mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-14

I rise to follow my colleague from Washington and talk about the effects of the shutdown. If I am really fast on a given day, I kind of have a mind-meld with her. I kind of have a little bit of a mind-meld now because I want to talk about the effects on America's national security. prgtoken I was on the floor last week talking about the effects on Federal employees, so many of whom live in Virginia. I had a roundtable on Friday in Alexandria, where they came out and talked about having to reschedule medical appointments, worrying about missing their mortgage payments, and withdrawing monies from their IRA and having to pay a penalty to do it to cover their bills. These Federal employees all share how passionate they are about serving the public. That is all they want to do. They shared the hardships that are visited upon them and their families by not getting a paycheck. prgtoken I heard another, different story today that is not about a Federal employee but a dentist in Alexandria who shared with our office how many of her patients are canceling their appointments. People don't have copays--people are worried about whether they will have copays, so they are canceling and postponing. So now it is not just the Federal employees, but it is also this small business woman who runs a medical practice who is seeing the effect of it. prgtoken I want to talk about something different tonight. I want to talk about national security. I want to do that because the President tweeted something interesting on Saturday. He said his whole motive for the shutdown was because ``I promised safety and security for the American people.'' That was the quote--``I promised safety and security for the American people.'' I want to take the floor to say that this shutdown is actually hurting the safety and security of the American people, and I want to go over this in some detail. prgtoken Of the 450,000 Federal employees who are working without pay, more than 150,000 of them are in charge of keeping America safe. So, arguably, the most punished group of Federal employees in this shutdown are those charged with keeping us safe. prgtoken I say to the Presiding Officer, you are a veteran. You served in the military. prgtoken A third of Federal employees are veterans. So it is not just people whose current job is keeping America safe, but one-third of Federal employees are veterans. Veterans are very affected by this. prgtoken Just to kind of run through some examples, of the 450,000 Americans working without pay--and we had representation from a number of these Agencies before us at the roundtable last week--41,000 of those working without pay now deep into the third week are Federal law enforcement and correctional officers, 2,600 are ATF agents, nearly 17,000 are Bureau of Prisons correctional officers, more than 13,000 are FBI agents, 3,600 are marshals, and 4,400 are DEA agents. prgtoken I had an experience last year that
OPEN UP THE GOVERNMENT AND SECURE OUR BORDERS
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-1-14

it is always good to go back home, and this weekend was especially rewarding for me. My wife and I left D.C. this past Friday afternoon, flew through Dallas, and landed in Wichita sometime shortly after sunset. prgtoken As we hopped in my truck, the snow had started to fall, and it was a beautiful Kansas evening. We got home and got to see our two boys. I woke up the next morning early, went to Sterling, Kansas, for a business meeting, then went over to Salina and got to meet some more of my friends. prgtoken On the way home, I got to listen to the radio. I listened to a Kansas State Wildcats basketball game and heard the Wildcats win that game by 1 point. And then when I got home, a special treat: I got to watch both the Kansas University basketball team win and watch my Kansas City Chiefs win. And I got to watch those games with my two boys. So it was a trifecta for Kansas, a great day. prgtoken The next morning, I woke up early for church and went to early service, and basically had to hop in my truck and come back to D.C. that same afternoon. prgtoken On the way back to the airport, I got a little bit of time to reflect; and one of the things that had come to mind was something that my good friend, my mentor, the former majority leader, one of the longest serving majority leaders in the Senate, Senator Bob Dole, had told me. prgtoken One thing Senator Dole says every time I see him is to always remember where I am from. And I think I get that. I think most of us get it, that where we are from is so very important to us, and I have always done a good job with that. prgtoken But the other thing that he talked about--I approached him one time when we were having a tough issue here in Congress, one of the first issues I had to vote on. What he told me, rather than giving me an answer, giving me his opinion, was to go back to Kansas, and the people of Kansas would tell me what to do. prgtoken So what is ironic as I went back home for these meetings and to go to church is that, everywhere I went, I heard the same thing. I heard the same thing from people in church that I had no idea that they knew so much about what was going on in Washington. prgtoken In Salina, in Sterling, everywhere I went, people asked me: When is Congress going to give the President his money to build the border?--a very simple question. So that allowed me to kind of ponder the issue a little bit more. prgtoken I have stood beside the President since day one on this issue. When I was running for Congress, I made national security, border security the top priority on what I was going to stand for; and today, I have been to that border. prgtoken As a physician of 25 years and now a Congressman for 2 years, I would tell you this: There is, indeed, a humanitarian crisis on the border as well as a national security issue on the border. Whether it is concerning the 2,000 people who come across that border illegally every day--every night we house
STIMULATING INNOVATION THROUGH PROCUREMENT ACT OF 2019
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-1-14

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 246, the Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2019. prgtoken I would like to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis) and the gentlewoman from Iowa (Ms. Finkenauer) for their efforts on this important legislation. prgtoken This bill continues the committee's longstanding emphasis on the commercialization of technologies developed in the Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR program. prgtoken The bill does this by incorporating acquisition personnel into the SBIR and the Small Business Technology Transfer, STTR, programs where appropriate. Under the bill, procurement center representatives, or PCRs, would be required to coordinate and collaborate with Federal agency small business advocates and are responsible for providing small businesses with technical assistance as they navigate the bidding process. Doing so would give small firms a better understanding of the government contracting process and increases their chances of success. prgtoken The SBIR and STTR programs are often the first place innovative, small firms look in order to contract with the Federal Government. Unfortunately, it is often difficult for a firm, particularly a new firm, to understand the ins and outs of working with the Federal Government. It can be quite complex. prgtoken Providing a new avenue for counseling by utilizing the national network of PCRs will help pioneering, small firms better prepare their proposals for the SBIR and STTR programs. prgtoken , I urge support for the bill, and .
HONORING THE CAREER OF DOUGLAS VERVERS
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-1-14

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Douglas Ververs, who retired in 2018 after a 30-year career with the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE). Mr. Ververs has served the CCE in various capacities throughout the years and has remained steadfast in his commitment to support economic development and the agriculture in Upstate New York. prgtoken Mr. Ververs graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in Industrial Arts & Technology Education in 1979. He spent his first eight years after college working in sales for the Black Clawson Company in Fulton, but changed his career trajectory in January 1988 when he started working for CCE. He first served as a Small Business and Tourism Educator for CCE Oswego County, where he taught businesses how to utilize local attractions for their customers. In 2006, Mr. Ververs became Executive Director of CCE Cayuga County after 17 years working for CCE Oswego. prgtoken Mr. Ververs oversaw all of CCE's operations in Cayuga County during his tenure as Executive Director. This included conducting outreach programs for Cayuga County residents in the fields of agriculture, environmental education, and small business and nutrition. Additionally, Mr. Ververs implemented a 4-H youth development program through CCE Cayuga. He was also responsible for many administrative responsibilities at CCE Cayuga. prgtoken Outside of his CCE Cayuga activities, Mr. Ververs was a team member with the New York Sea Grant Program in Costal Business Development from 1988 to 2002. He also shared his knowledge of recreation and the environment by teaching classes at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Ververs has been honored many times throughout his career for his work in Central New York, including his receipt of the Community and Rural Development Innovator Award in 2001, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Distinguished Service Career Award in 2014, and induction into the Oswego County Tourism Ambassador Hall-of-Fame in 2005. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring the distinguished career of Douglas Ververs. He has improved the lives of many Central New Yorkers, as well as the environment, through his diligent service to his community. His investment in the success of his local community is exemplary of a model citizen and is a standard from which we can all learn.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-1-14

although three-quarters of the government is funded and fully operational, important Federal functions continue to be unduly affected, and hundreds of thousands of Federal workers have now missed paychecks. prgtoken By now, everyone in America understands the basic faultlines of this disagreement. The of the House has decided that opposing President comes before the security of our borders. prgtoken The President has asked for a reasonable new investment, $5.7 billion--about one-tenth of 1 percent of Federal spending--for the same kinds of border security that prominent actually used to brag about supporting, for the very same kind of reinforced steel fencing that the administration bragged about building, and for precisely the kinds of barriers that the men and women of law enforcement there on the ground insist are vital for their mission. prgtoken It is for precisely the same kind of physical border security in which a number of my ic colleagues here in the Senate were perfectly happy to vote to invest billions of dollars just as recently as last Congress. The 2017 funding measure that passed the Senate with 47 ic votes included upgraded border fencing; that was in 2017, just this past Congress--last year. And 40 voted for the bipartisan spending deal that was cleared just this past March. It included more than $1.5 billion for border barriers. Then, of course, the Appropriations subcommittee and full committee approved another $1.6 billion for border security in a bipartisan vote just this last June, and 10 of 15 committee voted to report the final package to the full Senate. Those are billions of dollars for physical border security, winning ic votes just last year. prgtoken Well, that was before we had a new of the House. That was before Pelosi and her far-left base decided that the politics of obstruction would come before commonsense policymaking. prgtoken Here is how serious the is about ending the impasse and getting the government reopened: She now proudly boasts that she would allow exactly $1--$1--for border barriers. prgtoken There was bipartisan support in the Congress for billions of dollars of physical barriers at the border before Representative Pelosi was . Now congressional support just $1--$1--for border barriers since she became . You have to ask yourself, what is the reason? prgtoken Earlier this month, Pelosi declared that the concept of any physical wall on our southern barrier was ``an immorality''--an immorality. ``A wall is an immorality.'' That is what Pelosi said. Look, that is not a serious statement. It would be laugh-out-loud material if hundreds of thousands of Federal workers weren't going without pay because the has decided this absurdity is now her party's official position. prgtoken Immoral? Was it immoral for to vote for the Secure Fence Act in 2006? Was it
BORDER SECURITY
Ralph Norman (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-1-14

. Madam , I thank Congresswoman Hartzler for her efforts on this Special Order. prgtoken I don't know that I can add a whole lot to what has been said. But let me tell you about a conversation I had with a liberal who did not believe in a wall. He didn't think it worked. He happened to go to the national championship game between Clemson and Alabama. prgtoken I asked him: How was the game? prgtoken Of course, he was a Clemson fan. prgtoken I said: Did you have tickets? prgtoken He said: Yes. prgtoken I said: Let me ask you, did you have any trouble getting in? prgtoken He said: No, I had tickets. prgtoken I said: Did you go to a point of entry? prgtoken Yeah, we had a line. prgtoken I said: Well, could you not just walk in? Was there a wall? prgtoken He said: No, there was a fence. prgtoken I said: Okay, there was a fence. But was there a barrier, whether concrete or steel? Was there a way that you could not get in and you had to go in to a certain point of entry? prgtoken He said: Yes. prgtoken I said: Well, explain to me what is different with our country? If anybody can walk in that stadium, would they not take your seat? Would they not violate what you paid for? prgtoken He just kind of looked at me. prgtoken I said: Do you not see the similarities? prgtoken He did, but he didn't want to admit it. prgtoken Madam , I am very frustrated with the inaction of Congress. I am appalled that we haven't taken the security for our great Nation seriously. prgtoken How many Kate Steinles are going to have to be shot? prgtoken How many Mollie Tibbetts are going to have to be raped and killed? prgtoken How many police officers on the border are going to be shot before we say that we have got a crisis in this country? prgtoken I have got a chart behind me that shows what $5 billion is to our total Federal budget spending. It is one-tenth of 1 percent. Madam , you try to look and see what percentage this is. You really can't see it. So as has been said, it is not about the money. I really don't think that those who argue against it can really say that they don't work, as my friend who went to the college football game knows it works, because he said it did. prgtoken Now is the time to take action, not to hold this President in contempt, like has been done, for political reasons, having the safety of this country and all Americans at risk. prgtoken We shouldn't even have to have this debate. I urge Congress to take action. I urge Congress to put partisan politics behind. prgtoken Let's do right for the country. Let's do right for America.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-14

here we are, January 14. Twenty-four days ago, the border security funding and 25 percent of our government funding lapsed. prgtoken refuse to come to the negotiating table with a legitimate offer that would end this partial government shutdown and provide vital funding for border security measures. Their negligence has harmed 800,000 Federal workers who are not being paid while this standoff continues, and it has completely stalled the work here in the Senate because the minority leader, the Senator from New York, has gotten his colleagues to fall in line to block the legislation that is currently on the floor that would offer aid and comfort to our friends and allies in the Middle East, countries like Israel and Jordan. So it has completely stalled our work here in the Senate, as well, and, sadly, their efforts have sought to make border security more of a political football than the national security issue that it is. prgtoken What I find so cynical is the fact that have drawn a line in the sand over something they have largely supported in the past. For example, in 2006 we passed the Secure Fence Act. This legislation called for more than 800 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, and it authorized additional layered security that we keep discussing-- things like vehicle barriers, sensor technology, cameras, and lighting. That bill passed by 80 to 19--80 to 19--exactly the same kind of border security measures we are talking about today and that have shut down 25 percent of the government over--80 to 19. prgtoken , Chuck Schumer, and Hillary Clinton all supported the Secure Fence Act. Yet their opposition to President and anything and everything that he wants has somehow become an article of faith for the radical left. prgtoken A few years later, in 2013, the Senate, with holding the majority, voted on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, sometimes known as the Gang of 8 comprehensive immigration bill. That bill, among other things, provided funding for infrastructure--that is, barriers along the border--as well as personnel--the types of things we continue to advocate for today. In total, that bill appropriated $46 billion for border security. prgtoken So the --Senator Schumer and Pelosi--have shut down the government over $5 billion that the President has requested for border security. Yet 54 --every single one, in 2013--voted for $46 billion for border security. prgtoken Well, today, they turn their nose up at the President's request for $5.7 billion, and it makes no sense whatsoever unless you look through the lens of partisan political gamesmanship, because rational actors, reasonable people trying to find a solution, could easily come up with a solution based on this history. It wouldn't take 24 days. It wouldn't take 24 hours--maybe 24 minutes--to come up with
TANF EXTENSION ACT OF 2019
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-1-14

I rise today in support of H.R. 430, the TANF Extension Act of 2019, which extends the authorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, prgtoken program through June 30, while we finish up our work on a long-term extension. prgtoken Our safety net is essential to helping people who fall on hard times get back up on their feet, but, too often, it becomes a web that traps people in the cycle of poverty. One of the keys to breaking that cycle is human interaction, rather than treating people and recipients like another number on a government spreadsheet. prgtoken It takes people on the front lines of the fight against poverty to make sure we are looking at the root causes of the problem and actually doing something to help people across the country build out and up on the economic ladder out of poverty. Those in the trenches fighting poverty need the flexibility to develop innovative solutions tailored to local needs that will empower individuals to move to work and to achieve the American Dream. prgtoken Over these next couple of months, we have a great opportunity to work together on a long-term extension of TANF that makes commonsense reforms to the program to ensure no one gets left behind on the sidelines. prgtoken Right now, the status quo is not working. But by focusing on workforce development, measuring work outcomes, and requiring States to engage with recipients at an individual level, we can and we will move people out of poverty, off TANF, and onto the road to success. prgtoken I thank Chairman Neal and Ranking Member Brady for their work on this issue. I look forward to working with them and my other colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee on a multiyear TANF extension. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
BORDER SECURITY
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-1-14

. Madam , it is a sobering time to be here because we are in the 24th day of a government shutdown, something that none of us wanted, and something that could be fixed very, very quickly. I am hopeful that it will. prgtoken We have heard some speeches tonight from individuals calling on the President to open up the government. But the reality is that the House, in December, voted to fully fund the government, and all of the voted no, and the Senate voted no. prgtoken So here we are. We voted to keep the government open, and we provided border security at the same time. We need to do that. prgtoken Tonight, I think it is important that we have a discussion with the American people about why we think it is important to secure our border. Can we do both? Can we find $5 billion in an almost $4 trillion budget to secure our border? Can we open our government and make sure our government employees have the funds that they need to pay their bills? Absolutely, we can do that. prgtoken I am ready to work with those on the other side of the aisle. I find it so interesting how they have changed their position. I just want to review with everyone listening tonight about the position of some of those who are now, all of a sudden, voting no. prgtoken During the previous administration, all 54 in the Senate voted to double the length of a new border fence with Mexico, double the number of border agents to 40,000, and spend $40 billion on border security. All the in the Senate, in the last administration, voted for $40 billion for border security just a few years ago. prgtoken Before that, in 2006, 64 in the House joined s to pass the Secure Fence Act to build 700 miles of fencing along the border. In the Senate, when we had 64 join the House to pass it, to build 700 miles of fencing, Hillary Clinton, , and Chuck Schumer all voted for it. prgtoken Then Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer voted in favor of the 2007 DHS appropriations bill, which included $1 billion for fencing along the southwest border. The same who said it is immoral now voted for money for fencing just a few years ago. I find that interesting. prgtoken And Chuck Schumer voted for it, and he said: ``Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration, we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now and on rationalizing our system of legal immigration.'' prgtoken Then he said: ``Any immigration solution must recognize that we must do as much as we can to gain control of our borders as soon as possible.'' prgtoken This is the same Chuck Schumer who now thinks that we shouldn't have it, but just a few years ago he did support it. prgtoken So why are we fighting to secure our border? It is because we care about people. prgtoken There is a drug crisis in this country