mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMEMORATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS DAY
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-3-26

I thank Representative Stauber for those comments. prgtoken , it is important for us, as Representatives, to actually stand up for what we think is important. Obviously, as parents, we all care about our children. We want to make sure they get the best opportunities that they can, and, as elected Representatives, one of the reasons I ran for office was to make sure that we could have an impact and make sure that we could make a difference in people's lives. prgtoken When I look at the role of the Federal Government, one of the things that is most important for us is making sure that we can help those individuals live out the life that is embedded in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence and having the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, people having that opportunity to live and enjoy all the blessings of this great country. prgtoken We can talk a lot about different issues, and there are, obviously, lots of us here in the Halls of Congress who want to talk about some of those issues from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my good friend, who wants to weigh in on this subject as well.
GIRL SCOUTS CELEBRATE 107TH ANNIVERSARY
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Girl Scouts' 107th birthday, which was celebrated earlier this month. This anniversary is important to women everywhere, but particularly in the First prgtoken District of Georgia where the Girl Scouts were founded. prgtoken In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low started meeting with 18 girls who played basketball, hiked, camped, studied foreign languages, and worked to help people in need. With Juliette Gordon Low and these 18 women in Savannah, the seeds were sown for a movement, which now includes 2.6 million Girl Scouts in 92 countries and 50 million alums. prgtoken With their motto of being go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders, the international organization has made an enormous impact in the lives of young women in their 107-year history. A testament to their work includes alums aboard the International Space Station, Members of Congress, artists, athletes, and so much more. prgtoken Thank you to the Girl Scouts for making our world a better place to live and for encouraging young women to always push the envelope. Congratulations on a successful first 107 years, and I wish the Girl Scouts the best in years to come.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-3-26

fear has become an all too prevalent quality in America's political discourse, and, unfortunately, fear is unavoidable when debating the substance of the resolution before this body today; that is, climate change, socialism, and the Green New Deal. prgtoken On entering this debate, I have a little fear in my heart as well. My fear at this moment may be just a little different than that of some of my colleagues. Unlike some of my colleagues, I am not immediately afraid of what carbon emissions unaddressed might do to our environment in the near term future or our civilization or our planet in the next few years. Unlike others, I am not immediately afraid of what the Green New Deal will do to our economy and our government. After all, this isn't going to pass--not today, not anytime soon, certainly. prgtoken Rather, after reading the Green New Deal, I am mostly afraid of not being able to get through this speech with a straight face. I rise today to consider the Green New Deal with the seriousness it deserves. This is, of course, a picture of former President Ronald Reagan naturally firing a machine gun while riding on the back of a dinosaur. You will notice a couple of important features here. prgtoken First of all, the rocket launcher is strapped to President Reagan's back, and then the stirring unmistakable patriotism of the velociraptor holding up a tattered American flag, a symbol of all it means to be an American. prgtoken Now, critics might quibble with this depiction of the climactic battle of the Cold War because, while awesome, in real life there was no climactic battle. There was no battle with or without velociraptors. The Cold War, as we all know, was won without firing a shot. But that quibble actually serves our purposes here today because this image has as much to do with overcoming communism in the 20th century as the Green New Deal has to do with overcoming climate change in the 21st century. prgtoken The aspirations of the proposal have been called radical. They have been called extreme, but, mostly, they are ridiculous. There isn't a single serious idea here--not one. To illustrate, let me highlight two of the most prominent goals produced by the plan's authors. prgtoken Goal No. 1, the Green New Deal calls essentially for the elimination of airplanes. Now, this might seem merely ambitious for politicians who represent the densely populated northeastern United States, but how is it supposed to work for our fellow citizens who don't live somewhere between Washington, DC, and Boston? In a future without air travel, how are we supposed to get around the vast expanses of, say, Alaska during the winter? Well, I will tell you how. prgtoken Tauntauns is that beloved species of reptile mammals native to the ice planet of Hoth. Now, while perhaps not as efficient in some ways as airplanes or as snowmobiles, these hairy bipedal species of space lizards offer their own unique benefits. Not
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , the President has a duty to protect our borders and our people. He has the Constitution and the law of the land on his side to declare this national emergency. prgtoken have blocked the appropriations for this border security, but they had no problem when President built 130 miles of border wall. While they played political games, 76,000 people alone, in February, streamed across our borders, but the United States has endured because we are a land that believes in the rule of law. prgtoken Turning a blind eye to this law and allowing these open borders sends the wrong message to the American people and our laws. prgtoken Madam , I am a country physician who has, unfortunately, been in emergency rooms and in funeral homes with the families of those that have died of illegal opioid overdoses. When we play political games with American lives and American families, shame on us. prgtoken Madam , 85 to maybe 95 percent of these illegal opioids come across the southern border where we have no fence, we have no barrier to prevent these illegal people from bringing these drugs in. prgtoken We have got to secure this border with a wall. Let the President secure our border; let the President protect our people; and let's vote against this veto override.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in support of the President's veto of H.J. Res. 46. Keeping our Nation secure should be this President's very highest priority, and it is this President's very highest priority. prgtoken With President , there is no question that he has, and he will continue to carry out, this priority. I support his efforts to build a wall on the southern border to protect our country. prgtoken He has very clearly laid out the case for a declaration for a national emergency. There is a crisis at the border, a crisis that could have been addressed much sooner or even prevented, for that matter. The open border policies in the last administration compounded this growing problem. prgtoken We are seeing the highest rates of illegal immigration since 2007. In February, there were more than double the number of illegal migrants coming into this country, as compared to last year. prgtoken Border Patrol has apprehended over 268,000 individuals since the beginning of this fiscal year. That is a 97 percent increase from the previous year. prgtoken Schools, hospitals, and other services have become overcrowded. The American workers have been hurt by reduced job opportunities and lower wages. At the same time, human and drug traffickers are thriving. prgtoken In many of our communities, the notorious MS-13 gang has grown, and we have seen tragic cases of crime committed by illegal aliens who have been deported multiple times. prgtoken In my own home State of Missouri, an individual who was previously deported returned here illegally and was charged in several violent incidents. He is now suspected of murdering five individuals--or five Americans. prgtoken That should never have happened, but these kinds of tragic--and preventable--events are happening across the country. That is the very definition of a crisis. prgtoken Last Congress, we enacted legislation to deal with the devastating opioid crisis because that is, in fact, also a crisis. We can and we must slow the flow of illegal drugs into this country. The men and women who put their lives on the line every single day to secure our borders deserve all the tools they need to do the job--including a border wall. prgtoken Through President 's proclamation and his veto of H.J. Res. 46, he is acting decisively to finally address this crisis under the authority provided him by Congress. The National Emergencies Act is crystal clear. The provisions the President will use under title 10 explicitly provide the President with that authority. The President is well within his legal authority that Congress has provided him. That is the bottom line. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to stand with the President and to stand with law-abiding Americans and law-abiding immigrants to sustain this veto. prgtoken Madam , .
RECOGNIZING GOLAN HEIGHTS AS PART OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , I rise today to commend the United States' recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. prgtoken Now is a critical and appropriate time for the United States to formally recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel. At a time when Iran and terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, are using the turmoil created by the civil war in Syria to expand their presence in the region, it is clear they hope to seize the Golan Heights to then launch attacks against Israel. prgtoken Recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights is vital to the security interest of the United States and Israel. prgtoken I co-led a letter last December to Secretary Pompeo outlining the critical nature of recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan and encouraging the administration to do so. This recognition should have occurred under several previous administrations, but the strong leadership needed was not present. prgtoken I am glad that we finally have a President that is taking the necessary steps to foster stability and peace in the Middle East. I applaud President and his administration for issuing the proclamation recognizing the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel.
CONGRATULATING NEW ULM MEDICAL CENTER
Jim Hagedorn (Republican, MN) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the New Ulm Medical Center for being named the number one critical access hospital in the United States for 2019. This medical center, part of Allina Health, serves more than 13,000 New Ulm residents and countless more folks in southern Minnesota. prgtoken The New Ulm Medical Center has found positive ways to improve affordability and increase successful patient outcomes. Even when faced with serious health challenges, patients can thrive when they have access to affordable and conveniently located healthcare. prgtoken All Americans deserve access to quality, timely medical care. I am very pleased that residents in New Ulm, Brown County, and surrounding areas in southern Minnesota have such a fine institution of medicine to provide them. prgtoken Congratulations to New Ulm Medical Center, and thank you for serving our community.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-3-26

I wish to recognize a dedicated public servant and proud West Virginian, Tony Bazzie, on the occasion of his retirement from the Raleigh County Housing Authority. Innumerable West Virginians have benefited from his tireless efforts to improve access to affordable housing in our great State and his advocacy for increased Housing and Urban Development funding. Tony has been a vocal champion for encouraging investment in section 8 housing and an advocate for a regulatory framework that balances the interests of tenants and property owners. prgtoken Tony started with the housing authority at its inception in 1979 and since then has worked hard to dispel the negative stereotypes regarding housing assistance. Currently, his office assists over 1,200 families in Raleigh County, as well as Braxton, Summers, Nicholas, Fayette, and Webster Counties. In fact, demand has been so high that the housing authority has had to implement a waiting list to serve additional West Virginians. prgtoken Beyond the critical assistance that the housing authority provides to West Virginians in need, it also has a positive effect on the economy. Through section 8 subsidies, Tony and his staff have contributed over $4.5 million in rental payments to local property owners. Supporting local economies is something I have worked for in the Senate and knowing that I have allies such as Tony in the State has made this journey all the more successful. prgtoken Tony has come before Congress to testify about the importance of housing authorities across West Virginia, and his insight informed the discourse regarding the Section Eight Housing Choice Voucher Reform Act, SEVRA. In his testimony, Tony highlighted the need for providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low-income families. His passion for and knowledge of housing policy were of great help to my colleagues, and I thank him for his service. prgtoken I would like to thank Tony for all his insight and advice over the years. His yearly visits to my DC office were always a highlight, and his input was invaluable when discussing housing issues, particularly in West Virginia. On a personal level, he was kind and helpful not only to me, but to my staff as well. They spoke highly of how attentive, patient, and nice he was to everyone he worked with. I am honored to call Tony my friend and fellow West Virginian, and I wish him well in this new phase of life. I wish him the very best during his well- deserved retirement, and I hope he can enjoy more time with loved ones. West Virginia owes Tony our gratitude, and I thank him for all his excellent work for so many years.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-3-26

last month our colleague, the Senator from New York, the ic leader, said: So when the leader says he wants to bring the Green New Deal resolution up for a vote, I say: Go for it. Bring it on. prgtoken Well, here we are. Senators will soon have a chance to vote on the Green New Deal, and we have already seen a lot of confusion and more than a little waffling from our friends on the other side of the aisle, some apparently confused on exactly what they should do on a resolution they themselves proposed. prgtoken When it was announced, the senior Senator from Massachusetts quickly pledged her support, as did the junior Senator from New Jersey. But I find it pretty curious that some of our colleagues who were among the first to join these Senators and voice their support for this proposal are now among those saying they will simply vote present--present. prgtoken Even more interesting is one of the bill's authors, the junior Senator from Massachusetts, who called this vote ``sabotage.'' prgtoken Ordinarily, when proposing a piece of legislation around here, one is tickled pink when the majority leader schedules it for a vote, but somehow some of our colleagues will vote present--neither yea nor nay-- and others claim it is sabotage. As the vote approaches, we have seen many of our ic friends running for the hills, trying to provide space between them and this issue. prgtoken The Green New Deal is chock full of utopian ideas but completely devoid of concrete plans to implement any of its overreaching policies. Even the name is a little disorienting because the Green New Deal is not just a new radical environmental policy; it is that, but it is more. It encompasses much more than that with Medicare for All, free college, and guaranteed jobs. I might add, parenthetically, you might as well throw in free beer and pizza too. prgtoken What has been billed as an economy invigorator and job innovator in order to lift up the middle class is really anything but. The bottom line of this proposal is a solution in search of a problem. It is about a message; it is not about finding solutions to real problems. prgtoken Maybe it is useful to take a step back to look at what we have already done in this Congress to help the middle class and to generate job growth. Over the last 2 years, we have worked to roll back burdensome regulations left over from the previous administration and make much needed reforms to our outdated Tax Code--the first time in 30 years. prgtoken My constituents in Texas have taken notice, and I have heard from many of them who have seen an increase in their take-home pay, thanks to the tax reform bill, for example. Small businesses in Texas have been able to help give their employees more benefits. For example, Village Foods and Pharmacy in Bryan, TX, said that because of the tax reform bill, they were able to provide employee bonuses and implement a
IN RECOGNITION OF THE CHANGE OF COMMAND OF COMMANDER DAMON LOVELESS
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the Change of Command of Commander Damon B. Loveless, a brave and honorable man who has dedicated his life to the U.S. Navy. prgtoken CDR Damon Loveless attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned an Ensign in 2001. He earned his Wings of Gold in April 2003. Commander Loveless reported to the VF-101 Grim Reapers in Virginia Beach, VA where he qualified in the F-14 Tomcat. He completed his first deployment with Carrier Air Wing SEVEN on USS George Washington in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later supported Operation Enduring Freedom. prgtoken In 2007, CDR Loveless transferred to the VFA-122 Flying Eagles in Lemoore, CA where he served as Instructor Pilot, Air-to-Ground Syllabus Phase Head and a Program Model Manager. In 2009, CDR Loveless was selected to serve in a Department of Defense Legislative Fellowship with Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), in Washington, D.C. Then, CDR Loveless was transferred to Commander Carrier Strike Group EIGHT in Norfolk, VA where he served as the Flag Lieutenant to the Commander. prgtoken CDR Loveless reported to the VFA-115 Eagles for his Department Head tour in NAF Atsugi, Japan in 2012. He served as Safety Officer, Administrative Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer and embarked on USS George Washington. After, CDR Loveless reported to the Pentagon as a Branch Chief on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' of Staff in the J-6 Directorate. He later attended Joint Forces Senior Staff College in Norfolk, VA, graduating in March of 2017. CDR Loveless joined the Tomcatters of VFA-31 in Virginia Beach, VA, as the Executive Officer in 2018. prgtoken CDR Loveless has accumulated more than 2,700 flight hours with over 600 carrier arrested landings His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. prgtoken Madam , I ask you to join me in recognizing the incredible accomplishments of Commander Damon Loveless. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for his service. May God bless Commander Damon Loveless and the U.S. Navy.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-3-26

. Madam , while most Americans--maybe not everybody on the other side of the aisle--would not deny we have a crisis at the border, some of my colleagues actually recognize the crisis, including the humanitarian crisis. prgtoken Last year, I voted for a bill that would have fully funded the wall and averted the government shutdown, to no avail. My choice this term would have been to pass the six noncontroversial bills and then pass a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security so we could continue to work and negotiate on a resolution that would not have put us at this point. prgtoken Yes, the President declared a national emergency. Pelosi then proceeded to the resolution condemning President 's emergency declaration, which was a messaging bill by the . Voting for it would have been playing politics, which many in this Chamber chose to do. Voting today without the votes to override is yet another messaging bill, yet another game of politics which I will not support. prgtoken I agree with my colleague on the other side of the aisle: It is a constitutional question, and determination of constitutional authority is something left to the courts to decide, something the Supreme Court should decide, and not a partisan whack job in the House of Representatives. prgtoken If Congress wishes to narrow and define more clearly the National Emergencies Act, then we should do so, and, in fact, I am happy to participate in doing that. However, in the interim, we still have the issue of securing our border. It will not go away. prgtoken The crisis is not going away. As my colleagues over here have indicated, it continues to be a growing problem. So why we don't spend time addressing that rather than one more messaging vote--which appears to be the trend right now in this House since January--befuddles me. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the resolution to override the veto, and I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, let's get down to dealing with the problems of the American people.