mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-5-9

on another matter, as I mentioned, we are in the middle of a historic economic moment for the American people. prgtoken Last week, the nationwide unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since December of 1969. In just the year and a half since the s passed comprehensive tax reform, 19 States have set new alltime lows in their unemployment rates, including in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. prgtoken If you compare today to November 2016, there are now nearly 70 percent more job openings in durable goods manufacturing and more than twice as many job openings in construction. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of new job openings in these sectors alone. prgtoken Overall, under the s' policies of the last 2 years, for the first time in recorded history, the number of job openings across the country has surpassed the number of Americans who are looking for work. Think about that. There is more than one job opening for every American who wants a job. prgtoken So this economic moment, helped along by policies, has placed American workers in much higher demand, and we know what happens when American workers are in high demand--they get paid more. Sure enough, from late 2017 to late 2018, wage growth for U.S. workers logged its fastest full-year growth rate in a decade. prgtoken What is more, the New York Times reported: The recent gains are going to those who need it most. Over the past year, low-wage workers have experienced the fastest pay increases, a shift from earlier in the recovery, when wage growth was concentrated at the top. prgtoken Of course, that phrase ``earlier in the recovery'' is code for during the administration. prgtoken How often do we hear the left invoke the stale talking point that pro-growth policies only help wealthy people? Anyone who has cracked open a history book knows it is absurd to say that American free enterprise only helps wealthy people and that State-controlled socialism helps everyone else. Anyone who has picked up a newspaper in the last year and a half knows it as well. prgtoken Capitalism and free enterprise are the best tools humanity has ever discovered for lifting up the vulnerable and for empowering people. It was true in the 19th century; it was true in the 20th century; and it is still proving to be true in 2019. prgtoken It has been on the s' watch that we have actually seen low- wage workers and nonmanagement workers receive the fastest wage growth. It has been on the s' watch that the unemployment rate specifically for Americans without high school diplomas has fallen to its lowest rate since 1992. It has been on the s' watch that newspapers have described ``a wave of disabled Americans'' who have been able to join or return to the workforce. prgtoken My colleagues and I could not be more proud of the conditions our policies have helped to create for
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-5-9

in honor of National Military Appreciation Month, I want to recognize a Montana hero, Medal of Honor Recipient SSG Travis W. Atkins of Bozeman. Montana and the Nation are eternally grateful for the sacrifice he made to protect his fellow soldiers and his country. His memory will live on in the hearts of all Montanans for years to come. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that a poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell be printed in the Record.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-5-9

the Transcontinental Railroad is a testament to the enduring American spirit of industry and national unity. prgtoken On the precipice of the American Civil War, Utah's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, William Henry Hooper, recognized that ``A great band of Union throughout the family of man is a common interest.'' Hooper petitioned Congress in his belief that ``a Central Road would unite that interest as with a chain of iron, and would effectually hold together our Federal union with an imperishable identity of mutual interest.'' prgtoken William Henry Hooper's letter to Congress would take several months to reach Washington, DC, as any westward travel beyond the Mississippi River required wagon, stagecoach, or horseback. prgtoken The U.S. Congress would, however, approve such an undertaking, and soon, a National Central Railroad began to manifest from the worn hands of laborers to execute a vision of national unity, a feat that would propel American power and change the course of our history. prgtoken These hands belonged to men of differing national origins and creeds, who labored together under one banner, often fleeing significant hardship in pursuit of economic opportunity in the American West. Roughly 15,000 Chinese immigrants, 10,000 Irish immigrants, and 4,000 Latter-day Saints joined the national effort to complete the most remarkable and ambitious engineering project of the 19th century. prgtoken On May 10, 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads formally met at Promontory Summit, UT, and the 17.6-carat golden spike officially linked the East and West Coasts, marking a watershed moment for American trade, commerce, and population. prgtoken A 6-month journey across the continent was reduced to 1 week. Within a decade of the railroad's completion, Salt Lake City's population more than doubled, further boosting Utah's significance in the national economy. prgtoken Brigham Young recognized the enormous opportunities that global trade would bring to Utah and the country and the abundant and yet untapped resources of iron, coal, stone, and timber. prgtoken In pursuit of a national railroad project, Brigham Young recognized that ``mineral resources of California, and these mountains, will never be fully developed to the benefit of the people of the United States, without the construction of such a road, and upon its completion, the entire trade of China and the East Indies will pass through the heart of the Union; thereby giving our Citizens the almost entire controls of the Asiatic and Pacific trade.'' prgtoken Indeed, the Transcontinental Railroad would transform the American economy in profound ways. This achievement revolutionized communications, global trade routes, and allowed for the movement of people across the country at an unprecedented scale. prgtoken On the sesquicentennial of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, let us re
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Pat Roberts (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-5-9

