mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Thank you, . prgtoken I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Mark Calabria to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA, for a 5-year term. prgtoken For over a decade, the FHFA has served as the regulator and watchdog of the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 2008, when Fannie and Freddie were placed in conservatorship during the financial crisis, the FHFA has also served as conservator of these mortgage giants, charged with preserving and conserving their assets and helping to return them to stable financial footing. prgtoken As long as Fannie and Freddie remain in conservatorship, the FHFA Director will play an integral role in setting the strategic direction, the guardrails, and the day-to-day management of these companies, which have a combined $5 trillion in assets. prgtoken It is critically important for the Senate to quickly confirm a qualified, experienced individual to this important post. Fortunately, Mark Calabria meets these requirements. prgtoken Dr. Calabria is a leading expert on housing and mortgage finance and a respected Ph.D. economist. He has almost 30 years of experience interacting with the housing market from nearly every perspective-- academia, industry, trade associations, think tanks, as a congressional staffer, and as a regulator. prgtoken He has dedicated the majority of his career to public service, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nearly a decade as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Banking Committee, and now as Chief Economist to Vice President . He has also worked for the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, the Farm Credit Council, the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies, and recently at the CATO Institute as director of financial regulation studies. prgtoken Over the course of his public service career, Dr. Calabria has worked to champion market reforms that benefit consumers and enhance the safety and soundness of our housing finance system. He also has a long history of working across the aisle to deliver meaningful and lasting reforms. prgtoken As an official at HUD, Dr. Calabria oversaw HUD's regulation of the mortgage market, primarily under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA. prgtoken During his time as a Senate staffer, he worked on over 20 pieces of legislation that became law, mostly in the areas of housing and mortgage finance. prgtoken In 2009, he worked on the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act, or the HEARTH Act, which strengthened our Nation's homelessness assistance programs. prgtoken Perhaps most notably, he played a key role in drafting the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, or HERA, which established the FHFA and created the position to which he is now nominated. From his
CLOTURE MOTION
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Thank you, . prgtoken Today I received a letter from the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad. Governor Branstad's letter said the following: I am delighted to inform you that China's Ministry of Public Security announced China will make all forms of fentanyl a controlled substance effective May 1, 2019. If implemented effectively, this will fulfill the commitment President Xi made to the President at the G-20 last December in Buenos Aires. That commitment and this key development are direct results of your visit to Beijing during which you highlighted China's role in the global opioid crisis. Separately, I have asked my staff to share diplomatic reporting with you that addresses China's action in greater detail. prgtoken That is from Ambassador Terry Branstad, our Ambassador to China. prgtoken This is important news. It will save thousands of American lives. President deserves great credit for persuading President Xi at their meeting in Argentina in December to do this, the one thing that our drug enforcement agents have said will reduce the flow of fentanyl into the United States more than any other single thing. prgtoken President Xi, the President of China, deserves the thanks of the American people for making this decision because our Drug Enforcement Agency is convinced that this decision by China and its senior officials will save thousands of American lives. prgtoken The reason for this, we were told by our Drug Enforcement Agency personnel in China, is that, one way or the other, almost every bit of fentanyl that makes its way into the United States starts in China. These chemicals are made and mixed there. Then they come through the mail. They come through Mexico, through China, many different ways, but the chemicals start in China. prgtoken Every time China has made some form of fentanyl illegal, the availability of that form of fentanyl in the United States has begun to go straight down. prgtoken What President and President Xi agreed to do on May 1 is to make all forms of fentanyl illegal. This means that if some clever scientist in China says: Well, this form of fentanyl is illegal, so I will make a different form that isn't, that clever scientist will now be out of business. prgtoken One thing the Chinese know very well how to do is to police their country. I would not want to be the Chinese person, after May 1, who is in violation of Chinese law that says all forms of fentanyl are controlled substances and illegal in China. prgtoken In October, I led a delegation of senior Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to meet with the Chinese senior delegation. One would have thought that all we talked about was trade because trade was important to all of our States, but at Governor Branstad's insistence, in every meeting we had with senior Chinese officials, we said: Fentanyl is our biggest problem,
