mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
THE STATE OF AMERICA'S VOTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-8

17 years ago, the United States began a 2- month-long crash course in voting machines and election infrastructure. The 2000 Presidential election opened our eyes to the fact that voting equipment in most places was out-of-date and unsafe. prgtoken We didn't learn the lessons of 2000, and in 2017, America's election infrastructure remains in a bad state. We must act immediately. prgtoken First, we need to help all local and State governments replace their outdated paperless machines with more secure systems. prgtoken Second, we need to require postelection audits of all paper records to make sure that the results tabulated by voting machines have not been hacked. prgtoken Third, we need to help election officials at the local level upgrade their database and election infrastructure to protect against all cyber attacks. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting all efforts to modernize and protect our voting infrastructure and legislation dealing with cyber attacks.
HYDROPOWER POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2017
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-11-8

hydropower is an essential component of an all-of-the-above energy strategy. prgtoken We have a tremendous opportunity to expand renewable hydropower production. However, without some much-needed licensing improvements, we risk losing investment opportunities in new hydropower infrastructure. In particular, closed-loop pumped storage hydro projects offer the opportunity to store energy for use when it is needed. prgtoken I have introduced separate legislation, H.R. 2880, with the goal of making the review process of these projects as efficient as possible. Both H.R. 3043 and H.R. 2880 will allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to impose licensing conditions only as necessary to protect public safety, or that are reasonable, economically feasible, and essential to protect fish and wildlife resources. prgtoken I am excited about the possibility some are exploring to build these facilities in abandoned mine lands. This renewable energy solution for power could be a real benefit to our coal field regions in central Appalachia in the form of jobs, economic development, and energy security. I am proud of what we are doing here in an effort to make this happen. prgtoken Industry and labor groups alike support H.R. 3043 because a modern regulatory framework for hydro is good for jobs and good for consumers. The following groups have written in support of the bill: prgtoken The American Council on Renewable Energy, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, and many others. prgtoken , I include in the Record the letter containing the names of supporters. November 6, 2017. The undersigned groups are writing to express strong support for H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, and to request your vote as it is considered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Hydropower is America's single largest provider of renewable electricity, making up almost one-half of all generation from renewable resources. Given that hydropower is an important source of domestic, emissions-free, flexible power needed to ensure consistent and reliable electric service, we must look to preserve and protect our existing hydropower system and promote new expansion opportunities. H.R. 3043 provides a framework that adds accountability and transparency, eliminates inefficiencies and redundancies, and unlocks innovation and advancements in technology and operations, while protecting environmental values, public participation, and all existing authorities of federal and state decision-makers in the licensing process The current regulatory environment is placing hydropower at risk. The licensing
Nomination of William Wehrum (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-11-8

President has been in office now for more than 9 months. He has laid out his agenda to cut punishing regulations, to grow the economy, and to help hard-working Americans. prgtoken President 's administration has already taken important steps to roll back the regulatory rampage of the last 8 years. During the last administration, the Environmental Protection Agency issued harmful and punishing, overreaching regulations that hurt workers in my home State of Wyoming. prgtoken According to the chamber of commerce, from 2008 to 2016, the EPA issued regulations that cost our economy over $60 billion each year-- significantly more than any other Federal agency. These rules had real- life impacts. The administration's so-called Clean Power Plan would have closed powerplants and cost America jobs. We can have both clean air and a growing economy. We have proven it. prgtoken My goal is to make American energy as clean as we can, as fast as we can, without raising costs on American families. President shares that goal. That is why EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has led the charge in cutting redtape. The EPA has taken important steps to roll back the Clean Power Plan and other punishing EPA regulations. prgtoken It is interesting. The annual cost of high-impact rules by agencies from 2008 to 2016--there were 13 rules by the EPA--in the red right here, billions and billions and billions--over $60 billion. prgtoken Administrator Pruitt needs his full leadership team in place at the Agency to complete the task, so today the Senate is going to vote on cloture so we can consider the nomination of Bill Wehrum. He has been nominated to serve as EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. Mr. Wehrum has more than three decades of experience in environmental policy. He has worked as an environmental engineer, a public servant at the EPA, and is an environmental lawyer. His time at the EPA includes 2 years of service as the Acting Administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation--the same office he has now been nominated to lead. prgtoken EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is critically important in terms of a division within the Agency. It develops national programs, policies, and regulations for limiting air pollution and radiation exposure. One of the responsibilities of this office is implementing the Clean Air Act, and it is a big job. prgtoken Here is a chart. Most EPA regulatory burdens come from EPA air regulations; 94.5 percent from the Office of Air and Radiation regulatory burden in 2014; only 5.5 percent from all other EPA offices' regulatory burden of that same year. So under the administration, the air office was one of the biggest regulatory abusers. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the EPA's air regulations were responsible for 95 percent of the cost of the Agency's regulations. Now Mr. Wehrum is going to play a key role in undoing this r
HYDROPOWER POLICY MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2017
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2017-11-8

I want to draw attention, first of all, to page 17, line 23, of the bill because we have heard from those who oppose it that somehow this could adversely undermine the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, et cetera. prgtoken Line 23 makes it very clear, ``No effect on other laws. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any requirement of'' these underlying and very important laws that protect our environment. prgtoken So I just want to make sure that is in the Record. This is the current text of the bill we are voting on today. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act. prgtoken Hydropower plays an enormously important role in electricity generation across the country, and especially in my home State of Oregon. Hydropower generates 43 percent of electricity in my State. It is dependable base load, it is carbon-free, it is renewable, and it is very important to our region. prgtoken Nationally, hydropower is one of the largest sources of renewable electricity generation. A recent Department of Energy report said that U.S. hydropower could grow by almost 50 percent by the year 2050. prgtoken Thankfully, my good friend from Washington, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, introduced this legislation because, as these entities go to relicense, sometimes it costs tens of millions of dollars just to get a renewal of a government permit to continue to do what you have been doing, and it can take 7 to 10 years to work through the process. By the way, all those costs generally--guess who pays for them? The ratepayers. People paying their electricity bill end up paying for all this incredible, out-of-control review and regulation. prgtoken As the committee worked on this legislation under the able hand of the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, Mr. Upton, we solicited feedback from all stakeholders as we crafted this. We made a number of changes to address the concerns. We had hearings, and we had lots of other individual discussions and roundtables. We added new provisions to ensure that States and Tribes are consulted early in the licensing process to identify and resolve issues of concern. prgtoken We also made sure that State and local governments could recoup the cost of reviewing applications and conducting studies. We even added a strong savings clause that clarifies our intent that nothing in the bill shall be construed to effect any requirement of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other environment laws. prgtoken As a result, we find ourselves here today with bipartisan support for this legislation and the support of the American Council on Renewable Energy, the American Public Power Association, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Edison Electric Institute, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Electrical Workers, the In
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-11-8

let me begin by acknowledging the leadership that Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray have offered and also by saying how much I have appreciated the hard work that Senator King from Maine has participated in, as well, in this process. They have worked together, side by side, to try to find some common ground while still retaining and protecting the principles they all hold with regard to how health insurance, long term, should be approached. prgtoken Coming to a bipartisan agreement on this very important piece of legislation prgtoken is only the first step. As you know, a deal was announced last month to give States permanent flexibility to avoid some of Care's most crushing mandates, while also temporarily authorizing the cost sharing reduction, or CSR, payments for 2 years. That is what the piece of legislation we are referring to in this particular case, the Alexander- Murray legislation, would do. prgtoken This agreement is a win for conservatives who have spent the past 7 years promising to relieve the American people of Care's skyrocketing premiums, limited choices, and Federal chokehold. For the first time since Care was forced onto the American public, the Alexander-Murray legislation is an opportunity to provide permanent, meaningful opportunities for States to opt out of some of Care's most egregious mandates under the 1332 waiver program, while making healthcare more affordable for their constituents. prgtoken As a former Governor, like my colleagues Mr. Alexander and Mr. King, I understand that the best decisions are made at the State and local levels, not by Federal bureaucrats. Empowering States with new opportunities to innovate and strengthen their individual health insurance markets in a way that meets their citizens' unique needs is a first step toward repealing Care and allowing the marketplace to once again be competitive and innovative. prgtoken In exchange for the permanent 1332 waiver changes, we have agreed to temporarily authorize the administration to make CSR payments for 2 years, similar to the provisions of the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which 49 Members of the U.S. Senate supported earlier this year. prgtoken Recall that President announced recently that he would stop the CSR payments after a Federal court found them to be illegal because they had not been appropriated by Congress. Not surprisingly, the previous administration had continued making these payments, a practice that President rightfully and correctly stopped after months of warning that he would do so. We applaud the President for returning this appropriations decision to its constitutional place--with Congress. prgtoken We also recognize that there are millions of Americans who will face steep premium increases come January as a result of this challenging decision. This is in addition to the already skyrocketing premium increases that Amer
FOOD SECURITY IN AMERICA
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2017-11-8

. Madam , I thank the gentleman, my friend, for allowing me actually to speak about what is happening in terms of the USDA--the Department of Agriculture--and all the food programs on the island in terms of disaster, as the gentleman was explaining, how these programs work with the disaster. prgtoken As we speak, Puerto Rico's still has 60 percent of the island without power. As we speak, less than 20 percent of our island is having actual running water, problems with communications. prgtoken The first thing people will say is lack of electricity. They will say the lack of a proper home, when you have got more than 60,000 homes that just lost their roof or even are having a lot of damages. prgtoken So in that regard, the nutritional assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for disaster relief in Puerto Rico has been indispensable; it has been important. Actually, the continuous communication the Government of Puerto Rico is having with the Department of Agriculture has been the first time, I think, during a disaster in this magnitude. prgtoken We are living the 49th day after the hurricane. To make matters worse, for most of our people, the lack of power and the lack of water is just a fraction of the issues. I mean, we have still got a lot of schools that haven't returned to impart classes. So that means that you have a lot of kids in their homes without going to school, and a lot of several structural damages in the homes, businesses, communities, all around the island. The amount of flooding, roads and bridges that got serious damage or lack functionality is staggering at this time. So the nutritional assistance was a concern since before the hurricanes. prgtoken I need to say that I appreciate Secretary Perdue having a call with me and different conference calls regarding different programs. First of all, 9 of the 11 programs for disaster in the Department of Agriculture, in terms of the farmers, the territories, will never apply because we are not, in fact, allowed to apply. He made it happen. He used flexibility to allow Puerto Rico to access those programs in terms of the farmer disaster assistance, and I appreciate that. prgtoken That happens also with the USDA programs. The USDA officials have been in contact directly, not just with my office, but with the Governor of Puerto Rico, with the local officials since early on when this problem was hitting the island. As a matter of fact, I was in touch today with them regarding a lot of the problems. prgtoken I am also pleased with the inclusion of the disaster assistance for the Puerto Rican Nutrition Assistance Program in the second supplemental bill for the disaster relief that was approved here. However, we still need, of course, a lot of help. We still know that there is a long way to recover ahead of us. prgtoken Most of the challenges we are facing now are because of the lack of power, the lack of electricity. Our people are struggling du
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2201, MICRO OFFERING SAFE HARBOR ACT
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-11-8

the balance of my time. prgtoken , this bill is an important step to improve the American economy. We need to support small businesses and their ability to grow. This will happen if we give the free market the opportunity to work. prgtoken We should get bureaucrats out of the way of small-business owners who only want to serve their families and communities. This bill moves us in that direction. prgtoken I thank Congressman Tom Emmer for introducing this important bill and for taking the time to come to the floor today. I also thank Chairman Hensarling for his work on these bills as well as the House Financial Services Committee. prgtoken Chairman Hensarling recently announced that he will not be seeking reelection to Congress, but we will all remember the great work he has done during his time in D.C. and the important contribution he made to the legislation we are looking at today. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule, and I ask them to vote ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.
Veterans Day (Executive Session)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-11-8

