mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REQUIRING AN ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS RELATING TO THE USE OF OFFICIAL TIME BY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Jody B. Hice (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-5-24

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding this time. prgtoken I agree with this great reporting bill. The American people have a right to at least have a reasonable expectation that the Federal Government knows what its employees are doing. Unfortunately, we all know that doesn't always happen, particularly when it comes to the practice of official time. It is amazing to me how little information there is, particularly as it relates to the reporting aspect, as to what is happening under official time. prgtoken For those who don't know what it is, Mr. Ross mentioned it well. Established under the Carter administration, official time allows Federal employee union members to conduct union activities during their work-hours of the agency for which they were hired even if the union activity has nothing to do with their job description. Surprisingly, the Federal agencies are not required to report to Congress the amount of time that employees are spending conducting union business. prgtoken Some of my colleagues may disagree about the value of official time. I get that. The gentleman from Virginia and I see differently on this. I certainly oppose the abuse of official time, so we see differently on this. prgtoken But I think we can all agree that the American people at least have the right to know the extent to which official time is being used. So, although we may disagree somewhat on policy, I think we can certainly find common ground to promote accountability and transparency within the Federal Government. prgtoken As Mr. Ross mentioned a while ago, the OPM has come out with a study: 3.5 million work-hours spent on official time. That is a lot if it was just dollars, but when you take 3.5 million work-hours multiplied by dollars involved, this is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. prgtoken This bill, H.R. 1293, grants the OPM the ability to get necessary information from Federal agencies so that we have a more comprehensive understanding of the official time usage. Currently, there are no standards for OPM to find that kind of information. prgtoken So this bill does not eliminate, nor does it restrict, official time usage; it simply shines light on the practice. Again, I believe we can find common ground that the American people deserve to know how their tax dollars are spent. prgtoken This is common sense. It is good governance. It is a bill that I believe we should all be able to get behind. I am pleased to support this bill. I am honored and pleased to do so in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I urge all our colleagues to support it now.
America's Surface Transportation System (Executive Session)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise to discuss problems that affect almost every aspect of our everyday life no matter who we are, where we live, our level of income, or any other distinction that might be possible to make. These problems have to do with America's surface transportation system. prgtoken Like most Nebraskans, I believe infrastructure is a core duty of the Federal Government. It represents investment in our economy, public safety, and national security. In the Senate, much of my work has been focused on removing unnecessary obstacles to the flow of goods, materials, and, most importantly, people along our Nation's surface transportation networks. Through legislation and with Executive orders, we did lower the coefficient of friction on these systems. We can lower that enough that people and products can get where they need to go quicker and at a lower cost. I have been proud to support several pieces of legislation to do just that. prgtoken In 2015, Congress passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act--the FAST Act. It was our first long-term highway bill in more than a decade. As chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee in the Senate, I was glad to help steer it to final passage. prgtoken I am also proud to have authored a significant number of its provisions. For example, the bill includes a new national strategic freight program that provides every State with annual guaranteed funding. Because of the freight program, States will have greater flexibility to work with key stakeholders and local officials to develop strategic investments in transportation. The program funnels transportation funds to States and allows them to decide on their terms how to use it. By dedicating funding for rural and urban freight corridors, the program enhances the flow of commercial traffic, and it increases safety on our Nation's roads. prgtoken The true beauty of this program is that it offers States the opportunity to make critical investments to best meet their specific geographic and their specific infrastructure needs. Nebraska can elect to invest in a rail grade crossing or a truck parking lot along a rural road. California could choose to invest in ondock rail projects at our Nation's largest port complex located just outside of Los Angeles. It works for all States without leaving any behind. prgtoken The FAST Act was an important first step, but there is more to be done. President has spoken frequently about the need to invest in our transportation infrastructure. Just yesterday, the administration released a set of principles for reexamining how we do that. I am encouraged to see these proposals that will give States greater flexibility to develop our infrastructure as well as reduce unnecessary regulations that delay these very important projects. prgtoken The proposal also talks about providing long-term solutions, which is something I have long supported. This is critical for States to
HONORING THE LIFE OF DAVE SHAUL
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise today to honor the life and memory of one of Illinois' great journalists, Dave Shaul, who passed away this month at age 75. prgtoken For decades, Dave provided countless central Illinois residents with their local news as an anchor, producer, and news director at WCIA in Champaign, Illinois. During his storied television and radio broadcast career, Dave covered the biggest local, State, and national news, including covering every Presidential election from 1964 through 2016. Dave was known for his honest and trustworthy coverage of local and national politics. prgtoken Dave won a number of awards during his career as a journalist. In 1980, he won the UPI Best Television Sports Play-by-Play Award for his coverage of Illinois basketball. And in 1999, he was honored with the Associated Press Mark Twain Lifetime Achievement Award, was named to the Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame, and was designated a lifetime member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. Dave also received an Emmy Award for his career accomplishments in 2011. prgtoken Dave leaves a long legacy as a trusted figure on the news and in the Champaign-Urbana community. His family and friends continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
MEMORIAL DAY
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-5-24

