mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO CHLOE JEAN MILSTEN
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-7-25

this week I have the honor of recognizing Chloe Jean Milsten of Park County for her spirit of entrepreneurship in Livingston. prgtoken While still in high school, Ms. Milsten opened and operated her own business, Chloe's Barkery. Located in downtown Livingston, Chloe's Barkery sells dog treats to the Park County community. Now, after her high school graduation, she continues to manage the shop, providing Montanans with a unique, healthy bakery tailored for dogs. prgtoken Ms. Milsten's family has been a tremendous support system during her business endeavors. Her parents were some of her biggest influences in encouraging her to launch her business. Additionally, her younger sister Taeyha assists in the day-to-day operations of the store. Chloe's Barkery is the perfect example of a successful family-operated business that we can all be proud of in Montana. prgtoken Ms. Milsten's interest in animals is not merely related to her entrepreneurial spirt, but also that she hopes to become a veterinarian one day. I applaud Ms. Milsten for her impressive motivation and perseverance in owning and operating a successful small business, and I look forward to seeing all she accomplishes in the future.
HONORING RECIPIENTS OF THE INAUGURAL THIRD DISTRICT YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-7-25

. Madam , today I honor five individuals and businesses from Nebraska for receiving the Inaugural Third District Young Entrepreneur Awards. prgtoken Throughout the 75 counties of the Third District, entrepreneurs and innovators are working hard to grow opportunity in our state. prgtoken In May, I called for nominations as part of a new initiative to recognize the young individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Third District who strengthen their communities through fresh ideas, hard work, and entrepreneurship. prgtoken Papa Moon Vineyards of Scottsbluff began in 2007 as a grape growing hobby for the Massey family, and has since evolved into an absolute passion for grape cultivation and craft-wine production. Over the next several years, their passion evolved into a family business. Named for the moniker the youngest Massey family member gave his grandfather, winery owner Jim, it has truly become a family project. The Masseys opened their tasting room in 2018 to share their passion for viticulture and love of winemaking. They are a proud family-owned farm winery, with a focus on the cultivation and production of high quality product. prgtoken Upstream Farms of Albion, is led by brothers Matthew and Joseph Brugger. They work every day to bring new meaning to the phrase, ``Farm to Table.'' The Bruggers co-founded Upstream with the goal of establishing better rural communities. They saw few opportunities for young people to become involved in agriculture, and wanted to create a business that would inspire young agriculturalists and entrepreneurs to pursue their passion in a rural community. To demonstrate their desire to embrace their vision, Upstream is more than just a traditional farm. Upstream strives to demonstrate diversification through action, offering services in agronomy, technical innovation, resale of market ready produce, and angus products. prgtoken Striv Inc. of Henderson, is Jed by Taylor Siebert. He discovered his passion for sharing stories when he started the Heartland Beat, an online blog and newsletter, to reach out to alumni of Heartland Community School. This experience inspired Taylor to explore other avenues for schools and their alumni to create and share content. This discovery process led to the founding of Striv Inc. in 2012. Today, Striv Inc. has taught hundreds of students the necessary skills to provide high quality streaming access and coverage of school events and activities for their schools and communities. The business currently provides educational and streaming services to over 100 school districts in Nebraska. Ever the innovator, Siebert has never stopped creating. The purpose of his latest development, ``Class Intercom,'' is to help school districts more effectively utilize social media to maximize connection, promotion, and information sharing in their communities. Taylor could have created his internet-driven business in any state in the country. He chose to com
A TOPIC THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-7-25

