mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CLOTURE MOTION
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-4-4

earlier today, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination for the next Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The nominee is named Mark Calabria, and I just want to say he is an extraordinarily qualified and capable man. I hope this body will overwhelmingly confirm him. prgtoken He is a Ph.D. economist. He has tremendous work experience in the field of housing finance, which of course is the domain of the Federal Housing Agency. He has worked at HUD, the Banking Committee, and now he is the chief economist to Vice President . prgtoken I am certainly looking forward to working with Dr. Calabria on housing finance reform, the great unfinished work of the financial crisis, and I urge my colleagues to vote to confirm him later today. Unrealized Gain Proposal prgtoken , I also wanted to say a few words about an idea that has been floated by one of our colleagues. The idea has been floated by my friend--he is my friend, and he is a good man--Senator Wyden from Oregon. He is the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and he is a very good man with a very bad idea, and I want to explain why I believe the idea that he has floated is so mistaken. prgtoken Fundamentally, his proposal is that we change our Tax Code so that we would impose taxes on unrealized investment gains every year. prgtoken Currently, we impose taxes on investments only when the asset is sold. If an asset is purchased, it is later sold at a higher price. The difference is the gain, and we impose what we call a capital gains tax on that gain--but only when the gain is actually realized. prgtoken Under Senator Wyden's proposal, if an asset goes up in value, even though it hasn't been sold, the fact that it has gone up in value would require that increase in value to be taxed. The investor would have to pay a tax. prgtoken There is another element of his proposal, which is that these taxes that he wants to impose on these phantom gains would not be at the capital gains tax rate that is currently enforced but rather at personal income tax rates instead. prgtoken The current capital gains rate is 23.8 percent. That is the top. That is the prgtoken highest capital gains rate that is paid. The highest personal income tax rate in our Tax Code is 37 percent. So in some circumstances, this would be a huge tax increase. prgtoken Let me explain why I think both of these are very bad ideas--taxing unrealized gains and taxing all gains at ordinary income rates. prgtoken First of all, let's take the idea of taxes on unrealized gains. These are the paper gains. This is a market-to-market appreciation that is unrealized if the investor doesn't actually sell the asset. Well, there is a good reason that our system has never imposed taxes on unrealized gains; there are several, but one is the value of the asset could go back down. prgtoken One very widely held asset in America is stocks--stocks that yo
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIGMA NU FRATERNITY
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2019-4-4

