mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-3-21

today the Senate is voting to pass legislation to crack down on bad actors who abuse the power and potential of the internet to prey upon the most vulnerable among us in human trafficking rings. Websites like Backpage are repugnant, and I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work in holding these bad actors accountable. I also applaud them for working to address the legitimate concerns of good-faith prgtoken technology platforms that want to be able to engage in responsible content moderation and take steps to affirmatively stop abuses of their sites. prgtoken I am pleased to support this legislation because I believe it achieves the important balance between providing a mechanism to hold accountable sex traffickers while allowing free speech and innovation to continue to thrive. Key to my support is my understanding that this legislation would not allow nuisance lawsuits against technology companies--especially startups--based on bogus claims that they ``facilitate'' sex trafficking. It is also important to me that I believe the legislation as written does preserve Good Samaritan protections for platforms and website operators who engage in good- faith content moderation. Legitimate efforts to monitor for illegal content, shut down trafficking, or report suspected trafficking to law enforcement should not and cannot be the basis for liability under this legislation. prgtoken Finally, I want to note that I have heard concerns that this legislation could be misused or abused to penalize websites that promote important health and safety information to survivors of sex trafficking, including about HIV prevention and treatment, and provide access to community and peer support services. This information is particularly critical to the victims of sex trafficking and others who face high rates of violence and exploitation, like people who use drugs, people of color, and LGBTQ people. I believe the use of this legislation to create any liability for this important work would be an impermissible misreading of the statutory language and legislative intent.
A CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-3-21

I am saddened and angered that the high school in my district, Great Mills High School, in St. Mary's County, was the site of the most recent school shooting, of which there have been 17 just since the beginning of this year. prgtoken Two students were injured, and the gunman, also a student, was killed. And an entire community of parents, students, teachers, and faculty has been shaken by this violence. prgtoken If it had not been for the courage and quick action of the school resource officer, Blaine Gaskill, and local law enforcement, the casualties might have been far, far greater. prgtoken Blaine Gaskill is a hero, as are the teachers, students, and other school personnel. prgtoken Tim Cameron, the sheriff of St. Mary's County, and the sheriff's office, of which Blaine Gaskill was a member, responded exactly as they had practiced: efficient, effective, and caring. prgtoken Kathy O'Brien, who heads up a place called Walden in our county and in southern Maryland, was on site within an hour, dealing with the crisis and the mental health challenges it caused. prgtoken Principal Jake Heibel made sure the school responded effectively. The superintendent of schools, Dr. James Smith, had made sure that the school would act in a way that was appropriate. prgtoken We thank all of them. prgtoken But, , our Nation is suffering from a crisis of gun violence. It has affected schools, places of worship, entertainment venues, city streets, and other places where a lot of people congregate. prgtoken No other industrialized society or nation faces such a crisis, and that is because, in America, our laws allow almost anybody to access dangerous firearms, almost no questions asked. prgtoken Furthermore, we allow the sale of assault rifles of the kind used by soldiers in the battlefield, designed to kill a lot of people quickly. prgtoken In this instance, it was a handgun, a Glock. I do not know the capacity of the magazine that was used, but it was not an assault rifle. prgtoken This -led Congress, , has chosen to follow the lead of the NRA and do nothing of substance. prgtoken We did pass a bill the other day that gave schools some help, some grant money, to ensure the safety of their schools. That was appropriate to do. But they could do that now on their own. We will help, that is good, but it does not address the real problem. Perhaps that was the point. prgtoken And America's students, however, , won't have it. I had the opportunity last Wednesday to stand with thousands of students who walked out of their schools, walked into democracy, and marched to the Capitol to call for action against gun violence. prgtoken These young people, , displayed the best of America, using their voices and their actions, to promote a just cause and a worthy effort to make our Union more perfect. prgtoken The other Members and I who joined these young Americans could see that they do not take this and other national challenges lightly.
SUPPORTING MAKING PORTUGUESE CITIZENS ELIGIBLE FOR E1 AND E2 VISAS
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in fostering further investment in our United States economy by one of our oldest allies, Portugal. prgtoken As a co-chair of the Congressional Portuguese Caucus, I am proud to join Congressmen Cicilline and Valadao in leading the AMIGOS Act, which will make Portuguese citizens eligible for E1 and E2 visas. These visas allow individuals to enter the United States to conduct substantial trade or invest a substantial amount of capital, which spurs investment in our economy and helps create jobs. That is, after all, what we do with our friends, with our allies. prgtoken In 2015 alone, between Portugal and the United States, there was $4.2 billion in trade. That created jobs here in the United States. It creates jobs in Portugal. It is good for both countries, and that is the way friends ought to work together. prgtoken There is precedent here. Congress granted eligibility for Israel in 2012 with the E1 and E2 visas, which allow for easier access for businesspeople who are engaged in these kinds of economic activities. What is more, Portugal was one of the first countries to recognize the United States after we declared our independence and won the Revolutionary War. prgtoken For many of us, if we remember our history, after World War II, to defend prgtoken Western democracies, Portugal, along with the United States, helped organize Western Europe to create NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that has been the bulwark of defense of Western ideals that are the foundation of our democracies. prgtoken For these reasons and more, I call upon my colleagues to join me in supporting a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation, the AMIGOS Act, which will further opportunities for business in America by creating more jobs and continue to enhance the relationship that has existed for over 200 years between the United States and Portugal.
HONORING CHIEF CARL SFERRAZZA FOR 38 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE ENFIELD COMMUNITY
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise today to recognize a good friend and great public servant from North Central Connecticut, Police Chief Carl Sferrazza, who is retiring after a distinguished 38-year career with the Enfield Police Department. prgtoken An Enfield resident all his life, Carl's journey with the Enfield police department began in 1976 as an auxiliary police officer. Four years later, he was hired by the department to be a full-time member of the force. Carl started as a patrolman who experienced the nitty-gritty of police work, responding to emergency calls, enforcing motor vehicle laws, and acting as a mediator in the neighborhoods, keeping the peace. Sometimes he had to go above and beyond normal duty, earning himself three citations for heroism, one of which came after rescuing a father and his children from a house fire. prgtoken Over the years, Carl's talented work was recognized and he rose through the ranks, and eventually was promoted to Police Chief in 2005. Under his guidance and strong leadership, the police department received national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and joined regional public safety teams like Capitol Region Emergency Services Team and the Metro Traffic Services. These improvements are a direct reflection of Chief Sferrazza's leadership style. He sees Enfield as not just a place to go to work, but as his house, and its residents as his family. He has also implemented multiple programs such as the Citizens Police Academy and the annual awards night, strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and residents. prgtoken Chief Sferrazza's leadership does not end with the Enfield Police Department. He is the president of the Mt. Carmel Society and teaches criminal justice at his alma mater, Asnuntuck Community College. He is a devoted husband to Donnalee and father to Alex and Audra. prgtoken , Chief Carl Sferrazza has left a legacy of ``people- first'' leadership in his time at the Enfield Police Department. His footprint is large and wide on the town and will live on forever. I ask my colleagues to please rise to thank him for his decades of dedication to the people of Enfield. He has been a great example of civic responsibility to his neighbors and I know he will continue this example, even in his retirement. I wish him all the best in this next chapter.
INSULT TO OUR PRINCIPLES
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-3-21

I have had the privilege of being involved in a number of international organizations representing the United States. We are defined by our love, appreciation for democracy, and for selling that around the world. prgtoken The call that was made by the Commander in Chief yesterday to Vladimir Putin, whose election was a failure, at best, was an insult to our principles and our values. This is the leader of a country alleged to have used poison gas on ally soil in London, trying to kill two individuals; had the interaction in Ukraine with the bringing down of the plane; and incarcerating many people in Russia because of their views. prgtoken I think this is a poor statement for a country that promotes democracy. The world looks to us and seeks to be, in many instances, like America. They value our concern for human rights and our value of democracy. They wait for us to stand up against despots like Vladimir Putin, yet the President of the United States gives him a jolly congratulations for an election that was not an election.
DACA
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-3-21

this crisis we face in this country involving DACA is a crisis that was created when President announced the end of the program on September 5 of last year and gave us a deadline of March 5 of this year to come up with an alternative. Many of us, including the Presiding Officer, battled mightily to do that--a bipartisan effort with compromise on both sides--but we never could come up with a proposal the President accepted. As a consequence, the destiny of the DACA recipients is uncertain. prgtoken They are now temporarily protected by an injunction from two different Federal lawsuits--an injunction which could end in a matter of weeks or months. In the meantime, their status is so uncertain that it is difficult for them to make plans for their lives. That is where we are today. prgtoken DACA has been a huge success. It is a program designed to give those who were brought here as children, toddlers, and infants an opportunity to become part of America--a legal part of America--and an opportunity to one day become citizens. prgtoken DACA was an Executive order of President 's which President has now abolished. There is no protection, other than the court injunction for those who are facing the end of DACA. prgtoken Yesterday, I convened a meeting with some of my Senate colleagues with the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen. Here is what we learned: As of yesterday, more than 35,000 DACA renewal applications are pending because of these court orders. Of these pending renewal applications, 10,000 were from recipients whose DACA protection had already expired. Tens of thousands more Dreamers have DACA protection due to expire soon. Around 13,000 DACA permits could expire in March, another 5,300 in April, and nearly 14,000 more in May. prgtoken Understand what happens: When a person is protected by DACA and loses that protection, technically, they can be deported. In addition, they cannot legally continue to work in the United States. prgtoken There is some good news, though. Secretary Nielsen promised me that the Department of Homeland Security will not deport any DACA recipient with a pending DACA application, even if their DACA status has expired. I thank her for that commitment, and I intend to hold her to that commitment. Many lives are at stake. prgtoken However, for DACA recipients whose status has expired, that same Department will not authorize them to work unless and until DACA is renewed, so there can be a gap in their employment. Understand that the people we are talking about are not folks, by and large, with part-time jobs. They are teachers. They are medical professionals. Some of them are serving in our military. prgtoken What we now know about the expiration of this work permit is that tens of thousands of DACA-eligible individuals could be forced to leave their jobs while their applications for renewal are pending and before those applications are approved
CALLING ATTENTION TO THE SUFFERING IN PUERTO RICO
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-3-21

I am ashamed that our national government seems to have abandoned American citizens of Puerto Rico. Yesterday marked 6 months since Hurricane Maria furiously blew ashore. In those 6 months, more than 1,000 Americans have died because of the storm. In fact, people are still dying in Puerto Rico from causes that are directly related to Hurricane Maria's impact, and more than 100,000 American citizens in Puerto Rico are still without electricity. prgtoken Let me tell you, , we tend to forget how much we rely on electricity until it goes out. Without electricity, people who rely on respirators must choose between their homes and their health. The elderly, sick people, and newborn babies have to suffer through the heat and cold. prgtoken , if this was happening anywhere else in our country, we would have riots. But instead of action, all Puerto Rico gets are excuses from the national government.
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Claire McCaskill (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2018-3-21

