mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
National Emergencies Act (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-10

I begin this morning with some news for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. As stipulated by the National Emergencies Act, will once again force a vote to terminate the President's national emergency declaration. The provisions of the National Emergencies Act dictate that the resolution of disapproval be privileged and therefore must be voted upon. prgtoken As everyone no doubt remembers, the administration declared a national emergency in February of this year after Congress repeatedly denied the President funding for the construction of a border wall that he promised Mexico would pay for. A few weeks ago, the administration released the list of military construction projects it has planned on canceling in order to steal money for the President's wall. prgtoken The President's emergency declaration was and is an outrageous power grab by a President who refuses to respect the constitutional separation of powers. I say to all of my colleagues, this issue rises to a large and vital constitutional issue: Does our country truly have checks and balances, particularly when we have such an overreaching President? prgtoken We all must consider the dangerous precedent this would set if Presidents could declare national emergencies every time their initiatives fail in Congress. It is outrageous. There is balance of powers. The President failed in Congress. He didn't say it was an emergency then, but he used the national emergency law, which is intended for true national emergencies--floods, states of war--and then overruled the will of the people as voiced in the Congress. This is so wrong. The President has clearly attempted to usurp the power of the purse given exclusively to the Congress by the Constitution to take funding from projects we have approved and give it to projects we have repeatedly declined to approve. prgtoken This goes to our democracy. This goes to how the Founding Fathers set up that delicate balance. We have never had such a President overreach on an emergency basis. The recourse for such a brazen power grab should be an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the Congress to terminate the emergency declaration and reassert our constitutional authority. prgtoken Most of my colleagues know this is wrong. In fact, when we had a vote the last time, 59 Senators--including a good number of s-- voted against the emergency. What adds insult to injury is the President stealing the money from our military projects that protect our Nation, support military families, local economies, and local schools. prgtoken The administration has proposed pilfering funds from projects in 23 States, 3 U.S. territories, and military installations in 20 countries, including $80 million from projects in North Carolina, $30 million in Arizona, and even a middle school in Kentucky. How do we say to the men and women who risk their lives for us and whose families sacrifice that the
Nomination of James Byrne (Executive Calendar)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2019-9-10

I thank the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for his good work. prgtoken Jim Byrne is the right man for the job. We passed the VA MISSION Act that needs to be implemented. I know Mr. Byrne has ruffled feathers among some here. In the end, I think he will do the right thing and that we can hold him accountable. It is critically important we get these folks confirmed so we can hold them accountable and get them in front of our committee. I would urge a ``yea'' vote on Jim Byrne.
TRIBUTE TO MARCA BRISTO
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-10

. Madam , I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Marca Bristo. Marca was a powerful leader in the disability movement, the founder of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago and co- founder of the National Council on Independent Living. prgtoken My husband Bob Creamer and I are heartbroken to lose a precious friend of more than four decades. Our country has lost an unparalleled fighter for the rights of people with disabilities. Our love goes out to our dear friend, Marca's husband Bob Kettlewell, their children and new granddaughter. prgtoken Marca will go down in history as one of the most influential leaders of the disability rights and independent living movements. Because of Marca, countless people have been freed from confining living arrangements and liberated to live independently in communities. She was the founder and long-time president of the premier advocacy organization for people with disabilities, Chicago-based Access Living. Marca played a central role in the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, and she was an important advisor to Presidents Bill Clinton and . She served in many major leadership positions in government and beyond, including broad coalitions of progressive organizations like Illinois Citizen Action. She relentlessly took on and often beat down obstacles that prevented people with disabilities from living full and productive lives. To her last breath, she was reaching out to elected officials and leaders, promoting a justice agenda. In fact, a week before she died, both my husband and I had serious strategic discussions with Marca where she gave us clear instructions about what needed to be done. prgtoken Marca was not just a disability rights leader but a fierce fighter for civil rights across the board--a champion of tearing down barriers and winning opportunity for all. We can never thank Marca enough for opening our eyes to barriers that were, and in too many cases, still are holding back people with disabilities. We will always hear her voice in our ears, pushing us to do more, and we will always heed her call to the best of our abilities.
Nomination of Dale Cabaniss (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-9-10

