mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Climate Disruption (Executive Calendar)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-7-17

climate disruption is the seminal challenge of our generation. It is the most significant test that human civilization on our planet has faced, and there are a lot of questions about how we are going to be able to come together as a community of nations and community of cultures to address this very significant threat to our beautiful blue-green planet. prgtoken It affects everything from our farms to our forests to our fisheries. We see the impact in terms of disappearing glaciers, shrinking ice sheets, melting permafrost and dying coral. We see the impact on our farms, our trout streams, and our forests. We see the impact with migrating animals, migrating insects, and more powerful storms. prgtoken In response, communities across the globe are taking action. They are transforming their energy economies. They are developing aggressive strategies to save energy in their buildings, in their vehicles, and in their appliances. They are working to replace their fossil fuel energy supplies with clean and renewable energy. prgtoken How much do you know about the changes underway? Let's find out. Welcome to episode 3 of the Senate Climate Disruption Quiz. The first question we have is, Why did American Airlines cancel 57 flights between June 20 and 22? Was it extreme temperatures? Was it a pilot strike? Was it severe storms? Was it a fuel shortage? The answer is A, extreme temperatures. prgtoken How is that the case? prgtoken When air gets hotter, it gets thinner. Thinner air provides less lift for planes to take off, and eventually the runway isn't long enough for the plane to go fast enough to get enough lift to clear the runway. Therefore, all of these flights got canceled. prgtoken It is not the first time it has happened. It happened in 2013 in Phoenix, with 18 flights canceled, but this was a pretty dramatic incident attributable to very extreme temperatures. prgtoken Let's turn to question No. 2. How long was the recent streak of record-setting monthly temperatures--meaning, for example, that a given month like May was the hottest May ever, June was the hottest June ever, and July was the hottest July ever? How many months in a row did this happen? Did it happen for 6 months in a row? Or for 12 months in a row? Is it conceivable that this streak extended beyond a year to 16 months or perhaps even for 2 years, to 24 months? Lock in your answer. prgtoken The correct answer is C, 16 months. From May 2015 through August 2016, each and every month was the hottest month on record. In September, 2016, the streak was broken, but only by a few hundredths of a degree. In fact, in September 2016, the temperature was still 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average. prgtoken I have a math question to put in here. If you had climate data and temperature data for 50 years, what are the odds that, by chance, 16 months in a row would be the hottest--each one the hottest among the 50 previous months? What
STOP THE BLOCKADE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-7-17

I always applaud when the United States steps in and takes a leadership role to prevent war. I have traveled to the Mideast for many years as a Member of the United States Congress representing my constituents. prgtoken I want to express my appreciation to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for the energy that he is putting into engaging Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar to be able to stop the blockade and the conflict that may continue to grow against Qatar. prgtoken This is a region that many of these countries have been allies of the United States, the Southern Command is in Qatar, and, frankly, I think they need to be united against those terrorists that plague them all. prgtoken I would also say that the UAE, as has been reported in the Nation's newspapers, hacked into the emails of Qatar and put words in the mouths of their government officials that were untrue. This is not the way to proceed with peace and diplomacy. prgtoken So I believe we should energetically and aggressively engage these countries to stop this blockade and begin to repair the collaborative efforts to ensure that we fight the war on terror together and not against. prgtoken , I thank Mr. Tillerson. I look forward to working with him as a Member of the United States Congress to bring peace to that region.
GRANTING CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF CONGRESS TO AMEND WASHINGTON AREA TRANSIT REGULATION COMPACT
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-7-17

I simply want to, again, commend Mrs. Comstock for her leadership on this legislation. I thank all of our fellow members in the regional delegation in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for their collaborative work on this issue, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Goodlatte for facilitating the resolution's consideration by both the committee and the House. prgtoken , .
Thanking the Senator from Florida (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-7-17

first, I want to tell my colleague from Florida prgtoken that it is always a pleasure to listen to him. He is erudite, well- researched, and passionate--always about a subject that matters. prgtoken On the subject he just spoke about, no State in our entire Nation has more experience with the frailties of this planet, given that it is heating up, as the Senator from Florida, given all the low-lying, heavily populated areas on the oceanside and the Gulfside. I thank him for his continued pursuit of these issues that are very important to every one of us.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Session)
Bill Nelson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-7-17

I came to speak on a different subject and will not speak at length about the healthcare bill because this Senator has spoken on a number of occasions about the healthcare bill. Suffice it to say, in light of what the majority whip has just said; that if we really did want to seek a bipartisan solution to the healthcare situation in expanding healthcare for as many people as we possibly can, then what we do, in a bipartisan way, is start saying: We have a current law. Let's fix what needs fixing. prgtoken This Senator can say there are a number of discussions going on between ic Senators and Senators about doing just that--about such items as a reinsurance fund to ensure companies against catastrophe, the likes of which, in a proposal this Senator has filed, has been costed out. In my State of Florida, it would reduce insurance premiums for health insurance 13 percent. Ideas like that--in a bipartisan way--will solve and bring stability to the marketplace. That is why insurance companies, in fact, are being vigorous in their opposition to the Senator Cruz part of the bill that basically destabilizes the market by taking all of the older and sicker people and putting them in one pot and putting the younger and healthier people in another pot, which is exactly the opposite of what the principle of insurance is. The principle of insurance is, you spread the risk over as many people as you can and thereby can bring down the per-unit cost. prgtoken If we really wanted to fix it in a bipartisan way, we would be able to, but still, as you can see, there is not the appetite for that in this highly polarized, highly ideological, and highly partisan atmosphere we find ourselves in on this particular topic.
TRIBUTE TO MARTHA RIVERA CHAVIS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-7-17

I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Martha Rivera Chavis, and the many contributions she made as a dedicated resident of Montclair, New Jersey, and to countries abroad. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Mrs. Chavis was an astounding woman who loved caring and providing service to people. She completed her studies at San Pedro Apostol Catholic School in the Dominican Republic and received her degree in French Civilization from Sorbonne University in Paris, France in 1987. Following her graduation she served as a French to Portuguese translator for the Republic of Angola's Ambassador to the United Nations. It was during this time she met the love of her life, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis. The couple married in September, 1988. Mrs. Chavis was a beloved mother and fierce advocate for freedom, justice, and equality in the United States, Africa, and the Dominican Republic. She was an astounding First Lady of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and First Lady of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Her service, however, far expanded from her First Lady roles. After her husband, Rev. Dr. Chavis, visited Angola, the couple cared for nine Angolans including six children with missing limbs as a result of the civil war in Angola, in their home in Montclair, New Jersey. Due to the Chavises' unwavering care, when the nine Angolans returned to Africa, they were able to go back with prosthetics I know my fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives agree that Mrs. Chavis deserves to be recognized for a job well done, and for many years of service to her local and international communities.
Cloture Motion (Executive Calendar)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-7-17

I want to talk a little bit about what is going on here on the Senate floor. We were just considering the nomination of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, trying to move him along--a very important job--and it has taken some time. As a matter of fact, it has taken a long time, as the Presiding Officer knows, to get nominees from the White House confirmed by this body to run the government. prgtoken Running the government is a very important job. We not only need Cabinet Secretaries--which, by the way, took months for this body to confirm. They slowed down the confirmation of the choices of the White House to run the Federal agencies--no real explanation why--and now, Under Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Federal judges--delay, delay, delay, delay. prgtoken We are supposed to be trying to put people in place to run the government, which is the job of the Senate, but it has taken a very long time to do it, and it shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be this way. prgtoken When we look at U.S. history, typically, enabling a President to fill the key positions of government has not been a partisan issue. An election happens. Yes, there could be some debate on Cabinet officials, but you typically want to fill the government and start running the government on behalf of the American people. It has not been a partisan issue in America. Well, unfortunately, it is becoming a partisan issue due to what by any measure is historic obstruction on the nominations coming from the White House to run the Federal Government--historic obstruction. prgtoken The people did elect us, and they elected a new President, and implicit in the election was that they wanted us to get to work, to do things that, in my view, are very bipartisan. What are some of those things? Growing the economy. We haven't had 3 percent GDP growth in almost 15 years. That is a bipartisan issue--growing the economy. So are rebuilding our military, unleashing energy that we have in this great Nation in enormous abundance, investing in infrastructure, streamlining regulations that are strangling small businesses, and, yes, enacting policies to address the spiraling costs of health insurance and healthcare costs across the country. prgtoken Throughout history, the party in the minority understood this after an election and would vote to confirm new members of an administration--not just Cabinet Secretaries but Under Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and judges. In fact, the current minority leader said the following in 2013: ``Who in America doesn't think a President, or , deserves his or her picks for who should run the agencies? Nobody.'' ``Nobody,'' he said. prgtoken Those were wise words in 2013. I just wish he would remember them in 2017 because apparently he has forgotten those words. He has forgotten those words, because right now there is pure obstruction in terms of trying
SERGEANT JOSEPH GEORGE KUSICK VA COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-7-17

