mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-6-18

today, I am reintroducing the Corporate Management Accountability Act, which asks each publicly traded company to disclose its policies on whether senior executives or shareholders bear the costs of paying the company's fines and penalties. prgtoken In 2014, William Dudley. then the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, gave a speech on Enhancing Financial Stability by Improving Culture in the Financial Services Industry. In this speech, President Dudley said, ``in recent years, there have been ongoing occurrences of serious professional misbehavior, ethical lapses and compliance failures at financial institutions. This has resulted in a long list of large fines and penalties, and, to a lesser degree than I would have desired employee dismissals and punishment. . . . The pattern of bad behavior did not end with the financial crisis, but continued despite the considerable public sector intervention that was necessary to stabilize the financial system. As a consequence. the financial industry has largely lost the public trust.'' prgtoken Since 2009, banks globally have paid $372 billion in penalties, according to the Boston Consulting Group. However, despite these fines, financial institutions continue to engage in unacceptable behavior, whether it is Wells Fargo betraying the trust of its customers by opening unauthorized accounts or it is Equifax endangering millions of consumers by compromising critical personal information. Indeed, in my home State of Rhode Island, almost half the State may have been impacted by the cybersecurity breach at Equifax. These and other breaches and lapses illustrate how far financial institutions have to go in rebuilding the trust of Rhode Islanders and the American people. prgtoken At the same time, it is evident that simply fining and penalizing financial institutions at the corporate level is not enough to deter bad actors. Senior executives, many of whom are all too eager to take credit for a company's good news, must also take more responsibility for the bad news, especially if it is true that the buck stops with them. For example, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission concluded ``the financial crisis reached cataclysmic proportions with the collapse of Lehman Brothers,'' and yet, according to the Congressional Research Service. not a single senior executive officer at Lehman Brothers at the Federal level was charged, went to jail, or personally paid a Federal fine or penalty for the damage caused at Lehman Brothers that rippled through our economy in 2008. prgtoken According to Professor Peter J. Henning, who also writes the White Collar Watch column in the New York Times. ``a problem in holding individuals accountable for misconduct in an organization is the disconnect between the actual decisions and those charged with overseeing the company, so that executives and corporate boards usually plead ignorance about an issue until it is too la
Nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-6-18

sometime tomorrow, this body will consider a number of nominations for final confirmation, among them the nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. prgtoken A Federal district judge serves a particular area of the country, but in fact, the whole country has a stake in this nomination because a judge helps to define and refine and apply the law of the United States, setting precedent that applies to the entire country. It isn't just the Northern District of Texas that has a stake in this nomination; it is the entire country. So this alarming and appalling nomination should be of particular interest to my colleagues. prgtoken It is the result of a process that, very unfortunately, has been demeaned and degraded. It is a shadow of what it once was. In the scrutiny that is given and the time that is devoted, this process is failing to assure the independence of the judiciary. Now is the time when that independence must be assured because, from this time forward, these judges will be lifetime appointees and will have no accountability to this body or to any other elected official. prgtoken In previous years, under other administrations, there was an adequate time to debate; there were full and fair hearings; and nominees answered questions about their views on issues that were relevant to their service. That process has been severely undercut-- indeed, decimated now. What we have before us, again and again and again, are nominees who fail to meet the basic test of intellect and integrity and responsibility. prgtoken I look at all of the records of nominees before us and ask them questions to determine what their basic values are--whether they think particular Supreme Court precedents were correctly decided, like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade--because it is a view into their basic commitments to constitutional principles that are deeply and ideally settled. Matthew Kacsmaryk fails that test. prgtoken If there is a principle enshrined in our Constitution that matters more than any other, it is the idea that everyone is equal before the law. No one is above the law. No one is less entitled to rights than anyone else. Everyone is equal regardless of race, gender, ethnicity and regardless of who you are, how much you own, or where you were born. Mr. Kacsmaryk seems to lack respect for this basic principle. In fact, his career is defined by active opposition to the treatment of minority groups. prgtoken In 2016, he submitted an amicus brief that supported a Virginia school board's policy that a student must use the restroom that corresponds to the student's biological gender. prgtoken Also, in 2016, he sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and argued that the Department of Health and Human Services should not require hospitals to conduct sex reassignment surgeries for transgender individuals. He wrote in
Nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk (Executive Calendar)
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-6-18

I rise this afternoon to urge my colleagues to oppose the confirmation of Matthew Kacsmaryk to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. prgtoken I believe that every individual we consider for a lifetime appointment to serve on the Federal bench should have the demonstrated legal acumen and experience but also a commitment to ensuring fair treatment for anyone who might come before their court. With a troubling record of professional work and personal statements attacking lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, Mr. Kacsmaryk fails this test, prgtoken and the Senate must reject his nomination. prgtoken Mr. Kacsmaryk currently serves as deputy general counsel of First Liberty Institute, and in that role he has challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, argued against marriage equality, supported schools in barring transgender students from using restrooms consistent with their gender identities, and opposed a State law requiring that pharmacies stock emergency contraception. prgtoken My colleagues may recall another nominee associated with this organization, Jeff Mateer, who was First Liberty's general counsel until 2016 and was nominated by President for a judgeship in the Eastern District of Texas. Mateer's nomination was ultimately withdrawn in light of his public statements hostile to LGBTQ people, including that same-sex marriage is ``disgusting'' and transgender children are a part of ``Satan's plan.'' prgtoken Mr. Kacsmaryk's statement and writings evince a similar hostility to LGBTQ people and to equality. He has repeatedly made claims that dismiss the reality of LGBTQ people's lives and experiences. For example, he wrote a 2015 piece entitled ``The Inequality Act: Weaponizing Same-Sex Marriage,'' in which he suggested that the movements for LGBTQ and reproductive rights are grounded in ``the lie that the human person is an autonomous blob of Silly Putty unconstrained by nature or biology, and that marriage, sexuality, gender identity, and even the unborn child must yield to the erotic desires of liberated adults.'' prgtoken In a September 2015 radio interview, he argued that the movement for LGBTQ equality is part of a sexual revolution that ``has been typified by lawlessness and just a complete refusal to obey basic rule of law principles.'' prgtoken He has also been particularly disparaging of transgender individuals. For example, in August of 2016, he signed on to a comment to the proposed rule implementing the Affordable Care Act's nondiscrimination provisions. Arguing against the proposal's protections for people based on gender identity, the commenters wrote that transgender people are suffering from a ``psychological condition in need of care'' and are ``not a category of persons in need of special legal protections.'' They further cite one psychiatrist's opinion--just one psychiatrist-- that a transgender person's understanding of w
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-18

. Madam Chair, I thank the distinguished chairman as well as the distinguished ranking member for the great work with respect to this legislation. prgtoken Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which makes a modest adjustment to H.R. 2740. My amendment would increase funding for the Department of Defense Health Program by $10 million. This amendment is budget-neutral by reducing the Department of Defense's, the DOD's, Departmentwide operation maintenance fund by the same amount. prgtoken The Defense Health Program oversees all medical and healthcare programs for the DOD, and the modification made by my amendment would ensure the Department has sufficient resources to fund vital medical research concerning traumatic brain injury, TBI; post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD; and psychological health. This research would aid servicemembers and civilians alike. prgtoken Over the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of servicemembers reported to have PTSD, and we see these increases in both active and nonactive servicemembers. prgtoken Since 2001, over 2.7 million servicemembers have served in war zones in prgtoken Iraq and Afghanistan, and of those, 300,000 have been diagnosed with TBI. And the DOD estimates that 22 percent of all combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are brain injuries. prgtoken The cost of war not only harms our servicemembers who have experienced PTSD, but also the spouses, the parents, the children, and the families, who have hoped and prayed for the safe return of their loved ones. Unfortunately, we have discovered that the battle continues when the servicemembers return home with a PTSD, a TBI, or other nonphysical injury. prgtoken Furthermore, whether or not PTSD is a greater risk to female veterans than male veterans is still largely unknown, and as women continue to serve in more active roles in the war and are increasingly exposed to combat situations, their likelihood of experiencing a PTSD, naturally, will rise. So more research is better to understand and help clinicians and other care providers to provide the necessary treatment before symptoms of PTSD become chronic. prgtoken We must--we must--do more for those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom. We cannot let them fall through the cracks. That is why my amendment is so critical. prgtoken With more of our troops returning from deployment over the next several years, we know that the number of PTSD cases in the U.S. is going to increase, but, today, only 40 percent of servicemembers find relief from current treatments. prgtoken The Defense Health Programs provide crucial medical research to provide innovative solutions for servicemembers and family members facing PTSD throughout our Nation. prgtoken As many may have seen, just on Sunday night, there are a number of innovative solutions, like stellate ganglion block, or SGB, that are currently being investigated and can be considered game cha
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-18

. Madam Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to provide an additional $10 million for the National Security Innovation Network, or NSIN, which was originally called MD5. prgtoken Section 225 of the 2018 NDAA authorized the national security innovation and entrepreneurial education programs, including what is now known as NSIN. NSIN aims to educate and build a network of innovators and entrepreneurs equipped with the expertise, know-how, incentives, and resources required to develop, commercialize, and apply technology for defense and national security applications. prgtoken NSIN initiatives provide education and technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Of note, they provided a unique pathway for veterans to leverage their expertise, while learning cutting-edge business innovation methodology, and apply their knowledge to new national security problems. prgtoken Through these initiatives, DOD is growing a cadre of entrepreneurs that are adept at critical thinking, innovative problem solving, and the creation of successful ventures that deliver economic national security and social value. prgtoken One initiative in the National Security Innovation Network is the highly successful Hacking for Defense course. Hacking for Defense, or H4D, is a course currently taught at more than two dozen universities across the Nation. It pairs student teams with sponsors from across the defense and intelligence community to apply lean startup methodology developed in Silicon Valley to rapidly solve challenging, nonclassified national security problems. prgtoken H4D was authorized in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and has been taught for 3 years, already producing innovative solutions to national security problems. For example, a team at Columbia University helped Special Operations Command automate communication of essential information from the battlefield to Central Command; a Stanford team helped develop an innovative way for Navy SEALs to spend less time underwater. prgtoken These and other successful innovations have been developed by students in these classes. The innovation and entrepreneurial education that occurs with H4D also helps to train the next generation of our industrial-based innovators. In this way, it provides tremendous benefit to our national security. prgtoken Madam Chair, I have had discussions with Chairman Visclosky on this amendment about the best way to move forward with this funding increase, and I believe we have come to an agreement on the best way to move forward to get an even bigger increase. prgtoken Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), chairman of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-6-18

. Madam Chair, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam Chair, first of all, I want to thank Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Calvert for their comments and their support and for their hard work on the consideration of this division of the appropriations package and all they have done and continue to do to advance our national security and make sure that our warfighters never enter a fair fight. prgtoken This bipartisan amendment supports game-changing technology that is already demonstrating tactically relevant capability. Just last month at White Sands Missile Range, the Navy fired a railgun on a 34-degree trajectory at 6 megajoules and will be firing at 20 megajoules in September. prgtoken By building upon years of development and investment, the Navy railgun will be tested as early as next year aboard surface vessels, firing explosive and nonexplosive projectiles at air- and sea-based targets. prgtoken Along with my colleagues Mr. Lamborn and Mr. Lieu, I urge support of this amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
Nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-6-18

I rise today to discuss one of the judicial nominations we are considering. We are on the floor this afternoon to discuss the nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to be a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Texas. prgtoken We know that under the Senate rules we are now operating under, judicial nominees are receiving just 2 hours of what is called postcloture consideration, and for that time on the floor, we are considering a lifetime appointment to be on the Federal district court bench or to be a judge on one of the circuit courts. These are lifetime appointments, and to have just 2 hours on any nomination I don't think is enough time--I think a lot of Americans agree with me--but maybe even more so when you have a nominee whose views are, to be understated for a moment, troubling, views about judicial philosophy or a judicial philosophy and--a philosophy that I think a lot of Americans would find extreme. prgtoken In this case, the nomination of Mr. Kacsmaryk is a prime example of why these nominees for lifetime appointments warrant a longer time for review. Again, I think that is an understatement. prgtoken Even at a time when we are on a regular basis considering nominees who fall outside of the mainstream and who tend to fall in a place, in terms of legal philosophy, that a lot of Americans would find very concerning--even at a time when we have considered a lot of nominees I would consider outside the mainstream, Mr. Kacsmaryk's nomination is particularly troubling. I will use just two examples, briefly. prgtoken The first example is his hostility to women's access to safe, affordable, and FDA-approved contraception. So many Americans--I think long before the Affordable Care Act but certainly in light of the Affordable Care Act--consider access to contraception that is safe, affordable, and FDA-approved--well, I think most Americans would consider and should consider that part of a basic healthcare package. That is the way it ought to be. But I would hope that a judge would at least recognize that it is fundamental to women's healthcare. Unfortunately, I don't think this nominee does, and that in and of itself is troubling. prgtoken The second example--and these are only brief overviews in the interest of time--is Mr. Kacsmaryk has repeatedly disparaged and attacked the LGBTQ community. In a public comment in 2016 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is known as CMS, Mr. Kacsmaryk argued that transgender individuals suffer from a ``psychological condition in need of care'' and suggested that being transgender was a ``delusion.'' I have to ask--a delusion? Where does he come up with that? I don't know where one comes up with that kind of analysis. It doesn't make sense to most Americans. prgtoken Prior to that, Mr. Kacsmaryk wrote an article about the Equality Act, which is bipartisan legislation that
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 36
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-6-18

pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, I move to discharge the Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of S.J. Res. 36, relating to the disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi prgtoken Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Andy Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-6-18

. Madam Chair, I am proud to support this bill, and I thank Chairwoman Kaptur for her leadership. prgtoken I am especially pleased to see this bill's increased investment in the important work of the Army Corps of Engineers to advance key water infrastructure construction priorities. prgtoken My amendment prioritizes $30 million of that funding for critically needed projects that improve the quality of freshwater bodies like Lake St. Clair in my district. prgtoken To make urgent water quality improvements to Lake St. Clair, to the Great Lakes, and to freshwater bodies across our country, we must prioritize Federal funding for improving Macomb County's Chapaton Retention Basin and other such sewer overflow systems that help us protect the water sources our communities rely on every day. prgtoken I would like to point out that I am working on this with the now director of public works in Macomb County, former Member of this body, Candice Miller.
NOMINATION OF MATTHEW J. KACSMARYK
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-18

I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. prgtoken June is the month that we recognize as Pride Month to celebrate the lesbian and gay community and to acknowledge that individuals should not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation; yet, today we are voting on a nominee, Mr. Kacsmaryk, whose career has been defined by opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans. He has argued against marriage equality and defended a company that refused to provide service to a same-sex couple, simply based on their sexual orientation. prgtoken It is disappointing that the Senate is moving forward on his nomination, and even more disappointing that the majority has scheduled this vote during Pride Month. prgtoken Mr. Kacsmaryk 's long record of opposing civil rights protections for LGBT Americans should disqualify him from service on the bench. They demonstrate that he puts his personal opinion above Supreme Court precedent. prgtoken Specifically, I want to highlight some key positions in his record. prgtoken In 2015, Mr. Kashmir made comments deeply critical of United States v. Windsor, the case that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. Mr. Kacsmaryk claimed that the administration, which refused to defend DOMA, had ``effectively collaborated with the adversary.'' Mr. Kacsmaryk's comments make clear that he believes those fighting for the right of LGBT American, including the right to marry, are adversaries. Someone making a statement like this should quite simply not be a Federal judge. prgtoken He likewise claimed in a radio interview that efforts to achieve marriage equality were marked by ``lawlessness,'' adding that the Justice Department's refusal to defend DOMA was an ``abuse of rule of law principles.'' prgtoken Also in 2015, Mr. Kacsmaryk submitted a brief in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that guaranteed marriage equality. prgtoken Mr. Kacsmaryk urged the Court to deny that the 14th Amendment extended to the right of same-sex couples to marry. He argued that finding a nationwide right to marriage equality would violate the free speech rights of those who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds, and he claimed that allowing gay couples to marry would ``silence religious dissenters who continue to hold to their millennia- old definition of marriage.'' The Supreme Court disagreed. prgtoken In 2016, Mr. Kacsmaryk continued his efforts opposing the civil rights of LGBT individuals by defending a company that refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple, simply because they were gay. prgtoken Mr. Kacsmaryk denied that the business had refused to sell the cake because of the customers' sexual orientation. Instead, he claimed that the law prohibiting discrimination against LGBT individuals ``forc[ed] business owners to publicly facilitate