mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNCLAIMED U.S. SAVINGS BONDS
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-9-12

I am not going to speak for 10 minutes, but I do want to call attention to an example of breathtaking hypocrisy, and I am not proud of it. prgtoken We all understand in a social contract that the price of living in an organized society is giving up some of our hard-earned money. That is why we pay taxes. Nobody likes paying taxes, but we understand that taxes are necessary to pay our teachers, build our roads, defend our country, and help those who are less fortunate than us. prgtoken We set up a pretty good apparatus to go after you if you don't pay your taxes. If you don't pay your taxes, or you don't pay them in the right amount, or you don't pay them on time, they have people trained in the IRS--I am not criticizing. They are just doing their job, but they will chase you like a hound from Hades. So you prgtoken pay. That is the law, and we are all supposed to abide by it, but what happens when the Department in which the IRS is centered will not follow the same rules? I am talking about the Department of Treasury. The IRS is under the Department of Treasury. Now, what is good for the goose is supposed to be good for the gander. prgtoken The U.S. Department of Treasury is sitting on $26 billion--not million, billion. That is nine zeros of matured, unclaimed savings bonds that belong to the people of this country. They have the names, and they have the addresses. Do you know what they are doing to try to contact these Americans? Nothing. Zero. Nada. Zilch. They just sit there holding on to the money. prgtoken We know what a savings bond is. We couldn't have won World War II without savings bonds. A lot of Americans took their hard-earned money, and they bought savings bonds. You know how it works. I am just making these numbers up, but you buy a savings bond. You give the Federal Government 100 bucks. You don't get anything every month. You give up 100 bucks, and in 20 years you go back and redeem your bond and it is now worth $200. In the meantime, the Federal Government gets this loan to use your money. When that 20 years is up, the bond matures. It doesn't pay interest anymore. prgtoken Some people lose their bonds. Some people forget about their bonds. Some people pass on, and their kids inherit their bonds. They are lost, but you can always count on the Department of Treasury to keep a list of who owns bonds and which ones have been redeemed and which ones haven't. The U.S. Department of Treasury has that list, and there are millions of Americans whose names are on that list. They have names and addresses, and they don't do anything to give it back. They just stand there sucking on the teat. prgtoken Let me give you some examples. We are talking real money. I will just pick a couple out: New Jersey, $695 million belongs to the people of New Jersey--not the politicians in New Jersey, not the government, the people--that the Treasury is holding. prgtoken Let me see if I can find--Washington St
TRIBUTE TO CINDY HASIAK
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-9-12

before we wrap up today, I call my colleagues' attention to a truly dedicated staff member who has served the Senate for decades. prgtoken After more than three decades on the job with the Senate Sergeant at Arms, Cindy Hasiak is retiring today from her post as Chamber manager. prgtoken A native of Indiana, Cindy first arrived to work in the Capitol back in 1987. She was welcomed with--get this--a chance to work the Iran- Contra hearings. Since then, she has been on the clock for 7 Presidential inaugurations, 32 Presidential addresses and States of the Union, 6 lying-in-state ceremonies, and a great many more normal workdays, or at least what passes for normal here in the Senate. prgtoken More than three decades of landmark votes, major debates, and all the daily business that takes place in this Chamber, Cindy has been here helping make it happen. prgtoken To be specific, as one of our doorkeepers, and lately the director of doorkeepers, Cindy has literally guarded the Senate floor. Talk about a sensitive job. prgtoken Alongside the brave men and women of the Capitol Police, our doorkeepers control and manage access to this historic institution that attracts the attention of the entire world. They check credentials, welcome visitors, keep things running smoothly. prgtoken Here on the floor, they keep us safe. Up in the Galleries, they welcome visitors and give citizens a chance to watch democracy in action. So it is undoubtedly the case that the Senate has been stronger for Cindy's attentive service, but even after 32 years, we would be foolish to think we could keep her forever. prgtoken After more than her share of long days, longer weeks, and late nights that relegated entertaining and family time to the back burner, Cindy has certainly earned the chance to spend less time supervising all of us here and more time with her loved ones. prgtoken I know my colleagues join me in wishing Cindy good health and happiness as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement. She will leave with our deepest gratitude for a job well done. I might add that given the fact Cindy is from Indiana, it is appropriate that we have the Senator from Indiana as the Chair.
ARCTIC CULTURAL AND COASTAL PLAIN PROTECTION ACT
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-9-12

