mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-12-5

on September 10, just a few months ago, Lauren Bruner, a veteran of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, passed away. Mr. Bruner wasn't just any veteran. He was a veteran who served on the USS Arizona during the attack that morning. prgtoken On Saturday, December 7, millions of Americans across the country will pay tribute to the attack at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to commemorate what happened that morning, which brought the United States fully into the Second World War. Aboard the USS Arizona were 1,512 officers, sailors, and marines. The attack that day on December 7 killed 1,177 of them, and 335 brave people survived that morning. Lauren Bruner, who passed away September 10, was one of four who were on that ship that December morning in 1941 who have survived. prgtoken Lauren Bruner passed away at the age of 98, and on this Saturday, his ashes will be interred at the USS Arizona to join his shipmates--those who were lost that morning and others who have joined their fellow sailors, marines, and officers since. prgtoken Three men remain that are veterans of that war from the USS Arizona: Lou Conter, 98 years old; Ken Potts, 98 years old; and Donald Stratton, 97 years old from Colorado Springs, CO. Ken Potts and Don Stratton will join together for most likely the last time this Saturday as they will watch a live video feed of the ceremony at Pearl Harbor at the USS Arizona Memorial to view the interment of their shipmate, Lauren Bruner, at the USS Arizona. prgtoken The Senate was able to play a small role in recognizing what brought Don Stratton, Lauren Bruner, and the others together. You see, on that morning, when their ship was bombed, Lauren Bruner had been shot in the leg and Donald Stratton was on fire. The two of them and four of their other shipmates were on a control tower as the ship was on fire when a rope appeared. It was a line from the USS Vestal, a ship next to the USS Arizona. A line was thrown from a sailor named Joe George. They tied to the tower and were able to shimmy across 70 feet from the burning USS Arizona--while they were on fire--to the USS Vestal, to their safety. prgtoken Lauren Bruner had 70 percent of his body burned and was shot in the leg. Don Stratton suffered burns and spent a year in the hospital as a result. He went back into the service to continue the rest of the war. prgtoken This Chamber in Congress helped make sure that the gentleman who threw that rope, that lifeline from the USS Vestal to the USS Arizona, received final recognition for his act of heroism. Joe George went for decades without recognition for his act of bravery to save these six sailors. He was able to receive just a couple of years ago, on December 7, 2017, the Bronze Star, in recognition of his acts. prgtoken December 7, 2017, also marked the last time that Donald Stratton was able to join the memorial service to commemorate December 7, Pearl Harbor. I have this picture here that I will
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-12-5

this week I have the honor of recognizing four Montana school teachers for their passion and dedication to teaching math and science to young Montanans. prgtoken Beth Walsh from East Valley Middle School, Claire Pichette from Helena High School, Thomas Redmon from Daly Elementary, and Justine Hurley from White Sulphur Springs Elementary School have all been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching between 2017 and 2018. prgtoken The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is an incredibly high honor for school teachers across the country and no easy task to receive. A committee of Montana math and science teachers select finalists from a collection of statewide applications followed by a national panel of distinguished scientists, mathematician, and educators who select four national award winners from those finalists. prgtoken These teachers won the Presidential Award for their superior abilities to educate young Montanans on mathematics and science ranging from kindergarten children to seniors in high school. They show passion for their profession daily. and this award is a symbol of that passion. We are lucky to have such highly qualified teachers educating Montana students. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Beth Walsh, Claire Pichette, Thomas Redmon, and Justine Hurley for their exemplary work educating Montana students. They are a true testament to the incredible education system we have throughout Big Sky Country.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-5

I am proud to join with my colleague from New Jersey today in urging the Senate to take up and pass the bipartisan Menendez-Cruz resolution affirming U.S. recognition of the Armenian genocide. prgtoken From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out a forced deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, of whom 1.5 million were killed. It was an atrocious genocide. That it happened is a fact and an undeniable reality. In fact, the very word ``genocide,'' which literally means the killing of an entire people, was coined by Raphael Lemkin to describe the horrific nature of the Ottoman Empire's calculated extermination of the Armenians. prgtoken We must never be silenced in response to atrocities. Over 100 years ago, the world was silent as the Armenian people suffered and were murdered, and many people today are still unaware of what happened. prgtoken With this resolution, we are saying that it is the policy of the United States of America to commemorate the Armenian genocide through official recognition and remembrance. We have a moral duty to acknowledge what happened to 1.5 million innocent souls. It is the right thing to do. prgtoken I certainly understand the concerns of some of my colleagues who worry that this resolution could irreversibly poison the U.S.-Turkey relationship and push Turkey into the arms of Russia, but I don't believe those concerns have any sound basis. prgtoken As my colleague from New Jersey pointed out, 12 NATO nations have similarly recognized the Armenian genocide. Yes, Turkey is a NATO ally, but allies can speak the truth to each other. We should never be afraid to tell the truth, and alliances grounded in lies are themselves unsustainable. Additionally, in the coming days, the Foreign Relations Committee will be prgtoken marking up an enormous package of sanctions on Turkey. prgtoken The horse has left the barn. There is no good reason for the administration to object to this resolution, and the effect of doing so is to deny recognition of this chilling moment of history. prgtoken Let me close by echoing the optimism the Senator from New Jersey expressed. We may well see an objection here today, as we did when Senator Menendez and I previously came to the Senate floor and sought to pass this just a couple of weeks ago, but I believe that in the coming days and weeks, we will get this passed and that this objection, I hope, will be only temporary. I look forward to the day--hopefully very, very soon--when all 100 Senators, and s, are united in simply speaking the truth, recognizing the genocide that occurred, and making perfectly clear that America stands against genocide. prgtoken .
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Tim Scott (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-12-5

to avoid the risk of being redundant, I want to put a little skin on the bones as relates to what this act really means to college students, particularly those college students entering into the process for the very first time and their families. prgtoken What it means is simply this: Simplification means more education for a lot more students, and that is good news. We oftentimes talk about the importance of keeping the American dream alive and keeping it well. This will provide significant opportunities for low-income students to get through the process very quickly. prgtoken In South Carolina we have eight HBCUs. The economic impact of those graduates is around $5 billion of lifetime earnings. This bill makes that more achievable, more attainable, and keeps the American Dream alive and well.
RECOGNIZING BITTLE PORTERFIELD
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , I rise today to memorialize Roanoke businessman Mr. Bittle Porterfield, III, prgtoken who contributed greatly to the arts, education, and business community throughout southwest Virginia. prgtoken Among the many civic leadership roles held during his lifetime, Mr. Porterfield served on the Virginia Council on Higher Education, was president of the Taubman Museum of Art, and the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce in addition to being chairman of both the Roanoke Valley Business Council and the United Way of Roanoke Valley. prgtoken Mr. Porterfield believed in Roanoke's potential and knew that the Star City could play a pivotal role in cultural development. As a veteran, a Roanoke native, and an innate leader, Mr. Porterfield believed that it was his life's purpose to serve others and his community. prgtoken I am grateful for the commitment and passion Bittle Porterfield had for the Roanoke Valley and wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his family for their loss. May they find peace in knowing that his legacy of service will live on through the countless lives he touched.
Tribute to Johnny Isakson (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-12-5

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue), and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds). prgtoken Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran) would have voted ``yea.''
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Executive Session)
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-12-5

I rise to discuss the need to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. prgtoken It is frustrating that we have to continue to speak about this issue. We have been so close for a long time now, but the lack of action on the part of the House leadership continues to unnecessarily delay its ratification. prgtoken Our neighbors to the north and south are our natural allies and trading partners; yet our trade policy with them has not been updated in 25 years. The President and his team have worked very hard to get Canada and Mexico to the negotiating table to modernize our trade agreement in a mutually beneficial manner. That hard work has paid off in the form of the USMCA. It is ready for ratification, and the Senate is eager to get that done. prgtoken Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the House, which must act first. The House leadership's refusal to move this trade deal is preventing additional job creation in our country, and it is sending the wrong signal to our trading partners across the globe. We ought to be spurring economic activity by striking fair trade agreements globally, not sitting on our hands and refusing to approve an agreement between two of our top trading partners. prgtoken A fair and mutually beneficial trade agreement with our neighbors to the north and south is very important to my home State of Arkansas. Canada and Mexico are No. 1 and No. 2 on the list of the top 10 destinations for Arkansas' exports. Arkansas is one of a handful of States that in recent years has consistently exported more than what it has imported from Canada and Mexico. prgtoken The World Trade Center Arkansas, which has played a valuable role in connecting businesses in my State with international partners for over a decade, recently released a report that summarizes trade and jobs data for the Natural State. prgtoken The center's report underscores the value trade brings to my State's economy and reinforces the fact that the path to a more prosperous, long-term outlook for Arkansas is through opening additional markets for our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses. The report notes that, as of September 2019, trade in Arkansas supported nearly 350,000 jobs. This represents approximately 26 percent of the State's total employed labor force. It points to a direct correlation between job numbers and trade, documenting that trade-related jobs in the State have grown six times faster than total employment over the past few years. prgtoken More importantly, for our purposes here today, the report underscores just how crucial Canada and Mexico are for Arkansas' economy. The Natural State's exports to Canada amounted to $1.2 billion last year. Our exports to Mexico totaled $870 million in that same time span. Combined, these two countries account for a third of Arkansas' total exports. Nearly 69,000 jobs in my State are dependent on trade with Canada, and another 41,000 are tied to trade with
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-5

I know the American people, when they see what is happening in Washington, think that we fight all the time and we disagree about everything, but let me prgtoken just agree with my friend, the democratic leader, on the issue of the nuisance of robocalls. prgtoken But as important as that is to our quality of life and to protecting vulnerable seniors and others who may be misled by some of these deceptive calls, some of the most basic functions of the Federal Government have not been fulfilled, like appropriating the money that is necessary to support our men and women in uniform. The bipartisan spending caps bill that we agreed to in August has been walked back by our ic friends, and we find ourselves with a lot of uncertainty here at the end of the year in terms of what the future may hold in terms of our ability to actually get anything done, things like pass a highway bill. That is one thing that s and can all agree on, is our disdain for traffic and congestion. prgtoken That is one thing we can work on together. We could work together to bring down drug prices, particularly the out-of-pocket costs for consumers with high deductibles and high co-pays. We could pass USMCA, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. All of these enjoy broad bipartisan support, but unfortunately, they are now all held captive by this impeachment mania which has stricken the House of Representatives, and it is scheduled to come over here to the Senate probably around the first of the year, depending on the schedule that Pelosi keeps in the House. Impeachment prgtoken So while there are plenty of good ideas out there about things that we can work on together on a bipartisan basis, we all know that the Senate and the Congress has limited bandwidth. We can't do everything we want to do. We need to prioritize. I would hope that our priorities would be the American people's priorities and not the political priorities here of partisans in Washington, DC, but unfortunately, it looks to me like the partisans are winning and the people are losing. We need to keep fighting against that. But that is where we are right now, particularly with Pelosi's announcement this morning that the House is now going to proceed to draft Articles of Impeachment, something that has only been done four times in our Nation's history. This will be the fourth time. prgtoken We know what the outcome is likely to be with the 67-vote threshold here in the Senate, and I think all of us in America listened or have been exposed to anyway the various arguments on both sides of the question, but I don't really, frankly, expect anything new to come out of this. A lot of this is rehashed over and over again ad nauseam in order to justify a partisan impeachment process less than 1 year before the next general election. I would think we would be a little bit cautious about 535 Members of Congr
NOMINATIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-12-5

on another matter, while we wait for our ic colleagues to let this legislation move forward, the Senate has used the time to confirm more of President 's impressive nominees for the Federal courts. prgtoken Some of my friends across the aisle complain that we devote too much time to nominations. First, I would like to remind everyone that district judges are the kinds of nominations that, historically, have sailed right through the Senate in big groups by voice votes. If our ic colleagues want to spend less time voting on district judges, they should take it up with the ic leader, who is forcing us to take cloture vote after cloture vote. As of this morning, we have taken cloture votes on 81 district judge nominees. prgtoken By this point in President 's Presidency, we had taken one cloture vote on a district judge nominee. Let me say that again. As of this morning, we have taken cloture votes on 81 district judges. By this point in President 's Presidency, we had taken one cloture vote on a district judge nominee--just one. prgtoken At the comparable point in the five Presidencies preceding President 's, combined, we had not taken a single cloture vote on a district judge's nomination--not one. Yet, 3 years into the Presidency, there have been 81 cloture votes and counting just on district judges. So there is your answer on floor time. prgtoken More broadly, I want to take a moment to help clarify why I and millions of other Americans care so much about having Federal judges who believe in the radical notion that words matter and that a judge's job is to follow the law and the Constitution. prgtoken Take, for example, the subject of religious freedom. The liberty of conscience and the freedom to live out our faiths has been a foundational principle from the Republic's earliest days. Many of the first Europeans who arrived in the New World came here after having fled religious persecution. prgtoken James Madison wrote that religion ``must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.'' prgtoken Samuel Adams said in the summer of 1776 that America would be the ``last asylum'' for ``freedom of thought and the right of private judgment.'' prgtoken Let me contrast the Founders' understanding with a couple of current events. Last month, New York State convinced a district judge to throw out the administration's conscience protection rule for healthcare providers. This straightforward rule ensured that healthcare workers could not be forced to perform or assist with medical procedures that profoundly violated their religious beliefs. Yet the radical in New York could not abide by this basic protection for people of faith. Instead, they wanted to force Christians and other people of faith who work in healthcare to either assist in procedures like abortion or l
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4, VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT OF 2019, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 326, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING UNITED...
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , I rise today to urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question. prgtoken If we defeat the previous question, s will amend the rule to include the repeal of the medical device tax. prgtoken The medical device tax takes effect on January 1, 2020, unless Congress acts. Time is of the essence. Yet, my friends across the aisle continue to waste our time and energy and, more importantly, clock time that we need to stop this tax from going into effect. prgtoken This is a bipartisan bill with 253 of us cosponsoring it. All I am asking is that the 253 cosponsors get an opportunity before this expires to say stop this, stop the wheels from grinding. Let's do something that counts for our fellow Americans, for senior citizens who are the recipients of a lot of these medical device implants. prgtoken It brings quality of life. Oftentimes, it brings the extension of very important quality of life to seniors. It is less time in hospitals. It has been proven--back up on people's feet to engage back in the workforce and their part of the American Dream. prgtoken Instead of having nothing happening in a bipartisan way, as our fellow Americans are watching what is happening in this House, if 253 of us agree on this today, we can stop this onerous tax. We can stop costing healthcare and the exorbitant amount of increases sent back down to all of our constituents. prgtoken This is a big deal in the State of Indiana, where I come from. What we do in the State of Indiana with 300 medical device manufacturing companies supporting nearly 55,000 good-paying jobs--nationally, the industry directly employs over half a million people. prgtoken It is no understatement to say that thousands of jobs are at stake if the medical device tax comes back in 26 days. When the tax was in effect for the 3 years of 2012 to 2015, industry lost almost 30,000 jobs nationwide, according to government data. prgtoken Madam , we should be focusing on important, urgent, bipartisan issues like this. We can do something together to make our constituents and to make our Nation better. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. Twenty-six days to go. We can work together. Over 250 of us are cosponsoring this legislation. prgtoken I ask, on behalf of every citizen, everybody working in the medical device industry, and for the sake of our own economy, let's do something that makes sense for this country.
RECOGNIZING THE NEWBERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Ralph Norman (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-12-5

I rise today to recognize the heroic actions by members of the Newberry Fire Department. prgtoken On March 1, 2019, the alpha shift, comprised of Captain Andrew Morris, Lieutenant Brian Beck, Senior Engineer Benjamin Dukes, firefighter Richard Doran, and volunteer firefighter Barry Brown, were working a wreck on Third Street when they received an urgent call of a hit-and-run incident on Louis Rich Road. prgtoken The firefighters responded to the call and found the victim of the hit and run prgtoken completely unresponsive. The firefighters immediately performed CPR on the victim and as a result of these actions, the person gained a pulse and began breathing. The brave actions of these dedicated public servants resulted in a life being saved, and in the words of the late Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill, who said the following: There are times when doing one's best is not good enough. One must do what is required. prgtoken The brave firefighters of Newberry Fire Department's alpha shift did what was required, and as a result, a life was saved.