mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Remembering Nathan Lane (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-11-20

I would like to begin by thanking our friend and colleague from Iowa, Senator Ernst, for her leadership on the reauthorization and--indeed, I think the important point should be made--to strengthen the Violence Against Women Act. We don't have to settle for the House bill. We can have a better bill for victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, like so much important work, we seem constantly to get diverted and distracted and dragged down by the partisanship that seems to dominate Washington, DC, these days. For many months, our colleague from Iowa has been working closely with Senator Feinstein from California to try to figure a way to reauthorize this critical law. prgtoken In the meantime, though, not on one occasion but on two occasions, we have offered a continuing resolution that would extend the current reauthorization and our ic colleagues have shut that down. So we are in unchartered territory where we don't currently have an authorization for the Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken I shared our colleague's disappointment when our ic colleagues walked away from the negotiating table and chose to introduce a replica of the House's partisan bill, which as you have heard, does not have the support to pass in the Senate. Let me say one thing that should be abundantly clear but sometimes I think it gets lost: We all agree that more must be done to prevent violence and respond to it. It is fair to say that we have different opinions on what those pathways look like, but one thing that should not be up for debate is whether or not we reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. That is something we need to do. prgtoken The fact is that we don't have to settle for the House bill. We can do better. Our ic colleagues took an interesting approach in introducing a bill that a majority of people in this Chamber will not support, and they know that. Sadly, that is part of the point. They know they have a bill that does not enjoy consensus support because they would rather make the political point and argument that somehow some of us on this side don't believe in supporting victims of domestic violence, which is absolutely a falsehood. It is a lie. During a press conference, the Senator from Hawaii even conceded five times that the House bill is going nowhere, but that is the path our ic colleagues have chosen. Rather than working in a bipartisan fashion to build a consensus package that could actually become law, they decided to head down a partisan path led by the House bill, which came to us 7 months ago. prgtoken Clearly, some of our colleagues here in the Senate are not interested in actually making laws. They are in it for the headlines, for the politics. In the face of this ridiculous and unacceptable jockeying, I am glad that today Senator Ernst will introduce a consensus alternative to the bill offered by our colleagues, and I am proud to be a cosponsor
RECOGNIZING ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-11-20

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. I rise to recognize the millions of Americans across this great country who are living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. prgtoken Alzheimer's is a frightening disease that has impacted several individuals close to me. My Aunt Jane lost her battle with the disease, while my Aunt Virginia continues to fight it. Additionally, the legendary Pat Summitt, a friend of mine--she actually came to my father's funeral--who coached the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team for 38 seasons, lived with and brought awareness to Alzheimer's disease before passing away in 2016. prgtoken I am especially thankful for the caregivers who assist those living with a memory disorder. Friends, family members, and trained professionals care for these patients and make sacrifices to ensure their comfort. These efforts must not be overlooked, . prgtoken Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's need to know they are not alone in their battle against this difficult illness. And while I remain optimistic about new treatments and ongoing research to find a cure, this November I encourage my constituents and colleagues to take a moment to think about those Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and say a prayer for them and their families and to show support for the caregivers who look after and advocate for them.
Violence Against Women Act (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-11-20

I am so pleased to stand with Senator Ernst and my colleagues today to talk about the 2019 Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken Most women will tell you that they know of a female friend or acquaintance or relative who has experienced the horrors of sexual assault or domestic violence or even trafficking. Through my work with shelters back home in Tennessee, I have learned that the volunteers, the counselors, the advocates, and the attorneys who support these victims are of the utmost importance. They are who the victims need to see the minute they walk through that door, into their arms, and hear them say: How can we help you? This is a safe place. prgtoken These are the people who come around them to empower them, and the one thing I hear over and over in the wake of one's attack is that these victims need that type of support. This is why, in addition to providing funding for both prevention and educational programs, this year's authorization will do some important things. It will increase funding for the court-appointed special advocates by $3 million. It will provide over $1 million per year for Federal victim counselors. It will also help to provide transitional housing to victims, which is something they will desperately need. They need to know they have a safe place. prgtoken These resources--and this is important--are going to go directly into the hands of those who are providing these services, and this will have a direct impact on the lives of these women when they need it the most. prgtoken Just for a moment, I would like to highlight a portion of the reauthorization on which I have spent a good deal of time working this year. It has to do with a particular violent sexual crime that is so grotesque that most Americans prefer not to even acknowledge it. They don't want to admit that this exists. Yet, for the victims of female genital mutilation, the pain and the humiliation are nearly unbearable. prgtoken You would think that Federal prosecutors would be able to make short work out of such heinous charges, but due to a loophole in Federal criminal law, scores of victims have watched their abusers walk free. The Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2019, which is a separate bill that I sponsored earlier this year, is now a part of this year's reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. It will correct fatal constitutional flaws in the Federal statute that bans the practice of FGM. When this is done, under Federal law, prosecutions for mutilation and cutting will be able to continue. prgtoken I would be remiss if I did not say that in a perfect world, we would not have to worry about allocating resources for safe houses and for victim counseling. We should not have to do this, but this is not a perfect world. So, yes, indeed, we do have to step up and do this for the sake of the thousands of women who fall victim to sexual violence, trafficking, and sexual ab
HONG KONG HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2019
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-11-20

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey, my good friend, for yielding, and I have to thank him for his decades of service and leadership here for free expression and for liberty in Hong Kong. prgtoken I was moved by the 's tribute and appreciate her 30 years of work there. I thank Mr. Engel for his leadership, and, of course, my good friend from California, who now is controlling the time for the majority. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong. prgtoken For 6 months, we have witnessed Hong Kong citizens protest for their right to live in a free and fair political system, an expectation they fully have. Over the last several weeks, we have witnessed the government become increasingly violent as it cracks down on protests. It is sad to see death and destruction come to this beautiful and energetic place. prgtoken For three decades, I have traveled to Hong Kong and witnessed their innovative spirit and their extraordinary work ethic. In fact, Hong Kong was the model for the post-World War II Asian prgtoken Tiger growth and prosperity now shared across the region. When a proponent of welfare statism queried progrowth economist Melvyn B. Krauss, ``But how many Hong Kongs can the world have?'' the professor responded, ``As many as the world will allow itself.'' prgtoken The 7 million citizens of Hong Kong are looking to us for a voice and for leadership, and with today's vote, we will deliver. I call on President to sign this important measure into law with expediency and show the world that America supports the people of Hong Kong, their right to free expression, and their democratic governance guaranteed under the five-decade arrangement agreed to in 1997 by the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom. prgtoken , I thank Mr. Smith for his leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF CONGRESS SPENDING TAX DOLLARS ON A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED IMPEACHMENT CHARADE
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , yesterday's public impeachment hearings produced some noteworthy facts. Representative Mike Turner's question of Ambassador Volker took apart the ' entire case. Volker confirmed that President never said that Ukraine must investigate the s in order to receive defense aid from the United States. prgtoken Further, Representative Elise Stefanik's questioning of Tim Morrison showed there was no quid pro quo, no bribery, no extortion, and no mention of withholding aid in exchange for investigating the s. prgtoken Witnesses have repeatedly stated that no quid pro quo, no bribery took place. These facts, which indeed clear our President, do not change. Meanwhile, President continues to be denied basic due process rights. prgtoken leadership continues to put politics before the people obsessing over impeachment and refusing to work on policies that would actually benefit the American people: ratifying the USMCA, permanently extending the 2017 tax cuts for families, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. prgtoken The people are tired of this Congress spending their tax dollars on a politically-motivated impeachment charade.
Judicial Confirmations (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-11-20

yesterday, we confirmed Robert Luck, a Florida supreme court justice, to be a U.S. Circuit judge for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. With Justice Luck's confirmation, the Senate has now confirmed 47 appellate court judges during this administration and 163 Article III judges overall. prgtoken That is more appellate court judges than had been confirmed at this point in any of the previous five Presidential administrations, and it is a particularly outstanding number when you consider that the have made confirming these judges as difficult as they possibly can. From day one of this administration, were determined to obstruct anything this President did, his nominations in particular. prgtoken Again and again and again, they have attempted to block nominees for no other reason than the fact that they were nominated by this President. have subjected roughly 75 percent of the administration's judicial nominees to the time-consuming cloture process. Compare that to the treatment of President 's nominees. At this point in President 's administration, roughly 3 percent of his judicial nominees had been subjected to cloture votes--just 3 percent, 3 percent versus 75 percent for President . prgtoken The difference in these numbers is not because this President has nominated scores of extreme nominees who felt they could not support. In fact, have repeatedly turned around and voted for the very same judges they have obstructed. In one particularly egregious example, in January of 2018, forced the Senate to spend more than a week confirming four district court judges, even though not one single voted against their confirmation. These judges could have been confirmed in a matter of minutes by voice vote, but forced the Senate to spend more than a week on their consideration, time that could have been spent on genuinely controversial nominees or on some of the important issues facing our country. prgtoken Despite ' obstruction, we have continued to move forward, and as I said, yesterday, we confirmed our 163rd judge to the Federal bench. Today, we will confirm our 164th. We are putting judges on the bench with a real respect for the law and for the Constitution and a commitment to applying the law as written. prgtoken Now, those sound like basic requirements for a judge, but too often, it seems like my colleagues are interested not in judges who will uphold the law, but in judges who will act like superlegislators, rewriting the law and the Constitution when they do not fit with the ' political opinions, and that is a very dangerous thing. prgtoken When judges rule based not on what the law actually says, but what they think the law should be, they undermine a fundamental principle of our system of government. Our system is based on belief in the rule of law. In the American system, the
RECOGNIZING FIRST LADY OF ANDREWS, SC, MAJOR DANISHA L. McCLARY ESQ.
Tom Rice (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Major Danisha L. McClary, a United States Army veteran and First Lady of Andrews, South Carolina. prgtoken Major McClary has served our nation with honor and distinction. As a Judge Advocate General, she served as the Chief of Administrative Law for the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, Trial Counsel for the 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Hood, Texas, Chief of Foreign Claims for the Multi-National Division in Iraq, and as the Chief of Military Justice at Port Jackson, South Carolina. prgtoken Additionally, Major McClary served as the Program Manager for the U.S. Army Sexual Assault Prevention Program at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She earned high awards and accolades including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. prgtoken Major McClary officially retired from the Army in the summer of 2016 and immediately opened her law practice. Since then, she has served her community as chair of the Andrews Economic & Community Development Committee and as a member of the Georgetown County Accommodations Tax Committee. prgtoken Madam , I join the people of Andrews in recognizing Major Danisha L. McClary for being chosen as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Veterans Day Parade in Andrews, South Carolina. We honor her and thank her for her past and continued service to her community and the nation.
Remembering Nathan Lane (Executive Calendar)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-11-20

I truly appreciate the remarks by the senior Senator from California. I truly have enjoyed working on this piece of legislation. prgtoken There were three markers that were laid down within the House version of the bill as outlined previously, but there was no consensus there. It was, ``Either accept these provisions or we don't work together.'' prgtoken We need to keep finding a way to get to consensus on a bill moving through this body, and I am happy to continue working on legislation with the Senator. I think, by the end of this year, we should find something that would work to reauthorize this very important piece of legislation, and I appreciate her leadership on this very much. I truly have enjoyed working with her.
RECOGNIZING RITA BISHOP
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise today to recognize Roanoke Superintendent of Schools, Rita Bishop. prgtoken Superintendent Bishop has served the students of Roanoke City for more than 12 years and will retire at the school year's end. Her tenure is marked with significant accomplishments, and I applaud the passion she exudes for the students of her district. prgtoken During her time of service to the community, graduation rates improved from 60 percent in 2007 to now over 90 percent. Further, under her leadership, all schools have achieved full accreditation division wide, a feat that had never before been accomplished. prgtoken Additionally, Ms. Bishop was essential in launching Roanoke's summer enrichment program RCPS-Plus. This program seeks to address what is known as the ``summer slide'' by ensuring knowledge is not lost between school years. Last summer, a record 3,400 students enrolled in this program. prgtoken I want to thank Ms. Bishop for her dedication to improving the city's education system and wish her a happy, well-deserved retirement.
HOMESTEAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-11-20

first, let me thank two of my good friends, Ranking Member McClintock and Chairman Huffman, for the cordial and elevated discussion today about something that might appear small in the big scheme of things, particularly with what is going on in Congress, but, nonetheless, is a good, working part of functioning government on this House floor. prgtoken This is important to us in Nebraska, and it is important to the rest of America. I am pleased that my good friend, Congressman Adrian Smith, has been working on this effort to rename the Homestead National Monument of America to the Homestead National Historical Park to clear up some confusion. This small but important change will more accurately reflect the nature and mission of this unique National Park Service unit. prgtoken The Homestead Act of 1862, as we have heard, really did forever change the direction of our Nation. Let me take us through a few facts that have already been mentioned but I think worthwhile emphasizing. prgtoken In exchange for the $18 filing fee and just a commitment to improve the land, any U.S. citizen could farm 160 acres and own it outright after 5 years. Almost inconceivable to us today, but that is how this began. prgtoken The National Park Service unit dedicated to telling the extraordinary story of these incredible pioneers is located in Beatrice, Nebraska. prgtoken And I thank Chairman Huffman for clarifying how it is appropriately pronounced: Beatrice, Nebraska. prgtoken Before redistricting earlier, I used to represent this area. It is only about 50 minutes from my home in Lincoln, so it is a part of the broad neighborhood of the First and Third Congressional Districts. prgtoken Homestead is located on the site of one of the first homestead claims in the United States, and it commemorates the lives and accomplishments of these early homesteaders. It also celebrates those hardy individuals who, through harsh storms, brutal drought, wind, snow, and isolation, actually helped grow this country. prgtoken This minor name change will clear up any confusion about this important site because the word ``monument'' generally applies to a single individual or a unique topographical feature. Homestead is so much more. It is a unique piece of open prairie, as we have heard. It houses the historical records of so many settlers, and many visitors come looking to learn a little bit more about their ancestors. prgtoken , I would like to particularly recognize one individual, Mr. Mark Engler, who is Homestead's superintendent and a friend of the Nebraska delegation who sees us quite a lot, along with everyone else in the Beatrice community who have helped to maintain Homestead as a gem of the Midwest and a treasure for all Americans.
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-11-20

John Adams, our first Vice President, such a prominent fixture within the Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, so important to our founding, such a strong antislavery personality--and he was very, very learned, constantly reading--said: I have examined all the religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world. prgtoken Patrick Henry, who gave the stem-winding speech that moved so many to support the Revolution, said: The Bible is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed. prgtoken Benjamin Rush, also a Founder, a dear friend of John Adams, said: ``By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects. . . . It is the only correct map of the human heart that has ever been published.'' prgtoken And I love what C.S. Lewis said in his book ``The Case for Christianity.'' He was discussing dualism, this idea that there are two equal forces in the universe and that they are at war, and we don't know how it is going to come out. prgtoken He said there is a war going on, but it is not between two equal forces. It is between a master and a rebel, and we happen to live in rebel-occupied territory. Basically, he goes on to say, can you imagine being behind enemy lines and getting a message from your home headquarters and you don't even pick it up and read it? prgtoken Those of us who are Christians, we believe that God gave us this book of messages, just like C.S. Lewis said. Unfortunately, many don't pick them up. prgtoken It is well known that Thomas Jefferson, though he was not a deist, believed the Bible, not all of the miracles. But the story is told that he was coming down--and CRS has verified he came to church every Sunday here in the Capitol. He usually rode his horse. When Madison came every Sunday--he was here in D.C.--he came down to the Old House Chamber. prgtoken But someone asked Jefferson: Where are you going this Sunday morning? prgtoken He said: I am going to church in the Capitol. prgtoken He had a big Bible under his arm. prgtoken He said: But you don't believe everything they do. prgtoken He said: Sir, I am the highest elected magistrate in this country. It is imperative that I set the proper example. prgtoken I thank my friend for setting that same proper example.
SUPPORT THE K-9 HERO ACT
Ron Wright (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise today to express my outrage over the practice of teleabortion. This practice, which gets its name from practitioners conducting abortions over the phone or computer, occurs when chemical abortions are induced with no healthcare provider present. prgtoken This practice sounds simple, except the woman taking the drugs isn't in a medical facility, no certified medical personnel are present, and if the drugs don't work as planned and the baby is not stillborn, it may still end up in a dumpster and the mother may end up in an emergency room. prgtoken The obvious danger is why I filed H.R. 4935, the Teleabortion Prevention Act. This legislation protects women's health by making it a Federal offense for healthcare providers to perform a chemical abortion without first physically examining the patient, being present during the chemical abortion, and scheduling a follow-up visit for the patient. prgtoken Chemical abortions are induced using a two-step abortion pill regimen that can be taken up until the ninth week of pregnancy. Given the serious risks, the FDA has put regulations in place, but pro-abortion groups are looking for ways to get around the law. prgtoken If these FDA regulations are ever lifted, chemical abortion drugs could become available by prescription, enabling a single healthcare provider to mail chemical abortion pills to women and young girls across the country, regardless of State pro-life protections and whether they have seen a doctor and had an ultrasound performed. This legislation ensures these much-needed FDA regulations will not be lifted. prgtoken No doctor should feel comfortable prescribing a life-ending pharmaceutical drug without physically being there to administer it to the patient. prgtoken If the woman's health argument is really more than subterfuge that puts dressing on a tragedy, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 4935, the Teleabortion Prevention Act. National Medal of Honor Monument Act