mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION INNOVATION ACT OF 2019
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-6-5

I thank the chair for yielding, and I thank her for her leadership on these issues and so many others in her committee's domain. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 1921, the bipartisan Ocean Acidification Innovation Act. Ocean acidification is a rising threat to coastal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and threatens entire livelihoods and industries in my home State of Washington. prgtoken There are generation of folks along the sound and in our coastal communities who have worked in fishing and in shellfish growing, but that is endangered if we don't maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean. prgtoken Growing evidence suggests that acidic ocean conditions harm the ability of many marine organisms to generate shells. These marine organisms, which include oysters, mussels, and pteropods are a key part of the food chain for salmon, herring, and other fish. prgtoken Scientists back home at the University of Washington recently discovered that ocean acidification also threatens the more than $220 million Dungeness crab fishery, raising serious concerns about future implications for species and ecosystems in the region. prgtoken In Washington State alone, the commercial fishing and seafood processing industry, which includes shellfish aquaculture, contribute nearly 16,000 jobs and $9.4 billion in revenue to our economy. According to a report by Washington Sea Grant, Washington State is the Nation's leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels, and not only are these products delicious, they support jobs. prgtoken So really, the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act is really about jobs. This bill would allow Federal agencies to use existing funds to conduct prize competitions to increase the ability to research, monitor, and manage ocean acidification and its impacts. I agree with the chair that this can't and shouldn't replace direct investment in research. But this bill creates a strong incentive for experts to focus on developing innovative solutions to this serious challenge. prgtoken This legislation was created in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the XPRIZE Foundation, an innovative nonprofit organization that creates competitions designed to encourage increased investment in solutions to major societal problems. So, for example, the Ansari XPRIZE awarded for personal spaceflight technology helped launch a brand-new $2 billion private space industry. prgtoken Research also suggests that prize competitions often increase exponentially the amount of research focused on solving a problem. For example, the Ansari XPRIZE yielded over $100 million in private research as 26 teams competed for a $10 million prize. prgtoken So Federal agencies have increasingly viewed these prize competitions as a means of maximizing the return on taxpayer dollars, leveraging prizes to attract more resources to tackle different scientific challenges. prgtoken , I believe the Ocean Acidification and Innov
Gun Violence Awareness Month (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-6-5

this weekend another community was torn apart by gun violence. Once again, politicians do what so many politicians in this body do. They offer thoughts and prayers to the people of Virginia Beach, and then they move on. It is tragic, and it is obscene how routine this has become in our country and how routine that reaction from far too many politicians--from the White House on down--has become. prgtoken This month we mark Gun Violence Awareness Month, but in our country every month, every week, and every day we endure senseless gun violence. Congress has ignored for too long the millions of Americans who want reasonable gun safety measures instead of doing the bidding of the gun lobby. prgtoken We cannot say we are doing what it takes to keep our country safe until we are finally willing to pass commonsense laws to protect all Americans from gun violence. Many of us have tried. prgtoken I supported the original Federal assault weapons ban in 1994. I joined with many of my colleagues to vote to renew it after Sandy Hook. Weapons of war and assault weapons do not belong on our streets. prgtoken We have tried to pass legislation to close loopholes in our background check system so that people who buy guns on the internet or at gun shows have to go through the same background checks as law- abiding gun owners who buy their guns at stores in Ohio. prgtoken After the tragedy at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, we tried to pass legislation to prevent people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns. If you are too dangerous to get on an airplane--if the government says you can't ride in the plane because you are on the terrorist watch list--it should be too dangerous for you to buy a deadly weapon. But this body is so, so in the pocket of the NRA that they will not even pass legislation like that. The gun lobby, again, stood in the way. We know what happened each and every time. They stood in the way, despite the fact that the laws we are talking about would not undermine the rights of law-abiding gun owners. prgtoken I respect the rights of hunters, of collectors, and of responsible law-abiding gun owners. No one is trying to take away their guns. When our students aren't safe in our schools, it is clear that something has to be done. When workers aren't safe on the job, it is clear that we have to do something. When too many Americans don't feel safe going about their daily lives in their communities, we can't sit here and do nothing. prgtoken We will not give up on making our country safer. We will keep working until we get weapons of war out of our schools, out of our workplaces, out of our neighborhoods, and out of our prgtoken places of worship. Creating change in our country isn't easy. It requires going up against powerful special interests. Few are as powerful as the NRA. Change never starts in Washington. We make progress because of grassroots movements of Americans all across our country dema
HONORING THE PENNSVILLE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
Jefferson Van Drew (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-6-5

