mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-1-30

. I want to very quickly and simply emphasize a couple of those very important points, and maybe the overriding one is the need for action. prgtoken The Presiding Officer has demonstrated repeatedly his convictions and conscience, and I want to say how much I have admired much of what he has done during his Senate career. My hope is that others in this body will step forward and say: Enough is enough. prgtoken The FISA Court--Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court--is a carefully crafted bipartisan institution meant to protect our country against foreign threats that would destroy our democracy--the very kinds of threats that Russia has repeatedly mounted against us. Its function is balanced by a concern about civil rights and civil liberties, which is why it is a court that must approve warrants for surveillance and searches. Its secrecy goes to the core of what it does so that the agents, operatives, and informants who are the sources of intelligence are protected. prgtoken The House Intelligence Committee is about to trash that carefully crafted structure. They are about to release a memo that says, in effect: That court--that carefully crafted balance as a result of bipartisan work over many years, involving many in this Chamber--means nothing. We will use it for the most gross partisan purposes, partisan gutter politics, and character assassination. prgtoken It is a reminder of the darkest days of the McCarthy era when similarly there was a contempt for basic fairness which persisted until Senator McCarthy was asked: Have you no sense of decency? prgtoken We are at that moment now, but it is a moment that is dark for all of us in this democracy. It is a moment that should elicit our strongest impulses for decency and democracy. prgtoken We know that the special counsel is proceeding with his investigation. We know there is a need to protect that special counsel against firing and political interference. We know there is a need for legislation that is bipartisan, and the need is now. This use of the most gross partisan politics and tactics is proof-positive that there is a need for this legislation. prgtoken My hope against hope is that the President will, in fact, impose sanctions; that there will be a bipartisan outcry against this defiance of a 517-to-5 vote, and in this body, a 98-to-2 vote; that there should be sanctions when there is this defiance of our interests by the Russian Government; and, rather than simply listing oligarchs from a Forbes magazine account, that there be real action and accountability. Certainly, the President has avoided the finding of significant transactions, which is his duty under the law. prgtoken We need people of conscience and conviction now to step forward at this historic moment. In speeches going forward, I hope that, again, the Senator from Rhode Island--my friend and a leader in this body-- will come to the floor and talk further about this issue. prgtoken For now, my
The Budget (Executive Session)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2018-1-30

I rise today on this 13th day of January to call out this body, the body of the U.S. Senate, for its dereliction of duty. Enough is enough. We need a long-term budget bill for all of America, including my home State of Montana, because that is what Americans expect because it is our job. prgtoken It has been 122 days since Congress has failed to pass a budget. What makes this even more egregious is the fact that we haven't done anything but continuing resolution after continuing resolution after continuing resolution. There is no certainty in that. And even if we passed a long-term budget deal, it isn't even for that long of a term-- through the end of this fiscal year, which is when it needs to be done by. prgtoken For the last 122 days, Congress has left community health centers, small business owners, America's families, Montana's families without the certainty of a long-term budget. During that time, Congress has instead settled for four short-term, crisis-funding bills that don't do what is necessary and that provide more uncertainty and more chaos. prgtoken I have heard a lot of folks say that government needs to be run like a business. There is no business that would put off what it is doing just because it is convenient. In my real life, I am a farmer. I know that you have to plan. I know that you can't go from month to month with uncertainty ahead of you because if you do, you will end up in a situation where it will put you out of business. You have to be able to prgtoken plan, whether it is for the seeds you buy or equipment maintenance or anything else in agriculture. It is the same way in any business, and by the way, it is the same way in government. prgtoken Unfortunately, the norm has been a month of funding in continuing resolutions, or 3 weeks, instead of coming to a point where we can fund things until the end of the fiscal year, which will give folks certainty, whether it is the military or our southern border or community health centers. prgtoken Why do I bring this up? It is because fully 10 percent of the citizens of Montana depend on community health centers for access to their healthcare. It is in some cases the only source of healthcare for these folks. I have had listening tours and roundtables and over a dozen different public meetings on healthcare over the last year, and I can tell you that these facilities are critically important. prgtoken So who cares? Why should we worry about that, because we have a continuing resolution. Why? Because these folks right now, if you go talk to them in the State of Montana and I think in any other State in the Union, they will tell you they are not sure whether they will keep their doors open. That does not provide the kind of certainty they need and the kind of access to healthcare folks in our country need, and Montana is no exception. prgtoken We cannot continue governing from crisis to crisis. Montana deserves better. America dese
VOTE EXPLANATION
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2018-1-30

