mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 119, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT A CARBON TAX WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-7-18

a debate on the topic of climate change on the floor of the House is long overdue. Those who care about the future of our planet and our species have waited for Congress to begin working on negotiating some sort of sensible solution to climate change for years. A topic of this gravity deserves our attention. prgtoken Now, s have been in charge of Congress for the 5\1/2\ years that I have been here, but have they brought a new idea to the floor today? Have they proposed a solution? Are they taking the threat seriously? Do they believe in science? Today's debate makes it clear that the answer is no. prgtoken Instead of a proposed solution, we are wasting our time with an empty partisan resolution, a misleading and false resolution that doesn't do anything more than thoughtlessly swat away an idea that deserves careful consideration. prgtoken Solutions do exist. We can design market-based climate policies that would greatly reduce greenhouse gases. If we design the policy right, it can help low-income and middle class citizens, while creating jobs and spurring innovation. prgtoken I believe it is important for us to focus our attention on things like immigration, on the economy, on healthcare. prgtoken Well, climate change is impacting immigration. In 2017, The New York Times reported that 10 percent of Mexicans age 15 to 65 could eventually try to emigrate north as a result of rising temperatures. prgtoken Climate change is impacting the economy. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey cost this Nation $280 billion. prgtoken That is just the beginning. Climate change is impacting our health. This includes extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, chronic conditions, and things like that. prgtoken Today, instead of posing a sensible solution, instead of seeking a productive discussion on the options at our disposal, s have decided utterly to reject a possible market-based solution without any evidence or justification, without any hearings or real debate, without regular order. prgtoken , I oppose this rule and this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-7-18

. Mr. Chair, let me thank the gentlewoman for really letting us know what a joy the Smithsonian is, even in front of the Appropriations Committee. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I want to emphasize that the Smithsonian outreach programs increase connections between the Institution and targeted audiences: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and new Americans, and provide kindergarten through college age music education and outreach opportunities. prgtoken , I failed to say that when we were putting this together, once the African American museum was established, the museum personnel leadership, Dr. Lonnie Bunch, went on the road across America collecting artifacts from African Americans and historic families to put in this museum, real items of slave history and the history from through the years, through the centuries, and it made the museum a living example of the history of our time here in the United States. prgtoken That has been done by the Smithsonian in many different groups. And so I would offer this article that says: ``New National Data Reveals the Economic Impact of Museums Is More Than Double Previous Estimates.'' The American Alliance of Museums released two groundbreaking reports revealing indisputable evidence that museums contribute more to the United States economy than previously thought and have widespread support. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. prgtoken I would like to include in the Record this American Alliance of Museums report dated February 13, 2018. [From the American Alliance of Museums, Feb. 13, 2018] prgtoken New National Data Reveals the Economic Impact of Museums Is More Than Double Previous Estimates (By Laura Lott) Arlington, VA.--The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, today released two groundbreaking reports revealing indisputable evidence that museums contribute more to the United States economy than previously thought and have widespread public support that transcends political affiliations and geographic locations. Armed with the two new reports and a wealth of data, on February 27 hundreds of museum professionals will visit with members of Congress and their staff to ask them to support funding for vital federal agencies and tax incentives for charitable donations. The Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal announced by President yesterday calls for the elimination of multiple agencies that support the arts and humanities. ``Never before in the 112-year history of the Alliance have we possessed such comprehensive and statistically robust studies to support what we've always known,'' said Alliance President and CEO Laura Lott. ``Our legislators, p
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-7-18

reserving the right to object, this moment hardly seems the time for the Senate to engage in debating rhetorical phrases of praise for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency when that agency--better known as ICE--is deeply mired in the scandal of separating children from their parents. It is ICE that partnered with Border Patrol and Health and Human Services in this diabolical situation. It is ICE that holds the parents in detention camps. It is ICE that has failed to arrange for the knowledge within the system of which parents go with which children. It is ICE that often has prevented individuals from having access to counsel, from being able to even phone their children, and charged them for using the phone. prgtoken In this situation, some 2,500-plus kids have been torn out of the arms of their parents, and this particular resolution would engage in nice phrases of praise instead of addressing itself to solving the problem. prgtoken We should right now be considering Senator 's act, the REUNITE Act, which would accelerate the reunification of the children, would ensure that family separation never happens again, would coordinate actions between ICE and the Border Patrol and Health and Human Services, and would set up a family case management system that worked, according to the IG of Homeland Security, to deliver 100 percent of the time when individuals had a date for a hearing--100 percent of the time. prgtoken That is why I ask my colleague to modify his request so that the Committee on the Judiciary, instead, be discharged from further consideration of S. 3227, the REUNITE Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
Introductory Statement on S. 3234
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2018-7-18

nearly 5 million young people ages 16 to 24, or 1 in 9 youth, are disconnected from both school and work. These disconnected youth often face significant barriers; they are three times more likely than other youth to have a disability, twice as likely to live below the federal poverty threshold, and significantly more likely to live in racially segregated neighborhoods. Disconnection can leave young people without the entry-level work experience and post-secondary credentials they need to succeed in the workforce and with significantly less lifetime earnings than the typical worker. prgtoken Disconnection also imposes significant costs on affected young people, their communities, and the overall economy. According to Measure of America, in 2013, youth disconnection resulted in $26.8 billion in public expenditures, including spending on health care, public assistance, and incarceration. prgtoken Dedicated Federal funding to support summer and year-long employment for youth can help to mitigate and prevent disconnection, as well as help young people, their communities, and the economy to flourish and develop our future workforce. Twenty years ago, dedicated Federal funding supported an estimated 500,000 summer jobs for youth. However, when the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) eliminated Federal stand-alone funding, participation in summer youth employment programs dropped by 50 to 90 percent in most local areas. Through targeted resources and supports, including funding for summer and year-long employment and comprehensive supports for youth, we can move closer as a country toward reconnecting the millions of young people who have slipped through the cracks and prevent disconnection from occurring in the first place. prgtoken This is why I am pleased to introduce today The Opening Doors for Youth Act. The Opening Doors for Youth Act aims to assist the 5 million at-risk young people who are disconnected from both school and work find summer or year-long jobs that help them to succeed in future careers. The bill provides, Federal funding so local communities can create partnerships with businesses, mentoring, financial literacy planning, and other supportive services. Through the partnerships, workforce boards can use funds to cover up to 75 percent of wages for each eligible young person participating in the program. prgtoken Young people play a critical role in our economy and communities and we must ensure that they have the resources and skills to find and maintain jobs that set them up for future success. With the right resources, city governments, local workforce boards, school districts, and employers can work together to help us close the employment gap we're seeing for at-risk young people. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle consider The Opening Doors for Youth Act commonsense legislation that moves the needle forward on promoting access for all youth to meaningf
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-18

. This amendment is another in a long line of attacks on the Affordable Care Act. It is, unfortunately, an example of s turning to the appropriations process, instead of working through the appropriate channels via the authorization committees. prgtoken Weighing down bills with partisan riders does nothing but make it more difficult to enact these spending bills, especially in a timely manner. prgtoken Turning to the substance of the amendment, our constituents would be better served if we focused our efforts on extending quality, affordable coverage to more individuals, not eliminating plans. prgtoken Healthcare is an essential right, and a healthy America is a more productive, safer, and better place to call home. I suggest my colleagues vote ``no'' on the Meadows amendment. prgtoken .
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-7-18

I am grateful today to be joined by Senator King, from the great State of Maine, to speak about the troubling changes that we are seeing in the oceans and how climate change is reshaping our States' fisheries. prgtoken The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes that ``climate change imperils the structure and function of already stressed coastal aquatic ecosystems.'' For the record, Maine and Rhode Island are indeed aquatic. prgtoken The oceans have absorbed approximately 30 percent of the excess carbon dioxide that we have pumped into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution began. That is changing the ocean's chemistry. The oceans have also absorbed roughly 90 percent of the excess heat trapped in the atmosphere by those greenhouse gases. As a result of that excess carbon dioxide and that excess heat, our oceans are warming, and they are rising. They are losing oxygen, and they are growing more acidic. This puts marine life, coastal communities, and the global ocean economy all in jeopardy. prgtoken Commercial fishing is an important economy in the United States, and both Maine and Rhode Island celebrate our longstanding fishing traditions. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, over 9.6 billion pounds of wild seafood, valued at $5.3 billion, was commercially landed in the United States in 2016. prgtoken Across New England, American lobster was our most valuable fishery. We had lobstermen bringing around $663 million--two-thirds of $1 billion--worth of lobster to shore. Sadly, Rhode Island's lobster fishery is badly knocked down by warming ocean waters. NOAA notes: ``The lobster industry in New York and southern New England has nearly collapsed.'' Maine dominated the catch, bringing in nearly 85 percent of the lobster landed in the region. prgtoken According to NOAA, from ``1994 to 2014, Maine's landings surged 219 percent to more than 124 million pounds.'' The lobster population is shifting north, away from Rhode Island, New York, and Connecticut, as waters warm, leaving Rhode Island and other southern New England lobster traps empty. But Mainers are taking notice, too, as warming waters are driving lobster even farther north along their rocky coast. A recent study of 700 North American marine species predicted that lobster populations could move 200 miles northward by the end of the century as waters continue to warm. Senator King can report what 200 miles does to the coast of Maine. prgtoken Lobster is not the only fishery feeling the heat in New England. A 2017 study of global warming found that the greater Northeast region is anticipated to warm faster than other regions of the world. According to the ``Climate Science Special Report,'' a Federal report that will form the scientific basis of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, ``the Northeast has warmed faster than 99% of the global ocean since 2004.'' We have a global ocean hotspot off
Tariffs (Executive Session)
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2018-7-18

I rise to discuss an issue that is of great importance to my constituents in Alabama and to many other people across the country. At issue is the health of our automotive industry. prgtoken Unfortunately, the health of my State's automobile industry is being threatened not by unfair competition or illegal practices but by significant tariffs proposed by the President. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than a half a million Alabama jobs are supported by global trade, meaning more than one in every four Alabama jobs is tied to trade. prgtoken One of the key reasons Alabama has such a robust trade posture is due to our automotive manufacturing industry. I am old enough to remember what it was like before auto companies came to Alabama in the 1990s, starting with Mercedes. At the time that Mercedes came, many of Alabama's manufacturing facilities were closing down and moving to other countries. Yet, one by one--from Mercedes, to Honda, to Hyundai, and now to Toyota and Mazda, which are breaking ground on a new plant very soon--these automakers came to Alabama and breathed new life into our State's economy. They support, today, some 57,000 Alabama jobs, and our auto exports topped $11 billion in 2017. That doesn't even include the new Toyota-Mazda plant in Huntsville, which is going to add another 4,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in economic development. prgtoken After having no automobile industry 30 years ago, Alabama has become the third largest exporter of automobiles in this country. In only the past 15 months, every major automobile manufacturer in Alabama has announced an expansion to total 5,400 jobs and $3.3 billion in investments. This industry has been a phenomenal success in Alabama and, more importantly, for the men and women who rely on these very good-paying jobs to support their families and to build better lives. prgtoken That is why it is a priority for me and colleagues like my friend, Senator Alexander from Tennessee, to keep our States' automotive industry thriving. Yet, recently, this industry has come under attack. In May, President threatened a 25-percent tariff prgtoken on imported cars, trucks, and auto parts under the pretext that these products somehow threaten our national security. prgtoken Let me be clear. While the United States faces any number of threats from adversaries on any number of fronts, foreign automobiles and auto parts are not threats to our national security. Do you know what is a threat? It is a 25-percent tax on the prices of these imported goods. The President's proposed auto tariffs have the potential to inflict serious damage on a booming industry in my State and in other leading auto-producing States, like Tennessee. We might call it a tariff, but we all know exactly what it is--a tax. prgtoken By definition, a tariff is a tax on a particular class of imports or exports. Any tariffs placed on products that come into the United States ar
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2018-7-18

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment which would limit the Postal Service's ability to offer products and services on a pilot basis that could help the Postal Service find its way to financial stability. prgtoken At a time when the Postal Service is bleeding red ink, this bill takes away existing revenue and potential revenue. In fiscal year 2017, the Postal Service reported a loss of $2.7 billion, marking the 11th straight year in the red. prgtoken And just coincidentally, it got in the red because Congress, in 2006, restricted what the Postal Service could do. Well, it really worked well: 11 years of red ink, putting the Postal Service in insolvency, technically. To address the Postal Service's financial situation, the Postal Service needs financial relief, not further restrictions. prgtoken H.R. 6076, the Postal Reform Act of 2018, which I introduced with the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman Mark Meadows, on a bipartisan basis, passed the authorizing committee unanimously, and we are hoping to take it to the floor, and that is where it belongs, in an authorization bill, not as a rider on the appropriations bill. prgtoken This bill even addresses issues raised by the gentleman from North Carolina's amendment. Under the Postal Reform Act, the Postal Service would have to limit any new nonpostal products and services to only those provided to State, local, and Tribal governments and Federal agencies. The bill would preserve existing nonpostal products and services. prgtoken However, this amendment is much more restrictive than that. This amendment includes a blanket prohibition that would prevent the Postal Service from implementing any other recommendations from a May 2015 Postal Service Inspector General Report, including improving its existing range of financial services, such as money orders.
Trump-Putin Summit (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-7-18

as we all know, in this country, in 2016, the Russian Government weighed a covert, multifaceted criminal campaign to interfere in our elections. We now know it was intended to help then-Candidate win the Presidency. We don't know the full impact of Russia's interference, but it is beyond debate that it happened. prgtoken Russia, as we now found out, used inflammatory propaganda--it actually was fake news--attempting to suppress ic turnout and boost support for . They also stole communications belonging to the ic National Committee and the Clinton campaign, which were then strategically released to maximize their impact. They were released at times when they could counter negative news stories about . prgtoken Just last week, 12 Russian intelligence officers were charged with hacking campaign officials' emails and State election boards. In just over a year--in what may rank as the most productive special counsel investigation in our Nation's history--32 people and 3 companies have been charged or pled guilty as part of the Russian investigation. We likely will not know the full extent of Russia's interference until the special counsel's investigation is complete. prgtoken But what is clear--and this is what should concern s and alike--is that our democracy, our great country, was attacked by a foreign adversary. And two days ago, on an international stage, standing shoulder to shoulder with Vladimir Putin, our President sided with that attacker. prgtoken Instead of forcefully condemning Russia's attack on our democracy, its role in annexing Crimea, poisoning individuals with chemical weapons on the soil of one of our closest allies, Russia's downing of a passenger airline with nearly 300 innocent civilians onboard, or undermining democracies around the world, our President offered only praise for the authoritarian President Putin. He then repeated his conspiracy theories about the FBI and called the Russia investigation a ``witch-hunt''--denigrating our law enforcement institutions, while standing beside the foe they work so hard to protect all Americans from--s and alike. prgtoken In my 44 years as a Senator, I have never seen anything like it. I can think of no President and no ic President who would ever do this. I never thought it would be possible in our country before President took office. prgtoken Yesterday, the President attempted to walk back his decision to side with Russia over our own intelligence agencies. He attempted to do it because of the criticism he got from both s and , but as many of my colleagues told me would happen, President walked back his walk back. He reiterated that the interference ``could have been other people. There are a lot of people out there.'' prgtoken This morning on Twitter--where apparently he does his deepest th