mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2018
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-6-6

I am offering an amendment to expedite the Army Corps of Engineers' study of Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, allowing a faster response to dangerous and economically damaging beach erosion in my district and the Rockaway Peninsula. prgtoken To this day, my constituents suffer from the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy. Though coastal recovery has contributed to positive economic development, the very same jobs created are now threatened by emergency beach closures. prgtoken Two weeks ago, only days ahead of beach season, of the beaches opening, 11 of our beaches' central blocks were deemed unsafe due to erosion, by the city of New York and all of the lifeguards therein. As a result, it will be crippling to the vendors, whose entire livelihood depends on their seasonal income. prgtoken Last year alone, there were four nor'easters that further devastated our beachfront. We have already allocated funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin constructing coastal protections and prevent further erosion. However, construction is not due to begin until 2019. prgtoken In that time, beaches will be left vulnerable to coastal erosion, threatening more closures, and impacting more jobs and economic activity in my district. This should be of concern to all taxpayers. prgtoken After Sandy, the Army Corps of Engineers dumped two Empire State Buildings' worth of sand on our beach for coastal recovery. Stalled efforts to address resiliency issues, such as this study, are allowing millions of Federal dollars to be literally washed away. prgtoken Mr. Chair, my constituents cannot wait until 2019 for construction of reinforced dunes, groynes, and jetties. The studies must be allowed to be improved and completed in a timely manner so as to not leave our beachgoers unsafe or our economy vulnerable. prgtoken While I will continue to push for a remedy for this summer--I am going to push to try to save some of it--it is my hope that by expediting this process, the beaches will be made safe and operational for my constituents as soon as possible, and certainly no later than spring season of 2019. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-6-6

it was not very long ago when I was on the floor of the Senate with the distinguished majority leader, Senator McConnell, and the two of us were making the case for our bipartisan bill to legalize hemp, which we are very much interested in having included in the farm bill. I will talk a little bit more about our work on that. prgtoken Our original sponsors were Senator Merkley and Senator Paul, and since then we have added 28 additional Members of the U.S. Senate as cosponsors. prgtoken What I am going to do this afternoon for just a few minutes is talk about why it is so important that our bipartisan legislation, now cosponsored by almost one-third of this body, get enacted and be included as part of the farm bill. prgtoken It is Hemp History Week again, and that is why I am back on the Senate floor to talk about the only schedule I controlled substance you can sew into a T-shirt and wear through TSA. prgtoken Here, as we start, is the real head-scratcher: Products made with hemp are perfectly legal, but growing industrial hemp is a crime. There can't be many policies on the book that are more anti-farmer than that one. So I have a bottom line, which I discussed with Majority Leader McConnell recently on the floor of the Senate; that is, if you can buy it at a supermarket in America, our farmers ought to be allowed to grow it in America. prgtoken For me, this issue goes back to a trip my wife and I took to a grocery store near our home in Southeast Portland. Nancy was pregnant with our youngest daughter at the time, and we were always on the hunt for healthy foods that would fill our cart. So we grabbed the fruits and vegetables, and there, perched on one of the shelves, was a large bag of hemp hearts. The packaging had really big, colorful text, and it said that it was heart-healthy and protein-rich. But I knew the product couldn't have been grown in the United States because there was a Federal ban. So I looked at this product, and I turned to my wife and I said: You know, hemp growers in places like Canada and China must be laughing all the way to the bank. They are cashing in while our farmers have their hands tied by the current hemp restrictions. prgtoken So here with me on the floor is one of our very capable young staffers, Malcolm, from Southern Oregon. Malcolm is holding a variety of products that are made with hemp, this schedule I substance that our laws make out to be a perilous danger to the public. prgtoken For a few minutes, let's take a look at what Malcolm has. He has a few schedule I snack bars. He has some schedule I hand soap. He is even wearing a schedule I necktie. The point is, they are all perfectly legal products that you will find on shelves in stores throughout the Nation. But because the hemp had to be imported, none of it could be considered fully American-made. prgtoken So, as I have with the majority leader on past occasions, I want to make sure everyone understand
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-6-6

