mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Trump-Putin Summit (Executive Calendar)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2018-7-17

I rise to follow my leader and talk about this issue of great importance. prgtoken Let me begin with something I cherish. I have a photo, taken on December 1, 2016, of one of my children in snowy fields in Lithuania in a U.S. military operation with NATO troops called Operation Iron Sword. The photo is of my son taking the oath of office to become a captain in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed with 1,200 members of his battalion on the border of Russia between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, to protect America against a nation that General Joe Dunford, the head of our Joint Chiefs of Staff, describes as our principal adversary. These 1,200 young men and women were deployed far from home, working together with a nation on the Russian border to protect them and to protect our country. prgtoken My son was not alone with the Marines; there were also troops from many NATO nations and Lithuania and troops from other service branches of the United States. I hope you will forgive me for being a little bit Marine-centric. prgtoken The Marine motto ``Semper Fidelis'' means ``always faithful,'' but I think that motto applies not just to marines but to all who wear the uniform in the United States, certainly those helping the European allies counter Russian aggression and those 1.3 million people on Active Duty today--``always faithful.'' prgtoken After the last week, a very profound question has been raised. While our troops can carry that and meet that ``always faithful'' standard, I think we have some significant questions about this President. Would he meet the same standard--``Semper Fidelis,'' ``always faithful''? Would he meet it for this country? Will the Senate meet the ``always faithful'' standard? prgtoken In the President's first year and a half in office, exercising the responsibility to be a Commander in Chief, I would say he has been a bit more of a ``disruptor in chief.'' We have had Presidents of both parties since the beginning of the 20th century--Presidents Wilson, FDR, President Truman, President Reagan, other Presidents of both parties--who always tried to be Commanders in Chief, who tried to be builders of security, builders of alliances. That is not the path the current President has taken. He has tried to be more of a disruptor. prgtoken He has pulled America out of a diplomatic deal with Iran that allied nations in the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was complying with. I am not aware of the United States ever unilaterally backing out of a deal when there was a consensus that the other nations were complying with it. prgtoken He has pulled us out of a climate accord that we reached with other nations in Paris. prgtoken He has unilaterally decided that the United States would be the only holdout nation not participating in a U.N. global compact on migration to try to deal with the problem of migrants around the world. prgtoken He has loved to name-call our a
JOBS AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE ACT OF 2018
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-7-17

I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan package brought to the floor today under the leadership of Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters. prgtoken It is not every day the American people get to see bipartisanship in action, so it is important for Members today to highlight it when it does occur because it really should be the rule of the people's House, not the exception. prgtoken Technology and finance evolves by the hour in today's world, and this bipartisan package will update our laws to better adapt to that reality while also encouraging the American entrepreneur to innovate and solve the problems of tomorrow. prgtoken As a businesswoman, I understand that this package will help create the businesses of tomorrow and at the same time enhance transparency in today's public markets while simultaneously combating the scourge of human trafficking. prgtoken I am proud to have worked with my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Mr. Royce, to include language in this bill that requires the administration to more closely examine and create solutions for Congress to consider how human traffickers use emerging technologies and virtual currencies to launder money through the global banking system in hope of slowing the fastest growing crime in the world. prgtoken My home State of Ohio ranks fourth in the country for human trafficking cases according to our State Attorney General's office. prgtoken , I thank our ranking member again for allowing me the opportunity to push my bill. Working together is the only way we can end this inhumane practice.
Trump-Putin Summit (Executive Calendar)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2018-7-17

