mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
THREATS TO SNAP PROGRAM
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-5-9

I tracked in my research the Food Stamp program and child tax credits, bipartisan; equal pay for equal work, bipartisan; Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, when the votes came, they were done in a bipartisan way, the votes were bipartisan. prgtoken Now we seem to have lost that sense that the challenges are there for us to take on, on both sides of the aisle, to put aside differences for that common good. That is what we need to get back to. That what we are not about is humiliating people and demeaning people so that we think that that will make them go out and try to work to do a better thing, to tell them that there is no hope for them when they look to Washington and to government. prgtoken , that is a slap in the face to the years and the work that so many on both sides of the aisle did in Congress, and that is what we have to get back to. That is what should be entrusted to us, as we look at each of these areas that people face in our country. prgtoken People want jobs. We define ourselves by our jobs. We get our self- confidence from our jobs. People want to work. Your family looks up to you when you have a job. And, when you don't, you are embarrassed to tell your kids: I don't have a job. prgtoken These great people who served said: We need to come together to work on these issues. prgtoken For me, that is what I want us to get back to. That is what I try to work at, as you do, every single day. To have people understand that, in times of difficulty, we are accountable to one another, and we have a responsibility. We are not a society that said it is every man or woman for himself or herself, particularly in challenging times. prgtoken That is what our social safety net is all about. It reflects the great values of this country. I believe we can get back there. I believe that we can. We were there before, and we are going to get back there again. prgtoken , I thank Mr. Raskin for what he is doing here tonight.
CITIZENS' RIGHT TO KNOW ACT OF 2018
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-5-9

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank the gentleman, and I thank the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Nadler, and the chairman of the committee, Mr. Goodlatte, who is now managing the bill; and I certainly acknowledge my fellow Texan and know that he has all good intentions on important legislation dealing with the question of safety and security. prgtoken H.R. 2152, unfortunately, has been noted possibly to have requirements that would undermine the privacy of those who participate in the program, who are disproportionately poor Americans, and discourages the use of pretrial service programs in communities across the country because of the punitive measures in this bill. I rise to oppose H.R. 2152 because it is flawed and needs to address the disparate treatment of poor Americans. prgtoken I believe the consideration of the issues underlying the bill is timely but, unfortunately, not directed in the right way. The House should examine pretrial services and bail issues with the goal of reforming our Nation's bail system, not for the purpose of protecting the use of money bail which is unfair to the indigent, unproductive, and expensive for American taxpayers. prgtoken In fact, in County, we have a money bail system, and a Federal judge, Judge Lee Rosenthal, indicated that it was disproportionately unfair to poor constituents in the State of Texas and, particularly, County. We have been working to come together and have an agreement in our local community on recognizance bonds for individuals who work, and put a certain criteria in. prgtoken , I can assure you, we are as concerned about the safety and security of our constituents, but it would be inappropriate for us to enhance the commercial bond industry, which I certainly appreciate-- they create jobs and they are businesses--in contrast to individuals who simply cannot afford a money bond. prgtoken In this instance, this bill would penalize those entities, those communities that use Federal funds for pretrial release programs if they don't provide all of this data. Now, it might be important to provide this data for someone who is particularly dangerous, but, Mr you know just like I do, those individuals do not get a bond. prgtoken So, as I indicated, the Citizens' Right to Know Act would require a State or local government that uses Justice Department grant funding to pay for pretrial services, which are important programs, to report, annually, certain information to the Department of Justice about defendants who participate in the pretrial services program. prgtoken The very fact that you are in the program is an indication, in most jurisdictions, that you are not a violent felon. You would hope that you are not a person accused of sex crimes, sex trafficking, human trafficking. Those are matters that can be fixed. prgtoken Information that will be required to be reported includes the name of each defendant p
IN CELEBRATION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YPSLANTI CAMPAIGN FOR EQUALITY'S LANDMARK VICTORY
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today to recognize the Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality (YCFE) for twenty years of striving for a more equal society. Their efforts enrich the lives of Michigan residents through their grassroots activism. prgtoken The Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality was formed in 1998 to protect the rights of all Ypsilanti residents. Later that year, the city passed a human rights ordinance that protected against discrimination based on `race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability.' The ordinance protected from a wide range of discrimination including in jobs, labor unions, and access to houses, goods and services. Despite passing handily in 1998, opposition groups set out to overturn it, and YCFE stood strong against these efforts. Their grassroots organizing garnered a victory and the anti- discrimination initiative was upheld. prgtoken Although the fight against the 1998 overturn proposal took place 20 years ago, members of the original Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality continue to live in southeast Michigan today and promote ideals of equality and equal opportunity for all. As we gather tonight to celebrate their continued dedication to standing up against divisiveness, we honor the bravery and courage of our friends and neighbors. prgtoken May we all learn from their actions and continue their work in our own communities. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me celebrating the 1998 landmark victory in protecting the civil liberties of all Ypsilanti residents. We are grateful for the courageous Michigan residents that spoke out and stood up against hatred in all forms and continue to do so today.
VENEZUELA
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-5-9

