mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REPUBLICANS CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS
Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-5-2

before I get into the substance of my remarks, I would like to mention a little story. prgtoken When I used to work for Ronald Reagan years ago, he also said: Well, Dana always start off with a little funny story. So I thought I would share one that Ronald Reagan loved with all of you and the Congressional Record and those watching us tonight on C-SPAN. prgtoken What it deals with is a man who was struggling, struggling to get by. He lived in an area that had very little farmland left. My relatives all came from dirt-poor farms in North Dakota. They didn't have very good land up there. They were homesteaders, and it was rough going. But they did make a go out of it. They made a living out of it. This story is about a fellow in Kentucky, a guy who wanted to be a farmer but couldn't even find any land as good as my parents ended up with when they homesteaded. prgtoken One day he found a piece of land that he knew was very fertile. What it was was an old riverbed. He decided he could plant that riverbed, and it was such good soil that he would have a great crop. Well, the trouble with it was that the riverbed was filled with tree stumps and rocks and all sorts of weeds and horrible obstructions to get anything done. He spent a year of his life cleaning out that riverbed. Every day after work, he would go and blow up the rocks, haul them out. He would get a mule team and pull the tree stumps out. He would take a machete and cut down all the weeds. The briars would scratch his body. It was a monstrous job, but he got it done and he planted a garden. prgtoken When that garden started to come in, it was so beautiful that he had to tell somebody, he had to brag to somebody. He went to the person in his little town who he respected the most. It was the preacher. He said: Preacher, I want you to come out and see this. prgtoken The preacher came out, and the preacher said: This is a miracle. Praise be to God. Look at that corn. I have never seen corn so big as that. And that watermelon, my gosh, and the berries. My goodness, I have never seen such a wonderful garden. Praise be to God. prgtoken He went through this, kept going: Thank God for this, thank God for that. prgtoken Finally, the young farmer said to him: You know, Preacher, you should have seen this when God was doing it all by himself. prgtoken Well, today, there is a lot of stuff going on in Washington, D.C. People are very active. Don't think that there is not a lot of activity. You may not be able to see it, but we in this new Congress, we are scurrying around. There are all sorts of people working on healthcare reform, tax reform. We have got the fiscal year `17 and fiscal year `18 appropriations. We have got border bills. We have got security problems and issues that are the highest order. We are working here. I believe that with the Party under President , we are going to accomplish great things. These are things that we are asking the hel
ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANT ROLE SMALL BUSINESSES PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-5-2

I rise today during Small Business Week to acknowledge the important role small businesses play in our communities nationwide. I am proud to be the product of a small- business family. prgtoken Small businesses are responsible for creating 63 percent of new jobs, and they employ more than 47 percent of the employees in the private sector. prgtoken The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also marking the week with events hosted by the Small Business Development Center. From workshops to webinars, there is information for those looking to start a small business and those looking to grow their businesses. Even long-time small-business owners can get advice on how to continue to thrive or find a renewed sense of direction. prgtoken Pennsylvania Small Business Week recognizes the significant contributions of our small businesses and highlights the resources available to support their growth in the Keystone State. prgtoken The Nation has celebrated Small Business Week each year since 1963. I would like to congratulate all the small-business owners for the role they play in employing our neighbors, serving our communities, and creating two out of every three new jobs in the United States.
Congressional Review Act (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-5-2

