mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE HONORABLE DR. AMELIA ROSS-HAMMOND FOR HER CAREER AND SERVICE TO THE HAMPTON ROADS COMMUNITY
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-28

. Madam , I rise today to honor and recognize the Honorable Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond for her tremendous career and service in the Hampton Roads area. prgtoken Honorable Dr. Ross-Hammond recently retired from Norfolk State University where she prgtoken taught Music Appreciation and the Humanities. Not only has Honorable Dr. Ross-Hammond been dedicated to her work as a Distinguished Professor, but she has been a renowned public servant. She served on the Virginia Beach City Council, and various councils and boards at the State and local level such as the City's Diversity and Inclusion Forums, and co-chaired the Mayor's African American Roundtable--just to name a few. She currently serves as a Commissioner for the Hampton Roads Transportation Commission and President-Elect for the Virginia Beach Beautification Commission. These are only a select few of her numerous titles and positions. prgtoken Honorable Dr. Ross-Hammond received awards for her service to the Hampton Roads community such as the Resolution of Appreciation from the Hampton Roads District Planning Commission and the Urban League of South Hampton Roads Young Professionals Award for Community Service. She was also the 2016 Honoree for the Norfolk State University Music Department's Spring Gala. prgtoken Honorable Dr. Ross-Hammond's dedication to strengthening bonds among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is truly inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize Honorable Dr. Ross- Hammond's leadership and the role she plays in making our community a better place. Hampton Roads has significantly benefited from her presence.
REMEMBERING ANDREW MARSHALL
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-3-28

thank you for the opportunity to recognize a titan of defense thinking, Andrew Marshall, who passed away at the age of 97 on March 26, 2019. prgtoken Mr. Marshall was the founding father of the Department of Defense's Office of Net Assessment. From its creation, he served as its director for over four decades, leaving an indelible mark on our defense institutions. He finally retired in 2015, at the age of 93. prgtoken In his role, he piloted rigorous analysis of critical national security issues, rooted in his unparalleled institutional knowledge. This is why he was often called the `Yoda' of the Pentagon. prgtoken His groundbreaking work shaped how the Department of Defense responds to long-term challenges and paved the way for a nimbler, more modern force. prgtoken Despite its relatively small budget, the Office of Net Assessment has had an outsized impact on military thinking. In particular, he foresaw the threats posed by the then-Soviet Union and, more recently, China. prgtoken Mr. Marshall's legacy goes beyond strategic thinking. He also trained the next generation of defense analysts, including the current Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, ensuring his knowledge lasts into the future. prgtoken Our Nation is more secure because of Mr. Marshall's important work. We owe a great deal of debt to him, and I am thankful for the opportunity to commemorate him today.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-3-28

I want to be able to talk about a couple of subjects today, but I want to be able to set the context on these with the recognition of Women's History Month. A lot of fairly remarkable ladies in Oklahoma have set American history and world history into a different pace based on what they have done in the past. prgtoken I can't help, when I am talking about Women's History Month, to be able to talk about my own mom, who is a pacesetter in her own leadership. She was a student, librarian, and mom. She went through elementary school librarian and high school librarian and then became the director of libraries for a very large school district. prgtoken She led the way for our family and community. She even led the American Association of School Librarians around the country. She was a pacesetter there. prgtoken There are other pacesetters that I would highlight who are Oklahoma pacesetters. The first is Claire Luper. Born in Okfuskee County, OK, in 1923, Claire Luper was the first African-American student to enroll in the History Department at the University of Oklahoma. She was a civil rights leader. She led Americans at lunch counters in 1958 as she was seated there and helped to train youth to be seated at lunch counters to break through the racism that was existing in Oklahoma City and in Oklahoma. prgtoken Claire Luper herself was arrested 26 times for just eating lunch--for just prgtoken leading for the rights of what every single human being should be allowed to do in our great country. prgtoken After 26 arrests and the breakthrough leadership that she experienced, she now has been recognized with over 500 different awards and honors in her lifetime. She taught in the Oklahoma City area for 41 years, was a senior adviser for the NAACP Youth Council in Oklahoma City, and is now a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. prgtoken Another great leader from Oklahoma is Shannon Lucid. She was raised in Bethany, OK. In 1979 she became an astronaut in a time period when ladies did not become astronauts. She set the pace. She was the chief scientist at NASA from 2002 to 2003. She served as the capsule communicator for numerous space missions. She was the first woman to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. prgtoken Jeane Kirkpatrick is another Oklahoman. Born in 1926, she was the first woman appointed to serve as a Permanent Representative to the United States for the United Nations. She served from 1981 to 1985. She served on President Ronald Reagan's Cabinet, was a political science professor at Georgetown University, and was a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She made Oklahoma proud. prgtoken Let me tell you about a current one now. LaRita Aragon. LaRita Aragon was born in Shawnee, OK, but she was raised in the big town of Dale, just outside of Shawnee. She became the first woman to hold the rank of brigadier general in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and the first female commander of
FLOODING IN IOWA
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-3-28

Governor Reynolds designated this week as ``Severe Weather Awareness Week'' in Iowa. That goes beyond just a flooding situation; it is because of the catastrophic flooding throughout our State and to tell everybody that it is not over. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned of significant spring flooding yet to come. prgtoken We are seeing increased flows in the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, and their tributaries. Iowans should review their insurance policies for gaps and consider flood insurance. That is one of the things Governor Reynolds is suggesting. Also, it would be good to have a plan in case it is necessary to evacuate, including important personal belongings and pets. FEMA's website, ready.gov, can help you with that information. prgtoken Iowans know severe weather, including massive snowstorms, flooding, tornadoes, and heavy winds. The key is that we prepare, help our neighbors, and stay vigilant. prgtoken I thank Governor Reynolds for alerting people to the future, as well as worrying about the past. prgtoken Thank you. prgtoken .
CONGRATULATING DENNIS BROWN
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-3-28

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dennis Brown on 50 years of employment at the Anheuser- Busch Jacksonville Brewery. prgtoken Mr. Brown began at the brewery in April of 1969, working onsite even before it packaged its first barrel of beer. prgtoken His attention to detail, unmatched work ethic, and commitment to quality has allowed him to excel as a leader in the brewery. prgtoken I have visited the Jacksonville brewery and can personally attest to its productivity and efficiency. prgtoken There is great honor in hard work at a job worth doing, and the admirable record of Mr. Brown's longevity speaks to his successful career. prgtoken I thank Mr. Brown for his part in making Budweiser the King of Beers and wish him the best in all future endeavors. prgtoken Cheers.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-3-28

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 Armed Services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Department of Energy's Atomic energy defense program.'' Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 10 a.m to prgtoken conduct a hearing on the nomination of David Bernhardt, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Interior. Committee on Environment and Public Works prgtoken The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Examining the Federal response to the risks associated with per and ployfluoralkyl substances.'' Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 10:30 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Daniel P. Collins, and Kenneth Kiyul Lee, both of California, both to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, James Wesley Hendrix, and Mark T. Pittman, both to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Sean D. Jordan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Wing Chau, to be United States Marshal for the District of Rhode Island, and Ramona L. Dohman, to be United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota.
OPPOSING BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES
Mac Thornberry (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-3-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this resolution is a sense of Congress resolution that makes no change whatsoever in law or policy. It is a messaging bill rather than legislation that actually does something on a substantive issue. prgtoken So, one may ask, why bother opposing a bill that doesn't do anything? I have a couple answers. prgtoken Part of the answer, to me, is that we normally do not bring isolated issues in the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee to the floor. prgtoken Part of the reason that a national defense authorization bill has been signed into law every year for 58 straight years under Presidents of both parties and Congresses of both parties is that we try to look at national security as a whole as it relates to the Department of Defense. There have been a few isolated instances where something needed immediate attention, but, generally, we try to look at the whole, not bring isolated issues to the floor. I worry that doing so, even with a messaging bill, undermines that bipartisan approach that has been so successful. prgtoken Another part of the reason, , is that we also normally try to keep our troops above and beyond politics. Bringing a messaging bill that does nothing to law or policy also threatens to undermine that, and I worry about that. prgtoken On its face, the resolution, the messaging bill that is before us, includes a number of statements that are just flat wrong. It says that President reversed the prior policy on transgender individuals in a tweet. In fact, well before any Presidential tweet, Secretary of Defense Mattis had put a delay on implementation of the policy that had previously been announced so that there could be a 6-month review. There was a 6-month review with experts, with uniformed and civilian people from all the services, with medical experts, with a whole variety of folks. prgtoken It is serious and thoughtful, despite some of the characterizations that have been made from time to time. I recommend that Members actually read it, because I think they will be impressed. They may not agree with all of the recommendations, but they will see the serious and thoughtful approach that the Department took to this issue. prgtoken As a result of this review, the previous policy was modified. It didn't go back to the way it was. Again, those details are in the report. prgtoken The resolution before us today says that the Mattis policy is a ban. It is not. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals found, on January 4, 2019, that it is factually inaccurate to call it a blanket ban. In reversing the lower court, the court of appeals said: ``The district court made an erroneous finding that the Mattis plan was the equivalent of a blanket ban on transgender service.'' prgtoken This resolution before us says that there is a global medical consensus on transgender care. But the World Professional Association for Transgender Health says that th
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-3-28

I rise today in support of the nomination of Nicole Nason to serve as Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. prgtoken The Federal Highway Administration plays a central role in America's mobility. The administration is the lead partner to State and local transportation programs that maintain and improve our Nation's roads, highways, and bridges. It has been without a Senate-confirmed leadership director for far too long. prgtoken America's transportation infrastructure faces a number of challenges. Authorization of the Federal highway programs are going to expire at the end of September of 2020. We need to work together in Congress to write and pass a bipartisan highway infrastructure bill that upgrades America's roads and bridges. prgtoken The Environment and Public Works Committee, which I chair, has already begun the bipartisan process of drafting this legislation. The Federal Highway Administration needs a strong Administrator in the office, one who can work with Congress on the development and implementation of highway infrastructure legislation. prgtoken Nicole Nason is the right person for the job. She is well qualified, and brings impressive experience in transportation policy to this critically important position. prgtoken Under President , she served as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is the Department of Transportation's top road safety official. prgtoken Before that, she served as the Department of Transportation's Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs. In that role, she played a key part in negotiating the bipartisan passage of a 5-year highway reauthorization bill. prgtoken Ms. Nason most recently served as the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Administration, a position where she has managed nearly 2,000 employees and contractors. prgtoken Ms. Nason has won praise from a wide variety of groups. Helen Witty is the national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. This is what she stated: Nicole is a true champion of highway safety and will be an asset to the Department of Transportation as the Federal Highway Administration Administrator. On behalf of MADD, I wholeheartedly endorse her for this position. prgtoken The Associated General Contractors of America had this to say: Ms. Nason is a superb choice to fulfill the Federal Highway Administration's leadership role in improving mobility on our nation's highways. prgtoken The Governors Highway Safety Association has stated: Throughout her career, Ms. Nason has demonstrated a clear commitment to public service and, during her tenure as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a dedication to advancing highway safety. prgtoken Confirming Ms. Nason to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administra
HONORING THE 1969 NEW YORK METS UPON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Peter T. King (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-3-28

. Madam , I rise, on this, the greatest day of the year, Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season to honor the 1969 New York Mets upon the 50th Anniversary of their World Series Championship. This scrappy team, led by the remarkable Gil Hodges, disproved their doubters, united a city, and offered hope during a dark time in our country's history. A season that began with a loss to the expansion Montreal Expos ended with Joan Hodges screaming ``We're Champions'' in an exuberant clubhouse under the beautiful Shea Stadium. With a rotation led by the powerful arms of Tom ``The Franchise'' Seaver and Jerry Koosman and a lineup packed with the ability of the likes of Ed Kranepool, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, and Art Shamsky, these Mets jumped over the moon and won the World Series. The team that had been stumbling since the year of its creation somehow managed to outlast the historic Chicago Cubs with three future Hall of Famers, the imposing Atlanta Braves led by Hammerin' Hank Aaron, and the awe-inducing Baltimore Orioles led by Frank and Brooks Robinson. The characters that were these Mets offered hope to a struggling New York City and optimism for a country suffering through the Vietnam War. Fifty years ago, my New York Mets reminded the country why baseball is truly America's pastime. I, along with so many others who were cheering them during those exciting days, say thank you, congratulations on their 50th Anniversary, and Let's Go Mets.
TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP SOUTH
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-3-28

this week I have the honor of recognizing Phillip South of Sheridan, MT, for his 100 years of determination, bravery, and service. prgtoken At 100, Philip South has lived through 18 presidents, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and was born when there were only 48 States in the United States. Mr. South served his country heroically in World War II as a rifleman and scout in the U.S. Marine Corps with the renowned First Marine Division. prgtoken In the Guadalcanal, Phillips survived sniper fire and his small regiment of rifleman and scouts found themselves in the heart of the battle for Henderson Field. He held a position not too far from Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone, to hold the line against an onslaught of Japanese troops. Despite being outnumbered, his small group prevailed. prgtoken I would like to thank Mr. South for his service to our Nation. He is an inspiration to all young Montanans wishing to serve their country.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2019-3-28

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I do believe that there are deep concerns about the loss of life and what it means demographically, both here and all over the world. I mean, in places like China, sex selection abortion has claimed the lives of so many of the girl children that there are tens of millions of men who will never marry because the women simply have been exterminated through sex selection abortion. prgtoken I have held a number of congressional hearings--I have chaired them-- where we have talked about the disparity between boys and girls. One estimate posited there are 62 million missing girls in China alone. prgtoken One of my witnesses said that if you look at all the women that have been killed in Asia through sex selection abortion alone, and it is worldwide, it equals, equates with the number of all the women and girl children living in the United States of America. I mean, that is a horrific crime, in my opinion, against women. And the disparity in male to female that is a consequence leads to other horrific consequences, like human trafficking. prgtoken As my good friend knows, I am the prime author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and four other laws that combat human trafficking, including the most recently signed, the Frederick Douglass anti-human trafficking law signed by President just a few months ago. I am the author prgtoken of those bills; and we watch very closely what is happening all over the world. prgtoken In places like China, trafficking has increased because of the missing daughters who have been killed, simply because they happened to be girls and women, young women, young females. prgtoken On this floor of the House, as the gentleman knows, because he voted, as did I, we had a bill to ban sex selection abortions. And to this day, I am shocked and dismayed how many of our colleagues--and I respect our colleagues on both sides of this issue--didn't see that discrimination begins in the womb, when a woman is singled out, a girl, girl child, simply because she is a girl and is killed for that reason. prgtoken Sex selection abortion is almost never--although it is occasionally for the boy child, it is the girl child who suffers. So when we look back, when our future generations look back, they will also note that discrimination. Why did that bill not become law? prgtoken It seems to me there are at least 20 nations around the world where there are disparities; India and China are among the worst, but it is a huge problem. And we need to look at protecting unborn children as a human rights issue. prgtoken Killing an unborn child in the womb is the only human rights abuse that dares call itself a human right; and there are people, purveyors of abortion, who do that on a regular basis. They keep saying it is a right; a right to dismember a child; the right to chemically poison a child. prgtoken As the gentleman knows, because he was, again, one of the sponso