mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-3-2

I stand this morning just before we vote on Dr. Benjamin Carson as the next Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to strongly urge my colleagues to support his nomination. prgtoken Dr. Carson was advanced in the committee by a voice vote, as Senator Brown and I worked with the Banking Committee to assure that his nomination moved through smoothly. I thank Senator Brown for his cooperation and work to help us move this nomination promptly. prgtoken Dr. Carson also received numerous letters of support from former HUD Secretaries and housing stakeholders alike. There truly is an excitement for his leadership to be brought to the Department. prgtoken As I highlighted yesterday, Dr. Carson has said that once confirmed, he is committed to embarking on a listening tour, where he will hear stories and concerns from housing stakeholders across America. This presents a real opportunity for Americans to weigh in on how housing issues affect them in their local communities--input that can make a lasting impact on HUD policies. prgtoken Once Dr. Carson is confirmed, we can begin working on several important issues under HUD's jurisdiction. Homelessness, especially among our Nation's veterans, needs to be addressed. We need to streamline regulatory burdens on local public housing agencies so that they can more efficiently serve the communities that rely on them. Financing arrangements for small and rural affordable housing developments should also be strengthened. prgtoken For years, there has been bipartisan interest in a number of these reforms. I look forward to having a strong partner at HUD so that we can tackle these important issues and many others head-on. I am eager to get that process started and to start work with Dr. Carson, with Ranking Member Brown, and prgtoken with other members of the Banking Committee on these critical issues. prgtoken Again, I urge my colleagues to vote to confirm Dr. Carson so that this important work can begin.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-3-2

I have been coming to the floor for the past several weeks to highlight my State and the great people who live in it. As the Presiding Officer and everybody in this room and those watching on TV probably know, Alaska is a breathtaking place. In fact, there is no place like it in the world--mountain ranges that seem to go on for eternity, salmon-filled waters and rivers, streams, massive glaciers. People save up their whole lives to come to visit my State. We welcome them. We want them all to come. prgtoken As I have also been saying, it is the people who make Alaska truly special, the Alaskans, people throughout my State banding together to form warm communities in cold climates. In Alaska, where the conditions are often extreme, we depend on each other--communities do--sometimes even for survival. prgtoken Today I would like to recognize Joyce McCombs, the director of the community library in Delta Junction, AK, as the Alaskan of the Week. On March 9, Joyce will be celebrating 30 years as the library director-- 30. She was also recently named by the Alaska Library Association the Audrey P. Kolb Public Library Service Award winner and received the Public Library Roundtable Certificate of Appreciation for her ``significant, innovative activities'' to improve her library. That award is named after Audrey Kolb, who is a legend in the library world in Alaska, and Joyce has that award as well as our award. prgtoken Delta Junction, where she lives, is a beautiful community of about 1,000 residents, surrounded by 3 spectacular mountain ranges. The community is about 150 miles from Fairbanks, in Alaska's interior. It gets cold there in the winter. As a matter of fact, this morning in Delta Junction, it was 26 below zero. And it is home to Fort Greely, which is the cornerstone of our Nation's entire missile defense system, protected by 300 brave soldiers, part of the Alaskan National Guard. prgtoken For many in Delta Junction, the library--recognized by the Library Journal as one of the best in the State--is the place where people converge and find warmth and community. It is open 6 days a week, and it only closes when it gets below 40 below zero. They are tough people in Delta Junction. prgtoken Joyce, with the support of so many in Delta Junction, including Fort Greely, which supports the library, has made sure that this library stays one of the best in the State and in the country. In her words, Delta's library is the ``community living room.'' In a small town like Delta Junction, such spaces are rare and, indeed, special. Joyce brings all sorts of services and learning to the library, including bands, authors, cooking classes--``what the community wants and needs,'' she said. Sometimes those needs entail sitting someplace warm and reading a book. Sometimes it means Skyping a spouse who might be serving overseas in Afghanistan or Iraq or applying for a job or getting the right form to file their tax
THANKING THE MAJORITY LEADER
Thad Cochran (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-3-2

let me thank the distinguished majority leader for his generous remarks about my service in the Senate, as has been reflected by the last long number of years. It is heartwarming, and it also reminds me of how important our collective efforts are for the future of our country, our economy, peace in our time, and in helping ensure that we make our time here a positive influence over the opportunities that are available for our citizens to enjoy life, safe and secure, with good leaders and commonsense leaders. That is what our leader is. prgtoken .
CALLING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today to speak in defense of a dear colleague of ours who is now the Attorney General of our Nation, Jeff Sessions. He is my friend. More importantly, he is a former colleague of this very body. He is a man of integrity. He is a man of principle. I trust him, and I take him at his word. prgtoken Furthermore, he has repeatedly said just today that he will, in fact, recuse himself if and when it becomes appropriate. In my opinion, it is not appropriate right now, but if it ever were to become appropriate, he has said, without hesitation, that he would. prgtoken I have really never witnessed anything quite like this in my brief time here in the Senate. The last 2 years have been very interesting, but never have I seen the hypocrisy that we see going on around this one issue. prgtoken It is increasingly clear that the minority party is singularly focused on sabotaging this new administration at every turn, and today is no exception. They have exercised procedural rules in the Senate time and again, beyond the intent of the Founders' design, in order to stop President from even getting his team in place--his very Cabinet. Our President today, as we stand here in this well, cannot have a staff meeting because he doesn't have all of his Cabinet members in place. prgtoken As for the Cabinet members who have been confirmed, the minority party seems equally fixated on finding any red herring they can ultimately find to undermine the individual's character. We have literally reached the point where Members of this body are slandering former colleagues for having and taking the same opportunities afforded to them. prgtoken This morning, my colleague, the senior Senator from Missouri, tweeted that she had never, ``EVER'' met with or taken a call from the Russian Ambassador. But her own Twitter account proved that she has at least twice in the last 4 years. prgtoken Thirty Members of this body, as a matter of fact, met with a Russian Ambassador and Ambassadors from other nations in 2015 for a sales pitch on President 's deal with Iran. Many of them, including the senior Senator from Missouri, were open supporters at that time of candidates in the President's race. prgtoken In the process of this hypocrisy, the minority party is prohibiting us from taking action on legislation that would solve many of the problems that have manifested themselves over the previous 8 years. prgtoken Make no mistake, Russia is a traditional rival whose actions pose a definite threat to global security and even our own security here at home. Their actions over the last 8 years have helped destabilize Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It was the inaction and refusal to lead of the past administration--a policy that the minority party followed hook, line, and sinker--that created a power vacuum around the world and allowed this Russian resurgence. prgtoken I have said this repeatedly, and I am going to continue to do
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY STAFF SERGEANT (SSG) WILLIAM S. RICKETTS
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-3-2

today I rise in memory of Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) William ``Seth'' Ricketts who paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation on February 27, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom III. SSG Ricketts was killed by a sniper when his unit was ambushed by insurgents at Bala Murghab, Afghanistan. Before SSG Ricketts was fatally injured, he was assisting a fellow soldier who was wounded during the attack. prgtoken Bill Ricketts, SSG Ricketts's father, says his son followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncles who all served in the military. When terrorists attacked our country on September 11, 2001, SSG Ricketts joined the Army the next day. At the time of his death, SSG Ricketts was assigned to Company B, Battalion, 508th Parachute Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. prgtoken More than 3,000 people attended his funeral held in Corinth. Bill Ricketts says people lined the streets to pay their respects all along the two-and-a-half mile procession. It was led by members of the Patriot Guard Riders. prgtoken SSG Ricketts is survived by his wife, Rosie Jones Ricketts and his sons, Aiden, Cullen, and Seth Wesson. He is also survived by his parents, Bill and Sandi Ricketts and his siblings, Benjamin Ricketts and Tiffany Ricketts Sneed.
MOURNING THE PASSING OF CECIL BOSWELL, WWII VETERAN
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today to recognize the impressive and meaningful life of Cecil Boswell, a World War II Veteran from Gainesville, Georgia who sadly passed away on Sunday, February 19th at the age of 99. prgtoken Cecil has long been a resident of Gainesville, and will forever be remembered as a hero by his neighbors, his friends, and all those who looked up to him in our corner of Georgia. Having been part of the second wave invading Normandy on D-Day, Cecil exemplified the bravery, courage, and selflessness it takes to serve one's country, and these traits followed him throughout his life, allowing him to touch the lives of all those who had the opportunity to sit and speak with him. prgtoken Northeast Georgia is home to thousands of men and women who have diligently and passionately served the United States. As a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, I feel strongly about our nation's need to meet its obligations to our service members, veterans, and their families, and to support the Americans who have sacrificed much for our freedom and way of life. I am proud of the relationship northeast Georgia has with our nation's bravest citizens, and Cecil Boswell was an important member of the veteran community back home, as well as the Gainesville community as a whole. prgtoken He often told of his time fighting in World War II to his friends at the Big Bear Cafe, where he ate breakfast and lunch almost daily. Cecil also walked in each Memorial Day parade along the square, donning his Army uniform as he waved to the crowds. It wasn't until last year's Memorial Day parade that he decided to ride in a car instead of walk, a testament to his unwavering strength and dedication. prgtoken Gainesville is better for the time Cecil Boswell gave it, and I am sure the life he led and the stories he told will live on for years to come. Northeast Georgia is blessed to have known Cecil Boswell, and he will be dearly missed.
EQUALITY FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS LIVING IN PUERTO RICO
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2017-3-2

I was elected to seek equality for 3.4 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico. I am the sole Representative for the island, and I represent more constituents in my sole district than anyone in this House. prgtoken I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Jones Act, which conferred American citizenship on Puerto Ricans on this day in 1917. Since then, more than 200,000 veterans have served proudly in the U.S. military, where they are equal in war but not in peace. prgtoken That is why I stand with the will of the people of Puerto Rico to incorporate to the United States as the 51st State of the Union, as requested in the 2012 plebiscite by 61 percent of the votes. prgtoken Let this House fulfill the promise that the United States of America is a nation of liberty and justice for all of us.
Introductory Statement on S. 491
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-3-2

hydropower is a critical hcomponent of an all of the above energy portfolio that provides a reliable and affordable source of electricity for hard-working Montana families. Clark Canyon Dam hydropower project near Dillon, MT will power over 1,000 homes annually in the region, create good-paying jobs, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and produce hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for Montana. This bill would reinstate and provide a 3- year contract extension of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license, allowing Montana to continue to be a leader in clean, hydropower electricity. prgtoken I thank Senators Tester, Risch and Crapo for joining me on introducing this bill, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
CALLING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-3-2

as we near the vote on the nomination of Governor Rick Perry to be our next Secretary of Energy, I want to again reiterate my support for his confirmation. prgtoken As I mentioned earlier, Governor Perry has devoted his life to public service. During his 14 years as Governor of Texas, he championed an ``all of the above'' energy strategy, and led his State to tremendous economic growth. He was a good steward of the environment as he worked to find ways to grow the economy and worked toward achieving major reductions in emission levels in the State of Texas. prgtoken As I said this morning, Governor Perry is a principled leader. He will set a good direction for the Department of Energy. I am confident he will pursue scientific discovery, promote innovation, be a good steward of our nuclear weapons stockpile, and make progress on the cleanup of our legacy sites, which we recognize are very important. He will help us build the infrastructure we need to become a global energy superpower and partner with States, like my State of Alaska, that suffer from very high energy costs. prgtoken He has a strong record. Governor Perry gets results. He is a competent manager and I think a proven leader. I am pleased to be able to support his confirmation. I know Members from both sides of the aisle agree. I think he will be a good addition to our new President's Cabinet, and I would urge that all Members support his nomination. prgtoken .
REGULATORY INTEGRITY ACT OF 2017
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-3-2

for leading this floor debate today. prgtoken , I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 1004, the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017. prgtoken Regardless of the chatter that I believe simply confuses what we want to do in good government, this bill, H.R. 1004, is a good government transparency bill that is simple in nature and seeks to preserve the integrity of the regulatory process; specifically, the public comment period. prgtoken Whether it is EPA or the Department of Labor or any other agencies or departments, they have their purpose, but they have to follow the law. The public comment period is an essential part of upholding our democratic values because it ensures that Americans will have their voices heard in the Federal Government's regulatory process. prgtoken Agencies must take the comment period seriously. Unfortunately, we have seen instances where agencies seem to believe that the regulatory process is simply a perfunctory act that the agency must undertake in order to reach a prearranged outcome. prgtoken This became abundantly clear during the EPA's Waters of the U.S or WOTUS, rulemaking process. During that process, , the EPA undertook a campaign to solicit support and artificially inflate the positive reaction to the WOTUS rule. The EPA used the skewed results as evidence of public support. prgtoken , I include in the Record two letters coming from the National Association of Home Builders and the Michigan Farm Bureau to attest to this problem. National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC, February 14, 2017. Hon. Timothy Walberg, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Walberg: On behalf of the 140,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), I am writing to express NAHB's strong support for H.R. 1004, the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017. This legislation would force agencies to follow an open and transparent federal regulatory rulemaking process by making all aspects of a rulemaking publicly available and preventing federal agencies from illegally influencing the public in order to generate support for a rulemaking. Federal agencies are prohibited, by law, from engaging in lobbying, grassroots, and propaganda activities designed to advance a policy agenda. However, in recent rulemakings, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ignored these restrictions and used social media platforms to perpetuate propaganda campaigns that advance their rulemakings. These actions only support the notion that the agency is not interested in a transparent and fair rulemaking process. An excellent example of this is when the EPA created a
HONORING COLONEL BENTLEY NETTLES
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-2

