mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING GOD'S WORD
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-11-14

I rise to support 76 years of celebrating God's Word during National Bible Week. No other book has sold more copies or changed more lives than the Bible. prgtoken Abraham Lincoln said: ``In regard for this great book, I have this to say, `It is the best gift God has given to man. All that the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book.' '' prgtoken May we always remember the impact the Bible has had on this country and on our democracy. May we govern according to its timeless precepts and principles, and may God bless these United States of America.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2810, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-11-14

I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018. prgtoken This bill fully funds our Armed Forces, increases troop end-strength, and sets in earnest the modernization of our military and ensures that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are properly compensated for the sacrifices they make for a grateful nation on a daily basis. prgtoken In my role as the Seapower and Projection Forces chairman, I vowed months ago to set the conditions for the Navy to grow to 355 ships, in accordance with the Navy's own force structure assessment. I am proud to say that this bill sends the signal to our Navy, the industrial base, and our adversaries that a 355-ship Navy is not prgtoken just a theoretical idea, but rather an achievable reality. prgtoken The bill expands on the eight ships requested by the administration by adding an additional five ships. The bill also recommends additional advanced procurement for the Virginia-class attack submarines, while fully funding the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. prgtoken As to aircraft, the bill fully funds the B-21 Raider bomber program, a critical component of the future nuclear triad. prgtoken This bill also recommends an expansion of KC-46A aerial refuelers, C- 130J airlift, and P-8 submarine aircraft. Finally, the bill delivers expanded authorities that will save the taxpayers billions of dollars. prgtoken Now, some of our colleagues have suggested that our defense budget is excessive and that additional moneys should be provided towards other efforts this thought is not only misguided, but it is dangerous. We have a constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense of our Nation. We will not shrink from that responsibility, and I hope none of my colleagues undermine the efforts to deliver the $634 billion base moneys that are required for our national security. prgtoken Finally, I want to recognize Ranking Member Joe Courtney. He has been and continues to be a true partner in ensuring the Seapower and Projection Forces of our Nation are properly resourced. I do not think that we would be anywhere close to delivering the 355-ship Navy or providing for our Air Force's deep-strike capability without his steadfast resolve and sincere efforts to realize bipartisan solutions. prgtoken , I also want to reflect that with the chairman and the ranking member and their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-11-14

thank you. I rise to speak about the tax reform issue and the tax reform effort that is front and center for this Congress and for all Americans. Particularly, I want to point out the fact that Congress has not undertaken this difficult task for over 30 years, and for anyone who has been involved in this, they now realize how difficult it really is. prgtoken In the years since the last major overhaul, Congress has, by patchwork, added numerous carve-outs and special interests, passed short-term tax extenders, which have made planning for families and businesses very difficult, and has generally contributed to a tax code that today is extremely complex, burdensome, and unpredictable. prgtoken My colleague from Idaho Senator Crapo has stated that we couldn't have done worse if we had set out intentionally to do worse. Many of my colleagues and I have heard story after story from our constituents who have said the same thing. The Tax Code makes it hard for families and businesses, especially small businesses, to comply and plan ahead, let alone grow and prosper. This conversation hasn't gone away, so clearly the system, as it stands, is not serving the American people as it should. prgtoken It is imperative for the continued growth of the American economy that prgtoken we simplify the system, reduce complexity, and create certainty. Tax reform will bring relief to American families. Under the plan released by the Senate Finance Committee, middle-class Americans will see a benefit in the form of a lower tax bill, which means more money for households to bring home. In addition to keeping more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans, the Senate plan nearly doubles the standard deduction, increases the child tax credit to help families with the very real costs associated with raising a family, and preserves an existing tax credit to help care for elderly family members. This tax plan would also make it easier for individuals and families to avoid a time-consuming and expensive tax-filing nightmare by simplifying the Tax Code and eliminating deductions. prgtoken The aim of this entire exercise is to make the Tax Code simpler, fairer, and easier to comply with, reducing the burden on taxpayers and creating an environment that enables families and businesses to thrive. prgtoken Tax reform will help grow small businesses. As chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, I have focused on highlighting small business issues in this tax reform process. The ranking member, Senator Shaheen, and I held a bipartisan hearing in June to talk about tax policies that would most benefit small businesses across the country. As a result, we sent a bipartisan letter to the Senate Finance Committee, which was drawing this bill, to outline the policies we determined were most important. The topline issue was the need to address the individual Tax Code along with the corporate Tax Code. Most of the Nation's small
CELEBRATING NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-11-14

