mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017--Continued
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2018-2-6

we have an opportunity before us today to fund key priorities that we all agree are important. The American people elected all of us to do a job, and that job is to provide for the most important functions of our government. prgtoken For far too long, politics has prevented us from committing the resources necessary to sustain the most critical part of our government--the military that keeps us safe. This is a chance to cast aside partisan differences and give the Department of Defense the stable and consistent funding it needs so it can rebuild readiness and execute its mission. prgtoken Just this morning, Secretary Mattis testified before Congress, saying: ``I ask that you not let disagreements on domestic policy continue to hold our nation's defense hostage.'' He is right. We cannot let these basic issues distract us from the job that we have all, under the Constitution, taken to provide for the common defense. prgtoken I just came from a classified briefing with the Secretary, and he outlined the most important needs we must fund for our country's security. So why not come together on issues we can agree on? Six months ago, this Chamber passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 89 to 9. In the time since, however, our military remains hamstrung under short- term measures that are standing in the way of modernization and readiness. prgtoken That is why I say to my ic colleagues, here is a chance for you to prove that you are serious about funding the military. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have already spoken clearly about their desire to support the troops. prgtoken Last month, the senior Senator from Vermont remarked: Our military leaders agree, we cannot govern by a continuing resolution. The military cannot function under sequestration. prgtoken The senior Senator from West Virginia said: We want our military to be funded properly so they can defend us. prgtoken The senior Senator from Montana said: The uncertainty we have without a longer budget that goes to the end of the fiscal year is unacceptable. prgtoken The senior Senator from Connecticut said: I hope there is bipartisan consensus among us on the Armed Services Committee and in the Chamber as a whole that we need a strong national defense. prgtoken Even today, the minority leader told this body that ``support increasing funding for our military.'' prgtoken So why not act? There is a consensus that we desperately need to fix the readiness issues in our Armed Forces. Why not take that step today and vote to provide the stable, predictable funding the Department of Defense so seriously needs? prgtoken When I swore an oath to defend the Constitution, I did it knowing that every day I hold this office, countless numbers of my constituents would be wearing the uniform and be i
FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-2-6

I spoke yesterday about the deadline we have coming up in 2 days. The question is, Are we going to fund the Federal Government? Are we going to keep the lights on, the parks open, the military protecting us, the Border Patrol protecting our borders, or are we going to shut down the government again over an unrelated issue? prgtoken I listened to my friend, the Senator from Illinois, talk at some length about DACA. I do want to respond to that, but there is no reason we have to do DACA first, because we are engaged in good-faith negotiations, and, indeed, the majority leader has promised that he would take up a bill on the floor of the Senate in our failing to reach an agreement. prgtoken The fact is that our friends across the aisle have, basically, shut down the government and are now threatening to hold hostage a number of very important measures, which I will talk about momentarily, over this issue that is unrelated to the funding of the government or to these other matters. prgtoken So what have we had to do? prgtoken We have had to pass short-term continuing resolutions. We have had five of them since September alone. The impact of these continuing resolutions was brought home to me again yesterday. prgtoken Usually, I would think about our military and General Mattis, who has pleaded with us to help provide the additional resources that are necessary to make sure that our military is ready, is trained, has the equipment it needs in order to fight and win wars but, hopefully, to maintain our strength so that we will never have to fight a war. That is how Ronald Reagan viewed it. I agree with General Mattis: Peace through strength is the right formula. prgtoken Yet, when our adversaries look at us with our military--just a pale reflection of what it used to be in terms of readiness because of the lack of funding we have provided--that is a provocation or, at least, an invitation for others to step in and fill the void, and it leads to a more dangerous world. prgtoken As I said, the harm caused by these continuing resolutions was brought home to me again yesterday when I had a number of people with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers come visit. These community health centers are a vital link and safety net for many Texans and many Americans who don't otherwise have a place they can go for their medical care. They treat people based on a sliding scale, based on the ability to pay, so they are accessible to virtually everyone. prgtoken What my constituents with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers told me was because of the funding cliff with the continuing resolutions, they don't know how to plan. Their doctors, their medical assistants, and other support staff don't know if they are going to have a job after Thursday, February 8, when the current continuing resolution expires. prgtoken They don't know whether the patients they treat will actually have a place to go t
CHILD PROTECTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2017--Continued
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-2-6

the good news for American workers continues to roll in. Just take a look at the headlines from the last week: ``Pfizer Plans $5 Billion Boost in U.S. Manufacturing From Tax Law Changes''; ``Cigna raises wages, benefits following tax law''; ``CEO: Lehigh Valley small businesses to benefit from federal tax overhaul''; ``Altria Group will pay $3,000 bonus to all non-executive employees''; ``Ozarks workers to receive bonuses, benefits thanks to tax changes''; ``Charter Sets $15 Minimum Wage''; ``Lowe's to pay U.S. staff $1,000 bonus following tax reform.'' prgtoken The number of companies increasing wages, boosting retirement contributions, or handing out bonuses thanks to tax reform continues to soar. Last week at this time, the number was over 250; now it is up over 300, and it keeps growing. Businesses are making plans to invest in their workers, raise wages, create new jobs, and invest in the U.S. economy. Fiat Chrysler, AT&T, Boeing, Home Depot, Great Western Bank in my home State of South Dakota, AaLadin Industries, Southwest, Best Buy, AccuWeather, Visa, Nationwide Insurance, Jet Blue--the list of companies announcing good news for American workers thanks to tax reform goes on and on. prgtoken The Nation's largest private employer, Walmart, announced an increase in its starting wage for hourly employees and bonuses for eligible employees. It also announced expanded maternity and parental leave benefits and the creation of a new adoption benefit for employees. More than 1 million Walmart employees will benefit from these changes. prgtoken JPMorgan Chase announced that it will raise wages for 22,000 workers, add thousands of jobs, and open 400 new branches in the United States. It also plans to increase its lending to small businesses. prgtoken Tech giant Apple announced that thanks to tax reform, it will bring home to the United States almost $250 billion in cash it has been keeping overseas and finally now invest it here in the United States. It also announced that it will create 20,000 new jobs and provide $2,500 stock bonuses to its employees. prgtoken FedEx announced plans to expedite raises and invest $1.5 billion to expand its FedEx Express hub in Indianapolis. It is also making a $1.5 billion contribution to its pension plan. prgtoken Last week, ExxonMobil announced that thanks in part to tax reform, it will invest an additional $35 billion in the U.S. economy over the next 5 years. That means a lot of new jobs and opportunities for American workers. prgtoken As I said before, I could go on and on. It is important to remember that this is just the beginning. To date, companies have barely experienced the benefits of tax reform, and already they are moving to invest in their workers and in the economy. As the benefits of tax reform continue to sink in and accrue, we can expect to see more growth, more jobs, and more opportunities for American workers. prgtoken The past month of good news i
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-2-6

. This is something that allows them to have that quality of life. prgtoken Why would you vote against lifting these caps and giving seniors what they deserve? prgtoken They have paid for Medicare through their working life. What they are seeking is to be able to have a full recovery. It is not only the appropriate thing to do, this is something that adds to the quality of life, just as keeping these community health centers funded enriches our communities. It enriches rural America. prgtoken I close with reiterating the point that, out of fairness, out of respect, out of loyalty to those who put on the uniform to defend us, let us join together and vote to fund the military and to support their efforts to defend this Nation.
COMMON SENSE NUTRITION DISCLOSURE ACT OF 2017
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-2-6

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this bill, H.R. 772, is a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Tony Cardenas to amend the Food and Drug Administration's menu labeling rule that was issued in November of 2014. prgtoken The goal of the bill was to make implementation of the nutrition disclosure law useful for consumers and workable for food service establishments. The existing regulatory framework, which has not yet been implemented, is not only cumbersome for the food industry, but it also impedes businesses' ability to provide meaningful information that customers can use to make nutrition decisions. prgtoken The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act is critical to avoid harming consumers' choices, jobs, and, certainly, small businesses. This bill was drafted to address the challenges of an overly prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to regulation affecting a very, very diverse industry. prgtoken We need to ensure that the law works for all food establishments: convenience stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, pizza shops. All have enormous challenges complying with the regulations as written. prgtoken This bill is going to provide those entities with the flexibility and, frankly, the certainty that they need to comply without compromising consumers' access to nutrition information. The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act will establish a more reasonable standard for Federal regulations and allow nutritional information to be provided by a remote access menu for establishments where the majority of orders, in fact, are placed off premises. prgtoken Consumers should have this information when they are placing an order. A menu board may work for some businesses where customers order at the counter where they also pay, but for an establishment where most people now order online or from a phone, having the calorie information when they pick up their order won't be very helpful to that consumer. prgtoken This legislation also takes steps to preserve local foods and fresh items that might be sold at just a few locations. To do so, the bill clarifies that menu labeling regulations are intended for standard menu items, defined as those items with substantially the same recipe prepared in substantially the same way with substantially the same food components that are routinely included on a menu or menu board or are routinely offered as a self-service food or food on display at 20 or more locations. prgtoken This bill also eliminates draconian penalties that are required in current law by removing criminal felony penalties for store managers and allowing restaurants and retailers to take corrective actions. This shields small-business owners and their employees from frivolous lawsuits based on inadvertent human error. No one ought to be criminalized for putting too many pickles on a sandwich or maybe not enough olives. This bill further
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-2-6

