Davis was a good man and my friend. Congratulations on a life well lived. Godspeed.