mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TAX REFORM
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-11-29

this week, we are debating the tax relief plan. prgtoken I had a telephone townhall meeting the other night, along with Senator Enzi, and we talked to the people of Wyoming who have actually done the math and looked at the impact of the things that are included in this proposal--doubling the standard deduction and the child tax credit. People think it is a good deal for them personally, so there is a lot to like in this legislation. It gives tax cuts to hard-working American families; it makes taxes simpler and fairer; it makes American businesses more competitive around the world; and it makes our economy stronger here at home. That is all good news for our country and for the American people. prgtoken Now, there is other good news in this legislation, and it is something I continue to hear about at home and heard about over the Thanksgiving recess in Wyoming, which is that it wipes out the Care insurance mandate tax. This is the tax penalty the healthcare law forced on the American people. Under the plan, people would no longer have to pay a tax penalty to the IRS if they did not want the ' expensive health insurance or if they just couldn't afford it. prgtoken We have seen health insurance premiums skyrocket over the past few years in this country, and it is because of the way wrote the healthcare law. The cost and the deductibles are so high that many people find that even if they have paid for the expensive insurance, they still can't afford to get the care they need. The law says that no matter how expensive the insurance gets or how unusable it is for that individual, by law, people still have to buy it or pay a tax. prgtoken Families ought to be able to make decisions about what they want to buy and what works for them, not the government. I believe that if people don't want to buy the Care insurance, they shouldn't have to pay a tax penalty to the IRS. Those are the things we are looking at. prgtoken Interestingly, today in the New York Times, there was more than half a page devoted to this. ``Millions Pay Penalty Instead of Buying Policy. Who Are They?'' Well, in the State of Wyoming, over 15,000 people paid over $5 million in fines to the IRS. This article today says that 6.7 million tax filers paid the penalty in 2015. Who are they? Well, it is not surprising to the Presiding Officer that the great majority of these--8 out of 10 who paid the fine--have an adjusted family income of less than $50,000. It says the $25,000 to $50,000 income range group had the highest share of people paying the penalty in 2015. Why do we think those people aren't able to buy the insurance? It is too expensive. It is not a good deal for them. That is why even the New York Times is reporting that the $25,000 to $50,000 income group--hard-working American families--has the highest share of people paying the penalty. prgtoken Then they questioned why
TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN TEXAS
Kenny Marchant (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-11-29

last Saturday, across America, was Small Business Saturday, a yearly event that highlights American Main Street businesses by encouraging consumers to shop in their local shops. prgtoken Forty-five percent of all companies in Texas are small businesses. They provide jobs to 4 million Texans. They are our neighbors, our family members, and our friends. They provide jobs to more than 4 million families as well as the 4 million Texans. prgtoken The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides small businesses in my north Texas district with the lowest tax rate since World War II, allowing them to invest in their community, hire more people, and, as the National Federation of Independent Business says: This tax bill will lead small businesses into a better position. prgtoken We highlighted small businesses last weekend, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act follows through with a Tax Code built for increased wages and long-term growth.
TAX REFORM
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-11-29

I have listened to the minority leader's remarks. If anybody believes that we are going to be able to work together closely when they just want a bill for the Federal Government at all costs--they had us right there on the cusp of socialism just a month ago, and we are still right on the cusp of socialism. I hate to say it, but our ic friends are pushing us toward socialism, which has never worked anywhere in the world, and it is not going to work here. Their answer to everything is big government. prgtoken There are two different points of view here. I have to tell you I used to be on their side when I was a young fellow. I was raised in poverty. I came up the hard way. I learned a trade. I became a journeyman metal lather, which was one of the most skilled trades at the time. prgtoken I have to say that these haunting refrains were used by back then, too, but look at this country and the mess it is in, and it is in a mess because of their philosophy. We have to change it. I admit, with him, that the business community isn't always right, and they are not always the best to spend our money, but they are sure a lot better than government spending it all the time. So much for that. prgtoken The Senate will soon vote on a motion to proceed to legislation to reform our Nation's broken Tax Code and to provide significant relief for tens of millions of middle-class families. prgtoken Members from both parties have worked for years on this effort. As we move to consider this legislation, we will take another step toward accomplishing what has--until recently, anyway--been a bipartisan goal. I want to thank all of those who have helped us advance this process, especially the members and staff of the Finance Committee, who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point. I also want to thank our distinguished majority leader, Senator McConnell, for his work and leadership on this as well. prgtoken Of course, we are not there yet. We have a number of additional steps to take, including today's vote. I don't want to put any carts ahead of any horses, but I am optimistic that we can get a positive outcome today. prgtoken Our tax reform bill is crafted with the primary purpose of providing tax relief to the middle class and growth to our economy. To accomplish these goals, the bill lowers individual tax rates across the board. The bill also expands the zero tax bracket by nearly doubling the standard deduction, doubling the child tax credit, and increasing the child tax credit refundability, all of which, combined, will eliminate income tax liability for many hard-working American families and significantly cut taxes for tens of millions of middle-class taxpayers. That sounds like the right thing to do to me. prgtoken Some examples, I think, can be illustrative here. Under our bill, a family of four making the U.S. median family income of around $73,000 a year will see their taxes go down
TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT--Continued
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-11-29

