mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-2-1

I am here to speak in support of the Congressional Review Act on the stream protection rule. prgtoken I want to say to those who participated in the last election--where part of the discussion was the Federal Government knows all and needs to be in your life and in your business life every day, and it knows the best one-size-fits-all way--that help is on the way today. A lot of the talk of the election is now going into action in the form of the Congressional Review Act. prgtoken In particular, the stream protection rule was a last-minute power grab that was aimed at giving more power to the Federal Government. prgtoken Now, at the onset, I would like to say this: I don't have any charts. I don't have any pictures, but then I thought, you know what. Yes, I do. I have a lot of pictures on my device here, which I will not open up because it is against the rules and you will not be able to see anyway. But in these pictures, you will see a picture of me fishing in a beautiful stream in West Virginia, where trout is unlimited. You will see me riding an ATV on a Hatfield-McCoy Trail, which is the old mining trails and the old lumber trails in southern mine country in West Virginia, where thousands of people come every year. You will see me visiting a school or a business park that is built on the top of what is a reclaimed mountaintop removal. prgtoken If you have ever been to West Virginia, they don't call us the Mountain State for nothing. It is mountain after mountain after mountain, difficult terrain, and in some ways it is very difficult to have any kind of economic development. prgtoken So when the laws are enforced--the laws that we have now, in terms of water protection and reclamation--after the mining is finished, we have been able to have some economic development projects that have been to the benefit of many communities there. prgtoken So I have no charts. I live there. This is my home. I can drive 4 miles and be at a coal mine very easily, probably less than that. prgtoken I heard the argument about outdoor recreation, that people want to have outdoor recreation. I just described three outdoor recreation activities in my State, and the ranking member was talking about how she fished in West Virginia and enjoyed it and had good luck, I hope. Anyway, we have beautiful trout streams, but the outdoor recreator doesn't want to see a coal mine. I would bet the outdoor recreator doesn't want to see a nuclear plant, probably doesn't want to see a windmill farm, probably doesn't want to see a natural gas plant because when you are getting away to recreate, I don't know that anybody would want that, but I can tell you what they do want. prgtoken They want the steel that is in their truck to get them there. They want the electricity that they have to have when they go home at night to cook their food or clean their clothes or all the different things that electricity does. prgtoken There are tradeoffs
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise to speak about the nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Confirmation of anyone appointed to the Federal judiciary is a big deal. Confirmation of someone appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States is an exceptionally weighty matter. I therefore approach this with the seriousness it deserves. I approach this as one who has argued in front of Judge Gorsuch. I found as a lawyer that he is an exceptional judge, an unusual judge--a judge who comes to argument with an unusual degree of preparation, having read all the briefs and apparently all of the cases and all of the statutes cited in the briefs. prgtoken There are some judges who at oral argument are constantly asking questions, but they are not necessarily questions that need to be asked. Perhaps some judges want to hear the sound of their own voices. That is, of course, something that would never happen here, in the U.S. Senate, but it happens sometimes with other people. There are other judges who might be quiet throughout an argument. Then there is a unique category of judge, a judge who doesn't necessarily speak constantly but a judge who listens attentively and then pounces at the moment when he or she sees the pivotal moment in the case arising. prgtoken The late Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr used to say there was a point of contact in every case. When asked, he pointed out that the point of contact in any case is the place where the boy got his finger caught in the machinery. I learned that quote when I was in law school. I have never entirely understood what it means, but it reminds me of the fact that in every case, there is a pivotal fact and a pivotal aspect of the law which, when properly understood, can help lead the court to a proper disposition of the legal question at hand. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch is one of those rare judges who is able to seize upon the point of contact in any case. He does so with seeming effortlessness. Yet I know he does it in a way that requires a lot of effort because these things don't just come naturally. They come only as a result of faithful study of the law, of faithful attention to detail in every case, reading every brief in every case. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch does this in part because he was well trained. When we look at his background, we can see that excellence has always been something we have been able to see from him. He graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and received a doctorate in jurisprudence from Oxford. He clerked for three brilliant and very well-respected jurists: Judge David Sentelle on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and Justice Byron White, as well as Justice Anthony Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court. We could not ask for a better legal education or a stronger record of accomplishment from a young lawyer. prgtoken After his clerkship, Judge Gorsuch entered into private pra
RECOGNIZING xCRAFT ENTERPRISES, LLC
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-2-1

my home State of Idaho has long been known for its incredible natural resources and vibrant agricultural economy. What some may not know, though, is that Idaho is also home to a burgeoning technology industry, thanks to a number of impressive innovators who bring their entrepreneurial spirit and innovations to our State. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my pleasure to recognize one of these great innovators, xCraft Enterprises, LLC in Coeur d'Alene, as the Senate Small Business of the Month for January 2017. xCraft has made Idaho proud with their considerable success and continuous innovation in and contribution to the unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, or drone, industry. prgtoken Cofounder and CEO JD Claridge has always had a passion for flight. He built numerous flying toys as a child, and at the age of just 7, he constructed a hang glider and even convinced a friend to test it. JD harnessed this lifelong love of flying and started xCraft Enterprises, LLC, along with fellow aviation enthusiast, Charles Manning. Their vision for the company was to develop small, powerful, long-range drones that serve the needs of both hobbyists and commercial customers. With the expertise and skills of their team of highly educated engineers and business people, they have turned their aviation dream into a successful small business endeavor. prgtoken xCraft's patent-pending drones are built with lightweight materials that allow for long-range flight and are also capable of flying preprogrammed GPS-enabled flight paths. Notably, the company has designed a drone which has the ability to carry and utilize a smartphone, making it possible to link advanced smartphone technology to an economically priced small drone. In addition, xCraft has been recognized as a leader in the UAV and technology industries for producing one of the fastest racing drones available on the market today, exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour. This continuous innovation and reinvention adds an immense value to the numerous and diverse industries that drones play a major role in, helping to drive the entire American economy forward. prgtoken Today xCraft offers seven drones of varying sizes and capabilities. There is no telling what their next innovation will be, but I know it will be another great contribution to their industry and the many others that depend upon it. It is my honor to recognize JD, Charles, and all of the employees at xCraft Enterprises, LLC in Coeur d'Alene. Thank you for your commitment to innovation and for carrying on the entrepreneurial spirit that is so valued in our great State of Idaho. I look forward to following your continued growth and success.
Nomination of Betsy DeVos (Executive Calendar)
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2017-2-1

I come to the floor to announce a very difficult decision that I have made; that is, to vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos to be our Nation's next Secretary of Education. This is not a decision that I have made lightly. I have a great deal of respect for Mrs. DeVos. I believe she is a good person. I know she cares deeply about the children of this Nation. But for the reasons that I will explain, I simply cannot support her confirmation. prgtoken Later today, the Senate will vote on a motion to proceed to the DeVos nomination. I will vote to proceed to the nomination because I believe that Presidents are entitled to considerable deference for the selection of Cabinet members, regardless of which political party is in power, and that each and every Senator should have the right to cast his or her vote on nominees for the Cabinet. That is why, during President 's administration, I voted for procedural motions, including cloture, to allow the President's nominees for Secretary of Defense and for Secretary of Labor to receive up-or-down votes by the full Senate, even though I ultimately voted against those two nominees on the Senate floor. At the time, I stated that it is appropriate for every Senator to have an opportunity to vote for or against an individual Cabinet member, and I still believe that is the right approach. prgtoken Let me again make clear what I said at the beginning of my remarks, which explains why this has been a decision that I have not made lightly. I know that Mrs. DeVos cares deeply about children. I recognize that she has devoted much time and resources to try to improve the education of at-risk children in cities whose public schools have failed them. I commend her for those efforts. prgtoken I wrote to Mrs. DeVos, seeking her assurances in writing that she would not support any Federal legislation mandating that States adopt vouchers nor would she condition Federal funding on the presence of voucher programs in States. She has provided that commitment, and I ask unanimous consent that the exchange of correspondence with Mrs. DeVos be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my statement. prgtoken Nevertheless, like all of us, Mrs. DeVos is the product of her experience. She appears to view education through the lens of her experience in promoting alternatives to public education in Detroit and other cities where she has, no doubt, done valuable work. Her concentration on charter schools and vouchers, however, raises the question about whether she fully appreciates that the Secretary of Education's primary focus must be on helping States and communities, parents, teachers, school board members, and administrators strengthen our public schools. prgtoken While it is unrealistic and unfair to expect a nominee to know the details prgtoken of all the programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education, I am troubled and surprised by Mrs. DeVos's app
DISAPPROVING A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-2-1

the administration anticoal regulation was a solution in search of a problem. It wasn't intended to protect the environment. It was intended to put coal miners out of work. And, sadly, it has been successful in achieving that goal. prgtoken A study of the rule estimates it would destroy more than one-third of our coal jobs, and that nearly half of all coal resources would effectively be off limits to mining. In addition, the OSM rule has ignored clear congressional directives to share information with the States. prgtoken If ever there has been a time for Congress to act, this is it. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Nomination of Neil Gorsuch (Executive Calendar)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-2-1

last night President announced an outstanding nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch of Colorado. While Judge Gorsuch has a significant legacy to live up to as the nominee for the seat left vacant by the loss of Justice Scalia, I am confident his impressive background and long record of service will prepare him well for the task ahead. prgtoken Like Justice Scalia, Judge Gorsuch understands the constitutional limits of his authority. He understands that a judge's duty is to apply the law evenhandedly, without bias toward one party or another. He understands that his role as a judge is to interpret the law, not impose his own viewpoint or political leanings. prgtoken He has also been recognized from people on both sides of the aisle as a consistent, principled, and fair jurist. Judge Gorsuch has a stellar reputation and a resume to match, with degrees from Harvard and Columbia, a Ph.D. in legal philosophy from Oxford, and just about every honor, award, and scholarship you can possibly imagine. prgtoken When he graduated from law school, Judge Gorsuch did not just clerk for one Supreme Court Justice, he clerked for two. They were Justices nominated by Presidents of different political parties--Anthony Kennedy, a Reagan appointee, and Byron White, who was nominated by JFK. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch received a unanimously ``well qualified'' rating by the American Bar Association when he was nominated to his current position on the court of appeals. He was confirmed without any votes in opposition. That is right--not a single opposed Judge Gorsuch's confirmation, not Senator , not Senator Hillary Clinton, not Senators or Ted Kennedy. In fact, not a single one of the who still serve with us opposed him, including the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Feinstein, and the ic leader himself, Senator Schumer. In the coming days, I hope and expect that all Senate colleagues will again give him fair consideration, just as we did for the nominees of newly elected Presidents Clinton and . prgtoken This is a judge who is known for deciding cases based on how the law is actually written, not how he wishes it were written, even when it leads to results that conflict with his own political beliefs. He understands that his role as a judge is to interpret the law, not impose his own viewpoint. Here is how Judge Gorsuch himself put it: ``A judge who likes every result he reaches is very likely a bad judge, reaching for results he prefers rather than those the law compels.'' prgtoken Some of our colleagues and some others on the left see the role of a judge very differently. In last year's Presidential debate, our former colleague, Secretary Clinton, stated her view that a Supreme Court Justice--now listen to this--ought to look more favorably on certain political constituencies than others; that it was the job of the Supreme Court
AFAQ SELECTED TO REPRESENT TEXAS AT THE CONGRESS OF FUTURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS
Pete Olson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise today to congratulate Shaikh Afaq of Sugar Land, TX, for being chosen to represent Texas as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. prgtoken Shaikh was nominated to this position because of her excellent academic record and desire to enter the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field. Through this program she will be able to meet some of the most important leaders in the STEM industry, including Nobel Prize winners and top scientific university deans. The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is hosted to help motivate the top students in the country to pursue their desired careers in the STEM fields. prgtoken On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Shaikh Afaq for being selected as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. We are extremely proud and expect great things from her in the future.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2017-2-1

I have two 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 veterans' affairs prgtoken The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 1, 2017, at 2:30 p.m in room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. special committee on aging prgtoken The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 1, 2017, in room SD-562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Stopping Senior Scams: Developments in Financial Fraud Affecting Seniors.''
RECOGNIZING SCOTT CHESTER GRAVES
Austin Scott (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise today in recognition of Scott Graves, Staff Director of the House Committee on Agriculture. After 10 years of dedicated service to agriculture policy on Capitol Hill, Scott is leaving his position on the Committee at the end of this month. prgtoken As Staff Director of the House Committee on Agriculture, Scott has helped develop a strategic vision for the Committee and its forty-five Members that has directly shaped American agriculture policy. Working directly alongside Chairman Mike Conaway, Scott has also dedicated himself to working for the best interests of all members of the agriculture community. prgtoken Having worked with Scott personally, I have seen firsthand the level of expertise and commitment that has made him an invaluable asset to the Committee. His hard work has benefited not only the staff he works with daily, but the Members on both sides of the aisle that he has loyally served. prgtoken In today's age, it is a rarity to find the combination of character, ability, and professionalism that Scott exemplifies. On behalf of the House Committee on Agriculture, I would like to thank Scott for his service and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-2-1

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m Thursday, February 2; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.J. Res. 38; finally, that there be 6 hours of debate remaining, equally divided in the usual form.
HONORING DR. CARTER G. WOODSON
Evan H. Jenkins (Republican, WV) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise today to honor the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and to celebrate his legacy with all of you at Marshall University. We are proud to call Dr. Woodson one of our own in Huntington, West Virginia, and to celebrate his work to honor and remember the achievements of African Americans. During Black History Month, it is only fitting that we stop to remark on the life of the Father of African-American History. prgtoken Dr. Woodson dedicated his life to educating others, becoming one of the first African Americans to earn a doctorate in history from Harvard University. He returned to his alma mater in Huntington, Douglas High School, where he became the principal and shaped the lives of countless West Virginians. He also documented the important contributions African Americans have made to our nation's history and ensured their accomplishments were not forgotten. prgtoken The Carter G. Woodson Lyceum at Marshall University will carry on his legacy and provide Black History Month events for the Marshall and Huntington communities. I wish you well as you celebrate the life of Dr. Woodson and the contributions of African Americans during the month of February.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF WIN AND POLLY BELANGER
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-2-1

I rise today to honor and recognize Win and Polly Belanger prgtoken of Willsboro, New York, for their consistent and enduring dedication to community service. After retiring from the United States Air Force in 1988, Win Belanger moved to Willsboro, New York, with his wife Polly, where they have worked for the betterment of their community by lending both their ears and their voice. By urging individuals in Essex County to become more involved in their government and enter into public service, the Belangers have helped to encourage authentic and sincere representation. Additionally, Win has shown a steadfast commitment to the wellbeing of his peers through his work on the Willsboro Central School budget committee, the town zoning board and as a founding member and officer of the Willsboro Community Housing Assistance Task Force. On behalf of Essex County, I would like to thank Win and Polly for their service, their patriotism and their friendship, while also wishing them the best of luck in their future endeavors.