mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-3-7

I hope my colleagues will see the benefits that can come from this. This isn't a special interest carveout, unless you consider cleaning up the environment in western Pennsylvania to be a special interest. prgtoken Again, are we capable of making judgments about what this town puts out, one size fits all, seemingly with blinders on, not having the ability to recognize that in certain circumstances customization is appropriate? prgtoken That is what this underlying bill, the SENSE Act, does. It does make sense: satisfying energy needs and saving the environment. I hope my colleagues would see the sense in that and work with us to allow the environmental cleanup to continue and to protect hundreds of family- sustaining jobs across western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
IN APPRECIATION OF INDUCTEES INTO IDAHO HALL OF FAME
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-3-7

I rise today to congratulate Bonnie Stoddard of Dubois, Robert Brown of Idaho Falls, Frank Priestly of Franklin, R.J. Smith of Tendoy, and Stan Boyle of Idaho Falls on their inductions into the Eastern Idaho Agricultural Hall of Fame. prgtoken Now 87 years old, Bonnie Stoddard has dedicated her life to documenting agricultural prgtoken history. Much of her early life was spent on a cattle ranch in the Medicine Lodge area of Clark County. From these beginnings she recognized the imperative to preserve and share the history of her area, as well as the surrounding Idaho and Montana ranch and farm country. I applaud Bonnie for her agricultural service and the historical value she has added to her community. prgtoken Operating a portion of his grandfather's original homestead in Ririe, Robert Brown raises wheat, barley, and hay. Robert's hard work has not gone unnoticed, in fact, he's received the Life Achievement Award from the Idaho Grain Producers Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Idaho Wheat Commission, and various other awards. He has served on the Farm Service Agency Board and other agricultural and land use advisory groups. From hosting delegates at his farm to representing the State of Idaho in supporting legislation that benefits Idaho Farmers in Washington, D.C Robert has been a great asset to the farming community. prgtoken Starting at the young age of 14 with his own hay baling business, auctioneer Frank Priestly has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Frank and his wife, Susan, worked in agriculture together, establishing an 80-cow family dairy. Frank served as the President of the Idaho Farm Bureau for 18 years. One of his many accomplishments through the organization was development and implementation of the Moving Agriculture to the Classroom Program, or M.A.C which enables educators' access to teaching modules on various agricultural topics. Frank has represented his constituent group of Farm Bureau members at the local, regional, state, and federal levels and mentored young producers. prgtoken R.J. Smith grew up working on the family ranch near Tendoy, and is a graduate from Salmon high school R.J. competed on the rodeo team while attending the University of Utah before enlisting in the Army. During the Vietnam war, R.J.'s heroic efforts included flying helicopters. He used his flying skills while working on a bison ranch in Wyoming along with his wife, Grace. Since returning to the state of Idaho, R.J. has been honored as Lemhi County Cattle and Horse Grower of the year and Lemhi County Grassman of the year. Through his many years of service he has served as chairman of the Lemhi Irrigation District, along with various state livestock committees. He continues to be a great leader in water and irrigation policy which benefits wildlife, fish and agriculture production. prgtoken Having grown up on a farm in the Ririe, Idaho area, Stan Boyle understands the valu
LITHUANIAN AND ESTONIAN CENTENNIALS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-3-7

the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus has been without a cochair. prgtoken This is a critical time to show solidarity with our Baltic allies, given Russian aggression against Ukraine starting in 2014, following on Russian military intervention in the Republic of Georgia in 2008. prgtoken It is also a significant milestone year for all three Baltic countries as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of their statehood. As such, it is important that the Baltic Freedom Caucus have its leadership in place. I have been a member of the Baltic Freedom Caucus for some time, and I have now agreed to be the cochair, along with Senator Durbin, who is the longtime cochair. prgtoken So, in my new capacity as cochair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, I would like to offer congratulations first to the Republic of Lithuania, which celebrated 100 years since the establishment of the modern Lithuanian state on February 16. prgtoken I say the modern state because Lithuanians trace their country's history to 1253. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania controlled a large amount of territory from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea during medieval times. It later joined with Poland as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Then, with the partitions of Poland starting in the 18th century, it came under the control of the Russian empire. prgtoken In the wake of World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, on February 16, 1918, representatives of the Lithuanian nation signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania ``reestablishing an independent state, based on democratic principles.'' Lithuania today holds true to those principles. This makes it a natural and close ally of the United States and other freedom-loving nations. In fact, the Lithuanian Government has become a particularly outspoken defender of democratic principles in the face of attacks on those principles by its large neighbor, Russia. prgtoken I would also like to recognize the Republic of Estonia, which marked 100 years of statehood on February 24. Like the United States, Estonia counts its statehood starting with its declaration of independence. Also like the United States, Estonia had to fight a war against an empire with a much larger army to secure its independence. Actually, Estonia had to fight both the German empire and Bolshevik Russia. prgtoken Germany gave up when it lost World War I, and Soviet Russia was pushed back by the new Estonian army, ultimately signing the Treaty of Tartu that recognized the independence of Estonia in perpetuity. More recently, the Estonian army has fought side by side with the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Estonia is one of the few NATO allies that meets its commitment to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense. prgtoken I should add that Latvians will celebrate their 100th anniversary of statehood in November, so there will be time to congratulate them in due course, but I should mention that there are many
HONORING COMMANDER CHRISTOPHER A. WEECH
Carlos Curbelo (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-3-7

I rise to recognize Commander Christopher A. Weech of the United States Navy. Commander Weech has made a career of defending our nation's freedom on the high seas for the past 34 years. Commander Weech was born and attended school in Key West, Florida, the southernmost point of Florida's 26th District and the United States. CDR Weech's military service has taken him far and wide. He has crossed the Equator four times and was initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of Shellbacks on 9 October 1990. His commitment and dedication to serving our nation have earned Commander Weech the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (5 Gold Stars) and the Navy Achievement Medal (1 Gold Star). CDR Weech's final assignment was as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Exercises on the staff of Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. TENTH Fleet. prgtoken Now, after 34 years of service Commander Weech has decided to retire from the Navy. His leadership will certainly be missed, but we look forward to Commander Weech becoming an active part of the community as a civilian. prgtoken His wife Jennifer and two daughters Jenna and Britain have a lot to be proud of. I am honored to recognize individuals such as CDR Weech who have given so much in service to our nation.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-3-7

it is an honor and a privilege today to pay tribute to a great Georgian who has dedicated a lifetime of service to our State ahead of his 90th birthday on April 11, 2018. prgtoken Mr. Emory Schwall is an outstanding Georgia attorney who has practiced law in our State for 68 years. In 1950, at the age of 21, he was admitted to the Georgia Bar after attending the Emory School of Law and graduating from the Woodrow Wilson Law School in Atlanta. prgtoken Emory Schwall has served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia representing the insurance commissioner. He is a certified estate planner and mediator, a member of Atlanta Estate Planning Council, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He also is a member of the Emory Law School Council. prgtoken As impressive as Emory Schwall's professional legal career has been, his impact on one of Georgia's finest not-for-profit hospitals is probably one of the areas of work of which he is most proud. The Shepherd Center in Atlanta specializes in medical treatment, research, and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions. Founded in 1975, the Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the Nation, and it has grown from a six-bed rehabilitation unit to a world- renowned, 152-bed hospital that treats more than 8,500 patients each year. prgtoken Emory Schwall has been active with the Shepherd Center since its inception, helping it obtain grants and bequests, and he has led capital campaigns and other initiatives that have helped its growth. He served on the original board of directors for the Shepherd Center Foundation. He has also served as vice president and as a director of Shepherd Center, Inc from 1987 until 2017. prgtoken Emory Schwall has also served his church Trinity Presbyterian Church since 1956, not only as a parishioner, but also as a deacon, an elder, and as chair of its finance committee. prgtoken An appreciation for the preservation of history led him, as president of the Atlanta Medical Heritage, to donate the Academy of Medicine building, a designated historical landmark in Atlanta, to the Georgia Tech Foundation to ensure funds for the restoration and preservation of the building. prgtoken Further, Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital has benefitted from Emory Schwall's generosity and service, including serving as an active member of the Friends of Piedmont Hospital charitable arm. prgtoken Emory Schwall also is active with national charitable and civic organizations such as the American Heart Association and the Arthritis Foundation. prgtoken His dedication to service earned him the ``Greater Good Award'' from the Georgia Planned Giving Council in 2009. This annual award is presented to an individual whose career is currently
IN MEMORY OF DEPUTY LOCKLEAR
Robert Pittenger (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-3-7

I rise today in memory of Scotland County, North Carolina, Deputy Alexis ``Thunder Eagle'' Locklear, who was killed in the line of duty last Thursday while rushing to the aid of a fellow officer. prgtoken Deputy Locklear was just 23 years old and had only been on the force for 10 months, yet those who knew him best said he died doing what he loved. prgtoken My friend, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey, said that Deputy Locklear made friends everywhere he went. Sheriff Kersey said: ``He wanted to be a law enforcement officer, and he chose the Scotland County Sheriff's Office. It did not take a long time spending with Thunder to know that he would fit right in with this family.'' prgtoken Deputy Locklear leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter as well as his parents, grandparents, and six sisters. prgtoken Last week, Scotland County lost a hero, but a hero remembered never dies in our hearts. Please join me in offering condolences to the Locklear family, Sheriff Kersey, and the Scotland County Sheriff's Office.
RECOGNIZING ZOO DIRECTOR MICHAEL BLAKELY
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2018-3-7

today I rise to remember Michael Blakely of Little Rock, who passed away at the age of 67 just before the new year. prgtoken Mike served as the director of the Little Rock Zoo for 17 years prior to his death. Next to his family, Mike's greatest love was for animals, from the smallest of snakes to the largest of elephants. prgtoken As a teenager, Mike began working as a zoologist in Portland, Oregon, and Oklahoma City before finally joining our community in Little Rock. prgtoken In Little Rock, he became the director of the Little Rock Zoo and held that position from 1999 until 2016. His work at our zoo enriched the lives of the thousands who visited each year, as well as the staff that he mentored so well. prgtoken He was dearly loved by his wife, Nancy, with whom he shared 34 years of marriage, and his two kids, Thomas and Elizabeth. prgtoken Martha and I thank him and his family for their dedication to animals and to the natural state of Arkansas. Recognizing Bryant City Councilman Jerry Henson
Introductory Statement on S. 2507
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-3-7

over the next couple of weeks, Congress is going to need to finalize government appropriations for the remainder of this year. Among the things that some people are talking about is including money for a couple of Care programs. One of them is money for the so-called cost-sharing reduction payments. Funding for these payments was never appropriated by Congress. The administration paid the insurance companies anyway. President stopped these illegal payments last October. Now, some people in Congress are talking about funding them again. prgtoken We all know that Care has been a disaster for millions and millions of families all across the country. We know that for the people who live in States that use the Federal healthcare.gov exchange, average premiums have doubled since the law took effect. Certainly Wyoming is one of those States that experienced it; I heard about it in Clark County just last week. We know it. We hear about it in letters from the people who write to us. No matter where they are from in the State of Wyoming, we continue to hear about the costs going up. I am sure there is a similar situation in the State of Arkansas, the Presiding Officer's State, as well. prgtoken According to Gallup, the number of uninsured people actually increased last year by 3 million. Many people are finding that they just can't afford to have Care insurance. It is especially hard for hard-working families who don't qualify for subsidies under the healthcare law. So we know there is a problem, and we know we have to do something to help people who are struggling in Care markets. prgtoken If people are going to discuss using this government spending law to spend more money on the collapsing Care markets, there are other things we should be discussing as well. We should discuss finding a real solution to rising healthcare costs--one that doesn't just continue the unworkable, unaffordable, and, frankly, unfair system that Care created. We should discuss actually giving people more freedom and more flexibility to choose a healthcare plan that is right for them. prgtoken I am introducing a bill today to do just that. My legislation will build on a step that President and the administration took last month. The administration reversed a last-minute -era policy that had all but killed short-term health plans. These are less expensive health plans that are free from the expensive and intrusive and burdensome regulations that Care placed on other insurers, so they are a much more affordable option for many Americans who have been priced out of Care. prgtoken President is on the right path with this new rule. It is absolutely the right decision. He is giving people back an option so they can decide for themselves if it is a right choice for them. I think we should go a step further, and that is why I am introducing this legislation. We
Liz Cheney (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-3-7

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of House Resolution 762, which provides for the consideration of H.R. 1119, the Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment--or SENSE--Act, and provides for consideration of H.R. 1917, the Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns--or BRICK--Act of 2017. prgtoken , for many years our domestic energy industry has suffered under unnecessary and politically motivated regulations and burdensome, bureaucratic red tape, prohibiting growth and innovation. President and his administration have been working hard, along with this Congress, to undo the policies which have so harmed our domestic energy industry. prgtoken Today's rule allows for the consideration of two bills, which will further those efforts and reform our regulatory framework so our energy producers can do their jobs more efficiently and economically, along with safeguards that will still be in place to protect health and safety. These bills provide a commonsense solution to tailor EPA emission standards, and they provide reasonable compliance timelines for the specific regulated industries. prgtoken The first bill, H.R. 1119, the SENSE Act, is sponsored by my colleague, Mr. Rothfus from Pennsylvania. This bill would provide for targeted modifications to the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, MATS, as it applies to coal refuse-to-energy facilities. The EPA has included certain emissions limits in the new standards that are just simply not achievable for these refuse plants. prgtoken These specialized power plants have been developed to recycle coal refuse by using it as an energy source to generate affordable, reliable electricity. These facilities have thus far removed 214 million tons of coal refuse from the environment, at no expense to taxpayers. prgtoken In addition to helping address coal refuse, these facilities have created an estimated 1,200 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs in areas that have been economically distressed for many years. prgtoken There are 19 of these coal refuse-to-energy facilities, many of which are at direct risk of being shut down absent passage of the SENSE Act. prgtoken The SENSE Act would create a way for coal refuse-to-energy facilities to continue their much-needed work by allowing these plants to demonstrate compliance with EPA's hydrochloric acid standard by using sulfur dioxide as a proxy and assuming that a 93 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide demonstrates compliance with the hydrochloric acid emissions reduction standard. prgtoken The bill would still require these coal refuse-to-energy facilities to be subject to emissions limitations and to achieve substantial declines in emissions; but it would do so in a way that these facilities can achieve while also remaining operational, recognizing the crucial role they play in providing energy, and helping to clean up coal refuse sites. prgtoken , our rule also provi
HONORING MS. MONICA MALPASS
Robert A. Brady (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-3-7

today I rise to honor Philadelphia staple Monica Malpass. A leading figure in her industry and inductee to the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame, Monica has been a vital contributor to the Philadelphia broadcasting world. Since 1988, the people of my district have enjoyed watching her co-anchor the Action News at 5 p.m. Throughout her time in Philadelphia, Monica has been an active citizen in her community, raising her three kids in Center City. prgtoken With a BA from UNC Chapel Hill in journalism and an MA in Political Science from Villanova, Monica brings a wealth of knowledge to her interviews and roundtables. Just as impressive, Monica was a Rotary Scholar to the University of Puerto Rico, a graduate from the Brookings Institute's ``Inside Washington'' program and a member of the World Affairs Council. This unique combination of education and experience has made Monica a distinguished and esteemed broadcaster. prgtoken Monica's credibility has allowed her to interview some of the most important leaders in our nation's modem history. That list includes President , President Gerald Ford, Vice President Joseph , Vice President George H. W Secretary Clinton, and most astoundingly every U.S. senator, congressman, governor, state senator and representative from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware for the past 30 years. Beyond interviews, Monica has been involved in conferences, panels and award shows and has emceed the PA Conference for Women numerous times. prgtoken Her leadership and skill will continue to be a crucial asset not only to the Philadelphia community, but to the entire media industry. Mr please join me today in recognizing Monica's years of service to the city of Philadelphia.
250TH ANNIVERSARY OF MADBURY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2018-3-7

the town of Madbury, NH, is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. Madbury is a classic New England community, proud of its rich history, its tradition of direct town meeting democracy, and its family-friendly quality of life. Admittedly, I am not an entirely objective observer, as Madbury has been my home for nearly four decades. It is where I raised my family and have so many dear friends, and it is where I first got involved in local politics, serving on the town's zoning board. The roughly 1,800 residents of Madbury look forward to a nearly yearlong celebration of the anniversary, beginning with a special observance at our annual town meeting on March 13. prgtoken Of course, the human history of what is now Madbury--located today in Strafford County in southeast New Hampshire--goes back many centuries prior to the arrival of the first English explorers and settlers. In the 17th century, the Native American Chief Moharimet convened counsels in this area, and today our elementary school is named in his honor. prgtoken Madbury was originally a part of the settlements of Dover and Durham called Barbadoes, named after the West Indies island of Barbados, where local settlers sent lumber in exchange for sugar and molasses. It was named for the English town of Modbury, the ancestral home of Sir Francis Champernowne, who immigrated to what is now Madbury in the 1640s. Madbury was incorporated as a parish in 1755 and as a town in 1768. prgtoken One of our early residents was Major John Demerritt, who in 1774 joined with other New Hampshire patriots in storming the King's Fort William and Mary in New Castle, seizing its armory of weapons and gunpower. The ``Powder Major,'' as he came to be known, stored a portion of this armory at his farm, which still sits on Cherry Lane. It was later used by revolutionaries at the Battle of Bunker Hill. prgtoken Our Madbury town flag--thought to be the first town flag in New England--features an ax, a plow, and a rose. The ax represents forestry, which first attracted settlers to Madbury to supply shipbuilders at Dover, Durham, and Portsmouth. The plow symbolizes our agricultural past. The rose symbolizes the former Elliot rose nursery, which in the mid-20th century boasted the longest greenhouse in the world at 1,400 feet in length. prgtoken Madbury is proud of its long and rich history, and we entered the 21st century as a forward-thinking community with a vibrant economy. Though surrounded by industrial areas, Madbury has remained largely rural in character, proud of its small town charm, hospitality, and lifestyle. prgtoken I look forward to celebrations of Madbury's 250th anniversary later this year, including a parade and other festivities on Madbury Day in June and a Revolutionary War reenactment in the fall. I salute my fellow residents of Madbury on this landmark anniversary of our beloved town.