mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Venezuela (Executive Session)
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-11

I rise today in opposition to the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior. prgtoken I opposed his nomination as Deputy Secretary of the Interior because of his numerous conflicts of interest as a former lobbyist. prgtoken Bernhardt's tenure, both as Deputy Secretary and now the Acting Secretary at Interior, has since confirmed my initial concerns and given rise to new ones. prgtoken As a former partner at a powerful DC lobbying and law firm, Bernhardt represented numerous oil, gas, mining, and water companies with ongoing business before the Department that he now oversees. prgtoken The Washington Post recently reported that he has at least 22 known conflicts of interest, the most of any of President 's nominees. prgtoken This is particularly concerning given that Mr. Bernhardt's recusals mandated by President will expire in August, and he has refused to commit to continuing recusing himself beyond then on any issues that could benefit former clients. prgtoken In fact, during his recent confirmation hearing, Bernhardt stated that recusal isn't ``really is the best strategy''--an unacceptable stance. prgtoken By refusing to recuse himself, Bernhardt has shown a potential willingness to put his former clients' needs before the public good. prgtoken One troubling example is his relationship with Cadiz, a company that wants to profit by draining a critical aquifer in the Mojave Desert. prgtoken Before coming to the Department of the Interior, Mr. Bernhardt was a partner at and led the natural resources division of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Cadiz's lobbying firm that retains a financial stake in the project. prgtoken This project would destroy the treasured California desert that I have fought my entire Senate career to protect. prgtoken In order to sell the water, Cadiz needs to build a more than 40-mile pipeline through the desert to connect to an aqueduct. prgtoken Several months after Bernhardt was nominated as Deputy Secretary, the Department of Interior temporarily suspended its own solicitor's opinion requiring Cadiz to get Federal permits to build its pipeline along a railroad right-of-way. prgtoken That solicitor's opinion was ultimately reversed 2 months after he was confirmed, completely removing the Federal permitting authority for this project. prgtoken The timing of this decision is extremely troubling, particularly in light of the Interior Department's own independent science that has repeatedly questioned the sustainability of this project. prgtoken The U.S. Geological Survey, which is part of the Interior Department, stated in 2002 and confirmed in 2017 that the natural recharge rate of the aquifer is only 2,000 to 10,000 acre-feet per year. Cadiz proposes to withdraw water at more than 50,000 acre-feet, or 16 billion gallons, per year for 50 years. prgtoken Taking that much water would rob the desert of its most precious natural resource and harm the surroundi
TRIBUTE TO DIANA MILETE
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-4-11

I rise today to honor the career of Diana Milete. Diana has spent her life in public service and has made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Ohioans. prgtoken Diana came to my congressional office when I was very first elected to the House and has been with us ever since, through all my time in the House and my entire 12 years in the Senate. When she retires at the end of this month, she will have spent more than three decades in Federal service. prgtoken Helping Ohioans is one of the most important things our office does, and as the head of our constituent services program, her work has touched the lives of more than 59,000 Ohioans. These were seniors trying to navigate Federal Agencies to get the Medicare and Social Security benefits they earned over a lifetime of work. They were veterans and their families trying to secure medals and VA benefits. They were Ohio workers trying to claim the tax credits they earned. prgtoken Diana went above and beyond the call of duty for so many Ohioans. prgtoken I remember 2\1/2\ years ago, right before the Fourth of July, our office received a request for assistance from a prgtoken man in Cleveland named Danny Salazar, who was trying to arrange visas for his family to visit him from the Dominican Republic. You may recognize the name Danny Salazar--he was the Cleveland Indians' star pitcher, and the reason he wanted his family to come visit was because he had been selected to play in the MLB All-Star Game in San Diego. Diana got right on the case, and, working with other members of our team, she was able to make sure Danny's family got visa appointments in time for the game. Danny's mother got to come watch the game with her son, and he sent our office a picture of him and his family at Petco Park--a picture that hung on Diana's wall. prgtoken Of course Diana's efforts weren't restricted to Major League Baseball players. Our office helps any Ohioan who needs it, and we have received piles of letters over the years from Ohioans writing to thank Diana for all her hard work for them. prgtoken After Diana helped her with her Social Security claim, a woman from Elyria wrote: ``Diana, you are an angel in disguise. You literally saved my life and ended my despair.'' Another woman from Avon wrote to Diana, ``Many thanks for doing the near impossible!'' prgtoken Diana didn't stop with helping individual Ohioans. Over the years she worked on several cases related to ALS patients, who faced a mandatory waiting period of two years before they could receive disability benefits. Tragically, ALS is a fast-progressing disease, and many patients pass away before the 2-year waiting period is over. Diana brought the issue to our office's attention, and our legislative staff went to work. I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate to introduce legislation to fix this, and we eventually got it done. We reduced the 2-year waiting period to 5 months. This year, as Di
REMEMBERING MIRIAM ZAYED
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-4-11

in the early 20th century, hundreds of emigrants left the Palestinian town of Beitunia to come to Chicago for a better life. Many could not read or write in English. Still, they set about succeeding in America and fitting into society, overcoming obstacles in a new land, becoming salesmen, shopkeepers, and factory workers. Miriam Zayed grew up in this community outside of Chicago. prgtoken Khalil Gibran once wrote, ``I slept, and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke, and I saw that life is all service. I served, and I saw that service was joy.'' The call to service isn't an easy path, and not nearly enough answer this call, but there are times when you meet someone who embodies the joy of service. This was Miriam Zayed. prgtoken Miriam passed away last fall in October after a lifetime of leadership. She spent her life fighting for Arabs and Muslims in the Chicagoland area and the rights of everyone. prgtoken Born and raised in Chicago, Miriam always had a love of politics and education. She convinced her parents to let her go to Chicago State University, becoming among the first in her family to attend college. But there was one stipulation. Her mother had to go with her every day. Miriam's thirst for knowledge would not be deterred by having her mom take her to and from school and wait outside her classes. She went on to receive her master's degree from National Louis University in curriculum education. prgtoken Miriam was one of the first Arab Americans in the Chicagoland area to run for public office when she ran for District 230 School Board in the 1990s. prgtoken As treasurer of the Arab-American Club, Miriam brought all local politicians and candidates to attend the annual candidate's forum brunch and encouraged the Arab-American Community to attend and be recognized as voting constituents. I have attended the AADC forums, and promise you, it was always a full house, and Miriam was always working. She never sat for the entire event. prgtoken Those that attended AADC brunches, events at the United Holy Land Fund, or the Beitunia Club events knew the tireless work of Miriam Zayed. She never sought the limelight, but all who knew her respected her. prgtoken When she wasn't building her community, Miriam was teaching in the Chicago Public School system in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. For decades, she taught at the Earle Elementary School. She took her classes to the Art Institute in Chicago, and for some students, it was the first time they ever went downtown. She educated her students about State government and introduced them to public officials. Miriam purchased school supplies and clothing for her students too. Miriam also somehow found time to run her own business as a certified public accountant, helping people in the community with their tax preparation and planning needs. She treated everyone as family. prgtoken The week before she passed away, a candidates' forum and
Venezuela (Executive Session)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-4-11

I rise today to oppose the President's nominee for Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt. Once again, instead of draining the swamp, President is flooding the swamp with a whole new breed of corporate-sponsored creatures. Already, we have a former coal lobbyist running the Environmental Protection Agency. We have chemical lobbyists running the EPA's chemical safety programs. And unless we put the brakes on Mr. Bernhardt's nomination, soon we will have a fossil fuel lobbyist running the Department of Interior. prgtoken For a State like New Jersey, which depends on a healthy, vibrant coastal prgtoken economy, Mr. Bernhardt's extensive ties to the fossil fuel industry are troubling, to say the least. prgtoken The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the stewardship of public lands and waters and safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come. Yet the Washington Post has reported that Mr. Bernhardt has so many conflicts of interest that he must carry a card around just to keep track of them. Think about that. Mr. Bernhardt has such deep ties to fossil fuel companies with business pending before the Interior Department that he cannot keep track of them. prgtoken How Mr. Bernhardt would approach his position if confirmed as Secretary of Interior is no mystery. During his time as Acting Secretary, he has gained a reputation as a general in the administration's war on science. Reports suggest that he has suppressed scientific evidence in order to benefit corporate interests at the expense of environmental protection. prgtoken Rather than be responsive to Congress about our concerns, Mr. Bernhardt has displayed a stunning lack of transparency. Like many nominees, he has failed to respond to basic inquiries from Congress. For example, on March 20, I sent a letter--along with Senator Feinstein, Senator Merkley, and 15 of our colleagues--requesting that the Acting Secretary respond to a series of questions about his views on offshore drilling. With his hearing in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee quickly approaching, we asked Mr. Bernhardt to respond prior to coming before Congress. This way, committee members could have at least a baseline understanding of his views while crafting their questions. We received no response. prgtoken Mr. Bernhardt then came and testified before the committee. He could have used the opportunity to enlighten us about his views on offshore drilling. He chose not to. Now, 3 weeks later, we still lack answers, even as the majority seeks to confirm him as Secretary of the Interior. prgtoken When an individual seeking confirmation by the Senate refuses to answer basic questions posed by 18 Senators, that should be a red flag for all of us. The questions that were asked weren't technical. They weren't ``gotcha'' questions. They were straightforward questions about one of the most fundamental jobs the Secretary of the Interior has--the
SENATE RESOLUTION 161--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF WORLD MALARIA DAY
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-4-11

today I wish to offer a resolution recognizing the critical contributions the laboratories of the Department of Defense make to the national security of this country. The 63 Laboratories, Warfare Centers, and Engineering Centers of the Department of Defense spread across 22 states and the District of Columbia are important components of the U.S. warfighting establishment and are instrumental in maintaining the technological edge of our military forces. My resolution would highlight the contributions of these laboratories by designating April 25, 2019, as ``Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019'' in order to celebrate the work and accomplishments of the men and women in those defense labs. Many of the technological advantages upon which our military rests are rooted in the diligent, dedicated work and innovative mindset of the scientists and engineers in our defense labs. Their work drives not only the near- term, tactical innovations needed to support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the wars of the past century, but they are critical foundations of research that will fuel the processes and technologies needed for the next century and beyond. In addition to the cutting-edge research and development of new technologies, our defense laboratories are a resource to the national economy and innovation ecosystem of the nation--providing the people, facilities, experience, operational problems, and capabilities for technology transfer that support the warfighter, industry, prgtoken academia, other parts of federal government, and even many of our allies and partners throughout the world. The nearly 76,000 scientists and engineers employed by the Department of Defense labs are exemplars of public service, and the outstanding dedication, qualifications, service, and accomplishments of these scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff of the defense laboratories should make all Americans proud. prgtoken In recognizing the men and women of the defense labs, I am especially proud of the contributions Alabama makes. As the home to multiple Army laboratories--including the Aviation and Missile Center, Space and Missile Defense Technical Center, and the Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory--Alabama punches far above its weight in terms of contributions of people, facilities and resources to the defense laboratory network. This results in one of the highest per capita concentrations of scientists and engineers in the country, with an extraordinary economic impact on the State. Not only do these labs provide thousands of jobs in Alabama, they bring in billions of dollars in investments and return those dollars back into the communities in which they reside. prgtoken The network of Department of Defense laboratories is not just an asset for the Department, but is a national asset as well. With over a hundred DoD-funded Nobel prizes, and thousands of patents and publications, defens
TRIBUTE TO KATHERINE PATERSON
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-4-11

. Mr. president, Katherine Paterson is a Vermont author with more than 30 titles to her name and a list of awards that other writers could only dream of. She has a keenly special knack for introducing young readers to difficult topics about life and death, as she did with her well-known novel, ``Bridge to Terabithia.'' She has just added a prestigious and fitting recognition to that long list, having been named the American Academy of Arts and Letters' 2019 E.B. White Award winner. The award pays tribute to her lifetime of achievement in children's literature. prgtoken What is notable about this latest award is the modesty by which Katherine Paterson comes to it. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio, VPR, the author who has twice won both the National Book Award and the Newbery Medal said her latest award held special meaning. ``Any award that has the name `E.B. White' attached to it brings with it a great thrill of joy, since he's one of my real heroes,'' she told her VPR audience. ``He probably was one of the best writers in America, and yet he respected children so much that he wrote some of his best work for them. And that makes me incredibly happy.'' prgtoken Clearly, some of E.B. White's influence has rubbed off, as Katherine Paterson's own novels show great respect for her readers, young and old alike. Her writing has been hailed for the compassion she expresses, taking on life's challenges--and tragedies--in a forthright and honest exploration for young readers. Her achievement is all the more impressive given that Katherine Paterson's first language was Chinese, having been born to Christian missionaries who immersed her in the culture before being forced to leave China in the late 1930s. Her studies of both Chinese and Japanese cultures, as well as her religious interests, are evident in her collection of writings. prgtoken We are fortunate that Katherine and her late husband John chose to settle in Vermont more than three decades ago. On both local and national levels, she has been most generous with her time, visiting schools and inspiring young people to read, while advocating for organizations that promote literacy. It is no wonder that Katherine Paterson has been named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. prgtoken Marcelle and I are proud and honored to call Katherine Paterson a friend and, more so, a Vermonter. prgtoken Congratulations to you, Katherine, on this latest and most meaningful recognition. It is so very much deserved.
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-4-11

I want to take a moment to join in the celebration of National Library Week. This year's theme, ``Libraries = Strong prgtoken Communities,'' is fitting. Every day, our libraries help make our communities stronger and more vibrant, as they innovate and mobilize resources to provide programs and services that meet ever-evolving community needs. prgtoken That is why I have been proud to work during my time in the Senate on ways to support our Nation's libraries. Last December, on a bipartisan basis, I secured passage and enactment of my legislation to reauthorize and enhance the Museum and Library Services Act. This law authorizes Federal funding, a relatively modest investment, through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, IMLS, to enable libraries and museums to work in partnership at the State and local levels and with nonprofits, universities, businesses, and others to support, educate, enlighten, and enrich our communities. For libraries, this law seeks to ensure they are equipped to serve community needs, in areas such as workforce, economic, and business development; digital and financial literacy; critical thinking; and new and emerging technologies. Critically, this new law ensures that increases in library formula funding will be shared more broadly across States and specifically smaller ones like Rhode Island. prgtoken Just last week, I hosted a conversation with our State's library professionals to follow-up on a similar roundtable I held in Rhode Island in 2016 as I began my work on the Museum and Library Services Act. It was inspiring to hear the many ways in which our libraries are hard at work transforming themselves to serve their diverse communities. prgtoken I was glad the director of IMLS, Dr. Kathryn Matthew, could join us for this event. We have a special duty in Rhode Island to elevate the work of IMLS, which is one of my predecessor, Senator Pell's, many lasting gifts to our Nation. prgtoken While the President's budget proposes to once again eliminate funding for IMLS, I have been able to instead secure an increase of $11 million for this agency over the last 2 years. There is broad, bipartisan support for the work IMLS does, and I am continuing to work with my colleagues to increase funding so we can advance IMLS's mission. prgtoken My work on libraries extends to ones in our schools, which also need our care and attention. Studies show that effective school library programs, staffed by a certified school librarian, have a positive impact on student achievement and educational success. Knowing how to find and use information are essential skills for college, careers, and life in general. A good school library, staffed by a trained school librarian, is where students develop and hone these skills. prgtoken Yet, according to the American Library Association, while 91 percent of the over 90,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools in the Nation have a s
Vehicle Innovation Act (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-4-11

transportation is responsible for roughly two-thirds of our national consumption of petroleum and one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. But imagine a future where we could produce low-cost, secure clean energy technologies to move people and goods easily across our Nation. Imagine if we could then sell our advanced American technology and products to the rest of the world. prgtoken Well, that is a future, by working together, we can indeed achieve. There is no question that the cars and trucks of the future can be equipped with technology to make them safer and more fuel efficient while also saving consumers money. prgtoken Rapidly emerging technology has the potential not only to reduce air emissions, but their development could also create jobs in Michigan and across the Nation, and these are jobs that cannot be outsourced. We must ensure that the United States leads the way in developing these innovations. That is why I reintroduced the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act with my colleagues Senator Alexander and Senator Stabenow. prgtoken The Vehicle Innovation Act promotes research and development investments in clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies. The bill also modernizes prgtoken the Vehicle Technologies Office within the Department of Energy, which exists to help create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. prgtoken This office's leadership has already led to improvements in engine efficiency through vehicle weight reductions and reduced fuel production costs, and the Vehicle Innovation Act will help ensure that these continued innovations move forward. prgtoken I am proud to again partner on this bill with Senator Alexander and fellow Michigander, Senator Debbie Stabenow. In the last Congress, we were able to pass the Vehicle Innovation Act through the Senate. Now, with fellow Michigan delegation Members, Congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens, leading this bill in the House, there is no reason this legislation should not be enacted into law. prgtoken The bill is supported by labor, by industry, and by conservation groups, including the United Auto Workers, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Auto Alliance, the BlueGreen Alliance, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. prgtoken America should lead the world in clean energy advancements, and I urge my colleagues to support the Vehicle Innovation Act. prgtoken .