a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit a mounting crisis in our immediate neighborhood, specifically in Venezuela. prgtoken What I saw were in fact three overlapping crises: economic, humanitarian, and political. prgtoken Hyperinflation, malnutrition, confounding refugee flows into neighboring countries, political repression, and staggering mismanagement and corruption are all endemic. prgtoken Some of you may have seen the front page of Tuesday's New York Times with the heartbreaking photo of Venezuela's indigenous Warao people who are suffering an AIDS epidemic because of the collapse of the country's healthcare system, just one of many such tragedies unfolding in a country without basic vaccinations or adequate food. prgtoken The situation and suffering are only getting worse as the government continues to deny the obvious problems or simply blames them all on other countries. prgtoken We have heard this canard before, most notably in Cuba where the regime blames the mismanagement and repression under its corrupt leadership on everyone but itself. prgtoken Also as in Cuba, the regime is cruelly detaining an innocent American--in this case Josh Holt--who by all accounts is a political hostage. prgtoken It didn't have to be this way. prgtoken Venezuela used to be a wealthy country with an imperfect but functioning democracy. It also had deep and unaddressed chasms of poverty, a gulf neglected by many ruling parties of the region that led to their ouster at the ballot box, including in the case of Hugo Chavez's initial victories. prgtoken But like so many autocrats at heart, Chavez used his position of power to dismantle the country's democracy and democratic institutions. He mismanaged the economy and allowed corruption at a scale that made a mockery of what he initially campaigned against. His successor, President Maduro, has doubled down on this approach. Political opponents are jailed or run out of the country, political opposition parties are arbitrarily banned or disqualified, and the reign of corruption on the backs of the Venezuelan people has only expanded. prgtoken Tragically, Maduro had a choice to avoid what appears to be the inevitable collapse of his once proud nation. He could have seized the opportunities offered by the Vatican and other regional powers to mediate a peaceful political path forward in Venezuela. He could have taken obvious steps to restore confidence and abide by basic democratic norms. prgtoken Sadly, his government repeatedly rejected such negotiations with the opposition and is recklessly moving ahead with a snap and discredited election on May 20; yet this election does not come close to meeting international democratic standards and will likely only plunge the country into further isolation and crisis. prgtoken When I met with Maduro and others in his regime in Caracas last month, I pointed out that s and don't agree on much in Washing
RECOGNIZING MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. MATTHEW D. SHANK
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today to recognize Dr. Matthew D. Shank, who has served as Marymount University's sixth president since July 2011. With a strong commitment to Catholic higher education and an understanding of Marymount's diverse and inclusive learning environment, he began his first year by initiating a visioning process to clarify the University's identity and way forward. Input from the Marymount community contributed to the resulting vision, which states in part that ``Marymount University will distinguish itself through a culture of engagement that fosters intellectual curiosity, service to others, and a global perspective.'' prgtoken In recognition of his focus on preparing students for the globalized environment of the 21st century, Dr. Shank received the 2012 Global Education Leadership Award from the World Affairs Council-Washington, D.C. Accepting the award on behalf of the University, he said, ``The Council and Marymount share a common goal: Both organizations educate young people about global issues so that they will be prepared for success as citizens of a complex, diverse, and increasingly interdependent global community.'' Under his leadership, Marymount University has created and implemented a strategic plan known as ``Building the Institution of Choice'' and a comprehensive marketing plan called ``Common Ground''. prgtoken Dr. Shank also instituted an employee incentive program, Ideas at Work, to solicit cost-saving, revenue generating, and process- improvement ideas from members of the University community. President Shank is active in community and business organizations, serving on the boards of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Arlington Community Foundation, the Catholic Business Network of Northern Virginia, the World Affairs Council, Bishop O'Connell High School, and the Leadership Center for Excellence. He is an ex-officio member of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and a community advisor to the Arlington Free Clinic, Arlington Public Schools and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Advisory Council. prgtoken In the academic community, he serves on the boards of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and the Washington Research Library Consortium. Most recently, Dr. Shank was named to the NCAA Presidential Advisory Group & President's Council. As Marymount's president, Dr. Shank is also a member of many academic organizations, including the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. prgtoken At the end of his seven-year tenure, Dr. Shank's visionary leadership will have resulted in numerous milestone accomplishments for the institution. Chief among them is the crafting and im
THREATS TO SNAP PROGRAM
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-5-9

I thank Ms. Barragan very much for her leadership in defending the SNAP program. She talked about California. I just want to add to her point, a point about my home State in Maryland, where the SNAP program reaches 684,000 residents of my State, which is more than 1 in 10 people who live in the State. prgtoken Nationally, of course, it is 42 million people who participate in the SNAP program, which is 13 percent of the total population. And that is not a stagnant, permanent pool of Americans; that is a transient group because people move in and move out according to their economic circumstances. prgtoken The SNAP program is a reflection of our investment in ourselves as a people and our determination that here, in the wealthiest country on Earth, nobody should be sending their kids to bed at night hungry. prgtoken , to our distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Bonnie Watson Coleman.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS CRISIS
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-5-9

prescription drug prices are rising at an unprecedented rate, unsustainable for most American families. In fact, Americans pay double what people in other countries pay for prescription drugs. prgtoken Our per capita prescription drug spending is higher than any other country. That is why last July, outlined a bold new plan to give prgtoken the American people a better deal on prescription drug costs. Our plan cracks down on price gouging, allows Medicare to negotiate discounted prices, and requires new levels of transparency for big drug companies. prgtoken But more than 10 months since offered a way forward, President and s are still silent. Instead of addressing this crisis, the President and his allies in Congress have made the problem even worse. They tried to take away healthcare from 23 million Americans on more than one occasion. They gave the pharmaceutical industry a huge tax cut, and they made it even harder for working men and women to get ahead. prgtoken are putting the needs of working people first, ahead of big pharmaceutical companies, and we are going to keep fighting until the American people get a better deal on prescription drugs.
Net Neutrality (Executive Calendar)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2018-5-9

I rise today to join my colleagues in support of reinstating net neutrality. prgtoken Access to a free and open internet is critical to promoting innovation, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, and growing our economy. Americans are accustomed to and want an internet that is consumer-friendly and that ensures equal access to content, no matter their internet service provider. Net neutrality helps ensure that the internet remains free and open by requiring internet service providers to treat all content the same way, providing equal access to applications and content online. prgtoken My constituents in New Hampshire are keenly aware of how important net neutrality is to their lives. Thousands of Granite Staters have called my office throughout the last year to voice support and urge Congress to protect it. prgtoken Unfortunately, last December the -controlled Federal Communications Commission, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, repealed net neutrality protections--a harmful decision that has a variety of consequences. By repealing these protections, the FCC has taken away from consumers and small business owners the ability to control their own internet experience and turned that control over to their internet service providers. This directly impacts our small businesses and could threaten the ability of entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground. prgtoken Without net neutrality, internet service providers will be allowed to force businesses and consumers to pay to play online. While larger more established companies would be able to compete, new small businesses and entrepreneurs might not be able to afford such fees, harming their ability to boost their business and reach more potential customers. This could particularly impact those in rural communities. Last year, several members of the rural and agricultural business community in New England wrote to the FCC to say: ``Repealing net neutrality will have a crippling effect on rural economies, further restricting access to the internet for rural businesses at a point in time where we need to expand and speed up this access instead.'' prgtoken This would also impact consumers by giving internet service providers the power to discriminate against certain web pages, apps, and streaming and video services, by slowing them down, blocking them, or favoring certain services while charging consumers more for other services. prgtoken Often consumers would have little option for recourse since we are at a time when many Americans only have, at most, one or two options for broadband providers, leaving them stuck with a provider that is using unfair practices. prgtoken This could also affect the ability of countless people to organize and civically engage online. An open internet serves as a platform to elevate and empower voices that have been underrepresented in traditional media. We have seen grassroots movements, like the nationa
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-5-9

on the day of April 27, I was unavoidably detained. As a result, I was absent for Roll Call votes 163 through 166. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: for Roll Call vote 163, on agreeing to the amendment on of H.R. 4, I would have voted no; for Roll Call vote 164, on motion to recommit with instructions of H.R. 4, I would have voted yes; for vote 165, on passage of H.R. 4, I would have voted yes; and for Roll Call vote 166, on motion to table H. Res. 856, I would have voted no.
The Economy (Executive Calendar)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-5-9

I have just seen the rarest of occurrences in the so-called debate on these nominees on the floor. We actually had an explanation of the nominee we would be voting on. prgtoken The fact that the Senate's time is taken in a way that it never has been before to process the President's nominations is outrageous. There is a view that we need more time to think about the nominee. There is plenty of time to do that. It is called the committee process. It is called a vetting process that also may very well take too long now, but there is plenty of time for these circuit court nominees we are voting on this week to be vetted. There is plenty of time to ask them questions. There is plenty of time to look into their backgrounds. prgtoken The only reason, in my view, that we take the time we are taking to do six votes on six judges in a week--that is six 15-minute votes. If we were efficient enough to do that, it would take an hour and half to vote on these six judges, and the final vote on none of them would be different than taking 5 days. prgtoken So why do we take 5 days? We take 5 days because that means we can't get to anything else. That means the President's ability to populate the government, as people elected him to do, is diminished. It also eliminates the time we have to do the other work the Senate is designed to do. prgtoken The Senate is in, as the majority leader likes to describe it, the personnel business, but that is not supposed to be the only business of the Senate. I think we have now had over 90 of these cloture motions on nominees that the President has made. What does that mean? In the first 2 years of each of the previous six administrations, there were a total of 24 cloture motions--24 times in six Presidencies in 2 years did we do what we are doing right now. That is an average of 4 times--we are certainly going to be up to 104 times well before the end of 2 years-- the floor was abused in this way, an average of 4 times there was reason to have a debate. prgtoken I haven't looked back at those debates. I guess I should. Wouldn't it be shocking if those debates were actual debates? Wouldn't it be stunning if all four of those times in each of those six Presidencies, when the cloture motion was required and using the maximum time available was insisted on--or at least a substantial portion of the maximum time available was insisted on--wouldn't it be something if we looked back and found that there really was a reason to debate those nominees? prgtoken There might have been someone who was rejected, as John Tower was to be Secretary of Defense. If you were going to reject one of your colleagues in the Senate, that was probably a pretty debatable moment, and maybe it very well justified 20 or 30 hours, the maximum that could be insisted on. Now that is initially insisted on for everyone. Some of them take that time. Many of them take a portion of that time. prgtoken What is really l