mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Confirmation of Heather Wilson (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-5-8

I am honored to speak tonight after casting my vote to confirm Dr. Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force. I have known Heather for nearly 20 years and submit that President could not have selected a more qualified candidate to lead the Air Force in these demanding times. I am pleased that the Senate was finally able to confirm her nomination, and I wish her great success. prgtoken As an Air Force veteran, former Member of Congress, and most recently the leader of one of the top science and engineering schools, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dr. Wilson has repeatedly demonstrated leadership abilities that will serve her and the Air Force well in this next chapter. prgtoken Her commitment to duty links back to her time as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, where she was a distinguished graduate. In fact, she will be the Academy's first graduate in history to serve as a Secretary of the Air Force. Dr. Wilson went on to serve as an Air Force officer in Europe during the Cold War, where she was based in the United Kingdom and at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. Upon leaving the Air Force, she served on the National Security Council staff of President George H.W working on NATO and conventional arms control. prgtoken At a time when America's partnerships are being challenged by threats around the world, I am confident that her experience will lend a steady hand to our military decisionmaking. prgtoken Dr. Wilson will also bring with her great experience honed in the Halls of Congress. At the start of her decades-long representation of New Mexico's First Congressional District, she quickly became one of the go-to Members on national security issues. Heather took on tough issues not unlike the ones she will surely face as Secretary of the Air Force. Whether on issues of strategic objectives and readiness or personnel matters, such as military sexual assault, she is prepared to have frank discussions on the issues and will contribute insightful proposals on how to best tackle the many challenges facing the Air Force. She understands not only the Air Force's key capabilities but the perilous outcomes we may face as a nation if we do not properly train and fund our military. She knows that rising to meet the challenges of the day must be done with an eye to the future so we may also deter and defeat the threats of tomorrow. prgtoken At a time when national security is of foremost concern, Dr. Wilson understands the Air Force's tremendous responsibility in keeping Americans safe and will be guided by the core values of the Force: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that the Air Force does. prgtoken I could not be happier for my friend, Dr. Heather Wilson, and wish her and her husband Jay the best of luck. South Dakota and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are losing an asset, but I am confident that the new era of excellence He
IN HONOR OF PATRICK LEONARD
Rod Blum (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today to honor Mr. Patrick Leonard of Dubuque, Iowa for his year of service as President of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association. prgtoken A fellow graduate of my own alma mater, Loras College, Mr. Leonard has successfully owned and operated his funeral home in Dubuque since 1990. His year as President of the Association has been marked by faithful leadership of the IFDA Board of Governors as they pursued IFDA's mission of promoting and supporting funeral service excellence. prgtoken Since coming to Congress in 2014, I have seen firsthand the dedication, enthusiasm, and passion that Mr. Leonard brings to his profession every day. Last summer, we were honored to have Mr. Leonard represent the IFDA at my congressional office's Dubuque Senior Wellness Fair. He understands that leadership is about stepping up and getting involved personally in service of the mission. prgtoken Mr. Leonard also finds time to give back to his community. Just last year, after months of preparation and coordination with the U.S. Navy, Mr. Leonard oversaw the return of a WWII veteran's remains back to Iowa. Mr. Leonard expressed to me how much of an honor this was for him, and how this project signified the importance of funeral services to those who pass, and their loved ones. prgtoken On behalf of the nearly 700 licensed funeral directors in Iowa, I want to again thank and recognize Mr. Leonard for his exemplary service as President of the IFDA.
