mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, I actually appreciate the study mechanisms, but this is actually one a little bit broader. prgtoken How many of us are from States that have actually had public funding or public matching of our State legislatures? prgtoken I am from Arizona; I have actually lived this experience. And do understand, we used to--in Arizona--refer to it as the ``no new moderates'' piece of legislation. prgtoken If you actually look at what happened to Arizona--and my understanding is this happened in other States--personal experience: I was 28 years old when I got elected to the Arizona Legislature. prgtoken I was there. You had to go knock on a door. You had to ask someone for a couple hundred dollars. You had to listen to them. They would look you in the eye, and if they thought you weren't worthy, you walked out the door without anything. It turns out asking for money is part of the vetting process. prgtoken Well, a few years later--so we have had it for 25 years in Arizona-- here is what happened: prgtoken You are part of the group over here on the right or you are part of this group on the left. In Arizona, you get a couple hundred people to write you a $5 contribution, and you get elected. Within two election cycles, we wiped out half of , half of s, maybe one- third of the body who were in the moderates. prgtoken So when I was in that State legislature for 4 years, half the s were conservatives, half the s were moderate; same thing on the ic side. After just functionally 4 years of public funding or public match, they were gone. prgtoken I appreciate the study of saying: Hey, this amendment is really about knowing, you know, do the dollars match, do the mechanisms match? And I don't know if the FEC is the right place to go to say: Are we about to try to finance the bipolar--the extremisms on both ends? prgtoken In many ways, this piece of legislation--at least this mechanic right here--you have got to understand what you are doing. You are going to wipe out the middle. prgtoken This is, in many ways, the ``no new moderates'' piece of legislation. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
HONORING THE MILLER FAMILY
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Joel Miller and his wife, Megan Bel Miller, on the birth of their daughter, Caroline Frances Miller. Caroline was born on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 8:25 p.m. Joel and Megan's pride and joy came into this world weighing in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 inches in length. With Joel, my previous Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director as her father, and Megan, also a long-time Capitol Hill staffer, as her mother, I trust Caroline will have a bright and successful future ahead of her. Joel recently went on to a new opportunity after being an integral part of the legislative operation in my office for over five and a half years. I am thrilled to witness him continue in his most important role yet, as a father. I have no doubt that Joel and Megan will be wonderful and inspiring parents, who are devoted to their daughter's well-being. Congratulations and best wishes to the Miller and Bel families.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-3-6

I would like to thank my colleague from Iowa for organizing this discussion on the Green New Deal resolution. prgtoken The public doesn't usually pay a whole lot of attention to nonbinding resolutions here in the Congress, but that is not the case with this one. The sponsors of the Green New Deal in the House and the Senate certainly deserve recognition for the profile they managed to create so quickly. Of course, that is a double-edged sword because now people are beginning to pay attention to what is actually in the Green New Deal. prgtoken Leader McConnell has proposed bringing the resolution to the floor, which has created, in my view, sort of a baffling response. The planned sponsors are claiming that a vote is ``cynical'' and meant to ``disrupt'' their ``movement.'' You and I both know that every Member of this body would clamor to have their bills brought up for floor consideration. Most of us here live in the land of realistic and practical solutions. prgtoken The Green New Deal is very vague, but it does include enough detail to know that it proposes radical solutions that, in my view, are neither practical nor realistic. It is a wish list dressed up as environmental policy. prgtoken We knew it was going to be expensive. We knew the goal was to eliminate coal and gas industries, along with a lot of other good- paying jobs that they support in energy States like mine. This isn't the first salvo in the war on coal, for sure. We knew all the economic harm they would be proposing, but this is a massive shift to the left that goes far beyond anything the have proposed before. This plan doesn't stop at eliminating the use of coal and natural gas for electricity. The plan also ends nuclear electricity and severely curtails the commercial air industry. prgtoken The environmental and energy components of this proposal are estimated to cost $8.3 to $12.3 trillion over the next decade, which averages out to about $52,000 to $71,000 for every American household. prgtoken We will be left with possibly an energy grid that lacks affordability and reliability to make the American manufacturers competitive around the globe and meet the basic needs of our families. Right now, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy account for 83 percent of all the electricity produced in the United States. It is neither practical nor realistic to believe that we could phase all of that capacity out without some catastrophic consequences. prgtoken Unbelievably, this is just one piece of the Green New Deal. The sticker shock continues with tens of trillions of dollars to fund guaranteed jobs for people unwilling to work, eliminate private healthcare for 170 Americans in favor of a government-run system, replace or retrofit all housing stock for environmental compliance, and guaranteeing it to every American and putting food on everyone's table. Altogether, it could cost possibly $93 trillion over a 10-year period of
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-3-6

