mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN HONOR OF KRISTI FEHR
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Madam , I rise today to honor a special teacher, Mrs. Kristi Fehr. Mrs. Fehr is an educator at Cassidy Elementary School in Lexington, Kentucky. prgtoken Mrs. Fehr has been selected to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching by the National Science Foundation. This award, administered on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science. prgtoken Mrs. Fehr, a graduate of Xavier University, has been an elementary teacher for 24 years and has taught at Cassidy Elementary School since 2014. She is a science lab teacher for grades K-5. Among many of her accomplishments, she partnered with a bio-systems engineer at the University of Kentucky to implement a science garden at Cassidy. She led a Scientists and Engineers Empowering Kids (SEEK) Science Club for 3rd through 5th graders. She annually recruits engineers from the community to lead sessions with students during National Engineers Week. Mrs. Fehr has been awarded numerous environmental and sustainability awards. She is a recognized leader in her school and among science educators. prgtoken I thank Mrs. Fehr for educating and inspiring her students in the field of science. This prestigious award is well-deserved by Mrs. Fehr due to her innovation, dedication, and passion that she brings to science education. I congratulate her on being awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
SEC DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVENESS TESTING ACT
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Mr. Chair, the balance of my time. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I do want to point out that as the gentlewoman from Missouri and I were chatting a little bit about this, it is amazing, when this issue came to a head at the end of the administration, there was a massive move away from the Securities and Exchange Commission where this Reg Best Interest traditionally has been the domain of such regulation and was moved over to the Department of Labor. prgtoken Why? Because the administration believed they needed to move so quickly and they couldn't get the Securities and Exchange Commission to act and agree--parenthetically, agree--with them as to what it should look like, they kicked it over to the Department of Labor, which has a small little silver of oversight of this area because of pensions. But, nonetheless, they came up with a wholly unsatisfactory rule that caused a tremendous amount of confusion. The Securities and Exchange Commission put itself forward and said: No, we need to get this done. prgtoken That is what kicked off all of the roundtables and the interviews and the 1,800 surveys and the 6,000 comment letters. We are now at this point where we can deliver on much-needed reform, and my colleagues across the aisle want to kick it backwards. prgtoken Now, , you heard the author say that they are not interested in relitigating current rulemaking, so I look forward to them all supporting my amendment that we are going to be talking about. And let's exempt Form CRS and the Reg BI. But I am afraid, Mr. Chair, that is not their goal and intent. I am afraid that they don't like the policy; therefore, they want to go back in and delay. prgtoken When the gentleman was talking about how there was no changes because of this, that is simply not true. The Form CRS went from four pages down to two pages, with significant, simplified changes that were inserted into that. prgtoken And so that is the goal and objective at the end of the day, : to protect investors, to give them certainty and clarity; to give those who provide the advice to them certainty and clarity; and, frankly, to move forward. prgtoken I am afraid that H.R. 1815 here does the exact opposite. It is going to delay it. It is going to make it even more murky than what it had been previously. prgtoken I just want to urge my colleagues to think this through, what they are proposing to do to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the power of the Securities and Exchange Commission. prgtoken And again, my first term was spent listening to how the s ``were trying to destroy the Securities Exchange Commission'' by not funding them enough, by not allowing them to do their job, by not having the appointees do what their backgrounds and expertise would allow them to do. I never bought that charge, , because it simply wasn't true. prgtoken But we can see clearly, right now, this is a delaying tactic by th
SEC DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVENESS TESTING ACT
Trey Hollingsworth (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the bill being discussed today. While I appreciate my good friend Mr. Casten's effort on the bill, the problem is in the details. prgtoken While he clearly stated that this is a narrowly tailored bill, the reality is that a casual counting of SEC-promulgated rules yields over 600 rules that this would apply to. At 6 months of testing each, that is over 300 years' worth of testing--300 years. Our Republic hasn't been in existence for 300 years. prgtoken What I hear from Hoosiers back home is they are tired of our regulators being distracted and going back and looking at the history, and what they want to be focused on is how they protect investors going forward. prgtoken As Mr. Casten and I have discussed before, I think we share those laudable aims about ensuring that disclosures truly convey the information we want them to convey, but this bill doesn't do that. prgtoken This bill distracts the SEC from the necessary work on regulating our markets and protecting our investors by going back and doing hundreds of investor tests on over 600 different SEC-promulgated rules. Because of that, I will oppose the bill.
REMEMBERING WES BARR
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-10-17

this is a tough one today. I rise to remember Sheriff Wes Barr, who passed away on October 1. Wes was a beloved member of the Springfield community, who impacted many through his law enforcement career and charity work. prgtoken Wes' story is one of true American spirit. He lived in the former John Jay housing project in Springfield until he was 13. After graduating from Southeast High School, Wes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. prgtoken Afterwards, he served as a correctional officer before he began his career in law enforcement. He served as an officer in Loami, Illiopolis, and Chatham before joining the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office in 1991, eventually serving his one term, where I got to serve with him, as sheriff from 2014 to 2018. prgtoken Wes and his wife, Sherry, are well known for their generous hearts and extensive charity work with several organizations. For years, and where I first met Wes, Wes led the local Toys for Tots drive, collecting thousands of toys for children in need. prgtoken In every aspect of his life, Wes put others before himself. He lived to serve others and, for so many, he was a role model and a mentor. Wes had a compassion for people and a determination to give back to his community. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed. prgtoken The thoughts and prayers of Shannon and me are with the entire central Illinois community and especially his wife, Sherry, during this difficult time.
RECOGNITION OF WOOD COUNTY, OHIO'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the Bicentennial of Wood County, Ohio. This Crossroad of America was established by the Ohio State Legislature on February 12, 1820. Wood County has historical ties to the earliest days of Ohio history, gaining its name from Colonel Eleazer D. Wood, the planning engineer of Fort Meigs in 1813. prgtoken Wood County was once home to the Great Black Swamp. This made settlement of the area extremely difficult, but the pioneering spirit of early residents produced an extensive system of ditches which drained the swamp and revealed the rich farmland beneath. There are still more than 3,000 miles of drainage ditches keeping the county dry to this day. prgtoken The oil and natural gas industries were the first to enter Wood County in the late 1800s. This caused a large spike in population as people migrated to the county in hopes of obtaining riches. Wood County currently covers nearly 620 square miles of land and water which provides evidence of the rural traditions and history of the area, while fostering agricultural ingenuity, manufacturing developments, and educational success. prgtoken The celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Wood County is a meaningful reminder of the hard work, grit, and pioneering attitude upon which Wood County, Ohio and the United States of America were founded. Congratulations to Wood County in celebration of its Bicentennial Year.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-10-17

I rise today to recognize my friend John Robertson, a dedicated servant to the great people of West Virginia and native of our State capital, Charleston. After a 41-year career, John is retiring as the general manager of the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Throughout these past four decades, John's leadership has transformed the facility, turning it into one of the cultural epicenters of our State. prgtoken In August of 1978, with a bachelor's degree from the University of Charleston under his belt, John began his career as an assistant manager for the Charleston Civic Center. At the time, the building was in its fledgling stages, having just broken ground the month before. For John, it was all hands on deck, and he hit the ground running, assisting in structural related duties, as well as the concession stand operations. Two years later, in August of 1980, the Charleston Civic Center was host to its first big concert--the band Queen. prgtoken With John's vision and leadership at the helm, this was just the beginning for the Charleston Civic Center. Soon after the center was completed, the necessary renovations to turn the civic center into exhibit and meeting facilities were well under way. Through additional construction, two parking structures were placed contiguous to the Civic Center, creating an entirely different complex by 1983. prgtoken John's greatest of many accomplishments has come within the past few years, when approval of a city sales tax appropriated the proper funding to build the state-of-the-art facility that he had always dreamed of creating for his home town. John worked tirelessly with the mayor and Charleston city council, civic center board members, his staff, city planners, and consulting firms to complete the new Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in the fall of 2018. This achievement is underscored by the fact that the center was continually operated during the entire construction period. prgtoken The Charleston Civic Center is held so fondly in the memories of so many West Virginians. For some, it is where they saw their favorite band perform live for the first time. For others, it was where they were able to bring home a State basketball title. From Garth Brooks concerts, to oldtime car shows, West Virginia versus Marshall basketball games or the West Virginia Book Festival, one thing has remained the same; that is, John's dedication to the citizens of Charleston through his tireless work to make sure that every detail of every event, no matter how big or small, held at the Charleston Civic Center was in place. prgtoken In retirement, John will now have more time to spend with his loving wife Kimberly, his daughters Bethany and Allyson, and his grandchildren Lucy and Henry, but the lasting effects of what he did for our State and the city of Charleston will continue on for generations to come. I wish John all the best as he continues to make a diff
RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019--VETO
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-17

reserving the right to object. The Constitution is quite clear on this subject. If the minority leader wishes to engage in the civil war in Syria that has been going on for nearly a decade, we should obey the Constitution. He should come to the floor and say we are ready to declare a war, we are ready to authorize force, and we are going to stick our troops in the middle of this messy, messy five-sided civil war, where we would be ostensibly opposed to the Turkish Government that has made an incursion. We would then be opposed to our NATO ally. It would be the first time in history that we would be inserting ourselves militarily against a NATO ally. prgtoken None of this is to excuse Turkey's action. In fact, today I will offer a resolution that would actually do something. prgtoken The resolution that is being offered is simply a way to have petty, partisan criticism of the President infect this body. Mine, actually, would have the force of law and would prevent any arms from being sold to Turkey, which would be a serious rebuke to what they are doing in Syria. prgtoken The Constitution is quite clear. No authorization has ever been given for the use of force in Syria. There was no authorization of declaration of war and no permission to be there at all. So if they want to insert themselves in this civil war, by all means, let's have a debate. Let's have a constitutional debate, but I, for one, am not willing to send one young man or one young woman, one soldier over there without a clear mission. prgtoken There is no clear mission. There is no clear enemy. In fact, the war is largely over. Assad is going to remain, for better or worse. So we have a despot on one side, Erdogan. We have another despot on the other side, Assad. Here is the deal: The Kurds have to live there. It is despairing that they have to live there, but you know what, their best chance for survival is having an ally inside of Syria. prgtoken If they become allied, and it appears they are--if they become allied with Assad, you know what, there is a possibility of a Kurdish area within Syria. There may well be an opportunity for a Kurdish area similar to what has happened in Iraq. prgtoken So I object to this resolution because this resolution does nothing to fix the problem. My resolution would stop arms sales to Turkey, so I will object to this resolution.
WELCOMING DR. ROBERT LEWIS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-10-17

I would like to take a moment, first of all, to thank Chaplain Black for all that he does here. The Senate is a much better place as a result of having him around. prgtoken I would also like to take a moment to thank Dr. Robert Lewis for delivering the opening prayer in the Senate today. prgtoken Robert and I had the opportunity to play football together at the University of Arkansas. He was a very good football player and had the gift of smack. He would hit you. He had a tremendous work ethic and character, and we all knew that he would do well in whatever he decided to do. prgtoken Robert is, today, a renowned pastor, a best-selling author, a passionate speaker, and a Christian visionary. He has developed a curriculum that has reached over 1 million men worldwide in churches, on college campuses, in corporate boardrooms, and in correctional facilities. prgtoken Robert's program, the Men's Fraternity, provides men with an encouraging process of teaching them how to live lives of authentic manhood, as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God. The program was designed to help men come together and strengthen each other through weekly sessions that combine biblical teaching and small group interaction. prgtoken For 21 years, Robert served as the directional leader of the Fellowship Bible Church of Little Rock. During that time, the church grew from a few hundred members to over 5,000, and it was widely recognized as being one of the most innovative and influential churches in America. prgtoken Robert helped to bring Downline, which is a citywide discipleship ministry, to Little Rock, where he continues to serve as a part-time instructor. He continues to be involved in his local church and beyond, and he ministers nationally and across the world. prgtoken Robert and Sherard, his wife, have been married for over 40 years. They have four children and three grandchildren. prgtoken Serving as the guest chaplain is an incredible honor. I am thankful for Robert's ministry, and I am so pleased that he could be here to offer an invocation of asking God to guide and bless the efforts of Congress and America's leaders. prgtoken .
HONORING SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-10-17

I rise to highlight the positive impact the new U.S.-Japan trade deal will have on our Nation and on the Hoosier State. prgtoken Japan is an important ally of the United States and a critical trading partner that benefits the Hoosier economy. Japan is heavily invested in the Hoosier State and in Indiana's Sixth Congressional District. prgtoken Of the 19 counties in the Sixth District, Japan is currently invested in 14 of them. This trade deal will help increase those investments in our local communities, creating opportunities and jobs for many Hoosiers. In Congress, we must build upon this successful trade agreement President has struck with the American people. prgtoken We can and we must pass the USMCA, which will increase opportunities for workers and farmers across this country. I urge my colleagues to continue to support these trade deals. prgtoken Congratulating the Winchester News-Gazette on Serving Hoosiers for 175 Years
CALLING ATTENTION TO AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM THAT ORIGINATED IN POCATELLO, IDAHO
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-10-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 2019 Idaho Career & Technical Education (ICTE) Special Program Award recipient, the Construction Combine. prgtoken At the Construction Combine, program participants learn to demonstrate their construction skills to builders who are potential employers. The program recruits local contractors to teach construction skills to interested high school students and others, and construction materials suppliers such as Home Depot generously provide the necessary supplies and tools to facilitate building sheds for this two-day event. The completed sheds are donated to deserving veterans at no cost. prgtoken The Construction Combine is the brain-child of Mr. Scott Stevens. As a staff member in Idaho State University's (ISU) Continuing Education and Workforce Training Program (CEWT), Mr. Stevens recognized the need to attract more skilled workers to the construction industry and to increase the housing stock in order to promote economic growth. He teamed up with Brad Landon, the Pocatello/Chubbuck Home Depot Store manager, to execute his vision--one that helps home builders, veterans and students. There was extensive additional support from the surrounding high schools; local contractors; Gary Salazar, the Director of ISU's CEWT; and others in ISU's CEWT Program. prgtoken The first Construction Combine event took place at the Pocatello/ Chubbuck Home Depot in the Spring of 2018 with 54 participants, producing eight sheds. The following year, in 2019, the Construction Combine hosted six events in Idaho and Oregon with 228 participants, producing 41 sheds. I am eager to see the continued growth of this program in years to come. prgtoken Madam , I would like to join the ICTE Awards Selection Committee in recognizing the Construction Combine as an innovative solution to the construction and low housing stock issues associated with Idaho's very low unemployment rate and our booming economy. I would like to recognize ISU's CEWT, the Home Depot, and the local contractors for their efforts to make the Construction Combine a success and to give back to their communities. Congratulations.
S.J. RES. 54
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-17

our ic colleagues insist that despite their political differences with President , they are still prepared to tackle important legislation and do our work for the American people. prgtoken Well, next week they will have an opportunity to prove it. Congress has fallen badly behind schedule on appropriations. It has been a month since my ic colleagues filibustered government funding on the floor, blocking defense funding and a pay raise for our servicemembers. We need to get moving. The country is watching. It is time to make progress. prgtoken So in just a moment, I will file cloture on motions to proceed to two government funding bills, setting up votes for next week. prgtoken In order to meet halfway, the first House shell we will vote on will be a package of domestic funding bills. If we can get bipartisan support to take up that domestic funding bill, we will stay on it until we complete it. I hope Chairman Shelby and Senator Leahy can work together to craft a bipartisan substitute amendment. prgtoken Afterward, we will turn to a second package, including the defense funding that our Armed Forces and commanders need, especially in this dangerous time and considering current events, plus resources for other priorities such as the opioid epidemic. So we will be voting next week, and I urge all of our colleagues to move in that direction. Let's make good on all the talk about bipartisanship and finally make progress toward funding the government.