mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HORSERACING INTEGRITY AND SAFETY ACT OF 2020
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-9-29

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of the majestic and time- honored sport of thoroughbred racing, a beloved tradition in the United States since the early days of the Republic and the signature industry of my home State, the Commonwealth of Kentucky. prgtoken Sometimes referred to as the sport of kings, Americans--and I would dare to say, especially Kentuckians--have made this the sport of all Americans through the inspiring stories of amazing athletes with names like Sir Barton, Man o' War, War Admiral, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, American Pharaoh, and Justify in recent years. prgtoken To that end, I further rise in favor of H.R. 1754, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced in one form or another during the last three terms of Congress with my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from New York, Paul Tonko. I thank Paul for his partnership in this long, tireless effort. prgtoken After many years of negotiation and deliberation, today I stand proud to finally bring this legislation to the House floor for a vote. prgtoken Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked diligently to enact policies that will promote economic growth and investment in this key Kentucky industry. My district, Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District, well-known as the Horse Capital of the World, is home to more than 400 horse farms and the world-famous Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, which not only serves as the global leader in breeding stock sales, but also hosts many notable races, including the great Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and Breeders' Cup, which will be, once again, held at the racetrack this November. prgtoken Many of my constituents have a close connection to and an affinity for both Keeneland and thoroughbred racing. My own grandfather, J.B. Faulconer, was Keeneland's first publicist and later the vice president of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations in New prgtoken York, where he was credited with naming the Eclipse Awards. prgtoken Several years ago, as I reviewed the minutes of the Jockey Club roundtable meetings when my grandfather was active in the industry, I noticed that, even then, four and five decades ago, leaders in the industry lamented the lack of unity among the various constituencies within the industry. They regretted the fact that there wasn't uniformity in the rules of racing, and particularly in medication rules. prgtoken Thoroughbred racing is not just about our culture and heritage. There has always been immense pride in the enormous contributions of this great sport to American culture. But it is also a major source of jobs and economic opportunity for our people. In fact, the industry is responsible for 44,100 direct jobs and over 16,000 indirect jobs in Kentucky alone. prgtoken With the privilege of representing this unique industry comes the responsibility of fighting for its future
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 20201 AND OTHER EXTENSIONS ACT-- Continued
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2020-9-29

I appreciate Senator Cardin's commitment to work together. We are all committed to that as well. prgtoken I do struggle a little bit when the reasons to oppose something are all of the things that aren't in it. Sure, there is not support for State or local governments. There is not a new EIDL Program or a reformed PPP program or a microloan program or tax credits. Of course, tax credits are under a whole different jurisdiction. There is not nuclear modernization, and there is not unemployment insurance. There are lots of things that aren't in it. Yet politics is the art of the possible, and around here, big packages become very difficult, and politics gets in the way. prgtoken I was hoping we could find an increment to help small businesses in a significant way that, frankly, wouldn't cost the government anything but, in fact, might save it some money in its just not hiring another large bureaucracy. prgtoken I look forward to working with the Senator. I appreciate his work on the CARES Act and the PPP and his work with Chairman Rubio and Susan Collins in creating this program. I am just disappointed that we couldn't get it across the finish line today, but I hope we can soon. prgtoken as I know that a couple of my colleagues want to speak on the same topic
TRIBUTE TO JOHN SHIMKUS
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-9-29

. Madam , we have heard a lot of great comments about John. I was not officially a mentee, but when I first got to the Energy and Commerce Committee, he immediately started giving me pointers and guidance. We would talk about issues, and we would talk about how you do things and how sometimes it is frustrating around here, as we all know. prgtoken I appreciate very much all the help that you gave me and the guidance that you gave me through the years. I am going to miss you deeply on the committee. I appreciate all of your service. prgtoken I could talk about all the things that all the other people have, but I am going to point something out that I realized as I was sitting here. prgtoken Every Member of Congress, by nature, is a political junkie, and, unfortunately, the time to celebrate your service overlaps with a Presidential debate. So it will get higher ratings in the reruns than it will get in the prime time, first edition. prgtoken But when you stop to think about it, think about all the Members of Congress who stayed here, who wanted to say something positive about you, about your service, your commitment to your family, to your God, and to your country, we are all here missing that big event because we love John Shimkus. prgtoken So, God bless you. Godspeed on the work that you have to do further.
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 20201 AND OTHER EXTENSIONS ACT-- Continued
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-9-29

we are once again in a conversation about freedom of religion and the free exercise of religion and what that means. Very simply, I would argue that it means the ability to have any faith, to have no faith at all, to change your faith, and to be able to live it out. prgtoken The ability to have a faith is a part of who we are. It is our most precious possession within us. If it is not that, if it is something less than that, if the free exercise of religion has limitations on it, then it is simply the freedom to worship or to have a named faith around you but not to actually live your faith. prgtoken That is not what we have in this country, thankfully. We have a constitutionally protected right to the prgtoken free exercise of religion. We have more than the freedom of worship at the place of our choosing; we have the ability to live our faith freely, 7 days a week, in all aspects of our lives. prgtoken The question has become, though, are there certain positions in public life where you cannot have the free exercise of religion; where, literally, if you are elected or appointed into certain offices, you lose your constitutional right. prgtoken The U.S. Constitution makes that very, very clear. Article VI of the Constitution says that ``no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification for any Office or public Trust under the United States.'' It should be pretty straightforward and clear. prgtoken In our last confirmation hearing, then-Professor Amy Coney Barrett said, when asked a question about her faith: Senator, I see no conflict between having a sincerely held faith and duties as a judge. In fact, we have many judges, both State and Federal, across the country who have sincerely held religious views and still impartially and honestly discharge their obligations as a judge. And were I confirmed as a judge, I would decide cases according to rule of law, beginning to end, and in the rare circumstances that might ever arise--I can't imagine one sitting here now--where I felt I had some conscientious objection to the law, I would recuse. prgtoken Three years ago, like today, Judge Barrett's faith--not her judicial philosophy or her temperament--seemed to be front and center. Three years ago, my colleague from California, Senator Dianne Feinstein, said this during Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing: Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that, you know, dogma and law are two different things, and I think whatever religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, Professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. prgtoken Senator Durbin from Illinois just asked her a very straightforward question: ``Do you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic?'' prgtoken A
AMENDING THE NUTRIA ERADICATION AND CONTROL ACT OF 2003 TO INCLUDE CALIFORNIA IN THE PROGRAM
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2020-9-29

though my bill, S. 4403, a bill to amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 to include California in the program, amends P.L. 108-16, which calls specifically for the Secretary to ``require that the program consist of management, research, and public education activities carried out in accordance with the document published by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service entitled `Eradication Strategies for Nutria in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Watersheds' dated March 2002'' and to ``give consideration to the 2002 report from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries titled 'Nutria in Louisiana,' '' the Secretary and State participants should also consider data that has been established since 2002, in developing strategies for the eradication of Nutria.
SENATOR KAY HAGAN AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-9-29

I have a serious matter to discuss with the Senators about the U.S. relationship with our ally Japan. prgtoken Japan has been a valued American partner in the Pacific. It is our fourth largest trading partner and a close military ally. Our nations are better off because of the alliance between Japan and the United States, and I hope it grows stronger in the days ahead. prgtoken I regret that today I must be sharply critical of the Japanese Government. I rise to express concern over Japan's unjust treatment of an American citizen, Greg Kelly. It is a concern that raises questions about whether Americans can be comfortable about Japan's adherence to the basic rule of law. Mr. Kelly has become the latest victim of Japan's criminal justice system. Some have called it a hostage justice system. Even some leaders in Japan have called it a hostage justice system, because it is. It is unfair, harsh, and arbitrary. Japanese prosecutors have an alarming conviction rate of 99 percent, which is clearly designed to produce guilty verdicts. prgtoken Greg Kelly is a Tennessee resident who joined Nissan in 1988 and became a respected employee. He rose steadily within the company and in June of 2012 became the first American to join Nissan's board. Yet, shortly before Thanksgiving of 2018, his 30-year career at Nissan came to a crashing halt--a troubling halt to his career and to fundamental fairness. prgtoken A company executive lured him to Tokyo for what was supposed to be an urgent business meeting. Mr. Kelly was 2 weeks away from having badly needed neck surgery and was hesitant to travel internationally, but the Nissan executive assured him he would be home within a week, so Mr. Kelly boarded a Nissan corporate jet to Tokyo. In fact, Greg Kelly had been lied to and was walking into a trap that had been designed by Nissan executives and Japanese authorities. prgtoken According to emails obtained by Bloomberg News, that Nissan executive was working in collusion with Japanese prosecutors to disrupt a merger between Nissan and the French auto company, Renault. Greg Kelly was involved in negotiating that merger. Their plan required framing him for bogus financial crimes and throwing him under the bus. prgtoken While he was en route to Tokyo, Nissan executives launched a ``boardroom coup'' to strip Mr. Kelly of his position. Government prosecutors seized his boss, Carlos Ghosn, chairman of the board of Nissan, for allegedly underreporting his income--another bogus charge. prgtoken Hours later, upon his arrival at the airport, Mr. Kelly was arrested on these trumped-up charges. Mr. Kelly was treated with cruelty by Japanese authorities from day one. He was kept in solitary confinement for 34 days. This American citizen, this resident of the State of Tennessee, was kept in solitary confinement, where he slept on the floor in the dead of winter and had no heat. He was interrogated daily, for several hours at a time,
IN MEMORY AND HONOR OF JOHNATHON GRAYER
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-9-29