I want to take this opportunity to highlight what I consider an unsung achievement of this administration and this Congress--the slow but steady rollback of the last administration's midnight regulations. prgtoken The numbers are impressive. Using the Congressional Review Act, we have repealed 13 regulations so far, which adds up to a $3.6 billion reduction in regulatory costs. To put it in more human terms, we have saved the American people 4.2 million hours of paperwork, which I can tell you is more than welcome news in Arkansas. prgtoken The other thing about these resolutions we have passed is that they are permanent. We haven't simply put these regulations on pause for a future President to revive them with a pen and phone. No, we have outlawed them forever. Any President who wants to reimpose them and their huge costs will have to pass a new law to do so, making the rules we live under and the people who make them accountable to the voters. That is a bit of a foreign concept to the people in Washington these days. But the way I see it, that is all the more reason to celebrate what we have achieved. prgtoken I know the other side will say: This is a dark day for America. To hear them tell it, blotting out all these regulations will leave a dark stain on our law books. To them, this rollback is a throwback to a dangerous, rough-and-tumble era--one filled with dirty air, dirty water, and a frighteningly low quality of life. But it just ain't so. prgtoken Stop and take a look at the regulations we have repealed, and then ask yourself: Why should Washington decide how we evaluate our teachers? Shouldn't parents, States, and cities do that? Why shouldn't States be able to test for drugs before handing out unemployment insurance? Is that such an unreasonable request? Why are bureaucrats who are sitting in an office thousands of miles away managing our land and wildlife? Shouldn't it be the people who live right there? prgtoken Why should Federal bureaucrats be able to override a law duly passed by Congress and signed by the President? Do any of these regulations add much to our quality of life? prgtoken Is this really about protecting the public interest? Or is it more about rewarding special interests? In fact, I can understand why liberals are bewildered at the idea that all these rules are hurting jobs, because these rules certainly are creating jobs--for lawyers and lobbyists. If there had been a bill, it would have been called ``The American Bar Association Full Employment Act.'' prgtoken That, perhaps, is the real issue here. It is not a question of whether we are going to live under rules. We have rules--plenty of them. The question is this: What kinds of rules are we going to live under? Are we going to pass laws that impose costs on rural America, only to add more wealth to urban America? Are we going to kill blue- collar jobs so we can create more white-collar jobs? Or are we going to pas
National Charter Schools Week (Executive Calendar)
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-5-2

I rise today in support of Mr. Jay Clayton, who has been nominated to serve on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. prgtoken On January 4, 2017, then President-elect announced his intention to nominate Jay Clayton to be the next chairman of the SEC. He noted that ``Jay Clayton is a highly talented expert on many aspects of financial and regulatory law, and he will ensure our financial institutions can thrive and create jobs while playing by the rules.'' prgtoken This sentiment was proven by Mr. Clayton's testimony and interactions during his nomination hearing. In fact, he passed out of the Banking Committee by a vote of 15-to-8, with bipartisan support. prgtoken Mr. Clayton is a highly regarded and exceptionally qualified candidate. As a partner at a prominent law firm, he built a reputation as a highly skilled financial markets expert, representing clients of all types and sizes, both domestically and internationally. He has also invested in a younger generation of lawyers, passing on his knowledge as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. prgtoken Throughout the nomination process, Mr. Clayton has proved his dedication to unbiased and fair conduct. prgtoken Mr. Clayton's comments, experience, and actions provide me with confidence that he will lead the SEC with the highest integrity and effectiveness. prgtoken The SEC has an important three-part mission: to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and to facilitate capital formation. At his nomination hearing, Mr. Clayton echoed the importance of the SEC's mission and how the SEC can do more to ensure that our markets remain the envy of the world. prgtoken Although the United States capital markets remain the most robust in the world, they have been challenged by competition from abroad. During his hearing, Mr. Clayton observed that our capital markets have become less attractive to businesses than they ever have been before. Capital markets drive innovation and job creation, and access to them is the lifeblood of our economy. prgtoken The JOBS Act helped revitalize primary markets, and both Congress and the SEC should continue to find ways to help companies go public and allow investors to share in their successes. Mr. Clayton pledged to do just that. He committed to working with his fellow Commissioners, with SEC staff, with Congress, and with the President to support and defend our capital markets. prgtoken Mr. Clayton also repeatedly committed at his nomination hearing that he would protect investors. He stated that he is ``100 percent committed to rooting out any fraud and shady practices in our financial system.'' prgtoken During the Banking Committee's hearings on Mr. Clayton, some raised the concern that he previously represented many firms on Wall Street and that he would continue to look out for their best interests. He appropriately responded by pledging to the American people that
CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-5-2

