mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING HASKELL MONROE, JR.
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-19

I rise today to honor retired Lieutenant Colonel Bob Ammon of Waco, Texas, who passed away on September 28, 2017. prgtoken Bob was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on February 28, 1924. He would spend his early years in West Reading, growing up in what he described as an ``average American home.'' He grew up with an older brother, Jim, and a younger sister, Marjorie. prgtoken In 1941, Bob was a senior in high school when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Not being old enough for the draft, Bob was still determined to serve his country and contribute to the war effort. In 1942, he decided to take the aviation exam to become a pilot in the United States Army. He passed the exam and, on August 25, 1942, he was sworn into the Army. prgtoken He was called into Active Duty in 1943, beginning flight training in Santa Ana, California, and completing his training at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. prgtoken After graduating from flight school, Bob was assigned to Mather Air Force Base to begin training as a B-25 bomber pilot. In 1944, he began bombing runs with the 11th Bomb Squadron, who were fighting to dismantle the Japanese occupation of China. He flew 21 bombing missions in China and participated in combat during the Battle of Hanoi Harbor. prgtoken After his service in World War II, Bob reenlisted during the Korean war. In Korea, he flew an astounding 43 bombing missions and earned a Purple Heart for wounds that he suffered after being shot down over North Korea. prgtoken Bob again reenlisted to serve when the Vietnam war broke out. He never missed combat in any of the wars he fought in, and he was proud of his military service until the day he passed. prgtoken While stationed at James Connolly Air Force Base, Bob met a beautiful woman named Ann at the Officers' Club, and they married in 1952. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage together and raised three sons--Steve, Bob, and Jeff--all of whom graduated from Baylor University in Waco. prgtoken Though he was often traveling, Bob made a point to be there for his sons and to make sure they were being raised well. He was known as a loving father who raised his sons with a steady hand, and he passed on his love of flying, golf, and family to his three sons. Today, his legacy includes 25 family members, including grandchildren and great- grandchildren. prgtoken Bob was a patriotic man and always flew the American flag outside his home in Waco. He always made a point to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem, even as his health began to fail him late in life. prgtoken Bob was known for giving back to the local community, and he had a strong faith in God. Bob served in a position of leadership at the Covenant Church for 27 years. He was well-known for greeting parishioners with a smile at the doors of the church. His friendly and welcoming manner will surely be missed at Covenant Church. prgtoken , Bob worked tirelessly to protect our country
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3312, SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-12-19

I thank Chairman Sessions for his leadership and for yielding. prgtoken , we are about to make history this week by delivering a tax cut to families at every income level. prgtoken The math clearly shows that the average family of four, making the country's median income of $73,000, will receive a $2,000 tax cut. prgtoken Yet many of my friends on the other side of the aisle continue to say this bill is going to raise taxes on millions of middle class families. That is just not true, unless you are referring to 2025, when these tax cuts expire and we go back to the status quo. prgtoken Why is there an expiration date? prgtoken Because many of the very same people, using this as a talking point against this bill, are the reason they sunset. If we could get 60 votes in the Senate, requiring just a few of my friends on the other side of the aisle to work with us, we could make this tax cut for middle class families permanent right now. They have chosen not to work with us. prgtoken I will be giving my friends on the other side of the aisle another chance to support tax cuts for hardworking families in their district. I will be introducing a bill to make the individual tax cuts permanent. prgtoken I am not sure there is anyone who truly believes that a future Congress would let them expire, given the fact that we have extended the tax cuts in the past. prgtoken Nonetheless, I am introducing this bill to ensure these tax cuts will be in place for middle class families this year, and to make sure they are here to stay. prgtoken , I hope each and every one of my colleagues will sign on as a cosponsor.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Kevin Brady (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-19

