mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
JAMES JOHNSON
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2018-4-17

I rise today to recognize and honor James Johnson for receiving the 2017 Arvada Young Professional Leadership Award from the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. Each year the Arvada Chamber recognizes Arvada's finest men and women for their involvement and dedication to the community. James is being recognized for his outstanding contribution and leadership in the Arvada community. James' professional and approachable demeanor helped make a difference while he served as the 2017 Arvada Young Professionals (AYP) Chair. James also has recently stepped up as Chair of the Two Ponds Preservation Committee. Congratulations to James Johnson for this well-deserved award, and I thank him for his contribution to our community.
Coast Guard Authorization Bill (Executive Session)
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-4-17

today I rise to talk about an issue that is extremely important to my State of Michigan. In Michigan, we take great pride in the fact that we are never more than 6 miles from a body of water or more than 85 miles from one of our incredibly amazing Great Lakes. prgtoken In fact, one out of five jobs in Michigan in some way is tied to the water. So this is really about who we are. It is in our DNA in Michigan when we talk about the Great Lakes. In terms of the country, it is important for all of us to care about the Great Lakes because 95 percent of the surface fresh water in the United States is in the Great Lakes. It is 20 percent of the world's fresh water, but 95 percent of our fresh water in the United States is in the Great Lakes. Through our Great Lakes Task Force, we are always working together. All the Senators and House Members around the Great Lakes have a special responsibility to step up and protect them, but we all should care because of the incredible natural resources they provide. prgtoken Unfortunately, perhaps no other body of water in the United States has been as harmed by invasive species as the Great Lakes. It is ballast water that has brought the majority of these invasive species into the Great Lakes. They are first brought in from salt water into the Great Lakes, and then they are moved around within the Great Lakes after they get there. prgtoken I am very concerned about legislation in front of us that would weaken our ability to protect the Great Lakes. We need to do everything we can to maintain strong ballast water standards and maintain what we need to under the Clean Water Act to protect the waters. It is incredibly important for me to speak out, along with my colleagues, about what is in front of us. prgtoken I strongly support the Coast Guard bill. In fact, I strongly support the Coast Guard. I think we have the best and the brightest in the Michigan Coast Guard. I am very proud of them, but I am deeply opposed to attaching a bill to that critical legislation that would undermine our ability to fight invasive species under the Clean Water Act and that would take away the rights of our States to be able to protect our waters. prgtoken This new version of what has been dubbed VIDA, or the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, requires the Coast Guard to set ballast water standards in consultation with the EPA, but it has always been in reverse. The Coast Guard is not responsible for the protections. They do fantastic work, but it is not their job in terms of water quality. That is the EPA. Unfortunately, this legislation that has been attached to the Coast Guard bill removes the authority to regulate ballast water discharges under the Clean Water Act. That is a problem for a lot of reasons. prgtoken First of all, it means that States like the Great Lakes State of Michigan will see our authority to set standards disappear, repealing what the State of Michigan--the Gover
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-4-17