there is no doubt that small businesses drive the American economy. Across the United States, small businesses create about two out of every three new jobs. prgtoken Since 1963, every President has designated this week National Small Business Week to celebrate these economic engines and encourage policies that allow them to thrive. When our local small businesses succeed, they create opportunity, invigorate communities, and preserve the district character of our local economy. That is why I have committed to visit 100 small businesses across my district this year and every year, to better appreciate the needs of local small businesses and help them create good-paying jobs in our community. prgtoken During my visits, I have heard common themes: a Tax Code that is too complex, burdensome one-size-fits-all regulations from Washington, and lawmakers too focused on partisan bickering rather than on working together to grow our economy. prgtoken As we turn our attention to small businesses this week, let's put these concerns at the forefront and get to work on solutions.
DISASTER DECLARATION IMPROVEMENT ACT
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-5-2

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) for coming together to work in a bipartisan manner to address a problem that affects not just Illinois, but affects, I think, all 50 States. It is an issue where we have watched FEMA, in many cases, make decisions that appear to be arbitrary in terms of declaring a disaster in some areas, not in others. prgtoken What this legislation does, very simply, is it requires that FEMA take into consideration the true localized impacts of a disaster. And in line with what the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) noted earlier, we did an amendment in the committee that also looked at, or required, FEMA to consider multiple impacts in an area. prgtoken I am from south Louisiana. In the last several months, we have had police shootings, we have had one of the most costly floods in U.S. history, we have had tornadoes, and we have had another flood in north Louisiana. In fact, there were two floods, as I recall. One of them was a 500-year flood, and the second was a 1,000-year flood. It makes me question how old I am sometimes. prgtoken But what this does is it requires that FEMA look at localized impacts, and that they take into consideration the cumulative impacts of various disasters and incidents in an area. FEMA is not there and the Federal Government is not there to take care of every problem and every disaster that States and municipalities have. prgtoken But in many cases that we have seen historically, they have missed opportunities. I think we have seen incredible burdens borne by local governments, and they have had disasters that far exceeded their capabilities. prgtoken I want to, again, commend the gentleman and gentlewoman from Illinois for offering this commonsense legislation, and I urge all Members to support the bill.
Order of Procedure (Executive Session)
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-5-2

I ask unanimous consent that at 5:20 p.m. today, all postcloture time on the Clayton nomination be considered expired and the Senate proceed to vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate. I further ask that, if confirmed, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
National Flood Insurance Program (Executive Session)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-5-2

I rise to discuss an issue of extraordinary importance to the people of Louisiana and to many Americans. Yet again, Americans are witnessing a dramatic, rumor-filled guessing game. I am not talking about the latest new release from Netflix, I am talking about the reauthorization of the extremely important National Flood Insurance Program--we call it the NFIP, which I can assure you has played more like an episode of ``Veep'' than ``House of Cards'' for the audience that watches it unfold every few years. prgtoken I am sorry to say, Congress has repeatedly and consistently mangled the reauthorization of this essential Federal program. In 2010, the NFIP expired four times--not once, not twice but four times, for a total of 53 days, which injected uncertainty throughout a fragile housing market that had just been devastated 2 years previously. prgtoken That was inexcusable. Local economies felt the sting of 1,400 home closing delays or cancellations per day that the program was expired. Now, along with many of the program's stakeholders and participants, I believe it is crucial that we avoid this type of congressionally imposed delay. prgtoken Congress should extend the program. Let me say that again. Congress should extend the National Flood Insurance Program for a multiyear reauthorization before the September 30 deadline of this year. Our economy demands it. Many Americans may remember when the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act was signed into law in 2012. I was not in the Senate then. I was State Treasurer in Louisiana, but I certainly remember it. prgtoken In an effort to bring the program closer to solvency after Superstorm Sandy, policyholders, as a result of Biggert-Waters, saw their premiums quickly rise to ``actuarial levels.'' For policyholders in my home State of Louisiana, this meant unaffordable levels. It doesn't do any good to offer prgtoken Americans insurance they cannot afford. That is what Biggert-Waters did, just like the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken FEMA's mishandling of Biggert-Waters implementation resulted in truly inaccurate rate hikes that placed the viability of the entire National Flood Insurance Program at risk. I even remember the local news stations in Louisiana, like WWL and WBRZ, broadcasting horror stories of exponential rate hikes as a result of Biggert-Waters, hitting hardest in South Louisiana's middle-class neighborhoods. prgtoken Residents of St. Charles Parish and Lafourche Parish--in my State we call our counties parishes. We are the only one in America, only State in America, Louisiana, that does it. We do it right. Everybody else does it wrong. I remember residents of St. Charles Parish and Lafourche Parish sending in copies of their house keys to congressional representatives to give to FEMA because they could not afford the flood insurance. prgtoken They were required to carry it. Therefore, they were just going to turn their home over. This was
KOREAN INTERDICTION AND MODERNIZATION OF SANCTIONS ACT
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-5-2

I rise today in strong support of the Korea Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act, H.R. 1644, the KIMS Act. prgtoken I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership in guiding this bill through the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the original cosponsors of this bill, Ranking Member Engel and Congressman Sherman, who serves alongside me as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. I also thank the chairman and ranking member for accepting my amendment to this bill that targets the ability of leaders like those of the ic Republic of the Congo that have been buying North Korean arms for years with impunity, supplying a means of income for the North Korean regime to fund their nuclear program and the regime of terror and provocations. prgtoken , North Korea's nuclear program has never been a bigger threat, and we need to respond with all the tools at our disposal. After all, the world community is against nuclear proliferation from any country, so the world community should support the United States preventing North Korea's nuclear program. If anything, Pyongyang has dramatically accelerated its belligerent behavior, conducting two nuclear tests and two dozen missile launches last year. prgtoken Speaking before the U.N. Security Council, Secretary Tillerson was right when he said that the threat of a North Korea nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is very real. That is why it is so important that Congress, as we are doing here today, continue to apply pressure on Pyongyang, providing the administration with the tools it needs to deprive the Kim regime of the hard currency it depends on to feed its illicit weapons program. prgtoken Importantly, this measure will advance the national security interests of not just the United States and the Korean Peninsula but of the whole Asia-Pacific region and will contribute to regional security by targeting North Korea's abhorrent overseas slave labor, which is estimated at bringing in as much as $230 million each year. There are precious few nonmilitary tools left for managing the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Financial sanctions are the most important and effective of these tools. prgtoken By advancing this legislation, the House will continue its critical work to ensure our country has the necessary authorities and mandates in place to ensure our financial measures are effective. A peaceful outcome on the peninsula depends on inflicting enough pressure on Kim to force him to make the hard but smart choices. This bill will affect him where it hurts--in his bank accounts. prgtoken Again, I commend Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their contributions and leadership on this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
KOREAN INTERDICTION AND MODERNIZATION OF SANCTIONS ACT
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-5-2

I appreciate Mr. Royce's determined leadership on this important issue of national security protecting American families. prgtoken I am in strong support of H.R. 1644, the Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act. In 2003, I traveled to Pyongyang, North Korea, with the ranking member, Congressman Eliot Engel, in a bipartisan delegation, along with Congressman Curt Weldon, Chairman Jeff Miller, Silvestre Reyes, and Solomon Ortiz, where we saw firsthand the tyranny and oppression of the Communist regime. prgtoken Last month, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H. Res. 92, a bipartisan resolution I introduced condemning the regime in North Korea for their recent ballistic missiles, and called for the consideration of all available sanctions. It passed 398-3. prgtoken Since then, North Korea has continued testing missiles and released yet another propaganda video--this one simulating the destruction of American troops, aircraft, warships, and even the U.S. Capitol Building. prgtoken After 8 years of ``strategic patience,'' I appreciate the strong leadership of President and his administration, along with the Ambassador to the U.N Nikki Haley, and also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. prgtoken It is clear the regime in North Korea will only respond to strength, and these sanctions that are proposed in this package would effectively target the regime and any other individuals who would do business with North Korea, especially in the shipping and financial industries. prgtoken I appreciate the extraordinary leadership of Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel on the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support.