mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-12-13

I am willing to wager that the term ``net neutrality'' has no meaning to many Americans. It is a term that refers to a practice and a set of rules that are likely a total mystery to the vast majority of the people who are affected by them. As often happens in Washington, DC, the terms of art are highly technical and obtuse and obscure, but the effects of these rules matter to almost every American, openly, and they will be of increasing importance to Americans if the current net neutrality rules are reversed tomorrow. prgtoken That is why I am here. The Federal Communications Commission, under the leadership of its new Chairman, Ajit Pai, has a reckless and needless plan to repeal those rules that are vital to a level playing field and fair access to consumers of the internet content that they value and need. To put it very simply, Chairman Pai's plan would disastrously disadvantage small businesses. It would harm our economy. It would threaten the internet's incredible success, including innovation. It would harm consumers by giving them higher prices and possibly lower speeds in accessing what they want from the internet. prgtoken The background here is pretty simple. In 2015, the FCC adopted its open internet order to preserve the open nature of the internet. The internet has thrived on its openness. That is, in a sense, its spirit and its great advantage. It is uniquely American in that way--open and accessible. prgtoken The order created three very bright line rules: no blocking, no throttling, no paid prioritization. Nobody could stop access or block it. Nobody could diminish the availability--no throttling and no paid authorization. That is to say that nobody is to get a benefit from faster speeds simply because he is paying more. Those rules really put the internet at stake--the vitality and innovative energy is at stake here. prgtoken Blocked sites, slower speeds, fast lanes and slow lanes, and more fees will prgtoken be our future on the internet if these rules are revoked, as Chairman Pai says they will be tomorrow. Some of today's internet service providers will benefit. They already have clear conflicts of interest. They own content companies. They want their customers to spend more time on their content. Comcast, for example, owns the media giant NBCUniversal. Verizon owns Yahoo and AOL. prgtoken We are having a hearing this afternoon that involves Comcast and NBCUniversal, and I am deeply troubled by the expiration of the conditions that have been put on the merger. Those conditions help to protect competition and consumers. They have a questionable effect in that purpose, but even the modest comfort or protection they provide will completely evaporate as the conditions expire. So I will ask today that there be an investigation by the Department of Justice to sustain and continue those conditions and ask that the court that approved them actually extend them to meet the needs of
Net Neutrality (Executive Session)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-12-13

from Minnesota for being such a champion on this issue, and many others, where it is a question of whether we have government of and by the powerful or government by and for the people of the United States of America. We have seen issue after issue after issue this year on healthcare, on taxes, and now on net neutrality, and from Minnesota for his advocacy. prgtoken , last night we had an election. I have heard many of my colleagues on the side say that elections have consequences. Now, however, we see that they are attempting to deliberately slow down the opportunity for the newly elected Senator from Alabama to come here and serve in the U.S. Senate. They took quite a different view when the question was a special election in Massachusetts, when a Senator was elected to take the seat once held by Ted Kennedy. The concurred and the President of the United States, President , concurred that he should be seated; that nothing should be jammed through in a fashion that tried to bypass the weight and opinion of the people of the State of Massachusetts in who would represent them. But this Chamber seems ready, under this majority leadership, to absolutely try to trample the people of Alabama, who said where they stand last night. This Chamber wants to deny them that voice here on the floor of the Senate. prgtoken Back a few years ago, in June of 2013, there was a House election in Missouri, and a was elected to that empty seat. Jason Kander, the ic secretary of state in Missouri, said that he should absolutely be seated in Missouri's Eighth District. Jason Smith, the candidate chosen by Missouri, was seated in the House of Representatives, I believe within 18 hours--within 18 hours--so the people of Missouri could have fair representation. So ic Senators and a ic President and a ic secretary of state in a Southern State said to honor the people of the United States. I call upon the majority leader to defend the people of Alabama and seat their Senator and do it under the same 18-hour standard. prgtoken We are here today to talk about another example of the powerful versus the people. We have seen time and time again, over the course of the last few months, the President of the United States standing up for the powerful and trying to crush the people of the United States, trying to rip healthcare from 30 million Americans in order to give special benefits to the richest Americans. We have seen the President of the United States sign in the Oval Office a measure that would enable a powerful company, when in a dispute with a consumer, to choose the judge, to pay the judge, to promise a judge future business. What kind of fairness is that for an ordinary American up against a powerful company, where the powerful company gets to choose a judge? Yet my col
DACA
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-12-13

from Illinois for all the work he does on behalf of Dreamers throughout the country. His leadership in this effort is absolutely inspiring. prgtoken I am here to speak out in favor of passing a clean Dream Act to create a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants who enrich our country and strengthen our economy and national security. The passage of the Dream Act is critical to the thousands of Dreamers living in Illinois. prgtoken I want to share one young woman's story. This is Christian Villalobos. Christian traveled from Mexico with her mother and younger sister because her mother was fleeing an abusive marriage. At only 6 years old, Christian was brought to the United States not knowing a word of English. She needed to adapt quickly to her new home. prgtoken Christian worked hard in school to learn English and made great efforts to excel in all of her academic subjects. Then, when she was in the third grade, she was diagnosed with a learning disability, which might have caused her to become frustrated and to see a decline in her grades. However, in her own words, she said: I didn't let that get in the way and I did not let bad influences in my neighborhood get to me. There, in the back of my head, there was always a little voice saying, ``Education is the way to a better life.'' prgtoken Christian pushed through and finished middle school and high school as an honor student and, despite her constant hard work and proven academic record, she faced an unexpected obstacle--adults in her life who doubted her ability to attain a college education. As she tells it, many adults in her life simply assumed that an undocumented student like Christian could not obtain a college education. While these doubts broke her heart, she was not deterred. prgtoken Christian's hard work, grit, and academic merit all earned her admission to Northern Illinois University where she received a private scholarship. She also worked multiple retail jobs selling flowers, shoes, and clothing to fund her education. Although her future was uncertain, Christian never let up on her academics or her many work responsibilities to put herself through school. prgtoken Finally, in the last few years of her college education, she received some relief with the implementation of the DACA Program. In 2015, she became the first person in her family to graduate with a bachelor's degree. prgtoken She had a job offer right after graduation which, as anyone can tell you, is not an easy feat. Although her DACA work permit expired that summer, when she had intended to start working full-time, her company was so invested in having her come on board that they worked with Christian to ensure that her DACA work permit was renewed. Their investment was worthwhile. Within the first 2 years at her company, Christian reached No. 1 in sales nationwide. She is now a branch manager of her company and consist
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-12-13

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I include in the Record the bill summary from the majority on the Rules Committee for H.R. 4015. Committee on Rules Pete Sessions, Chairman--December 11, 2017 prgtoken H.R. 4015--Corporate Governance Reform and Transparency Act of 2017 Purpose: To improve the quality of proxy advisory firms for the protection of investors and the U.S. economy, and in the public interest, by fostering accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and competition in the proxy advisory firm industry. Background and Legislative History: Each year, public companies hold shareholder meetings at which the company's shareholders vote for the company's directors and on other significant corporate actions that require shareholder approval. As part of this annual process, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires public companies to provide their shareholders with a proxy statement before shareholder meetings. A proxy statement includes all important facts about the matters to be voted on at a shareholder meeting, including, for example, information on board of director candidates, director compensation, executive compensation, related party transactions, securities ownership by certain beneficial owners and management, and eligible shareholder proposals. The information contained in the statement must be filed with the SEC before soliciting a shareholder vote on the election of directors and the approval of other corporate actions. Solicitations, whether by management or shareholders, must disclose all important facts about the issues on which shareholders are asked to vote. In general, state corporate law governs shareholder voting rights, including the types of corporate actions that require shareholder approval. However, Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) authorizes the SEC to promulgate rules governing the solicitation of proxies for most public companies. SEC Regulation 14A governs proxy solicitations and sets forth the categories of information that must be disclosed in proxy solicitations. Largely as a result of the SEC's regulations, proxy advisory firms now wield outsized influence in the U.S. proxy system. In particular, regulators, market participants, and academic observers have highlighted potential conflicts of interest inherent in the business models and activities of proxy advisory firms. For example, as indicated above, proxy advisor firms may feel pressured by their largest clients-- many of whom are activist investors--to issue vote recommendations that reflect those clients' specific agendas. In addition, proxy advisory firms often provide vo
DACA
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-12-13

