mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF GREENVILLE
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-5-20

it is my privilege to recognize and commend the Montessori School of Greenville for nearly 50 years of community service and teaching. At the end of this month, former teachers, directors, local educators, alumni, and students will gather to honor this longstanding educational leader in the Upstate as they close their doors. prgtoken The Greenville Montessori School has been a true model of education, since its humble beginnings from a church basement in 1970. At that time, it was the first Montessori school in the State of South Carolina. Since then, it has maintained the authentic principles and practices of the Montessori curriculum and developed a skilled staff and educational materials that provided training to countless teachers, helped establish other Montessori schools, and influenced alternative education models in the region and State. prgtoken This school developed a passion for learning, a sense of accountability, and a value for independent work in thousands of children in the Upstate. Many of these children grew up and sent their own children to this school, and it became a place for families and lifelong friends. prgtoken Today I celebrate the parents and educators who pushed and continue to push for improved educational offerings and programs like this one. Their work is informing and guiding the evolution of the school system and its offerings to provide safe environments and rigorous curriculums that will ensure our State's children can effectively compete in the local and global workforce and productively contribute to our society. prgtoken I would like to recognize and honor the Montessori School of Greenville and every type of K-12 school--public, private, charter school, homeschool, and online--that helps prepare our next generation for college, the workforce, and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead. prgtoken I pass along my sincerest gratitude to the many directors, educators, and local leaders involved with Greenville Montessori School in the past 50 years for contributing to and perpetuating the most important and precious opportunity we can offer our children: an education.
POLICE WEEK/OPERATION SMACK DRAGON
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-5-20

. Madam , our local law enforcement stand in the gap between our families and danger. Every day, they choose to put the safety of our communities above their own. prgtoken This National Law Enforcement Week, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the many police officers in my district and across our country who protect our families. prgtoken In Tulsa, just this week, local police caught and arrested 24 individuals in connection to a drug trafficking cartel from Mexico. Operation Smack Dragon made 73 indictments against 29 individuals, seized 3 kilograms of heroin, and $150,000 in drug money. prgtoken Several of the arrested individuals were in the country illegally. prgtoken Along with the community of Tulsa, I am so thankful for the officers who put themselves in danger to keep our people safe. prgtoken It is perhaps more dangerous to be a police officer today than at any other period in history and congressional inaction on key issues has resulted in increased burdens on the police force. prgtoken I stand with our law enforcement officers today and every day.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-5-20

today I wish to congratulate David Branscum for being named Arkansas Rural Advocate of the Year by the Arkansas Rural Development Commission. prgtoken Raised in Marshall, David is a third-generation cattle rancher, farmer, and small business owner who has dedicated more than four decades of his life to rural Arkansas. After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a degree in agriculture and economics, he returned home to run the family farm and lumber business. For 7 years, David represented House District 83 as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives where he served on both the agriculture and health committees and chaired the legislative council. In 2017, he resigned from the House after Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue appointed him as Arkansas director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development. prgtoken In this role, David has implemented programs across the State intended to improve the quality of life in Arkansas' rural communities. These programs include rural business development grants, single and multifamily housing loans, community facility grants, and water and waste disposal monies. prgtoken One of David's top priorities and one of the largest challenges facing Arkansas and much of rural America is access to reliable and affordable broadband connectivity. With nearly $1 billion in grant money available nationwide to expand broadband services to rural communities, he has championed this program around our State. prgtoken I congratulate David for being named the Arkansas Rural Advocate of the Year. He has spent his career working to advance the economy and improve the standard of living for rural residents throughout Arkansas, and our State is a better place because of him.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-5-20

I have 4 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 Foreign Relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5 p.m to conduct a hearing Subcommittee on Airland prgtoken The Subcommittee on Airland of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5 p.m to conduct a hearing. Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support prgtoken The Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 4 p.m to conduct a hearing. Subcommittee on Strategic Forces prgtoken The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5:30 p.m to conduct a hearing.
DEMANDING CONGRESS ACT TO SECURE OUR BORDER
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-5-20

we have a crisis on our southern border, even if leaders try desperately to deny it. Nearly 100,000 people were detained last month trying to illegally cross our southern border. prgtoken , imagine if the population of Billings, Montana, was caught crossing the border in just 1 month. That is the crisis our country faces. prgtoken Last week, a U.S. district court judge in Billings sentenced a Mexican citizen to prison for possession of 34 pounds of meth with the intent to distribute. That is nearly 125,000 doses. With Montana facing a meth epidemic, we must secure our border and stop the flow of Mexican meth into our communities. prgtoken , I saw firsthand the crisis on our southern border. Congress has an obligation to act. I have stood with President to secure it. Let's build the wall where feasible. The safety and security of our country and our communities depend on it.
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-20

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of House passage of the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution--prohibiting the government from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex. prgtoken In the year of 1893, the first attempt to organize the Women's Suffrage Movement in the state of Texas took place in Dallas, with the formation of The Texas Equal Rights Association. prgtoken Twenty-six years later Texas became the first state in the south to ratify the 19th amendment. From raising families, to organizing political movements, to fighting over seas, our country could not thrive without the influence of so many strong and determined women. prgtoken It is with great admiration that I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the pioneering efforts of women 100 years ago that are still shaping our nation today.
Introductory Statement on S. 1541
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-5-20

today, I am introducing Federal legislation to make 21 the new minimum age for purchasing any tobacco product anywhere in the United States. Let me say that again--a new age nationwide for purchasing anything classified as a tobacco product-- cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapor products, and everything else. It shouldn't be 18 any longer; it should be 21, and this legislation will make that happen. prgtoken I recognize I might seem like an unusual candidate to lead this charge. I am the senior Senator from Kentucky. I have consistently stood up for our Kentucky farmers, including our tobacco farmers. I championed the tobacco buyout back in 2004. But actually my long experience with this subject and my commitment to farm families are part of what has convinced me that now is the right time to do this. I would like to say a few words about why. prgtoken Tobacco has been deeply intertwined in our Nation's history from the very beginning. Native Americans grew it and used it before European explorers ever arrived. John Rolfe--the famous settler who later married Pocahontas--kick-started Virginia's export economy using foreign tobacco seeds in 1612. prgtoken By the eve of the Revolution, tobacco was a major export and a huge part of prgtoken our colony's prosperity. Many tobacco farmers were energetic early backers of independence. George Washington grew tobacco at Mount Vernon, at first as his primary crop. In Benjamin Franklin's newspapers, some of the earliest ads for American tobacco ran alongside the essays urging Americans to stand up for freedom. Several million pounds of tobacco were actually used as collateral to help secure the loans they needed from France. Years later, Lewis and Clark used it as a peace offering to the Native Tribes they met while they were headed west. And, like too many other parts of early American history, tobacco's development was closely linked with the sin of slavery. prgtoken So tobacco has been a part of this country right from the start--so much so, in fact, that right here in the U.S. Capitol, artisans replaced the traditional designs in many of the Roman-style columns and chiseled American tobacco leaves in their place. Right here in this Chamber, we still have some old spittoons. We used to have Senate snuff boxes filled on the taxpayers' dime. The residue on the floors used to be so considerable that Charles Dickens warned fellow visitors not to pick up anything they dropped unless they had a pair of gloves on. One of the Senators Dickens actually admired most from that visit was Henry Clay. And, befitting the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our own rich history with the crop, that legendary Kentuckian was also a legendary tobacco enthusiast. prgtoken When the first settlers came over the Appalachians into what is now Kentucky, tobacco offered the perfect opportunity to jump-start their new lives. A pocketful of seeds was enough for a downpayment on a new, economi
MARKING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-5-20

I rise to mark the passage of the 19th Amendment out of this very Chamber 100 years ago. prgtoken As I join with my colleagues to celebrate this historic vote on May 21, I will wear a yellow rose on my lapel. This is reminiscent of a scene in the Tennessee State House. prgtoken At that time, one more State was needed to ratify the 19th Amendment. All eyes were on Tennessee. prgtoken State Representative Harry T. Burn of Tennessee's Third District donned a red rose signaling his opposition to the pro-suffrage movement. However, after reading a letter from his mother, Ms. Phoebe Ensminger Burn, Representative Burn cast the tie-breaking vote, joining with his colleagues in yellow roses to vote in support of women's suffrage. prgtoken The resolution passed. Tennessee became the final State needed to ratify the 19th Amendment. prgtoken I will wear a yellow rose in honor of women like Ms. Burn, who demanded to be heard, to honor Members of the 66th Congress who championed change and for the enfranchisement of all American women. Without their voices, our Nation would not be what it is today.
DIGITAL GLOBAL ACCESS POLICY ACT OF 2019
Ron Wright (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-20

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of the Digital GAP Act of 2019, which I was proud to introduce with Ranking Member McCaul and Representatives Lieu and Bera. prgtoken In our increasingly connected world, internet access is a tremendous driver of economic growth. But 60 percent of the world's population remains offline and out of reach of U.S. businesses, organizations, and educators--largely due to a lack of telecommunications infrastructure. prgtoken The Digital GAP Act will promote commonsense ``build once'' policies to help ensure that companies have opportunities to incorporate telecommunications into new infrastructure construction projects. prgtoken This will provide opportunities to the private sector and reduce the cost of bringing new communities online. prgtoken The bill also presses for the removal of onerous tax and regulatory barriers to Internet access, and calls on the State Department, USAID, and other government agencies, to partner with businesses to increase private investment in internet infrastructure in developing countries. prgtoken As we compete overseas with an increasingly aggressive China, we must make America's assistance and development strategies more effective. prgtoken Bills like the Digital GAP Act and the Championing American Business through Diplomacy Act, which passed 2 weeks ago, will do just that by strengthening the United States partnership with the private sector. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and .
NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-5-20

the month of May is nationally designated Military Appreciation Month, so named because, in the month of May, we also observe Memorial Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, and Armed Forces Day. Last week, my friend from the State of Oklahoma, Mr. Inhofe, the distinguished chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, organized a floor event around National Military Appreciation Month. I would like to take a moment to lend my voice to this significant commemoration. prgtoken In the State of Alaska we like to think of military appreciation month as every month, military appreciation day as every day. Alaska is proud to host more than 19,000 Active-Duty servicemembers, more than 4,600 members of the Reserve Component, and about 5,000 appropriated funds civilians across all of the services. That number will grow significantly as the Air Force begins the beddown of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, at Eielson Air Force Base, its first F-35 operating base in the Pacific Area of Responsibility. prgtoken At first blush, Alaska is a difficult place to serve. It is dark in the winter, light all night in the summer, prone to temperature extremes, and geographically distant from family. Some military families who receive orders to Alaska are apprehensive at first, but when they speak with other military families that have served in Alaska, they come to understand that Alaskans treat our military families like no other people, and the opportunity to live in Alaska, while serving, is a once in a lifetime wonderful experience. prgtoken I could offer many examples of the ways in which Alaskans make life wonderful for those who serve here. The one that is freshest is my mind is the annual Military Appreciation Banquet in Fairbanks. It is one of two that Alaskans put on each year. The Fairbanks banquet tends to occur in May; the other major banquet is Salute to the Military in Anchorage each February. Both attract senior military leaders as keynote speakers. During each, the services honor outstanding members from within their ranks and thank the community for its extraordinary support. prgtoken I would like to speak to the history of the Fairbanks banquet for a moment. It began 51 years ago--1968 to be exact--when Jim and Rosemary Messer started small dinner in the home parties for friends in the military; 1968 was a pretty controversial year in the Nation's history with the country torn over our participation in the Vietnam conflict, but the Messers were determined to show those who came from around the country to serve in Alaska some love and home-cooking. prgtoken The idea quickly outgrew the confines of the Messer home, and the Fairbanks Military Appreciation Banquet is its successor. The banquet is held in the Carlson Center, which is the convention center for Fairbanks. Capacity is about 600 people, and the banquet sells out every year. Following in the Messer legacy, each community member buys two t
STRONGER CAPTA TO HELP PROTECT ABUSED, NEGLECTED CHILDREN
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-5-20

I rise to speak about the importance of H.R. 2480, the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which we just passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. prgtoken Although we are facing challenging times and political divide in our Nation, one thing we can absolutely agree on is this: Child abuse and neglect are heartbreaking, immoral, and simply inexcusable. prgtoken As many of you know, the opioid epidemic has devastated families and communities across our country, which has been a major factor in the recent uptick in child abuse and neglect cases. prgtoken H.R. 2480 assists States in addressing this recent increase in child neglect by improving data collaboration between States, strengthening accountability, supporting evidence-based services, and developing best practices for reducing child neglect linked to parental substance abuse. prgtoken Most importantly, it provides parents with parental education and leadership skills developed to help keep them and their families safe and together. prgtoken We have a duty to ensure that American children are protected from maltreatment and neglect, and the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act sets us on the right path to do so.
GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA
Martha Roby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-5-20

. Madam , as a member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I rise regarding today's full Appropriations Committee action on the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill. prgtoken This bill provides vital resources and programs supporting American and global interests around the world. As you know, the United States is a leader in global health, and it is important that we remain engaged and not become complacent, especially as life-threatening diseases begin to advance and mutate. prgtoken The State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill funds several health-related foreign policies that provide assistance, along with our partners, to eradicate deadly and preventable diseases worldwide. prgtoken The Global Fund is one of these critical programs funded in this bill. As one of the world's most effective health organizations, it has delivered real results combatting deadly diseases, saving over 27 million lives since its conception. The Global Fund partnership invests billions of dollars annually to support programs fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria around the world. prgtoken Madam , unfortunately, due to policies unrelated to the Global Fund, I was unable to support this funding bill in its entirety during last week's Committee consideration. However, I would like to express the importance of the United States' participation in this partnership, and the clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States will continue to lead with its commitment to the Global Fund. prgtoken I remain committed to working with my colleagues to find an agreement with the Senate and the Administration on the overall Fiscal Year 2020 funding level. Without an agreement, the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations process will continue to have a difficult path towards funding the government. prgtoken Madam , I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol to come together and work towards a common goal of getting to an agreement for the overall funding amount for Fiscal Year 2020.
RECOGNIZING GT AIRINJECT, INC.
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-5-20

as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my privilege to recognize a small business that has benefited from hard work, ingenuity, and international trade. As we celebrate World Trade Month, it is important to recognize the limitless potential that exporting offers small businesses across the country. It is my distinct honor to name GT AirInject Inc located in Jacksonville, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Founded by Glen Black, GT AirInject is a family-owned manufacturer of air injection machines, which provide an efficient way to improve soil and lawn maintenance for golf courses and athletic fields. GT AirInject's flagship product, the AIR2G2, solves the issues of soil compaction by injecting pressurized air into the soil, up to 12 inches deep, which fractures the natural forming compact layers. Unlike traditional aeration methods that simply perforate the soil, the AIR2G2 injects air without damaging the turf surface. This revolutionary feature allows the course or field to be used immediately, making the AIR2G2 an ideal product for sport facilities and golf courses. In fact, GT AirInject's products are utilized internationally, at world-renowned facilities such as St. Andrews Links in Scotland, the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park, the Green Bay Packer's Lambeau Field, and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. prgtoken In addition to the AIR2G2, GT AirInject has developed the AIR2HP. Perfect for both commercial and household use, the AIR2HP offers customers a more portable and dynamic product, while still providing the soil benefits of increased porosity, better water drainage, and improved root growth. The benefits of the AIR2G2 and the AIR2HP, however, are not limited to improved soil quality. The efficient and effective designs of GT AirInject products allow recreational facilities to remain open after turf maintenance, simultaneously decreasing the facilities maintenance budget while increasing revenue. prgtoken GT AirInject's commitment to manufacturing superior products, while maintaining an affordable price, has allowed them to become a world leader in air injection machines. Exporting across the globe, GT AirInject products can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite increased international demand, GT AirInject continues to manufacture its machines in Jacksonville. prgtoken GT AirInject's commitment to quality and innovation has not gone unnoticed. The AIR2G2 won the prestigious 2016 HSBC Golf Business Forum Innovation Award and the 2015 Sports Turf Managers Association's Innovation Award. Additionally, the AIR2HP was named as one of Lawn and Landscape magazine's Twenty for 2017 New Product Award Program winners. prgtoken American made products are essential to the United States' continued competitiveness in the global marketplace. GT AirInject is a tremendous example of a small business creating an innova