mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PAY FOR A WALL
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-25

. Madam , the appropriations bills we are talking about today should be about providing critical funds to keep our servicemembers safe, take care of our veterans, and support necessary defense programs. It should not be about helping President keep a campaign promise that has no grounding in reality. prgtoken House s' reckless decision to force the American people to pay for a wall that does nothing to increase our security or to solve real problems facing our immigration system is both wasteful and counterproductive. prgtoken This wall will cost American taxpayers $1.6 billion. That is $1.6 billion that could go toward helping veterans or getting our servicemembers the resources they need to stay safe while they risk their lives defending our country. prgtoken Rather than come to the table to work on meaningful bipartisan and long-term solutions to fix our broken immigration system, House s would rather give American families' paychecks to President so he can build this wall. prgtoken We are here to do the people's work. Building this wall doesn't do the people's work. It soothes the President's ego at the expense of American families. prgtoken I urge my colleague to oppose this bill if this dangerous and divisive policy rider is included.
SECURE FIREARM STORAGE
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-7-25

communities throughout our country are suffering from an epidemic of gun violence. prgtoken In far too many cases, stolen guns represent a growing source of the weapons used in these crimes. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, last year alone, nearly 18,000 firearms were reported stolen or lost just from Federal firearm licensees, or FFLs. That is Federally licensed dealers, manufacturers, and importers. prgtoken Today I introduced the SECURE Firearms Storage Act to help address the stolen-gun problem by requiring all FFLs to securely store their inventory when not open for business. prgtoken Additionally, this bill would require the Attorney General to review and put forth further commonsense security measures to reduce the risk of theft, and require new applicants to detail their security plans before a new license is issued. prgtoken There are simply too many innocent lives being destroyed by these stolen guns. I invite my colleagues to join me on this bill to make commonsense improvements for gun safety.
COUNTERING AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES THROUGH SANCTIONS ACT
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-7-25

I thank my friend, the distinguished ranking member, Mr. Engel. prgtoken , today, this House comes together on a bipartisan basis to address sanctions and the rules on the girding sanctions for North Korea, Iran, and, most importantly perhaps, Russia. Importantly, because there has been a lot of doubt about whether this Congress would ever again speak eloquently and forcefully about Russian behavior. prgtoken Today, we answer that question. Overwhelmingly, we say Russia's behavior is unacceptable in many ways, not least of which is the incursion of sovereign territory of its neighbors, specifically Georgia, Ukraine, including Crimea. prgtoken I vote easily and enthusiastically for the resolution today, but it must not be construed, because it references the Minsk agreement, that that means that we don't mean to continue sanctions on the Crimean invasion. We do. prgtoken Mr. Chabot and I, and I know the chairman and the ranking member of our committee, will continue to be vigilant on that until that illegal annexation is ended. prgtoken , I commend the leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I am proud today to be a Member of this body and speaking with one voice about Russian behavior and the need for sanctioning it. prgtoken , this Congress does not trust the President of the United States to manage U.S.-Russia relations. prgtoken Case in point--the first major legislative accomplishment of the -led Congress in the era will be a sanctions package prgtoken that limits, in every imaginable way, the president's ability to appease Putin. prgtoken President and his administration have given the American public little reason to trust them on all things Russia. prgtoken The President obstructed justice by firing FBI Director James Comey, the law enforcement officer tasked with investigating illegal collusion between the campaign and Russia. prgtoken Attorney General Jeff Sessions potentially perjured himself by failing to disclose secret meetings with the Russian Ambassador. prgtoken , Jr. obscured a meeting he had with the campaign's chairman, the president's son-in-law, and Russian operatives until the New York Times forced his hand and he had to publish emails that confirmed his collusion with individuals associated with Russian intelligence operations. prgtoken And now the president is attempting to intimidate his own Attorney General into prosecuting political opponents and upending the Russia investigation. prgtoken Today, we will pass this sanctions package, the strongest ever, and send a clear message to President Putin that there are consequences to invading peaceful neighbors and attacking American democratic institutions. prgtoken I reserve an important objection to the fact that this bill allows a waiver of Crimea-related sanctions on the condition that the Minsk agreement is being implemented. prgtoken Minsk does not mention Crimea, and therefore i
INVEST BORDER WALL FUNDS IN OTHER PROVEN METHODS TO KEEP US SAFE
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-25

