mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-12-10

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, December 11; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Muzinich nomination, with all postcloture time on the nomination expiring at 11:30 a.m.; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
HONORING DOUG ROSE
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-12-10

I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize Doug Rose for his contribution to our state. prgtoken Doug is the President of Irwin R. Rose & Company, which owns and manages thousands of housing rental properties across the country. Doug is an extraordinary man who, in addition to being a successful businessman, has continually invested his time and resources into our state. It has been an honor to work with him in advancing our shared principles. prgtoken I have had the pleasure of knowing Doug for nearly two decades. To me, Doug has been a friend, supporter and trusted advisor during my entire tenure in Congress. We have worked particularly closely over the past year and a half. Doug is smart, hardworking and full of integrity. Simply put, Doug is a leader and person who I greatly admire. prgtoken I want to thank Doug for his friendship and loyalty to me over all these years. I wish him continued success in all that God has planned for his family.
OFFSHORE WIND FOR TERRITORIES ACT
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2018-12-10

I want to thank the honorable Delegate from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) for taking this initiative to present H.R. 6665, and Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for having moved this legislation to continue to extend equal treatment to the American community of citizens in the territories. prgtoken It has been a privilege to join in on bipartisan proposals for applying, uniformly, the Federal laws for the benefit of the people of our territories. Equal treatment for all American communities is a goal that should be shared by all in this Congress, and we will continue to seek it. prgtoken America's continued prosperity requires a modernized energy system that makes the best use of all the domestic resources available, including expanding use of wind in our domestic waters. prgtoken Puerto Rico has directly experienced the need to have better energy infrastructure in place. Today, only 2 percent of our energy in Puerto Rico comes just from renewable sources. Our plans for long-term recovery of our electric grid include a much higher reliance on renewable energy to reduce environmental impact and increase efficiency. prgtoken Since, today, many of the territories rely on expensive diesel- or fuel oil-generation systems, an integration of greater diversity of generating sources will provide them greater flexibility in their development plans. prgtoken At the same time, however, this upgrade on our generation's sources should be conducted in each jurisdiction based on its technical, economic, and environmental viability and rely more on private investment participation instead of taxpayer funding. prgtoken This legislation will direct the Department of the Interior to study what is the viability of Continental Shelf wind resources off the shore of the territories. If the result is positive, then the Department of the Interior will initiate the process of auctioning the leasing rights for such projects on the same basis as for the waters outside the States. If such development proceeds, 2.5 percent of the revenues collected will be reserved for coral reef protection and 37.5 percent for the respective territory for environmental remediation uses. prgtoken This way is the better way to develop energy resources and provide, also, funding for the territories to take their own measures for securing better environmental conditions. I expect the House will support this effort to bring uniform treatment to all jurisdictions under the American flag in an important area of policy, which is energy, and open up investment and development opportunities to all of us. prgtoken Once again, I want to thank my colleague from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the chairman of the committee for having this bill, and, of course, for their support and legacy on behalf of equal treatment for Puerto Rico and the territories.
HONORING GARET ROSS HOLCOMB
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-12-10

I proudly pause to recognize Garet Ross Holcomb. Garet is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 495, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Garet has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Garet has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Garet has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project I proudly ask you to join me in commending Garet for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.
HONORING AND REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF WAYNE R. OSTE
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-12-10

I rise today to honor and remember the life of Wayne R. Oste. prgtoken Wayne Oste was highly dedicated to the Falconer area. A devoted family man and a man of faith, he spent his life serving the community where he grew up and raised his family. prgtoken At the heart of his volunteerism, was his 41-year service to the Falconer Fire Department. Wayne's dedication and experience led him to honorably serve as its chief. He was also recognized as fire fighter of the year by his brethren. Not only was he a leader, but he stood with them and worked beside them during his tenure. prgtoken Wayne will be remembered as a hero, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend to many. He left behind a legacy of service, leadership and community-mindedness that is a rare gift. We salute him now, and stand with his family in somber remembrance of his life, his love and his passions. I thank him for his service and pray he will rest in peace. prgtoken Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to remember the life of Wayne Oste.
CLOTURE MOTION
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2018-12-10

. I want to tell you, the only thing standing in the way of this bill passing is the Senate. prgtoken I have a tremendous amount of respect for Senator Enzi. I know, as chair of the Budget Committee, he has a job to do, but we have a job to do. prgtoken People sign up for our military, and promises are made. The promises that are made are the cost of war. The Vietnam war has been over for decades, and these folks are dying every day. This deal was Agent Orange exposure. If you served on the mainland of Vietnam, you are covered, but if you were on a boat on the ocean next to Vietnam, you were not. prgtoken I am going to tell you something. If you have been around weed spray, which is what Agent Orange is--it is a defoliant--and if you have been around it, you don't have to be sprayed with it to be exposed to it. All you have to be is downwind. These folks on the ocean were downwind. Why do we know that? Because there has been study after study showing that these folks who served on the ocean next to Vietnam are suffering from a higher level of cancer, hypertension, and heart disease. prgtoken We have a job to do here, folks. There are 30 VSOs, maybe more than that--Veterans Service Organizations--that expect us to act and do the right thing here today. I will tell you, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Johnny Isakson, has done a marvelous job this Congress, doing what is right for our veterans and making sure the VA has what is needed to serve our veterans. This is not the VA. prgtoken I know there are some in the administration who don't want to see us do this. But the truth is, this is a cost of war. It is our obligation to meet the needs of those folks who have sacrificed for this country. It is time to step up today, folks. We are the only thing standing in the way of this bill being passed and doing right by our Vietnam veterans. prgtoken I want to close with one thing. Since I have been ranking member and since I have been a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have talked to a lot of Vietnam veterans. These are the folks who came back from war, and there was nobody at the airport waiting for them--nobody. They couldn't wear their uniforms on the streets of our towns. Now we are going to deny them the benefit that they have earned because they were exposed to Agent Orange. There is no doubt they were exposed to Agent Orange. prgtoken It is time to look at ourselves here in the Senate and step up and say: Do you know what? It does cost a lot of money. Do you know what? It has been studied to death, and it can be studied some more, but the bottom line is, we need to do right by the folks who were willing to serve in the Vietnam war. Some of them were drafted. Some of them signed up on their own. But the bottom line is, they all expected to get the benefits. This is a benefit they should get. prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO LEONID ``LULU'' SAHAROVICI
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2018-12-10

I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent and friend, Leonid ``Lulu'' Saharovici, a longtime member of the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, who worked in a Nazi-backed Romanian labor camp in his youth and passed away last month at age 91. prgtoken Mr. Saharovici was educated at the University of Bucharest Law School and pursued a career in administrative law and teaching at his alma mater before he and his wife of 62 years, Frida, and their children Alex (Debra), then 12, Livio (Heidi), then 8, emigrated to the U.S. Mr. Saharovici was hired by National Mortgage in Memphis in 1972 and worked there until his retirement in 1994. He also taught Romanian and Romanian Culture classes at Rhodes College. prgtoken After attending a Jewish Holocaust survivors gathering in Washington, D.C in 1983, Mr. Saharovici wrote to Tennessee lawmakers with the idea of creating a Tennessee Holocaust Commission, which became a reality two years later. I'm proud to have been a sponsor of that effort as a Tennessee state senator. Mr. Saharovici was named as a Tennessee Holocaust commissioner and served in that capacity for 33 years. In that position, he devoted his time to educating high school students about the horrors of the Holocaust in an effort to ensure something like it could never happen again. prgtoken Mr. Saharovici was an active member of the Baron Hirsch Synagogue congregation and was a life member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Saharovici also co-founded the Jewish Historical Society and served as its second president. He also collected Passover Haggadahs. As Chairman of the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art, he gave guided tours of the museum through the years. prgtoken An avid fan of the Memphis Symphony and opera in Memphis, he served as Chairman of the Belz/Parker Ascending Concerts series and invited musicians visiting Memphis to stage concerts at LeBonheur Children's Hospital, the West Clinic, Stax Museum and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. prgtoken In 2010, Mr. Saharovici received the Jefferson Award for his efforts to improve society, his work educating the public about the Holocaust and his work bringing cultural and historical events to the city. prgtoken Mr. Saharovici lived a storied life and contributed in important ways to the adopted community he loved so well. I wish his friends and family my best.
REMEMBERING LYUDMILA ALEXEYEVA
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-12-10

today I wish to pay tribute to Lyudmila Alexeyeva, a true giant for human rights in Russia and around the world. Ms. Alexeyeva passed away over the weekend in Moscow and left behind children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but that was just her immediate family. Lyudmila's leadership and fearlessness inspired a generation of human rights and democracy activists in Russia; she was the grandmother of human rights in the country, and her stalwart leadership in the face of repression will truly be missed. Today is International Human Rights Day, a fitting moment to pay tribute this incredible leader. prgtoken In thinking about Lyudmila's legacy, three words come to mind: vision, tenacity, and courage. prgtoken Starting from her days drafting a Samizdat journal called the Chronicle of Current Events that scrutinized the Khrushchev regime, Lyudmila had the vision of a Soviet Union in which all of its citizens played a role in ensuring accountable governance and democratic principles. She saw the opportunity to fulfill this vision in the 1975 Helsinki Accords, especially those tenets which enshrined the critical notion that signatory countries' respect for human rights inside their borders was integral to security in the transatlantic region. The Brezhnev government at the time had no intention of honoring those elements of Helsinki, but Lyudmila worked together with her compatriots to set up the Moscow Helsinki Group to monitor implementation of the Accords. The Moscow Helsinki Group inspired the proliferation of sister organizations in other countries whose governments had committed to Helsinki principles, including here in Congress with the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This platform inside of the Soviet Union and across the transatlantic space was critically important to build those bonds of international solidarity among so many likeminded democrats and human rights defenders. She was indeed a true visionary for open, democratic societies, and the bonds she built with and among activists who shared that vision stand strong to this day. prgtoken Second, tenacity--Lyudmila faced so many obstacles during the Soviet period and the Putin era. After starting Moscow Helsinki, the pressure from the Soviet regime grew so great that she had to seek exile in the United States for 16 years. During that time, she became an American citizen, a proud moment for us here in this country. While in exile, she remained committed to prgtoken her vision. She advocated for international support for the plight of dissidents and human rights activists suffering repression in the Soviet Bloc. In the tradition of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Lyudmila wrote extensively on her country, publishing two important works: ``The Thaw Generation. Coming of Age in the Post-Stalin Era'' and ``Soviet Dissent.'' She also worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty during this period. prgtoken Once she was able
CLOTURE MOTION
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-12-10

as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
America's Space Program (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-12-10

I rise to speak on a subject that our colleagues know is very dear to my heart--America's space program. Although this is the last of many, many floor speeches I have made on the subject, I stand before the Senate with a heart that is full of gratitude, joy, and hope for the future of our space program. prgtoken I have been extremely privileged to have witnessed and in some cases to have participated in the extraordinary triumphs of our Nation's 60- year quest to explore the heavens. I flew to orbit and marveled at the beauty, fragility, and seemingly peacefulness of Mother Earth, our planet. prgtoken I had the honor of making that trip with one of the finest crews to have ever flown in America's space program. There was CAPT Robert ``Hoot'' Gibson, our commander, as well as Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden, Retired, our pilot, who flew five missions--four as commander. Of course, General Bolden ultimately became the Administrator of NASA for the entire time of the administration. There was Dr. George Nelson, otherwise known to all in the astronaut office as Pinky. There was Dr. Steve Hawley, Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz--the first Hispanic- American astronaut--and Bob Cenker, who was an engineer at the time with RCA, which was the satellite that we launched while in orbit. prgtoken It was a profound and humbling experience that reinforced my belief that we needed to not only be good stewards of our planet but that we should always try to treat others with whom we may differ culturally, ethnically, or socially with dignity, compassion, and respect. prgtoken In looking back at Earth from the window of a spacecraft, you don't see political divisions, racial divisions, religious differences. You don't see the suffering or the injustice that face those back home on the planet. Instead, you quickly realize that we on this planet, our planet Earth, are all in this together. prgtoken I have been filled with wonder over some of the greatest scientific discoveries of our age--the discovery of the signs of water; the discovery of, perhaps, even life on Mars; the discovery that our galaxy is full of countless planets--many of them, very possibly, inhabitable; and the discovery that our universe is being driven apart by mysterious forces known as dark energy and is filled with a mysterious material known as dark matter. prgtoken Along with my fellow Americans, I grieved when, tragically, we lost two space shuttles and the brave astronauts aboard. I have grieved as we have lost astronauts along the way, even in the Apollo 1 fire. I grieved with America as we thought Apollo 13 was lost and how, miraculously, in one of NASA's greatest success stories--with three humans on the way to the Moon when the explosion occurred and not having any idea how we could get them back--the whole NASA team came together. The engineers, the mathematicians, the astronauts on the ground, the controllers, and the contractors all devised
HONORING KAAREN ANN STASKO
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-12-10

I rise today to honor Ms. Kaaren Ann Stasko on her retirement after twenty years of service as an Office Technician for the Fire Marshal's Office of CalFire. prgtoken Ms. Stasko was born in Oakland, California on March 21, 1942. As a child, she attended schools in Crockett, California. Ms. Stasko was the first in her family to graduate from college. She took classes part- time while working full-time to earn an Associate's Degree at the age of fifty-seven. prgtoken Ms. Stasko has been a dedicated volunteer in our community since she was a child. In her youth, she was an active Camp Fire Girl, as well as a Counselor in Training Camp Gold Hollow. When her children were in high prgtoken school, she supported the Napa High School Band and Choir as a bingo runner and a shuttle driver at Sonoma Raceway, and continues to do so. prgtoken Ms. Stasko is deeply involved with CalFire and its community. In addition to working as an Office Technician for the past twenty years, she has volunteered with CalFire in many capacities. She is the Chair of the Napa County Firefighter's Dinner, a member of the Administrative Fire Services Section of CalChiefs, and a Napa County CalFire Volunteer in Prevention. Ms. Stasko was also a frequent volunteer at the California State Fair at Camp Smokey, worked the fireworks on the Fourth of July and volunteered at the CalFire Crab Feed. prgtoken Among her friends, family and coworkers, Ms. Stasko is known for going the extra mile. She is dedicated and hardworking and always willing to help those in need. When two members of the fire department were diagnosed with cancer, Ms. Stasko frequently took them to lunch and supported and encouraged them and their families through the difficult time. prgtoken , Ms. Stasko is an admirable member of our community and spends much of her time volunteering to help those around her. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor Ms. Kaaren Ann Stasko here today.
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-12-10

in 1948, in the wake of two World Wars that caused death, destruction and atrocities on a massive and unprecedented scale, the world came together at the nascent United Nations to establish the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. prgtoken These rights, envisioned as the ``foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,'' included article 19, the right of everyone to freedom of opinion and expression. This, of course, mirrors our First Amendment, which for more than two centuries has served as the cornerstone of our democracy. Article 19 also includes the ability to ``receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,'' as necessary to the realization of that right. The free and independent press has fulfilled this essential role around the world ever since. prgtoken Today is the 70th anniversary of that landmark declaration; yet as we commemorate that historic achievement, I have never been more concerned about the state of freedom of the press. Increasingly, around the world and even here in the United States, governments are actively trying to intimidate and silence the independent media. This year alone, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 43 journalists have been murdered for nothing more than publishing facts and informing the public. Countless others have been harassed and threatened. President , who has called the press an ``enemy of the people'' and routinely denigrates journalists who do not portray him in a favorable light, has inspired the world's autocrats to decry ``fake news'' and imprison and even assassinate journalists who courageously report on corruption and other government misconduct. prgtoken Eleanor Roosevelt, one of our country's greatest defenders of human rights, served as chairwoman of the UN commission that wrote the Universal Declaration. Its commitment to the ``inherent dignity'' and ``equal and inalienable rights'' of all people is a testament to her vision of a more humane, just, and peaceful world, but like any such statement of principles, the declaration is aspirational. It has tangible meaning only to the extent that people apply it in practice. As the oldest democracy whose First Amendment has inspired countless people on every continent, it is incumbent on us all to defend the right of free expression enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration, here and around the world.