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2210. This bill will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Living Center in my hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania, as the Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center. prgtoken This is something you have heard already, but I want you to understand something, and if we can look for a minute outside of the people's House into thinking of who we actually are as a people. This is a young guy, 22 years old, at the very beginning of his life. At a time when most of us are looking forward to so many great things happening to us, he put himself in harm's way. prgtoken Now, when you think of what Sergeant Kusick did, it is incredible that this young man, on a hillside in Vietnam under heavy Viet Cong fire, and being seriously wounded himself, when asked: Listen, Sergeant, get on the helicopter. We can get you out of there. prgtoken He said: ``No, because if I leave, my comrades cannot be saved.'' What an incredible place to put yourself in, a 22-year-old who just a couple of years earlier was in Butler, Pennsylvania, enjoying all that life has to offer, and all of the potential of that life, and putting the welfare of others and the safety of others before himself. That is an incredible position to put yourself in. prgtoken We have already talked about the medal that Sergeant Kusick was given, and what it meant to everybody. But there is just so much about Sergeant Kusick, and all of these veterans, and all of these folks who have put themselves in harm's way. The one thing that comes out all the time is, there is no place quite as unique as the United States of America; there is nothing quite as unique as our men and women in uniform; there is nothing quite as unique as people who are willing to put themselves second and put the lives and safety of others first. prgtoken That is just not something people normally do. Sergeant Kusick did that on that hillside, seriously wounded, working on the radios. He knew that if he didn't stay, the other people wouldn't get extracted. He stayed there, under heavy enemy fire, and watched what was going on, watched the helicopters come in to extract his teammates. prgtoken And I think of it all the time: Where do people like Sergeant Kusick come from? And do you know where they come from? They come from all of these small towns and cities across America. They don't think of themselves as being unique. They don't think of their sacrifice as being exceptional. They don't think of what they have done as being out of the ordinary because it is just who we are as Americans. prgtoken As I think about these things, I am called to bring out something that I have read, and this is in a different war at a different time. It is a dedication stone at the Korean War Memorial, not too far from our Nation's steps. At the point of the triangle leading to the American flag is a dedication which reads: ``Our Nation honors her sons an
GRANTING CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF CONGRESS TO AMEND WASHINGTON AREA TRANSIT REGULATION COMPACT
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-7-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.J. Res. 92, introduced by my Virginia colleague, Representative Comstock, concerns the Washington-area transit system. The resolution makes needed administrative amendments to the longstanding Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact. prgtoken These amendments are required under section 3026 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation, or FAST, Act. That section transferred from the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Transportation sole authority to appoint Federal directors to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board of directors. It further required Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to adopt any necessary conforming amendments to the Washington Area Transit Regulation Compact. prgtoken The jurisdictions adopted the needed amendments as required. H.J. Res. 92 accordingly grants Congress' approval to the amendments. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I thank Members on both sides of the aisle, including Congresswoman Comstock, for their good work on this. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING APPOINTEES TO MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES
Blake Farenthold (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-17

