mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MAINTAINING A STRONG DEFENSE IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-13

before it was cool to quote Ronald Reagan's national security philosophy of peace through strength, there was our first Commander in Chief, George Washington, who, in his first State of the Union address, said, ``. . . to be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.'' prgtoken See, maintaining a strong national defense is not a new concept. prgtoken While more war has been diverted, more peace has been kept, and more freedom has been defended by our Nation's armed services, today we risk not only our Nation's security, but the lives of those who serve if we fail to adequately fund our military. prgtoken The policies and posture of the past 8 years under the previous administration have left our defense arsenal dilapidated, our position in the world diminished, our allies doubtful, and, unfortunately, our enemies even more determined. prgtoken Our military men and women have faced years of cuts, almost a quarter of our entire military budget, with defense spending at historic lows, over $170 billion, since 2010. prgtoken So as the world becomes increasingly dangerous and unstable, the government has forced our armed services to do more with less. prgtoken One of the United States' greatest assets in our national security arsenal and one of the crown jewels of west Texas is Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. Dyess plays a key role in protecting our democracy against the rising global threats, and our airmen from Dyess have been deployed all over the world in countless military and humanitarian operations. Additionally, Dyess hosts the largest B-1 bomber base in the Nation; and the city of Abilene has won the Air Force's award for most supportive communities so many times, they actually changed the name of the award to the Abilene award. prgtoken Now, that may sound like I am bragging, but in Texas, that is just telling the truth. prgtoken But while we put the lives of these men and women on the line daily and ask them to defend our Nation, they are crippled by this discouraging reality. The Air Force is now the smallest and the oldest it has been in our Nation's history. Altogether, given the current demand, our Nation's Air Force is short 1,500 pilots, 4,000 mechanics. prgtoken Before the House Armed Services Committee, General Stephen Wilson testified: ``Today we find ourselves less than 50 percent ready across our Air Force, and we have pockets that are even below that.'' prgtoken In fact, just to get by, the Air Force has been utilizing bombers that were designed and constructed for World War II. prgtoken This is a national security crisis, . This is a great American travesty. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because I believe our former President, for political reasons, in my opinion, arbitrarily withdrew troops from critical battlefronts and dangerously drew down our overall military resources. prgtoken Today, on behalf of Dyess Air Force Base and all the brave men and women who keep our g
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Mac Thornberry (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-13

such time as I might consume. prgtoken , I have tremendous respect for the gentleman from Massachusetts. He is exactly right, the Department of Defense Medical Research Program is already spending money on tick-borne diseases. I believe it is about $5 million this year. It was about $5 million last year. And as I understand the gentleman's amendment, he would expand the number of diseases that they can research. prgtoken I rise to claim the time in opposition, however, to express concern about the direction of this program. prgtoken , I have a chart that indicates the tremendous growth of dollars going into this congressionally directed medical research program. It has increased tremendously in recent years, and I would like to take just a few moments to read some of the diseases that it is researching: ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, autism, bone marrow failure, breast cancer, leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsies, food allergies, lung cancer, multiple sclerosis. There is a couple here that I can't pronounce, so I won't read. Osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, Peer-Reviewed Orthopaedic, prostate cancer, spinal cord injuries, of course, tick-borne disease, tubular sclerosis, and the list goes on. prgtoken And let me just say I certainly support Chairman Tom Cole's attempts to increase funding for NIH and other sorts of medical research through the NIH. What I am concerned about is that, increasingly, DOD dollars are being spent to research diseases that have a tangential, at best, connection with the Department of Defense and our military. And what happens is it is taking dollars away from the sorts of injuries and diseases that our military does confront. This is a trend that is getting worse each year. prgtoken So I don't necessarily oppose the gentleman's amendment. As he points out, there is research going on here, but it is a trend I do think we have to be cautious about. prgtoken And for that reason, I want to at least raise a warning flag about the trend to add to the amount of money and the number of diseases which we are looking to the Department of Defense to help research diseases which are not related, necessarily, to key functions of the Department of Defense. prgtoken So I appreciate the gentleman letting me express that concern, and .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-7-13

I appreciate the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), my colleague. He is very sincere in what he says. prgtoken I believe we have so many checks and balances that we will not be buying things that don't work. But, we need to unshackle MDA so they can get their job done faster and better than they can right now. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
HONORING DALE HEMPHILL, FOUNDER OF THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today to congratulate Dale Hemphill, a U.S. Navy veteran from Mishawaka, Indiana, on creating the Spirit of America Foundation and designing the Spirit of America flag to promote patriotism and appreciation for our nation's veterans. prgtoken The Spirit of America Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 that works to identify and prioritize veterans' health issues, create a network among other veterans service organizations, coordinate fundraising, establish support groups, and provide information and educational resources. The Spirit of America flag Dale created symbolizes the mission of the foundation and serves as a powerful tribute to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. prgtoken Dale served in the U.S. Navy for six years and embodies the values of a true patriot. He designed the Spirit of America flag with great attention to detail: each aspect of the flag serves to commemorate what our veterans have done to preserve our freedom in a special way. For example, the color red on the banner symbolizes bloodshed, and the color blue represents valor and bravery. Not only does the flag honor our veterans by listing every conflict Americans have served in, it also recognizes the civilians, firefighters, police officers, and paramedics who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. prgtoken Dale has given his flag to people all over the world, including four American presidents, every Indiana senator, governor, and representative, and the last surviving American WWI veteran, Frank Buckles. Nicknamed ``Old Glory's Companion,'' this patriotic flag flies over multiple U.S. military bases. prgtoken Dale's love of country is evident to anyone who knows him. He has dedicated both his professional life and free time to serving and honoring his country and those who have fought to protect it. Even his car reflects his patriotism, decorated with both the Spirit of America flag and the American flag. prgtoken His incredible commitment of time and talent and his positive impact on veterans should inspire us all. I am so grateful to Dale for the worthy mission he defends. prgtoken , on behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I want to thank Dale Hemphill for his unwavering patriotism and his commitment to honoring his fellow veterans. He has truly left a mark on the northern Indiana community and the entire nation, and I look forward to the great things that lie ahead in his future.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-7-13

I have 9 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on agriculture, nutrition, and forestry prgtoken The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 10 a.m in 328A Russell Senate Office Building, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Opportunities in Global and Local Markets, Specialty Crops, and Organics: Perspectives for the 2018 Farm Bill.'' committee on armed services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at 9:30 a.m in open session, to receive testimony on the attempted coup in Montenegro and malign Russian influence in Europe. committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress.'' committee on finance prgtoken The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at 10:15 a.m in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to consider the nomination of Kevin K. McAleenan, of Hawaii, to be Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security. committee on foreign relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 9:30 a.m to hold a hearing entitled ``Review of the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report.'' committee on health, education, labor, and pensions prgtoken The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nomination Hearing for Deputy Secretary of Labor and Members of the National Labor Relations Board'' on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at 9:30 a.m in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. committee on the judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on July 13, 2017, at 9:30 a.m in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting. committee on intelligence prgtoken The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the 115th Congress of the U.S. Senate on Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 2 p.m in room SH-219 of the Senate Hart Off
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-7-13

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in respectful opposition to this amendment. prgtoken No one can dispute America's need for icebreakers. These capital ships are indispensable tools to ensure the safe and rapid movement of commerce in Arctic waters. I commend my colleagues for their strong advocacy for these ships and share their belief that we need them. prgtoken However, the responsibility and accountability for constructing and operating America's icebreakers must rest solely where the Congress has assigned it: the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. prgtoken The question we are debating today is not whether we need icebreakers, but how to appropriate the funds and who should build them. As important as icebreakers are, they are not warships, and we must not allow funding legitimately appropriated for our combat prgtoken fleet to be diverted for nondefense needs. prgtoken While I acknowledge the temptation to raid defense accounts for a worthy cause, we must be mindful of how deep in the hole we are with our air, land, sea, space, and cyber forces. We need to keep our eye on the ball in rebuilding our military's readiness and our modernization. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge a vote ``no'' against this amendment.
LET'S GET ON WITH BUSINESS
John J. Duncan, Jr. (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-7-13

I don't believe I have ever seen a bigger mountain made out of a tinier molehill in my 29 years in Congress than what is being made out of , Jr.'s, meeting with the Russian lawyer. It reminds me of the Wendy's ad several years ago that asked: ``Where's the beef?'' prgtoken I know that hindsight is 20-20 and holier than thou, but this is ridiculous. prgtoken Do you really believe that Chelsea Clinton would have refused to meet with a Russian lawyer who she was told had evidence that would incriminate ? prgtoken , Jr met with this woman for a few minutes, saw she had nothing, and nothing came out of it. No action was taken. Even Director Comey testified he had seen no evidence that even one vote was altered by anything the Russians did. prgtoken They have been investigating this for months, and this is the best they can come up with? prgtoken It is time to stop crying over the election and do something about some real problems.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-7-13

