mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Gun Violence (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-11-7

we are here in the wake of yet another senseless mass shooting. Again, we continue to watch in horror a community torn apart and families seeking solace and comfort, loved ones deprived of people close to them forever. We know about that feeling in Connecticut because we had been through it in Sandy Hook just 5 years ago, almost to the month. Next month will be the fifth anniversary. prgtoken Every day in America in communities across this great country, there are senseless similar acts of violence one by one, person by person. Every day there is a mass instance of people dying of gun violence. The danger is that this kind of incident will become a normal way of life in America. We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized. We cannot lose hope that action is possible. We cannot allow ourselves to succumb to this supposed normal. We cannot surrender to fear or complacency or hopelessness. prgtoken Our hearts and prayers are with the brave souls who are enduring this unspeakable grief and pain. Again, we know about it in Connecticut because I remember well that afternoon at Sandy Hook and the days that followed when families hoped for numbness. They hoped that the rawness and unimaginable pain of that loss would leave. For some, it has lessened, but it will never go away for them or for the families in Texas or Orlando or San Bernardino or Virginia Tech. The list is a long one, and it should include those families in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport and in other communities--not necessarily urban, but suburban and rural--around Connecticut and around the country that have endured this same grief. prgtoken Numbness is not the answer. Action is the answer--honoring those victims by action. That honor is never too soon. That sense of grief will never go away. As much as our hearts and prayers go out to those families, we must also honor them with action. prgtoken Our reaction is not necessarily aimed at the last shooting or the last death by gun violence. It should prevent the future ones. The trap of the gun lobbyists is to say: Well, what you are proposing wouldn't have prevented what happened last Sunday in Sutherland Springs, TX. But we do know that 26 people might be alive today if the U.S. Air Force had done its job. Twenty-six people might be alive today if the U.S. Air Force had reported this conviction by court-martial of the shooter to the NICS background system. Twenty-six people might be alive today if the U.S. Air Force had followed the law. prgtoken There is a law that requires this reporting. It was passed in 2007. It requires all courts and all jurisdictions to make that reporting. prgtoken The law here is also clear that the shooter never should have had access to firearms. There are laws on the books right now specifically designed to help prevent dangerous individuals with criminal records of exactly this kind from getting their hands on guns, and that includes anyo
TAX POLICY
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-7

. And I underestimated them because I know they would question them, so I gave a conservative view. It is worse. prgtoken But you bring up the State and local, what SALT means, State and local taxes. The State and localities, did you see there is a letter--I don't have it right here--from the mayors of scores of cities in California asking the Members of Congress not to vote for this because of the provision that is in there that undermines their ability to address the education needs of their constituents, of the people in those towns and cities, the public safety issues? We had a firefighter come testify as to what it means to public safety, to law enforcement, to meeting the needs of people so that they can learn, that they can work, that they can raise their families, and to do so in a way that everyone pays his or her fair share. That is not the case here. prgtoken So, again, it is a boon to the megarich corporate special interest and a bust to the middle class. It also is very harmful to small business. prgtoken While the s will say this is good for the middle class, it is not. They give with one hand something and take with another, so they can set the banquet table for the superrich corporate America and throw some crumbs to the middle class and say: prgtoken Sucker. I am just telling it the way it is. prgtoken Instead, say: Let's go to the table, let's be respectful of each other's views, let's have a clear objective debate on putting growth in the middle table--what creates growth for our economy, generating good-paying jobs, not stagnated wages, good-paying jobs, and reduces the deficit, instead of taking us into a hemorrhaging state of deficit in the years to come. prgtoken That is part of what is now. If time allows, and after the gentleman says his remarks, I will go into some of the specific ways in which cruelty is demonstrated in this budget. But right now, I just want to say this is a letter to the California delegation from 24 cities with their seals at the top and the signature of their mayors, some of them , who have asked not to pass a bill that has this provision in it.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-7

