mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Energy Innovation (Executive Session)
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-7-16

today I rise in absolute awe--remain in awe--of what happened in this country and in this world 50 years ago this week, and I am still inspired by the events of our space program 50 years ago. prgtoken Fifty years ago today, Americans of all ages, in every corner of this great Nation and, in fact, all over the world, stopped what they were doing to watch in complete awe as Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy, headed toward the Moon. It is unbelievable what we saw, what we witnessed, that entire week. prgtoken It would be the first time that humans would set foot on a celestial body other than the Earth. We would step foot on the Moon, which had captured the imagination of the world since time began, trying to reach that big, round object in the sky. It was a remarkable feat, made possible by the sheer determination and grit of the American space program and all of those who participated in it. prgtoken I was just a kid growing up in Alabama at the time. I lived just 2 or 3 hours south of what was known as Rocket City in Huntsville, AL. It is still known as Rocket City because of all of the work at NASA and in our space program today. It was a thriving metropolis then and even more so today. That is where all of the rockets were built. That is where the engines, the powerful engines that drove the rockets into space, were built. They were tested in Huntsville, AL. If you go there today, most of those stands are still there. Some of them are about to be used again. Those Saturn V rockets, the most powerful rocket engines man had ever created, were built in Huntsville, AL. They were the engines that would propel man to the Moon. prgtoken I was absolutely mesmerized--absolutely mesmerized--by all things involving the space program. I still am. I can remember so many times when my maternal grandfather, Oliver Wesson, whom I called Paw-Paw, and I would just sit for hours and watch and listen prgtoken to the commentaries. We would watch the liftoffs. We would watch the splashdowns. Some of my best memories as a kid were literally sitting in front of a TV set with my granddad, watching the heroes I saw, the heroes I wanted to be, and the heroes America wrapped their arms around. At the time, there was nothing--nothing--and maybe to some extent today--more that I wanted to do than to be an astronaut and to go into space. It sounds corny for an old man like me to say that, but it is absolutely true. prgtoken Those astronauts, the original Mercury Seven astronauts, were heroes in every sense of the word. I admire their courage, not having a clue when they blasted off from Florida whether they would return safely. And we did lose astronauts along the way. prgtoken I did so many things. I read. I studied. I watched. I read papers. A lot of papers in my grammar, junior high, and high schools were all written about the space program. prgtoken I am a memorabilia collector, as many of you may know, including of a
HONORING ALLIE D. FOSTER JACKSON
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2019-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mrs. Allie D. Foster Jackson. Allie was born August 4, 1927 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. prgtoken Mrs. Jackson confessed Christ at an early age and joined Wesley United Methodist Church in Kosciusko, Mississippi and later became a lifelong member of Anderson United Methodist Church. While at Anderson, she served as the church pianist, organist, coordinator of the annual Christmas and Easter presentations. prgtoken She graduated from Piney Woods High School and received her B.S. degree in Education from Jackson State College. She further attended Atlanta University and Indiana University to specialize in librarianship. Mrs. Jackson's teaching career spanned over 33 years and included English, band, choir and library science. After retiring from the Jackson Public School System, she volunteered at Tougaloo College in their College Library System where she received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001. prgtoken She leaves to cherish her memory two siblings and three sister-in- laws: Mary Virginia Ukegbu Kosciusko, Mississippi and Charles (Faye) Foster, Jackson, Mississippi; Bessie L. Foster, Kosciusko, Mississippi and Betty Foster, Atlanta, Georgia; a son, Embra K. Jackson, Jr. (Rosia), Starkville, Mississippi; grandchildren: Keith Payne, Kevin (Sandy) Payne, and Krystal Payne, Embra K. Jackson, III (Suyapa), Ebony K. Nance (Chris), Emmanuel K. Jackson (Ashley) and Katelyn Jackson; 15 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late Mrs. Allie D. Foster Jackson.
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING CONSUMER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MONTH
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-7-17

in honor of Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Education and Awareness Month, I wish to highlight the problem of counterfeits sold online. prgtoken Counterfeiters are increasingly turning to e-commerce to sell all of their fakes. In the past, I have advocated for increased education and awareness efforts because I believe these efforts and education are critical tools in our country's arsenal against counterfeits. prgtoken I encourage our Customs and Border Protection to identify ways to increase information sharing with their private industry partners. This is one way we can prevent the sale of fakes and keep consumers safe. prgtoken .
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA OF CERTAIN DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong opposition to this dangerous resolution. Right now, as I speak, Iran is stretching its tentacles of terror across the Middle East. prgtoken By aiding the Houthis in Yemen, arming Hezbollah and Lebanon, and supporting the Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, Iran is creating a Shia Crescent that can dominate the region. Their goal is to build a strategic land bridge from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea. If we allow them to succeed, terrorism will flourish, instability will reign, and the security of our allies, like Israel, will be threatened. prgtoken One of the ways we can push back against Iran's murderous aggression is by empowering our partners in the region. Unfortunately, this irresponsible resolution handcuffs our ability to do so. prgtoken Specifically, this legislation would prohibit an export license and stop the United States from providing our partners with the arms that they need to defend themselves. This particular license first came before members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in January of 2018. When I became the lead in January of 2019, I reviewed this case and maintained the informal approval granted by my predecessor, Chairman Royce. prgtoken The administration has been criticized for bypassing Congress to push these sales through. But the , in fairness, placed informal holds on the sale for more than 13 months, a total of 407 days, which I believe abuses the process that we have in place in Congress. prgtoken During that time, the State Department continued to pursue this case with Congress. They also sent forward additional cases to help support the Saudis, the UAE, and Jordan. And, by the time the State Department submits such cases to Congress, they have already undergone a thorough interagency review process. prgtoken This important process ensures compliance with the President's conventional arms transfer policy intended to support our partners and strengthen our national security. Other critics are worried that these weapons will increase civilian casualties in Yemen. prgtoken However, the precision-guided munitions that we were trying to send to the Saudis will actually lower the risk of civilian casualties in Yemen as it counters attacks from Iranian-backed Houthis. prgtoken Now is not the time to deny our partners what they need for their defense. Nor is it time to hold precision-guided munitions that could minimize the risk to civilians. prgtoken Recently, after Iran attacked civilian ships and shot down drones--a U.S. military asset--the President brought together a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, including the chairman and myself, to discuss an appropriate response. He listened to our advice and made a prudent decision to exercise restraint. prgtoken The President has made it explicitly clear the United States is not looking for war. The decision to move forward with these arms sa
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-7-17

July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the first step man took on the Moon. For that brief moment, all mankind stood united, watching an awesome spectacle transpire few would have imagined possible just years earlier. It stands as one of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind, and it cemented the United States as the world leader in science, technology, and discovery. prgtoken In 1961, when President Kennedy boldly challenged the Nation to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth by the end of the decade, the technology needed to do so, for the most part, didn't even exist. prgtoken That we accomplished this monumental goal is a testament to American ingenuity and innovation. In fact, some of the very technology developed for the Apollo missions is still having a positive impact on the lives of Iowans nearly half a century later. Our first responders wear fire-resistant textiles developed for the use in Apollo space suits. Our communities rely on water purification technology designed for the Apollo spacecraft. Our soldiers in the field depend on the MREs, Meals Ready to Eat, created to safely feed Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their half-million-mile journey to the Moon and back. My daughter Libby, who is a cadet at West Point, was recently sharing some very strong opinions about these MREs, but maybe she will feel differently after I tell her this was actually food for astronauts. prgtoken Yet, in all seriousness, when the government makes wise and sound investments in the development of emerging technology, the benefits can be tremendous. prgtoken GPS is a great example of this, especially in Iowa. GPS has its roots in the military and has a strong Air Force stewardship, and its significance only continues to grow with the advancements of satellites and the development of drones. Yet GPS has evolved beyond just military use; it impacts the everyday lives of Iowans. From driving directions in rideshare services to the electric power grid, GPS is utilized by businesses and consumers across the country. This important technology supports new and emerging applications, including water quality, driverless vehicles, and precision agriculture. It is estimated that civilian and commercial access to GPS added $90 billion in annual value to the U.S. economy in 2013. prgtoken Examples like these demonstrate why it is so important this body and our Nation as a whole continue to push the envelope when it comes to science, technology, and discovery, and that is exactly what Senate s have been doing. prgtoken As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I have made it a priority to ensure that the United States remains the world's leader in the development of artificial intelligence, or AI. From novel defensive capabilities and data analysis to the predictive maintenance of military hardware, there is n
PROTOCOL AMENDING THE TAX CONVENTION WITH JAPAN
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-7-17

