mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MARTY SEROTER
Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-10-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor and commend Gibbsboro, New Jersey resident Marty Seroter, Camden County Town Hall Veteran Honoree. After graduating from High School, in the late 1960s, Mr. Marty Seroter proudly enlisted and served in the United States Army. During his time of service, Mr. Seroter was stationed in Germany where he earned the rank of Specialist E-4 and as a musician, gladly served in the United States Army Band. Following his return stateside, Mr. Seroter continued to serve his community through his career with Camden County as a Clerk Driver and Messenger for more than two decades. Through his distinguished career and lifetime of public service, and as an American Legion Post Bugler, Mr. Seroter actively participates in countless events performing Taps for formal County ceremonies, such as the Pearl Harbor Day services held annually on the Battleship New Jersey in the City of Camden and the County Memorial Day ceremony held to honor veterans and those interred at Potter's Field. As a dedicated public servant, today and for the past 30 years, Mr. Seroter continues his service as an active member of the American Legion Post 371 Honor Guard. Serving his community and fellow veterans at the American Legion Post, Mr. Seroter presently oversees the Legion Hall rentals and manages the canteen and continues to participate in the Presentation of the Colors and Taps at formal ceremonies as the Post Bugler. In recognition of his valiant and distinguished service to our nation, Mr. Seroter was awarded and has humbly received the National Defense Service Medal for his honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces. Madam , I ask you to join me in honoring Mr. Marty Seroter of Gibbsboro, New Jersey who is a constant reminder of the sacrifices that our men and women of the Armed Forces make to protect and defend the liberty and freedom of all Americans.
SENATE RESOLUTION 368--TO AUTHORIZE THE PRODUCTION OF RECORDS BY THE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-21

on behalf of myself and the distinguished ic leader, Mr. Schumer, I send to the desk a resolution on documentary production by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and ask for its immediate consideration. prgtoken , the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs recently conducted an investigation into China's impact on the U.S. education system. The Subcommittee has now received a request from the U.S. Department of Education seeking access to records that the Subcommittee obtained during the investigation. prgtoken In keeping with the Senate's practice under its rules, this resolution would authorize the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, acting jointly, to provide records, obtained by the Subcommittee in the course of its investigation, in response to this request and requests from other Federal or State government entities and officials with a legitimate need for the records.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2019
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2019-10-21

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, October 22; 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, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to prgtoken executive session and resume consideration of Treaties Calendar No. 5, Treaty Document No. 116-1, under the previous order; and, finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the caucus meetings.
WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-10-21

on another subject, I recently introduced the Whistleblower Programs Improvement Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill, and I have the support of the bipartisan whistleblowers caucus. prgtoken This legislation strengthens whistleblower protection for whistleblowers working in a variety of key sectors, including our securities and commodities industries and the foreign service. prgtoken There has been a lot of talk about government whistleblowers lately that is very appropriate. It is important to remember that many of our whistleblower laws are there to protect just ordinary average Americans who don't work in government at all. Many of the groups helped by this bill work in private industry. In some cases, they are investors or businesspeople who have been on the receiving end of financial fraud. prgtoken In other cases, they are employees, like stockbrokers, traders, investment advisers, administrative professionals, and other support staff, who see activities in the course of their work that they know are outright wrong, and these good people decide to speak out. Speaking out, many times, causes you to eventually seek whistleblower protection. prgtoken Among these brave whistleblowers are people like the three employees at Merrill Lynch who had evidence that between 2009 and 2015 their company was misusing customer cash. Now, just think how lucky these savers were who were helped by whistleblowers willing to come out and say a wrong has been committed. prgtoken They did it this way: The whistleblowers told the Security and Exchange Commission what they knew. In doing so, they provided information critical to an investigation of the company's practices. That investigation uncovered multiple violations of Federal rules. prgtoken Among other things, the Securities and Exchange Commission found the company was not depositing cash in reserve accounts as law required. Instead, the company was using tricky accounting maneuvers to free up billions of dollars per week and then using that money to finance its own trading practices. In the process, it is quite obvious the company was putting its customers' cash at risk. prgtoken The Securities and Exchange Commission said: ``Had Merrill Lynch failed in the midst of these trades, the firm's customers would have been exposed to a massive shortfall in the reserve account.'' prgtoken The information provided by whistleblowers led to a successful enforcement action, which involved an admission of wrongdoing by the company and a $415 million settlement. prgtoken Now, getting back to the importance of whistleblowers. If these whistleblowers hadn't stepped forward, then, who knows, those shady accounting practices might still be going on this prgtoken very day instead of having been stopped--stopped cold. Investors might still be facing the same unnecessary risks. prgtoken Now, there are plenty of examples from the commodities industry as well--people like Edward Siedle, a wh
HONORING ARMY PFC. NATHAN P. BROWN
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-10-21

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Army Pfc. Nathan P. prgtoken Brown, who was tragically killed on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Humvee in Samarra, Iraq, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. prgtoken Nathan was a lifelong resident of South Glens Falls, New York. He enlisted in the New York Army National Guard immediately after graduating from South Glens Falls High School in 2002, in the aftermath of 9/11. Nathan was posthumously awarded The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the New York Medal of Valor for his bravery. prgtoken Friends and family of Nathan remember him as a generous and positive person, a brave soldier, and a beloved member of the community. prgtoken Next week, he will be inducted into The South Glens Falls Bulldog Pride Hall of Fame, in recognition of his sacrifice and commitment. This honor is a testament to Nathan's selfless pride for his country. Nathan gave the ultimate sacrifice, and for that we all owe him a debt of gratitude. prgtoken I am proud to stand and honor Army Pfc. Nathan P. Brown, a beloved member of the South Glens Falls Community, and a shining example of those who give their lives to protect our country and its interests. Please join me in recognizing Nathan Brown for his service, and in honor of his legacy.
Appropriations (Executive Session)
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-10-21

thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to my colleagues on the Senate floor this evening. prgtoken I really come to talk about something that shouldn't be momentous, shouldn't be unusual, and should be routine around here. Unfortunately, as you and I have experienced, it is not routine. What is not routine is the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress getting its job done. Part of that job is the appropriations process, and it ought to be something we do every year on a routine basis. prgtoken Every city council, every county commission, and every school board in the State of Kansas every year passes a budget and determines the spending for that school board or that city council or for that county commission. Yet, when we come to Washington, DC, over the years, it has become problematic and it has become difficult for us to do one of the basic things of a functioning government: to determine the amount of money to be spent, in broad terms, and then to fill in the spaces with what we should do for individual Agencies and Departments within that budget agreement. prgtoken We are poised for a vote tomorrow, a motion on cloture. What that means to folks in Kansas is this: Should we begin the process of debating, amending, and passing appropriations bills? I am here to urge my colleagues, both s and , to vote yes on cloture, to bring us to the point in which we can have the debate. prgtoken I wouldn't have thought when I came to the U.S. Senate that one of my primary tasks, at least as I saw it, would be to try to help this place function and have an appropriations process that is thoughtful, that establishes priorities, that allows every Member of the Senate to have input. That is something we ought to be able to accomplish without a lot of work, and I hope that we demonstrate that we can do that in the vote tomorrow. prgtoken The appropriations process has involved an Appropriations Committee of which you, , and I serve on. Many of the bills have been considered and voted on. There will be four bills as a package in this motion to invoke cloture that will be presented to the full Senate tomorrow. prgtoken For the subcommittee that I chair--Commerce, Justice, Science--that appropriations bill will be a part of that cloture package. Agriculture, something hugely important to my constituents in Kansas and across the country, Interior, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development--those four bills have passed unanimously out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in September. Every on the committee and every on the committee voted in favor of them. prgtoken I know in my own circumstances, on the Commerce, Justice, Science bill, I worked closely--perhaps a better way to say it is that the ranking member of our subcommittee, the Senator from New Hampshire, Mrs. Shaheen, and I worked closely together--to try to find a path by which we could avoid tho
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-10-21

as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week it is my honor to recognize a small business that exemplifies family values and dedication to its community. I am proud to recognize Amelia Island Kayak Excursions of Fernandina Beach, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Established in 2013, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions is the product of the Bullington family's love of kayaking in the Amelia Island inlands. Six years ago, Mark Bullington and his two children, Amber and Aaron, decided to turn their hobby into their livelihood. Their love of Florida and commitment to responsible stewardship of the Earth led the Bullingtons to share their passion with visitors and their community. prgtoken Showcasing Florida's beauty, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions offers both kayak and boat expeditions throughout wildlife-rich Egan's Creek, Lofton's Creek, and more of Florida's coastal environment. Tours range from 2 to 5 hours, and overnight tours are offered for experienced kayakers. Additionally, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions offers private boat tours for small groups to observe the diverse local wildlife. prgtoken Since its founding, the tour guides of Amelia Island Kayak Excursions have continued to learn more about Florida's unique environment and community. Over the span of his career, Mark has logged more than 4,500 miles kayaking and canoeing, gaining extensive knowledge about the scenic ecosystem in the process. Amber not only leads tours but is also involved with the local business community through the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce and, in 2018, was recognized as the chamber's Ambassador of the Year. Aaron is certified through the University of Florida as a Florida Master Naturalist, a certification which lends itself easily to his role as tour guide. prgtoken As a well-established tour service, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions has become an essential part of the economic framework of Fernandina Beach. This business's influential role has not gone unnoticed. In 2017, Amelia Island prgtoken Kayak Excursions was recognized by the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce as the Small Business of the Year and received the Bold City Best Water Sports Award. In addition to its accomplishments, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions is dedicated to giving back to the community through engagement with local charities and corresponding fundraisers. To educate the next generation about Florida's wildlife, the Bullingtons have partnered with an after school program by gifting students a free kayak trip if they meet their academic goals. prgtoken Amelia Island Kayak Excursions is a great example of a community- oriented small business. I am proud to honor and congratulate Amelia Island Kayak Excursions for its hard work and dedication to the Floridian landscape. I wish the entire team at Amelia Island Kayak Excursions the best of luck and success in all of their future en
RECOGNIZING THE VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-10-21

. Madam , I rise today to bring attention to an important veterans' initiative that I am proud to lead with Chairman Takano. It is essential that we recognize and commend the selfless sacrifice veterans have made to protect our most precious freedoms. prgtoken That is why Chairman Takano and I have challenged all Members of Congress to participate in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project by submitting at least one of their veteran constituents' stories to the project prior to Veteran's Day. prgtoken The Veterans History Project gives our Nation's heroes a platform to share and preserve their personal stories about their time in uniform to help Americans understand military service and its importance to our country's history. We can think of no better way to honor the men and women who fought for our freedoms in the weeks leading up to Veteran's Day than by ensuring that their unique stories of service are forever memorialized for future generations of Americans. prgtoken Madam , I would also like to associate my remarks with those about Elijah Cummings and wish his family God's blessings.
MOMENT OF SILENCE REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN JACK EDWARDS
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-10-21

. Madam , I rise today to join my Alabama colleagues in remembering the extraordinary life of Alabama's great public servant, the late Congressman Jack Edwards. prgtoken Jack served Alabama's First Congressional District in Washington for 20 years. He was a great friend and mentor to me and countless others, and he was a true leader here in Congress where he led the rebuilding of our military under President Reagan. prgtoken Jack's service continued after Congress. He was chair of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce during a period of remarkable renaissance. He also served as chair of the board of trustees for the University of Alabama. prgtoken Jack was a born leader who loved his country and never failed to answer the call of service. Jack helped create the America we know today, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. In remembering Jack Edwards, we all should emulate his example and the principles he stood for: unquestioned integrity, commitment to others, and respect for all. prgtoken Madam , I ask that all Members and guests of the gallery rise for a moment of silence in honor of the late Jack Edwards.
Order Of Business (Executive Session)
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-10-22

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Bremberg nomination until 2:15 p.m. and that if cloture is invoked, the postcloture time expire at 2:45 p.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
HOLD A VOTE TO AUTHORIZE AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-10-22

. Madam , I rise today in opposition to the partisan impeachment inquiry currently under way by House . They have elected to make this a closed-door, partisan process with no fairness, transparency, due process, or accountability to the American people. prgtoken It is absolutely necessary for the to hold a vote in the full House to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry. Regardless of which party held the majority in the past, there has been an authorization vote because it allows the House to adopt procedures that will provide for the minority to be an equal part of this process. prgtoken We cannot even get access to testimony from the secret hearings. Considering impeaching a duly elected President should be significant enough to demand transparency, due process, and an open and fair proceeding. prgtoken In wake of this partisan exercise, we have abandoned the work of the people. We should be passing legislation that is bipartisan to lower the price of prescription drugs and approving the USMCA that will create millions of jobs for hardworking Americans. prgtoken We cannot afford to put these priorities on the back burner, and I know the folks in my district agree.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-22

later today, the Senate will vote on finally getting the appropriations process moving. We will vote on considering a package of domestic funding bills, and if we take up the legislation, I intend to stay on it until we complete it. prgtoken On both sides of the Capitol, our ic colleagues have spent recent weeks insisting over and over that their 3-year-old quest to impeach the President will not prevent them from the substantive work American families need us to tackle. So far, the early returns haven't been too encouraging. prgtoken A few weeks ago, we saw the unusual spectacle of Senate voting to filibuster defense funding due to political fights with the White House. blocked a pay raise for our servicemembers because they would rather fight with the President. prgtoken We know that across the Capitol, for months now, Pelosi has been blocking the USMCA and blocking the 176,000 new American jobs it would create. prgtoken This week offers another test. Soon we will be voting on appropriations, and we will see whether our ic friends really can put aside their impeachment obsession long enough to get some real work done on the side. Actions speak louder than words. prgtoken First, I hope we will tackle a package of domestic funding bills. After that, we will turn to a defense vehicle. I urge our ic colleagues to drop the stall tactics that have left funding for our Armed Forces in limbo and join with s to deliver the funding our military commanders need to keep us safe.
CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-10-22

. Mr. Chair, I want to again thank my friend from New York for her hard work on crafting this legislation. While we have had differences along the way, it is critical that we strengthen our national security and AML BSA system and strengthen the transparency of beneficial ownership. prgtoken As I have previously discussed, I am concerned with several aspects of the bill, and I am offering this amendment which I believe will help improve its overall purpose. prgtoken When we heard testimony, a retired FBI agent testified to our committee acknowledging that law enforcement wants this data, this new database at FinCEN to search, essentially, without a warrant or a subpoena. prgtoken My amendment would require the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to develop stringent procedures around the beneficial ownership database pertaining to who and how it has been accessed. prgtoken Per the bill's requirements, many businesses will be providing this information into a repository that will contain sensitive information. Who can access and how they can access it should prgtoken have clearer guidelines and ensure that this information is not being inappropriately accessed. prgtoken Additionally, the amendment requires FinCEN to report to Congress, annually, the number of times law enforcement, banks, or other parties access the database, how many times it was inappropriately accessed, and the number of subpoenas obtained to gain access to the database. This will ensure that Congress maintains oversight of the database and that banks or law enforcement are not abusing this new system. prgtoken Our committee has heard hours of testimony about Federal Government data breaches over these years: OPM, the SEC, IRS, CFPB. As such, we have to make sure this information is as secure as possible. prgtoken As previously mentioned, this information is highly sensitive and should remain extremely confidential to the extent possible. As policymakers, we have an obligation to our constituents to ensure that we uphold their privacy, and this amendment will better help us achieve that goal. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. It is good for businesses, good for our bankers and lawmakers, and, ultimately, good for our citizens. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
COUNTRY SHOULD SEE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
Steve Watkins (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-10-22

. Madam , today, I was in these official closed- door impeachment investigations. I use the word ``official'' loosely since the grounds upon which the are acting are shaky, at best. prgtoken Access is being limited. I am a member of one of these committees that is allowed to be in there, but as I look around and see no more than perhaps a dozen or so s, I think to myself that the entire country should see what the are up to, the entire world should. prgtoken Soon that will happen because although I don't know what I am even allowed to share, because I don't understand these official formalities, I do know that I will tell the world everything that I can, and the truth will come out with time. prgtoken It is not what is best for our constituency. We ought to be passing the USMCA. We ought to be ensuring our borders are safe. We ought to be fighting against surprise billing and exorbitant healthcare costs.