mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DISAPPROVING THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELATING TO ``CLARIFICATION OF EMPLOYER'S CONTINUING OBLIGATION TO MAKE AND MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE RECORD OF EACH RECORDABLE INJURY AND...
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-3-1

. H.J. Res. 83 is wrong. It is wrong because it goes against the hardworking people. prgtoken I also include in the Record, , a letter from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters disapproving of H.J. Res. 83. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Washington, DC, February 27, 2017. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I urge you to oppose H.J. Res. 83, disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to ``Clarification of Employer's Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness.'' Disapproving this rule would undermine safety in some of the nation's most dangerous industries, many of which employ Teamsters. The rule does not impose new costs on employers and simply reaffirms OSHA's ability to enforce injury and illness recordkeeping. This rule became necessary when a 2012 court decision overturned policy that had been in place for 40 years by limiting enforcement of OSHA's injury recordkeeping regulations to a six month period. OSHA publishes the data that it collects from employers on worksite injury and illness which is then utilized by employers, unions, and workers to identify and fix workplace hazards. With limited resources, OSHA also utilizes the data to target its enforcement and compliance activities to the most dangerous workplaces thus making it essential that OSHA have accurate information. With under-reporting of injury and illness data already a major issue, it makes no sense to effectively strip OSHA of its ability to enforce reporting requirements as this ultimately impacts workplace safety. Congress should be working to improve work place safety not undermine it, and voting for H.J. Res 83 will ultimately harm working men and women. I urge you to oppose H.J. Res. 83 to protect OSHA's ability to enforce accurate injury and illness reporting and to ensure workers have a safe and healthy workplace. Sincerely, James P. Hoffa, General President.
RECOGNIZING RUTGERS CANCER INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-3-1

I rise today to recognize the newly formed partnership between the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and University Hospital, located in Newark, New Jersey. This landmark agreement, designated by the National Cancer Institute, brings Rutgers' NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center services, as the only one in the state of New Jersey. This will expand the offering of advanced cancer-related services for residents of Newark and the greater Essex County--which includes many constituents in the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. The partnership expands the offering of advanced cancer-related services, including clinical trials only available at NCI-designated cancer centers, community outreach and education programs focusing on cancer prevention, and early detection including increased screenings. The focus on early detection and preventions is very important as March is National Colorectal Cancer Month. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women in our country. According to the American Cancer Society, it is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined. In 2016, it was estimated that 134,490 new cases would be diagnosed, and that 49,190 people would die from colorectal cancer. The availability of the latest treatment options and clinical trials at the Rutgers Cancer Institute at University Hospital are expected to improve patient outcomes and increase awareness of early detection and prevention to help reduce cancer incidence and burden in the 10th Congressional District. This partnership embraces University Hospital's patient-centered care model, and will prgtoken create a multidisciplinary team of experts that will include: medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, oncology certified nurses, patient navigators, social workers, registered dietitians, pharmacists, and other specially trained support personnel. The Cancer Institute is also physically connected to University Hospital, which allows patients to access additional clinical services, clinical research opportunities, screening and education programs and administrative offices. Additionally, the new partnership will create educational opportunities for community partners in the Newark area to work with University Hospital to identify cancer-related needs and develop culturally appropriate education. These activities will form the basis for future cancer-focused outreach initiatives, which will focus on improving cancer literacy and communication between patients and healthcare providers. This collaboration is essential to expanding comprehensive cancer services, including prevention, education, early detection, increased screenings, and clinical trials in Newark and Essex County, New Jersey and I am honored to recognize this exciting partnership between the
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-1