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his wonderful thoughts. He quoted some of the Presidents in our great country's history. I have two more quotes along with that same line. prgtoken The gentleman mentioned Ronald Reagan, ``The Gipper.'' In his own National Bible Week declaration, he wrote when he was in office: ``When I took the oath of office, I requested the Bible be open to 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads: `If My people, which are called by My name shall humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.' '' prgtoken The President said: ``This passage expresses my hope for the future of this Nation and the world.'' prgtoken One last quote along this line. President Abraham Lincoln once said: ``I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are found portrayed in it.'' prgtoken , from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), who is my good friend.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2810, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-14

I rise in strong support of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. prgtoken I would like to thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, all of the conferees, and the committee staff for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. prgtoken As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to provide support for our men and women in uniform while they selflessly serve our Nation. This bill authorizes a much-needed $634 billion in base budget requirements for our national security. This number is the minimum requirement needed to even begin the process of restoring our military's readiness. prgtoken Tragically, this year alone, we have heard report after report of deadly training accidents. These accidents demonstrate severe readiness shortfalls across the services. We cannot stand by as our men and women in uniform continue to suffer. Now is the time to invest, and this bill does just that. prgtoken The NDAA authorizes a 2.4 percent pay increase for our troops; authorizes 24 additional F-18 Super Hornets to help fill the Navy's strike fighter shortfall; and it fully funds the B-21 bomber, a critical platform needed to deter and defeat future aggression around the world. prgtoken I am proud to represent Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which is home to Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood. This bill funds modernization programs for the B-2 bomber, authorizes $50 million in the DOD impact aid for military-connected schools, and fully authorizes a new hospital facility and blood processing center at Fort Leonard Wood. prgtoken As chairwoman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I am proud of the provisions in the conference report that will improve the foreign military sales process and provide the National Nuclear Security Administration with much-needed flexibility to address the crippling infrastructure of the U.S. nuclear security enterprise. prgtoken I want to thank Ranking Member Seth Moulton for his support in working on these important issues in a bipartisan fashion. prgtoken , our troops deserve this bill and they deserve the funding that this bill authorizes. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Thornberry, this conference report increased defense spending to meet the needs of today's warfighter. I am proud of this critical bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-11-14

I rise today to speak in opposition to the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be the general counsel of the Department of Transportation. I must say to my colleagues, of the years that I have been here, I never thought that we would be considering the nomination of a person who supported the commission of what the Geneva Convention says are war crimes. That is a serious, serious issue. And the Constitution charges the Senate to give its advice and consent to senior executive branch nominations as a check against the appointment of people to an important government position who, because of one failure or another, should not be entrusted with the interests of the American people. I do not believe that Mr. Bradbury deserves that public trust, and I will oppose his nomination. I am astonished that we are here, considering the nomination of a person who is in violation of the Geneva Convention, the rules of war to which the United States of America is signatory. prgtoken Some of us remember that Mr. Bradbury served as the acting head of the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel from 2005 to 2009. During this time, he authored a few of what have become to be known infamously as the torture memos, which provided the legal justifications for 13 types of enhanced interrogation techniques employed by the CIA against detainees held by the United States under law of war authorities. prgtoken My dear friends and colleagues, the term ``enhanced interrogation techniques'' is a euphemism. These memos provided a legal framework for the use of methods that include waterboarding, which is a mock execution and an exquisite form of torture in which the victim suffers the terrible sensation of drowning. In discussing this practice, we are speaking of an interrogation technique that dates from the Spanish Inquisition and has been a prosecutable offense for over a century. It is among the crimes for which Japanese war criminals were tried and hanged following World War II and was employed by the infamous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. I repeat. The Japanese war criminals were tried and hanged following World War II for--guess what--waterboarding. Of course, the Khmer Rouge, whom we all know about, was also one of those. prgtoken I must say to my colleagues that in the years I have been here in the U.S. Senate, I never believed that I would be voting against an individual who justified the practice of torture. All you have to do is read the Geneva Conventions, to which the United States of America is signatory, and you will see that Mr. Bradbury's memos, which basically justified torture, were in direct contravention. prgtoken The memos of which Mr. Bradbury was the author provided the justifications for the inhumane interrogation of detainees by using methods such as forced nudity and humiliation, facial and abdominal slapping, dietary manipulation, stress positions, cramped confinement, striking, and more than
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-11-14

