mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID
Ron Wright (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-7

so now that the economy is soaring and setting job growth records following the one-two punch of regulatory reform and tax cuts, some of my colleagues want to give the credit. prgtoken Well, this is laughable. This was the President who refused to accept responsibility for anything that went wrong for 8 years, instead blaming it on President . Remember? prgtoken Not anemic job growth, government overreach, doubling the national debt, Benghazi, and incompetent foreign policy. Now they want to take credit for the great things happening in this country 28 months into the Presidency. prgtoken Sorry, you don't get to do that. prgtoken This is an outrage. It is wrong; it is demonstrably false; and it won't work. The American people are not stupid.
REAFFIRMING UNITED STATES COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN AND TO IMPLEMENTATION OF TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-7

I rise in support of H. Res. 273, which reaffirms the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, or TRA. prgtoken As a longtime friend of the people of Taiwan, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and a cosponsor of this resolution, I want to thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their work to support our critical bilateral relationship with Taiwan. prgtoken This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which together with President Reagan's Six Assurances, serve as the foundation for the relationship between our two countries, and I mean countries. prgtoken Since the TRA was signed in 1979, Taiwan has become a vibrant, consolidated democracy, one of our most important trading partners and a model in so many areas for the rest of Asia and the whole world, really. prgtoken Going forward, we must continue to implement the TRA and do better at fully appreciating the policy commitments it contains. With that in mind, I urge the President to immediately finalize an arms sales package with Taiwan as well as begin negotiations for a free trade agreement. prgtoken As China's influence grows, our commitment to Taiwan will be the bellwether of our commitment to democracy in Asia. We do not owe China a vote in how we treat Taiwan. If we are equivocal in our support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese pressure, how can we credibly support democracy and democratic values when they are threatened elsewhere? prgtoken I also want to voice my support for H.R. 2002, Ranking Member McCaul's Taiwan Assurance Act. This legislation takes important steps to advance our bilateral relationship, including support for arms sales and for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. It would also require a review of the State Department's, I believe, unreasonable guidelines for Taiwan's diplomatic staff here in the U.S. prgtoken And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I wish the legislation did not refer to the misguided U.S. One-China policy, but I understand that it was included as part of negotiations with the Senate. prgtoken Finally, the Taiwan Assurance Act requires a report on implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act, legislation that I introduced last Congress to increase high-level visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. Since the bill became law a little over a year ago, we have seen not enough action, and I believe that it is past time for full implementation of this important legislation. prgtoken , as we mark the TRA's 40th anniversary, H. Res. 273 and H.R. 2002 are critical to strengthening our enduring relationship with Taiwan as we look forward to the next 40 years, so I would urge my colleagues to support both of them.
REMEMBERING DR. JAMES BILLINGTON
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-5-7

Dr. James Billington was the 13th person to hold the position of Librarian of Congress since the Library was established in 1800. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and served under Presidents George H.W Bill Clinton, , and . prgtoken As Librarian of Congress Dr. Billington managed the Library of Congress, which according to LOC, is the largest library in the world, containing millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts in its collections. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress. prgtoken Dr. Billington doubled the size of the Library's collections during his tenure from 85.5 million items in 1987 to more than 160 million items. He created the Library of Congress online, which helped bring the Library into the digital age. prgtoken In 2003, Dr. Billington testified before the Senate education committee at a hearing I chaired called ``Putting the Teaching of American History and Civics Back in the Classroom.'' prgtoken In his testimony that day, Dr. Billington said: ``During Alex Haley's 12 years researching his groundbreaking novel, Roots, he traveled the globe to uncover his family's story, even taking a slow Atlantic crossing to get some feel for what his ancestors went through on the Middle Passage. He also spent many hours in the reading rooms of the Library of Congress, poring over American Missionary Society files from our Manuscript Collection. ``For the first 190 years of the Library's existence, people could access our vast collections only by traveling to Washington, D.C and by working in our beautiful reading rooms as Mr. Haley did, or by tapping into our rich holdings secondhand, through books that made use of our collections . . . ``The technology revolution of the past decade has made it possible for the Library to reach far beyond its buildings in Washington. We now deliver 8 million interesting and educational multimedia documents, maps, and images of American history and culture free of charge to stimulate curiosity and humanize the study of history. ``By exploiting the power of the internet and the incomparable resources of our collections, the Library of Congress has emerged as the leading provider of free noncommercial educational content on the Web. Millions of educators, librarians, students, and lifelong learners visit our Web sites daily for materials that once were available only through our reading rooms on Capitol Hill.'' prgtoken Dr. Billington's nearly three decades of distinguished service and his efforts to bring the Library of Congress into the digital age will help ensure that the Library will better preserve our Nation's history and enlighten its people for many generations to come. His legacy will be one of innovation and diligence. prgtoken After his passing in 2018, his successor at the Library of Congress, Carla Hayden, said ``Dr. Billington has left an indelible le
NATIONAL SKILLED NURSING CARE WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-5-7

