mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
VAISAKHI
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-4-4

I wish to honor and celebrate the holiday of Vaisakhi, a very significant day for those who practice Sikhism. prgtoken The world's fifth largest religion, Sikhism was founded over five centuries ago and was introduced to the United States in the 19th century. Today there are over 500,000 Sikh adherents in the United States. prgtoken Pennsylvania is the home of many proud Sikh Americans, who make a positive impact in their workplaces, communities, and to our country. They are an important part of the rich cultural fabric of the Commonwealth. There are many gurdwaras, or centers of worship, located across the State, which serve a vital role for both the Sikh community and people of other faiths. prgtoken This year, Vaisakhi will be celebrated on Friday, April 14. On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, a fellowship of devout Sikhs. Vaisakhi is a festival that marks both this occasion and the spring harvest. This holiday, which is meant to promote service to others, reminds us of the valuable contributions Sikh Americans make in many of our communities. prgtoken The Sikh community around the world recognizes this important holiday with parades, dancing, singing, visits to gurdwaras, and other festivities. Celebrations also include performing ``seva,'' or selfless service, which can include providing free meals to others or volunteering for different service projects in their communities. prgtoken This year, the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast has organized a National Sikh Day Parade here in Washington, DC, on April 8, 2017, to commemorate this occasion. Thousands of Sikhs from all over United States are participating in this parade, which will celebrate the Sikh identity and culture. prgtoken As a member of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, I am honored to represent the Sikh community of Pennsylvania, and I wish the Sikh American community a joyous Vaisakhi. Thank you.
HONORING STEPHEN P. COUNIHAN
Patrick Meehan (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-4-4

I rise on behalf of Stephen P. Counihan, and I rise with my colleagues all around the greater Boston area, as we seek to raise the spirits of Stephen, who is currently battling cancer. ``Couhni,'' as he is affectionately known, is currently the tennis coach at Suffolk University, where he has led four championship teams to great renown in the greater Boston area. But it was in the 1970s, as a standout defenseman at Bowdoin College where Counihan got the name ``Couhni-Orr'' because of his remarkable presence on the ice and his cool capacity under pressure. prgtoken Now, Stephen is facing one of the great challenges of his life, as he deals not only with the chemotherapy, but the potential surgery that we are looking at in the month of April ahead. prgtoken Couhni, I want you to know that all of your colleagues from Beta Theta Pi, from Bowdoin College hockey team, from the greater Bowdoin community, in fact, the entire Boston area, stand with you today. Win one more championship for us, Couhni, so we can all celebrate together when we have you back collectively.
Thanking Senators and Staff (Executive Calendar)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-4-4

Senator Graham, my fellow Senators, our constituents in the Gallery, a lot of what has gone on today may seem very complicated. We have heard a lot of terms being thrown around: cloture, the nuclear option. Yet, really, the question that we were faced with today in the Senate was very simple, and it continues to be pretty simple and straightforward, in my judgment: Should we have an up-or-down vote on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? prgtoken Earlier today, the Senate voted to do that. I think it is very important for the American judicial system and for the American system of democracy that the U.S. Senate be allowed to vote on Judge Gorsuch's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was not enough to only vote on a motion to end debate; we also needed to be allowed to vote on the actual nomination with ``yes'' or ``no.'' prgtoken Unfortunately, our friends on the ic side of the aisle decided to filibuster in order to make it impossible for us to vote on this crucial nominee without modifying the rules of the U.S. Senate. That is what we did earlier today. I do not know that anybody did it happily, but certainly a majority of the Senate believed that the American people deserved an up-or-down vote, yea or nay. Stand up and be counted in front of God and country. Do you want Judge Neil Gorsuch to be on the Supreme Court, or do you not? That vote is going to take place tomorrow afternoon. prgtoken The Constitution reads that the President of the United States of America ``shall nominate and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate shall appoint . . . judges of the Supreme Court.'' I do not need to tell you that this is an extremely important part of our separation of powers. It is vital to our protecting the integrity of the Supreme Court, the work that all of us do--not just members of the Judiciary Committee but every Member of the Senate--in vetting our nominees and making sure they are qualified and independent, as is Neil Gorsuch. He is enormously important for the protection of liberty itself. prgtoken Let's not ever forget what we are protecting. We are protecting justice, and we are protecting liberty. We are not supposed to be protecting a certain point of view. We are not supposed to be protecting a certain policy preference. We are not supposed to be protecting a certain political party. prgtoken I hope tomorrow, when we finally get the opportunity to vote up or down on Neil Gorsuch for his membership on the greatest tribunal in the history of civilization, in my judgment, the U.S. Supreme Court, that we will consider his nomination in light of how it will affect our country, not our party. When we look at his nomination from that perspective and leave the politics of the last few years in the rearview mirror, I think we can analyze his nomination with a lot more clarity. prgtoken Alexander Hamilton, whom I thin
prayer
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-4-4