today, I join my colleagues, Senators Shaheen, Isakson, and Menendez, in introducing the International Violence Against Women Act of 2017. This legislation makes ending violence against women and girls a top diplomatic priority. It permanently authorizes the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues and the position of the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. It requires the Administration to develop and implement an annual strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls for each of the five years after the date of enactment. This bill would ensure that efforts begun under President and President to combat gender-based violence continue in future Administrations. prgtoken , we have witnessed great strides in women's equality in our own Country, and in much of the world, over the past century. Across vast swathes of the globe, however, violence against women and forced marriage remain everyday problems. One out of every three women worldwide will be physically, sexually, or otherwise abused during her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries. This type of violence ranges from domestic violence, rape, and acid burnings to dowry deaths and so-called ``honor killings.'' Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, a public health epidemic, and a barrier to solving global challenges such as extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, and conflict. Such violence is often exacerbated in humanitarian emergencies and conflict settings. prgtoken In Iraq and Syria, girls and women have been abducted from their homes and villages, sold into sexual slavery, and forced into marriages with fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In Burma, rape is used as a weapon against the women and girls of the Rohingya ethnic group. In Nigeria, girls as young as 11-years-old are offered a horrendous choice by Boko Haram: carry out suicide bomb attacks against Nigerian villages or live in forced marriages and sexual slavery. prgtoken This systemic targeting of women is not confined to conflict zones. In India, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women said that they experience such crimes ``from womb to tomb.'' Compounding this tragedy, local police often decline to investigate or seek justice. In Afghanistan, women and girls are concerned that as Western forces draw down and attention shifts away from their country, the fragile gains that have been made there could be lost. prgtoken The International Violence Against Women Act--IVAWA--ensures that the U.S. will continue to take a leadership role in combatting these problems. It establishes that it is the policy of the United States to take action to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the globe and to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to address gender-based violence into U.S. foreign policy and foreign
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE GOALS OF NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY AND NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-14

I thank Senator Klobuchar. We will continue to work on this. We are glad it is so well-received and these are issues our colleagues pay close attention to. Whether it is domestic or international, we are going to continue to find ways to open the doors to more homes and to get access to more tire swings. I look forward to that work. prgtoken , as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 331, submitted earlier today.
Confirmation of Derek Kan (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-11-14

I have sought recognition to note last night's strong bipartisan vote of 90 to 7 to confirm Derek Kan's nomination. I am very happy that Mr. Kan is now able to take up the duties of Under Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of Transportation after a long, entirely unnecessary delay. As I stated on the floor last week, it is truly unfortunate that it took 4 months and the engagement of the cloture process to confirm this well- qualified nominee, who obviously has strong bipartisan support. prgtoken I hope that last night's vote will signal to those who are holding other well-qualified nominees to the Department--including the nomination of Ronald Batory to be Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration and the nomination of Adam Sullivan to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Legislative Affairs--over funding for the multibillion dollar Gateway Project in New York and New Jersey that their strategy is misplaced and depriving the Department of the very expertise needed to make progress on Gateway and a host of other critical issues. prgtoken , I have also sought recognition to voice my strong support for the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be general counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mr. Bradbury has had an extraordinary legal career in both the private and public sector, and he is well prepared to address the many challenging legal questions that will come before the Department. prgtoken Mr. Bradbury is currently a litigation partner at the Dechert law firm here in Washington, DC, and his practice focuses on regulatory enforcement and investigations, rulemakings, and judicial review of agency actions, as well as appellate cases and antitrust matters. prgtoken From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Bradbury headed the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice, the office that provides essential legal advice to the President and the heads of executive departments and agencies. prgtoken In that role, he received the Edmund J. Randolph Award and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, among other awards. Before serving in the Justice Department, he worked in private practice for 10 years and clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas on the U.S. Supreme Court and for Judge James L. Buckley on the D.C. Circuit. prgtoken On June 28, 2017, the Commerce Committee held a hearing on his nomination, and we reported his nomination favorably on August 2. Last night, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination. prgtoken At his nomination hearing, a number of our colleagues raised concerns over Mr. Bradbury's suitability for this position, mostly focusing on a number of opinions he wrote regarding interrogation policies while at the Justice Department. prgtoken I do not doubt the sincerity of those who question the administration's approach to detainee treatment in the wake of the horrific attacks of 9/11. I know that these
21ST CENTURY FLOOD REFORM ACT
Thomas MacArthur (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-14