I rise today as a former FBI supervisory special agent and Federal prosecutor and as a strong advocate for civility to speak on a topic that must be addressed. prgtoken In our country, political discourse has disintegrated to a degree that is completely unacceptable. Political opponents label each other as enemies, and differences of opinion are met with slander and, oftentimes, with violence. prgtoken I have never remained silent on this issue. When White supremacists murdered a 32-year-old protestor in Charlottesville, Virginia, I expressed my outrage. When violent clashes erupted in Berkeley, California, in 2017, I also spoke out. prgtoken Recently, in Portland Oregon, a journalist was assaulted by Members of the militant antifa movement. This journalist was covering an ongoing protest and suffered a brain hemorrhage, requiring overnight hospitalization. prgtoken , violence and hatred by any actor on any level is completely unacceptable. What is deeply troubling is antifa's history of provoking and stoking political violence, along with encouraging civil unrest, to dissuade those who do not share their beliefs from exercising their First Amendment rights. prgtoken In addition to the incident in Portland, antifa has tried to insight riots in Washington, D.C following President 's inauguration, and several antifa members in Philadelphia, right outside of my district, were arrested following an assault on Marine reservists. The charges they face include aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, and conspiracy, among others. prgtoken Antifa has no desire to protest peacefully, no desire to learn from other people's experiences, and no desire to be receptive to fair and rational ideas outside of their own. They resort to violence and eschew peaceful demonstration at every turn. prgtoken I recently sent a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr, demanding the Department of Justice initiate proceedings to designate antifa as a domestic terrorist organization to protect the welfare of journalists and also the general public. I have asked my former colleagues at the FBI to do the same. prgtoken Political violence has no place in our society. In my career in law enforcement, I have seen firsthand how violence erodes civil society. We must not give a pass to any organization that perpetuates a vicious cycle of hatred and ignorance. prgtoken Antifa must be designated as the domestic terrorist organization that it is.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-25

this morning, the Senate Finance Committee marked up a legislative package that was designed to address the high prescription drug costs, which have become a burden to Americans of all ages. This is part of a bipartisan effort to make targeted reforms to our healthcare system in order to lower costs for patients and taxpayers without interfering with the free market or the beneficial innovation that comes from it. prgtoken Last month, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Judiciary Committee passed legislative packages that were designed to support this goal. This morning, the Finance Committee passed a package called the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. This legislation looks specifically at reducing prescription drug prices, particularly out-of-pocket costs, for seniors and children through Medicare and Medicaid reforms. prgtoken I have heard a lot from my constituents in Texas about the impact of these high costs. prgtoken Bob from San Angelo told me that both he and his wife have Medicare Part D and are struggling to stretch their retirement incomes far enough to cover the expenses for their prescription drugs. He told me, each month, they pay nearly $800 for Medicare and Medicare supplements. On top of that, they are strapped with high prescription drug costs. In the first 4\1/2\ months of this year, Bob said they spent more than $1,600 on his wife's medication alone. For seniors who live on fixed incomes, these high costs can simply be untenable. prgtoken Then there is Michael, another one of my constituents, who told me about his continued struggle to cover the cost of his medication. He said: ``It feels like we are being taken advantage of because they know we have to take these drugs.'' prgtoken These individuals have been paying into this system for decades, and it is high time we look at ways to reduce the financial strain and provide some relief. prgtoken Now, coming up with policies that will lower out-of-pocket costs is not easy. The whole drug pricing regime is enormously complex--frankly, it is opaque--particularly the relationships between pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers, but we need to work hard at this effort to lower costs in Medicare and Medicaid and to decrease the high cost of prescription drugs even in the commercial markets. prgtoken I appreciate the commitment of Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Wyden to identify potential reforms, and I believe the package that was voted out of the Finance Committee this morning is a step in the prgtoken right direction. This is not a statement of endorsement of the legislation as it has come out of the committee. A lot of work needs to be done, particularly a lot of work in order to reconcile the different approaches of the different committees--the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Judiciary Committee--because the last thing we want to do is to go through this ar
Budget Agreement (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-7-25

I have one message for my colleagues in the Senate and those who might be watching. It is about this chart, which is very simple. This is the line of what we call discretionary spending. This is about 31 percent of the budget. That is the budget agreement you have read about in the newspapers the last couple of days. That is what we are talking about. prgtoken It is a blue line. It has to do with paying for our national defense, so it is about half of the dollars; then for our national parks, America's best idea; then for the National Institutes of Health, the source of medical miracles ranging from restoring your heart to curing Zika to the National Laboratories, which are the sources of our competition with the rest of the world. That is what this money is for. prgtoken What the blue line recognizes is that for the last 10 years, the growth in spending for national defense, national parks, the National Institutes of Health, and National Labs has gone up at about the rate of inflation, and for the next 10 years, including the budget agreement that the President and the congressional leaders recommended this week, it will go at about the rate of inflation. prgtoken The point is, for 20 years--2008 to 2029--the increase in spending for the amount of money we are talking about and for the type of spending in the budget agreement is not the source of the Federal deficit. What is? Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and interest-- that is the red line that 10 years ago was $1.8 trillion. At the rate we are going, it will be $5.4 trillion in 10 years. That is not the type of spending we are talking about in the budget agreement. prgtoken My message today is in support of properly funding national defense, national parks, National Institutes of Health, and National Labs and not beating our chest and pretending that we are balancing the budget on the backs of our soldiers, our medical miracles, and our national parks when, in fact, it is the entitlements that the President and the and the s in Congress need to address. prgtoken I will talk about the blue line today. I have talked about the red line plenty before. Former Senator Corker and I introduced legislation a few years ago that would have reduced the growth of this red line by $1 trillion over 10 years. The only problem was, we were the only two cosponsors of the legislation. prgtoken The budget deficit is vitally damaging to our country, but the budget agreement that President recommended is not the source of the budget deficit. That part of the budget is under control. That is 31 percent of all the dollars we spend in the United States. Just add to that, if this continues for another 10 years, this blue line--national defense, national parks, National Institutes of Health, National Laboratories--is going to go from 31 percent of the budget to 22 percent of the budget, and mandatory spending is going up to 78 percent.
RECOGNIZING LILA MILLER AND ELIZABETH SAUNDERS FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN THE 2019 USROWING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-7-25

