mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-3-21

I, too, want to recognize and say to Senator Portman, who has been a leading voice in the Senate in the fight against human trafficking, what a great job he has done getting us to this point. This was a long, multimonth, as he said, 2-year effort. Senator Portman has been absolutely relentless in pushing and driving this process forward. I commend him for his important work, which will culminate today, I certainly hope, with a big bipartisan vote in support of the legislation in front of us. prgtoken I also commend the bipartisan group of Senators who worked hard to draft the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which includes Senator Blumenthal, whom we will hear from in just a moment; Senators McCaskill, Cornyn, and Heitkamp; and as Senator Portman so very appropriately pointed out, Senator McCain, who has been a passionate advocate for addressing this issue for so many years too. We wish he could be here to participate and vote for passage of this legislation, but we know his work over the years has played an incredibly important role in getting us to where we are today. prgtoken This group also helped lead the effort to conduct important investigatory oversight that has helped us to get to the point where we are today. prgtoken Last year, as Senator Portman pointed out, I chaired a Commerce Committee hearing on his bill, where we heard testimony from experts on both sides of the issue. We listened carefully to what our witnesses had to say. After the hearing, we worked together to make some targeted changes to the legislation. The bill that ultimately advanced from our committee enjoyed, as Senator Portman pointed out, solid support from the internet industry. It passed the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously. prgtoken The bill is strongly supported by Members of both parties. It has racked up lots of bipartisan support: 68 out of 100 Senators are now cosponsors of this bill. The bill is supported by the White House, so we know that as soon as it leaves the Senate, it will land on the President's desk, where it will be signed into law. prgtoken It is supported by law enforcement organizations, organizations that fight sex trafficking, and by faith-based organizations. prgtoken At our Commerce Committee hearing, we also heard powerful testimony from Yvonne Ambrose, whose daughter Desiree Robinson was sexually trafficked repeatedly before being murdered. Desiree was just 16 years old, a bright and loving girl who dreamed of becoming a doctor in the Air Force. Instead, she was raped and murdered by a man twice her age who had sought her for sex after seeing her advertised on an internet site. prgtoken Ms. Ambrose's powerful testimony helped the members of our committee understand the terrible pain that victims of sex trafficking and their families are exposed to. I am very thankful to her for sharing Desiree's story. prgtoken This bill has already cleared the House of Representatives by an overw
SCHEDULE
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-3-21

I would like this morning to give an update to my colleagues, given the challenges associated with the weather--and also as we move toward a conclusion of the omnibus. prgtoken I have spoken to the ic leader. It is my expectation that we will move forward with votes today. We are hoping to move them forward on the sex trafficking bill, moving them up in the day, hopefully, to accommodate safe travel. So we will notify everyone when votes are scheduled. prgtoken .
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-3-21

I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy on this legislation with some of my leadership colleagues who are present: first, Senator John Thune, the chair of the Commerce Committee, who has been very involved in this issue; Senator Richard Blumenthal as well, who is the coauthor of the legislation and cochair of the trafficking caucus; Senator Claire McCaskill, who is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Investigations; and Senator Heidi Heitkamp, one of the original cosponsors of this legislation.
TRICKETT WENDLER, FRANK MONGIELLO, JORDAN McLINN, AND MATTHEW BELLINA RIGHT TO TRY ACT OF 2018
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-3-21