this coming week will mark Veterans Day. It is an important time for us to reflect on what veterans do for us and what their families do for us. The sacrifices of both those who serve and those who support those who serve are incredibly important. prgtoken We have half a million Missouri veterans, and one of the great privileges of this job is to get to represent them, their values, and the commitment to freedom in our country that they stand for. prgtoken A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to welcome a group of southwest Missouri veterans who came to Washington with the Honor Flight program. I think the Presiding Officer also does this, but every time I get a chance, if there is an Honor Flight from our State, I try to get down there because it is a great time to see and to talk to and to thank those who have served us. prgtoken When the Honor Flights started 20 years ago or so, there were still some prgtoken World War I veterans coming, and then they were almost all World War II veterans. Today we see some World War II veterans, Korea veterans, and Vietnam veterans, all of whom serve in the great tradition of being willing to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy every day. I find it humbling and gratifying to know that those veterans get to come here and enjoy the day with each other. In many cases it is the first time they have ever been to the Capitol, the National World War II Memorial, Arlington, and the other places on the trip that now so many tens of thousands have taken. prgtoken Many of those veterans whom I saw the other day and whom I have seen through the history of the Honor Flight program were just teenagers when they answered the call to serve--basically, a little more than high school kids who knew that something needed to be done and they were able and willing to do it. They fought difficult battles and, in some cases, often under unbearable conditions. Some of them lost their closest friends in the military. Many of them lost comrades in arms. Some of them lost comrades right beside them. Some of them lost people who went out on another mission and never came back. Some of their families lost a servicemember who never became a veteran. prgtoken I was down in Perryville, MO, a little town between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, on the Mississippi River. They are building an exact replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial--the Vietnam wall. We were able to present a flag to the group that raised the money and made the plan to replicate the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall to take it back and become part of the Vietnam memorial at Perryville. prgtoken Our veterans are an extraordinary group of men and women. They really stand for the best we stand for as a nation. It is important that with not just honor them on Veterans Day but honor them every day--every day that we live in this free and prosperous Nation that they helped defend. prgtoken Admittedly, it is hard not to
TAX REFORM
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-11-8

I say to the Presiding Officer, like you, I am a relative newcomer to this body. It is an enormous privilege and responsibility to be a Member. Like you, I come from the real world, spending a career where your word is your bond, and telling untruth is not rewarded. Unfortunately, in this body, sometimes that is not the case, and both sides are guilty. What Americans are demanding right now is a change in the status quo, not only in this body but in Washington and in its entirety. prgtoken Tonight I want to talk about some of the things that have happened in this body. I know both sides are guilty, but these are a couple of examples that I think rise above the norm and are so egregious that I could not let them stand. prgtoken Right now, Members of the minority party and their friends in the media are doing everything they can to stop us from changing the Tax Code this year. Their complaint about healthcare was that we weren't doing it in regular order. Now we are doing tax reform in regular order. The bill that we are working on in the Senate will go to committee as soon as next week. It will be marked up with amendments from both sides. At the right time, it will then go to this floor, and we will have amendments--again, from both sides--and we will vote that bill, up or down, into law or not. But Members on the other side are actively spreading numbers in studies that are based on false assumptions and have been proven to be untrue. I want to highlight a couple tonight, but there are many others. prgtoken On Monday, the Tax Policy Center released a study saying that the House plan, which was released last week, to change the Tax Code would raise taxes on 25 percent of American families. The minority leader said this on that day: This analysis makes clear that over one quarter of taxpayers will see a tax increase under the plan, all in the name of giveaways for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations. s want to take away middle class deductions for people with student loan interest and medical expenses so that the rich can exploit bigger loopholes and corporations can pay lower taxes. prgtoken That study by the Tax Policy Center didn't even survive a full day. It was retracted later that afternoon. It is not even publicly available online today to review any longer. Do you know what is, though? The statements that came out of that report that day--false statements, just like the one I just gave, and many others highlighting that this study was reality. Maybe even worse is that these are false stories that are still running through the prgtoken media, as if they were true, as if they were facts. prgtoken The website Vox posted a story about this study titled, ``The numbers are in, and House tax bill raises taxes on nearly a third of Americans.'' Surely, they posted an update saying that the study has been retracte