mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING GEORGE SMITH ON HIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE LEBANON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-11-27

I rise today in honor of George Smith of Lebanon, CT, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a member of the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department. prgtoken George, a native of Rocky Grove, PA, started his vocation as a public servant after graduating from high school in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam Conflict over his 21 years of active military service, reaching the rank of E8 Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. prgtoken George and his family moved to Lebanon, CT in 1966. Following in his first-responder parents' footsteps, he decided to become a firefighter and joined the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department in May 1968. In 1978, he joined the Lebanon Constabulary and served as a constable for a decade. He also provided emergency medical services and performed firefighting tasks. Over the course of his public service to the town he has also served as Fire Lieutenant, Fire Police Lieutenant, elected department secretary, and currently as Fire Police Captain. prgtoken For 50 years, George has been committed to serving Lebanon residents by protecting them, their families, pets, and livestock, as well as lands and properties throughout the town. He holds life member status at the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing George Smith's milestone anniversary as well as his remarkable record of service to the town of Lebanon. Volunteering one's life for the protection of others is no small sacrifice, and in this way, Mr. Smith has been exceptionally selfless. Let us all express our gratitude for this fine gentleman.
PREVENTING DESTABILIZATION OF IRAQ ACT OF 2018
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-11-27

such time as I may consume. prgtoken This is both a happy and sad moment for me. I am happy because, in the new Congress, I will be in the majority. But I am sad because so many of my friends are retiring, not coming back. prgtoken I mentioned my good friend Mr. Poe before, and I just want to mention our now up here, my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. We have been working together for more than 25 years in passing all kinds of important legislation involving people's support around the world, making lives a little bit better for people, and working here to promote democracy at home. prgtoken I want to have the opportunity to say that this Congress will be missing you. I know I will be missing you, and I know we will be in touch. You are the kind of Member that we need more of, someone who always reached across the aisle, someone who always worked in a bipartisan manner, and someone who was effective and intelligent. I am just proud to call you my friend. I had to say that. prgtoken So I am going to close and say that Iraq is at a crossroads. prgtoken We have another speaker? I am sorry. .
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-11-27

today I am introducing legislation to require the Director of National Intelligence to provide the Congress and the public an assessment of who carried out, participated in, ordered, or was otherwise complicit in, or responsible for, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. prgtoken This question is of enormous importance to the Congress and the American people. Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist. He wrote for the Washington Post, and he resided in the United States. He visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, only because he was seeking documents to get married. But he never came out. The Saudis killed him, and they covered it up. prgtoken Naturally, the American people want to know what happened and who ordered this assassination. In an interview on November 18, was asked whether the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman, lied to him when he denied knowing about Khashoggi's murder. But 's response was simply ``Will anybody really know?'' prgtoken Those kinds of judgments are what we have an Intelligence Community for. So I called for CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to come forward and provide a public assessment of who was responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Unfortunately, that did not happen, and only doubled down. Last Tuesday, he put out a sickening statement in which he made it clear that he did not care who may have ordered the murder. In a display of cowardice and weakness, let it be known that his blind devotion to the Saudis will lead him to abandon American values, as well as our moral standing in the world. prgtoken The reasons behind 's embrace of the Saudi dictators at the expense of American interests, like his affection for President Putin, are not fully known. In both cases, there are financial entanglements that demand aggressive and thorough investigation. prgtoken And, in both cases, has attempted to muddy the waters by casting doubts on U.S. intelligence. That is why, in his statement last Tuesday, he continued to insist that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an unsolvable mystery. This is what he said: ``Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event--maybe he did and maybe he didn't!'' prgtoken no doubt hopes that will be the last word. But Congress can make sure that it isn't. My legislation requires the Intelligence Community to provide an unclassified, public assessment about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. That assessment, not the predictable obfuscations of , will then provide the basis on which the Congress and the American people can move forward after this atrocity. prgtoken This intelligence assessment is critical to the debate currently going on in the Congress about U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom's hu
CONGRATULATING WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-27

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the Western High School Pioneers on their first-ever CIF football championship. prgtoken Since Western High School opened its doors in 1955, the Pioneers have never won this coveted prize. Now, 63 years later, Coach Dan Davidson put together a very talented team that finally won CIF. prgtoken Having grown up in Anaheim, I have seen many, many talented Western High School football teams come and go, but I have to tell Coach Davidson: Congratulations. Job well done. prgtoken Again, congratulations to the Pioneers, to the parents, and to the student body: Job well done. Congratulations. We are all proud of you.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2018
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-11-27

this legislation is extremely important for addressing conditions in the DRC, but it is also important for sending a message to the world that the United States has not retreated from its commitment to protect human rights and advance democracy around the world. prgtoken The late former U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and nine former African presidents said Congo's future ``is in grave danger.'' ``We are deeply concerned about the political situation in the ic Republic of Congo [DRC], which represents a threat to the stability, prosperity and peace of the Great Lakes region. . . .'' prgtoken , the situation in the DRC is deteriorating as we speak. It is time we act. prgtoken Following a call from the region, please join my colleagues Chris Smith, Chairman Ed Royce, and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, and I, and support this bill that supports human rights, democracy, and accountability in the ic Republic of the Congo.
Nomination of Thomas Farr (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-11-27

we have just been through a long election season, with a lot of close races. In States all over the country, voters had to contend with relentless attacks on their voting rights. We saw it in Ohio, where voters were purged from the rolls. We saw it in my mother's home State of Georgia, where more than 50,000 voter registrations were held up. Seventy percent of those were from Black voters. We know exactly who these laws are aimed at. It is people of color, and it is despicable. It is outrageous. prgtoken Rather than working to fix this problem, making it easier for voters to exercise their fundamental right, this administration and leaders in this body and in State legislatures around the country want to put a man on the Federal bench who has supported unapologetic racists and defended voter suppression laws. prgtoken This body has done nothing to try to stop voter suppression. Controlled by s, State legislatures around the country, in legislature after legislature, have, in fact, emboldened people who want to suppress voting rights. prgtoken Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams are two candidates each who would probably be Governor-elect right now if every voters' voices had been heard. Listen to what they had to say about Thomas Farr, the nominee for the Eastern District of North Carolina: ``When it comes to the trifecta of voter disenfranchisement--voter suppression, racial gerrymandering, and restriction of voting rights--Thomas Farr is, sadly, one of the most experienced election lawyers in the country.'' prgtoken When it comes to the trifecta of voter disenfranchisement, he wins the award. He defended North Carolina's voter suppression laws--among the worst in the country. The Fourth Circuit Court said that the law targeted Black voters ``with almost surgical precision.'' prgtoken He defended Jesse Helms in a lawsuit where Jesse Helms campaigned and sent 125,000 postcards to African-American communities, telling them that they would be arrested for voter fraud at their polling places. Considering the history of voter suppression in that State, imagine the terror, in many cases, in the eyes of those African-American voters who saw those postcards telling them that they could be arrested for voter fraud at their polling places. Of course many of them were not going to vote then, which is exactly what Jesse Helms and Thomas Farr wanted to happen. Thomas Farr defended Jesse Helms in court. To put prgtoken this man on the Federal bench is a national disgrace. prgtoken The cherry on top of this nomination is the fact that nominated two African-American women to serve on this court. Under the leadership of the gentleman down the hall, the leader, Mitch McConnell, this body didn't even give them a hearing. Instead of the choice of two African-American women who led over a decade, they want to put a man on the bench who defended segregationists and voter suppre
TRIBUTE TO SHEL GROSS
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2018-11-27

today I wish to honor Shel Gross, director of Public Policy for Mental Health America of Wisconsin, MHA, on his retirement. Throughout his career, Shel has helped everyday Wisconsinites in their battle with mental health issues and has been a powerful advocate, peer, mentor, and leader in elevating the voices of those struggling with mental illness. prgtoken Shel has been the director of Public for MHA of Wisconsin since April 2000. During his tenure, he has significantly expanded the array of community-based mental health services that support recovery and independence. Wisconsin owes Shel a debt of gratitude for raising awareness of both the tragedy and treatability of many serious mental health afflictions. prgtoken Shel's greatest accomplishment is his tremendous work in reducing the prevalence of suicide in Wisconsin. As project manager for MHA's statewide prevention/early intervention initiative in mental health, he focused on improving the quality of behavioral healthcare to help lower Wisconsin's suicide rate. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, over 700 Wisconsin residents die each year by suicide. Another 5,500 Wisconsin residents are hospitalized due to intentional, self-inflicted injury. As project manager of a suicide prevention grant, Shel made it his life's work to reduce the number of people affected by suicide or suicide attempts, work that deserves the utmost praise and appreciation. prgtoken The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, MHTF, awarded Shel the Karen Avery Award in 2017, which honors those who have shown tremendous advocacy and leadership in advancing the rights of people with disabilities. Working hand-in-hand with the award's namesake, Shel helped establish the Grassroots Empowerment Project, GEP, to create opportunities for people seeking mental health recovery and wellness to exercise power in their lives. Shel has been a prominent voice for recognizing and tapping the power of community to help heal the isolation of depression. prgtoken Shel will be deeply missed by his colleagues and all those who consider him a loyal friend and passionate advocate. I know Shel will continue to be a valuable voice on these important issues after retirement, but I congratulate him on this milestone and wish him the very best in this new chapter.
Recognizing a New Ceres Statue for the Vermont State House Dome (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-11-27

this Friday, November 30, at noon, Vermonters will be gathering to see a large crane carefully hoist a 14\1/2\-foot carved statue of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, atop the newly gilded dome of the statehouse in Montpelier. I was born in Montpelier, and I am proud of this because it is going to be a great moment for our State and for everyone involved in the project, which has captured the attention of not only Vermonters but of those who have been following the project from great distances with the help of social media. prgtoken The new version of Ceres replaces a 1938 replica of the original statue that was removed last April after too many severe Vermont winters took a toll on the wood figure. Since that time, Vermont artists Jerry Williams and Chris Miller have been hard at work creating the new Ceres, first sculpting a model and then, out of a big piece of mahogany, they chiseled the final mahogany figure. prgtoken Marcelle and I and my sister Mary, along with David Schutz, had the pleasure of visiting the Vermont Granite Museum in Barre, VT, a few months back to witness Mr. Miller at work. prgtoken I am the grandson of two stone carvers. One of my grandfathers immigrated to Vermont from Italy. The other, my Irish grandfather, carved stone in Barre. So it was a thrill to see how Mr. Miller used the original tools of the trade. prgtoken He took raw wood and turned it into the fine details we now see, from Ceres' flowing robes to the distinctive veins in her hands. It was really remarkable to see this hunk of wood turn into a real person. prgtoken Both artists learned their techniques by studying in the studios of Barre's stone carvers. It is a specialized art that requires intense dedication, patience, skill, and practice. We are so fortunate that artists such as these have carried on a tradition that makes Vermonters proud. prgtoken It reminds me of the times as a child when I would go in and watch stone carvers at work in Barre, where my father was born, and watch them turn stone into pieces of pure art. prgtoken In this case they are using wood. Incidentally, the reason the statue is made out of wood instead of stone is that wood weighs less, and there is only so much weight the dome can hold. prgtoken I grew up in a home across the street from the Vermont State House. Ceres was always in our sights. Walking to school, coming back from school, doing my paper route, and being out with my brother and sister and my parents, we would always see Ceres. She is a strong figure, one that befits a State where farming and soil and hard work are so closely linked to our lives. prgtoken Frankly, over the past few months, when I have been home in Vermont, going by the statehouse and seeing it without Ceres has been odd because it has always been part of my life. So this Vermonter and Vermonters like my wife Marcelle and others are going to be glad to have her back. prgtoken , I ask unanimo
Nomination of Thomas Farr (Executive Calendar)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-11-27

I rise to strongly oppose the nomination of Thomas Farr to the Federal bench, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against him. prgtoken The right to vote is sacred and a precious human right, but it has been under attack, and that is unconscionable and wrong. prgtoken This nominee represents yet another threat to the basic premise of one person, one vote because, throughout his career, he has worked to make it harder for Black Americans to vote. That is not who we are as a country, and this nominee does not deserve the privilege of a lifetime appointment on the Federal bench. prgtoken Over and over again, on the most serious and consequential questions related to our sacred right to vote, Mr. Farr has been on the wrong side of the issue. prgtoken Listen to his record: Mr. Farr defended in court a gerrymandered congressional map that was so blatantly racist that our Federal Court of Appeals judge ordered it to be redrawn. Mr. Farr defended in court State laws that were so obviously designed to suppress the Black vote that a Federal Court of Appeals ordered them to be struck down. He wasn't just a cheerleader for these discriminatory laws; he was the actual architect. He was their defender in court. He did everything he could to keep them in place. prgtoken That is why millions of Americans all over the country, including so many men and women of color, the NAACP, and the Congressional Black Caucus, are so outraged by this nomination. They are right to be so because this nomination is an insult. prgtoken This seat is the longest judicial vacancy in the country, but it did not have to be that way. Just a few years ago, a highly qualified nominee was picked to fill the seat, but she didn't even have a hearing, let alone a vote. So then another highly qualified nominee was picked to fill the seat, and she didn't receive a hearing either--or a basic vote. Now we have another nominee for the same exact seat, but this time my colleagues are practically tripping over themselves to rush him through the Senate at full speed, to push him across the finish line before the end of the year, and to hand him a lifetime appointment to the Court. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to reject this bad choice. Let's find someone better, who isn't so obviously biased on questions related to race. If his record of discrimination and bias alone isn't enough to convince you, then think about this: We cannot ignore the fact that this nomination is coming at a moment when so many Black Americans are still experiencing blatant and racist disenfranchisement every time they try to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Just look at the voter suppression that happened in Florida and in Georgia this month in their elections for Governor. prgtoken We have already seen terrible decisions from the Federal bench that have rolled back voting rights, such as when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. This body ha
GENERAL MOTORS IDLE
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-11-27

. Madam , how troubling it is that General Motors has announced it is idling five major auto plants across the United States and Canada. At the Chevy Cruze plant in Lordstown, Ohio, facility alone, 1,600 jobs are on the chopping block. The dire impact in Ohio surges to 5,000 more potential lost jobs when auto part suppliers are considered. prgtoken President promised to defend manufacturing. He promised to cure the red ink of manufacturing job loss and wage-crushing trade deficits. Under him, both are getting worse. Instead, his party enacted deficit- busting corporate tax giveaways with the tax scam. Where do the automakers intend to invest their bonanza? Not here. prgtoken Time and time again, American taxpayers and workers have been asked to help the U.S. automakers. This latest move from General Motors is an affront to their investment. prgtoken President and congressional refinanced the ailing American auto industry in 2009. saved American manufacturing while the vast majority of s voted no. prgtoken Madam , we need fair trade to open markets and create jobs here at home.
COAST GUARD REAUTHORIZATION BILL
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2018-11-27

. from South Dakota. I do agree. Today, we are one step closer to getting this prgtoken strong bipartisan compromise on vessel discharge legislation signed into law. This bill protects waters across our country from the environmental and economic risk of the spread of invasive species contained in ballast water, while also providing regulatory certainty for vessel owners and mariners. To reach this agreement, my colleagues and I did not settle for what was easy or what was expedient. These improvements in the VIDA title have taken a great deal of time and energy, and they were the right thing to do. Specifically, they will reduce the risks posed by ballast water discharges that enter our waterways, minimize the likelihood of introducing invasive species along our coasts and in the Great Lakes, while still ensuring these discharges are regulated under the Clean Water Act. I know the Senator from South Dakota shares my hope that the President signs this legislation expeditiously. He and I will make sure that the legislative history regarding this provision is clear.
CONGRATULATING HELENE ONSERUD
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-11-27

today I rise to congratulate Helene Onserud for her unwavering commitment to the children, teens, prgtoken and families of Sunset Park, Brooklyn and her impeccable work at the Center for Family Life over the last 33 years. prgtoken Center for Family Life, a program of SCO Family of Services, is a neighborhood-based family and social services organization with deep roots in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. As Program Director, Helene has helped to enrich the quality of afterschool, evening, and summer programs reaching more than 2,000 Sunset Park community members every single year. prgtoken Helene is a true example of an extraordinary community leader. Helene started as an art specialist, and through her hard work and tireless dedication, attained her Master's Degree in Social Work, then arose to become multi-site director at the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park. prgtoken As multi-site director, Helene laid the foundation for the new leaders at Public School 503 and Public School 506. Even as she steps back from her role, Helene's warmth, spirit and contributions will be impactful for years to come please join me in saluting Helene Onserud for decades of life changing work.
1918 FLU PANDEMIC
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-11-27

. Madam , flu season is upon us, and I rise today to raise awareness about the 100th anniversary of the deadliest medical catastrophe in history: the 1918 influenza pandemic. prgtoken 100 years ago, the flu took the lives of more Americans in 1 month than in the entirety of World War I. prgtoken The 1918 flu pandemic lasted for 15 months. During that time, the average American's life expectancy dropped by 12 years. prgtoken 100 years later, there are still many outstanding questions about the flu pandemic, but what is certain is that the flu virus still poses an undeniable threat to our Nation. prgtoken Last year, an estimated 80,000 Americans died from the flu. prgtoken Investing in research and development for novel antivirals and ensuring people get the flu vaccine is crucial to protecting our Nation from another flu pandemic like the one we faced 100 years ago.