. Mr. Chair, I insert in the Record a letter from the president of Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, which is in strong opposition to this legislation. Voice of the Arctic Inupiat Point Hope, AK, March 20, 2019. Congressman Jared Huffman, Washington, DC. Representative Huffman, Voice of the Arctic Inupiat (VOICE) strongly opposes H.R. 1146 amending Public Law 115-97 to repeal the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) oil and gas leasing program. Beyond the fact that your bill would repeal an opportunity that the Inupiat people have fought for decades to achieve, we are struck by the lack of knowledge displayed in this legislation, which completely ignores the existence of the Inupiat people, and especially the people of Kaktovik. The Native Village of Kaktovik is a federally recognized tribe and the Kaktovikmiut have occupied the Coastal Plain for at least 11,000 years. The Coastal Plain is home to more than just caribou and none of the Coastal Plain is wilderness. It is not a place without people; it never has been--it has been continuously occupied by the Inupiat people and our ancestors for millennia, and we find it insulting that you fail to acknowledge this history Currently, the Coastal Plain is the home of a community of over 200 people. People who live, hunt, fish, raise their families, and hope for a secure economic future for their children. People who walk in the footsteps of their ancestors all over the land that Congress, without our permission, designated as the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge People that you have completely disregarded because they generally do not agree with you. In light of this, Congressman, your concern about human rights seems a bit pale. When we, Indigenous peoples, use terms like self- determination, sovereignty, economic equality, cultural survival, and traditional lands, they are more than just buzzwords. These are objectives that have long been denied us and for which we have had to fight for generations. It is not for you to ignore those ideas, nor the people fighting for them, in favor of those who are more aligned with your political agenda. To us, this issue goes beyond politics to the very sustainability of our communities, culture, and economy. The Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act undermines the wishes of those of us living closest to ANWR and negates years of work by local stakeholders toward ensuring a sustainable economy for the people and communities of our region. We hope this letter might help you better understand the realities of life in the Arctic. H.R. 1146 preaches a ``moral responsibility to protect this wilderness
HONORING THE SIMPSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-9-12

I rise today to recognize the Simpson County Historical Society and its long-reaching influence on Simpson County and the surrounding communities. prgtoken Since its founding in 1959, Simpson County Historical Society has been a valuable asset to the First District of Kentucky. Through the collection and preservation of historical property and genealogical records, the society has been able to maintain an extensive archive for the benefit of future generations. prgtoken I applaud the work the society has done over the last 60 years, and I am pleased to say that, as of Thursday, September 12, they will have expanded to a newer, larger facility enabling them to increase their research capabilities and broaden their effect on local education and cultural development. prgtoken I join with the residents of Simpson County and the local community, as well as those who have benefited from the work of the Simpson County Historical Society, in honoring their incredible dedication to the preservation and promotion of history. I wish the historical society the best as they begin a new phase of their own history and express my gratitude for their service to the First District of Kentucky.
ARCTIC CULTURAL AND COASTAL PLAIN PROTECTION ACT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-9-12

I wish to thank my colleague from Alaska, the Dean of the House here, Mr. Young, for his strong efforts for many years on opening up this important piece of energy for our country and for our whole grid. prgtoken It is fascinating to listen to the debate here. Every piece of land, everything we would ever go to develop, whether it is for a pipeline, for energy, for forestry, the moment somebody approaches that resource, these God-given resources we have all over this country, it now becomes this pristine, untouchable, non-usable land that we shouldn't have anything to do with as humankind. prgtoken Salvage logging after a fire, oh, we can't do that. We have to sue over that. So we hear a lot about Big Oil. prgtoken How about big enviro? There are a lot of people who make a lot of money, six-digit numbers and more, in this town, a lot of dollars that come in by invoking a picture of an animal who probably was a victim of a fire in a forest because we are not managing that. prgtoken We have 47,000 acres of burning fire right in my district, in Plumas County in northern California, because we are not allowed to go out and manage these lands. prgtoken Almost everybody here in this Congress that lives more than a few hundred miles away flew here by a jet to get to this place to do this session. So where is the hypocrisy being talked about with the amount of energy everyone uses? prgtoken Energy has to come from somewhere, , for us to live as we do, to keep the lights on in this place, to keep it cool in here, to keep it warm in the winter--especially in the northeast where it is extremely cold. Oil is needed. Energy is needed. prgtoken We need to develop it in this country. We hear: We are exporting oil. We are importing oil. Well, there are different types of oil for different types of purposes, too. You have different types of food you exchange for different recipes. We have different types of oil and different types of energy. prgtoken Do we want to be relying or have our European allies relying on Iranian oil? Is that what we are asking here? Do we want them to be relying upon Russian natural gas in our European theater? No. We need to be part of that matrix, the United States. If we are an exporter or self-sufficient, we need to be active on this.
ARCTIC CULTURAL AND COASTAL PLAIN PROTECTION ACT
John R. Curtis (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-9-12

we are all familiar with the famous line from Thomas Jefferson, ``The government closest to the people serves the people best.'' So how is it that we are here today considering a bill that has been opposed by every member of the Alaskan delegation since 1980? Not just the Alaskan delegation, but every Governor of Alaska since 1980 and even the gubernatorial candidates last year, two s, an independent, and a , opposed this bill. prgtoken This week, many of my friends across the aisle sought to protect their coastlines by banning offshore energy development. They know what is best in their States. Apparently, the same standard of local control does not apply to Mr. Young, who is the only person in this body elected by the residents of Alaska. prgtoken Not only is this bill opposed by the entire Alaskan delegation, it is opposed by the local Alaska Native population and written without their consultation. prgtoken As a Member who represents Bears Ears, I hear from my colleagues all the time how important it is to have Native American consultation, and they are right. However, with local Alaska Native opposition to this bill and no consultation, there seems to be a double standard. prgtoken In fact, just 3 days ago, I sat in a hearing where BLM was criticized for not working with the Native population. They held 11 hearings, 7 listening sessions--apparently, not enough. prgtoken Unless I missed 18 trips of my colleagues to Alaska, we are working with a double standard. prgtoken Those of you from States with very little Federal ownership have a difficult time understanding what it is like being from a State or county with 90 percent Federal ownership. Imagine being a local elected official maintaining roads, police, fire, sewers, and parks when only 10 percent of your property generates property tax. prgtoken At the end of the day, Mr. Young and the native Alaskans, not the rest of us, should be determining the fate of Alaska. prgtoken , I have heard the argument that this development will contribute to climate change. Really? I am listening. This is one who believes the climate is changing and man is influencing it, but I am baffled why so many of my colleagues will give a pass to a human rights-violating dictator in China and deny the local native Alaskans the right to have a living off the land. prgtoken If we were serious about climate change, I have an idea. Let's take all the natural gas we are putting back into the ground in ANWR and send it to China and India. We would do more to reduce global carbon emissions than by implementing the entire Green New Deal. prgtoken I have heard the term ``science denier'' tossed around, but I ask, who is denying science the most? Those who ignore 85 percent of carbon coming from outside the United States, or those who think that impacting 0.01 percent of ANWR will destroy the Alaskan environment? prgtoken Let's put this in perspective. ANWR is les
THANKING THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2019-9-12

I rise today to express my gratitude for the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad, located in northern Minnesota, and their quick response to an emergency that took place in my district a little over a month ago. prgtoken At the end of July, a group of Girl Scouts traveled to northern Minnesota to experience the beauty and magnificence of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Their trip unexpectedly hit a rough patch when severe thunderstorms rolled in and lightning struck close to their campsite. A few of the girls reported feeling something from the ground, potentially a ground current, and needing precautionary medical attention. prgtoken The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is very remote, making any rescue attempt more complex and rigorous. Nevertheless, the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad members immediately sprang into action, navigating five portages by motorboat and then canoe, escorting the girls back to safety. prgtoken , I am thankful that the Northland has such a capable and well-trained group of individuals dedicated to the safety of our neighbors and visitors. Due to their hard work over the years, many emergencies have been averted and lives have been saved.
Vietnam Human Rights (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-12

