mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WORLD AIDS DAY
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-12-3

today I wish to recognize the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, which was this Saturday, December 1. This year, we can celebrate 30 years of progress made to fight HIV/AIDS globally and double down on our commitment to creating an AIDS-free generation. prgtoken Last week, Congress passed another bipartisan reauthorization of the President's Plan for Emergency AIDS Relief PEPFAR. Since launching in 2003, PEPFAR has had a transformational impact on HIV/AIDS by catalyzing an incredible global response that has saved and transformed the lives of those living with HIV. Through PEPFAR, the United States has provided over 14 million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment in more than 50 countries. Two years ago, I had the privilege of meeting a 30-year-old man in Namibia named Simon who said thanked the American people for supporting the lifesaving treatment and care that he received through PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Individual stories of patients, like Simon, speak to the incredible impact of our collective efforts. They underscore the importance of maintaining support for the programs, including PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and UNAIDS, that made this success to date possible. prgtoken When PEPFAR began in 2003, only 50,000 children were on lifesaving treatment in Africa; now, over 700,000 children are supported by antiretroviral treatment. PEPFAR has enabled over 2.4 million babies of HIV-infected mothers to be born HIV-free. It has provided critical care and support for more than 6.8 million orphans, vulnerable children, and their caregivers to mitigate the physical, emotional, and economic impact of HIV/AIDS. These are only a few of the many ways we have progressed in combatting HIV/AIDS. prgtoken Integral to reducing the number of new HIV cases and the viral loads of those living with HIV is testing. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is ``know your status.'' HIV testing allows people to make informed decisions about their future, including options for treatment and prevention. According to data from UNAIDS, in 2017, 36.9 million people were living with HIV. Of those 36.9 million, 75 percent were aware of their HIV status. These numbers have steadily increased over the years, and we must continue our work to expand access to, and remove the stigmas associated with, HIV testing. prgtoken While there is much to celebrate, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. PEPFAR reports that only 52 percent of children ages 0 to 14 with HIV have access to lifesaving treatment, compared to 59 percent of adults with HIV. In 2017, 180,000 children were newly infected with HIV. That is 180,000 too many. prgtoken Threats to the continued progress of critically important programs have come from our own leadership in the White House, which continues annually to propose enormous funding cuts for both PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. We must continue
AMY, VICKY, AND ANDY CHILD PORNOGRAPHY VICTIM ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2018
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-12-3

I am pleased Congress recently passed my bipartisan bill, the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. This legislation will help provide meaningful assistance for child pornography victims to support their recovery and allow them to reclaim their lives. This is a momentous day and many years in the making. I have introduced similar versions of this bill in the last three Congresses, and I look forward to the President signing it into law. prgtoken Nearly 25 years ago, Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act, which created a process for victims to seek restitution from defendants. For crimes that involve individual defendants who cause specific harm to particular victims, the restitution statute works in a straightforward way. prgtoken Child pornography is unlike any other crime. The abuse involved in creating these images profoundly alters the lives of victims, while trafficking in the permanent record of that abuse prgtoken perpetuates and expands the harm. As the Supreme Court noted in its 2014 opinion in Paroline v. United States: ``Every viewing of child pornography is a repetition of the victim's abuse.'' Unfortunately, the internet has radically changed the nature of child pornography trafficking by drastically increasing the number of individuals who harm victims while simultaneously making it more difficult to identify the individuals from whom victims can seek restitution. prgtoken In its decision in Paroline, the Supreme Court made clear that the current restitution statute cannot provide meaningful compensation for most child pornography victims. The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act changes that. prgtoken The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act establishes more relevant and useful standards for child pornography victims who seek restitution from defendants, including improved criteria for judges to use when calculating victims' losses and provisions that ensure victims will receive meaningful restitution. Under this legislation, a victim of trafficking in child pornography may choose to seek restitution from defendants or to receive a one-time payment from the Child Pornography Victims Reserve within the federal Crime Victims Fund. The reserve will be supported by an assessment on all child pornography defendants. prgtoken Congress understands the concern of the Supreme Court in Paroline that it is difficult to identify a discrete, readily definable incremental loss any one defendant caused any one victim, and so we have determined, after considering a range of options with the specific goal of fully compensating victims of child pornography in a swift and just manner, that it is reasonable, fair, and equitable to fix the minimum restitution amount for trafficking in child pornography at $3,000. prgtoken Congress firmly believes that the amounts in the act are consistent with the principle in Hughey v. United States, 495 U.S. 411 (1990), that restitution should re
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-12-3

