mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE HOMENETMEN GLENDALE ``ARARAT'' CHAPTER
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-28

I rise today to honor the Homenetmen Glendale ``Ararat'' Chapter upon its fortieth anniversary. prgtoken Established in 1918, the Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts, commonly referred to as Homenetmen, has served hundreds of thousands of youth worldwide. In 1922, when Homenetmen chapters in Constantinople were forced to close, its leaders dispersed across the world. From there, a network of chapters began appearing globally, including in the United States. prgtoken Homenetmen Western USA presently comprises 19 chapters, with several within California's 28th Congressional District, which is home to a large and vibrant Armenian-American community. This extraordinary organization has preserved the Armenian spirit by introducing Armenian- American youth to the rich Armenian culture and heritage, and has provided them with physical, moral and social education. prgtoken Founded in 1978, the Homenetmen Glendale ``Ararat'' Chapter is the largest chapter in Homenetmen Western USA. It has served thousands of children, young adults and seniors over the years and has provided scouting, athletic, educational, cultural, and wellness activities to the comunities it serves. The organization has been especially committed to improving the lives of our next generation by offering healthy programs for teens and young adults through supervised weekend and after school activities in a family-oriented environment. In addition, it has championed teaching the importance of volunteerism, teamwork and citizenship. prgtoken The time, effort, and care that the Homenetmen Glendale ``Ararat'' Chapter has given to the community is invaluable, and the Armenian- American residents of Southern California have benefited greatly from its dedicated work. The organization has played a significant role in shaping our children into responsible citizens and thriving members of society, who become shining examples of Homenetmen's motto--``Elevate Yourself and Others With You.'' prgtoken I ask all Members to join with me in commending the Homenetmen Glendale ``Ararat'' Chapter for forty years of dedicated service.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL SERVICE HONORING THE LIVES OF KCFD FIREFIGHTERS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE 1988 EXPLOSION
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2018-11-28

I proudly rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary memorial service honoring six Kansas City firefighters who tragically lost their lives serving the community. prgtoken On November 29, 1988, just before 4:00 in the morning, the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) responded to a call at a construction site in the south end of the city. What started as a routine emergency response rapidly turned into tragedy and destruction. The fire escalated to a massive explosion, ultimately killing six firefighters. Fire Captain Gerald Halloran, Fire Captain James Kilventon, fireman Thomas Fry, fireman Luther Hurd, fireman Robert McKarnin, and fireman Michael Oldham gave their lives in service to the community. While their legacy of courage, heroism, and dedication to the public is forever preserved, what remains is the absence of six men who were loved by many. prgtoken As Mayor pro tempore at the time, I remember arriving to a scene of grief and heartache. I can still recall the overwhelming wave of sorrow and despair that overcame me as I looked down from the helicopter at the devastation. It is a morning that I will never forget. prgtoken For a century and a half, the Kansas City Fire Department has served the people of Kansas City, guided by the mission ``to protect and serve the community with commitment and dedication to excellence.'' The profound legacies that Gerald Halloran, James Kilventon, Thomas Fry, Luther Hurd, Robert McKarnin, and Michael Oldham leave behind embody the department's mission to serve the community today. This tragic event changed the firefighting profession, prompting new advancements in safety protocols that protect first responders today. prgtoken Thirty years later, on the anniversary of the 1988 explosion, the community will come together to reflect and honor these six men who gave their lives doing what they loved, what they wholeheartedly believed was their mission in life--to serve and protect the people of our city. prgtoken As I stand here today to honor these six men and reflect on the solemn event which took their lives, I also want to acknowledge the brave women and men in our community who fight fires. In 2015, a three- alarm fire in the heart of Kansas City's Northeast neighborhood took the lives of two firemen, Larry Leggio and John Mesh. And like the 1988 explosion, the Kansas City community rallied and unified to seek justice for the firefighters that dedicated their lives to saving those in danger. prgtoken , please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in remembering and honoring the lives of the six firefighters who selflessly dedicated themselves to public service. The legacy they leave behind is a perpetual reminder of the sacrifices of the Kansas City Fire Department and firefighters across the nation. Let us join together in recognizing these six men who nobly served their communities and their families.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 54
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-11-28

