mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-9-18

I am on the floor to talk about a problem that is far too common here in Washington; that is, Federal Government shutdowns. They don't make any sense. If we don't do something in 12 days, Congress, once again, will face an unnecessary and costly government shutdown. We have to avoid that. prgtoken I have been through five different government shutdowns since my time working in the George H. W. White House back in 1990, and three shutdowns just over the last 5 years. None of them worked. prgtoken I don't know anyone who likes them now because we found out that when you shut down the government, taxpayers actually pay more, not less. It might seem like if you shut down the government, that is good for taxpayers, but it is actually bad for taxpayers. They foot the bill for the backpay of Federal workers for the days they weren't allowed to go to work, and they pay for other things, too, that they wouldn't have to pay for if Congress did its job, got its spending bills done, and didn't shut down the government. Delayed projects, late payment fees, lost productivity, deferred maintenance--it all adds up. Shutdowns also disrupt government services, of course. prgtoken By the way, it is not just the poor government programs and services at the time--that continues. So even now, 9 months since the last government shutdown, you have the Agencies and Departments saying: Well, we would like to be able to process your tax return or we would like to be able to, as I found out last week, process your 501(c)(3)-- which is a charity return to give you a nonprofit status, you can get contributions that are deductible--but because of the shutdown, we are still backed up. They are delayed and late. That hurts everybody. prgtoken Federal contractors, of course, are hurt. A lot of those are our constituents, private sector individuals. Federal employees, themselves, of course, get hurt, especially those who are considered essential. They have to go to work even though they are not getting paid. A lot of people, whether it is TSA personnel at the airports or our Border Patrol down at the border, are doing their best to protect us. Yet they are told they can't get paid, so they can't make their car payment, their mortgage payment, or their rent. It puts them in a tough situation. Again, it also hurts taxpayers and families and communities all across the country. prgtoken No shutdown was more frustrating for me than the one we had most recently. It was the longest shutdown ever. It was 35 days this past winter, in December. During that month, we all heard firsthand from our constituents how they were affected by the shutdown. I heard from NASA engineers in Cleveland, OH, as an example. We have the NASA Glenn Research Center there. prgtoken I also heard from TSA employees every time I flew. I asked them: How are you doing? They would tell me, and it was tough--missed paychecks, mounting mortgage payments that I talk
CONGRESS MUST PASS USMCA AGREEMENT
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-9-18

it is time. It is time for Congress to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the USMCA. This is not, as many of you know, a new issue. The administration finished its work months ago--292 days ago, to be exact. prgtoken That is 292 days that Congress has had to ask questions. That is 292 days that we have had to assess the benefits of the agreement. That is 292 days we have had to analyze the text of that agreement. prgtoken During the August recess, I had conversations with hundreds, maybe thousands, of folks. Their message was clear: USMCA is a clearly better agreement, and Congress needs to do its job for the good of this country. prgtoken There are a number of ways in which the President has negotiated a USMCA that is stronger, that is better than NAFTA. prgtoken First, USMCA ensures that the digital economy will be more open and that it will be more secure. prgtoken Second, the strong language on currency manipulation and on intellectual property provides a model for our way forward with other agreements, especially one with China. prgtoken Third, , the benefits to the ag community are compelling. My colleagues have heard me speak before about the fact that our ag producers have not had the easiest time of it lately. They need USMCA. prgtoken This agreement opens up new access to Canadian markets for wheat, wine, eggs, poultry, and dairy. It increases agricultural exports by $2 billion a year. That is why 1,000 ag groups from across the country have endorsed USMCA. They know that with fair access to markets, American producers can compete and win. prgtoken USMCA is not perfect, but collectively, these improvements would create 176,000 new American jobs and would increase our GDP by $68 billion. That is real value, and it is value across the agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors. prgtoken The administration has done its job. It has negotiated an agreement that powers economic opportunity and grows American jobs. prgtoken So, it is time. It is time for this body to act. It is time for the to bring this bill to the floor it is time for us to pass USMCA.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Lack of adherence to the terms of the budget deal also explains why we are unable to mark up the other two bills in this package: Labor, HHS, and Education and State-Foreign Operations. prgtoken Just like the Defense and Energy and Water bills, these bills were crafted in a bipartisan way. Yet some of my ic colleagues threatened to amend these bills with abortion-related poison pills. prgtoken Poison pills, as we all know--just like restrictions on transfer authority--are expressly--expressly--prohibited by the terms of the budget deal that we all agreed to just a few weeks ago. Again, both parties agreed to those terms. prgtoken Regardless, I am interested in moving the appropriations process forward, and I believe Senator Leahy is too. I am interested in doing so consistent with the budget agreement we agreed to. prgtoken That is why the chairman of the Labor-HHS and Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittees, Senator Blunt and Senator Graham, have released the versions of these bills that the Appropriations Committee intended to consider last week. prgtoken Both bills were crafted with bipartisan input, and both are free of poison pills. We are proud of the work that went into those bills and want to be transparent about how we intend to proceed, but before we vote on cloture, I want to remind my colleagues of our shared success last year and our common interest in moving the process forward this year. prgtoken In fiscal year 2019--last year--we achieved more success in passing appropriations bills than we had done in 20 years. The linchpin of that success was an agreement between me and Senator Leahy, the vice chairman of the committee, to ban poison pills from appropriation bills. Both sides upheld that agreement right here on the floor, and we funded 75 percent of the government on time. prgtoken That is the framework the bipartisan budget deal was modeled after so we could replicate what we did last year. The purpose of the budget agreement is to replicate the success we had last year, as I just said, to ensure that we do not revert to the dysfunctional appropriations process of years past. That is why it is so important that we adhere to it now. I think the American people want us to do it and do it now. prgtoken It is all the more important considering what we are trying to fund with this package. It contains critical investments, not just in health, education and energy projects but in national security, our military. prgtoken I believe the situation unfolding in Saudi Arabia should serve as a grave reminder to all of us that we must set aside partisan politics and do our job to provide our military the resources it needs to keep America safe. It should also remind us that our main adversaries--China and Russia--never relent in their efforts to destabilize us anywhere in the world. That is why we must do our part to ensure that they fail. We cannot do that without stable funding for our military and
RECOGNIZING BILL DUNN
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-9-18

I rise in recognition of my good friend, Bill Dunn, a colleague of mine from my time in the Tennessee General Assembly. prgtoken Representative Dunn and I served together in the State house starting when we were members of the same freshman class in 1995. Since that time, he has remained a strong champion for fiscal conservatism and the rights of the unborn. prgtoken Upon completing his current term, Representative Dunn will retire from his house seat after 26 years. Representative Dunn has been a diligent public servant, an excellent representative for his community, and, most importantly, an honorable family man. prgtoken He and his wife, Stacy, have raised a wonderful family of five children; and I have not checked lately to see how many grandchildren there are, but there are a bunch of them, I am sure. I am sure his retirement includes quality time with his family. prgtoken I wish Representative Dunn the best of luck in the next chapter of his life and thank him for his commitment to our home State of Tennessee. prgtoken Bill Dunn is a good guy.
RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHICKEN OF THE SEA'S LYONS FACILITY
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to acknowledge the important work of Chicken of the Sea International and its investment in Georgia's 12th Congressional District. prgtoken Ten years ago, we received exciting news that our nation's leading seafood provider was returning its tuna canning operations to the United States. Specifically, we learned it was opening its first domestic operations in Lyons, Georgia. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Lyons facility and learn more about how their operations have expanded over the last decade. Chicken of the Sea has invested millions in state-of-the-art technology and helped to train our next generation of skilled workers through their apprenticeship program, creating more jobs and promoting economic opportunity throughout Toombs County. I thank Chicken of the Sea for its continued investment in the community, and I congratulate the Lyons facility on a successful 10 years of serving quality seafood to Americans all across the country.