. Madam , I rise today to remember and honor the life of 25-year-old Johnathon Grayer, whose selfless actions led to saving the lives of multiple school children and a bus driver in the city of Alma, Georgia. prgtoken On Wednesday, August 12, Johnathon was driving a box truck that collided with a school bus that was making its normal stops. When it hit the bus, the back was left crumpled like a piece of paper. However, he remarkably jumped out of the truck, rushed onto the bus, and helped pull students out of the school bus to safety. He even lifted some seats off children who were pinned underneath. prgtoken Unfortunately, following the incident, Johnathon's body gave out, and he later passed away in the hospital. prgtoken With the help of his courage and selflessness, the lives of 10 children and the bus driver were saved. Although Johnathon's life was tragically taken, his legacy of sacrifice will live on for countless years to come. He will always be remembered as a hero who placed others before himself. His family, friends, and all who knew him will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
TRIBUTE TO JOHN SHIMKUS
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2020-9-29

. Thank you, Congressman Davis, for yielding. prgtoken It is a pleasure to be here tonight with my colleagues to honor John Shimkus. I obviously echo the remarks of everyone who spoke before me. prgtoken We have heard about John's service, obviously his service at West Point and his service to the Army, 28 years serving us in the military, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. But as the newest member of the delegation, coming in 5 years ago, I just want to comment on what John Shimkus has meant to me as a new Member coming in on a special election in September of 2015. prgtoken John is the head of our delegation, was there for me, as he has been for so many of us here in the Congress. John's friendship, his mentorship, his example that he has set for us has been invaluable. He really has set the gold standard for being a legislator, and my colleagues have talked about that. prgtoken He showed the importance of good constituent service, being a cheerleader for your district, and making the Federal Government work for the people that you represent. John has been in Congress for all the right reasons and, as has been articulated by my colleagues, shown how much he cares for his family, his faith, and the constituents he represents in southern Illinois. prgtoken John, you are going to leave an indelible mark here in the Congress on the work you did on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and in the people's House here. Illinois and this country owe you a sincere thanks for your selfless service, not only to Congress, but to the Army. prgtoken We will miss you in the Illinois delegation, but we know that Karen and your three sons will be happy to have you home. prgtoken Madam , I also want to mention, putting Congressman Davis aside, John has hired very good staff in his time in Congress, and I mean that. If you look at the people that have worked for John Shimkus that have come through his organization, they are people that have gone on to do great things back in Illinois and here in Washington, D.C and that is another testament to John Shimkus and his team. prgtoken Madam , I have to give a shout out to Craig Roberts, his long- time staffer. He and John have done a remarkable job leading this delegation and doing so much for their district and the people of Illinois. prgtoken So, John, I want to congratulate you on a well-earned retirement and thank you for everything you have done for me and our country, and Congress is a better place because of your service.
TIMELY REAUTHORIZATION OF NECESSARY STEM-CELL PROGRAMS LENDS ACCESS TO NEEDED THERAPIES ACT OF 2019
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2020-9-29

. Madam , Margaret Hahn--my mother-in- law--passed away on Friday and a Mass of Christian burial will be held today at St. Mary Church in South Amboy, New Jersey. She was 96 and was deeply loved and will be deeply missed. prgtoken Margaret--Peg--was a great woman--wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She selflessly devoted her life to public service including her amazing work as Sayreville Borough Clerk for twenty years. She had an incredible reputation for getting things done for the people. No matter who served as mayor or on Council, everyone knew she was the power. prgtoken My wife Marie and I will join family and friends today at her funeral and internment making it impossible for me to speak today during the debate on the reauthorization of a law I originally authored fifteen years ago--the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005--and the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2015. prgtoken So, I submit these comments for the Record: prgtoken Madam , today the House of Representatives will vote to reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act. prgtoken This was an original idea of mine 20 years ago. Joined by 70 cosponsors, I introduced it in 2001 and again in 2003. prgtoken After five long years of hard work and numerous setbacks, my bill was finally enacted into law in 2005. prgtoken Beginning in 2001, Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, who is President of the Cord Blood Association, helped draft my original law. Dr. Kurtzberg has said, ``Cord blood transplantation is now an established field with enormous potential. In the future, it may emerge prgtoken as a source of cells for cellular therapies focused on tissue repair and regeneration.'' prgtoken The new law created a nationwide umbilical cord blood stem cell program, designed to collect, derive, type, and freeze cord blood units for transplantation into patients to mitigate and to even cure serious disease. Pursuant to the law, it also provided stem cells for research. The new cord blood program was combined in our 2005 law with an expanded bone marrow initiative, which was crafted over several years by our distinguished colleague, Congressman Bill Young. prgtoken I was the prime sponsor again when it was reauthorized in 2015. prgtoken Umbilical cord blood stem cells, obtained after the birth of a child, have proved highly efficacious in treating 70 diseases, including sickle-cell disease, lymphoma, and leukemia. And scientists are continuing to study and better understand the regenerative effects of cord blood cell therapies for other diseases and conditions. Bone marrow donations provide lifesaving transplants to treat diseases like blood cancer, sickle cell anemia, or inherited metabolic or immune system disorders. prgtoken The National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI) provides funding to public cord blood banks participating in the program to allow them to expand the national inventory of cord blood units available for transplant. These u
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-9-29

last night former Vice President refused to rule out packing the Court if the President and the Senate proceed to fulfilling their constitutional duties and filling the High Court vacancy. prgtoken I understand there are differences of opinion on the direction of the Court, but threatening to expand the Court and pack it with favorable Justices just because the other side won fair and square and simply followed the Constitution does not meet the commonsense test. prgtoken This is dangerous territory and leads to an erosion of public faith in the judiciary. Where would such a path lead us? Thirteen Justices? Maybe 21 Justices? At what point does it stop? prgtoken I thought we settled this under FDR, way back in 1937-1938. It is telling that are not trying to justify their discussion of Court packing by saying there is some practical reason why it is needed. prgtoken In fact, the Supreme Court is hearing fewer cases than ever. Any ic Court-packing plan would be nothing more than a naked power grab, an effort by to subvert the will of the people when they couldn't get the results they wanted at the ballot box that would have let their party pick and confirm judges. prgtoken Let's try to remain focused on the political independence of the judiciary and leave politicking to this branch of government--the legislative branch. prgtoken .
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT OF 2019
Richard Burr (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-9-29

I rise to, in a minute, ask unanimous consent to call up and pass the Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019, but first let me say that this is a strong bipartisan bill that was first introduced in March of 2019, with Senators Cardin, Blunt, Klobuchar, Tillis, Brown, and Wicker as original cosponsors. When the House considered its version of the bill last year, it passed 397 to 0. Let repeat that, 397 to 0. No House Member objected to it. prgtoken Our country is divided on many issues right now, but one thing that unites most of us is the belief that all children deserve to grow up in a permanent, loving home. This is a matter of justice and recognizing the intrinsic dignity in every human being. Many, many Americans have done more than just hold this belief; they have acted on it, adopting children both domestically and internationally. prgtoken According to the most recent available statistics, however, intercountry adoption has dramatically declined in recent years. Last year, fewer than 3,000 children were adopted in the United States--down from nearly 23,000 in 2004. There are numerous reasons for this decline, many of which warrant continued efforts to ensure that orphan children are given the chance to grow up in a loving home, whether in their own country or here in the United States. prgtoken We must address any barriers by examining our own policies and how they are implemented and by working internationally to help more children grow up in families. prgtoken Each year, the State Department releases its annual report on intercountry adoptions--a key document that keeps families, adoption agencies, and policymakers informed about the state of adoption. The report is publicly available, and it includes, among other things, the number of intercountry adoptions involving immigration to the United States and the country from which each child emigrates, the time required for completion of the adoption, and the information on the adoption agencies, their fees, and their work. prgtoken But to better tackle this issue, we need to provide more transparency and accountability about some of the critical factors affecting intercountry adoption. The Intercountry Adoption Information Act adds additional key elements to this report by requiring the State Department to provide information on, one, countries that have enacted policies to prevent adoptions from the United States; two, actions the State Department has taken which have prevented adoptions to the United States; and, three, for each of these, how the State Department has worked to encourage the resumption of intercountry adoptions. prgtoken There are children around the world whose only chance to grow up in a family is through the Intercountry Adoption Program. There are families in the United States who are eager to open their arms, their homes, their hearts to these children. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent, at this time, to call up