mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF DON CAPALBI
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to Don Capalbi, my longtime staff member who also served as a civic leader in my district in Queens, New York. Don passed away at local hospice facility in the early morning hours of December 2, 2018. He had been hospitalized at Northwell Health after sustaining a head injury from a fall. Don was my Community Liaison from 2013 to 2018 and he served in the same capacity when I was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2012. My staff and I are devastated by his loss. Don worked tirelessly for the people of our Congressional district. He was an integral part of my team, providing me with information and advice about community issues, and representing me at civic meetings and local events. These included everything from community board and civic group meetings to press conferences and public ceremonies. One of the most recent issues he helped resolve was for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3427 where he helped save costly fines. Don was a longtime resident of the Queensboro Hill neighborhood, a residential community in Flushing, Queens. In 2009, he became president of the area's civic group, the Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic Association. Don reinvigorated the organization and fought tremendously for the community. He dedicated countless hours to preserving and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood and tackled numerous causes. He fought against excessive airplane noise, advocated for traffic and transportation improvements, pushed for beautification enhancements and partnered with local schools and libraries on a variety of projects. He also worked to combat the increase of overdevelopment and many newspapers, from the Flushing Times to the New York Times, highlighted his efforts on the issue. In addition, Don was a member of many other community organizations in the Flushing area including the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, New York Hospital Queens Community Advisory Council, 109th Precinct Community Council, Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and the NAACP. But Don was much more than a terrific civic activist and staff member. He was also a great human being; a wonderful and special person who was selfless and full of life, and one of the kindest, friendliest and gentlest people I've known. He touched and impacted so many lives and was loved, admired and respected by all with whom he worked. Rarely did I see him without a smile on his face. Born on March 2, 1945, Don was raised in Astoria, Queens. His mother Gaetana was an immigrant from Italy, and his father Frank hailed from Indiana. Don graduated from La Salle Academy High School and went on to attend Long Island University where he earned a degree in Business Administration. An only child, Don was primarily raised by his mother; his father passed away when he was just 10 years old. Don loved his mother dearly and he
DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND ELECTION DAY HOLIDAY
A. Donald McEachin (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-8

today I rise in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and the need for Federal election reform. prgtoken , in the 2016 and 2018 election cycles, we witnessed overt discrimination, disinformation, and intimidation tactics aimed at disenfranchising our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. prgtoken Individuals and organizations intentionally aimed to spread deceptive material regarding the time and place of elections, endorsements, and voter eligibility. Moreover, there were also explicit attempts to intimidate voters at the polls. prgtoken In my home, the Commonwealth of Virginia, there were reports of a man standing in front of a polling place holding a sign with a barking German shepherd on the roof of his truck, and yet that man broke no laws. prgtoken Such efforts can interfere with one of our basic rights as Americans: the right to vote. As such, I am pleased that H.R. 1 includes language from a bill I introduced in the last Congress with then-Ranking Member Nadler, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act. prgtoken This language will prohibit the dissemination of false information regarding Federal elections and prevent efforts to hinder, interfere, or prevent a person from voting, registering to vote, or helping another person to vote or register to vote. We, as Americans, shall make it easier to vote, not harder, and this language will further that goal. prgtoken In the same vein, I am equally proud that another bill has been included in H.R. 1, the Election Day Holiday Act, which I cointroduced with Congresswoman Eshoo in the last Congress. As the title suggests, this bill would direct Federal agencies to treat election day as a holiday and urge private employers to do the same. prgtoken Going to the polls is among the most democratic of American traditions. Making election day a holiday would honor that tradition, while helping voters to continue it long into the future. prgtoken I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Sarbanes, for introducing this historic bill. I thank all of the many Members and stakeholders who have helped shape this bill and who have seen fit to support the measures I have described. prgtoken As the name indicates, this bill is for the people, and I look forward to the day when we do the people's work and pass it.
REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF THE I-75 COLLISION NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-1-8