Americans for Financial Reform called this resolution ``a deeply troubling piece of legislation that will leave millions of people of color at the mercy of auto-dealers and lenders with a long history of racial discrimination.'' prgtoken I know a lot of auto dealers, and I am sure my friend from Idaho, Senator Crapo, does as well. We all do. Most of them don't do this, but some of them do, and why are we allowing the some of them who do to continue to do this? prgtoken If s are willing to use this loophole that a few very smart s uncovered--this loophole that they went down in the weeds and figured out how to exploit--if they are willing to use this loophole to attack our basic right to equality, there may be no end to the other consumer protections they can repeal. Big corporations could be free to take advantage of customers with little to rein them in, with fewer consumer protections and with fewer environmental protections. prgtoken Think of the progress we have made in this country because of consumer protection, because of strong safe drinking water laws, and because of strong clean air laws. I live 10 miles from Lake Erie. I know about the progress, in part because we passed strong laws for environmental protection. I know what we have done to clean up Lake Erie. prgtoken The Great Lakes are 20 percent of all the ground and surface freshwater in the world. I look at what we have done as a society. Do we want to go back on this as the President cuts funding to clean up the Great Lakes? The EPA issues guidelines today to ensure that corporate polluters aren't putting communities in danger by contaminating the air they breathe or the water they drink. States rely on Federal guidance--the key word--so they can work with the Federal Government to provide healthcare to families and children. Workers rely on guidance from the Department of Labor to make sure they are getting fair pay in a safe workplace. But under the legislation before us today, those protections could be stripped away in the future, one by one by one. prgtoken Every time somebody here wants to do a favor for their favorite special interest group, they can go down to Senator McConnell's office, probably pick up a ticket--because there is probably going to be a line, with all the lobbyists going in and out--they will pick up a ticket to say, which special interest group can I do a favor for today, and they will find another one. prgtoken For the millions who lost their jobs, for the millions who lost their homes in the financial crisis a decade ago, for the millions who are struggling to build their retirement with wages that haven't been growing for more than 20 years, it is already hard enough to get ahead. We should be making it easier for them, not harder. prgtoken I ask for a ``no'' vote. prgtoken , .
CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF THE LATE HONORABLE LOUISE SLAUGHTER
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-4-17

there you have it, just a few of the colleagues of Louise Slaughter who shared their sentiments. You can tell that she had this lasting touch upon each and every one of us. prgtoken We are made better because we crossed paths in life, we travelled journeys together, and she will leave a forever quality in our hearts and our souls. And to our champion, our trailblazer, the true voice for the weak voice or underheard in government, the pioneer expression, the drum major for women, it goes on and on--she earned so many labels--to our friend, Louise Slaughter, our colleague, our mentor, rest in peace, beloved friend. prgtoken , .
HONORING OF HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-4-17

I rise today to honor his Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a Hindu spiritual leader and humanitarian who has devoted his life to eliminating violence and spreading compassion throughout the world. His Holiness's teachings center on the importance of spirituality and its ability to enhance personal traits such as enthusiasm, love, and compassion. According to his teachings on spirituality, the bond that all humans share is stronger than any other characteristic that divides us, be it religion, race, or nationality. His Holiness has also taken part in extensive humanitarian work across the world, from organizing volunteers for many natural disasters over the past twenty years, including assistance for victims of the 2004 tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, to dedicating efforts to promoting interfaith dialogue through the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute. In addition, His Holiness has played a large role in the development of social initiatives all over the world, and especially in India. He is involved in Volunteer For a Better India, an organization which promotes voter awareness and registration as well as free health camps in India. In 2009, His Holiness established Sri Sri University in Odisha; in 2017, the school was awarded a Best Innovative University Award at the 2017 Education Excellence Awards. In recognition of his contributions to the promotion of global values, His Holiness has received the highest awards of many countries, including India, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay. In 2016, the Government of India awarded him the ``Padma Vibhushan,'' India's second highest civilian award. Today, I recognize his Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for all that he has done to promote peace, empathy, and acceptance in our world. I commend him for the good work he has done through both his teachings and his humanitarian service, and I thank him for his continued efforts to make the world a better place.
REQUIRING SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR THE ISSUANCE OF IDENTITY PROTECTION PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
John Lewis (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-4-17

. . I rise in strong support of H.R. 5437. prgtoken This bill addresses one of the most popular issues raised during our Subcommittee's comment period. prgtoken H.R. 5437 is very simple. It would require the Treasury Secretary to establish a program that would issue identity protection personal identification numbers (IP PINs) to taxpayers. prgtoken An IP PIN helps prevent tax-related identity theft and tax refund fraud. The IRS currently makes IP PINs available to a limited group of taxpayers. If an IP PIN is not included for this group, the IRS system will automatically reject an electronically filed tax return. It is an additional layer of protection for these taxpayers. prgtoken H.R. 5437 would expand this program. This bipartisan bill would require the IRS to make an IP PIN available to any and all taxpayers. It does not matter where they live or work; every taxpayer will be able to request an IP PIN. prgtoken I would like to thank our colleagues--the Gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen) and the Gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene) for their good work and support of this bill. prgtoken , I urge all of our colleagues to support H.R. 5437.
TERM LIMITS
Francis Rooney (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today to discuss the Thomas Jefferson Public Service Act of 2018, a bill that will effectively put term limits in place without amending the Constitution. prgtoken The act will reduce the salary of an elected Member of Congress to $1 a year after they serve six consecutive terms in the House, or two consecutive terms in the Senate, and does not require a constitutional amendment. prgtoken My home State of Florida passed term limits with 76 percent approval. A recent nationwide poll showed that over 82 percent of the American voters support term limits for Congress. prgtoken Is it possible a disruptive game-changing measure such as this could instill confidence in Congress and set the stage for a wave of innovation and accomplishment? prgtoken From Cincinnatus to President George Washington, history is replete with examples of leaders who served their country for a time and then returned to private life or other public service. prgtoken It is time to return to the concept of the citizen legislator.
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-18

I thank the gentleman for his participation. prgtoken As the gentleman was talking about, the fact that in his State and the surrounding States it is possible that, if there is not collaboration between State prescription monitoring programs, a doctor or a pharmacist would never know what other prescriptions might have been written for a patient. prgtoken Our committee actually has a history of working on this. Charlie Norwood, a Member of Congress from Georgia, 15 years ago came up with the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, or NASPER. We have authorized NASPER several times. I am happy to say that, this year, in the omnibus bill, there actually was funding, for the first time, provided for the NASPER program. It is just a beginning. prgtoken Clearly, the need for this national reporting program is so critical. In a State like Texas, we are huge, where we don't even think about other States in Texas. But the crossing of State lines with this information can be extremely powerful and, in fact, it can be lifesaving. prgtoken , I thank the gentleman for bringing that up, and I thank him for the work that he is doing on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and I thank him for the work he is doing on the prevention of pill dumping. prgtoken , the fact that the opioid crisis is devastating our country and undermining our social structures and eroding our economic productivity is, every day, more and more tragic. But the good news, , is the current trends can be reversed. We are building on years of previous bipartisan efforts. We all know that our action is important to the families, to the communities, to our constituents, and to the patients impacted by the opioid epidemic. prgtoken , .
Nomination of James Bridenstine (Executive Calendar)
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise to support the upcoming confirmation this week of my friend Jim Bridenstine to be Administrator of NASA. prgtoken We are now in our second year without a Senate-confirmed Administrator of NASA. Not only has that been bad for the United States, but it is also bad for the commercial space industry, NASA, and all of us who prioritize restoring and strengthening America's leadership in space. NASA needs a strong leader, and it will have that strong leader in Jim Bridenstine. prgtoken I serve as the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's Space Subcommittee, and I am proud and deeply gratified that President chose to nominate Representative Jim Bridenstine to lead NASA. I can think of very few people I know who are more inspirational than Jim. Unfortunately, throughout Representative Bridenstine's confirmation process, we have seen cynical politicians attempting to malign his character, despite the fact that he has spent his entire adult life in public service. Jim Bridenstine is a veteran and a war hero. He is a man of deep character and deep integrity. Having served our Nation in combat as a fighter pilot, he earned the respect of the men and women who served under his command. prgtoken Representative Bridenstine's combat missions included airborne battlefield command and control and tactical air control flights in support of the liberation of Iraq, controlling over 180 kill box interdiction and close-air support missions, resulting in the destruction of countless tanks, armored vehicles, and time-sensitive fixed targets. prgtoken Representative Bridenstine later transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet while on Active Duty, serving at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, TOPGUN command, where he flew both the E-2 and F28. There, he received fitness reports from his commanding officers, which rated him as ``the number one Hawkeye pilot and weapons and tactic instructor'' and ``the most tactically skilled pilot in the E-2 community.'' That is a remarkable record, and it is one that has been followed by honorable and distinguished service in the U.S. Congress. prgtoken Throughout my time in the Senate, I have been blessed to meet with a number of astronauts. It is worth noting that quite a number of those astronauts at NASA have backgrounds very similar to that of Representative Bridenstine. He will be able to lead them as one who has served in missions similar to the ones they have served in and are serving now. I have no doubt he will be an effective leader of NASA and will work to ensure the safety of the men and women who step forward to save our country; that he will work to lead NASA in a way to ensure that America continues to lead in space, and, in particular, that NASA and the commercial space sector, working hand in hand, will move forward to implement the bipartisan commitment this Congress has made that man will go back to space and go to Mars and that, in particular
TRIBUTE TO BECKY AND BRAD KRAMER
David Young (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today to recognize and congratulate Becky and Brad Kramer. They were honored by the Midwest Partnership with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at their annual banquet on January 25, 2018. prgtoken The Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes entrepreneurial spirit and the substantial growth of a small business venture in Midwest Partnership's region. The Kramer's own Kramer's Cafe in Orient and have recently renovated a two-story commercial building that now houses Harry's Bar and Orient Lofts. prgtoken , I applaud and congratulate Becky and Brad for receiving this outstanding award and for working hard to make their community a better place to live and work. I am proud to represent them in the United States Congress and I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating them and in wishing them nothing but continued success.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF BARBARA BUSH
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today, like so many others, to honor the memory of Barbara . prgtoken She has already been noted in the history books for her place as one of the only two women to be the wife of one President and the mother of another. But for millions of Americans, Barbara 's legacy is deeply personal. prgtoken As First Lady, she drew attention to the issue of family literacy in a way that resonated with the American public. In her own straightforward and down-to-earth way, she worked to remove the shame and stigma of illiteracy for adults. She knew and believed that children are the future, but she recognized that if a child's parents didn't have basic reading and writing skills, the whole family's future is at risk. prgtoken As the House continues to focus on workforce development and closing the skills gap, it is fitting to recognize the voice Barbara gave to that basic cornerstone of all education: the power of reading. She embraced lifelong learning, and the best way to honor her legacy is to do the same. prgtoken As chair of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, it is a privilege to honor her memory and her contributions to the work we continue to do every day.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-4-18