I rise today in support of the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be our next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution entrusts Members of the Senate with a responsibility vital to our democracy: providing advice and consent on the President's Supreme Court nominees. prgtoken The significance of this task cannot be overstated, and it is one that I take very seriously. Days after President nominated Judge Gorsuch to fill the late Justice Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court, I shared the qualities that I wanted to see in a Justice. They included a strong commitment to the rule of law, first-rate credentials, and a solid judicial record. The time has come to determine whether the nominee meets those criteria. prgtoken After meeting personally with Judge Gorsuch, watching his confirmation hearing, and evaluating his background and legal record, I believe that answer is a resounding ``yes.'' Judge Gorsuch's credentials are exemplary. He has an extraordinary resume and a brilliant mind. For 10 years he has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Senate confirmed him to this position by unanimous consent in 2006. No rollcall vote was needed because all 100 Members supported the nomination. prgtoken To date, Judge Gorsuch has decided 2,700 cases, and 99 percent of the time he sided with the majority. He has offered opinions in 800 of those cases, and 98 percent of the decisions in these cases were unanimous. This record tells us something important: He is well within the mainstream. It is why he has gained the respect of prominent attorneys on the right and on the left. Several of my ic colleagues have made similar observations. prgtoken Senator Donnelly recently said that he would support Judge Gorsuch's nomination because ``he is a qualified jurist who will base his decisions on his understanding of the law.'' prgtoken Similarly, Senator Heitkamp indicated that she would vote to confirm Judge Gorsuch because ``he has a record as a balanced, meticulous, and well-respected jurist who understands the rule of law.'' prgtoken My colleagues have it right. A Justice should be a follower of the Constitution, not a trailblazer or an advocate. His or her role is to interpret and uphold the laws, not to create them. Judge Gorsuch understands this. He takes it seriously. prgtoken In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gorsuch emphasized the importance of judicial precedent and a fair approach to the law. He said: ``I come here with no agenda but one . . . to be as good and faithful a judge as I know how to be.'' Similarly, in a private meeting in my office, the judge promised to ``follow the law, wherever it may lead.'' prgtoken Judge Gorsuch recognizes the pivotal but limited role that the Constitution allows judges to play in our Republic. During long days of testimony at his confirmation hearing, he made clear that while
Syria (Executive Calendar)
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-4-4

before I get into my remarks about the impending action of the Senate with regard to the so-called nuclear option, I would just point out that the attacks yesterday on innocent men, women, and children should not have come as a surprise. It was in 2013 that the then-Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the head of the CIA recommended to the President that we arm the Free Syrian Army and bring Bashar Assad's barbarity to a halt. The President of the United States rejected that. Bashar Assad used chemical weapons, and the President called me and Senator Graham over to the White House and said: If they cross the redline, I am going to act. We are going to degrade Bashar Assad and upgrade the Free Syrian Army and have regime change. prgtoken Then, of course, he backed down. You know, there is one thing worse than doing nothing: It is saying you are going to do something and then not doing it. That sent a signal everywhere in the world, not just Syria. The fact is, we knew it would happen again. So we have seen this movie before. Unless we act, we are going to see it again. prgtoken I am encouraged, frankly, that General Mattis, General McMaster, and the President of the United States have said that this act of incredible barbarity and cruelty will not go unresponded to. But I can assure my colleagues this: If we don't respond to this, then there will be more use of these chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, and there will be more innocent people who will die. prgtoken Eight years of 's failure is what led to the events that just took place that horrified all of us. That requires us to stand up to this barbarity, help the Free Syrian Army, establish safe zones, and make sure that Bashar Assad, propped up by the Russians and the Iranians and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, is no longer able to perpetrate these war crimes on innocent men, women, and children. prgtoken , it is also with some sorrow that I regret having to come to prgtoken the floor to speak once again on the issue of eliminating the 60-vote threshold on judicial nominations, specifically a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is particularly troubling to do so because the nominee in question, Judge Neil Gorsuch, has impeccable legal credentials and a strong reputation as a fair- and sharp-minded lawyer and jurist. The American Bar Association and many others of all political stripes agree that his distinguished career as a lawyer and a jurist makes him well qualified for the position of Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Regrettably, very regrettably, my colleagues in the minority have decided to filibuster the nomination of this good, decent, highly qualified man. prgtoken Numerous times over the years, the Senate has come to a standstill over nominees, whether they were judicial or executive branch. That gridlock has inevitably led to threats from the majority-
ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP ACT OF 2017
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-4-4

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1343, the Encouraging Employee Ownership Act of 2017. This is bipartisan legislation that will remove outdated barriers to capital formation and job creation imposed on the small businesses and startups that are driving America's innovation economy. prgtoken The SEC still hasn't updated a rule from 17 years ago that imposed an undue burden on entrepreneurs when they want to attract and retain talent through employee compensation plans. Startup ventures, by offering their employees a stake in the company through equity and other forms of deferred compensation, can reward hardworking employees by giving them direct ownership while their business continues to grow. prgtoken SEC rules governing these compensation plans haven't been updated since 1999, and they are imposing burdensome compliance and reporting requirements on the very entrepreneurs we should be encouraging to expand and create more good-paying, private sector jobs. We see the effects of this compliance tax placing a drain on our economy because it diverts the resources and human capital of entrepreneurs away from expansion and job creation. prgtoken In my district on Long Island and nationwide, entrepreneurs who have the next great invention or idea are struggling to gain access to capital. By regulating small startup ventures as if they are large, publicly traded companies, the SEC is imposing an unnecessary mound of paperwork on startups. A large corporation may have the lawyers and accountants to fill out the mountain of paperwork imposed on them by the SEC, but a small business can't compete, and that is why they need relief. prgtoken This Congress we have an opportunity through bipartisan reforms like this legislation to reverse that troubling trend by removing the regulatory burdens that harm the economy, consumers, and prospects for job growth. prgtoken In closing, , I want to thank my colleague from the Committee on Financial Services, Randy Hultgren, for his leadership on this issue. prgtoken I urge adoption of this commonsense bipartisan bill.
IN RECOGNITION OF NRECA INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS FROM ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES
Martha Roby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2017-4-4

I would like to recognize and thank nineteen constituents from my district who work for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, located in Prattville, Alabama; Covington Electric Cooperative, located in Andalusia, Alabama; and Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives, located in Montgomery, Alabama. Volunteering as power linemen and staff liaisons for NRECA International, these Journeyman Linemen have dedicated themselves to building and upgrading power lines to help communities receive affordable, safe and reliable electricity. They have worked side by side with NRECA International in the town of Guastatoya, Guatemala, and in the city of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, and most recently on the USAID-funded Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution in Caracol, Haiti. In Guatemala, they constructed a power line to electrify three villages, Mirador, Tamarindal, and Castanal, bringing a better way of life to more than 300 families. In the latest project, more than 9,000 consumers in Caracol and 10,000 more consumers in surrounding communities will eventually be connected with electricity. The service and sacrifice of these linemen and electric cooperative staff will ultimately impact the lives of thousands of Guatemalans and Haitians, resulting in improvements in healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. For all of you who have given your time, Bruce Adamson, Kevin Anderson, Lamar Daugherty, Reed Daugherty, Jimmy Gray, Aaron Ismail, Keith Hay, Michael Kelley, Michael Longcrier, Darren Maddox, Ross Parker, Kevin Powell, Heath Smith, Ted Stettler, Alan Thrash, Josh Till, Clay Walker, Josh Winburn, and Julie Young, I thank them for their service.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-4-4

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 10 a.m Thursday, April 6; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; further, that following leader remarks, the time until the cloture vote on the Gorsuch nomination be equally divided between Senators Grassley and Feinstein or their designees; finally, that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the cloture vote be waived.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD V. WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINICS
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-4-4

I rise today in honor of life and in respect for the conscience rights of all citizens of this free Nation. prgtoken I was proud to preside over the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives a few short weeks ago as we voted in favor of No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act to strike down an administration policy that forces Americans to fund abortion providers. prgtoken We also passed H.J. Res. 43, which is another step closer to restoring the rights of States to decide how to distribute title X funding for women's health care. The measures ensure that States are not forced to fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. prgtoken Based on its own annual report, Planned Parenthood performs the most abortions in the United States. It commits more than 320,000 abortions every year, 887 each day that is one abortion every 97 seconds. Three unborn children's lives will be taken by Planned Parenthood as I stand here this morning. prgtoken Recently, Planned Parenthood has begun attacking me as a supposed enemy of women's health care. Nothing could be further from the truth. All Missourians deserve quality health care, which is one reason I oppose taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. This organization does not provide general women's health or mammogram screenings. That is a fallacy. prgtoken In the State of Missouri, there are 12 Planned Parenthood facilities scattered across our 114 counties. However, , we are grateful to have 588 healthcare clinics that prioritize women's health and wellness. That is 49 healthcare clinics for every 1 Planned Parenthood health center. So instead of driving 100 miles or more to a Planned Parenthood in Missouri, women can receive the quality care they need within their own communities. prgtoken Last Congress, I voted to increase funding to those very clinics by hundreds of millions of dollars. Congress has a sincere duty to not only defund big abortion but to radically change the conversation around life issues. prgtoken Members of Congress and this administration understand that life is beautiful, that children are a blessing, that abortion is not healthcare. It kills children, and it hurts women. prgtoken Rest assured that our work to protect life, all life, has only just begun.
ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP ACT OF 2017
Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-4-4

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I also want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren) for his work on this legislation and, more broadly, issues surrounding American entrepreneurship. He has been a tireless advocate. prgtoken , over the last 2 weeks, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, which I chair, has held hearings to examine the impact regulations have had on financial institutions, small businesses, and American consumers. What we have seen is that the burdens stemming from Dodd-Frank and associated era policies continue to harm consumers and small businesses. prgtoken We have what some have referred to as a two-speed economy. Large banks and their large customers are thriving, but the story isn't as bright for small businesses. That is why H.R. 1343 is so important. Small businesses and startups don't necessarily have the same opportunities to access the capital markets as their larger competitors, but from a regulatory standpoint, the small guys are treated the same as the big guys. prgtoken Mr. Hultgren's legislation takes an important step in addressing some of the disparities that exist. H.R. 1343 will allow small businesses to attract and retain employees through incentives similar to those that may be offered by large businesses. Unlike the gentleman who just got done speaking, this is not about Enrons. It is about small businesses that we are talking about. prgtoken It will also ease some of the reporting burden on small and emerging businesses. The bill does so simply by increasing the SEC rule 701 threshold, taking the existing rule and simply expanding it, a figure that hasn't been touched since 1999. prgtoken It is essential that Washington take steps to level the playing field for small businesses and eliminate this two-speed economy. The bill the House will consider today is another step toward job creation and a more reasonable regulatory environment. prgtoken I again want to thank and commend Mr. Hultgren for his leadership and ask that my colleagues join me in supporting H.R. 1343.
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF EDNA YODER
Kevin Yoder (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-4-4

I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of a Kansas pioneer woman. Last week I joined my family in Yoder, Kansas, to celebrate the life and legacy of my grandma, Edna Yoder, who recently passed at the age of 105 years old. prgtoken I was very close to my grandma, as many of us are to our grandparents. She was a sweet and kind woman who could tell a good story, never met a stranger, and had an infectious laugh. I spent much of my childhood listening to her hum church hymns while cooking a country meal or quilting another masterpiece. prgtoken As one of 14 children, born in 1911, she grew up in another era, attending school in a one-room schoolhouse, a time without cell phones or television or even electricity and the other modern conveniences we take for granted today. Yet somehow she survived and had a remarkable life. She saw hard times from the Dust Bowl to the Great Depression to countless world events over the past century. prgtoken When she was born, women didn't have the right to vote in America; but even well past turning 100 years old, she was voting in local elections, even for President of the United States. She saw a lot of Presidents come and go--19, as a matter of fact. prgtoken She saw America progress from a country really still recovering from the deep wounds of our Civil War to the world's most indispensable, vital, and vibrant nation. She saw us defeat Hitler in Nazi Germany. She saw us bring freedom and peace around the globe to men, women, and children who had never experienced it before. prgtoken She was born less than 10 years after Orville and Wilbur Wright took off on their first flight at Kitty Hawk, and yet she would watch Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon while she was just in her fifties. But as the world changed around her, she quietly lived her entire life near Yoder, Kansas, where she raised her children on the same farm that I grew up on. prgtoken She worked tirelessly on that farm, milking cows at dawn and bringing in the Kansas wheat harvest in the hot sun. She didn't ask for much: food on the table, a roof over her head, and a better life for her children and grandchildren. prgtoken , we like to call them the Greatest Generation. She was a living embodiment of the values that help make America the greatest country in the world. She was guided every day by her faith in God, and she was truly blessed with more than a century of good health and good spirits in return. She loved her family and deeply believed in hard work and self-determination. prgtoken She and her husband, Orie, were married for 49 years, and together they raised their four children and nine grandchildren, and they even watched one of them make it all the way from that farm in Yoder, Kansas, to the United States House of Representatives here in Washington, D.C. Family always came first for her. prgtoken In her later years, she passed the time reading her Bible, playing in the bell choir,