tonight I want to talk about the opportunity we have before us in the Senate, and that is for tax reform that can truly help our economy and help the middle-class families we represent. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. prgtoken The last time we reformed our Tax Code in any substantial way was 31 years ago. Ronald Reagan was President and Pete Rose was still playing for the Cincinnati Reds. That is how long ago it was. In 1986, tax reform gave our economy a much needed shot in the arm, and it led to more jobs and higher wages in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, 31 years later, after a decade of disappointing growth and flat wages, we need that shot in the arm again. prgtoken We need a tax code that better reflects the needs of today's workers, today's families, and our 21st century economy. There is bipartisan agreement that the Tax Code is broken--hopelessly broken--and it is up to Congress to fix it. No one else can. prgtoken Through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act now before us, we have a chance in the Congress to create a better economy and a better future. We have to get this done for the people we represent. It starts with tax cuts for the middle class. While the economy has seen some improvement recently, and I saw some good numbers today for last quarter's growth, the people I represent, hard-working Ohioans, and people across the country are not feeling these benefits of a growing economy. For more than a decade now, expenses have increased, including healthcare costs, which have increased the highest, at a time when wages have been flat. When you take inflation into account, wages have stayed relatively flat for almost two decades. That increase in expenses and flat wages is the middle-class squeeze, and people are feeling it. prgtoken For years, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have been calling for middle-class tax cuts to help ease this burden. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will actually deliver. The proposal helps us in a lot of ways but three main ways. prgtoken First, there is a doubling of the standard deduction. This is a doubling prgtoken for families from $12,000 to $24,000. That means, for a lot of families in America, the first $24,000 is a zero tax bracket. Two-thirds of Ohioans already, by the way, use the standard deduction. The estimate is, now that we are doubling it, over 90 percent of Ohioans will use that standard deduction. That helps to keep the tax bill down but also is a tremendous simplification of our Tax Code. prgtoken Second is the doubling of the child tax credit. That is in this legislation. The American dream starts with the American family, and parents shouldn't have to reconsider starting a family because of the financial burden that comes with it. This doubling of the child tax credit will help working families afford childcare and will help strengthen middle-class family budgets all across the country. By the way, it includes increasing the refundabilit
TAX REFORM
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-11-29

. Thank you, . I thank the Presiding Officer for his comments just before mine, and thank him for presiding so that I can step down and speak briefly. prgtoken I wasn't sure if I was going to speak. I don't have any notes. But I was inspired by some of the comments that were made by the Senator from Vermont as I was presiding. prgtoken We heard--actually, for those who are visiting the DC area, if you don't get an opportunity to go to any of the wonderful theaters we have here, such as the Kennedy Center, don't worry because you are seeing a lot of theater down here on the Senate floor. prgtoken Anybody who would suggest that we are going to come back and cut my mother's Medicare and my mother's Social Security and that of the mothers and brothers and sisters of other people who are depending on that for their livelihood is somewhat involved in political theater. prgtoken Some of you were here and probably heard the challenge to have a come down here on the floor and say: Bernie, you are wrong. prgtoken Well, the distinguished Senator from Vermont is wrong. prgtoken This bill is about actually providing freedom and tax relief to working families and reducing the tax burden on businesses so that the economy will grow and we will have the resources to pay our bills. prgtoken I can understand that maybe it is not intentional theater on the part of some of these folks; it may just be because they simply have never done it before. But if you have ever lived in North Carolina or if you have lived in North Carolina since 2011, you know that we did. prgtoken I have seen this theater before--from the dais as speaker of the house in the State of North Carolina when we were one of the highest-- the sixth highest tax State in the Nation, with one of the slowest growing economies. We were having a problem paying our Medicaid bills. We were having a problem paying our bills. We had a $2.5 billion structural deficit. I heard the theater on the floor: If you cut taxes, you are going to drive up the deficit. If you cut taxes, you are going to cut Medicaid. If you cut taxes, you are going to cut social services. prgtoken I heard it all. Everybody accused us of that. I hit the gavel, and I ratified the bill for tax reform. Guess what happened. We went from being the sixth most taxed State that today is in the top ten best taxed. We went from one of the worst performing State economies to now one of the best performing State economies. We have reduced the prgtoken number of people in poverty, and statistically--I mean, we can prove it to you. We do the counts. The number of people who have been lifted out of poverty has increased over the last 3 years. Median incomes have gone up. Job creation has gone up. Our gross domestic product has gone up over the past 5 or 6 years by $80 billion. We were at about $400 billion, and now we are at $480 billion. prgtoken So let me tell you how we are going to pay for these tax cuts.
BUDGETARY REVISIONS
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-11-29

section 3003 of H. Con. Res. 71, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, allows the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee to revise the allocations, aggregates and levels in the budget resolution for legislation considered under the resolution's reconciliation instructions. prgtoken I find that S. Amdt. 1618 fulfills the conditions found in section 3003 of H. Con. Res. 71. Accordingly, I am revising the allocations to the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and other enforceable budgetary levels to account for the budgetary effects of the amendment. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying tables, which provide details about the adjustment, be printed in the Record.
REMEMBERING HARRY KOWALCHYK, JR.
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-11-29

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Harry Kowalchyk, Jr. who passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2017. In 1971, Mr. Kowalchyk founded the National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS) in Newburgh with his business partner and best friend, William Mocarski. For 46 years Mr. Kowalchyk served as president of the NTTS, where he shaped the future of accredited truck driving schools nationwide. The NTTS has trained over 30,000 men and women as entry- level heavy truck and tractor trailer drivers. Mr. Kowalchyk believed in the American dream, and created a school that provided its students with a high quality education so they could work towards a better life. Mr. Kowalchyk is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Kowalchyk, and his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Jamie Sather, his granddaughter and grandson, Nikki and Logan Sather, as well as additional members of his extended family. Mr. Kowalchyk was proud to be a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1961 to 1965, and was devoted to many veteran causes. Through his support of the Honor Flight Network, Mr. Kowalchyk enabled many Central New York veterans to travel to Washington to visit the memorials that symbolize the service and sacrifice of all who served in our nation's armed forces. Mr. Kowalchyk was known for his patriotism and for doing everything he could to help those in need. For his tremendous efforts to revolutionize our trucking industry, and for making our community a better place, it is my distinct privilege to honor Harry Kowalchyk today.
REQUIRING COMPLETION OF TRAINING PROGRAM IN WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-11-29

today I rise in support of this resolution requiring all Members and staff to complete antiharassment and antidiscrimination training during each session of Congress. prgtoken I would like to thank Chairman Harper. I would like to thank Ryan for announcing this policy change in the House. I would like to thank my friend and colleague on the House Administration Committee, Barbara Comstock, for introducing this important bill. prgtoken No one should have to worry about sexual harassment when they come to work. As a former staffer and someone with a female-led office, I believe this resolution is an important first step in addressing this problem as we work to increase professionalism in the House and establish a workplace that is grounded in respect. prgtoken In Congress, we have got to lead by example. prgtoken As a member of the House Administration Committee, we worked hard to pass reforms last Congress to make House office spending more transparent and accountable than any other area of the Federal Government, and I am confident in this committee's ability to address, in a bipartisan way, this important issue as well. prgtoken I look forward to the continued hearings the committee will have on this issue as we work to institute policies that protect staffers against sexual harassment and ensure female staffers are provided leadership opportunities. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF COLONEL WILLIAM DAVID BARTON
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-11-29

today I rise in honor of Colonel (COL) William David Barton's thirty-one years of service in the Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG). COL Barton began his military career on August 13, 1986, when he enlisted as a Cannon Crewman in Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery in his hometown of Kosciusko, Mississippi. He later received his commission through the ROTC program at the University of Mississippi, where he graduated with a degree in marketing in 1990. prgtoken COL Barton has served the MSARNG in staff positions at the battalion, brigade and state staff levels, and held command positions at the platoon, company and battalion levels. In 2005, he was deployed to Iraq with the 155th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) where he first served as Brigade Personnel Officer for the 155th BCT, and then served as the Battalion Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery. He has held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel since February 1, 2015. prgtoken His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with one Silver and three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), the National Defense Service Medal (with one Star), the Iraq Campaign Medal (with two Campaign Stars), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, M Device, and Numeral 2), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the National Guard Basic Recruiter Badge, the Mississippi Magnolia Cross (with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Mississippi Magnolia Medal (with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Mississippi Commendation Medal, the Mississippi War Medal (with one Star), the Mississippi Emergency Service Medal, the Mississippi Service School Ribbon (with one Silver and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Mississippi Longevity Medal (with one Silver and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Mississippi Recruiting Medal. prgtoken When asked about his years in the MSARNG, COL Barton said, ``I have been blessed to serve with some of the finest people in the world over the last 31 years. It has been an amazing experience and I am glad to have been able to serve my country and my state in both peacetime and during war. The service members I have served with truly embody the National Guard motto of `Always Ready, Always There' and I could not be more proud of my service alongside them.'' prgtoken Throughout his career and in preparation for his upcoming retirement, Colonel Barton has been supported by his loving family, including his parents, Gerald and Peggy Barton; his four sisters; his wife, Jennifer Barton; and his four daughters, Brittany Burnham, Ashley Smit
TAX REFORM
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-11-29

I am grateful to my colleague, the distinguished Senator from Florida, for his work on this issue. prgtoken He noted a couple of issues that we focus on in this amendment. He noted, among other things, the marriage tax penalty. That is a more obvious defect within our Tax Code. There is another defect he also mentioned that doesn't get as much play as it should. It doesn't get as much play, especially considering the amount of damage it does. It is called the parent tax penalty. prgtoken Here is how it works. We have American parents from one end of the country to the other who are essentially propping up and securing the future of our senior entitlement programs, not just once but twice and in a pretty unfair way. They prop up Social Security and Medicare two times--first, as they pay their taxes, and secondly, as they incur the substantial costs associated with child-rearing and thereby prop up and secure Social Security and Medicare. prgtoken Social Security and Medicare are paid for on a pay-as-you-go basis. Many of today's workers pay for the benefits of today's retirees. Today's children are tomorrow's workers who will, in turn, be working to pay the taxes to fund the Social Security and Medicare retirement benefits of today's workers, who will be tomorrow's retirees. prgtoken Those costs add up over time. According to one very lowball estimate--an estimate that doesn't include a lot of things that it probably should, such as education, higher education, and so forth--a family raising three children can reasonably expect to incur $700,000 in child-rearing costs as they raise their three children. Those three children are going to go on to be tomorrow's workers, paying the Social Security and Medicare benefits for today's workers, tomorrow's retirees. This is important. prgtoken We need to end the marriage tax penalty. We also need to end this parent tax penalty. The best way to do that is to make sure that we increase the child tax credit up to $2,000, as the current Senate proposal would do, but just as importantly, we need to make that sum refundable up to $2,000, up to the total amount of taxes paid, including payroll tax liability--in other words, up to 15.3 percent of earnings. If we do this, it is not going to end the parent tax penalty altogether, but it is an important first step. prgtoken I also want to echo something said by Senator Rubio a moment ago, and I think it is worth mentioning. This is not a handout. This is not a welfare benefit. This is money they are making. It is not welfare when you say that the government's not going to take away something that you have worked hard for, that you have earned. prgtoken We should at least be doing that for those people who are America's ultimate, most important entrepreneurial class, America's most cherished group of investors. The most important investment decisions are not necessarily those made around the boardroom. They are made at