mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT
Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2018-11-16

given the fact that the Endangered Species Act is under unrelenting attacks by the administration and House s, it should come as no surprise that, after being out of session for more than 6 weeks, the first rules bill to go to the floor is one that continues those attacks on ESA, eliminates judicial review, takes the American people out of the public rulemaking process, and makes it easier to kill wolves. prgtoken However, one must ask my colleagues: Seriously? Do we not have more pressing issues to address? prgtoken Children are still being separated from their families. prgtoken Wildfires are blazing across California. prgtoken There have been 311 mass shootings in our country this year. prgtoken We have more Federal troops on the southern border than we have in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, all patiently sitting around and looking for Poncho Villa's ghost to come around. prgtoken The UN released a climate change report finding that we are in a much more dire state than we thought. In fact, today would have been a great day to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which my colleagues have allowed to expire twice on their watch, a bill with 240 bipartisan cosponsors. Instead, we are talking about killing wolves, a bill introduced in September with three cosponsors. prgtoken In this Congress, s have introduced more than 100 bills, amendments, and policy riders to remove or block ESA protections for individual species or to weaken important provisions of a law that is not only hugely popular with the American people, but also conserves our biodiversity. prgtoken The bill before us today, H.R. 6784, is a piece of legislation we have seen time and time again to undermine wolf populations in the United States, but this would deliver an even more devastating blow to the continued recovery of gray wolves across the lower 48. prgtoken Congress should not be making decisions on which species to list or delist. What we need to be doing is properly funding the Fish and Wildlife Service to implement measures to strengthen ESA and protect species and their habitats from permanent extinction, given the fact that we are facing an ongoing extinction crisis. prgtoken The ESA has a near perfect record of saving imperiled species. Even in the face of massive population growth, haphazard development, and pressure on ocean and coastal resources, over 99 percent of the species receiving protection are still surviving today. prgtoken ESA works, and 90 percent of the American voters would agree with me. prgtoken However, despite its incredible public support and impressive track record, the administration and House s continue to attack this historic environmental law and the species that it protects. These attacks on one of the most successful and popular conservation statutes in the history of the world are old, they are tired, and they are not fooling
MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT
Collin C. Peterson (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-11-16

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in support of the bill. I have to say, in my 28 years in this body, I have never seen so much nonsense, misinformation, and propaganda put out on a bill as is being put out on this one. We followed the Endangered Species Act. We did what was said. The scientists said that we have recovered, and they delisted the wolves. These were scientists who did it; it wasn't any politician. prgtoken The politics on this, you had a group out there, these extreme environmentalists and others who have captured our party, that went to a judge in Washington, D.C who has no idea what is going on at all, and convinced that judge that the wolves had not recovered because they had not been reestablished all the way to Des Moines, Iowa. prgtoken Do you want some wolves in Des Moines, Iowa? I don't think so. There were never any wolves in Des Moines, Iowa, in the first place. prgtoken So we followed the law. The Fish and Wildlife Service is on our side. They delisted these wolves. The DNR in Minnesota was managing the wolves and doing a good job before the court intervened politically. prgtoken I don't agree with the DNR. I have very seldom got along with the DNR in Minnesota. This is one time where they were doing the right thing. They did a good job, and the court stopped them. prgtoken It was politics; it wasn't science. So this nonsense that somehow or another that we are politically doing this is not true. prgtoken We have more wolves in my district than any other district in the United States. We have twice as many wolves as was required to get the wolves delisted. But that wasn't good enough. prgtoken So I say to all you folks who think this is such a great idea: We have a lot of extra wolves. We will send them to your district. We will let them eat some of your fancy little dogs and see how long that will go before your constituents demand that you do something about it. prgtoken My neighbor has had four of his cattle killed in the last 2 years. They killed his German shepherd dog and ripped it apart. prgtoken Are you telling me that this is not a problem? prgtoken When we had the population under control, we didn't have these kinds of problems. So this idea that somehow or another you are on the righteous side of science and all that stuff is complete nonsense. I will have the gentleman come up to my district, and he can see what is going on. prgtoken So we followed the law. We have the Federal agencies that are responsible for this that are on our side. It wasn't us who screwed this up; it was that court in D.C and that judge has no clue about what is going on. prgtoken , I tell Members to support this bill.
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-11-16

