mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE HON. ANTHONY C. ``TONY'' BEILENSON
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-23

I rise tonight to pay tribute to our colleague and friend, Congressman Anthony C. ``Tony'' Beilenson, who, from 1977 to 1997, represented with distinction in the House of Representatives a Los Angeles-area district. prgtoken Joining me in this statement are my colleagues: Nancy Pelosi, Dana Rohrabacher, Maxine Waters, Ken Calvert, Anna Eshoo, Lucille Roybal- Allard, Zoe Lofgren, Barbara Lee, Grace Napolitano, Mike Thompson, Susan Davis, Adam Schiff, Linda Sanchez, Jim Costa, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, Jackie Speier, Judy Chu, John Garamendi, Karen Bass, Ami Bera, Julia Brownley, Tony Cardenas, Jared Huffman, Alan Lowenthal, Scott Peters, Raul Ruiz, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Juan Vargas, Pete Aguilar, Mark DeSaulnier, Ted Lieu, Norma Torres, Nanette Barragan, Salud Carbajal, Luis Correa, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta. prgtoken Tony was widely admired for his integrity, thoughtfulness, and effectiveness as a statesman and is fondly remembered for his warmth, caring, and engaging personality. To our great sadness, Tony passed away on March 5, 2017. prgtoken Tony was born in New Rochelle, New York on October 26, 1932, and grew up in the New York City area. After obtaining a law degree from Harvard in 1957, Tony moved to Los Angeles to work in entertainment law. Soon after arriving in California, he sought out public service. In 1962, he was elected to the California State Assembly, and in 1966 to the State Senate, where he served until 1977. During his tenure in the Legislature, Tony rose to become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and authored more than 200 laws, many of which served as models for laws in other states and at the federal level. prgtoken In the U.S. House of Representatives, Tony served for nine terms on the Rules Committee and was the second most senior minority member at the time of his retirement. He also spent several terms on the Budget Committee and the Intelligence Committee, where he served as its chairman in 1989 and 1990. prgtoken Tony was an outspoken and tireless advocate for the causes he believed in. He co-chaired the House's Population Coalition, which advocated for strategies to help slow world population growth and improve maternal health. Serving at a time when efforts were in full swing to curb ballooning federal deficits and growing debt, Tony was a rare member who spoke out in favor of unpopular proposals. He introduced legislation to increase the excise tax on gasoline and called for steps to reduce spending on even the most popular programs. He believed that every federal program and tax benefit, no matter how popular, should be under consideration for cuts. prgtoken Tony had a great affinity for the natural world and worked to save open space and protect critical habitats and endangered species. He was a leader in efforts to protect the world's remaining African elephants and rhinoceroses. prgtoken Tony's crowning environmental achievement was the establishment o
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-23

I oppose the resolution to repeal the Federal Communications Commission's rule to protect consumers from having their data sold by internet service providers, or ISPs, without their permission. prgtoken Passing this resolution of disapproval would represent yet another victory for big business and a defeat for hard-working Americans who use the internet to do their job, connect with friends, or read the news. prgtoken The internet started as a system to facilitate communication among academic and military networks. In 1995, less than 1 percent of the world used it. Today more than 87 percent of Americans and more than 40 percent of the world's population use the internet. prgtoken Today the internet has become nearly indispensable. Increasingly, our toasters, refrigerators, and cars can connect to the internet, but legislation has been slow to keep up with technology. Every website we visit and every link we click leaves an unintended trail that tells a story about our lives. ISPs can collect information about our location, children, sensitive information, family status, financial information, Social Security numbers, web browsing history, and even the content of communications. ISPs sell this highly sensitive and highly personal data to the highest bidder without any consent or knowledge. prgtoken Recognizing that telecommunications companies have little incentive to tell consumers what they are doing with their personal data, the FCC promulgated a rule to make sure that consumers can protect their privacy though transparency, choice, and data security. The rule's name explains its purpose: ``Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services.'' The FCC rule would not stop companies from selling consumers' information, but the rule would require ISPs to get consumers' consent before using, disclosing, or allowing others to access this information. prgtoken As former FCC Chairman Wheeler said, ``It's the consumers' information. How it is used should be the consumers' choice.'' prgtoken With this resolution, Congressional s are telling 9 out of 10 Americans that they should not be able to decide how private corporations collect, disclose, and sell their personal data. This resolution puts the special interests of data users above those of consumers. I oppose the resolution.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-3-23

