mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-16

I rise today to voice my concerns about the nomination of Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. prgtoken More than 74,000 Californians have contacted my office expressing serious concerns about Mr. Pruitt's nomination. prgtoken Californians want an EPA Administrator with a demonstrated commitment to protecting public health and the environment. Unfortunately, Mr. Pruitt's record shows the opposite: a clear hostility to public health and environmental protections at both the Federal and State level. prgtoken Californians rightfully fear that Mr. Pruitt's only plan for the EPA is to dismantle the Agency from within and give polluters free rein. prgtoken The EPA is the lead enforcement agency for bedrock environmental laws like the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA works with States, local communities and tribes to provide funding and expertise for fulfilling these environmental laws that keep our communities healthy and safe. prgtoken Based on his record as Attorney General of Oklahoma and his past statements, including in his confirmation hearing, Scott Pruitt is not the right man for this very important job. prgtoken As the Oklahoma Attorney General, Mr. Pruitt eliminated the State's environmental protection unit, which enforces State environmental laws, including suing polluters for criminal negligence. prgtoken Meanwhile, he's led or participated in over 14 partisan lawsuits against the EPA, challenging the Agency's ability to implement Federal environmental protections, lawsuits that challenged protections against mercury pollution, ``polluter pays'' clean-up requirements, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. prgtoken And his rhetoric matches his record. Mr. Pruitt has repeatedly questioned the validity of widely accepted science that undergirds EPA action. He routinely treats the scientific consensus on climate change as merely a debate. In an interview with Exploring Energy, Pruitt stated: ``There are scientists that agree, there are scientists that don't agree, to the extent of man's contribution and whether it is even harmful at this point.'' prgtoken He dismissed the dangers of mercury pollution, arguing in one of his lawsuits: ``The record does not support EPA's finding that mercury . . . poses public health hazards. . .'' prgtoken At his confirmation hearing, when asked whether there is any level of lead exposure that is safe for children, he could only reply ``that is something that I have not reviewed nor know about.'' prgtoken Even on his public profile, he described himself as ``a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda.'' prgtoken We are supposed to trust someone to enforce our environmental laws who considers himself the primary foe of the EPA? That record is troubling enough, but Mr. Pruitt also faces many conflict of interest issues that he has refused to commit to recusing himself from as EP
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF FINAL RULE OF DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-2-16

let's talk about what this rule didn't do. prgtoken First off, ANILCA did not grant the State of Alaska any additional authority to manage wildlife on Federal lands. This rule is totally compliant with ANILCA. ANILCA actually prioritizes conservation of these species we are talking about here today, apex predators, on more than half the refuges in the State. prgtoken As required by ANILCA, the rule ensures that national wildlife refuges--that is what we are talking about here, wildlife refuges-- conserve species and habitats in their natural diversity. That doesn't mean you kill the predators so that people who don't have good hunting skills are going to have an easier time getting a caribou or moose. That is not what this is supposed to be about on the national wildlife refuges. It actually prioritizes conservation of these species. prgtoken I just heard that something about this will severely restrict hunting and fishing on these lands. Absolutely not true, unless you say shooting wolves and their pups in the den or gassing them in the den is hunting--and we are restricting that. prgtoken Bears and cubs would be killed during hibernation, hunters crawling around killing bears during hibernation. No, hunters don't do that. prgtoken Brown and black bears would be trapped, snared using steel-jawed traps, wire snares--again, not hunters, not sportsmen. prgtoken Luring and baiting grizzly bears? Wow. Now, that is a real sportsmanlike hunter with a lot of skills kind of guy or woman who has to use bait to kill a grizzly bear. prgtoken Aerial gunning of bears by State agency personnel, that is hunters? No, not quite. prgtoken Sportsmen? No, don't think so. prgtoken And using aircraft to track bears and kill in the same day, those are the things that would be prohibited. That is what is prohibited. prgtoken Subsistence hunting? Absolutely no impact. prgtoken Fishing? Fish? I guess the fishing thing would be the grizzly bears eat the fish, and people who don't have good fishing skills want to catch the fish. So if we kill the grizzly bears, they won't eat the fish. So it does impact fishing, I guess, sort of, maybe. No, it doesn't. prgtoken This is absolutely inhumane, unsportsmanlike, and unnecessary. The State of Alaska is doing this just to decrease the natural balance of predation, which actually creates healthier herds of caribou and healthier moose populations. prgtoken There was a study done in 2015 by professors from both Alaska and Washington that showed that actually having these predators present increases the health and the diversity of the herds of caribou, because the sick and the lame and the old get killed, but the rest of them flourish and breed. There would be more than enough still to hunt. prgtoken Yeah, maybe you won't be able to drive your pickup truck, stick your rifle out of the away, blast away, and get one. You might actually have to get out of the pickup truck. You might actually have to have some h
Prescription Drug Prices (Executive Calendar)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-2-16