I offer this statement to ensure the record reflects my opposition to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, S. 2311, calendar No. 294, as considered by the Senate on Monday, January 29, 2018. Cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to S. 2311 by a vote of 51 to 46. Unfortunately, I was unable to be present for the rollcall vote to invoke cloture on this measure due to multiple flight delays traveling from Wisconsin to Washington, DC. prgtoken I oppose this divisive legislation and would have voted against it, as I have previously when I voted against cloture on the motion to proceed to this legislation, H.R. 36 when it was considered by the Senate on September 22, 2015. Let me be clear: I believe every American woman deserves access to quality, safe healthcare and the freedom to exercise her individual and constitutional rights to make her own private health decisions with her family and her doctor, without political interference. prgtoken Too many States have already enacted record numbers of laws that restrict a woman's access to reproductive health services and the freedom to make her own healthcare decisions. In Wisconsin, numerous measures have been signed into law that impose unreasonable requirements on providers and clinics that often leave families with nowhere to turn and threaten the ability of clinics in my home State to keep their doors open. Like the measure before the Senate, introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham, politicians in Wisconsin have already enacted a 20-week ban on abortion procedures in our state, which has real and grave consequences for our families. Politicians are doing this because they think they know better than women and their doctors. The fact is they don't. It is not the job of politicians to play doctor and to dictate how these professionals practice medicine, nor is it the job of government to intrude into the private lives and important health decisions of American families. prgtoken The threat in Wisconsin and in States across the country is clear: When politicians play doctor, American families suffer. This is why my good friend and colleague Senator Richard Blumenthal and I have introduced the Women's Health Protection Act, S. 510, which would put a stop to these attacks on women's freedoms. This measure would prohibit laws, including State and local regulations, prgtoken which unduly limit access to abortion services, including laws that single out providers, close down clinics, and impose onerous restrictions that do nothing to further women's health or safety. prgtoken I will continue to work for access to comprehensive reproductive care and vote against proposals that threaten a woman's right to make her own health decisions.
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2018-1-30

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I would simply close at the point where I began and ask the Members of this institution at large--the United States Congress, both Houses--to please give the Appropriations Committees numbers for defense and discretionary spending so that under the leadership of Chairman Frelinghuysen and Mrs. Lowey, in this case under Chairwoman Granger, myself, and the other 11 subcommittees, we can finish our work. It is less than 2 weeks before we will begin fiscal year 2019. I would ask my colleagues to please give us those numbers so that we can do our work effectively. prgtoken , .
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-1-30

I urge my colleagues to once again oppose this partisan talking point and demand action on an agreement to fund the entire government for the remaining part of this fiscal year. We have little more than a week to secure a plan for the remainder of 2018, but it may be a road too far if s don't come to the table to talk among themselves seriously and then be willing to negotiate with this side of the aisle.
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-1-30

here we are again. For 4 months, the Federal Government has been operating under a series of short-term continuing resolutions. And as we approach yet another deadline to fund the government next week, the majority is spending time on the floor today voting a third time on a Defense Appropriations bill that they know will not pass in the Senate. prgtoken The most basic, fundamental responsibility of Congress is to provide adequate and timely funding for the entire Federal Government, both our national defense and our domestic priorities, for a full fiscal year. The fact that this bill is on the floor for a third time highlights the absolute failure of the majority to advance a responsible budget process. prgtoken , voting on the same bill three times is the very definition of playing political games. The American people deserve better than this continuing chaos. prgtoken and s agree. We agree that defense spending is vitally important, but so is funding education, transportation, healthcare, and all the other Federal programs that all Americans and our military--their families, included--depend upon. prgtoken If anyone doubts the harmful impacts of the endless stopgap spending bills, perhaps they should listen to our Secretary of Defense: ``For too long, we have asked our military to stoically carry a `success at any cost' attitude as they work tirelessly to accomplish the mission with now inadequate and misaligned resources, simply because the Congress could not maintain regular order.'' prgtoken If s are serious about supporting our military, they should heed the Secretary's warning and work with on a bipartisan budget agreement to fund the entire government for the rest of the year. I have been ready. have been ready for months to work across the aisle to advance this process. It is long past time that s join us.
The Budget (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-1-30

I cannot help but note that the fiscal year began October 1 last year. Four months have passed. That is 122 days since the start of the fiscal year, and we still don't have a budget deal to allow us to finish the fiscal year 2018 appropriations bills. That is 122 days, and the Congress has not done their job. prgtoken Recently, President has taken to Twitter. He has accused of holding up funding for our troops. Well, the idea that are holding up defense spending doesn't pass the laugh test. I mean, last July--7 months ago--I called for bipartisan budget negotiations, something we have always done in the past. As the vice chairman of Appropriations, I put forward a proposal that would increase defense spending by $54 billion and would increase nondefense spending by an equal amount of $54 billion. Basically, what we did when Senator Murray and then-Congressman Ryan worked out the budget agreement. We did that years ago based on parity. The proposal was responsible, it was reasonable, and it was based on parity. It was something we have done for years. It would have fully funded President 's budget request for our military, but it would also have provided much needed relief from the damaging effects of sequestration that we have seen on both sides of the ledger, defense and nondefense. prgtoken But instead of trying to reach a bipartisan budget deal to allow us to finish our spending bills on time, the leadership, which controls the agenda, had other priorities. They spent the last 7 months trying to repeal healthcare for millions of Americans and rolling back important consumer protections. They cut environmental and workplace protections, protections for women in the workplace, and they passed budget-busting tax cuts that primarily benefit big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. As a result of doing that, the funding for our troops, as well as for key domestic priorities, has been left to limp along under four continuing resolutions. prgtoken Yesterday, the administration--and I wonder if they have actually looked at the President's budget--accused of holding defense spending hostage over arbitrary demands for lower priority domestic programs. prgtoken I am curious. What are the domestic programs the administration considers a lower priority? Do they consider the services for our veterans that are lacking around this country--do they think helping our veterans is a lower priority? What about the funding to combat the opioid epidemic? Every single State represented by every single Senator here, and alike, in every corner of our country, has been hurt by the opioid epidemic. Is the administration saying that is a lower priority? How about investments in education for our Nation's children? Is that a lower priority? Is disaster relief for our communities that have been devastated by hurricanes--ther
HONORING THE LIFE OF BISHOP ALEXIS THOMAS
Ruben Gallego (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2018-1-30

I rise today to honor the life and work of Bishop Alexis Thomas, who passed away on January 18, 2018. Bishop Alexis Thomas was many things to many people. He was a pastor, a leader, and a friend. He was a father, a son and a brother. He was a dynamic and passionate leader not just at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, but throughout our community in Phoenix. Having received his license to preach the gospel at the young age of seven, it is perhaps unsurprising that Bishop Thomas was destined for a life in service of God and his community. Before he was ordained as the Bishop of the State of Arizona in 2003, Bishop Thomas served for eighteen years as the Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Rest, which grew by leaps and bounds under his compassionate leadership. Bishop Thomas' service extended well beyond Pilgrim West Baptist Church. Not only did he serve on the Board of Directors of the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce, but he also founded the African American Christian Clergy Coalition in 2001 and co-founded the African American Strategic Alliance Coalition in Phoenix. I want to take this opportunity not only to remember and celebrate Bishop Thomas' many accomplishments, but also to share my sincere condolences with Bishop Thomas' family and friends, as well as with the broader Phoenix community mourning his loss. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Bishop Thomas on issues of social justice. We served together as a part of My Brother's Keeper, and I witnessed firsthand his boundless determination to make our community--and our world--a better place. Bishop Thomas will be recalled fondly by many as a counselor, friend and mentor. He will also be remembered as a man with a sincere and remarkable vision for change. Through our work together in support of the Congressional Black Caucus, I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to witness Bishop Thomas' inspiring leadership firsthand. Bishop Thomas worked miracles large and small every day. He touched more lives than perhaps we will ever know while we are devastated by his loss, we know that Bishop Thomas' legacy of service and love will live on forever in our community.
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-1-30