before he leaves the floor, I just want to commend my colleague from Massachusetts for an excellent presentation. He has really outlined A to Z with respect to what this issue is all about. I commend him, and I also commend the ranking member of the committee, Senator Nelson, our colleague from Florida, for his excellent job. prgtoken Before he leaves the floor, picking up on the remarks of our colleague from Massachusetts, I am particularly struck by the fact that I have always thought that it is a classic conservative principle to empower the individual--to empower the individual to make fundamental choices about what would be important to them and their family and their wallets and all of the activities that are central to the life of a working class family. prgtoken What we have been touching on--very eloquently by my colleague from Massachusetts--is we are going to be voting in a little bit to strip rights from individuals, to retreat from that classic conservative principle of empowering individuals and families to make decisions. prgtoken I think, for all of the reasons that my colleague from Massachusetts has talked about and that Senator Nelson has been talking about, this idea of stripping from individuals the right to make these fundamental decisions and allowing the gatekeepers of the internet to collect, share, and profit from personal information of consumers without their consent is an extraordinary mistake for our country at this time. prgtoken I serve on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. I think, for many people, these issues have, in effect, converged with respect to privacy policy as it relates to the private marketplace, which is what this ill-advised proposal that we are going to vote on today is all about. prgtoken We are constantly offered up ideas that suggest that you really are faced with what amounts to a flawed set of choices. In the intelligence area, we are consistently told: Well, you just have to give up a little bit of liberty to have security. And the reality is that liberty and security are not mutually exclusive. Smart policies give us both. They give us security and liberty. Unfortunately, around here, we are coming up with policies, like weakening strong encryption, that are reducing both--reducing security and reducing liberty. I think what we are dealing with here on this ill-advised resolution in the Senate, with respect to the FCC rule, is yet another set of false choices--that you can either have internet access or privacy. They are not mutually exclusive. Just as we can have security and liberty, we can have internet access and privacy for all of the reasons that my friend from Massachusetts has been outlining. prgtoken Now, the FCC acted on the responsibility given to them by the Congress to protect browsing history--arguably the most intimate, personal information imaginable. Browsing history makes what the Senate did in the past with met
WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE...
Ro Khanna (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-23

I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for yielding me the time. prgtoken When the President campaigned, he said he wanted more benefits, more coverage, and lower premiums. Since he got to the White House, he said, well, health care is complicated; and they have tried to create a bill with the s cobbling every special interest group and every faction. prgtoken But the President knows it doesn't have to be complicated. He knows the solution. In 2000, he wrote that the Canadian plan, single-payer plan, helps Canadians live longer and healthier than Americans. There are fewer medical lawsuits, less loss of labor to sickness, and lower cost to companies paying for medical care for their employees. prgtoken He wrote further that, ``We, as a Nation, need to reexamine the single-payer plan;'' and he advocated for a single-payer plan. prgtoken , what has changed? prgtoken You know what the solution is. If you are serious about health care, work with people like Senator Sanders, Congressman Welch, and others, and offer a real solution to the American people.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-23

I rise today to talk about a bill that I have introduced. I have introduced it in prior Congresses. But I think it is particularly important in this Congress. It is the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2017. I am proud to have many of my colleagues as cosponsors of this legislation, including Senators Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, , Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, Murray, Sanders, Stabenow, Udall, Van Hollen, Wyden, and Warren. prgtoken In the House of Representatives, the bill's principal sponsor is Congressman Conyers. It is needed now more than ever before. I say that for many reasons, one of which is that we have seen a large increase in hate crimes in our community. Yesterday I was on the phone with a father from Harford County, MD, whose son was the victim of a hate episode related to that person's religion and ethnic background. prgtoken We have seen in our community a large increase in hate crimes against the Jewish community. There have been a lot of bomb threats that have been called into Jewish schools and to the Jewish Community Centers. We have seen physical attacks and the desecration of cemeteries. So the minority community feels threatened. prgtoken That has been escalating as a result of the actions of our President and his Executive orders. The Executive orders--he has issued two now that are dealing with the immigrant community--do raise the temperature in our community and the concern in our community that people are being threatened because of their religion, threatened because of their ethnic background, threatened because of their status as part of an immigrant community. prgtoken All of that has added to the concerns in America today. The legislation that I have introduced would make it illegal for discriminatory policing--for police to use as an indicator for their actions a person's race, religion, or ethnic background. prgtoken Discriminatory policing is against our values. Quite frankly, it is not what we stand for as a nation. We don't target people because of their religion. I will always remember that shortly after the Trayvon episode, I met with community activists in Baltimore. Many told me examples of how they were with their parents when the police stopped them randomly, for no reason at all, but solely because of the person's race and how communities felt threatened as a result of it. prgtoken It is not what we stand for as a nation. It turns communities against police, rather than working with the police. It is a waste of resources. It does not work. It can be deadly as we have seen in too many communities in our Nation. In my own city of Baltimore, we had the episode concerning Freddie Gray, who died in police custody. prgtoken I went to Sandtown, where Freddie Gray came from, shortly after that episode and met with the community, and I heard co
3D SYSTEMS
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-3-23