. Madam , the Pennsville Veterans of Foreign Wars dedicate their time and their attention to their community through multiple acts of service. prgtoken Comprised of veterans and those active in the military, the Pennsville VFW doesn't just talk about how they help others, but they actively engage in service projects that better the lives of their community. prgtoken When local EMTs needed a battery-operated stretcher, the Pennsville VFW provided it; when the Pennsville Police Department needed bulletproof vests, they provided them as well; and when a disabled veteran needed a ramp to get into his home, they also provided that. prgtoken In addition to these specific acts of service, the members of the VFW have offered annual events to bring their community together as a whole. Every year, the Pennsville VFW members organize a dinner and a pheasant hunt for disabled veterans, as well as an annual Memorial Day parade to honor those who have died for our great United States of America. prgtoken We are immensely grateful to the services of all New Jersey organizations that help those who have served our country. prgtoken Madam , I especially want to thank the Pennsville Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose countless acts of service make an incredible impact on our community as well as our country. We are proud of them, and we love them for what they have done.
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-6-5

later today, I will be leaving with many other Senators on an official trip to Normandy, France, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the D-day invasion, also known as Operation Overlord. I consider it a high honor to be part of a congressional delegation commemorating one of the most important days in the history of human civilization. It is especially important to make this trip at a time when relations with our traditional trans-Atlantic allies are under undue and unnecessary stress. prgtoken On June 6, 1944, the largest single amphibious assault in history crossed the English Channel and stormed the beaches of Normandy, code- named ``Utah,'' ``Omaha,'' ``Gold,'' ``Juno,'' and ``Sword,'' names that will be forever associated with acts of uncommon valor and self- sacrifice in defense of human freedom and dignity. The Allied armada involved over 156,000 U.S British, and Canadian troops traveling aboard almost 7,000 naval ships and landing vessels. prgtoken Even before the amphibious assault, in the darkened skies of that early morning, 13,100 American paratroopers of the 82nd and 10lst Airborne Divisions made parachute drops near Carentan from over 2,000 Allied aircraft, followed by 3,937 troops flown in by day on 867 gliders as the opening maneuver of Operation Neptune, the assault operation for Overlord. prgtoken Three of the six Allied divisions involved in D-day were American, including the 29th Infantry Division. The 29th Infantry Division was activated on February 3, 1941, and based at Fort Meade, MD. It consisted of soldiers from Maryland and Virginia. In September 1942, the 29th deployed to England, where it made final preparations for the D-day invasion. prgtoken Operation Overlord called for Allied troops to storm ashore five landing areas along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy's shore. U.S. forces were responsible for taking Utah and Omaha. Securing Omaha was critical to the Allies' success and would be the site of the heaviest German resistance. The 29th and the 1st Infantry Division were responsible for taking Omaha. Nearly 10,000 men of the 29th formed the first assault wave on Omaha. At approximately 6:30 in the morning on June 6th, Allied forces encountered stormy seas, a low tide, reinforced obstacles, and a force of 50,000 German troops awaiting them on Normandy's 50-mile shoreline. prgtoken George ``Billy'' Forbes, Jr of Bryantown, MD, was a radio operator in the 29th Infantry Division. Mr. Forbes described his feelings before the D-day invasion as ``very anxious and very scared.'' He said that even though he did not know what to expect, he had a job to do, and he was going to do it to the best of his ability. prgtoken Lester Lease of Cumberland, MD, was only 16 years old when he lied about his age to join the Army. He was a sergeant in the 29th when he landed at Omaha Beach. Mr. Lease stressed the difficulty of the amphibious assault. The ``Higgins boats'' could not get cl
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-6-5

I am proud to rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the day my home State of Wisconsin became the first State in the Nation to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. prgtoken Although the outcome was a historic victory, women did not gain the right to vote without a struggle. The road to Wisconsin's ratification of the 19th Amendment was paved with more than 70 years of advocacy and speeches, marches and rallies, legislation and lawsuits by strong Wisconsin suffragists. Many of the battles were lost before they were won. prgtoken When Wisconsin became a State in 1848, only White male landowners over 21 years of age could vote. In 1869, women won the right to run for local school boards in Wisconsin but ironically could not vote for themselves. In 1886, Wisconsin voters approved a statewide referendum allowing women to vote in school elections. When women tried to exercise their new rights for the first time in 1887, however, many women's ballots were discarded because there was no way to verify that women voted only in school elections. Racine suffragist Olympia Brown sued to have her ballot accepted, but the State supreme court said the law was vague and needed to be rewritten. Fourteen years later, the Wisconsin Legislature approved the creation of separate ballots for women that only included school elections. prgtoken In 1911, Wisconsin suffragists persuaded the legislature to authorize a statewide referendum on voting rights for women, but it was soundly defeated by an electorate that didn't include women. Two years later, the legislature again called for a referendum on women's suffrage, but it was vetoed by the Governor. In 1915, another attempt at a referendum was rejected by lawmakers. prgtoken Women's suffrage fared much better when the debate over voting rights shifted from individual States to the national stage. Congress passed the 19th Amendment on June 4, 1919. Less than a week later, on June 10th, the Wisconsin Legislature ratified the amendment, narrowly beating out its neighbor to the south. Illinois had actually ratified the amendment an hour before Wisconsin, but a paperwork error delayed the filing of the Illinois documents. By August 26, 1920, the necessary 36 States had ratified the 19th Amendment, and women were granted full voting rights. prgtoken As we celebrate the centennial of this historic moment, it is important to acknowledge that ratification of the 19th Amendment did not extend voting rights to all women. Advocacy for suffrage for Black women was often abandoned in an attempt to gain support for ratification in the South. African-American women faced disenfranchisement tactics that ranged from separate long lines and civics tests to poll taxes and even beatings. Many of these tactics continued until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. prgtoken Wisconsin owes its unique position in history to the voic
TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN J. SCATES
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-5

every day, the American farmer works hard to keep the faith and survive unknowns--from changes in the marketplace or the unpredictability of the weather, to changes in public policy. We saw that in the 1980s with disruptions in our export markets, depressed prices, creeping debt, and high production costs. We see that same today. Just like then, Illinois farm families have a trusted person fighting to keep their operations strong and to help pave the way for a stronger future for farming--his name is Steve Scates. prgtoken I am here today to honor my friend Steve, who was recently named one of this year's Southern Illinois University Distinguished Alumni. He has more than earned this prestigious recognition. prgtoken A native of Shawneetown in southern Illinois, Steve has worked his entire life in agriculture, from production agriculture with his grandfather, who founded Pat Scates and Sons Farm, to developing public policy that supports our farmers. Ever since he earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1959 in animal sciences, Steve has been actively involved in a wide range of professional agricultural organizations, including in several leadership posts, like chair of the Illinois Soybean Association board of directors. prgtoken President Bill Clinton recognized Steve's experience and hard work supporting the Illinois farming community by appointing him the State Executive Director for the Illinois offices of the USDA Farm Service Agency, where he served for 8 years and played a critical role in the implementation of the 1996 farm bill programs. prgtoken He went on to serve as chairperson of the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research. During his time there, he received more awards than can be counted, including the Farm Bureau Eagle Award, the USDA Secretary's Award, and the SIU College of Agricultural Sciences 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award. prgtoken With all the awards and recognition, Steve's career has really been about helping people. While he is part of one of the largest farming operations in Illinois, he has always worked to look out for the interests of the smallest of farming operations to ensure they received a fair shake. prgtoken Although today they say that Steve has retired from farming, I know that he is still actively involved and serves as a senior partner at Pat Scates and Sons Farms and on the board of directors for Scates Gardens, Inc. Steve is never far from his partner and wife, Kappy, and his heart is always with his fabulous family. prgtoken Illinois agriculture is lucky to have a champion like Steve and his family still going strong in the farming community. America and Illinois need leaders like Steve now more than ever.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-6-5

today I wish to acknowledge the passing of a true champion for good--former Congressman, Minneapolis mayor, and my friend and neighbor--Don Fraser, who died at the age of 95 on June 2, 2019. Those who knew him best described Don as thoughtful, decent, intelligent, tough, and absolutely wonderful. prgtoken Don Fraser was born in Minneapolis, MN, in 1924. He fought in World War II and later studied law at the University of Minnesota Law School. He joined the law firm of Larson, Loevinger, Lindquist, Freeman, and Fraser before he was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1954. In 1962, Don was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Minnesota's Fifth District, where he served for 16 years. Don went on to serve as mayor of Minneapolis from 1980 to 1994, making him the longest serving mayor in Minneapolis history. prgtoken Don was married to Arvonne Skelton Fraser, who dedicated her life to improving the lives of women around the world. Together, they had six children: Thomas, Mary, John, Lois, Anne, and Jean. prgtoken Known as the Quiet Crusader, Don was always ahead of his time. As a Congressman, he fought for the environment and human rights and exposed human rights abuses around the world. As mayor of Minneapolis--a job he believed was truly the most rewarding of his career--he advocated for early childhood education and put an end to the ingrained politics of the city's police department. Tom Fraser may have summed up his father's service best when he said, ``He persuaded people by the power of his argument, not the volume of his speech.'' Public service was Don's calling. prgtoken My first job in ic politics was serving as the volunteer president of the DFL Education Foundation, a group Don Fraser founded. His mission? Ideas matter in politics. And he lived that. Don and Arvonne were the heart and soul of the group. prgtoken In this era of sound bites and quick fixes to problems, Don and Arvonne yearned for something more substantial in the way they talked about issues. They worked to promote more citizen involvement in politics. prgtoken I remember when Don used to introduce me at events during my run for Hennepin County attorney, and he used to say, ``I used to work for the city of Minneapolis.'' In reality, Don has never stopped working for Minneapolis and his country. Don was a great public servant and an outstanding mentor to the next generation. He understood that his public service didn't end with him. prgtoken It has been said that it is lucky to have somebody who makes it hard to say goodbye. It is hard to say goodbye to Don Fraser, but I count myself lucky to have known him as a friend. My family and I greatly miss Don. We miss seeing him walking with Arvonne arm in arm in our neighborhood, and we miss their passion for public service and their love for their family and friends.
COASTAL COMMUNITIES OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACT OF 2019
Chellie Pingree (Democrat, ME) \u2014 2019-6-5

I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson), the committee chairwoman, for yielding me the time and for supporting this bill, as well as the ranking member from Oklahoma, both of whom have shown a true willingness to address the impact of climate change and the impact that it has had on our oceans. prgtoken The increased carbon absorbed by our oceans has presented a crisis that has touched coastal communities in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the connected water bodies in between. That is why it is encouraging to see the health of our oceans finally receive the attention from this Chamber that they have long deserved, with the four bipartisan bills before us today. prgtoken Despite congressional inaction, the Federal Government has done its best to address ocean acidification through existing programs and budgets. prgtoken I would particularly like to recognize the work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, which has never shirked its responsibility to safeguard our seas in the face of climate change, even though the agency did not receive additional resources to meet this complex challenge. It is due to NOAA's research that we know that our oceans have increased in acidity by approximately 30 percent since the industrial revolution and could experience increases up to 150 percent by the end of the century. prgtoken Let's be clear. That data isn't just frightening on an environmental level. It also spells disaster for our economy. prgtoken America's coastal communities produce 45 percent of the Nation's gross domestic product, and nearly 3 million American jobs are directly dependent on the resources of our oceans and the Great Lakes. If we let this prgtoken problem intensify, the financial implications will ripple across all of our communities. prgtoken I remember hearing about the issue of ocean acidification taking hold in Maine during the summer of 2012. Maine had experienced a big spike in ocean temperatures that summer. Triggerfish, seahorses, and a lot of invasive species started showing up that year. prgtoken A little fishery for squid popped up in Penobscot Bay. Black sea bass, which are common south of Cape Cod, migrated north and became a major predator of small crustaceans, such as baby lobsters. In a State renowned for its lobster, you can imagine that the impacts on our economy were significant. prgtoken Meanwhile, our clammers and shellfish growers have reported similar impacts. prgtoken Bill Mook, an oyster farmer on Maine's Damariscotta River, told me that he has had to adjust operations to mitigate for ocean acidification and worries how future oyster production will be affected. prgtoken According to a recent study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the Gulf of Maine is more susceptible to pressures of ocean acidification than any other region on the East Coast. prgtoken These are only a few of the reasons why I introduced the bipa