on Friday we are voting on a crucial funding program for armed services. Yet somehow it also includes $1.6 billion to begin funding the construction of an unnecessary border wall. Without discussion, the funding for the border wall was added. prgtoken This wall won't make us safer, and it won't stop drug smugglers, and it will not keep out the bad hombres. prgtoken If we are serious about protecting our borders, then let's invest the $1.6 billion in programs that have a proven record of success. Let's invest in drug detection canine teams. Let's rebuild our Coast Guard. And let's strengthen our partnership with Canadian and Mexican law enforcement. prgtoken These are the proven methods that will keep America safe.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-7-25

of course my colleague from Texas made this big rant a little while ago about how Care is a job killer. When I pointed out it has created jobs all over our country in healthcare, no response. When I pointed out it has created the opportunity for entrepreneurs to create jobs and healthcare jobs, no response. When I pointed out it creates fake insurance that doesn't cover anything when you get sick, no response. All he has to say is that it makes insurance a little cheaper. prgtoken Yes, it is worth the paper it is printed on. Well, not even that, actually, because you pay $40 or $50 a month, you go to the hospital, not covered. If you get in an accident and you need an MRI, not covered. You and your spouse have the opportunity and have a child, not covered. Not covered, not covered, not covered. Fake insurance. prgtoken It is the experts who say it throws it into a death spiral. It is the experts who say it in conservative think tanks and in liberal think tanks. So what does he have to say? We have something from the team that says it is OK--not a CBO score because he is afraid it will show it makes it worse than the existing bill. prgtoken So let's talk about real facts. Next time, don't bring in a political statistic from the team. Let's get a CBO score on this. Then let's have that debate. You had plenty of time to get it and you didn't get it. prgtoken This is a terrible amendment. We must defeat it.
IN RECOGNITION OF ELDER ERVIN PETERSON
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2017-7-25

I rise today to honor an outstanding Man of God, Elder Ervin Peterson, who will celebrate his 20th Anniversary as the distinguished pastor of New Hope Full Gospel Ministries, Inc. His anniversary celebration will take place Thursday, August 3rd through August 5th, 2017 at New Hope Full Gospel Ministries, Inc. in Albany, GA. prgtoken A native of Calhoun County, Elder Peterson was born to Mr. Willie J. and Truezella Peterson, as one of eleven children, in 1955. He is the loving husband of Minister Deborah Peterson, the father of (5) children, Mrs. Yolanda Bryant, Mrs. Shamika Washington (Clifford), Ms. Jasmine Peterson, Ms. Audriauna Peterson, and Kamron Peterson; and, (8) grandchildren, William Bryant, IV, Deja Bryant, Jela Bryant, Bayleigh Bryant, J'Naia Crapps, Mariah Lumpkin, Calvin Grant, and Xavier Williams. prgtoken Elder Peterson was called to preach the gospel in 1981 and was ordained in August 1982. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the late Elder W.H. Norwood, Elder Peterson quickly learned the covenant, doctrine, and ordinances of the Primitive Baptist Association of which he served as Moderator from 1995-1996. While many of his churches were great distances away from his home, he served his members faithfully no matter the distance, nor the task. prgtoken Ephesians 4:11-12 says ``And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ''. In June 1997, after receiving a vision from the Lord, New Hope Full Gospel Ministries, Inc. was born. Elder Peterson and a few devoted followers developed a small ministry with firm foundation and a dynamic vision. Elder Peterson's love for God and his people is evident in the many lives he touches. A man of great integrity, he not only continues to labor for Christ, but he continues to strive for excellence in his profession as a licensed plumber and HVAC technician. prgtoken Elder Peterson is a great and inspirational leader, but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, family, and the New Hope Full Gospel Ministries, Inc. church family. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in thanking Elder Ervin Peterson for 20 outstanding years of service to New Hope Full Gospel Ministries, Inc. and a lifetime of service in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-7-25