I oppose the nomination of Representative Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior. prgtoken The Department of the Interior is charged with judicious management of our Nation's public lands. It is responsible for balancing conservation, recreation, and development to ensure that Americans get the best use and best value from our collective natural resources. prgtoken President Teddy Roosevelt, one of the greatest stewards of our public lands, once said: ``I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.'' prgtoken The administration took important steps to protect our resources and provide best value to taxpayers. Taking Atlantic Ocean drilling off the table protects our coastal areas and the vital tourism industry up and down the Eastern Shore, including Ocean City. Modernizing the coal leasing process ensures that taxpayers get proper payment for use of common resources. Preventing methane leakage on public lands stops waste of resources and pollution from a potent greenhouse gas. prgtoken Representative Zinke's history in Congress casts doubt on his commitment to these important initiatives. He has a mere 3 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters and an F grade from the National Parks Action Fund. I appreciate that he has spoken in opposition to the sale or transfer of public lands to States, but I am deeply concerned about his vote in January in the House of Representatives for a rule change that would make sales and transfers much easier. prgtoken As the Sierra Club has said: ``Rather than dedicating himself to the preservation of our public lands, Representative Zinke has repeatedly sided with those who would dismantle, degrade, or dispose of them. Mining, drilling, logging, and dirty energy interests have been placed time and again before the public interest'' prgtoken In an op-ed opposing a Department of the Interior rule to update coal leasing to get better value for American taxpayers, Representative Zinke said that the administration was ``fighting a more aggressive war against American coal than they are against ISIS.'' This kind of hyperbole does not bode well for Representative Zinke's ability to represent American taxpayers or promote conservation as Secretary of the Interior, should he be confirmed. prgtoken In his nomination hearing, Representative Zinke pledged to support Federal public lands, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and address the National Parks maintenance backlog. These are important promises from any nominee for the Department of the Interior. Unfortunately, Representative Zinke's voting record does not give me confidence in his commitment to fulfill them, and therefore I must vote against his nomination today. I am proud to be a member
SEARCHING FOR AND CUTTING REGULATIONS THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME ACT
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-1

I rise to suppose the ESEA title I protection amendment. prgtoken We all know education, at its core, is a civil rights issue. We have a responsibility to ensure that every student has access to a world- class education, and this is especially true for children who come from families with limited means. prgtoken For our working class families, a quality education can be--and actually is--the ladder which raises an entire family's prospects. The protections that we are debating today ensure that these students and their schools are not shortchanged from the resources they need in order to be successful. These are resources that they are entitled to by law. prgtoken Last year's Every Student Succeeds Act was a very successful bipartisan compromise, so let's not gut the protections that are crucial for its effective implementation before it is even given a chance. prgtoken A student's ZIP Code should not determine the quality of his or her education. A family's income should not determine their child's career prospects, and a school's location should not determine its resources. prgtoken Let's come together to protect our most vulnerable students because, as we all know, today's investments in education will determine our future.
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-3-1

I am here today for the 158th time to ask this Chamber to wake up to the mounting evidence of climate change. The sad truth is that, in Congress anyway, this issue has turned starkly partisan thanks to a torrent of dark political money that the fossil fuel industry uses to both threaten and reward the Party in a dirty, dark money game of stick-and-carrot. s in Congress ignore climate change for the simple reason that the fossil fuel industry has become their political life support system. It does not have to be this way. prgtoken Outside this Chamber, even s see things very differently. In the investment sector, where people have to make decisions based on real facts and where duties to shareholders limit overly creative accounting, the signal is clear. prgtoken An impressive group of former Treasury Secretaries and former Presidential economic advisers recently proposed a conservative, market-based climate solution. Presidents trusted these folks with the conduct of the U.S. economy. Jim Baker was Secretary of the Treasury under President Reagan, Hank Paulson was Secretary of the Treasury under President , and George Shultz was Secretary of the Treasury under President Nixon, in addition to other distinguished offices that they held. Joining those three were Martin Feldstein, Chairman of President Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers, and Greg Mankiw, who held that position for President ; Rob Walton, the former chairman of the board of Walmart, the world's largest retailer and employer; and Tom Stephenson from Sequoia Capital, the venture capital firm out in Silicon Valley. This group proposed a ``carbon dividends'' plan. It combines a carbon tax on fossil fuels--which reflects harm from carbon emissions which market economics ordinarily requires to be built into the price of the product--with a big dividend returning all of the revenues to the American people, and a reduction of regulations, which may be mooted by a good enough carbon fee. This idea is actually not so different from my own American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act. prgtoken In their report, they all note that the ``mounting evidence of climate change is growing too strong to ignore.'' Many would say that it grew too strong to ignore a good decade ago, but it is important that these leaders have acknowledged this. prgtoken They also said: ``Economists are nearly unanimous in their belief that a carbon tax is the most efficient and effective way to reduce carbon emissions.'' prgtoken This report lines up with many other s outside Congress who support a revenue-neutral carbon fee. It is the favorite climate solution in conservative economic circles. Indeed, it is the only widely accepted climate solution among s. prgtoken The Niskanen Center, a Libertarian think tank that spun off from the
OIRA INSIGHT, REFORM, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-1