I think people are surprised when they come to Texas and find out how diverse a State it really is. Not everybody there looks like me or pronounces their last name the same way. prgtoken In fact, we are a huge melting pot of people from all over the country and, literally, many from around the world who come to the State because we have a growing economy, creating jobs and opportunity. People can find work to provide for their family and achieve their dreams. prgtoken It shouldn't surprise anybody that Texas is increasingly diverse. We have benefited a lot from the variety of folks and cultures and ideas that have come around the world and planted roots in the Lone Star State. prgtoken When I ask folks if they know what the second most spoken language in Texas is, they say: Well, that is easy. It is Spanish. prgtoken I say: Well, that is right. Let me give you a harder one. What is the third most commonly spoken language in Texas? prgtoken After a couple of guesses, they are usually surprised when I say Vietnamese. prgtoken It is not in the overall numbers of Spanish or English, to be sure, but we have a vibrant Vietnamese community in Texas that was established after the fall of Saigon and the Vietnam war. Many of them immigrated to the Houston area or to the metroplex area. prgtoken Of course, they have faced many of the same struggles as those who have come to America throughout our country's history. In addition to adjusting to a new home, language, and culture, they have dealt with some ugly aspects of their new home: racism and bigotry. prgtoken From those challenges and from overcoming those challenges, they have derived tremendous strength, demonstrated outstanding drive and a desire to succeed. prgtoken Our Vietnamese-American communities in Texas are growing and thriving, and they continue to play a very important role in our increasingly diverse State. prgtoken I had the chance to meet with a number of my Vietnamese-American constituents during the August break, and we talked about some of the issues that concern them the most. prgtoken Just last weekend, in fact, I visited Cali Saigon Mall in Garland, TX, for their annual children's festival. I participated in an on-stage discussion with a number of community leaders. Although the children seemed more interested in the tiger dance or musical performances and the colorful costumes, it was a great opportunity for me to hear from these folks firsthand. We had a serious discussion about the human rights climate in Vietnam, which has continued to decline. prgtoken The Vietnamese Government limits political freedom by denying its own citizens their right to vote in free and fair elections. It denies them the freedom of assembly and expression and due process rights--the sorts of basic rights we call human rights here in the United States. prgtoken Last year, one of my constituents, a young man named William Nguyen, was unjustly beaten and detained f
HONORING LILI MARSH AS THE BAKERSFIELD POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE HOMETOWN HERO
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-9-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor Lili Marsh, a constituent and community leader from Bakersfield, California. Today, Lili is being recognized as the 2019 Bakersfield Police Activities League Hometown Hero for exemplary service and leadership to the people of Kern County, which I represent. prgtoken Lili earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wooster College and has been a longtime leader in the Bakersfield community. While she has committed herself to an impressive number of civic organizations, her most passionate work has been in service to Kern County's veterans. As Executive Director of Honor Flight Kern County, a chapter of the national organization she helped start, Lili organizes travel and accommodations in Washington for Kern County's heroes so that they can see the monuments built in their honor. Many times, Honor Flight marks the first visit to our nation's capital for these veterans, and Lili has been instrumental in giving these men and women the hero's welcome they deserve upon reaching their nation's capital. prgtoken However, Lili's involvement with our veterans does not end with Honor Flight. Her most recent community improvement project has been the Portrait of a Warrior Gallery. This moving gallery is filled with portraits of today's generation of men and women in the Armed Forces who have lost their lives following the 9/11 attacks. The Portrait of a Warrior Gallery is a project born of passion, love, and admiration of those who defend America and her ideals. Having worked with Lili on Honor Flight and numerous other veterans issues, she has the uncanny ability to identify the needs of our veteran community and the determination to see those needs met. prgtoken Along with being a businesswoman and an entrepreneur, Lili is many things to our community. But her passion and determination have enriched the lives of Kern County's veterans and helped ensure our community continues to recognize these heroes among us. prgtoken I rise today to recognize Lili Marsh as a Hometown Hero award recipient who continues to positively influence our county through her character and leadership. A true signature of leadership is the generosity of time and talents that one gives on behalf to their neighbors and community. Lili exemplifies this time-honored tradition, and I would like to thank her and her husband, Troy, for their life- changing work. On behalf of a grateful community and the 23rd Congressional district, I recognize Lili Marsh's achievements and look forward to her many future successes.
ARCTIC CULTURAL AND COASTAL PLAIN PROTECTION ACT
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-9-12

I rise today to offer an amendment that allows the section 2 moratorium in this bill to go into effect when the Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Department of Labor, certifies that the anti-energy moratorium in the bill will not kill a substantial number of Tribal, minority, and women jobs. prgtoken We heard arguments from ic Members on the other side of the aisle against a similar amendment that this amendment doesn't matter and is meaningless. How callous that response. Tell the opponents of this amendment to tell that to the single mother working to put food on the table for her two children that her job doesn't matter. prgtoken How about the minority family who just moved into a new neighborhood so their kids could go to better schools? Tell those hardworking minority parents these jobs don't matter. prgtoken Tell those local Tribe members, the Inupiat, the only Tribe within the 1002 section who want these jobs, whose prosperity comes to their community with these jobs, that these economic benefits don't matter. prgtoken Under the current administration, unemployment has reached record lows. In August, the national unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent, with the unemployment rate for African American workers sitting at 5.5 percent, breaking the previous record of 5.9 percent, which was set in May of 2018. prgtoken According to a recent report by The Washington Post, a bastion of conservative dictation, nearly 90 percent of the jobs added under this administration have gone to minority communities. This can be attributed to, for the first time, a majority of new hires are people between the ages of 25 and 54 and are from minority communities. prgtoken According to statistics published by the American Petroleum Institute, minorities will comprise one-third of the total workforce in the oil and gas sector by 2030. Women already comprise more than 15 percent of the oil and gas workforce. prgtoken These are good-paying jobs, $90,000 and above, that hardworking families depend on. This legislation puts these employment opportunities and associated economic benefits at risk. prgtoken America's energy renaissance has boosted the economies of previously left-behind towns in areas and sections of this country and has turned them into vibrant communities. prgtoken , this is a commonsense amendment, protects minority Tribal members and women jobs, and puts the interests of the American workforce first. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .