mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-6-11

. Thank you, . Let me also extend my thanks to the Senator from Oklahoma for his cooperation and leadership. prgtoken As he indicated very accurately, on a bipartisan basis, we considered numerous amendments. We were virtually unanimous at the conclusion of the committee deliberations in terms of bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken His staff and the ic staff were working all weekend to prepare a package of amendments, which we think can be accepted unanimously as an initial step in the process, the managers' package. Then, like Senator Inhofe, I would like to see a process where we have a series of amendments from both sides, adequate time to debate the amendment, and then a vote on the amendment as we move forward. Then we are hoping to be able to do so in a very deliberate and thoughtful way, and reach, we hope, in a timely manner, a point where we have discussed the major concerns of all of our colleagues, voted on many of them, and then ask for final passage of a bill that is worthy of passage. Each year we have done so. This will begin to set us on a path to conference with the House of Representatives and then a final conference report here. prgtoken Once again, from Oklahoma and concur that we would like to see--and so far, his cooperation and his leadership has engendered cooperation so we can have a series of amendments on the floor. prgtoken With that, .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-6-11

a recent study from Harvard suggested that the actual death toll in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria could be as much as 70 times higher than what was previously reported. In fact, the study, which was released 2 weeks ago, suggests that the death toll could actually have been in a range from 800 all the way up to close to 8,000 deaths, and that is compared to the official FEMA count of 64. prgtoken Recently, I was with the former Governor and now father of the present Governor, Pedro Rosello. He shared with me that a George Washington University study is underway to more accurately count the deaths resulting from the hurricane, but there is no reason why there should be such a discrepancy among U.S. citizens in these reports. The latest findings are just another stain on the Federal Government's overall response to the ongoing disaster in Puerto Rico, which has not been too stellar. prgtoken The people of Puerto Rico are our fellow American citizens. They have a right to know exactly what happened on the island as a result of not just one massive storm but the second one which hit as well. They have a right to know exactly how many of their friends and neighbors lost their lives as a result of this disaster and exactly what the Federal Government is doing to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. prgtoken That is why Senator of California and I have introduced a bill to create a better way to track the number of deaths caused by a disaster. The legislation would require FEMA to work with the National Academy of Medicine to develop a new uniform system for local, State, and Federal officials across the country to more quickly and accurately determine the number of deaths by a disaster like Hurricane Maria. Not only will this bill help to provide some semblance of closure to the families affected by devastating events, but it will also ensure that the areas that are hardest hit by these disasters are getting all of the disaster assistance they are entitled to, including funeral assistance, which can help uninsured families afford the cost of burying their loved ones. This legislation that Senator and I have filed is just one more step in our overall effort to help folks recover from the storms from last summer. I am urging my colleagues to work with us to get it done. prgtoken The people of Puerto Rico aren't the only ones still working to recover from last year's storms. While we are now officially already in June in the midst of this year's hurricane season, there are still too many communities in Florida that have not received the hurricane recovery funds that Congress passed this past February--the hurricane disaster assistance appropriations. It is June and we passed it last February and it is still not out the door of the agencies. That is 122 days ago, about 4 months. Folks are hurting. They would like to have the disaster assistance money we appropriate
USING DATA TO PREVENT OPIOID DIVERSION ACT
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-6-11

today I wish to thank my colleague from California, Senator Feinstein, for including provisions from my legislation, the Comprehensive Addiction Reform, Education, and Safety, CARES, Act of 2018, S. 2440, in her bill the Using Data to Prevent Opioid Diversion Act of 2018, S. 2838. Specifically, the provisions contained in my legislation provides for a tenfold increase on civil penalties from $10,000 to $100,000 and doubles criminal penalties from $250,000 to $500,000 on opioid manufacturers that fail to report suspicious orders of opioids and fail to maintain intern controls against diversion of their drugs. Senator Feinstein's bill was considered in and reported out of the Judiciary Committee just before the Memorial Day recess. prgtoken Sadly, the opioid and heroin epidemic continues to ravage communities in my home State of Washington and throughout the United States. Between 1999 and 2016, over 10,000 Washingtonians suffered fatal overdoses from opioids and heroin. prgtoken Over the past 4 months, I have held seven roundtables and events in every corner of my State to hear about how the epidemic is affecting Washington State communities from law enforcement, education, and health perspectives. I have heard heartbreaking stories from individuals recovering from addiction and have been moved by their courage. prgtoken One consistent thread I have heard throughout my State is that opioid manufacturers need to be held accountable for their role in helping to instigate this ongoing crisis. prgtoken Drug manufacturers of controlled substances, like highly addictive opioids, are required under Federal law to keep track and report any suspicious orders or red flags on the distribution of these drugs. However, opioid manufacturers, through their failure to report suspicious orders of prescription opioids and failure to maintain their own controls against diversion, helped create an illicit market for prescription opioids that flooded our communities with highly addictive substances. prgtoken My home State of Washington and many other States, cities, and counties have filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers for their failure to follow the law and the devastating impact those decisions have had on their communities. prgtoken However, it should not take lawsuits to get opioid manufacturers to follow the law and be held accountable for their role in this crisis. prgtoken Instead, we need to make sure opioid manufacturers follow the law by making the penalties strong enough to serve as an effective deterrent. prgtoken For these reasons, on February 15, 2018, I introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Reform, Education, and Safety, CARES, Act of 2018, S. 2440, with my colleague Senator of California to do just that. prgtoken This legislation increases civil and criminal penalties on companies that fail to reasonably curtail their drugs from entering the illicit drug market. Our legislation increases
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-6-11

later this afternoon, the Senate will move to begin considering the John S. McCain 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken Our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee have spent months engaged in thorough work and in bipartisan collaboration. Now the whole Senate will take up their legislation and vote on a plan to deliver on the most pressing needs of our Armed Forces. prgtoken Congress has passed Defense Authorization Acts for 57 consecutive years--57 consecutive years. In doing so, we have taken steps to fulfill one of our most fundamental constitutional responsibilities: authorizing the funds that our men and women in uniform require to keep us safe. prgtoken This year's NDAA arrives as our Nation faces significant challenges-- challenges like an emboldened Iranian regime and its continued support of destabilizing forces in the Middle East and a new era of great power competition as Russia and China expand their capabilities. prgtoken Building on a time-honored process, this year's Defense authorization will help our Nation rise to meet these challenges with cutting-edge tools, top-notch training, and revitalized readiness. It is one of our most important jobs here in Congress. The 2019 Defense authorization is the top item on our to-do list, and we will tackle it this week. Appropriations prgtoken Meanwhile, other important work is underway at the committee level. Chairman Shelby and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee are laying the foundation for a productive summer. Last week, they reported out appropriations bills to fund the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs, as well as important military construction projects. This week, they will proceed to finalize measures for Interior and Environment, Commerce-Justice- Science, and the legislative branch. I look forward to taking up these appropriations bills right out here on the Senate floor. Tax and Regulatory Reform prgtoken Now, on another matter, , today marks another important prgtoken milestone in our efforts to cut back the forest of redtape the administration left behind. Effective today, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC has rolled back meddlesome and unnecessary regulations that imposed on the internet back in 2015. prgtoken Let's put this whole effort into perspective. The Federal Register is the government's legal newspaper. Among other documents, it prints the regulations that Federal agencies enforce and the proposed rules on deck. In 2016, under President , it had to print nearly 39,000 pages of rules--an alltime high--and another 21,000 pages of proposed rules. That is 39,000 pages of rules and 21,000 pages of proposed rules in 2016. It is hard to wrap your mind around that--60,000 pages of rules and proposed rules to pile on American workers and job cre
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-6-11

there are some issues where we are going to have a partisan difference. We already pretty much know where they are. There are going to be some controversial votes, and that is fine. That is the way this is supposed to be, and this is a good way to settle it. prgtoken I recently came back from Afghanistan, Kuwait, and a lot of places where we have our troops. Let me say that if we don't go ahead and get this done--because we have already announced the bill being done as we speak--we have an awful lot of troops out there who are going to really wonder: Are we really supportive, offering our support to them, these guys and gals who are out risking their lives and doing the heavy lifting? prgtoken So we are anxious to get started, and we will have the vote shortly. We will get on the bill. I would like to go ahead and start in on amendments so, hopefully, that will take place. prgtoken With that, .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-6-11

I want to start by thanking the Senator from Colorado, who has shown real leadership on the subcommittee that involves all of these matters regarding the Indo-Pacific region, and he is here on the floor to talk about a series of other measures that are in place. prgtoken None of us here will be in Taipei tomorrow to attend the ceremony, but we all want to take this opportunity to applaud the opening of the American Institute in Taiwan and its new compound. This building will be so much more than just new office space. It will serve as a tangible symbol of the strong and enduring friendship between the United States and Taiwan, which is a democracy and is a strong ally of this country. prgtoken Taiwan is not just an important economic and security partner. As I have said already, it is a very vibrant democracy. It has a prosperous free enterprise economy. Frankly, it is a shining example of what we hope the rest of the Indo-Pacific region will become and continue to be. prgtoken The opening of this new office comes at a critical time when both the United States and Taiwan face major challenges that are posed by the Communist Party of China, which governs that country. Under the Communist Party, Beijing has increased its efforts to undermine and erode U.S. interests, even as it moves to isolate Taiwan on the international stage. For example, the Chinese Government has successfully blocked Taiwan's meaningful participation in many international organizations, such as the World Health Organization. prgtoken Unfortunately, here in our own hemisphere, they have been successful in pressuring certain nations to cut their diplomatic ties with Taiwan and, instead, create new ones with Beijing. prgtoken By the way, that is not Taiwan's position, but it is Beijing that makes you choose. You can either have relations with them or Taiwan-- but not with both. prgtoken The latest, by the way, is the Dominican Republic, not far from our coast, where, in exchange for billions of dollars of assurances, they made that change. They will deny it, but you will see the billions coming in. These billions of dollars sound like a really good deal until you realize they bring their workers from China, and it is all a one-way street. It is all there to benefit China. Look around the world at all of the countries that have taken all of this money, 5 years, 3 years later; they are terrible deals with terrible terms that are good for China but bad for the country that took the money. But in this particular case, they were successful, and they are going to continue to chip away at those countries. About a year before, Panama had cut their ties with Taiwan. prgtoken What China has made very clear is that their intention is to continue to both pressure and entice--I say ``entice,'' but probably the right word is ``bribe''--additional countries to do the exact same thing. And they do it, as I said, with the promise of investments an
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-6-11

in my time in the Senate, I have tried hard to make certain that rural America--rural Kansas in particular but all of rural America--has an advocate and that we work hard to make certain that colleagues from across the country understand the important issues we face in small towns across Kansas and around the country. prgtoken Today, I want to talk about an opportunity we have that I think will be most beneficial to those of us who come from places like the Presiding Officer and I do. I rise today to speak in support of Miki Bowman. She was nominated recently--she had a hearing in front of our Banking Committee--to be a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Tomorrow, our Banking Committee will consider her nomination. I want to make certain that my colleagues on the committee and certainly my colleagues here in the Senate understand how valuable Miki will be as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board and understand her qualifications. prgtoken She is a native of a small town in Kansas. She is a native of Morris County in a beautiful part of our State. She received a degree from the University of Kansas as an undergrad and a law degree from Washburn University in Topeka. She is a rural American. prgtoken Her talents brought her to Washington, DC. She served at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee as a staffer, as well as in the office of Senator Bob Dole, one of my predecessors in the Senate. prgtoken Like many of the Kansans I have known who have come here to Washington, DC, to work over the years, she found her way back home to Kansas when she returned to her hometown and became the vice president of the Farmers & Drovers Bank in 2010. In 2017, Ms. Bowman became the State bank commissioner for our State, where she is currently responsible for overseeing hundreds of State chartered banks, trust companies, money transmitters, and other nondepository entities. prgtoken Ms. Bowman is precisely the kind of person I envision to fill the community bank representative position on the Board of Governors. The Federal Reserve Act now requires--and we worked hard to make sure this was the case--that the President ``appoint at least one member with demonstrated primary experience working in or supervising community banks having less than $10 billion in total assets.'' Well, the Farmers & Drovers Bank in Council Grove, KS, is a $175 million bank--well below that $10 billion threshold. So Ms. Bowman not only qualifies by the criteria of the statute--she is a banker--but she is also a supervisor, as exemplified by her role now as our State banking commissioner. prgtoken If those qualifications aren't enough, I have come to know Miki Bowman as a forthright, intelligent, quality individual with a
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-6-11

. On May 24, 2018, I also filed the Taiwan International Participation Act, or TIPA, with Senator Markey. This bipartisan effort establishes that it should be the policy of the United States to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations, to instruct U.S. representatives in international organizations to use the voice and vote of the United States to support Taiwan's inclusion in appropriate international organizations around the globe, and to direct the President and his representatives to raise Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations during relevant bilateral engagements with the government of the PRC. prgtoken I call on my colleagues to support both of these important pieces of legislation, which are efforts to show our strong support for the people of Taiwan. There is much more we can do and we should do to enhance our relationship with Taiwan, and I call on the administration to undertake all efforts allowable under U.S. law to enhance our relationship with Taipei. prgtoken The opening of this new facility tomorrow, this new AIT complex--in fact, just a few hours from now--is a great sign of friendship and commitment from the United States, and I congratulate all those who have made this possible. prgtoken I know Senator Rubio is on the floor today to talk about this and the important support the United States continues to show for Taiwan, but I will finish on this before . prgtoken In my conversation with President Tsai, I talked about how Taiwan is really a great leader from whom we should learn and recognize and value their leadership around the globe. I think the million-dollar contribution they made to combat Ebola issues is just one small signal that they have an important role to play on the world stage, and I hope our allies around the globe will continue to engage Taiwan, as appropriate, and make sure they have that strong international voice that they sometimes feel to be lacking today. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to stand up to support Taiwan. I congratulate AIT on this new facility and certainly look forward to engaging Taiwan even more as we move forward. prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-6-11

I don't see anybody else on the floor who wishes to speak. So I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, June 12; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. I further ask that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 5515. Finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR ECONOMY
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2018-6-12

. Madam , let's think about this for a second. prgtoken When Arizona entered the recession era of 2008, the State tax revenue declined by about 40 percent in an 8-month period. Imagine trying to deal with that. What is happening now is the converse. We had to change our attitude. We had to create the type of business-friendly situation that lured and brought business back and provide those enticements. They are there. prgtoken So what we have now is this situation localized of a business- friendly Tax Code, a business-friendly regulatory and then an overall attitude of: We want you to be here. We welcome new businesses. prgtoken So, for instance, I toured Apple world data center in my district a little over a week ago. It kind of imploded, so there was no one there. What happened is, they now have 200 employees and they will expand. They will have 500 employees in high-paying, good jobs. Every one of those employees they spend money. They buy houses. They go out to eat. They go to movies. This ripples through the economy. And that is just one of the many businesses. Like I said, we have Deloitte coming in, with 2,500. We have got State Farm, I think, in or near the gentleman's district. When they are in, they are going to have 8,000 to 10,000 people. I was just at their facility.