I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Rodney Davis, my good friend, for his strong leadership on this bill and his strong leadership on the Committee on House Administration for leading the way on this. prgtoken , I rise today strongly opposed to H.R. 1. Among the numerous, egregious provisions of H.R. 1, I am here to shed light on one proposal that has increased vulnerabilities in our election system in our home State of Illinois. prgtoken Under H.R. 1, are proposing a blanket, nationwide mandate for States to adopt same-day registration practices with no safeguards. Once again, my colleagues across the aisle are advocating a Big Government solution, but, in fact, they are threatening the integrity of our elections at every level of government. prgtoken Coming from Illinois where same-day registration and other lax election laws have been passed by our -controlled legislature, uncertainty has followed. The practice of same-day registration has caused confusion for our election administrators and has opened the door to fraud. prgtoken Under same-day registration in Illinois, an individual can arrive at their polling place with a copy of their utility bill and cast a full ballot without being fully verified thanks to same-day registration. prgtoken Election officials are having difficulty verifying residents in a timely manner, particularly on college campuses where students have been told that they can use a receipt from Jimmy John's sub shop to confirm their voting domicile. prgtoken Under H.R. 1, these vulnerabilities and problems will be seen across the country and exacerbated by provisions that will allow individuals to use sworn statements in place of government IDs when registering to vote. prgtoken H.R. 1 fails to address issues our States and others have seen with same-day registration. We need stricter standards for same-day registration, but H.R. 1 fails to provide any sufficient enforcement mechanisms to verify voter registration.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-3-6

although I had prepared my remarks to address what many of my colleagues have just covered--and that would be the preposterous proposal of the Green New Deal--I want to take a little different angle. prgtoken I think there is a point where so often those of us on the conservative side of the ledger, I think, get overwhelmed by the conversation being dominated by the other side. It is a fertile ground to want to try to use a better environment to parlay that incremental way into more government. prgtoken I think what we have here is just like addressing healthcare costs. We had Care--the Affordable Care Act--which turned out to be the ``Uncomfortable Care Act,'' but there were issues that were valid. In my own company years ago, I was worried about it. I drafted a plan that was proactive, addressed high healthcare costs, and made the pledge that you should never go broke because you get sick or have a bad accident. I crafted a plan through the real world that cut costs, and my employees have not paid a premium increase in 9 years. prgtoken I want to talk about the Green New Deal. I am a conservationist, and I am a member of the Nature Conservancy, as a business and an individual. We cannot let the other side co-opt the issue and preempt it because they think the argument is on their side. I am not going to belabor the point that I think it is preposterous. I want to make the point that if you think any of that can be done--whether it is $50 trillion or $93 trillion--keep in mind that we are running nearly trillion-dollar deficits. We are $22 trillion in debt. Does that sound like anything that the Federal Government could actually solve in a sustainable way when we are in a pickle like we are currently in? prgtoken Until we change the dynamic here and get individuals who know how to do things where it works, in States like Indiana and in many States, and maybe let States have a bigger hand in the equation, where their budgets are balanced, where they have cash balances, and where it is not a false hope. prgtoken Let's look at the particulars of what the Green New Deal is supposed to do in addition to cleaning up our environment, which we have made great strides with. It is being spun as an economic argument. It is the exact opposite of that. I want to challenge folks on our side of the ledger, from the practical side, to where we generally lose out on the general argument, and, incrementally, things change against us over time. prgtoken We just had legislation pass in 2017. I want to tell this little story of what we did in our own special way. I am going to challenge enterprisers and I am going to challenge businesses across the country to think about this as a way to avoid that. prgtoken In 2017 we had, in my opinion--for enterprisers, small businesses, and farmers; and I have been involved in both--the biggest opportunity that has come along in years. We are keeping more of our own resourc
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I think the papers will remain on the table. prgtoken Mr. Chair, Pelosi said she wants to get money out of politics. She said she wants free speech. But this sham puts more money into politics. It doesn't offer free speech; it offers forced speech. prgtoken In fact, for every dollar contributed to a candidate, the American taxpayer will be forced to contribute 6. prgtoken Now, let me say that again. For every dollar that is contributed to a candidate, an American taxpayer will be forced to contribute 6. prgtoken You heard it right, a 6-to-1 match, whether you support a candidate or not, whether you support their positions on life, the Second Amendment, immigration, taxes, or anything else--6 to 1. prgtoken The bill would also require same-day registration, nationwide. States already have the right to determine for themselves if they want same- day registration. My home State of Illinois has it. But with it, can come challenges in ensuring the accuracy of a voter's registration information. prgtoken I believe that every single legitimate vote needs to be counted-- every single legitimate vote--but it must be a single vote. And we are not just talking about one State. Multiply that by 50. prgtoken Without proper safeguards, my colleagues are leaving the States less capable of managing their voter systems. That is a big problem. This is a bad bill. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge the House to vote ``no.''