I want to speak about this nomination from the standpoint of our State, our State of Florida, because we are famous for sugar-white beaches, fertile fishing grounds, and unique environmental treasures, such as the Florida Everglades. These precious natural resources need our protection and our stewardship. In fact, Florida's multibillion-dollar tourism industry is driven by the fact that people come to our State to enjoy these kinds of environmental treasures. prgtoken I have just come from a meeting with the American Hotel & Lodging Association. With multibillions of dollars of investments all over Florida, what happens if the guests don't come? That is a major investment that is lost. prgtoken And, oh, by the way, a few years ago during the BP oil spill--when the oil got only as far east from Louisiana as Pensacola Beach, and some oil was in Choctawhatchee Bay and Destin and some tar balls were as far east as Panama City Beach, but not any further--the visitors didn't come because they thought the beaches were covered with oil. prgtoken Well, right now Florida's unique environment is threatened by several environmental challenges, from the threat of fracking in this honeycomb of limestone filled with freshwater that supports the peninsula of Florida to algal blooms that have plagued much of Florida's Treasure Coast this last year, to the red tide in the Tampa Bay area, and to Burmese pythons in the Everglades. And that is just a little bitty partialness of the plagues. To deal with these challenges, States such as ours depend on the EPA as a backstop. prgtoken I am here to express my concerns about the President's pick to lead this agency. It has been well documented that the President's pick is a friend of the oil industry. There is nothing wrong with that. But this is an industry that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions to Mr. Pruitt and the PACs supporting him over the years. prgtoken Ever since I was a young Congressman, I have been fighting to keep oil rigs off the coast of Florida. In the first place, there is not a lot of oil out there, but Florida's unique environment--from what I just told you about, the BP oil spill--its tourism-driven economy, and, oh, by the way, the largest testing and training area for the U.S. military in the world, the Gulf of Mexico off of Florida, as well as all of the testing ranges on the east coast, and how about the rockets coming out of the prgtoken Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the rockets coming out of the Kennedy Space Center--because of all of those, you can't have oil rigs down there. For all of those reasons, it makes Florida incompatible with offshore oil drilling. An EPA Administrator with such close ties to the oil industry is deeply concerning for the people of Florida. prgtoken But Mr. Pruitt's ties to Big Oil aren't the only concern that we have in Florida. During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Pruit
HONORING RETIRING WESTERN SPRINGS CHIEF OF POLICE PAMELA CHURCH
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-2-16

I rise today to honor Western Springs Chief of Police Pamela Church, who is retiring after 33 years of service in law enforcement. Chief Church started out as physical education teacher in the Decatur School District. After seven years in education, she decided to switch careers and become a police officer in 1983. She started as a patrol officer for the Downers Grove Police Department where she developed an award-winning community oriented policing program. Chief Church spent more than 20 years serving and protecting the Downers Grove community and rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief. In November 2005, Chief Church was hired as Chief of Police for the Western Springs Police Department. Upon becoming Chief, she became one of seven female police chiefs in the State of Illinois. Chief Church honorably protected the Western Springs community for over a decade. In addition, Chief Church has been recognized by a variety of organizations for her exemplary efforts as Police Chief. In 2010, Church became the 50th president and first female president of the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association, an honorable testament to her work outside of Western Springs and her dedication to law enforcement. She was also given the Illinois State Bar Association Law Enforcement Award in 2009, among countless other awards honoring her commitment to her community. Thanks to her work as Chief, she has made Western Springs a better and safer community I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief of Police Pamela Church for all she has done in her years of service to her community and to congratulate her on her retirement. Her contributions have made an important impact in Western Springs and she will surely be missed.
WHAT IS THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-2-16

after only 24 days in office, President 's National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned in disgrace. prgtoken Why? prgtoken He had direct contact with the Russian Ambassador, assuring him, in likely violation of U.S. law, that the sanctions against Russia would be reversed. And then he lied about it. prgtoken There is evidence of campaign officials having regular contact with Russians officials, and we know Russia hacked into DNC files and doled out stolen information with the goal of aiding the campaign. prgtoken So the question is: What is the Russian connection? prgtoken Congress must do its job. We should conduct a full-scale, no-holds- barred investigation of the links between the campaign and Russian officials. There is a mountain of evidence we cannot ignore. prgtoken The American people have a right to know, of course. But even more importantly, the enduring strength of our democracy is being tested. Congress must maintain our constitutional protection of checks and balances. Investigate now. Investigate fully.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF FINAL RULE BY SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-2-16

. Madam , I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 43 which is another baseless and dangerous attack on women's health care providers. prgtoken The title X Family Planning Rule, passed almost 50 years ago, already requires states to base title X funding on a provider's ability to provide title X services. This rule protects title X providers from facing unwarranted discrimination and allows them to continue doing the important work 4 million Americans rely on every year. Title X services include family planning services, cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and basic care. To diminish these services will result in women, men and young people with the greatest need being denied the opportunity to have any health care. prgtoken Whether or not a provider provides safe and legal abortions with private funds is irrelevant to their ability and capacity to provide title X services. In fact, it is preventive services and family planning offered through title X programs that help to lower the number of unintended pregnancies. But attacks on these providers and the services they offer in their communities persist. prgtoken This resolution rolls back protections that should already be guaranteed, but repeated attacks on family planning providers have resulted in the need for rules like the one this resolution dismantles. That is why I strenuously oppose this resolution. It should be rejected as an unjustified and unnecessary attack on title X programs and the services they provide for millions of low income Americans.
WE DESERVE TO KNOW
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-2-16

we live in a dangerous world, and the President needs a National Security Adviser who isn't under a cloud of suspicion. But this resignation isn't the end. Americans now deserve to know if General Flynn was operating under anyone else's authority. prgtoken The American people deserve to know if Russia has financial, personal, or political grip on President or his campaign. I am urging the agencies involved in the investigation to continue their important work vigorously. prgtoken I also ask my colleagues in House leadership to launch a bipartisan, independent congressional investigation into Russia's influence on the election and the new administration. prgtoken Lastly, I once again am calling on President to remove his cheap political strategist, Steve Bannon, from the National Security Council and reinstate the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to restore some semblance of respectability to the organization's structure.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-2-16

today I, along with 13 of my Senate colleagues, am introducing the Presidential Trade Transparency Act of 2017. This bill establishes new reporting requirements directing the President to disclose foreign income, assets, and liabilities when initiating or continuing trade or investment negotiations with a foreign country, taking or refraining to take certain trade enforcement actions, or granting or modifying preferential tariff treatment under statutory trade preference programs. Each of these decisions may have significant commercial implications, both as to a foreign country's economy as a whole and with respect to particular investments within a foreign country. Given the complexity and lack of transparency with respect to the President's finances, additional country-specific reporting is necessary for Congress to properly exercise its oversight responsibilities and assess whether the authority it has granted to the President is the subject of undue influence due to a business relationship between the President and one or more foreign entities. Reporting of this information will also help address questions regarding improper influence by foreign entities when the President exercises trade authorities granted by Congress. prgtoken Americans have a right to know if the President is looking out for the good of the country or just his own bottom line when he negotiates a trade deal, decides whether or not to enforce our trade laws, or decides whether to cut tariffs on imports from a developing country. The President has business interests around the world, but he continues to keep the full nature of those ties secret. prgtoken Under the Constitution, Congress is responsible for regulating foreign commerce, including setting U.S. tariff rates applicable to imports from foreign countries. However, Congress has granted the President limited authority to modify U.S. tariffs in certain circumstances, including to enforce U.S. laws protecting U.S. industry from harmful trade or to address foreign trade barriers, to negotiate trade agreements that eliminate foreign barriers to U.S. exports, and to grant developing countries preferential access to the U.S. market. prgtoken In many instances, the President himself is granted this authority and does not exercise it through a Cabinet official. While Congress has granted such authority to the President, it retains the responsibility to ensure that the President uses the authority in a manner consistent with congressional objectives. prgtoken The bill directs the President to report to Congress information regarding foreign income, assets, and liabilities, consistent with the information required to be disclosed under the Ethics in Government Act, specifically as to any country that is the subject of a trade negotiation, trade enforcement action or inaction, or decision to grant or deny tariff preferences, and to describe in detail the nature of the conn
Prescription Drug Prices (Executive Calendar)
Heidi Heitkamp (Democrat, ND) \u2014 2017-2-16

I join my colleagues today to recognize that the environment is critically important. One of the true issues States face is getting back to the promises of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to make sure States enjoy primacy, and I think that is a critical component that is not being discussed today as we look at guaranteed clean water and clean air--making sure that those closest to those issues have the ability to have the input that was anticipated by almost every environmental statute. So I would remind my colleagues that when we focus many times on Federal issues and Federal appointments, one of the most important things that we can do is focus on the fact that these Federal agency heads need to work cooperatively with State organizations. prgtoken Scott Pruitt, who is a soon-to-be former attorney general, understands the State role, and I think that is a critical qualification and an important distinction to make.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF FINAL RULE BY SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-2-16

. Madam , I thank my friend for her incredible leadership on this issue. prgtoken Rather than working across the aisle with to grow our economy, to rebuild older communities, to create new jobs, s are, again, focused on attacking women's health, undermining healthcare programs that provide preventive care for over 4 million Americans, many low-income women who would otherwise be uninsured. prgtoken Eliminating this rule makes it harder for women and families to have access to lifesaving cancer screenings, for example, birth control, and other vital health services. These funds are providing necessary health services, Madam , and everyone in this debate knows what this is about. These dollars do not support abortion. We know Federal law prohibits these dollars from being used for that purpose, but to hear our friends on the other side, they would imply that is the case. prgtoken Now, there is and should be a legitimate debate on that subject, but it has been the law and it continues to be the law that these dollars are not used for abortion services. This is about health care. This is about lifesaving health prgtoken care for women, and it ought to be preserved.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF FINAL RULE BY SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chellie Pingree (Democrat, ME) \u2014 2017-2-16

. Madam , title X family planning services are an essential lifeline for Mainers who need access to high-quality preventive and reproductive care, from cancer screenings to STI testings, to birth control. The resolution we are debating today threatens access to these critical services. prgtoken Every year, Maine's network of title X providers serves more than 22,000 individuals in nearly every county, including some of the most rural and underserved communities in our State. Sixty-five percent of last year's patients had outcomes that qualified them for free or reduced-cost services. prgtoken Family planning health centers often end up being their patients' primary source of health care. Providers are trusted members of the community. The care they deliver is high quality, and often they are the only affordable local option. Without title X funds, thousands of women and men throughout Maine would struggle to access and afford alternative primary care. prgtoken At a time when s want to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan, it is more important than ever to preserve title X as a cornerstone of our safety-net healthcare system.