mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-12-20

I thank the chairman for yielding me time. prgtoken , I have been listening to my colleagues from the other side of the aisle talk about the 1 percent, the people at the top of America. prgtoken Let me tell you who benefits from the status quo of our Tax Code. It is the 1 percent. They can afford the lawyers, the accountants, and the lobbyists to get them all these special tax treatments that the rest of us don't get. If you want to do something about the 1 percent, fix the current Tax Code. prgtoken Instead, what our friends on the other side of the aisle keep doing is defending the present Tax Code, because if you don't pass this bill, we have the present Tax Code. We have the status quo, and the rest of us don't see the benefits from the present Tax Code. The rest of us need a break. prgtoken Now, I asked the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, when he was before the Rules Committee the other night, three questions that I think are relevant to everybody in America. prgtoken The first thing I asked him was: Will the average individual taxpayer in my district get a tax cut? He said: Absolutely. And he pulled out a sheet of paper. He said: In fact, in your district, Congressman, the average family of four is going to get a tax break of over $2,100 a year. prgtoken I know in some places in America, $2,100 a year extra in people's pockets doesn't sound like a lot of money, but in south Alabama, an extra $2,100 in the pockets of hardworking parents who are trying to raise two kids, that is a lot of money. So that is a good thing that is coming out of this bill. prgtoken I asked him: Will it be easier for those individuals to fill out their tax returns? He said: Absolutely. By making the changes we made in here and taking out some of these special tax breaks, we made it easier for everybody to fill out their tax return. prgtoken Then I asked a third question. I just heard the gentlewoman from New York talk about how this benefits big corporations. I don't have big corporations in my district in south Alabama. I have got mainly small businesses. Let me tell you about one. prgtoken It is called Fast Time Convenience Store. Now, we call those in Alabama filling stations, because you go there and you put gas in your car. In the morning, you go get a cup of coffee, you get one of their breakfast biscuits, and you see a lot of people in there getting ready to go to work. You go in there at lunchtime. You have also got something called Fred's Kickin' Chicken. You go in there and get a good thing of fried chicken and a soft drink, and he has got some barbecue in a little trailer across the way. That is the sort of businesses I have got in my district. prgtoken I think those businesses are darn important. The owner of that business asked me the other day when I was in there: I don't care about the big boys. prgtoken Are you going to do something that helps me, that helps businesses like me? prgtoken So I asked the
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-12-20

I very much appreciate the chairman for yielding me the time. prgtoken I have the great pleasure serving on the Rules Committee. I also have the great pleasure of serving on the Budget Committee. So I felt it incumbent to come down and talk a little bit about prgtoken the Byrd rule process that goes on in the Senate. It is part of the 1974 Budget Act. It became a custom in the Senate during 1985 and 1986, and ultimately it was codified and put in the act permanently. prgtoken To describe what went on in the Senate as some sort of proofreading error is just nonsense, just absolute nonsense. We have this process called reconciliation that allows the Congress, the House, and the Senate to get really tough things done. As a part of that process, the Byrd rule says: What we don't want to do is get involved in extraneous issues. We want to stay focused on these issues that are most important to the American people. So if you try to get outside the lanes of fundamental tax reform, those provisions become what they call ``Byrdable.'' prgtoken But, , you are probably as uplifted as I am by the conversation you hear about the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration. I wish that that were more true. What we saw yesterday in the United States Senate I would tell you is a little bit of the pettiness that we see on Capitol Hill. prgtoken Is it true that the Senate had the right to prevent parents who homeschool their children from being able to finance that homeschool education through taxes and 529 savings accounts? prgtoken The Senate had that right under the Byrd rule and they exercised it. went after homeschooling parents and said: No tax breaks for you. prgtoken They had the right to do it, but to describe that as some sort of proofreading error over here is a mistake. It was intentional to give homeschooling parents that opportunity and it was intentional when the Senate stripped it out. prgtoken Secondarily, it was intentional to put a title on the bill: Jobs and Tax Cuts. It was intentional. That is why we came together to focus on this bill, because we care about jobs and we care about a 21st century tax system. prgtoken Was the Senate completely within their rights to strip the title of the bill? prgtoken , they were. If you believe when the Senate can't fund the government, when the Senate can't reauthorize CHIP, when the Senate can't reauthorize a 702--you go right down the list--and if you believe it is an important use of the ic minority's time on the Senate side to strike the title of the bill because it doesn't actually impact deficit reduction, it is within their right. prgtoken Does it represent the highest and best use of their time? prgtoken It does not. prgtoken Does it represent the highest and best of those of us who are here in public service together? prgtoken It does not. prgtoken I recognize that we have fundamental disagreements about the impact of tax reform and its m
TAX REFORM BILL
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-12-20

it is a historic day for our country, for the Senate, and for the Congress. prgtoken As we speak, the President of the United States is about to sign the bill that we passed on the floor of the Senate last night, which was the agreement on the conference report--the largest tax reform in the history of our country or, certainly, the largest since 1986. It is historic in many other ways because we are fighting wars overseas, we are dealing with terrorism, and we are looking at the economic climate for the future and trying to inspire our country to be better and be everything that it can be. We are talking about all of those types of things, and we are getting ready for Christmas.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2017
Jeb Hensarling (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-20