I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 262, on the nomination of John H. Gibson, of Texas, to be Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 263, on the motion to invoke cloture on Steven Andrew Engel, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Attorney General. Had I been present, I would have voted nay. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 264, on the nomination of Steven Andrew Engel, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Attorney General. Had I been present, I would have voted nay. prgtoken , I was unavailable for rollcall vote No. 265, on the motion to invoke cloture on Peter B. Robb, of Vermont, to be general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. Had I been present, I would have voted nay.
HONORING LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise today to recognize Petaluma's Liberty Elementary School for its selection as a 2017 National prgtoken Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Chosen for its exemplary high performance, as measured by state and national assessments, Liberty Elementary School was one of 342 schools to attain this honor from across the nation and one of only 25 schools selected from California. This highly competitive award reflects outstanding achievement and the highest caliber of professional service, family commitment, and community engagement. prgtoken With 219 students across seven grades, Liberty Elementary School offers comprehensive educational programs that academically challenge and instill a joy of learning in its students while ensuring that all children have the skills and knowledge to reach their full potential. prgtoken , this hard-earned distinction reflects true community success. From the students and their families, to the staff and administrators, and the extended community, Liberty Elementary School has developed an education model for the state and the nation: empowering today's students to be tomorrow's problem-solvers, inventors, and pioneers. Please join me in congratulating Liberty Elementary School on this impressive achievement.
Our Country's Middle East Foreign Policy (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise in opposition to the nomination of Steven Engel to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. prgtoken On many occasions, President has made clear that he does not appropriately respect the rule of law in America. We have seen this many times over the last few years, from his bigoted and disdainful comments about Federal judges, to his firing of FBI Director Comey because of what the President called ``this Russia thing,'' to his shameful pardon of Joe Arpaio, a man convicted of criminal contempt for refusing to stop violating the Constitution, to his efforts last week to badger the FBI and Federal prosecutors into doing his bidding. prgtoken As Senator Bob Corker said last Friday: President 's pressuring of the Justice Department and FBI to pursue cases against his adversaries and calling for punishment before trials take place are totally inappropriate and not only undermine our justice system but erode the American people's confidence in our institutions. prgtoken If my colleagues want to restore confidence in our institutions of justice, they can start by making sure that only someone truly independent of serves in the vital position of Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel. prgtoken The Office of Legal Counsel, or OLC, is not well known, but it is a critical part of the Federal government. OLC exercises statutory authority to provide legal advice that is binding on the executive branch. In addition to giving legal advice to the President and executive branch officials, OLC reviews all proposed Executive orders and Attorney General orders for form and legality. Essentially, OLC serves as a check to make sure that the President and his administration are faithfully executing the laws. prgtoken There have been shameful moments in our history when OLC's leaders have lacked the independence and judgment to stand up for the rule of law. For example, in 2002, under Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, OLC produced the infamous torture memo that approved the CIA's use of torture techniques like waterboarding. When this memo became public in 2004, the Justice Department was forced to withdraw it. Jack Goldsmith, a prominent conservative legal scholar who was acting head of OLC at the time said he was ``astonished'' by the memo's ``deeply flawed'' and ``sloppily reasoned'' legal analysis. prgtoken Then, in May 2005, OLC had a new leader--Steven Bradbury--and he secretly issued three new torture memos approving the use of waterboarding and other abusive interrogation techniques. Then-Deputy Attorney General Jim Comey strongly objected, saying the United States would be ashamed when the memos came to light, but Attorney General Alberto Gonzales overruled him. prgtoken Already, we have seen troubling signs at OLC under President . In January, OLC signed off on President 's tr
Climate Disruption (Executive Calendar)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-11-7

climate disruption is the seminal challenge of our generation. We have seen the impacts occurring all around the world. We see it in the disappearing Arctic ice. We see it in the melting permafrost. We see it in the change of carbon dioxide and methane being emitted from peat bogs, disappearing glaciers, dying coral reefs, and certainly more powerful storms and raging fires. prgtoken It is the responsibility of those of us in this generation, in this time, to take action. Indeed, communities across the globe are taking action. They are increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, vehicles, and appliances, and they are replacing carbon-polluting fossil fuel energy with renewable energy. This is such an important issue. prgtoken How much do you know about the changes underway? Well, let's find out. Welcome to episode 7 of the Senate Climate Disruption Quiz. prgtoken Our first question is, Since the year 2000, the rate of global carbon dioxide pollution has decreased dramatically, decreased slightly, stayed the same, or increased substantially? Lock in your answers. prgtoken The answer is D, increased substantially. Many folks think that because of the actions being taken at the local level and by the community of nations and the Paris Agreement, that, in fact, global CO2 pollution has decreased dramatically, but it has not. The rate at which the pollution is occurring is increasing. So it isn't just the total level. For example, in 1990, we had 354 parts per million; 10 years later, in 2000, we were up to 369.64 parts per million; and in 2017, we were up to 408.8 parts per million. The levels are climbing, but the speed is increasing as well. In that period around 1990, we were increasing about 1\1/2\ parts per million per year; by 2000, it was about 2 parts per million per year; and now we are at 2\1/2\ parts per million per year. So this increase is substantial. prgtoken As a community of nations, we have to not only proceed to decrease total carbon pollution, but first we have to get the rate of increase under control. prgtoken This brings us to the second question: In September of this year, how many miles did a Proterra bus drive on a single charge? Did this bus set a record by going 270 miles, the distance between L.A. and Las Vegas, or did it set a record by going 600 miles, equivalent from New York City to Columbia, SC? Did it travel over 1,100 miles, the equivalent distance from Arizona to Arkansas? Did it manage to go 2,092 miles, the shortest distance from the east coast to the west coast in America? Lock in your answers. prgtoken The correct answer is C. It went 1,100 miles. The electric bus traveled 1,100 miles. This bus was a new version of the Catalyst E2. It is called the Catalyst E2 Max. It is produced by Proterra. It has a battery that is 50 percent larger than the previous version that is being sold commercially--that is the Catalyst E2. That Proterra that is currently being
SENATE RESOLUTION 323--REQUIRING SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR MEMBERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, INTERNS, AND FELLOWS OF THE SENATE AND A PERIODIC SURVEY OF THE SENATE
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-11-7

allegations of sexual harassment against a growing number of people have surfaced recently. Some facing the accusations have issued public apologies, while others have maintained their innocence. But the allegations continue to mount, and as each new one surfaces, so grows my concern about whether we're doing enough to combat this problem. prgtoken There are many things on which members of this chamber don't agree, but one thing on which we can and should agree is this: sexual harassment has no place in the workforce. And it certainly has no place in the halls of Congress. prgtoken To signal how seriously I take this issue, I last week called on the Senate Rules Committee to impose a requirement of sexual harassment training for every employee in this chamber. Today, I'm introducing a bipartisan resolution to ensure that the Rules Committee has the authority necessary to ensure that every member of this chamber, every employee on the Senate payroll, and every unpaid Senate intern receives anti-harassment training. prgtoken This is not an onerous requirement, and it's one that's long overdue. Training materials on harassment already exist, thanks to the Congressional Office of Compliance and our Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. It's already mandatory for my Judiciary Committee staff and personal office staff to take anti-harassment training. The executive branch and some private employers already have instituted similar training requirements for their employees. prgtoken More than two decades ago, I sponsored the Congressional Accountability prgtoken Act as a sign of our commitment to promoting fairness in the workplace. This 1995 statute requires Congress to follow the same civil rights, labor, workplace safety, and health laws to which other employers are subject. The law also established our Office of Compliance to implement the law's dispute resolution, education, and enforcement provisions for Congress. That office not only mediates sexual harassment complaints but also has developed sexual harassment training for congressional offices. The Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment also makes anti-harassment training available to Senators and staff. prgtoken The resolution I'm introducing today also calls for the Sergeant at Arms to develop an anonymous survey on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the Senate. This survey, which will be conducted every two years, is to be developed in consultation with the Office of Compliance and Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. prgtoken I have tremendous respect for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I believe each of you works hard to ensure that your offices are professional, free of harassment, and places where merit's rewarded. But I think we have to acknowledge that in our society, despite our best efforts and intentions, sexual harassment remains a serious problem. And we must work together to make
WELCOMING CHAPLAIN MICHAEL J. HALYARD
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise today to introduce my colleagues to our guest chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives, Reverend Captain Michael Halyard of Jacksonville, Florida--previously of Jacksonville, Florida, I should say. Upon his return from Iraq just recently, he has been deployed to San Antonio, Texas, and that is a loss for northeast Florida. prgtoken Reverend Halyard is a respected community leader who is devoted to his community, country, family, and faith. Reverend Halyard serves as a staff chaplain at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, and he served as an assistant pastor at the United Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He is also a member of the Florida National Guard, where he has served as the combat veteran battalion chaplain since 2009. prgtoken Reverend Halyard leads his church and his community by serving his Nation, leading worship services, and by providing support for grieving families. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues today to welcome Reverend Halyard. May God bless him and our Nation, and especially those who he will be serving in Texas, particularly Sutherland Springs, Texas, today.
AN OUTSTANDING REFUGEE
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-11-7