I rise today to recognize 3D Systems for winning the 2016 Business Recognition Award from the Jeffco EDC. Founded in 1986, 3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including printers, print materials, on-demand parts services and digital design tools. Its advanced applications produce equipment used on the factory floor to the operating room including precision healthcare capabilities such as simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical, dental and other surgical instruments and devices. As a leader in 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models. Recently, 3D Systems relocated and expanded its operations into a 70,000 square-foot facility in unincorporated Jefferson County where it expects to almost double the number of employees and bring millions in new capital investment. I extend my deepest congratulations to 3D Systems for this well- deserved recognition from the Jeffco EDC.
WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE...
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-3-23

this is an important day, and I have great friends on the other side of the aisle. We debated aggressively, and, in fact, I see one of my colleagues from California. We spent 27\1/2\ hours dealing with our committee of jurisdiction's markup of the bill. prgtoken It has been a long time since Care was passed, 7 years, and those of us on our side said: Well, we didn't keep the insurance plan they said we were able to keep, we didn't get to keep the doctor that they promised we could have, we didn't save the $2,500 a month that was promised would be the savings if we passed Care. prgtoken So I would argue, we have been very patient--7 years--and I think the public has been very patient. The public has judged Care through a couple of election cycles and has claimed failure. So we are on, as we call it, a rescue mission, because right now premiums have increased 25 percent, on average, across the country; one-third of U.S. counties have only one insurer; 4.7 million Americans were kicked off their health plan; and $1 trillion in new taxes. prgtoken Out of the 23 Care CO-OPs--I love co-ops. I am from rural America. We believe in co-ops. They are not-for-profits. Out of the 23 Care CO-OPs, 18 failed. It shows you it is not working: $53 billion in new regulation costs; 176 million hours of paperwork. prgtoken So what do we do? s believe in transparency. We believe in markets. We believe in competition. We believe in what we are calling cooperative federalism: returning power to the States. prgtoken We are seeing that in part of the Medicaid proposals, allowing the engines of our country, the States--some have been very, very successful in reforming the Medicaid programs, providing first-dollar coverage, and some prgtoken have not. Hopefully, they will learn from the other States. prgtoken We also want to empower the individuals in the individual markets. One-size-fits-all, mandatory--you have to have one of only four plans-- has destroyed the individual market. prgtoken So 7 years is too long to wait. I appreciate us moving aggressively. Time is of the essence. We are on a rescue mission, and this is just another path in the process of repealing and replacing Care.
Terror Attack in London (Executive Session)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-3-23

before I begin my remarks on the Supreme Court nomination, I want to just say a word about the terrorist attack in London yesterday. prgtoken I was devastated to hear that two Utahans, Kurt and Melissa Cochran, were victims in yesterday's attack. While Melissa is recovering, I was heartbroken to hear that Kurt has since passed away from his injuries. prgtoken I just want to offer our most sincere condolences to the Cochrans and ensure that we help them in any way we can. prgtoken I know all our prayers are with the victims and with their families, friends, and loved ones.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-23

speaking of the vote that we will be having in just a few minutes, for the last several weeks, this Chamber has worked very hard to undo harmful rules and regulations that had been put forward by the administration, at the last moment, as he was headed out the door. These are rules that hurt job creators and stifle economic growth. prgtoken The FCC privacy rules are just another example of burdensome rules that hurt more than they help and serve as another example of the government's picking winners and losers. They unnecessarily target internet service providers and, ultimately, make our internet ecosystem less efficient by adding more redtape. prgtoken The bottom line is that the FCC privacy rules are bad regulations that need to be repealed. prgtoken I should also note that this Congressional Review Act vote will not change the entire online privacy protections that consumers currently enjoy, and it will not change statutory privacy protections under the Communications Act. It will repeal something that was done unilaterally by President and his administration, as I said, following the ending of his term, as they were headed out the door. prgtoken I thank the junior Senator from Arizona, Senator Flake, for his work on this CRA and moving it forward. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution of disapproval. prgtoken , .
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Executive Session)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-3-23

I rise to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Care, on its seventh anniversary of being signed into law by our previous President, . prgtoken Looking back at what has happened to healthcare over the past 7 years, there isn't a whole lot of good news to report. Since that time, Americans have been hit with hundreds of billions in new taxes, healthcare costs have risen exponentially, and families have struggled with fewer options and reduced access to healthcare services. prgtoken Just in the last year, healthcare premiums have gone up 25 percent for the typical Care plan. That number is even higher in my home State of South Dakota where premiums have increased 37 percent. Care has also driven health insurance companies to completely leave the marketplace, leaving Americans with fewer insurance options. Again, I will use my own State as an example. Under Care, the number of companies offering insurance in the individual market in South Dakota has dropped from 13 to a mere 2 today. While this is unfortunate, we are better off than folks in Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming, all of whom have no options at all, as only one insurer offers plans in those exchanges. This is also the case for more than 1,000 counties across the Nation, basically one-third of all the counties in total. prgtoken As a result of these skyrocketing costs and reduced options, the number of Americans enrolling in Care continues to drop dramatically. Projections continue to be millions fewer than predicted. Between 2016 and 2017, nearly a half-million fewer Americans signed up for the exchange. All of this has barely moved the number of uninsured South Dakotans between 2010, when Care was enacted, and today. So the health insurance market was crippled, premiums have skyrocketed for hard-working families, and our economy has suffered tremendously under the ACA, only to have the same number of insured and uninsured individuals in my home State as before we started. prgtoken Nationwide, Americans are rejecting Care in record numbers. We saw this rejection of Care repeatedly over the past 7 years, when the American people elected into office candidates who at least in part ran on the platform of repealing Care. Care's higher taxes, fees, and penalties on businesses and investors have also taken a toll. Meanwhile, consumers who are facing higher premiums and deductibles have less to spend on goods and services. With one-sixth of our economy tied to healthcare, this has been detrimental to growth and to opportunity. It has also been easy to see how the healthcare industry has rejected Care over the past 7 years, with many insurers pulling out of the market and in other places the markets collapsing altogether. This limits competition and leaves little room in the healthcare industry, which is why Care
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-3-23

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m Monday, March 27; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of Executive Calendar No. 1, the Montenegro treaty; further, that the filing deadline for first-degree amendments under rule XXII for the cloture motion filed during today's session of the Senate be at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27; and finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture vote occur at 5:30 p.m.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-3-23

this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Leslie Cartner, commander of the Yellowstone Battalion of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps in Billings. Leslie's devotion to the Yellowstone Battalion, the only Sea Cadet organization in the State of Montana, has been outstanding. In the next few weeks, Leslie will complete her tenure as Yellowstone Battalion Commander and transfer responsibility for the Sea Cadet program to another capable Montanan. prgtoken In 1962, Congress chartered the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Today there are over 380 Sea Cadet units and nearly 9,000 young Americans participating in the program. In the Yellowstone Battalion, under Leslie's leadership, the prgtoken cadets have been trained in drill and ceremony, first aid, inspection procedures, and taught the basics of fighting a fire while onboard a ship. In addition to learning introductory level Navy skills, the cadets have received character-building instruction in avoiding substance abuse and prevention of bullying and harassment. One of the instructors for the Yellowstone Battalion, Navy veteran George Blackard, described Leslie as the driving force behind the local Sea Cadet program and ``the one who really got it off the ground.'' I strongly share George's appreciation for the work Leslie has done to enhance the program and her commitment to helping build the next generation of leaders. prgtoken From Libby to Ekalaka, Montanans are doing great things to strengthen their communities. A thank you for a job well done, I tip my cap to Leslie. prgtoken Good job, Sailor.