I thank Ms. Plaskett for yielding to me. prgtoken H.R. 1009 would empower 's White House to block all of the independent financial agencies' proposed actions to protect our economy. And, worse, the bill empowers President 's advisers to influence monetary policy, including interest rates that affect America's mortgages, credit cards and IRAs. prgtoken Independent agencies, like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, would have to first receive the okay from 's administration, packed with Wall Street insiders, before they could protect the American public. For example, the administration could block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recent proposal to stop payday lender debt traps. These agencies would be directed to write rules favorable to industry, subjecting individuals once again to predatory practices. prgtoken I am so deeply troubled that H.R. 1009 gives the administration a say in the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions. The importance of Fed independence is well established and results in objective, nonpolitical policymaking, and a high degree of credibility with financial markets. prgtoken However, today's bill threatens the integrity of these decisions. Given that the Fed's actions can move stock markets by hundreds of points, we should absolutely reject the White House and s' desire to use the Fed for partisan gain. prgtoken An administration that believes bad polls are ``fake news,'' goes to great lengths to inflate the number of attendees at the inauguration, and misrepresents the Nation's debt level should not be allowed to meddle with the interest rate decisions or marketplace guardrails critical to our economy's health. prgtoken I urge Members to oppose this bill.
SEARCHING FOR AND CUTTING REGULATIONS THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME ACT
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-1

. Mr. Chair, title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a key Federal law for advancing equity in our Nation's classrooms. The rules implementing title I provide important details that make sure historically underserved students have access to an equal public education. These rules are too important to entrust to a mysterious commission. prgtoken I am very proud of the work I did in the State legislature repealing unnecessary education rules and statutes. We did it in a very collaborative, bipartisan manner through existing processes. That is what we should be doing, not going through this SCRUB Act. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to protect title I rules, stand up for educational equity, and support the amendment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON ARMENIANS IN SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD, AND BAKU
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-1

we have reached the 29th anniversary of a dark chapter in modern history. During the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1988 to 1994, Armenian civilians were indiscriminately attacked in the city of Sumgait. Today, I condemn these pogroms and commemorate the victims. prgtoken On the evening of February 27, 1988, a three-day rampage against Armenian civilians living in Sumgait, Soviet Azerbaijan began. Armenian civilians were hunted down and brutally assaulted. There were cases of rape, murder, and maiming of Armenian civilians. prgtoken The Soviet Union prohibited journalists from entering the area. It was reported that over 30 people were murdered and over 200 injured. However, it is believed that more, perhaps hundreds, were murdered by roving mobs. prgtoken Sadly, the Sumgait pogrom was only the beginning. prgtoken Despite international condemnation of the pogrom in Sumgait, another anti-Armenian pogrom occurred later that year in Kirovabad, Azerbaijan, from November 21st to 27th. Due to the brutality, the Armenians of Kirovabad and the surrounding areas were forced to flee their homes. Another crime against humanity occurred from January 13th to the 19th, in 1990. Members of the Armenian community of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, were assaulted, tortured and killed by violent mobs. prgtoken I would like to commemorate the Armenian victims of the Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku massacres, to honor the memory of the murdered, and to stop future bloodshed. If we hope to stop future massacres, we must acknowledge these horrific events and ensure they do not happen again. prgtoken We must urge Azerbaijan to cease all threats and acts of coercion against the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. We should actively monitor and condemn Azerbaijan's violations of the ceasefire in Nagomo Karabakh. prgtoken Lastly, we must reaffirm America's commitment to an enduring, peaceful and democratic resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that includes the Nagorno Karabakh Republic as a party to negotiations.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-3-1