I rise today to recognize five outstanding constituents in my district for an act of heroism that saved a fellow Minnesotan. prgtoken Police officer Curt Grosz, firefighters Adam Imholte and Dennis Ertl, and high school students Abigail Trelfa and Madison DeMarais worked hand in hand to save the life of Daniel Fleigle. prgtoken Daniel was on a bridge in Sartell, Minnesota, this summer when he accidentally touched a live wire and was electrocuted, sending him to the ground. Thankfully, his friends Abigail and Madison reacted immediately, calling 911 and beginning CPR. First responders Curt, Adam, and Dennis all responded to this scene shortly thereafter, and together they saved Daniel's life. prgtoken The quick response of these heroes ensured Daniel's full recovery. Without them, Daniel would likely not be with us today. I am lucky to represent such selfless and heroic people who run to their fellow citizens in times of need. prgtoken Thank you Curt, Adam, Dennis, Abigail, and Madison for saving Daniel's life and showing our community what a true hero looks like. Elk River's Outstanding Volunteers
TRIBUTE TO RONNIE LUPE
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-11-7

I would like to pay tribute to Ronnie Lupe, a foreign war veteran and current chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona. Chairman Lupe will be retiring next year following 50 years of distinguished public service to his Tribe. prgtoken Ronnie also honorably served his Nation overseas in Korea. As a young man, he journeyed far from his hometown of Cibecue to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He soon found himself across the Pacific and entrenched in combat. Thankfully, Ronnie returned home safely to his family and friends. prgtoken Ronnie first joined the Tribal council in 1996. Since then, he has served as chairman of the council for a remarkable nine terms. I have enjoyed working closely with Chairman Lupe over the years. Ronnie is a tireless advocate for the principles of Tribal self-governance and Indian self-determination. He led efforts to resolve the Tribe's water rights claims and developed a reservation-wide system for clean drinking water. prgtoken Ronnie was also a pioneer in Federal Indian policy concerning wildlife conservation, expanding Tribal control over reservation land, its forest, and natural resources. He oversaw the Tribe's response and recovery in the Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002 and the Wallow Fire in 2011--the two worst wildfires in Arizona history. As chairman, he labored to build and nurture Tribal enterprises like Hon Dah Casino and Sunrise Park Resort, which today are hubs of tourism and recreation in the White Mountains of Arizona. prgtoken Chairman Ronnie Lupe is a celebrated Tribal leader who brought about transformative and lasting changes to the people of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. I am proud to call him my friend. I thank him for his service.
SECURING ELECTRONIC RECORDS FOR VETERANS' EASE ACT OF 2017
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-11-7

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 3634, the Securing Electronic Records for Veterans' Ease Act of 2017, or SERVE Act. prgtoken Under the post-9/11 GI Bill, eligible servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents are provided a monthly allowance that is based on the cost of living where they are taking the majority of their classes at the E-5 with dependents rate. prgtoken For many students, this living stipend payment can be their only source of income, and proving that they will receive this payment while in school is important for them to show income for the purposes of renting an apartment or home while they are in school. It makes sense. prgtoken The SERVE Act would help address this problem and would require the Secretary to electronically provide documentation that verifies the amount of the monthly housing stipend an individual receives under the GI Bill. This would allow beneficiaries to use this documentation as proof of income when applying for housing. prgtoken , this is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will help student veterans secure housing and would eliminate roadblocks to a student veteran's academic success. I thank Mr. Jim Himes of Connecticut for introducing this particular bill. It has my support. prgtoken , .