. That is correct. prgtoken We actually made literally dozens of changes over the last several months prgtoken to accommodate almost every single Senator that had requested a change to address some of their issues. We have made numerous changes to this bill, for s and , to make sure we have strong bipartisan support, and we are certainly hoping that the changes we made for so many Senators who have been supportive of the bill will now lead a strong bipartisan vote here in a little bit.
MOURNING THE PASSING OF FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today to extend my condolences and my sympathy to the family of former First Lady Barbara . prgtoken , the Nation was heartbroken upon hearing the news that Mrs. passed away last night at her home in Houston. She was 92. prgtoken Mrs. was widely admired and a beloved First Lady. She was a leader not only for her family, but for this Nation. prgtoken She served as First Lady from January 1, 1989, to January 1993. She was known for her immeasurable kindness, yet she wasn't afraid to be outspoken--even frank--when the occasion called for it. prgtoken She was witty and feisty, and above all else, she was Barbara: a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. prgtoken This Nation will remember her as a fiercely and devoted matriarch of a great American family, but also as an advocate for all American families. prgtoken , I leave you with the words of Barbara : ``When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family, and friends.'' prgtoken May God bless Mrs. Barbara .
Remembering Barbara Bush (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-18

it is with sadness that I come to the Senate floor to speak about former First Lady Barbara on her passing yesterday. Of course, she was the wife of our 41st President and the mother of our 43rd President. prgtoken My wife Sandy and I have wonderful memories of Mrs. flying around the State of Texas with us during my campaign for attorney general. That the former First Lady of the United States was so willing to embark on this long day of campaigning speaks to her generosity and her devotion to causes she believed in. With her, we always felt like we were flying in first class. prgtoken Many kind things have already been said about the First Lady's sharp wit and her sense of humor, her efforts to improve child literacy, and her faith and loyalty to family and friends; and all of those are true. I will not try to top those statements. I will simply say what all of us are feeling today: sad prgtoken and a little bit emptier as a nation, missing her honor, dignity, and respectability.