as my colleagues and the Presiding Officer may know, I spent many years of my life in the Navy. I spent some 23 years, starting at the age of 21, on Active and Reserve Duty in the U.S. Navy as a naval flight officer, and I spent most of those 23 years as a P-3 aircraft mission commander. I was even, for a limited period of time, the air intelligence officer for my P-3 squadron when we were deployed in Southeast Asia. prgtoken I flew hundreds of missions during both the Vietnam war and the Cold War, conducting surveillance operations, gathering intelligence on the Soviets and on others who undermine and destroy the American way of life. prgtoken As a Cold War warrior, watching an American President yesterday blatantly ignore attacks on a democracy and our intelligence agencies was beyond galling. It was reprehensible--reprehensible. prgtoken Four days ago, Special Counsel Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for interfering in our democratic elections in 2016. That same day, last Friday--Friday the 13th--the Director of National Intelligence, our old colleague, Dan Coats from Indiana, said that our country's digital infrastructure is literally under attack. Here is what he said: The warning signs are there. The system is blinking. It is why I believe we are at a critical point. prgtoken That was on Friday the 13th. prgtoken Yesterday, our President, with the entire world watching, chose to attack not the Soviets, not the Russians, but Bob Mueller. He is one of the finest people I have ever known and worked with. He attacked Bob Mueller and rebuked the U.S. intelligence community--with whom I have worked as a member of the Homeland Security committee for any number of years, as has our Presiding Officer--instead of siding with the 17 U.S. intelligence agencies, all of whom agreed unanimously, without dissent, that the Soviets, the Russians, intervened in our election in 2016 in an effort to throw the election to and to take it away from Hillary Clinton, the ic nominee. There is no question that is what they did. prgtoken Our President chose to ignore that, and instead of admiring and speaking to the work of the intelligence agencies and concurring with them yesterday, he decided to side with an authoritarian thug, Vladimir Putin. That was a defining moment in our Nation's history. prgtoken I think it is a sad moment in our Nation's history. We ought to move immediately to pass bipartisan legislation, introduced in the Senate earlier this year, to allow Bob Mueller's critical work and that of the people working with him to be completed without the constant threat of political interference.
CONGRATULATING THE Y QUAD CITIES ROWING PROGRAM'S JUNIOR WOMEN'S CREW FOR WINNING THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CHALLENGE CUP
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-17

I rise today to congratulate the Y Quad Cities Rowing program's junior women's crew for winning the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. This is a first for the rowers, who are based out of the Sylvan Boat House in Moline, Illinois. prgtoken Coached by Dr. Peter Sharis and Assistant Coach Jamie Whalen, scullers Caroline Sharis, Delaney Evans, Emma Mask and Taylor English set a new course record at the prestigious regatta on the Thames River, becoming one of only two American crews to win at Henley this year and the first overseas crew ever to win the Diamond Jubilee Challenge cup. This impressive victory followed the team's win at the USRowing Youth National Championships in June. prgtoken , I would like to again formally congratulate the Y Quad Cities rowers on their title, and I join the rest of the community in wishing them every success in the future.
HONORING HELEN BLANK
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-7-17

I rise today to recognize Ms. Helen Blank of the Women's Law Center for her lifelong advocacy on behalf of children and families. On July 19th, the Coalition on Human Needs will honor Ms. Blank as a Special Human Needs Hero. Each year, the coalition honors heroes who fight effectively to meet the needs of low income and vulnerable people. prgtoken For decades, Helen has been a true champion for families needing high quality and affordable care for their children. Before joining the National Women's Law Center, Helen served for 24 years as the director of the Child Care and Development Division at the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). prgtoken I first met Helen when she worked at CDF, and I was Chief of Staff for Senator Chris Dodd. We were partners in highlighting early childhood development before the passage of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)--one of Helen's great achievements. Rarely does an advocate have such influence on the passage of a law, and this is no small or inconsequential law. prgtoken Since its enactment in 1990, the CCDBG has served millions of children and families, ensuring that all children can access affordable and enriching early learning experiences during their critical years of development. Perhaps no one has been as dedicated to its success as Helen Blank. She was there to see its funding double at the end of the Clinton Administration, and again to see it receive a huge infusion of resources in the Recovery Act of 2009 during the Great Recession. Most recently, her single focus on the critical nature of funding for CCDBG paid off again as earlier this year the budget agreement included historic investments in child care. prgtoken She has built successful campaigns that have brought attention to the importance of early care and education for the development of healthy children. At times, it was an uphill battle to keep the issue front and center. During the second Administration, when they proposed to make Head Start funding dependent on standardized testing, similar to the No Child Left Behind Act, Helen was there along with her powerful coalition to help us fight back. prgtoken Through her work, Helen has garnered a reputation as a steadfast and principled defender of the needs of children and their families. Her work has shined a light on the importance of early childhood education, provided guidance on successfully implementing legislation and funding in the best interests of children, and inspired hundreds of advocates who continue to champion the needs of our youngest. It is my honor and privilege today to recognize Helen Blank for her decades of hard work and dedication to the health and well-being of our children.
TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-17

. It is still difficult to comprehend what transpired yesterday in Helsinki. Because of his actions, it was one of the worst days for any President of the United States in recent memory. On foreign soil, President said the United States was to blame for the state of the relationship between Russia and America. prgtoken He trashed American intelligence and took the word of the KGB over the word of the men and women of the CIA. Can you believe it? Can you believe it? He said Russia's intelligence agency, which murders, steals, lies, and cheats, is better than ours. There is no rational explanation for an American President to do such a thing. It was the act of a man who seems incapable of distinguishing between his own narrow personal interests and the interests of America's national security. prgtoken Can you imagine if President Kennedy believed Khrushchev when he said there were no missiles in Cuba? Can you imagine if President Reagan believed Gorbachev without verifying that the Soviet Union would reduce its missile stockpile? We would be living in a much different world than we are today. Thank God President Kennedy and President Reagan showed strength in the face of tyrants--but President shows abject weakness and sycophancy. prgtoken Let me explain to the President why he is being so strongly criticized when he embraced Putin's strong and powerful denial. The reason, President , that you are being so criticized when you accept Putin's word is, Putin is a trained liar. He lies brazenly, shamelessly, and repeatedly about big things and small. prgtoken Putin lied about the presence of Russian troops in Crimea. He lied about the Malaysian airplane being shot down by a Russian rocket. He lied about Russian athletes doping at the Olympics. He lied about Russian behavior in eastern Ukraine. He lied about Assad's use of chemical weapons. He lied about interference in the Brexit vote. Just last week, he lied about the Kremlin's involvement in a recent nerve agent attack in the United Kingdom. prgtoken Yet when President Putin gives President a ``strong and powerful denial'' that he didn't meddle in our elections, President immediately accepts Putin's word over the considered judgment of America's dedicated intelligence professionals. It is almost as if is embracing Putin's needs. I am ashamed of it, and every American should be. No previous President would be that naive or that weak. No serious leader would allow themselves to be taken in so easily. prgtoken The only person with cause to celebrate is Vladimir Putin. Putin got to stand on the stage with an American President who refused to hold him accountable for anything. He watched President careen through Europe, carrying out Putin's dream agenda--torching old alliances, interfering in the domestic affairs of the United Kingdom, weakening NATO and American power in the region. Putin skated through a bilateral summ
Trump-Putin Summit (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-7-17

just yesterday the world watched as President , standing in front of the American flag, side by side with Vladimir Putin, not only betrayed the dedication of the men and women of the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities but then showered praise upon the Russian President--the man who directed the interference of our elections. prgtoken This prompted outcry from Members on both sides of the aisle, as it should. I read statements from my colleagues that were very strong in condemning President for putting Russia ahead of the United States, using terms like ``shameful'' and ``disgraceful,'' and not just from s who bravely stood up to this President before. I heard from Members of Congress and even from some FOX News contributors, unable to twist themselves into defending this President at this moment, as he so clearly undercut our own country. I am glad they spoke up because words matter. prgtoken But do you know what also matters? Action. So now, I ask: What will congressional s do about it? Many Members of Congress are acting as if they just have a Twitter feed, as if they aren't the party in control of the Senate and the House, as if they don't have the ability to actually make a difference and demand change. That is absurd. prgtoken The time for handwringing and hoping the problem goes away is over. With the power to call up legislation and hold hearings, leaders do have options, and they certainly have a whole lot of who stand ready and willing to help. prgtoken It is truly horrifying and deeply alarming that President failed to use that moment to push President Putin to end his attacks on our country and our elections, and he failed to condemn the Kremlin's interference in the elections of our allies; or Putin's support of the brutal Assad regime and connections to chemical weapons attacks by the Syrian Government; or the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula; or the 2014 downing of MH17 over Ukraine, where 295 people were killed; or the murder of journalists and opposition politicians; or the use of chemical weapons; or the undemocratic authoritarian and oppressive rule of the Putin regime and how it actively works against our American principles. prgtoken Instead of standing up for our values and our national security, our President defended Putin on all fronts. Instead of putting America first, he performed Putin's bidding by attacking our closest allies and trying to dismantle NATO. prgtoken Today, I know President tried desperately to backtrack, but we know where he stands, and we all heard what he said on the world stage just yesterday. It is appalling, inexcusable, and unworthy of the President. prgtoken So my message to every Member of the Senate and to every Member of the other body is clear. It is time to strengthen the sanctions against Russia for its aggression around the world and
TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-17