Senator Blumenthal and I have come to the floor with a shared concern that the raiding parties are circling the Mueller investigation and preparing for an attack on that investigation. prgtoken We see this with collateral attacks on individual members of law enforcement. We see this with efforts to discredit the FBI and the Department of Justice in general. We have seen it even with Presidential tweets seeking to discredit folks who might be witnesses before a grand jury, which would, with the right state of mind, actually amount to obstruction of justice itself. prgtoken The first thing I want to say is that the Senate is entitled to a full and truthful explanation of why Deputy Director McCabe of the FBI left. We do not know the reason behind his sudden, abrupt departure. But we do know that Sally Yates was fired; we do know that Jim Comey was fired; we do know that Bob Mueller was not fired only because White House Counsel threw himself in front of that decision by President and said: If you do that, I am out. prgtoken So firings at the top of our Department of Justice are becoming an unpleasantly frequent thing, and they tend to relate to matters where investigations touch on the White House: Sally Yates and the Flynn investigation; Jim Comey and the obstruction of justice, Russia collusion investigation; and, of course, Bob Mueller leading that investigation. I think we are entitled to answers, and I call for a full and truthful explanation. prgtoken The second thing going on is the more general attack on the FBI, the latest episode of which is this so-called Nunes memo, which has been described by ic House Members who have seen that memo and the underlying documents out of which it was selectively cherry-picked as profoundly misleading. It had the political purpose of spreading a false narrative--the political purpose of spreading a false narrative. This is like the information operations the Kremlin used to run against the free world if they had a political purpose of spreading a false narrative. prgtoken They also said it has the purpose of undermining legitimate investigations. Guess which legitimate investigations they mean. prgtoken This business of selectively cherry-picking things out of classified information to spread a false narrative has a very unpleasant echo for me because this is what the administration was up to when it was trying to defend the torture program. They selectively declassified, for instance, that Abu Zubaydah had been the subject of what they called their enhanced interrogation techniques program and that he had produced important, actionable intelligence. What they did not declassify was that all the actionable intelligence he gave them had been provided before they started on the torture techniques. Then, once the pros from Dover came down--who didn't know anything about how to interrogate somebody but only knew how to do torture technique
HONORING COLLEEN C. DiPIRRO ON HER RETIREMENT AS AMHERST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT AND CEO
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-1-30

I rise today to honor Colleen C. DiPirro, a visionary pioneer who began her career 35 years ago as a single staff person and is now retiring as the President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce having overseen the explosive growth of membership from less than 200 members to more than 3,000, representing more than 1,300 businesses. prgtoken She grew its annual budget from $24,000 when she started to more than $1.9 million with a full-time professional staff offering 50 plus annual events, business services, advocacy, economic development strategies and an Emerging Business Leaders forum. prgtoken Colleen's career is filled with firsts. She was the first President of the WNY Chamber Alliance, an organization for Chamber Executives spanning an eight county region; the first woman honored as the Executive of the Year by the Buffalo Sales and Marketing Executives, and in 2009, the first woman named the Buffalo Bills Citizen of the Year, the second recipient behind Ralph Wilson. prgtoken Colleen is a builder. Her tools were not brick and mortar, but a consummate ability to build a business advocacy organization with teamwork, tenacity, compromise and consensus and at times, leading with only the courage of her convictions. Recognized for her hard work, heart, humanity and humor, she was identified as one of the top 100 most influential people in Western New York by Business First several times. In 2016, she was listed in the Top Ten Most Influential Women and named Citizen of the Year by Daemen College. prgtoken A leader, a legend and a true friend, Ms. DiPirro's legacy will be her tireless dedicated service to her community and beyond its borders. I can attest to that as my first interaction with Colleen as a Congressman was in 2005 when we took up the fight with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). As a first year minority member of Congress, we had few allies in this battle. And then a call came from Colleen DiPirro who in her role as President of the WNY Chamber Alliance invited me to speak to the Alliance Leaders about why I was fighting NYPA for the Buffalo waterfront. After our roundtable discussion, Colleen asked if I would be willing to debate a NYPA representative before the invited membership of the Alliance at WNED studios. That November afternoon debate made possible by Colleen's outreach to provide a neutral forum to promote understanding of the issue helped further galvanize our community to stand up and fight for itself and contributed to our ultimate victory of a $300 million settlement that continues to fuel the redevelopment of the Buffalo waterfront. I didn't represent Amherst at that time but that didn't matter to her as she understood what was good for Buffalo's waterfront was good for all of Western New York. prgtoken Others have certainly shared my appreciation and respect for her abilities as she received the Governor's Award for Excellence in prgtoken Business and served on the B