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL ``MICKEY'' GORAL
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-8

. Today, , I want to honor my friend Michael ``Mickey'' Goral. For nearly four decades, Mickey has held elected office in prgtoken Rockford, the county seat of Winnebago County, IL. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him to serve Rockford and Winnebago County for many years. prgtoken A lifelong resident of Rockford, Mickey Goral grew up on Rockford's west end graduated from Boyland High School and Northern Illinois University with a B.A. in political science. He served on the county board for 18 years before being elected Rockford township supervisor and has held that post for 20 years. prgtoken At 63 years young, Mickey decided not to seek reelection, but refuses to use the word ``retirement.'' He said: I hesitate to use the `R' word because I don't play golf, I don't fish, and I have no other hobbies.'' Public service is all that is in Mickey's blood. prgtoken Oftentimes, public service becomes about accolades--not for Mickey. He simply aimed to make a difference in people's lives. Overseeing a $1.6 million general assistance office, Mickey led a nine-person team responsible for providing assistance to the communities most vulnerable: those with no other source of income. His mission was always clear and simple: treat all people with respect, dignity, and compassion in providing basic human needs to families while they are on the road to self-sufficiency, and that is what he did. Mickey's years of service to the people of Rockford show that public service can make a real difference in people's lives. Following the great recession of 2008, his general assistant office dealt with more than 150 open cases every month. Today, that number in a typical month is cut in half. That is the king of progress Mickey delivered for real working folks in Rockford. prgtoken Mickey Goral also had the privilege of serving as the president of the Township Officials of Illinois, bringing professionalism and training for township governments throughout my home State of Illinois, but for all his accomplishments, Mickey was most proud to the Rockford township supervisor because his government role was one that was closest to the people, which meant he had the opportunity to help his friends and neighbors. We need more people like Mickey Goral. prgtoken I especially want to thank Mickey's wife, Tami, and twin daughters, Karley and Kiley, for sharing so much of their husband and father with the community. I am honored to congratulate him on a job well done and wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.
HONORING MR. TED HALL
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today to honor Mr. Ted Hall, who is being honored as the 2017 Napa Valley Grower of the Year at the Napa Valley Grapegrowers' 42nd annual dinner. prgtoken Mr. Hall has a long and successful history of management and leadership within the wine industry in California and throughout the nation. A native of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Mr. Hall received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and went on to earn his MBA from Stanford University. prgtoken Before coming to Napa Valley, Mr. Hall developed his true love of the land while living on his family's farm in the township of Potter, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is an active jazz trombonist and piano player. prgtoken Mr. Hall exemplifies the values of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. He is dedicated, shows good judgement, and pays attention to the details that matter. He has served as President & CEO of Long Meadow Ranch since 1989. Additionally, Mr. Hall serves on the board of directors for numerous educational, charitable, and arts organizations. Drawing on his knowledge and success in the vineyard industry, Mr. Hall represents and advocates on behalf of growers as Chairman of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and as a member of the Industry Issues Committee. prgtoken As someone who shares his great community pride for Napa Valley, Mr. Hall looks to the region's future by sharing his expertise with the next generation of growers and farmers. He is the current Chairman of the St. Helena High School Agriculture Education Committee and the Napa County Agriculture Protection Advisory Committee (APAC). Mr. Hall supports multiple conservation easements in Napa County and is a member of a variety of public and private organizations involved in food and agriculture. prgtoken , Ted Hall has had a remarkable career as a business leader in our Napa Valley community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.
REMEMBERING DR. CYNTHIA ``CYNDI'' RAY AND TRIBUTE TO SEAN ENGLISH
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-5-8

today I wish to recognize the heroic actions of prgtoken Dr. Cynthia ``Cyndi'' Ray and Mr. Sean English. On Sunday, April 2, 2017, Dr. Ray and Mr. English stopped to assist six passengers trapped in an overturned SUV on Interstate 96 near Fullerton, MI, when a second vehicle lost control and struck them. Dr. Ray was on her way to work at Henry Ford Hospital, while Mr. English and his parents were headed to St. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church in downtown Detroit, where he was expected to sing in the choir. The accident left Dr. Ray, Mr. English, and the driver of the second vehicle in critical condition, and, on April 5, 2017, Dr. Ray succumbed to her injuries, tragically passing away. Mr. English suffered a broken pelvis and lost part of his foot. prgtoken Dr. Cynthia Ray was born on August 28, 1970, in Kansas City, KS, to parents Floey--Collier--and the late Dr. Fred Ray. Growing up in the State of Oklahoma, Dr. Ray followed her father into the field of medicine. After graduating from Ross University School of Medicine in 1999 and completing her residency at St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Dr. Ray went on to practice interventional pulmonology at Henry Ford Hospital's department of pathology and radiology, in Detroit, MI. Highly regarded as a compassionate colleague and physician, Dr. Ray was part of the Henry Ford family since 2005. prgtoken Dr. Ray's talents extended far beyond medicine. As a former Henry Ford Hospital ``Campus Idol'' contestant, Dr. Ray was a gifted singer, as well as a former ballerina and admirable cook. She also cared deeply about rescuing dogs. Dr. Ray will be greatly missed in the city of Detroit, as well as across the State of Michigan. prgtoken Mr. Sean English, a junior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, is admired by his peers and his teachers. An active member of his school community, Mr. English is a star student-athlete on University of Detroit Jesuit's cross country and track team and is the reigning Catholic League champion in the 1-mile run. He is also involved in student government and serves on the student senate selection committee. In stopping to assist others in a time of need, Mr. English exemplified the mission of University of Detroit Jesuit, ``Men for Others.'' In a telling testament to his character and the impact he has made, both on his fellow students and the broader University of Detroit Jesuit community, there has been an incredible outpouring of support to both him and his family. I know the administration, faculty, parents, and students of University of Detroit Jesuit have offered their praise of Mr. English, for serving as an example of faith and perseverance, as well as his great sense of humor. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the incredible selflessness of these two good Samaritans: Dr. Cynthia Ray and Mr. Sean English. Our communities are made stronger by the actions of everyday heroes, like Dr. Ray and
Immigration Law (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today to discuss the nomination of Dr. Heather Wilson to be Secretary of the Air Force. prgtoken The Secretary of the Air Force is an important and influential position within our national security structure. As the head of the military Department, the Secretary of the Air Force oversees recruiting, organizing, training, and equipping of the force. The next Air Force Secretary will oversee the Defense Department's most complex and costly acquisition programs in history. The Secretary will also lead 495,000 Active-Duty, Guard, and Reserve members through the challenges of rebuilding long-term sustainable readiness, while contending with ongoing operational demands around the globe. prgtoken Dr. Wilson has the knowledge and expertise to serve in that role. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Rhodes scholar. She served in the House of Representatives and on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Currently, Dr. Wilson is president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. prgtoken Without question, Dr. Wilson has notable credentials, but I have significant concerns about certain of her past actions. First, Heather Wilson & Company, LLC, founded by Dr. Wilson following her tenure in Congress, had contracts with four National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, laboratories--Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Nevada National Security Site. From January 2009 through part of 2011, Dr. Wilson's company received $464,000 in payments from these laboratories for consulting services. prgtoken However, due to claims of contracting irregularities involving the company, the Department of Energy inspector general conducted two investigations into this matter. As a result, the contractors that operated the laboratories on behalf of the government paid back at least $442,877 to the Department of Energy with respect to payments made to Dr. Wilson's company. The rationale for the repayments was the absence of any appreciable evidence of work product. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin, which operated Sandia National Laboratories, agreed to an overall settlement of $4.7 million for their management failures. prgtoken Let me be clear. Dr. Wilson was not found culpable of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the allegations that were levied are serious and directly involved her company. As such, during her confirmation hearing, I asked Dr. Wilson about these contracts and the allegations of impropriety. Unfortunately, I did not receive a satisfactory response. Dr. Wilson deflected any suggestions that she bore any responsibility for these contracting irregularities. prgtoken As concerning as these allegations are, there was another incident that I found even more problematic as we reviewed Dr. Wilson's qualifications to serve as Secretary of the Air Force. In October of 2006, wh
PARIS AGREEMENT
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2017-5-8

I wish to speak in strong support of the U.N. Paris climate change agreement and in opposition to efforts to undermine this international agreement that is vital to the environmental and economic well-being of New Hampshire, the Nation, and the world. prgtoken In 2015, I joined nine of my Senate colleagues in Paris to attend the 21st U.N. Climate Change Conference, also known as COP 21, where the climate agreement was negotiated. What we witnessed at COP 21 was monumental: 195 countries representing more than 95 percent of global carbon emissions worked together to adopt the first universal climate agreement that calls for international cooperation on addressing the causes of global warming and helping poorer nations most affected by it. The following year, on Earth Day, the United States and more than 170 nations signed the international climate agreement in New York; and on November 4, 2016, the Paris Accord entered into force. prgtoken I am proud to say that the U.S. was a big part of that effort. That is why I am so disappointed to see that President is currently considering whether to pull the United States from this historic agreement. This would be a huge mistake. prgtoken No country is insulated from the increasingly present and escalating effects of climate change. In the United States, we are seeing it throughout the country, and this is certainly true in New Hampshire. Rising temperatures are shortening our fall foliage season, which is so important to our State's tourism economy. Milder winters have led to increases of insect-borne diseases that endanger our wildlife. In New Hampshire, we have already seen a 40 percent decline in our moose population. The changing climate is also putting more stress on sugar maples, and this is already affecting syrup production. prgtoken The Paris Agreement establishes a long-term, durable global framework for countries to work together to reduce carbon emissions and keep the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change. For the first time, countries have committed to putting forward ambitious, nationally determined climate targets and reporting on their progress towards those targets using a standardized process of review. The Paris Agreement encourages transparency, accountability, and collaboration among nations not only to meet their climate targets, but to encourage innovation while doing so. prgtoken That is why American business leaders are strongly in favor of continued U.S. participation in the Paris accord. From oil giants to tech firms, corporate leaders understand that the transition to clean energy presents one of the biggest economic opportunities of this century to create jobs and build wealth in this country. In fact, the International Energy Agency projects that, over the coming decades, more than $60 trillion will be invested in energy efficiency and
RAISING AWARENESS OF MARINES UNITED OFFENSIVE FACEBOOK PAGE
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-8

first and foremost, I want to thank my colleagues, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Ann Kuster, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Don Bacon, and Rep. Martha McSally, who spoke out during the May 2nd Special Order Hour on nonconsensual pornography in the military. It is critical that we continue to raise awareness about this topic and I am grateful to see Members from both parties coming together to fight this predatory and humiliating practice taking place in our military. I would also like to specifically thank Reps. Frankel and Lawrence for hosting the Special Order Hour on behalf of the ic Women's Working Group. prgtoken I am deeply passionate about stopping nonconsensual pornography in the armed services, and was disappointed to miss the Special Order Hour. I had an unavoidable conflict, since at the same time I was serving as the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Military Personnel Hearing on the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. During the hearing, I listened to brave testimony from military survivors of sexual assault and harassment who also suffered retaliation after they came forward. All members of the military deserve protection from sexual violence on the internet, in the academies, and every place else. prgtoken Marines United, and other incidents of nonconsensual pornography in the military, are examples of degrading behaviors that destroy careers and lives. prgtoken When these horrific incidents occur, it is not about sex or social media policy; it is evidence of a culture of rot that is allowed to spread by military leadership. prgtoken I am concerned that NCIS and military leadership is not taking this seriously--my staff found scores of nonconsensual pornography images on Tumblr in under 5 minutes with the search term ``Tumblr Army naked.'' These attacks go well beyond just the posting of the pictures. They are widespread and involve every branch of the military and all levels of command, as shown by the charge against Master Sgt. Theophilus Thomas. prgtoken Why is it that other crimes are punished with a zero tolerance policy and the individual is removed from service, while stalking, harassment, and the destruction of your colleague's career fails to warrant the same punishment from the military? These crimes pose a serious threat to troop readiness and morale and must be treated as such. prgtoken I am proud to be a co-lead with Congresswoman McSally on the PRIVATE Act, which would make posting consensually taken, but nonconsensually distributed intimate photos illegal under the UCMJ. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join together and support the PRIVATE Act and the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in service to our country.
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2017
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-8

I rise today in strong opposition to the American Health Care Act. My colleagues across the aisle tried and failed once before to consider this bill, but they pulled it from the House floor because they didn't have the votes. Today, they seek to pass this. amended bill, but it's just as flawed as the first. prgtoken The changes will hurt seniors, veterans, the sick, and middle and low-income individuals. Essential health benefits guaranteed in the Affordable Care Act can now be waived, comprising quality health care for those with pre-existing conditions, expectant mothers, and individuals seeking mental health and substance abuse treatment. Ultimately, millions of Americans will be harmed by this bill. prgtoken This second attempt to rush a vote on our nation's health care, without a revised Congressional Budget Office score, was quickly and carelessly crafted to meet arbitrary, deadlines and ill-conceived campaign promises. prgtoken Protecting the central coast of California's health care, particularly for the most vulnerable among us, is one of my top priorities. I urge my colleagues in the Majority party to focus not on partisan interests but serve the people. I will be voting no on this bill. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to do the same.