mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING BEA LUMPKIN: 100 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF ACTIVISTS
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-7-31

Beatrice Shapiro Lumpkin came roaring into the world in 1918 in New York City, the daughter of Russian immigrants. An activist for social justice from her earliest days, Bea credits her parents with teaching her the importance of collective action in the face of social injustice, a principle that has guided her life. prgtoken In the 1930s, Bea threw herself feet first into the social and political struggles transforming the nation during the Great Depression. She attended rallies and stood on street corners denouncing Hitler and the wave of fascism gripping Europe. She participated in the 1930 National Hunger Protest that saw one million unemployed people descend on their state capitols demanding relief. Bea joined the fight for unemployment insurance and Social Security--all before she graduated from high school in 1934. prgtoken Bea enrolled in Hunter College, a free college for women where she studied chemistry. At just 18, she took time off from school to accept the challenge of organizing New York's laundry workers, a campaign that resulted in 30,000 people (mostly women) organized under the newly- formed Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO). prgtoken Bea moved to Buffalo in 1942 where she married and had two children, Carl and Jeanleah. She and her husband amicably divorced and Bea went to work for Western Electric. Bea still found time to organize a Wallace for President Committee in support of Progressive Party Candidate Henry Wallace's bid for the presidency. At a fundraiser for Wallace, Bea met her partner and the love of her life Frank Lumpkin. As an interracial couple, they encountered many hard looks and racial slurs. prgtoken The two married in 1949 and moved to Gary, Indiana, where they had two more children, Paul and John. Bea and Frank were an impressive team. When they discovered that the septic tanks in their predominantly African-American neighborhood had contaminated the water wells, they organized their neighbors and launched a seven-year battle that won them safe drinking water. prgtoken In 1962, Bea and Frank moved to Chicago, where for decades they were involved in every civil rights struggle--and there were many. They joined the fight for fair housing, against lynching, and against segregation. prgtoken Bea began her career in education at age 47 when she became a Chicago Public School teacher. She later became an assistant math professor at Malcolm X College, publishing numerous groundbreaking books on the multicultural roots of mathematics and science. To this day, she is an active member of the Chicago Teachers Union, never missing a rally, always fighting for the rights of teachers and their students who deserve a quality education. prgtoken In 1983, Harold Washington, former Illinois State Senator and U.S. Congressman, ignited the hopes and dreams of Chicagoans across the city when he ran for and won election as mayor. Bea and Frank were on the frontline of the campaign a
NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-7-31

the Senate has a duty and a responsibility to methodically review a Supreme Court nominee's record. That is why, in past years, the Senate has sent bipartisan letters-- bipartisan--to the National Archives and Presidential libraries requesting the necessary information on a nominee. and s agreed that however we would ultimately vote, transparency and openness were principles we all shared. prgtoken It appears that bipartisan tradition has been tossed aside. It was fine for our friends when they were in the minority and President nominated candidates to the Supreme Court. But the double standard is glaring, enormous, and detrimental to America. prgtoken Now the majority has cast aside ic wishes for openness and transparency and has made a partisan request for only a small subset of Judge Kavanaugh's records. It is such a break from precedent that we have to wonder: What are the s hiding about Judge Kavanaugh's record? What are they so afraid of that they tie themselves in knots--into a pretzel--to contradict everything they stood for when they were in the minority? prgtoken Today, every on the Judiciary Committee has joined Ranking Member Feinstein in making a formal request of the National Archives to provide the exact same universe of documents provided during the confirmation of Justice Kagan. When I say the same request, I mean the exact same request. prgtoken The Judiciary Committee has updated the letter to refer to Judge Kavanaugh, but in every other way it is identical to the request that and s made for Justice Kagan that s insisted on when she was nominated by President . prgtoken By the way, it was Senate s who insisted on this standard during previous confirmations even though our nominee might be exposed, agreed because we believed in openness, and we are not hypocritical in saying that it is only good when we are in charge, not when you are in charge. We believe it works both ways. prgtoken Ranking Member Feinstein has made it clear that we don't need or want every single scrap of paper from Judge Kavanaugh's time as Staff Secretary, but to review none--none--of the nominee's records for most of his senior role in the White House is an act of what might be called willful opacity. That is why we are not following very sensible, bipartisan precedent now. prgtoken Judge Kavanaugh himself has said that his time as Staff Secretary was especially useful to him as a judge and that his time in the White House made him a better interpreter of statutes. I hope that the National Archives will understand the dilemma we are in and the unusual circumstance we are in, and, ultimately, I hope my colleagues will understand and that both the Archives, either on its own or with acquiescence, will make the right decision in the interests of transparenc
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF MAMIE PINDER
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-7-31

I am humbled to honor the life of my dear friend and beloved member of our South Florida Community, Mamie Pinder. prgtoken Mamie passed away at the age of 79, leaving behind an amazing legacy of service to our community's children and families. prgtoken As a school teacher and prominent GOP political activist in South Florida, she worked tirelessly to advocate for the needs of others each and every day. prgtoken Mamie pioneered the Miami-Dade County program for English for Students of Other Languages, a program affording children the ability to learn English while in school. prgtoken Mamie's curriculum enriched the lives of so many children and their families, and I was honored to join her in her efforts to improve our community, one child at a time. prgtoken In addition to teaching in our schools, she served as a voice for the African American and female communities, at home and abroad. prgtoken Whether she was organizing an advocacy event, or spearheading the agenda for the Old Cutler Woman's Club, Mamie's commitment to equality and fair rights remained steadfast. prgtoken She was a courageous conservative woman who never ceased to put the needs of others before her own, and her determination to better the lives of those around her was an inspiration to us all. prgtoken , I am honored to recognize this upstanding woman, and I am confident that her memory will live on through all those she knew. prgtoken Mamie Pinder was loved by so many and I join her family and friends in celebrating the life of this teacher and patriot. prgtoken God Speed, Mi Amiga my friend.
TRIBUTE TO PATRICK BINDER
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-7-31

today I recognize the hard work of my Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee intern Patrick Binder. Patrick hails from Yankton, SD. He is a rising senior history major at Yale University. prgtoken While interning for the Commerce Committee, Patrick assisted the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. He is a dedicated worker who was always willing to tackle new projects. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Patrick and wish him continued success in the future.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-7-31

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.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-7-31

now on another matter, we learned last week that second-quarter real GDP growth exceeded 4 percent. That is the best quarterly growth rate in 4 years and one of the strongest reports since the great recession. prgtoken Earlier this month, we learned that new claims for unemployment insurance recently reached the lowest level since--listen to this--1969 and that the number of continuing claims, week to week, is lower than it has been at any point since 1973. Let me say that another way. Notwithstanding almost half a century of population growth, fewer Americans are applying for new unemployment benefits today than has ever been the case since just a few months after Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. The last time this few number of Americans continued to receive unemployment week to week was when Richard Nixon was President. No wonder analysts are heaping praise on this economy. The Wall Street Journal noted last week that recent reports indicate ``underlying strength that could tee up one of the best years in the current expansion.'' prgtoken Back in March, my home State of Kentucky joined a list of 14 States that have reached the lowest unemployment rates in recorded history since this united government has been in office. Never before on record has Kentucky's unemployment rate dropped as low as 4 percent. prgtoken Already in 2018, an estimated 14,000 Kentuckians have found jobs at businesses of all shapes and sizes. prgtoken Glier's Meats, in Covington, announced that the company was planning to add new positions and invest in new equipment to meet growing demand. In the words of the company's president, ``We had a number of projects that were seen as something we could consider doing down the road, but because of tax reform, it's possible to reinvest in the plant and in new equipment now.'' prgtoken In Ashland, Braidy Industries expects to support 1,000 construction jobs as it constructs a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and then 600 permanent jobs. It broke ground in June. prgtoken Not a single one of our colleagues across the aisle voted in support of this historic tax reform that is helping to make these developments possible. For them, these data are telling an inconvenient truth, and the inconvenient truth is this: The rest of America is not hiding from these numbers. Americans are benefiting from these numbers. We are celebrating them and all of the life-changing job opportunities, wage growth, and small business expansions they represent. prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF MR. SAM SCHMIDT
Pete Sessions (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-7-31

I rise today to honor Mr. Sam Schmidt, who is a former IndyCar driver and advocate for the disability community. prgtoken On January 6, 2000, Sam Schmidt crashed on a test run in Orlando, Florida while practicing for the season-opening Indy Racing League event. He endured a massive hit, severing his spine between his third and fourth vertebrae. Following the crash, he was placed on a respirator for five months, and life sentenced in a wheelchair, but he knew he was one of the lucky ones. prgtoken Sam vowed that when he was able to leave the rehabilitation hospital, he would not forget the less-privileged patients he had met. Shortly thereafter, Sam became a team owner with Rick Peterson, to head Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He started the foundation with a firm belief that at end of the day, he would fight to find a cure for paralysis and help individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. He also formed the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, with the help of several of his closest friends, which is leading the charge to find a cure to paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and technological advances. prgtoken Fast-forward, fifteen years later, when Sam finally began to feel like himself normal again, he traded in his wheelchair for a modified Corvette that he could drive at Indianapolis Motor Speedway once again. The breakthrough was the work of a team of engineers for seven months on a special car that many thought couldn't be built, but it turned out to be a vehicle that Sam could drive by just moving his head. prgtoken Sam Schmidt is not only a loving husband to his wife Sheila, and father to their two children, Savannah and Spencer, but he is determined to get back on his feet and is dedicated prgtoken to helping others get out of their wheelchairs and continue to live their dreams. prgtoken In honor of his dedication and perseverance, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Sam Schmidt for his tremendous efforts to assist the disability community and encourage people to find their passion.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--Continued
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-7-31

I appreciate the kind remarks and the comments about the appropriations process and bill by the ranking member, the vice chairman of the committee. prgtoken In this package of appropriations bills is the FSGG that was just talked about by the Senator from Oklahoma, the chairman of the subcommittee of which I am a member. Tonight, I want to speak about an aspect of that appropriations bill. I want to speak on the evolving threats in cyber security that not only pose harm to individual Americans but also to Federal agencies that are tasked with ensuring the economic and national security of our Nation. prgtoken In recent years, it has become clear that threats in cyber security are rapidly changing. Cyber attacks are not only growing in volume but also in complexity. prgtoken I chair a subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security. I have convened hearings and publicly questioned Federal agencies and private corporations alike to determine what standards and practices they have in place to better protect their customers' personal and financial data. prgtoken With examples of breaches exposing the personally identifiable information of tens of millions of Americans, such as in the 2015 breach within the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the ability to compromise data networks in the Federal Government cannot be overstated. Companies must do all they can to prevent hackers from gaining access to their customers' information. The Federal Government and State officials must do the same. prgtoken Advancements in information technology, or IT, will continue to drive the changes in our Nation's security, economic competitiveness, communications, healthcare, privacy, and other areas. The Federal Government must keep pace with these changes through nimble, expeditious, and results-driven decision making. prgtoken A stringent and cumbersome budgeting and acquisition process has tied the hands of Federal agencies in their efforts to modernize their IT systems in an efficient fashion. prgtoken The U.S. Government Accountability Office's 2015 ``High-Risk Series'' report highlighted several issues it deemed critical to improving IT acquisition. Specifically, the report stated that about 75 percent of the $80 billion the Federal Government spends annually on IT investments is spent on operating and maintaining outdated and unsupported legacy systems, creating major cyber security vulnerabilities at home and abroad. In fact, the Federal Chief Information Officer, Suzette Kent, recently testified to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last week, where she identified the replacement of legacy IT systems as critical to achieving stronger Federal cyber security protections. prgtoken With the support of the administration, I partnered with Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico to introduce the Modernizing Gover
OFFICER ADAM JOBBERS-MILLER
Francis Rooney (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-7-31

I rise today to honor the life of Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, who recently passed away at the age of 29. prgtoken Officer Jobbers-Miller spent his life placing service above self. From 2009 to 2015, Jobbers-Miller was a respected member of the Wayne Fire Department in Wayne, New Jersey. Then Fort Myers was fortunate enough to have Adam Jobbers-Miller join their team as a devoted officer of the law. As soon as he began his career with the Fort Myers Police Department, it was apparent to all those around him that Officer Jobbers-Miller would stop at nothing to protect and serve the people of Southwest Florida. prgtoken On Saturday, July 21st, Officer Jobbers-Miller responded to a call at a gas station in Fort Myers. An armed assailant at the gas station fired several shots at the FMPD officers, one of which struck Jobbers- Miller. He was immediately rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he passed away on July 30th. His passing brings great sorrow not only to the Fort Myers law enforcement community, but to our entire Southwest Florida community. prgtoken Every day, our officers and first responders put themselves in harm's way to ensure that the safety of all its citizens are protected. Officer Jobbers-Miller made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain this safety, and for that we are all immensely thankful. prgtoken In the face of certain danger, Adam Jobbers-Miller never hesitated to act in a truly heroic manner. His life of selfless service was tragically cut short, but his tireless dedication to the welfare of others will forever be remembered by all who were fortunate to know him. Kathleen and I extend our deepest condolences to Officer Jobbers- Miller's family, friends, and fellow officers.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--CONFERENCE REPORT
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-8-1

I rise to speak about title XVII of the NDAA, which reforms the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, and export controls. prgtoken The last time CFIUS underwent reform was in 2007. prgtoken Recognizing that the foreign investment and national security landscape has changed significantly over the past decade, Senators Cornyn and Feinstein led the charge by introducing the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, FIRRMA, last November. prgtoken They and others deserve a tremendous amount of credit for their critical leadership on this issue. prgtoken As the Banking Committee examined this issue, it became clear that the appropriate outlet for addressing the national security concerns highlighted by Senator Cornyn and others would involve not only CFIUS reform, but export control modernization as well. prgtoken With the help of Senator Brown and all of my colleagues on the Banking prgtoken Committee, we were able to craft a bipartisan product which passed out of committee in May with a unanimous 25-0 vote. prgtoken I thank Senator Brown and all of my colleagues on the committee for their efforts and contributions to the bill. prgtoken Additionally, the bill would not have been possible without the technical expertise and leadership of the team at the Department of Treasury, as well as the Commerce and Defense Departments, and the other interagency stakeholders who provided input. I thank them as well. prgtoken Throughout the entire process, we received strong support from the Armed Services Committee, who allowed us to include FIRRMA in this year's NDAA and maintained the integrity of the bill in that process. For that, I thank Chairman McCain, Senators Reed and Inhofe, and other members of the Armed Services Committee. prgtoken Our counterparts on House Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Armed Services Committees were equally instrumental in developing the final bill and seeing it across the finish line in the House. prgtoken I thank Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for their leadership on the concurrent House efforts and their work to improve the bill in conference. prgtoken I also thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for their work in repealing and replacing parts of the Export Administration Act, which was needed since the statute lapsed more than two decades ago. prgtoken The final bill that appears in NDAA is the result of months of bipartisan, bicameral, and cross-government efforts to appropriately tailor and modernize CFIUS and export control authorities to ensure the continued protection of U.S. national security, while promoting foreign investments in the U.S. prgtoken Notably, CFIUS's jurisdiction is expanded to cover four new areas of investments, namely certain minority, noncontrolling investments pertaining to critical technology, critical infrastructure, and exposure of
UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-8-1

I am a strong supporter of Israel. They remain one of our staunchest allies, and we must support them. However, the Israelis have called for a curtailment of U.S. aid for more than 20 years in order to ensure their own military and economic independence. prgtoken In 2013, Naftali Bennet, who was then serving as Israel's Minister of Economics and as the leader of the Home Party said, ``Today, U.S. military aid is roughly 1 percent of Israel's economy. I think, generally, we need to free ourselves from it. We have to do it responsibly . . . but our situation today is very different from what it was 20 and 30 years ago.'' prgtoken Additionally, on July 10, 1996, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before a Joint Session of Congress, ``I believe we can now say that Israel has reached childhood's end, that it has matured enough to begin approaching a state of self-reliance . . . . We are going to achieve economic independence [from the United States].''