mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-6-19

today I wish to honor Wendell Hanson, as he celebrates his centennial birthday this year. Wendell was born on August 4, 1919, in Sioux Falls, SD. prgtoken Wendell Hanson graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. He attended 1 year of college at Augustana College in Sioux Falls before transferring to the University of Texas, where he was President of Alpha Phi Omega. prgtoken Wendell enlisted in Active Duty in the Army Air Force on September 5, 1941, and served in World War II as a B-25 combat pilot in low-altitude attack missions from bases in China and India. He was flight leader under General C. L. Chennault's 14th Air Force Flying Tigers. Among the medals he was awarded are the Distinguished Flying Cross for distinguishing himself by heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, the prgtoken Air Medal with oakleaf cluster, three Bronze Stars, and China's Liberation Medal. After his tour of duty in the war overseas, he taught instructor pilots how to teach combat air tactics to pilots. He served in the Air Force Reserve and retired in 1964 as a lieutenant colonel. prgtoken On August 11, 1945, Wendell married Helen A. Brumbaugh at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. Wendell met Helen when she was a teacher at Vermillion High School. In January of 1945, he flew to Sioux Falls from Texas and drove his father's car to Vermillion to recruit potential Air Force pilots. Prior to speaking with students, he spoke with Helen for a few minutes in a school hallway. A month later, without further communication, Wendell sent a letter to Helen asking her to marry him. Helen replied, ``I do not even know you well enough to say no.'' After many months of letters, Helen said, ``Yes.'' They lived near Waco, TX, while Wendell taught instructor pilots at Lackland Air Force Base, then moved to Ann Arbor, MI, for 2 years before finally returning to Sioux Falls. prgtoken Wendell and Helen had five children, Doug, Gail, Gary, Allen, and Martha, as well as eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. prgtoken As a dedicated public servant, Wendell served in the South Dakota Senate from 1977-78 and from 1981-1982. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, international travel, pheasant hunting, fishing, and camping. He was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church, where he served as President of the congregation and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of Peace Lutheran Church and currently attends Abiding Savior Lutheran. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Wendell Hanson for his service to our country and wish him a very happy 100th birthday, good health, and prosperity.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-6-19

let me say also that Senator Reed and I worked together on a lot of these over the years, and this is not going to be any different than before. We can get it done. We will get it done on time. We will get it done to put us back in the position we should be in, the United States of America with our military capability. prgtoken With that, I appreciate it and look forward to working together. prgtoken .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3055, COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020; RELATING TO CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2740, DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN...
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken I want to begin where my friend from Massachusetts left off. I have not enjoyed coming down to vote on things we could have voice-voted either. I have not enjoyed being here until midnight on votes when I knew how they were going to come out, when we could have been working together on issues where I didn't know how they were going to come out and where we were trying to be agents of change. prgtoken But when we are in the minority, it is the only tool that we have to draw attention. The reason we have been here night after night is not because Mr. Roy is trying to inconvenience anyone. It is because he went to the Rules Committee and offered an amendment to do something that everybody in this Chamber knows ought to be done, and he didn't even get a vote. Folks wouldn't even let him bring his idea. Here we are, in the people's House, on an issue that is a bipartisan issue, and he did not even get a vote. prgtoken He is not here to say it is his way or the highway. He is here to say that he thought this was a place where ideas were debated and agreed to or defeated. On that, I think he is absolutely right. He is absolutely right. prgtoken My friend from Massachusetts is right, Madam , when he says that he has opened up this process more than it was the last cycle under s. It is true. prgtoken But we have heard Member after Member who said: ``I have a good bipartisan idea. I have a good bipartisan idea, but the Rules Committee didn't allow it to be heard.'' prgtoken Madam , House Resolution 92 from 2011, conveniently offered by Mr. Woodall, me, that was the festival of democracy in February to March 2011, where we didn't just have an open rule on one appropriations bill, or two, three, or four. We opened up the entire Federal budget and allowed every Member's voice to be heard. From the most liberal to the most conservative, from the most conservative to the most liberal, everybody had a say. prgtoken Madam , the problem we are having, I tell the gentleman from Massachusetts, is not that we are opening up the process and so that is why we are having all of these delays. The problem is that the process is still too closed. That is why we are having delays. prgtoken I can understand it if you beat me when I am trying to represent the views of my constituents. But when you shut me down, I think it offends each and every one of us. prgtoken Appropriations bills have been that loan vestige of openness in this institution. shut them down before I got here. s didn't improve much on that model, save this resolution from 2011. There is still much room for improvement on both sides. prgtoken Madam , let's start that improvement, start that improvement by defeating the previous question. prgtoken Let's go back to where this whole disagreement started. Let's give the gentleman from Texas an opportunity to be heard on the
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-6-19

