mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nominations and Border Security (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-6-12

to borrow from Yogi Berra, it is deja vu all over again in the Senate this week. Once again, the Senate is taking up a lot of judicial nominations, and, once again, we will spend a lot of time considering noncontroversial nominees. prgtoken Now my colleagues across the aisle have started to complain about the Senate's focus on nominations. I am pretty frustrated myself, not because we are considering these nominees--it is our constitutional duty, after all--but because we are being forced to spend so much time on their nominations, but that is what my ic colleagues have obliged us to do. prgtoken Back in the day, most of the judicial nominees we are considering would have been confirmed without the time-consuming cloture vote process. By this point in President 's first term, s had required cloture votes on just three of President 's judicial nominees--three, . prgtoken Contrast that with today. As of June 5, have required cloture votes on 76 of President 's judicial nominees--76 to 3. Now, of course, some might leap to the conclusion that this is not obstruction for obstruction's sake. They might assume that President has been nominating unqualified or deeply controversial candidates for judicial office, and the have no alternative but to obstruct and delay the nominations--except that is not the case because have repeatedly made it clear that they have no problem with many of the President's nominations by turning around and voting for the same people they have obstructed. prgtoken That is right. Again and again, have voted in favor of the very same nominees they have delayed. Take Monday and Tuesday's confirmation votes on two nominees for district judge. forced cloture votes on both nominees. Yet when it came time to confirm them, turned around and supported the nominations. One nominee received the support of 24 , including the ic whip, while the other nominee was confirmed with the support of 39 , almost the entire ic caucus. prgtoken aren't obstructing because they oppose all or even most of President 's nominees; they are obstructing because they still can't get over the 2016 election. It has been 2\1/2\ years since the last Presidential election--2\1/2\ years. We are closer to the next Presidential election than to the last. Yet still can't let the 2016 election go. prgtoken I realize their preferred candidate did not win, and I realize they are not fans of President , but act like they are the only people who have ever lost an election, like they are the first to have to deal with a candidate they don't like. prgtoken To my ic colleagues across the aisle, I would like to say: Welcome to life in our democracy. Welcome to life in a free country. While it is never fun, sometimes your candidate is go
JAYSON STARK AWARDED J.G. TAYLOR SPINK AWARD
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-6-12

I rise today to recognize a project in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that is promoting sustainability for members of our community. prgtoken Over the past year, 44 immigrant communities worked tirelessly to create the Fatima Community Garden Project located behind Our Lady of Fatima in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. prgtoken The garden serves as a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Catholic Social Services. prgtoken For many immigrants who arrive in our community, the Fatima Community Garden Project gives newcomers the ability to use horticultural skills cultivated in their homelands while offering them the opportunity to converse with local residents. One neighbor referred to the Fatima Community Garden Project as a sanctuary. prgtoken , the Fatima Community Garden Project officially opens on Saturday, and I would like to thank several people who have worked over the past year to make this unique collaboration successful: J. Mizael Chavez, a community leader who helped families establish their presence in Bensalem; Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; and Estela Bugg of Catholic Social Services for all of their work. Honoring PDC Machines
BORDER SECURITY
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-6-12