I rise today to honor Colonel Bentley Nettles, who is retiring after more than 30 years of service to our country in the United States Army. prgtoken Colonel Nettles served for 31 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, where he served peacekeeping tours of duty in Bosnia, and combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. In this capacity, Colonel Nettles served as Infantry Officer, Judge Advocate Officer, Information Operations Officer and Red Team Leader. He also served for 28 years in the Texas Army National Guard, where he was activated for support operations in response to hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and border security. prgtoken Over his military career, Colonel Nettles has been awarded 24 awards and badges. Such recognition includes: three Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Badge. In keeping with the spirit of the Warrior Ethos, he was awarded the Combat Action Badge, which provides special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage the enemy, or are engaged by the enemy during combat operations. Colonel Nettles has also been awarded the Legion of Merit, one of the United States Military's most prestigious awards. The medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. prgtoken , our Nation's history is grounded in the efforts of our men and women who have served in uniform. We must continue to honor them after they have left the armed services by making sure that they have the access they need to educational, health, and career services. Colonel Nettles truly believes this; and so in 2014 I awarded Colonel Nettles the TX-17 Congressional Veterans Commendation. He received this recognition because beyond the medals and the stars, the pins and the ribbons, Colonel Nettles understands the meaning of giving back. He is a founding member and active supporter of the local Wounded Warriors chapter, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support our heroes wounded in the line of duty. He is also the Vice Chairman of Brazos Valley Cares, which works to provide financial support for veterans and their families. prgtoken I am also proud to call Colonel Nettles a fellow Former Student of Texas A&M University. He earned his bachelor's degree in business management and has embraced what it means to be an Aggie, especially the core values of excellence and selfless-service. In addition to his significant military service, Colonel Nettles has kept his ties to the university and given back to the Aggie community. Through a large financial gift, he has helped ensure that Texas A&M maintains its global footprint and continues to influence students around the world. prgtoken Today, I have requested that a United States flag be flown over the United States Capitol to honor the many contributions of Colonel Bentley Nettles. As I close, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these diff
REGULATORY INTEGRITY ACT OF 2017
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-3-2

. Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple. prgtoken It would require an executive agency to report any new rule or regulatory action that would duplicate or otherwise overlap with existing agency rules and regulations. prgtoken So much of government's excess is created by unelected officials who wield enormous influence over our everyday lives. prgtoken Last year, Federal agencies issued 18 rules and regulations for every one law that passed Congress. prgtoken That is a grand total of 3,853 regulations in 2016 alone. In 2015, Federal regulations cost the American economy nearly $1.9 trillion --T, trillion dollars--in lost growth and productivity. prgtoken Think about that for a second. A $1.9 trillion tax, a government burden on the American people. That means lost jobs, stagnant wages, and decreasing benefits for workers. prgtoken When the House passed the REINS Act in January, I offered an amendment to require at least 1 rule be overturned for every new rule finalized by the executive branch. prgtoken President recently took that one step further by issuing an executive order which required at least 2 rules be overturned for every new rule. prgtoken My amendment builds on those initiatives by requiring any agency issuing a duplicative regulation to indicate as much when making the online disclosure required by the underlying bill. prgtoken The truth is, the federal government is all too often a fountain of unnecessary regulations. prgtoken And while some may debate the merits of any given regulation, few would agree the federal government should issue identical iterations of the same regulation multiple times over. prgtoken , it is past time we stop bureaucratic abuse and shift the balance of power from government back to the people, where it belongs. prgtoken That can start today by passing the Regulatory Integrity Act and putting our government on a path to reduce the amount of red tape that our businesses and the American people deal with every day. prgtoken , I would like to thank my colleague from Michigan for his hard work on this commonsense legislation. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill.