mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-7-25

I was trying to explain to those who are watching this what is going on. What is going on is, we actually have a very collegial environment, where we come to the floor and ask unanimous consent on something, and if somebody doesn't object, the bill moves out of the Chamber. We don't surprise people. We inform them so they are able to come to the floor and register their objection, which is exactly what Senator Hirono did today. So you could ask yourself, why would I come down here and offer up something I knew was going to be objected to and not move forward? Because I think it is pretty important for people to understand we are making progress, and it is pretty important to keep this issue and this discussion active in the U.S. Congress because Congress needs to act. prgtoken Regardless of where you are on the administration's position, it is Congress's job to set long-term clarity. It is our job to set policy that can't move based on who happens to be in the White House. It is our job to fix the immigration problem, not the President's. This is the first step, in a number of things we need to do, to fix the failed immigration system in this country and to fix what I think are legitimately some injustices going on. prgtoken I have to disagree--I think it is interesting--and I look forward to reading the measure Senator Durbin put forth for unanimous consent. In his comments, he said a part of the baseline language came from a bill I have been working on with Senator Feinstein, the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act. prgtoken What we are trying to do is figure out a reasonable, fair way to keep families together, to have families prioritized so they can go before a judge and determine whether they have a legitimate asylum claim, and to move as expeditiously as possible. prgtoken So this bill--if you heard Senator Hirono, you would think it is some heartless, uncaring--I think the words were ``partisan political stunt.'' prgtoken Let me just tell my colleagues briefly--and I know Senators Heller and Cornyn will speak as well--this bill has agreement on most of the provisions. We want to make absolutely certain that if the families have to be kept together while they are going through the adjudication process, that it is in proper facilities. We want to make sure that if the parents want their children with them while they are being detained--which is, on average, about 40 to 60 days before they get their case cleared--then they can. prgtoken We also want that time period to be reduced, which is why we agree that we need to add an aggregate of about 700 judges to draw the backlog down, but until the backlog gets drawn down, parents with children get to the front of the line. We want to make sure there are an adequate number of attorneys--about two and one-half to every one judge we are adding--so we don't get clogged up in the courts. prgtoken This discussion about indefinite de
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE OSTROM
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-7-25

this week I have the honor of recognizing George Ostrom of Flathead County, on his 90th birthday, for his 60-plus years of contributions to news broadcasting and journalism in Montana. prgtoken A native Montanan, George spent the beginning of his formative years on a ranch in Sanders County and then in a mining camp near Kila. At age 17, George left Flathead High School to enlist in the Army and served his country for the next 3 years while stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Following his return to the States, George spent a few years as a Forest Service smokejumper before an injury led him to seek employment at a newly founded radio station in Kalispell. prgtoken Ever since landing the gig as an announcer for KOFI radio in 1956, George has been a staple in Montana broadcasting. After rising up the ranks to eventually become co-owner of the station, George purchased the Kalispell Weekly News in 1974, which he grew into the most circulated weekly in Montana. He was also the host of a KCFW-TV program. George is the author of three books and writes a weekly column for the Hungry Horse News. He continues on-air in the Flathead with his own ``George Ostrum News & Comment,'' a key component of the KGEZ 600 AM Good Morning show. prgtoken He has served on countless boards including the Red Cross, ALERT, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and, for more than 20 years, the University of Montana president's advisory council. Now known as the dean of Montana radio broadcasters, he has been inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Hall of Fame. prgtoken Presently, George resides in Kalispell with his wife, Iris, and has 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He still finds time to go on weekly excursions with the ``Over-the-Hill Gang'' in Glacier National Park. I congratulate and thank George for his continued dedication to sharing his voice with his fellow Montanans.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-7-25

earlier this month, President announced his choice to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, and he told us that nominee would be Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken During this short period of time--just a little over 2 weeks--we have seen some of our friends across the aisle attempt to tank Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation before it really has a chance to get started, certainly before they have a chance to meet him. Five of our colleagues across the aisle announced their opposition to any Supreme Court Justice President might nominate--anybody; fill in the blank. Then, once the President chose Judge Kavanaugh, 15 more fell into lockstep with the first 5, so now we have 20 of our ic colleagues, before they have even had a chance to meet the judge, who have announced their implacable opposition. prgtoken I thought that would pretty much take the cake until I saw reported this morning that one of our colleagues across the aisle said that to support Judge Kavanaugh would make you complicit in evil. It is hard to take statements like that seriously. To me, that is completely unhinged and detached from any reality. This is the same judge who was confirmed in 2006 by a substantial bipartisan vote to what many have called the second most important court in the Nation. My advice to some of our friends across the aisle who are engaged in this kind of super-heated rhetoric is, get a grip. Get a grip. prgtoken The strategy we have seen on the other side hasn't worked too well. They have targeted the nominee's character, but then they have had to deal with the fact that this nominee is a standup guy and a good father. Multiple fact-checkers debunked claims regarding his legal views, as well as the timing of his confirmation, so it seems like our colleagues have moved on. prgtoken Now it seems like it is all about the paper. It is all about documents. We have heard from some of our colleagues requesting that every email, every memo, every document that ever crossed Brett Kavanaugh's desk be disgorged and produced in the course of this confirmation proceeding. Ignore the fact for a minute that when he was confirmed to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, they didn't request any of the documents from when he was Staff Secretary for the President of the United States, but now, for some mysterious reason, they could well be hiding the smoking gun they will use to derail his confirmation--or at least so they are acting. prgtoken In the course of my legal career--I served for 13 years as a judge on the trial court and appellate courts in Texas--I have seen phishing expeditions before, and this is the very definition of a phishing expedition. prgtoken I agree with our colleagues who say all relevant documents need to be produced--and should be and will be produced in a perfectly normal part of confirming a judicial nominee. But that is the
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2018-7-25

I am really pleased to be on the floor today to join my fellow Senator from Missouri to talk about, as a fellow member of the Appropriations Committee, what I think are the real highlights and the good parts about the fact that the process is moving but also what is contained within the process. prgtoken Senator Blunt did a great job, I think, of explaining some of the more detailed areas that are important to the entire Country but also to his area. I am going to do the same for my State of West Virginia. prgtoken I want to commend the committee leadership, both the committee chairs and the ranking members, and our Senate leadership, both Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer, for moving this process forward and for making good on the promise that we are going to return the appropriations process to regular order. prgtoken I tried it to explain it in a radio interview today. I found myself saying: Well, of course, we would be doing this every year, because appropriating money every year is one of the core missions of the Congress. It kind of hasn't worked out that way. This progress that we are making on these four bills and the three previous bills, I think, are an indicator that we will have overwhelming bipartisan support. Each of these bills was written under the budget agreement that we passed and President signed into law. prgtoken These bills address a broad range of national concerns and priorities. They highlight areas that we found bipartisan agreement and support on. I am also happy that many of these bills not only have national priorities, but a lot of the national priorities are focused toward different States--rural America, urban America, agriculture America, highly technical jobs, et cetera. prgtoken Since my first days in the Senate, I have been committed to doing all that I can to advance the issues that help the Mountain State, including improving our economy and making room for prgtoken growth and development, fighting burdensome and overreaching environmental regulations that have crippled our coal industry, improving broadband access in our rural communities and across the States, and fighting the opioid epidemic that has disproportionately affected my State of West Virginia and is devastating so many families and communities not only in our State but across the country. prgtoken The bills under consideration today include resources and directions to address each of these priorities and many others. prgtoken In our Omnibus appropriations act of 2018, we made a significant investment in a pilot project at the USDA to improve rural broadband in unserved and underserved areas. The State of West Virginia is right in there in terms of lack of broadband deployment in our most rural areas. The Agriculture appropriations bill in this minibus builds on those investments and provides an additional $400 million into that pilot program. prgtoken Closing the digital divide has been o
MUELLER RESOLUTION
Todd Rokita (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-7-25

I stand here today ultimately seeking justice for the American people and to end what our President has rightfully described as a witch hunt. prgtoken For too long, our resources have been wasted on Robert Mueller's probe into Russian collusion in our 2016 elections. Not only has this probe dragged on for over a year, but it has undermined our entire system of justice at this point while giving Washington elites and their biased counsel a pass to work above the law, exempt from any boundaries. prgtoken Through my Mueller Resolution, I am calling for us to call for the termination of the probe if no evidence of Russian collusion can be provided. And, again, after over a year, no evidence has been provided. It is time for the restoration of the rule of law back into our Justice Department, and that is why I am imploring my colleagues to fight alongside me by signing on to this resolution. Let's work together to end the clear manipulation of power against our President. prgtoken The President has the American people's prosperity and security at the top of his priorities. prgtoken Let's look at the results so far. Let's look at his track record. The economy is booming, regulations have been cut, and we are leading the world again. prgtoken This witch hunt against our President is unprecedented and it is uncalled for. prgtoken The have become the party of obstruct and resist, obstruct and resist, obstruct and resist. prgtoken The Dems call 's tax cuts crumbs, even though it benefits millions of Americans. Those $1,000 bonuses that are the result of the tax cuts and the economy booming are putting more food on the table, more security in the home, help with childcare, and everything else. They are anything, but crumbs. prgtoken The are calling for the abolishment of ICE, even though they protect millions of Americans, even though they protect us. Since when has this body, since when has a party become so resistant, become so obstructionist against law and order, against law enforcement, against our fellow citizens who are protecting us. prgtoken The are out of touch with the American people. prgtoken It is time to throw our full support behind the President. prgtoken Just look at this week in the Senate. Senator Corey Booker said that anyone who supports Judge Cavanaugh, President 's next nominee for the Supreme Court, is ``complicit in evil.'' prgtoken , how far have we gone? How out of touch is one political party in this Nation? prgtoken Let's support the President when he wants to put America First, and all that means. We saw that with NATO, he is calling on the other nations to finally pay their fair share, to do what is right, to do what they agreed to. If we have to be the world's police force, at least we should have some help paying for it. prgtoken And the same with what is going on at the U.N. We pay, we pay, we pay, the taxpayers pay and pay and pay, yet we don't get the s
SUSTAINABLE CONTROL OF THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-7-25

I rise today to congratulate and thank my dear friend Bob Rosasco for his efforts with MINTS International Seminary and its seminary-in-prison degree program. prgtoken Since 2010, this organization has been teaching theology in Florida's prisons in order to educate, to train, and to equip members of the prison population, so they can teach others about religion and the word of God. prgtoken This program provides inmates with the necessary tools and training that prepare them to reenter society and become productive members of the community after their release. Studies have shown that those who participate in education programs, including religious programs, while incarcerated are much less likely to reoffend. prgtoken Because of Bob Rosasco and the efforts of so many like him, this program now has more than 200 students participating, with plans to keep expanding beyond Florida and across the United States. prgtoken We are blessed to have Bob Rosasco as a member of our south Florida community, and I commend him for continuously giving back to others by sharing his time, his knowledge, and his passion. Recognizing Ryan Dooley
IN HONOR OF WENDELL LAWRENCE'S SERVICE TO KENTUCKY
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-7-25

I rise today to honor Wendell Lawrence upon his retirement as Executive Director of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District (LTADD) on August 1, 2018, after 35 years of service and more than 20 years as Executive Director. LTADD provides economic and workforce development services for Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Meade, Nelson, and Washington Counties in Kentucky's Second District. prgtoken Wendell began his lifetime of service in the U.S. Army and retired as a captain from the U.S. Army Reserve after serving for 23 years. He has worked for LTADD since 1983, where he has proven himself an invaluable member of our local community and advocate for the region. Under his leadership, LTADD has grown and has helped countless Kentuckians find jobs.. Wendell has worked with Fort Knox, other community stakeholders, and the government to direct resources to the Lincoln Trail area, and our community is better off for his service. prgtoken I want to thank Wendell for his years of service to our community. He will be missed, but I wish him and his family the best in his retirement.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF GOVERNING BY CONTINUING RESOLUTION
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-7-25

I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding. It wasn't too long ago that we had the gentleman visit our district in western Pennsylvania to talk to a number of folks in the defense industry, and I just applaud him for his very serious work on the Armed Services Committee. prgtoken He is good to highlight the situations that we come into when we see these continuing resolutions, the damage it does to our military, the need for long-term planning, how we have threats around the world, both emerging threats that continue to evolve, but there are our old adversaries and not-so-old adversaries: Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and global terror networks. prgtoken We could go on and on and on, but we have to have a military that is ready to respond. And we cannot be holding our military budget hostage to any other part of the Federal Government. It makes no sense. prgtoken Speaking of one of those adversaries, I want to talk a little bit about Russia, because Russia has been in the news so much lately. Mr I want to talk about Russia and the threat it poses to us and our allies. prgtoken For the past 40 years or so, I would describe myself as a hawk when it comes to Russia. As such, I would like to welcome my friends from across the aisle who are finally starting to express their concerns about the Russian bear. The question I have is: What took so long? prgtoken Russia has been an adversary of the United States and the West for decades. I will spare the House a lengthy history lesson and then, instead, focus on the recent past. This is important because in conversations I have had back home, there are some constituents who are unaware of that history. prgtoken Next month will mark 10 years since Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia. In response to this, then-President condemned the action saying: The territorial integrity and borders of Georgia must be respected, just as those of Russia or any other country. prgtoken Less than 7 months after the 2008 Georgia invasion, however, during the opening days of the administration, then-Secretary of State Clinton presented a reset button to Russian's foreign minister, as if it was the prior administration's fault for Russia's aggression and consequent chilly relationship. prgtoken And mere months after hitting the reset button, we learned President was shutting down a proposed missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Some reset. prgtoken Within the aura of this reset, a Russian bank paid Secretary Clinton's husband $500,000 for a 1-hour speech in Moscow. That is some billable rate, even for a Yale Law School graduate. prgtoken At the same time, a Russian company was preparing to take a controlling interest in Uranium One, a corporation that held 20 percent of the U.S's uranium supply. That foreign acquisition required the approval of the administration and Secretary Clinton. Approval was granted.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-7-25

I rise to urge my colleagues to oppose the Paul amendment. prgtoken While we all understand the desire to cut spending, the allocations in this package before us are based on caps that were set in a bipartisan budget agreement signed into law earlier this year. I think we cannot go back on our word and our agreement and expect bipartisan support. prgtoken We are working longer in the Appropriations Committee. I think we are doing well at this point. We have a long way to go, but if we start loading it up, the process will fall apart. prgtoken I urge you to vote no on the Paul amendment.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-7-25

in 2010, legislation passed that mandated national calorie menu labeling standards for chain restaurants and similar retail food locations, like grocery stores. Many of us know that there are many different ways that foods are prepared and sold to customers. We can see all kinds of examples by walking around the Capitol Complex itself, let alone through one's neighborhood grocery store. As a result, it would be almost impossible to have a one-size- fits-all rule. prgtoken Before I mention what the Blunt-Alexander-King substitute amendment would have done, to which the Senator from Washington State has objected, let me, first of all, address the House-passed bipartisan bill that has been pending on the Senate's calendar. prgtoken Senator King joined me in introducing the bipartisan Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act here in the Senate--the same bill that has already passed in the House. The bill is not just bicameral but bipartisan, meaning and s have sponsored legislation in the Senate and and s have passed the same legislation in the House. My ic colleague from Missouri cosponsored the initial bill. prgtoken The House-passed bill would not exempt pizza delivery and it wouldn't exempt supermarkets or grocery stores or convenience stores or others from menu labeling requirements. prgtoken There are always all kinds of things that are talked about here. What the House bill and what the Blunt-Alexander-King bill would do, which is pending in the Senate, is recognize that there are unique differences in business types and product offerings to allow for more flexibility in different kinds of business models providing their customers with calorie information. This would still happen under our bill, but it would happen in a more effective way so that it meets the customers' needs. The goal here should be the customers' receiving the information rather than exactly where the information is placed in a one-size-fits-all or in a one-location-fits-all kind of format. prgtoken The campaign on this issue of misinformation has run pretty wild. There is a group saying that what we are trying to do is exempt restaurants and others from menu labeling. They clearly haven't read the bill that Senator Alexander and I and Senator King have introduced. I would like to go on record as saying what the amendment does. prgtoken First and foremost, it does not impact the delay of that menu labeling final rule that went into effect this year. Again, it does not impact the delay or stop the menu labeling final rule. The Blunt- Alexander-King amendment provides those who have to implement the rule with the regulatory flexibility to implement the rule and provide the information to their customers in the most useful manner. The amendment also provides protection against frivolous lawsuits. That is really all it does. Those are two big things, but they are two not very complica