I rise to join my colleagues in expressing my support for taking action on the Dream Act, as well as to express my continued opposition to the administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. prgtoken Senator Durbin for organizing today's remarks, as well as for his years of leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of the Dreamers, along with Senator Graham, who is leading this very important bill with Senator Durbin. prgtoken It is critically important that the Senate pass the Dream Act and not wait any longer to take action. There are 22,000 eligible DACA recipients who did not meet the administration's deadline to renew their statuses, and as a result, about 122 Dreamers are now losing their DACA statuses every day. That is more than 11,000 who have already lost their statuses as of today, and that number will continue to increase every single day that we fail to act. This is nothing on which we can wait--wait a week, wait 1 month, wait 2 months. Every single day, it affects more people. So, while some have suggested that we wait until March to fix this issue, the reality is that the Senate needs to take action now. prgtoken Since it was first established in 2012, DACA has helped nearly 800,000 young people who have lived since childhood in the United States to better contribute to their families and communities, including more than 6,000 who are in my State. I recently met with the archbishop of the Twin Cities, along with some of these Dreamers, and we talked about how important this was to the fabric of life in our prgtoken community, to our economy in Minnesota--where we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country--to the Dreamers, and to their communities, themselves. prgtoken The Dreamers were brought to our country as children, and they know only one home. That is the United States of America. The average Dreamer has called this country home since he was about 6\1/2\ years old. That is the average. Dreamers serve in our military; they pay taxes; and they contribute to communities across our country. More than 97 percent of Dreamers are now in school or in the workforce--97 percent--and all DACA recipients are required to meet the program's education requirements. In fact, 72 percent of all DACA recipients who are currently in school are pursuing bachelor's degrees or higher. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, more than 100 students with DACA status applied to medical school last year. This is at a time when we have a shortage of doctors in my State, particularly in the rural areas. prgtoken The administration's decision to end DACA has created tremendous uncertainty and the risk of deportation for the Dreamers who work and study in the States across our Nation. It, simply, doesn't make economic sense. One recent study estimated that ending this policy would cost the country over $400 billion over t
TRIBUTE TO AUTUMN JENSEN
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-12-13

I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Autumn Jensen for her hard work as an intern in my Cheyenne office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. prgtoken Autumn is a native of Lander. She is a sophomore at the University of Wyoming, studying political science and statistics. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The prgtoken quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. prgtoken I want to thank Autumn for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.
Remembering Captain Thomas J. Hudner and Colonel Wesley L. Fox (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-12-13

