mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MSPB TEMPORARY TERM EXTENSION ACT
Jody B. Hice (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-25

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today to speak on H.R. 1235, the MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know that I personally am committed to ensuring the successful operation of the Merit Systems Protection Board, also known as MSPB. In fact, last Congress, I introduced H.R. 6391, the MSPB Reauthorization Act of 2018. My bill would have reauthorized the Board and made other vital reforms. The Committee on Oversight prgtoken and Government Reform reported the bill favorably, but without a single vote from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken We all know an effective and functional MSPB is important to the health of our Federal workforce. MSPB's primary responsibility is to adjudicate appeals of Federal personnel actions. MSPB also plays a vital role in Federal whistleblower protections. prgtoken To be effective and issue decisions, MSPB needs at least a two-member quorum, but the Board has not had a quorum for over 2 years. In January 2017, Mark Robbins, as my friend mentioned, become the sole remaining member of MSPB. prgtoken Last year, Mr. Robbins' 7-year term came to an end, and he was granted a 1-year extension as authorized by law, but that extension ends this week. Starting Friday, the MSPB will be without a single Board member. prgtoken My colleagues claim this bill is an emergency measure to prevent the MSPB from extending this crisis of leadership, but I disagree. The real problem is the lack of a quorum. prgtoken Without a quorum for the last 2 years, a backlog of undecided appeals has grown to over 1,700 cases. Mr. Robbins cannot fix that problem on his own. His continued tenure will not resolve those cases. prgtoken In December, the President selected Mr. Robbins to serve as the general counsel at the Office of Personnel Management, so for the last 10 weeks, he has served in both capacities at OPM and MSPB. Mr. Robbins is planning to serve at OPM in his full capacity beginning this Friday. prgtoken Mr. Robbins has stayed at MSPB as long as he has out of a sense of duty to MSPB and its mission. I trust that my colleagues do not intend to use this bill to coerce Mr. Robbins to stay any longer than he wants to. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding Mr. Robbins for his dedication to MSPB, the Federal workforce, the President, and our country. I also urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Senate's confirmation of President 's nominees. prgtoken We owe it to our Federal workers to give MSPB a quorum so the board can do the important job that Congress gave it to do. prgtoken In the future, I certainly hope we can work together to provide certainty to Federal workers and whistleblowers by making MSPB operational once again. prgtoken , I have no further speakers, and .
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Resumed
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-2-25

over the course of this afternoon, we have heard a whole bunch of things about what is supposedly in this bill. I know that a lot of people who are opposed to this bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, sincerely believe the talking points that they read from their staffs, but, humbly, we have heard speech after speech after speech about things that have absolutely nothing to do with what is actually in this bill. prgtoken So as you get ready to cast this vote, I urge my colleagues to picture a baby who has already been born, who is outside the womb, and who is gasping for air. That is the only thing that today's vote is actually about. We are talking about babies who have already been born. Nothing in this bill touches abortion access. prgtoken Thank you. Cloture Motion
HONORING SHERIFF MIKE YEAGER
A. Drew Ferguson IV (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-25

I rise today to honor Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. prgtoken Sheriff Yeager has dedicated over 35 years in law enforcement to keeping his community safe and serving his neighbors, both on and off of the job. prgtoken In fact, it would take far longer than I have here tonight to list all of the many organizations--such as the Georgia and National Sheriff's Association, the Newnan-Coweta Public Safety Board, and the Boy Scouts--so many organizations that he has served to make his community and State a better place. prgtoken It is no understatement that Sheriff Yeager is a pillar of his community and a model public servant. It is a testament to his hard work that President appointed him to be the U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Georgia. I cannot think of anyone who is better suited for this position. prgtoken We are awfully proud of Sheriff Yeager and his accomplishments, and I know that he will continue to serve his State and our Nation well.
THANKING KAREN L. HAAS FOR HER SERVICE AS CLERK OF THE HOUSE, AND WELCOMING CLERK-DESIGNATE CHERYL L. JOHNSON
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-2-25

I thank my friend for yielding, and I rise to congratulate Karen Haas, who after five terms as Clerk of the House, is retiring. prgtoken I would like to remind all Members in this body that fewer than 11,000 people have ever had the privilege to serve in this House. It is even fewer for a Clerk. prgtoken Karen was our 34th Clerk and only the second woman to hold that position. We thank you for that leadership. When we think about the role of the House Clerk, you think of roll calls and recorded votes. But the Office of the Clerk is really about continuity. Without the Clerk, Congress could not fulfill its obligation to the American people and move in a smooth manner, which many people don't see the challenge. prgtoken Few individuals are more committed to preserving the continuity than Karen. She has done that as Clerk and as a trusted staff member and floor assistant. Always, she has been a friend and counselor to Members, regardless of what side of the aisle you sat on. prgtoken Karen Haas also equipped and modernized this House for the 21st century. Oftentimes, you won't see that because it is behind the scenes, but it makes the legislative process more accessible to the people it serves. prgtoken , we are grateful to Karen for her dedication, her team's professionalism, and her steady hand on the tiller. Her service reminds us of an important fact: The people's House is only as good as its people. prgtoken You rose to the occasion. On behalf of a very grateful House, and a grateful Nation, we say thank you, Karen. prgtoken And to Cheryl, we wish you the best.
RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENT IN CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ACT
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-2-25

the balance of my time. prgtoken , I appreciate the story that was shared about the woman working in that school district. I think we all probably have those stories as we think fondly back on our school experiences, whether it was elementary or high school, about individuals who weren't necessarily teachers but were still very influential in making an impression and setting a great example to be followed in so many different ways. That is why I am so pleased to be able to support this piece of legislation. prgtoken I have had the privilege and honor to be in our schools that are recognized as the Blue Ribbon Schools and Schools to Watch, and those are wonderful. They are wonderful not just because of what has been accomplished for those kids, but they do become an inspiration to other schools to strive for and to achieve. prgtoken What this piece of legislation does, , is to take that down to the staff level, because we know that the most valuable resource and asset that we have in our schools are people--not necessarily the classroom or anything that is physical like that, but it is the teachers, the faculty, and the staff. Being able to recognize the staff who work so hard each and every day there who are not necessarily teachers is a great opportunity. prgtoken , in closing, I certainly am very excited about supporting this piece of legislation, H.R. 276. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and .
DILLON LESOVSKY RECEIVES THE YOUNG ALUMNI HALL OF FAME AWARD
Paul Cook (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-2-25

. Madam , I rise today recognize the service and commitment of Dillon Lesovsky, who received the Young Alumni Hall of Fame Award from the Victor Valley College Foundation on February 23, 2019. prgtoken Dillon is an entrepreneur at heart and has been since he was in his teens. In 2006, Dillon founded and operated a small business for six years which developed video content for the action sports industry as well as corporate projects throughout the U.S. He managed all aspects of production: developed budgets, drafted business proposals, negotiated with distributors, and managed contract staff. In 2013, I hired Dillon to serve as a Field Representative in my Apple Valley District Office, where he worked with federal agencies like Social Security and the Export-Import Bank to answer constituent questions, represented me at events in the High Desert community, and helped manage my social media accounts. In February of 2018, Dillon was recruited and hired by ComAv Asset Management to develop international business relationships within the commercial aircraft industry. Dillon has consistently exceeded his monthly sales quota in his region, and has also developed sales processes for a team of 17 sales staff to help them meet and exceed their sales goals. In his personal life, Dillon has a love of inside jokes and wishes to be a part of one someday. prgtoken Dillon was one of the best employees I have had, and it was a pleasure to have him on my staff. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I congratulate Dillon on his entrepreneurial spirit and his admission to the Young Alumni Hall of Fame
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Resumed
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-2-25

this evening, as we debate this very important bill, I am hearing two different strategies, two different discussions, about what is actually on the floor in front of us. You see, my colleagues across the aisle are debating a bill that is not in front of us. They are talking about healthcare for women, which is abortion. That is what they are talking about. prgtoken This bill does not address abortion. It does not address women's healthcare issues. What this bill does is address the healthcare of a baby who is born alive after a botched abortion. We are not talking about abortion, folks. We are talking about the life of a child who is born. So, while my colleagues across the aisle are saying this is about abortion, that this is about a mother's healthcare, that is absolutely incorrect. We are talking about a human life. prgtoken In recent weeks, we have witnessed the ugly truth about the far- reaching grasp of the abortion industry and its ever-increasingly radicalized political agenda. Some politicians have not only defended aborting a child while a woman is in labor but have gone so far as to support the termination of a child after his birth. This assault on human dignity cannot stand. We can and must do better, and we can as a nation do better to defend and uphold the basic values of compassion and decency that define our very society. prgtoken I thank the junior Senator from Nebraska for offering this commonsense legislation that addresses this issue in a compassionate manner and provides critical protections for children who are born alive after surviving abortions. prgtoken Although previous laws were passed that recognize infants born alive during abortion proceedings as legal persons, there still exists a critical loophole that prevents abortionists from being held accountable for failing to follow these very laws. prgtoken This legislation closes the gap and ensures that there are concrete enforcement measures to protect children who survive abortion attempts. prgtoken We can all agree that any child who is born alive, whether through a natural birth or a botched abortion, is a living person, a person who is worthy of the utmost dignity, compassion, and respect. This legislation ensures just that by simply requiring healthcare practitioners to treat those babies who survive an abortion attempt with the same degree of care any other baby born at the same gestational age would receive. prgtoken This legislation is not meant to punish women or mothers during an often heart-wrenching and difficult experience. In fact, this legislation specifically prohibits mothers from being prosecuted. Instead, this bill quite simply imposes penalties for the intentional killing of a baby who has been born alive. prgtoken Today, we have an opportunity to categorically reject infanticide by ensuring that the laws we have on the books preventing this abhorrent practice are meaningfully enforced and that thos
PREVENTING ILLEGAL RADIO ABUSE THROUGH ENFORCEMENT ACT
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-2-25

I rise today in support of H.R. 583, the PIRATE Act, led by Chairman Tonko and Representative Bilirakis. prgtoken The bipartisan bill takes an important step to protect the vital public safety announcements, news, and educational benefits local broadcasters serve to their communities. prgtoken When illegal pirate radio operators interfere with important public safety communications, it can be detrimental to the public. These illegal pirate operators also interfere with critical aviation frequencies, potentially putting lives at risk. prgtoken Legitimate, licensed broadcasters who provide the foundation of our Nation's Emergency Alert System must be protected from this type of harmful interference. prgtoken H.R. 583 would give the FCC stronger tools to continue their enforcement sweeps and fine violators in order to better protect Americans. prgtoken , s on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation, and I urge its passage today.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-2-26

my colleagues make some very good points. They make convincing arguments about executive overreach and the misuse of Federal funds. I thank them for those statements, and I would like to ask a more personal question. prgtoken Since when do we call human beings in need a national emergency? Have all of President 's other arguments failed? Is he running out of insults for people like me, people who came from Mexico to have a better life in this country? prgtoken He used to call people like me bad hombres. When that failed, he turned to other insults. And after they lose their shock value, he calls us rapists, then murderers. At that point, he ran out of insults for people like me, so he referred to us as coyotes. prgtoken Now, when all other labels have failed to achieve his central campaign promise to build a medieval border wall, he calls people like me a national emergency? prgtoken We must reject this premise as the presence of people like me in this country, of people like my constituents in my district, a national emergency.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-2-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I am glad that the other side acknowledges that the people approaching our southern border are not men from Mexico, but they are families with children fleeing violence in Central America. That is an important distinction. prgtoken , I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Brown), vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2019-2-26

the President's emergency declaration is, in fact, a power grab to go outside the bounds of the law and get what he failed to achieve in constitutional legislative process. After failing to convince the American people and Congress to pay for his ineffective, wasteful, multi-billion-dollar concrete wall, the President is now trying a desperate end run around Congress with his unlawful emergency declaration. prgtoken The President is declaring an emergency over a crisis that does not exist. The statute only applies to national emergencies that require use of the armed forces for military construction projects ``that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces.'' The border wall is not a military construction project. It does not require the use of the military. prgtoken The immigration law is the responsibility of the Federal immigration enforcement agencies, not the military. prgtoken The President's declaration violates Federal law and that is the crisis. This is a crisis, a crime against our Constitution. It is an assault; it is a rape, what the President is doing now, against the Constitution, against this legislative body. prgtoken I am just in another world that I, as a constitutional, strict constructionist, am on this side of the aisle on an issue like this.
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-2-26

. It goes the other way. prgtoken Sometimes it seems that our friends on the other side of the aisle think that the only people who are watching this conversation are fossil fuel industry lobbyists and CEOs and electioneers. prgtoken So we are going through, shortly, a truly preposterous exercise on the floor of the Senate, which is that a party that has brought up no significant legislation in the time that Leader McConnell has had the floor is now going to bring its first measure related to climate for a floor vote, and it is something they intend to vote against. It is something they intend to vote against. When you bring a measure to the floor that it is your intention to vote against, that is not legislating. Something else is going on. prgtoken Now I think this was a very clever stunt. We don't know quite where it was cooked up, but we have observed that the Wall Street Journal editorial page is a relentless mouthpiece for the fossil fuel industry, having published climate denial articles literally within the last year. The Wall Street Journal editorial page called for this stunt vote, and it was less than 24 hours before the s in the Senate jumped up, scampered out, and did exactly what they were told to do by the fossil fuel industry's mouthpiece, the Wall Street Journal editorial page. prgtoken I am sure there were champagne corks banging into the ceilings of the boardrooms for ExxonMobil, Americans for Prosperity, and the Koch Industries as all of these fossil fuel executives and lobbyists cheered this stunt. But in the Senate, we actually have a larger audience than just fossil fuel donors; the country is watching and the world is watching, and what they are seeing right now is, frankly, an embarrassment. prgtoken It is not just this stunt that reflects a broken Senate; it is a much larger problem of a Senate that cannot deal with the climate change issue in a bipartisan fashion. prgtoken I would state that when I got here in 2007, the Senate could deal with climate change in a bipartisan fashion. In 2008, the Senate could deal with climate change in a bipartisan fashion. In 2009, the Senate could deal with climate change in a bipartisan fashion. The reason I know that is because I was here then, and I saw as many as five bipartisan efforts to deal with climate change during that period, with different and ic Senators. Then along came the Citizens United decision in January 2010, and from that moment after, it was like watching a patient drop dead in the emergency room. The heartbeat of activity on climate change just flatlined on the side of this Chamber. prgtoken I think the fossil fuel industry--I know the fossil fuel industry asked for that decision from the Supreme Court and the five Justices. I think they anticipated what the decision was going to be, and they immediately went to work to squelch and crush any dissent from their orthodoxy prgtoken
Climate Change (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-2-26

I thank our great leader on the Environment Committee for his visionary work on this issue. I am here for the same purpose today. I am here to talk about climate change, about our climate crisis, and about the mistake it would be to put Andrew Wheeler in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency. prgtoken Climate change is an existential threat to our country and to the planet. We know this because the world's leading scientists, the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, just made that warning late last year. It is an existential threat to the planet. prgtoken The U.N. report told us we have very limited time until we are past the point of no return, and the most catastrophic impacts of climate change are irreversible. prgtoken Our own Federal scientists across 13 Agencies also just warned in the National Climate Assessment that the impacts of climate change are not in the future, but they are happening in our communities right now. prgtoken Here is what all 13 U.S. Federal Agencies said. They said our efforts do not yet approach the scale necessary to avoid substantial damages to the economy, environment, and human health. These are Earth-shattering reports about the state of our Earth. These are the doomsday reports about what happens if we do not take bold action. prgtoken The dire consequences of climate change, in fact, are arriving. A tenfold increase in ice-free summers in the Arctic, 99 percent loss of coral reefs, and a doubling of species lost around the world. In the Northeast, in worst-case scenarios, by the end of the century, both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Logan Airport will be under water, and over 20 percent of Boston's population will face flood risk. prgtoken The climate emissions are not slowing down. In 2018, emissions increased 2.8 percent. We have the ``Denier in Chief'' in the White House, and this week s in the Senate are poised to confirm a coal lobbyist to head the Environmental Protection Agency. prgtoken During his confirmation hearing, when I asked whether he agreed with the conclusions of the National Climate Assessment report, Mr. Wheeler said he still needed additional briefings before he could make a public comment on it. Let me repeat that. The nominee of to run the Agency charged with protecting the planet from climate change had not even sufficiently reviewed the climate report from our own Federal Agencies before his confirmation hearing. He also said he considered the report to be a representation of the worst-case scenario and that what we face is ``a climate issue.'' prgtoken Well, the worst-case scenario is one in which the Senate will confirm a former coal lobbyist to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The worst-case scenario is the administration's plans to roll back the Clean Power Plan and the fuel economy emission standards, the single largest steps we have ever