I am going to take a moment to give recognition to a special veteran from my district who is 90 years old and is a World War II veteran, who worked in the U.S. Navy during World War II and saw many trips across the Pacific Ocean and endured the life of a sailor, sometimes monotonous and sometimes under very perilous circumstances, including at least one attack by kamikazes of his ship and convoy. prgtoken I pay special tribute at this time to Wayne Whitlock, who has persevered for many years after service to his country in that great war. prgtoken , I am also reminded tonight of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. As President Lincoln looked out on a battlefield that had experienced almost 50,000 casualties, he said: ``The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.'' prgtoken , very few of us in this Chamber will be remembered long after we leave Washington, D.C. Almost no one will remember my speech tonight, and it will soon become lost in the Congressional Record. Yet we are here in this body because of the heroic efforts of men and women who have given their lives for this country for over 200 years. We can never forget their sacrifices. prgtoken The only reason we can participate in the activities of this Chamber is because of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, particularly those who have paid the ultimate price. They have nobly defended our freedoms and our way of life up to their last measure of devotion. They left behind fathers, mothers, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, and communities to ensure that future generations walk in the light of liberty. prgtoken President Lincoln was resolved that those soldiers shall not have died in vain. They and all the soldiers who have died defending American wars and conflicts still deserve that respect and dignity. prgtoken , we should govern every day with our heroes in mind. We should strive to make them proud of our speech, our actions, and our commitment to our promises. The American Dream, spirit, and Constitution that they fought for should be our charge. prgtoken I would be remiss tonight if I did not mention the loved ones these patriots left behind, who are also patriotic. Countless men, women, and children have watched their American soldiers walk away from home, hoping that they will retu
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FRAUD PREVENTION ACT OF 2017
David G. Valadao (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 624, the Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act, legislation to protect Americans--especially children, veterans, and the elderly-- from identity theft. prgtoken Not long ago, I was approached by a constituent in my district who showed me a letter she had received from the Social Security Administration. The document she showed me contained the full Social Security number, name, and address clearly printed. prgtoken Upon further investigation, we found that the Social Security Administration had also printed postcards which contained the full Social Security number of the intended recipient clearly visible on the exterior of the mailing. Even more concerning, the practice of printing Social Security numbers on government documents is not exclusive to the Social Security Administration, but occurs throughout every department of the Federal Government. prgtoken In today's digital age, we hear more and more about the importance of protecting our identity. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. It threatens the financial security of millions of Americans as well as the economic stability of the United States as a whole. In fact, every 2 seconds, another American becomes the victim of identity fraud. Even worse, these crimes tend to impact vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and veterans, the most. prgtoken Despite these alarming statistics, there is a high prevalence of needlessly printed Social Security numbers on documents issued by the Federal Government. My legislation puts an end to this unacceptable practice and limits when the Federal Government can mail documents that contain an individual's full Social Security number. prgtoken Social Security was established to provide older Americans financial security during their retirement years, not to jeopardize that security by negligently handling someone's personal information. prgtoken My bill, the Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act, would prevent the Federal Government from mailing documents that contain full Social Security numbers unless absolutely necessary. This requires Federal agencies to partially redact Social Security numbers on the documents whenever possible. prgtoken Please join me in supporting this commonsense legislation that will help all Americans avoid falling victim to one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States.
THEY'RE NOT COMING HOME
Pete Sessions (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise this Memorial Day in honor and remembrance of all The Fallen who gave That Last Full Measure. I include in the Record this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell. They're Not Coming Home (By Albert Carey Caswell) They're not coming home To their families where they belong, who now must live so all alone And to their Brothers In Arms, who heard their last most heroic moans No, they're not coming home As up to Heaven they have flown On the wings of an Angel which they now own As Angels In The Army Lord to fight this new battle, but not alone They are not coming home Could any of us such courage own? And go off to war And leave all that you so love and adore For all the more And for all their Brothers and Sisters to their left, to their right endure Oh the dreaded cost and horrors of war Am sorry my dear child, your Daddy or Mommy are not here no more To hold you and tell you how much you they adore To tuck you in at night To assure you everything's all right I know it's hard to hold the tears back you fight Daddy, Mommy, oh how I wish you were here tonight! As it gets harder to see their face with each year insight But, they're not coming home And as you awake in the middle of the night Hush my child and don't you cry, everything is going to be all right Your parents are Angels now at the height As they watch over you in the middle of the night Both day and night, as you will always be in their sights Can't you feel their angel's breath envelop you, and hold you so very tight And one day up in Heaven together again you'll take flight America, on this blessed day Give thanks, and give your most solemn praise As you kneel and pray For all those heroes who gave That Last Full Measure, who make up the home of the free and brave On this Memorial Day Give thanks to all of those who gave As out to their loved ones call each and every day And tell them how much their sacrifice means to us in every way For the real heroes are the ones who fell, who now lie in deep dark cold quiet graves I do tell Who on Christmas mornings we no longer hear, their laughter as they appear Even the warm memories we take, in our hearts still can't replace Just to look into their face Oh how your hearts break Cause they're not coming home But, in a box with the names they own And some will never be found, only our Lord God knows them now No, they're not coming home Sadly, for any Nation to grow and thrive Our most precious and most courageous of all loved ones must die Must lay down their lives As it the price of freedom so very high The price all of th
Human Trafficking (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-24