such time as I may consume, and I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3055. prgtoken Unfortunately, this appropriations bill and the bill that just passed the House are written to an unrealistic top-line funding number, $176 billion above the current budget caps. prgtoken We still do not have a consensus on a budget agreement for fiscal year 2020, which could lead to sequestration, resulting in devastating cuts to our military. prgtoken Moving this second appropriations package today as is is another wasted opportunity. The funding levels are far from what the President has requested and will support. Total discretionary funding in this bill is nearly 10 percent above the fiscal year 2019. prgtoken In addition, this package contains poison pill provisions that will likely lead to a veto and another government shutdown. prgtoken The package jeopardizes our Nation's security. Some of the most troubling provisions include: preventing funds from being used for the border wall or barriers; limiting the President's ability to respond to a national emergency; and allowing Guantanamo Bay detainees to be transferred to the United States. prgtoken The bill allows taxpayer dollars to be used to provide lawyers for migrants crossing the southern border and prohibits a question on citizenship to be added to the 2020 Census. prgtoken If this bill is enacted, industry would be burdened by more regulation. The bill allows the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, as outlined in the Green New Deal; it supports the listing of sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act, which would impact energy and mineral development in 11 Western States; and it includes three new regulations that would unfairly burden the trucking industry. prgtoken The bill also prohibits the administration from setting reasonable fuel efficiency standards, and the legislation attacks our Second Amendment rights prgtoken by removing the longstanding firearms-related protections. prgtoken The bill also includes new language that was not voted on in committee, which would provide backpay to certain Federal contractors who were affected by the government shutdown. This comes with a high price tag. CBO says it would cost $1 billion to implement this provision. It is disappointing that this language is being slipped into this package. prgtoken Perhaps, even more concerning is that we are considering this bill before we address the crisis at the border. This situation is getting worse by the day, and we must take action now. prgtoken I am encouraged to hear the Senate marked up a bipartisan bill in committee this morning, and I hope we can move legislation through both Chambers and get it signed by the President very soon. prgtoken The bottom line is the priorities reflected in this bill are misguided. The bill spends too much money, and it contains partisan policy issues that will not make it into law. prgtoken This package fal
ESCAPE Act (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-6-19

we talked a lot in recent weeks about the importance of a transatlantic political and military alliance between our country and many other nations. In celebrating NATO's 70th anniversary in Washington a few months ago and the 75th anniversary of D-day in Europe, there has been a common theme, and that common theme has been security cooperation. The common theme has been a need to strengthen our response to threats that continue to arise around the globe. prgtoken I believe energy security is a critical part of our shared defense. That is why I just introduced legislation to help our NATO allies escape Russian bullying by improving European energy security. My bill imposes sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It also speeds up U.S. natural gas exports to our NATO allies. prgtoken For years I have raised concerns about Russia's energy export pipeline project. Nord Stream 2 would carry added Russian natural gas supplies to Germany via the Baltic Sea. It would do it along the existing Nord Stream 1 route. This pipeline will fuel Russian aggression as well as regional instability. For our sake and the sake of our allies, we must stop it. prgtoken Nord Stream 2 makes Europe and our NATO allies more dependent on Russia and so more prone to Russian influence. It also means a massive money transfer from our allies straight into the Kremlin's pockets. That is new money that Russia can use to fund their military. prgtoken As we know, Russian President Vladimir Putin is no friend. He is a dangerous foe, and he has plans to divide Europe and destroy NATO. Putin uses Russia's military and economy as tools of intimidation. One of Russia's biggest economic levers, of course, is its gas monopoly in Europe. In fact, Putin has a history of using his Russian energy resources as a geopolitical weapon. prgtoken Russia literally threatens to turn off the gas if its demands are not met. Putin did cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine in 2006, again in 2009, and most recently in 2014. Of course, 2014 was the year that Russia invaded Ukraine and Crimea. Currently, most Russian gas exports to Europe must cross Ukraine, but by using Nord Stream 2 to bypass this route, Russia can freely undermine Ukraine's economy. prgtoken Putin threatens not just Ukraine but also our NATO ally Poland. Just last week Poland's President was here in Washington meeting with President to discuss security issues. Unlike Germany, Poland is working to free itself from Russian energy reliance. Poland has signed a deal to buy an additional $8 billion of abundant reliable American natural gas, and this is on top of the $25 billion already under contract. prgtoken At the meeting last week, President said he is considering Nord Stream 2 sanctions. He also warned Germany to end its dependence on Moscow. President rightly noted: ``We're protecting Germany from Russia and Russia is getting billions and billions of dollars from
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for this opportunity. prgtoken Madam Chair, I represent three coastal counties along northeast Florida's Atlantic Coast, and one of the biggest grievances that I hear in our coastal fishing communities is that there are simply not enough days to fish for red snapper. prgtoken Anglers tell me time and time again that they can't fish without catching red snapper. One diver even relayed to me that the red snapper were so thick over the reefs, that you could literally walk across their backs. prgtoken Even so, Federal regulators only gave recreational anglers 5 days to fish for red snapper in the South Atlantic this year, down from 6 days the previous year, all of this because NOAA simply does not have accurate data. prgtoken Lack of data leads to short seasons or, even worse, no seasons, which devastates both recreational and commercial fishing and significantly impacts Florida's economy. prgtoken To fix this problem, my amendment will increase the funding in this bill for data collection of reef fish in the South Atlantic by $3.5 million, which will bring the total to $5 million, which is the same amount that has been used for the last few years in the Gulf of Mexico, where it has been incredibly effective. prgtoken The funding made available there to improve data collection in the Gulf over the last few years has made significant improvement in Gulf red snapper management. For example, in 2014, the Gulf red snapper season was only 9 days. This year, it is 62 days. prgtoken So by providing NOAA with an increase for reef fish data collection in the South Atlantic, we could ensure commercial and recreational fishermen have stable access to this crucial fishery and enough fishing days to maintain their businesses. prgtoken We have seen our neighbors along the Gulf use this funding very successfully. The South Atlantic is in dire need of the same success. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support this simple amendment, which will greatly benefit the fishermen and the economies all along the South Atlantic. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Denver Riggleman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-6-20

. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland, Representative Trone, with whom I have developed a bipartisan partnership that has resulted in these two amendments. prgtoken The first amendment increases funding for Community Connect Grants to connect broadband deployment into rural communities that are underserved by private sector investment. prgtoken Our rural communities, including some in my district, need access to broadband to keep up with the demands of the modern economy. prgtoken This amendment will help communities close the digital divide, which is critical to enhancing economic opportunity, job creation, access to healthcare, and education in rural America. prgtoken The next amendment, dear to my heart, increases funding for the Rural Health and Safety Education Program to combat the opioid epidemic in rural communities. prgtoken Representative Trone and I and too many others in this body and in our country at large have seen friends and family members suffer and even pass away from the opioid crisis that has ravaged our country. Just last week, I lost my cousin to a heroin overdose. prgtoken This funding is an essential step to turn the crisis around. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support these two amendments.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-6-20

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the en bloc amendment as well. prgtoken I want to thank the Agriculture Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Bishop, for working with our side to include many amendments that are important to our Members. The chairman has been a great partner and has been very fair throughout this process. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, as it reflects the will of many Members and also makes appropriate changes to the bill. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-6-20