on another matter, the administration's new agreement with Mexico marks an important breakthrough in the ongoing border crisis. It kept harmful tariffs from going into effect and cemented new steps to make certain that immigration enforcement and the rule of law are priorities on both sides of the border. prgtoken But, of course, the Mexican Government was not the only outstanding party with an unmet responsibility to address this crisis. Right here in Congress we have been waiting for 6 weeks now--6 weeks--for our ic colleagues to get serious about the administration's urgent request for more resources for border security and humanitarian efforts. prgtoken This week's progress with our Mexican neighbors throws the ' refusal to act into even starker relief. My colleagues and I have come to the floor day after day, week after week, detailing all the evidence that our southern border is in a state of crisis. The inflow of would- be illegal immigrants is unprecedented. Our facilities and our efforts to house and care for the individuals we detain are stretched literally to the breaking point. In short, the men and women stationed on our southern border are running on fumes. They have been charged with the tasks that circumstances have made incredibly difficult, and they are begging for more funding to keep up. prgtoken As I noticed yesterday, the most recent data show that apprehensions last month reached a 13-year high, with higher numbers in every category--more individuals, more family units, and more unaccompanied children arriving at border facilities that are already at overcapacity. The Border Patrol is teetering on the brink. They are nearing the point where they will be unable to perform even the most basic humanitarian and security functions for lack of resources. This is even with funds being diverted away from other important priorities at the Department of Homeland Security on a contingency basis. prgtoken So let me say it again one more time. The Department of Homeland Security has had to pull money and people off of other critical missions just to try and meet the overwhelming surge of human traffic down at the border. This is the Department that includes the Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Congress's inaction has backed them into a corner. prgtoken The officials who are responsible for protecting the homeland and safeguarding these individuals could not have been clearer in their pleading to Congress. They could not have been more clear. The Acting Homeland Security Secretary has told us already that ``given the scale of what we are facing, we will exhaust our resources before the end of this fiscal year''--``exhaust our resources before the end of this fiscal year.'' prgtoken The Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has said: ``We are begging.'' ``Begging.'' ``We are asking Congress, pl
CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-6-12

there is a lot I could say, but I want to point out a couple of things. prgtoken Right now, the Border Patrol has detention facilities that are designed to hold 4,000 people but are holding 19,000 people. ICE has facilities to hold 45,000 people, but it is holding 52,000 people. prgtoken We are releasing people regularly into communities and throughout this country ICE alone has released over 200,000 family units into the country this year. prgtoken In Yuma, Arizona, a facility designed for 250 people is currently housing 1,100 people. prgtoken It is going to be 110 degrees tomorrow. Most of those people are being held outside under awnings with a large swamp cooler to cool them. That will work okay. It will be livable. It will be uncomfortable, but livable. But in about 3 or 4 weeks, when it is 115, 120 degrees and the humidity is out of this world, those swamp coolers will not work. prgtoken , I am asking and going to make a motion to adjourn because our colleagues refuse to bring a supplement that would pay for humanitarian and detention facilities.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, as much time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam Chair, under this division, we are looking at spending $189.9 billion for fiscal year 2020. That is an increase of $11.8 billion over the 2019-enacted levels and $47.9 billion above the President's request. prgtoken With $22 trillion in debt and trillion-dollar deficits for as far as the eye can see, it is long past time for Congress to start making the difficult decisions necessary to balance the budget. prgtoken If we do not confront this problem, we will condemn future generations to higher taxes and a lower standard of living. prgtoken As a father of three daughters, this is simply unacceptable to me. prgtoken Madam Chair, my amendment reduces the funds made available for each amount in division A of H.R. 2740 by 14 percent. This would reduce total appropriations of this division down to Budget Control Act levels. prgtoken As chairman of the Study Committee Task Force on Budget and Spending, I am proud to have worked with eight of my colleagues on the only serious effort in this Congress to confront our debt crisis. prgtoken The result was a budget that cut $12.6 trillion in spending and balanced in 6 years. prgtoken An important part of the RSC budget was bringing nondefense discretionary spending down to commonsense levels. My amendment before the House today would help make those reductions a reality. prgtoken Adoption of this amendment would show that we are acknowledging our spending addiction and are taking the necessary first steps to address it. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment and rein in spending of taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2740, DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-6-12