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2:30 p.m Tuesday, December 4; 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 the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each for debate only.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-12-3

I would like to call attention to U.S. Navy LCDR Kerry S. Jackson, who is retiring December 7, 2018, after 26 years of honorable service to our country. He enlisted in 1988, completed Navy SEAL Training in 1989, and received his commission as a naval officer in 2003. As a SEAL, he completed eight deployments and a broad scope of high-risk missions across the globe. prgtoken From 2015 to 2018, Lieutenant Commander Jackson served as executive officer of the Naval Small Craft Instructional and Applied Technical Training School, NAVSCIATTS, located at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, MS. NAVSCIATTS trains students from partner nations around the world in small craft and riverine operations. Under his leadership, foreign military students are better prepared to fight both state and nonstate adversaries by employing advanced riverine combat, navigation, and other technical skills developed at NAVSCIATTS. Lieutenant Commander Jackson's leadership of this program created and fostered critical diplomatic relationships with partner nations around the world. prgtoken During the course of his military career, he has been awarded three Joint Service Commendation Medals, seven Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Army Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon, and various other personal, unit, and campaign awards. prgtoken I commend Lieutenant Commander Jackson for his 26 years of faithful service to our Nation, extend my deepest gratitude to him and his entire family, and wish him the best during his transition to civilian life.
TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL BRIAN E. WINSKI
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-12-3

on behalf of myself and Mr. Reed, as the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the cochairs of the Senate Army Caucus, it is our honor to pay tribute to a great leader and an exceptional officer of the U.S. Army, MG Brian E. Winski, the chief of legislative liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Army, as he prepares to leave this position for a new post in the Army of even greater importance to our Nation. Major General Winski provides outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on numerous critical issues of enduring importance to the Army, Congress, and this Nation. prgtoken Major General Winski has served our Army and our Nation for more than 30 years. A native of Wisconsin, Major General Winski was commissioned in 1988 as an infantry officer from the University of Wisconsin. He has been a true professional, dedicated soldier, leader, and officer. Throughout his career, he has commanded our great soldiers at many levels and deployed to combat numerous times in defense of the nation. prgtoken He has served in various command and staff positions over multiple combat tours to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He was a rifle platoon leader in Desert Shield/Storm, infantry battalion executive officer during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, chief of operations for the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq, reconnaissance squadron commander in Iraq, Division Operations Officer for the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan, and brigade combat team commander in Iraq. prgtoken Major General Winski has extensive joint and interagency experiences. He has served as the operations director CJ-3 for Regional Command East in Afghanistan, G-3 Chief of Operations for Multi-National Division North in Iraq, and as a military professor in the leadership department at the Naval War College. prgtoken His other assignments included service in the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division AASLT, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the Joint Readiness Training Center, the Naval War College, and the Army Legislative Liaison office. Major General Winski recently served as the Director of Army Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization, HQDA G-3/5/7. prgtoken For the past 18 months, Major General Winski has implemented and enhanced strategic partnerships with Congress. Through his leadership, the Army significantly advanced relationships with both legislative chambers and improved and broadened congressional support for Army priorities. Major General Winski managed complex issues through multiple legislative cycles, enabling the Army to receive the necessary resources to improve readiness, accelerate modernization, and reform processes to support combat operations, sustain the all-volunteer force, and improve the quality of life for soldiers, Army civilians, and their families. prgtoken On behalf of Congress and the United States of America, we tha
HONORING BRIAN GAMACHE
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-12-3

I rise to recognize a former member of my staff, Brian Gamache, for his work in my office and his service to our state. prgtoken Brian worked in my Indiana office for nearly a year, serving as a member of our political operations team. Brian has an incredible work ethic and was a tremendous asset to our team. prgtoken On a personal note, Brian is a positive, no excuses, nose to the grind stone kind of leader that makes every team stronger. I enjoyed our many trips and long talks traveling the state of Indiana. I want to thank Brian for his friendship and his hard work in our office. I wish Brian continued success in all that God has planned for him and his family.
PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF THE CATAFALQUE SITUATED IN THE EXHIBITION HALL OF THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER IN CONNECTION WITH MEMORIAL SERVICES TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL FOR THE LATE...
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-12-3

I ask unanimous consent to take from the 's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 56) providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the Exhibition Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center in connection with memorial services to be conducted in the rotunda of the Capitol for the late George Herbert Walker , 41st President of the United States, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-12-4

this week I have the honor of recognizing Dr. George Mulcaire-Jones of Silver Bow County for his tremendous impact on lives of folks in Butte and surrounding areas. prgtoken Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has spent over 30 years practicing medicine, each of which he committed to improving the health of those around him. He founded Maternal Life International, which goes above and beyond, to provide training and program development in Africa and Haiti. Over the course of his career, Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has also focused on addressing the growing issue of substance abuse among pregnant and postpartum moms. prgtoken Dr. Mulcaire-Jones led the fight to address the growing drug crisis in pregnant and postpartum moms across Montana. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones directed an initiative that defines symptoms for these moms and ensures they receive the proper medical care. He was instrumental in a $150,000 grant awarded to a local hospital that works to treat these moms. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones also worked hard to ensure that other care providers in the industry have the training they need to properly treat those patients. prgtoken I congratulate Dr. Mulcaire-Jones on his proactive approach in recognizing the signs of drug abuse in pregnant and postpartum mothers. Through his efforts, Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has paved the way for other communities around Montana to combat this growing epidemic.
REMEMBERING GEORGE H.W. BUSH
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-12-4

I am honored to follow the Senator from Texas and to have shared time with President , as he has, and appreciate very much his service to this Senate and this country. prgtoken You know, the hardest thing they ever ask you to do in public office is eulogize someone you don't even know. But because you are a Senator and they think you have a name that everybody back home knows, they think that would be a good idea. It is the hardest thing for a Senator to do. prgtoken The easiest thing to do is to be asked to eulogize somebody you know and love. You don't have to look up things and read things and do a biography. But that, too, is also very hard. It is hard to hold back the tears when you talk about the experiences you had with someone who has gone on to a better place. That is the role I am in today. prgtoken George Herbert Walker did so many things for me in my lifetime that I can't begin to count them or recount them all for you, but I am going to tell a few of the stories. You have all heard about how he was in the CIA, how many planes he shot down, and how many times he did whatever he did. We all know he has a resume that is equal to none. I mean, nobody has one equal to his. We also know, those of us who knew him--and I know Senator Cornyn of Texas did--as a public servant, he was a passionate, compassionate, get-the-job-done, commonsense, conservative leader who wanted to see not just the promises made but the promises kept. prgtoken How did I meet George Herbert Walker ? I will tell you how I met him. He was Vice President of the United States of America. He was on Air Force One. He was Vice President under Reagan, who controlled Air Force One. We were riding from St. Augustine, FL, to Atlanta, GA, to do a fundraiser for me when I was running for Governor of Georgia. I knew him by reputation and by name and obviously by being in my party, but I didn't know him as a person. prgtoken He said: Why don't you fly down to St. Augustine and meet me there, and we will fly to Atlanta for a fundraiser that night? Bring your family. Let's have some fun and get you elected Governor of Georgia. prgtoken We had a ball. That was not hard. Winning the governorship was a little bit more difficult, but it was a lot easier to try when the Vice President of the United States came out and put his name on the line for me. I really didn't understand how he could risk his career doing that until I realized nobody cared who I was anyway, but he cared who I was because I was a potential candidate for Governor, I was a , I was somebody he liked and admired, and I was somebody he wanted to help and work with. prgtoken So my family and I piled onto Air Force One, flew into Atlanta, Dobbins Air Force Base, and went to the Waverly Hotel. We raised three- quarters of a million dollars at that fundraiser. It was over in the flash of an eye, but I can still smell the room, indelibly remember the lig
REMEMBERING GEORGE H.W. BUSH
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-12-4

I join my friend, the Senator from Tennessee, in saying a few words about the service of George Herbert Walker . I would note the difference between him and me, though, is he, having served as Education Secretary and worked here under Howard Baker and having had a chance to work with and watch and listen to George Herbert Walker firsthand, has the advantage over me. prgtoken I certainly know the family and President ``41'' from my experience in Texas. They were the dominant family and influence in politics in Texas--certainly during the time I grew up in politics. prgtoken I appreciate the comments the Senator from Tennessee has made. He and I had a conversation about what our side of the aisle needs, which is to do more in the area of supporting public education and which is, I think, probably at the top of the list of most people's concerns. prgtoken Certainly, when you look at what happened in the midterm elections-- particularly in the suburbs--and you talk to people about what motivated them one way or the other, education had to be way up high on that list. We simply need to find a way of working together and coming up together with creative ways to demonstrate our support for public education, and I think our constituents will respond very well to that. prgtoken Certainly, the Senator from Tennessee, as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, who is responsible for a lot of the healthcare-oriented legislation that emanates from this body-- and that is another area where, frankly, we didn't do as good a job as we could or should have done, explaining what we were for and what we could do actually to help bring premiums down and make healthcare more accessible. So I appreciate the contributions of the Senator from Tennessee to this body and his comments particularly about this great man. I think it is important to say he was not just a great man but a good man, George Herbert Walker . prgtoken We know, to his family, he was a loving and caring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. To his country, he was a devoted public servant who fought to defend our freedoms and led the Nation at the end of the Cold War and at the fall of the Berlin Wall. prgtoken Every time I think about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, I think about my dad who was a B-17 pilot in World War II. He was shot down on his 26th bombing mission over Nazi Germany. He was stationed in Molesworth, England. He and his fellow crew in the 303rd Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force would fly their bombing missions from England--in this case, Molesworth Air Force Base across the English Channel and drop their bombs in Germany in an effort to bring an end to that terrible, terrible war. prgtoken Unfortunately, my dad died before the Berlin Wall came down. That is one of my regrets; that he was unable to see what ultimately happened as a result of that terrible war in World War II. O
REMEMBERING GEORGE H.W. BUSH
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-12-4

several years ago, after his 3-year-old daughter Robin passed away from leukemia, George Herbert Walker wrote to his mother about how much he loved and missed his little girl. It is a beautiful, almost heartbreaking letter. Near the end, he wrote about his daughter's continued presence in his life and the life of his family. He said: ``We cannot touch her and yet we feel her.'' prgtoken President himself has now passed beyond our reach. Yet, knowingly or not, we all feel the difference he made in the Nation and in the world. Many of us feel that deep longing for a ``kinder, gentler'' Nation that President promised in his inaugural address 30 years ago. prgtoken George Herbert Walker was an American patriot who devoted his life to his family and to his country. On his 18th birthday--6 months after Pearl Harbor--he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became one of the youngest aviators in the history of the Navy. He was discharged 1 month after Japan's surrender, but he never stopped serving America. prgtoken There is a book entitled ``Flyboys'' that tells the story of the squadron George Herbert Walker was a part of and the deadly mission they were given in the South Pacific. He flew some 58 missions as a Navy pilot. On his last assignment, he was shot down, and two of his crew were killed in that confrontation. Fortunately for us and for him, he was rescued by a submarine. There is a grainy, black-and-white film of his being fished out of the ocean by the American submarine that is still an inspiration to this day. prgtoken As the 41st President of the United States and the father of the 43rd President, he was the linchpin of a political dynasty that spanned four generations. He already had a lifetime of public service before he became President--as a Texas Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Envoy to China, Director of the CIA, and Vice President to Ronald Reagan. prgtoken Despite his extraordinary achievements, he was a man of remarkable humility. If his syntax sounded a little choppy at times--and Dana Carvey made a fortune imitating him--it was partly due to the fact that George Herbert Walker had difficulty using the words ``I'' and ``me.'' When he was a young boy, his mother taught him that those were the words of braggarts. Riding in the Presidential limousine through streets lined with cheering crowds, he once told a fellow passenger: ``They're not clapping for me; they're clapping for the office of the President.'' That was exactly how he thought it should be. prgtoken I was still a rather new Congressman when George Herbert Walker was President. I sure didn't agree with all of his policies, as my voting record demonstrates, but that is a discussion for another time. As President 's own life shows us, there is a time for politics, and there is a time to put politics aside and to recall the exceptional lifetime of service he gave to our Natio