today I wish to recognize the sesquicentennial anniversary of the founding of the University of Illinois, a nationally recognized institution of higher education with a long record of innovation and discovery and the home of the Fighting Illini. prgtoken In 1867, 150 years ago, my home State of Illinois established the University of Illinois with the purpose of fostering access to higher education for the working people. It would become one of 37 public, land-grant institutions established as a result of the Morrill Land- Grant Colleges Act signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. prgtoken Over the past 150 years, the University of Illinois and those associated with it have been responsible for pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, scientific discovery, social justice, and equality. prgtoken In 1941, David Blackwell, the son of a railroad worker from southern Illinois, received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Illinois. In 1965, Dr. Blackwell became the first African American elected to the National Academy of Sciences, whose members advise the President and Congress on matters related to science and technology. Dr. Blackwell is regarded as the most famous African-American mathematician in history. prgtoken In 1948, the University of Illinois became, and remains to this day, the most accessible campus in the world for individuals with disabilities. Timothy Nugent founded the first comprehensive program of higher education for individuals with disabilities at the University and helped create a campus that allowed individuals with disabilities to move about freely and independently. While the availability of buses with wheelchair lifts, accessible street curbs, and comprehensive collegiate programs for those with disabilities all have become the national standard, they started at the University of Illinois. prgtoken The University of Illinois has long been a leader in groundbreaking research and innovation in science. In the early 1970s, Paul Lauterbur discovered magnetic resonance imaging--better known by its initials: MRI. For his pioneering work, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2003. prgtoken Today the university is one of the premier public research universities in the world. It ranks in the top 50 universities in America for research and development dollars spent in science and engineering. It is also home to one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, known as Blue Waters. Blue Waters is the fastest supercomputer located on a college campus in the world. prgtoken What began 150 years ago as a small building on the Illinois prairie between prgtoken the Illinois Central train station in Champaign and the courthouse in Urbana is today a 785-acre campus with a reputation admired around the world. It is home to more than 44,000 students from all 50 States and more than 100 different countries each year. The University of Illinois has enhanced the lives of over 450,000 li
Gun Violence (Executive Calendar)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-3-1

last night, President began his speech with an appropriate reference to the anti-Semitic attacks that have occurred all over the country. Two bomb threats were called into a Jewish community center in the New Haven area in Connecticut. I visited that center and the staff and the kids of that center, who are now being housed in a nearby synagogue. He also condemned, in strong terms, the murder of a young man in Kansas City, the victim of an apparent hate crime, targeted for simply being a foreigner or being of a different religion. We can't know exactly what the reason was, but it was an attack based on hate. prgtoken I want to tell my colleagues a little bit about that young man, to begin with, as a means of, once again, coming to the floor of the Senate to tell my colleagues about the victims of gun violence in this country--the 86 or so prgtoken people every day who are taken by guns, suicides, and murders and accidental shootings; the 2,600 people a month whose lives are taken through gun violence, and the 31,000 a year. By the way, that number is just the number of people who are killed. Those are the lives that are eliminated. There are another 75,000 every year who are injured by gun fire, whose lives are irrevocably altered by that act of violence. prgtoken Srinivas Kuchibhotla was a 32-year-old engineer. He was working for Garmin. He was just hanging out at a bar. It was Austin's Bar and Grill, and he was enjoying the company of friends. Witnesses saw a man enter the bar. He was agitated, and he was drunk. He was a patron of the bar. He had left and he reentered, and he began shooting at Srinivas and his friend. Witnesses say that the shooter told Srinivas to ``get out of my country'' before killing him and then critically injuring his friend and an unbelievably brave bystander who tried to stop the shooter. prgtoken Hundreds of grief-stricken family members and friends gathered in his hometown in India for this young man's funeral. In accordance with Hindu tradition, his body was carried on a carriage and his ashes were laid to rest. Friends said that his mother was absolutely wailing as the carriage went by. prgtoken His mother had wondered whether America was a safe place for her son. Months before the shooting, she asked him to return to India if he was feeling insecure, but he told her he was safe, that he was fine. His wife also wondered how safe it would be to stay in the United States, but she said that Srinivas always assured her that only good things could happen to good people. prgtoken He undoubtedly was a good person. His family members remember him as the kindest person you would meet. He was, in their words, ``full of love, care and compassion for everyone. He never uttered a word of hatred, simple gossip, or a careless comment.'' prgtoken His friends and family members remember him as ``brilliant, well- mannered and simply an outstanding human being.'' prgtoken He was