mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPORT GRANDPARENTS IN PRIMARY CAREGIVER ROLES
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-1-14

I rise today in support of H.R. 5583, the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation with my colleague, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania's Fifth District. prgtoken All children deserve a loving and safe home. Sadly, due to the Nation's growing opioid crisis, more and more children are being left without structure, without safety, and, in some cases, without parents. As a result, grandparents have become the primary caregivers for many children. prgtoken The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act will provide resources to assist grandparents in raising their grandchildren and, most importantly, help prevent these children from entering the foster care system. prgtoken This bill ensures grandfamilies and kinship caregivers are eligible for services under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, or CAPTA. It also provides support to meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma; for example, those exposed to substance misuse. Lastly, the bill calls for training and resources to assist caregivers in navigating the complicated childcare system. prgtoken , H.R. 5583 is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-1-14

I come to the floor today to mark another major milestone for the landmark U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. This morning, , with you in the committee in voting, the Environment and Public Works Committee overwhelmingly passed the USMCA. With the approval of our committee, the USMCA is now one step closer to final passage in the Senate. prgtoken We all know that it isn't perfect, but, still, it is an important deal that benefits all Americans. Passing this deal provides much needed certainty for America's manufacturers. Our ranchers and our farmers--certainly, in Wyoming but across the breadbasket of the country and the Rocky Mountain West--are counting on it as well. prgtoken Americans have waited patiently now for over a year. Pelosi was the roadblock and held this hostage for an extended period of time. She finally allowed the House to vote on it. Now the Senate is working to move this critical piece of legislation forward and to the President. prgtoken Passing USMCA will start the next chapter in the American economic success story. The deal is going to increase our gross domestic product by $70 billion. Above all, it is a win for American workers. It is going to create 180,000 U.S. jobs, and you know that is just the start. Already, our strong, healthy, and growing economy has been setting records across the board. It is thanks to pro-growth policies. That is what we look to and point to when we take a look at the record job growth we have had since President has taken office. prgtoken In just 3 years, we have created over 7 million new jobs in America. The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low. It is astonishing. Wage growth is the fastest it has been in a decade, especially benefiting lower income workers. Everyone is better off with this growing economy. There is still some untapped potential, and we need to unlock it now. prgtoken My home State of Wyoming is poised to reap huge benefits not only from USMCA; our State has much to gain from new trade agreements with China and with Japan as well. The China trade agreement is scheduled to be signed tomorrow and Japan on January 1. Together, these America- first trade deals mean expanded access to export markets. Wyoming farmers and ranchers are very eager to seize these opportunities for future growth. prgtoken I would just say, as I conclude, that here is the bottom line. Passing USMCA means more jobs, and it means economic growth. It means more certainty and more stability for our job creators. It means more opportunity and more prosperity for America's working families. That is the real measure of this. It is time now for the Senate to pass the USMCA. prgtoken .
WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-1-14

in the next few days, Senate will move to discharge a War Powers Resolution to tie the President's hands in defending this Nation against Iran and terrorist masterminds like Qasem Soleimani. Let's think about how we got here and the implications of this reckless action. prgtoken Qasem Soleimani has the blood of thousands of Americans on his hands and hundreds of thousands of innocent souls across the Middle East. For more than 20 years, he was the Supreme Leader's most trusted lieutenant, Iran's terror mastermind, and the man responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by supplying the most deadly kinds of roadside bombs soldiers ever faced. He and his proxies and Iranian leaders like him are responsible for bombings of our Embassies in places like Lebanon and Kuwait. They are, in no small part, responsible for the ongoing horror of the Syrian civil war, for the civil war in Yemen. There is no doubt, based on the intelligence we have and this bloodthirsty past, that Qasem Soleimani was in Baghdad on January 2 to plot something very dangerous and very big that was going to target Americans once again. prgtoken We should all be thankful that Qasem Soleimani no longer walks the Earth, and we should be proud of the troops who executed that mission. The world is a safer place and America is a safer nation because of it. The people of Iran have been given a voice against the man who was responsible for mowing them down in protests over the years and whose death they have been out on the streets celebrating even though they risk being mowed down by their own security forces once again. prgtoken Yet, over the last 2 weeks, the have been able to do nothing but express their regret for the President's decision to eliminate Qasem Soleimani. And make no mistake--this War Powers Resolution is not about the future; it is about delivering an implicit or, if you listen to their words and don't just read the resolution, an explicit rebuke to the President for ordering the killing of Qasem Soleimani. They certainly want to prevent the President from doing anything like that in the future. That is why they have introduced this War Powers Resolution. prgtoken We should always remind ourselves when we are having a war powers debate, as we do from time to time, the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional. It was passed by a liberal Congress in 1973 at the height of Watergate, and not a single President since then has acknowledged its constitutionality--not a single one, to include all the . prgtoken I hear a lot about the Constitution these days and reclaiming our authority to declare war and to constrain the Executive. I guess all those constitutional experts missed the Federalist Papers and their authoritative explanation of the Constitution and why we have the government we do. We have a House of Representatives with 435 people to be the i
SENATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-1-14

I am here today to talk about the path forward on legislation and commonsense solutions that my constituents and all of our constituents would like to see this year. The Senators in this Chamber came back to town this week, along with Members of the House, at one of the most partisan times in our Nation's history. prgtoken We just learned that the House is now going to send us Articles of Impeachment. This will be the third Presidential impeachment trial in our entire history and only the second one in the last 151 years. prgtoken It will be the most partisan one ever. I agree with the Nancy Pelosi of a year ago, who said: ``Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there is something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path because it divides the country.'' I think she was right about that. Yet, unfortunately, without meeting those criteria, here we are going down that path. prgtoken While we face a lot of contentious issues ahead of us, I still believe we can legislate for the benefit of the people we represent, and we must. That is our job. We can't let partisanship cause us to lose sight of all the opportunities we have here every day to come together, to find common ground, and to pass commonsense solutions to address the issues our constituents care most about. prgtoken In fact, I would say that under the radar and without fanfare, we have recently done that. At end of last year, we enacted a number of bills and provisions on a bipartisan basis that helped people. I talked about the SECURE Act a moment ago. Despite the headlines about gridlock and dysfunction and impeachment, we have been working on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to some of these real problems--like growing our economy, protecting national security, promoting conservation, or helping the most vulnerable.
REMEMBERING JERALYN JOY ``JERRY'' BROWN
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-1-14

. . prgtoken I got to meet this delightful lady in Thermopolis, WY, some 70 years ago. I need to tell you a little bit about Thermopolis, WY, and how I wound up there. prgtoken During the war, my dad was a welder on ships, and after the war, he moved around the country doing different welding projects, one of which took him to Thermopolis, WY. He welded on the dam there. Dams in the West are used to control floods. They are big projects, and they have a huge impact on communities. This particular one not only controlled floods, but it turned into a great fishery. prgtoken My folks went to Thermopolis, WY, and they also built a trailer park. It was the first modern trailer park in Thermopolis. By ``modern,'' I mean there was a central building that had indoor showers and flush toilets. prgtoken You need to understand a little bit about Wyoming. We are small. At that time, there were two cities in Wyoming. To be a city, you had to have more than 3,000 in population. As soon as you had 3,000 in population, you could declare yourself a first-class city. In those early days, Casper--the energy capital at that time--and Cheyenne--the State capital at that time--exceeded 3,000. prgtoken What effect did that have on the communities? The Presbyterians, the Methodists, and the Congregationalists got together and divided up the towns that were small, realizing that they couldn't support all three churches. There was one town that was so small that they actually got together and formed a community church. prgtoken What is a community church? That is where these three denominations worked together. At one time, there would be a Presbyterian minister who was there, and 2 years later, there would be a Methodist minister who was there and, 2 years later, a Congregational minister who was there. That is where Jerry Brown was the Sunday school teacher, and that is how I came to meet her. prgtoken One of the big realizations, because of this community church thing and the changing of the pastors every 2 years, is that I thought every 2 years the Lord's Prayer changed. She helped me to understand that dilemma. prgtoken That is where I got to meet Mrs. Brown. She was a Sunday school teacher, and I wound up in her Sunday school class. She taught the kindergarten class. When we first started, she actually moved up a couple of times with me as the classes got combined and as I got older. prgtoken At that very first one, for Bible school, we held it outdoors underneath the pine tree--a huge pine tree. I can still remember sitting there, enthralled with her descriptions as I held my New Testament. Of course, since I was in kindergarten, I couldn't read, but she filled in for that and gave me a great background. prgtoken Later, of course, I ran into a book by Robert Fulghum titled, ``All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten.'' For me, it was kindergarten Sunday school. And my teacher, of course--well, she was my
CONGRATULATING THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-1-14

I rise today to congratulate the United Way of Central Massachusetts as they celebrate their 100th birthday this month and to thank the incredible staff, interns, fellows, volunteers, and community partners who allow this amazing institution to make a difference for so many people. prgtoken When I think of organizations that change lives, organizations that mobilize and unite our community to inspire change and create a better world, organizations that look out for the least among us by giving families the tools and stability they need to break the cycle of poverty and get back on their feet, I think of the United Way of Central Massachusetts. prgtoken I am so proud and grateful for the work they do every day and the positive impact they have on the folks I am privileged to represent. prgtoken On behalf of my constituents and with thanks from the entire United States Congress, congratulations to the United Way of Central Massachusetts for a century of awe-inspiring work, and here is to many more.
APPROVING REQUEST OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR WAIVER UNDER SECTION 1703E(f) OF TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-14

. Madam , as a senior Member of Congress, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 80, which requires the approval of the request of the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs for a waiver under section 1703E(f) of 38 U.S.C which provides for the Veterans' Community Care Program. prgtoken As a strong proponent of veteran care, I support this resolution because our veterans deserve to receive the maximum quality of hospital care, medical services and extended care services. prgtoken This resolution will improve the quality of dental care granted to our veterans by allowing them a more diverse group of dental providers to choose from, at affordable rates. prgtoken There are a total of 9.1 million enrollees in the Veterans' Affairs Health Care system. prgtoken This resolution gives veterans the opportunity to use Veterans' Affairs administrative support to search for non-VA, pro bono or discounted dental services. prgtoken Over 580,000 Veterans with comprehensive dental care benefits were provided dental care in Fiscal Year 2019. prgtoken Veterans identified as Class I, those with a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition, are eligible for any dental care needed. prgtoken The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has created a new community care program that allows veterans more choice in health care providers. prgtoken These revolutionary modifications will extend services to over 28,000 veterans within the 18th Congressional District. prgtoken The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston provides a full range of health care services that include trauma recovery, mental health, and substance dependence programs to veterans. prgtoken Waiving section 1703E(f) of 38 U.S.C United States allows the Veterans Community Care Program to keep the methods that are used for veteran medical services as up to date as possible and to ensure that veterans have access to dental care when needed. prgtoken I ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to vote in support of H.J. Res. 80.
CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN FOR HOLDING SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS AND COMMENDING PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN ON HER REELECTION
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-1-14

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan for holding successful elections on January 11, 2020 and commend President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election. Free and fair elections are a core tenet of democratic societies and it is encouraging to see the people of Taiwan continue to enthusiastically embrace their civic duty, especially in the face of significant election meddling on the part of the People's Republic of China. prgtoken The United States and Taiwan have long enjoyed a close friendship, with strong bonds forged through our economic, trade, and security ties. It is critical that the United States never loses sight of the importance Taiwan will play in our efforts to assure a prosperous and peaceful rise for all our friends and allies in the region. prgtoken Taiwan's dedication to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law make it not only a great partner for the United States, but a beacon of hope for all countries striving to protect and further democratic ideals. prgtoken Madam , I again congratulate our friends in Taiwan and President Tsai Ing-wen on this momentous occasion.
REMEMBERING CHRISTOPHER ALLEN
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-1-14

I rise today to speak about a dedicated husband, father, son, public servant, and Marylander, Chris Allen. prgtoken Sadly, Chris passed away last week. He was 58 years old. He leaves behind a wife Lynda-Marie, and two daughters, Sophie and Lucie. prgtoken Chris spent years in the office of my friend Senator Roberts, relentlessly advocating on behalf of his constituents. More recently, he worked for Senator Grassley on the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, where he pushed for pragmatic policy solutions to improve the life of retirees and the pension system. prgtoken Those of us who were lucky enough to know Chris know he lifted the spirits of those around him through his wry sense of humor and infectious positivity. At work, he was experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable about his work, always searching for good policy with bipartisan support. prgtoken For those lucky enough to work with Chris, he made lifelong friends and allies. He will not soon be forgotten. prgtoken The world is a little less upbeat without Chris here. I hope you will join me in praying for his family and friends.
Impeachment (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-14

the House of Representatives has impeached the President for a very serious offense: coercing a foreign leader into interfering in our elections, using the powers of the Presidency, the most powerful public office in the Nation, to benefit himself--to actually influence the election, which should be decided by American citizens, not by a foreign power. When debating the impeachment clause of the Constitution, the Founders worried about foreign capitals having undue influence over our country. Hamilton, writing in the Federalist Papers, described impeachable offenses as abuses or violations of some public trust. prgtoken In the impeachment of President , the question the Senate will be asked to answer is whether the President did, in fact, abuse his public trust and, by doing so, invite the very foreign influence the Founders feared would be a corruption of our democracy. To answer that question, to decide whether the President merits acquittal and removal from office, the Senate must conduct a fair trial. A fair trial has witnesses. A fair trial has relevant documents as a part of the record. A fair trial seeks the truth--no more, no less. prgtoken That is why have asked to call four fact witnesses and subpoena three specific sets of relevant documents related to the President's misconduct with Ukraine. At the moment, my colleagues are opposing these witnesses and documents, but they can't seem to find a real reason why. Most are unwilling to argue that witnesses shouldn't come before the Senate. They can only support delaying the decision until most of the trial is over, like a magic eight ball that keeps saying: Ask again later. prgtoken The most the leader can do is smear our request as some partisan fishing expedition intended to damage the President, but the leader himself has warned that the witnesses we have requested might not help the House managers' case against the President. He is right about that. These are the President's top advisers. They are appointed by him, vetted by him. They work with him. prgtoken We don't know what those witnesses will say or what the documents will reveal. They could hurt the President's case or they could help the President's case. We don't know. prgtoken We know one thing. We want the truth on something as weighty and profound as an impeachment trial. Does Leader McConnell want the truth? Do Senate s want the truth? prgtoken I would remind the leader that our request for witnesses and documents is very much in line with the Senate's history. The leader keeps citing precedent. Well, here is precedent, Mr. Leader. There have been two Presidential impeachment trials in history. Both--both--had witnesses. The trial of Andrew Johnson had 41 witnesses. There have been 16 completed impeachment trials in the Senate's entire history. In every one, except one, the trial in 1799 of Senator William Blount
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-14

such time as I may consume to respond to the comments from my friend from California. prgtoken We know the Government of Iran admitted to mistakenly shooting down the Ukraine International Airlines flight. It was a tragedy, and tragedies led to tragedy. The people of Iran stood up and demanded accountability and are standing up from their government today. prgtoken This Congress supports those who have stood up to their government demanding transparency and fighting for their rights. That is why the concurrent resolution we passed last week reaffirmed that it is in our national interest to support the people of Iran and other Middle Eastern countries who demand an end to government corruption in violation of basic human rights. prgtoken As of this morning, the Foreign Affairs Committee is holding a hearing to examine our policy with Iran. While the Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing from experts on Iran, the House is taking action to protect students and protect Americans from discrimination in the workplace, and that is what this rule is about. prgtoken Make no mistake, defeating the previous question is not a vote on the McCarthy resolution, it is a vote to hand over control of the House floor to the minority. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question so we may proceed to these critical pieces of legislation without delay. prgtoken I might add, just on a personal note, I would ask my colleagues to help--and I am sure they have had some cases of this--the Iranian Americans who have come to my office in my district with very troubling stories about their relatives who regularly have come to visit them in this country who are unable to come right now because of the travel ban by this administration. prgtoken , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.