the right-to-try legislation will be considered on the House floor today. This is about giving people hope to try. It is about hope to try investigational drugs which have passed the first of three phases of the FDA clinical trial process, the safety testing phase. And these investigational drugs could possibly prolong or save the lives of terminally ill patients. prgtoken I like to remind my colleagues that a little boy was in Washington, D.C on the House floor just last week when we first voted on this legislation. Prior to that vote, I had met Jordan during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing focusing on the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act. prgtoken Jordan McLinn is a second grader from Indianapolis who may look like any other healthy child, but he has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, a fatal, degenerative condition which causes muscle weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Oftentimes, kids born with DMD are wheelchair-bound by age 12, and they have a life expectancy of just 25 years old. prgtoken DMD is a genetic disease that is typically passed on to boys through their mother's X chromosome. But sometimes the mother is not a carrier, there is no family history of the disease, but a child is born with the disease anyway. This is what happened to Jordan McLinn. His mother, Laura, is not a carrier. This disease does not run in their family. prgtoken Jordan was born with DMD, but it was not diagnosed until he was 4 years old. So can you imagine what this family has been through? After Jordan was diagnosed, his family hit the ground running, trying to find the best possible treatment options and therapies for people with DMD. His mother, Laura, was quoted in The Indianapolis Star today in an article focused on the right-to-try bill saying: ``The reason we have remained on this journey and fighting so hard for it is not necessarily for Jordan immediately. It's for all the patients that we've met along the way.'' prgtoken Jordan and his family have been on this journey advocating this fair and compassionate bill in Indiana and beyond for Jordan but also for so many others. In 2015, then-Governor signed Indiana's right- to-try law with Jordan McLinn by his side. Now a total of 38 States have already passed laws that take a variety of approaches to helping vulnerable patients. By passing this legislation in the House today, we will increase access--nationwide--to unapproved, investigational drugs for patients with a terminal illness. prgtoken In that same IndyStar article I mentioned earlier, Laura shared that Jordan has always wanted to be a firefighter, but now, after coming to the Nation's Capital many times, he has aspirations to be something else. He now wants to be President of the United States. This bill allows Jordan to have those big dreams, and it will be providing patients across this country with hope. <
RECOGNIZING THE 24TH ANNUAL VERA HOUSE WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise today to speak out against domestic violence and sexual abuse. prgtoken Domestic violence affects people from all backgrounds. Regardless of race, religion, and socioeconomic background, domestic abuse touches all aspects of our community. prgtoken According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are assaulted by an intimate partner. We must work together to stop this. prgtoken Central New York is home to Vera House, a wonderful organization that works to prevent and respond to domestic and sexual violence. This month, it kicked off its 24th annual White Ribbon Campaign in central New York. This campaign raises awareness for the need to put an end to domestic violence and sexual abuse. prgtoken Throughout the duration of the White Ribbon Campaign, thousands of central New Yorkers, such as myself, will be wearing a white ribbon or a white wristband to stand in solidarity against abuse. prgtoken I urge my House colleagues to join me in wearing a white ribbon to demonstrate a personal pledge to work towards preventing violence against men, women, and children.
TRIBUTE TO JEREMY WEIRICH
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-3-21

today I wish to express my gratitude to Jeremy Weirich, who has served as clerk for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, or CJS, for his many years of distinguished public service. prgtoken Jeremy has dedicated much of his career to public service. He first came to the Senate in 2006 as a detailee from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, where he was serving as an NOAA Corps officer. The CJS Subcommittee needed an expert on all things NOAA, and Jeremy was brought to our attention as someone knowledgeable, capable, and ready to take on the challenge. He did not disappoint. prgtoken After his first stint at CJS, Jeremy returned to NOAA, but his knowledge and skills brought him back to the Senate in 2008. He initially worked on CJS for Senator Barbara Mikulski and then later as my subcommittee clerk. Jeremy is one of the few people on the Senate Appropriations Committee who has served as a clerk for both sides of the aisle. His honesty, integrity, and thoughtfulness have assisted in moving legislation through difficult situations. As can be witnessed by his dedicated work on behalf of both sides of the aisle, Jeremy is truly a consummate professional. His dealings with the members and staff in the Senate, both and alike, are qualities that we all should strive to emulate. prgtoken Jeremy's first love is the ocean, having served as the first executive officer of the Okeanos Explorer, as well as at NOAA. He carried that forward on CJS as he made sure that while we modernized our Nation's weather forecast system and took the first steps to make major capital investments in the NOAA fleet, we did so in a responsible manner. Jeremy helped ensure that our Nation's fisheries are managed responsibly and was always able to thread the needle in balancing the many differing interests. Jeremy's passion for exploration also helped guarantee that America has the vehicles and technology to further explore space with telescopes, satellites, and humans. He assisted in building the space launch system, but also kept an eye on the next generation of scientific exploration--everything from the James Webb Space Telescope to Mars rovers to Europa. prgtoken Jeremy embraced the justice portion of the CJS portfolio by promoting public safety, overseeing the current home of the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, and being instrumental in implementing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 21st century facilities plan. prgtoken Most importantly, Jeremy approached his work with an essential appropriator's attitude: Let's get the job done. He was always ready to listen to members and their staffs, as well as experts from the agencies and outside communities. Every year, Jeremy worked tirelessly to craft a bill that garnered wide bipartisan support, and every year, he got the job done. prgtoken As Jeremy leaves the Senate
MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JAMES BRICE JOHNSON AND LIEUTENANT CALEB NATHANIEL KING
Scott Taylor (Republican, VA) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise to honor the lives of Lieutenant Commander James Brice Johnson and Lieutenant Caleb Nathaniel King, who gave the ultimate sacrifice during a training exercise last week as their Virginia Beach-based squadron was training off the coast of Florida. prgtoken , I want to thank Congressman Curbelo for organizing this moment and all the help from the great people of the 26th District of Florida. prgtoken , I am not naive to the fact that my words today don't hold a candle to the pain, the grieving, the questioning, and perhaps some anger from the families, friends, and teammates, how they may be feeling. prgtoken But today we are here with you, we pray with you, Victoria and Rain, Darrell and Robin, Mary, Charles and Kathryn, and we feel your pain. However, we must honor them. We must speak out as a grateful nation for the sacrifice these valiant men and their loved ones made for us, for freedom. prgtoken They died in the full strength and vigor of their youth, and they represent the profound power of our country and its unbroken line of patriots who understand the risks, but time and time again step forward to serve a cause greater than themselves. They are part of the very fabric of our land, and they inspire not only us, but our descendants for generations to come. prgtoken Indeed, there is nothing small about the big task it takes to defend freedom, peace, and our way of life. And this may be equally dangerous during training, peace, or war. prgtoken But in this heartache, there is hope. We are better because they have lived. prgtoken On behalf of a grateful Congress, community, and country, we give thanks and our sincerest condolences to the men and women of the fighting Blacklions from Squadron 213, to the friends and to the families of Lieutenant Commander Johnson and Lieutenant King. prgtoken Rest easy now, boys. prgtoken , I now request the House observe a moment of silence in honor of Lieutenant Commander Johnson and Lieutenant King.
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-3-21

I wish to join my bipartisan group of colleagues who have been coming to the floor to talk about the very important bill that we are debating and are going to be voting on here in about an hour; that is, to help protect our children all across this country from the horrible scourge of human trafficking and sex trafficking. The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act that we are debating right now is important for the whole country, and it is certainly important for my State of Alaska. prgtoken We have a big problem in Alaska with the challenges of domestic violence and sexual assault at some of the highest rates in the country. We also have a big problem with the challenges of human trafficking and sex trafficking. A lot of people think that doesn't happen in America. It happens in America. It is a horrible issue to talk about, but it happens in our country. prgtoken There was a study done last year on young men and women in Alaska receiving services from a homeless shelter for teenagers. My wife Julie actually works at this homeless shelter, and one in four girls and one in five boys who used the services of this teen homeless shelter reported being victims of sex trafficking. This is a horrible number for a very vulnerable society. We need to do more to address this issue. prgtoken In this legislation, we are taking the fight to one of the places in this country where human trafficking and sex trafficking are really exploding, and that is the internet. The bipartisan legislation we are debating right now will ensure that websites and other institutions on the internet and the companies related that knowingly--and that is an important word, ``knowingly''--facilitate sex trafficking can be held accountable for their actions. It will also create new Federal crimes related to promoting or facilitating human trafficking over the internet and give more resources to State prosecutors to go after these heinous crimes. prgtoken In the remarks from a whole host of Senators this morning, I think we are seeing that we are going to make real progress in the fight against online sex trafficking without threatening the years of progress we have made in creating a free and open internet. Senator Portman, one of the leaders of this effort, along with many others--Senator McCain and his wife Cindy have been real champions and advocates for human trafficking issues throughout America; Senator Blumenthal and so many other Senators have been saying that this is a commonsense, targeted approach to addressing this very big and growing problem. prgtoken We are going to vote in about an hour, and I hope all of my colleagues will do the right thing and vote on these amendments that are put out there as helpful amendments, but, to be honest, they are meant to bring down the bill. prgtoken We cannot allow our children, whether in Alaska or across the country, to be lured into this kind of Hell--and the more we hear in terms
REFORMING THE POLICY FOR OUR FORESTS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-3-21

the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA, as it is known, enacted in 1970--I am sure, well intentioned--but time and time and time again, issues that need to be resolved for the people and their assets in this country are thwarted by needless red tape, a lot of times coming from NEPA. prgtoken Our forests in the West suffer badly--and the people who live near them, from the smoke, from the danger, from the loss of homes, the loss of wildlife--because to do the slightest thing to improve our forest conditions requires NEPA delay. prgtoken In talking to forestry people just today, you can see illustrated in photographs private land that has been recovered right after a forest fire and, indeed, Federal land, because we have to do yet another NEPA on something we should already know and understand--delayed 1, 2, 3 years. And then you don't have the value left anymore of those trees that were left behind after a fire; therefore, there is never enough money to do the job. prgtoken , we must reform NEPA so it works for the people.
TRICKETT WENDLER, FRANK MONGIELLO, JORDAN McLINN, AND MATTHEW BELLINA RIGHT TO TRY ACT OF 2018
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-3-21

I want to thank Chairman Walden, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Griffith, and my friends Andy Biggs and Senator Johnson for their unflinching commitment to see right to try debated, passed, and signed into law. prgtoken Moreover, I thank the overwhelming bipartisan majority of the House, who, just last week, supported the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act, and proved emphatically that right to try is about more than politics. It is about hope. prgtoken Each year, thousands of Americans receive a life-altering diagnosis of a terminal illness. Even with the amazing work done in American medical research and development, for too many families, access to these potentially lifesaving treatments will come too late or not at all. prgtoken As their Representatives, we should each endeavor to support these individuals in their time of need, as well as support new pathways to potentially lifesaving treatment. That is what right to try is all about. prgtoken For those patients caught between traditional drug approval delays, a clinical trial process for which they do not qualify and limited time, right to try simply establishes the freedom for patients and their doctors to try therapies where the benefits far outweigh the risks. It gives them the option of trying to save their life. prgtoken Although the FDA has a program that allows terminal patients to apply for early access to a promising treatment, right to try is needed because the FDA compassionate use process doesn't help enough people. Moreover, the application process is complicated, time consuming, and expensive. Only about 1,200 people each year can make it through the application process. prgtoken In 2014, more than 12,000 people in France were using investigational prgtoken treatments through that government's equivalent program. If a country with one-fifth the population of the United States can help 900 percent more people then the FDA's plan, clearly, is not working. prgtoken In Australia, doctors are allowed to work directly with drug and device manufacturers to provide investigational treatments to terminal patients without the government's approval. They simply must report to the government at some point that the patient received the drug. No permission slip is required. prgtoken This bill requires robust informed consent between the patient, doctor, and manufacturer, while requiring notification be given to the FDA after an unapproved drug becomes available to an eligible patient and requires doctors and manufacturers to report adverse events to the FDA. prgtoken , when a life hangs in the balance, the Federal Government should not stand in the way of access to these potential treatments. I have traveled our district in all corners and have met so many different people--L.J. Kidon and Claire Concilio, most recently. Mr these people are an inspiration for this bill. They want to see this bill passed. Let's
HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM PULTE, SR.
David A. Trott (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise today to honor the life of William Pulte, Sr. He passed away earlier this month at the age of 85. prgtoken In 1950, at the age of 18, Bill Pulte started building and selling homes in southeast Michigan. In 1956, he founded Pulte Homes, known today as the Pulte Group. Over the next 50 years, he grew the company into the largest homebuilder in the United States. prgtoken Bill Pulte was a legend in the business world, but his legacy is one of great devotion to his family and community. He was involved with the Angel Fund, a group which anonymously provides families in Detroit with shelter. His philanthropy helped Cornerstone Schools provide thousands of young people in Detroit with a great education, and his passion for homebuilding took him all the way to Central America to help its poorest communities. prgtoken So it is most appropriate that we pause today from our Nation's business to remember and celebrate the life of Bill Pulte. His hard work, devotion, and vision changed the world for the better, and for that, we thank him.