barely a day goes by that doesn't bring news of another consumer protection rollback and another handout to Wall Street, day after day in this body or downtown. prgtoken This weekend, we heard that the Federal Reserve plans changes to the Volcker rule--the rule that stops big banks from taking big risks with Americans' money. The month before, the Federal Reserve Vice Chair, Randal Quarles, said the Fed wants to loosen rules on foreign megabanks. Those are the banks like Santander and Deutsche Bank. These are banks headquartered abroad, but they abuse the public trust in this country and have been fined in the past. The Federal Reserve Vice Chair--who once was in the administration, and prediction after prediction missed the implosion of the economy in 2007 and 2008--wants to loosen the rules on foreign megabanks. I don't even understand the logic, let alone the sensibleness of it. prgtoken Today, we learned that Mick Mulvaney is continuing his systematic dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by disbanding the Consumer Advisory Board. It is a board of 25 advocates for American consumers and industry experts. It is required by law to meet twice a year, but Mulvaney now says they won't hold any meetings--not today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, period--they were supposed to meet with Mulvaney to advocate for American consumers, but they are done with that, I guess--not ever, until Mulvaney replaces all the members with his handpicked cronies. prgtoken Even though Federal law says: You have to meet with them--required by law to meet twice a year--Mulvaney said: I am not meeting with them until they quit and I get my handpicked friends of payday lenders, friends of Wall Street, friends of big banks, friends of financial service companies who think about politics and government and regulation the way I think. What is right about that? prgtoken Apparently, Director Mulvaney, who, as we know, has two jobs--Office of Budget and Management and also head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau--and that is peculiar, putting it mildly. He has two absolutely full-time jobs that he is supposed to do, apparently, although he has time to chat up payday lenders at golf resorts in the Bahamas, but he can't make time to meet with actual consumer experts, even though it is the law to do that twice a year. He doesn't like these consumer experts, so he is saying he is not going to do it. prgtoken The Board is supposed to advise the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on trends that they are seeing so the Bureau can stay ahead of scams and fraud. It is one more tool--or should be one more tool--to try to prevent corporations from scamming consumers before it happens. prgtoken For a change, let's stop the corruption and stop the back-scratching and prgtoken stop the favors for Wall Street before they happen rather than taxpayers bailing out these companies aft
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-6-6

today I wish to recognize Mr. William T. Kerr and his contributions to the creation of Flag Day. His passion for the flag spurred a lifetime pursuit to establish a national holiday to honor it. prgtoken Mr. Kerr grew up in Pittsburgh and established himself in Yeadon, PA. After hearing the stories of sacrifice and patriotism during the Civil War, Mr. Kerr garnered a unique appreciation for the flag of the United States. prgtoken In 1888, Mr. Kerr established the American Flag Day Association, an organization committed to promoting patriotism and respect for the flag on a national scale and establishing Flag Day on June 14. In Mr. Kerr's capacity as the president of the American Flag Day Association, a position he held for five decades, he met with nine Presidents and wrote countless letters to Senators, Members of Congress, Governors, and local officials to petition for Flag Day to be celebrated on June 14. prgtoken Mr. Kerr's activism inspired several leaders, including President Woodrow Wilson, who went on to proclaim June 14 as National Flag Day on May 30, 1916, and General Douglas MacArthur, who wrote a letter to Mr. Kerr in 1947, citing reverence and honor in the flag itself. Though Congress initially failed to submit legislation to President Wilson supporting the proclamation to recognize the holiday, three decades later, Congress passed a bill formally declaring June 14 as National Flag Day. On August 3, 1949, President Harry S. Truman, with Mr. Kerr standing next to him, signed the Flag Day bill into law, formally declaring June 14 as National Flag Day. prgtoken I commend Mr. Kerr on his commitment to creating a day to honor the flag. Pennsylvanians are renowned for their hard work, dedication, perseverance, and patriotism, and Mr. Kerr is an excellent example of that assessment. Mr. Kerr's legacy has lived on, especially in the small farm town of Yeadon, where the town celebrates Flag Day as an all-day affair.
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2018
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-6-6

I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken I would like to thank Chairman Shuster and the committee staff for all of their assistance in helping to get this matter to the floor for consideration. prgtoken This amendment would convey three parcels of land known as the Earle May Recreational Area from the Army Corps of Engineers to the city of Bainbridge, Georgia. prgtoken , the Earle May Recreational Area is vitally important to the city of Bainbridge, Georgia. The city has had a long-term lease from the Army Corps of Engineers, and it has invested nearly $150 million in improvements to this area for public use. These investments include a $25 million water control plant, several sporting complexes, and many other facilities that attract visitors. prgtoken It is a destination for people from across the Southeast for its unique beauty and the recreational opportunities that are offered by the Flint River. prgtoken Continued improvements, however, could be done much more efficiently if the land were conveyed from the Army Corps to the city of Bainbridge. Since the original lease was initiated in 1980, any improvements that the city attempted to make had to undergo the very long and arduous process that the Army Corps of Engineers utilizes, and, therefore, it increased substantially the cost to the city, as well as the bureaucratic delays that occurred. prgtoken By transferring this land to the people of the city of Bainbridge, I am confident that a proper balance can be struck between the city and the Army Corps, and it will facilitate the recreational activities on the Flint River as well as navigation and flood control. prgtoken I would like to thank the chairman for his assistance and for agreeing to accept this amendment, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-6-7

it is Thursday, and that means it is the afternoon when I get to talk about someone in my State who is doing a great job for the State, and oftentimes for the country--someone who is really making a difference. As the Presiding Officer and the pages know, I like to refer to this person as the ``Alaskan of the Week.'' It is one of my favorite parts of the week in the Senate, being able to talk about someone who has made a real difference. prgtoken When I give this speech every week, I like to talk about what is going on in Alaska. It is a beautiful State. It is the biggest State-- we all know that--in the country. The State is fully in bloom. Its tourists are flocking north by the tens of thousands to view the wildlife, glaciers, mountains, to eat our delicious seafood, take in amazing views through hikes, and have an adventure. prgtoken I want to make sure that everyone who is watching in the Galleries or on TV on C-SPAN--you have to come to Alaska. You will have the trip of a lifetime, guaranteed. Come on up. prgtoken What is truly impressive about my State is the people who live there and the sense of community we have there. Alaska isn't always the easiest place to live. It is far from the lower 48 States. The weather can be extreme, but, as a result, the people in the communities bond, and they work together, particularly in some of our most remote communities. We are one big community in Alaska, even though our State is so big. prgtoken Every community in Alaska and America needs to be able to share reliable, credible information. On that topic, there has been quite a lot of negative attention paid to the national media, in particular, these past few years. Some of it is merited; nobody is perfect, right? But the vital role of local journalism and how that plays in different communities across our country haven't been talked about nearly enough. We all know this, and in many ways we all benefit from the thousands of local reporters who are working in our country, day in and day out, reporting great factfinding stories and working hard. I believe we should all be saluting them for doing this important work, and that is what we are doing here today. prgtoken I would like to introduce Ed Schoenfeld, a reporter in Alaska who is our Alaskan of the Week and who has been reliably reporting the news from Southeast Alaska for 37 years. He recently took a well-earned retirement. Well done, Ed. You are our Alaskan of the Week. prgtoken Let me talk a little bit about him. He hitchhiked to Fairbanks when he was 20 years old for a little trip, and as so many do, he promised himself that when he had the opportunity, he would go back to Alaska. That opportunity came in 1979 when the program director position opened up in the public broadcasting station KTOO in Juneau, AK. prgtoken Now, Alaska public radio was and still is, in many ways, renowned across the country for its local reporting and for its crucial l
SPENDING CUTS TO EXPIRED AND UNNECESSARY PROGRAMS ACT
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-6-7

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken We are approaching the end of spring, but there is still enough time for a good spring cleaning. For families, that may mean doing yard work, cleaning out a closet, or maybe even giving unused items to charity. For Congress, it means tackling long-overdue budgetary spring cleaning. prgtoken There are billions and billions of taxpayer dollars originally set up to fund different programs and projects that cannot or will not be used for their intended purpose. Tonight, the House will do something about it. We will take a first step in cleaning up the Federal Government's accounts by voting on the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act. prgtoken We aren't talking about taking spare change here. We are talking about something more than just that. Tonight, we have the opportunity to return $15 billion, with a B, to the Treasury. prgtoken As Members, we are charged with being good stewards of taxpayer money it is a responsibility we all have and claimed on this floor many times. It shouldn't be a partisan exercise. Historically, it hasn't been. prgtoken , you can look at many Members who have been here for quite some time. Congress accepted 214 of Ronald Reagan's rescissions. The majority party on the floor was different than it is today. It accepted 111 of Bill Clinton's rescissions. prgtoken President 's spending cut request is a straightforward and smart way to trim a bloated Federal budget. prgtoken So, where do these savings come from, I know many of you might ask. Have you ever heard of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program? It is an -era subsidy program to green-car companies like Fisker Automotive, which defaulted on its $192 million loan. Just think Solyndra, but for luxury cars. This failed subsidy program hasn't issued a loan since 2011 that is 7 years ago. Yet, it has $4.33 billion sitting unused in an account. prgtoken Can any Member think of a good reason why that money should continue sitting in that account, where it cannot and will not be used or just be wasted on another non-related government program? prgtoken I would really love to hear the reason, but I doubt one will be coming. prgtoken So, what else does this bill clean up? prgtoken It also brings back expired funds from CHIP. Before anyone claims s are cutting CHIP funding, which is children's health insurance, , we debated this on the floor many times this year where one side of the aisle, the majority, passed it. Not only did they pass it while the other side in the minority, , voted against it, we passed it and made history. prgtoken How did we make history? prgtoken We signed the longest reauthorization of CHIP, guaranteeing its funding for 10 years, a full decade. A full decade, , Members of this floor had the opportunity to vote for it. Unfortunately, it wasn't one time, , that the other side voted no, and it wasn't just two times
Introductory Statement on S. 3035
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-6-7

on July 23, 1962, a B-47 Bomber carrying four prgtoken men on a routine training mission crashed into the southwestern slope of Emigrant Peak, killing all on board. Crash debris still remains on the unnamed ridge where these men lost their lives. After over half a century, it is time that these men are memorialized for their service so their families may have closure. Capt. Bill Faulconer, Lt. Lloyd Sawyers, Lt. David Sutton, and Lt. Fred Hixenbaugh lost their lives while serving our country. Naming the ridge in their memory will forever remind Montanans and visitors of their sacrifice.
TAX REFORM
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-6-7

as you may know, I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that became law in December of last year. We hear stories every day of the positive impact this law has had on the economy at large and in the lives of Americans who are seeing more money in their paycheck. What we don't hear are enough stories about the small businesses that have benefited from this law. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I supported this legislation because I believed that it would spark investment, increase economic growth, and reduce taxes for millions of small businesses whose work ethic and perseverance shows that the American Dream is still possible. I also saw the potential that the legislation would have, not just to help small business owners and their employees in my home State of Idaho, but to positively affect small businesses across the country. A couple of weeks ago, I began this series of speeches highlighting small businesses that have benefited from this legislation. prgtoken While there are numerous stories about the benefits of tax reform, I rise today to talk about the story of the Don Ramon Restaurante Cubano and Social Club located in West Palm Beach, FL. Dina and Juan Rubio are the operators of this successful restaurant that offers traditional and affordable Cuban dishes in charming surroundings. Don Ramon Restaurant also offers catering services, provides live music, and hosts private events. Often, Juan will take the stage with his keyboard and entertain patrons with his rollicking renditions of traditional Cuban dances such as the salsa, son, and guaracha. This dedication to an authentic Cuban experience over the last 27 years is what has made this restaurant a popular culinary destination and landmark for people all over south Florida. prgtoken From Cuba and Nicaragua respectively, Dina and Juan appreciate the opportunities afforded everyone by the American Dream and have worked hard to realize their goal of becoming successful entrepreneurs. New tax law changes implemented under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act have allowed Dina and Juan Rubio to give their employees pay increases and larger holiday bonuses than normal. This law has also allowed them to begin planning capital improvements for their restaurant. They are planning to renovate their restaurant, open a take-out window, install new refrigerators and coffee machines, and hire up to eight new employees. Stories like the Rubio's demonstrate the benefits that tax reform has already had on numerous small businesses. Overall, it can be said that tax reform was a worthy goal that has increased small businesses' optimism, employee bonuses and wages, lowered taxes, and driven new capital investment.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-6-7

I have 2 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 10 a.m to conduct a business meeting and hearing following nominations: nominations of Ryan Wesley Bounds, of Oregon, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, J. Campbell Barker, and Jeremy D. Kernodle, both to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Susan Brnovich, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, Chad F. Kenney, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Maureen K. Ohlhausen, of Virginia, to be Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, Allen Cothrel Winsor, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, and Patrick R. Wyrick, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. Select Committee on Intelligence prgtoken The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a closed hearing.