I am pleased to advise the Senate of the 150th anniversary of Sigma Nu Fraternity, a principles-based men's fraternal organization with more than 160 chapters on college campuses in the United States, approximately 12,000 current collegiate members, and more than 250,000 initiates in its history. This year, Sigma Nu celebrates the 150th anniversary of its public founding on January 1, 1869, at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Cadets James Frank Hopkins, James McIlvaine Riley, and Greenfield Quarles joined together to form Sigma Nu as a brotherhood committed to the principles of love, honor, and truth and in firm opposition to hazing. Sigma Nu Fraternity remains the only men's college fraternity founded in direct opposition to hazing. Its history and its mission to develop ethical leaders for today's society are worthy of the highest esteem. prgtoken Originally founded as the Legion of Honor, Sigma Nu's central founding value is honor, and the concept that a man's character and conduct should always be governed by a high sense of honor guides all its work. This value is as relevant 150 years later as it was then. prgtoken For 150 years, members of Sigma Nu have led in their respective communities, professions, and families. From NASA to the Pentagon, from the arts to the sciences, and from business to public service, there are few facets of American life and history in which a Sigma Nu initiate has not made his mark. prgtoken When this Nation has called upon its citizen-soldiers, Sigma Nu initiates have answered that call. They have fought and died in every major conflict since the Civil War. Its members are veterans of every branch of the Armed Forces, including two Medal of Honor recipients. Sigma Nus have understood the price of freedom and been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for it. prgtoken The 12,000 collegiate members on campuses across the country today serve their communities in student government, interfraternity councils, athletic teams, and other student organizations. Last year, these young future leaders of our Nation performed over 375,000 hours of community service and raised over $2 million for philanthropic causes. prgtoken Whether it is through its award-winning ethical leadership development program, LEAD, or through the mentorship of more than 2,000 volunteer advisors, Sigma Nu continues to be at the forefront of developing the minds, hearts, and character of its initiates, inspiring them to excel with the timeless value of honor. prgtoken Today, in its 150th year, Sigma Nu Fraternity calls upon its initiates to renew that legacy, to reflect on the principles of its founders, and to commit to a strong future for this esteemed brotherhood. As a proud initiate of Sigma Nu Fraternity, I would like to congratulate the fraternity on achieving 150 years of love, honor, and truth and to wish it many more years to come.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Madam , the bill that was entitled the Violence Against Women Act was passed in the House today, and I deeply regret it was not the kind of bipartisan bill that I feel like we should have had. prgtoken I don't know anybody in this Chamber who supports violence against women or who does not want to do what we can to stop it. We battled this out verbally in the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken It is so clear to me, having prosecuted sexual assaults of women who were battered and beat up badly by their husbands or partners, that it is such an egregious thing. I heard over and over as a felony judge in Texas about how traumatized the women were and potentially would be for the rest of their lives. I heard that, with counseling, they could work to avoid having the triggers that put them right back in the place where they were so badly abused. prgtoken More recent literature indicates that women who have been sexually assaulted seem to have a much higher percent--a number of times, apparently--more post-traumatic stress disorder after having been sexually abused than even soldiers have after combat. One suggestion in a study indicates that because soldiers are trained for what they go through, perhaps that reduces the amount of PTSD. There is no adequate training to prepare a woman for the kind of abuse that so many have suffered. prgtoken One of the triggers that I have heard about as a judge that could trigger this trauma, reliving the experience all over again, is a woman being in a confined space and having a biological man come in to that confined space. We have heard of women assaulting men who have done that, some who may have been through sexual assault before. prgtoken I understand the idea of my colleagues across the aisle who want to help avoid hurting the feelings of biological men who think they are women, or according to the latest rendition of DSM-5, they are suffering from gender dysphoria, which is kind of the opposite of euphoria, but it basically is a confusion or a discomfort with one's biologically assigned gender. prgtoken So I get it. You don't want to make them feel bad. You don't want to hurt their feelings. So to avoid hurting their feelings, we would put so many women at risk. prgtoken A lot of folks I have heard say that one in four women will be sexually assaulted. If that is true, then that means that those who voted for this bill today would seek to punish again and again and again women who have suffered the outrageous and egregious assault sexually or being battered with no way out. prgtoken When my friend across the aisle, Debbie Dingell, speaks of those fears and terrors as a child and abuse going on in the home, my heart goes out to her and anybody who has suffered like that. prgtoken But this is the United States Congress. Can't we have a bill that doesn't have a political aspect and that just tries to do the right thing by women who have suffered from sexual assault or being battered
CLOTURE MOTION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-4-4