TRIBUTE TO FIRST LIEUTENANT KATIE KIENTZ
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-4-4

today I wish to recognize and pay tribute to United States Army 1LT Kate M. Kientz, a proud Oklahoman who is currently serving her country in Kosovo. I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Lieutenant Kientz back in February during a congressional delegation trip to the region, and I was proud to see a strong Oklahoman such as herself representing our State and our country so well. I would like to express my sincere thanks for the excellent work of Lieutenant Kientz in advancing the mission in Europe. Her dedication to duty is instrumental to prepare ready forces, ensure strategic access, deter conflict, enable the NATO alliance, strengthen partnerships, and counter transnational threats in order to protect and defend the United States. prgtoken Lieutenant Kientz was raised in my home city of Tulsa, OK, and attended Bishop Kelley High School. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 2017 with a degree in political science and letters. Following graduation, she interned at the Oklahoma House of Representatives and participated in Reserve Officers' Training Corps exchanges in Beijing and Slovakia. These experiences were the foundation of a strong background that prepared her for a successful career in military intelligence. prgtoken As of January 2018, Lieutenant Kientz has been the chemical officer and S4 in charge of logistics in the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment. She arrived in Kosovo in October of 2018 and plans to then finish her time as a lieutenant at Fort Drum before transitioning into military intelligence. prgtoken Meeting Lieutenant Kientz in Kosovo had an impact on me and reassured me that the next generation is in great hands with leaders such as herself. On behalf of Congress and the United States of America, I thank 1LT Kate M. Kientz and her family for their commitment, sacrifice, and contribution to our great Nation. I join my colleagues in wishing her future success in all aspects of life as she continues to serve as a role model for service, sacrifice, and leadership.
CLOTURE MOTION
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-4-4

I want to speak briefly about a historic day, April 4. It was the day the agreement in Washington was signed to create the NATO alliance after the Second World War. prgtoken I want to start by repeating what President Truman said on that day. He said: We hope to create a shield against aggression and the fear of aggression--all bulwark which will permit us to get on with the real business of government and society, the business of achieving a fuller and happier life for all of our citizens. prgtoken That agreement was signed on April 4, 1949. Since the 70 years that have followed, the alliance has gotten stronger. The alliance has grown. In fact, there are a number of countries that hope someday to also be a member of the NATO alliance. It has been important and what I believe is the most important alliance in the history of mankind. prgtoken This week is NATO Week. Yesterday we had the Secretary General speak to us before a joint session of Congress. The Secretary General was actually very optimistic about the future of NATO, and I am as well. prgtoken I was with a group a couple of weeks ago who were wondering about NATO and some of the discussions or disagreements we have among our NATO allies. I liken it to the kind of disagreements I have with family. I grew up in a family of six kids. It is a big family. All of us have very different views, are of very different ages and life experiences. I really believe the disagreements we have among our allies are like the disagreements you have among your family members, but at the end of the day, make no mistake about it, an attack on any one of us is viewed as an attack on every one of us, and every country takes that seriously. prgtoken In fact, in the 70 years since NATO was created--there is an obligation within article 5 of the agreement that if there is an attack on any one of us, then we consider it an attack on every one of us. It happened on 9/11. The only time in the history of the alliance that the article 5 obligation under the treaty has been exercised is when NATO countries joined with the United States in the War on Terror. prgtoken Many people may not realize it, but there was a huge human toll for living up to their commitment. Many nations sent their men and women into harm's way, and over 1,000 of them have died since 9/11. Many others have been gravely wounded, but they lived up to their commitment. It was the first test of the treaty. That happened only less than 20 years ago. prgtoken Senator Shaheen and I are now cochairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group. I want to compliment Senator Shaheen for actually coming up with the idea to reconstitute the group because we need to make sure our partners, our allies, understand that Congress believes NATO is a very important alliance to ensure our mutual safety and security. prgtoken There was another interesting point that the Secretary General made in his s
PRESIDENTIAL TAX RETURNS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-4-4

