mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh (Executive Calendar)
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2018-7-10

one of the most consequential duties of the Senate is the consideration of a Supreme Court nominee. This is the Congress's opportunity to shape the direction of the Federal courts and to defend a judiciary that is focused on laws, not policy. For those of us who have been called to this role for a limited time, this work is important. It will outlast us by decades. None of us should take this duty lightly. prgtoken With the appointment of Justice Gorsuch last year and now a record 22 judges to the courts of appeals, the past 18 months have been among the most consequential for the judiciary in the history of the Nation--and that was before Justice Kennedy's retirement. prgtoken As significant as these confirmations have been for the last year and a half in the judiciary, the current Supreme Court vacancy is arguably the most important task before the Senate this year. This vacancy is a remarkable opportunity to affirm the role of a judge under our constitutional system of republican self-government. prgtoken Fundamentally, this shouldn't be an exercise in policymaking, as vital and important as policymaking can be. Making law is not the job of the courts in any way, shape, or form. prgtoken Don't get me wrong. Setting goals and making policy can be very important, but it is done in the open, and it starts at home. Americans answer our biggest questions outside of government with our friends and neighbors, with our communities of worship, in our rotary clubs, and in our small businesses with entrepreneurship and all sorts of volunteerism in America. prgtoken With regard to government, policymaking choices are made by the American people through their representatives whom they elect and can hire and fire. To put it bluntly, Members of the Senate and Members of the House of Representatives at the other end of this building can be fired. In fact, 435 of the 535 people we work with in the Congress are always within 23 months and 29 days of being sent back home by the ``we the people'' who are actually in charge of policymaking in America. prgtoken But the Court is different. Nobody back home can fire a Supreme Court Justice. They have lifetime tenure. We should reflect more often on why our Founders decided to give members of the judiciary lifetime tenure. That is why we don't want those judges with their lifetime tenure to be writing laws or making policy. If a judge wants to make policy, he or she should take off the black robe of impartiality and run for office. It is a legitimate thing to do. All of us in this body have done it. We think it is a way to love our neighbor and serve our country, but in our system of ``we the people,'' the voters decide who gets to make policy. Judges have black robes, and they have lifetime tenure. They are not policymakers. prgtoken Regrettably, as our ever-fraying sense of common identity in America is falling apart in the eyes of many of our citizens, we are warpin
Order of Procedure (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-7-10

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, all postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 639 be considered expired at 2 p.m. tomorrow and the Senate immediately vote on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately prgtoken notified of the Senate's action; and that following disposition of the nomination, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Ney nomination.
THE LARRY DOBY CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-7-10

the balance of my time. prgtoken , what an incredible story that we see here. prgtoken I, too, want to congratulate both Congressman Pascrell, as well as Congressman Renacci for their work on this. prgtoken As I was doing a little research and hearing the stories and looking at Wikipedia and some other things, it led to lots of different places. The amazing athleticism of this man was clear--the fact that he was 17 when he started playing baseball professionally; the fact that he played basketball professionally; the fact that he went on to be a major force in two different sports, both with the New Jersey Nets as well as with the White Sox as a player and as a manager--well deserved and, unfortunately, as has been pointed out, far too long in the making. prgtoken , I commend my colleagues for their tenacity in going after this. It is not easy to get 300 of your colleagues in this body to agree on anything. That it is Tuesday would be difficult to get them to agree on, much less awarding a Gold Medal. So kudos and thanks to those gentlemen who worked so hard. prgtoken Again, as I said, one of the things that struck me is the camaraderie that it sounds like he and Jackie Robinson had--speaking on the phone often; being the first two members of their race to break that color barrier in their respective leagues--what a wonderful story that is. prgtoken Congratulations to the Doby family and to my colleagues. prgtoken , .
CONDEMNING SLAVE AUCTIONS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN LIBYA
Edward R. Royce (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-7-10

the balance of my time. prgtoken In closing, I thank the author of this measure. I thank Representative Karen Bass for her work on this resolution. She is the ranking member of our Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. I also thank Ranking Member Engel for his work on this resolution. prgtoken The world was shocked by the videos of the slave auctions in Libya. The videos are proof that slavery and human prgtoken trafficking exist, despite efforts to eradicate these evils. The resolution before us now shines a light on this human trafficking in Libya. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution, and .
TRIBUTE TO A BORDER SECURITY EXPERT
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-7-10