I rise this Veterans' Day week to express my gratitude to those who served our country and those who continue to serve. prgtoken Throughout our history, we have asked our brave men and women in uniform to do extraordinary things all over the world. In return, we made a promise to provide them the best benefits, education, and health care possible. prgtoken One of the most important parts of my job is to make sure that veterans in my district get the benefits they've earned. prgtoken I've heard about the months-long delays veterans face in obtaining GI Bill benefits, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to fix the situation. That's because our nation's leaders must honor our veterans, rain or shine. I am happy that we will be joined in the next Congress by a new generation of veterans, including a record number of women veterans. prgtoken I look forward to working with them to fulfill the promise of Veterans' Day this week and all year long.
HONORING THE ANNUAL SAN JOSE VETERANS DAY PARADE
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-16

I rise today along with my colleagues, U.S. House Representatives Anna Eshoo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta, to honor the annual Veterans Day Parade in our community and to take a moment to acknowledge the selfless sacrifices of our veterans, who have fearlessly served our nation at home and abroad. prgtoken This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Armistice. Armistice Day, celebrated each year on November 11, commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany, which took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to end hostilities on the western Front of World War I. Each year, to observe this important Anniversary in our community, the prgtoken United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County helps conduct the Annual San Jose Veterans Day Parade. prgtoken One of the largest parades in California, the San Jose Veterans Day Parade' serves to recognize and celebrate, with gratitude and appreciation, all those who have served and continue to serve with the U.S. Armed Forces. This year's theme of the Parade is, ``A Century of Honoring Those Who Serve.'' Indeed, this occasion provides us with an opportunity to recognize our veterans, who serve to protect our freedom and foster the safety and prosperity that we enjoy as a nation. We gather to acknowledge also the families of all those who serve our nation and express our gratitude to them for their ongoing, steadfast support of our servicemembers. prgtoken , we hereby recognize and commend those members of our U.S. Armed Forces, who have dedicated their lives in service of our country, as well as their families and communities, who have supported their service to our country. During our annual San Jose Veterans Day Parade, our community unites in celebration of all those who dedicate their lives to preserve and protect our way of life and our future.
HONORING EMILY REESE
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2018-11-16

I rise today to honor the memory of Emily Reese, a cherished Nevadan, a loving mother of three, and a fearless healthcare advocate who worked tirelessly to put others before herself. prgtoken Emily devoted her last year of life to fighting for what she believed in: protecting access to quality, affordable healthcare for those who need it most. Her work touched many lives, including my own. prgtoken Emily's compassion and determination knew no boundaries, and it is those qualities that made her a powerful voice in our community. prgtoken As we pay tribute to her life, let us never forget to find strength in her words: live life, love life, and impact others.
INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL POLICE CAMERA AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2018
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2018-11-16

today, I, along with Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr introduce the Federal Police Camera and Accountability Act of 2018. This bill would require uniformed federal law enforcement officers to wear body cameras and marked police vehicles to have dashboard cameras. It would also require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on federal police officers' training, vehicle pursuits, use of force and interaction with citizens. prgtoken On November 17, 2017, Bijan Ghaisar was fatally shot in his car by uniformed U.S. Park Police officers in Fairfax County, Virginia, after a vehicle pursuit on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Video of this shooting only became available through a camera in a Fairfax County Police Department patrol car that was providing backup. Had it not been for that footage, which was recorded and released by that local police department, the public would not have had access to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ghaisar's death. Moreover, the footage revealed concerns about the Park Police's pursuit and engagement policies. prgtoken Body-worn and dashboard cameras for federal law enforcement officers are particularly important for the officers stationed in the nation's capital, where Park Police and the uniformed division of the U.S. Secret Service have full local police powers. Many other federal police also have local police powers near their respective agency buildings in the District. Cameras can increase transparency for individual interactions with police, strengthen public trust and even deter future criminal behavior. For example, when criminals know that they are being recorded by a dashboard camera, they may be less likely to flee the scene of a traffic accident because they realize that their license plate will be documented. Criminals may also be less likely to batter an officer because the recording may be used as evidence. On the other hand, officers will also be less likely to commit offenses for the same reason. Body-worn and dashboard cameras can also be used to train current and future officers more effectively in best and worst practices. prgtoken An increasing number of local law enforcement officers, including those in the District of Columbia, are wearing body cameras and using dashboard cameras. It is clear that both law enforcement and the public would benefit from federal officers following suit to increase transparency and maintain public trust. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP
Gene Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-11-16

I rise today in honor of World Antibiotic Week to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and of ways to reduce and prevent it. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent threats to our nation's public health, as it affects patients, our health care system, and others worldwide. According to the CDC, each year about 2 million people are sickened due to resistant infections and 23,000 lives are lost. While antibiotics are highly effective at treating bacterial infections, overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to resistant strains of bacteria and so-called ``super bugs'' that are hard or impossible to treat and will spread to other people. prgtoken This is why we must protect the integrity of our antibiotic arsenal. One way this is achieved is through effective stewardship. Stewardship is giving the right antibiotic to the right person at the right time. Patients must first be tested to determine if they have a bacterial infection, then determine what type of infection, and lastly, determine the drug that best targets the infection. Without monitoring antibiotic usage, patients can be prescribed unnecessary antibiotics that lead to ineffective treatments. prgtoken Healthcare professionals and hospitals are on the front lines in defending the public against antibiotic resistance, but they cannot do it alone. Effective stewardship programs need the right resources and funds to ensure that patient's bacterial infections are properly prescribed and administered. When done correctly, stewardship programs can reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and reduce incidence of infections. prgtoken , we must come together to address this critical public health concern. As hospitals and healthcare professionals come together to combat antibiotic resistance, we must stand alongside them and encourage the implementation and duration of stewardship programs. Our nation's health depends on it.
MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-11-16

the Endangered Species Act was passed to increase protections for and provide for the recovery of vanishing wildlife. prgtoken Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen countless attacks on the ESA and science-based decisions, and this bill is no exception. This bill would hastily remove Endangered Species Act protections for all gray wolves in the lower 48 States without a rulemaking process or the opportunity for judicial review. prgtoken Although the population of gray wolves has started to recover, it is now only 5 percent of the number that existed historically. Scientists are just beginning to understand the role of gray wolves in the larger ecosystem, and listing and delisting decisions should be based on science, not politics. prgtoken , there are so many more important things we need to be doing today. Today, instead of undermining the Endangered Species Act, we should be reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, passing the Violence Against Women Act, and the list goes on. prgtoken , I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-16

I thank the gentleman from Virginia. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to this bill for a number of reasons, but I would specifically like to address how the bill undermines science. prgtoken Congress enacted the ESA to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats in the U.S. and abroad. Congress also recognized that scientists, not Members of Congress--even me, ones like me with political science degrees--scientists have the necessary expertise to make decisions about species' protection. So the ESA requires that the Fish and Wildlife Service make the decisions regarding species listing and delisting. The law entrusts the Service's scientists to determine what is best for imperiled species, such as the gray wolf, using the best available science. prgtoken The ESA is credited as being one of the most science-based laws on the books, but this bill completely eliminates scientists from the decisionmaking process. It mandates that all gray wolves be removed from the ESA in the lower 48. In doing so, it short-circuits the law's science-based process prgtoken that determines when species have recovered and when protections are appropriately removed. prgtoken Despite years of efforts to ignore the science behind the ESA, we know it has been a huge success. Ninety-nine percent of listed species have continued to survive, and 90 percent are on schedule to meet their recovery goals. So we should be working to make the gray wolf another one of those ESA success stories, not eliminating the protections that have helped put it on a path to recovery. prgtoken When the gray wolf was listed in the early 1970s, there were only a few hundred left in the wild. Since then, scientists have shown that the reintroduction of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies has been a huge ecological and economic success. I was able to see gray wolves in Yellowstone with Mr. Beyer and Mr. DeFazio earlier this year and to see the ecosystem that has rebounded since their reintroduction. prgtoken We are on the right track, but science shows that ESA protection is still needed. Currently, these wolves occupy only 5 percent of their historic range and only 36 percent of their suitable habitat. So while it is encouraging that the wolves are recovering and even coming into California for the first time in 90 years, a handful of these animals hardly shows that it is time for them to be delisted. prgtoken Instead of enacting a new law to eliminate protections, we ought to be working with landowners, local and State agencies, and others to prevent conflicts so that we and wolves can both thrive. prgtoken I would like to point out that if American citizens believe an agency does not follow the letter of the law, under the ESA, they have the right to hold the government accountable in court. It is part of the system of checks and balances that must be protected. prgtoken Politically driven, species-specific legislation li
RESPECT WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-11-16

today the court has affirmed the value of the First Amendment and provided the credentials back to CNN reporter Jim Acosta. prgtoken It is unfortunate that since taking office, the President has treated members of the press differently than did his predecessors. The President constantly disparages the fourth estate as fake news, derides the press as the enemy of the people, and routinely singles out individual members of the press. prgtoken It is fortunate that no injury has yet come, because last month the zealot in Florida, inspired by his devotion to the President, took it upon himself to mail pipe bombs to perceived enemies of the President, including two former Presidents, the news desk of the Cable News Network, Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, and Congresspeople. prgtoken The President seems to reserve his most special and pointed derision for African-American women members of the media. In particular, April Ryan of the American Urban Radio Networks and CNN; Abby Phillip of The Washington Post; and Yamiche Alcindor of the Public Broadcasting System. Instead, the President derided April Ryan as a loser; called Abby Phillip stupid; and accused Yamiche Alcindor of racism when she asked him about his claim to be a nationalist. prgtoken Let us be very clear. The questions asked of the President were pointed, timely, and relevant. They were not dumb, racist, or stupid. prgtoken They were protected by the First Amendment, and I ask the President to stand for the First Amendment and stand against racism. prgtoken Since taking office, the President has treated members of the press differently than did his predecessors. prgtoken The President constantly disparages the Fourth Estate as ``fake news,'' derides the press as the `enemy of the people,' and routinely singles out for verbal abuse individual members of the press. prgtoken Although this conduct by the President is rude, childish, and unbecoming of the leader of a great nation, we are fortunate that it has not yet resulted in physical injury or harm to any member of the press. prgtoken I say fortunate because last month, a zealot in Florida, inspired by his devotion to the President, took it upon himself to mail pipes bombs to perceived enemies of the President, including two former Presidents and the news desk of the Cable News Network (CNN). prgtoken , the current President of the United States has disgraced his office on numerous occasions, most recently this past weekend when he refused to visit a cemetery in France where Americans gave their lives to defend freedom in World War I because he did not want to get wet in the rain. prgtoken But it is beneath the dignity of his office for the President to deride the free and independent press, which the Framers knew was indispensable for a functioning democracy and enshrined its protection in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a protection that every President takes and oath to pr
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF ALAINA HOUSLEY
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-16

I rise to remember Alaina Housley, a wonderful young woman from my district who was murdered in the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. prgtoken Alaina was a bright, dedicated, and inspiring student who was so excited to have voted for the first time this year. She was in her freshman year at Pepperdine and had so much of her life ahead of her. She was deeply loved by family and friends, and her death is a huge loss for our entire community. prgtoken Over the last week, vigils and marches have been held in her honor in her hometown of Napa. She will never be forgotten. prgtoken , I have committed to her parents that I will do everything I can to address violence in our communities. We will honor her senseless death with action. prgtoken May she rest in peace.
HONORING CHARITY DEAN, MD/MPH
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-16

today I rise to celebrate the contributions of Dr. Charity Dean to Santa Barbara County's Public Health Office. prgtoken Following rigorous medical studies and a master's degree in public health and tropical medicine from Tulane University, Dr. Charity Dean began her distinguished career in Santa Barbara practicing internal medicine at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She went on to serve in the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department as Physician Health Officer. She also served as a commissioner at the First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission and as a fellow at the California Health Care Foundation. prgtoken Dr. Dean has been on the front lines of public health, striving to keep our community safe from serious illnesses. She played a crucial role in hospital disaster response in Santa Barbara County, especially after the Thomas Fire and January's mudslide in Montecito. For her dedication to the health and wellbeing of Santa Barbara County, she has been recognized by many organizations, most recently as the Central Coast Medical Association's 2017 Physician of the Year. As a newly appointed Assistant Director at the California Department of Health, she will touch the lives of all Californians. prgtoken , I am honored to congratulate Dr. Dean on her service to Santa Barbara County and her new role at the California Department of Health.