yesterday the Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the IRS requesting the President's tax returns. Last night, I had a chance to read that letter, and I have to say that if you take it at its face value, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Consider the reasons that are stated in that letter from the Ways and Means Committee for requesting the President's tax returns. It states that the committee is conducting oversight of the audit process that the IRS uses to evaluate Presidential tax returns. prgtoken Currently, the IRS examines the President's tax returns as a matter of policy--simple policy--but a review isn't required by law. of the Ways and Means Committee have said they are now looking into whether the current IRS policies of auditing the President is enough or if congressional action may be needed. have even been talking about making IRS audits of the President's returns mandatory every year, even though--now, I understand that--even though the IRS does that every year, and they have been doing it for a long period of time. prgtoken In a press release, a ic member of the Ways and Means Committee said he has a duty to examine whether congressional action is needed to require Presidential audits and to oversee that they are done correctly. Ask yourself why that member would be saying that. prgtoken I, for one, haven't seen any evidence that the IRS has suddenly changed its policy under this President, meaning President , or that it is conducting a less thorough review of President 's taxes than it did of previous Presidents or that it hasn't prgtoken conducted a review at all. So why are the considering these changes to the Tax Code now? Why didn't they raise the issue under President or President or President Clinton? The answer of course is that nothing has changed. prgtoken There is no reason to believe the IRS is doing any less due diligence in its review of President 's taxes than it has for any other President in our memory. The letter also states the committee needs to know the scope of the audit that the IRS conducts when it looks at a President's tax returns; that it needs to know whether there is a review of underlying business activities reported by the President. If are truly interested in finding out the level of scrutiny given to a President's tax returns, why not simply just ask the IRS to describe its audit procedure? That is a very straightforward question, and I am sure Commissioner Rettig would be happy to oblige with a straightforward answer. Why is there a need to seek President 's tax returns in order to get an answer to those questions? I want to give you a hint: There isn't one. prgtoken The letter also states that the committee is looking into how the IRS is doing its job of enforcing tax laws in a fair and impartial manner. In a statement yesterday, the Ways and Means Committee sa
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-4

I have 6 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: David Bernhardt, of Virginia, to be Secretary, and Susan Combs, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of the Interior, and Aimee Kathryn Jorjani, of Wisconsin, to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at 2:45 p.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Daniel P. Collins, and Kenneth Kiyul Lee, both of California, both to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, James Wesley Hendrix, and Mark T. Pittman, both to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Sean D. Jordan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Ronald D. Vitiello, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Virgil Madden, of Indiana, to be a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission, and Nick Edward Proffitt, of Virginia, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, Department of Justice. Select Committee on Intelligence prgtoken The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during prgtoken the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at 2.45 p.m to conduct a closed hearing. Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, Safety, and Security prgtoken The Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 10:15 a.m to conduct a hearing.
CLOTURE MOTION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-4-4

yesterday NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed a joint session of Congress--the first Secretary General ever to do so. prgtoken The Secretary General is in Washington this week marking NATO's 70th anniversary. Created after World War II, NATO is a political and military alliance of European and North American democracies. prgtoken Since its founding in 1949, NATO has been a bulwark for freedom, for peace, and for security around the world. For 70 years--70 years--NATO has been a bedrock of U.S. security. prgtoken The United States stands firmly behind NATO's collective defense outlined in article 5 of its founding treaty. prgtoken As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate NATO Observer Group, I recently traveled to Brussels, Belgium, for meetings at NATO headquarters. prgtoken I met with Ambassador Hutchison and NATO officials to discuss ways to strengthen the alliance. prgtoken These briefings reaffirmed for me that now, more than ever, America needs a strong NATO alliance. For our safety, for the safety of our allies, we must support and we must strengthen NATO. prgtoken The alliance has expanded from an original 12 to now 29 member nations. These allies are our friends in times of peace, they are our partners in times of turmoil, and they are our defenders in times