RECOGNIZING ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Madam , in recognition of Women's History Month, I rise today to honor Ana Maria Rodriguez, who has faithfully served the City of Doral and the wider Miami region for many years. prgtoken Born and raised in South Florida to Cuban exiles, Ana Maria has been heavily involved in the Southern Florida community since graduating from Florida International University in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in communications. In 2009, she furthered her education by gaining her Master's degree in leadership from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University. Ana Maria worked for a number of years in public relations and the governmental affairs sector, where she presently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Miami Association of REALTORS. prgtoken Ana Maria's dedication to supporting Southern Florida's community is further demonstrated in her position as an elected official. Elected in 2018, Ana Maria currently serves as a Florida House State Representative for the 105th District. Prior to this impressive achievement, she served as Vice Mayor for the City of Doral and previously on the City Council. Ana Maria executed these roles in a professional and honest manner at all times, proving to be a true asset to the City of Doral. prgtoken Her passion for community work goes beyond elected service. In 2007, Ana Maria launched the Southeast Region for Connect Florida, a leadership development program, and in 2009 served as Statewide Chair. For over a decade, she has been a dedicated and active member of the Doral Business Council and also served as Vice Chair for the City of Doral's Parks & Police 4 Kids Advisory Board. prgtoken It would be remiss to honor Ana Maria without touching on the number of awards she has received for her ongoing commitment to her community. In 2011, she was selected as Humanitarian of the Year by the March of Dimes and in 2015 she received Advocate of the Year by the Miami Association of REALTORS. In 2017, Ana Maria was presented the Public Service Award by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and most recently, in 2018, the Salute to Miami's Leaders Government Award by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. These accolades are a just a small testament to Ana Maria's determined and selfless character. It is truly a privilege to know that she will continue to make a significant difference in the community she serves and the people that she touches. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to know Ana Maria Rodriguez and to have the opportunity to acknowledge her amazing work for Southern Florida. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding individual.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-3-6

I come to the floor to join my colleagues in expressing concern over the maybe well-intended but poorly constructed policy in the Green New Deal. prgtoken First, I want to start by saying I have no intention of yielding until the end of my remarks, but the one question I would have for people across the aisle is, Do you actually support the Green New Deal? Do you support it in the form it has been proposed? I can't imagine that you do because you understand the math, you understand the challenges, and you understand the reality that $65,000 a year is the median household income in North Carolina. prgtoken So what we are talking about--the cost of the bill over 10 years is roughly what the average North Carolinian family makes. We know that is not sustainable. We know it is not sustainable to have our electric bills increase by $3,800 a year. We know it is not sustainable to go beyond just the energy components of the Green New Deal to other aspects of the Green New Deal that just don't make sense. prgtoken So $93 trillion is not something I can get my head wrapped around. I know that is the number we are talking about. But I think we can get to the household impact and recognize that it is not sustainable, right? So why are we having this discussion?
FAIRNESS IN DISCIPLINE
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-3-6

there is no room for anti-Semitism anywhere in this Chamber. prgtoken This past January, the House voted nearly unanimously to condemn white supremacy, and it named a Member as we did that. I voted for that. prgtoken Back in January, around the same exact time, we had a Member apologize for remarks about how Israel had hypnotized the world, an anti-Semitic trope; a month later, apologizing for an allegation that if you support Israel, then you have been bought off by Jews; and now, claiming that if you support Israel, then that means that you have allegiance to a foreign government. prgtoken But this time there will be no apology. I commend my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have spoken out against it. This Chamber today should be taking action to condemn anti-Semitism, to be naming names; and where that Member in January was removed from his committees, including the Small Business Committee, the Member who has been putting out all those anti-Semitic tropes should not be serving on her committees, especially the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for many reasons. prgtoken I encourage a vote today and to remove Congresswoman Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise today in opposition to the so-called Green New Deal. This unaffordable, unattainable, and unrealistic proposal is bad for all Americans, but it is especially bad for the people who live in my home State of Indiana. prgtoken Indiana is the most manufacturing-intensive State in the country, and my Hoosiers are rightfully proud of that distinction. We make America's planes, our trucks, our recreational vehicles, our boats, and our pipelines. We produce the aluminum and steel that go into those products. We mine the coal that makes it affordable to power all of those factories. prgtoken Indiana is home to those respectable, high-paying jobs because of the highly skilled Hoosier workforce, our world-class infrastructure network, and, yes, our low energy costs. But the Green New Deal would crush Indiana's affordable energy prices, forcing the cost of doing business to skyrocket for Hoosier manufacturers and farmers alike and eliminating jobs in the process. prgtoken What would this Green New Deal mean for American families? prgtoken Over the next decade, the so-called deal would cost up to $65,000 per American household per year. That is roughly 50 percent--47 percent more than the median Hoosier household income. prgtoken Yes, America must continue to support an ``all of the above'' energy strategy, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to get that done. We must continue to develop renewable energy sources like wind and solar, but we must also continue to utilize our important baseload energy sources--that is your coal, your natural gas, your nuclear power. We simply cannot afford to eliminate these critical sources from our Nation's energy mix, and that is what the Green New Deal would call for. prgtoken In Indiana, approximately 92 percent of our electricity is generated by coal and natural gas--92 percent. Wind and solar account for just 6 percent of Indiana's electricity, and they cannot reliably and affordably produce the electricity Indiana needs. prgtoken So instead of turning a blind eye to coal and natural gas--energy sources that power America--let's continue to incentivize research and development. Instead of promoting job-killing legislation like the Green New Deal, we should be promoting proposals like the USE IT Act. This is bipartisan legislation put forward by my colleague from Wyoming that would promote carbon capture research and development. prgtoken We agree on the need to incentivize market-based carbon capture systems.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-3-6

I will say to my friend from New York that I know what their talking points are now, but I don't believe what we ought to do about the environment is impose a travesty like the Green New Deal. prgtoken This is a government power grab. It is unaffordable. It is unrealistic. And, really, this reflects the most radical ideology and fringe of the ic Party today. prgtoken I think we should not have a socialist power grab of our entire economy.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, I have no other speakers and am prepared to close. prgtoken , as we wrap up the debate on this amendment, I hope we have demonstrated that there is common ground to be found in this Chamber. prgtoken I would like to take a moment to thank, again, my colleagues, but also the Rules Committee, Mr. McGovern and his staff, for working with us in regards to this new reform of the rules process that will reward and encourage bipartisan behavior and bipartisan common ground-finding efforts. prgtoken I encourage all Members on both sides of the aisle: Utilize this new rule path to bring forth ideas that benefit the American people in a bipartisan way. prgtoken At the end of the day, this amendment is something we should all support for the reasons articulated by my colleagues on the other side and as articulated, hopefully, by myself today in regards to supporting this reform that goes at the issue of foreign money in our elections. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I encourage our Members to support this amendment, and .
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Finally, I would like to talk about the constitutional infringements. And don't take it from me. Let's take groups as divergent as the ACLU and National Right to Life that all cite serious First Amendment concerns. prgtoken ACLU says provisions ``unconstitutionally impinge on the free speech prgtoken rights of American citizens and public interest organizations.'' prgtoken National Right to Life: Enactment of H.R. 1 ``would not be a curb on corruption, but itself a type of corruption, an abuse of the lawmaking power, by which incumbent lawmakers employ the threat of criminal sanctions . . . to reduce the amount of private speech regarding the actions of the lawmakers themselves.'' prgtoken This is a bad bill. It ought to be rejected.