in reserving the right to object, I am all for transparency. I think we should know as much about this investigation into the President as we possibly can. We do know that we only know part of the story and that the Mueller report is only part of the story. What we also need to know is how this originated because I think it is very important that we not turn our country into this back- and-forth where each successive party tries to use the apparatus of government to investigate the previous President. prgtoken We do know now that the investigation of the campaign reached to the highest levels of the White House, all the way up to President . What we don't know is, was President told that the evidence to get this investigation started was paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign? We need to know that. That is not part of the Mueller report, but that is something that I am asking that we should attach to this resolution. We need to know, was President told that this information came from the Hillary Clinton campaign? prgtoken We do not yet know whether John Brennan was involved and to what degree. We do not know whether John Brennan colluded with British spy agencies to spy on Americans. It is illegal for our CIA to spy on Americans. We don't yet know whether John Brennan was colluding with British spy agencies and other spy agencies to get them to do his dirty work. prgtoken We do know now that John Brennan, who had the power to listen to every American's phone call and who had the power to listen to every person's phone call in the entire world, is a rank partisan. We now know that John Brennan has called the President a traitor, essentially saying the President should be put to death. This is the guy who was in charge of this investigation. This isn't an objective person. We need to know about all of the communications. prgtoken So I ask unanimous consent that we modify this resolution and that we find out about and gain access to all of the communications between Comey, Brennan, Clapper, the White House, and President , because I don't want to ruin this great country with politically motivated investigations year in and year out. prgtoken This had to do with placing spies and infiltrating the campaign. Do you really think that our intelligence Agencies should be infiltrating each other's campaigns? prgtoken I don't want this to happen to a . When President came to the Hill a week ago, he said that this shouldn't happen to the next ic President. We should not misuse the power of our intelligence Agencies to have one party go after another. How can we get on with the people's business if we are allowing the government to be consumed with this kind of stuff? prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that we amend the resolution and look at the entire story--not just at the investigation but at how we got here. The media wouldn't even print this fake do
TRIBUTE TO ZYGMUND KOWALEWSKI
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Madam , today I'd like to congratulate Zygmund Kowalewski on the prgtoken occasion of his 99th birthday on April 7th, and thank him for his service to the United States Navy and to the United States of America. prgtoken Mr. Kowalewski enlisted as a gunner on a twin-engine PBM flying boat in October of 1941, just two months before the ambush at Pearl Harbor would launch the U.S. into World War II. As a part of Torpedo Squadron Eight present at the Battle of Midway, he and his fellow crew members earned commendations for bravery in engagements at Guadalcanal, Midway, and the British Solomon Islands. prgtoken Attempting to fly a mail route off the coast of the Fiji Islands, Mr. Kowalewski's plane stalled on takeoff and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. He was forced to free himself from the downed plane and paddle from the wreckage, fearful the ship's 500-pound depth charges would detonate. Madam , even after receiving combat honors twice for his heroics, Mr. Kowalewski once again piloted a U.S. Navy plane, instead hunting German submarines in the North Atlantic Ocean. prgtoken Mr. Kowalewski moved out to Alaska in 1967 after fulfilling his Naval service, continuing to fly as an FAA Airway Systems Inspection Pilot. But whether he was piloting a torpedo bomber or a twin-engine Cessna, he always conducted himself with valor and should be considered among Alaska's finest Naval Aviators for his service. prgtoken An aviator needs quick decision-making and a cool head to fly a plane in combat. Many of us will not know the kind of mental toughness required to see a mission to its conclusion, even under the most dire flight conditions. prgtoken Madam , I rise today to honor Zygmund Kowalewski, who now at the age of 99, will have spent nearly one quarter of his life's work in service to his country having flown missions from Dutch Harbor to the Panama Canal. There are few people that can claim to have sacrificed as much under our flag, and he is owed the thanks and gratitude of all of us here in Washington and in Alaska.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
Martha McSally (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-4-8

the Colorado River is the lifeblood of the Southwestern United States. The river provides drinking water to 40 million Americans, irrigation to 5.5 million acres of farmland, and more than 4,000 megawatts of carbon-free hydropower to communities across the West in seven States. prgtoken Unfortunately, the last 19 years have been the Colorado Basin's driest on record. This long and intense drought has left the combined water stored behind Lake Powell and Lake Mead near critically low levels, putting the water supply for some of the Nation's largest cities in danger. prgtoken The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan--otherwise known as the DCP--was negotiated among the seven Colorado River Basin States to respond to this prolonged drought. It is designed to protect Lakes Mead and Powell from reaching certain critical water elevations that would trigger severe water supply and hydropower impacts, including the risk of reaching crisis levels where operational control of the Colorado River system would be lost. prgtoken These States put in a lot of hard work and sacrifice for the good of all who rely on the river. By doing this, they avoided having the Department of Interior directing draconian measures and cuts from the Federal Government. But the plan must be codified in law. It literally takes an act of Congress to approve the DCP, and it is urgent. That is why I am on the floor today. prgtoken I am proud of the bipartisan nature of this legislation. As the Water and Power Subcommittee chair, I am leading this legislation with my ic ranking member from Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto. We have all 14 Senators from all 7 States--8 and 6 s spanning a wide ideological spectrum--as original cosponsors. This bill is about an impending water crisis impacting Western States like Arizona. The effort to get this bill to this point is an example of bipartisanship that Arizonans and Americans are calling for. This is about the livelihood and the safety of 40 million Americans. prgtoken The Colorado River DCP Authorization Act puts sound water policy over partisan politics. People thought that never happened in Washington, DC. Today, they should be celebrating about this bill. I ask all my colleagues to join the 14 bipartisan Senators from the Colorado River Basin and support this bill. prgtoken , as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1057. I further ask consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
RECOGNIZING WORK OF CUSTOMS, BORDER PATROL AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-4-8

I rise tonight to speak about our recent trip, on Friday, to Calexico, California, on the southern border between California and Mexico, with President and several of my colleagues here from the House. prgtoken What really stood out the most to me on this visit was the dedicated men and women who do this important work along the border from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol. They did make it very clear to us in the group that they don't currently have the personnel, the funding, the infrastructure, and even the commitment by Congress to do everything they need to do to get their job done well. prgtoken This includes the continued need for a physical barrier along the border, which they have seen and have demonstrated works very well. They reinforced that fences do, indeed, work. They serve as chokepoints for those who are trying to come across the border illegally. We have much to do in this department if we are going to have a secure border. prgtoken For this time, my hat is off to them for the great work they do and for being honest with us about what needs to be done so they can do their jobs well instead of watching them go right on by into our country.
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-4-8

for 1 minute before I speak about what I came for a longer period of time to the floor to speak about, I want to address a trade issue. Congress needs to pass the United States-Mexico- Canada agreement this year to give farmers and businesses the certainty that they need and the certainty they deserve. prgtoken The past year has brought rising costs, lost markets, and uncertainty for the farmers and businesses. We need to focus on creating opportunities instead of erecting barriers. I would like to see a resolution with Canada and Mexico on steel and aluminum tariffs, one that would acknowledge that we need our allies to help us deal with the source of the overcapacity problems, and that source of the problem is China. prgtoken I urge President to lift the 232 tariffs so that we can forge ahead with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement and eliminate the uncertainty that is present in the American market.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
David B. McKinley (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-4-8

. Mr. Chair, the Violence Against Women Act is an important law that authorizes funding to protect women from violent crimes and supports victims. Let me be clear: the Violence Against Women Act needs to be reauthorized. In 2013, I was proud to vote to reauthorize this legislation. Last fall, I joined a letter urging Ryan to pass a clean extension of the Violence Against Women Act before it expired. Finally, I will vote to support a clean one-year extension of the Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken Unfortunately, my ic colleagues let politics stand in the way of funding to help victims of violent crimes. They have included provisions in H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, to deny citizens of their constitutional Second Amendment rights without due process. Our requests for a clean reauthorization, without such politicized provisions, have gone unanswered. prgtoken Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault deserve better. This is why I opposed prgtoken H.R. 1585. Congress needs to work towards a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that removes these poison pills and puts victims before politics.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-4-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this is a totally unique bill. What we have done is allowed the seven affected States to get together and work out a solution and bring it to us and then we, in Congress, didn't screw it up too badly. prgtoken So what we have done now is, if this bill can actually go into law, we have allowed for the system to build the capacity to store 60 million acre-feet of water that will help 5.5 million acres of irrigated lands, 40 million people, and can also produce over 4,000 megawatts of clean electricity. prgtoken It is rare for Congress, but in this case, we respected what the States have done, and we are moving quickly to try and get this into law. prgtoken I appreciate the chairman and the 30 other Members from the affected States who have joined me as part of this bill. Now I hope we can expedite this and send it over to the Senate where we will ask them to refrain from their usual practices and to quickly get this bill on the President's desk because, not only is this bill bipartisan, this bill is that important. prgtoken .
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-4-8

I thank the ranking member for yielding. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 2030, the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act. The Colorado River is a critical source of water for approximately 19 million people in the southern California region. After 19 years of drought on the Colorado, Lake Mead is near critical levels. If no action is taken, it is estimated that by 2021, Lake Mead could reach critically low elevations where basic reservoir operations and water deliveries become impossible. prgtoken We are here today because of the tremendous leadership of the seven Colorado River Basin States, the water users throughout the basin. Traditionally, the shared water resources of the Colorado River have been managed through consensus and collaboration, and the drought contingency plan, or DCP, is no exception. prgtoken Water users throughout the basin agree to voluntary conservation measures that protect existing water rights in order to protect the water supplies of Lake Powell and Lake Mead for the foreseeable future. prgtoken I want to commend the bill's sponsor for working to ensure that the Salton Sea is protected under this legislation. DCP was developed with input from stakeholders throughout the basin, including water users, Tribal leaders, and environmental groups. California holds the senior water rights in the lower basin. In the short term, though, California may have the most water security during this historic drought, but water leaders in my region recognize the importance of protecting Lake Mead now to preserve southern California's long-term water supply reliability. prgtoken , I want to extend a special thanks to Jeff Kightlinger for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to get this historic deal across the finish line. If not for his work over the last several years, we would not be here today. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.