mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING TERRY LYNCH
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-3-7

it is with great pleasure that I take this time to honor my friend, Terry Lynch, and to wish him well upon his retirement from his position as Vice President of the Heat and Frost Insulators International. Mr. Lynch retired from his post at the end of 2016, and for his many years of service and expertise in the field, he is to be commended. Terry has devoted his life to the interests of men and women in the trades, and for his unwavering dedication, he is worthy of the highest praise. Terry Lynch has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his illustrious career. In 1970, he began his apprenticeship with Asbestos Workers Local 17 in Chicago, Illinois, before receiving his journeyman card in 1974. In 1980, Terry was elected Vice President of Local 17, before being selected to serve as the union's Corresponding, Recording, and Financial Secretary in 1984. Terry served in this capacity until 1986 when he was elected Trustee for Local 17's health, welfare, pension, and annuity funds. He also served as chairman of those jointly trusted funds and for the joint apprenticeship training committee. In 1996, Mr. Lynch was chosen to serve as Business Manager of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 17. He was elected to the position from which he retired, International Vice President at Large, in September 2002. Moreover, Terry served the international union as Legislative and Political Director and Health Hazard Administrator. Each and every day, Terry has cherished the honor and responsibility that comes with being an elected union leader. He has worked tirelessly to end the scourge of asbestos and to promote health initiatives to protect families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related health conditions. Terry has supported mechanical insulation, creating additional work opportunities for his fellow union members. Mr. Lynch is also a member and past admiral of the Pirates, a group comprised of individuals from union labor and management in Northwest Indiana dedicated to helping children with Down syndrome. Terry is truly an asset to the industry and to the community, and his passion and steadfast dedication serve as an inspiration to us all. Terry's commitment to the community and his career is exceeded only by his devotion to his amazing family. Terry and his loving wife of forty-seven years, Denise, have one son, Jason, and one grandson, Connor. I am proud that Terry Lynch is my friend, and I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me over the years. I am even more grateful for what he has done for so many for so long, strangers and friends alike I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring Terry Lynch for his outstanding contributions to Local 17 and the Heat and Frost Insulators International, and to wish him well upon his retirement. For many years, Terry has displayed his unwavering loyalty to members of the
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT REPLACEMENT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-7

the s released a bill last night. That bill deals with every American's welfare--every American's welfare--every child's welfare in this country. None of them were able to testify before the committee, before the committee marks it up on Wednesday. None of them were able to come to that committee and say how it will affect them or their families or their fellow citizens. None of them were able to testify as to the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for them, their families, their children, and their neighbors. None of them will have been able to read and digest the bill. prgtoken , last night, after locking it away in a basement for days, and just as reporters were leaving to go home, s released the text of their legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The country has been waiting for 7 years for the replacement, for the alternative, for the s to redeem their promise of a better plan, a better way to ensure the security of having health care that is affordable and available to each American and to their families and their children. prgtoken s have been promising, since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, that they would repeal it entirely and enact something better. They don't repeal it entirely, and they don't offer something better, something that covers more Americans and lowers costs to consumers. For 7 years, they have said we have a better plan. Last night, they revealed the inaccuracy of that representation; the bait-and-switch, if you will, of that representation; the pretense to their conservatives who have voted some 65 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act that they were not going to offer a bill that did that, notwithstanding the fact that they said that is what they are going to do. prgtoken The legislation they introduced would repeal, of course, some parts of the Affordable Care Act and replace them with policies that will take health coverage away, take health care away from millions of Americans and make millions of others pay more for less. prgtoken President , just the other day from that rostrum, promised the American people that the plan would ``have insurance for everybody.'' That was not true. Neither the House s nor the Senate s nor President have offered such a plan, and the plan that was revealed last night does not fulfill that representation. prgtoken , it should not surprise us, however, that our President says things that prove to be not accurate. He also said from that rostrum that the policies would be far less expensive and far better than they are now. This bill does not do that, and the President has offered no bill that does that. prgtoken This plan fails that representation miserably. It increases healthcare costs for middle class families in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest, who don't need them to afford health care. We shoul
Introductory Statement on S. 550
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-3-7

