mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-10-2

I come to the floor today to speak about the vote we will have at 5:30 p.m but I want to give my condolences to those who have been impacted by the horrific shooting in Las Vegas and to the families and the victims of this horrible incident. I want them to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them as the whole Nation turns to this situation. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers also go out to at least one Washington family who was impacted and was at this event. We may find out that there are others. We are thinking and praying deeply for their recovery, and I hope everybody will take the time to say some thoughts and prayers for those who have been impacted by this incident. prgtoken , I come to the floor to speak in opposition to the nomination of Ajit Pai to have a second term as the Chairman of the FCC. The reason why we are speaking about this vote that will happen in a short period of time is because we are concerned about the future of innovation, the future of where consumers play in the decision making of how they access content, and the future of our economy. prgtoken What I am worried about is that, in the short period of time that Chairman Pai has been at the FCC, instead of the policies that would have enabled consumers, he has taken actions that, I think, will have consumers paying more for less access and with which media concentration will be more enabled and plans to protect net neutrality in an open internet will be reversed. prgtoken This, in and of itself, is the biggest issue that I and the economy of Washington State could possibly see with this renomination; that is to say, the State of Washington and the internet and innovation that exists there could be greatly impacted by the rolling back of protections that we have now, which say that you cannot artificially throttle or slow down internet activity and hold consumers hostage to paying more. prgtoken The mission of the FCC is to promote the use and deployment of communications in the public interest, and it is the job of the Chairman to make sure that mission is carried out. Undoing the existing net neutrality laws on the books, I do not think, is in the public interest, and it will not promote the access we need. Dismantling this rule that would preserve the diversity of content will negatively impact our marketplace for a long time. prgtoken When we think about some of the issues that we have already seen and what we could see in the future, more consumers will have to pay a toll to use the internet. What we will see is that, if you want to get in the fast lane or if you want to have rapid access, you have to pay more. prgtoken Today consumers are using mobile apps to preorder coffee, to get access to healthcare information, and to make sure that we protect ourselves from attacks on everything, from our electricity grid to people's homes and security systems. I am very worried that, if the interne
LAS VEGAS MASS SHOOTING
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-10-2

I rise to speak about the horrific mass murders last night. My heart is obviously with the victims and their families, and I thank all of our brave first responders who acted so quickly. prgtoken These senseless mass shootings must end. We cannot allow this to be the new normal, where tragedy after tragedy happens, and we do absolutely nothing to address it. It is not good enough to just send thoughts and prayers and extend our condolences when people are losing their lives to gun violence every day. prgtoken We still have to learn the details about what happened, but what we do know is this: This violence, this mass murder, is one of the worst massacres we have ever seen in this country. It is yet another reminder of Congress' failure to act to protect Americans from gun violence. It is another disturbing and painful example of how Congress is too weak and too cowardly to stand up to the gun industry. prgtoken The news reports are saying that the gun was shooting in rapid-fire bursts, a military-style weapon specifically designed to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time, a weapon of war. prgtoken We have to pass laws that protect the American people from this kind of horrific violence. It should not be legal for a civilian on American soil to own and use a weapon of war like an assault weapon. Our military is highly trained to use such weapons. It should not be easy for any person to buy a suppressor--known by many people as a silencer--to attach to their guns, which makes it harder for police to do their jobs and catch violent criminals. prgtoken The people of Nevada voted in November to require background checks on all weapons, but the politicians in that State are refusing to implement the will of the people. The violence in Las Vegas is only the latest tragedy like this. Mass shootings get all the news, but every single day in my home State, gun violence on a much smaller scale is destroying more and more lives. prgtoken We really need to act. We must take gun violence as seriously as we take the threat of terrorism, wherever it is happening. prgtoken We will get to the facts and the bottom of this. And when we do, let's honor the lives of those we have lost by doing something about it, doing everything we can to make sure this never happens again. prgtoken . prgtoken .
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE IN NATURAL DISASTERS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-10-2