I also am from the Northeast, from New Jersey, and I rise in support of this bill today. prgtoken Five years ago, Superstorm Sandy devastated my district. Ocean County, my home, was the epicenter of that storm. You might remember the photographs of the iconic Jet Star roller coaster sitting in the ocean. That was my district. prgtoken Even today, I have thousands of constituents who are still out of their homes. Now, thousands more are experiencing the same thing because of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. prgtoken 140 million Americans live in coastal counties, and the NFIP has done a lot to help with zoning standards, building standards, flood plain management standards. It hasn't been run perfectly, but this program is desperately needed by people in areas like mine. prgtoken The NFIP has fiscal issues, and this bill seeks to address them. It is the only Federal disaster program that actually collects money in advance of a disaster. prgtoken When I got on this committee a year ago, I set out on this issue to do four things: a long-term reauthorization, improve affordability, increase accountability, and enhance mitigation efforts. prgtoken This is a 5-year reauthorization. It reduces the mandatory annual cap on premium increases; it brings more accountability, including my language to forbid NFIP from hiring disbarred lawyers; and it doubles the mitigation coverage from $30,000 to $60,000. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
TAX REFORM
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-11-14

tax reform represents our best chance today to get the economy living up to its true potential, and it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. prgtoken The last time major tax reform happened was more than 30 years ago. In the years since, our country, our economy, and the global marketplace have changed in profound ways. Moreover, the lingering economic challenges of the last decade only compound the urgency to get this done. prgtoken Jobs went overseas. Wages didn't grow like they should have. Hard- working families worried if they would be able to send their kids to college or save for retirement. It is clear that families and small businesses had a rough go of it during the economy. prgtoken They deserve relief. They deserve the chance for something better. Tax reform is an important way to help get the economy, jobs, and opportunity moving again in a serious way. prgtoken Listen to this small business owner and franchisee from Lexington, KY. She recently wrote to my office expressing the need for tax reform: ``With the rising cost of doing business,'' she wrote, ``and the [g]overnment regulations that have been imposed on small businesses over the past several years, we desperately need tax relief and competitive rates. The current high tax rate that I pay,'' she continued, ``reduces the amount of earnings I can invest into my businesses, [into my] employees, and [into my] community.'' prgtoken For small business owners in Kentucky and throughout the country, we want to make it easier to grow, invest, and hire. For families everywhere, we want to make taxes lower, simpler, and fairer. In short, we want to take more money out of Washington's pockets and put more in the pockets of the middle class. That is why we are pushing tax reform. prgtoken Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee began to mark up its tax reform legislation. The meetings this week represent the next step in a years-long campaign, which included dozens of hearings and significant input from both sides. prgtoken Chairman Hatch said yesterday: First and foremost, this legislation will provide much- needed tax relief to American workers and families. It reduces rates across the board, particularly for those in the middle class who have struggled to get through the past 8 years of economic stagnation. prgtoken Indeed, under the Finance Committee's proposal, the typical American family of four earning the median income could see a tax cut of nearly $1,500. prgtoken As these hearings continue, I would like once again to commend Chairman Hatch for his leadership of the committee and his commitment to regular order. As the tax proposal advances through an open process, members of the Finance Committee will consider many of the hundreds of amendments that have already been filed on the bill. Once the committee completes its work, the bill will come before the full Senate. prgtoken Along with our colleagues