mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-3-19

I come to the floor tonight to discuss America's role in the crisis in Yemen. prgtoken I have here a picture of the fractured remains of buildings, people fleeing from those buildings, and a small child, probably in her father's arms. This represents the challenge of the bombing that is going on in that nation. I am here tonight to discuss America's role in that bombing and the fact that here in the Chamber we need to debate how it is we have come to the point of supporting this bombing when the War Powers Act clearly says we should not be. prgtoken When our Founding Fathers wrote our Constitution, they designated the President as the Commander in Chief, but they gave Congress, the House, and the Senate the sole power to declare war. Article I, section 8 states unequivocally: ``The Congress shall have the power . . . to declare war.'' prgtoken It is only Congress that can take our Nation from peace to war. If one has any doubt about that, consider the words of James Madison himself, the father of our Constitution. He said: ``In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found, than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department.'' prgtoken Now, the clearly stated responsibility in our Constitution was reinforced by the 1973 War Powers Resolution, often referred to as the War Powers Act. That particular piece of legislation stated as its purpose the following: ``It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities.'' It goes on to say: ``The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only''--and that is a critical word--``pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States.'' prgtoken The picture I showed you showing the fractured remains of buildings and people fleeing that bombing in Yemen, that activity is not taking place subject to a declaration of war by this body--we have done no such thing--nor is there any specific statutory authorization for our assistance in that, nor is there a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States where that is justified. prgtoken Tomorrow this Chamber will take up this issue. We will be voting on a resolution put forward by our colleagues Senator Sanders, Senator Lee, and Senator Murphy calling for the removal of our Armed Forces in this role of supporting Saudi Arabia in this war against the Houthis. prgtoken There are two basic components of our presence in Yemen, and
HOUSING OPPORTUNITY MORTGAGE EXPANSION ACT
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-3-19

thank you. I thank the chairman and my colleagues from Wisconsin for their support of this bipartisan legislation, which I introduced in January and filed as an amendment to S. 2155. As the chairman stated, as a result of the 2016 regulation, many of the FHLB system's captive insurance members have had or will soon have their membership terminated. Our legislation seeks to ensure that captive insurer affiliates of institutions that are active providers of private capital in the mortgage market are eligible to restore or continue their membership. prgtoken Their membership is crucial to reliable access to low-cost funding for home mortgages and affordable housing initiatives in Illinois. For the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, these members serve as an important source of private capital in the mortgage market. Their membership broadens access prgtoken to credit to financial institutions that would otherwise not be able to access credit through their local markets and creates a reliable source of liquidity for affordable housing initiatives. prgtoken Our bipartisan bill only seeks to redress those captives that were previously granted FHLB membership prior to February 19, 2016. By allowing captive insurers to continue to invest in mortgages and mortgage-related securities through the FHLB system, they can continue to provide both credit and liquidity to the market. Such sources of private capital are critical to the long-term financing of the FHLB system, and therefore, eligibility in the system should be preserved. Our legislation will achieve this purpose. I wish to turn to my friend from Wisconsin, Senator Johnson.
VEHICULAR TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2018
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2018-3-19

the balance of my time. prgtoken , the emergence of lone wolves who choose to ram vehicles into innocent people to advance their violent ideologies is a modern- day homeland security challenge. As threats to our homeland continue to evolve and as violent extremists continue to exploit soft targets, the risk to innocent bystanders grows. We must do our part to ensure that first responders in our cities, towns, and all places of living throughout the country have access to the necessary resources to keep themselves safe and secure. This legislation seeks to ensure that DHS does all it can to support such efforts. prgtoken , I would also note that this bill complements H.R. 5131, which is also being considered today and which directs DHS to disseminate best practices to stakeholders regarding ways to enhance transportation security against the threat of vehicle-based attacks. prgtoken , I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4227, and .
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017-- MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-3-20

my colleagues should take heed of what these groups are saying because they see through the potentially derailing impact of these amendments. prgtoken I close by again thanking my friend and partner, Senator Portman, as well as Senator McCaskill, Senator Heitkamp, Senator Cornyn, and Senator McCain. prgtoken This measure is truly bipartisan, as it should be. There is nothing partisan about sex trafficking. There is nothing excusable or tolerable about it. I hope the Senate will do its job tomorrow and send this legislation to the President's desk. prgtoken to my partner, Senator Portman, with my thanks.
RECOGNIZING CHAD AND DEB BREMMER FOR RECEIVING THE NATIONAL OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMERS AWARD
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-3-20

I am especially proud to rise today, on National Ag Day, to congratulate Chad and Deb Bremmer of Pearl City, Illinois on receiving the National Outstanding Young Farmers Award. prgtoken Chad and Deb are being recognized for their great contributions to our agricultural community, and for their efforts to foster a deeper understanding of the role farmer's play in our region's economy. In addition to operating their family farm, Chad has gone above and beyond by serving on the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Board for twelve years, the Pearl City School Board for eight years and the State Young Leader Committee for four years. In addition, Deb also serves as a nurse. Their work has without a doubt invested in the future of our region, and the lives of our family farmers. prgtoken , I would like to thank Chad and Deb for their service to better our communities. It is because of hardworking families like the Bremmers, that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. I congratulate them again on their well-earned achievement and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARCILLEA ``CHARCY'' SCHAEFER
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-3-20

today I wish to pay tribute to LTC Charcillea ``Charcy'' Schaefer for her exemplary dedication to duty and service as an Army congressional fellow and congressional budget liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management and Comptroller. Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer is transitioning from her present assignment to serve as a battalion commander for the 19th Military Police Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. prgtoken Born in Ipswich, England, into an Air Force family, Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer was commissioned as a military police officer after her graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a bachelor of science degree. She then went on to earn a master's degree in administration with a focus in leadership from Central Michigan University and another in legislative affairs from the George Washington University. prgtoken Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer has served in a broad range of assignments during her 15-year Army career. Her assignments took her across the country including Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Bragg, NC; and Fort Campbell, KY. She has four combat deployments encompassing over 45 months in theater, with 23 months advising host nation forces in policing and Army tactics and operations. Three of Charcy's deployments were to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the fourth was to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. prgtoken I had the privilege of working with Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer in my office in 2016 during her year as an Army congressional fellow, as well as during her subsequent assignment as a congressional budget liaison for the U.S. Army. Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and their staff to accurately articulate the Army's budget positions to the Appropriations Committees. Her professionalism, diligence, and commitment to the mission are unmatched, and her work both as a fellow and as a liaison exemplify the best of the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense to the U.S. Congress. prgtoken The foundation of Charcy's military success is her family. Her parents, Parks and Mary Schaefer of New Bern, NC, provided the base of selfless service evident in all that she and her siblings, Chas and MaryLynne, do. Charcy is a devoted wife to Rachel Brant, an accomplished attorney and herself a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate Corps. Rachel anxiously awaits their family's reunion, to include dogs Rocco and Stevie, in Honolulu. Their attitude of service and care for others permeates in each organization and activity they participate in, and they are both truly examples of extraordinary leaders in the Army and the communities they serve. prgtoken Throughout her career, Lieutenant Colonel Schaefer has positively impacted the soldiers, peers, and superiors around her. Our country has benefited tremendously from her extraordinary le
S.J. RES. 54--MOTION TO DISCHARGE--Continued
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-3-20