15 seconds to say when we had this conversation in the Rules Committee yesterday--again, my friend from California is on the Appropriations Committee--and she said we talked about bringing forward an emergency funding bill that is more comprehensive. We are working on expediting that. prgtoken I would say to my friend, agreeing to one of these unanimous consent requests would be the absolute fastest way to expedite that if she would like to reconsider her position.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, WA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the leadership of my colleague from Washington State (Mr. Newhouse), as well as the leader from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), on this bipartisan amendment in support of the Job Corps. prgtoken I, too, want to stand in support of the important work that the Job Corps is doing, specifically in Ferry County. prgtoken In addition to closing other centers, the administration recently announced its plans to terminate the agreement between our Job Corps in Curlew and the USDA. prgtoken In rural Ferry County, which is largely publicly owned, it is right in the midst of a million-acre national forest. The Job Corps is very important. It is very important in that it is one of the largest employers in the county. prgtoken It is also where young people, at-risk youth, are gaining critical skills necessary to fight fires and to better steward our Federal forests in eastern Washington. We are facing larger and larger catastrophic fires. This Job Corps program is so important, as well as the other programs that it is offering. prgtoken This amendment will stop funds from being used to close the Curlew Job Corps, as well as others. Whether for jobs, a healthier environment, or those on the front lines fighting forest fires in Washington State and throughout rural America, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and support this amendment.
Border Security (Executive Session)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-6-12

yesterday I had the privilege of joining President in Nebraska and Iowa for the official announcement of the year-round sale of E15. The announcement is the product of years of work across party lines to fight for the hard-working agriculture producers in Nebraska. prgtoken If you ask any family who lives in rural America, they will tell you how important fuel prices are in their lives. With longer-than-average daily commutes to work or to drop off their children at school, escalating gas prices make life more difficult for everyone. prgtoken A needless barrier has restricted consumers from filling up their vehicles with E15 fuel during some of the busiest months of the year-- the summer driving season. Each year, from the beginning of June to mid-September, retailers were unable to offer fuels with higher blends of ethanol without a Federal Government-issued waiver. This means that renewable solutions to reach our Nation's vital fuel needs have been needlessly anchored to an older era. The ban on the year-round sale of E15 has robbed Americans of an opportunity to save money at the pump with the purchase of a cleaner fuel. prgtoken Nebraska stands proudly as the largest producer of biofuel west of the Missouri River. We are home to 25 ethanol plants, which produce a total of more than 2 billion gallons of renewable fuel each year. According to the Nebraska prgtoken Ethanol Board, our ethanol plants provide over 1,300 good-paying jobs to Nebraskans, and this creates a $5 billion impact on our State. As I have said before, for Nebraska and much of the heartland, restricting the year-round sale of E15 was equivalent to benching our best player during the most important game of the season. prgtoken For years, I have been fighting to put an end to this unnecessary ban that has restricted our farmers, retailers, and consumers for far too long. In 2017, I introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, with the senior Senator from Iowa, to put an end to this decades-old regulation. The bill sought to extend the Reid vapor pressure waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent. prgtoken At the same time, I began holding very productive discussions with President on the importance of E15 to the people of Nebraska but also to the people of rural America. The President agreed that this commonsense solution was needed. Last year, I was very proud to join him at the White House as he directed the EPA to allow for the year- round sale of E15. prgtoken Yesterday we turned a new page as President 's directive officially became a reality for farmers and ethanol producers. It was great to accompany the President, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to deliver this encouraging news. prgtoken We landed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and headed to the SIRE ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, IA. There, we heard President give a speech highlighting the
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2740. prgtoken The Appropriations Committee has held more than 120 hearings this year on topics ranging from our Nation's defense priorities to the crisis of unaccompanied children coming to our southern border. We have now marked up all 12 bills in subcommittee and full committee. prgtoken Unfortunately, each bill brought before the committee was written to an unrealistic top-line funding number--$176 billion above current budget caps. We still do not have consensus on a budget agreement for fiscal year 2020, which could lead to sequestration, resulting in devastating cuts to our military. prgtoken Moving these bills as-is is a wasted opportunity because the bills are far from what the President has requested and will support. Defense spending does not meet the request, while nondefense spending greatly exceeds the request and current levels. This could lead to a veto and another government shutdown, something both agreed would be devastating. prgtoken In addition to these funding concerns, these bills have, unfortunately, become partisan vehicles, reversing pro-life policies and risking the safety and security of the American people. prgtoken Many provisions in this bill also force a return to policies of the previous administration and place unnecessary restrictions on Federal agencies. For example, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education division of this five-bill package includes $100 million to help people sign up for Care, forces the administration to send grants to Planned Parenthood clinics, and blocks pro-life rules from going into effect. prgtoken Similarly, the State and Foreign Operations division prevents implementation of the President's expanded Mexico City policy. It provides $479 million to repay United Nations peacekeeping costs, even though the United Nations has not made the required reforms, and prohibits funds to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. prgtoken For defense, there is no funding for any type of barrier or fence along the southern border, something badly needed and obvious if you visit that place. prgtoken There are also other harmful reductions. Procurement is $4.8 billion below the FY 2019 level, and research and development is $2.2 billion below the request. prgtoken These cuts are very concerning and put us in a serious problem when relating to China and Russia. prgtoken The bill also repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which could jeopardize the Defense Department's ability to conduct military operations worldwide. It is a bad policy and will force the DOD to unwind counterterrorism operations overseas if the Congress and the President cannot agree on a new authorization. prgtoken The Energy and Water division only includes half of the requested funding for our nuclear weapons stockpile. There is also no funding for a permanent site for
Border Security (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-6-12