. Madam , it's my honor to recognize Lila Miller and Elizabeth Saunders for their success in the 2019 USRowing National Championships. Through their perseverance and determination, Lila and Elizabeth have distinguished themselves as athletes and representatives of their community and Michigan's First District. prgtoken Although Lila is blind, she has learned to row over the past several years as a member of the Lake Leelanau Rowing Club. Together, she and Elizabeth have developed a passion for the sport--and rowing together at the US-Rowing National Championships, they brought home gold medals for the club. With rowers varying in age from 12 to the mid-80's, the Lake Leelanau Rowing Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to promoting access to rowing for Michiganders of all ages and experience levels. They host national sculling clinics, rowing camps, and year-round programs for local youth and adults, including for those with visual impairments. These programs are held on the grounds and lakefront at Fountain Point Resort, Michigan's oldest waterfront resort and a National Historic Site. Fountain Point and Lake Leelanau offer the ideal location for cultivating a love of rowing, offering 17 miles of pristine water for rowers like Lila and Elizabeth to practice the sport. prgtoken Madam , it's my honor to congratulate Lila Miller and Elizabeth Saunders for their success in the 2019 USRowing National Championships. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such exceptional individuals. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Elizabeth and Lila all the best in their future endeavors.
Opioid Epidemic (Executive Session)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-7-25

I am on the floor this afternoon to talk about an issue that I have come to this floor other times to speak about, and that is the drug crisis we face in this country. In fact, I am told that over the last 3 years, I have now come to the floor 58 times to address this topic--to talk about the opioid crisis, talk about the new resurgence of crystal meth, and talk about what we can do about it. prgtoken I will tell you, during those 3 years, we made a lot of progress, not just in talking about this issue but doing something about it. We put new policies in place at the Federal level for better prevention, better treatment, better longer term recovery, and to also help our first responders--specifically, to give them access to this miracle drug naloxone, which reverses the effect of overdose. prgtoken Congress passed legislation, like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, the Cures legislation, and the STOP Act. We have provided actually more than $4 billion of additional funding for these programs--particularly for treatment--over just the last few years. In Ohio alone, we have received $140 million through CARA and Cures since they were signed into law. That money has gone toward innovative, evidence-based programs that are actually making a difference. We had to do this because this crisis has gripped our country in the worst drug epidemic ever. More people are now dying every year from overdoses from these drugs than died in the entire Vietnam conflict, as an example. We have never seen anything quite this bad, so we responded, as we should have, at the national level to a national crisis. prgtoken Working with States, localities, nonprofits, people out there in the trenches doing the hard work, we are beginning to make a difference. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control--CDC--issued a report with their latest statistics on overdose deaths. While drug overdose deaths are still way too high, they show we are actually seeing a reduction. prgtoken By the way, this is the first time we have seen a reduction in opioid overdose deaths in more than 8 years. Think about that. Every year for 8 years, we have seen increases in deaths, to the point that we had over 70,000 people a year dying of overdoses in 2017. In 2018--we now have the numbers in from CDC--it went from roughly 71,000 to roughly 68,000. Again, that is way too high. No one should be satisfied with that. But after increases every year, to have a 4-percent decrease nationally shows that we are beginning to turn the tide. Let's keep doing what we are doing. We cannot pull back now. If we do, it will just go back up again. Actually, it is the first time since 1990, I am told, that nationwide overdoses from any kind of drugs--opioids and other things--have decreased in a calendar year. That is the first time since 1990. prgtoken In Ohio, we did even better from 2017 to 2018. We had more than a 4- percent drop; we actually had a
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, JULY 29, 2019
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-7-25

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m. on Monday, July 29; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to consideration of the veto messages to accompany S.J. Res 36, 37, and 38, with the time until 5:30 p.m. divided as under the previous order; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's session of the Senate ripen following disposition of the joint resolutions.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HIRE A VETERAN DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-7-25

I rise today to recognize today, July 25, as National Hire A Veteran Day. prgtoken In 2017, the nonprofit Hire Our Heroes established the day to highlight the many talented men and women who served our country and are now seeking civilian employment. prgtoken Hire Our Heroes serves as a resource bank for veterans to seek professional advice, discover new training opportunities, and search for new job opportunities. prgtoken Our Nation's veterans are some of the most dedicated and selfless individuals who call this great Nation home. While we may never be able to repay them for their sacrifice fully, the very least we can do is to help ease the transition back into civilian life. prgtoken A big part of that transition is ensuring there are well-paying, family-sustaining jobs available for our men and women in uniform when they return home. prgtoken The most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show veteran unemployment at 3.2 percent, the lowest rate since 2011. That is great news, but that does not mean our work here is done. prgtoken As a proud father of an Army infantryman, I am proud to have supported legislation throughout my time in Congress that ensures our Active Duty servicemembers and their spouses have the tools they need to defend our country successfully. But it is critical that we also support legislation that prepares our veterans for adjusting to life after combat. prgtoken There are more than 7 million open jobs across the country. Our veterans want to work, and service is in their veins. prgtoken They want to make an honest living and provide for their families. They prgtoken want to learn new skills and be proud of the work that they do. It is important that we do our part to ensure these opportunities are available. prgtoken We can bolster veteran employment opportunities with career and technical education. Many of the men and women seeking civilian employment are already highly skilled, highly trained. They are experienced, literally, under fire. prgtoken The skills that come with CTE training can help expand our veterans' existing skill sets and prepare them for careers in STEM disciplines, nursing, construction, information technology, energy, cybersecurity, and many more. prgtoken , our veterans are a huge part of what makes this country so great. They have chosen to risk their lives to protect our Nation. We have the opportunity, no, the responsibility to provide them with the best possible care and to empower them with the necessary tools to make smart career decisions when we welcome them home. prgtoken Hire Our Heroes says the best way to thank a veteran is to hire one. We should all keep this in mind as we celebrate our Nation's veterans today and for many more days to come.
IN HONOR OF WILLIAM J. NOONAN'S RETIREMENT
Mark E. Amodei (Republican, NV) \u2014 2019-7-25

. Madam , on July 31st, an era will end. After a long and successful career in government and the gaming industry--the last 18 years of which he spent at Boyd Gaming--William J. Noonan will retire. Bill's long career--truly an American success story--has midwestern roots. A graduate of Missouri State before receiving his master's in public administration from the University Kansas, Bill spent years managing cities all across this country. From Springfield, Missouri, to small towns in Florida, and eventually to Las Vegas in the 1990s, Bill's positive energy and inspiring leadership guided cities large and small through some of the toughest and most exciting of economic times. When Bill first landed in Las Vegas in 1990, it was a city of just under a million people. Gaming was not widely legalized throughout the country, but was about to be . . . and Bill sensed a boom coming. He worked with city leaders to prepare for what was to come and would soon take his skills into the private sector for a number of companies who needed to understand the key relationship that exists between the gaming industry and the communities in which they operate. Bill was exactly the right person for the job. Since those humble beginnings of his youth, Bill has actually run a casino, dined with US presidents, overseen corporate philanthropies that have donated millions to communities and worthwhile causes, successfully recruited a professional football team to Las Vegas, and helped a city gather itself together after the horrific events of October 1 in his role as chairman of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. For his leadership to community and country, Bill's been recognized numerous times--by his industry as the Gaming Professional of the Year; by his alma mater as an outstanding alumnus; and by his state by serving on a number of prestigious boards. But if you know Bill, you know he really only cares about the appreciation of those with whom he works and the recognition of his lifelong love Sylvia and their beautiful family . . . with whom he now gets to spend a lot more time. I wish my friend well. I thank him for his contributions, and I congratulate him on his retirement.