s. I think we have spent a lot of time on the floor thanking each other, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, too often, we go back to tribal warfare after we thank each other, but this is an example of when we have worked together in a bipartisan way. So I think those ``thanks'' are justified, particularly in this case when there has been an honest and true bipartisan effort to get at a very serious problem in this country. It was a pleasure to work with my colleague Senator Portman as we did this investigation. prgtoken So how do I come to this place? I come to this place as somebody who had spent a significant part of her career in the courtroom prosecuting sex crimes. I think I can say with confidence that I prosecuted more sex crimes than any other Member of the U.S. Senate. I can't speak for the House because I am not familiar with the backgrounds of all of the House Members. prgtoken I spent years as an assistant prosecutor. For part of that time, I was the only woman in the office, and for some reason, they thought that was a good reason to have me gain expertise in the area of sex crimes. I was happy to take on the responsibility of handling a lot of those cases as a young assistant prosecutor, going into the courtroom and arguing cases to juries, holding the hands of victims, crying with their families, trying to find that special spot that is called justice in a system that is sometimes stacked against the victims of these kinds of crimes. I went on to be the elected prosecutor in Kansas City and tried to continue our strong stand against all forms of sex crimes, including against the people who were profiting off of selling sex. prgtoken It is important to remember that when we began this investigation in the Senate, we were dealing with someone who didn't want to cooperate. What we learned through the investigation was that this law, as it exists now, prgtoken was their protector. They were being protected for their bad acts by an outdated law that had been twisted and distorted to allow them to make billions of dollars of profit and, frankly, millions, upon millions, upon millions of dollars of profit off of trafficking young women for sex. The prosecution of cases is not driven by headlines. It is not driven by press conferences. It is not driven by photo ops. The prosecution of cases is driven by evidence. You only get evidence after having a thorough and complete investigation, and it has to be in- depth. prgtoken I know that Senator Portman will relate to this. Can you imagine, when backpage said, ``We don't want to talk to you,'' if we had said, ``OK. That is fine''? Can you imagine, when backpage said, ``We refuse to be interviewed,'' if we had just said, ``OK. No problem. We don't have any evidence of wrongdoing. Let's just go on our way''? prgtoken Instead, when we were confronted with their stubborn unwillingness to participate in a U.S. Senate inves
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-3-21

I say thank you to my colleague Senator Portman for his hard work. When we began this legislation, no one gave us a chance because of the entrenched and powerful interests against us. This measure will unlock the courthouse doors to survivors and to law enforcement who can stop sex trafficking--a scourge, modern- day slavery in this country. I thank so many of my colleagues for cosponsoring it and for helping to lead this effort that will make a difference in the lives of countless young girls and women and men who are victims and survivors.
2018: THE YEAR OF THE BLACK WOMAN
Marcia L. Fudge (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-3-21

I rise to highlight the legacies of some Black history makers as a tribute to them during Women's History Month. prgtoken I speak of women who paved the way for other Black women and me to stand in the U.S. House of Representatives advocating for the benefit of our constituents. Women who stood their ground, fought for justice and broke through glass ceilings. prgtoken Black women like Ida B. Wells, who fought against lynching in the south during a time when remaining quiet would have been easy and a lot safer. Ida B. Wells saw what we called ``low hanging fruit'' and waged war against the murderous practice and the hooded cowards who hung those fruit. She gave new meaning to the phrase ``the pen is mightier than the sword.'' prgtoken Women like Barbara Jordan--the Gentlewoman from Texas--who was the first Black woman to be elected to the Texas Senate (1966) and to later serve as State Senate President Pro Tem. She was also the first African American woman from the Deep South to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken Like Ida B. Wells, Congresswoman Jordan saw injustice and took action. She helped create the first minimum wage bill in Texas, and the state's Fair Employment Practices Commission. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate hearings, Barbara Jordan showed the world her strength as a guiding figure on the committee despite being a freshman member. She stood her ground among her colleagues, strongly advocating for the sanctity of the Constitution and President Nixon's impeachment. prgtoken Another of my sheroes is Shirley Chisholm--unbought and unbossed. The first Black woman elected to the United States Congress (1968), Shirley represented Brooklyn, New York for seven terms and was a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969. She broke through the presidential candidates' glass ceiling in 1972 when she became the first African American to seek a major party nomination--the ic Party--for President of the United States. prgtoken Last, but not least, I salute my dear friend and predecessor Stephanie Tubbs Jones. A former Chief Prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, Tubbs Jones was the first African-American woman elected to the House of Representatives from the State of Ohio. As a Member of Congress, she fought tirelessly to expand health care coverage, support the re-entry of the formerly incarcerated into their communities and halt predatory lending practices. prgtoken These women have left indelible footprints in the history of America, and exemplify the determination and courage of black women. Notably, they shared another common bond through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. They were trailblazers whose labor too often goes unmentioned, but this month WE CELEBRATE. prgtoken I thank Ida B. Wells, Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, and Stephanie Tubbs Jones for their contributions to our country, and for being inspiring examples for so many, not jus