mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENFORCING BUDGETARY LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-9-9

the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, PL 16-37, included an instruction to the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to file allocations, aggregates, and budgetary levels in the Senate as soon as practicable. Today, I rise to submit the required filing found in that act. prgtoken Specifically, sections 204 and 206 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 require the chairman to file, No. 1, allocations for fiscal year 2020 for the Committee on Appropriations; No. 2, allocations for fiscal years 2020, 2020 through 2024, and 2020 through 2029 for committees other than the Committee on Appropriations; No. 3, aggregate spending levels for fiscal year 2020; No. 4, aggregate revenue levels for fiscal year 2020, 2020 through 2024, and 2020 through 2029; No. 5, aggregate levels of outlays and revenue for fiscal years 2020, 2020 through 2024, and 2020 through 2029 for Social Security; and, No. 6, a list of accounts eligible to receive advance appropriations. prgtoken The figures included in this filing are consistent with the discretionary spending limits set forth in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 and the Congressional Budget Office's May 2019 baseline, as adjusted to reflect legislation enacted since the publication of the baseline. In instances where enforceable discretionary levels are required to be adjusted for spending designated as an emergency pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended, including funding in both the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, PL 116-20, and the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance prgtoken and Border Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019, PL 116-26, those adjustments are included. prgtoken In addition to the update for enforceable limits above, section 204 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 allows for the deficit-neutral reserve funds included in title III of the fiscal year 2018 congressional budget resolution--H. Con. Res. 71, 115th Congress--to be updated by 2 fiscal years. Pursuant to this authority, all deficit- neutral reserve funds in the aforementioned title of the fiscal year 2018 congressional budget resolution are updated and available for use. prgtoken For purposes of enforcing the Senate's pay-as-you-go rule, which is found in section 4106 of the fiscal year 2018 congressional budget resolution, I am resetting the Senate's scorecard to zero for all fiscal years. prgtoken All years in the accompanying tables are fiscal years. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying tables detailing enforcement in the Senate be printed in the Record.
August Recap (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-9

I came to the floor, and I heard the ic leader talking, obviously, about some terrible incidents that occurred in El Paso, Dayton, and in Odessa. prgtoken Since we were last in session, we have had two shootings in Texas, one in El Paso and one in Odessa. I confess that these are terrible tragedies that cause us to first ask the question ``Why'' and then cause us to ask the question ``What'': What can and what should we do to try to stop incidents like these in the future? prgtoken I will remind the ic leader that we actually have a great template for bipartisan support for gun safety legislation, which is the bill we sent to the President last year called Fix NICS--NICS being the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that the FBI operates. prgtoken For example, if you were convicted of a felony or dishonorably discharged from the military or you were subject to a protective order or you had been committed as a result of a mental health crisis, under existing law, all of these prohibit you from purchasing or possessing a firearm. But if the background check system doesn't work, it doesn't really count for much. prgtoken I am proud of the fact that we came together on a bipartisan basis and prgtoken passed this Fix NICS legislation by overwhelming margins. Anybody who is suggesting that we simply haven't done anything has a faulty memory, at the very minimum. prgtoken I would also add that we have passed legislation that would enhance school safety. One of the problems is that these cowards who commit these terrible acts don't go shoot up police stations; they go to the soft targets, like the schools. No parent should send their child to school wondering whether they are going to be safe from attacks like those we have seen occur in places like the Santa Fe school district in Texas, so we passed bipartisan legislation to deal with that as best we could. prgtoken We also recognize that many of the people who commit these acts are a danger to themselves and others because of a mental health crisis. In the 21st Century Cures Act--a broad, bipartisan bill--we passed legislation that provides for piloting of assisted outpatient treatment. The reason that is so important is, if you are dealing with an adult--an adult child, an adult spouse, obviously, or a parent-- there is very little you can do to make them follow their doctors' orders or get the kind of treatment they need to take their medication. But as a result of assisted outpatient treatment orders, a family member or law enforcement or mental health professional can petition the court for a court order requiring people to comply with their doctors' orders to show up for their appointments and to take their medication. They have reaped tremendous benefits around the country, protecting people from themselves when they are in a mental health crisis and protecting other people from potential acts of violence that the
Iowa Town Meetings (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-9-9

during August, I continued my annual tradition of holding at least one Q&A in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. I go to Iowans where they work and live to hear what is on their minds so that I can better represent them in the Senate. No matter the setting, my citizens of Iowa set the agenda. prgtoken On August 27, with a town meeting in Spencer, IA, I completed the 39th consecutive year of my annual 99 county meetings. I look forward to continuing my dialogue with Iowans throughout the rest of this year, just to emphasize that I hold a lot more than just 99 meetings with my constituents every year. prgtoken . prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO JANE WITTMEYER
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-9-9

I congratulate Jane Wittmeyer, who is retiring after a more than 40-year career in Federal, State, agricultural, and natural resources policy work. prgtoken Jane has provided knowledgeable, helpful, and insightful counsel to many throughout her decades of dedicated service. Jane managed my Washington, DC, office, for 4 years during my time serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. She brought with her the experience she gained working previously for two former U.S. Senators for Idaho, Senators Steve Symms and James McClure, and serving in positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA. Her work at USDA included serving as Deputy Manager for USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Jane was invaluable in helping me get started in Congress. She came aboard to run my DC office at the beginning of my tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her knowledge and understanding of the procedures, policies, and politics in Congress were useful, as I, as a freshman in the minority, worked to best represent Idaho. She had a deep understanding of Idaho through her previous work for Senators McClure and Symms, and I always knew I could count on her advice and opinions to help me make good decisions on legislation and other matters. Jane left my office to return to Idaho and join the Intermountain Forest Association. prgtoken Most recently, for the past 15 years, Jane has operated her own government affairs firm, Wittmeyer and Associates, assisting many in the timber, agricultural, and other related industries. Jane is direct and personable. She recognizes the great value in and makes use of bringing multiple perspectives to the table to advance a common cause. She has lent her energy and expertise into getting countless things done for Idahoans and others. I have been one of the lucky people to benefit greatly from having Jane on my team. Her thoughtful guidance is a true asset. prgtoken I understand that in retirement, Jane plans to find something she can do to help people in addition to traveling and spending time with family and friends. That does not surprise me. Jane has dedicated much of her time to helping others, through identifying solutions, providing experienced advocacy on their behalf, assisting with navigating State and Federal policies, and more. Thank you, Jane, for your outstanding work and friendship all these years. Congratulations on an exemplary career. I wish you all the best for a retirement filled with great happiness you so deeply deserve.
ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUEL AVAILABILITY ACT
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-9

I want to start by thanking Mr. Upton for yielding his time to me. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 1760, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act, a bill that I introduced with my friend, Mr. McNerney, from California. prgtoken This bipartisan bill passed the House unanimously in the last Congress. It would ensure that America remains at the forefront of the global race to develop the next generation of nuclear reactor technologies. prgtoken Nuclear energy generates approximately 20 percent of our country's always-on baseload electricity for our prgtoken homes and businesses. Furthermore, because nuclear emits zero CO2, it is also America's largest source of clean and efficient energy. prgtoken Most current-generation and legacy nuclear reactors in use today operate on a fuel that is generally enriched below 5 percent. The next generation of advanced nuclear reactors currently under development vary in size and technology compared to current reactors, and they would require a new type of advanced fuel. prgtoken This fuel known as high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HA-LEU for short, is enriched at higher levels than what is available in the current commercial market. The bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act establishes a public-private partnership through the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy to support the availability of HA-LEU for domestic commercial use. prgtoken A March 2017, survey of advanced reactor developers based in the U.S. found that the lack of availability of advanced fuel is the foremost factor that would impede the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. prgtoken Simply put, H.R. 1760 would ensure that a supply of advanced fuel is available for our domestic commercial industry to purchase and to power the advanced reactors of tomorrow. prgtoken Global energy demand will continue to increase and zero-emissions nuclear power is the ultimate green source to meet future generations' needs. It is important to pass this bill to give American innovators a competitive edge in designing and deploying the reactors of tomorrow. prgtoken , I thank Mr. McNerney again for coleading H.R. 1760 with me, as well as our committee leadership and staff for their assistance in bringing this legislation forward. prgtoken I, again, urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill so we can power the 21st century economy in an environmentally friendly, zero emissions manner for hardworking American families.
Tribute to Vince Dooley (Executive Session)
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-9-9

I rise for a moment to pay tribute to a great Georgian and his wife who this past Saturday in Athens, GA, before the University of Georgia football game, were honored by naming the field at the Sanford Stadium, Dooley Field. prgtoken Vince Dooley coached Georgia to a national championship in 1980 and coached Herschel Walker, probably the most famous running back in the history of football. He was also a great contributor to the university, contributing millions of dollars himself, personally, to see that libraries were built. He wrote seven books, including a book on flowers, which is the one that all botanists around the world pay attention to, and he is an expert historian on the Civil War. He is just a great American. He went to Auburn, but he recovered and came to Georgia. prgtoken He started coaching at Georgia and did better and better until he got us a national championship. This weekend, as our senior past athletic director and past coach, we named the field at Georgia after Vince Dooley for 25 years of outstanding service to the university and a lifetime of service to education. prgtoken May God bless Vince Dooley, Barbara Dooley, and their family. Congratulations to the University of Georgia and congratulations to Vince. prgtoken .
CONGRATULATING BEN WEAVER
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-9-9

I rise today to recognize Ben Weaver, owner of SERVPRO, a damage restoration company in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, Cambria County, that specializes in fire, water, and mold remediation. prgtoken Ben is an Army National Guard veteran, who was recently named the Western Pennsylvania Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. prgtoken I was pleased to be back in Ebensburg recently to present a commendation for this award. What started out as Ben in one truck as his mobile office, has become a growing company of 22 employees, a fleet of 20 trucks, and a 10,000-square-foot office building in Ebensburg, with a second office opening soon in Indiana, Pennsylvania. prgtoken Ben was able to launch his business, thanks to the help of an SBA- backed 7(a) loan but attributes his success to being active in his community. Ben mentioned that the community is like a family. He said, ``in the end, people really want to do business with people they know-- their extended family.'' prgtoken Madam , I applaud Ben's dedication. He is certainly deserving of this award.
BLM HEADQUARTERS RELOCATION
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-9-9

of course, the Senate is back in session after the August work period, where all of us were able to go home--and in the case of Colorado, go corner to corner--to visit with constituents, to have meetings, to talk about those issues that are concerning to the people of Colorado and what we can do to help provide solutions to the greatest challenges they see in their lives, their businesses, and in their State. prgtoken It really is a remarkable time to go through such an incredible and beautiful State. In Colorado and in the West, we are blessed with amazing beauty and splendor. Our public lands are one of the smartest ideas this government has ever created over the 200-plus years of our Nation's history. prgtoken To spend time in Southwestern Colorado, down by Mesa Verde National Park, over by Larimer County and Rocky Mountain National Park, to be on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, to visit places like the Sand Creek Massacre site, to reflect on what that dark chapter in our American history prgtoken meant, to look at what we are trying to do to include Amache, the Japanese-American internment site, into our National Park Service, it really is a chance to reflect on the greatness of our country. prgtoken This is a State that is composed of almost 50 percent public lands, a significant number of acres that are controlled, owned, and managed by the State of Colorado and, of course, a vast amount of acres controlled and operated by the Federal Government--whether that is the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management or the National Park Service. prgtoken It is the Bureau of Land Management that brings me to the floor of the Senate tonight. prgtoken Prior to our departure for the August work period, an announcement was made from the Secretary of the Department of the Interior that the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management would finally be moving west and indeed would be moving to Grand Junction, CO. prgtoken The Bureau of Land Management manages roughly 250 million acres of surface lands and surface area in our country, and almost all of it-- over 99 percent--is west of the Mississippi River. You can see the land that is highlighted in red here. Some of this land is just mineral rights and not surface land, but over here the vast amount of acreage is all surface land--some 245-some million acres of land, 99 percent of which is west of the Mississippi River. prgtoken The idea we have been pursuing is that the public lands are managed better when you manage them from within the communities that those public lands surround. In the case of Grand Junction, CO, the Bureau of Land Management--almost 73 percent of Mesa County, in which Grand Junction resides, is public land. Why not make the decisions facing these millions of acres of public lands in the West, where the lands reside, instead of thousands of miles removed in Washington, DC? prgtoken Moving the Bureau of Land Management headquart
REMEMBERING DR. THOMAS MOSS
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-9-9

