mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-17

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker), my friend, for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this very important piece of legislation. And I also thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), my colleague, for her leadership on this bill. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of the FUTURE Act. This bipartisan bill would extend mandatory funding under title 3 of the Higher Education Act to HBCUs around the country. prgtoken HBCUs play a vital role in expanding opportunity to students in North Carolina, especially in my district, where I am fortunate to represent three of them: Bennett College, North Carolina A&T, and Livingstone College. prgtoken Now, a recent report I came across found that HBCUs generate $1.7 billion in Federal economic impact in North Carolina. This figure includes direct spending on faculty, academic programs, and by the students directly attending these institutions. prgtoken HBCUs are an engine of economic growth in our communities because they expand the economic playing field to students from every background. Our economy works best when everyone has a shot at success. prgtoken As current funding to HBCUs is set to expire on September 30, it is critical that this legislation makes it across the finish line and onto the President's desk. prgtoken The FUTURE Act would provide funding to more than 100 HBCUs across 19 different States. It will allow universities and their students to continue down the pathway to success. In my view, having healthy HBCUs is critical for our State's economic future. prgtoken , I thank my friends again for their leadership on this bill.
MORNING BUSINESS
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-17

today I wish to honor the career of Robert L. Stewart, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former NASA astronaut, from Huntsville, AL. Robert Stewart is an acknowledged leader in the aerospace industry, with over 40 years of hard work and dedication throughout his career, including selfless service in the military. He has worked for decades to improve the quality of life in his community and across the State of Alabama. prgtoken Mr. Robert Stewart entered Active Duty with the U.S. Army in 1964. He spent time at Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL, as well as Fort Rucker in Dale County, AL. Mr. Stewart has military and civilian experience, flying over 40 types of airplanes and helicopters, including over 1,200 hours of jet time, 1,015 combat flight hours, and over 6,000 logged hours total flight time. prgtoken Mr. Stewart became an astronaut in August of 1979. He has logged 289 hours in space, including approximately 12 hours of extravehicular activities operations. While training for his scheduled third flight at NASA, Stewart was selected by the Army for promotion to brigadier general. He retired from the Army in 1992. Stewart has received multiple recognitions for his distinguished service and work. prgtoken At home in north Alabama, Robert is married to Mary Jane. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. He received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1964 and a master of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1972. prgtoken I am proud to take this time to recognize Robert for his significant career. His achievements and dedication to advancing the industry have not gone unnoticed. I join Robert Stewart's friends, family, and colleagues in celebrating his career, and I thank him for his commitment to Alabama.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EXPIRING AUTHORITIES ACT OF 2019
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-9-17

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), an original cosponsor of this legislation. prgtoken I have had the privilege of serving with Congressman Bost since he has been on the committee. He is a Marine Corps veteran, 1979 to 1982. He served in the last Congress as chairman of the DAMA, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and he is also on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-17

I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on energy and natural resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing. committee on the judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. select committee on intelligence prgtoken The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 2:30 p.m to conduct a closed hearing. subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights prgtoken The Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 2.30 p.m to conduct a hearing. subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities prgtoken The Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 3 p.m to conduct a hearing.
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-9-17

I rise today in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong. prgtoken Last month, I had the opportunity to hear directly from leaders in Hong Kong dedicated to both religious tolerance and to democracy, as promised in the ``one country, two systems'' agreement. prgtoken The people of Hong Kong wave American flags during their protests as a symbol of the freedoms that they desire. prgtoken Now is the time for Congress to support the people of Hong Kong and pass Representative Chris Smith's bill, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This measure states without question that the United States Government supports the people of Hong Kong and their right to freedom of expression and democratic governance guaranteed under their 50-year arrangement agreed to in 1997 by China and the United Kingdom. Stop Ignoring Red Lines in Idlib, Syria
APPROPRIATIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-9-17

