mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
KING COVE ROAD LAND EXCHANGE ACT
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-7-20

I rise in support of H.R. 218, the King Cove Road Land Exchange Act. I thank Congressman Don Young for his tireless work on this pressing issue. prgtoken Nineteen people: the cost of decades of inaction by the Federal Government, , is 19 American lives. prgtoken Expedient access to a hospital is something most Americans can, fortunately, take for granted. For many, emergency services are an ambulance ride away. Not for the citizens of King Cove, Alaska. prgtoken Adjacent to the Aleutian Islands, the 1,000 residents of King Cove, Alaska, are connected to hospitals in the region via a small runway and a ferry. Harsh winter storms ground planes and prevent safe sea travel, cutting off residents from hospitals and necessary supplies. prgtoken In truly dire emergencies, King Cove residents have but two choices. Number one is to pray a boat captain will brave enormous seas. Or wait until the Coast Guard can dispatch a medivac helicopter. prgtoken , allow me to read some of the stories of those who have braved the sea, or held out until help arrived. prgtoken Take, for example, Lonnie Brandell, who had to hoist his ailing father out of a fishing boat during a blizzard. After a perilous 3-hour journey to Cold Bay, the sea was so rough his boat could not dock. Brandell had to tie a rope around his father and allow him to be pulled to safety. To quote Brandell: ``It was not a good scenario at all. But if we had stayed here one more day, even 10 or 12 more hours, he would not have lived.'' prgtoken Or take Etta Kuzakin, who went into labor early. Unable to safely leave King Cove during a storm, it took the Coast Guard 8 hours to arrive to rescue her. ``I was lucky,'' she says. ``The Coast Guard was in the area. That is really what it was. They were in the area.'' prgtoken , this is shameful. Our citizens should not have to wait hours for a medivac, or brave treacherous seas while we sit here and debate this issue. No American should have to perish while we argue whether or not a refuge would be better off with 81 or 70 miles of gravel road. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to listen to the stories of Etta Kuzakin, Lonnie Brandell, and others. I urge my colleagues to think about the 19 Americans who perished for want of a gravel road. prgtoken , I strongly support H.R. 218.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AUTHORIZATION ACT
Clay Higgins (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-7-20

I rise today in support of passage of H.R. 2825, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017, of which I am honored to be an original cosponsor. prgtoken The threats facing American families are real and rapidly evolving. Since the original authorization 15 years ago, DHS has never been reauthorized, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of congressional oversight. prgtoken , I thank Chairman McCaul and his staff for their work on making the reauthorization package a reality. National security is an issue that affects every man, woman, child, , and in our Nation. This bill will go a long way to ensuring that DHS remains mission ready to continue protecting our homeland. prgtoken This legislation accomplishes several key things: prgtoken It creates efficiencies that protect the people's treasure and holds programs accountable; prgtoken It offers congressional guidance for agencies within DHS such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to bolster our Nation's response to illegal immigration; and prgtoken Supports the boots-on-the-ground and frontline defenders with much- needed resources. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Manufacturing (Executive Calendar)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-7-20

the White House started out this week with all kinds of activities on the White House grounds pertaining to things that we make here in America and the importance of manufacturing and, frankly, the kinds of good jobs that have traditionally come with manufacturing. prgtoken When we have an economy that focuses on making things and growing things, that has always been the strongest economy for working American families--an economy that competes, an economy that produces. Where the Presiding Officer and I live in Louisiana and in Missouri, in the middle of the country and close to that great transportation corridor and close to the resources of the country, we always particularly thrive when we are in an economy that is focused on making things. prgtoken With all of the other discussions this week, it would be a shame to not think about those products from every State that the President talked about this week, that were on the Capitol grounds, and that are reflective of companies that are almost brandnew and companies that are a century old, where people had figured out how to be competitive enough in what they were doing that they could make a living for themselves and lots of other people, doing just that. In fact, manufacturing employs 12.3 million people in the country today, including more than 260,000 people in my State of Missouri. There is no doubt that we benefit from those kinds of jobs. prgtoken I was glad that in 2014 we were able to get the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act signed into law. This was a new way, a new opportunity for businesses to link with each other and to link with training facilities, maybe research universities. You have to have that kind of public partner, as well, to see what we could be to be even more competitive than we are. When we looked at Germany and other countries, they were not only doing this sort of thing, but they were doing it in a way that made it really hard for us sometimes to keep up with that level of interaction between innovation and manufacturing, innovation and labor. prgtoken Businesses are really very much impacted, jobs are very much impacted by the decisions that government ultimately sets the stage for. If you are going to make something in America today, the first two boxes I think you would have to check would be can you pay the utility bill and does the transportation system work with what you are trying to do. If you can't check those two boxes, no matter how great that workforce and that location might be, you are not going to take those jobs there. So government, either as a regulator or as a provider, is going to be very involved in whether you can pay the utility bill. prgtoken That is why I was really glad to see the new director at the Environmental Protection Agency look at the power rule. The courts fortunately had already said you don't have the authority to do that-- only Congress can do what you want
KING COVE ROAD LAND EXCHANGE ACT
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record my statement on the ABCs of Izembek. prgtoken Alaska's ardently asking for action and assistance to acquire acute acres to always allow actual access across areas and assuredly avert atrocious aviation accidents after appalling administrative blockades on building basic boulevards between beautiful bays before blizzards. prgtoken The bill doesn't bombard birds like Black Brants because Congress can carefully craft conveyances to create consistent courses for certain care in this Cove community. Construction cop outs and crumbling commitments cause a cacophony of complex concerns and constitute considerable consternation when crossing channels in choppy conditions. Don's diligently doting on his district, dutifully demanding demonstrable developments daily so the Department doesn't dawdle on their domain. Despite dangerous dashes and emergency evacuations, expanding elevated environmental evaluations exploded expenses. Exact exchanges exempt events to enhance embarking on equally enjoyable exits in eleven expanses. Frankly, fifty-five frigid flights fleeing fast from freezing fields in furious flurries found frighteningly few fancy facilities for fearful families. prgtoken Geese gradually got generally greedy, grimly generating genuine grief on giant goals of going great grounds on gravel and grabbing glory from good glacial gateways. prgtoken Historically, hovercraft hijinks harmfully hampered hurrying to hospitals and hobbled healing, harpooning hope and hardening hardships near the harsh harbors. The House must hastily have a helpful hand in halting havoc and hindering hefty hazards for Izembek inhabitants instead of idling indefinitely. Interior's indecision impeded infrastructure and informally interrupted implementing instant improvements, isolating irate individuals in increasingly impassible journeys. Jewell jumped into jeopardy when justifying juxtapositions and jarring, jolty jaunts from King Cove that keep killing kind kin without kindling key kernels of keen knowledge. prgtoken King Cove lacks life-saving lanes linking lonesome localities on land while lofty liberals lamely lament losing limited landscapes and maroon many who might make mends with medical ministration. Masterful mandatory medivacs must make miraculous moves after miniscule mainland migrations. Narrow native neighborhoods need necessary navigable networks now that nasty neglect notched nineteen needless obituaries. Other offered options outlined aren't okay or optimal for opening outbound opportunities over a one-lane, non-paved preferred path across a pulchritudinous peninsula. Patients patiently practice peacefully praying to postpone pain and postmortems while partisan panels prioritize protecting a percent of the preserve over the perishing population. prgtoken Perhaps people quietly question this quixotic quandary, quickly quarreling over quality, quaint routes. Resilient rural Refuge residen
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-7-20

. Madam , I understand the majority leader's reticence to answer the question because he says he can't speak for the Rules Committee. I understand that. But the fact of the matter is this is an important issue. It ought to be considered by the House. prgtoken It ought to have every Member's ability to speak to the issue of whether or not we ought to build that wall, not whether we ought to have security--we all agree that we should and must have security--but whether we do it with a wall, as I said, in which many members of the current administration do not believe it will work and have been quoted as saying so in the past, and there are many Members on our side who feel that. prgtoken I would hope that the majority leader would at least make it known to the Rules Committee that we ought to have that as a freestanding amendment, not incorporate it in a rule that the vote for the rule or a vote against the rule is, of itself, a vote on the wall itself. prgtoken Lastly, Mr. Leader, I want to say that you and I are both very concerned about the Russian sanctions and Iranian sanctions bill that is pending. We have been working very hard on that, very constructively on that, and I look forward, over the next 24 hours, more or less, to see whether or not we could get that resolved. prgtoken We have introduced, as you know, the Senate bill as a House bill. We would be for that if it would be brought to the floor. But we want to make sure that we move a bill, as you do, as quickly as possible and get agreement with the Senate and move that bill to the President's desk. prgtoken I thank you for your work on that, and I look forward to working with you over the next day or two to see if we can achieve that objective together. prgtoken Madam , unless the gentleman wants further time, .
LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON HEALTHCARE
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-20

many health insurance executives say they are raising premiums and leaving exchanges because of uncertainty and the threat of not paying the cost-sharing reductions and not funding them. prgtoken Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina told The Washington Post in May: ``The failure of the administration and the House to bring certainty and clarity by funding CSRs has caused our company to file a 22.9 percent premium increase, rather than one that is materially lower.'' prgtoken We need a bipartisan solution to stabilize exchanges. We need to stop threatening not to pay the CSRs. prgtoken I introduced the Marketplace Certainty Act, which provides stability by permanently funding and expanding eligibility for these subsidies. This is pragmatic, commonsense legislation to stop premiums from skyrocketing, keep insurers in exchanges, and help people struggling to afford healthcare. prgtoken I urge s and to put people over partisanship and solutions above ideology by working together, by sponsoring my bill, and helping American families afford healthcare.
RECOGNIZING ST. PAUL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2017-7-20

I am proud to stand before you this evening to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. First built on Court Street in Charleston, WV, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church has served as a bedrock of faith since its founding in 1892. prgtoken With humble beginnings, St. Paul AME first organized in the basement of the old Charleston courthouse under the leadership of Rev. Lewis McGhee, Sr. One year later, construction began on a permanent home, and in 1897, that home was completed. prgtoken The St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church has been a leader of the community for its entire existence. In the early 1900s, Rev. Francis Herman Gow formed the first African American Boy Scout troop in Charleston. Reverend Gow's trailblazing did not just end there, and in 1915, Reverend Gow established the Mattie V. Lee Home to provide housing for African-American women who travelled to Charleston in search of work. prgtoken The Mattie V. Lee Home still stands today under the direction of the Prestera Center, where it serves as an addiction treatment facility. Just as the Mattie V. Lee Home continues to make a difference in the Charleston community so long after its founding date, so too does the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. prgtoken Today the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church works to provide both healing and spiritual guidance in Charleston. Under the direction of Rev. John Sylvia, the church serves free weekly dinners for all interested, and associate pastor Rev. Roberta Smith was involved in creating RESET, a group to foster positive dialogue between law enforcement, clergy, and community of Charleston, WV. prgtoken It is through these acts of positivity and spiritual guidance that St. Paul AME has flourished in the Charleston community. I would like to thank Rev. John Sylvia and the entire congregation at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church for their commitment to the Charleston community. I am proud of the work done by St. Paul AME, and I know that the church will continue to spread the Word of the Lord for many more years to come.
Thoughts and Prayers for Senator McCain (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-7-20

first, on a sad note but one always of hope when it comes to Senator McCain, his cancer diagnosis sent a shock wave through the Senate last night. He is one of my dear friends, as he is a dear friend to many in this body, and from the bottom of my heart, I wish him and his family well. So does every Member of this Chamber. The respect that this man has is broad and deep, both based on his service to America and on what he has done here in this Chamber. prgtoken I agree with what the majority leader said earlier, in that John McCain is an American hero. There is no one who has done more to serve his country and this Chamber than Senator McCain. There is no one who is more passionate in the defense of our soldiers and in our defense than Senator McCain. prgtoken The same courage that he showed as a soldier he showed here. John McCain and I led a group to deal with immigration reform. He had to take so many tough positions to do what was right. He was fearless. His word was good. He was good at compromising, and he was good at making his views known. prgtoken With that bill, which passed this body with 67 or 68 votes--a large number of and s--had it become law, our country's economy would have been better, and our security would have been better because it was so tough on the border. We would have been in a better place for it had that bill passed. prgtoken The point I want to make is not with regard to the bill but to McCain--how we were in rooms for hours and hours, day after day, and we got to see the mettle of the man. Boy, the more you knew him, the better he looked, and the better he was. prgtoken So we know that, against this new battle, Senator McCain will fight in the only way he knows how--with every fiber of his being. We wish him well. Our prayers are for him and his family. We hope that he joins us very soon because this country needs John McCain now more than ever.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-7-20

. The letters--one from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the other from General Goldfein, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force--state they are needing to put a major investment of telemetry into the eastern gulf range for all of these sophisticated weapons systems, and they don't want this investment of the infrastructure with the moratorium ending in the year 2022. They want to extend the moratorium for another 5 years, to 2027. That is a reasonable request by the Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force. prgtoken For example, a test can start way down in the South, off of Key West, and a cruise missile could go all the way, 300 miles, because of the size of this test range, and then it could have a land impact on Eglin Air Force Base. That is part of our testing regime. prgtoken One could ask, Why couldn't the cruise missile weave around oil rig activities? Well, look at the new miniature cruise missiles that are out there. It is not one, but a swarm, which takes up a big footprint that we are testing. This is just one example of a weapons system that needs a lot of open space. This is a national asset. We don't want to give it up. That is why the top brass in the Pentagon is asking that we extend this moratorium so that those expensive investments in telemetry can be made. prgtoken We should not put someone in charge at the Department of the Interior if he has an open objection to what is obviously needed for national security and if he has demonstrated a history of siding just with special interests. It would be a bad decision when it comes to the national security of this country. prgtoken I am going to oppose the nomination, but that is just one reason, one item, on an ever-growing list of concerns that this Senator has with the Department of the Interior these days. prgtoken On June 29, Secretary Zinke announced that the Department was seeking public comment on a new 5-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing. In case anyone has forgotten, the current 5-year plan was just finalized 6 months ago and is supposed to run through 2022. Why would the Department spend more taxpayer money to go through the whole process all over again? The only reason this Senator can see is that the oil industry wants more acreage. They are going after the eastern Gulf of Mexico, despite the fact that the Department of Defense is asking for exactly the opposite. prgtoken By the way, they ought to take from the very productive sections of the Gulf of Mexico off of Louisiana. There are acres and acres under lease, but of all those acres under lease, how many are actually drilled and/or in production? It is a small percentage of the acreage under lease that is actually drilled. So why don't we take advantage of the existing leases, particularly in the central gulf, which is where the oil is? That is where all the sediments over millions of years came down the Mississippi River, settled in what is today
VOTE EXPLANATION
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-7-20

due to a family related matter in Michigan, I was unable to attend today's rollcall vote on the nomination of John K. to be a United States circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit. Had I been able to attend, I would have opposed his nomination. prgtoken I also was unable to attend today's rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted no on the cloture motion.
Climate Change (Executive Session)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-7-20

. When President announced his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, he used these alternative facts from that chamber- commissioned NERA report. Here is what said: Compliance with the terms of the Paris Accord and the onerous energy restrictions it has placed on the United States could cost America as much as 2.7 million lost jobs by 2025. . . . This includes 440,000 fewer manufacturing jobs. prgtoken End of alternative facts quote. prgtoken This was another assertion: By 2040, compliance with the commitments put into place by the previous administration would cut production for the following sectors: paper down 12 percent; cement down 23 percent; iron and steel down 38 percent; coal--and I happen to love the coal miners--down 86 percent; natural gas down 31 percent. The cost to the economy at this time would be close to $3 trillion in lost GDP and 6.5 million industrial jobs, while households would have $7,000 less income and, in many cases, much worse than that. prgtoken End quote of his alternative facts. prgtoken Countless reviewers, including PolitiFact, Scientific American--that known crazy, phony, liberal publication, Scientific American--CNBC, and Fortune magazine, fact-checked the President's speech. It did not fare well. PolitiFact warned us to ``take these statistics with a grain of salt.'' An analysis of the underlying report was done by Kenneth Gillingham, an economics professor at Yale University. He pointed out that the NERA study made up a hypothetical set of policy actions to reach those goals. Those policy actions may well never have been prgtoken taken by anyone to comply with the Paris Agreement, but that was what they used. Second, NERA only modeled the cost side. prgtoken You have heard the phrase ``cost-benefit equation.'' They only looked at the costs. They didn't ever look at the benefit side. This is phony accounting when you only look at one side of the ledger. prgtoken NERA, of course, has a history of producing misleading reports for its industry sponsors. In 2015, it released a report for the National Association of Manufacturers on the proposed ozone standard, claiming it would cost as much as $140 billion per year. On the cost side, EPA estimated it would cost a fraction of what NERA estimated, less than 12 percent. The economic consulting firm Synapse analyzed the NAM report and found it ``grossly overstates compliance costs, due to major flaws, math errors, and unfounded assumptions . . . these assumptions and other flaws led NERA to overstate compliance costs by more than 700 percent.'' prgtoken That is just on the cost side. Once again, they didn't even bother to look at the benefits. It is a one-side-of-the-ledger-phony analysis. Of course, the chamber commissioned NERA to do the same thing for it on climate: overestimate the costs and ignore the benefits. In this world of climate denial, this is