I rise today to recognize the professional achievements and service of my go-to border security guy and friend, Mr. Paul Anstine. prgtoken Paul has a long history of putting his country first. He served over seven years as a United States Marine, completing two tours in Iraq. But his service did not end there. prgtoken Paul found his way to the House of Representatives in 2007 with a determination to make this country safe from those who seek to do us harm. Paul spent the past eleven and a half years working in the halls of Congress, starting as a scheduler for my former colleague, Candice Miller of Michigan. Paul eventually worked his way up to become the Staff Director for the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, also known as BMS, a position which he has masterfully held for the past seven and a half years. prgtoken Paul's role as Staff Director transcended beyond his leadership in conducting oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and crafting thoughtful, pragmatic legislative solutions. Paul's positive demeanor, data-driven mindset, and work ethic made his presence not only a valued component of the committee but also in my day-to-day role as Chairman. Paul served as a subject matter expert, confidant, and trusted senior advisor whose counsel I always held in the highest regard. prgtoken His expertise helped to inform new Committee members and elevate discussions at briefings and hearings. Paul's talents were most notably on display in his role crafting countless border and maritime security bills. Paul was also the lead author for over ten bills that were signed into law, including the first ever authorization of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the critical Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Prevention Act. During his tenure, he also coordinated numerous trips overseas and to the southwest border where he provided contextual information and expert analysis of the complex situation at the border to Members and Congressional staff. prgtoken Paul has left an outstanding legacy on the Committee especially with Steven Giaier, Jason Miller, Chad Carlough, Matt Coughlin, Keith Robinson, Mary Rose Rooney, Kris Ensley, Emily Trapani, Kris Carlson, Steve Roth, and Matthew Fournier, who he affectionately refers to as ``Team BMS''. Paul's quick wit, political savvy, and ability to see humor in all things will be missed profoundly. prgtoken Today, I am honored to be able to put the spotlight on him. I am hopeful that Paul's next chapter will allow him to spend more time with his wife, Rosella, and his two young boys, Alexander and Lucas. I know Paul's friendship and counsel will remain constant, and that his service to this Nation does not end here. prgtoken I thank Paul for everything, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish next.
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT OF 2018
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-7-10

I thank the chairman and the ranking member so much for their support in this and bringing this forward. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 5626, the Intercountry Adoption Information Act. I introduced this legislation to make it easier for American families to get crucial information as they pursue adoptions from foreign countries. prgtoken American families hoping to adopt from a foreign country can face many obstacles on the road to being united with their adoptive children. Too often, these challenges require parents to navigate confusing and complicated foreign adoption policies. prgtoken The chairman did a great job explaining why this is opening up, why we are providing transparency, and also providing a great basis for this bill. prgtoken , many times we come to this floor and we talk about the mechanics of a bill, but I want to talk about what I call the faces behind the bill. prgtoken For this, for me, I have watched northeast Georgians from my district, like the Romano family, struggle under shifting adoption policies and changing international standards. prgtoken In 2012, Pam and Mark Romano traveled to Russia to adopt a young boy named Bogdon, a decision they reached after much prayer and family discussion. While there, the Romanos discovered that Bogdon had a brother, Yura, although the boys were living separately. The family immediately felt a calling to welcome both boys into their home and began the process of adopting Yura as well. prgtoken Sadly, Russia then instituted a ban on adoptions to the United States, halting these adoption proceedings. This left the Romanos devastated. They worked to be reunited with their sons, but they needed concrete information about how to do that and what was happening in Russia, as well as diplomatically. prgtoken Since that time, Pam Romano has refused to give up on welcoming their 2 boys into her family. She is fighting to bring her sons home, and the boys' room is furnished and ready for their arrival. Pam and her family have been tireless advocates for not only Bogdon and Yura, but also for families across the country who are facing similar trials. prgtoken I hope that this will be a wonderful time to bring this up, in light of the meeting this week with the President and Mr. Putin. To bring this issue up would be a great time to remind that we can work together on some things. prgtoken Today, American families like the Romanos still need more accurate, up-to-date information as they labor to bring their adoptive children into loving homes. Changing foreign practices can leave adoptive parents mystified and desperately seeking answers as they pursue intercountry adoptions in different countries. prgtoken The Intercountry Adoption Information Act takes steps to shrink this information gap. It ensures families in the intercountry adoption process are equipped with a more thorough outlook on the status of intercountry adoptions in specific countries a
SCORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS ACT OF 2018
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-7-10

