mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING DYSAUTONOMIA AWARENESS MONTH
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-9-27

I rise once again to recognize the millions that fight each day against dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a group of debilitating medical conditions that result in a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This system is responsible for ``automatic'' bodily functions such as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature control, things that many of us have the luxury of taking for granted. Dysautonomia continues to significantly impact people of any age, gender, race or background across our nation, including many individuals living in Western New York. prgtoken As is, dysautonomia can be extremely debilitating and often accompanied by the unseen symptom of social isolation. Some forms result in death, causing tremendous pain and suffering for those impacted and their loved ones. The stress on the families extends as well to the financial hardships that deserve recognition and better solutions. I am proud to affirm that the outstanding character and strong moral fiber of those in the Western New York community who have provided the much needed support for the victims suffering from dysautonomia. It remains especially crucial for the community to recognize, rally around and support those so affected as they continue their hard fought battle against this disease. prgtoken Dysautonomia awareness is monumental in the early detection of the disease due to the fact that most patients take years to be properly diagnosed. Dysautonomia International, a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of patients living with dysautonomia, encourages communities to deepen their understanding and be mindful of this challenging condition especially during Dysautonomia Awareness Month each October. prgtoken The tireless efforts of the dysautonomia community to increase research and accessible services will be recognized on Sunday, October 1 in my Congressional District as the color turquoise will bathe Niagara Falls and the Peace Bridge in the light of care, concern and continuing the fight to improve the lives of individuals living with this chronic condition. prgtoken Currently, Dysautonomia International is funding research to develop more substantial treatments to help patients get diagnosed and treated earlier, save lives, foster support for individuals and families and hopefully find a cure for all forms of this condition in the future. prgtoken It is imperative that we also recognize the contributions of the professional medical community, patients, family members and advocates who are working to educate our citizenly about dysautonomia throughout Western New York. They are deserving of our gratitude, recognition, respect and greater understanding. prgtoken , thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize Dysautonomia Awareness Month. I ask that my colleagues join me in support for those suffering from the devastating medical condition and encourage them to spread awareness across o
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery Effort (Executive Session)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-9-27

in the last 24 hours since I came to the floor to talk about Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, there has been progress but far less progress than is necessary at this critical time of humanitarian crisis, when the people of those islands literally face a chasm, a deepening canyon of needs and challenges. prgtoken Over the next 24 hours, over the next 24 days, over the next 24 months, this crisis must be met with a strategy, an overarching plan, a Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico that commits the resources unequivocally and unambiguously, making sure we match the depth of this crisis with a magnitude of resources and commitment that is needed and deserved. That kind of response, which has been lacking so far, is absolutely necessary for the hope of Puerto Rico because as the threats of disease and contaminated water increase, not to mention the lack of proper medicine, healthcare, roads, transportation and communication, food, water, medicine, basic necessities rise on that island, the people of Puerto Rico will lose trust and confidence in fellow Americans that must do more. We need to give them the hope they deserve, and that hope has to be more than rhetoric and more than patting ourselves on the back as the President has done. It has to be a real commitment. prgtoken In fact, there is no reason for back-patting. The response so far has been inadequate, lacking the full attention and commitment that is needed. It has been a story of inattention and inadequate strategy so far to meet this deepening humanitarian crisis. prgtoken The people of Texas, Florida, and throughout the gulf coast and the Southeast who have been affected by the storms have received the full commitment of America. It is what we owe our fellow Americans. That same commitment is owed to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We saw an immediate disaster response there that must also be devoted to Puerto Rico. The emergency aid and full funding made to the victims of those storms in the gulf coast and Florida must be given to Puerto Rico, and I am hopeful that a relief bill will be fashioned this week. prgtoken I am also hopeful that the financial control board that has responsibility for Puerto Rico's internal finances can be given the flexibility and that the Government of Puerto Rico will be given the flexibility that is needed to deal with this disaster--nothing less than a full court press, a full plan and strategy, and a plan that directly addresses the needs of Puerto Rico in so many areas. prgtoken On transportation, what is the plan to ensure that basic goods can move from one end of the island to another? Right now the roads are unusable. By prgtoken all accounts, getting things across the island by road is impossible. Radar and navigation systems at the airports are down. The transportation mechanism of the island is literally ripped apart. So potable water, food, and fuel are impossible to move where they need to
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-9-27

