mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE MEMORY OF SENATOR DANIEL K. AKAKA
Colleen Hanabusa (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2018-4-13

I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend and former colleague, Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka. prgtoken For 36 years, Senator Akaka represented Hawaii in the Congress of the United States. He was the first person of Native Hawaiian descent to serve in the United States Senate. prgtoken A 22-year veteran of that body, he chaired the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Committee on Indian Affairs, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Government Management, and was a senior member of the Senate Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Armed Services. prgtoken Prior to serving the Senate, he proudly represented Hawaii's Second Congressional District for 14 years in this Chamber. He fought with humility and respect for his beloved home State of Hawaii and its people. prgtoken A relentless champion of Native Hawaiians, an indigenous people, he advocated for increased access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. He worked to secure recognition and benefits for veterans. prgtoken Before pursuing elected office, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He used the GI Bill to earn his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University prgtoken of Hawaii before teaching math, music, social studies, and serving as a principal. prgtoken He would later transition into State government as a director of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, focusing on policies and programs to help alleviate poverty. prgtoken Senator Akaka's distinguished service and congressional contributions are numerous and distinguished. He embodied the aloha spirit, and his kindness and empathy is his greatest legacy. prgtoken , it is difficult to articulate how much he means to the people of Hawaii. Senator Akaka represented everything that is and could be good in all of us. He saw the best in everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone. If you were fortunate to meet him, as I was humbled to do so on many occasions, you walked away feeling better about yourself and the world. Your spirit refreshed and refocussed. prgtoken He preached that kindness and aloha must never be sacrificed to get things done. We do not need to emulate the aggressive brinksmanship and bullying that too often define our policy debates here. Senator Akaka embraced bipartisanism and knew that, if we could empathize with those we disagreed with, we were that much closer to a compromise. prgtoken Toward the end of his service in the Senate, he remarked: ``I feel that since I came here, one of the things I've tried to do--and done it as much as I can--was to bring about a feeling here of a spirit that comes from Hawaii, that we call aloha spirit, because it opens things up, it cuts down fences, it helps people to feel the need to work with each other.'' prgtoken Whenever deciding how to vote, it wasn't about looking to the left or looking to the right, but what was inside
HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOE'S PLACE PIZZA & PASTA
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2018-4-13

I rise today to honor Joe's Place Pizza and Pasta, which has been proudly serving Arlington and Northern Virginia for 40 years, beginning with its first location in 1978. Joe Farruggio came to the U.S. from his Sicilian hometown of Agrigento, Italy in 1970 to pursue the American dream. After opening his first location in Bailey's Crossroads in 1978, the family added additional locations with ongoing success, finally consolidating the locations to Arlington so family members could remain closely involved and ensure the superior customer service they proudly provide every day. Over time, Joe's Place has developed a reputation for the best pizza in town, along with a warm, friendly atmosphere and strong support for the community, especially our local schools and nonprofits helping others less fortunate. Many of Joe's staff have been with them for 10, 20, even 30 years. They and their many longtime regular customers truly are like family. The entire Farruggio family, made up of Joe and his sons Roberto, Enrico and Alessandro; his wife Rosa and children Rosario and Gabriella; Rosabel and her husband Anthony and daughter Gemma; Calogero and his wife Maria; Rosario, his wife Patricia and son Alessandro; Marisa and her husband Sami and daughter Sofia; Fortunato and his wife Maria; Franco and his wife Anna and daughter Isabel; Federica and her husband Max and sons Adam and Matteo, and all of Joe's dedicated, hardworking staff are proud of this 40th anniversary milestone and truly grateful for their success, for being part of the wonderful Arlington community, and for representing one local family's achievement of the American Dream.
CBO LATEST BUDGET PROJECTIONS
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-4-13

this week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its latest budget projections predicting that the tax plan will add a stunning $1.8 trillion to the deficit. prgtoken It turns out major tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans do not pay for themselves. With their tax scam cutting revenue and exploding the deficit, s have now set their sights on crippling Social Security retirement and Medicare health insurance programs that millions of Americans rely on. prgtoken They shamelessly proposed a balanced budget amendment to distract from the reckless deficit spending, but I am here to say that the public is smarter than they think. They recognize this is just the next step in their plan to cut programs that strengthen retirement security and ensure healthcare access. prgtoken I voted against this foolish budgeting proposal, and I urge my colleagues to commit to responsible bipartisan spending reform.
CRISIS OF OUR NATIONAL DEBT
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-4-13

we need to address the crisis of our federal debt. We need fiscal responsibility. As Members of Congress, we are entrusted by the public to be wise stewards of taxpayer dollars. The deficit is a long-term threat to our country's stability, but this proposed amendment is not a realistic solution to that problem. We need a bipartisan, adult conversation about the need for both budget cuts and additional revenue to bring our country's finances into balance. This shouldn't be rocket science. prgtoken A Balanced Budget Amendment would be worthy of consideration if properly crafted to provide flexibility in times of war, recession, or national emergency. However, this rigid amendment fails to anticipate these unfortunate, but inevitable, contingencies. Instead, it is a cynical attempt to paper over the enormous cost of the tax bill that disproportionately benefits wealthy and corporate interests in the United States. That's not a solution for serious investment in our country, nor is it a plan for smart growth. prgtoken We need to have responsible discussions about how to fund our military, provide support to Americans in need, and invest in infrastructure, research, and other ways to improve Americans' lives. In short, we need to have a budget that works for its citizens. A balanced budget cannot just mean cutting for the sake of cutting. Responsible budgeting must include the revenue side as well. prgtoken It's not too much to ask the wealthiest Americans and major corporations to pay their fair share, to give back to American society and help build our country up. This serious conversation about both revenue and spending has been notably absent from our recent debates. prgtoken Congress has all of the legislative tools it needs to fix the deficit, it just requires making the tough choices to create real solutions. As we saw during the Clinton years, we have the potential to balance the federal budget, and even run surpluses. We simply need to join together in a bipartisan effort and muster the will to enact responsible fiscal policies that address both revenue and spending. prgtoken If we see fiscal responsibility as consisting of only spending cuts, or only revenue adjustments, then we are doing a disservice to the nation, and we are not living in the real world. Our looming debt is a serious issue, and it needs to be discussed seriously. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to oppose this Balanced Budget Amendment, and I implore my colleagues to join me at the table for a responsible discussion on deficits, revenue, and spending. We need to have broad- based, if difficult, conversations about our budget process. Only then will we come up with budget compromises that work for all Americans.
AMENDING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE WATER RIGHTS QUANTIFICATION ACT OF 2010
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-4-16

I rise to urge my colleagues to vote in support of the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act. prgtoken My legislation is about bringing jobs to the most economically disadvantaged communities in Montana and empowering Indian Tribes to determine their own destinies. In fact, for 14 years, the Federal Government has placed prohibitive regulations on tribes, which has infringed on their rights and cost them jobs and economic opportunities. Now Montana's Tribes and the Tribal communities across the country suffer from some of the Nation's highest unemployment. This legislation will restore the parity between Tribal governments and Federal, State, and local governments as well as protect and respect the Tribes' right to sovereignty. prgtoken It is time for the Federal Government to step out of the Tribes' way so they can make the right decisions for their communities, for their people, and create good-paying jobs on reservations. prgtoken On behalf of Montana's 12 federally recognized Tribes, as a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as the chair of the Senate Western Caucus, and as an original author of this legislation both in this Congress and the last, I urge my colleagues to make the right choice and support the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act. Recognition of the Majority Leader
APPOINTMENT OF SECOND SPECIAL COUNSEL NEEDED
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-4-16

I thank Congressman Perry and all of our speakers tonight: Congressman Gaetz, Congresswoman Tenney, Congressmen Brat, Gohmert, Jordan, Perry, and everyone who has been part of this cause. prgtoken Just to recap, we, over the course of this hour, outlined all the main reasons why it is imperative for AG Sessions to appoint a second special counsel to look into FISA abuse, how and why the Hillary Clinton case ended, and how and why the -Russia probe began. prgtoken As Congressman Perry was just talking about the scales of justice, I remember when Hillary Clinton was publicly being exonerated just days after a tarmac meeting where her husband was able to meet with AG Lynch on her plane on the tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona. prgtoken I was thinking of the people who had to go into court that day as defendants. Maybe they got caught making a right on red, and they are a defendant going before a judge. They are pleading, and they are being punished. And yet here you have all this evidence with the Hillary Clinton case and there would be zero accountability, that actually the decision would be made to exonerate Hillary Clinton before even interviewing her and well over a dozen others. prgtoken There should be equal treatment under the law. The scales of justice should not be tilted based off of your last name. Cheryl Mills gets immunity; Michael Cohen gets his offices and home raided. If there was equal justice under the law, then there might be more understanding and a greater mandate for actions being taken. prgtoken But President is being investigated because he won the GOP nomination. That is why the investigation got started. The reason why the DOJ and FBI didn't want to release the memo is because they really didn't have much of a better reason. They were reaching, and they really didn't want to have to tell Congress why they started, because the real reason was because he won the nomination, and they wanted to continue the investigation because he actually had a shot at winning. prgtoken So they go to a secret court with secret documents to spy on a United States citizen desperate to try to find information loaded with bias, clear-as-day bias, an anti- and pro-Hillary bias where their political bias is overcoming their better objective, and then expanding the probe and creating a special counsel because the President is elected. prgtoken That is not how we do things in this country where you get investigated because you win an election, where you identify a person, and then you empower someone with authority to go out and try to find a crime anywhere. prgtoken So with regard to FISA abuse--the end of the Hillary Clinton probe and the beginning of the -Russia probe--it is imperative for AG Sessions to appoint a second special counsel. prgtoken I appreciate everyone for tuning in during this hour. We look forward to continuing the effort until we get this done and over the top. prgtoken
AMENDING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE WATER RIGHTS QUANTIFICATION ACT OF 2010
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-4-16

I want to begin this afternoon by commending the men and women who make up the world's most capable military. Over the weekend, America's all-volunteer Armed Forces executed a challenging mission with precision and with excellence. At the President's order, the United States joined with our British and French allies in military action to respond to Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people. prgtoken I support both the actions taken and the underlying objectives. prgtoken The tactics the Assad regime has deployed to consolidate gains and terrorize the people of Syria have stood in defiance of the clear U.S. position that the use of chemical weapons is simply unacceptable. It was time to act. prgtoken Americans have become used to flawless execution on the part of our uniformed military. Times like these compel us to pause and appreciate their excellence and their heroism. We must remember that none of it could occur without extensive training, careful planning, robust investment, and the professionalism, dedication, and bravery of our servicemembers. prgtoken , on a completely different matter, this afternoon the Senate will vote to advance legislation from Senator Moran that would bolster the proper sovereignty of American Indian Tribes in the face of excessive Federal regulations. prgtoken From the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 all the way until 2004, the NLRB respected the sovereignty status of Tribal government employers. But because the law does not technically provide that exemption, the NLRB discarded that precedent in 2004 and has become entangled in local Tribal decisions. prgtoken By intervening in Tribal affairs on a case-by-case basis, the NLRB has effectively been picking winners and losers among different businesses. The result has been regulatory confusion and a lessening of Tribal governments' authority to govern their own lands. prgtoken This legislation would correct the 83-year-old oversight that led to this confusion. It would codify in law that federally recognized Tribal governments should be exempt from such regulation, just like other State and local governments. prgtoken More than 160 Tribes, Tribal corporations, and Tribal trade associations support Senator Moran's legislation. I am proud to support it as well, and I urge every one of us to vote to advance the bill later this afternoon. Tax Reform prgtoken , tomorrow's tax filing deadline is not exactly a national holiday, but millions of Americans use the end of tax season as a time to pause and to take stock. In recent weeks, at kitchen tables in Kentucky and across the country, working families have been crunching the numbers. For too long, our country's outdated and unfair Tax Code made life more difficult than it needed to be for middle-class families. Now all of that is changing. prgtoken Tomorrow marks the last
TRIBUTE TO DR. KEITH LEONARD
David Young (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-4-16

I rise to recognize and congratulate Dr. Keith Leonard of Atlantic, Iowa for receiving the Distinguished Service Award given by the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Leonard has demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and extended service to the Atlantic community. prgtoken Dr. Leonard describes himself as a ``people person.'' ``I'm not the only person that does a lot of volunteering,'' he said. If someone needs help, Dr. Leonard wants to extend a helping hand to give assistance. He is very active in his community, volunteering his time with the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, a school-to-work committee, the State of Iowa Veterinary Examiners Board, and the local Knights of Columbus. Dr. Leonard said he was surprised when he received the award, but he is very appreciative of the honor, and will continue to help the best he can. prgtoken , I applaud and congratulate Dr. Leonard for receiving this outstanding award. I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating him for his commitment to the citizens of Atlantic and in wishing him nothing but continued success.
HONORING THE MOTORSPORT CAREER OF MARIO ANDRETTI
Charles W. Dent (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-4-16

I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of racing legend Mario Andretti's final Indy car victory. He was victorious at the Phoenix International Raceway in April 1993, becoming the oldest driver ever to win an Indy-car race at the age of 53. This win was the last in a magnificent racing career that spanned across four decades. prgtoken Andretti, along with his twin brother Aldo, was born in the Kingdom of Italy in 1940. Andretti demonstrated an interest in racing from an early age and began to compete when he was thirteen years old. His family moved to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1955 where Andretti and his brother raced on dirt tracks. In 1964, Andretti became a naturalized United States citizen. prgtoken The professional racing debut for Andretti was in 1964 on the United States Automobile Club circuit. He finished eleventh in his first race at the New Jersey State fairgrounds. During the 1965 season, he won his first professional event at the Hoosier Grand Prix at Indianapolis Raceway Park. This win was the beginning of a championship season for Andretti, who at the age of 25 became the youngest IndyCar champion. He repeated as champion in 1966 and again in 1968. During the 1969 season, Andretti won his only Indianapolis 500. prgtoken Andretti began competing in Formula One, the highest form of international open wheel racing, on a part-time basis in 1968. He became a full-time participant on the circuit in 1975 and won the Formula One world championship in 1978. Starting in 1979, the next circuit Andretti competed on was the PPG Indy Car World Series. Andretti raced in these events for sixteen years, winning the championship in 1984. He finished in the top ten of the championship standings in twelve out of the sixteen years he participated, his best mark for any racing circuit. Following the 1994 season, Andretti retired from professional racing. prgtoken In addition to open wheel racing, Andretti raced in fourteen NASCAR events. Although his NASCAR career was limited, he won the 1967 Daytona 500 and finished in the top ten in three of his other starts. prgtoken Andretti had one of the most remarkable racing careers of all time, amassing one hundred and eleven total wins. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of being the only driver to ever win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and the Formula One World Championship. Andretti's accomplishments culminated in his election to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and being named as ``Driver of the Century'' by the Associated Press. prgtoken , I ask the House to please join me in honoring the racing career of Mario Andretti, as well as the careers of his son Michael and grandson Marco, and their contributions to the sport of IndyCar. Mario Andretti's accomplishments served as inspiration for modern motorsport competitors and his legacy will forever be cemented in racing history, as well as in the Lehigh Valley.
AMENDING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE WATER RIGHTS QUANTIFICATION ACT OF 2010
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2018-4-16

I rise in support of S. 140, as amended, the bill sponsored by the outstanding Senator from the great State of Kansas, Mr. Moran. This bill affirms Tribal sovereignty and upholds the unique government-to-government relationship the United States shares with the Indian nations. prgtoken As chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, I have long said there is far more common ground than division on Indian issues. Our committee has a strong tradition of working in a bipartisan manner to improve the lives of Indian people and to build stronger Native American communities. prgtoken With the support of Indian Country, we have successfully advanced important initiatives to support Tribal economic development, healthcare, public safety, and housing. Additionally, we have worked to support our many Native veterans. Native Americans proudly serve and defend our great country at some of the highest rates per capita of any ethnic group. prgtoken Of the 29 bills we have cleared through the Indian Affairs Committee this Congress, 18 have passed the Senate by unanimous consent and 4 have already been signed into law. prgtoken Jefferson Keel, lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw Nation and president of the National Congress of American Indians, recently stated in an op-ed piece to The Hill: ``Both political parties have seen the wisdom of supporting strong tribal governments and tribal sovereignty and have to realize that as the most local of governments, tribes know best how to solve local challenges.'' prgtoken Tribal sovereignty is the inherent right of Indian Tribes to govern themselves on their own lands, and it is the cornerstone of our government-to-government, nation-to-nation relationship. Today marks a real opportunity for the Senate to affirm and celebrate Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. prgtoken The Senate will be considering S. 140, as amended, ``An Act to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010.'' This bill combines both and ic bills into three sections of S. 140. Each of these bills--S. 140, S. 249, and S. 63--all passed out of the Indian Affairs Committee with bipartisan support. prgtoken The first section of S. 140 would allow for a technical amendment so the White Mountain Apache Tribe can use all or a portion of already appropriated funds from a water rights settlement to complete their drinking water system in Arizona. This section was originally sponsored by Senators Flake and McCain as S. 140. The bill was voice-voted out of the Indian Affairs Committee and passed the Senate by unanimous consent. prgtoken Section 2 of S. 140 would amend the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act so that the Pueblos of Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh are authorized to lease their respective Indian trust and restricted lands for up to 99 years. This is identical language to S. 249, a bill that was introduced by Senators Udall and Heinrich of New Mexico. T