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today, this evening, in support of H.R. 1700, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2018, which was introduced by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), and I want to commend her for her leadership on this legislation. This legislation will allow the SCORE program to continue to offer business mentoring and training to thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners each year. prgtoken The SCORE program currently includes over 11,000 volunteer mentors, with expertise across 62 industries, who collectively provide more than a million hours of business counseling each year. prgtoken When an entrepreneur seeks a SCORE mentor, they are purposely paired with a business professional with knowledge in a specific field or experience facing specific challenges. This process ensures that the concerns of the entrepreneur are met by the volunteer mentor. prgtoken In addition to SCORE's mentorship services, the program also offers in-person business training classes at its 350 chapter locations nationwide. Entrepreneurs can also utilize the extensive online training opportunities and free business tools available on SCORE's national website. prgtoken Last fiscal year, SCORE trained over a half million clients, empowering them to start, run, and scale their business. This legislation will allow SCORE to continue to provide these important services. prgtoken H.R. 1700 reauthorizes the SCORE program at $10.5 million for fiscal years 2019 and 2020, providing for enhanced services to SCORE clients. This legislation also formally changes the program's name from the Service Core of Retired Executives to the more commonly used name of SCORE. prgtoken Additionally, H.R. 1700 requires the SCORE Association to further utilize webinars and electronic mentoring as a way of increasing SCORE's presence nationwide. prgtoken H.R. 1700 will require the SCORE Association to develop a strategic plan for how the program will adapt to meet the needs of America's entrepreneurs over the coming years. This requirement will not only allow for better congressional oversight of the SCORE program, but will also guarantee that taxpayer dollars contributing to the program are effectively used to serve the needs of the small business community. prgtoken Considering the important role that small businesses play throughout our Nation and our communities, it is our responsibility to ensure that our entrepreneurs and small businesses have the resources that they need to be successful. H.R. 1700 is the way of doing just that, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1700, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2018. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING EAGLE SCOUT TOMMY FULFORD
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-7-11

in January, I came to this well to urge support for bipartisan legislation I introduced with my Illinois colleague, Mr. Schneider. Our bill proposed a Federal grant program to improve security at our schools and protect our children. prgtoken Since then, our legislation passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President . Because of Members' bipartisan support, I am proud to say these grants are now available to local communities. prgtoken Please urge local officials in our districts to visit cops.usdoj.gov for more information on how to apply for up to $500,000 in grants through the school violence prevention program. However, the application deadline for this fiscal year is July 30, so time is of the essence. prgtoken We have advanced safety technology in banks, office buildings, and retail locations. There is no reason we shouldn't have that same technology in our schools to protect our children.
National Flood Insurance Program (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-7-11

in the next few minutes, the Senate will be taking the next steps on an appropriations process that is being conducted the way an appropriations process is supposed to be conducted. Boy Scouts shouldn't get a merit badge for telling the truth, and Senators shouldn't get a pat on the back for conducting an appropriations process the way it is supposed to be conducted. It is worth noting that we are doing it, since it has been a long time since we have done it. prgtoken The right way means we are moving ahead on three bills: Energy and Water, legislative affairs, and Military Construction. The right way means we have had hearings on all of these bills. We have consulted with Senators. I know that in our Energy and Water bill, Senator Feinstein and I heard from 83 different Senators and tried to respond to them in our bill. We marked up the bills unanimously in most cases. prgtoken What was missing was allowing the other 70 Senators to participate on the floor. We did that this time; 40 amendments, 7 rollcall votes. We got off the floor without a cloture vote; that is, a motion to cut off debate. We are doing it the way it is supposed to be done. That was done by showing something that needs to be shown more in the Senate-- restraint. Restraint means that when you have a lot of freedom, it doesn't mean you exercise all of your freedoms all at once because nothing will happen. prgtoken We avoided controversial riders. We even had 20 Senators vote to table something we agree with, which is the waters of the United States provision, because we thought this was not the appropriate bill for it. prgtoken Now we are moving to motions to instruct, which are nonbinding resolutions. It is important, though, because they give the Senate a chance to say what Senators want to say. That is why we are here. prgtoken One of those issues has to do with tariffs. The administration has imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel, and now other products, provoking a response of tariffs on soybeans and other products grown and manufactured in our country. In general, these tariffs are a big mistake. Using national security as an excuse to impose them is an even bigger mistake. prgtoken I have urged President instead to focus on reciprocity; tell other countries to do for our country what we do for you. prgtoken Imposing tariffs as a way of achieving that is like shooting ourselves in both feet as a way of solving our problem. Tariffs are taxes. They raise the price of what we buy and sell. Tariffs reduce revenues, profits, wages, and jobs. prgtoken U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel hurt 136,000 Tennesseans who work in more than 900 auto plants in 88 of our 95 counties; that is, one- third of our manufacturing jobs. Retaliatory tariffs hurt Tennessee soybean farmers by lowering prices and making markets disappear. prgtoken Our goal should be to persuade our trading partners to do for us what we do for them. Shooti
STRENGTHENING FISHING COMMUNITIES AND INCREASING FLEXIBILITY IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ACT
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-7-11

I rise today in support of the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. prgtoken Not only does this bill reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is long overdue, but it also updates the language of the act to put more power in the hands of local councils to manage their fisheries effectively. One-size-fits-all approaches rarely work, so I am proud to cosponsor this bill which allows local councils to tailor management plans to the needs of their regions. prgtoken Further, this bill would lift burdens of outdated, arbitrary scientific practices and data which limit the American people's access to affordable domestically caught fish. The seafood industry is economically booming and it is past time that we lift these restricting regulations and allow a win for not only the recreational fishermen, which I have been a lifelong proponent of and a participant, but also of our commercial fishermen, the American people will be a winner as well, so I urge a vote for this bill.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IN FLORIDA
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-7-11

my home State of Florida is once again experiencing an environmental and economic catastrophe--a real crisis. It is a crisis that was caused extending back decades--decades of bad decisions, decisions made on things people didn't think about, neglect, and myopic water management. Nowhere is that crisis more acute and more apparent than at Lake Okeechobee, the liquid heart of the Everglades, and our surrounding communities, including the city of Stuart, which is on the verge of seeing conditions very similar to what they experienced in the year 2016. prgtoken That is what this picture here is about. What we see on this photo is algae--thick, toxic algae--that was gathering underneath that bridge back in 2016. prgtoken This really goes back decades. The historic Florida Everglades--the head waters began in Lake Okeechobee. This massive lake, this reservoir, is right in the center of our State. What would happen is when rainfall would come in and when water would overflow, it would just continue to flow south into the Everglades and down into the Florida Bay. But then people began to move in and develop Florida, and therefore there was a need for the Army Corps to step in and carefully script the flow of water in the southern half of Florida. prgtoken This all began since the construction of something called the Herbert Hoover Dike and then, subsequently, the development beginning in 1948 of the Central and South Florida projects to manage flood risks. Unfortunately, this flood control system that was designed to keep the water from coming out of Lake Okeechobee and flooding communities to the south of it has significant limitations and neglects to use the Everglades' natural flow wave. That is why Everglades restoration is something that, apart from ecosystem and wildlife benefits, is so critically important for our Nation and for my State of Florida. Everglades restoration is not simply about restoring a national treasure, it is also about allowing much more flexibility for water management at greatly reduced costs and at reduced harm to coastal communities. prgtoken The best way to understand it for those who are new to this issue is that we have this massive lake. The lake used to overflow, and when it did, the water would flow down. Communities and agriculture moved into the southern part of the State, just south of that lake; therefore, there was a need to construct a dam to hold back the water and prevent the flooding and loss of life, which is natural, and then a canal system to allow the waters to flow east and west. prgtoken The problem that has developed over the years is what we are dealing with now, and that is that as of today, when water levels in Lake Okeechobee rise too high, that water must be released in massive quantities. Today, the water levels are over 4\1/2\ feet deep--a full 2 feet higher than the Corps would prefer at this time of year as the rainy season kicks in. So t