mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-1-8

today, with a heavy heart, I wish to pay tribute to Otto Delikat, a remarkable role model, survivor, and family man. Mr. Delikat passed away on December 23, 2018 at the age of 96. prgtoken His life was similar to many of the Jewish faith during that era, an ordinary man with extraordinary spirit and indefatigable will to survive. He will be remembered for his outstanding commitment to his communities and readiness to share his experiences in order to promote freedom and democracy. prgtoken Mr. Delikat was born in Vienna, Austria, where he grew up with his father, stepmother, brother, and two sisters. As a young man, he worked on a farm in Germany, where his family's religion was not known. When World War II began, he returned to Vienna. With his father already in a labor camp, a 17-year-old Mr. Delikat volunteered to go to the same camp. He and about a dozen others from the labor camp were sent to work in a brick factory. prgtoken One of the men working with him in the labor camp escaped, which resulted in the rest of their group getting locked up in prison for a year. When the prison sentence ended, Mr. Delikat and the other Jewish prisoners were handed over to the Gestapo and sent to concentration camps. prgtoken Mr. Delikat spent just under a year in the Flossenburg concentration camp. Then, in October 1942, he and the other 16 people left with him were transported to Auschwitz. He was imprisoned there for around a year, working some of this time as part of a labor squad tasked with going through the luggage people took with them when they arrived on transports. After the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto, he and about 3,000 other prisoners went to clean up the wreckage. Despite falling ill from the typhoid epidemic that killed over half of the inmates during their first winter in Warsaw, Mr. Delikat survived. prgtoken Eventually, the SS evacuated the prisoners in 1944, not even half of whom survived the several days' long march when their attempts to run toward water led to machinegun fire. Those who made it to the cattle cars, including Mr. Delikat, then went to Dachau. Mr. Delikat was soon relocated to another concentration camp in southern Germany, where he met a civilian who helped him pass letters to and from Vienna. Thanks to the kindness of this civilian, he learned his father was still alive. prgtoken After liberation, Mr. Delikat spent several months working for the American counterintelligence corps tracking down members of the SS in hiding in order to bring them to justice. During his time in the displaced persons camp, he met and married his wife, and they had their first child. The family moved to America, thanks to support from his wife's aunt, where Mr. Delikat quickly found work and they welcomed their second child. prgtoken When asked about how he survived, Mr. Delikat emphasized he ``always looked for tomorrow.'' He did not think about the days that would follow, but inste
S. 1
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-8

. today I rise in opposition to S. 1. We should be working to reopen the Federal Government, not voting to infringe upon Americans' First Amendment rights. prgtoken S. 1 is a package of four bills that were introduced during the last Congress. Three of the bills concern U.S. aid to Israel and Jordan, as well as sanctions against the Assad regime. They are noncontroversial, and I support them. prgtoken Unfortunately, the fourth bill, which is entitled the ``Combatting BDS Act of 2019,'' is so controversial that I am compelled to vote against the entire package before us tonight. prgtoken This Israel boycott legislation would encourage States and localities to restrict First Amendment protections for millions of Americans. It would do so by tacitly endorsing State actions to cut financial ties and terminate any government contract with anyone who engages in or supports boycotts of Israel. prgtoken My grandfather arrived in the United States as a stowaway fleeing the Polish pogroms, and my grandmother's family fled Russia during the revolution. prgtoken As a young child during World War II, I came to view Israel as a symbol that never again will there be another Holocaust. My support for Israel isn't about politics. It is about Israel's right to exist. prgtoken I will always support a free and democratic Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. That is why I have always voted to provide Israel the security assistance it needs. prgtoken However, my unwavering support for Israel does not override my support for Americans' constitutional rights. prgtoken The right to free speech is the foundation of American democracy. Any legislation that encroaches on that foundation should be considered with great caution. I don't believe that has been the case here. prgtoken Federal courts have already ruled against similar laws regarding boycotts of Israel enacted by Arizona and Kansas. prgtoken In Kansas, the State legislature passed a law in 2017 requiring any individual or company that contracts with the State sign a certification that they are not participating in a boycott of Israel. prgtoken In Arizona, State law requires any company that contracts with the State to certify that it is not engaged in a boycott of Israel and that it will not do so in the future. prgtoken Federal courts in both States found that these laws raised substantial First Amendment concerns by infringing on individuals' right to political expression and issued preliminary injunctions blocking their enforcement. prgtoken Given the courts' rulings in Arizona and Kansas, I fail to see why supporters believe this legislation can be considered constitutional. prgtoken Equally alarming, the legislation would also apply to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, territory that Israel has never claimed as its own. prgtoken Today, there are more than 400,000 Israelis living on 132 settlements in the West Bank. Since President took office, the Netanyah
IN RECOGNITION OF MS. TONI WASHINGTON
John Lewis (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to join my constituents and the African American Fire Fighters Historical Society in recognizing the tenth anniversary of Ms. Toni Washington's appointment as the fire chief of Decatur, Georgia. prgtoken On January 6, 2009, Chief Washington became the first African- American and the first woman to serve as the City of Decatur's fire chief and emergency manager. As the fourth of six African-American women appointed as fire chief in the United States, Chief Washington is the only African-American woman who is actively leading a fire department. prgtoken Chief Washington began her public safety career at the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office and continued her career at a Metro Atlanta fire department where she was promoted up to the rank of Deputy Fire Chief. Prior to her career in public safety, Ms. Washington prgtoken worked on Turner Home Entertainment's marketing and public relations team, on actress Jane Fonda's staff, and with the Cobb Microenterprise Council. prgtoken Chief Washington earned an undergraduate degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and management from Savannah State University and continued her studies at National Louis University, where she earned a master's of science degree in managerial leadership. She maintains a commitment to professional development exemplified by her attendance of the Dr. Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute at Dillard University and the National Fire Academy, and her Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. prgtoken In her limited spare time, Chief Washington is also active in numerous professional associations and community organizationi She is a proud member of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, the Black Chief Officers Committee, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Georgia State Firefighters Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Ms. Washington also chairs the Georgia Firefighters Bum Foundation's board of directors, is a trustee of the iWomen board, and volunteers with the Decatur Career Academy Advisory's council and various mentoring programs. prgtoken In closing, Madam , I would also like to extend my warmest greetings and congratulations to Chief Washington's loving family--her husband Gregory; daughters--Tahj, Lark, and Lauryn; son-in-laws--Lyndon and Mark; and her grandsons--Little Lyndon and Logan. I commend Chief Washington on her 10th anniversary and thank her for serving the City of Decatur and contributing to the safety and well-being of our region and nation.
RECOGNIZING GREGORY E. SAUNDERS
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Gregory E. Saunders for his extraordinary public service as he retires from his current position as Director of the Defense Standardization Program Office. Director Saunders leaves the federal government after prgtoken 49 years protecting our country through a variety of posts within the Defense Department. His tireless efforts procuring and overseeing materiel have helped keep our nation's military effectively armed and combat-ready. prgtoken Prior to his leadership as Director of the Defense Standardization Program Office, Mr. Saunders served as the Deputy Director for Acquisition Processes in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and staff member of the Defense Material Specifications and Standards Office. prgtoken This is hardly the first time Director Saunders's prowess has been recognized. He is the recipient of many well-deserved awards, including the Department of Defense Civilian Service Award, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and the Vice President's Golden Hammer Award. Engineering societies from around the world have recognized Director Saunders's rigorous methodology and skillset, awarding him with recognition from the Standards Engineering Society, SAE International, and the industry's Equal Partner Award. Perhaps most notably, Dr. Saunders has received the Silver Star of the Polish Army. prgtoken Director Saunders exemplifies the ideals of service and will be sorely missed. I am sad to see him leave, but even more proud to congratulate him on a well-earned retirement after a distinguished career in civil service.
CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM EXTENSION ACT
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2019-1-8

H.R. 251 was introduced by ic and leadership of the Homeland Security Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. prgtoken This bill would allow the Department of Homeland Security to continue working with high risk chemical facility owners and operators throughout the U.S. to guard dangerous chemicals against malicious actors. prgtoken For proof of how grave this threat is, one need look no further than West, Texas, where, in 2013, a perpetrator set fire to a fertilizer plant, causing an explosion that leveled an entire town. More than a dozen first responders and civilians lost their lives in the blast. prgtoken Allowing authority to lapse would throw away the progress that has been made since 2014 and needlessly make our communities less secure. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues in the House to support H.R. 251 and call on the Senate to join us in maintaining this important security program. prgtoken , .
REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF THE I-75 COLLISION NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-1-8

I rise tonight to talk about the government shutdown. from Minnesota for her remarks. I remember the 2013 shutdown that she talked about. The reason I remember that is that while this place was shut down by the Senator from Texas, my State was under water from some of the worst floods we had ever seen, and there were people at every level of government--the local level, county government, the State level--coming together to work with FEMA, coming together to work with religious organizations, coming together to work with ordinary people to literally dig themselves out of the mud and the rocks that were the consequence of floods we had never seen before. I had to stand there almost like a fool explaining that the Federal Government was shut down for politics, and here we are again. prgtoken For 10 years, I have come to this floor and said over and over that this place had become the land of flickering lights. The standard of success was only whether we kept the lights on for one more day or one more week. The standard of success had nothing to do with whether we invested in the next generation of Americans and had nothing to do with what America's place in the world was, and tonight, 18 days later, we are shut down. prgtoken Just like in Minnesota and just like in New Hampshire, people in Colorado are suffering as a result of this. This shutdown is inflicting real harm on people who are Federal workers who can't pay their mortgage, can't take care of their kids, can't hire a plumber. prgtoken We heard today that the EPA is only getting paid half of their paycheck. You can't pay only half your mortgage. You can't go to the grocery store and pay only half your bill. We have farmers and ranchers all over the State of Colorado who can't get operating loans from the FSA to buy seed or fertilizer. prgtoken We have had FEMA meetings canceled and critical projects delayed that are vital to our rebuilding after the 2013 flood, the last time there was a long shutdown like this. After a terrible fire year in Colorado, the Forest Service can't move forward with new projects or reduce wildfire risks in our communities. prgtoken Rocky Mountain National Park is closed. Why do people from Estes Park have to bear the burden of the stupidity of this place--the inability to govern like every other entity in America governs, where you could never shut down your local government and you could never shut down your school district? But for some reason, you can do it over politics. In this case, why? It is over a mnemonic device that the campaign supplied to candidate --the wall--and two things that weren't true: one, that Mexico would pay for the wall. If he had fulfilled that promise, we wouldn't be here because there wouldn't be a need for $5 billion because the Mexicans would pay for this wall. That is what he said over and over. It was objectively not true, just as it is not true
REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF THE I-75 COLLISION NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-8

I rise, together with a number of colleagues who will follow me tonight, to talk about the need to end the shutdown and to reopen the government of the greatest Nation on Earth. I am glad to have so many colleagues here who each will share the stories that have been experienced by folks living in our States regarding a shutdown that has now gone on for 18 days and will soon become the longest shutdown in the history of the U.S. Government. prgtoken The shutdown is unnecessary, the shutdown is embarrassing, and the shutdown is painful. It is unnecessary. Why punish American workers? Why punish American citizens? No patriotic leader in their right mind would want to do that. prgtoken The thing that is so troubling about this shutdown is that the overwhelming majority of people who are affected are not connected to the dispute between Congress and the President over immigration reform and border security. Why should that dispute lead to farmers not being able to reach their extension agents? Why should that dispute lead to small businesses not getting their small business loan applications processed? Why should a dispute about immigration block the courts of DC from issuing marriage licenses to people? prgtoken The President praying for, urging, and then being proud of a shutdown is hurting all kinds of people who are completely unconnected with the issue in dispute between Congress and the President. In that sense, it is unnecessary. prgtoken Second, it is unnecessary because there are bills on the floor right now that would solve this--bills that are bipartisan, bills that were supported by the Presiding Officer and other colleagues in the Chamber just a few weeks ago. If we took action right now, we could stop the punishment. We could end the pain--the gratuitous pain--that is affecting American families and workers. prgtoken The shutdown is unnecessary. The shutdown is embarrassing. This is the United States of America. This is the greatest Nation on Earth. The fact that we are in an 18-day shutdown of critical components of our government, where people are not getting paychecks and citizens are not being served, is beneath what we should aspire to as Americans and certainly as U.S. Senators. prgtoken Finally, before I yield to my colleague from New Hampshire, the shutdown is painful. There are statistics about the numbers affected during the shutdown. Others may get into the statistics; I just want to share stories because Virginians are reaching out to Senator Warner and me and sharing their stories with us. prgtoken Allen is a veteran and a Federal civil servant in Yorktown, VA. He has been working without pay since the shutdown began. He wrote to our office saying that his emergency savings are exhausted, he is behind on his bills, and the situation will not get any better as long as his Agency is unfunded. I will repeat that. Allen is a veteran who voluntarily served the mi
CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM EXTENSION ACT
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-1-8

. EPA is also systematically ignoring risks to workers in implementing the revised Toxic Substances Control Act. And President has twice tried to eliminate the Chemical Safety Board, which investigates disasters at these facilities. prgtoken As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will be conducting thorough oversight of the increased threats to dangerous chemical facilities and this administration's concerted efforts to disregard risks to workers and hot spot communities. That oversight will inform our future efforts to improve the CFATS program. prgtoken We must ensure the safety and security of the workers, first responders, and communities living near our Nation's chemical facilities. That means extending this program while we consider how to improve it. prgtoken , s on both sides of the aisle on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the bipartisan relationship of the Committee on Homeland Security for working with me on this important bill to ensure continuity of this program, and I urge that we pass this bill immediately.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-1-8

from Pennsylvania, Senator Casey, for his compelling remarks. In fact, for the last several hours, we have heard compelling remarks from a number of our colleagues. I thank Senator Kaine from Virginia for helping to organize this effort and all of those who have come to the floor to talk about the lasting and negative effects of this senseless shutdown--a shutdown that is all about President yielding to Rush Limbaugh and the rightwing commentators who told them he wasn't being tough enough. prgtoken Senators Casey and Markey reminded us how we got here, that we had an agreement we thought the President had committed to sign. His Vice President, his Acting Chief of Staff, told us he was going to sign it. It passed the Senate on a voice vote. prgtoken What is so ironic, as Senator Markey said, is that what is happening now is actually making us less safe. The idea that we have all of these people on our southern border, all of these TSA agents, people who are working, 800,000 employees, 400,000 who are furloughed, 380,000 who are working without pay--that is actually making us less safe. prgtoken As Senator Durbin pointed out, a wall across our southern border wouldn't do anything to interdict the fentanyl that is coming across from China. That is the biggest killer of people in New Hampshire from overdoses; it is the fentanyl. As Senator Jones pointed out, the Coast Guard's role in interdiction is what is significant. It is not a wall that is going to keep out those vehicles that are going to come through our ports of entry. prgtoken Senator Stabenow reminded us that there are 38 million people who depend on food assistance, and a quarter of the people in New Mexico, as Senator Heinrich told us, depend on food assistance. He quoted his constituent Kathy, who pointed out that the President is holding us hostage. She said: Federal employees are being held hostage. We are now being held hostage in the Senate because the majority is unwilling to act on the legislation that has passed the House and previously passed the Senate. prgtoken Senator Bennet talked about China landing on the dark side of the Moon last week. It is a reminder that we have to compete in this world, that we can't assume that America is going to be No. 1 in everything again. Yet, while China was landing on the dark side of the Moon, our government was shut down. Thousands of researchers weren't doing their jobs at NASA, the Department of Agriculture, and so many other places because we were shut down. prgtoken The cost to the economy as a whole, as Senator Hassan pointed out-- there are craft breweries in New Hampshire, small businesses that can't get their businesses started because government is shut down. prgtoken Senator Klobuchar pointed out that the cost to the economy, according to the President's own advisers, is $10 billion a week. At a time when the stock market is going up and down, when we ha