mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-2-14

I would like to bring the Senate's attention to the bipartisan Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2018, which I am introducing today with Senators Cornyn and Jones. This legislation eliminates a barrier for teachers in military families to earn federal student loan forgiveness for their years of public service. prgtoken The Department of Education's Teacher Loan Forgiveness program rightfully incentivizes teachers to commit to students in our lowest income school districts in exchange for up to $17,500 in Federal student loan forgiveness. Teachers qualify for the Federal student loan forgiveness once they have taught full-time for at least five consecutive years at a low income school or educational service agency. Teachers who are forced to move in the middle of the school year to follow their spouse's relocation or reassignment to another installation in the United States or abroad lose their accrued eligibility for the program and must restart their five years of service under current law. prgtoken Last Congress, a Maryland constituent brought to my attention the barriers her daughter faced when seeking Federal student loan forgiveness despite her commitment to public service. Her daughter, a teacher married to a member of the military, was in the middle of her fifth consecutive year teaching at one of Maryland's lower income schools. As any military spouse knows, relocation or reassignment orders can come at any time, upending the lives of the service member and their family. Rather than being able to complete a fifth year of teaching in a Maryland school, this family had to relocate with three months left in the school year. Despite this family's double commitment to service for our military and our schoolchildren, this military spouse missed the opportunity to have a portion of her Federal student loans forgiven. No military spouse prgtoken should be punished for following his or her spouse's relocation or reassignment. prgtoken The legislation that Senators Cornyn, Jones and I have introduced is a common sense proposal to allow military spouses to earn the benefits that they have dutifully worked towards and continue to incentivize individuals to teach our hardest to educate children. Our legislation provides a waiver from the Department of Education's Teacher Loan Forgiveness program's five consecutive years of service requirement for qualified military spouses if their spouse is relocated during the school year pursuant to military orders from the Armed Forces. This waiver will allow individuals to remain eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program should they resume teaching full-time at a qualifying low-income school district within one year of their relocation. In addition, this legislation requires the Department of Education to provide a report to Congress every two years on the number of military spouses who remained eligible for Teacher Loa
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.J. RES. 31, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-2-14

I rise today in opposition to the Conference Report to Accompany H.J. Res. 31. prgtoken Our country used to celebrate being a nation of immigrants, one that protected the most vulnerable and those fleeing from violence and persecution. We are, after all, home to the American Dream. Increasingly, though, this country's policies have become a nightmare for immigrant families, adults, and children. prgtoken People, including children, have died under our custody, and immigrants and refugees are being targeted, detained and deported with little oversight or accountability, and with no regard for keeping families together. DHS, specifically it's enforcement methods and immigration policy is out of alignment with our American values, and instead of increasing its funding to separate families and cage children, we must step back and conduct an audit of DHS funding and policies, with an eye towards decreasing its budget and ending the militarization of our immigration system. More importantly, we need an audit of our morality as prgtoken a country. Our true test is how we treat the most vulnerable amongst us, including our neighbors seeking a better life. prgtoken Since the creation of DHS in 2003, both CBP and ICE's budgets have more than doubled, to a total of nearly $24 billion today. Moreover, transfer and reprogramming authority allow ICE and CBP to siphon money from other departments to support their activities, leaving their true budgets largely unaccountable and often illusory. ICE, for instance, has redirected appropriations to grow its detention camps and enforcement operations, spending beyond what Congress appropriated. This deal does nothing to restrict this transfer authority and will see an increase in immigration detention of more than 11 percent, or 5,000 additional detentions every day, and representing a 25 percent increase total over Administration levels. prgtoken It is unconscionable that our federal budget would be spent on private detention centers, like those run by Core Civic and GEO Groups, who hold hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts from DHS for private detention camps. These for-profit camps are violating human rights by not providing hot water, serving spoiled food and denying medical care. Not coincidentally, each of Core Civic and GEO Group gave $250,000 to President 's inaugural committee. Our budget is not a tool for rewarding campaign supporters, and it cannot be used to perpetuate human rights abuses or make a profit on the backs of children and our immigrant neighbors. prgtoken The Conference Report also provides $1.375 billion for wall construction, a complete waste of resources that makes us no safer but perpetuates environmental degradation and dehumanizes border communities. It expands CBP's short term custody without any safeguards, increases funding for Homeland Security Investigation ICE agents who conduct militarized raids and abuse rights and their
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.J. RES. 31, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-14

I would like to thank the chairwoman for her leadership throughout this process. prgtoken It has been 3 weeks, colleagues, since the end of the longest shutdown in American history--35 days--where we saw friends and neighbors who hurt, where this body didn't do enough to push back against a shutdown that hurt our communities and hurt individuals throughout this country. prgtoken This is a compromise bill, and we are here today to reflect that good will and that good faith effort of and s negotiating together to find compromise. prgtoken But let's talk a little bit about what this bill would do. prgtoken This bill protects our national security. This bill works to improve the only true crisis that we have at our southern border, which is the humanitarian crisis. This bill invests in technology and in ports of entry. This bill ensures that we have the resources to protect this country. prgtoken This bill also unlocks the other appropriations bills that will fund the Environmental Protection Agency, make investments in the Census, and make investments in transportation. prgtoken What this bill will not do is this bill will not fund the President's wall from sea to shining sea, a wall that he said Mexico would pay for. prgtoken So we tried another path. We tried a bipartisan path of working together to iron out our differences and to come to an agreement, to keep government open, to protect our national security. That was the focus of the conferees, and that is what we sought to accomplish. prgtoken But we also did two important things in this document. We ensured that the congressional intent was there when it comes to topics that we don't always agree on; and we will ensure, this body will ensure, that we will hold the administration accountable, that we will provide oversight that hasn't been provided, and that we will ensure that national security is protected.
BAHRAIN MUST CHANGE DIRECTION
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-2-14

. Madam , today marks the 8th anniversary of the beginning of the Pearl Uprising in Bahrain. prgtoken On this day eight years ago, thousands of Bahrainis gathered in peaceful protests to demand greater political freedom, and political and constitutional reform. prgtoken Their demands were not new--the roots went back to the 1970s. prgtoken They were not radical: Bahrainis wanted greater popular participation in governance, equal access to socio-economic opportunities and development, action against corruption and an end to the practice of political naturalization. prgtoken And they were not sectarian--even though Bahrain is a majority Shi'a country ruled by a minority Sunni monarchy. prgtoken But by the end of March 2011, what started as a moment of hope had been met with massive repression by the Bahraini government and security forces sent by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As protests grew and spread, at least 35 people died, some 3,000 people were injured, thousands were detained or lost their jobs, and many were brutally tortured, including medical doctors. prgtoken King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain did take some steps to address the people's demands. His appointment of the 5-member Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry BICI) to examine the government's response to the protests was an important gesture. And the 26 recommendations contained in the BICI report, which the monarch promised to implement, did inspire some new hope that change was possible. prgtoken Many of us in Congress urged the government to fully implement the BICI recommendations and to cease the repression of human rights defenders and peaceful opposition leaders. prgtoken But in the years since, hope has been completely dashed. Some initial important reforms have been rolled back, opposition political societies are banned, peaceful human rights defenders and popular opposition leaders are spending their lives in jail, sectarian divisions have hardened, hundreds have been stripped of their citizenship, no independent press remains, the most recent elections were a sham--and to top it all off, the Bahraini government has supported the Saudis in the brutal war in Yemen and the senseless embargo of Qatar. prgtoken Madam , some observers turn a blind eye to Bahrain's increasingly authoritarian rule because they accept Bahrain's argument that Iran is to blame for encouraging the Shi'a population to rebel. prgtoken These days, any mention of Iran is often enough to silence legitimate criticism. prgtoken But what I see is a Bahraini government whose own policies deepen sectarian divisions and create the conditions for unrest. prgtoken In spite of their majority status, Bahraini Shiites are less likely to hold jobs in the all-important public sector. They are almost entirely disqualified from serving in the police or military. They live in highly segregated neighborhoods with inferior public services compared to Sunni areas. They are
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.J. RES. 31, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-14