today I am introducing a set of three bills that will lower the cost of energy storage, increase flexibility in the power grid, and create a comprehensive set of grant programs to advance development of renewable energy technologies throughout the country. prgtoken Currently, many energy technologies--like energy storage--compete in unfair markets, making it hard for new innovations to measure up to more established technologies like those of the fossil fuel industry. Congress and the Department of Energy can work hand-in-hand with industry to level the playing field, using a fair, tech-neutral approach when updating the electricity system, to benefit the American consumer. prgtoken My Reducing the Cost of Energy Storage Act will provide funding to the Department of Energy to research and develop ways to lower the cost of energy storage technologies. Ultimately, this bill will make it possible for renewable energy to be used on a more reliable and affordable basis. prgtoken To protect the power supply from disruptions caused by natural disasters, which can wipe out power to millions of homes, my Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act will require the Department of Energy to find and develop ways to make the power grid more flexible and responsive to these challenges. The bill will also connect displaced workers to training programs that will allow them to transition to high-skill clean energy jobs. Finally, this bill will provide states and utilities with resources to upgrade the flexibility and reliability of the power grid. prgtoken In order to ensure private sector growth in distributed energy technologies, my Distributed Energy Demonstration Act will create competitive, cost-share grant programs for new small-scale, grid- connected projects such as rooftop solar panels, hot water heaters, electric vehicles and modernized utility pricing technologies. prgtoken Together, or apart, these bills will promote a more flexible electricity grid that can respond to power disruptions from natural disasters and ensure reliable, low-cost electricity for consumers now and in the future. They will also lower costs for energy storage technologies that make renewable energy more reliable and cost- effective, boost funding for cutting-edge research and reward state and private sector innovations, which will make renewable energy more reliable and affordable for U.S. energy consumers.
DISASTER TAX RELIEF AND AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2017
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-9-27

this bill is unworkable for Puerto Rico as it stands now. I applaud the effort and speed with which this was drafted, but it must be strengthened to truly address the needs of Americans in these disaster areas. prgtoken Even today, I got a call from the most important medical institution, and they are running out of antibiotics. The veterans hospital that treats 200,000 soldiers who have participated in every war, they do not have access to healthcare. This is how we honor their service? No, Mr. . prgtoken Vote down this legislation.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-9-27

I rise to strongly oppose the nomination of Ajit Pai to serve a second term as Chairman of the FCC. prgtoken Since taking over the FCC leadership in January, Chairman Pai wasted no time moving the agency away from its key mission to promote the use and deployment of communications in the public interest. For example, he has been involved in dismantling the rules that preserve the diversity of content in media ownership, potentially negatively impacting forever the number and variety of voices in the media market. prgtoken In addition, his confirmation to this important position will also have a negative impact on one of the most important issues, I believe, of our time; that is, preserving net neutrality. A strong and open internet is key to an economy of the future--to promoting an environment for innovation and facilitating the creative jobs that are going to come along with an open internet architecture. prgtoken Chairman Pai is poised to undo the bedrock principles that are already in place to protect an open internet. Even in the face of evidence that these rules are important to an internet economy and millions of jobs, he is determined to try to rewrite them. prgtoken On Monday, the Senate will vote on whether to confirm Ajit Pai for another term as Chairman of the FCC. As I have said, I think his leadership has shown that on net neutrality, he believes the rules should be changed. As long as he continues to hold that position, I cannot support his nomination. prgtoken As the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, he has demonstrated disdain for the important public interest principles he is supposed to be upholding. He shows a disregard for the innovators in America that are striving to build the economy of the future. The public interest mission of the FCC is encoded in the agency's DNA. The law that created the FCC clearly states that the agency's mission includes promoting equal access to communications networks for all people around the United States. This means the FCC has the responsibility to promote the expansion of communications networks and to ensure they have the incentive and ability to compete fairly with one another in providing broadband services. The mission does not include letting a big telecom company or cable company run over small businesses or consumers and saying to them: Unless you pay me more, I am not going to give you essential services. Imagine if that happened to the telephone industry decades ago, if you couldn't get access because someone had decided, ``I'm going to let the highest bidder rule the roost.'' prgtoken The President's nomination of Pai and his desire to have him continue as Chair continues to show a desire to undermine the internet and the internet economy. As soon as he was appointed, Chairman Pai announced his intention, as Chairman, to go against the demands of American consumers and reverse the rules that are already on the boo
PROCEEDINGS OF FORMER MEMBERS PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-9-27

