mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-1-5

on January 20 of this year, change is coming to the White House. But until that day, it appears that President will desperately cling to the status quo and continue to do what he has done on far too many occasions: abuse his Executive powers to put in place unpopular policies without the cooperation of Congress and then pretend as if everyone somehow supports him. prgtoken The most recent case in point involves President 's recent decision to designate as a new national monument some 1.35 million acres of public land in San Juan County, UT--the poorest county in the State of Utah, nearly the size of Delaware. This is a small county that is tucked into the southeast corner of our State. It includes--and the national monument is named after--the region's distinctive Bears Ears buttes, which mark the ancestral homeland and sacred site of many members of the Navajo and Ute Tribes who live in San Juan County, UT. prgtoken President announced the Bears Ears National Monument on December 28, right between Christmas and New Year's Eve, as most Americans were busy enjoying the holiday season and when he was still enjoying time with his family in Hawaii. That same day, his administration released an explanatory document that was officially christened a ``Fact Sheet.'' It was christened that way by the White House officials who wrote it. But, in reality, it reads much more like an elaborate book of fiction. prgtoken Of all the falsehoods peddled in this bogus fact sheet, the most egregious--and, in many ways, the most insulting--is the claim that the residents in San Juan County, including local members of the Navajo Nation and members of the Ute Tribe, supported the President's decision to turn Bears Ears into a national monument. prgtoken The document says: The creation of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah [. . .] follow[s] years of robust public input from tribes, local elected officials, and diverse stakeholders, and draws from legislation introduced in Congress. In addition to protecting more land and water than any administration in history-- prgtoken And here is the kicker-- President has taken unprecedented steps to elevate the voices of Native peoples in the management of our national resources. ``Unprecedented steps to elevate the voices of Native peoples.'' Nothing could be further from the truth in this situation. Perhaps if we replace the word ``elevate'' with the word ``exploit,'' that sentence might apply to the situation in Bears Ears. prgtoken Now, there is no denying that many Native American people supported President 's designation of the Bears Ears National Monument. But the inconvenient truth too often ignored by the administration and its supporters is that virtually all of this tribal support came from Native Americans residing outside of Utah, not inside Utah, and certainly not within
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-1-5

today I have the honor of recognizing John and Stephanie Hekkel of Anaconda in celebration of the rebuilding of Club Moderne. prgtoken The bar had been considered an area landmark since its founding in 1937 and was truly a sight to behold. With its rounded front facade and Carrara glass panels, it reflected the Art Deco style of the time of its founding. It was designed by Bozeman-based architect Fred Willson and built by local carpenters and craftspeople under the direction of the first owner, John ``Skinny'' Francisco. prgtoken Until recently, the Club Moderne had changed very little since its opening day, and in 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. prgtoken In 1997, the Francisco family sold the bar to a close friend, longtime bartender, and Anaconda native John Hekkel who continued its legacy as a flagship watering hole, especially for area law enforcement and firefighters, while maintaining its retro atmosphere. prgtoken A recent Yelp review described taking a step inside ``like walking inside a time capsule!'' prgtoken Last April, it also won the top award in The Big Tap: 2016 Historic Bars Tournament Championship, an online contest sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. prgtoken Unfortunately, Club Moderne was destroyed in a fire in October, a tragic loss to the Anaconda community. prgtoken The night the fire happened, I understand John Hekkel stayed at the bar until 4:00 in the morning and, after the fire was extinguished, grabbed a shovel and physically helped with the cleanup. prgtoken Just this week, I was thrilled to hear the Hekkels announce plans to rebuild the bar and restore this historic establishment. prgtoken This is a true Montana story. Montanans pull themselves up by their bootstraps, even in times of hardship or loss. prgtoken I invite fellow Montanans to stop by to try whatever's on tap or a Moscow Mule, which is an Anaconda specialty. prgtoken The Hekkels, through Club Moderne, have welcomed those just passing through our State and native Montanans alike for generations. As small business owners, they have brought their community together. I wish them all my best as they restore Club Moderne and renew it as a bright spot in the Anaconda community. I look forward to visiting with John and Stephanie there when they reopen.
OBJECTING TO UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2334
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-1-5

I thank Chairman Ed Royce for yielding. I appreciate your leadership for peace. prgtoken I am in strong support of the House resolution, which is taking a firm stand and clear stand objecting to the United Nations Security Council resolution as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace. prgtoken The United States has stood with Israel against one-sided, biased resolutions at the United Nations and in other international forums. Additionally, the United States has been adamant that a peaceful resolution will only come from direct, bilateral negotiations, not addressed by an international forum. The distorted ideology of moral neutrality is suicidal for civilization, encouraging what the chairman correctly identified as ``pay for slay,'' as evidenced by the murder of American tourist Taylor Force just last year. prgtoken On December 23, my constituents were shocked as the administration betrayed the people of Israel, undermining the peace process by failing to veto the U.N. Security Council resolution. President and Secretary Kerry's actions revealed dangerous irresponsibility, putting Israeli and American families at risk of more terrorist attacks. Fortunately, Governor Nikki Haley, President-elect 's appointee, will soon be making a positive difference as U.N. Ambassador of the United States, promoting peace through strength. prgtoken Today, I am grateful to stand strong with Israel by being an original cosponsor of H. Res. 11. I appreciate the leadership of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Chairman Ed Royce, and Ranking Member Eliot Engel for sponsoring this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.
Dennis A. Ross (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-1-5

I thank my friend from Georgia for yielding. prgtoken I rise today to support this rule and to express my strong disapproval of President and his administration's refusal to veto the anti-Israel resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council on December 23, 2016. prgtoken Since its establishment, Israel has worked tirelessly to forge peace with its neighbors. They have sought neither violence nor conflict. In fact, the territories discussed in the misguided U.N. resolution were areas Israel gained in self-defense during the 1967 Six-Day War. These areas include the Old City, with the Temple Mount and Western Wall, areas that, thousands of years ago, were the origin of the Israeli culture, heritage, and religion. prgtoken Israel did not seek to take this land. Rather, when threatened by their Arab neighbors in 1967, they were forced to act in self-defense and repel these attacks. Since that time, Israel has successfully reached peaceful agreements with many of the Arab countries who, at that time, sought to wipe them off the map. prgtoken Israel is the only thriving democracy in the Middle East who practices and protects human rights regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or citizenship. Additionally, the State of Israel has been committed to implementing initiatives to promote economic growth in the region, including creating opportunities for Palestinians and others. Israel is a shining example of taking care of those who are around them, even as they face constant threat of violence and terrorist attacks. prgtoken I have been appalled over what has taken place under the direction of President and Secretary Kerry and others within the administration. In response, I also introduced a resolution condemning these intolerable actions. By failing to direct the United States to veto the one-sided, anti-Israel U.N. Security Council resolution, the President turned his back on Israel and, as a result, turned his back on America. prgtoken The anti-Israel resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council threatens peace and stability in the Middle East. It will most likely incentivize further violence and radical boycotts. prgtoken While President and Secretary Kerry's long list of foreign policy failures has been well-documented over the years, none to date have been this deliberate and calculated. That is why I have come to the floor to support Chairman Royce's bipartisan resolution. prgtoken As s and alike have expressed their contempt for the President's lack of action, I look forward to working with my colleagues and President-elect in correcting President 's anti-Israeli tactics as we work to form a stronger bond with Israel and as we work to promote peace in the Middle East.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-1-5

I hear my ic colleagues praising Care. I had to smile yesterday. I heard a colleague talking about how Care was addressing high pharmaceutical costs. I had to start laughing--and kind of a bitter laugh. Tell that to a senior who is paying $6,000 for her medicine, which before Care passed was a fraction of that. prgtoken We hear how great it is that Care has given so many people coverage. Say how great that coverage is to someone who has a $6,000 deductible--a $6,000 deductible--who does not have $400 in her checking account. There is a friend of mine--people don't believe it so I put it on my Facebook page. He got his quote for him and his wife. They are 60 and 61 years of age. Their premium for 1 year was $39,000, each of them with $6,000 deductibles. Again, it is on my Facebook page because otherwise no one would have believed me. prgtoken So when people speak about the affordable health care act, I have to laugh. If this is affordable, what would be unaffordable? We can clearly do better than this. prgtoken I begin this speech by calling into question my ic colleague's defense of Care, but we can have common ground. I applauded and still applaud the goals of those who support the Affordable Care Act. They wish to have coverage for all. Now, that is important. For over 30 years, I have worked as a physician in a hospital for the uninsured. My medical practice has been geared toward bringing coverage, to bringing care to those who otherwise would not have it. prgtoken As I look at this issue, I have to thank them for their motivation but have to recognize that the Affordable Care Act has not achieved that in a way which most Americans find affordable. The other thing about Care is that it coerces Americans. It takes power from patients and States and gives it to Washington, DC, coercing the individual with mandates and penalties, taking away her right to choose. That is not where the American people wish to be. prgtoken I would like to believe s and can find common ground. I have introduced a replacement plan that would give States the power. I am willing to concede, the minority leader believes that Care is working just fine in his State of New York. In my plan, we repeal Care on a Federal level, but if a State like California or New York thinks Care is working for them, God bless them. prgtoken Under my plan, a State legislature would have the right to stay on Care. So here Congress would pass the legislation giving States the choice, and the State would either have the option we advance, which I think is superior--but when s say that you can keep your health insurance if you wish, and we mean it, we mean it. If a State decided they wished to stay on Care, they could or if a State truly decides they want to have nothing at all to do with any of this, they can totally opt away from the Medic
READING OF THE CONSTITUTION
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-1-5

. Article III, section 1: ``The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.''
REGULATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE IN NEED OF SCRUTINY ACT OF 2017
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-1-5

my amendment makes an important exemption to the REINS Act to ensure that policies that protect children from cancer, premature death, asthma attacks, or respiratory disease are not delayed or denied. prgtoken For example, the Clean Air Act, which has been in place for over 40 years, and has improved our health and protected all Americans from harmful toxic air pollution, such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particle pollution, often requires updates based upon the best science, especially when it comes to our kids. prgtoken Toxic pollutants, such as ozone, which is a major component of smog, are linked to asthma, lung, and heart disease and result in thousands of deaths every year and up to 1 million missed days of school. Our kids are particularly susceptible to this type of pollution because their lungs are still developing. On average, they take deeper breaths and are more likely to spend long periods outdoors, placing them at higher risk. prgtoken The American Lung Association states that inhaling smog pollution is like getting a sunburn on your lungs, and often results in immediate breathing trouble. prgtoken I remember very well back in the early seventies, when I was a little girl, what the air was like in my hometown in Tampa. We had a lot of industrial users at the port of Tampa, a lot of industrial plants. I have seen the progress over time that the Clean Air Act has brought to this country. We are not like other countries in the world. We are stronger, and we are better, and we are healthier because of the Clean Air Act. prgtoken So let's not go backwards. Let's not throw a roadblock like the REINS Act into the mix here. But we do have to be careful because there still are many communities in America that continue to suffer, and they are often the underserved, economically distressed communities. prgtoken Studies have shown that working class communities often bear the brunt of environmental pollution because the only homes they can afford are often located near industrial sites. According to the NAACP, 78 percent of African Americans live within 30 miles of an industrial power plant, and 71 percent of African Americans live in counties that violate Federal air pollution standards. prgtoken In addition to that, a study by the Environmental Defense Fund found that our Latino neighbors are three times more likely to die from asthma, often for those same reasons. prgtoken Let's not go backwards. Because here, what the REINS Act does is it really complicates the American system of checks and balances. Let's not go backwards. Because it is not only our families and neighbors that would suffer. It is also our economy that would suffer as well. prgtoken This type of regulatory scheme of mirrors and false promises would create great uncertainty for many of our businesses. The Clean Air Act is one example. These clean air protections in the United States have a great track record.
OBJECTING TO UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2334
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-1-5

for 19 years, when Jordan occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Jews could not visit the Western Wall or the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. They were denied access to places where, for 2,000 years, they have continuously made a personal connection to their faith and their history. prgtoken It is impossible to separate Jewish identity from the Western Wall or the Western Wall from its Jewish identity or Jerusalem from the Jewish State of Israel, yet this is exactly what has been happening in the United Nations for years and exactly what Security Council Resolution 2334 sought to do. prgtoken In addition, the resolution overwhelmingly assigns blame to Israel, while avoiding direct criticism of Palestinian incitement and violence. That is why, last month, I strongly urged President to veto the resolution. prgtoken The U.S. has and must continue to seek a sustainable two-state solution with a democratic, Jewish State of Israel and a demilitarized democratic Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security. But the only path to two states is through direct negotiations by the two parties. Efforts to force a solution at the U.N. or internationalize the issues are misguided and risk moving peace further away. prgtoken As an original cosponsor, I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 11.
REGULATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE IN NEED OF SCRUTINY ACT OF 2017
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2017-1-5

