mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-6-27

2 years ago, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt, which reaffirmed the longstanding view that the government should not be in the business of deciding what kind of healthcare a woman in America can or cannot receive. A number of my colleagues are going to be coming to the floor to discuss this issue. It was a crucial victory. My colleagues who have been so involved in this issue over the years--Senator Murray and Senator Blumenthal--and I as the ranking on the Finance Committee have tried to do everything we possibly could because our committee has extensive jurisdiction over women's healthcare in a variety of programs that are crucial for women. It is in that context that I want to reflect on what has happened since the Supreme Court handed down that crucial victory, that important win for women's healthcare as embodied in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt. prgtoken At every turn since the President went to the White House, the President's administration has put themselves in between American women and their doctors. The President has sought to prevent healthcare providers from sharing critical care information. The President has sought to place restrictions on health clinics that women rely on every single day for lifesaving services, such as cancer screenings, physicals, prenatal care, and more. He has again and again sought to place restrictions on and attempted to defund health clinics, such as Planned Parenthood, that women in America rely on every single day for lifesaving services, such as cancer screenings, physicals, prenatal care, and more. prgtoken I hope colleagues will look at the words that I used to describe those lifesaving services--lifesaving services that have absolutely nothing to do with abortion--nothing--cancer screenings, physicals, prenatal care, and more. That is what the President sought to place restrictions on and attempted to defund in terms of health clinics that offer those services. prgtoken The latest blow to the cause of making sure women can go to the healthcare providers of their choosing came yesterday from the Supreme Court. Yesterday, the Court in effect opened the door for deceptive crisis pregnancy centers that are allowed to lie to women about what kind of care they are able to receive. prgtoken All of these developments demonstrate that the effort for affordable, accessible healthcare is far from done, and it is going to take a constant push to ensure that healthcare in America moves forward and not backward. prgtoken In my view, one of the biggest threats to Americans' healthcare is the administration's full-throated endorsement of repealing preexisting condition protections. That is particularly important for women who count on these essential consumer protections to get affordable care for all services. prgtoken American women don't want to turn back the clock to the days where health
TRIBUTE TO DENNIS NIXON
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-6-27

I rise today to honor the career of one of Rhode Island's most respected ocean and coastal experts, my friend Dennis Nixon. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to Rhode Island and ocean and coastal issues more broadly. prgtoken Mr. Nixon first arrived at the University of Rhode Island in 1975 to pursue his master's in marine affairs. Thankfully for us, he received his degree and then decided to stay in the Ocean State as a professor at the university. Since then he has been a mainstay on the University of Rhode Island's campus, teaching courses in maritime and coastal law and publishing over 50 articles and a casebook on the topic. prgtoken He served as associate dean of academic Affairs for the College of Environment and Life Sciences and then for 4 years as associate dean for research and administration at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography. In that position, Mr. Nixon managed the school's beautiful Narragansett Bay campus and the 185-foot National Science Foundation research vessel Endeavor. Mr. Nixon also serves as the risk manager and legal advisor to the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System, based at URI's Graduate School of Oceanography, which coordinates among oceanographic universities for research time on vessels like Endeavor. prgtoken His influence does not stop at URI; he has lectured on 6 continents and in more than 25 States. Mr. Nixon was instrumental in the creation of the unique dual degree program in marine affairs and law between the University of Rhode Island's Department of Marine Affairs and Roger Williams University Law School. Outside academics, he cofounded Point Club, an insurance cooperative for fishing vessels. prgtoken I first encountered Mr. Nixon when the tanker World Prodigy crashed into Brenton Reef, causing an oilspill. I was a young staffer in the Rhode Island attorney general's office, and Mr. Nixon joined the team as our maritime law expert. Later, I was U.S. attorney when the tug- and-barge Scandia/North Cape caused another massive oilspill, and I turned again to Mr. Nixon's professional advice. We worked well together and became friends. prgtoken In 2013, Mr. Nixon was appointed director of Rhode Island Sea Grant. His deep connections to Rhode Island and expertise in ocean and coastal issues have helped Rhode Island Sea Grant further its reach into the State's coastal communities and raise its profile nationwide. Among its priorities, the State's Sea Grant Program is currently supporting research into the causes and consequences of harmful algal blooms and the effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on fishing interests and home values. Mr. Nixon's regard in the State was on display when he was tapped to moderate the marine debris symposia put on in conjunction with the Volvo Ocean Race's stopovers in Newport in 2015 and 2018. prgtoken His drive to ensure Rhode Island maintains its leadershi
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2018-6-27

today I am introducing legislation to allow the District of Columbia to receive funding and other benefits under the Coastal Zone Management Act. I am pleased to offer this companion legislation to a bill, H.R. 2540, introduced by the Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton. prgtoken Few of us realize that 70 percent of the District is located within the coastal plain. Similar to my State of Delaware, sea level rise, upstream sources of water and degraded infrastructure mean that the District could experience serious future cleanup and repair costs due to flooding--including damage to federal property, which makes up almost 30 percent of the District. Since 1950, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports there has been a 343 percent increase in nuisance flooding in the District. And, since 2006, DC has experienced two 100-year flooding events, and District officials estimate that a future 100-year flood event could cause over $1.2 billion in damages. Needless to say, these events will become more and more common due to climate change and sea level rise. prgtoken The District of Columbia would use funding from the Coastal Zone Management Program for flood risk planning and environmental restoration to prevent and mitigate future flood damage. At the same time, this work would help to restore and conserve the District's coastal resources such as habitat, fisheries, and endangered species. prgtoken If included in the Coastal Zone Management Program, the District of Columbia would be eligible for $1 million or more of federal funding annually to assist in coastal flood-control projects, to combat non- point source water pollution, and to develop special area management plans in areas experiencing environmental justice and/or flooding issues. prgtoken The National Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in NOAA, was established through the passage of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. At the time, Congress recognized the need to manage the effects of increased growth in the nation's coastal zone, which includes jurisdictions bordering the oceans and the Great Lakes. prgtoken There are currently 34 jurisdictional coastal zone management programs, including both states and territories. In order for the District of Columbia to participate in the program, Congress must pass this amendment to the Coastal Zone Management Act that would include the District under the definition of a ``coastal State.'' Thank you, . prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND THE AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION BILL
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-6-27

today I wish to discuss votes on final passage of H.R. 5895 and the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2. prgtoken I was not in Washington on Monday because I was visiting Senator John McCain at his ranch in Arizona. prgtoken The Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2019, H.R. 5895, is the result of a commendable bipartisan negotiation process led by Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Leahy of the Appropriations Committee. The bill includes strong funding for ongoing work on Bureau of Reclamation rural water projects like the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System that will benefit approximately 300,000 people in the southwest Minnesota, southeast South Dakota, and northwest Iowa regions. The bill also includes legislation I led with Senator Tillis to create a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits. Had I been in Washington, I would have voted in favor of its passage. prgtoken The Agriculture and Nutrition Act, H.R. 2, passed the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee by a vote of 20 to 1. The bill will provide critical investments in communities in Minnesota and will provide much-needed certainty for our farmers and ranchers. The bill includes provisions I championed to continue investments in renewable energy programs, create an animal disease and disaster program, and provide support for our dairy farmers. Had I been in Washington, I would have voted in favor of the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill. prgtoken Thank you.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2018-6-27

I appreciate the gentleman's comments and acknowledge his expertise as a fellow member of the Nuclear Security Working Group. prgtoken I am grateful that Mr. Foster has raised the important subject of nuclear smuggling and for his continued commitment to addressing nuclear security issues. We must be relentless in developing the technologies that will help us identify and counter nuclear smuggling before dangerous materials fall into terrorist hands. prgtoken The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review acknowledges the importance of nonproliferation and countering nuclear terrorism. But I do not believe the document is forward-thinking enough when it comes to developing a plan to address future threats. We must continue to invest in research and development of nonproliferation technologies so we will have the tools that we need to keep our Nation secure in an increasingly complex nuclear environment. prgtoken Again, , I appreciate the gentleman's raising it, and . Amendment No. 25 Offered by Mr. Gallego
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-6-27

I rise today to talk about the farm bill. I want to start by thanking Senators Roberts and Stabenow for making this farm bill a model of bipartisanship. prgtoken I have lived in a community in Newark for the last two-plus decades that most folks would not associate with a farm bill. The truth is, the issue we are grappling with in this bill affect all of our American communities--suburban, urban, and rural alike. prgtoken Folks in my community have borne the burden of horrific environmental injustices for decades--from toxins that poisoned our river, to lead in our soil, to pollutants in the air. Families in my city cannot plant crops in their soil because huge swaths of my city in many areas are toxic. We also have food deserts that exist in communities like mine, where people don't have access to healthy foods. prgtoken I have also visited rural areas of our country that endure the same kinds of injustices. I have met families who cannot open their windows because industrial farming operations are spraying waste into the surrounding air. Families can't hang their clothes outside, they can't run their air-conditioning, and they can't plant in their soil because of the way we do factory farming. prgtoken The truth is, pollution and environmental degradation at the local scale, in communities like mine and many of the communities I visited, are real for folks all across this country. It is real for rural folks; it is real for urban folks; and it is real for suburban folks. It has caused the same misaligned incentives that are also contributing to the much larger scale problem of climate change. Just like local-scale pollution--toxins--in communities like mine and others, global climate change is very real and cannot be ignored because of its impacts on folks all over our country, particularly on those in vulnerable communities. prgtoken So I will take a few moments to talk about these kinds of pollutants and to talk about climate change, which is closely intertwined with issues within the farm bill, even if it doesn't appear to be so at first glance. prgtoken The numbers on what is happening to our climate are clear. We know that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are higher now than they have been at any point in recorded history and that our global carbon emissions are still rising. prgtoken Sixteen of the seventeen warmest years on record in history have all occurred in the 21st century, and if nothing changes, we are headed for 3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, which would cause catastrophic changes in many parts of the world and in many parts of the United States of America. Hurricanes in the North Atlantic will actually continue to become stronger and more intense and potentially more devastating. Drought and heat waves out West will become ever more frequent, and parts of the southwestern United States could see temperatures above 100 degrees for one-third of the year. prgtoken All of
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-6-27

. Mr. Chair, my amendment indicates that no funding in this act shall be used or otherwise made available by this act to end Reserve Officers' Training Corps, ROTC, programs at HBCUs, Hispanic- Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. prgtoken I want to emphasize this program because so many of us have these colleges in our congressional districts. Those ROTC programs provide training to college students to prepare them for future service in the branches in the U.S. military, the Army, Air Force, and Navy. prgtoken Coming from the State of Texas, I can assure you, , with my interaction with so many in the United States military, those who have said that it is a pathway to leadership and success, I know how important these programs are. prgtoken The Army ROTC alone provides $274 million in scholarship money to more than 13,000 students. It is interesting to take note of the fact, as it relates to African Americans and Hispanics, the leadership that has come from these programs: Andrew P. Chambers, lieutenant general, retired; George A. Alexander; Colonel Claude A. Burnett; Colonel Derrick W. Flowers; Colonel Senodja Sundiata-Walker, currently serving as the chief of program support branch. prgtoken These are all individuals who have been the beneficiaries of ROTC programs at HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
TRIBUTE TO DR. EDWIN WELCH
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2018-6-27

I rise today to honor Dr. Edwin Welch upon his retirement as president of the University of Charleston after a 29-year legacy of innovation that has advanced the university into a world-class institution. prgtoken As a former White House employee during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations, an ordained minister, a college professor, provost, and president, Dr. Welch brought a wealth of experience and drive to the Mountain State. prgtoken Since his first days at U.C. in 1989, Dr. Welch had a clear vision for the university, keeping in mind the needs of the Charleston community and of West Virginia. Our State is so unique to the rest of the Nation. We are home to the most hard-working, creative, hospitable people in the country--very much self-made people. Dr. Welch knows what a college education means to them and to their families, and so he has spent his career developing new opportunities for them to use to their advantage. Together, with faculty, staff, and the community, Dr. Welch sought to forecast challenges and opportunities and to create the best possible strategies for maintaining a strong institution. His collaborative vision brought the university back from the brink of financial peril and allowed it to grow and thrive. prgtoken Under his leadership, more than 20 construction projects have reinvigorated U.C which has also seen a dramatic increase in enrollment throughout the years. In 1994, he secured one of the largest gifts in the university's history, which led to the construction of the Clay Tower Building. More recently, he oversaw the $20 million Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center project, which serves to create a strong campus base for innovation that will extend into Charleston and the Greater Kanawha region. Additionally, Dr. Welch's wife, Dr. Janet Welch, has made exceptional contributions to education and the arts at U.C. and throughout the community. She received national recognition for the creation of the Erma Byrd Galley for West Virginia Women Artists, among her many accomplishments. prgtoken For his efforts, Dr. Welch has earned numerous recognitions, such as the YMCA's Spirit of the Valley Award for his community service efforts, and he was also the first recipient of the Charles L. Foreman Award for Innovation in Private Higher Education by the Foundation for Independent Higher Education. In fact, he's so beloved by the community that there is even a towboat named after him, which you can occasionally see floating down the Kanawha River. prgtoken Furthermore, one of the most respected aspects of Dr. Welch's tenure is his relationship with students, faculty, and staff. He once said that the life and work of the university is not what goes on in his office. It is what goes on in the interactions students have with faculty members, staff, and administrators. He frequently walked the campus or sat down for lunch in the cafeteria to hear students'
RETIREMENT OF JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2018-6-27

today, Justice Kennedy has announced he is retiring. I had some very strong disagreements with his rulings, especially on campaign finance reform, but I thank him for his service. He was a thoughtful Justice. I am very concerned with the process to replace him. prgtoken The majority leader is trying to eliminate advice and consent from the process. We should wait until after the upcoming election. That will be a shorter time than Leader McConnell waited in 2016, the last election year. prgtoken I am very concerned with the President's process. He is picking from an ideological list, with a history of personally attacking judges he disagrees with, while demanding loyalty from his appointees. At the same time, this administration is undermining due process across the board--along the border, for minority races or religions, for a woman's right to choose. prgtoken The Constitution requires a real advice-and-consent process. The majority leader needs to ensure one. If the McConnell rule was in place in the 2016 election year, it should be in place for 2018. prgtoken Given the President's attacks on due process and rule of law, we should let the people speak before we consider his next Supreme Court nominee. prgtoken , . prgtoken .
AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-6-27

I appreciate Senator Corker's comments. I appreciate a little less those of Senator Toomey, who tried to say that I was thinking that the People's Republic of China has an economy we should emulate. prgtoken What I actually said--and I have seen him do this before. What I actually said is that China's Government fights for its national interests by putting people to work, and our trade policy, for 25 years--since NAFTA, since PNTR, since CAFTA, since South Korea, many of them pushed by Presidents whom I have stood up for--has undermined American national security and domestic security. So I just reject that. prgtoken But I appreciate Senator Corker's comments about voting on this. This is a major change in policy, with no legislative hearings, with no real discussion or debate. It is a bit rich when the majority party talks about our not allowing votes when, to start with, there was the Supreme Court nominee of 3 years ago and all the times we tried to do a transportation bill, important in our Banking Committee, as Senator Corker knows. He wasn't really part of the obstruction, but I just find it a bit rich. prgtoken The reason is that Senator Hatch has already said he wants to do hearings to really understand what it would mean to roll back years of having these trade remedies, like 232. What would it mean? prgtoken We have lost 7,000 jobs in the steel industry in my State. I don't know the number in Western and Central Pennsylvania--in Senator Toomey's State--but I want to move quickly on having these real discussions and real debates. Having a vote on a bill that nobody really understands, except it is reacting to the President's sometimes bungled positions and attempts on trade enforcement--I share that frustration. I am his ally on this, but I have been frustrated, too, with the back-and-forth on which countries are in and which countries are out. prgtoken Fundamentally, tariffs are a temporary tool. They are not a trade policy used by the President, in this case to force a discussion and a real policy about what to do with China's excess capacity, where half the world's steel can be made in one country, and they put people to work and undermine international trade laws by doing it. People in my State have paid the price, as they have all over the country.