today I would like to take a moment to recognize and honor the life of Dr. Thomas Moss, a great South Carolinian who touched the hearts and minds of countless people across our State. While Dr. Moss passed away in 2004, his legacy lives on today in many ways and deserves to be honored still. prgtoken Dr. Moss was an Orangeburg, S.C native and attended Morris College in Sumter before being drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean war. He was a lifelong advocate for education and civil rights and devoted his life to the betterment of his community and State. He was truly a servant leader, and in every capacity he held, he worked tirelessly to make life better for everyone around him. prgtoken At the age of 41, Dr. Moss became the first African-American staffer in the South Carolina congressional delegation and one of the few in Congress as a whole. He served as a field representative for U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond for 30 years, during which he was a strong voice for education, civil right, and social justice. prgtoken Dr. Moss has been recognized through countless awards and honors, including the NAACP Freedom Fighter Award, the United States Senate Loyal Service Award, and the Order of the Palmetto. His legacy lives on today through the Thomas Moss Civic Leadership Award, through the portion of Highway 301 in Orangeburg that bears his name, and through the hearts of every South Carolinian whose life he helped improve. prgtoken Dr. Moss's integrity, dedication, and commitment should serve to inspire us all, even today. He will not soon be forgotten, and I am certain our State will benefit from his labors and accomplishments for years to come.
RECOGNIZING DAYTON, OHIO, POLICE OFFICERS
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-9-9

today six police officers from the Dayton Police Department were awarded our Nation's highest honor for law enforcement. These were the six individuals who stood tall at 1 a.m. on August 4, in Dayton, OH, standing up to a shooter, engaging him within 30 seconds of the tragedy beginning. Nine people had already died. Another 27 were injured. By standing up to him and doing it so quickly and responding so effectively, they saved so many lives. prgtoken They put their lives in danger because they were standing between the shooter and innocent civilians who were out that evening, having a celebration, enjoying themselves, not imagining this horror could be committed. These six individuals were well trained. As Chief Rick Biehl of the Dayton Police Department has told me--and he is a friend of mine--the training worked, and he is right. It was more than just training. It was instinct. It was heart. It was their willingness to step up as soon as they saw the danger and run into the danger, literally. prgtoken President today awarded the highest honor to these individuals. When he did so, he said: ``The light from these intrepid souls defies the darkness and confronted the most sinister danger.'' prgtoken Well said. prgtoken Sergeant William Knight and Officers Vincent Carter, David Denlinger, Ryan Nabel, Brian Rolfes, and Jeremy Campbell deserve the gratitude of all of us for stepping into the breach. prgtoken Tonight I will have the opportunity to be with them on this floor. They are going to come see the world's greatest deliberative body. I know that everyone in the Senate joins me in expressing our gratitude to them for the work they do every single day to protect all of us and for their extraordinary bravery that horrible night. We thank them, and we say God bless them for what they do.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-9-9

today I wish to honor Lois Bouton, a WWII veteran who honorably served her country and has inspired generations of members of the U.S. Coast Guard with her letters. I am pleased to recognize this remarkable Arkansan as she celebrates her 100th birthday. prgtoken Lois has spent her life serving among and connecting with members of the Coast Guard--first, as a member of the SPARs, the Woman's Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard, and then as a visitor to patients--especially members of the Coast Guard at Naval Station Great Lakes Hospital--and now through the letters she diligently writes to USCG members across the country which earned her the nickname the Coast Guard Lady. ``I like to write letters,'' Lois said during an interview my staff conducted with her for the Veterans History Project. In the decades since she started outreach to coasties through the mail, she has written nearly 50,000 letters. prgtoken In the early 1970s, the Boutons retired to northwest Arkansas. That is when her outreach to coasties began to take off. She started writing to Coast Guard units in Alaska, and soon, she had the directory with addresses of units across the country. prgtoken While far from the coast, her Rogers, AR, home is a museum of Coast Guard memorabilia. Her collection includes the Meritorious Public Service Award she received from the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the second highest civilian award issued by the Coast Guard. In 2013, she was named an honorary chief petty officer. prgtoken Her love and appreciation for the Coast Guard is unmatched as demonstrated by her decades-long practice of correspondence to show her support for the men and women who wear the Coast Guard uniform. She is well-known among members of the Coast Guard and receives hundreds of letters and cards from them in return. She continues to serve as an inspiration for others and is widely admired for her service to our country, the men and women of the Coast Guard, and veterans across the Nation. prgtoken I want to thank the Coast Guard Lady, Lois Bouton, for her service and continued support of the U.S. Coast Guard and wish her a very happy 100th birthday.