. President Stearns and Vice President Frost, and Tom, who is going to tell you what to do, welcome back; although, I see a lot of you, from time to time, as you walk the halls and remind us of the good old days. prgtoken We have had quite a session so far, as I think you have noticed. You heard me talk before, and I am sure you have made this recognition already, we lost one of the great Americans with whom many of us have served, Bob Michel. Bob Michel passed away. Bob Dole is still with us, still with a great sense of humor, and, frankly, I miss those two s dearly, and I miss a lot of you as well. prgtoken We can remember when we were much more collegial than we now find ourselves. We saw an election in Alabama which does not bode well for future collegiality in the United States Senate, I think. We will see what happens in that election. Obviously, that was the primary. We will see what happens in the general. prgtoken I think all of us have a responsibility to talk about the Congress that we have served in over the years. This is my 36th year in the Congress. I don't know that any of you served that long, and some people are asking why I am serving that long. prgtoken Nick Rahall, how many years did you serve?
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3823, DISASTER TAX RELIEF AND AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2017, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-27

the President's decision to rescind DACA has brought fear to hundreds of thousands of DREAMers and their families. prgtoken They are DREAMers like Saul Jimenez, who teaches special needs students in Los Angeles, and is just one example of how DREAMers contribute and add value to our country and our communities. prgtoken DREAMers are American in every way except for their immigration status. To send DREAMers to a country they have never known would be tragic for them and our Nation, which will lose their valuable contributions. prgtoken The American people overwhelmingly oppose deporting our DREAMers, and our faith-based community and business leaders are imploring Congress to pass the Dream Act. Yet the leadership is ignoring their wishes and refusing to allow us a vote on this bipartisan, bicameral bill. prgtoken To my colleagues who say they want to protect our Nation's DREAMers: If that is true, this is your chance. Vote ``no'' on the previous question so we can vote on the Dream Act and put our DREAMers on the road to the security and future they have earned in the only country they know, the United States of America. The time to pass the Dream Act is now. Vote ``no'' on the previous question.
AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TEXTBOOK ACT
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-9-27

textbook costs are one of the most overlooked barriers to college affordability and access, and they are continuing to get more expensive. prgtoken Over the last decade, 2006 to 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index shows that consumer prices for college textbooks increased almost 90 percent. It means students have to spend more every year. In 2016 to 2017, the College Board recommended that students budget an average of $1,250 for their books. prgtoken A survey released by the Student Public Interest Research Group reported that 65 percent of students decided not to buy a textbook because of the cost, and 94 percent of those students worried it would hurt their grade. prgtoken This week, I joined with Senators Al Franken and Angus King and Representatives Jared Polis and Kyrsten Sinema to reintroduce the Affordable College Textbook Act. This bill would establish a grant program to encourage the creation and use of high-quality open textbooks which are free to use. Greater access to and widespread use of these open textbooks can save each student who uses one hundreds of dollars, and, long term, it puts pressure on the traditional college textbook market to come up with affordable alternatives. prgtoken My home State of Illinois provides an example of how this bill would work. The University of Illinois used $150,000 in Federal money to pilot an open textbook project at its main campus. The university, working With faculty, developed an open textbook, ``Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation.'' This textbook was published electronically for free and open use. You can go online today and find it. prgtoken Instead of a student having to shell out $150 or more for his or her introductory environmental sustainability class, he or she can use this free online book. That is a direct savings to a student every time a professor assigns this text in place of a traditional textbook. Today it is saving students money in Illinois, but also across the country at other colleges and universities where it has been adopted by faculty into their curriculum. prgtoken I would again like to thank my colleagues, Senators Al Franken and Angus King, for joining me in this effort I would also like to thank the wide variety of organizations that support this bill, including the U.S. PIRG, SPARC, National Association of Big Ten Students, National Association of College Stores, American Association of Community Colleges, United Negro College Fund, and others. prgtoken , I hope that my colleagues in Congress will join us in supporting this bill to create a program at the Federal level to encourage the creation and adoption of these materials. In the meantime, I hope students across the country will reach out to their professors and have this conversation with them. Ask them to adopt these free, quality materials that are available today.
DISASTER TAX RELIEF AND AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2017
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-9-27

let me thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for his leadership. He has been particularly helpful in thinking through how we can work together on the multiple crises that Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are facing. prgtoken Let me thank the manager of the bill for working on these issues as well. prgtoken Let me first of all indicate, as I have done earlier today, that I understand that the FAA extension is a clean extension which I will support, recognizing the international airport that is in my district. But again, I will seek the important leadership on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and particularly, the ranking prgtoken member, when it comes to dealing with not supporting privatization of air traffic controllers. prgtoken I want to speak specifically to the hurricane tax relief. As I do so, let me particularly make mention that I had hoped this bill would have an extension of the CHIP program and the community health centers. Maybe we can work on that, because I know in many of our communities impacted by the hurricanes, those elements are important, community health centers, and, certainly, the Children's Health Insurance Program. prgtoken I do want to make a point to say that I wish we could have gone further. I know that there were at least 21 different tax credits or exemptions that we could have had to help those who are impacted by the hurricanes, but these, I want to cite and say that I appreciate them being utilized for my constituents now. prgtoken The bill would provide tax credit deductions and other relief to taxpayers in disaster areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Most measures would apply to taxpayers in parts of Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. prgtoken In particular, access to one's retirement funds, the bill would waive the 10 percent penalty on each distribution from retirement accounts for taxpayers in affected areas. Individuals will be eligible to make the withdrawal if their primary residence was in one of the disaster areas as of the date of the storm and they sustained an economic loss.
THE OVERCRIMINALIZATION OF IMPEACHMENT
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-9-27

I would like to include the following CATO article for the Record: [From CATO.org, Aug. 7, 2017] (By Gene Healy) Trying to tamp down impeachment talk earlier this year, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) insisted that President 's erratic behavior didn't justify that remedy: ``When and if he breaks the law, that is when something like that would come up.'' Normally, there isn't much that Pelosi and Tea Party populist Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) agree on, but they're on the same page here. In a recent appearance on 's favorite morning show, ``Fox & Friends,'' Brat hammered calling for the president's impeachment: ``there's no statute that's been violated,'' Brat kept insisting: They cannot name the statute!'' Actually, they did: it's ``Obstruction of Justice, as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1512(b)(3),'' according to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) who introduced an article of impeachment against on July 12. Did break that law when he fired FBI director James Comey over ``this Russia thing''? Maybe; maybe not. But even if ``no reasonable prosecutor'' would bring a charge of obstruction on the available evidence, that wouldn't mean impeachment is off-limits. Impeachable offenses aren't limited to crimes. That's a settled point among constitutional scholars: even those, like Cass Sunstein, who take a restrictive view of the scope of ``high Crimes and Misdemeanors'' recognize that ``an impeachable offense, to qualify as such, need not be a crime.'' University of North Carolina law professor Michael Gerhardt sums up the academic consensus: ``The major disagreement is not over whether impeachable offenses should be strictly limited to indictable crimes, but rather over the range of nonindictable offenses on which an impeachment may be based.'' In some ways, popular confusion on this point is understandable. Impeachment's structure echoes criminal procedure: ``indictment'' in the House, trial in the Senate-- and the constitutional text, to modern ears, sounds something like ``grave felonies, and maybe lesser criminal offenses too.'' But ``high crimes and misdemeanors,'' a term of art in British impeachment proceedings for four centuries before the Framers adopted it, was understood to reach a wide range of offenses that, whether or not criminal in nature, indicated behavior incompatible with the nature of the office. For James Madison, impeachment was the ``indispensable'' remedy for ``Incapacity, negligence, or perfidy'' on the part of the president--categories of conduct dangerous to the republic, only some of which will also constitute crimes. The criminal law is designed to pun