it is my privilege and honor to address you here from the floor of the House of Representatives in this great deliberative body that has been deliberating all day long in the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken The work that is done, especially by the members of the Armed Services Committee, goes deeply into the destiny and the future of America. They have to look at the whole globe and the whole budget, and they have to look at the equipment that is out there and the technology that is developing, and it is a heavy responsibility to present this NDAA authorization bill to the floor. prgtoken Often, there are efforts that are made to turn it into a political bill, rather than the bill that can defend America, and ensure that we have the best military that the world has ever seen, and the best equipment for the best military the world has ever seen, and the best standards to uphold the best people, the nobility of the United States military. prgtoken So I want to compliment especially the members of the committee and the chairman for his work and the work that has been done here on this floor. They are going to take a deep breath and tomorrow will bring this thing back to the floor for a vote and a potential final passage. prgtoken I came to the floor to address a bit different topic, and I may revert back to the NDAA, and I actually intend to do that, . But I have wanted to come to this floor for some time to discuss the circumstances going on here in the United States of America and an issue that has been very important to me for a long time; and that is the issue of the United States of America getting to the point where we finally declare a language, our English language, as the official language of the United States. prgtoken I sat down once, and I went through the--when we had the World Book Encyclopedia, before the internet, more or less, eroded the ubiquitousness--that means everywhere--the World Book Encyclopedia was everywhere in the country and many places in the world. prgtoken I looked through--I took a 1979 almanac, and I looked at all the flags for all the countries in the world, and I looked up every single country to find out, do they have an official language, or don't they? And from that 1979 almanac, and some of the countries have changed since then, but every single country in the world had an official language, at least one of them, except for the United States of America. prgtoken As I studied this, and it comes to me, the more I look at history, the more I look at the forces that move the world and the people in it, often it is the culture; it is the cultural foundation that moves policy in America, and in every country in the world. prgtoken The culture lives in the hearts and minds of its people; and what is in the hearts and minds of its people is, if you are members of a nation state, what binds us together is having a common experience, a common cause, commo
Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar (Executive Session)
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-7-13

. Before the ic leader leaves, may I ask one more? prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 17, the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Executive Calendar No. 157. I further ask that there be 30 minutes of debate on the nomination equally divided in the usual form and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination with no intervening action or debate, and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. prgtoken Before I ask for a ruling on that, may I just say that the Senator from New York has a legitimate comment. Why in the world we would be wasting time on the Ambassador to Japan when we have the Department of Defense nominees in line is something I can neither account for, nor can I condone. So I understand the frustration of the Senator from New York. prgtoken Maybe sometime after our 2 weeks in August, perhaps some of us ought to sit down and talk and work out an agenda. We have a train wreck coming, as the Senator from New York knows. We have the debt limit. We have appropriations bills to pass. We have all these things piling up, we have about 30 days to do it in, and so far, I have seen no plan to address these challenges. prgtoken The only way we are going to address some of these challenges, I say to my colleagues, with their partisanship and anger and dislike of anybody who lives over there, the fact is that we need to work together to work these things out, and we can do it without betraying principle, but we can also do it by understanding the priorities and the dedication and patriotism of those on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken So I understand the Senator from New York. I don't agree with the Senator from New York, but I understand his frustration. So I renew my consent request.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Martha McSally (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-7-13

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition. As the only Air Force Academy graduate in Congress, we train these cadets to become officers and leaders and warfighters for our military. We are not training them to become pro athletes, just like my colleague said here. prgtoken And you want to talk about morale? prgtoken Having been there, there is nothing worse than watching somebody try to get out of their commitment to go play pro sports, for the rest of the cadets that are there ready to lead America into battle. prgtoken I strongly support the underlying bill. We are at a time of military crisis and readiness crisis right now. We do not release people to go fly for the airlines or go start their own business or go be an entrepreneur or go to a high-tech company and then just say: Oh, just pay it back. prgtoken There are so many people that are trying to get into these academies so they can wear the uniform and lead America into battle. prgtoken So this is about warfighting, not about becoming a linebacker. So let's please--I am urging my colleagues to vote down this amendment and to support the underlying bill.
HONONRING DRS. JOHN GORMAN, VINCENT FREDA AND WILLIAM POLLACK FOR CREATING THE RH VACCINE
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-7-13

I rise today to pay tribute to Drs. John Gorman, Vincent Freda and William Pollack for their creation of the Rh Vaccine. May 29, 2018, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the availability of this important and innovative medical therapeutic. prgtoken Prior to May 29, 1968, Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), which is caused by a blood incompatibility between the mother and the fetus or newborn baby, had afflicted women over the ages. In the United States alone it was affecting thousands of Rh negative women and was responsible for nearly 9,000 fetal or newborn deaths annually. To address this crisis, Drs. John Gorman and Vincent Freda, practicing physicians at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and Dr. William Pollack, of the Ortho Research Foundation at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey, created a new vaccine that would prevent HDN and rapidly become the standard, world-wide, in the care and management of every Rh negative pregnancy. prgtoken The Rh Vaccine has nearly eliminated Rh hemolytic disease in the United States. This development has produced savings in human and financial costs that are estimated to exceed $750 million dollars annually. The Rh Vaccine has a track record of being one of the most effective and safest products in the history of vaccines. prgtoken Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack were recognized for their work by the American Association of Blood Banks in 1969. In 1980, they were again recognized for this accomplishment by sharing the Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, which honors those whose contributions have improved the clinical treatment of patients. prgtoken The Rh Vaccine is just one example why New Jersey is known as the medicine chest of the world. All the research and development for the vaccine was done in Raritan, New Jersey, which is part of the district that I serve. The product continues to be manufactured there today. prgtoken , the accomplishments of Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack should inspire all of us. They should remind us the important role Congress has in encouraging research and development. Together, we can continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the next group of great doctors and scientists in this country has the support they need to bring innovative medicines and products to market.