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Today, we are delivering on our tax reform promise to the American people. For the first time in over three decades, we are delivering a new Tax Code that provides more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks to Americans across the country. prgtoken With this bill, a middle-income family of four earning $73,000 a year will see a tax cut of over $2,000. Our local job creators will see the lowest tax rates in modern history so they can invest more in their workers and in their futures. And our businesses will finally have a Tax Code that helps them compete and win anywhere in the world, especially here at home. prgtoken This is our moment to make history, to make good on our promise, and to make tax reform a reality for the first time in 31 years. prgtoken , .
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-12-19

relief for Americans is on the way. This evening, we will vote on the first comprehensive overhaul of our Tax Code since 1986. In 1986, I was a young Senate staffer. I watched as that tax bill passed on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I was a 25-year- old staffer back then. prgtoken In a couple of weeks, my wife and I will welcome our third grandchild into the world, so it seems only fitting, after 30 years, that we go about the business of reforming the Tax Code because a lot has changed in this country. A lot has changed in this country in the past 30 years, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the Tax Code. Our Tax Code needs to be updated and modernized to reflect the times in which we live. prgtoken Since President Reagan signed the last overhaul into law, our Tax Code has ballooned into an unwieldy, complex maze that costs American taxpayers an incredible amount of time and money and acts as a drag on economic growth and job creation. prgtoken I will say that when I was elected to the Senate, I came here, as most of us do, wanting to do big things. We want to do consequential things. We want to do things that will impact the American people in a beneficial and a positive way, and that is certainly the case with tax reform. I sought to get on the Senate Finance Committee for that reason. The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over tax, trade, healthcare, and issues that really impact and affect the American people's everyday lives. prgtoken In 2011, I had the good fortune of getting on the committee, and ever since that time we have been working aggressively, planning for this very day. The suggestion by our colleagues on the other side that somehow this cropped up all of a sudden, overnight, is absolutely inconsistent with the facts. Since I got on the Finance Committee in 2011, we have had no fewer than 70 hearings on tax reform and tax- related issues. prgtoken In 2015, the chairman of the committee, Senator Hatch, created five working groups. I was fortunate enough to chair one of those working groups. They were bipartisan, and they were tasked with looking at all aspects of the Tax Code, broken down into five different sections, and making recommendations for tax reform. We went about that in a very diligent way. We spent weeks and months developing ideas, reported those recommendations to the full committee, and those recommendations today serve as the foundation for the legislation we are considering. That was a bipartisan process, and the participated in that. A lot of the suggestions are bipartisan ideas. The foundation for this legislation frankly, in many respects, originated with those working groups that were worked upon by both s and . So we stand here today with a piece of legislation that has a lot of bipartisan substance in it, even though the have refused to participate in the process. prgtoken We started out with two major g
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Peter J. Roskam (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-12-19

I thank the chairman for yielding me time. prgtoken We have heard some strong language for the past couple of minutes. This has been described as theology, science fiction, ideology, and now deceit. prgtoken Well, where is the deceit? prgtoken The deceit is in the assumption that we can live with the status quo, . prgtoken The deceit is a blindness to the recognition that we have a Tax Code that is literally dissolving underneath us. It is dissolving underneath us. prgtoken And this Congress has an opportunity to do something transformational, and I propose, along with my colleagues, to be transformational and opportunistic. prgtoken There is a lot of discussion in the subtext of this about class envy and opportunity and so forth. Here is what I know: It is the status quo that is serving the few. It is the status quo that is so off-putting and unsettling and keeps people at arm's length. prgtoken What we are proposing is something very different we are proposing the economics of opportunity, not the economics of envy; the economics of buoyancy and the economics of participation. prgtoken Therein lies the foundation of this bill. It offers tax relief that my constituents are longing for, and it offers a business environment in a milieu that makes things happen, and happen for the good. prgtoken So I am pleased, I am honored to be a part of this. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye,'' and let us celebrate a job well done.
KEVIN AND AVONTE'S LAW
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-12-19

in the 114th Congress, we came very close to passing Kevin and Avonte's Law, a bill named in honor of two boys with autism who wandered away from their caregivers and drowned. prgtoken I reintroduced this legislation last month with Senators Klobuchar, Tillis, Schumer, and others to equip communities with important tools to help locate individuals who wander away from their families or caregivers due to dementia or a developmental disability. The bill we crafted adds new protections for children with developmental disabilities, like autism, which are linked to wandering. prgtoken The original version of this bill, which I authored with Senator Schumer, passed both Chambers of Congress late last year. It passed this Chamber by voice vote over a year ago, while a similar House companion garnered over 90 cosponsors before passing the other Chamber, 346-66, last December. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to resolve the differences between the two Chamber's versions before the 114th Congress adjourned. prgtoken This year, the Judiciary Committee approved Kevin and Avonte's Law by voice vote, and, before reporting the bill to the full Senate last month, we reached bipartisan consensus on an offset. Our offset consists of the Federal Register Printing Savings Act, which Senator Portman introduced earlier this year. Senator Portman's office agreed to work with us and incorporate S. 1195 into Kevin and Avonte's Law. We currently are seeking unanimous consent to pass both bills in one legislative package. prgtoken Meanwhile, the House has passed its own version of the Federal Register Printing Savings Act, introduced by Congressman Russell of Oklahoma. The House-passed version of that bill won the approval of the Homeland Security Committee earlier this year, and that panel is seeking unanimous consent to pass it. I support this legislation, which is virtually identical to Senator Portman's bill, but I placed a temporary hold on the House companion yesterday, so that we can find a way to pass that legislation and Kevin and Avonte's Law simultaneously. prgtoken By ensuring that both measures pass as one package, we can make additional resources available to equip first responders, law enforcement officials, and other community leaders with the training and tools necessary to better prevent and respond to missing person cases. By doing so, we also can make grants available to educate and train caregivers as well as other members of the community on how to prevent wandering by those with dementia or developmental disabilities.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-12-19

before I begin, I want to thank the gentleman. prgtoken Today, we will take a vote that every Member on this floor will remember. The country will remember. Then next year, when people check their checks and realize they have more money, they are going to remember who voted for status quo and who voted to make America's comeback. prgtoken I want to thank the chairman, Kevin Brady, for that work. prgtoken Now, , a month ago, when the House passed an earlier version of this bill, I said that, for all the jobless, for everyone who hasn't gotten a raise in years, for the parents, for the small- business owners, and for anyone who ever dreamed of being that entrepreneur and a small-business owner, we heard you. This bill is the start of their comeback, and when they win, well, that is the start of America's comeback. prgtoken Our country has faced some tough times. I don't have to tell you about that. And for too long, year after year, more and more Americans gave up hope. They were out of work. Or maybe they had a job, but they could not see past the next month or even the next week. They watched factories and businesses close up shop and move out, even moving out of the country. prgtoken Nobody wants to see their communities hollow out. Nobody wants to feel like they live in a nation in decline. That is not who Americans are. Frankly, , we are not a country that gives up on hope. This legislation and the Party's entire economic plan, they are giving people hope. prgtoken You can see it in the stock market. For every American who vests their retirement in a 401(k), 84 times it has set a new record since last year's election alone. prgtoken You can see it in companies like Broadcom. You know, Broadcom was a company created in America, but they are not domiciled here today. They moved to Singapore simply over our Tax Code. prgtoken So for those who want the status quo and want to keep Broadcom in another country, go ahead and vote ``no.'' For those who believe in the hope of this country, even greater, looking at this bill, Broadcom said they are coming back to America. prgtoken , you know what that means? $20 billion in revenue in just a year. That means $3 billion every year invested in R&D; $6 billion every year invested in manufacturing. Those are jobs we all dream about, and the action of this bill is making it happen. prgtoken You can see it in the faces of families who learn that next year thousands of dollars that they earn won't go straight to Washington; it will actually stay right at home. And this is all in an environment of disinformation and fear-mongering. I mean, I have seen what has been said, and, to me, it is absurd. prgtoken , Leader Pelosi said that this bill was, and I quote, ``Armageddon'' and ``the end of the world.'' Now, , I listened a great deal to what my counterpart on the other side, the minority leader, has said, and I have read when The Washington Post analyzed what she h
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-12-19