today, I have reintroduced legislation to protect Americans from being stripped of their legal rights by little known clauses that are now hidden in an alarming number of contracts. When we enter into agreements to obtain cell phone service, rent an apartment, or accept a new job, most are not made aware of the forced arbitration clauses that are tucked away in the legal fine print. But these dangerous provision force us to abandon our constitutional right to protect ourselves in court and instead send hard-working Americans to face wealthy corporations behind closed doors in private arbitration. This must change. prgtoken When Congress passed the Federal Arbitration Act in 1925, it was intended to help businesses resolve legal disputes with each other. But over the past two decades, private arbitration has been abused by large companies to push Americans out of court. In doing so, these companies have effectively opted out of critical labor, consumer, and civil rights laws that give Americans the ability to assert their claims before our independent judiciary. prgtoken Forced arbitration clauses now appear in nearly every contract we sign. Unfortunately, examples of the injustice caused by these clauses are equally ubiquitous and can be found all across the country. They affect consumers, workers, seniors, veterans, and families in Vermont and every other State, and the cases are heart-wrenching. prgtoken Just last week, the Washington Post reported that hundreds of current and former employees of Sterling Jewelers--a company that earns $6 billion in annual revenue--have for years alleged that the company is engaged in pervasive gender discrimination and has fostered a culture that condones sexual harassment. The stories now being reported are shocking and date back to the early 1990s. Yet, despite the fact that women at the company have been alleging misconduct for decades, no one knew about it. That is because their claims were hidden behind closed doors because of private arbitration. To this day, we still do not know the full details. prgtoken The press has helped to bring attention to other instances of forced arbitration in recent years. In 2015, the Los Angeles Times revealed that Wells Fargo used arbitration clauses to deny customers whose names were used to open fraudulent accounts an opportunity to seek justice in court. In fact, Wells Fargo asked a Federal court in Utah to move a number of sham account allegations to arbitration. The New York Times dedicated a three-part investigative series to highlighting the impact on consumers and workers of forced arbitration clauses. And becoming the story herself, television journalist Gretchen Carlson was barred from speaking publicly about her allegations of sexual harassment against former FOX News chairman Roger Ailes. prgtoken I have long raised concerns about the practice of forced arbitration, and as chairman led hearings of the Senat
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR-- Continued
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-3-7

I oppose today's resolution to overturn the Bureau of Land Management planning 2.0 rule. prgtoken The Bureau of Land Management is charged with ensuring responsible use of public lands, which requires extensive land use planning to balance priorities like recreation, conservation, and energy development. Planning 2.0 simply updates outdated planning processes that date back 30 years to provide greater community input and transparency. This is intended to create plans that work better for all users, including local communities. It is also meant to reduce the time it takes to complete the planning process. prgtoken Under the new rule, the public is involved in the planning process early to avoid costly and time-consuming disputes later. The rule allows for the use of current technology like geospatial data to allow for more science-based decisionmaking. prgtoken Developing planning 2.0 took 2 years and included consideration of more than 6,000 public comments. With today's resolution, we would abandon modernization that makes it easier for the public and State and local governments to be involved in the Federal planning process and revert to rules that were written in 1983. prgtoken A wide range of sportsmen groups, including the Izaak Walton League of America, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Trout Unlimited have asked us to preserve Planning 2.0. They write: ``Stakeholders prgtoken from across the multiple-use spectrum agreed that the previous BLM planning process could be improved. Under the outdated process, opportunities for public involvement were too few, and the public didn't learn about agency plans until they were already proposed.'' prgtoken If we pass this resolution today, BLM will have to go back to that outdated process and would be prohibited from proposing a rule that is substantially similar to planning 2.0. I urge my colleagues to vote against this resolution.
HONORING THE CAREER OF MR. M. WAYNE HUTTON
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-7

I rise today to honor the career of Mr. M. Wayne Hutton. After more than 30 years of serving in law enforcement, Mr. Hutton is retiring as Supervising District Attorney Investigator in Merced. Mr. Hutton's service to the community has earned him recognition among law enforcement officials throughout the San Joaquin Valley and California. He has undoubtedly paved a legacy in public service within our community. prgtoken Mr. Hutton's career is characterized by a strong work ethic and a passion for justice. Mr. Hutton began his law enforcement career as a Special Agent in the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. During his time as a Special Agent, Mr. Hutton was honored and awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, four Achievement Medals, and the National Defense Medal. He then went on to serve as a Deputy Sheriff in the Merced County Sheriff's Department. He received a Sheriff's Commendation for implementing the first Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy as well as his display of tactical action during a suicide attempt by a citizen. Mr. Hutton also received recognition for his work in the area of domestic violence and was praised by the Senate of the State of California. prgtoken Mr. Hutton later served as an Investigator for the District Attorney in Merced County. During his tenure, Mr. Hutton has conducted numerous felony investigations and other high profile major white collar fraud cases. Due to his outstanding work, he was then promoted to Supervising Investigator. Mr. Hutton wrote the Policy and Procedures Manual for the Bureau of Investigation and conducted numerous embezzlement and white collar crime investigations, which included a case that involved a record $1.4 million loss. prgtoken Mr. Hutton's decision to become an adjunct instructor at Merced College is another example of his devoted service to the community. Mr. Hutton taught the next generation of law enforcement the skills necessary to write reports and do complete criminal investigations. He has instructed over 300 cadets in the State of California's Peace Officer Standards and Training approved Reserve Peace Officer Training Courses. prgtoken Many are saddened by Mr. Hutton's retirement, but his achievements and years of service will not be forgotten. He has been a part of the law enforcement community for 31 years, and it is my hope that his career will inspire others to follow in his footsteps. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the career and achievement of Mr. M. Wayne Hutton. Mr. Hutton has proven to be an inspiring and hardworking individual for Merced County, and I am confident he will continue to demonstrate his passion for public service in the next chapter of his life.
PROTECTING YOUNG VICTIMS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE ACT
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-3-7

yesterday I introduced the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act, a bill to protect young athletes who participate in the U.S. amateur ranks from sexual abuse. prgtoken Before last summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Indianapolis Star published an investigative piece that revealed that amateur gymnasts were sexually abused in gyms all across the country. No one knew how widespread the problem was in that sport. prgtoken But throughout the investigation, the Indianapolis Star tallied-- after reviewing police files and court cases across the country--368 gymnasts who alleged they were sexually abused over a 20-year time period. prgtoken Kids as young as 6 were secretly photographed in the nude by coaches. Young athletes were molested by coaches during ``therapy'' sessions. Sexual predators spent countless hours with children one-on-one and abused them for years before anything was done. These accounts were devastating. And they were just the tip of the iceberg. prgtoken After reviewing this report, I, along with my colleagues Senator Leahy, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Donnelly, wrote to USA Gymnastics to urge the organization to do more to protect their young athletes. prgtoken Specifically, we urged the organization to update its policies and require that all members--including coaches, athletes, and others-- immediately report to law enforcement when there is an incident of sexual abuse committed against an athlete. prgtoken After we sent the letter, several sexual abuse victims from California reached out to my staff. They revealed that they were abused by individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics. I told my staff that I had to meet them. prgtoken Six brave women, who were each abused as young gymnasts at various points in their careers, then travelled across the country to share their testimonies with me. Two athletes from another sport who were sexually abused also joined us. I will never forget their faces that day. When I walked into the room, I could sense the overwhelming devastation wrought on their lives. prgtoken One by one, they shared their hopes and dreams as young athletes. The gymnasts talked about how, while pursuing future Olympic glory, they put their complete faith in the USA Gymnastics infrastructure. They fully trusted the coaches and doctors who had the USA Gymnastics seal of approval. And it was in this environment that they were sexually exploited by those whom they trusted. prgtoken Several of the women had been abused repeatedly--over the course of months and years--by a USA Gymnastics team doctor named Larry Nassar. Nassar is currently being prosecuted for a number of horrific crimes against children. One of those brave women was Jamie Dantzscher, a retired gymnast who won the bronze medal competing in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Jamie told me how she trained as a young girl in California. When she was 13 years old, she was thrilled to be invited to
INTRODUCTION OF THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE PROHIBITION ACT OF 2017
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-3-7

I rise today to introduce the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act of 2017, legislation that will prohibit the slaughter and trade of dogs and cats for human consumption in the United States. It might surprise you to learn that consumption of dogs and cats is still legal in 44 states in our nation, where there are no laws prohibiting the purchasing, shipping, transporting, selling, or donating of dogs or cats to be slaughtered for human consumption. This bill will prohibit these actions and impose penalties to ensure that individuals involved in the dog or cat meat trade are held accountable. prgtoken The United States' position on this cruel and brutal practice should be unequivocal: dogs and cats should not be killed in this country for the consumption of their meat. It is with utmost importance that the United States unifies animal cruelty laws in all 50 states and explicitly bans the killing of dogs and cats for human consumption. prgtoken , I hope this body will expeditiously pass this measure. Doing so will reaffirm America's commitment to the humane treatment of our most beloved companions.
FAIRNESS FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS ACT OF 2017
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-3-7

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken Last Thursday, I was wandering the Capitol searching for the 's secret repeal bill. We went from room to room, and it wasn't there. But now that I have seen it, I understand why they would want to hide it. prgtoken Even if we can all agree that we need to make health care more affordable and more accessible, this bill is not the solution. In fact, this bill will only make things worse. prgtoken The repeal bill gives tax breaks to the rich. We are talking about over $600 billion overall, while taking away health coverage from millions of Americans. The repeal bill will drastically increase the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans, with the biggest increase for seniors and for working families. prgtoken It would radically change the Medicaid program, slashing funding, and covering fewer people. prgtoken The repeal bill will force Governors and State legislators to ration care. My Governor weighed in now and said that it would be trouble for Illinois if Medicaid is cut back. prgtoken Who do they want to cut out? Children, the elderly, people with disabilities. Thousands of hardworking individuals in Illinois will lose access to health coverage. As I said, in fact, Governor Bruce Rauner said that our State ``won't do very well'' if the repeal bill becomes law. prgtoken The repeal bill breaks the promise made by President to cover more Americans at lower cost. prgtoken I oppose this bill. I am going to fight tooth and nail to protect our care. And, frankly, I think this bill, as my mother would say, is deader than a door nail.
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES THOMAS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-3-7

I want to take a few moments to acknowledge Charles Thomas, a veteran broadcast journalist and political reporter. Last week, after a career spanning four decades, Charles Thomas appeared in his final newscast at ABC 7 Chicago. prgtoken Born in Webster Groves, MO, Charles grew up in the St. Louis area and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. Shortly after graduation, Charles began his career as a radio reporter at KCMO in Kansas City. He has also worked in news stations in San Francisco and Philadelphia before becoming the ABC News bureau Midwest correspondent in St. Louis. In 1991, Charles was hired as a general assignment reporter at ABC 7 Chicago and later named to the coveted position of political reporter in 2009. prgtoken Since joining ABC 7's ``Eyewitness News'' in 1991, its newscast was and remains the most watched TV news in Chicago. On Charles's 25th anniversary at the station, he said: ``I am very blessed to have worked here and like to think that my efforts have had something to do with that success.'' As an avid viewer, I am here to say it has. His unique perspective and keen ability to tell stories make him invaluable to any newsroom. Let me tell you, Charles asks the tough questions and holds us all accountable. As the politician often in the crosshairs, I can tell you I knew Charles was always prepared and ready to challenge any weak response. I speak for all of Chicago when I say Charles Thomas will be missed. prgtoken For more than a quarter century, Charles has covered the biggest stories in the country--the OJ Simpson Trial, Oklahoma City bombing, Rodney King trials, Great Chicago Flood, and the election of the first African-American President, to name just a few. He truly had a front row seat to history. He even joined then-Senator on a trip to Africa in 2006. His remarkable career has taken him to every State in America and five continents, and he leaves with no regrets. Reflecting on his years covering national, State, and local politics, he said: ``Without a moment's hesitation, I can look back and say I had the best TV reporting job in America.'' prgtoken Charles Thomas has had an amazing career. His work earned him two Emmy awards for reporting in 1983 and 1992. Although he is retiring, Charles is not done telling stories. He plans to explore digital storytelling focusing on the African-American community, celebrating positive stories often missing in local and national broadcasts--what a noble and necessary endeavor. I am heartened that Charles will remain an inspirational voice in the community. prgtoken I want to congratulate Charles Thomas on his distinguished career and thank him for his outstanding service to the people of Chicago. I especially want to thank Charles's wife, Maria, and their three children for sharing so much of their husband and father with our community. I wish him and his family all the best in