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I listened intently to my colleague's opening remarks, and he seemed to try to justify the passage of the REINS Act, which I rise in opposition to, by the way, by saying that it has been the administration's job-killing regulations that have put our economy in its position, which is one that is not good. prgtoken Despite trying to convince the American people of that allegation, the American people are aware of the facts. They are aware of the fact that, 8 years ago, when President came into office and under a stewardship that used trickle-down economics as its model, this economy neared that of the Great Depression's. In fact, we call it the period of the Great Recession. This country almost went into a depression, and it went into a Great Recession because of 's and the s' policies of trickle-down economics, which Daddy --George Herbert Walker --once referred to as ``voodoo economics,'' and he was right about that. prgtoken Let's look at where we were then and look at where we are now and ask ourselves: Are we not better off now than we were then? prgtoken There are not many voices that could say, No, we are not better off now than we were then, because they know, since then, there have been 81 straight months of positive private sector job growth. prgtoken They know that over 15.6 million new jobs have been added to our economy by President . They also know that 30 million more people have health insurance and access to the healthcare system now than they did back then. They know that regulations had to ensue from the passage of the Affordable Care Act in order to enable those 30 million people to have coverage now. That is why they want to introduce this legislation to cut regulations. They want to try to hurt the Affordable Care Act. They also know that regulations had to spring forth from the Dodd-Frank, Wall Street regulation, legislation that was passed in this body. They know that those regulations have protected the finances and the financial security of Americans who are doing far better now than they were 8 years ago when President took office. prgtoken The American people know that they are much better off now. They know that bankruptcies have gone down. They know that foreclosures have gone down. They know that they have better jobs. They know that things are better now than they were back then. prgtoken You will remember and the American people will remember that on the very day of President 's first inauguration, Mitch McConnell and a cabal of s met from both the House and Senate, crying in their beers at a Capitol Hill bar. They embarked on a strategy to-- what?--make sure that President would be a first-term President. So they resolved to oppose everything that he proposed, and they certainly did. Despite unprecedented opposition from the Republic
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2017
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-1-5

first I want to thank Senator Durbin for his comments about the policy of repealing the Affordable Care Act and not knowing what comes next, the impact it is going to have on people from Illinois. I am going to talk about people in Maryland. I have received similar letters showing that people are going to be adversely impacted. prgtoken I want to share with my colleagues the conversation I had with the secretary of health from Maryland. Maryland has Governor Hogan, a Governor, and his secretary of health met with me several weeks ago to express his concerns about the impact on the people of my State of Maryland if the Affordable Care Act were repealed. What I heard from the secretary of health of Maryland was similar to what I heard from many of the health care stakeholders from the hospital association to physician groups, to health care advocates, to ordinary Marylanders who have contacted me about their concerns about what happens if we see a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken Let me just give you some examples of how the Affordable Care Act is working in my State and, as Senator Durbin indicated, in his State. The uninsured rate in Maryland has dropped from 12.9 percent to 6.6 percent. That is about a 50-percent drop in the uninsured rate. That benefits all Marylanders--all Marylanders. Yes, 400,000 Marylanders now have health coverage who didn't have health coverage before, and for those 400,000, that is a big deal. That means they can see a doctor and get a physical examination. If they are ill, they can get treated and know there are doctors and hospitals that will want to take care of them because they have third-party reimbursement. They prgtoken no longer have to show up in emergency rooms because that is the only place they could get to. They can now go to a doctor and get a physical examination. prgtoken , it benefits more than just those 400,000 Marylanders, who, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, have health coverage. It affects all Marylanders because we no longer have the amount of cost shifting of those who have health insurance paying for those who don't have health insurance because they use the system and don't pay for it. That dislocation has been dramatically changed in my State. So all Marylanders are benefiting from having 400,000 Marylanders who now have health coverage, but it goes beyond that. Many Marylanders who had health insurance didn't have adequate health insurance. They had restrictions on preexisting conditions. They had caps on their policies. It didn't cover preventive health care. They now have quality health coverage. prgtoken All of that is at risk. All of that is at risk because of what we are talking about doing, if I understand correctly. Quite frankly, I am still trying to figure out what the s are doing to the Affordable Care Act, but if I understand it, they are going to repeal it, and they are not going