as we all know, we have a constitutional obligation as U.S. Senators to provide advice and consent to a President's nominee. That is not advice and rubberstamp; it is advice and informed consent. prgtoken I do my best to scrutinize each nominee on the merits, regardless of party, and decide whether they deserve a lifetime appointment to our Federal bench. During my 44 years in the Senate, I have actually voted for more nominated judges than almost all but one or two Senators in this body today. prgtoken The simple fact is, given Mr. Farr's track record of working to systematically dismantle the franchise for thousands of African- American voters, Thomas Farr becomes one of the most controversial nominees of either party I have ever encountered. Someone who has made a career out of attacking a sacred constitutional right, indeed the very right that gives democracy its name, simply does not belong on the Federal bench. prgtoken Let's begin with his role on Jesse Helms' Senate campaign in 1990--a campaign I remember very, very well. The Department of Justice alleged that Senator Helms' campaign sent thousands of postcards to every African-American precinct, falsely telling voters that they were ineligible to vote and threatening prosecution against those who did. Mr. Farr served as a top lawyer to Senator Helms at the time. He appears to have misled Congress about his role in that brazen voter suppression scheme. When Senate Judiciary Committee members asked Mr. Farr whether he knew about or had provided any counsel on the decision to send these postcards, Mr. Farr said he hadn't learned about their existence until after they were mailed out, but a former DOJ official has stated that Mr. Farr definitely knew about the postcards before they were sent out and that Mr. Farr's responses to Congress were just plain contrary to the facts. prgtoken Setting aside this outrageous attempt at voter suppression, each Senator in this Chamber should care whether the President's nominees tell the truth. If a nominee will not tell us the truth, especially when they are under oath, then they are unfit to take another oath--the oath of judicial office. prgtoken Mr. Farr's embrace of voter suppression appears only to have grown after his work on the Helms campaign. In 2013, he chose to defend North Carolina's racially restrictive voting law--a voting law that the Fourth Circuit struck down because it ``target[ed] African Americans with almost surgical precision.'' Undeterred, between 2014 and 2017, Mr. Farr again defended North Carolina legislature in numerous lawsuits alleging that it had racially gerrymandered its State house and senate map. In each of these cases, higher courts found North Carolina's gerrymandering to be unconstitutional. prgtoken There is a pattern here. It is deeply troubling. Mr. Farr has dedicated his skills as a lawyer to suppressing the right to vote for minorities. Hi
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 54
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-28