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also want to thank Chairwoman McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for working with me on this very important amendment. prgtoken In North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District, we are fortunate to have the Uwharrie National Forest. Throughout my time in Congress, I have heard horror stories from my constituents of the danger of the public roads within the Uwharrie National Forest. prgtoken I have seen these roads firsthand and can testify to the critical need of paving these roads. prgtoken My amendment works towards improving and maintaining these roads and assuring public access to this State treasure. prgtoken One of my constituents had a heart attack, and the ambulance couldn't get down the road because of the ruts and the washouts. Thankfully, the desperate, resourceful paramedics got out of the ambulance and sprinted down the road with a stretcher. prgtoken Another one of my constituents, their house burned to the ground because the road was so impassable, a firetruck couldn't get down to put out the blaze. prgtoken These are just a few of the examples of the severe public safety concerns that my constituents are facing due to the inability of the Park Service to maintain these roads. prgtoken It is unacceptable, and it is one reason why I have worked so hard to advocate on behalf of Uwharrie National Forest and advocate for more resources for the Park Service in general. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I want to thank the Chief of the Forest Service, Ms. Christiansen, for her attention to this issue and for working with me to address this public safety crisis. prgtoken In addition, Mr. Chair, I want to, again, thank Chairwoman McCollum for her work to increase funding for road construction in this legislation. prgtoken I will continue to work and stress the urgency of this issue until my constituents are safe. It is my duty as a Congressman to get this done. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment as well as the en bloc.
ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-6-20

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, and I rise today to share with this Chamber the impact that Alzheimer's disease has had on this country and my family. prgtoken Today, 5.8 million Americans live with brain disease. I have witnessed firsthand the burdens of these illnesses because my father, Andrew Katko, lived with Alzheimer's for nearly a decade before succumbing to the disease a few months ago. prgtoken My family was faced with the difficult decision on how to care for our father during this time in his life. This is not uncommon among families across our great Nation. prgtoken Often, family and friends are primary caretakers for those suffering with Alzheimer's and dementia. My mother, Mary Lou, served as my father's primary caregiver, joining 16 million Americans who provide unpaid care. This year, unpaid caregivers will provide 18.5 billion hours of care valued at $234 billion. prgtoken The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act was signed into law last Congress proudly and is now being implemented. This legislation authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research prevention methods for dementias and establish local treatment facilities. prgtoken I am committed to passing additional policies that improve the lives of those living with dementias.
NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-6-20

. Madam , Tuesday morning, I had the honor of being in burg, Pennsylvania, at the State capitol to speak about my bill, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee at the State legislature hosted a panel to discuss my legislation that would increase milk options in school lunchrooms across the country. prgtoken Later that morning, we gathered in the capitol rotunda with State lawmakers and representatives of the dairy industry, dairy farm families from throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to rally in support of putting whole milk back in our schools. prgtoken Madam , dairy products like milk contain 9 essential nutrients that can help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. It is helpful with weight management. And whether it is protein to help build and repair muscle tissue of active bodies or Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse. prgtoken I was especially glad to participate in these events, because June is National Dairy Month. prgtoken Proudly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the largest milk- producing States in the Nation, and this annual tradition celebrates the contributions the dairy industry and dairy farm families have made to the world. It is my hope that, through this legislation, we will be able to allow students to select the type of milk that they love best, including flavored and whole milk. prgtoken This legislation is in response to changes made in 2010 to the School Lunch Program. That year, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act amended the nutrition standards and mandated that flavored milk must be fat-free. prgtoken This law, along with the lowest participation in the program, led to an alarming decline in milk consumption in schools since 2010. Declining milk consumption in schools not only impacts students where they don't get the nutrition that they need, but also the dairy farm families in rural communities across the Nation. prgtoken In addition to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, I recently introduced another bill with Congressman Joe Courtney to expand milk options for students and reverse the decline of milk consumption in schools. The School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019 reaffirms and codifies a recent regulation from the USDA by providing schools with the option to serve lowfat milk with flavor, and it requires that milk offered is consistent with the most recent dietary guidelines for Americans. prgtoken In November of 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced regulatory changes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, including a provision that provides schools with the option to serve lowfat 1 percent flavored milk. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to sign on to these bills during National Dairy Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk that they love with the nutrition that t