from Virginia and from New Hampshire for their great leadership on this issue. prgtoken Just talking about SNAP very briefly, 50 percent of all children in the United States, at some point in their lives, are going to be on SNAP, are going to need some help to eat so they can avoid hunger--50 percent of all children. So we are playing games with the program that is central to the lives of millions of families across this country, and we are playing out this entire drama in an all-too-familiar scene. prgtoken For the third time in just 2 years of the Presidency, we are once more in the midst of a government shutdown. It is important to remember how we got here. prgtoken In December, the Senate majority leader brought to the floor a temporary funding bill to keep the Federal Government open. It passed this Chamber unanimously. Everyone--all 100 Senators at the time-- agreed that, at the very least, it was important to keep the government open while we debate the issue of border security and immigration reform. prgtoken So why on Earth is the government shut down? Well, simply because President has decided to hold the government hostage because he didn't get funding for a costly, ineffective wall. Shutting down the government over billions of dollars for a wall is like canceling the World Series because your team didn't make it. prgtoken At nearly 3 weeks into the shutdown, we can track and see the devastating effects of the President's hostage-taking. Some 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, and the longer this goes on, the more their worries mount. Mortgages, student loan payments, car payments, heating bills, food on the table--President may operate from crisis to crisis, but countless American families are living paycheck to paycheck. prgtoken I have heard from many of the individuals and families who are part of the approximately 7,800 Federal workers across Massachusetts, and they are rightfully anxious about how they will make ends meet. Twenty- two percent of Federal employees in Massachusetts are veterans--22 percent. So how does repay thousands of individuals who have served and sacrificed for their country? By not paying them. prgtoken Let's be clear about who these workers are. They are janitors, cafeteria workers, secretaries, security guards. WORK, Incorporated, is the largest employer of individuals with disabilities in New England under the Federal AbilityOne Program. It employs hundreds of individuals with significant disabilities who work across Federal facilities in the region, but because of the shutdown, they aren't going to work. If they are not working, they are not being paid, and they are not prgtoken providing the critical services which are needed for families in New England and across the whole country. prgtoken We have gone from Mexico paying for the border wall to Americans going
TRIBUTE TO MIKE DAVIS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-1-8

I would like to pay tribute to Mike Davis for his incredibly hard work on my Senate Judiciary Committee staff as chief counsel for nominations. He is an Iowan, so his work ethic should be no surprise, but he went above and beyond to ensure that the Senate confirmed a historic number of Federal judges during the 115th Congress, including the very difficult confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In December, Mike spoke about his work for me to the Iowa Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society. I ask unanimous consent that the text of Mike's speech be printed in the Record.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed (Continued)
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-1-8

. and fellow Senators, I rise today to present S. 1, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019. prgtoken It is really a compilation of three bills, addressing three different issues in the Middle East. It is left over from the last Congress, the 115th. prgtoken It is fitting that the first piece of legislation on the Senate floor in the 116th Congress is made up of bills that have previously enjoyed the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation--all three of them that are put together in this bill--with many Senators from both sides of the aisle having contributed to the construction of this bill. prgtoken We need to get this important work done now, not in a month or two. It is leftover business, as I said, and it is about as unanimous as anything around here gets. prgtoken Now, I understand that there is friction around here at the moment, as my good friend from Virginia just talked about. But, look, we are the U.S. Senate. We can walk and we can chew gum at the same time. prgtoken These issues that are in this bill desperately need our attention, and it is disheartening to see that there is going to be a vote against this simply because the parties want to focus on just one issue. That isn't the issue in front of us. If it were, of course, we could vote that way. prgtoken I don't think there is anybody on this floor that wants to see the government shut down. There are a lot of us that would like to see a smaller government, a less intrusive government, and a less regulatory government, but we were elected to govern. We were not elected to not govern, and it is important that we do resolve that. prgtoken But in the meantime, we have these important matters left over from the last Congress, and I hope we can move to them and get them done. prgtoken Israel and Jordan have been steadfast allies and friends of the United States. This legislation reaffirms our strong friendship with these countries and extends critical aid to these two allies. Israel and Jordan deserve the support and cooperation that this legislation would extend. We should not let them down. prgtoken Also included in this legislation is the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which very nearly passed in the full Senate by unanimous consent in the closing hours and minutes of the last Congress. There was only 1 objection to it, but 99 Senators agreed to this act. prgtoken The Caesar bill declares that it is U.S. policy to use all diplomatic and economic means to compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to stop the slaughter of the Syrian people and to work toward a democratic government. prgtoken Sanctions are an important tool of U.S. foreign policy. Carefully designed sanctions allow the United States to create the conditions to influence decision-making and serve U.S. national security interests without having to implement additional military measures and p
BORDER SECURITY
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-8

as I mentioned, this partial government shutdown continues, now on its 18th day. But 18 days in, not much has changed. The newly elected ic House refused to come to the negotiating table with a serious offer or to negotiate in good faith. prgtoken This entire debate has been surreal. I would say it has been a joke, but it is really not funny. It has now degenerated into a game of silly semantics, while losing sight of just how much is at stake for the people affected. prgtoken A secure and vibrant border is critical to the safety and livelihood of our entire country, and it, of course, plays a vital part in the daily life for many Texans, especially those who live and work in the border region. If you visit El Paso, for example, out West, you will see firsthand how interconnected the city is with its neighbor, Juarez. Mexico is literally on the other side of the international bridge. Each day at that single port of entry, an average of 20,000 people cross the border on foot legally--going to work, going to school, visiting friends and family, or shopping. That is in addition to the 35,000 car crossings and the 2,500 cargo trucks that cross each day just at the El Paso port of entry. prgtoken I often compare the United States and Mexico to an old married couple who have occasional differences but who can't get divorced. We depend on one another, and we depend on a safe, secure, and efficient border to allow both countries to live in harmony. prgtoken Not everyone or everything attempting to cross the border is in our country's best interest. Transnational criminals, drug smugglers, and human traffickers try to take advantage of any opportunity, any gaps in our border, and they use it to infiltrate, threaten, and endanger our communities. prgtoken For too long, our frontline officers and agents haven't had the tools and resources they need to do their job. Whether it is outdated infrastructure, personnel shortages, or technology, the fact remains that we need additional border security funding to empower these hard- working officers and agents to complete their mission at both our ports of entry and between those ports of entry. prgtoken After talking to the experts--Border Patrol officials in Texas, as well as local stakeholders--I introduced legislation in the fall of 2017 to address a number of their concerns. That legislation, called the Building America's Trust Act, would have authorized approximately $15 billion over 4 years for a long-term border security and interior enforcement strategy. Notably, the bill provided a great deal of discretion to the Department of Homeland Security's experts on the ground to determine what tactics were needed and where. prgtoken As my friend Manuel Padilla, former Chief of the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector, once told me--he said: The answer to border security from the Border Patrol's perspective is finding the right balance of three things:
TRIBUTE TO BILL CUNNINGHAM
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-1-8

on February 1, the Kentucky Supreme prgtoken Court will bid farewell to a towering figure in our State's judiciary, Justice Bill Cunningham. A Lyon County native, Bill announced he would retire from the high court at the beginning of next month, bringing to a close a career of public service that has spanned more than half of his life. I would like to take a moment to join his colleagues, his family, and his community in western Kentucky in congratulating Bill on this remarkable milestone and to thank him for his service to the Commonwealth. prgtoken Bill first answered the call to service early in his life. Once he graduated from Murray State University and the University of Kentucky College of Law, Bill enlisted in the Army, nobly serving our Nation in uniform in Vietnam, Korea, and Germany. Upon his return to Kentucky, Bill decided to put his legal education to work for the men and women of his community. For the last 45 years, he has done just that. prgtoken Working in various courtrooms as the Eddyville City attorney, public defender for the Kentucky State Penitentiary, and the 56th judicial district's Commonwealth's attorney, Bill earned the esteem of his colleagues. In fact, his peers voted him the ``Outstanding Commonwealth's Attorney for Kentucky.'' prgtoken Beginning in 1991, Bill moved to the other side of the bench when he was first elected as a circuit court judge in western Kentucky, serving in Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. He was then elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2006. On the high court, Bill represents 24 counties in western Kentucky. His constituents rewarded Bill's accomplished service by reelecting him to a second term in 2014. prgtoken In addition to his dedicated leadership in our Commonwealth's legal system, Bill has written six books on Kentucky history and is a frequent contributor to local newspapers. He is also known as a captivating speaker, and I hope he will continue to share his perspective with audiences even in retirement. prgtoken As Bill's tenure on the Kentucky Supreme Court comes to a close, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for his lifetime of service to his community, our Commonwealth, and our country. In retirement, Bill said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Paula, their five children, and their 15 grandchildren. I extend my best wishes to the entire Cunningham family, and I ask my Senate colleagues to help me congratulate Justice Bill Cunningham for his service to Kentucky. prgtoken , the Paducah Sun recently published a column congratulating Bill on his retirement. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed (Continued)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-1-8

a few moments ago we welcomed our new colleague, my colleague for the State of Florida, former Governor and now U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who will do a phenomenal job here on behalf of the State of Florida. I welcome him to the U.S. Senate, the world's greatest deliberative body--and, on occasion, perhaps the strangest as well. prgtoken In about 1 hour 15 minutes, the Senate is going to take up S. 1, which is a combination of four separate bills that enjoy widespread support in this Chamber from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, all of them sponsored and cosponsored by both sides of the aisle, and apparently we will fail to get a significant number of votes to get on this bill, nonetheless. prgtoken So it is perhaps one the few places on Earth where people vote against things they are for because of reasons unrelated to the issue at hand. I don't want to dig too deep into that. That will be a topic for conversation later on, and maybe I will be wrong. Maybe they will change their minds in the next 1 hour 15 minutes, and we will have the votes we need, but I don't think it makes a lot of sense to say: I am upset about the government shutdown--by the way, the Senate voted unanimously to fund the government by a voice vote. We didn't even have a rollcall vote. So this Chamber has already enacted in that regard. At this point, it is incumbent on the leaders of the ic Party in the Senate, combined with the White House, to come up with a deal to reopen the government. This government shutdown is not good for anybody. I have never seen anybody win one of these. prgtoken That said, I don't know why we would shut down the Senate, too, given the issues we face. prgtoken About 3 weeks ago, the President announced that the United States was withdrawing from our engagement in Syria. I--and I think the majority of the people in the Senate--believed that decision was a mistake and is a mistake. prgtoken While I was certainly encouraged by some of the comments by the head of the National Security Council, Ambassador John Bolton, on the pace and scale and scope of the withdrawal, nonetheless, there have been conflicting statements since then which put this all in question. prgtoken At the time he made this decision, we walked through all of the reasons why this was a mistake--not because we want to be in war in Syria forever. That is false. Of course, it has to come to an end, but it needs to come to an end in a way that is in the interest of the United States of America. It is not in the interest of the United States of America to see ISIS reemerge the way they did after 2011, when the United States left Iraq. prgtoken When the United States left and pulled back its presence in Iraq, it allowed ISIS to reconstitute itself and reemerge. They were called something different then, but they were basically a spinoff of al- Qaida. They started out as an insurgency and grew very rapidly. They are larger tod
SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2019
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-1-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 128, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019. prgtoken I would like to once again thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in a cooperative and bipartisan manner to bring this measure to the House floor. I would also like to thank our colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) for his leadership in sponsoring this legislation. He will be speaking here shortly. prgtoken This bipartisan bill, which passed the House back in the 115th Congress, the last Congress, simply clarifies the role of the Office of Advocacy of the United States Small Business Administration, which is charged with representing small businesses before Federal agencies whose policies and activities may affect them. The office also examines the role of small businesses in the American economy and the contributions they make in improving competition. prgtoken Advocacy is vital to ensuring that small firms are heard when the Federal Government makes policy decisions that will impact them. The current law is silent regarding Advocacy's ability to study the role of small businesses in international economies, which is an important avenue for many small companies as they seek opportunities to expand overseas. This legislation would clarify that Advocacy should include international economies as part of its research functions, which will help us to better understand how international economies impact our Nation's small businesses. prgtoken The current law is also silent regarding Advocacy's authority to represent small businesses before foreign governments and international entities. This bill clarifies that Advocacy may represent small business views and interests before foreign governments and other international entities by contributing to regulatory and trade initiatives. Considering Advocacy's experience with regulatory and trade initiatives, it makes sense to ensure that the needs of America's small businesses are fairly represented in the international space as well. prgtoken Again, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), and Chairwoman Velazquez for working on this important legislation and producing a simple solution to clarify the role of this office, and I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward legislation. prgtoken , I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer).