mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HAZARD ELIGIBILITY AND LOCAL PROJECTS ACT
Lizzie Fletcher (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-12-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am delighted to bring my bill, H.R. 2548, the Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects, or HELP, Act to the floor today. prgtoken I am proud of the HELP Act and all that it represents. It is bipartisan, commonsense, meaningful legislation that was born out of conversations and a partnership with local officials in my home district that will benefit all Americans. prgtoken As many in this body will recall, Hurricane Harvey hit my district and the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017, causing great devastation. It dropped nearly 60 inches of rain, it claimed 68 lives, and it caused an estimated $125 billion in damage. It was the second most expensive hurricane in United States history. prgtoken Members of this body responded to Harvey's devastation with the speed and purpose needed for recovery, passing three supplemental appropriations bills, sending billions of dollars in aid to Texas through different programs, but recovery was and is still slow, slower than many expected, and slower than any can afford. prgtoken Before I was sworn in this year, I met with our local officials at home to talk about the impediments to recovery: How could we speed up recovery? Where was recovery delayed? What could the Federal Government do? prgtoken One impediment that had a significant impact on recovery was the process for the award of mitigation project funding from FEMA. prgtoken As my colleagues may know, section 404 of the Stafford Act provides that FEMA may grant up to 75 percent of funds for cost-effective mitigation projects through a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Local municipalities, States, and Tribes are responsible for meeting the remaining local match. Their projects must be approved through FEMA. prgtoken When States or municipalities apply to the grant program, projects, regardless of size or scope, require a comprehensive review to make sure all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA, and other statutory requirements are met. prgtoken Importantly, these Hazard Mitigation Grants do not allow for reimbursement of costs incurred before a grant is approved. As a result, many areas recovering from disaster must wait for the FEMA review to go forward for months or years at a critical time for decisionmaking and recovery. prgtoken In the case of natural disasters, local governments need to move quickly on projects like land acquisition, for example, buyouts of homes that have been damaged, and other projects. prgtoken The chief recovery officer for the city of Houston has told us that FEMA's pre-award cost policy, that is, not allowing the reimbursement of costs incurred before grant approval, is a limiting factor in recovery, especially in these cases of land acquisition. prgtoken Homeowners simply cannot afford to wait months or years for decisions to make their own decisions about whether to repair their homes or whether to take a buyout of the hom
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020--CONFERENCE REPORT--Resumed
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-12-16

today I rise to pay tribute to our longtime ic Policy Communications Committee staff member, Doug Connolly, who will be retiring at the end of the month with an impressive 33 years of working for the committee and working for the Senate. I am pleased to have Doug with me today on the floor. prgtoken For a moment, think back to 1986. A couple of top songs that year were ``Stuck With You'' by Huey Lewis and the News and ``Manic Monday'' by the Bangles. The top movie that year was ``Top Gun,'' and the average price of a movie ticket was $3.71. I don't know if we remember those, but it has been a while. prgtoken In Washington, the Senate voted to allow its proceedings to be televised on C-SPAN that year. A young graduate of the University of Michigan and veteran of Paul Simon's first Senate campaign began working for what was then called the ic Policy Committee. prgtoken A lot of things have changed since then. We are all a little bit older, and C-SPAN has broadcast more than a few hours of Senate floor proceedings. However, one thing hasn't changed: Doug is still as dedicated to public service as he was on his first day of work 33 years ago. I have been personally so impressed by Doug's work ethic, though not surprised. After all, he grew up in a hard-working auto family in Rochester, MI. prgtoken Over the years, Doug's work ethic has benefited a number of folks you have heard of, including Senator Robert Byrd, Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Byron Dorgan, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Harry Reid, whose website he designed. prgtoken Doug's computer skills are legendary and haven't just benefited the ic caucus. They have benefited the Nation as a whole. Doug actually wrote the computer program that the Senate Library and the Senate Historian rely on to keep track of votes. That is important information for the American public to know. prgtoken Thanks to Doug, we know that since Doug has worked in the Senate, there have been 11,114 votes cast. Only Senator Leahy, Senator Grassley, and Senator McConnell have been around long enough to have cast all of them. prgtoken When Doug isn't crunching numbers, he is a voracious reader and a devoted father and husband. He is extremely proud of his children. His son Nick is getting his doctoral degree in mathematics at the University of Iowa. His daughter Caitlin earned her degree in anthropology from St. Mary's College in Maryland and is an intern with the Smithsonian Institution. prgtoken Doug's wife Brenda has him slightly beat on career longevity. She has worked in the House of Representatives for 34 years, and every day Doug walks over to the House side so that they can have lunch together. Pretty soon, however, their lunch dates might be on a beach. Doug is retiring this month, and he hopes to be spending a lot of time scuba diving in the Caribbean. prgtoken Doug, thank you so much for your hard work, your creativity, and your 33 y
CLOTURE MOTION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-16

. I announce that the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Bennet), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker), the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth), the Senator from California (Ms. ), the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Merkley), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), the Senator from Massachusetts (Ms. Warren), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent.
SPOKANE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF THE SPOKANE RESERVATION EQUITABLE COMPENSATION ACT
Debra A. Haaland (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-12-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , S. 216, the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act, will finally compensate the Spokane Tribe of Indians for the flooding of their Tribal lands that occurred with the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam more than 75 years ago. prgtoken Located in Washington State, the Grand Coulee Dam was built in the 1930s and 1940s. The reservoir it created flooded approximately 2,500 acres of the Spokane Indian Reservation. These lands held great economic, cultural, and spiritual significance for the Spokane Tribal people and included the Tribe's historic salmon fishing sites. prgtoken Around the time of the dam's completion, the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 was enacted, which gave Tribal nations 5 years to file all relevant land claims against the Federal Government. Although the Spokane Tribe filed a claim before this deadline, which was settled in 1967, for around $4,700, lands related to the dam were not included. prgtoken The end result is that, more than 75 years later, the Spokane Tribe has still not received just compensation for the seizure and destruction of their lands. This has severely impacted the ability of the Tribal government to provide for their people. prgtoken This is also an issue of fairness and equity. The only other Tribe impacted by the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, successfully secured a settlement with the United States in 1994 and have been receiving compensation ever since. prgtoken S. 216 will require the Bonneville Power Administration to make annual payments to the Tribe starting in 2022 to match the company's electricity sales, much in the same way the Colville Tribes are compensated. prgtoken The legislation has the support of the surrounding counties and local entities. prgtoken Additionally, BPA stated, at a recent subcommittee hearing on the bill, that the annual payments to the Tribe ``will not result in perceptible rate impacts to its utility customers.'' prgtoken The Grand Coulee Dam and the energy it produces has been a financial boon to the United States and the citizens of the Northwest. It is now time to make whole the Spokane Tribe for their sacrifice. prgtoken I thank Senator Cantwell for her tireless work on this issue on behalf of the Spokane Tribal people, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. prgtoken , .
SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS ACT OF 2019
Michael F. Doyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-12-16

I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4998), to prohibit certain Federal loans, grants, and subsidies from being used to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks, to provide for the establishment of a reimbursement program for the replacement of communications equipment or services posing such risks, and for other purposes, as amended.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-12-16

90 years ago, Inter-Island Airways launched the first scheduled commercial passenger air service in Hawaii. Now known as Hawaiian Airlines, it is our State's largest and longest serving airline. Its fleet of 67 aircrafts flies between our islands and connects Hawaii to the mainland and around the world. prgtoken As a State comprised of islands, safe, reliable air service is critical to the movement of people and goods. Whether it is transporting people and cargo for leisure, medical appointments, business, cultural and sports events or carrying fresh produce, equipment, or other supplies, Hawaiian has and will continue to be a major part of our highways in the sky. prgtoken From its modest beginnings--a $3-per-person sightseeing tour on a five-passenger plane--Hawaiian transported 11.8 million passengers and 92,000 tons of cargo last year alone. Today, Hawaiian is one of the largest employers in the State, with more than 7,300 employees across its network, including some 6,600 who live in Hawaii. prgtoken Its impact is felt beyond jobs. Every year, Hawaiian and its employees partner with and help support hundreds of nonprofit organizations. As one example, Hawaiian leads a mentorship program that promotes aviation careers and provides students with hands-on learning about all aspects of the industry. prgtoken I am particularly proud of the steps Hawaiian has taken to adopt eco- friendlier practices throughout its operations to improve fuel efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and cut waste. In 2018, despite continuing to grow, Hawaiian lowered annual jet fuel burn by 7 million gallons and reduced annual carbon output by 86,300 metric tons. It is also contributing toward climate research by collecting air samples over the Pacific Ocean. The data is used as part of an international effort to measure climate change and air quality. prgtoken On behalf of the Hawaii congressional delegation, I wish to congratulate Hawaiian Airlines on its 90th anniversary and wish them continued success in serving the travel needs of our residents and introducing Hawaii to the world.
EXTENDING THE U.S. SAFE WEB ACT OF 2006
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-16

I am prepared to close, but I do want to say that this is an example of bipartisan legislation that I am so proud of that has come out of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and I am really grateful to my ranking , her authorship of this legislation and her work to get it passed that will certainly protect us from foreign bad actors, scams, and deceptive practices. It gives the Federal Trade Commission more authority. prgtoken , this is a bill that I am hoping that all of our colleagues can endorse, and .
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-16

first of all, let me acknowledge my friend and colleague and the chairman of my committee, Richard Burr, for his great work. I am going to talk about him in a moment. I do hope the Record captured the nice things he said about me. Usually, he characterizes me in a different way, but I am grateful for his comments today. prgtoken I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which includes the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Congressional passage of the Intelligence Authorization Act provides support for our Nation's critical intelligence programs and ensures that the hard-working men and women in the intelligence community have the authorities and resources they need to defend our Nation. It also improves the oversight of our Nation's 17 intelligence agencies, which operate around the globe. prgtoken Before I get into the specifics, I want to note that this important bill is the product of bipartisan work made possible by Chairman Burr's leadership. It was thanks to the chairman's leadership that the IAA was unanimously passed by the committee in May and included as part of the Senate's National Defense Authorization Act in June. prgtoken I also want to take this opportunity to thank my friends on the Senate Armed Services Committee, especially the Senators from Oklahoma and Rhode Island, Senator Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed. Robust intelligence supports our soldiers and military operations. So I thank them for allowing the IAA to be considered along with the Defense authorization bill. prgtoken As vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am proud of several provisions within the IAA, particularly those aimed at tackling the technological threats from China, bolstering intelligence security against foreign malign influence, and enhancing whistleblower processes to protect the brave individuals who come forward to report waste, fraud, abuse, and other malfeasance. prgtoken Beyond these provisions, I want to highlight a few others that I believe will have a real impact on our Nation's security and the individuals serving in the IC. prgtoken First, as the chairman has already mentioned, there is paid parental leave. The National Defense Authorization Act includes a landmark provision that grants 12 weeks of paid parental leave for government employees. This builds upon the original bipartisan provision included in the Senate-passed IAA, which gave 12 weeks of paid parental leave to IC personnel, including adoptive and foster parents. This important provision will help to recruit and retain top talent across the government, including within the IC. prgtoken Frankly, this is a vital step forward for families across the Nation, and I am glad that our committee helped to lay the groundwork for this milestone achievement. prgtoken Next, deterring foreign interference
DEBBIE SMITH REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-17

let me thank the Senator from Iowa for her leadership on so many issues, including this one. Obviously, through her work on the Judiciary Committee, where we both serve and from where this important piece of legislation emanated, this has been a long journey. Unfortunately, the politics of the day seem to have slowed almost everything up that we are trying to do. prgtoken In particular, I also want to recognize the good work of the Senator from Iowa on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. I am a proud cosponsor of the legislation she is leading on. My hope is that after the fever breaks, sometime after the first of the year--I keep hoping for that moment--we will get back to the nonpartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. In the meantime, I am happy to join the Senator on the floor and to talk about the importance of the Debbie Smith Act and to celebrate its imminent passage. prgtoken Since 2004, the Debbie Smith Act has been the guiding force behind our Nation's effort to eliminate the rape kit backlog. Just so everybody understands, at one point there was a report that there were as many as 400,000 of these forensic kits, which are used to collect DNA evidence following sexual assault, sitting in evidence lockers and police stations or in labs and which remained untested. prgtoken Once we are reminded of the importance of this evidence and how powerful it is to enable law enforcement officials to identify an attacker with almost complete precision and accuracy, the importance of making sure these kits were tested becomes all that more obvious. prgtoken Since 2011, the Debbie Smith Act has helped Texas--my State alone-- reduce its backlog of unsubmitted rape kits by approximately 90 percent. prgtoken The benefits don't stop there, though. The primary goal of this program is to reduce the rape kit backlog and identify attackers-- people who commit sexual assaults. prgtoken Processing this evidence can also assist investigations in other unrelated crimes because perpetrators do leave their DNA in other places other than just in the crime of sexual assault. prgtoken Once this evidence is tested, it is uploaded into the FBI's DNA database called CODIS. This is similar to a criminal fingerprint database and can help identify and convict people who commit other crimes as well. prgtoken For the civil libertarians among us--and I would like to consider myself one of them--this evidence is also very powerful in discounting or disqualifying potential perpetrators from suspicion because if, in fact, DNA of some other person is identified, it obviously is by exclusion of the other person who may be suspected but who will thereby be exonerated. prgtoken According to the National Institute of Justice, 72 percent of the hits in the FBI database system are the direct result of Debbie Smith Act funding. The benefits of this law cannot be overstated, and it is time once again--pas
HONORING FLORIDA FIRE MARSHAL OF THE YEAR JENNIFER PIERCE
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise to honor the 2019 Florida Fire Marshal of the Year, Jennifer Pierce. prgtoken Pierce currently serves as the fire marshal of the Clermont Fire Department. With over 15 years of fire service under her belt, she also oversees the daily operations of the fire prevention division, which includes reviewing life safety plans, conducting fire investigations, and coordinating community relations. prgtoken Clermont city manager Darren Gray highlighted how Fire Marshal Pierce has provided ``the highest level of service to Clermont's growing list of businesses, especially working with downtown's historic buildings and new business owners.'' prgtoken In addition to being awarded the Fire Marshal of the Year title, Pierce was chosen to serve as the statewide director of fire marshals on the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association's board of directors. prgtoken Her leadership and dedication to the city of Clermont has been exceptional, and I am confident that we will see more outstanding contributions from her in the future. prgtoken From the bottom of my heart, I thank Fire Marshal Pierce and all the incredible first responders who serve District 15 and our Nation.
APPROPRIATIONS
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise to highlight several key parts of the appropriations package the Senate will be considering later on this week. First, I want to point out some statistics. Ninety-two thousand of our coal miners are counting on us to protect their pensions. Thirteen thousand coal miners are counting on us to protect their healthcare benefits. This week, we will have a chance to do just that. prgtoken I am very proud to have worked with our leader, Senator McConnell, Senator Manchin, Senator Portman, and others to introduce and champion the Bipartisan American Miners Act. I appreciate that my counterpart on the House side, Congressman David McKinley, has worked consistently and tirelessly on this bill in the House, along with our other Representatives from West Virginia, Alex Mooney and Carol Miller. Most of all, I appreciate the West Virginian miners and their families who have traveled to Washington to advocate for their promised benefits and for their communities. I prgtoken stood outside the Capitol with thousands of coal miners and their families several years ago in seriously suffocating heat, as DC can heat up during the summer, to rally in support of those benefits. Miners have come to Washington in the snow and in the rain. Their camouflage shirts have stood out around the Capitol as they worked tirelessly to educate us about the critical need for action. You have probably seen them in the halls. No one should be surprised by their dedication and commitment because our West Virginian miners have answered the call throughout their careers. Their hard work provided the electricity and the steel that has powered our American economy. prgtoken The time has come to protect those retirement benefits these miners have earned. The Bipartisan American Miners Act will secure both pension and healthcare benefits for those hard-working men and women. prgtoken I want to thank the United Mine Workers of America and their president, Cecil Roberts, for his work and their work in advocating for our miners. More than 25,000 miners from all of West Virginia's 55 counties will have received payments from their pension benefits last year. prgtoken More than 5,600 West Virginians miners are at risk of losing their healthcare benefits if we fail to act. Almost $200 million in pension benefits were paid from this fund to West Virginians last year. The loss of those funds would certainly have harmed the retirees themselves, no doubt, but also the local businesses they patronize across the State and their communities. prgtoken As one West Virginian wrote to me just last night, ``My father is a retired miner from Marion County who will be turning 80 in January. This will give him and my mother some long overdue and well deserved peace of mind. They have been worrying unduly throughout the last several months.'' prgtoken Thousands of miners in West Virginia and elsewhere in coal country will have a merrier Christmas when
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-17

. Madam , the balance of my time to close. prgtoken Madam , this is a strong conservative package that provides the President with the funding and authority he needs. I look forward to passing these bills through the House and Senate and getting them to the President's desk for his signature before time runs out on Friday. prgtoken Madam , before I close, I want to give a special thanks to my staff director, Anne Marie Chotvacs, for her tireless work and leadership throughout the process. Her wisdom and guidance have been invaluable to me and all the committee members. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of these bills, and .