10 seconds just to say that, if the gentleman is so busy he can't read a 100-page proxy statement, perhaps he could read a 20-page bill and he would realize that his comments have almost absolutely nothing to do with the bill whatsoever. prgtoken , I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy), the sponsor of the legislation and the chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
TRIBUTE TO KATIE MURRAY
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-12-20

today I recognize Katie Murray for all of her hard work on behalf of myself, my staff, and the citizens of South Dakota while working in my Rapid City and Sioux Falls, offices. prgtoken Katie is a joy to work with, and she has been an excellent public servant. We wish her the best in all of her future endeavors. prgtoken The citizens of South Dakota, my staff, and I are grateful to Katie for her service. We are a better State because of her hard work.
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES DALTON
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-12-20

I am genuinely honored to recognize before the U.S. Senate and the Nation Charles Dalton of Greenville, SC, on the occasion of his retirement as chief executive officer and president of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions. prgtoken Born and raised on a farm in Pickens, SC, Charles from an early age developed a love for antique cars, Clemson football, and serving the Upstate of South Carolina. Charles cofounded and operated a furniture company in Pickens with his brother, Allison Dalton, before starting his career with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. prgtoken Charles was elected chief executive in 1982 and has committed his time to serving the State of South Carolina by bringing power to remote, mountainous communities in five counties in the Upstate. His leadership over the last 36 years has helped the energy provider's membership to more than double, growing from 29,000 members to approximately 66,000. Charles has a reputation as a humble, accessible leader. In fact, he has been known to give out his home phone number to Blue Ridge members in an effort to provide constant service and maintain relationships in the communities in which he serves. prgtoken In addition to contributing to the Upstate's growing economy during his tenure at Blue Ridge, Charles has also served in multiple capacities on nonprofit boards, including the Greenville chapter of the American Red Cross, Peace Center, and Cannon Memorial Hospital. He was selected to serve as a commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Transportation and cofounded the Upstate South Carolina Alliance, an organization committed to establishing the Upstate as a prominent economic region competing in the global economy. After his retirement, Charles and his wife, Libby, are looking forward to remaining engaged and active in the Upstate. prgtoken Charles has received statewide recognition for his contributions to business, regional collaboration, and community service in South Carolina. In 1998, he was selected by Governor Beasley to serve as South Carolina's ``Ambassador for Economic Development.'' As a proud graduate of Clemson University, Charles was recognized with the 2014 Distinguished Service Award by the Clemson Alumni Association for serving as an exceptional role model for present and future students. Last year, Charles was awarded the Spirit of the Upstate Award for consistently exhibiting exceptional leadership and dedicating his personal and professional life to strengthening the Upstate region in South Carolina. These accolades serve as a testament to the profound role Charles has played in improving the lives of South Carolinians in the Upstate, and I am confident that he will continue to do so in this next chapter of life. prgtoken It is a distinct honor to recognize Charles Dalton on this important milestone. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Charles for the many contributions he ha
TAX REFORM BILL
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-12-20

I rise today to note this Congress's historic achievement in reforming the Nation's tax system for the first time in 30 years. I congratulate the hard-working teams, the staffers, and others from the Budget, Finance, and Energy Committees and their colleagues in the House for the work they have done. prgtoken It is not easy to modernize a Tax Code that has languished for over 30 years. Many groups have worked for a long time to solidify their special benefits, and they don't want to see those perks or special benefits go away. Many others just don't know how to work things under the status quo and think that must be the only way to do things, is to find a new status quo that represents the old status quo. prgtoken Reforming the Tax Code is not easy, but it is important. It is important to America's economy. It is important to America's working families. It is important to Colorado. It is important for a lot of reasons. For instance, right now, we waste 6 billion hours and $263 billion just to file our taxes every year. After this reform, 92 percent of taxpayers will take the standard deduction. That simplifies the code, cuts those hours, and eliminates wasted dollars. prgtoken Perhaps most importantly, it will shake our economy out of its slow- walking recovery. While there are booming areas in our country--and undoubtedly Colorado's Front Range represents some of the best examples of booming areas in our Nation--there are many areas of the country that haven't seen the growth and have, quite frankly, been left behind. They haven't seen their wages go up for a long time. In fact, yesterday the Denver Post published two stories about wages. Those stories point out that median wages in Colorado in 2016 were still below the levels of 2007 and even 2000. While I appreciate these reports, the fact is, we knew it wasn't anything unheard of. It certainly isn't new to those Coloradans who live outside of the Front Range and who they haven't seen their wages grow. It is a reality they have been dealing with for far too long. prgtoken Over the years, wages have become detached from corporate profits, and this chart is a good example of what has occurred. Prior to 1990, a 1 percent increase in corporate profits led to a greater than 1 percent increase in worker wages. But from 2008 to 2016, a 1 percent increase in corporate profits led to only a 0.3 percent increase in wages. prgtoken What you can see right here is the corporate rate over time. You can see that in 1990, 1986, the U.S. rate remained at 35 percent, what is today, for at least a little bit longer, the highest statutory tax rate in the world when it comes to business rates. You can see OECD nations have dramatically dropped theirs beginning in 1990 and going down through today. That is what has happened. Over that same period, our once-competitive corporate tax system has gotten more and more out of date. Our corporate rate today, as I said, i
IN HONOR OF ALEXANDRIA WINNING CLASS 5A WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL STATE TITLE
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-12-20

I ask for the House's attention today to recognize Alexandria High School for winning the Class 5A State Title. prgtoken The Valley Cubs sealed their victory by beating Lawrence County High School on November 2nd at Bill Arena in Birmingham in three sets for the Class 5A State Title: 25-23, 25-16, 25-13. prgtoken The Head Coach is Whitney Welch and Assistant Coaches are Kelli Johnson and Toni Hess. Players include: Kendal Bumpus, Madison Chastain, Kinsley Gregoria, Kaitlin Harvey, Anna Johnson, Kate Johnson, China Lane, Gracie Muncher (All-State Team), Aubrey Pope (All State Team), Kyleigh Rhodes, Taylor Spradley (Class 5A MVP), Kameron Simpson, Kayleigh Steen and Mattie Wade (All State Team). prgtoken , please join me in congratulating the students and faculty of Alexandria High School, the coaches, the players and all the Valley Cubs fans on this exciting achievement. Go Valley Cubs.
HEZBOLLAH IS A TERRORIST GROUP AND A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-20

Hezbollah is not only a terrorist group, it is a criminal organization that funds its terror through drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering. prgtoken Hezbollah is believed to raise $4 billion to $5 billion, annually, through these criminal activities. Tons of Hezbollah cocaine makes its way into the United States every year, but the past administration refused to designate Iran's proxy, Hezbollah, as a criminal organization making it possible to prosecute Hezbollah in the United States. prgtoken They repeatedly delayed and denied DEA requests to investigate and prosecute Hezbollah drug dealing and arms dealing networks. Why? So Iran would not back out of the nuclear deal. prgtoken In 2016, the White House even let a Hezbollah arms dealer with connections to Putin go free. That is why Representatives Cook, Ros- Lehtinen, and I sent a letter to the President yesterday urging him to designate Hezbollah as a transnational criminal organization and a kingpin entity. prgtoken No more backroom deals for Iran. We must change course quickly. Every day more illegal money flows into Hezbollah's coffers. Hezbollah terrorists and criminals ought to be prosecuted. prgtoken And that is just the way it is.
TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN LUDVIG K. TANDE
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-12-20