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE CONGDON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-9-18

today I join with my colleague Senator Whitehouse, the city of Providence, and the State of Rhode Island in celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Congdon Street Baptist Church, Rhode Island's oldest Black congregation. For generations, it has been a spiritual home for the community and an unwavering beacon for religious and civil liberties in Rhode Island. prgtoken The church's founding members left the First Baptist Church, where they were forced to attend segregated services, and established their own house of worship in 1819. Initially named the African Union Meeting House, the church aimed to provide a place of worship and schooling for Black Americans. This mission positioned the congregation as a focal point of the African-American community and paved the way for its continuing advocacy for meaningful social change. prgtoken As one of the earliest African-American churches in the State and the first schoolhouse for African-American children in Providence, the African Union prgtoken Meeting House opened its doors to a variety of different denominations. Beyond these religious and educational roles, the church offered a meeting place for African Americans to discuss civil rights and other vital issues and hosted literary clubs, youth groups, and numerous other social organizations. prgtoken Unfortunately, the original church structure, which was renamed the Meeting Street Baptist Church in 1840, was torn down in the 1860s without the congregation's approval amid tensions with its White neighbors. However, the congregation persevered, and a new structure was built on a nearby plot of land in 1875. prgtoken The new church was renamed the Congdon Street Baptist Church and to this day continues to be a pillar of support and advocacy for Rhode Island's African-American community. Its congregants supported Black Brown University students during their 1968 walkout protesting the university's lack of recruitment of and support for students of color. In a testament to Congdon Street Baptist Church's importance to Black Rhode Islanders, the students chose to march from the university to the church and remained there until their demands for change were met. During the mid-20th century, congregants also pressured the State to investigate and end discrimination in employment and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More recently, the church has, among its numerous activities, increased its outreach to college students, embarked on mission trips to help disadvantaged communities around the world, and tutored local children in reading, math, and writing. prgtoken Today, after 200 years of worship and public service, Congdon Street Baptist Church continues to uplift our State while adhering to its vision of being a ``radically authentic community.'' I join community members in Providence and Rhode Islanders across the State in congratulating Pastor Justin R. Lester and the entire Cong
INTRODUCTION OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE OUTSOURCING DISCLOSURE ACT OF 2019
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , today I reintroduce the Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Disclosure Act. I want to thank Congressmen Lee M. Zeldin (R-NY) and Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA) for their support as original cosponsors. prgtoken Our bipartisan legislation would require airlines to disclose the maintenance history for their aircraft fleets, specifically the location and date an aircraft underwent heavy maintenance. Airlines would be required to post this information online, distribute it with tickets, and communicate it to passengers upon request. prgtoken Airlines would also be required to report to a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database that tracks the maintenance history of their aircraft fleets. This public database will also indicate whether maintenance was conducted in the United States or abroad; by FAA- certified mechanics or not; or by airline employees or third-party contractors. prgtoken Recent airline incidents raise serious concerns about the increasing trend of maintenance being outsourced, particularly to countries in Central America and Southeast Asia. Foreign outsourcers do not have to be FAA-certified and are not subject to the drug and alcohol testing required in the United States for mechanics. Outsourcing has eliminated thousands of middle-class jobs in the United States and created significant safety concerns for passengers. prgtoken Airline passengers have the right to know if planes are serviced by qualified mechanics in the United States, or whether maintenance is outsourced to foreign countries with lower safety standards. Our bipartisan bill prioritizes transparency for passengers and supports the creation of new middle-class jobs in the United States. prgtoken Madam , I urge all Members to join us in cosponsoring the Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Disclosure Act.
CONFIRMATION OF JOHN RAKOLTA
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-9-18

I wish to express my reservations about the nomination of John Rakolta, Jr to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Historically, the United States has sent career foreign service officers to serve as ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates, men and women well-versed in the complexities and challenges facing the region. Mr. Rakolta would be the first political nominee to serve as Ambassador to this critical post. The U.S. mission in the United Arab Emirates has benefitted from experienced, trained diplomats who can adroitly navigate our important security partnership while also addressing some of our major policy disagreements, particularly regarding involvement in conflicts throughout the Middle East. prgtoken In nominating Mr. Rakolta, this administration is putting a political nominee with no diplomatic experience at the helm of one of our most critical Middle East posts. While Mr. Rakolta possesses extensive business experience, he lacks knowledge of the arms sales process, security commitments, and complex diplomacy that we should demand of our emissaries to the United Arab Emirates. This is a risky venture that could jeopardize our effectiveness in the region. It also is part of a concerning trend that has reduced the number of career ambassadors serving abroad. The historically even split between political and career nominees is becoming further skewed toward political ambassadors. prgtoken Mr. Rakolta's nomination is also