I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands, Congresswoman Plaskett, for hosting tonight's Special Order hour on the Federal Government's response to natural disasters. I believe that Ms. Plaskett and the experience that she has had in her homeland can open our eyes to the devastation that has taken place in the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico as well. prgtoken It is unthinkable what these American citizens have been through over the last several weeks and will continue to suffer for months into the future. prgtoken Before I begin, I have a message for the families and the friends of the 58 innocent people whose lives were taken and the more than 500 who were injured in Las Vegas overnight: The country's compassion and thoughts go out to you. Our hearts break with yours. prgtoken For those injured, know that the American people are praying for your recovery. prgtoken To the first responders who put their lives on the line daily: Thank you. prgtoken What went down in Las Vegas last night was an act of terrorism. There is no other name for it. A deranged man with a small arsenal of firearms in a hotel room shot into a crowd of people at a concert. For an hour and 12 minutes, people watched the chaos unfold. prgtoken All the moments of silence in the world won't change what happened last night in Las Vegas, last year in Orlando, the year before in Charleston, and the list goes on. prgtoken Moments of silence used to be for showing honor or respect. There is nothing honorable about keeping silent and doing nothing to prevent gun violence. There is nothing respectful about rejecting every single reasonable gun bill proposed in the past decade. prgtoken What kind of Nation are we when we sacrifice human lives on the altar of the gun lobby? prgtoken The time to act was yesterday. The Federal Government has a moral duty to protect the welfare of American citizens before tragedy strikes. Yet, when the news moves from one disaster to another, we often suffer a sort of amnesia. We don't seem to remember or learn from our mistakes. We forget to fix the problems our citizens call us about every single day, and the problems inevitably repeat themselves. prgtoken One issue we seem to have repeated amnesia about is the high cost our constituents face when evacuating disaster areas, particularly after hurricanes. We read reports that, due to reduced capacity and high demand, flights are full or tickets are prohibitively expensive. Even if the airlines capped flight prices, like they did last week, Federal taxes and fees can increase the price of an evacuation by 20 percent. prgtoken Recently, this hit home for me. One of my district staffers had family stuck in Puerto Rico. Because Hurricane Maria knocked out power and the telephone lines, my staffer had no way of knowing whether her loved ones were alive or dead. Many constituents have contacted our offices to let us know the difficulty they were having in trying to find out
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE IN NATURAL DISASTERS
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2017-10-2

. I know that that is why I am here because I need to be their voice, because they are voiceless right now. If you look on national media, you hear about what is happening in Puerto Rico, and, Lord knows, I feel for our fellow islanders, our brothers and sisters over there, but very rarely do you hear about what is happening in the Virgin Islands. prgtoken On September 6, Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms this century, destroyed the islands of St. John and St. Thomas, the islands that are part of the district that I represent. Three weeks later, the island of St. Croix was devastated by Maria, a second Category 5 hurricane ripping through the U.S. Virgin Islands in less than a month. Both Hurricanes Irma and Maria have wreaked havoc in the U.S. territories of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean nations. prgtoken We forget that there are other places in the Caribbean that have also been struck, St. Martin and Sint Maarten, Barbuda, Anguilla, our very close neighbors, the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, places that Americans love to go to, to vacation, to enjoy themselves, not thinking about the lives of the people that are there or not there anymore. prgtoken We know that right now the island of Barbuda is without an inhabitant, without an inhabitant in centuries. There is no one on Barbuda after the hurricane. prgtoken Turks and Caicos, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, one that also strikes me is Dominica. Dominica was not hit by the first Hurricane Irma, and that little island nation reached out to the U.S. Virgin Islands, reached out to Puerto Rico and said: We don't have much, but we are going to give you the money that we have. We, as a government, will give you 200,000. We will bring relief. We will bring whatever we can. prgtoken And 2 weeks later, Hurricane Maria struck them and has devastated that island. prgtoken Their Prime Minister went to the United Nations a week ago and begged, begged the support of the free world, begged the support of the members of the United Nations to support them. prgtoken Although the full extent of the two hurricanes' impact has yet to be assessed, it is clear that, in the Caribbean, the damage from these storms appears to be unparalleled. prgtoken President issued major disaster declaration for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries have been reported alongside widespread infrastructure damage all throughout the Caribbean. prgtoken I received a text just this morning from members of my family who are still looking for loved ones on the island of St. Croix. That is why, in the days and months ahead, we must continue to work together to ensure that the individuals and families impacted by these devastating storms receive all the aid they need. The catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria demands massive amounts of aid to address the overwhelming
Las Vegas Mass Shooting (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-10-2

I wish to start my remarks with my deepest condolences and prayers for the people of Las Vegas and for the families and loved ones of the victims of the worst prgtoken mass shooting in our Nation's history. The Nation's heart breaks that innocent concertgoers had to suffer such senseless violence. May you find the strength and love to overcome your grief, to heal, and to move forward. prgtoken We owe our gratitude to the brave first responders for their efforts last night and to the medical professionals who are working tirelessly to heal wounds and save lives right now. But enough is enough. Americans are tired of living in fear that their community will be the next Newtown, Aurora, Orlando, or Las Vegas. We must act so that we do not become numb to this preventable carnage. prgtoken This epidemic of gun violence in our country is not preordained. It is preventable. We can begin by banning these military-style assault weapons, like the AR-51, which are the guns of choice for those who seek to inflict mass casualties on civilians. These are weapons that belong in combat, not in our communities. prgtoken Unfortunately, the gun lobby prevailed on Congress to let the assault weapons ban expire in 2004, but we need it now more than ever. We must also pass legislation to ensure that all gun purchases include a background check. Ninety-two percent of Americans support expanded background checks. No one should be able to purchase a gun through Facebook or Instagram without a background check. Instagram should not be ``Instagun,'' which it is in America today. prgtoken Let's also close the gun-show loophole that allows anyone to go into one of these Kmarts full of killing machines and buy a gun without a background check. Let's close the loophole that allows domestic abusers to buy guns. Let's close the loophole that allows straw purchasers to buy guns and flood our streets with them. Let's repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, or the PLCAA, and take away the gun manufacturers' immunity from civil liability. PLCAA should stand for ``protecting lives, creating arms accountability.'' prgtoken We must also recognize that this epidemic of gun violence is a public health emergency, and we must treat it that way. We must fully fund this critical research agenda at the Centers for Disease Control and give the CDC the resources it needs. prgtoken We will hear lots of people say that now is not the time to politicize this tragedy, that talking about legislation is insensitive and wrong. The only thing the NRA 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 protection. prgtoken So to anyone who
PROVIDING RESOURCES, OFFICERS, AND TECHNOLOGY TO ERADICATE CYBER THREATS TO OUR CHILDREN ACT OF 2017
John Conyers, Jr. (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-10-3

I rise in support of S. 782, the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2017, and thank my colleague from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who has worked so diligently on this matter. prgtoken , this bill authorizes appropriations for this program in the amount of $60 million for each fiscal year from 2018 through 2022. These figures are consistent with current appropriated levels. prgtoken We must continue to protect our children from the daily threats that permeate the electronic platform and endanger the well-being of our children. prgtoken Earlier this morning, as has been said, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations held a hearing addressing these very problems. As ranking member of that committee, I vow to continue my commitment toward eradicating this infectious poison that has claimed the innocence of so many of our youths. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues and others on these very important issues. That is why I support the measures put forth in this bill.
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-10-3

this week on an island nation one- tenth the size of Rhode Island, more than 60 countries will gather at the fourth international Our Ocean Conference. Catalyzed by then- Secretary of State John Kerry, the United States hosted the premier international ocean conference in 2014 and 2016. Secretary Kerry's legacy continues with the Malta Conference now going on, hosted by the European Union, and that will be followed by scheduled conferences in Indonesia in 2018 and Norway in 2019. prgtoken Nations come to these conferences to share ocean conservation achievements and to pledge future efforts in sustainable fisheries, marine debris prevention, marine protected areas, maritime security, and climate change. At last count, conference organizers in Malta are anticipating more than 150 separate pledges from governments, NGOs, and the private sector. Since Secretary Kerry started it, the Our Ocean Conference has produced hundreds of commitments, totaling nearly $10 billion and protecting nearly 4 million square miles of ocean. Though the oceans cover more than 70 percent of our Earth, they are often taken for granted. Oceans drive our weather, cool our planet, provide food and income for billions of people, and absorb much of our carbon dioxide emissions. prgtoken So for my 181st ``Time to Wake Up'' speech, I will return to the topic of what we are doing to our oceans. The oceans provide a hard-to- deny reminder of what is happening, thanks to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change denial, and America's legislative paralysis. prgtoken Physics and chemistry don't care about fossil fuel industry propaganda. It doesn't affect them at all. Science measures how our carbon pollution continues to drive unprecedented change in the Earth's oceans. prgtoken The oceans have absorbed about one-third of all the excess carbon dioxide emitted by human activity since the Industrial Revolution; that is, around 600 gigatons of carbon dioxide absorbed by the ocean. The effect of absorbing all that carbon dioxide is chemical, making ocean water more acidic at the fastest rate in 50 million years. Humankind has been on the planet only about 800,000 or so years, so 50 million goes way back. prgtoken This acidification is potentially calamitous for the ocean ecosystem. Off Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, 50 percent of pteropods were measured to have ``severe shell damage,'' mostly from acidified sea water. If that species collapses, the bottom falls out of the oceanic food chain, with a cascading effect up to us at the top of the food chain. prgtoken Ocean acidification is causing real economic concerns on coasts all around the country. It is affecting Florida's reefs, for instance. Rhode Island's clammers, lobstermen, and aquaculture growers watch with real alarm the damage acidified seas are doing on America's northwest coast. Oyster hatcheries there experienced significant losses when new hatches were unable
PROVIDING RESOURCES, OFFICERS, AND TECHNOLOGY TO ERADICATE CYBER THREATS TO OUR CHILDREN ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-10-3