I rise today in support of the Sanders-Murphy resolution. It is time to end our involvement in the war in Yemen. prgtoken In 2015, I was notified by a senior Saudi official of the Kingdom's intention to take military action in Yemen. I was assured the conflict would not last long. I was told it would be precise and focus on ousting the Houthis and restoring the Hadi government. prgtoken Nearly 4 years later, the war in Yemen has dragged on. All we have seen is widespread death and destruction with no end in sight. prgtoken For nearly 4 years, the coalition has bombed Yemen once every 100 minutes, and one-third of those strikes targeted nonmilitary sites. prgtoken So far, the war has directly killed more than 16,000 civilians, with tens of thousands more injured. Without a resolution to this conflict, many thousands more will undoubtedly die. prgtoken But those deaths don't paint the whole picture. The ongoing war, with our support, has created the world's worst humanitarian disaster. prgtoken Nearly 85,000 children have died of severe malnutrition, and another 400,000 are at risk of the same fate. prgtoken Fourteen million people require emergency food aid just to see another day. prgtoken A majority of Yemen's population does not have access to clean water, sanitation or adequate public healthcare. prgtoken Cholera and other diseases are rampant throughout Yemen as public services have collapsed. prgtoken There have been 1.2 million suspected cases of cholera, resulting in 2,500 fatalities from this entirely preventable disease. prgtoken Today, nearly three-quarters of the population--almost 22 million people--need some form of humanitarian assistance. prgtoken That is because more than half of Yemen's healthcare facilities have been purposefully destroyed by the Saudi coalitions' relentless bombing. The few medical facilities that remain lack sufficient staff, equipment, and medicine to serve the millions of Yemenis who require their help. prgtoken The conflict is getting worse. Since the coalition's assault on the port city of Hodeidah, civilian deaths have increased by 164 percent. prgtoken The United States can no longer turn a blind eye to this conflict because we are a party to it. The United States provides targeting assistance, military advice, and until recently, aerial refueling for the Saudi-led coalition. We prgtoken do all that despite the lack of a military solution to end the war. The longer we enable the conflict to continue, the more innocent men, women, and children will die. prgtoken Instead of facilitating endless fighting, we must push for reconciliation. I have personally urged Saudi and Iranian officials to meet to discuss their differences. To my great disappointment, they refuse to do so. I welcomed Secretary Mattis's announcement that the United States will no longer refuel the coalition's aircraft, but more must be done. prgtoken Until there is a congressional authorization, all U.S. f
ACTION FOR DENTAL HEALTH ACT OF 2017
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-11-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I stand proudly in support of H.R. 2422, my bipartisan Action for Dental Health Act. Since 2013, I have been working with my colleagues to emphasize the importance of oral health, especially for America's children and seniors. prgtoken Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Furthermore, a child's oral health status is directly tied to their academic achievement and school attendance. Likewise, poor oral health, such as toothlessness or tooth decay, are potentially life-threatening conditions for our grandmothers and grandfathers, and Medicare does not cover dental health services. prgtoken Unfortunately, so many other Americans in between childhood and elderly adulthood lack access to oral healthcare because of cost or a lack of dentists in their area. prgtoken The Action for Dental Health bill starts to change this by making oral healthcare more accessible for those in need without new Federal spending. Once enacted, the Action for Dental Health Act will empower the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deliver more and better dental healthcare to underserved populations, especially urban and rural communities, and increase education about the importance of oral health. This legislation will strengthen the impact of existing resources and services. prgtoken The goal of the Action for Dental Health Act is to reduce the number of oral health emergency room visits, which are often costly, not comprehensive, and only occur at late stages after causing other negative health effects. prgtoken So, in the short and long term, this bill will save money for patients and taxpayers. prgtoken , the Action for Dental Health Act is cosponsored by 83 Members of Congress and supported by the American Dental Association, the National Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association, and 39 other advocacy groups. prgtoken The bipartisan companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Cory Booker as S. 3016. When originally debated in February, it passed this House with 90 percent of Members voting ``yes.'' prgtoken I am especially proud to have worked with Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, one of a handful of dentists in Congress. I offer my deepest thanks to him and his team. I thank him for his steadfast leadership, expertise, and partnership. prgtoken In this time of a deeply divided Congress, I am glad that Congressman Simpson and I could put forward a bipartisan bill that has won the support of hundreds of our colleagues and field leaders. I look forward to working with him on more bipartisan solutions to increase access to healthcare, especially oral healthcare. prgtoken The Action for Dental Health Act is a prime example of how Congress should work. Together, we developed the idea, consulted with experts in the field, worked across
Climate Change (Executive Session)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-11-28

. I note that my distinguished colleague from Massachusetts has arrived. We have an order in place in which the Senator from Massachusetts is to be recognized at the conclusion of my remarks and that the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire, Mrs. Shaheen, is to be recognized at the conclusion of Senator Markey's remarks. prgtoken With that, to the coauthor of the Waxman-Markey legislation, the person who had done the most successful work to try to solve this climate problem at a time when the situation was slightly less desperate.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 54
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-11-28

I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Kathleen Kraninger to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB. prgtoken This is one of the most important positions in our entire government--a job that is dedicated to protecting consumers from fraudsters, from predatory lending, and from dangerous financial products that can drive families to bankruptcy. prgtoken Ms. Kraninger does not have the experience or the values to hold such an important job. In fact, she has fully endorsed this administration's ongoing efforts to systematically dismantle protections for consumers. prgtoken This time last year, I led over 40 of my colleagues in writing to the President urging him to nominate a professional, bipartisan expert with a proven record of being tough on financial institutions that rip off consumers. Instead, this administration has spent the past year working to gut the CFPB under Interim Director Mulvaney. They have frozen data collection of consumer complaints and undermined enforcement tools. They have slow-walked enforcement actions and weakened protections for our servicemembers and seniors. They have stripped the Fair Lending Office of enforcement powers and closed the Office of Students and Young Consumers. Ms. Kraninger supports all of these actions, and all of these actions run contrary to the mission and to the purpose of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. prgtoken This nominee is not a bipartisan professional with a proven record of financial enforcement. She is a politically driven choice who will dismantle protections for the men and women currently serving in our military, and for our veterans, our students, our seniors, and all American consumers. prgtoken I had the honor of serving on the Dodd-Frank conference committee, where we finalized the strongest Wall Street reform bill in a generation and created the CFPB. I have spent the past decade defending the CFPB from one attack after another--efforts to cut off its funding, efforts to make it harder for them to hire qualified staff, and efforts to make it harder for them to put in place important new protections for the American people. prgtoken It is unconscionable that this administration will now spend the coming years attacking the CFPB from within by putting in place leadership that fundamentally does not believe in protecting consumers. We need to hold financial bad actors and special interests accountable, not let them set the CFPB's agenda. prgtoken My ic colleagues and I told the President this a year ago, and I will say it again. The Nation needs a professional, bipartisan expert with a proven record of being tough on financial bad actors to run the CFPB. We must have a Director who is focused on the prosperity of all American families and not payday lenders and fraudsters. prgtoken Ms. Kraninger does not meet the standard. So I will oppose her nomination, and I urge my colleagues to j
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2644
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-11-28