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 695.
COMMENDING LIEUTENANT GARY KING
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-2-6

I rise today to wish Lieutenant Gary King, of the City of Doral Police Department, a speedy recovery from the gunshot wound he received on January 16th while off-duty. Lieutenant King was confronted in his own driveway by two men who ambushed and attacked him and his wife. In the struggle, the attackers shot Lieutenant King in the arm. A longstanding member of the City of Doral Police Department, who has protected the citizens of Florida for over forty-eight years, Lieutenant King was rushed to the Jackson South Medical Center where he underwent surgery. He is currently recovering and is expected to return to duty shortly. I take this opportunity to commend Lieutenant King on his long career in the City of Doral Police Department and thank the whole Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and other agencies involved for their swift action. Within days, MDPD officers arrested the two suspects and have charged them both with attempted second-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated battery on a person sixty-five years or older, and armed burglary. Lieutenant King began his long career in law enforcement in 1969 when he entered the police service with the City of Miami Police Department. After moving to the MDPD in 1982, where he served with honor in various roles, his hard work and dedication was rewarded in 1990 with a promotion to the rank of Sergeant. In 2008, Lieutenant King went on to serve the City of Doral Police Department as Motorcycle Patrol Sergeant where his capabilities and experience were recognized with a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in 2012. Since then, Lieutenant King has served as a Uniform Platoon Commander and is currently the Traffic Section Commander. He has always held true to the City of Doral's Police Department philosophy of guardianship and has proudly worn the shield with valor and reverence for the values for which it stands I am honored to pay tribute to Lieutenant Gary King for his outstanding service to our community, and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him a prompt recovery.
CIVILITY AND TRUST
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-2-6

let me respond to my colleague and good friend from West Virginia. He and I served as Governors at the same time. We have a friendship that has now lasted more than a decade. A lot of what the Senator has indicated I feel as well in terms of the reason why we came here and the focus we should have. In fact, I think one of the most important things we can do as Members of this institution, Members of this body, is to show respect for one another and defend one another in our responsibility to try to find a way forward. Until we have that respect for one another, it will be very difficult to expect others to have that same respect for us or for this institution. prgtoken I most certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed by my colleague from West Virginia, and I appreciate his bringing them to the floor today.
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2018-2-6

I thank the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and his great staff who have worked diligently all year, month after month after month. Five months ago next week, they approved all 12 appropriations bills, one after another, regular order, through the House of Representatives. But there they sit over in the Senate and the block them. prgtoken What brings us here today is really important work. What brings us here today is that we are taking care of significant public healthcare issues. We are fully funding for the next 2 years community health centers. prgtoken I have heard from my colleagues about the things that aren't in this bill that they wish were, so that is why they are going to vote ``no,'' or some other thing that is not even before us and that is why they are going to vote ``no.'' prgtoken But let's talk about what is actually before us. prgtoken What is before us is taking care of our men and women in uniform and their needs, especially when they are in harm's way, and fund really, really important public health programs that used to always be bipartisan. prgtoken Let's talk about those. Valley Family Health Care Outreach Center in Ontario and Winding Waters Clinic in Wallowa County. I have visited both of these recently. They are on the front lines of healthcare prevention. They are on the front lines of saving lives and helping children and adults. Or La Clinica down in the Medford-Ashland area. prgtoken In fact, in my district, we have 12 federally qualified health centers and 63 delivery sites that give care for 240,000 Oregonians. Twenty-four million nationwide are served by this. prgtoken On November 3, this House had the opportunity to fully fund those community health centers for 2 years and take care of children's health insurance and a lot of these other programs. It was a separate bill brought to the House floor, and a handful of broke with their party and voted with us. But, unfortunately, when it got to the Senate, they couldn't be freed up to support it. So we had to come back in the last continuing resolution and fully fund the Children's Health Insurance Program. I am not sure many voted for that here, unfortunately. prgtoken But here we are today, same process, same situation to fund community health centers. So we are going to do that. Your choice when you vote is ``yes'' or ``no,'' you want the community health centers funded or not, you want to shut the government down or not, you want to take care of our military or not. prgtoken Then there is the disproportionate share hospitals. prgtoken What are those? prgtoken Those are the hospitals in our districts and States that take care disproportionately of more poorer people than other hospitals. Under the Affordable Care Act or Care, however you want to describe it, there was prescribed in law automatic cuts to these hospitals that take care of the poorest of the poor in our communities.
CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995 REFORM ACT
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-2-6

first of all, let me begin by thanking Chairman Harper for this outstanding bipartisan legislation, and Mr. Brady as well. This is what this place can produce when we do come together. prgtoken Obviously, it provides congressional employees with comprehensive protection from abuse, including zero tolerance for sexual harassment. prgtoken The bill significantly increases transparency on Member conduct by publishing reports on awards and settlements, and it holds Members personally financially responsible, ending the charade of having taxpayers foot the bill for abuses. prgtoken Very, very significantly, the new Office of Employee Advocacy, which the legislation creates, will provide free legal services to congressional employees. That is absolutely critical, , that House employees have a dedicated advocate to consult, assist, and to represent them. prgtoken , I want to thank Chairman Harper for including my bill, H.R. 4393, as section 303 of this bill. This section makes clear that employees of the Helsinki Commission and the China Commission, both of which I co-chair, are covered by the CAA. prgtoken In 2011, , an employee, a woman employed by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, filed suit making sexual harassment and workplace retaliation allegations directed to a former chairman of the commission. When I learned that the woman was being told--the woman who lodged the complaint--that the CAA did not apply to her, I immediately, as chairman, changed that policy. I deemed it. Thankfully, I checked with the House counsel, and I had the full backing of the House counsel. prgtoken I thought it was unconscionable that this person was told not only did she not have representation, which, again, the Harper bill now provides, but the CAA itself did not cover her. That was a terrible, terrible wrong. That will be rectified forever by this legislation. prgtoken , again, I want to thank Chairman Harper for his leadership. This is a remarkable bill, an important bill, and will protect employees from abuse.
CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995 REFORM ACT
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-2-6

I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken Prior to coming to Congress, I worked for 30 years as a labor and employment attorney in Alabama. I advised clients on how to prevent sexual harassment and how to navigate the process if a harassment claim was made. Quite frankly, I was shocked to see how complicated the congressional process for handling sexual harassment and other employment law claims was. prgtoken , this legislation is a shining example of how Congress should work. Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady engaged a bipartisan group of Members, including Representative Jackie Speier and me, interested in solving this problem. After months of thoughtful negotiation, we come to the floor today with a product that this House and the American people can be proud of. prgtoken Under this legislation, we will bring the congressional workplace into the 21st century and ensure that Congress plays by the same rules as the private sector. prgtoken There are far too many important reforms to mention all of them, but I want to highlight a few that I think are especially transformative. prgtoken First, the bill creates a fair and simpler process for employees to file an employment law claim and for the claim to be resolved. The bill creates prgtoken an Office of Employee Advocacy to ensure staff has access to legal counsel just as Member offices are provided. The process is also simplified to make the claims process smoother, faster, and fairer. prgtoken Second, the bill increases transparency by requiring that basic information about any sexual harassment or other claims be made public so the American people are fully aware of what is happening in Congress. prgtoken Third, the bill will ensure that Members of Congress, not taxpayers, are responsible for paying out sexual harassment settlements that they are responsible for. prgtoken Fourth, the related resolution paves the way for every congressional office to have a clearly defined antiharassment and antidiscrimination policy. This reform alone will result in greater awareness. prgtoken Fifth, the resolution prohibits Members of Congress from engaging in a sexual relationship with any staff member under their supervision and makes clear that sexual harassment is a violation of the Code of Official Conduct and will not be tolerated. prgtoken In closing, I want to again thank Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady for their leadership on this issue, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and the related resolution.