next week is National Skilled Nursing Care Week, and hundreds of nursing home administrators will gather at State College, Pennsylvania, for the 2019 Spring Health Care Conference. prgtoken Hosted by Central Pennsylvania Educational Resources, the conference will allow nursing home administrators the opportunity to exchange ideas and gain information from knowledgeable speakers. prgtoken This year's theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week is ``Live Soulfully,'' which will celebrate skilled nursing centers and their residents and staff by showcasing how they achieve happy minds and healthy souls. prgtoken Whether it is planting, cooking, reading, or listening to music, these centers pay it forward by helping individuals find happiness to improve quality of life. prgtoken , before coming to Congress, I worked nearly three decades as a recreational therapist, a rehab services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator. I know firsthand how important quality of life is and how each and every person at a nursing home can impact the lives of residents. prgtoken National Skilled Nursing Care Week thanks and celebrates caregivers for their tireless work to care for others. They truly make an impact.
HONORING TECHNICAL SERGEANT JUSTIN MARTZ
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-5-7

. Madam , it is with great respect that I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of Technical Sergeant Justin Martz of Jonestown. After 26 years serving Pennsylvania in the Army National Guard and in the Air National Guard, TSgt. Martz is retiring this June. prgtoken I have a profound admiration for those individuals who answer the call to serve and dedicate themselves to both country and community. TSgt. Martz's service has earned him the Army Service Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and multiple State Service ribbons. Most important, however, TSgt. Martz has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow guardsmen. His service has taken him around Pennsylvania, across the country, and to the furthest reaches of the globe, but no matter what the mission, TSgt. Martz remains an exemplary citizen and soldier. prgtoken TSgt. Martz, his wife, Heather, and their family represent the very best in our Citizen Soldiers. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking TSgt. Martz for his dedicated service to the United States and his many contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We wish him the best as he enters this next chapter in life.
REMEMBERING LAURENCE M. BLOCH
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise today to remember an important mentor, advisor and my quasi-brother/father, Laurence M. Bloch, whom the world knew as ``Larry.'' Larry, a Memphis native and longtime real estate investor and contributor to humanitarian causes, passed away on February 23 in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 87. A font of sage advice, Larry was constantly there for me and for many others who loved him for the caring individual he was. After graduating from Christian Brothers High School in 1949, Larry went to the University of Michigan, serving as a cheerleader for the Wolverines and traveling by train with the team to the 1951 Rose Bowl in which Michigan beat the California Golden Bears 14 to 6. Larry graduated with a degree in economics in 1953 then served two years in the U.S. Army before returning to Memphis and the real estate investment business. He remained an avid Michigan fan his whole life and used to tape every game. Known for his disheveled salt-and-pepper hair and socks-less and tie-less style, and for riding his bicycle like Albert Einstein, he also drove around town in a Lincoln Continental with coach doors. He celebrated healthy eating habits as a prophet of whole grains and fiber. An investor with a keen eye for good deals in Memphis' downtown, he had the good sense to own the property kitty-corner from The Peabody on Union Avenue that was torn down to create AutoZone Park. A patron of the arts, he also supported the Memphis Crisis Center, Meals on Wheels and the Church Health Center among his charitable causes. As a cat lover, another of his charitable causes was The House of Mews, where he was for a while the top cat. A charming story teller, he provided useful advice and helped many people solve their problems. I was fortunate to have had him as a good friend and will miss him greatly. I want to extend my condolences to his daughter Cheryl and to his grandsons Nick and Alex. Larry Bloch led an exemplary life.
AFTER MUELLER: THE WORK TO BE DONE
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-8