I am at a loss for words to describe what happened yesterday in Helsinki, Finland. I am disappointed, as well, by the stunning silence of some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in response to it. prgtoken When each of us is elected to serve in Congress--the House and the Senate--we are asked to take an oath, a very serious oath. In it, we swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The President of the United States similarly swears to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. prgtoken Yesterday in Helsinki, Finland, the President of the United States was engaged in an appalling display. What we saw at that press conference--standing just several feet away from Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia--was the President's decision to turn his back on the organizations and agencies of the U.S. Government, to question their credibility, and to affirm, incredibly, that Mr. Putin had given a powerful denial to what they have found when it comes to the Russian interference in our last election. prgtoken Just days after bullying our key NATO allies and failing to publicly accept that Russia attacked our country, attacked our democracy, this administration and its enablers here in Congress are failing that oath. prgtoken President refuses to accept the findings of American intelligence professionals, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and virtually every agency of our government that is tasked with keeping us safe and instead accepts Vladimir Putin's absurd, self- serving denials. Many of my colleagues here in Congress refuse to even speak up to denounce the President's actions. prgtoken Consider what happened months before the 2016 election when our Nation's top intelligence officials came and told key congressional leaders about the Russian cyber attack on the United States. The administration at that time, under President , was deeply concerned. President was looking for a bipartisan response condemning Putin's efforts in the closing days of the elections so as to avoid any hint of partisanship in the public announcement and to present a unified deterrent. prgtoken What was the response of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after hearing this alarming revelation that Vladimir Putin was actively interfering in our elections and trying to undermine our democracy? Senator McConnell's response: No thanks. We are not going to help. And incredibly, neither the Senator nor his party did. prgtoken Is there anyone in the Senate--anyone who took the oath to protect our Nation against enemies, foreign and domestic--who thinks any of us, regardless of political party, should receive help from a foreign adversary to get elected? I hope we all agree that country must come before party. So then why do so many of my colleagues remain silent in light of President 's o
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-7-17

I rise to offer my amendment to restore funding for the southern New England estuaries program. prgtoken I plan to offer and withdraw this amendment in hopes that we can continue this discussion and work out a solution that will continue support for this program that is deeply meaningful to our region. prgtoken I am honored to be joined in this amendment by Congressmen Cicilline, Keating, and Kennedy, all of whom know how important this EPA funding is to Rhode Island and Massachusetts. prgtoken , estuaries support life. They are the fragile but vital ecosystems where saltwater and freshwater mix together, and they support a robust number of species. In Rhode Island, these coastal and tidal areas provide environmental balance, but they are increasingly threatened by human activity. We need to continue to support their restoration, less they regress and become permanently damaged. prgtoken Over the past several years, we have seen the success of EPA's southern New England program. With projects since fiscal year 2014, these funds have helped protect and restore watersheds in the Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope Bay, and Buzzards Bay. They have supported coastal areas in South County, Rhode Island, and along Cape Cod and the islands. prgtoken The EPA's geographic programs have worked in other parts of the country as well, from the Puget Sound to the Chesapeake Bay, and they are working in New England. prgtoken , as I have said in the past, our estuaries are the lungs of our coastal areas. These EPA funds continue to help our New England estuaries recover and to thrive. prgtoken While I plan to withdraw this amendment, I hope that Chairman Calvert and I can work together to preserve this needed program.
JOBS AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE ACT OF 2018
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-7-17

I have no further requests for time, and the remainder of my time to close. prgtoken I once again thank my colleagues for their outstanding bipartisan work on this carefully crafted bipartisan legislation. S. 488, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018, is an example of Members on both sides of the aisle working together to support our Nation's small businesses and investors. prgtoken S. 488 facilitates access to capital for small businesses, increases protections for consumers and investors, fights the scourge of drug and human trafficking, and promotes financial stability. prgtoken S. 488 is supported by institutional investors, angel investors, venture capitalists, biotech companies, credit unions, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and exchanges. This bill will help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and investors to thrive in our economy. prgtoken Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Hensarling for his foresight in knowing that this was possible because both sides of the aisle really support small businesses. It was Mr. Hensarling who said: Given that we do both support small businesses, why can't we come together around a package where we have already shown our support on individual bills either in committee or on the floor and put it all together? prgtoken He did that. He provided that leadership. I joined with him. prgtoken Our staffs are to be congratulated because they worked very hard on both sides of the aisle to work out any concerns that we may have, any differences that we may have. They did a magnificent job, and they are responsible for helping us to understand what certainly is and was possible. prgtoken So despite this, if I may say, there are many onlookers who never thought this could happen. There are many pundits, those who come from special interests, those who come from right here in the House on both sides of the aisle, who are still questioning.