of war. prgtoken In armed conflicts around the world, NATO serves as a force multiplier for all of its members. After the September 11, 2001, attacks, NATO allies sent tens of thousands of troops to fight alongside our U.S. forces in Afghanistan. NATO is helping the United States defeat ISIS in Iraq and in Syria, and its role in the global war on terrorism continues to expand. prgtoken At the same time, NATO members are working together in Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression. NATO isn't just protecting Europe from Russian interference; it is serving U.S. security interests in the region. prgtoken Given the emerging threats around the globe, NATO must have the tools and the resources it needs to deter our enemies. This means that all members need to recommit themselves to NATO's mission and fully meet their pledges. prgtoken Secretary Stoltenberg has focused on meeting alliance targets through ``cash, capabilities, and contributions.'' That is what we discussed in Belgium, it is what he discussed yesterday, and that has been his focus--cash, capabilities and contributions. prgtoken At the Wales summit in 2014, every NATO country agreed to spend a minimum of 2 percent of their GDP on defense. The United States continues to pay more than its fair share--about 22 percent of NATO's entire budget and more than 3 percent of our Nation's GDP. prgtoken President , to his credit, has pressed NATO and our allies to bear the full share of their burden, both financially and militarily. NATO's Secretary General projects that the alliance will spend $100 billion more on defense by the year 2020. prgtoken N
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Hopefully, we can get a bipartisan agreement on what those levels need to be to properly fund our defense, to properly do the other things the government should do and limit the ways it can possibly be carried out, and then, ultimately, to be able to get the bills that follow it passed in time, well before the September 30 deadline. prgtoken One of the areas that there is very productive movement on is the new trade deal between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, USMCA. I know there are bipartisan working groups. The White House has been in negotiations with the majority, the and your team. prgtoken Can the leader give any insight into where the conversations are going in the House to get a timetable for when we can start having a plan for that? prgtoken You look at Canada's House of Commons, they have their own deadline of when they rise, and, obviously, we want to be aware of our other partners that are included in this negotiation. prgtoken Is there talk of a timeline yet, if the leader could share where those conversations are going. prgtoken from Maryland.
IN MEMORY OF MAYOR SHIRLEY SPELLERBERG
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of former Mayor Shirley Cunyus Spellerberg, a dedicated Texan who committed her life to serving others. prgtoken Shirley Cunyus graduated from Waco High School in 1945 and enrolled at Baylor University to study business administration. In 1949, she married U.S. Air Force pilot Herman Spellerberg, and together they raised two sons. prgtoken The Spellerbergs were stationed in Miami, Florida during Herman's tenure as a PanAm pilot. There, Mrs. Spellerberg became an engaged member of the community, and she hosted a talk radio program called ``Speak Out Miami'' from 1974 to 1979 as well as co-hosted the weekly television show ``To the Point'' from 1977 to 1979. prgtoken In 1979, they returned to Texas, where Mrs. Spellerberg continued to be an active participant in her community. In 1983, she was elected Mayor of Corinth, a role in which she served for 16 years. In addition to her official capacities, Mayor Spellerberg served as president of the Denton Women's Club, as a member of the State Executive Committee and Party of Texas Platform Committee, as president of Denton County Assembly, and as a founding member of Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum in 1972. For her efforts, she received numerous awards for her political activities in Florida and in Texas. In 2018, she was awarded the ``Yellow Rose of Texas'' award. prgtoken Mayor Spellerberg was a valued North Texas leader for more than thirty years. I am grateful for her steadfast service and appreciate her many years of dedication to our region.
TEXAS TECH HEADS TO FINAL FOUR
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-4

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Red Raiders of Texas Tech and a new standard of excellence in west Texas. prgtoken Sports teaches us a lot about the game of life. It teaches us that anything worth doing is worth working hard for. It teaches us the virtue of competition, the value of setting ambitious goals, and the necessity of making sacrifices to achieve them. prgtoken Through sports, we learn how to work as a team, how to be resilient in the face of adversity, and how to display grace in victory as well as defeat. prgtoken No one embodies these traits better than Coach Beard and the Texas Tech men's basketball team who have earned their first trip to the Final Four. prgtoken Coach Beard says the tough times pass, but the tough people last. Let me tell you, these Red Raiders are as tough as west Texas. prgtoken To the team, listen to the coach: Four to one, four parts mental, one part physical. prgtoken To my fellow Americans, get your guns up because Texas Tech is in Minneapolis, and we are coming home with the national championship. prgtoken Go Tech.