mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2018-8-23

have you heard the one about the three robots that walk into a bar? No, you haven't. It is not a joke but rather a project that has been paid for, in part, by the Department of Defense. prgtoken These robots, called beer bots--and you will see a depiction here-- are programmed to serve cold beers to graduate students. Researchers say programming methods used for beer bots can be applied to other multi-robot systems in restaurants and bars. As you can see, the private sector has already developed robot bartenders, or robartenders. They have been mixing drinks at bars--and even on cruise ships--for years now. prgtoken With our national debt now exceeding $21 trillion, taxpayers should not have to pick up the Pentagon's tab for beer bots and for many other unnecessary spending items which are in the bill that we are considering right now. This minibus bill provides over $800 billion in funding to the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Yet, over the past 3 days, we have considered just four amendments to the bill, and not a single one has offered a reduction in spending--not a single one. prgtoken I have introduced a handful of commonsense amendments that if adopted, would reduce Federal spending by nearly $500 million. One would limit funding for the Littoral Combat Ship Program, which has been plagued by cost growth, construction issues, and underperformance on mission effectiveness. Even though the Navy has only requested funding for the procurement of one of these ships, this bill has needlessly provided funding for two ships. prgtoken My amendment would simply reduce the Department of Defense's budget by $475 million to align with the Navy's request. prgtoken I understand that Senators are trying to protect jobs in their States by forcing the Navy to procure more of these unwanted ships. Sailors are going on longer and longer deployments because the ships that are actually needed to rotate them on are not ready to sail. It is important to remember that the priority of this bill is not the parochial interests of Members of Congress but, rather, the needs of the Armed Forces. prgtoken I am proposing an amendment under this bill to also keep the costs of the military parade that the President would like to put on next year at a reasonable amount. Recent reports have indicated that local DC officials claim the parade would cost up to $92 million, which is significantly higher than the $10 to $30 million originally estimated by the White House Office of Management and Budget Director, Mick Mulvaney. prgtoken I should point out that the last military parade was held in 1991 to celebrate the end of the gulf war. That cost about $8 million. The Federal Government paid $3 million, and the remainder was paid by private donations. prgtoken My amendment would cap the amount of money DOD would have to allocate for the parade to $15 million. That is a significant growth--f
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-8-23

immediately following some comments I will prgtoken be raising a budget point of order. I find this circumstance to be unfortunate, given that I have filed an amendment that would have cured the budget violation. prgtoken The substitute increases the maximum discretionary Pell grant award. Under the Pell Grant Program's complicated funding structure, this increase triggers a point of order for a change in mandatory spending, or CHIMP, which results in a net increase in spending and would increase mandatory spending by a total of $390 million. prgtoken While we are unable to consider my solution--one supported by the National Taxpayers Union and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget--I believe the only alternative I have as Budget chairman is to enforce the budget rules we have agreed to. In this case, the budget rule being violated is bipartisan. It was first created by the Senate in 2008. prgtoken If this point of order is sustained, the bill can still move forward, but together we will have prevented $350 million in increased direct mandatory spending from being rolled into the baseline where it will evade budget enforcement. Now is the time to enforce our budget rules. I urge my colleagues to support fiscal discipline and not to waive this point of order. prgtoken The provision on page 270 of the pending substitute amendment in division B, title III, lines 7 and 8 under ``Student Financial Assistance'' would result in a net increase in the cost of mandatory programs affected by the bill. prgtoken Therefore, I raise a point of order against that provision pursuant to section 314(a) of S. Con. Res. 70, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2009.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2018-8-23

this week I have the honor of recognizing Edgar E. Lewis of Golden Valley County for his contributions and impact to the Golden Valley community. prgtoken Edgar is a lifelong Montanan. Born on his family ranch in Lavina, he is the youngest of seven kids. Edgar began running the ranch at a young age after his older brothers went off to fight in World War II. It would take Edgar and his father 5 days to move their cattle to the summer grazing range. These trips made Edgar fall in love with ranching and are what made him become a lifelong rancher. prgtoken Edgar's heart for his country and community is clear in the ways he has served. Edgar served his country during the Korean war. After the war, he settled down and bought his current ranch, just north of the Snowy Mountains. He served on the board of directors on the Montana Livestock Ag Credit from 1986-1998. Edgar also served as the Golden Valley commissioner from 1989-2002. prgtoken At 86, Edgar encapsulates the Montana cowboy spirit that brings so much character to our great State. I thank Edgar for giving back to his community and for continuing the tradition of the Montana cowboy.
RECOGNIZING SJX JET BOATS, INC.
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-8-23

my home State of Idaho is known for its beautiful landscapes, outdoor recreation, and protected wilderness. These natural wonders are enjoyed by native Idahoans and Americans from across the country. Today I would like to recognize an innovative small business that contributes to allowing further exploration of the beautiful, remote areas of our Nation. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize SJX Jet Boats, Inc as the Small Business of the Month for August 2018. SJX Jet Boat, Inc.'s commitment to the quality and performance of its shallow-water aluminum jet boat exemplifies Idaho's entrepreneurial spirit and appreciation for the outdoors. prgtoken After several years of working in the aluminum jet boat building field, SJX Jet Boats owner, Steve Stajkowski, created a concept for a boat that could handle remote, shallow waters while maintaining a strong structural design and functionality. While on a hunting trip in Alaska, Stajkowski saw the need for a shallow-water boat that could navigate the small bodies of water found throughout the State. Inspired by the concept of combining high-speed performance with the offroading aspects of boating, the SJX boat design began to take shape. He began work on the very first inboard tunnel hull in 1998. Less than 10 years later, after years of experimenting with many different designs, Steve started SJX Jet Boats, Inc in 2007. Located in Orofino, ID, SJX Jet Boats is prgtoken located in the midst of shallow bodies of water and what is known as the steelhead fishing capital of the world. prgtoken Whether for a hunter, fisherman, or an adventurist, SJX Jet Boats, Inc have honed their design through continuous research and development in order to provide the best possible product. One of the primary factors of boat design is the boat's durability. The make of an SJX Jet Boat consists of a continuous weld, which prevents cracks and creates a solid foundation. Because of this weld, along with the innovative inboard tunnel hull, these boats are able to traverse water as shallow as 4 inches. This inboard tunnel allows the jet to be elevated off of the surface of the boat; therefore, any debris potentially hitting the bottom of the boat is unable to reach the jet itself. Testing of any new features for the boat are carried out by Stajkowski himself, as a means of ensuring that new products will be crafted to exceed customer expectations. prgtoken In addition to sport and leisure, the benefits of SJX Jet boats extend beyond the recreational user. SJX Jet boats are customizable for policing, search and rescue, fire, and other first responder operations. A number of communities within our Nation are adjacent to shallow waterways, streams, and rivers, and in these places, SJX Jet Boats are preferred by some emergency organizations since they allow for easier access to disaster victims i
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-8-23

, the Paul amendment is a germane amendment. It should be taken up and passed with a majority vote in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken This counterproposal asks that a 60-vote threshold be set for the Paul amendment, which, obviously, would make it much less likely to actually pass. What I think makes a whole lot more sense is to have a vote on the Paul amendment as a stand-alone to defund Planned Parenthood with a majority vote of 50, but I believe that the Manchin amendment has problems as well. prgtoken Firstly, this Manchin amendment inserts itself into pending litigation in Federal court, which is being led by my home State of Texas, by intervening as a party only a few weeks prior to there being oral arguments. This is a role that is generally reserved for the executive branch, and I believe that the legislature--the Senate-- should exercise caution and deference to the constitutional role of other branches before injecting itself into a contested lawsuit at a late hour. prgtoken Secondly, the Manchin amendment asserts that the Senate should defend all provisions of the Affordable Care Act. While that may be the position of the senior Senator from West Virginia, I have a number of concerns and objections to Care which are well-known, as do so many of my colleagues. There are many problematic and possibly illegal provisions of Care that should not be defended by this body, as the Manchin amendment would urge. prgtoken Finally, I strongly believe in protecting Americans who have preexisting conditions and in ensuring they have access to affordable healthcare. Our friends across the aisle act as if the only way you can protect against preexisting conditions is through Care. That is demonstrably false. There is a much better and more reasonable way to protect Americans who have preexisting conditions other than to shackle them to Care. I believe the best way for us to address this is by legislating--by working together and coming up with legislation that will actually solve the problem--rather than by injecting ourselves into ongoing litigation against Care. prgtoken While I am opposed to the extraneous amendment by the senior Senator from West Virginia, I am completely in support of voting on Senator Paul's amendment. Frankly, I am a little confused by his statement that s oppose his amendment when, at this point, I renew the request of the Senator from Kentucky. Yet I ask that it be set at a 50- vote threshold as a germane amendment to the pending legislation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-8-23

I will be brief here. I just want to mark what we have accomplished here today and thank the many folks--Senators and staff--who made it possible. prgtoken , 1999--nearly 20 years ago--was the last time the Senate passed nine appropriations bills by the end of August--1999. Some of us are still here. This is the milestone here today that we are about to mark with the passage of two appropriations bills and with the most moneys than in any appropriations bill. prgtoken Earlier this year, we collectively called for a return to regular order in the appropriations process because it was broken. The leaders on both sides, Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer, provided us with the opportunity to follow through. So I take a moment to thank both of them for their leadership. I believe that we, together in the Senate, are demonstrating that they made the right call. prgtoken I also recognize the vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Leahy, for his work in this regard. I can't say enough about the importance of his role in passing appropriations bills in a bipartisan manner, because that is the only way we are going to get them done. I thank Senator Leahy, the vice chairman. prgtoken Senator Durbin, Senator Blunt, and Senator Murray also played vital roles in what we have been doing here today. Their diligence and commitment to work in a bipartisan manner have been essential in passing the bills that are currently before the Senate. I thank all of them for their work. prgtoken Last but not least, I thank my staff on the Defense Subcommittee. I thank the majority clerk, Brian Potts, and his team: Jacqui Russell, Katy Hagan, Colleen Gaydos, Mike Clementi, Chris Hall, Hanz Heinrichs, Kate Kaufer, Will Todd, Carlos Elias, and Marisa Rhode. All of them worked day and night to make this happen. Without their dedication and expertise--and they have a lot of it--we would not be in a position today to send a Defense spending bill, on time, to the President's desk. I thank them for their work. prgtoken Finally, I thank all of my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle for their prgtoken cooperation in passing these appropriations bills. I think it shows what the Senate can do when it works together, and I hope we will continue to do this. We all know it is not easy, but it works. I believe it is the right thing for the American people. prgtoken Thank you.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-8-23

I agree with my Seapower Subcommittee colleague, and his approach is consistent with the fiscal year 2019 NDAA, which the Senate approved in a vote of 87-10. The President has signed the bill into law. I join with my colleague in asking for the two-ship carrier buy to be supported, as we did in the NDAA, subject to the requisite requirements that includes a Secretary of Defense certification based on significant savings and other supporting information.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2018-8-23

I rise today to speak to the issue of the leadership of the Department of Justice. prgtoken It has been a strange couple of hours around this building with lots of talk about firing the Attorney General. I would just like to say in public what I have been saying to my colleagues in a message that I just communicated to the President of the United States; that is, that it would be a very, very, very bad idea to fire the Attorney General because he is not executing his job as a political hack. That is not the job of the Attorney General. The Attorney General's job is to be faithful to the Constitution and to the rule of law. prgtoken Jeff Sessions just had to issue a statement about 2 hours ago that I would like to read. The Attorney General says: While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action. However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States. I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law. prgtoken That is his job. The Attorney General is a man who, when he served in this body, would have policy disputes with probably all 99 of us or 100 of us now, but the 99 people he served alongside. There are a bunch of issues where I agree with Jeff Sessions on policy, and there are some issues where I disagree with Jeff Sessions on policy. prgtoken The disagree with Jeff Sessions on lots of policy, but I think everybody in this body knows that Jeff Sessions has been executing his job in a way faithful to his oath of office, to the Constitution, and to trying to defend the rule of law. I think Jeff Sessions' statement today that the U.S. Department of Justice is filled with honorable, dispassionate, career prosecutors who execute their job in ways that the American people should be proud of is indisputably true. What he said is something that basically everybody in this body knows and agrees with. Yet, bizarrely, there are people in this body now talking like the Attorney General will be fired, should be fired. I am not sure how to interpret the comments of the last couple of hours. prgtoken I guess I would just like to say, as a member of the Judiciary Committee and as a Member of this body, that I find it really difficult to envision any circumstance where I would vote to confirm a successor to Jeff Sessions if he is fired because he is executing his job rather than choosing to act as a partisan hack. prgtoken I think everybody in this body knows that Jeff Sessions is doing his job honorably, and the Attorney General of the United States should not be fired for acting honorably and for being faithful to the rule of law. prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR ADJOURNMENT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-8-23

. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 4 p.m Monday, August 27; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; and that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the Johnson nomination, and that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during yesterday's session ripen at 5:30 p.m.
TRIBUTE TO DR. PAUL BERAN
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2018-8-23

today I wish to honor University of Arkansas- Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran who will be leaving the university at the end of August after more than a decade of service. prgtoken Since becoming chancellor in 2006, Dr. Beran has shown himself to be a tremendous advocate for the university. During his tenure, he has overseen the expansion of undergraduate degree programs, as well as a master's degree program, resulting in the graduation of thousands of students over the past 12 years. Under Dr. Beran's leadership, UAFS has tripled its student housing capacity, expanded the school's Boreham Library, constructed the Windgate Art and Design facility, and expanded its athletics program, transitioning from the junior collegiate level to an NCAA Division II athletic program. prgtoken Dr. Beran is a champion of all students, notably student veterans. He facilitated the construction of the veteran resource center, which offers veterans a special space on campus. In addition to serving as a communal study space, the center streamlines interactions with off- campus organization and businesses. prgtoken He has made a career out of helping students pave the way for a successful future. He has been recognized for his work to advance the academic opportunities of the African-American community, earning the Golden Hands Award from the Martin Luther King Holiday Committee. He was credited as a distinguished graduate of Stephen F. Austin University and was recognized by Texas A&M University's College of Education as an outstanding alumnus. All of these honors are well deserved. prgtoken I congratulate Dr. Beran for his outstanding achievements in education and thank him for his service to the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith. I appreciate his friendship and enjoyed working with him to improve education opportunities in Fort Smith. UAFS is an excellent school and a great asset to the region, thanks to his leadership and years of dedication. We will miss his guidance, but wish him continued success as executive director and chief executive officer of the South Dakota Higher Education Board of Regents.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-8-23

it is such a privilege to be here on the Senate floor today on this occasion as we work our way through another set of appropriations bills. Today we are working on the Defense appropriations bill and the bill we call Labor-H, which involves the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. prgtoken The Senator from West Virginia was correct in her commentary with regard to this being a good day, but she was also correct in her commentary about the number of people, including, especially, the chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Blunt from Missouri, and the ranking member of that subcommittee, Senator Murray from Washington State, and I too serve on the subcommittee. prgtoken I am also pleased to be here with the Senator from West Virginia, Mrs. Capito, and the Senator from Maine, Ms. Collins. It is an indication that there is broad support. I also notice that the ranking member, the vice chairman of the committee, is with us as well, Senator Leahy from Vermont. prgtoken For as long as I have been in the U.S. Senate--and I have been a member of the Appropriations Committee since that arrival--it has been a mission of mine to see that we increase the amount of funding for the National Institutes of Health. Today we particularly highlight the consequences--the good things that happen--in that regard, with the diseases of the mind--Alzheimer's, in particular. prgtoken Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that places such an enormous burden on so many people, on so many families across Kansas and around the country, and it has a huge impact on lives. There are currently more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and their combined care costs $259 billion to our healthcare system each year. prgtoken I appreciate the opportunity to work on issues that combine the opportunity to help individuals and the care and compassion that come from one's heart to see that people's lives are improved and that families are changed as a result of the work. I also appreciate the opportunity to work on issues in which the mind kicks in and in which we can save significant dollars in our healthcare delivery system by finding the cure to Alzheimer's and delaying the onset of this horrific disease. prgtoken It is estimated that by 2050, this number--the $259 billion to our healthcare system costs--could rise as high as 16 million people with Alzheimer's, or from 5 million to 16 million, and increase the cost from $259 billion to over $1 trillion. In fact, an individual develops Alzheimer's almost every single minute in our country. These predictions do not need to become a reality. That is what this Appropriations Committee report that we will discuss, debate, and vote on this week involves. These astronomical costs can be curbed if this disease can be made treatable and curable prgtoken There is hope that progress is being made. I am hopeful, but I know th