. The American people deserve for the Federal Government to spend their money in a considered, deliberate fashion, and until very recently, we have been on a track to conduct a smooth, regular appropriations process for this year. prgtoken More than a month ago, leaders in both parties, in both Chambers, and at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue all agreed to terms that had been negotiated by the of the House and the President's team. It specified topline funding levels and put guardrails around the appropriations process to keep out poison pills and all of our other disagreements. prgtoken So yesterday, to keep us on track, I began the process to advance the first set of appropriations bills. The next step is a vote tomorrow to begin consideration of a package of House-passed funding bills that Pelosi grouped together. They include several of the domestic funding bills along with the legislation to fund the Department of Defense. There should be no reason for to vote against this first procedural step. prgtoken As Chairman Shelby and our committee colleagues continue to process Senate legislation, proceeding to this floor action will help to keep us on track toward passing as many of the 12 bills as possible this month before we turn to a temporary continuing resolution. prgtoken So it has been distressing to hear troubling signals from the ic side. We have heard that they may choose to filibuster the Defense funding bill. They may block the very increase of defense funding that they all just agreed to a month ago. prgtoken Progress on our shared priorities, good faith cooperation in areas of disagreement--it seems all of this may be taking a backseat to a familiar litany of partisan stumbling blocks. My ic colleagues seem eager to bog down the funding process with all their outstanding disagreements with the President, in other words, taking exactly the kind of partisan approach we had successfully avoided last year and in which both sides pledged just last month--just a month ago--to avoid this time as well. prgtoken A couple of weeks ago, everyone at the table seemed to understand that the world was too dangerous to leave funding for our military vulnerable to poison pill riders or political copouts. I wish would keep bearing that in mind today. prgtoken So whatever rationale my colleagues across the aisle may offer for these new disruptions, let's get one thing straight: Holding defense funding hostage for political gain is a losing strategy, not only for Members of this body, not only for the appropriations process, but a losing strategy for the safety and strength of our Nation. prgtoken As partisanship bogs us down here in Washington, Moscow and Beijing are not exactly slowing down to wait for us. Our two most capable great-power adversaries are expanding their own capabilities and modernizing their forces by the day. prgtoken In the current international system, deliver
CONGRATULATING KENNETH COOK
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-9-17

. Madam , it is my honor to congratulate Kenneth Cook, one of the recipients of this year's Encompass Health Personal Achievement Award. prgtoken Last October, Kenneth first came to Encompass Health with the diagnosis of Guillain Barre. He had very little movement in his lower extremities and little strength in his upper extremities. On his first day, he needed the help of two therapists to get out of bed. prgtoken Kenneth knew that he had a long road to recovery ahead of him, but he was determined to emerge victorious. He never missed a day of therapy and always showed up with a positive attitude and willingness to work. prgtoken In four short weeks, Kenneth was able to walk under his own power with a walker. He eventually regained his ability to walk without a walker and return to work. prgtoken It is thrilling to hear that Kenneth was able to accomplish this with hard work and determination. Congratulations once again to Kenneth on this recognition.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-9-17

on September 15, we began National Hispanic Heritage Month, one that celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans of Hispanic descent. prgtoken I recently learned the story of a former Kansas City resident, the late Hector Berretto, Sr who served as a voice for his local Hispanic community. Hector founded the Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and, later, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to counter disadvantages of Hispanic business owners in the Kansas City area and around the country. prgtoken The Hispanic population in the United States contributes enormously to our country, both culturally and economically. Most of the Hispanic individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing, many of them patients of mine, have been remarkably dedicated to faith and family and preserving their own culture centered around faith and family. prgtoken Many of my OB patients were Hispanic women, often accompanied by their loving mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts concerned for the health of their family member and the baby. Every visit was a family event of great importance to the family. prgtoken Now numbering over 55 million individuals, the Hispanic American population is projected to combine for an estimated buying power of $1.7 trillion in 2020. Hispanics are more likely than average Americans to open a business. Now with over 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, millions more American workers have jobs, thanks to these industrious entrepreneurs. prgtoken I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the unique contributions of the Hispanic American community to our great Nation and to Kansas. I look forward to continuing working with communities of all backgrounds in pursuit of our shared goal of a free and equal America, an America where anyone can live the American Dream if they are willing to work hard enough. Will Do Anything to Stop President
Tribute to Johnny Isakson (Executive Calendar)
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-9-17

I rise today with mixed emotions. I rise to recognize an incredible Georgian, a true statesman, a titan of the United States Senate, and, maybe most important, a friend to me and many people here in this town and back home in Georgia: Senator Johnny Isakson. prgtoken Like everyone, I was surprised and saddened to hear of Johnny's upcoming retirement. Since my very first day in the Senate walking through this door back here to be sworn in with Johnny escorting me, I have come to revere this guy. He has been a mentor that I have looked up to. He has been a great leader for our State for many years. He has been a reliable and effective colleague. Most of all, he has been a friend whom I deeply cherish. prgtoken It will be hard to see him go, but the reality is he won't go. He will still be involved here. I am sure I will get the phone calls about when we might have disagreed on a vote or why didn't I think about this. He has been a tremendous partner for me these last 4 years. prgtoken However, Johnny has left a profound legacy that is worth celebrating. It is one that we should all strive to follow here in this body. He epitomizes the best of this body, the United States Senate. prgtoken His legacy can be summed up in one word: service. No matter what he does, Johnny puts other people before himself, and this has continued since the first day I knew him back when he was running a real estate company in Atlanta, GA. Johnny puts other people first before himself. He doesn't do it for recognition or fame. Many times, he does it when people don't even notice or know he did it. He does it because it is the right thing to do. prgtoken He served his country as a member of the Georgia Air National Guard. He served his community as a Sunday schoolteacher for 30 years. I have done that, and I know that is a labor of love. That takes a lot of work. prgtoken He served the people of Georgia in the statehouse and the State senate and later in both houses of the U.S. Congress. In fact, he is the only Georgian to ever have done that. No matter what role Johnny has been in, he is always focused on helping others. prgtoken His dedication to service is even more impressive because it has produced incredible results for our country. This town has a lot of activity, but it is short on results. Johnny knew the difference. For example, one of Johnny's top priorities in Congress had been to take care of our country's veterans. Georgia is home to over 700,000 veterans today. As a veteran himself, Johnny treats each one of them as his own sister or brother. When Johnny saw the shameful conditions and mismanagement happening at the VA, he immediately sprang into action. prgtoken Fixing the VA seemed impossible, but no challenge was too large for Johnny Isakson. Thanks to him, as chairman of the Senate Veterans Administration Committee, we have made incredible progress on this and many prgtoken other fronts relating to the VA.
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-9-17

I spent a lot of time talking to South Dakota farmers over the August break, and I can tell you that if there is one thing on farmers' minds right now, it is trade; it is markets; it is having a place to sell the things that we raise and grow. Farmers and ranchers have had a rough few years. Low commodity prices and low livestock prices, natural disasters, and protracted trade disputes have left our agricultural economy trailing behind our economy as a whole. prgtoken As farmers emphasized to me during August, one of the biggest things we can do to help our agricultural economy is to implement trade agreements that benefit American farmers and ranchers. The United States is currently involved in trade negotiations on multiple fronts-- with the European Union, with China, with Japan, and with other Asian- Pacific countries. prgtoken Like many farmers and ranchers, I support the President's goal of addressing trade imbalances and securing more favorable conditions for American products abroad, but we need to conclude these agreements as soon as possible. The longer negotiations drag on, the tougher the situation for farmers, who face retaliatory tariffs as well as a lot of uncertainty about what markets are going to look like. prgtoken We have had some recent successes. In August, the administration announced a deal to increase U.S. beef sales to Europe. In May, the administration announced a deal with Japan to remove all remaining age restrictions on U.S. beef, giving American ranchers full access to the Japanese market for the first time in more than a decade. Yet that is just a tiny fraction of what needs to get done on the trade front when it comes to agriculture. prgtoken Every time I speak with the President and his administration, I emphasize what South Dakota farmers have told me: We need to conclude negotiations on the various trade deals that we are working on, and we need to do it now. We need to open new markets, expand existing ones, and give farmers and ranchers certainty about what those markets are going to look like. prgtoken While we are still in negotiations on a number of agreements, one deal that we don't need to wait for is the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement. This agreement has already been fully negotiated by our three countries, and Congress can take it up at any point. prgtoken The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a clear and significant win for our farmers and ranchers. Canada and Mexico are the No. 1 and No. 2 export markets for American food and agricultural products. This agreement will preserve and expand farmers' access to these critical markets and will give farmers certainty about what these markets will look like in the long term. prgtoken I am particularly pleased with the improvements the agreement makes for U.S. dairy producers. South Dakota has experienced a massive dairy expansion over the past few years, and this agreement will benefi
NICHOLAS AND ZACHARY BURT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION ACT OF 2019
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-9-17

I am prepared to close. prgtoken When we go home, people say: Well, can't you all agree on anything up there in Washington, because all you all do is fight? Why can't you work in a bipartisan fashion?'' prgtoken I will admit, sometimes it seems like we can't agree to the fact that the Sun is going to come up in the east tomorrow, but on this bill, there is bipartisan support. We agree. prgtoken , I want to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1618, and .
WELCOMING THE HONORABLE DAN BISHOP OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE HONORABLE GREG MURPHY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-17

. Madam , I am grateful for Representative Price, Representative Foxx, members of the North Carolina delegation, and for all Members. prgtoken I want to say, just briefly, there is a cute, short blonde in that gallery up there. Her name is Jo Bishop, and I love her more than anything in the world. Right next to her is our only son, Jack, who needs to get back to North Carolina State University and do well in that test tomorrow. prgtoken I thank my family members--my sisters, Mary Ann and Cecelia--and the large group of our supporters for their support. I am grateful for the voters of the Ninth District and for all the Members. prgtoken Madam , I know that you and all the Members continue to feel this every day when you walk on this floor, the majesty of this place, what it represents and the history made here. It is an overwhelming experience. prgtoken Madam , I look forward to getting to know all the Members and working together with you to make commonsense solutions to make the lives of Americans better. prgtoken God bless you all.
MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE ON S. 1790, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Mac Thornberry (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this motion to instruct conferees instructs the House conferees to agree to the Senate position to replace money transferred from out of the military construction projects under title X, section 2808. prgtoken Just to clarify, when the Senate passed its bill, we didn't know which specific projects we were talking about. The Senate has, in its bill, a provision to replace the full $3.6 billion that was then expected to be transferred out of military construction and used for border security. prgtoken Well, now we know what specific projects those are, so the only difference in the motion and this underlying Senate provision is to list the specific projects. prgtoken It is important to remember, , that the Senate passed its bill replacing the full $3.6 billion by a vote of 86-8. Three s and five voted ``no'' on the whole measure, but, overwhelmingly, they supported the bill that includes a provision to replace this money. prgtoken Each of the projects that is listed in the motion to instruct has been specifically authorized and appropriated by the House and the Senate and signed into law by the President. prgtoken Now, it is true that the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Esper, has tried to minimize the effects on our military when this transfer was made. But it is still true, even with his efforts, that there was $544 million taken away from dependent schools, $13 million taken away from child dependent centers, $15.3 million from medical clinics, more money from fire stations, dining facilities, et cetera. prgtoken Despite his best efforts, our troops are affected by the transfer of this money. prgtoken , we are really good at fighting, arguing, and pointing fingers of blame about how this came to be, and I am sure we all have different opinions about that. But voting ``yes'' or ``no'' on this motion to instruct will not change that at all, will not change the transfer, will not change any of those underlying facts. prgtoken The only thing that we have an ability to influence with this motion to instruct is whether or not the troops have to suffer as a result of Washington dysfunction. It will make a difference to them. prgtoken I would suggest, , that the right thing to do for national security and, certainly, the right thing to do for our troops is for the House to instruct our conferees to agree with the Senate provision, the only difference being we would list the specific projects rather than the total amount. That way, we can ensure that, as we continue to argue about border security and a whole variety of other issues, our troops do not suffer as a result of that argument. prgtoken , .