indicative of the lack of due diligence and forthrightness demonstrated by a number of this administration's nominees. It took months for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to obtain an accurate and complete picture of the extent of Mr. Rakolta's business holdings, litigation history, and the role he played at a questionable nonprofit, ostensibly related to economic development. prgtoken Mr. Rakolta initially failed to include key details in the paperwork he submitted to the committee. He did not disclose dozens of companies that he had owned or managed, including many with an international presence, and omitted dozens of foreign lawsuits, among other details. More concerning, however, he did not disclose that he had served on the board of a nonprofit that had been the subject of intense public scrutiny, including questions about payments the board approved for its executive director. These issues and omissions not only slowed down Mr. Rakolta's nomination, but raised concerns about Mr. Rakolta's candor and forthrightness with the committee. prgtoken The committee relies on nominees to be transparent and forthcoming about relevant information to ensure that there are not actual or potential conflicts of interest or issues that call into question a nominee's fitness for public service. When these details are obscured, omitted, or hard to obtain, it further erodes the confidence that a nominee is well-qualified and committed to serve in a given position. M
CONGDON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH BICENTENNIAL
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise with my colleague, Congressman David Cicilline, to celebrate the bicentennial of the Congdon Street Baptist Church. Over the last 200 years, the church has been a pillar of the black community in Providence, serving as a place of worship, education, and fellowship for Providence residents. prgtoken From its founding, the church has thrived in the face of adversity. In 1819, under the backdrop of racial segregation and slavery, a small group of residents came together to create a safe space for black members of the Providence community. In 1869, hostile neighbors had the church demolished. Nonetheless, the community rallied together to rebuild the church in 1875, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. prgtoken Over the years, the church has continued to carry out the mission of its founders: supporting civil rights for the black community. In 1968, the church became a sanctuary for black students at Brown University and Pembroke College during the student walkout, and during the 1960s, members of the congregation marched down Cranston Street with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in the fight for equal rights. prgtoken On its 200th anniversary, we reflect on the Congdon Street Baptist Church's incredible history and wish the church another 200 years of success in connecting community members to their faith and to one another.
HONORING THE LIFE OF RAYMOND OSHANA
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to share my deepest condolences with the family and friends of Raymond Oshana. Ray was a dear friend of mine and my district office team for over two decades, and a prominent leader in the Assyrian community. Ray unexpectedly passed away earlier this week, and my heart breaks for his wife, Nadia, and his children Pierre, Ninos, and Mary, and everyone in the community who feels the weight of his passing, including me. His exuberant personality and generosity touched everyone he met, and anyone who knew Ray was better for it. He will be missed deeply. prgtoken Born in Baghdad in 1951, Ray came to the United States as a young man in 1970. Ray's story and contributions exemplify the fact that immigration makes our nation and our communities stronger and better. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Ray started the Assyrian Athletic Club. This club has supported thousands of Assyrian youth since its inception and next year, the organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary. During this same period, Ray helped found a group called the East Bird Band, helping create an iconic Assyrian Nationalist song, despite the fact that the band members didn't know how to play musical instruments in the beginning. prgtoken Ray was an active member of dozens of civic organizations including the Assyrian American Association of Chicago, and he was the Midwest Regional Director for the Assyrian American National Federation at the time of his passing. His name and contributions were known by everyone in the Assyrian community, and my office and I worked closely with him and the community in the 9th Congressional District on many issues and projects. prgtoken Ray Oshana had a smile and personality that brightened every room he entered. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met, and I looked forward to each opportunity that he and I had to sit down and talk about our families and what we could do to help Assyrians here in Illinois and back in the Middle East, where they face many deadly challenges. Ray was a lifelong fighter for and an effective advocate on behalf of his community. prgtoken On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Raymond Oshana for his tireless work. We will miss him.
AMERICANS MUST NOT FAIL TO CONFRONT CLIMATE CHANGE
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , this morning, I heard moving testimony from some of the young people leading the fight against climate change, including Greta Thunberg. It was inspiring to see the faces leading the next generation. prgtoken We must work together across the aisle to confront these challenges that will be faced now and by the next generations, and our time is running out. prgtoken In the San Joaquin Valley of California, which I represent, I have witnessed the devastating effects of climate change for too long, the droughts, the fires. prgtoken As a farmer, I know firsthand the struggle that our agricultural communities go through, and I know that climate change isn't making them any easier. prgtoken As I have said before and I will say again, mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change will require a multipronged, commonsense approach. We must not fail to confront these challenges. prgtoken As today's testimony reminded us, the most devastating effects of climate change will be the impact not only today but of the young and future generations to come. I refuse to sit by and do nothing. prgtoken For years, in California and Washington, I have worked for meaningful solutions to address climate change, and that will continue.