a month ago, we lost another Medal of Honor recipient, CAPT Thomas J. Hudner, who died at the ripe old age of 93. Not long after, we lost a second one, Col. Wesley L. Fox, who died at the distinguished age of 86. These are two different men who led two different lives, each equally deserving of praise and honor. Still, I can't help but wonder if there is a reason their deaths came so suddenly and close together. It is almost as if our Lord took them in one fell swoop so the greater loss would inspire greater gratitude for their sacrifice. prgtoken What Captain Hudner of the U.S. Navy did to earn his medal is remarkable for the simple fact that he could have been court-martialed for doing it. It was December 1950 in Korea. Just days before, the Chinese People's Liberation Army had crossed the Yalu River and thrown back U.S. forces on the cusp of victory. Then-Lieutenant Hudner was a naval aviator flying one of six Navy Corsairs near the Chosin Reservoir, 5 miles behind enemy lines, when he saw his squadron mate, ENS Jesse L. Brown, get hit by enemy fire and crash-land on a snowy mountainside. prgtoken What Lieutenant Hudner probably should have done is stick to the plan. What he did instead was an act of pure bravery. He intentionally crash-landed his plane not far from Ensign Brown's, tried to rescue him from the burning wreckage--all in subzero temperatures--but Ensign Brown was trapped. His knee was crushed between the fuselage and the control panel. When help arrived, their hatchet couldn't hack through the plane's metal, and no one could get close enough to amputate his leg. They had to leave him behind. Ensign Brown's last words were: ``Tell Daisy I love her.'' prgtoken It might be appropriate to note here that Ensign Brown was Black and Lieutenant Hudner was White, but I mention it almost as an afterthought because to the two of them, that is just what it was--a postscript, an addendum, a mere detail. They were comrades in arms, wearing the red, white, and blue, not seeing the color of each other's skin. The only color that mattered to them, and that they shared in common, besides the color of our flag, was the navy blue of their uniform. Just 2 years after Harry Truman had integrated the Armed Forces, Lieutenant Hudner and Ensign Brown's friendship was a symbol of America's promise. He went on to have a successful career, but for giving us a moral example from that day, we should all be thankful. prgtoken Colonel Fox, meanwhile, was a legend in the Marine Corps. He served for 43 years, leaving only when forced to by mandatory retirement at the age of 62. In that time, he held every enlisted rank except sergeant major and every officer rank except for general. He once admitted: My first four years as a Marine I didn't own one stitch of civilian clothes--everything I did was in a Marine uniform. I'd go home on leave, working in the hay fields or whatever, I wore
RECOGNIZING NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S NEW OUTPATIENT CENTER IN PINECREST
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-12-13

I rise today to recognize Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami on the opening of its new Sports Health and Urgent Care Center. prgtoken With this new center, Nicklaus continues its proud tradition as one of the leading pediatric institutions in the Nation. Located in my congressional district, just down the street from my home in Pinecrest, this center will provide injury prevention and performance training programs, as well as rapid care, to our young athletes through the cutting-edge therapy services found at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. It will also serve as a resource to families to take their young children, sadly, in times of medical emergencies. prgtoken For decades, Nicklaus Children's Hospital has inspired hope and promoted lifelong health in south Florida by providing the best care to kids in our community. It prides itself in bettering south Florida one patient at a time. prgtoken So I invite everyone to come out and meet the staff of the new Nicklaus Sports Health and Urgent Care Center this Friday, December 15, at the Suniland Shopping Center in Pinecrest from 9 to 11 a.m.
IRANIAN LEADERSHIP ASSET TRANSPARENCY ACT
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-12-13

I just have to say, I am in shock. I am listening to the kind of thinking that, if it had caught on in the eighties, may have allowed the Cold War to continue. prgtoken When I enlisted in the Army, I was privileged to serve in Germany, wear our country's uniform, and see the fruit of generations of work. I also saw the concern that Germans had that Ronald Reagan was going to cause World War III and that actual leadership was somehow a problem. prgtoken Instead what we saw was that Mr. Gorbachev didn't tear down the wall. The United States of America didn't tear down the wall. The East German people tore down their own wall. prgtoken And why did they do that? prgtoken They did that because they knew the truth of what was on the other side. prgtoken Mr. Poliquin's bill is a major effort to try to help the people of Iran get their country back. They are under a strong authoritarian leadership system that has oppressed their people and caused harm throughout the region and, in fact, throughout the planet. prgtoken Meanwhile, I am so thankful that this is a bipartisan bill. The Members opposed to this would have asked more public disclosure of public company CEOs than they would of enemies of our country, and that is hard to understand. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I was sent here to represent the people of the Eighth District of Ohio and to support and defend the United States of America. I don't think there is anyone who has sworn an oath to support and defend 80 leaders in Iran. prgtoken This bill does not violate the JCPOA. It doesn't touch it. It simply says we are going to gather this information. prgtoken As far as diverting resources, this is the leading state sponsor of terror. It is precisely focused on the problem, and it gives the people of Iran a chance for freedom that so many people of the world enjoy. prgtoken I am thankful that we have the opportunity to try to make this difference. I encourage every Member of the House to vote for it, and those who thought they were opposed, to reconsider a rational, measured action to try to change the world for good.