I rise today to express my concern about the continued deterioration of the situation in Yemen and to share my views about the resolution that is currently before us. prgtoken The military conflict going on in Yemen has gone on for far too long and has affected tens of millions of civilians who face displacement, famine, and a widespread cholera outbreak. According to the United Nations, more than 15,000 Yemenis have been killed or injured since the war began in March of 2015. The humanitarian situation there has been described as the worst in the world, with more than two-thirds of Yemen's approximately 29 million people facing severe food shortages. An outbreak of cholera has already infected at least 1 million people, marking the worst such outbreak in decades. prgtoken Continued instability in Yemen also benefits our adversaries. While we have sought to maintain pressure on al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, and ISIS, the lack of a functioning government or state security apparatus inhibits our ability to go after these groups. Additionally, it is clear that Iran has taken advantage of the current situation to spread its malign influence and provide lethal support to the Houthis, thereby further undermining regional stability and security. prgtoken Unfortunately, we have yet to hear any strategy from the administration as to how they would propose to use U.S. diplomatic leadership to help bring about an end to the conflict in Yemen. We still do not have an Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and occasional visits by White House officials are not a replacement for sustained diplomatic efforts by our experts in the Foreign Service. I am encouraged, though, by the appointment of a new United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and hope that the U.S. Government will seek to support his efforts wherever possible. prgtoken While the primary conflict in Yemen is between an Iranian-backed Houthi insurgency and a Saudi-led coalition, the United States is involved. prgtoken As stated in a letter sent by Secretary Mattis to congressional leadership last week, ``Since 2015, the United States has provided limited support to Saudi-led coalition military operations to restore the U.N.-recognized government of Yemen and preserve Saudi territorial integrity from Houthi aligned forces in Yemen.'' Moreover, according to Secretary Mattis, U.S. forces are not authorized to use force against the Houthis but do support the Saudi-led coalition with ``intelligence sharing, military advice, and logistical support, including air-to-air refueling.'' prgtoken Last week, the commander of U.S. Central Command, General Votel, testified before the Armed Services Committee that our support to the Saudi-led coalition is ``primarily defensive'' in nature and focused on the Iranian-supported ballistic missile threat to Saudi Arabia that originates in Yemen, maritime threats to international shipping in the Bab
RECOGNIZING DR. DENNIS FRISCH
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-3-20

today I rise in recognition of Dr. Dennis Frisch and his induction as the President of the American Podiatric Medical Association. prgtoken Dr. Frisch has dedicated his life to serving both his profession and his community. prgtoken Dr. Frisch began serving on the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Board prgtoken of Trustees in 2007 and has served on multiple APMA committees during this time. Before being elected to the APMA Board, Dr. Frisch served at all levels of leadership in the Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA), culminating with his presidency from 1995-1996. He was honored by the FPMA in 2005 when he received the Florida Podiatric Physician of the Year Award for his many years of service. prgtoken Dr. Frisch is also very active in the Boca Raton Rotary Club and has served 2 separate terms as president. He volunteered with a variety of youth sports organizations and served for 8 years as a Commissioner for the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Parks District. He is currently an appointed Board member to the City of Boca Raton Parks and Recreation Department Advisory Board. prgtoken Today I ask this body to recognize Dr. Frisch as he assumes his new role as President of the American Podiatric Medical Association. prgtoken Dr. Frisch exemplifies the hard work and dedication that I see throughout Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. I thank him for his service and congratulate him for this accomplishment.
ALLOW STATES AND VICTIMS TO FIGHT ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2017-- MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Claire McCaskill (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2018-3-20

I thank Senator Portman, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Whitehouse, and my other colleagues for allowing me to jump in here for a couple of minutes. prgtoken This body--this entire body--is really responsible for where we are right now because it was during the investigation package that we realized that section 230 was being used as a shield for the bad guys. All of the attorneys general around the country and various law enforcement agencies and individuals who were trying to sue backpage were met every time with a 230 defense. They were not even able to penetrate to get the documents from backpage in order to learn about what backpage was really up to. It was an investigation by which backpage thought it would be able to win again in court and deny us our opportunity to look at the documents and to look at the underlying evidence that one should always look at in an investigation. prgtoken Frankly, our getting the contempt-of-the-Senate resolution through this body almost unanimously--I think it was unanimously, wasn't it, I ask Senator Portman?
S.J. RES. 54--MOTION TO DISCHARGE--Continued
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-3-20

