mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-6-29

as a father of four and a traveling family, I know how important and challenging it is for nursing mothers to find a space to care for and feed their children. As our society and economy becomes ever more transient, we need to provide spaces for mothers on the go and ease their return to the workforce. Last Congress, I helped ensure the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act became law, which eased the burden traveling mothers experienced. We need to continue easing this burden and expand facilities in public buildings. prgtoken Federal agencies, under current law, are required to provide space for nursing mothers to pump breastmilk for their newborns. Additionally, General Services Administration requires installation of these spaces for all newly constructed federal buildings, as well as those undergoing modernizations. These rooms are a simple hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that are shielded from view, free from intrusion, contain a chair, a table surface, and an electrical outlet. This is good policy and should be extended to the public when visiting Federal facilities for business or other purposes. prgtoken That is why I am introducing the Fairness For Breastfeeding Mothers Act. This legislation would simply extend the use of these facilities in public buildings to visitors, ensuring all mothers can continue to care for their children. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Merkley for being the lead as well as Congresswoman Norton's lead in the House of Representatives. I ask my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important legislation.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-6-29

I appreciate that response. prgtoken I wanted to roll through what our sanctuary cities legislation does that we just passed today, and it goes a pretty good, long, comprehensive way. prgtoken I pointed out that I brought the first sanctuary cities legislation into this Congress that I could find a record of. It was in 2005 when I brought an amendment through the Homeland Security appropriations to cut all funding to sanctuary cities. 2005. And then along the way, each opportunity that was there, I brought an amendment to cut off funding to sanctuary cities. Most of the time it was in the Judiciary, the justice appropriations bill. And I see a number of them here scattered in my memo that I asked staff to put together. prgtoken So as far back as 12 years ago, I have been working to end Federal funding going to sanctuary cities that defy local law enforcement. And we have gotten resistance from the other side of the aisle consistently. was never going to sign anything like that, but I kept beating the drum every year to cut off funding to sanctuary cities. prgtoken Finally, I introduced the legislation on sanctuary cities in 2015, and then again at the beginning of this Congress. And Chairman Bob Goodlatte was gracious enough to pull that together so we could bring it to the floor today. And we have had a lot of cooperation from many others on this. prgtoken I see the first date I introduced the sanctuary cities legislation as a standalone bill was November 4 of 2015, and here we are today finally passing it. prgtoken I thought I had been at it for a long time, , and it added up to 12 years that I have been actively engaged, at least--maybe 14-- until I talked to Congressman Lou Barletta from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, who, as a mayor in 1999, began to raise the issue and made it a national issue. He was selected to this Congress. He has been at it 18 years. Others have been at this a long time, too. prgtoken So many of us are grateful today that the sanctuary cities language has passed and that Sarah's Law, Kate's Law, all of that that I was able to introduce into this Congress has passed out of the House of Representatives and messaged to the Senate. And I hope the Senate picks it up. prgtoken The sanctuary cities language does this: prgtoken It bans their policies, for starters, . prgtoken It blocks the Department of Justice grants to the sanctuary cities that defy Federal law and refuse to cooperate with Federal law enforcement on immigration. And those grants would be generally grants that have to do with law enforcement that would be effected by DOJ. prgtoken It allows the Department of Homeland Security to refuse warrants from the sanctuary cities. The sanctuary cities might serve a warrant to someone in custody, and DHS can say: We are not going to hand this person over to you because we are pretty confident you are just going to turn them loose on the streets. prgtoken So that piece in there is a
IN MEMORY OF BILL SHEALY
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-6-29

on December 14, 2016, South Carolina lost an American Hero with the passing of Bill Shealy. Bill and his brothers have an extraordinary history of military service during World War II. Of the seven brothers in the Shealy family, five served at the Invasion of Normandy, including Bill. prgtoken Bill and his twin brother, Bobby Shealy, served with the U.S. Navy on the same ship, the USS Dale W. Peterson. Remarkably, the USS Dale W. Peterson captured a German submarine headed to New York and the crew held the submarine for ten days until relief arrived to transport the submarine and its crew. During its final deployment to Japan, the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and the ship was ordered to return to Pearl Harbor. prgtoken I am grateful for the admirable service and sacrifice of Bill Shealy and his brothers. The following thoughtful obituary was published in The State on December 16, 2016: WEST COLUMBIA--Services for Billy ``Bill'' Shealy, 91, will be conducted at 11:00 am, Saturday, December 17, 2016, at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church with The Rev. Eric Friedrichs officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m Friday, December 16, 2016, at Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel. Memorials may be made to Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church ``Growing on Holy Ground Fund'', 3011 Leaphart Rd West Columbia, SC 29169. Mr. Shealy died Wednesday, December 14, 2016. Born December 2, 1925, in Cayce, SC, he was a son of the late Thad Shealy and Lizzie Derrick Shealy. A member of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, the Henri Bishop Sunday School Class, and Woodmen of the World Lodge 1276, he had retired from SC Department of Mental Health as an electronic technician. A US Navy and WWII veteran, he was in the Normandy invasion along with four of his brothers. Survivors include his daughter Renee Coleman-Greenbaum (Dave); son Edwin Shealy; grandchildren; Amanda Robinette (Eddie), Russell Coleman (Brandy); great grandchildren Alex and Parker Greer; Zeke Coleman; brother Joe Shealy (Margie); along with many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Risinger Shealy, brothers Ryan Shealy, Carroll Shealy, Muller ``Mutt'' Shealy, Charles ``Chick'' Shealy, Bobby Shealy; sisters Fredia Keisler, and Vanna Royalty.
THE LAST BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-6-29

as we plan to celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, it is important for us also to recognize a human rights tragedy and an abomination of democracy as totalitarian rulers of Venezuela are suppressing their people in our southern hemisphere. prgtoken To call attention to this tragic situation where thousands of people are being suppressed, where armed mobs are running around the streets intimidating people, and where Venezuelans cannot achieve the basic necessities of life, I include in the Record an article that recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal, ``The Last Battle for Democracy in Venezuela,'' and to call attention to the human rights tragedy which is occurring in South America. [From The Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2017] The Last Battle for Democracy in Venezuela prgtoken Under Nicolas Maduro, a county that had been one of Latin America's wealthiest is having its democratic institutions shredded amid rising poverty and corruption (By David Luhnow and Jose de Cordoba) Almost two decades after Venezuela's late president, Hugo Chavez, came to power in an electoral landslide, his country's transformation seems to be taking an ominous new turn. A country that was once one of one America's wealthiest is seeing its democratic institutions collapse, leading to levels of disease, hunger and dysfunction more often seen in war-torn nations than oil-rich ones. Mr. Chavez's successor, President Nicolas Maduro, has called for a National Constitutional Assembly to be elected on July 30 to draft a new constitution, in which ill-defined communal councils will take the place of Venezuela's traditional governing institutions, such as state governments and the opposition-dominated Congress. The new assembly appears to be rigged to heavily represent groups that back the government. The Maduro government says that the new assembly will find a peaceful way forward for a country enduring an economic depression and standing on the brink of civil conflict. The government says it is building on the legacy of Mr. Chavez, a military man who vowed to fight corruption, dismantle the venal old political establishment and be a voice for millions of poor Venezuelans. But the opposition, which is boycotting the assembly vote, calls it a naked attempt to end democracy and turn the country into a Cuba-style communist autocracy. The government's own attorney general calls the vote illegal. The 545-member assembly, a modern-day soviet, would hold unlimited power while it writes a new governing charter, which could take years. Meantime, the assembly is widely expected to scrap next year's presidential elections. ``This is the last battle for democracy in Venezuela,'' says Da
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-6-29

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
COMBATING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-6-29

most Americans get it. Frankly, it is just common sense. We can't continue to reward folks who come to our country illegally while those who work hard and play by the rules struggle to get ahead. prgtoken It is way past time to fix our broken immigration policies in America. prgtoken Today, the House is considering two commonsense reforms to combat illegal immigration, restore rule of law, and protect public safety. prgtoken The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act defunds sanctuary cities and cracks down on dangerous sanctuary city policies that shield criminal investigations from Federal immigration enforcement and puts American citizens at risk. prgtoken Kate's Law increases penalties for deported felons who return to America and commit further crimes. prgtoken Kate's Law was named after a young woman who was tragically gunned down by a five-time deported felon nearly 2 years ago to this day. It is outrageous. prgtoken The Federal Government's first duty is to protect its citizens. I urge my colleagues to support these much-needed reforms and then do more to stop illegal immigration in the United States.
HONORING AL ST. LAWRENCE
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-6-29

I rise today to recognize the Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Department's construction of its newest training facility, which memorializes long-time Sheriff Al St. Lawrence. prgtoken After 21 years of service as an officer, St. Lawrence ran for Chatham County Sheriff in 1992. Because of his outstanding service to our community, his constituents reelected him five times. He held this position until he passed away on November 25, 2015. prgtoken Sheriff St. Lawrence was also responsible for overseeing the significant renovation of the county jail, which ultimately added an additional 400,000 square feet to the facility and doubled inmate occupancy. prgtoken Remembering Sheriff St. Lawrence's dedication to training personnel, the Chatham County Police Department developed the Al St. Lawrence Recruitment and Training Range. This range will not only provide effective training resources to officers but will also house the Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Division and the U.S. Marshals Service. prgtoken The facility is located on 10 acres of property at the Chatham County Sheriff's Office and includes several training ranges, including cable ranges, steel target ranges, and a Rogers Range, which improves an officer's aim when discharging a firearm. prgtoken Twice a month, the facility will also host a civilian gun class, which is open to the public. Educating the public on firearm safety will reduce the risk of accidental deaths from the misuse of guns. prgtoken Sheriff St. Lawrence's enduring service will forever be etched in the history of Chatham County, and his contributions will ensure that Chatham County will remain a safe, thriving community for years to come. Lineman Appreciation
RECOGNIZING RETIRED COLONEL ROBERT A. ATOR, II
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-6-29

I rise today to recognize the importance of foster families around Arkansas and the organizations dedicated to their recruitment. prgtoken According to recent Arkansas data, the number of foster youths has outpaced the number of spaces available in foster homes by 1,283. Many families have already stepped up to the plate to provide a loving home for children in the foster system. prgtoken One such family, Andrew and Amy Baker of Searcy, Arkansas, was recently named Foster Family of the Year by our State's Division of Children and Family Services for their prgtoken dedicated efforts to reunify foster children with their biological parents. prgtoken In addition, there are organizations around our State that have been at the forefront of recruitment efforts for foster families, including 50 families in the month of April alone. prgtoken One such organization is entitled The CALL, locally directed by Lauri Currier, who notes that a stable, loving home can make a huge difference in a child's life, specifically with regard to escaping the grasp of neglect and abuse. prgtoken Today I want to emphasize Ms. Currier's statement that if one family from each of the 6,000 churches around Arkansas came forward to adopt, no more children would ever be waiting for a forever family. Fishing with a Hero Summer Program
Abolish Human Trafficking Act (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-6-29

I want to come to the floor to talk about healthcare, a subject I know the Presiding Officer feels passionate about as a medical doctor. But before I delve into the healthcare debate, I want to discuss briefly two important bipartisan pieces of legislation that I have been working on with my colleagues across the aisle and that are moving forward today. prgtoken I know the strange thing about this place--by ``this place'' I mean Washington, DC--is that the bipartisan work we are able to do rarely gets much attention. What gets attention in the news is when we fight over controversial topics, but bipartisan legislation that actually helps people and that gets done here is rarely heralded or even noticed. So I think it is worth highlighting a couple of examples today. prgtoken Today, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we passed the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, which I introduced with Senator Klobuchar. As the father of two daughters, I am always reminded of the profile of a victim of human trafficking in this country, a girl between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, who perhaps has run away from home. Who knows what the circumstances are at home? But they are looking for a better life, only to find themselves in too many instances exploited and the victims of human trafficking. prgtoken This bill reauthorizes several critical trafficking victims protection act programs that help fight the scourge of trafficking so that survivors can get the help they need and our law enforcement officers can go after the perpetrators of this terrible crime. prgtoken A vital provision of this bill is an extension of the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund, which provides critical resources that victims need to recover from this crime. Part of the fund is financed through fines collected on convicted traffickers, and last year it provided almost $5 million in services for victims. Let me dwell on that for just a minute. prgtoken When I was privileged to be attorney general of the State of Texas, part of the job was to administer the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. This was a fund into which fines and penalties of people convicted of criminal acts went into the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund, so we could then use grants for the victims of crime to help them recover. That is exactly the kind of model we created with the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund. My hope is that over time it will produce more money that will be available to help the victims of human trafficking to a greater extent. That is the idea, and these are not tax dollars, so that is an additional benefit. It is actually the fines and penalties of the perpetrators that go into this fund that then help the victims to heal. prgtoken This bill also makes the Human Trafficking Advisory Council permanent so that the group of survivors who advise people like us on what additional tools are needed to combat trafficking can continue to do so. prgtoken On th
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Scott DesJarlais (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-6-29

today I want to address illegal immigration and what House s are doing to ensure Americans' safety. This week, we voted to defund sanctuary cities that harbor criminals like the man who murdered Kate Steinle in San Francisco. prgtoken My heart goes out to her parents and families around the country who have lost loved ones to foreign nationals who should have never been in this country in the first place. prgtoken We passed Kate's Law to increase penalties on previously deported illegal immigrants. Also, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act would defund sanctuary cities and prevent lawsuits against local governments that follow Federal law. prgtoken Shockingly, Nashville, in my home State of Tennessee, has been considering a sanctuary bill, even though murders this year already outnumber last year's total. prgtoken Some on the city council want Nashville to become a magnet for violent gangs that transport drugs and human beings. Sanctuary policies endanger not only San Francisco or Nashville but the entire U.S. prgtoken President is cracking down on immigration crime. Illegal border crossings are down, and arrests and deportations of criminal aliens are up, just as Americans demanded last November. prgtoken Here in the House, we are keeping our promises and our country safe.
HONORING IVAN LEE WELTY
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-7-3

I rise today in recognition of Ivan Lee Welty, as he retires from a 45-year career as an engineer and land surveyor on the Mendocino Coast. prgtoken Born in Hill City, Kansas, in 1942, Mr. Welty received his degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University before making his way to Mendocino, California. He distinguished himself quickly by participating in efforts to establish the Class K Housing designation that expanded affordable housing options in rural Mendocino County. In 1975 he started his business, I.L. Welty and Associates, which has provided engineering and design services for more than 40 years. prgtoken As a business owner, Mr. Welty provided pro bono engineering and design work to numerous nonprofits including the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the Humane Society, the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, the Kelley House Museum, and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to donating his time, Mr. Welty paid his staff to assist on many of these projects over the years. prgtoken Mr. Welty married the love of his life, Sally, in 1974. Together they were active in many environmental and community issues. They helped found the Mendocino Land Trust and reinstitute the historic Mendocino Fourth of July Parade. They were also strong supporters of the Mendocino Whale Wars, in which community members fought the international whaling fleets to end whaling in and around Cape Mendocino. The first Mendocino Whale War Festival, now the Mendocino Coast Whale Festival, swiftly became an annual tradition that continues today. prgtoken Lee Welty's career is one of dedicated service to his community and the environment. Please join me in congratulating him on his retirement and expressing our deep appreciation for his outstanding contributions to the Mendocino Coast.
CONGRATULATING REP. MIKE TYRON ON BEING NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF THE CRYSTAL LAKE INDEPENDENCE PARADE
Peter J. Roskam (Republican, IL) \u2014 2017-7-3

I rise today to recognize a dedicated public servant from the Sixth Congressional District of Illinois, Representative Mike Tyron of Crystal Lake. In July, he was named the Grand Marshal of the Crystal Lake 2017 Independence Parade. prgtoken As a resident of Crystal Lake since 1983, Representative Tyron has served as a model citizen. He first entered public office in 1989 as a McHenry County Board member, and nine years later was unanimously selected to be its Chairman. He served in this capacity until being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2004. prgtoken During his tenure as a state representative, Representative Tyron was an exemplary leader and public servant. He spearheaded a rewriting of the tax-cap law to save taxpayers millions of dollars and close a loophole. He pushed an initiative to create an online transparency portal to list all state government salaries, contracts and expenditures, one of the first of its kind. He also helped create the county veterans' courts. The specialized court allows returning veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or other service-related disabilities who commit nonviolent offenses to receive treatment and have charges dismissed upon successful completion of the program. prgtoken Representative Tyron has represented McHenry County, Crystal Lake, and the surrounding community well. He has been a strong voice for the Village of Crystal Lake throughout his time in public office. His long service to the people of Crystal Lake and to Illinois is truly commendable. Although he retired from public service in January, Crystal Lake will continue to benefit from his involvement as a member of the community. prgtoken and distinguished colleagues, please join me in congratulating Representative Mike Tyron on 28 years of public service, and on being named the Grand Marshal of the Crystal Lake 2017 Independence Parade.