mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NOMINATION OF ALEXANDER ACOSTA
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-4-27

on another matter, despite much unnecessary obstruction, the Senate has continued to move forward with the confirmation process for administration nominees. prgtoken Just this week, we have confirmed two more impressive individuals-- Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Today, we will have the opportunity to confirm a third. That nominee, Alexander Acosta, understands the difficult task ahead of him as the next Secretary of Labor. Fortunately, he has an impressive background that will serve him well as he takes on these tough issues. It explains why Acosta has earned high acclaim from numerous pro-job groups, like the National Association of Manufacturers, which called him an ``exceptional choice to lead the Department,'' and the chamber of commerce, which noted his ``extraordinary history of government service and refined skills.'' prgtoken He has also earned support from across the political spectrum, including from people like Lafe Solomon, a National Labor Relations Board Acting General Counsel in the administration, who said Acosta is ``very open-minded and fair'' and ``deserves to be Secretary of Labor.'' prgtoken We have also heard from unions that have backed him as well. In their words, Acosta is an ``advocate for the middle class,'' a nominee with ``strong credentials and an impeccable reputation,'' and someone they can work with ``to protect and make better the lives of working men and women across America.'' prgtoken Acosta's leadership at the Labor Department will serve as a much needed change from what we saw under the previous administration, when, too often, onerous regulations that stifled instead of encouraged growth were given high priority, which came at a disadvantage to the very workers the previous administration claimed to be helping. prgtoken Of course, much work remains when it comes to providing relief to middle-class workers, but today's vote to confirm Acosta represents another positive step in that direction.
BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORT
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-4-27

I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for April 2017. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2017, S.Con.Res. 3. This information is necessary for the Senate Budget Committee to determine whether budget points of order lie against pending legislation. The staff of the Senate Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, prepared this report pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, CBA. prgtoken My last filing can be found in the Record on March 1, 2017. The information contained in this report captures legislative activity since that filing through April 25, 2017. prgtoken Budget Committee staff prepared Tables 1-3 of this report. prgtoken Table 1 gives the amount by which each Senate authorizing committee exceeds or is below its allocation for budget authority and outlays under the most recently adopted budget resolution. This information is used for enforcing committee allocations pursuant to section 302 of the CBA. For this reporting period, 14 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations. The two committees out of compliance are: the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, for spending $1 million more in budget authority and outlays than allowed over each enforcement window due to passage of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017, P.L. 115-10; and the Committee on Veterans Affairs, which violates its outlay allocation by $200 million over both the fiscal year 2017-2021 and fiscal year 2017-2026 periods. The latter violation--the largest of this reporting period--stems from passage of a bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes, P.L. 115-26. This measure removed the August 7, 2017, sunset from the program to allow funds previously appropriated to be fully exhausted. prgtoken Tables 2-3 remain unchanged from the last report as no new appropriations activity has occurred for the fiscal year 2017 cycle. prgtoken In addition to the tables provided by Budget Committee staff, I am submitting CBO tables, which I will use to enforce budget totals approved by the Congress. prgtoken CBO provided a spending and revenue report for fiscal year 2017, which helps enforce aggregate spending levels in budget resolutions under CBA section 311. In its report, CBO annualizes the temporary effects of the latest continuing resolution, which provides funding through April 28, 2017. For the enforcement of budgetary aggregates, the Budget Committee excludes this temporary funding. As such, the committee views current-law levels as being $953 billion and $583.2 billion below budget resolution levels for budget authority and
CURTIS RHYNE
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-4-27

I rise today to recognize and thank an exceptional North Carolinian, Curtis Rhyne, who has served our state well here in Congress. After getting his start in my office several years ago, he worked for several Chairmen of the Study Committee and later with my colleague, Rep. Richard Hudson. He brought conservative Carolina values to that service, which were instilled in him by his parents, Jerry and Elaine Rhyne, and his entire family during his formative years in Statesville, N.C. As an East Carolina University Pirate and graduate, Curtis was well prepared intellectually for his work here in Washington, which was primarily on energy, trade, and other policy issues. He is well known in Washington for his personal attention to individuals and issues and is held in the highest regard for his professionalism and knowledge. Regardless of where he resides, I'll always think of Curtis as a constituent and wish him well as he moves on to serve our state as a Policy Advisor for North Carolina House Tim Moore in Raleigh.
Regulatory Accountability Act (Executive Session)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-4-27