I rise today to oppose the nomination of Dale Cabaniss to serve as Director of the Office of Personnel Management. prgtoken With roughly 5,500 dedicated employees, OPM is responsible for managing the Federal Government's civilian workforce--overseeing government-wide policies for recruiting, for hiring, and training--and administering the healthcare, life insurance, and retirement benefits that impact millions of Americans every year. prgtoken The Director of OPM plays a crucial role in the Federal Government, not only by managing the agency's employees but by serving as a leader and an advocate for more than 2 million hard-working men and women in the Federal workforce. The next Director of OPM must have a proven track record of effective leadership. prgtoken While I acknowledge and I admire Ms. Cabaniss's long record of public service, which includes more than 20 years here in the Senate, I do not believe that her experience and qualifications satisfy the requirements of this very important and very challenging position. prgtoken Last summer, the administration released its government-wide reorganization proposal, which includes plans to dismantle the Office of Personnel Management as we know it. Since then, Congress has repeatedly attempted to engage in an honest and productive dialogue with the administration about their reorganization proposal. However, they have not been transparent about the repercussions of this plan and what impact those repercussions could have on the Federal workforce. They have not demonstrated how taxpayers will be better served by their proposal, and it remains unclear if they have even studied the full impact of their proposal. In short, they have left too many fundamental questions simply unanswered. prgtoken The Office of Personnel Management is charged with safeguarding the nonpartisan civil service from the political motives of this or any White House. During such a time of uncertainty and upheaval, OPM needs strong and steady leadership that is focused on good governance and that will not be swayed by political whims of elected officials. This Agency and the millions of Americans it serves each and every day deserve a proven, independent leader. prgtoken Simply put, Dale Cabaniss is not that leader. While Ms. Cabaniss has some experience leading a small agency, I am not confident that her background has prepared her to provide the stability and the autonomy that OPM deserves. prgtoken Unfortunately, after a careful review of Ms. Cabaniss's record, I do not believe that she is the right choice to lead OPM at this critical time. I will be voting no, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken . prgtoken .
HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2019
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-10

I thank the gentleman from Guam for yielding. prgtoken I would like to thank our colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy) for working with me on this bill, the Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2019. He has worked hard to ensure that this is a collaborative and bipartisan process. prgtoken I would also like to thank the chair of our committee, the gentlewoman from California, and her staff for their assistance with this bill and her support in bringing the bill forward. prgtoken There is no more important day in the economic life of a family than the day that they buy a home, and some 83 or 84 percent of those with FHA financing are purchasing their first home. Appraisers play an important role in the process. prgtoken This bill would change the rules a bit for FHA appraisers so as to bring them in line with the rules we already have for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are the larger, federally controlled entities engaged in guaranteeing or financing homes, and it will deal with prgtoken the shortage of certified appraisers that we are experiencing in parts of the country. prgtoken Let me point out that this bill deals only with single-family homes. You could make the argument, , that you should have a certified appraiser in dealing with complex commercial, industrial, and multifamily properties. This bill focuses on single-family homes. prgtoken The bill has broad support of both consumer advocacy organizations and industry stakeholders. To name a few, the Homebuyer Assistance Act is supported by the Center for Responsible Lending, The Appraisal Institute, the National Association of Realtors, the Credit Union National Association, and the Independent Community Bankers of America. prgtoken This bill will make it easier for home buyers to buy a home with Federal Housing Administration mortgages by expanding the number of appraisers that are allowed to do the appraisals of those homes. prgtoken I am pleased to say that in the other body, Senators Thune and Tester have introduced a parallel piece of legislation, a bipartisan piece of legislation, and I look forward to putting this bill on the President's desk. prgtoken As other speakers have pointed out, including the gentleman from Guam, until 2010, there were no nationwide standards for licensed home appraisers. But since 2010, we have minimum Federal education, experience, and examination requirements set by the Appraiser Qualifications Board, so there is no reason at all to require that certified appraisers be involved, and it is entirely appropriate to have either certified or licensed appraisers. prgtoken This fix will help first-time home buyers. As I pointed out, over 83 percent of FHA home purchase mortgages are being made to first-time home buyers, and over one-third of all FHA loans were obtained by minority households. prgtoken The process of purchasing a home is already difficult enough for first-time home buyers. We should not have the additional challenge of
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-9-10

I rise to speak today on S. 1689, which passed last night. prgtoken Yesterday, this body unanimously voted to pass my legislation that could give States greater flexibility in how they use Federal funding for water projects. This bill is a tool to help communities in New Jersey and other States remove lead from their drinking water. prgtoken We have a national crisis. It is a crisis we are seeing all over the country. prgtoken I first wrote this legislation after a study was released last year that found lead leaching into the drinking water of my home city, Newark, NJ. Since then, I have been trying to get our State the Federal resources it needs to upgrade our aging water infrastructure. prgtoken After it wasn't included in last year's end-of-the-year spending bill, I introduced it as a stand-alone bill and pushed its passage through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, with bipartisan support, earlier this summer. prgtoken While the bill has been waiting to pass here in the Senate, the residents of my city, my neighbors, my family, and others have had to deal with additional concerns of exposure to lead in our drinking water. prgtoken Local, State, and Federal officials have been working almost literally around the clock to bring residents answers they deserve, answers they demand. I have repeatedly pushed the Federal Government, and the EPA in particular, to provide more resources to Newark in every way I can. I have been making calls and writing letters, hosting meetings. When I spoke with Administrator Wheeler and then personally met with EPA in Newark, I reminded them of our shared responsibility in bringing safe, clean drinking water to residents. This is not just a national emergency; this is an urgency. prgtoken We are waiting for more sampling results right now to better understand how to address the situation in Newark as quickly as possible. This legislation will allow Newark, NJ, and all of New Jersey to have access to upward of $100 million in Federal funds for pressing drinking water projects. prgtoken For the last month, thousands of residents haven't been able to drink the city's water. As I was handing out bottled water to my neighbors, I heard how significantly this was affecting the daily routines of my neighbors and friends and undermining the well-being of my community, of my city. prgtoken Again, I say this is a national urgency, a national emergency, because the residents of my city are not alone. This crisis is affecting communities all over the country. In fact, as Reuters prgtoken reported, there are over 3,000 jurisdictions where children in America have more than twice the blood lead levels of Flint, MI. prgtoken These results across our country demonstrate yet again how we have failed to adequately invest in our Nation's aging infrastructure. In a Nation as wealthy as ours, clean drinking water should be a basic human right, and we must act to make that ou
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE EDWARD LEONARD ``SHOVELS'' KOBESKY ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE LUZERNE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-9-10

. Madam , I rise today to honor former athlete and Northeastern Pennsylvania native, Edward Leonard ``Shovels'' Kobesky. This year, Shovels was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame at the 35th annual dinner on August 11, 2019 for his distinct athletic achievements in the sport baseball. prgtoken Each year, the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have brought fame and recognition to the state of Pennsylvania through their outstanding achievements and contributions in athletic endeavors. prgtoken Shovels was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and received his nickname as a child because he was always carrying a pail with several small shovels. After playing high school and semi-professional baseball, Shovels joined the Bearded House of David barnstorming team. The House of David was a spiritual society which emphasized participation in sports, especially baseball, to foster spiritual and physical discipline. He then became a player and manager of the East Shore League Salisbury Cardinals. He led the league with nearly 20 home runs and helped them claim victory in the playoffs. After this impressive season, Shovels was promoted to Class A Elmira where he had a batting average of .289 and hit a career high of 11 triples. prgtoken In 1942, he was picked up by the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. As one of the most impressive minor league players of his time, Edward hit a .300 batting average eight times, including two consecutive seasons hitting .390. During his career, he had a batting average of .328, 26 home runs, and 129 RBIs. In 1943, he led the International League with 18 home runs. Between 1942 and 1944, he averaged over 24 homeruns. prgtoken As his career drew to a close, he moved to a class B team in New Jersey where he led the league managing an impressive .390 batting average and 21 homeruns. Following this standout season, he moved back up to Class A in 1949 to play with the Batavia Indians where he finished his career. In 1951, he hit a final grand-slam homerun in the bottom of the ninth, winning the game for Batavia. This grand-slam brought him the final win of his career. prgtoken Shovels developed lung cancer which caused him to watch the rest of his career from the bench. In 1952, at the age of 38, he died in Greenwood, PA. For his influence on the sport, the Class A PONY (Pennsylvania, Ontario, New York) League has since established the Kobesky Award in his honor. prgtoken It is an honor to recognize Shovels on his induction into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame. May his story and athletic career serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Pennsylvania athletes striving for excellence.
IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-9-10

. Madam , we have seen how climate change has made natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, more frequent and much more severe. prgtoken This is not the time to debate climate change. This is the time to act on it. And the best time to act, the best time to prepare for natural disasters is before they occur. prgtoken September is National Preparedness Month. It is the perfect time to celebrate the brave men and women who respond when a crisis happens and the perfect time to coordinate our emergency response efforts. prgtoken We need to be ready for the next emergency before it strikes. As chairman of the Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security, I want FEMA and other Federal agencies to have the power and resources to coordinate relief efforts before, during, and after an emergency happens. prgtoken We do not have to relive the horrors of Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, and Maria. Let us be proactive about the next disaster instead of waiting until it strikes.
Military Construction (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-9-10

last week, the administration announced it was going to raid $3.6 billion from military construction projects to pay for President 's ineffective and controversial border wall. That is the wall they gave their solemn word that Mexico would pay for. Now the money is being taken out of our military. prgtoken Look at some of the things he has taken money from: a new middle school at Fort Campbell, KY, a child development center at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, a new elementary school in Puerto Rico, a fire rescue station at Tyndall Air Force base in Florida. These are among the projects canceled on orders from a President who apparently values his cynical campaign promise over our men and women serving our country in uniform and their families. prgtoken Remember, on the campaign trail he repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall. Supporters cheered about that--Mexico would pay. Have my friends on the other side of the aisle forgotten that? prgtoken Now, after unsurprisingly failing to convince Mexico to do so, he is forcing our troops and their families, who already sacrifice so much to keep our country safe, to sacrifice yet again just to keep his ego safe. prgtoken This announcement should outrage every U.S. Senator from both parties--not just because it is an insult to our troops, which it is, but also because it is part of a larger pattern by the President to disregard the Congress and to subvert the Constitution. He is doing so not in furtherance of our national security or to address the very real humanitarian needs along our border; he is doing so merely in service of his own ego, and that should not go unchallenged. prgtoken For those people at the White House who have actually read the Constitution, they will find that article I, section 9 of the Constitution established that Congress--and Congress alone--possesses the power of the purse. Congress's exclusive power over our government's spending priorities is one of the most critical checks and balances in our constitutional system. prgtoken The President can propose funding for whatever project he wants--he has that absolute right--but it is the job of Congress to decide where to invest the American people's hard-earned tax dollars. In a democracy and under our Constitution, the President has to respect those decisions, but this President apparently is willing to ignore our country's foundational document, the Constitution, or perhaps he has not read it. prgtoken When President declared a national emergency in February, citing a crisis at the southern border, he did so for one reason: to do an end-run around Congress and the Appropriations Committee and to use taxpayer money to build a wall on the southern border, when Congress specifically voted to downsize his request by $4.2 billion. He cited 10 U.S.C. 2808. That is an authority unlocked by the declaration of a national emergency. He used that to raid militar
TRIBUTE TO DR. BRUCE CORLISS
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-9-10

today I wish to honor the career of one of Rhode Island's ocean and coastal experts, Dr. Bruce Corliss. Dr. Corliss has served as dean of the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography since 2012. In March, Dean Corliss announced he would be leaving URI GSO early next year. prgtoken Dean Corliss started at URI GSO as a graduate student. He completed both his M.A. and Ph.D. in oceanography at URI. He then completed postdoctoral work at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and served as a scientist at WHOI until joining Duke University as a professor in 1984, ultimately becoming director of the Duke University/University of North Carolina Oceanographic Consortium. Dr. Corliss served as chief scientist on more than a dozen oceanographic research cruises and has published over 60 research papers. prgtoken In 2012, Dr. Corliss heard the call of the Ocean State and returned to his alma mater as dean. Under his leadership, URI GSO expanded its oceanographic and coastal research programs and is currently revitalizing its Narragansett campus; NOAA selected the university to lead a multi-university Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute; and last summer, URI GSO was awarded a new NSF research vessel, to be named the R/V Resolution. The vessel will replace the R/V Endeavor, which URI GSO has operated for 40 years. prgtoken Dean Corliss will leave URI GSO having reaffirmed its place as one of the world's preeminent ocean research institutions. His work will be reflected in the new research vessel on GSO's docks, in new buildings and labs that will house the next generation of marine researchers, and in new depths of understanding we will reach through the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute. prgtoken Dean Corliss has been a friend and an ally in the fight to protect and preserve our oceans and coasts. URI GSO has greatly benefited from his scientific expertise, leadership, and support for ocean research. On behalf of the Ocean State, I recognize and salute him on an impressive career and a lasting legacy at the University of Rhode Island.