thank you very much. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues from Arizona and Delaware for being here today and for their leadership. I join them in asking the Senate to pass the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act by unanimous consent. prgtoken The Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act is a bipartisan bill. Again, I repeat, this is about the legislative branch asserting a commonsense check and balance on Presidential overreach. It is not divided along party lines; it is a bipartisan bill. prgtoken This bill is about ideals that we all are aligned with--independence, integrity, and the ability of the special counsel and future special counsels to do their job effectively, without interference from a President. This is a proactive bill aimed at ensuring that now and in the future, we have appropriate checks and balances in place to prevent a constitutional crisis. prgtoken The bill is becoming more urgent. We know that there was an attack on our democracy. We know that there were and are foreign agents who attempted and are attempting to manipulate and undermine our democratic institutions. We need to understand what happened and how to prevent it from happening again and to hold those people accountable for their actions. prgtoken The preservation of the special counsel investigation is indeed a matter of national security, but we know that the special counsel is in danger. We know he is in danger because even just yesterday, the President was again maligning and mischaracterizing the special counsel investigation. We know there is danger because just a few weeks ago, the President fired Attorney General Sessions and named Matthew Whitaker as the Acting Attorney General to oversee the Mueller investigation. We know that Acting Attorney General Whitaker has a history of criticizing and debasing the very investigation he is now responsible for overseeing. In 2017, he wrote an op-ed calling this investigation into our national security a ``witch hunt.'' prgtoken This investigation must be allowed to continue without interference. This investigation must continue for our national security. We are all stewards of our democracy. It has been sustained by this ideal: that no one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law. We must act quickly to protect and secure this fundamental democratic ideal. This is a sobered, measured, bipartisan bill that will achieve those ends. prgtoken I now yield to my colleague from Arizona.
Climate Change (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-11-28

I thank Senator Whitehouse, who has been out here on the floor, week after week after week, sounding the warning, like Churchill, that there is danger ahead, that there is a gathering storm. Yet it is not metaphorical as it was for Churchill. It is real. There is a gathering storm. What Senator Whitehouse has been doing, year after year after year, is coming out on the floor to document this gathering storm and to warn that we have to take action. prgtoken I thank Senator Whitehouse for his incredible, historic leadership because, between the U.N. and the U.S. scientists, all of the evidence is now there. My belief is, the failure that he talked about to heed the dire warnings on climate change is much more now than that figurative gathering storm; it is literally gathering much fiercer energy in super-charged storms that will bear down on our shores as a result of our warming crisis. prgtoken Scientists have shot off the warning flare. In the last 2 months, we have received two of the most alarming reports to date on the threat that climate change poses to our country, our economy, our security, and to our planet. It questions the morality of our country because ultimately that is what it is. It is a moral issue of whether we are going to leave this planet better than we found it. prgtoken Are we going to be the stewards of this planet and pass it on to future generations better than we found it? Right now, the gathering evidence from the United Nations and from our own U.S. Government's scientists is that we are not. prgtoken The Federal Government's National Climate Assessment that was released last week as well as the recent United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report are clarion calls. The science in these reports is clear. If we fail to act now, storms will grow more frequent and more powerful. Extreme weather events, like Hurricane Michael, which grew more quickly this October than any storm we have seen, will continue to cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. The National Climate Assessment--the congressionally mandated report issued by 13 Federal agencies-- underscores the specific impacts we are facing now and will continue to face in the future. prgtoken In our home region of the Northeast, which Senator Shaheen and Senator Whitehouse and I have the privilege to represent, the impacts are going to be truly devastating. The Northeast region will surpass 2 degrees centigrade of warming beyond preindustrial levels by as soon as 2035--not 2050, not 2100 but by the year 2035--if emissions continue at their current pace. That would be the quickest warming in the contiguous United States and would occur as much as two decades before global average temperatures reach a similar point. prgtoken The real-world effects of this warming trajectory are shocking. Sea levels prgtoken in the Northeast could rise upward of 11 feet by the end of the century.