today I am introducing the DEPSCoR Reauthorization Act of 2017 along with Senators Rounds, Brown, Collins, Carper, Coons, Whitehouse, Shaheen, Cortez Masto, and Hirono. prgtoken The purpose of this bill is to ensure that we have universities in all 50 States capable of working with the Department of Defense on advanced research topics. A truly National network of university researchers who understand the needs of the Department of Defense puts us in the best possible position to respond to the ever-changing threats our armed forces face. This network will also meet the workforce needs of our defense laboratories by training graduate students in defense-relevant research. This bill reauthorizes the DEPSCoR program, which is modeled on the NSF's successful EPSCoR program for States that receive relatively low amounts of Federal science funding. The bill will focus the DEPSCoR program on defense research, while allowing the scientists and engineers of our defense laboratories to work directly with university researchers from DEPSCoR- eligible States. prgtoken Seven years ago, Congress asked the National Academy of Sciences to study the EPSCoR programs. The study concluded that it was in the National interest to engage scientific talent in all 50 States, and that EPSCoR programs were a valuable part of a National strategy to maintain global scientific leadership. The report emphasized that successfully engaging all 50 States required the involvement of technology-driven agencies, including the Department of Defense, to complement the basic science focus of the NSF. prgtoken Until 2009, the Department of Defense managed an EPSCoR-like program, known as DEPSCoR. An independent evaluation of DEPSCoR, conducted by the Institute for Defense Analyses, showed that DEPSCoR research contributed to the DoD mission, producing high-quality research and new technologies that were operationally deployed in areas such as missile guidance and communications. prgtoken DEPSCoR also successfully developed defense research capabilities in States historically underserved by Federal research and development (R&D) funding. Since DEPSCoR stopped receiving Congressional support, defense research in DEPSCoR-eligible States has plummeted, with the decreases far larger than the relatively modest amounts going to DEPSCoR awards. This shows that DEPSCoR was doing what Congress intended the program to do: develop competitive defense researchers in all 50 States. prgtoken The impact of cancelling DEPSCoR went far beyond research grants. Developing university research capabilities in all 50 States is critical to meeting DoD workforce needs. The Defense Laboratory Enterprise is more national in scope than NASA or the Department of Energy's National Laboratory system, with facilities in 24 States, including DEPSCoR-eligible States. The 2016 review of DoD laboratories by the Defense Science Board reported that these laboratories dep
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-7-25

what is happening today on the Senate floor is outrageous. I still cannot quite believe my colleagues as their staff members stood behind them in the Senate Chamber to my right. All of them have health insurance that is paid for by taxpayers. All of us--all of them, all of the staff, all of the Senators, all of the House Members--have insurance paid for by taxpayers. Yet they would come to the Senate floor with their votes entrusted to them and given to them by prgtoken the voting public in their districts and their States. All of them have health insurance that is paid for by the taxpayers, and they would vote to take insurance away from hundreds of thousands of people in my State and in Washington and in Wyoming and in Alabama and in Hawaii. prgtoken Millions of people around the country, most of whom have jobs--people who are working $8-, $10-, $12-, $15-an-hour jobs--are not as well paid as the staff who stand behind us as these floor sessions go on, and they would take insurance away from people like them. I am still just incredulous that that would have happened. This bill affects all of our constituents. It would upend one-fifth of the American economy. Yet the people whom we serve have no idea what is in this bill. We really do not know what is in it. prgtoken Over the weekend, people said Senator McConnell was going to bring us all to the floor on Tuesday to vote on the healthcare law. This is the law to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I was part of writing the Affordable Care Act as a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. That bill took months and months and months, dozens of hearings, and hundreds of amendments. The committee adopted, and I supported, 150 amendments. It was the way we should do things here. Instead, Senator McConnell met just down this hall--I know the camera does not quite show this. Down this hall in his office, he met with lobbyists from Wall Street, with lobbyists from the drug companies, and with lobbyists from the insurance companies. I do not think the Presiding Officer was part of this--he is, perhaps, too junior--but four or five Senators were in there, and they wrote a bill that, alas, was good for drug companies, was good for insurance companies, and was good for Wall Street. It just left out the public. prgtoken Now, we do not really know what is in the bill this time. One of the things we do know is, all of the options are bad for my State of Ohio and that all of the options are bad for the people who elected us to serve here. Let me talk about those options. prgtoken First, behind door No. 1, we have the repeal of the Affordable Care Act with no replacement. Again, behind door No. 1, I do not know if that is what this bill is. I do know it is one of the options. So behind door No. 1 is repeal with no replacement. That means repealing the entire Affordable Care Act with no plan to replace it. It creates d
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-7-25

I intend to move to commit the bill H.R. 1628 to the Committee on Finance with instructions to report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes that, prgtoken No. 1, are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and, No. 2, would ensure that the bill does not increase costs, reduce benefits, or eliminate health coverage for any veteran or dependent of a veteran enrolled in traditional Medicaid, expanded Medicaid, or a qualified health plan offered through an exchange. prgtoken I am offering this motion because the legislation as written could harm millions of veterans and their dependents currently enrolled in traditional Medicaid, expanded Medicaid, and ACA exchange plans. The following Senators support my motion to commit: Duckworth, Stabenow, Carper, Whitehouse, Shaheen, Blumenthal, Hirono, Reed, Durbin and Baldwin. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of my motion to commit be printed in the Record.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 111, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION RELATING TO ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-7-25

. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule banning the use of these clauses is simply a commonsense step to ensure that all consumers have equal access to justice. This is the people's House. We should protect consumers from the wolves. Our job is to keep them at bay, not make it easier for them to prey on the American people. This is not what President ran on. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and stand with America's consumers over special interests, particularly the financial predators that brought this country to ruin.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today to offer an amendment to prevent the distortion of the free market by the Federal Government. prgtoken Since its passage in 2007 of the Energy Independence and Security Act, I have heard from virtually tens of thousands of constituents about the language in that act and how it will take away consumer choice when constituents are deciding which lightbulbs they will use in their homes they are right. prgtoken , in the interest of time, I want to point out this exact amendment has been accepted for the past 6 years by the House. Three of those years it was accepted by voice vote. It was included in the annual appropriations legislation signed into law by President every year since its first inclusion in 2011, and has been a priority of the Conference since its adoption into law. It allows consumers to continue to have a choice and to have a say about what type of lightbulb they will put into their homes. Congress should fight to preserve the free market. It is common sense. prgtoken , .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2017-7-26

I rise today as an advocate of the Great Lakes. It is with that spirit I propose my amendment to prevent funds to be used to further delay the release of the Brandon Road Study. prgtoken Anyone who has spent time in my home State of Michigan or any of the Great Lakes States knows the beauty and importance of the lakes. In addition to their majesty, the Great Lakes supply 90 percent of the United States freshwater supply. Thirty million people live at the Great Lakes Basin, and they are all impacted by the quality of our lakes, whether as a water source, source of business, recreational opportunity, or the lakes' inherent value as a natural wonder. Any risk to the Great Lakes is a significant problem, no matter how you measure that risk. prgtoken One of the threats facing our lakes is the potential entry of invasive species, the most pressing of which, at this time, is the threat of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes. prgtoken Asian carp have no natural predators in the lakes, meaning once they enter the Great Lakes, there is no way to stop their spread. Their unrestrained growth would disrupt the entire ecosystem. prgtoken In addition to the damage to native wildlife in the lakes, the introduction of Asian carp would damage several multibillion-dollar industries, including the fishing and boating industries which support countless jobs in my prgtoken home State of Michigan and the Great Lakes. prgtoken Given the threat imposed by invasive species, the Army Corps of Engineers has been studying the best way to prevent introduction of the Asian carp into the Great Lakes Basin. Their study, the Brandon Road Study, was initially slated to be released on February 28 but has been delayed until further notice. prgtoken Delaying this study impedes the ability of all interested parties to develop a long-term strategy to thwart this threat. The continued delays create a great risk, yet no reason for delaying that release has been provided. prgtoken In late June, a live Asian carp was caught in the Illinois waterway about 2 miles below the T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam, 9 miles from Lake Michigan. This is the first time an Asian carp has been discovered in such close proximity to our lakes. prgtoken Though further study is necessary to determine how this carp entered the area, it is an alarming warning that the window is quickly closing to prevent large-scale devastation to the Great Lakes' ecosystem. prgtoken The best way to mitigate the damage of Asian carp in our lakes is to stop it from happening altogether. For several months, members of the Great Lakes Task Force have requested the release of the Brandon Road Study, to no avail. I stand here today to again call on the Army Corps to release the study, which we have already paid for and they have conducted. prgtoken My amendment would prevent the Corps from using any more money--our money--to delay the release of the study. prgtoken , I urge my colleague