I am happy to announce that soon I will be introducing legislation that reauthorizes several critical provisions to help fight human trafficking and bring us one step closer to ridding our country of this heinous crime. prgtoken The Abolish Human Trafficking Act is chiefly a bill about getting human trafficking victims the help they need by focusing on ways to support them as they rebuild their lives. To me, one of the most shocking things about this terrible crime that victims of human trafficking need most is a safe place to live because without that, they will not be able to escape the people who have enslaved them, nor will they be able to begin the steps of the long road to recovery. prgtoken This legislation reauthorizes the Justice Department's Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, which we established when we passed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a bill I authored that was signed into law last Congress. This fund--like a crime victims compensation fund--provides critical resources to help victims get the services they need to recover. prgtoken Part of the fund is financed through fines collected on convicted traffickers. It is a clear way we can use these fines to do some good. Last year, the fund provided almost $5 million in victims services. By reauthorizing it, it can continue to serve more victims. prgtoken The bill also empowers victims by permanently reauthorizing the Human Trafficking Advisory Council--a group of survivors who annually advise the government on ways to combat this crime and lend a hand. prgtoken This bill goes a long way to help victims who should be at the forefront of any of our conversations about human trafficking. There is also no question that our Nation's law enforcement officials need more support to track down the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice. Certainly, law enforcement needs more training to better equip them to serve victims too. This bill also does that. prgtoken It requires the Department of Homeland Security to implement screening protocols across law enforcement anti-trafficking task forces. One of the hardest things about human trafficking may be, in fact, being able to identify that it is occurring when it occurs right in front of your eyes. prgtoken This training will impact the work of law enforcement at the Federal, State, and local levels. That way, law enforcement at every level of government can learn how to better spot trafficking victims and will have the adequate training to connect victims to the services they need in order to recover. prgtoken The legislation will also direct the Department of Health and Human Services to continue a pilot program to train healthcare providers about human trafficking. Healthcare providers, after all, are likely to come in contact with human trafficking victims as well, and they need to know the telltale signs that will alert them so they can report this to the appropriate
RECOGNIZING PASTOR TIM BURT'S RETIREMENT
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise today to recognize and congratulate Pastor Tim Burt on his retirement. Pastor Burt has a long record of service to his community. prgtoken He founded American Infant Care Products, which came up with the fold-down infant changing tables found in many restrooms today, helping families of all sorts by providing a convenient way to care for their children. prgtoken But he also has now served as associate pastor at Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park since 1989, establishing a small group ministry. In this capacity, Pastor Burt oversaw visitor and public relations, pastoral care, and leadership and volunteer departments. His dedication to our community has certainly inspired many Minnesotans over the years. prgtoken Pastor Burt also served as the Minnesota State director for Christians United for Israel, where he developed a statewide network of leaders passionate about Israel, and has led a trip of fellow pastors to that country. prgtoken , as we recognize Pastor Tim Burt's retirement, we are extremely grateful and proud of the work he has done. I wish he and Renee the very best in their future endeavors.
HONORING DR. TOD BURNETT ON HIS RETIREMENT
Mimi Walters (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-5-24

I rise today in honor of Dr. Tod Burnett, who is retiring as president of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. prgtoken Since 2008, when Dr. Burnett was named the ninth president of Saddleback, he has transformed the college into one of the top higher education institutions in California and the country. prgtoken Over the last 9 years, Dr. Burnett established partnerships with local school districts, supported adult education programs, and pioneered the development of comprehensive support services for veterans, Active-Duty military, and their families. prgtoken Prior to his time at Saddleback, Dr. Burnett was appointed to several government positions, serving in the administrations of a U.S. President, a Governor, and mayor. He also served as vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the largest higher education system in the Nation. prgtoken More importantly, Dr. Burnett's involvement in the community outside of work has left a lasting impression on those who know him. He has mentored veterans, personally funded student trips to Washington, and dedicated resources to various programs throughout the region. prgtoken Dr. Burnett's generosity and commitment to his community and career has transformed the lives of countless individuals at Saddleback College and throughout Orange County. prgtoken , I thank Dr. Burnett for his decades of work and dedication to service of the people of California, and I wish him well during his much-deserved retirement.
MEMORIAL DAY
Robert Pittenger (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-5-24

this weekend, America pauses to honor the patriotic men and women who sacrificed their lives in support of our liberty. prgtoken For many, perhaps, Memorial Day has become just another reason for a cookout. But for more than 11,000 families in North Carolina, Memorial Day is very real. Their son or daughter or spouse or parent is among the 11,000 North Carolinians who died during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan. prgtoken Remembering the price of freedom makes me all the more grateful for the 17 students from my district who this year received appointments to West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy. These students, many of them at or near the top of their class, are volunteering to dedicate at least 9 years to defend America. They know the potential risks and the ultimate sacrifice required by many. prgtoken To the families of those who died in service to our Nation, we extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude. May God bless you.