I would like to spend a few moments talking about why my colleagues and why the American people should be supportive of this very important legislation, historic legislation, that we are debating on the Senate floor. It is particularly historic for my State, the great State of Alaska. There has been a lot of misinformation on this bill, and we are seeing a robust debate, which is fine. prgtoken I don't need to repeat all the arguments on both sides, but I will say that my colleagues on the other side have seemed to focus on one particular point. They are coming here and making this point again and again; that is, the point that this bill will supposedly raise taxes on the middle class. We are hearing it, and everyone is saying it. The problem with that argument is, it is fundamentally untrue. The truth will be in the paychecks of the American people, which they will see in a few months. prgtoken Let me talk about some of the provisions that are in the bill. The bill will be a middle-class tax cut for the vast majority of Americans. prgtoken Here are some of the provisions. These are in the bill. These are the facts. The bill doubles the standard deduction. For an individual, the standard deduction goes from $6,300 to $12,000. For married couples, it goes from $12,700 to $24,000. That is in the bill. That is important for middle-class families. It doubles the child tax credit. The child tax credit is doubled from the current $1,000 to $2,000, so more parents can claim it. It is in the bill. That is a fact. And it lowers rates. In fact, it not only lowers rates for middle-income Americans, it lowers rates on every single income bracket in the IRS code. That is a fact. prgtoken Bottom line, an average family of four making $75,000 a year will have about 200 more dollars per month in take-home pay under this bill--$2,400 a year. A single parent making $41,000 a year will see their tax bill decrease by $1,300. That is a 73-percent decrease. That is a fact. It is in the bill. prgtoken Let me mention one other critical way in which this tax bill will bring middle-class and working-class tax relief. It will get rid of the very regressive and unfair individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. About 20,000 hard-working Alaskans and over 6 million Americans have to pay a tax, a penalty to the IRS for not buying something-- health insurance--that they cannot afford. Let me repeat that. They are penalized for not buying something that they can't afford. Think about the absurdity of that. prgtoken Here is why this is such an important middle-class tax cut. When we get rid of that penalty, close to 80 percent of the 6 million Americans who pay the Care individual mandate tax--close to 80 percent of them--make $50,000 or less. Think about that. Tonight, we are getting rid of that tax, that unfair penalty, and that will undoubtedly bring tax relief for the middle class. prgtoken This bill also decreases t
COPS AND KIDS
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-12-19

our policemen and -women wake up every day and do a job that is dangerous and often thankless. They are truly servants of the public and protectors of those who cannot help themselves. If that weren't enough, I wanted to speak briefly today to highlight officers who have gone even further. prgtoken , the Iredell County Fraternal Order of Police recently held a Cops and Kids event in Mooresville, North Carolina. Through their generosity, more than two dozen families got around $100 worth of toys, clothes, and gifts for their loved ones. The stories of struggle for these families, brightened by a moment of generosity, are the stories we see around the country this Christmas. prgtoken I am awed and humbled by the efforts of these officers. I want to especially congratulate Tommy Chipman, president of the Iredell County Fraternal Order of Police; Duck Wyatt, the second vice president; and all those who participated to help make this Christmas a better one for families in the community.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-12-19

I have 3 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Scott Garrett, of New Jersey, to be President, Kimberly A. Reed, of West Virginia, to be First Vice President, Mark L. Greenblatt, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, and Spencer Bachus III, of Alabama, Judith Delzoppo Pryor, of Ohio, and Claudia Slacik, of New York, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors, all of the Export-Import Bank. Committee on Foreign Relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 2 p.m. to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Peter Hendrick Vrooman, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda, and Joel Danies, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the ic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, both of the Department of State. Committee on Rules prgtoken The Committee on Rules is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``A resolution to improve procedures for the consideration of nomination in the Senate''.