45 years ago this summer, the Watergate scandal, which had preoccupied the Nation for 2 years, culminated with the resignation of President Richard Nixon and touched off a period of activism and reform on Capitol Hill. prgtoken In the years that followed, Congress worked to ensure transparency and prevent the abuse of executive power, informed not only by the work of two special prosecutors but also by the good investigative work of multiple House and Senate committees. prgtoken The Watergate investigations exposed an array of abuses of power by a craven President and his associates. prgtoken In response to illegal campaign contributions, the Congress enacted the Federal Election Commission, required disclosure, and placed limits on how much candidates could raise and spend. prgtoken When Congress discovered that private information held by the IRS and other agencies had been used for political purposes, Congress passed the Privacy Act, restricting government use of Americans' private data. prgtoken The Watergate era bears more than a passing resemblance to the tumult of the last 3 years, and today, as in the 1970s, Congress has a responsibility to act to fortify our democracy and our institutions. prgtoken Even in redacted form, the Mueller report has illuminated serious gaps in laws intended to protect our Nation's electoral and political process. The investigation, moreover, exposed weaknesses in the way our government tracks and responds to foreign influence efforts. prgtoken Like other committees, the House Intelligence Committee is undertaking a close review of the report to develop necessary legislative reforms to protect our Nation moving forward. But to fully assess the legislative implications, it is imperative that Congress, including our committee, receive the full, unredacted report, as well as crucial underlying evidence. prgtoken The report makes clear that the special counsel's mandate did not extend to broader foreign influence activities. The Intelligence Committee, therefore, is undertaking an investigation and related oversight work focused on efforts by Russia and other foreign actors to influence our political process before, during, and since the 2016 election. prgtoken A core component is to understand how Russia and other foreign powers used financial leverage to further their geopolitical goals and whether and to what extent financial entanglements exist and may have been used to influence or compromise Americans, including President , his family, and associates. prgtoken Working with the Financial Services Committee, the Intelligence Committee has requested information from financial institutions, information that will be vital to fully identify the scope of this threat, the financial means and methods that foreign adversaries use, and the counterintelligence vulnerabilities of U.S. officials and institutions. prgtoken The committee's ongoing investigation and oversight, along with
Nomination of Janet Dhillon (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-5-8

I come to the floor to oppose the nomination of Janet Dhillon to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. prgtoken I have a number of concerns about her record, which I plan to lay out here today, but before I do, I want to talk about the process by which this nomination has come to the Senate floor. prgtoken It has long been common practice in the Senate to confirm nominees to independent agencies as pairs--one and one . prgtoken We do this so agencies like the EEOC are balanced and are able to fully function no matter which party is in the White House. In the case of the EEOC, it ensures workers are being protected from discrimination in the workplace. prgtoken Yet, at every opportunity, s have broken norms and abandoned longstanding practices to jam through their nominees. First it was the National Labor Relations Board, when my colleagues across the aisle jammed through two nominees without any and then refused to give a highly qualified nominee another term on the Board--all because that highly qualified nominee was fighting on the side of workers, not corporations. Then one lone was allowed to object to the reconfirmation of a well-respected Commissioner to another term on the EEOC, even if that meant the EEOC would no longer have a quorum and be able to perform some of its most critical duties. prgtoken I came down to the floor to urge our colleagues to end the partisan obstruction and pass a slate of nominees to the EEOC, but leaders allowed one Member's opposition to a noncontroversial nominee to hold more weight than the entire Senate minority. prgtoken Now, here we are today, and s want to jam through another nominee without their ic pair, and by doing this, my colleagues across the aisle have now abandoned longstanding norms of the Senate and are once again sending a message to the most vulnerable workers they believe the corporations that discriminate against them deserve more of a say. prgtoken This is unacceptable and goes against the core of the EEOC. It is illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their race, religion, sex, disability, or because they are LGBTQ. It is the EEOC's responsibility to enforce those laws and to give every person the opportunity to earn a living without fear of discrimination or harassment. prgtoken The EEOC protects LGBTQ rights in the workplace and is the primary agency addressing the gender pay gap. The EEOC is responsible for addressing harassment in the workplace, an issue our country has been grappling with but still has a long way to go. Over the past 2 years, as so many brave women and men have spoken out and shared their stories, we have seen a shift in this country toward acknowledging, finally, the epidemic of harassment and assault in workplaces, and finally we are beginning to address it on a large scale. In Holl
Women's Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-5-8

it gives me no pleasure to say this, but this administration is actively doing terrible things for women and their families. They have rolled back protections for workers. They have made it easier for companies to pollute the air and the water. They have cut investments in public education. They have literally taken children away from their parents and made zero effort to reunite them. They are working as hard as possible to prevent women from having access to the healthcare they need. These are not rhetorical statements. They are policies that hurt people. They are hurting moms. prgtoken The Centers for Disease Control came out with a report just this week showing that hundreds of women die every year from pregnancy-related complications and that many of these deaths are preventable. The report finds that one of the key ways to prevent these deaths is access to proper medical care. Yet this administration has made taking away people's access to healthcare a top priority. They have put legislation in to end the Affordable Care Act. They filed lawsuits to take away protections for people with preexisting conditions. They have issued regulations that allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide care to someone based on their personal beliefs and keep healthcare providers from giving their patients full and accurate information. As we all know, they have gone after Planned Parenthood--one of the leading sources of healthcare for women--with everything they have. prgtoken I remember when I first became a Member of this body, I visited a clinic in Honolulu. I remember meeting with the staff, who told me that clinic was the only source of healthcare for most of their patients. This was the one place women could go for family planning services, counseling, and breast cancer screenings. prgtoken Planned Parenthood's entire reason for being is to help families. In a single year, they cared for 2.4 million people and provided almost 10 million individual healthcare services, including 300,000 breast cancer screenings and over 200,000 well-woman exams--all in a single year. Yet a highlight of this administration's policy on women is to attack women's health and specifically Planned Parenthood. prgtoken But we know it is not just healthcare. As I said, it is workplace safety and fairness. It is investment in public education. It is clean air and clean water. These are things that all of us care about but moms in particular. prgtoken Whatever your political persuasion, everyone has a mom. Lots of people are moms or are married to a mom. This administration is inarguably bad for moms and bad for motherhood. Moms in this country deserve better. prgtoken .
PROTECTING PREEXISTING CONDITIONS
Jennifer Wexton (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-8

in an unprecedented move, the administration issued dangerous guidance last year that could effectively eliminate protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. The administration's guidance puts coverage for the over 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions at risk. prgtoken Our friends and neighbors, Americans who have had cancer, Americans who have high blood pressure, and Americans who have been pregnant would all be at risk of being priced out of their health insurance or being denied coverage outright. prgtoken , we can't go back. Healthcare is complicated, but this issue is not. No American should ever be denied coverage for a preexisting condition--not now, not ever. That is why I will be supporting the Protecting Americans With Preexisting Conditions Act on the House floor this week, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
HONORING THE WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise to honor the World War II and Korean War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2019 with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides World War II and Korean War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country. prgtoken The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who traveled here on May 8 answered our nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the European Campaign to the Pacific Asian Theatre to the African Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed. prgtoken I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to acknowledge these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude: prgtoken DeWayne C. Adams; Ronald Allan; Dale A. Allen; Ralph R. Anderson; Robert A. Anderson; Albert A. Armellino; George T. Athanasiou; Warren N. Barr, Jr.; Marvin E. Becker; Robert W. Bennett. prgtoken Arthur Berg; William F. Bike; Joseph Booko; Patrick J. Boyle; Matthias A. Burger, Jr.; Jose Cervantes; Vincent P. Connor; Bernard T. Constantine; Frank M. Craven; Paul E. Crowe. prgtoken Reginald C. Darley; Herbert E. Davidson; Theodore De Graff; John J. Debnar; Jerome A. Denault; Irwin Lloyd Dickstein; George E. Dirkes; Clarence R. Downey, Jr.; Frank E. Fabian; Harve A. Ferrill. prgtoken Robert V. Fitzgibbon; James F. Frey; Chester Gola; Ronald Goldenstern; Seymour Gottlieb; William H. Grady; Reuben T. Grissette; Gerald Handler; Walter C. Hartmann; Forrest E. Hazard. prgtoken James Holdridge; Peter N. Holt; Michael E. Hopkins; Walter D. Huseman Jr.; Lawrence J. Huttel; Will Intoe; Donald D. Jones; Arthur B. Justice; George J. Lacien; John W. Lee. prgtoken Eugene F. Lewaniak Sr.; Herbert S. Lorman; Robert R. Machon; John S. Matecki; Mark W. McConville; Donald P. McCormick; James McEldowney; Richard McNulty; Kenneth R. Meisinger; Jack J. Micek. prgtoken Wayne C. Morganegg; Paul R. Napholz; Reynaldo Navarro; Edwin H. Nelson; John Edward Olson; Raymond F. Panek; Frank M. Pecoraro; Joseph A. Pecoraro; Harry N. Percianoff; Chester A. Perczynski. prgtoken Jerome R. Radecky; Robert Earl Reed; John L. Retterer; Frank P. Ring; Joseph F. Ring; Donald W. Rooks; Anthony C. Sabatino; George H. Sallman Jr.; Alex Saputa; Edward Schmitt. prgtoken Jerome H. Schuman; Robert V. Sharp; Kenneth Shelby; Kenneth L. Shoberg; Robert John Shouse; Ronald J. Singer; Donald E. Smith; Howard Willis Stalbaum; Howard Stark; Frederick T. Staron. prgtoken Ronald G. Steinke; Clarence B. Stone; Thomas E. Sucher; Eugene Szykowny; Robert M. Terzich; Henry Wabi; James Wagner; Cyrus T. Wax;