I rise to participate in the discussion on the conflict in Yemen. prgtoken In 2015, I received a phone call from a Saudi official informing me that the kingdom was about to take military action in Yemen. The official said the conflict would not last long. They would launch airstrikes to push the Houthis out of Sana'a, restore Hadi to power, and broker a political compromise. That was nearly 3 years ago, and the conflict has since grown into the world's worst humanitarian disaster. prgtoken More than 10,000 civilians have died, and more than 40,000 have been wounded. More than half of Yemen's healthcare facilities have been destroyed. Three-quarters of the population--almost 22 million people-- need humanitarian assistance. Eleven million require urgent assistance to survive, which means they are close to starvation. prgtoken The situation for children is especially dire: 1.8 million children under the age of 5 are malnourished. Of that, more than 400,000 are so malnourished that they are now 10 times more likely to die. prgtoken On top of the bloodshed and famine, the people of Yemen are facing a horrific outbreak of cholera. More than 1 million cases of cholera have been reported, potentially the worst cholera outbreak in world history. More than 2,200 people have died from it, almost one-third of whom are children. Cholera has spread because more than 80 percent of the population lack clean drinking water. prgtoken We can't turn away from suffering because we are a party to this conflict. The United States is providing intelligence, military advice, logistical support, and aerial refueling to Saudi Arabia. The fact is, we are enabling a major proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. prgtoken We do all that despite there being no military solution. This has not been a brief war. It has turned into a major war that must end. The longer we permit suffering to continue, the more innocent men, women, and children are going to die. Instead of facilitating endless fighting, we should be pushing for reconciliation. prgtoken I have personally urged Saudi and Iranian officials to meet to discuss their differences. To my great disappointment, they have refused to do so. Iran is expanding its influence across the Middle East. It continues to arm Hezbollah, back President Assad in Syria, and support the Houthis. Saudi Arabia and its partners will not back down. Just last week, Crown Prince Salman said his nation would pursue the same nuclear capabilities as Iran. What does that say to us? prgtoken Their fight in Yemen offers no military solution. Only a political resolution will end this miserable war. prgtoken It is time we separate ourselves from this bloodshed. The United States must make it clear that we will not continue to support unending conflict. That is why I support the Sanders-Lee resolution, which would require the United States to stop refueling Saudi and Emirati aircraft. prgtoken Now, this seems lik
STUDENT, TEACHERS, AND OFFICERS PREVENTING SCHOOL VIOLENCE ACT OF 2018
Niki Tsongas (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-3-20

on March 14, 2018 I missed Roll Call Vote No. 106. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes. prgtoken No other developed nation on the planet experiences gun violence with the frequency that we do in the United States. The gun homicide rate in our country is more than seven times that of Sweden, six times that of Canada, and twenty-one times that of Australia. On average, 93 Americans die every day from gun violence and 222 people are shot and survive, prgtoken including 40 children and teens. And since 1970, more Americans have been killed by guns than Americans killed in all of our nation's wars combined. prgtoken The numbers are simply staggering. prgtoken H.R. 4909 will help schools develop violence prevention strategies, strengthen school security, and help educators and law enforcement prevent students from hurting themselves or others. But Congress should be doing much more to prevent gun violence. The majority of the American people--and the majority of gun owners--want Congress to take action. prgtoken The American people deserve open floor debates or straight up or down votes on commonsense measures such as banning ``bump stocks'' which make guns more lethal, forming a select committee on gun violence, requiring background checks for all gun sales, and allowing the Centers for Disease Control and other federal health agencies to conduct crucial gun violence research. prgtoken Americans deserve a society that is free from the regular threat of gun violence. The status quo is unacceptable. We have a responsibility to pursue change.