thank you for the recognition and opportunity to speak with my colleagues about an issue that I think is so incredibly important. prgtoken We just heard the Senator from Vermont discuss the issue at the southern border. I made a return trip--one of many I have made to the southern border over the past decade--this past Friday. I have to tell you, I thought this situation was just a terrible situation a decade ago. As I have continued to visit and work on issues that deal with illegal immigration, illegal aliens, working on immigration reform over the past decade, many times with great frustration because we cannot achieve bipartisan agreement, I saw a situation on the southern border this trip that was far worse than I ever could have imagined. prgtoken In the middle of all of this are some very brave Border Patrol agents, ICE agents, DHS agents, Coast Guard that are there providing healthcare--they are carrying out their job every single day. I am grateful to them for their service. I am so impressed by their resolve to protect this Nation--to protect it. prgtoken There is a lesson we could learn from these Border Patrol agents. As they go out, underfunded, disrespected, not knowing what they are going to encounter, there is a lesson that every single American could learn. These men and women are dedicated. They show up. They do their job. They value--they value--citizenship in this country. They value this Nation's sovereignty. And one of the things they know is that citizenship--citizenship--is something the American people should hold very dear. It should not come to somebody illegally approaching our country. It should not come to somebody who is coming here to do us harm. prgtoken I will tell you this: To enter one of those reception centers or retention centers in the El Paso sector--which is there in Southwest Texas and right on the New Mexico-Mexico border--is to enter an area where you can just feel the chaos and the uncertainty. It permeates the air. prgtoken People know this is difficult. The American people should know this is very difficult. It is a terrible situation that our men and women of the Border Patrol are dealing with--to see young mothers alone with their babies, waiting for answers from a Federal agency about where they are going to go or what is going to happen to them because somebody in Central America lied to them--a cartel lied to them, misrepresented to them what they were going to see. prgtoken I heard from a Border Patrol agent that there are adults who are saying: prgtoken Well, this is not what we were promised. This isn't what we were expecting. Maybe we should just go back home. They were lied to. prgtoken This is why we need to get busy with changing the asylum laws, the magnet that is pulling people here. Change this. It is why I applaud the efforts of the President for making certain that we are dealing with Mexico--having them secure their southern border,
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Steve Womack (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, I will finish by saying that all through this healthcare debate that we have had over the last 10 years--and I have been here 8\1/2\ years of that--it has all been about access to healthcare. This gentlewoman's amendment, Madam Chair, limits access to healthcare. prgtoken Either they want more access to healthcare or they don't. I think if my colleagues pass this amendment, Madam Chair, they are limiting access to healthcare. It is for that reason that I believe we should defeat the amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .