mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMENDING THE NORTHWEST INDIANA BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-5-16

it is with great respect and admiration that I rise to commend numerous exceptional leaders from Indiana who were honored as the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2017. While there were many nominees, this year's inductees include Joseph Mansueto, Raymundo Garcia, Karen Maravilla, Craig Dwight, Robert Johnson, Fair Oaks Farms, and Don Babcock. For their many contributions to the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond, these honorees were recognized at the 10th Annual Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana. Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University and former Governor of Indiana, was the keynote speaker for the event. Joe Mansueto is the founder and Executive Chairman of Morningstar Incorporated. Morningstar was initially created to educate individual investors, but it quickly became an asset to financial advisors and institutions. Under Joe's leadership, the company has become a global organization, managing 1.2 million retirement assets and advising up to 10.9 million individual investors, 300,000 plan sponsors, 250,000 investment advisors and more than 1,300 institutions. Morningstar secures $800 million in annual revenue, does business with 27 companies globally, and employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Raymundo Garcia and Karen Maravilla are the owners and operators of El Taco Real restaurant in Hammond, Indiana. In addition, Karen owns and operates Its Just Serendipity, a vintage shop in downtown Hammond. Throughout their twenty-one years together, Karen and Raymundo have shared a passion for entrepreneurship as well as a philanthropic spirit. The community of Hammond is very important to them, and they have worked hard to help revitalize parts of the city over the years. Their next project includes the purchase of three large properties in downtown Hammond that they will renovate and repurpose. Craig Dwight is the Horizon Bancorp Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under Craig's leadership, Horizon's total assets increased from $360 million to $3.1 billion in 2016. In addition, Horizon currently includes 59 branches and is one of the top largest banks in the state of Indiana, while ranking as the 342nd largest bank in the United States. Mr. Dwight's charitable efforts are to be admired and commended. Craig continues to give back to the community and has chaired numerous fundraising campaigns for many organizations, including the United Way of LaPorte County, the Martin Luther King Center, the Michigan City Education Fund, and the YMCA, to name a few. Robert Johnson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cimcor, which is based in Merrillville, Indiana. Cimcor is a global cybersecurity company that acts to keep information and servers protected and secure. Due to his hard work, strong leadership, and innovative mind, Robert Johnson has made Cimcor immensely successful. Customers includ
IN TRIBUTE TO TOM HLAVACEK
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to recognize Tom Hlavacek who has served as the Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin since 2005. He is retiring on June 30, 2017. prgtoken As Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin he has supervised a staff of 29 who provided over 37,000 points of service per year in the chapter's eleven county region service area. Mr. Hlavacek convened and chaired the Alzheimer's Challenging Behaviors Task Force which produced two reports, ``Handcuffed'' and ``We All Hold the Keys''. The reports led to his testimony before U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Mr. Hlavacek has also been very involved in Wisconsin and proposed legislation to assist those receiving long term care services. prgtoken Mr. Hlavacek holds a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. He is a past recipient of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Public Policy Fellowship and served in Washington, D.C. as a Disability Fellow in the United States Senate in the Office of former Senator Harkin--Iowa. prgtoken Prior to his service with the Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Mr. Hlavacek directed the Milwaukee Office of Disability Rights Wisconsin which is the statewide protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. He also served as the Advocacy Director at United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin. prgtoken He has advocated tirelessly on behalf of the disability and aging communities for nearly 40 years. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with Tom over the years, whether it was on housing for those with disabilities or funding for Alzheimer's and other long term care services, he provided invaluable information and counsel. I am so sorry I am unable to join him, his family, friends and colleagues at his retirement celebration on June 14, 2017. However, I wish him much success as he transitions into a different phase of his life. prgtoken , I am proud to honor Tom Hlavacek and I am proud to call him a friend of the long term care community. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of his ability and dedicated service working on their behalf for so many years. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Tom Hlavacek.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-5-16

as we know here in Washington, politics is a battlefield as much as it is a debating society. On this battlefield, a new form of political weapon has emerged, one for which the American political system was not well prepared. As , I can say from our side, we were virtually blind to this weapon in the last election. For my 167th ``Time to Wake Up'' speech, I am here to discuss this new political weapon: systematic fake news. prgtoken Fake news does not just fall like rain from heaven. In its most dangerous form, fake news is weaponized for effect--usually, political effect. prgtoken Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia made weaponized fake news a core element of its political manipulation throughout the former Soviet Union and the modern European Union, revving up public ire over rapes that never happened, for instance; planting fake material in politicians' laptops and social media that can then be ``exposed,'' and broadcasting false political propaganda. This phenomenon has been documented in Chairman Graham's recent hearing in our Crime and Terrorism Judiciary Subcommittee, featuring, among other sources, the Center for Strategic and International Studies' ``Kremlin Playbook,'' and it has been documented throughout the proceedings of this year's McCain Institute Sedona Forum. Because of this history of political manipulation, the Putin regime's interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election ought to be a wakeup call for America. prgtoken Weaponized fake news requires a delivery system, and here is where this connects to climate change. In America, we are particularly vulnerable to such election interference because a robust delivery system for weaponized fake news already exists. Putin doesn't need to build a fake news delivery system in America. The fossil fuel industry already did. Climate denial was the original fake news. They have been at it awhile. prgtoken A decade ago, a peer-reviewed academic study of the climate denial apparatus described how this works. The fossil fuel industry sets up an array of ``environmental skeptics.'' But of course they are not just skeptics; they in reality ``are predominantly agents of conservative think tanks.'' These think tanks, in turn, have the ``essential role'' of providing what the report calls ``political insulation for industry,'' including ``for companies such as ExxonMobil''. Again quoting this report, the ``defining feature'' of this apparatus is the ``denial of the authenticity of environmental problems.'' Collectively, this climate denial apparatus creates for the fossil fuel industry ``a full scale counter movement'' against environmental science. Concluding in the report, ``Its major tactic is to manufacture uncertainty.'' prgtoken The Center for Strategic and International Studies' ``Kremlin Playbook'' report, by comparison, describes Russia's fake news tactic as ``to disseminate erroneous information that fosters public co
National Police Week (Executive Calendar)
Heidi Heitkamp (Democrat, ND) \u2014 2017-5-16

I come to the floor this afternoon to honor the incredible men and women of our Nation's law enforcement agencies. Each year, peace officers from all over the country and from countries all over prgtoken the world come to Washington, DC, to celebrate and remember the lives of their colleagues whom they have lost in the line of duty. prgtoken The men and women who serve as peace officers in our Tribal, Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies selflessly put their lives before the lives of those whom they have taken an oath to protect and serve. I am here to not only remember those peace officers we have lost but to thank each and every officer who puts on a uniform and a badge every day to protect our citizens and our communities. prgtoken As a former attorney general of North Dakota, I have always had a special relationship and appreciation for law enforcement. Serving as the top law enforcement officer in my State will always be one of the most meaningful moments in my professional career. When I began serving as attorney general, law enforcement wasn't one of the goals I had. So I told my head of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a brilliant leader by the name of Bill Broer, that he could just deal with the law enforcement portion of the job, and I would take responsibility for the rest of the job. prgtoken Bill was going to have none of that, and consistently invited me along as he visited peace officers from all over the State, as we went to intel meetings, and as we talked about the challenges of equipping and staffing our law enforcement agencies. I can tell my colleagues that after 8 years of being North Dakota's attorney general, that portion of the job was the job I miss and love the most because I worked with the finest collection of peace officers in the country, and I could not be more proud to continue that work and work alongside of them as their U.S. Senator. prgtoken I am here to thank each and every one of the peace officers who selflessly serve in communities throughout North Dakota and to let you know I don't just appreciate the work you do and the sacrifices you and your family make each and every day, but I also have your back, 24/7, 365 days a year. prgtoken I also come to the floor with a heavy heart, as I have had to come to the floor twice already in less than a year, to honor North Dakota peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. prgtoken We lost Officer Jason Moszer of the Fargo Police Department on February 11, 2016. Less than a year later, we lost Rolette County Deputy Colt Allery on January 18, 2017. I say ``we'' because the loss of these fine, young peace officers was felt across the entire State of North Dakota, and it still impacts their families, their departments, and our communities to this day. prgtoken Both of these young men made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their State and their communities, each succumbing to gunshot
National Police Week (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2017-5-16

I would like to commemorate National Police Week and the lives and sacrifices of two extraordinary Massachusetts law enforcement officers who fell in 2016: Thomas Clardy, a trooper with the Massachusetts State Police, and Ronald Tarantino, a police officer with the Auburn Police Department. Their names will be inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, DC, in honor of their service. prgtoken By the end of this year, more than 21,000 names will be on that wall. We will never forget their service and sacrifice to our communities and to our country. With the help of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, we pledge to their families and loved ones that they will have the support and resources they need.
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT
Trey Gowdy (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-5-17

. Thank you, Sheriff. I want to start by thanking you for your service as a law enforcement officer and in Congress. And I call you sheriff when I pass by you because I always believe in calling people by their highest title. And as much as it is wonderful, and I am sure the people in your family are proud of your service in the United States Congress, I am proudest of your willingness to sacrifice for the people of Washington as their sheriff. prgtoken Kevin Carper was a uniform patrol officer with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. He was not a detective. He was not in management. He was just a regular police officer like the ones we see every day in our towns and cities. prgtoken Kevin responded to a domestic violence call. Those who are unfamiliar with law enforcement have a tendency sometimes to refer to those as routine calls. There is nothing routine about a domestic violence call, and everyone in law enforcement knows it. prgtoken Off of Airport Road in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Kevin and his partner arrived to find William Seich on the front porch of his small home pointing a large caliber gun at his wife, Judy. prgtoken Judy was crouched down in the front yard, trying to protect herself, trying to shield herself behind a tree, and William was pointing the gun at her and, alternatively, pointing the gun at law enforcement who had just arrived on the scene. prgtoken You know, Sheriff Reichert and , it all seems so easy in hindsight. Do you shoot? Do you pull the trigger? Is the gun real? You have split seconds to make these decisions only to have them second- guessed for months, if not years afterward. Is the gun real? Is it loaded? prgtoken William Seich finally turned the gun toward his wife and he shot her. As he was turning the gun towards law enforcement, no doubt to shoot them, they returned fire. They struck William Seich. As one officer ran toward his fallen wife, Judy, Kevin Carper ran to the front porch to make sure that William Seich didn't shoot anybody else. prgtoken As he got on the front porch, , he heard the cries of children. Unbeknownst to Kevin and his partner, there were children inside that mobile home, and the bullets from one of the officer's guns had struck one of the children. prgtoken William Seich survived and was charged with murder. Both of the little girls ultimately survived, although one was badly injured. prgtoken I met Kevin when we were preparing for trial. He was an essential witness, so I needed to prepare him for what would come during this trial. He would be second-guessed. His every move would be scrutinized. In a very real sense, he would not only be blamed for Judy Seich's murder, he would be blamed for shooting one of the little girls inside that home, and then he would be blamed for not doing enough to protect Judy Seich, not making the right split-second decision. prgtoken I tried to prepare Kevin for what would be a grueling cross- examination, and it was
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 115, THIN BLUE LINE ACT
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-5-17

I rise today in support of the rule to consider H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act, introduced by my friend and colleague from Florida, Mr. Vern Buchanan. prgtoken , this week, National Police Week, we take time to honor our Nation's law enforcement officers for the work they do and the sacrifices they make to keep us safe on a daily basis. It is unconscionable that law enforcement officers are being targeted and are making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; and this bill aims to make the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer an aggravating factor for the imposition of the death penalty. prgtoken , I served for 6 years as a city commissioner and two of those as the mayor of my small town of Johnson City, Tennessee, and had the privilege of working with first responders, firemen, and police officers every day. It was a privilege to do it. I put on a scrub suit to go to work. They put on a Kevlar vest and put their lives in danger. I cannot say thank you enough to them and their families for the sacrifices that they make. prgtoken I commend my colleague on introducing this legislation and for the House considering it today. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in honor of our law enforcement officers.
THOMASINA E. JORDAN INDIAN TRIBES OF VIRGINIA FEDERAL RECOGNITION ACT OF 2017
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-5-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken H.R. 984, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017 will extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Tribe, the Eastern Chickahominy Tribe, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. prgtoken My district, the First Congressional District of Virginia, includes the historical tribal areas of several of these tribes. The six tribes are culturally and historically significant to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to the story of America itself. Ancestors from these tribes populated coastal Virginia when Captain John Smith settled at Jamestown in 1607. They were also the first of the American Indian tribes that entered into peace agreements, actually entered into peace agreements with the Crown of England because United States, at that time, was not formally a nation yet. So they were peace-loving even before the United States came of age. prgtoken Also, the connections that these tribes have with the Nation and the settlement of the Nation are extraordinarily important. If you go back in time, you know that six of these tribes were part of the Powhatan Nation. We know famously that Pocahontas was a member of the Powhatan Nation, and also there in Werowocomoco, there on the shores of the York River, saved the life of Captain John Smith; so we can see the significant impact that these tribes have had on the Nation's history and where we are today. prgtoken They are called first-contact tribes because they were the first tribes to contact the settlers as they came here to America to settle our land. In Jamestown there, the first connection they had was with these Virginia tribes. These first-contact tribes, as I have said, are intertwined with the birth of our Nation over 400 years ago, and they continue today to preserve a culture and heritage integral to Virginia and to the Nation. They are very proud of their history, and the tribal members today do much for our State in many different ways, as well as for our Nation, and are passionate about making sure that they are recognized, as other tribes are, in their critical nature to the government and Nation that we have today. prgtoken It is notable that many tribal members have also served our country bravely as part of the United States military. It is unacceptable that these tribal members, who selflessly and proudly served under the American flag during our Nation's conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have not been officially recognized by the Federal Government. prgtoken Congressional recognition is also necessary because the record requirements by the Bureau of Indian Affairs administration process unfairly penalizes these Virginia tribes. Tribal records of these tribes were destroyed during the Civil War when many eastern Virginia courthouses were destroyed. Add
Introductory Statement on S. 1164
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-5-17

the travel and tourism industry is a pillar of Montana's economy. Our wealth of public lands, first-class fishing, hiking and skiing, and our breathtaking natural landscapes make Montana a special place for people to visit. Last year alone, visitors to Montana spent $3.46 billion in our state. And Montana is not alone. The travel and tourism industry plays a significant role in the United States economy as well, contributing over $503 billion to the U.S. GDP just last year. prgtoken With advancements in technology and the increased use of online marketplaces, travelers have the ability to do more research, plan trips, and book reservations online. Online platforms allow customers to compare thousands of brands in one place and as a result the number of hotel reservations made online has surged over the past several years, many of which are on legitimate third-party websites. However, as the ease and number of online bookings has increased, so has the number of online booking scams. prgtoken Illegitimate reservation sellers pose as hotel websites, leading consumers to believe they are booking directly with the hotel, when in fact they are booking with an unrelated third party. Transactions on these sites can result in additional hidden fees, loss of expected loyalty points, or even confirmation of reservations that were never made. One study found that as many as fifteen million bookings a year are affected by fraudulent websites. In Montana, you expect to get what you pay for. When you book a hotel online only to find out you are not on the list when you arrive, you not only lose your money, but you lose the positive experience tourism awards. prgtoken That is why I am proud to introduce the Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017 along with my colleagues Senators Nelson, Fischer, and Klobuchar. This bill requires third-party sites to disclose that they are not affiliated with the hotel, providing clarity and transparency to consumers booking online. It also empowers State attorneys general to pursue cases on behalf of consumers who have been scammed. Providing clear disclosures that reveal the true identity of websites will give confidence to the millions of consumers who make reservations online every year. I ask my colleagues who have not yet done so to join me in cosponsoring this much-needed legislation. Thank you, .