mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING BILL BURGESS
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-2-13

I am here to speak today with a heavy heart from the sudden and untimely passing of my dear friend and confidant, Bill Burgess of Lawton, OK. prgtoken Bill spent his entire life in service to Oklahoma and the Nation, and his loss will be felt throughout the State. prgtoken Bill was a talented attorney, businessman, and civic leader. Among many different titles Bill held throughout his career, he served the State he loved on the Oklahoma Board of Regents for Higher Education and the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. prgtoken Bill was widely recognized and respected as one of Oklahoma's outstanding leaders, and he was inducted into both the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. prgtoken As a businessman who developed the largest software engineering company in Oklahoma and the owner and publisher of the Lawton Constitution, Bill was admired for his entrepreneurial ability and success. A tireless advocate for Oklahoma business, he served stints as chairman of both the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. prgtoken I worked closely with Bill in his role as civilian aide to the Secretary to the Army and am so thankful to have a man of such integrity, character, and grit in this position. prgtoken If you spent any time at all around Bill, you were sure to know that he was the son of a sergeant major, the ``backbone of the Army.'' Friends say that growing up in the house of a non-commissioned officer gave him a love not only for the Army but also for the enlisted men and women who serve their country. prgtoken Bill was incredibly proud of his dad's service to our Nation and continued that tradition of service. No one loved, admired, and supported our men and women in uniform more than Bill. prgtoken Kay and I are praying for Bill's family, friends, and many loved ones in this extremely hard time. Bill was an exceptional leader, a loving father, and an incomparable friend. prgtoken I am blessed to have known him, and he will be sorely missed by myself and the rest of Oklahoma.
Nomination of William Barr (Executive Session)
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-2-13

we have finally completed our work on S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. We had a good day yesterday. We had a good day here in the U.S. Senate. We passed this significant bill--really, a landmark piece of legislation--out of the Senate by a vote of 92 to 8. That is pretty strong. You don't see a lot of that in the Senate anymore--every now and again, and this was one of those every now and agains. I appreciate all the work. prgtoken We have now sent this over to the House of Representatives, and it has some good momentum. We are looking forward to being able to work with the House. I encourage them to move quickly on this important measure and see it enacted into law. prgtoken I want to take just a few moments this afternoon, while I can, to thank so many who have been key in getting us to this point. I want to start my comments with acknowledging the former ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Cantwell from Washington. We have spent a lot of time together. We have spent a lot of time over the years working on these lands bills. We did it in the public forum through the committee process. We had hearings on hundreds of bills. We worked to refine and reach agreement on them and to report them from committee. So there was all of that process, which went on throughout the committee, and then the two of us sitting down with our staffs on noncommittee time, just working through these particulars, in many meetings in my office and in her office. We really did this on a bipartisan basis. We stuck together. There were times when the prospects for this package did not look so good, and then there were moments when it looked even worse than not so good. But we kind of pulled one another along. I think that is a tribute to the commitment we made as colleagues and partners in this to advance not just to a message but to a product. I truly think that is a tribute to Senator Cantwell and her willingness to work together to find a path forward. prgtoken Then we weren't able to finish things at the end of the year. Senator Cantwell moved over to another committee, and I had an opportunity to pick up with Senator Manchin. He picked up. prgtoken Here he comes in, a new ranking member, and he has a bill to help manage on the floor with some 100-plus bills. But he helped us in a way that I am most, most grateful for. He kept us on track and helped us secure a very strong final tally here. prgtoken I am also very grateful to my other corners, the chairman and ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee on the House side, Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop. I thank them for their exceptional, exceptional work on this package and look forward to working with them as we finish this out. prgtoken Next on my list are Leader McConnell and Senator Schumer. The minority leader is here. We had a conversation on the floor just about where he is sitting--this was back
Nomination of William Barr (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-2-13

we are doing a number of important things in the Senate this week. prgtoken Last night, we passed the Natural Resources Management Act. This is a bipartisan package of more than 100 individual bills that will help protect our natural resources, spur economic development, increase access to public lands, and much more. prgtoken I was very pleased that my Custer County Airport Conveyance Act, which I introduced with the other Members of the South Dakota delegation, was included in this bill. This legislation will give Custer County Airport full ownership of the land on which it operates and allow the airport to make improvements to its facilities. prgtoken Custer County Airport supports business and recreational aviation and fire suppression efforts in the Black Hills region, and I am pleased that this bill will increase the airport's ability to serve this area of South Dakota. prgtoken I am grateful to Chairman Murkowski for her leadership on this important lands package, as well as to Ranking Member Manchin and all of those who worked on these bills at the committee level.
HONORING THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-2-13

. Madam , last year, veterans from northern California brought an issue to our attention. Due to a flaw in the current law, the Department of Veterans' Affairs cannot include almost any information about the spouse of a veteran on a VA-provided tombstone at a non-VA cemetery. prgtoken That is why last week I introduced the Honoring Veterans' Families Act to rectify this issue and allow the spouse of a veteran to be included on the veteran's grave marker on their death. prgtoken With all that veterans and their families sacrifice for this country, is that too much to ask? prgtoken Every veteran should have the opportunity to include their spouse on their own tombstone should they wish to do so. prgtoken I would like to thank my colleague from California (Mr. Panetta), a veteran himself, for joining with me to correct this oversight in a bipartisan effort. Honoring the families of our veterans is something that everyone can and should support.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-2-13

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Thursday, February 14; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Barr nomination; finally, that at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the ic leader, the Senate vote on confirmation of the Barr nomination.
PROTECT BABIES BORN ALIVE
Ralph Norman (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-2-13

I rise today to raise my voice for those who have no voice. prgtoken You know, while we may have disagreements in this Chamber, I never thought I would have to come to this floor for this reason, to denounce the killing of children after they have been born. But I am here today because one of our Nation's governors has endorsed infanticide in all but name. prgtoken Even though the media may be distracted by the Governor's latest scandal, I refuse to allow this atrocity to be ignored. It is wrong, plain and simple. prgtoken I wish to live in a nation where we respect the sanctity of all human life; where condemning the murder of a child is not for debate, but a matter of course. Until then, I will not stand by silently. I will continue to call out those who attempt to corrupt our values, whether through State laws allowing abortion on demand or Governors commending abortion. prgtoken These actions do not represent the values of the American people. They represent the views of a small but powerful group of ideologues with no respect for the sanctity of life or the rights of the voiceless. prgtoken I find it bizarre that the party of birthright citizenship will not endorse the birthright to life.
HONORING THE LIFE OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DINGELL
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-2-13

. I am going to also read to you an email that I got just an hour or two ago from his wife, Debbie, our colleague, who received this from the Ford family. prgtoken This is from Mike Ford. Of course, his father was Gerry Ford, a great man, President, Michigander. And he wrote this, it is very brief: Debbie, Since learning of John's recent passing, my thoughts and prayers have been constant with you and your extended family. Through my reading of the many wonderful remembrances of and tributes to John, I have been deeply moved and blessed to revisit his remarkable legacy of leadership and service to the people of Michigan and to all of our Nation. John and my father, though identified from competing political parties, held so much in common as men of wisdom, integrity, compassion, and selfless service for all of humanity, and their friendship was true and enduring through a shared lifetime calling of public service. John Dingell and Gerry Ford represent what is good, honorable, and decent in our country. Please know of our Ford family's grace giving wishes and prayers for you and all the Dingell family at this time of loss and grief. May you know of God's abiding comfort, love, and hope this day and always. Mike Ford. prgtoken Good guy that, again, some of us know, particularly those of us on the west side of our State. You know, he was our dean. And when I became the dean of the Michigan delegation--that was in the early nineties. I have got to say--I was just adding it up here sitting with Tim--I was probably in thousands of meetings with John. prgtoken Our delegation is close. We stand together on a host of issues, from the Great Lakes to the autos. We often had an agenda we worked together. Our offices were across the hall from each other for a lot of years. Of course, we have known Deborah forever and a day as well. prgtoken I had the chance to talk to John Dingell the day before he died, and I talked to him a number of times over the last number of weeks. I read his book, which I would recommend to folks. Might put the R rating next to it, in terms of his language. You can hear him speak, and he had a genuine sense of humor. He had so many stories. prgtoken I was asked a little bit earlier today: What about his tweeting? prgtoken He tweeted until, literally, the last day or two. For those of you watching tonight, get on Google. Google MLive. That is sort of the Michigan news network. Google: MLive Dingell tweet. This weekend, they ran the top 20 tweets that he did, and they will make you laugh. They really will, especially the one with the bulldog. All of the animal lovers out there, make sure you find this one. He had a sense of humor. prgtoken People say: How could a 92-year-old do all this? prgtoken Well, let me tell you how. It is because of our committee. The committee has so much ju
STAND BESIDE ISRAEL
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-2-13

I rise today to call upon all Members of Congress to stand beside Israel and confront anti-Semitism, ethnic hatred, and prejudice-driven boycotts, whether at home, abroad, and certainly for Members of this Chamber. prgtoken We, as a country, cannot tolerate this behavior, and certainly this Chamber has no room for bigotry. Furthermore, I must warn the general public that despite the warranted outcry we saw in response to the Representative from Minnesota's irresponsible comments, this is the new normal for the liberal base in America. prgtoken To be clear, anti-Semitism has become an all-too-common occurrence in politics among the base and the far left who see Israel as nothing more than an extension of phantom corruption and colonialism. prgtoken Politicians who appeal to this type of ignorance are simply shoring up a new ic constituency. That is the ethos that primed the Minnesota Representative's ludicrous and insulting accusation of ``bought-and-paid-for'' politicians who stand with Israel. prgtoken It is that type of loose, cheap, anti-Semitic rhetoric that led to the rise of the Third Reich. It is clear to all of us, there are a couple of our new colleagues across the aisle that need to be reminded. In fact, they need to admit that the brutal regime of Iran continues to be the chief obstacle to peace and security in the Middle East, and thus, the root of most all terrorism that threatens our homeland. prgtoken For decades, Iran's funding of terrorism and extremist groups in the region has fueled violence, civil war, and bloodshed. The Iranian Parliament literally burned the U.S. flag on their parliament floor and chants, ``death to Israel,'' and ``death to America'' in their streets. prgtoken At home, all Americans must oppose the radical and xenophobic boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement which are promulgated by the left. This BDS campaign is peddled by intellectually dishonest anti-Semites whose sole purpose is to attack Israel, attempting to delegitimize and isolate it from the rest of the world. prgtoken Any Member of this congressional body with ties to the BDS movement should renounce them immediately. We must hold our elected officials accountable. Whether on Twitter or in the Halls of Congress, disgusting insinuations and bigotry must be condemned in all forms. Those who continue the use of anti-Semitic rhetoric should be held accountable for their actions. prgtoken The should follow the high standards and the high bar that the leader has taken when it comes to committee assignments to those who make bigoted remarks. prgtoken America must continue to stand together in support of Israel and in support of peace in the Middle East and the world. We must build upon our unbreakable alliance with Israel and overcome the challenges that come with building a better, safer world.
PROTECT BABIES BORN ALIVE
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-2-13

I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me this evening to stand up for the most vulnerable among us. prgtoken We stand together to defend the sanctity of life, to speak out against a radical anti-life agenda that would effectively legalize infanticide. prgtoken I have long fought to defend the unborn, but I am shocked that I now have to defend the right to life of newborn infants. These precious children are in peril, their rights are under attack, their lives are under attack, and this House has the responsibility to act. prgtoken Tonight the American people heard our call to action. It is time to vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Will the leadership of this House listen or will the ic majority continue to allow this march toward legalized infanticide? prgtoken If we don't send a strong message that every baby has been endowed by its creator with inalienable rights, that we are not defending the fundamental principles of the Constitution, if we don't protect these children from harm, we are abandoning the basic truth of our humanity. prgtoken , I want to thank my colleagues for standing with me here tonight. I urge the support of House bill H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and to stand against infanticide. prgtoken , .
Maintaining Air Force Strength (Executive Session)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-2-13

I rise today to support the Air Force's plan to expand the 386 operational squadrons. prgtoken Since the earliest days of flight, the United States has been an aviation leader. From the time of the U.S. Army Air Corps through today's modern U.S. Air Force, our Nation has always been at the forefront of air combat. prgtoken From air-to-air combat to aerial refueling, to the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance conducted by the planes of Nebraska's own 55th Wing, the U.S. Air Force is renowned as the dominant force in the sky. prgtoken Recent developments have put that advantage at risk. Around the world, nations are rapidly modernizing their capabilities by investing millions in their air forces and air defenses, threatening our ability to claim and maintain air superiority. prgtoken Rapid advances in anti-access/area-denial technology and a coordinated, calibrated effort by nations like China and Russia pose a significant threat to our ability to operate in contested airspace. prgtoken For decades, we have been accustomed to flying unconstrained, fighting adversaries on the ground that lack modern technology and the ability to seriously threaten our freedom to conduct aerial missions. prgtoken The face of 21st century warfare is changing. Competitors are rapidly closing the gap, and while our Air Force remains the most professional and effective air combat force in the world, these nations are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into matching and exceeding our capability. prgtoken We have a choice. If we fail to react, we risk falling behind and losing the air dominance that has been essential to U.S. national security for decades. We cannot sit back and accept that possibility. prgtoken We must meet this challenge head-on. The United States must adapt, invest, and show the world that we will never cede control of the skies to our enemies. prgtoken Recently, the Air Force conducted a rigorous analysis of future air combat prgtoken scenarios that we could face in the coming decades. Utilizing over 2,000 simulations based on the latest intelligence to assess force performance against strategic competitors, the Air Force produced a model of the requirements necessary to fulfill the goals of the national defense strategy. prgtoken This analysis found that we will need an array of advanced capabilities to counter ongoing and robust military modernization by our competitors. The assessment determined that we must focus our own modernization around several key areas to ensure our continued ability to defend the homeland and to defeat strategic threats. prgtoken Perhaps most critically, this analysis, which the Air Force calls ``the Air Force We Need,'' has determined that to be effective in achieving these goals, we must grow the Air Force to 386 operational squadrons. prgtoken Given the growing threats we face, the Air Force will play a key role in any future conflict. That is why I believe it i
REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES IN YEMEN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-2-13

. Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to H.J. Res. 37, directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from the hostilities in Yemen. Actually, the U.S. is not directly engaged in any hostilities in Yemen. This is not my independent assessment, but the determination of the Department of Defense. prgtoken The U.S. is currently supporting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen by providing targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and joint planning to defeat the Houthi rebels who are armed by Iran, with missiles that they have directed at civilian airports in Saudi Arabia. prgtoken There is no doubt that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has made terrible targeting mistakes. But what would happen if the U.S. were to pull the plug on our intelligence-sharing and targeting cooperation? prgtoken Would this improve the coalition's targeting or possibly make it worse, increasing the chances for collateral damage and civilian casualties? prgtoken I am concerned that, if we walk away now, these terrible tragedies will simply multiply. prgtoken The United States must be at the table so that we can insist on and respect international law. This does not mean that the coalition will always do the right thing, but it does mean that we will have leverage and influence to promote the right direction. prgtoken Instead of this resolution, I hope that our colleagues, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Ranking Member, leader, Mike McCaul, will work together on a bipartisan initiative that can address these important concerns in Yemen. prgtoken We can all agree that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen must be addressed and that the ongoing conflict must come to an end. Let's work together as we have always done on the Foreign Affairs Committee to address this issue and end the suffering of the Yemeni people.
RECOGNIZING THE SELFLESS WORK OF MARTHA COLEY
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the admirable work of a fellow Northeast Georgian, Ms. Martha Coley. prgtoken Ms. Coley began caring for foster children thirty-three years ago, and has since cared for over 100 children in her home in Hall County, Georgia. In June of 2016, Ms. Coley's house tragically caught fire and burned to the ground, forcing her to start from scratch and completely rebuild. But that did not stop her from welcoming children back into her home just six months later, as soon as she moved in. prgtoken Ms. Coley's willingness to foster teenagers makes her an especially valuable foster parent. She says that the most rewarding part of being a foster parent is when she has the opportunity to witness her foster children succeeding after they have left her home, and often times giving back to their community, just as she has done for many years. The hardest part of fostering, she says, is when they eventually leave her home. prgtoken The State of Georgia has approximately 14,400 children living in foster homes, which is why we are especially fortunate to have citizens like Ms. Coley serving our communities. prgtoken All children deserve the opportunity to lead a happy and healthy life, free from any type of abuse or mistreatment, and I want to thank Ms. Martha Coley for the many lives she has touched.
BORDER SECURITY
Andy Harris (Republican, MD) \u2014 2019-2-13

. Madam , in the next few days, we are going to be asked to take another step on our journey to securing our border. prgtoken The Congress has to take this very seriously because we have tens of thousands of people dying every year from drug overdoses with a lot of those drugs crossing our southern border. Just a few weeks ago we seized hundreds of pounds of fentanyl, a drug that can kill millions of people and, in fact, has taken tens of thousands of lives. prgtoken We know our border is unsecured. We have to do whatever we can to give the President and the Department of Homeland Security the ability to protect our southern border.
PROTECT BABIES BORN ALIVE
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-2-13

. So we can have a bit of a colloquy here. prgtoken I can say that it does happen. Next week, in Missouri's Second Congressional District, I have invited a guest. She will be traveling from Kansas City to share her story. She was, in fact, a born-alive baby after an attempted abortion through saline. prgtoken She will give her testimony about what her life has meant; that it was saved; that, in fact, she was given that opportunity to live her life and to follow in the ways of the Lord and to be productive to society. prgtoken So this has happened, and we should do all we can.