I rise today to talk about legislation to give our economy a shot in the arm and to help raise wages for Americans all across our country. prgtoken When I am back home, whether it is at a small auto body shop or whether it is at a big steel plant or whether it is at a soybean farm, I hear the same thing, which is people coming up to me and saying: Hey, Rob, with all of these regulations coming from Washington, I would love to hire more people, but I am spending too much time and money trying to keep up with these regulations. prgtoken I think that is true with every Member here, whether you are a or a , when you are back home talking to people. They get frustrated. Sometimes it is local and State regulations as well, but a lot of them are coming from the Federal Government. prgtoken One example would be the Whitacre Greer Company, which makes bricks. It is a small family-owned business in Alliance, OH, just outside of Youngstown. They told me recently that complying with just one regulation is now costing this small company almost a million bucks a year that they don't have. They have had to go out and borrow the money, and that has been difficult for them. The cost of just complying with this one new regulation is about 10 percent of their annual revenue. Otherwise, that roughly million bucks would have been invested, they say, in plant, equipment and people. In other words, they would be able to create more jobs and modernize their facility if not for that compliance cost. prgtoken They are not alone. It is happening all over Ohio and across the country. Costly regulations are causing companies to pull back on expanding jobs and creating more opportunity for the people we represent. prgtoken Look, regulation has its place. There is no question about it. We need regulations. I think everybody acknowledges that. It has a proper role. We need reasonable laws that protect our health and the environment and prevent dishonest business practices. But let's make sure that, as we regulate more and more and more, we have smart regulations--regulations that make sense and that don't affect these small businesses, as I talked about with this brick company in Alliance, OH. prgtoken The reality today is that a lot of Federal regulations are more extensive in scope, more expensive to these companies--and, therefore, these workers--more unpredictable than they have to be to meet whatever the policy objectives are. prgtoken So Congress writes a law, and we have certain policy objectives, but then the regulators take that and they change the spirit of the congressional law instead of meeting that objective in the most cost- effective way possible. So I get that from my constituents, and the question is this: What do we do about it? prgtoken The other thing I hear about is the fact that regulators aren't accessible. People don't feel like they have any influence over it. prgtoken By keeping new bu
HEALTHCARE DEBATE IN OUR NATION
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-4-27

as President and s in Congress work toward finally delivering the American people relief from Care, it is important to remember how we got here and why we find ourselves in this position today. prgtoken We are approaching the fork in the road for health care in our country. We have a choice of two paths, and they lead to very different outcomes. prgtoken Care's regulatory behemoth is collapsing the individual market and is paving the way toward a disastrous result, namely, socialized medicine--and the crowded waiting rooms, scarce access to physicians, and low-quality health care that comes with it, not to mention an unprecedented accumulation of power in Washington, D.C. prgtoken This is not conjecture Harry Reid, and a whole host of Care supporters have been completely candid about their ultimate goal of a single-payer healthcare system, which could then seamlessly devolve into socialized medicine. prgtoken The time to right our course is now. s are offering the American people a better way, one that fosters choice, lowers healthcare costs, and improves Americans' health outcomes. We have two clear and very distinct options. Let's make the right choice and pull back from the brink of socialized medicine.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF THE HONORABLE STEVE STIVERS
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-4-27

as the Dean of the Ohio delegation (Marcy Kaptur has served a few more years in total), it's my honor to recognize Steve Stivers for his service to the House of Representatives, and also to our nation. Since being elected in 2010, Steve has brought an enthusiasm and dedication to his work in Washington, and back home in Ohio. He is not only an incredible asset to this body and to his constituents, but he also has a gregarious personality that draws people in and puts them immediately at ease. To put it another way, you always know when Steve Stivers enters the room. But, perhaps the most impressive thing about Steve is his service in the Ohio Army National Guard. Having served his country with great distinction both here at home and overseas in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Djibouti, he was recently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. And fortunately, , Steve brought the leadership skills he learned in the military to Congress, and we are all better for it.
U.S. Military Readiness (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-4-27

our military and our intelligence community grapple with intersecting issues that aren't wholly unique to this day and age. Our national security has always been imperiled by foreign threats, from the Revolutionary War to two World Wars, and we previously faced a seemingly unsurmountable debt burden following World War II. prgtoken The challenge seems to be, as it always is in a democracy, that people of different views differ on the sense of urgency on priorities and the means to address both those threats and our financial house in order to be able to pay for what it takes to keep America safe. What is unique is the range and complexity of the problems we face and their scale. prgtoken I am reminded of a sobering quote from the former Director of National Intelligence during a hearing just last year, former Director James Clapper, who served 50 years in the U.S. intelligence community. He said: ``In my time in the intelligence business, I don't recall a time when we have been confronted with a more diverse array of threats.'' I agree with him. prgtoken On top of that diverse array of threats, never before has our country been at war for such an extended period of time since 9/11, and never before have we done so much with an all-volunteer military force stressed by repeated deployments, while at the same time defense spending has been cut by nearly 15 percent over the last 8 years. prgtoken So the United States is at a crossroads when it comes to meeting the diverse threats we face today, while simultaneously preparing for the ever-evolving future threats headed our way tomorrow. prgtoken I wish to first provide a little bit of context about our lack of readiness to meet those threats by framing the challenges our military and our Nation faces, and then I wish to offer some thoughts about how we can rise to meet these challenges and maintain our military preeminence and leadership in the world. prgtoken First, there are the challenges abroad. We face a range of adversaries unlike any other in our history. In the Middle East, even as ISIS forces are pushed back in Iraq, their ideology spreads like a contagion through their so-called cyber caliphate, and it continues to permeate the West and attract the vulnerable and the disillusioned. FBI Director Comey has said that his agency has open investigations into home-grown jihadists in all 50 States. prgtoken Iran, under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is a breakout nuclear threat and remains the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism in the world. At the same time, it is rapidly growing its ballistic missile arsenal and has regained much of its financial strength following sanctions relief under the JCPOA. prgtoken Then there is Syria. Since the Syrian civil war began, 400,000 have died in a bloody civil war, while Bashar al-Assad, a brutal dictator known to repeatedly use chemical weapons on his own people despite redlines drawn, enjoys Russian a
REMEMBERING DR. ANDRE LARSON
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-4-27

today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Andre Larson, who passed away on March 24, 2017, at the age of 74. Dr. Larson grew up in Brookings, SD, and graduated from the University of South Dakota, USD, in Vermillion with a BFA in music education and later, a MM degree in music literature. prgtoken A lifelong advocate for fine arts and music, Dr. Larson created the renowned National Music Museum in Vermillion, on USD's campus. Today it has the most complete collection of well-preserved and historically important musical instruments in the world. prgtoken The National Music Museum houses and preserves over 15,000 rare musical instruments: Stradivarius violins, and one of the only two Stradivarius mandolins that exist, dombaks and didgeridoos, the oldest playing harpsicord, more than a dozen saxophones made by the instrument's inventor, Adolphe Sax, bouzoukis, hurdy-gurdies, and a bombardon, a 1772 bowlback mandolin, a Javanese gamelan, lutes, flutes, harmonicas, and zithers, the world's oldest cello, called the King cello and created around 1550 A.D Johnny Cash's guitar, and everything in-between, including a substantial collection of historic instrument documents. prgtoken Dr. Andre Larson was inspired by his father, Arne B. Larson, who was a high school music teacher, bandleader, and later a college music professor. Arne began collecting musical artifacts and instruments while serving in World War II, and his passion for music was not lost on his son, Andre. Wanting to share his and his father's passion, Andre conceptualized, planned, and implemented the development of the National Music Museum in Vermillion. In 1972, he was hired as the first director of the museum, then named the Shrine to Music Museum, with his father's 2,500 instruments as the foundation. Andre served as director of the museum until his retirement in 2011. prgtoken Under Dr. Andre Larson's leadership, the museum expanded significantly from one room in the Carnegie Library to now occupying the entire building today. His intelligence and great knowledge of instruments and history enabled him to select the best instruments for the collection. He also had a very unique skill in matching instruments to generous donors who would allow the museum to showcase their purchases. prgtoken In addition to teaching at the University of South Dakota and running the museum, Dr. Larson also created, produced, and marketed many musical events every year that sometimes included internationally known musicians performing music with the museum instruments. He also created the Nation's only graduate degree program in the history of musical instruments. prgtoken Throughout his life, Dr. Larson also served three terms as the president of the American Musical Instrument Society. He edited its newsletter for 18 years, and he was honored with the Curt Sachs Award, the highest honor given by the American Musical Instrument Society. In 2016,
REMEMBERING WILLIAM ADAMS KIMBROUGH, JR.
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-4-27

I rise today to remember the life of Mr. William Adams Kimbrough, Jr. Billy, as he was known, was a leader in the Mobile community and a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. Billy was born in Selma and grew up in Thomasville. He attended the University of the South, or Sewanee, where he was a member of the football team and active in campus affairs. He later graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law. Under President John F. Kennedy, Billy served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney before working in the legal department at the GM&O Railroad in Mobile. He later joined the law firm of Stockman & Bedsole. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. He held his position until 1981. Following his service as U.S. Attorney, Billy joined the law firm of Turner Onderdonk where he practiced law until his retirement in 2012. Billy was a proud Mobilian and participated in many groups and organizations around Southwest Alabama. He was active in politics throughout his life and took part in many political campaigns. He also worked with the Greater Gulf State Fair, of which he was the President in 1967. He was also a man of strong and steady faith. He sang in the choir and taught Sunday School at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile. He took great pride in seeing his church grow and flourish. Sadly, Billy passed away on March 31st after a lengthy illness. Billy was more than just a colleague and fellow member of the Mobile Bar Association; he was also a friend of mine and my family. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to share my deepest condolences with his wife of 58 years, Kay, his two children, Mary Elizabeth and Will, and his entire family. I hope you can take great comfort in the many memories together and the fact that Billy had such a profound impact on our community, state, and country.
U.S. WANTS TO COMPETE FOR A WORLD EXPO ACT
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-4-27

it's been more than three decades since the United States hosted a World's Fair, even as there has been a recent upsurge in local and national interest to do so. Under rules from the Bureau of International Expositions, the U.S. is effectively prevented from hosting Expos and World's Fairs because we are no longer a part of the organization. prgtoken That's why I'm joining with my fellow Minnesotans, led by Congressman Emmer, and a bipartisan coalition to authorize the U.S. to rejoin the BIE. This effort also urges U.S. government assistance in advancing Minnesota's bid to host EXPO 2023. prgtoken I believe my home state of Minnesota is the perfect place to usher in a new era for American membership in the BIE. Business, civic, and community leaders in Minnesota have already created the Minnesota's World's Fair Bid Committee to start preparing for this unique opportunity to show what our state, our region, and our country have to offer. prgtoken We should work with the appropriate federal departments and agencies, and take the necessary steps to ensure the United States rejoins the BIE so that we are not at a disadvantage and so our great cities and states can experience being on display on the world stage.
IN RECOGNITION OF FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL'S CHARITY PROM
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-4-27

I rise to recognize the students, faculty, and Principal, Doug Fulton, of Freedom High School located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for their leadership and efforts to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer. For the second year in a row, Freedom High School will be forgoing a lavish, expensive prom and instead will be hosting the event in their cafeteria and gymnasium, where the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to pediatric cancer organizations. prgtoken Two years ago, Principal Fulton and several students saw an opportunity for the school to engage with their community and join the fight against childhood cancer when they learned about the Prom Challenge, an initiative set forth by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Through this initiative, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provides schools with the tools needed to transform their normal prom events into pediatric cancer fundraisers. prgtoken Last spring marked the first time that Freedom High School partook in the challenge, and this unique event truly sparked interests and efforts of the entire student body, faculty, and community. When the decision was made to transform the school's cafeteria and gym into a dining room and ball room in an effort to save money on a venue, many students were at first skeptical and disappointed. Yet once they learned about the challenge, they became excited and very eager to raise money and awareness for the event. Additionally, the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, the venue that had already been arranged for the event prior to the conception of this charity ball, generously returned the school its $5,000 deposit. prgtoken The theme of last year's prom was ``Hats on to Fight Pediatric Cancer,'' inspired by Ellie's Hats, a local charity in Loudoun County that provides hats to children who lose their hair during cancer treatments. To raise awareness students were asked to wear hats to the event, and some of the proceeds were in fact donated to this local organization. At the event, the food provided was all donated by Whole Foods and the National Conference Center, and the musical performers and photographers each volunteered their time. Lastly, the prom king and queen were not chosen by the student body, but they were instead selected based on who raised the most money in their name. Every final detail and moment of this event was thoroughly planned with the intent of assisting those with pediatric cancer, and ultimately, the event raised $48,000. prgtoken , while the students and faculty take great pride in last year's tremendous prom, they now hope to make this event a permanent tradition at Freedom High School and hope that other schools will follow their lead. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Freedom High School's students and faculty for their extraordinary work on last year's charity prom and their continuous efforts to champion this initiative. Dedicating their time a