mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. prgtoken Mr. Chair, we stand at a moment in history. Seventy years after the end of World War II and 30 years after the end of the Cold War, the world is still battling authoritarianism. However, due to the increased global economic integration, authoritarian states have begun to utilize practices of economic coercion and predatory lending to take advantage of developing nations. prgtoken These vulnerable countries are presented with funding for major development projects, which ultimately lead to unrepayable debt. When these governments cannot fulfill their financial obligations, they are forced to give up strategic ports and lands that can now be used by the authoritarian regimes to achieve diplomatic and strategic aims that threaten democracies and stability. prgtoken At the same time, we face the challenge and opportunity of leading the global effort to combat extreme poverty and disease, with an increasing recognition that public investment and grants alone are insufficient for the task. prgtoken To tackle these issues, I worked with my colleagues last Congress to pass the new U.S. Development Finance Corporation. This critical tool put America and her allies in the position to counter economic coercion by ensuring that our government maximizes the impact of our resources through a coordinated strategy that prioritizes the mobilization of private capital through a variety of investment structures and partnerships. prgtoken Additionally, the DFC will work much more closely with our lead development agency, USAID, and ensure we focus on sustainable development and allowing countries to make the transition from aid to trade through investments in infrastructure. prgtoken As the implementation of the new DFC continues, I look forward to engaging with my colleagues and providing this new entity with the sufficient funding and flexibility it needs to achieve our Nation's foreign policy goals. prgtoken I applaud Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger's support for the new DFC. I would also like to thank my colleagues Adam Smith, Hal Rogers, and Jeff Fortenberry for their support and engagement on this critical issue. prgtoken It is paramount that we get this policy right to show America's commitment and continued leadership in forging strong foreign policy that benefits all.
Border Security (Executive Session)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-6-12

I want to talk a little bit about the border--not the important need to secure the border, which I am for, but I want to talk about the humanitarian crisis we have seen occurring at the border. Frankly, the Senate and the House--the Congress--have been watching that occur for too long. prgtoken It has been several weeks now since the administration notified Congress that the money that was allocated for what would have been a traditional set of challenges at the border is about to be spent and that there is no money left for some of these issues we have to deal with at the border in a particular way. prgtoken We have seen the flood of people approaching the border to be not only incredibly different in numbers but incredibly different in context. Probably 20 years ago, 90 percent of the people who came across the border were coming directly from Mexico. prgtoken By the way, when that happened, the law was changed so that if they came across from Mexico, you could send them right back to Mexico. Hopefully, our neighbors in Mexico are working with us to still have some potential to do that with people who come across the border and come through Mexico--not necessarily Mexican in their nationality but come through Mexico to the border--to go back and wait for what needs to happen for their case to be heard in Mexico rather than here. prgtoken Most of the people coming today are coming from Central America-- Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. In the last year, I think the principal place that has people coming to our southern border--over 1 percent of the population of all three of those countries has come from those countries collectively. prgtoken Clearly it is a problem, but it is especially troubling to look at the numbers of children who are coming to the border unaccompanied. Just last month, about 130,000 people came to the border. You can multiply that by 12 pretty quickly and see 1 million people or more coming to our border to come in without the right kinds of documents. Another million, by the way, come into prgtoken our country through the normal process. We have about 1 million immigrants a year who legally immigrate to the United States. We are not a country that does not want people from other countries to come here; we just want them to come here based on the law and the requirements for everybody else who would like to come to the United States. prgtoken Of that 130,000 people who came in May, 11,507 of them were children without families. It is really important for us to understand as we discuss this that we are not talking about children who came with their families and were separated from their families once they got here. There are plenty of those children coming right now with families because it is pretty clear that saying you want asylum and saying you have children with you and your family is one of the things that check a couple of boxes that more likely will have you i
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-6-13

. Madam Chairwoman, I rise today to offer an amendment that ensures the administration cannot block critical groundbreaking research solely because it utilizes human fetal tissue. prgtoken I believe this new policy announced by HHS just last week is shortsighted and that Congress should make its voice heard on the issue. This amendment prohibits any funds in the bill being used to establish a sham ethics advisory board with regard to research products that use human fetal tissue. prgtoken The June 5, HHS announcement bars NIH scientists from conducting any research using fetal tissue unless an additional ethics advisory board review of NIH grant applications for fetal tissue research occurs. This decision by President is unnecessary since these grant applications are already subject to rigorous ethical review requirements. prgtoken Currently, any federally funded research that uses fetal tissue must comply with oversight pursuant to the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, which was enacted on a bipartisan basis. This framework requires informed consent and declarations pertaining to fetal tissue from all donors, physicians, and researchers involved. prgtoken Let's be clear. The administration's decision is not about science or ethics. It is about politics. prgtoken Fetal tissue research is not new. It has been supported by the NIH since the 1950s, and fetal tissue has been used to develop vaccines that have saved and improved the lives of billions of people around the world. prgtoken Vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis A, and rabies were all created using fetal cell cultures. Researchers today are using fetal cells to develop vaccines against diseases that include Ebola, HIV, and dengue fever. Studies at UW-Madison in my district involving fetal tissue are trying to develop treatments for conditions that include blindness, Zika, developmental disorders, and diabetes. prgtoken This is exactly the type of research that the Federal Government should be supporting, not defunding. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to ensure that we all continue to fund critical research on behalf of the American people and that we block last week's decision that threatens Federal funding of fetal tissue research. prgtoken Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is an amazing colleague.
HONORING THE DILLARD HIGH SCHOOL'S SUPPORTMUSIC MERIT AWARD
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-6-13

. Madam , it is my great privilege to rise today to honor Dillard High School for being the recipient of the 2019 SupportMusic Merit Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). prgtoken The Support Music Award recognized Dillard High School for outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. It recognizes the commitment and dedication of Dillard High School to music and the arts as innovative learning opportunities for a well-rounded education. Dillard High School has always supported and encouraged students in music education from the beginning, starting with Julian Edwin ``Cannonball'' Adderley teaching jazz to students to today when students get to work and perform with professionals at the Broward Center for Performing Art and the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. prgtoken Dillard High School is one of 98 schools across the nation to be a SupportMusic Merit Award recipient demonstrating an unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive music education. I applaud the hard work and dedication of each person making Dillard an exceptional school. prgtoken The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advances active participation in making music throughout a person's life. The SupportMusic Award given by NAMM recognizes that Dillard High School is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recognizes that music is an important element of a well-rounded education for all children. prgtoken Madam , Dillard High School is an exceptional High School in our community, one that we can all admire and respect. I commend the students, faculty and staff for their inspiring commitment to music, and wish them many more years of continued success.
RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF PLEASANTON'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY
Eric Swalwell (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-13

. Madam , I rise to recognize the City of Pleasanton, California, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of its founding which will occur next week on June 18. prgtoken The valley where Pleasanton sits has been a source of valuable resources for over 5,000 years. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, it was home to wetlands and an immensely diverse portfolio of plants and animal life that sustained generations of Native Americans. prgtoken Spanish settlers were drawn to the vast and plentiful landscape and plentiful water supply established a ranching and farming culture that flourished and served as a magnet to others that passed through during the California Gold Rush in the foothills nearby. prgtoken In the decades that followed, the area was named for a Civil War general of the United States Army and Union cavalry and saw the arrival of the transcontinental railroads. The population was approximately 500 people at the time; however, that would not last long. prgtoken The same rich soil that sustained the Native American populations for so long was then home to vineyards and hop fields that yielded a supply that was sought after across the nation and internationally. By 1900, Pleasanton became home to all of this, in addition to its own bank and several hotels. prgtoken Since that time, growth and development has only continued. In the 1980s, Pleasanton broke ground on a massive project that would change the trajectory of the city and the region around it. The 850-acre Hacienda Business Park was the new magnet drawing industry and economic development into the valley. prgtoken With a current population of approximately 85,000, Pleasanton is now home to one of the top 10 school districts in the State of California and holds over 1,200 acres of recreational space that play host to festivals, parades, and year-round weekly farmers markets. prgtoken In recognition of its 125 years of incorporation, Pleasanton will be holding a Summer of Celebration, which will begin with a reception on the anniversary of its founding, June 18, 2019. Throughout the summer, residents of California's 15th Congressional District can take advantage of several events and exhibits throughout the city. prgtoken Congratulations to Pleasanton on their anniversary, and good wishes for a summer of fun and celebration of our local history.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1562
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-13

I am deeply disappointed that the majority has rejected this request before I can even lay out why I think it is needed. My request was to take up and pass the filed S. 1562, as amended. prgtoken This legislation is pretty simple, even for this body. It would require that any Presidential campaign that receives offers of assistance from an agent of a foreign government have an obligation to report that offer of assistance to law enforcement--specifically the FBI. prgtoken Remember, our laws already prohibit campaign assistance from foreign governments. Let's take a moment and see how we got here. I am going to lay out a little bit of history, and then I am going to ask the minority leader to make a couple of comments, and then I will come back and finish my statement. Before I turn it over to the minority leader, let me refresh my colleagues on the other side and others as to how we got here. prgtoken In 2016, Russia and its agents intervened in our Presidential election--breaking into personal files, attempting to hack into our voting system, and using Facebook and Twitter to create fake accounts to splinter our country. prgtoken During the campaign, then-Candidate publicly called on Russia-- that if they had any damaging information on then-Candidate Clinton, they should release it. Remarkably, that very same day was the first day Russia started to dribble out its damaging information. prgtoken The unanimous consensus of the entire American intelligence community, the Mueller investigation, and the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, of which I am proud to be vice chairman--all have stated that Russia massively intervened in our elections, and they did so in an attempt to help then-Candidate and hurt Candidate Clinton. prgtoken President 's own FBI Director and his Director of National Intelligence have said that Russia or others will likely be back in 2020 because their tactics in 2016 were both cheap and effective. We are now 17 months before the 2020 election. I personally believe we are not prepared. prgtoken This body needs to take up bipartisan election security legislation to ensure there is a paper ballot trail after all the voting in America so Americans can have trust that the integrity of their votes will be counted. We need to work together--I know there are many working on this issue--to put some guardrails on our social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google so they are not as easily manipulated by foreign agents to create fake accounts. prgtoken Unfortunately, this White House and this President still don't seem to appreciate the seriousness of the threat. Mr. continues to undermine the Mueller report. As a matter of fact, it has been reported that he won't even convene a Cabinet meeting on election security. His Homeland Security Secretary was told not to have that meeting because it might offend the President. Against the advice of his ow
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 20 AND S.J. RES. 26
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2019-6-13

first of all, it is indeed a pleasure to be on the Senate floor with the chairman of the VA Committee, Senator Johnny Isakson. I think we all know we wouldn't be talking about the blue water Navy legislation, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, without Johnny Isakson. prgtoken Johnny has been an incredible leader on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since he took it over, and I can't thank him enough for what he has done to make this a reality. It has been a long time coming. If there is anybody that deserves this to happen, it is the folks who served in Vietnam. Quite frankly, the sacrifice that they made during that war was like all other wars, and it was pretty darn incredible. prgtoken This victory is for the folks who were exposed to Agent Orange, and Agent Orange, by the way, is a herbicide that was not handled properly, and, quite frankly, causes real problems, and it has shown now that it causes real problems among the men and women who handled it, who were sprayed by it, who drank it, and who were exposed to it. So it is long past time that we deal with those folks in a way that meets their needs because of their sacrifice supporting that war. prgtoken I would just say that I come to the floor a lot, and I am disappointed in the U.S. Senate almost every day because they don't do what they need to do as far as checks and balances in this country. But today I come and I say thank you to the U.S. Senate. Thank you to the folks who didn't put a hold on this bill, who were able to push it through, because, quite frankly, this rights a wrong that has been perpetrated by a government that has ignored them for far too long. prgtoken Very quickly, since we do have the time, I just want to go through what this bill does. It ensures that veterans who served just off the shores of Vietnam are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, just like those who served on land. The fact is that they were exposed. The fact is that now this bill recognizes that. prgtoken It restores VA benefits to literally tens of thousands of blue water Navy veterans who had their disability eligibility taken away back in 2002. It requires the VA to contact veterans who filed denied claims and who are now eligible for retroactive benefits. That means that for those folks who had their benefits taken away, the VA now needs to contact them and say: Look, the playing field has changed. prgtoken It extends presumption of Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served along the Korean DMZ, something we don't talk about much, and it expands benefits to include children born with spina bifida due to a parent's exposure in Thailand. prgtoken I have said this many, many times. Taking care of our veterans is a cost of war. That is why we need to be very careful when we send our troops into battle, because they are exposed physically and mentally to things that normal people are never exposed to. prgtoken For years, I have
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-13

. . When a U.S. servicemember gives their life in service to their Nation, they often leave behind family who we are equally indebted to. Ensuring that these survivors are provided every opportunity to succeed and get a quality education supports our values and upholds our promise to servicemembers and military families. Unfortunately, our ability to uphold our promise to dependents of servicemembers who were killed in action (KIA) in Iraq and Afghanistan following the attacks on September 11, 2001 has been affected. prgtoken As a result of sequestration, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) sent a letter to institutions requiring them to reduce the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant awards by about 6.2% or almost $400 per recipient for the 2018-2019 award year. These grants are critical for students to use for tuition, books, and room and board and any future cut would be significant for a young college student. Many children and dependents of servicemembers who were KIA in Iraq and Afghanistan are now reaching college age so more and more students will not be receiving as much in grants as they should be getting and rightfully deserve. prgtoken Today, I am pleased to introduce with my colleagues Senator Lankford, Senator Tester, and Senator Scott (from South Carolina) a bipartisan bill called the Protecting our Gold Star Families' Act of 2019. This legislation will move the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program to the Pell Grant program to stabilize the funding source for these awards and ensure Gold Star families have access to the maximum Pell Grant funding available if they previously did not qualify for Pell Grants. Additionally the bill would align eligibility requirements under existing Department of Veterans Affairs grants such as the Fry Scholarship with ED and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service program to ensure that all Gold Star families are receiving the award. prgtoken While Virginia public universities already offer tuition assistance to dependents whose parents were killed in action or were permanently disabled under the state's Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), these funds could be used to offset tuition at private institutions and could also cover additional expenses, including room and board, books, and supplies. Over 500 Virginians have attended or are currently attending college at public universities with assistance through VMSDEP and would qualify for these Pell Grants as well. prgtoken Our Gold Star families have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Helping them afford college is the least we can do. We should give our servicemembers a peace of mind that if anything happens to them, the nation they served will look out for their children and help them access a high-quality education. As more of our post 9/11 Gold Star children are starting to reach college age, now is the right time to improve the program. I hope that my
RECOGNIZING THE 2019 TOWN OF HERNDON POLICE DEPARTMENT VALOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize an outstanding group of men and women in Northern Virginia. These individuals have demonstrated superior dedication to public safety and have been awarded the prestigious Valor Award by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. This is the 41st Annual Valor Awards sponsored by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. This event honors the remarkable heroism and bravery in the line of duty exemplified by our public safety officers. Our public safety and law enforcement personnel put their lives on the line every day to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. This year's ceremony will present 123 awards to recognize extraordinary actions above and beyond the call of duty in a variety of categories including the Lifesaving Certificate, the Certificate of Valor, and the Bronze and Silver Medal of Valor. Two members of the Town of Herndon Police Department are being honored this year for their exceptional service. It is with great pride that I include in the Record the names of the following Valor Award Recipients: Lifesaving Award: Lieutenant Si Ahmad PFC Christopher Parker Madam , I congratulate the 2019 Valor Award Recipients, and thank all of the men and women who serve in the Town of Herndon Police Department. Their efforts, made on behalf of the citizens of our community, are selfless acts of heroism and truly merit our highest praise. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding this group of remarkable citizens.