mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF THOMAS E. TAYLOR, P.E.
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-12

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Thomas E. Taylor as he retires after 30 years as Executive Director for the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD). Over the course of his career, he planned, directed, advanced and ultimately delivered UTRWD as a critical regional water supply system for the majority of the UTRWD member cities and other customers across Denton County. prgtoken Mr. Taylor graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas with a degree in civil engineering. After graduation, he joined the City of Dallas as an entry-level engineer and rose through the ranks to become the youngest department head at the city, serving as head of three different departments. As Director of Dallas Water Utilities from 1980 to 1986, he managed retail services for Dallas, plus wholesale water and wastewater services for 25 other cities. He was also responsible for adding two new water supply reservoirs to the system. prgtoken Subsequently, Mr. Taylor helmed the Steering Committee to create a Master Plan for the future regional water supply needs of communities in the Denton County area. The plan included securing legislative approval for a new county-wide wholesale utility special district. Supported by many entities, the Upper Trinity Regional Water District was approved by the Texas Legislature June 16, 1989. prgtoken Over the past 30 years as Executive Director, Taylor has effectively led the development and growth of UTRWD in meeting the needs of more than 25 participating communities. He recruited and developed a top- notch staff to accomplish UTRWD's mission to acquire raw water supplies, implement strategies for treatment, delivery, reclamation and reuse of water resources. Under his leadership, the organization navigated the necessary permitting challenges to initiate permitting and construction of Lake Ralph Hall reservoir that will provide one of the first new water supply lakes necessary to continue support for the fast-growing communities composing the North Texas region. prgtoken Taylor has been honored as one of the ``Top Ten Public Works Leaders in North America'' by the American Works Association. Also, for his concerted efforts and expertise to improve the profession of utilities, he was recognized by the American Water Works Association with the William T. ``Doc'' Ballard Award. prgtoken Much of the economic growth and quality of life enjoyed by the communities in Denton County and North Texas would have been impossible without Tom Taylor's ambition, vision and work ethic. It is my honor to recognize Mr. Thomas E. Taylor's commitment as a public servant and the legacy he leaves in the form of UTRWD's important role in Texas' incredible economic growth and prosperity.
HONORING BITTLE PORTERFIELD III
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-12-12

. Madam , I rise in honor of Bittle Porterfield III, a Roanoke native, businessman, and champion of the area's education and arts, who died on November 29, 2019 at the age of 75. Mr. Porterfield was incredibly involved in the Roanoke community, and his goal was to make the Roanoke Valley and Virginia a better place to live. prgtoken Bittle Porterfield III was born on March 9, 1944. He attended Roanoke College for his undergraduate degree. After graduating, Mr. Porterfield served in the United States Army for two years. He then earned a master's in business administration at Virginia Tech. Mr. Porterfield worked in the beverage industry for most of his career, leading two family-run businesses. prgtoken In addition to business, Mr. Porterfield had a passion for education. He was the president of the Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, where he oversaw maintenance for three museums, three performing arts centers, and the region's arts council. Mr. Porterfield was also the President of the Taubman Museum of Art. prgtoken Mr. Porterfield took any opportunity he saw to benefit the Roanoke Valley. This is evident in his service as Chairman for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority, the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley, and the Roanoke Valley Business Council. Mr. Porterfield was also the President of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce. prgtoken The effort that Mr. Porterfield poured into education was noticed, and he was appointed to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Additionally, he served on the Radford University Board of Visitors. prgtoken Mr. Porterfield also used his passion for aviation at the Virginia Aviation Board, where he was a member. He also served as the Chairman of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. prgtoken The Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia were fortunate to have such a strong proponent and leader of education and business in their community. prgtoken Mr. Porterfield's survivors include Charlotte Kelley Porterfield; his sons Bittle Wilson Porterfield IV and wife, Holly, and Forrest Kelley Porterfield and wife, Katie; and grandchildren Bittle Wilson Porterfield V, Jackson Watkins Porterfield, Forrest Shepperson Porterfield, and William Hines Porterfield. I offer my condolences to the Porterfield family on their loss.
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-12-12

. Madam Chair, 26 years ago, my sister had two forms of leukemia that most people die from immediately; but because of earlier clinical trials and innovative treatments, there was a way to get some leukemia patients into remission. prgtoken Then we developed bone marrow transplants, and I matched her for that. prgtoken Five years later, they called her a cure. prgtoken Today, my sister is alive, working, raising a family, and we have treatments for leukemia that lead to a cure without even needing bone marrow transplants. prgtoken These treatments are just steps in finding cures; and, as we work to lower prescription drug prices, I want to make sure that we are looking at it from all angles. We need to be aware of the impacts on the quality of and access to care when considering effective solutions to lower drug prices. prgtoken H.R. 3 threatens and, actually, puts a knife in the heart of the pillars of research and development that have helped make America the leader in health innovation. prgtoken Relying on foreign countries to set our prices is misguided. I don't want to see the U.S. be controlled or manipulated by an arrangement some other cabal of countries makes to affect our markets and our patients. Other countries do not always share the same priorities we do on access to quality care and saving lives. prgtoken What do we sacrifice with this bill? The best care? Cutting-edge research? A lifesaving drug? prgtoken Unfortunately, the approach before us today is a dangerous one. Government price controls and a looming threat of a 95 percent tax will dramatically hurt our country's ability to research and innovate new cures. Estimates show that the bill would lead to the loss of dozens of new drugs. That means fewer lifesaving drugs and fewer American lives saved. prgtoken As a physician, I can attest that every doctor's goal is to get the best treatment for their patients. We can do more without going and having this stop development and innovation. prgtoken The alternative to this bill, H.R. 19, is bipartisan, and it is an effort to lower prescription drug prices while also protecting patients' access to new medicines and cures. prgtoken Americans deserve to have a healthcare system that delivers treatments when they need it most and makes care more affordable.
China (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-12-12

Alice's statement is loaded with historical context and correctly implies that what we are seeing now is the culmination of a slow but sure violation of the laws and norms that once defined Hong Kong's semiautonomous relationship with mainland China. These protests erupted after what Beijing argued was a simple proposed change to existing extradition laws, but the people saw it for what it was--a thinly veiled threat to Hong Kong's relative autonomy. It wasn't a takeover. It was just that foot in the door, and China is nearly unparalleled in its ability to turn a foot in the door into a permanent existing condition. prgtoken Sometimes their power plays are very obvious, and sometimes they are not. On my recent trip to Djibouti, I saw firsthand the influence of China's debt-trap diplomacy. prgtoken Here is what debt-trap diplomacy is. It is a fancy way of saying that China has increased its influence around the world by offering to struggling nations that they are going to hold their debt in exchange for preferential treatment on trade or maybe a physical presence such as a port or other sweetheart deals. prgtoken In Djibouti City, I saw this tactic run wild. Now China would say that what they have done is to help the Djiboutians create a ``smart city'' in the Horn of Africa, but in reality they have negotiated their way into creating a full-blown surveillance state. prgtoken Cameras are everywhere--on every corner and every street, with 24/7 footage--and guess where that footage lands. Beijing. They have even tried to point one of those cameras at our military base, right at the entrance to Camp Lemonnier. prgtoken Debt-trap diplomacy is bold. It is obvious. If that is all you see of China, it is easy to assume that all of their tactics are that bold and obvious. As I said, they will go after you in obvious areas and also in areas that are not as obvious. prgtoken Even domestically, China's surveillance state is notoriously the opposite of covert. Their domestic ``smart city'' program has outpaced that of every other country on the face of the Earth and the majority of their $70-plus billion budget for that project has been spent not on intelligent power grids or traffic management systems or on clean air or clean water, but it is being spent on surveilling their own citizens. prgtoken The greatest danger China has created by engaging in brash and at times absurd surveillance and suppression is that it has created a false sense of security here in the West when we don't see the evidence of what they are doing. In the United States we are not particularly vulnerable to their debt trap, but we are vulnerable to less obvious attempts to get that foot in the door. prgtoken In some form or another, most Americans have allowed Big Tech to take hold of a portion of their lives. Smartphones and cloud storage once were very novel, but now we assume that even simple transactions come predicated by an addi
SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT--100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-12-12

I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Scotts Bluff National Monument's official designation. prgtoken Having grown up in Gering, Nebraska, I am proud of the monument and the uniquely American story of the role it played in our westward migration. As one of the highest points in Nebraska, dominating the landscape, it stood as an unmistakable part of the Oregon Trail. When I look at the monument, I can't help but think of the brave pioneers of the Oregon Trail. prgtoken Stunning sights and Oregon Trail landmarks, such as Scotts Bluff Monument, must have been a source of awe on the arduous journey west. It had to have served as motivation to keep going and a relief to know they were well on their way. prgtoken Scotts Bluff was named for Hiram Scott, a fur trader who died nearby in 1828. Just as the monument's name comes from early economic activity in our region, the monument is still important to our regional economy, drawing 150,000 people from across America and around the world each and every year. prgtoken I thank the great folks who dedicate their time and hard work to keep the park in great condition so others may enjoy it for generations to come. It is with great pleasure I join with all Nebraskans to celebrate the centennial of this Oregon Trail icon.
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE SEBASTIAN INLET DISTRICT
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-12-12

. Madam , this year marks the centennial anniversary of the Sebastian Inlet District, which not only serves as a premier recreational destination for families to enjoy but plays an important role in our local economy. prgtoken Created in May of 1919 by a special act of the Florida State Legislature, the Sebastian Inlet District was originally chartered to maintain the navigational channel between the Atlantic Ocean and our Indian River Lagoon. In the mid 1800's, the first settlers in the town which would become Sebastian, saw the opportunity to create an opening on the barrier island. prgtoken By 1905 there had been six attempts to make the official ``cut'' but it wasn't until Roy O. Couch, now a very prominent name in the district, formed the Sebastian Inlet Association and persevered to get the necessary permits. His efforts came to fruition in 1919 when the official charter was granted and in 1924, when the Sebastian Inlet was officially opened for business. prgtoken Today, the Sebastian Inlet continues to attract visitors and locals alike, having become a popular spot for fishing, boating and surfing, all within the scenic backdrop of Florida's scenic East Coast. Water sports enthusiasts and naturalists have enjoyed Sebastian State Inlet Park, now one of the most visited parks in Florida, for its wildlife and natural beauty. prgtoken Since its establishment, the Sebastian Inlet has played an important role in promoting economic prosperity for the area, having an annual economic impact of 200 million dollars for the region. The inlet is also responsible for protecting our natural treasures such as our Indian River Lagoon, home to some of the most biodiverse marine life in the country. Some of the vital work the inlet does in partnership with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection includes bypassing sand to downdrift beaches, erosion control and ensuring public safety. prgtoken In celebration of the inlet's centennial, the Sebastian Inlet District has begun to hold a series of educational lectures by marine biologists and environmental scientists. This will give local residents the chance to learn about what their community is doing to preserve our waterways, particularly the inlet and the Indian River Lagoon. prgtoken The role that the Sebastian Inlet District employees and volunteers play in preserving this park is vital to our community, and I salute them for their hard work and contributions. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the centennial of the Sebastian Inlet District.
PALLONE-THUNE TRACED ACT
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-12-12

every American has had to deal with annoying and illegal robocalls. All of us have been interrupted at one time or another by a robocall's announcing ``You have won a prize'' or claiming to need important banking information so that our accounts will not be closed. These calls are a major nuisance. Of course, they are not just a nuisance. Too many Americans fall victim to sophisticated robocall scammers and have their money or identities stolen. These individuals spend months or years struggling to get their lives back after falling prey to these scammers. prgtoken There are currently laws and fines in place to prevent scam artists from preying on people through the telephone. Unfortunately, these measures have not been sufficient. In many cases, robocall scammers simply build the current fines into the cost of doing business, and the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement efforts are hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violators. prgtoken I have been working on this issue since my time as chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and at the end of last year, I introduced the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED Act, with my colleague Senator Markey. prgtoken The Senate passed our bill in May, and last week our bill was passed by the House of Representatives. The TRACED Act provides tools to discourage illegal robocalls, protect consumers, crack down on offenders. prgtoken Criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers can be difficult. Scammers are frequently based abroad and quickly shut down shop before authorities can get to them, but I believe we need to make sure there is a credible threat of criminal prosecution and prison for those who use robocalls to prey upon the elderly and other vulnerable Americans. prgtoken The TRACED Act convenes a working group with representatives from the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, State attorneys general, and others to identify ways to criminally prosecute illegal robocalling. prgtoken In the meantime, it expands the window in which the FCC can pursue scammers and levy fines from 1 year to 4 years. prgtoken The bill also makes it easier for your cell phone carrier to lawfully block calls that aren't properly authenticated, which will ultimately help stop scammers from getting through to your phone in the first place. prgtoken The TRACED Act also tackles the issue of spoof calls, where scammers make the call appear as if it is coming from some known number. prgtoken I remember an article from my home State a couple of years ago that reported that scammers had successfully spoofed the number of the Watertown Police Department. To anyone who received a call, it looked as if it really was the Watertown Police Department calling. prgtoken The TRACED Act a
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2019-12-12

. prgtoken I rise in support of the substitute amendment, H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. prgtoken There is a better way, ladies and gentlemen. We can reduce the high costs of drugs. We can improve health and lower long-term costs without stifling innovation and restricting patients' access to new, lifesaving medications. prgtoken H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, is the bipartisan solution that can be signed into law this year and immediately begin to provide relief to patients and seniors from high prescription costs. prgtoken This bill lowers out-of-pocket spending. It protects access to new medicines and cures. It strengthens transparency and accountability and champions competition. prgtoken Every single proposal in this substitute is bipartisan, and s coming together. prgtoken First, H.R. 19 encourages innovation of groundbreaking new cures and promotes the introduction of more low-cost generic and biosimilar competition to the marketplace faster, through inclusion of the CREATES Act, which streamlines the regulation of over-the-counter products, stopping the pay-for-delay agreements and patent system gamesmanship. prgtoken These policies unanimously passed the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year. They would have unanimously passed on this House floor, had a poison pill not been put in up in the Rules Committee. prgtoken H.R. 19 also has a critical provision to make insulin more affordable by requiring insurance companies to cap the costs of insulin for seniors at $50 a month. prgtoken H.R. 19 increases transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter by requiring insurance companies to make information about drug costs available in the doctor's office before a prescription is written. prgtoken It reduces the cost of drug administration, including for cancer treatment. We can cut that in half. We will pay for quality, not sites. prgtoken H.R. 19, for the first time, places a cap on seniors' out-of-pocket costs for the year. prgtoken Critically, it stops the U.S. from subsidizing other freeloader foreign countries by having a strong trade rep to negotiate better deals for Americans. prgtoken This will lower costs, and it will bring about cures. prgtoken , I urge bipartisan support, and .
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-12-12

. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I thank the ic leadership for, I think the first time this year, allowing our side to actually have a substitute to a major piece of legislation. And I thank our leadership, because that substitute is not a partisan substitute but, rather, a bipartisan substitute. In fact, every single provision in this bill has got strong bipartisan support, which was packaged together. prgtoken Tomorrow will mark the third anniversary of President 's signing of 21st Century Cures, a bill that Diana DeGette and I helped shepherd through our committee on a unanimous vote, and we passed here in the House 392-26. prgtoken 21st Century Cures increased NIH funding by some $45 billion over a 10-year span. It sped up the approval of drugs and devices, and just after 3 years we have seen the number of cell, gene, and nucleoid therapies have more than doubled. In fact, research this last year will actually exceed $13 billion. The FDA is predicted to approve as many as 20 gene therapy drugs by the year 2025. That is wonderful news. prgtoken We all want to do something about drug prices, and that is what a vote for our substitute, H.R. 19, will do. The President will sign that bill, but he is not going to sign this bill, H.R. 3, because it is going to slow down the ability to find the cures that we want to find for these awful diseases. prgtoken Now, those aren't my words. That is the CBO, a nonpartisan group, it is the CEA, the Council of Economic Advisers. prgtoken But in today's ``Wall Street Journal,'' the former director of the FDA, Scott Gottlieb, writes, ``This week the House will vote on legislation known as H.R. 3. The price-control approach would increase uncertainty and reduce returns from biotech investment, raising the cost of capital for these invaluable endeavors.'' He is right on. We want to find new cures. We want to find new technologies and to use those. We want precision medicine. prgtoken Madam Chair, I include the ``Price Controls Would Stifle Biotech Innovation'' in the Record. Price Controls Would Stifle Biotech Innovation A House price-control bill would do the most damage to transformative and lifesaving medications. (By Scott Gottlieb, Dec. 11, 2019) Victoria Gray of Mississippi recently became the first U.S. patient with a genetic disorder to be treated using the Crispr gene-editing technique. Doctors used a novel drug to overwrite the function of a faulty gene that gave rise to her sickle-cell disease. Advances in life science can define this century, but policy makers must resist the urge to adopt policies that impose price controls and punish drugmakers for taking risks. The convergence of information technology and biology allows scientists to translate the human genome into digital data that can accelerate diagnoses and cures. Over t
SENATE RESOLUTION 455--TO AUTHORIZE REPRESENTATION BY THE SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL IN THE CASE OF RICHARD ARJUN KAUL V. SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER, ET AL
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-12-12

I send to the desk a resolution authorizing representation by the Senate Legal Counsel and ask for its immediate consideration. prgtoken , this resolution concerns a civil action pending in New Jersey Federal court against Senator Schumer and various private entities. The plaintiff previously brought a lawsuit arising out of the revocation of his medical license by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, and that lawsuit was dismissed. In this lawsuit, plaintiff asserts a conspiracy among Senator Schumer and two large insurance companies, a bank, a law firm, and a media company, to obstruct and undermine plaintiff's previous lawsuit by having the Senator use his influence over the presiding judge to dismiss the case. Plaintiff's claims against Senator Schumer are subject to dismissal for failure to State a claim and on jurisdictional grounds. This resolution would authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Senator Schumer in order to seek dismissal of the claims against him.