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , first, before I start, I would like to congratulate the gentlewoman from Florida for her consistent work on this legislation. For those of us who have served, we certainly are well aware of the work that has been done, and I have been very privileged on the Judiciary Committee to join with her work, and I just want to congratulate her on that. prgtoken As we begin, let me also take just a moment to acknowledge, again, the massacre that occurred on Sunday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. As I was pondering the actions of this body last evening with a moment of silence, I wondered whether that--although it is of much reverence-- whether that, in fact, will heal the wounds of those who lost their loved ones or those who are still mending--the 500-plus who were in the hospital and have been in the hospital. prgtoken So before I speak to S. 782, I want to make it clear that I think it is crucial that the letter that both Mr. Conyers and I signed regarding asserting jurisdiction on the silencer bill is crucial. And as well it is crucial that this body does more than this, in essence, a moment of silence to heal the wounds of those who are now speechless about the loss of their loved ones. And as well it might be time to take a knee or to kneel, but it is time to pass legislation. prgtoken I would hope that we would pass legislation that has been offered, the King-Thompson bill, and a number of other legislative initiatives that many of us have. prgtoken With that, I rise in support of S. 782, the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2017. prgtoken This legislation will reauthorize the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program by amending the language in section 105(h) of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, introduced by then- Senator . prgtoken This bill authorizes appropriations for this program in the amount of $60 million for each fiscal year from 2018 through 2022. These figures are consistent with current appropriated levels. prgtoken We have a special responsibility to protect our young people. For that reason, I support S. 782, a bill that will provide adequate resources to help eradicate the cyber threats that continue to threaten the lives of our children. prgtoken I support this important bipartisan measure for several reasons. First, it will facilitate more comprehensive investigation into violent acts perpetrated against innocent children. prgtoken The task force program creates a coordinated group of investigative task forces representing 3,500 Federal, State, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. prgtoken Second, this bill will provide support to officers that will allow them to better identify these threats, conduct investigation and training, and enforce the laws. prgtoken The task force is particularly important because it becomes a specialty entity t
PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-3

. Madam , I thank Chairman Conyers for yielding to me. prgtoken Madam , today I rise for Katie in California and in support of women everywhere who have relied on access to safe abortion procedures in their lifetime. prgtoken When Katie and her husband found out as newlyweds that Katie was pregnant, they were overjoyed. Eighteen weeks later, they discovered that the fetus had multiple severe health problems, including spina bifida and a tethered spinal cord. This news was heartbreaking, and Katie and her husband made the decision to end the pregnancy at 22 weeks. prgtoken Katie wants lawmakers in Washington to know that it is not their prgtoken right to make this decision for her or other women. She says that it is a horrific situation, and until you have been through it, you have no idea, and you can't make that decision for someone else. prgtoken On behalf of Katie, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 36. We must stop the bans.
TAIWAN'S 106TH NATIONAL DAY
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-10-3

a week from today, on October 10, the Taiwanese people will celebrate their 106th Taiwanese National Day. I would like to take a few minutes to congratulate my Taiwanese friends on this important occasion. prgtoken Taiwan has long been a trusted friend of the United States and a valuable partner in the increasingly important Asia-Pacific region. prgtoken Taiwan is hugely important to Oregon. It is also one of Oregon's largest trading partners and a big export market for Oregon products like grain. Portland's annual Grand Floral Parade and Rose Festival host delegations from Taiwan. Portland, OR, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, are sister cities. prgtoken These ties are both broad and deep, as I saw myself when I visited Taipei several years ago. prgtoken That was more than a year before Taiwan's historic 2016 election, but the Taiwanese people's commitment to democracy was already very much on display. prgtoken Because our people share values like freedom, respect for human dignity, and entrepreneurship, I am honored today to reaffirm the U.S.- Taiwan relationship. prgtoken I wish my friends, the Taiwanese people, a wonderful 106th National Day and a fortuitous year ahead.