mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-1-30

as we all know, tonight the President will address the Nation from the Chamber of the House of Representatives. This is called the State of the Union, and its tradition dates back to George Washington's time when he gave his first annual message in 1790. prgtoken Tonight is an important speech. It gives the President a chance not only to look forward but to look back on the first year of his term in office. That first year was marked by a steady stream of impressive accomplishments working together with Congress. These successes are easily missed when the decibel level here in Washington remains so high. The good news all too often gets drowned out by the noise, although, the truth is that the President's policy decisions have been spot-on, particularly when it comes to our Nation's economy. prgtoken First and foremost, last year he signed comprehensive tax reform into law. This is something we haven't been able to do since 1986. Our reforms lowered rates across the board for every tax bracket, doubled the child tax credit, and incentivized U.S. businesses to create jobs here at home rather than overseas, and, finally, it repealed the Care individual mandate, making the Affordable Care Act voluntary and not mandatory. prgtoken All across the country, we have seen the chain reaction as at least 263 businesses, large and small, have used the tax savings to increase workers' wages, expand their operations, and create jobs. According to one poll, small businesses' optimism is now at an 11-year high. The economy, thank goodness, continues to improve. A key economic indicator rose more than expected last month, but the momentum has been building over the last 12. prgtoken The Dow Jones Industrial Average has reached record highs. Everyone with a 401(k), a savings account, a pension, or somebody who dabbles in the stock market has seen the value of their holdings go up by about 25 percent in this last year. Federal workers who invest in their thrift savings plans through these index funds have seen their retirement funds grow to a huge amount--25 percent--consistent with the stock market. prgtoken President 's economic policies have been joined by his administration's strong insistence on suspending or eliminating job- stifling regulations. Now, don't get me wrong. Regulations are necessary for public health, safety, and welfare, but they can go too far and stifle innovation and economic growth. Unfortunately, that is what has happened. prgtoken He signed an Executive order when he first came to office and has cut at least 16 rules and regulations for every new one that was created. I think his original goal was to cut two for every new one, but, actually, he has done better than that. He has cut 16 for every new one that was created, and that has saved roughly $8.1 billion in compliance costs. prgtoken We need to keep in mind here in Washington that when we pass a law or when we pass a regul
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-1-30

the good news about tax reform continues to roll in--wage increases, better benefits, increased investment, and employee bonuses. So far, more than 250 companies have announced good news for their employees--pay hikes, increased retirement contributions, or bonuses, and the list continues to grow. prgtoken Last week, JPMorgan Chase, Disney, Starbucks, and FedEx all announced increased investment in American workers. JPMorgan Chase announced that it will raise wages for 22,000 workers, add thousands of new jobs, and open 400 new branches in the United States. It also plans to increase its lending to small businesses. Disney will invest in employees' education and provide employee bonuses. Starbucks is raising wages, increasing benefits, and rewarding employees with company stock. FedEx announced plans to expedite raises and invest $1.5 billion to expand its FedEx Express hub in Indianapolis. It is also making a $1.5 billion contribution to its pension plan. To top it off, yesterday ExxonMobil announced that, thanks in part to tax reform, it will invest an additional $35 billion into the U.S. economy over the next 5 years. That means a lot of new jobs and opportunities for American workers. prgtoken Stories like this are why we made business tax reform a key part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Obviously, a huge priority was immediately lowering Americans' tax bills, which is why we lowered rates across the board, nearly doubled the standard deduction, and doubled the child tax credit. But our other priority was creating the kind of economy in which Americans can thrive for the long-term--an economy that would create good jobs, higher wages, and more opportunities. prgtoken So how do we go about doing that? Well, the only way for individual Americans to thrive is for American businesses and the American economy to thrive. So we took action to improve the situation for American businesses. prgtoken Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, American businesses, large and small, were weighed down by high tax rates and growth-killing tax provisions. Plus, our outdated international tax rules left America's global businesses at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy. prgtoken The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed all that. We lowered tax rates across the board for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches. We expanded the business owners' ability to recover investments they make in their businesses, which will free up cash that they can reinvest in their operations and their workers. prgtoken We lowered our Nation's massive corporate tax rate, which up until January 1 was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. We brought the U.S. international tax system into the 21st century by replacing our outdated worldwide system with a modernized territorial tax system so that American businesses are not operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign counterparts. Now, just a
Immigration (Executive Session)
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2018-1-30

as we continue the debate on the issue of immigration as it relates to providing a permanent solution to those young immigrants who benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, the scope of this debate has expanded to include other issues. prgtoken Some of these issues are directly related to the DACA issue, including persistent concerns on our southern border, like improving barriers and border access roads, providing hiring and retention incentives for Customs and Border Protection personnel to ensure that all locations on the border remain secure. Other things being debated, like changes to legal immigration levels, truly need their own debate. prgtoken Some appear to have seized on this as an opportunity to push forth an agenda aimed at limiting the future flow of legal immigration. Before this idea gains any steam, we have to fully discuss and debate its potentially enormous impact on our economy. It is easy for some to see unemployed Americans and point to immigrants as a scapegoat. To suggest that every immigrant who passes through our borders represents a job being pried from the hands of an American citizen is farfetched, at best. prgtoken After taking the time to actually examine the facts, the shortsightedness of this thinking is exposed. For example, cleaving the number of new legal immigrants by almost 50 percent--which is what the White House proposal appears to envision over time--would initially reduce the overall rate of economic growth in the United States by an estimated 12.5 percent when compared to currently projected levels through 2045. This is because labor force growth is one of the most important factors tied to economic growth. More troubling, these changes in legal immigration would come just as the aging U.S. population increases our dependence on a growing workforce. prgtoken Some have suggested that legal immigrants represent some sort of drag on government resources. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that the average immigrant contributes, in net present value terms, $92,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits over their lifetime. prgtoken We can only expect these numbers to increase as we move to a kind of merit or employment-based system. I should note that in the bipartisan approach in 2015, we did restrict the number of family-based visas. I think it was from a total of 75 percent of legal immigration, we moved it down to 50 percent from family-based visas. At that same time, what we did was reallocate those visas to merit-based or employment-based visas so we wouldn't have an overall drop in legal immigration. prgtoken To look into the future of what happens when the philosophy of limiting legal immigration takes hold, we need to look no further than the current economic struggles Japan is having. In a timely piece by Fred Hiatt in the Washington Post this last Sunday, he points out that Japan's population of
REPRESENTATIVE FRELINGHUYSEN RETIREMENT STATEMENT
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-1-30

today as I announce my retirement at the end of this session of Congress, I want to use the opportunity to strongly encourage the many young people I meet to consider public service. Public service is an incredible way to turn your convictions into something that serves the greater good and to do it alongside people prgtoken from every walk of life and background. That has certainly been my experience here in this House, and during my Army service in Vietnam. I thank my friends and colleagues with whom I have served. My years in public service have allowed me to represent my home county of Morris for over 40 years, and also Essex, Passaic, Sussex Counties, and earlier on, Somerset. That would not have been possible without the love and support of my wife, Virginia, our two girls and my late father and mentor, Peter. The unsung heroes of my time in Congress are my staff, both in Morristown and Washington, who tend every day to the needs of 730,000 constituents. prgtoken During my time serving here there have been times of great tragedy including the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the ravages of Hurricane Sandy on my home state. In my role on the House Appropriations Committee, I made sure that New Jersey's needs were met in both the immediate aftermath as well as over time in the wake of these events. I have proudly been able to secure key federal investments for New Jersey to strengthen our economy, our institutions of higher education, our hospitals and public transportation systems, to preserve open space and protect the environment and to better serve our veterans and our fellow citizens with mental illness and disabilities. prgtoken As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, this past year I have had a singular focus on ``getting our work done''. We completed 12 appropriations bills left over from 2017, we passed all 2018 bills in record time through regular order, and three Disaster Supplementals historic in scope and the expediency with which we acted to help our fellow citizens. In my remaining year as chairman, I am determined to finish the FY18 bills and pass our FY19 bills through regular order. Every member, and , will continue to have ample opportunity to directly impact the Congressional power of the purse and decide the best and highest use of limited taxpayer money. This will require--and I will happily devote--all my energies to this task. prgtoken Throughout my service in this House, my deepest devotion has been to supporting our Armed Forces, all volunteers, and their families, here and abroad, and those warfighters who have returned home with injuries and who depend on a functioning veterans' health care system. To those of you I have met while you served us overseas and to those of you that I have sat by your bedside, I hope and trust I have served you well. prgtoken I have worked in a bipartisan manner, not just in times of crisis but always, because I believ
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-1-30

this week I have the honor of recognizing Sheridan School Superintendent Micheal Wetherbee for his commitment to students' success. Mike was recently honored with the 2017 Montana Association of Agricultural Educators' Administrator of the Year award, as well as the 2017 Montana Association of Career and Technical Education's Administrator of the Year award. prgtoken Mike came out of retirement to serve as superintendent when he saw there was a need in the community. When STEM and STEAM learning were just getting a foothold in education, Mike wanted to be sure the school would be on the frontlines. With buy-in from the community, Sheridan Schools are becoming well known for putting kids on a path to success through hands-on learning and experiences. In fact, high school students are now teaching fourth graders how to code. In Mike's own words, ``We've got it going on academically.'' prgtoken When asked about the awards, Mike is much more interested in talking about what the school is doing to build a great FFA program and thriving business department. What excites him the most about these programs, which he has been recognized for, are the opportunities they provide students to leave Sheridan High School and become successful in other places. Mike, who grew up in Montana, understands what service to the community means, and he is doing it every day by building up the students in Sheridan schools. prgtoken Thanks, Mike, for your continued work to shape Montana kids into the bright leaders of Montana's future.
AMERICANS ARE BETTER OFF
Lamar Smith (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-1-30

the differences are stark between President 's first year in office and President 's first year in office. If you just listen to the liberal media, you would think our country is worse off under President . However, if you follow the facts, Americans are far better off. prgtoken In 2009, 4 million jobs were lost. In 2017, 1.7 million jobs were created. prgtoken Gross domestic product in President 's first year went down 2.8 percent. It was up 2.3 percent last year. prgtoken Unemployment in 2009 increased from 7.8 percent to 9.9 percent. It fell in 2017 from 4.8 percent to 4.1 percent, a 17-year low. prgtoken The Standard & Poor's stock market index was at 1,115 President 's first year. It recently hit 2,673. prgtoken President 's policies are helping more Americans get back to work, pay less in taxes, and build their retirement and savings accounts. These are the facts. prgtoken , Americans can accurately say they are better off today than they were 8 years ago, or even 1 year ago.
PROTECTING YOUNG VICTIMS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND SAFE SPORT AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-1-30

I want to take a moment to discuss the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act. This legislation, which Senator Feinstein sponsored and I cosponsored, would promote mandatory reporting of suspected abuse of young athletes and give survivors new tools to hold perpetrators accountable. prgtoken As Senate Judiciary chairman, I last year convened a hearing on this legislation, which helped build momentum for its committee approval and passage. I am proud to have helped shepherd this bill through our committee and the Senate, and I am delighted that we are about to send this bill to the President for his signature. prgtoken Our congressional hearing illustrated just how bad the problem of sexual abuse in youth sports has become, how long it went on, how many athletes were affected, and, in some cases, how slow the response was from those charged with ensuring these young athletes' safety. To say that I was alarmed by what we learned at that March 28 hearing would be a huge understatement. prgtoken Abuse that occurs by someone in a position of trust, in what should be a safe environment, such as youth athletics programs, is simply outrageous. Sadly, however, sports officials adopted policies that may have allowed predators to victimize children long after they had good reason to suspect sexual abuse. prgtoken Recently, we have heard reports that gymnastics officials took as long as 5 weeks to report suspected abuse to the FBI. We have also heard allegations that gymnasts were pressured to remain silent after they brought the prgtoken abuse to gymnastics officials' attention. It is imperative that we uncover whatever systemic failures that allowed a predator to singlehandedly target hundreds of girls and young women for so long. prgtoken Sexual abuse is a heinous crime, so we must continue to seek justice for these victims. We also need to understand why allegations of sexual abuse so often remain hidden, instead of being immediately reported to law enforcement. The average perpetrator strikes multiple times before being caught, which is why it is so important that these crimes be promptly reported and investigated. I intend to continue to do oversight in this area and champion policies to protect the innocent from sexual abuse. prgtoken I thank each of the athletes who came forward to report abuse. Their courage helped make passage of this bill possible.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO LYLE WELLS
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-1-30

I also rise today to pay tribute to Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, who just passed away at the age of 97. prgtoken For me, Rabbi Zeldin was Uncle Shy. For the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles, he was their founder, their rabbi, their teacher, and their friend, according to the announcement they posted on their website. prgtoken Rabbi Zeldin was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father's picture, Morris, is in my office. Morris Zeldin was a respected scholar and ardent Zionist. Rabbi Zeldin moved to Los Angeles in 1954 to establish the California branch of Hebrew Union College and served as an 11-State regional director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. prgtoken In 1964, he and a nucleus of 35 families founded Stephen Wise Temple on a beautiful 18-acre mountain site situated between the city's two largest Jewish population centers: the West Side and San Fernando Valley. prgtoken It is a beautiful temple. When you are there for a service and hear the great singers and see the sunset out the windows, you know that you are in a very special place. This temple became one of the largest Jewish congregations in the entire world. prgtoken Uncle Shy, we miss you. We thank you, and we know that you have impacted tens of thousands of people so positively, and we will honor you, remember you for your legacy and your impact on generations to come.
STOP ACT
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-1-30

today I want to talk about the opioid epidemic that has gripped our country and my State of Ohio and talk a little about a report we issued last week with regard to synthetic opioids coming in through the U.S. mail system. prgtoken This tragedy has hit Ohio hard. We are not alone, though. Opioids affect every American regardless of age, area code, class, or color. Every State represented here in this body has experienced this--broken families, devastated communities, higher crime rates, friends lost, and, of course, lives taken through opioid overdoses. prgtoken The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that more than 63,600 Americans died in 2016 from drug overdoses. That is the last year for which they have statistics, but we all believe it was worse in 2017. With 63,600 Americans dying of overdoses, that means, on average, more than 174 Americans die every single day. That is up from approximately 143 Americans who died, on average, every day from drug overdoses a year earlier in 2015 and 105 Americans who died every day in 2010. prgtoken The problem is getting worse, not better. Drug overdoses, in fact, are now the No. 1 cause of death--not just accidental deaths but the No. 1 cause of death--in America for Americans under the age of 50. The reason for this increase in overdose deaths is the spread of heroin, prescription drugs, and now the synthetic opioids--fentanyl and carfentanil. Opioids were involved in more than 42,000--about two- thirds--of the overall deaths in 2016. Opioid deaths were five times higher in 2016 than they were just a few years ago. prgtoken This is a national epidemic. It has unfolded in three different waves. prgtoken The first wave was the prescription drug epidemic--pain pills--15 to 20 years ago. That started to increase dramatically. prgtoken Next, heroin deaths spiked. Heroin was turned to as a less expensive and more accessible way for people who were addicted to pain pills to continue to receive the high--in this case, from heroin coming mostly from Mexico. prgtoken Now synthetic forms of heroin are overtaking the illegal opioid market, and the results have been even more deadly. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin, has become the new scourge of the epidemic. Fentanyl is so deadly that 2 milligrams of it--as little as two flakes of it--can be lethal. It is cheap, easily accessible, and can be added to make any number of illegal drugs more potent--cocaine, heroin, pills. prgtoken In Ohio, fentanyl and its variations, such as carfentanil, were responsible for 60 percent of our State's more than 4,000 overdose deaths in 2016--the most recent year for which we have statistics. That 60 percent is a huge increase from just the previous year, 2015, when fentanyl was responsible for about 37 percent of the deaths. We have had more deaths from overdoses and a lot more deaths linked to fentanyl. prgtoken Sadly, again, this situation i
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 695, CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-1-30

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I really appreciate the people who write the talking points because they keep on trying to change the subject to try to confuse the American people. prgtoken My colleague knows that this battle is not over the DREAMers, although we all think it is immoral that these young people have been treated so terribly and so cruelly, and we believe that there needs to be a resolution to that. prgtoken The bottom line is that we need to negotiate budget caps so we know how much we can spend on not only defense, but nondefense appropriations so we can keep our government running. This should have been done months ago. prgtoken So if we really care about our troops, then where is the bipartisan agreement to raise the budget caps so that we know we have a budget deal? Where is this bipartisan agreement? prgtoken My friends have known that this is the deal for a long time, yet, again, they are tied in knots because they are fighting amongst themselves. Their rightwing is having a battle with their extreme rightwing; and there is even an extreme, extreme rightwing that not only does not want to raise any nondefense spending budget caps, but wants to cut domestic spending. prgtoken I would say to my colleagues that this is about more than the DREAMers. In fact, this is about community health centers. I mean, people rely on community health centers all across this country to get their healthcare. We are not dealing with that. prgtoken This is about funding our veterans. The men and women who serve our country, who we put their lives in harm's way, shouldn't we make sure that their budget is funded? I mean, Homeland Security. prgtoken So, I mean, there is a whole bunch of stuff here, but this is really simple to fix. It requires the leadership and this government to do its job. That is all we are asking. Do your job, negotiate a deal for a budget agreement to fund the government for the rest of the year, then we are done, and we go on to fight other things. But there is an easy way to do this: come up with some numbers, work it out with your leadership, work it out with our leadership, and let's move that. prgtoken , .