first of all, let me thank Chairwoman Lowey for yielding. Also, I must thank her for her tireless work, day and night, on behalf of the American people. prgtoken Also, let me thank our Homeland Security chairwoman, Lucille Roybal- Allard, for her brilliance and her hard work. She pushed hard for a bill that reflects our American values, and I appreciate her leadership. prgtoken The phenomenal work of Chairwoman Lowey, Chairwoman Roybal-Allard, all the members of the conference committee, and all the Appropriations chairs and ranking members has just been amazing. I really do salute them for that. This has been a very, very difficult negotiation, but they all did it. prgtoken This legislation, of course, , is not perfect. It is not the bill that I would have written or chosen. And, yes, I have serious concerns with several of the provisions, which I will discuss. prgtoken But let me tell you, this bill will keep the government open. It will prevent another shutdown, which caused so much misery for Federal workers and their families. And it provides funding for humanitarian assistance, which is desperately needed at the border. prgtoken Once more, the package of bills includes funding increases for six other spending bills, including housing for people living with AIDS, transportation grants for low-income communities, increased funding for homelessness, and Section 8 vouchers. prgtoken As a member of the Department of Homeland Security Conference Committee, I was proud to fight for many of our priorities in this bill, which really reflect our American values. prgtoken Being born and raised in the beautiful border town, as I have said before, of El Paso, Texas, I understand what it means to live in a border community and why these issues are so important. They speak to our sense of morality and who we are as a country and, yes, as well as our security.
Government Funding (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-2-14

first, let me congratulate the Chamber on the overwhelming vote for the appropriations bill. It is good news that we passed it by a lot of votes, and I hope the House does it by a lot, too. prgtoken I need to comment on the news that President may declare a national emergency in an attempt to build his border wall. If President decides to go forward with a disaster declaration, he will be making a tremendous mistake. prgtoken Declaring a national emergency would be a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the Presidency, and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that President broke his core promise to have Mexico pay for the wall. It will be another demonstration of President 's naked contempt for the rule of law and congressional authority. prgtoken Congress just debated this very issue. There was not support for the President's position. Congressional intent on this issue is very clear. The President's wall has been before Congress several times and has never garnered enough votes to even merit consideration. For the President to declare an emergency now would be an unprecedented subversion of Congress's constitutional prerogative. prgtoken The fact is, this is not an emergency, and the President's fearmongering doesn't make it one. A policy dispute about our southern border does not constitute a national emergency. prgtoken support and have always supported strong border security, but the fact is, according to the CBP, apprehensions at our southern border are at historic lows. prgtoken President couldn't convince Mexico, he couldn't convince the American people, and he couldn't convince their elected representatives to pay for his ineffective and expensive wall. Now he is trying an end run around Congress in a desperate attempt to put taxpayers on the hook for it. Make no mistake--Congress will defend our constitutional authorities in every way that we can. prgtoken .
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-2-14

. Madam , I rise today to express my relief that the House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan compromise that keeps our government open, secures our border, and upholds our values. prgtoken Now, this is not an agreement that either party would have written on its own, but rather than funding for an ineffective border wall, this bill, instead, prioritizes border security funding for methods and technologies that have proven effective. prgtoken This bill also rejects irresponsible budget cuts and, instead, invests additional dollars in important priorities like funding for economic development assistance programs, environmental protection, and transportation infrastructure. prgtoken I want to thank all of the conferees for working together to forge a bipartisan consensus to fund government, invest in our priorities, and keep our country safe. prgtoken It is about time that Congress gets to work on more legislative priorities that will strengthen our families, strengthen our communities, and strengthen our economy. That is what the American people elected us to do, and I hope my colleagues will join me in these efforts going forward.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.J. RES. 31, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-2-14

when I spoke on the floor about finishing the FY19 bills, we were in the midst of what turned out to be the longest government shutdown in our history. Thankfully, that is behind us. But to ensure it stays behind us, we need to pass this conference report. prgtoken The bipartisan leadership and staff and the conferees have done an admirable job. This bill is good but not perfect. It makes significant investments in rural development; it includes language setting aside funding for persistent poverty counties; it has a modest increase for the Farm Production and Conservation mission area; and domestic nutrition programs are all well-funded. prgtoken On the international side, the bill provides good funding for Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Program. prgtoken Finally, FDA gets $3 billion, including significant investments to fight the opioid epidemic. prgtoken But I must say, candidly, that I have some regrets. My strongest regret, however, is that we are not considering the disaster supplemental today. prgtoken The House and Senate passed separate bills a month ago that would have provided desperately needed relief to our farmers, ranchers, and communities coast to coast, in Hawaii and the territories that were devastated by tragic disasters, but those bills must still be reconciled. The country must get this disaster bill passed, and get it passed soon.
IN HONOR OF THE OUTSTANDING CAREER OF GRAHAM T. ``BUBBA'' MOORE, JR.
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-2-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Graham T. ``Bubba'' Moore, Jr. on his nearly fifty years of outstanding service to our community as he retires from Barnhill Contracting Company, located in North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District. prgtoken Graham--or Bubba as he's known to his friends--started his career in 1973 and retires today as the Vice President of Barnhill Contracting Company after 46 years of service in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1973 with a degree in engineering, and in that same year he married his lovely wife, Betty Gail. Together they've raised two children, Landis and Gray, and one grandchild, Evelyn. prgtoken Over the years, Bubba has become a pillar of the community. While the list of his community involvements is quite extensive, Bubba has time and again stepped up to help our soldiers, veterans and their families--no small feat considering Fayetteville is home to Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world. Bubba has served as the Vice-Chair of the Ft Bragg Special Activities Committee, Chairman of the Military Affairs Council of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, and on the Board of Directors for the Sandhills Military Council. prgtoken On top of these public positions, Bubba has always been known as someone who wanted to help our troops behind the scenes. Bubba went to visit soldiers in Afghanistan at Bagram Air Field in Kandahar and delivered Christmas gifts and Holiday Cheer to our deployed soldiers. He also helped organized family trips for Gold Star family members and was instrumental in supporting children of deployed soldiers attend exclusive productions of ``Disney on Ice'' at the Crown Center. These were things that may not have received public attention, but that didn't matter to Bubba; he just cared about giving back to the place he's called home for so long. prgtoken I wish Bubba a long and happy retirement, and I know I speak for countless people in the community when I say he will be missed at Barnhill Contracting Company. prgtoken Madam , please join me in congratulating Bubba for his incredible career and service to our community.
VETERANS' AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-2-14

it is no secret that the 116th Congress got off to a rocky start as we tried to address the ongoing partial shutdown. Despite that, I remain optimistic that we can work together to get things done for the American people. prgtoken Those looking for an example of how to find common ground should look no further than the important work Congress has done, and continues to do, for our veterans. The hearing room of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is traditionally one of the most bipartisan places in Washington. It is also one of the busiest. prgtoken Last Congress, under Chairman Isakson's leadership, we held 30 hearings, considered 56 pieces of legislation, and sent to the full Senate 17 of President 's nominees to serve our veterans. prgtoken That spirit of cooperation continued here on the floor. During the last session of Congress, the Senate passed 23 major pieces of veteran- related legislation. As a result, the President signed into law bills that significantly enhance healthcare, education, retirement, and other benefits for our veterans. prgtoken I want to talk briefly about two of the more notable measures--the VA MISSION Act and the Forever GI bill--to underscore why it is so important for Congress to operate in a collaborative manner. Bipartisan oversight of the Departments and Agencies that implement the laws we pass in that Chamber is critical to ensuring that the executive branch follows the intent of Congress. These two laws highlight just how important that is. prgtoken Let's start with the VA MISSION Act. This law was passed to replace the Veterans Choice Act, which was created in response to the VA Health Administration scandal of 2014. This was a good first step. The Choice Program addressed many shortcomings within the VA system. However, my colleagues and I quickly learned it had its own share of troubles. Specifically, we heard repeated stories of difficulties navigating the complex and confusing bureaucratic process. Despite the new reforms, many veterans were still facing unacceptably long wait times at VA medical centers. prgtoken Through our oversight of the Choice Program, we recognized that more needed to be done to strengthen and streamline VA healthcare services and its community care programs. That was the genesis of the VA MISSION Act. One of the key reforms in the VA MISSION Act is that it enables veterans to seek quality healthcare services in their own communities, whether inside the VA system or from a private sector provider. prgtoken Specifically, the law requires the Department to establish access and quality standards that will be used as the framework for the VA and the veteran to decide when to get care in a VA facility and when to get care in the community. If the VA is unable to meet certain designated access standards, veterans will be given the option to receive care in the community. Last week, the VA announced the proposed new access standa