mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION RELATING TO ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS
Keith Ellison (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-7-28

for far too long, people's legal rights have been limited by the use of forced arbitration clauses in contracts for consumer financial products and services. Forced arbitration clauses, also called mandatory pre-dispute clauses, prevent cheated or defrauded American consumers from going to court to challenge wrongdoing by big banks, cell phone providers, auto leasing and auto financing firms, credit repair, payday lenders, debt collectors and credit card companies. Most arbitration clauses for financial products also prohibit consumers from participating in class actions. Forced arbitration clauses have been opposed by conservatives and progressives. prgtoken Forced arbitration is a secret process where consumers seek redress at private firms chosen by the financial institution. This rigged system is why banks and lenders receive more than a million dollars per year paid out to them by their customers in forced arbitration, compared to just $86,216 returned to consumers. While advocates for the financial sector are correct that (sixteen) consumers recover an average of $5,400 in arbitration every year, they leave out the fact that banks and lenders receive an average award of $13,195 when they win--and they win 93 percent of the time. Indeed, a recent report found that consumers paid more restitution to Wells Fargo in arbitration than the other way around between 2009 and 2016, the prime years of its fake account scandal. prgtoken After years of effort, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule restoring American consumers' right to join together in court when harmed by systemic and widespread misconduct in the financial marketplace. The rule does not eliminate forced arbitration, but it would make individual secret arbitration more transparent by publishing arbitration complaints and outcomes. It also permits class action lawsuits. prgtoken Instead of celebrating a rule that prevents financial interests from evading responsibility, s seek to stop this rule under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Today, they presented H.J. Res. 111. prgtoken It is a vote to prevent consumers from receiving adequate compensation for fraud, deceptive and predatory practices. prgtoken A vote for H.J. Res. 111 is a vote to deny Americans their constitutional right to access the legal process. prgtoken H.J. Res. 111 would protect companies like Wells Fargo that used arbitration clauses and class action bans to create fraudulent accounts, overcharge customers with debit fees and mortgages and avoid responsibility for misconduct. H.J. Res 111 would remove federal protections for members of the military from evictions and- repossessions while they are on active duty. And, H.J. Res. 111 would deny consumers the ability to get fair compensation for harm. prgtoken For those reasons, and more, we urge you reject a resolution that shields companies from responsibility for risky and illegal conduct. prgtoken Toda
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FLORENTINO DURAN
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-28

I rise today to commemorate the life of Florentino ``Tino'' Duran. prgtoken Born and raised in San Antonio, Florentino Duran was an accomplished man. He persevered and managed to become Student Corps President, an ROTC Colonel, and editor of his high school newspaper. After high school, he served four years in the United States Air Force. Once he finished his service, Mr. Duran attended St. Mary's University and received a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration. prgtoken Mr. Duran worked in a variety of capacities after graduating college. He served as executive assistant to both Mayor John Gatti and the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration. He also worked as executive director of the Bexar County Department of Housing, President of the National Association of Hispanic Publications of the United States (NAHP) and Vice President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio. prgtoken Later in Mr. Duran's career, he became general manager of a Dallas newspaper known as ``El Sol de Tejas''. He then became CEO and president of the ``Hispanic Informer''. In 1989, Duran and his loving wife Millie reintroduced the newspaper ``La Prensa'' as a bilingual publication reporting on San Antonio and the Hispanic community. prgtoken Mr. Duran's successful career brought numerous recognitions, including the 2002 Media Award, presented by the San Antonio Police Association; the 2006 Community Service Award from the San Antonio- Norte Chamber of Commerce; and the 2005 Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity award, presented by the Department of Public Administration of San Antonio College. prgtoken , I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize and honor the life of Florentine Duran of San Antonio.
HONORING NICHOLAS HROMALIK
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-28

I rise today to recognize a dedicated member of my staff, Nicholas (Nick) Hromalik, who is leaving this week after serving in many capacities over the past six years. prgtoken Nick graduated from the University of California, San Diego, in 2009, but he began on the path of public service even earlier, working as an intern for Senator Dianne Feinstein and then-Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom while still in college. After graduation, he traveled to Washington to intern for my predecessor in Congress, Lynn Woolsey, and was soon hired to work for the Green the Capitol Initiative at the CAO. In that role, he helped to make the operations of the Capitol complex more sustainable and led outreach efforts to Member offices. Nick was called home to California upon that program's defunding, joining my team for the first time. prgtoken Drawing on his deep Petaluma roots, Nick built relationships across the North Bay, meeting with community leaders and learning about local issues. Starting as a volunteer, he ultimately became the field director of my newly-announced campaign for Congress. On a break from the campaign, Nick also spent some time in my Assembly district office in San Rafael that year, where he helped constituents with casework, and served as a liaison to organized labor and Sonoma County elected officials. prgtoken After my election to Congress in November 2012, Nick returned again to Washington, this time as one of my first hires in this office. Since my swearing-in in 2013, Nick has served California's second Congressional district with distinction, staffing me on issues as diverse as health care, agriculture, trade, energy, and education. prgtoken In the six years I have had the pleasure of working with him, Nick has never lost sight of our mission--to solve problems and make a positive difference--and he has maintained deep connections to California that have served him well in his career. He has championed causes that needed a champion, from special education to clean energy, and he has maintained his good humor and dedication throughout. prgtoken My family, my staff, and I all wish him and his fiancee Colleen Kilbride all the best as they travel to Chicago for the next step in their careers.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-28

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding me time, and I join our colleague in saluting the committee for bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor--so many issues that the committee has to deal with. I know that full well as a previous ranking member. prgtoken I know that we all agree that every chance we get we want to salute the patriotic men and women of the intelligence community for their ceaseless heroism and unblinking vigilance to keep the American people safe. I thank them for all they do for force protection and conflict prevention. The quiet professionals of the U.S. intelligence community work every day, again, to keep this country safe and our leaders informed. Respect for their work is essential. prgtoken I thank Ranking Member Schiff and members of the committee--Mr. Schiff, for his leadership, and commend all the members of the committee for their dedication to those same goals. prgtoken I am sorry that this bill is coming up under a closed rule so that Members cannot offer amendments. One such amendment might be about an independent commission. It is the judgment of the intelligence community, as expressed in the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a multifaceted active-measures campaign to sow discord in our political process and help one Presidential candidate and hurt the other. prgtoken For this reason, we continue to ask for an outside, independent commission to look forward on how to prevent Russia and others from meddling in our election system again. The Swalwell-Cummings legislation to establish that commission has 200 bipartisan cosponsors. prgtoken I also want to salute our Homeland Security Committee ranking member, Bennie Thompson, for his leadership to strengthen the preparedness of the election infrastructure of the United States to identify and withstand a foreign attack. prgtoken Our election systems are part of the critical infrastructure of our country, some of the most critical infrastructure of our democracy itself. We must protect it. prgtoken The United States must reject foreign interference in our elections, no matter which party it helps or which party it hurts. Our oath of office is to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Working with the intelligence community to better ensure the integrity of our elections is vital to that goal. prgtoken Madam , I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bipartisan legislation and salute the members of the committee. I especially want to acknowledge the tremendous leadership of our ranking member, Mr. Schiff from California.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-7-28

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act. I am deeply disappointed that this bill includes an indefensible $1.6 billion for the President's so-called border wall. It also violates the bipartisan Budget Control Act (BCA) spending caps, strips a long-overdue provision to sunset the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), and bars any efforts to close Guantanamo Bay. H.R. 3219 includes Fiscal Year 2018 funding for the Legislative Branch, the Veterans' Affairs Department, the Department of Defense, and Energy and Water programs at the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior. Although I have many concerns with the bill, I am pleased that it increased funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, including funding for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which will help dredge and maintain Oregon ports. I am also grateful that a bipartisan amendment that I championed with Rep. Scott Perry to increase funding for the Water Technologies Office at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) was adopted. This will allow Oregon State University to continue their cutting-edge research and development of sustainable hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy. I am deeply concerned, however, that the bill reduces overall EERE funding and eliminates the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program. I also do not support the inclusion of harmful policy riders that prevent implementation of National Oceans Policy protections and authorize the withdrawal of the Waters of the United States rule. I am supportive of provisions in the bill that uphold our commitment to our nation's veterans. The bill provides robust funding for Medical and Prosthetic Research, and prioritizes funding to hire needed doctors, nurses, and medical staff at VA medical centers. Additionally, the bill addresses the ongoing disability claims backlog by requiring regional offices to report on processing performance and remediation efforts. Unfortunately, the bill also included $1.6 billion to fund parts of President 's border wall, a waste of money that will not secure the border and will have long lasting humanitarian, diplomatic, and environmental consequences. The bill also appropriates Defense spending at $621 billion, which is $72 billion above the BCA caps. Without a fix to the caps, this funding level would trigger a mandatory 13.2 percent cut in all defense accounts. This reckless cut is irresponsible. Finally, the bill was stripped of a provision to sunset the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which has been used for more than 15 years to justify ongoing military actions overseas. It is long past time for Congress to reassert our authority and responsibility to debate matters of military force. The Majority's decision to remove this provision--which passed out of the Appropriations Committee with b
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
Gene Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-28

the Senate majority failed to pass their ACA repeal. This is a win for the people across America who wrote letters, made phone calls, and organized communities against this disastrous bill. prgtoken , millions of people rely on insurance expansion made possible under the ACA. Our job is not to harm the people we serve but to make their lives better. prgtoken Under every single healthcare bill, millions of people would lose health coverage. There are many steps we can take together. Let us strengthen the risk pools, promote competition among insurers, and require States to expand their Medicaid programs. prgtoken These steps will help lower premiums, increase choice, and allow 50,000 individuals in my district and millions of low-income Americans across the country to get insurance. prgtoken My constituents are tired of the partisanship. I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to work with us and each other instead of against each other so everyday Americans do not grow even more cynical of our governing institutions. prgtoken While the failure of Care is welcome news, now is the time to hold public hearings, bipartisan meetings, and work toward goals that reduce premiums, deductibles, and healthcare costs for American people. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to build on the ACA and improve the law.
HONORING NEW MILFORD VILLAGE FAIR DAYS
Elizabeth H. Esty (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-7-28

I rise today to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the annual New Milford Village Fair Days, sponsored and organized by the New Milford Chamber of Commerce. Village Fair Days is the highlight of the summer in New Milford, and the festival brings thousands of people together for two days of shopping, eating, and playing on the town's village green. prgtoken Since its inception in 1967, New Milford Village Fair Days has grown to be the largest annual event in New Milford. Bob Hanna, the Chair of the Fair, planned a special way for the community to commemorate five decades of the festival. This year, fairgoers can make a wish and donate to a local nonprofit of their choice at the Wishing New Milford Well. prgtoken Village Fair Days brings together our community to enjoy live entertainment and games, as well as to connect with local businesses and nonprofit groups. The Kids Fun Run is a fun part of the fair that helps children join in the fun and get active. The New Milford Farmers Market also participates in the fair and helps local farmers meet with thousands of neighbors. I would like to recognize the volunteers who have made Village Fair Days possible for the past five decades. Volunteers' love for their town and willingness to dedicate their time to make this event possible show the strength of our community in New Milford. prgtoken , New Milford Village Fair Days has brought together our neighbors each summer for five decades. Thanks to the event's sponsors, organizers, and volunteers, we can look forward to the annual event for many years to come. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor New Milford Village Fair Days here today.
GIVING SMALL BUSINESS A BETTER DEAL
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-7-28

has now been President for 188 days, and despite the promises, his -controlled Congress has not passed a single meaningful piece of job creation legislation. prgtoken Last night, we watched as s failed in their latest effort to take healthcare from the American people it is time, at last, to move on. prgtoken The American people are looking for real proposals to create jobs, increase wages, and strengthen our economy. They are looking for--and they deserve--a better deal. prgtoken As the ranking member of the Small Business Committee, almost every day I hear from entrepreneurs and small businesses who create jobs in our communities, and under ic plans, we will give them tools to further succeed. prgtoken We will offer small firms tax incentives to bring on and train new employees. We will invest in apprenticeship programs to help meet small businesses' workforce needs. We will expand internet access to fuel the next generation of innovation and e-commerce. prgtoken I ask my colleagues, at long last, give up on this obsession with attacking America's healthcare. Instead, let us move forward with giving America's workers and small businesses a better deal.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-7-28

. Mr. Chair, I will vote against H.R. 3219, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2018, also ironically named the, ``Make America Secure Appropriations Act'' (Roll no. 435). I commend House appropriators for their work on this bill and realize that putting it together was no easy task. However, due to several poison pill provisions and deep budgetary issues, I could not support it. prgtoken Most concerning, the bill contains $1.6 billion in funding to begin construction of a wall prgtoken along the U.S.-Mexico border. A border wall serves only to instill fear and puts United States taxpayers on the hook for something that is unrealistic, costly, and unnecessary. It's immoral and goes against our values as Americans. prgtoken There are also severe budgetary concerns. The bill would increase defense spending more than $72 billion above limits set in the Budget Control Act. House s have refused to work with on a new budget agreement, and without a budget resolution, the funding levels in this legislation would be subject to a sequester. H.R. 3219 is an affront to smart spending and a testament to misguided governing. prgtoken The legislation increases funding levels for several redundant weapons programs, including certain dangerous nuclear weapons programs. The prioritizing of weapons systems over our troops and veterans is wrong and will result in the hollowing out of the Army, Navy, and Air Force conventional forces. We need to set clear spending priorities. prgtoken In addition, the bill contains a number of provisions that ignore basic environmental policy requirements and important investments in renewable energy. It includes a rider that would prevent the federal government from protecting clean water and even exempts discharged dredged or fill material from clean water act requirements. The bill would also eliminate the Department of Energy's advanced energy research program and the energy loan guarantee program and would slash energy efficiency & renewable energy investments by nearly $1 billion. The so-called Making America Secure Act even prevents agencies from collaborating on federal ocean policies. prgtoken There was a bright spot. The House passed an amendment to defund painful experiments on dogs conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is critical that Congress work to strengthen animal protections, which is why I've laid out an ambitious agenda to help animals and crack down on abuse. prgtoken I hope we can work together going forward to pass a budget resolution that prioritizes appropriately.
SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO REDUCE SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2017-7-28

today, I would like to speak in support of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act and the Megan Rondini Act. During August recess, students across the country will return to their universities, some will be freshmen, going to college for the first time. Therefore, I hope that Congress can take decisive action and pass these bills when we return in September. It is our responsibility to ensure all students are safe and secure when they are away from home and pursuing their college education. We cannot ignore the rise of sexual assault on college campuses across this country. RAAIN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, reports one in six women in our nation have been the victim of rape or attempted rape. College-aged women are three to four times more likely to experience sexual assault. Unfortunately when many of these women seek medical attention and justice through their universities, they find neither. I have the privilege of representing the University of Alabama, the fastest growing flagship university in the country. As our universities grow and the number of sexual assault victims grow, it is imperative that universities become the allies of all students, especially victims of sexual assault. I am proud to join my colleagues in co-sponsoring the Campus Accountability and Security Act. The proposed legislation would increase accountability and transparency between universities and students and ensure safer university environments. Schools will be responsible for providing essential resources for victims, like confidential advisers and well-trained campus personnel. This training will teach campus personnel the neurobiological effects of trauma and stress on the victim and their memory, ensuring that the students receive victim-centered, trauma-informed interviews. For every one-thousand rapes in the United States only fifty-seven reports will lead to arrest; only six of these will result in the incarceration of a rapist. This bill would require that campus authorities coordinate with local law enforcement and share information when a crime occurs. Pursuant to the Cleary Act of 1990, universities are required to keep and make public information about assault cases and other crimes. This current bill will create stronger penalties for universities that do not comply with their responsibilities laid out by the Cleary Act. Likewise, my colleagues Representative Maloney and Representative Poe introduced H.R. 3415, the Megan Rondini Act of 2017 this week. This bipartisan bill requires hospitals to have a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner, also known as a SAFE, or an alternative plan that gets victims to a nearby hospital with access to these resources. Requiring that SAFEs are available to victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week results in both the proper medical attention and the preservation of the evidence necessary to litigate the assault. I urge all the member