. : I wish to pay tribute to a member of my staff, Kris Tande, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year. This is not the first time he has retired from public service as retired Navy Capt Ludvig K. Kris Tande spent a career as a naval aviator prior to working for several legislators from the State of Florida. prgtoken Captain Tande currently serves as my senior State military director, and I am the fourth Florida Senator to have had Captain Tande help me represent northwest Florida. Starting in 1998, Captain Tande served as regional director for Senator Connie Mack, later serving in the same position for Senators Mel Martinez and George LeMieux. Former Congressman Jeff Miller tapped Captain Tande as his district director from 2001-2005. Captain Tande has served the constituents of Northwest Florida for the past 19 years, a term that notably included the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which saw Florida gain vital military missions such as the relocation of 7th Special Forces Group from North Carolina and the standup of multiservice F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training at Eglin Air Force Base. During my time, when our country lost one of its brave troops, Captain Tande helped connect me with the families to whom we owed a great debt. When disaster struck, Captain Tande was instrumental in assisting Floridians adversely affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill that resulted in substantial economic damage in northwest Florida. prgtoken Former Senator Mel Martinez has this to say about Kris: ``Captain Tande was one of the most valued members of my Senate staff. My service in the Senate came at the beginning of the `War on Terror'. Kris provided me valuable insight into the military issues we were confronting. He particularly helped me to understand the plight of military families impacted by long deployments, and the physical cost of war on our troops. He was much more than a regional representative. He was an integral part of my Senate life. Kris became a friend and trusted advisor and was a genuine pleasure to know. My visits to the Panhandle were always great because of good, cheerful company and a car full of snacks! Captain, enjoy a well-earned retirement and thank you for your many years of dedicated service to our country.'' prgtoken For many people, this could be considered a full career. For Kris Tande, this was his second act. Captain Tande was designated a Naval aviator in 1970 and subsequently flew 4,000 hours in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft and deployed on several aircraft carriers. He is a plankowner of the amphibious ship USS Wasp LHD-1. Tande held several commands, most notably as commanding officer Naval Air Station Whiting Field, 1993-1995, in Milton, FL, and commander Training Wing Five (1995). His flight helmet sits in the reconstructed NAS Cubi Point Officers' Club, originally in the Republic of the Philippines, now at the National Nav
PROJECT CASSANDRA
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-12-20

I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Jody Hice, for the opportunity to speak this evening on such an important issue. prgtoken We are here today to discuss the recent revelations that the administration, in their pursuit of the Iran deal, blocked important efforts by U.S. law enforcement officials to fight the terrorist organization Hezbollah. prgtoken The past administration's treatment of Iran reveals an imprudent and negligent approach to American foreign policy that must never be repeated. We see in their actions, at best, an incompetence born of a lack of clarity and information and, at worst, an administration determined to create a false foreign policy legacy so that America's prgtoken best interests were thrown to the wayside. prgtoken In a recent report from Politico mentioned by some of my colleagues already, we have learned that the administration allegedly blocked efforts by U.S. law enforcement officials to fight Hezbollah's transnational drug and weapons trafficking operations. prgtoken Hezbollah, Iran's terrorist proxy organization, has also become one of the world's most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations, receiving over $1 billion every year from their illicit activities. We have learned that, through an expansive criminal trafficking network, they funnel cocaine throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the United States. prgtoken It has also come to light that Hezbollah launders millions of dollars through schemes involving used car purchases in the United States, and, ultimately, the money earned through these activities can be used for violent terrorist activities aimed at spreading fear and pain throughout the world. prgtoken Politico quoted the following from a confidential DEA report on Hezbollah's criminal activities: Hezbollah ``has leveraged relationships with corrupt foreign government officials and transnational criminal actors . . . creating a network that can be utilized to move metric ton quantities of cocaine, launder drug proceeds on a global scale, and procure weapons and precursors for explosives.'' prgtoken It ``has at its disposal one of the most capable networks of actors coalescing elements of transnational organized crime with terrorism in the world.'' prgtoken The DEA's acting deputy administrator in 2016 stated that Hezbollah's criminal operations ``provide a revenue and weapons stream for an international terrorist organization responsible for devastating terror attacks around the world.'' prgtoken Certainly, an organization like that deserves America's utmost scrutiny; and for years, the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Project Cassandra poured their lives into investigating Hezbollah's criminal activities. These agents tracked financial transactions, cultivated sources, and trailed operatives. But, in several cases, when the DEA asked for prosecutions, arrests, or sanctions, President
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
Pete Sessions (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-12-20

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , we do recognize we have a difference. We recognize we had a difference at the time we announced we were going to do this bill and we were going to change the direction we were going. This was part of a debate that happened during the Presidential election, where we had an argument. The ic Party very clearly said: We need to raise taxes. prgtoken Every year we see where they are on the floor during budget time to raise spending $1 trillion and raise taxes $1 trillion. That is more than what they had done under President , Pelosi, and Mr. Reid; except what happens when you do that is you kill the economy, you kill the investment in families, in jobs, and in small businesses. prgtoken In the year after we had the massive tax increase, we had a GDP rate of zero. That is because there was this huge transfer from free enterprise to Uncle Sam, so the economy failed to grow. Then as the economy began to normalize, it normalized over the next 7 years at 1.2 percent. prgtoken That is what the election was about, . Since the election, what has happened is we have added over 1 million net new jobs, despite a huge storm summer that impacted a lot of employment. Our stockmarket has risen dramatically, meaning that America wants to be great again, too. We are going to make it together. prgtoken So we do recognize differences. They want a $1 trillion increase in spending, and they want a $1 trillion tax increase. We want to move it the other direction. prgtoken , .