I wish to join the chorus here. This is a big day, as Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer said, for our friend and colleague Pat Leahy. prgtoken Pat and I have been working together a long time; this is our fourth decade. As we were told, he just cast his 16,000th vote in the U.S. Senate. I want to note that only three Senators have ever hit that mark--Senator Robert Byrd, Senator Danny Inouye, and Senator Strom Thurmond. And he is still going. Pat still has some time on his hands. This is an extraordinary achievement, as we all know, here in the Senate. prgtoken As I said, Pat and I have served together for more than three decades. As Senators McConnell and Schumer said, he was first elected at the age of 34, making him one of the youngest Senators here. prgtoken As we all know, last year we completed our work, working together, before the Fourth of July recess, on the Appropriations Committee. We are going to try to do it again this year, working together. I just think, if we work together, as we have before--Pat and I have given and taken from each other--it is good for the Senate. prgtoken I congratulate Senator Leahy again on this rare and remarkable achievement--16,000 votes. It is a first. He currently ranks first in seniority in the Senate--first, folks, in seniority. He is prgtoken our senior Senator. It has been nothing short of a privilege to serve alongside him. He is an excellent colleague, he has been a class act. I have enjoyed working with him and look forward to a few more years in the future. prgtoken Pat. (Applause.)
Order of Procedure (Executive Calendar)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-7-17

I ask unanimous consent that at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, the Senate vote on the Corker and Blanchard nominations and that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; further, that following disposition of the Blanchard nomination, the Senate resume consideration of the Tapia nomination; finally, that at 1:45 p.m the Senate vote on the Tapia nomination and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-7-17

the story opens with a simple observation, and this is the first sentence: ``The national health service is free, so it is also rationed.'' prgtoken That is what we are seeing, and that is what people are living with every day in Britain. Under the guise of healthcare being free, they live in a world where healthcare is rationed. prgtoken So how bad can that be? What would this mean with this one-size-fits- all Medicare for All, which the are proposing? prgtoken The Economist writes that in Britain today ``[o]nly patients with the most complicated or urgent problems make it to a doctor.'' Actually, today you need a doctor's referral to see a specialist in England. But now, in some parts of the country, a British bureaucrat must preapprove your visit to the family doctor, who will then make the referral to the specialist. I can't imagine people in our country tolerating that. So, ironically, ``access to the rationers is itself now rationed.'' According to the article, ``Only half of [British] patients say they almost always get to see their preferred doctor.'' So only half get to see the doctor they choose. prgtoken Remember that old line--``If you like your healthcare, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.'' In Britain, only half get to see their doctor--if they get to see them, if they get to go through the rationer, who is a bureaucrat. prgtoken What happens after you wade through all of this, wade through the morass of the bureaucrat and the family doctor to get to the specialist? What does the article say about when you actually get to see a doctor? The average consultation time, it says, is only 9 minutes. It is 9 minutes on average. As a doctor, I can state that 9 minutes is one of the shortest consults I have ever heard of. I cannot imagine 9 minutes--after waiting all of this time to see the doctor, 9 minutes and then you are done, and they are on to the next patient, who has also been waiting and waiting and waiting to see the doctor. prgtoken What does this tell us about what would happen in the United States to patients trying to see doctors if we followed this one-size-fits- all, government-run healthcare program that Senator Sanders and so many of the are supporting? If we adopt a government-run, one- size-fits-all healthcare system, which is what they are proposing, I would tell Americans to expect to pay more to wait longer for worse care. That is what we would see. To borrow the line from The Economist, bureaucrats will, as they say, reinvent what healthcare means for you. prgtoken You may have seen the stories about the thousands of elderly patients right now going blind in Britain--going blind. Why are they going blind? Well, because the British health service is rationing eye surgery. The president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has said that the rationing is part of the government's cost-cutting in England, and people ar
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED EXPORT TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES OF CERTAIN DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-7-17

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this and many other issues. prgtoken , I rise today in opposition to S.J. Res. 37 which would prevent the transfer of Paveway precision-guided munitions to the United Arab Emirates. prgtoken There are numerous reasons to oppose this resolution. Let me list three: prgtoken First, and most obviously, some Paveways have already left the U.S and this fact alone shows that this resolution is more about messaging than action and demonstrates the urgent need the UAE has for these munitions. prgtoken Second, the UAE is a steadfast partner against Iran. Tehran is our foremost opponent in the region right now and a critical threat to our interests there. I would note that the very flawed Iran deal put millions--in fact, billions and billions--of dollars of cash into the pockets of Iran, and they are now using those dollars to support terrorism, foment instability, put mines on ships, and attack ships in international waters. So they are now a threat not just in the region but a threat around the world. So, thank God, President had the good sense to get us out of that terrible deal. prgtoken If we want the UAE's continued help, we need to make sure that we are a reliable partner and that they are properly armed. prgtoken The third item is that the U.S. needs to continue its leadership in the region. If the UAE and Saudi Arabia cannot buy arms from us, that doesn't mean they won't get arms. It just means that they will buy them from the Russians. This will diminish our standing, weaken our leverage with our partners, and call into question our reliability as a partner. prgtoken For these reasons and others, I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
TRIBUTE TO AVES THOMPSON
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-7-17

it is that time of week again. It is the time when I get to recognize a special person from a special place--the great State of Alaska--in what we call our ``Alaskan of the Week.'' It is one of the best times of the week for me because I get to talk about Alaska's community and its individuals. I think we have new pages here, but I think the pages unanimously agree every year that this is the most exciting speech of the week. I will not disappoint because you get to learn about Alaska, and whether it is summer--right now--or winter, you get to learn about what people are doing in Alaska. prgtoken I recognize Mr. Aves Thompson today. He is one of the many people in my State who has worked diligently to ensure that Alaska runs well and that goods get properly transported from one place in Alaska to another place. We are a big State. He ensures that when delivering things, the systems that make a functional State and a functional society are in working order in Alaska. Now, I will get to what Aves has done in a minute here and will talk about him. What I always like to do is talk a little bit about what is going on in Alaska right now. prgtoken The weather is gorgeous, and the fishing is great. A couple of weeks ago, I was up on the mighty Yukon River, which is way up north. I was with my wife and three daughters and a bunch of family members. We were fishing for one of the most iconic fish on the planet--the Yukon River king. It is a time of festivals and parades all across the State. prgtoken Last week, I was at Eagle River, which is about 15 minutes north of Anchorage, for the Bear Paw Festival. Among other things, many Alaskans--myself included--partook in the Slippery Salmon Olympics. I am not going to describe exactly what happened, but as you can imagine, it involved running and obstacles with salmon. It was a lot of fun. So it is a great time to be in Alaska, and I encourage everybody who is watching on TV to come on up. You will love it. I guarantee it will be the trip of a lifetime. prgtoken As you know, events like these reflect something larger about a place. They reflect ties and commitment and, importantly, people and community. They reflect people who help each other and spend their lives working to make things better. So let me introduce you to Aves Thompson, our Alaskan of the Week. He is someone who has definitely spent his life making Alaska better and, more fundamentally, making Alaska work well and efficiently. prgtoken I will admit it. Alaska is not the easiest place in which to live. For one, it is really far away from the rest of the lower 48. I am going to get on a plane. I try to get home every weekend, so I will go home tomorrow afternoon. It will be about 11\1/2\ hours door-to-door, one way, to get to my home in Anchorage. That is pretty far. The winter weather, of course, can be brutal. Our mountains and our tundra are beautiful, but it can be challenging, to say the l