every year, I have the pleasure of nominating outstanding young men and women from the 27th Congressional District of Texas to the United States military service academies. prgtoken Recently, I held a lunch for this year's ten appointees and their families, who have received an appointment to one of the five service academies. I enjoyed visiting with these young folks and their families and would like to recognize each of them for their commitment to protect our great Nation. prgtoken They are: prgtoken Jose Aguirre, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Foy H. Moody High School, who will attend the United States Naval Academy; prgtoken Aaron Jeffrey Frahm, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate from Marine Military Academy, who will attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy; prgtoken Specialist David Zane Ledbetter, United States Army, from Victoria, Texas, a graduate of Victoria West High School, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy, West Point; prgtoken Kaila Celiene Lusson, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Aviano High School, Aviano Air Base, Italy, who will attend the Air Force Academy; prgtoken Caleb Michael McCann, from Sinton, Texas, a 2016 graduate of Flour Bluff High School, who will attend the Air Force Academy; prgtoken John T. McNiff, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Incarnate Word Academy, who will attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy; prgtoken Kalista Courtney Schauer, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Richard King High School, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy, West Point; prgtoken Clayton Daley Thompson, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2016 graduate of Flour Bluff High School, who will attend the United States Naval Academy; prgtoken Cassandra Hamer, from Corpus Christi, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Richard King High School, who will attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy; and prgtoken Josh Smith, from Victoria, Texas, a 2017 graduate of Victoria West High School, who will attend the United States Air Force Academy. prgtoken Each of them brings great pride to all of us in the 27th District of Texas. I wish them the best of luck in their academies, and I look forward to hearing great things about their service to our Nation. Recognizing Drew Scott
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM W. ``HOOTIE'' JOHNSON
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-7-17

on July 14, 2017, South Carolina lost an esteemed businessman and dedicated public servant with the death of William W. ``Hootie'' Johnson. He made a positive difference with his philanthropic efforts and I am grateful for his longtime service as Chairman of the Executive Committee at Bank of America and Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. On Monday, July 17, 2017, a funeral service will be conducted at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. prgtoken The following thoughtful obituary was appropriately published in The State on July 15, 2017: Mr. Johnson died Friday, July 14, 2017, at the age of 86. Hootie Johnson was a former chairman of the Executive Committee of Bank of America's Board of Directors. He had also served on the Boards of Directors of Alltel Corporation, Duke Energy Corporation, Liberty Corporation and Stephens, Inc. He was the husband of Pierrine Baker Johnson and was a son of the late Dewey H. and Mabel Woodward Johnson. He was born in Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Johnson held a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina as well as an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. Honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees were also conferred upon him by the Medical University of South Carolina and Lander University. He served as chairman of both the South Carolina Ports Authority and the South Carolina Research Authority, as well as a member of The South Carolina State Development Board. Mr. Johnson also served as chairman of the Committee to Develop a Plan of Desegregation of the National Urban League. He was a Laureate of the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame. The State newspaper named Mr. Johnson as one of South Carolina's 15 most influential business leaders of the 20th Century. Mr. Johnson, an independent, was active in politics serving as finance chairman for Governor Robert McNair, Governor Carroll Campbell, Governor David Beasley, Senator Strom Thurmond, Senator Bob Dole and President George H.W. . Mr. Johnson was chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and chairman of the Masters Tournament from 1998-2006 and chairman emeritus from 2006-present. He held memberships in Biltmore Forest Country Club, Forest Lake Club, the Palmetto Club, the Flamenco Club and the Centurion Club. Memorials may be made to the USC Moore School of Business. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. In addition to his wife, Pierrine, Mr. Johnson is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer and Chuck Todd, and Marie and John Fairey, all of Columbia, Sally and Ronnie Wrenn of Charlotte, and Jane and Dan Breeden of Spartanburg; grandchildren, Charlie Todd, Pierrine Todd Thomas, John Fairey, Jr Harriett Fairey Gilmer, William Fairey, Holt