mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-8-27

I look across the Senate and see Senator McCain's desk silent, draped in black, under a vase of white roses, and it breaks my heart. I am here to say my farewell, and I have a bit of a predicament, which is that I am a very ordinary man, here to try and give tribute to a very extraordinary man. prgtoken John McCain was an extraordinary man--extraordinary in his suffering and resilience, extraordinary in his ideals and principles, extraordinary in his courage and devotion, and extraordinary, too, in the devotion he engendered. prgtoken We met when I was a new Senator and he already a legend. His battles for campaign finance reform and against corrupting earmarks were legendary. He could make a point here on the Senate floor with legendary drama and punch and declarative force. He could also be unreasonable, and he took a completely unreasonable liking to me. Our politics did not match. I could offer him nothing. Yet he befriended me, and, as so many colleagues know, John's friendship was a treasure. prgtoken John showed courage in many ways, but he showed real courage in friendship. When an attack was mounted on one of Hillary Clinton's staffers, he came straight to the floor to defend her publicly. When someone attacked the character of Senator at a political event, he said: No, I know him. He is a good family man. prgtoken Loyalty attracts loyalty, and John was loyal. We traveled a lot together--to Afghanistan and Iraq, to Munich, Mali, Mongolia, and Macassar, to many, many places but, most poignantly, to Vietnam. prgtoken My dad served 5 years in Vietnam. He told me about his colleague, Admiral McCain, whose son was a POW, who had been shot down and wounded terribly but refused early release. As a boy, I went with my father to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon the night our POWs returned from captivity. John had left straight from Hanoi and did not pass through Tan Son Nhut, but I witnessed how frail and ill and pale and battered his fellow POWs were as they clamored out of the helicopters into the glare of the TV lights. prgtoken I was ready to revere any man who had been through that, and to find that this man was so friendly and cheerful and feisty and irreverent-- that put me irrevocably into the McCain fan club. I noticed I was not alone. One telling measure of a man is his staff. John attracted people of exceptional talent and ability, who became so devoted they would walk through fire for him. prgtoken John attracted the admiration of foreign leaders, not just from great powers but from remote and struggling countries. When we traveled in Libya, John was received like Lafayette. He had been there when it counted, when freedom there was in the offing. He was beloved in Ukraine. He had spoken at the Maidan when freedom there was in the offing. He spent an icy New Year's Eve with Ukrainian troops on their frontline. prgtoken In Vietnam, John was revered. I don't know any celebrities, but I
REMEMBERING JOHN McCAIN
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-8-27

on Saturday, August 25, 2018, 9 years to the day since the death of his friend Senator Kennedy, our friend and colleague Senator John S. McCain passed away. Knowing his prognosis prepared us for the inevitable, but it has not softened the blow. We all feel a great and inexpressible loss. I know I do. I also feel lucky that I was able to call this great man a friend. prgtoken Today, I wish to share a few reflections, unorganized and incomplete though they may be. I suspect I will have more to say about Senator McCain with the benefit of a few days' time. prgtoken Senator McCain and I didn't get along very well at first. He was close to my mentor in the Senate, Ted Kennedy, but not so with me. I never served with Senator McCain on any committee, where we get to know other Senators up close. prgtoken Before our friendship, my closest brush with him was over a comment he made during a debate on defense policy when he said that Long Island was ``regrettably part of the United States.'' I blasted John's pejorative, which, of course, prompted him to reply from the Senate floor: I'm sorry there's at least one of my colleagues that can't take a joke. I apologize if I offended him and hope that someday he will have a sense of humor. prgtoken Like many, I was a victim of Senator McCain's acerbic wit. prgtoken Things began to defrost when we worked together during the Gang of 14 to avoid a change in the Senate rules during the administration, and a real tight and lasting friendship emerged from our collaboration on immigration reform. prgtoken We worked in close quarters for nearly a year--hour after hour, day after day, week after week--fine-tuning the only piece of major immigration reform to pass this Chamber in decades. We visited the southern border together to assess the gaps in our security up close. We were doing what the Senate was supposed to do--grappling with the biggest challenges, working in a bipartisan way to find solutions, overcoming obstacles that have so long bedeviled immigration reform and continue to stymie progress today. We couldn't have done it without John McCain. prgtoken In recent days, many have reflected on his Presidential campaigns and his military service, and rightly so. He was also a natural legislator, able to seek common ground and having a sense of where to go. He knew when to give a little, and he knew when not to. He had deep principles, but he also knew how to craft a product that could actually pass, and the bill did, in the Senate, with large numbers of supporters from both parties. Had we passed immigration reform then, had the House done what the Senate did under John's leadership, we wouldn't be quarreling about immigration now, and our country would be a better, stronger, and more unified place. prgtoken We became so close over that year that John McCain started treating my staff like they were his own, and me the same. We spoke so fre
115TH ANNIVERSARY OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2018-8-27

today I wish to recognize Harley-Davidson Motor Company on its 115th anniversary. I am proud to honor this historic Wisconsin company and to commemorate this significant milestone. prgtoken In 1903, boyhood friends William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson completed the first design and manufacture of a motorcycle, and Harley- Davidson Motor Company was born in a small machine shop on Milwaukee's north side. prgtoken Harley-Davidson quickly built its success on the strong foundation of partnerships with the law enforcement and military communities. In 1907, Harley-Davidson began selling its motorcycles to police departments, a tradition that remains to this day. In 1917, ``Harleys'' were adopted for military issue during the First World War. The U.S. military purchased over 20,000 motorcycles from Harley-Davidson for the war effort. As one of only two American cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression, Harley-Davidson began to produce large numbers of motorcycles for the Army during the Second World War. Harley-Davidson received two Army-Navy E Awards for Excellence in Production, one in 1943 and another in 1945. prgtoken Today, Harley-Davidson remains one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world and is famous for its loyal following. True to its roots, the company has kept its headquarters in Wisconsin's largest city: Milwaukee. Beginning with the 90th anniversary in 1993, Harley-Davidson has held celebratory rides to Milwaukee from all four corners of the United States that are called the Ride Home. There, Harley owners from around the Nation and the world celebrate Harley- Davidson's success every 5 years at Harleyfest. They can also experience more than 100 years of Harley-Davidson's rich history at the Harley-Davidson Museum. The museum was built in 2008 and has quickly become one of Milwaukee's top tourist destinations. prgtoken Anyone who has ridden a Harley knows that they make more than just world-class motorcycles; they create a sense of freedom that comes from exploring the roads of the world. In spite of differences in age, gender, occupation, lifestyle and background, Harley riders all share a sense of adventure and a passion for the open road. prgtoken The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is an American icon, a Milwaukee staple and a symbol of freedom. I am delighted to see the company thriving after 115 years and look forward to many more years of success to come.
REMEMBERING JOHN McCAIN
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-8-27

this week, of course, we remember and honor our colleague and an American hero John McCain. He embodied our most cherished values of service and sacrifice, and he understood the principles that make our country great. prgtoken One of those principles, as we know, is our First Amendment protections for a free and independent press. Something I always admired about Senator McCain, even before I got to know him well many years ago, was his openness with the journalists, the workaday reporters who were doing their jobs every day and who covered him on behalf of the American people. He didn't hide from the people he served, and he was always willing to stand up for freedom of the press. prgtoken When those freedoms came under attack, he stood up and said to journalists: ``The fact is we need you.'' He wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in January that I would like to quote from. This op-ed was partly in response to the President's declaring several times, repeatedly, that the media are enemies of the people. John McCain put that to rest with these comments: Ultimately, freedom of information is critical for a democracy to succeed. . . . Journalists play a major role in the promotion and protection of democracy and our unalienable rights, and they must be able to do their jobs freely. Only truth and transparency can guarantee freedom. prgtoken Senator McCain was right. We will miss his moral leadership on this issue and his moral leadership on so many others. It is up to all of us to continue to stand up for the freedom of the press to serve and inform our communities. That is why I want to highlight, like I do every week, yet another story in an Ohio paper informing the public, reported by a journalist serving her community. prgtoken Last week, the Dayton Daily News ran a story by staff writer Emily Kronenberger on the opening of the city of Trotwood's new, renovated community and cultural arts center. The facility was in need of major repairs and had been shuttered for a decade. After this major remodeling, the center is reopening and will provide the community with art exhibits, concerts, and classes. prgtoken Ms. Kronenberger talked to the Trotwood city manager, who said the new center ``will make impacts on the community and region for decades to come.'' prgtoken The paper also informed Miami Valley readers about a new partnership with Central State University. The school will have a satellite office in the reopened community center that will offer 4-H youth development programs on everything from agriculture to engineering to scholarship opportunities. prgtoken This kind of reporting is what journalists do every single day in Ohio, in Oklahoma, and across this country. They do their jobs: They serve their readers, they serve their viewers, and they serve their communities. prgtoken As we pay our respects to Senator McCain this week, let us also recommit ourselves to
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 115-3
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-8-28

I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on August 28, 2018, by the President of the United States: amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America, Treaty Document No. 115-3. I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PROFESSOR LAWRENCE A. JEGEN III
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-8-28

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the late Professor Lawrence A. Jegen III, a pillar of the Indianapolis community and an outstanding teacher and mentor. For 56 years, Professor Jegen served as the Thomas F. Sheehan Professor of Tax Law and Policy at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and was an active member of the legal community. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District are forever grateful for Professor Jegen's commitment to providing his law students with an outstanding education and for his significant contributions to the state of Indiana and the nation. prgtoken Although he was a Chicago native, Professor Jegen was a long time Hoosier, dedicating more than five decades of service to Indiana University (IU) and his law students. A 1956 graduate of Beloit College, Professor Jegen earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and literature. He later attended the University of Michigan receiving his Juris Doctor in 1959 and a Masters of Business Administration in accounting in 1960. His passion for knowledge led him to New York University, where he received a Master of Laws (LL.M) in taxation in 1963. Professor Jegen began his career as an Assistant Professor of Law in 1962. He later became the Special Counsel for the Indiana Department Revenue in 1963 before becoming a full Professor of Law at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1966. During his tenure, he served on Governor Edgar Whitcomb's Commission on Medical Education in 1970 while teaching taxation, estate planning, and philanthropy. Professor Jegen is best remembered for his love of tax law and his dedication to his students, both prior to and following graduation. I am so fortunate to have been one of those students. He saw the greatness within all his pupils and found fulfillment in helping them grow. prgtoken With a proven record as an exceptional leader, Professor Jegen was appointed by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to the Commissioner's Advisory Committee in 1981. For his work, he received nine certificates of recognition from the IRS for contributions to the education of IRS personnel. Professor Jegen was a driving force behind the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), helping to draft the bill and testifying before Congress. After the bill's passage in 1974, he attended the signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House at the invitation of President Gerald Ford. ERISA remains an important tax and labor act of legislation today, becoming the underpinning of current pension and 401(k) plans. Professor Jegen also co-founded the Indiana Bar Review, the official bar exam review course of the Indianapolis Bar Association. This program is specifically designed to prepare future Indiana lawyers to practice Indiana law. Here he conducted over 400 bar review tax lectures spanning more than 35 years. Ever dedicated to education, he l
Remembering John McCain (Executive Calendar)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-8-28

I rise to pay tribute to an American hero, a powerful leader, and a dear friend, Senator John McCain. After decades of dedicated service to this Nation, John was taken from us over the weekend. The good Senator from Arizona fought his battle with brain cancer as he did every battle in his life, with toughness and tenacity, with grit, and with grace. This week, I join millions in mourning the passing of a beloved patriot. Over a prgtoken lifetime of selfless service, John came to embody the very pinnacle of American virtue, courage, commitment, integrity, and sacrifice. These are the precepts he lived by and by which he will always be remembered. prgtoken No one is more worthy of the word ``hero'' than John McCain. The Senate--indeed, I should say, the Nation--will miss the steady, guiding presence of a singular statesman. prgtoken By now, the biographical details of Senator McCain's life have been covered at length. The son of a four-star Navy admiral, John knew great expectations from an early age. He was to forgo the comforts of civilian life and fight for freedom, which he did. prgtoken What is exceptional about John McCain is that he not only met the heavy expectations placed upon him, he far exceeded them. Few have ever risen to the positions of influence that John McCain did. Fewer still have done so and kept their character intact, but Senator John McCain did. Indeed, he never parted from it. As a prisoner of war in Vietnam, John was offered release on multiple occasions. Yet he refused each offer until the POWs incarcerated before him were also released. prgtoken Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his country, for his friends. John possessed such love, proving time and again his willingness to lay down his life for his brothers in uniform. As a captive, John McCain personified selfless sacrifice, offering himself as a bargaining chip to secure the freedom of his fellow countrymen. prgtoken Each day, for more than 2,000 days, he endured horrors that few of us could ever imagine: solitary confinement, forced starvation, repeated beatings, and the constant threat of death. Yet he stayed the course, finding strength in the love he felt for his fellow servicemen--and most of all, the love he felt for his beloved country. prgtoken When John was eventually released in the spring of 1973, he came home a living scar of Vietnam. The cartilage in his knees was all but gone, the bones in his body broken by endless beatings. He was a walking testament to the brutalities of torture and the depths of human depravity, but the hell of war was not enough to stop John McCain from being a happy warrior. Upon his return, he continued the same mission he started in Vietnam: looking out for the safety and welfare of his fellow sailors. prgtoken Few remember that the time before John was elected to Congress, he was the Navy's Senate liaison. It was in this capacity that he and I f
REMEMBERING JOHN McCAIN
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2018-8-28

today I wish to join my colleagues in saying goodbye to our friend and mentor, John McCain. prgtoken As our country and the world grieves for his loss, we remember him as he was: a father, husband, grandfather, a war hero, and a dedicated public servant who loved this country. prgtoken We remember his extraordinary story and how the tragic and painful experiences he endured gave him the uncommon strength we all knew so well. prgtoken Most of all, I remember John for his passion. He was a fearless advocate for American values and a champion of democratic ideals. prgtoken When I was elected to serve the people of Nebraska in this Chamber, I became a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Serving on this committee has been an honor, but one of the greatest privileges it offered was the opportunity to work with John McCain. prgtoken As a senior member and chairman, Senator McCain set the tone for the committee. We all benefited from his good instincts, his unfailing energy, his unwavering values, and, of course, his sense of humor. prgtoken His leadership fostered an environment that led to bold reforms. He embraced and encouraged the heated debates. But John knew how to unite the committee, how to compromise, and how to refocus members on our fundamental responsibility: providing for the defense of the Nation he loved so dearly. prgtoken As much as John was an inspiration to us, he was truly a global figure who took his message of liberty to some of the darkest regions of the globe. All prgtoken around the world, people had such respect for John McCain. Traveling with him, I witnessed firsthand the weight and authority his words carried with foreign leaders. This strong global support reflects the effect he had on this world and the legacy he leaves behind. prgtoken Last fall, Senator McCain addressed the brigade of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. He said: ``My appreciation for those lessons and for the friendships I made here bring me back often. So does my gratitude for the life of adventure the Naval Academy prepared me for, and for the privilege of being a bit player in the story of America that the Navy made possible.'' prgtoken John was not just a bit player in our Nation's story. He was a man who served our country in war and peace with courage and honor. prgtoken This weekend, John will return to Annapolis for a final time, but generations from now, Americans will still be inspired by his story, that of a hero committed to his nation and willing to live a life of service. prgtoken He has carried our Nation's highest ideals through the darkest of times, and he remains an enduring example of selfless dedication to country. prgtoken I know I join so many of my colleagues here in the Senate in sending our love and prayers to Cindy and the rest of John's family, who supported him every step of the way. prgtoken John McCain will certainly be missed here in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Though he is n
Introductory Statement on S. 3403
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-8-28

today I am introducing the Clean Air Refugee Assistance Act of 2018 to help Americans who have been driven away from their homes by choking, hazardous wildfire smoke. Western wildfires are getting bigger, hotter, and more difficult to fight and scientists says it's only likely to get worse. prgtoken Folks back home in Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest already know what I'm talking about because they're on the front lines of these disasters. With dryer summers and lower snow packs, wildfires rage across the West. They're threatening lives, homes, and businesses and generating so much smoke that they're creating what I call clean air refugees. prgtoken These are people who can't go outside and, in some cases, who must flee their homes and communities to find pockets of fresh air. prgtoken I'm talking about children suffering from asthma and other conditions and seniors who need a respirator to breathe. prgtoken In some cases, Oregonians lacking access to safe, clean air are being told to seek shelter in public places like libraries and government buildings. prgtoken My legislation would help provide some relief by opening the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Transitional Sheltering Assistance program to people seeking temporary shelter from wildfire smoke. prgtoken This program already permits FEMA to pay for temporary lodging for people who can't immediately return home following a disaster. prgtoken My bill would permit clean air refugees to apply if they live in an area where the air quality index is determined to be unhealthy for at least three consecutive days as the result of a wildfire declared to be a major disaster by the President or Governor of the affected state. prgtoken FEMA-approved applicants would pick from a list of participating hotels and motels and FEMA would pay the lodging costs. prgtoken , the Federal government needs to step up and be a better partner on these wildfires and it can start by helping Americans who have been driven from their homes find some refuge. prgtoken Passing the Clean Air Refugee Assistance Act would be a breath of fresh air for folks struggling to escape the choking smoke, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.