mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-10-11

on behalf of millions of people with disabilities, today I wish to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, NIDILRR, and its 40 years of accomplishments and contributions to the lives of people with disabilities. prgtoken NIDILRR is the Federal agency supporting applied research, demonstration, training, and technical assistance to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities. NIDILRR's mission is to generate new knowledge and to promote its effective use to improve the abilities of people with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community and to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for our citizens with disabilities. NIDILRR carries out its mission by building the capacity of institutions and individuals to conduct high-quality research in the major life domains, including employment, participation in the community, community integration, and health. prgtoken NIDILRR plays a unique and critical role in Federal research. NIDILRR-sponsored projects and programs target populations that include all disability types and all age groups. While other Federal research entities fund prevention, cure, and acute rehabilitation research, which are vital for people with disabilities, NIDILRR invests in applied research meant to quickly translate to greater independence, community participation, and employment for people with disabilities. prgtoken The many contributions of NIDILRR's grantees cannot be overstated. Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to the researchers and practitioners whose efforts empower people with disabilities to lead proud, productive lives in pursuit of independence, community living, and employment. During October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, it is important to highlight the major role that NIDILRR has played in promoting and enabling the employment of people with disabilities. Over the past 40 years, NIDILRR-funded researchers have been extraordinarily productive, including in my home State of Washington. Across the United States, grantees have created more than 1,200 new products, including peer-reviewed publications, intervention protocols, measurement tools, and software and technologies that impact the field of rehabilitation and enhance the lives of people with disabilities. prgtoken NIDILRR-funded fellowship programs have trained and supported a substantial number of emerging scholars, researchers, and policy implementation experts, including a significant focus on scholars with disabilities and those from minority communities. NIDILRR-funded fellows have contributed to substantive policy development in Congress, including by serving as content experts on my staff at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. NIDILRR supports the ADA National Network, whi
HURRICANE RECOVERY
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-10-11

let me say to the people of Florida, Georgia, and everyone else affected by Hurricane Michael that our thoughts and hearts are with you. Having worked and lived through the recovery of Hurricane Sandy in my home State of New York, I remember vividly the anguish of families who lost their homes and businesses the day or two after and then realizing it took years for areas of New York and Long Island to recover. We are still in the process of recovering. I know, A, your pain and suffering and, B, the challenges that await you. prgtoken So we hope everyone stays safe as the storm passes through the country. We know that Americans and the Senate will pull together, as they always do, to help one another build and recover.
REMEMBERING SHIRLEY ANN McCOMBS
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-10-11

today I wish to honor the life of Shirley Ann McCombs who passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at the age of 81. Shirley was born June 30, 1937, in Schuyler County, IL, to Harry and Stella Derry Hunter. Shirley married Charles H. McCombs on May 30, 1956. She was employed by the Illinois State government in numerous positions and was ultimately promoted to the speaker's staff as a fiscal officer until her retirement. Shirley played on the Rushville Rushettes Softball Team and she was a past member of the Oakford United Methodist Church, where she served as secretary and on many committees. She was also a current member of the West Side Christian Church in Springfield. prgtoken Shirley was elected State central committeewoman for the 18th Congressional District in 1986 and served in the position until present. She served as secretary of the ic Party of Illinois, second vice president of Illinois ic Women, and Annual Convention Ad Book chair and editor/graphic artist. Shirley also had served as the Menard County chairman, precinct committeewoman, and as the first vice president of the Illinois County Chairman's Association. prgtoken Shirley served as an elector on the Illinois Electoral College since 1992. She served at many of the ic National Conventions as a delegate and as an assistant whip. Shirley also served for numerous State ic Conventions, co-chaired IDW Luncheon for Convention Delegates and Dignitaries at the ic National Convention. She was the State fair committee chairman for the IDP. Shirley received the Chairman's Award for Commitment and Service to the ic Party and Certificate of Appreciation Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service. prgtoken In addition to her work in politics, she was also passionate about helping her community. She was a founding member of the Menard County Tourism Council and former treasurer. Shirley was a founding board member of the IWIL and served on the board for the Area Agency on Aging and served on the advisory council. She was on the Menard Caring Board and a volunteer at the Menard County Food Pantry. She was a lobbyist for AARP. prgtoken Shirley attended both of President Clinton's and President 's inaugurations. prgtoken Shirley is survived by her daughter, Robin and her husband Rick Mathieu; grandchildren Vickie Mathieu and Jackie and her husband Gus Tserpelis; three great-grandchildren; siblings Nelda, Susan and husband Larry, Larry, Lois and her husband Stuart, and Deloris and her husband Robert; sisters-in-law Phyllis, Doris, and Betty; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. prgtoken Her service to her community is remarkable and her story inspiring. I prgtoken stand here today to applaud my dear friend and to honor her legacy.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-10-11

this month, I join the Nation in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the invaluable contributions of the Latino community to our country. Hispanic Americans comprise an integral part of the United States and form our Nation's largest ethnic minority. An estimated 60 million Latinos and Latinas currently live in the U.S making our country home to the world's third largest Latino population. More than half a million of my fellow Marylanders identify as Hispanic or Latino. prgtoken Some of our Hispanic residents are recent arrivals to this country, seeking safety and freedom unavailable in their countries of origin. Others trace their roots to our country's founding. All play a role in helping to shape our country for the better. Latino and Latinas form a crucial part of our Nation's Armed Forces, dutifully serve at all levels of government, play an active role in their local communities, and Hispanic-owned businesses contribute an estimated $473 billion in revenue to our economy and employ millions of people. Diversity is America's strength, and our thriving Hispanic communities are evidence of this. prgtoken In spite of these contributions, many in the Latina and Latino community are suffering or being put at unnecessary risk due to the administration's policies. Cruel immigration practices have led to families being torn apart. Millions of Dreamers live in constant fear that they will be removed from the only country they have ever known. The decision to remove Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti worsens our national security and injects unnecessary fear and uncertainty into American families based on politics, rather than policy. Maryland alone would lose well over $1 billion from our State's GDP without the workers who currently hold TPS. In Puerto Rico, over 3,000 American citizens died from the effects of Hurricane Maria, and the island still struggles to recover. Hispanic Americans increasingly face risks from prejudice, racism, and bigotry. Such policies and rhetoric directly undermine the values on which our country was founded. prgtoken Hispanics and Latinos bear the disproportionate effects of these policies, and the entire country suffers as a result. When some of our best and brightest young students and our Nation's hardest workers fear for their future or are forced into the shadows, it can have a lasting and harmful effect on our communities, our economy, and our security. prgtoken Hispanic Heritage Month marks a time to address these issues with prgtoken meaningful action rather than empty proclamations. Congress must finally pass a Dream Act to provide Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, recipients with the protections they deserve, so they can continue their contributions to this country. It is time for the Senate to take up and pass S. 2144, legislation I introduced with Senators Van Hollen and Feinstein, to provide a pathway
THE ECONOMY
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-10-11

each year the Department of Education honors schools around the country that have a clear record of serving students of all backgrounds and helping all students excel. prgtoken This year, 16 Ohio schools were among 349 National Blue Ribbon Schools, honoring the hard work of students, teachers, parents, and everyone in the community who works to make these schools a success-- from cafeteria workers to principals, to students, to parents, to neighbors. prgtoken These schools represent the great diversity in our State--rural and small-town schools, urban and suburban schools, all designated as ``exemplary high performing schools.'' prgtoken I would like to read the names of these 16 schools in Ohio: Bath Elementary School, Bluffton Elementary School, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School, Central Elementary School, Hazel Harvey Elementary School, Indian Riffle Elementary School, John Foster Dulles Elementary School, Maplewood Elementary School, Mariemont Elementary School, Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, Oakwood Elementary School, Saint Andrew-Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, Stadium Drive Elementary School, and Twin Oak Elementary School. prgtoken The other school, in addition to these 16, is particularly close to my heart. It is called the Mansfield Spanish Immersion School. It sits on Euclid Avenue. It is the new school in the building where I went to elementary school, then called Brinkerhoff Elementary. It has since become a Spanish immersion school. Brinkerhoff was built, I believe, in the 1950s. I attended there and both of my brothers attended there from kindergarten through the sixth grade. prgtoken The school reopened as a public magnet school a decade ago, with a class of 11 kindergartners, under the leadership of our neighbor Jody Nash. prgtoken Over the past 10 years, under Principal Nash, and now under the current principal, Gabe Costa, the school has grown to more than 250 students across 9 grades. prgtoken Last year the school expanded to add seventh and eighth grade for the first time and had a third section of kindergartners. prgtoken Core subjects are taught in Spanish, helping Richland County students learn a second language from a young age. These students don't just excel in Spanish. The school is consistently ranked a top school in the State and has gotten high marks for serving students from diverse backgrounds. prgtoken I would add that there are not a huge number of people in Mansfield, OH, my hometown, whose parents are speaking Spanish at home. Most of these students are learning Spanish for the first time in their families. prgtoken Two years ago, the Brinkerhoff School, or the Mansfield Spanish Immersion School, was 1 of 2 schools in Ohio and 100 across the Nation to receive a National Title I Distinguished Schools Award for making progress in closing the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their pe
REMEMBERING MATTHEW SHEPARD
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-10-11

. Thank you, . I rise to speak to commemorate the horrific death of Matthew Shepard 20 years ago. On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, then a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and left tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, WY. He passed away 5 days later in a hospital. prgtoken Matthew was attacked because of his sexual orientation. His murder was an act of pure evil, borne of hate. prgtoken Since his passing, Matthew's family has worked to share his story in the hope that no other family suffers a similar tragedy. His parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor the life and aspirations of their son. Judy has made countless personal appearances around the country and around the world, sharing Matthew's story, to shine a light on the importance of supporting the LGBT community and eradicating hate. She has relived the horror of his death so that others may not ever know such pain. prgtoken I had the opportunity in 2005 to meet Judy Shepard here in Washington, and I was impressed and inspired by her strength. The foundation that the Shepard family has organized has worked to end hate in all forms around the country, starting dialogues at schools, corporations, and communities to promote human dignity for all individuals. They have also provided an online resource center for LGBT youth, helped to create a dialogue about hate crimes through support for The Laramie Project, and helped to advocate for legislation to end hate crimes. prgtoken Judy Shepard's work has been successful, and I think that is an understatement. Matthew Shepard's story has resonated with people across the country and inspired change, including the 2009 passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which I was proud to cosponsor. This legislation added perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability as protected classes under existing Federal hate crimes law. prgtoken Though we made a great deal of progress over the last 20 years, there is still so much work to do. In 2016, 6,121 hate crime incidents were reported, and of these incidents, 1,076 were based on sexual orientation bias, and 124 were based on gender-identity bias. prgtoken In order to help to stop this violence, I am the author of the Disarm Hate Act. This legislation would prevent those convicted of a violent misdemeanor hate crime or those who have received a hate crime sentence enhancement from buying or possessing a gun. prgtoken It is critical that we work not only to address hate crimes but to stop the culture of violence or prejudice that often begins as bullying and harassment in our schools. According to a Human Rights Campaign report, LGBT youth are more than twice as likely--twice as likely--as non-LGBT youth to be physically attacked at school. prgtoken Similarly, a report by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Educati
VOTE EXPLANATION
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-10-11

due to an excused absence on October 11, 2018, I was unable to vote on several judicial nominations. Had I been present I would have voted in the following matter: prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 1007, on the nomination of David James Porter, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 1081, on the nomination of Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 1082, on the nomination of Richard J. Sullivan, of New York, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, I intended to vote yea. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 627, on the nomination of William M. Ray II, of Georgia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 628, on the nomination of Liles Clifton Burke, of Alabama, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 629, on the nomination of Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 634, on the nomination of Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr of Tennessee, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 638, on the nomination of Eli Jeremy Richardson, of Tennessee, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, I intended to vote nay. prgtoken On Executive Calendar No. 894, on the nomination of Thomas S. Kleeh, of West Virginia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, I intended to vote nay. (At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-10-11

today I wish to pay special tribute to Wayne State University, which this year is celebrating 150 years. prgtoken Michigan is home to many world-class colleges and universities. However, what has set Wayne State apart from the very beginning is its unique role in serving the people of Michigan from the heart of Detroit. prgtoken Wayne State traces its roots to 1868, when five physicians who had witnessed the very worst of human suffering on Civil War battlefields vowed to change medicine for the better. They founded Detroit Medical College. Its motto: Salus Populi--Suprema Lex. prgtoken The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law. prgtoken A lot has changed since those early days. Today more than 27,000 Warriors from 80 countries are earning degrees in everything from accounting to manufacturing engineering, orchestral studies to urban planning, but one thing has not changed at all: Wayne State's dedication to people's welfare. For 150 years, Wayne State has been making Detroit and our State stronger and creating true leaders. prgtoken It is doing that at the Integrative Biosciences Center, a 127,000- square-foot, $90 million facility dedicated to studying and eliminating health disparities, and the National Institutes of Health's Perinatology Research Branch, which has helped more than 20,000 at-risk mothers and babies. prgtoken It is doing that at the brand-new Mike Illitch School of Business, which is creating the next generation of business leaders while helping revitalize the corridor between downtown and midtown. prgtoken It is doing that through its Wayne Advantage-Macomb program, which allows students to begin to earn their degree at Macomb Community College, and the Warrior Way Back program, which helps students who didn't receive their degrees get back into class while easing their student debt burden. prgtoken It counts among its alumni people who have excelled in nearly every field: Dr. Joseph Ferguson, class of 1869, the first African-American medical school graduate in Michigan; Helen Thomas, class of 1942, dean of the White House Press Corps; Emmett Leith, class of 1949, recipient of the National Medal of Science; Philip Levine, class of 1950, Poet Laureate of the United States and winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Damon Keith, Wayne State University Law School class of 1967, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Garth Fagan, class of 1969, winner of the Tony Award for Best Choreography for ``The Lion King''; Mark Fritz, class of 1978, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting; Dr. Carmen McIntyre, class of 1990, creator of the Mental Health First Aid Training program; and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, class of 2006, whose careful research helped discover elevated lead levels in the children of Flint. prgtoken Hundreds of thousands more alumni, famous or not, can credit Wayne State in part for their success, but so too can hundreds of thousands of people who have been educated, inspired
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-10-12

this resolution concerns a request for testimony in a criminal action pending in federal district court. In this action, the defendant is charged with eleven counts for sending threatening communications in interstate commerce, including sending threatening faxes to Senator Feinstein. Trial is set for later this month in the Eastern District of Virginia. prgtoken The government is sending trial testimony from the employee in Senator Feinstein's office who received and handled the incoming faxes. Senator Feinstein would like to cooperate with this request. prgtoken This resolution would accordingly authorize the staffer to testify as trial and to be represented by the Senate Legal Counsel.