I have 3 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 Finance prgtoken The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: David Fabian Black, of North Dakota, to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, and Emin Toro, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a business meeting on pending legislation and the hearing on the following nominations: Jeffrey Vincent Brown, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Robert J. Colville, and Stephanie L. Haines, both to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Brantley Starr, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, and Jeffrey A. Rosen, of Virginia, to be Deputy Attorney General, Timothy J. Downing, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, William Travis Brown, Jr to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Louisiana, and Michael Blaine East, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina, all of the Department of Justice. Select Committee on Intelligence prgtoken The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 2 p.m to conduct a closed briefing.
RECOGNIZING BRUNOW CONTRACTING, LLC
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-5-9

as a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my privilege to recognize a woman-owned small business that is dedicated to its customers, employees, and community. In honor of the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Small Business Week, it is my pleasure to name Brunow Contracting of Council Bluffs, IA, the Senate Small Business of the Day. prgtoken Brunow Contracting represents the story of a construction company with an unlikely founder. Tamara Brunow was a pre-law student at the College of Saint Mary who found herself working in construction. She began her career with an internship at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, in military contracting. It was in this role that she saw a future in construction and government contracts. prgtoken After her time at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she proceeded to work for two other construction organizations, Oakview Construction and Lueder Construction. During her tenure with these firms, she realized that while she loved her jobs, she knew she wanted to be her own boss. This prompted her to launch Brunow Contracting in 2008. Shortly after her launch, Brunow Contracting acquired its first contract of $1.3 million dollars to build a Presbyterian church. prgtoken Brunow Contracting specializes in government contracting and is certified by the Small Business Administration as an 8(a) and HUBZone business. Brunow Contracting has completed numerous contracts, ranging in value from $800 to nearly $5 million, and a client list which includes the City of Omaha, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Southwest Iowa Planning Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard. These projects have included everything from churches, to water treatment plants, to data facilities for Facebook. prgtoken With dedication and determination, Ms. Brunow, successfully started a construction company as a single mother of three children in the middle of a recession. Now, she is the owner of one of the only woman-owned construction businesses in America, a recipient of the Midland Business Journal's 40 under 40, and a leader within her community. Today, Ms. Brunow has expanded her business reach to include serving as the head of H2W Apparel, a women's active wear company. Additionally, Ms. Brunow remains an active mentor for women entrepreneurs and advocate for female entrepreneurship. prgtoken Ms. Brunow embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur and small business owner. Despite those telling her that it is not the right industry or not the right time, Brunow Contracting quickly became a multimillion-dollar business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Ms. Brunow showed that, while it certainly is not easy, it is possible to simultaneously build a business, be a great mother, volunteer as a mentor, and remain committed to your community. It is my distinct pleasure to honor Ms. Brunow and the
Border Security (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-5-9

I wanted to spend just a few minutes today speaking with my colleagues and also with Tennesseans about an issue that we hear so very much about every single day. The issue continues to persist. It is our border, and we all know--and, indeed, you read in news count after news count--that yes, indeed, there is a crisis at our border. prgtoken Just a few months ago, we had some of our friends who are in the other Chamber who kept saying: Oh, this is manufactured; oh, there is nothing to it. prgtoken But as we hear from law enforcement professionals, as we hear from ICE, from DHS, and from the Border Patrol, we have a crisis. Our border is strained to the breaking point. prgtoken The real humanitarian crisis at the border is escalating. There are people who are being brought in through Central America, through Mexico, and they are stranded in the desert without food and without water. During the summer, sometimes you have temperatures above 100 degrees. prgtoken Our border is at a breaking point, and it is, indeed, time for this body to do something about it and to support these Agencies that are on the frontline dealing with this crisis every single day. prgtoken What we know from our hearing that we held yesterday at the Senate Judiciary Committee is that ICE is facing mounting challenges when it comes to expediting the deportations that need to take place. Abuse and exploitation of the asylum process overburdens our court system as illegal immigrants flood our borders claiming persecution. prgtoken Our country historically welcomes people who are fleeing political persecution, but there have to be tighter rules on these asylum seekers. The percentage of those who have valid asylum claims is actually relatively low compared to the number who are applying for these protections. I will tell you that I welcome President 's moves to raise the standards. prgtoken Last week, the President directed the Department of Homeland Security to enact several new asylum changes. As part of these new policies, the President imposed a new deadline for the immigration courts to meet. He directed that cases in immigration courts be settled within 180 days of those being filed. prgtoken Tennesseans want to see government accountability. They want to see it across every Agency. Certainly, when it comes to immigration policy, they want this accountability. They know that with a 6-month deadline, it is exactly the kind of accountability that is needed. prgtoken Here is the problem that ICE is facing when it comes to meeting that 180-day standard. Right now, as of yesterday at our hearing, they had more than 800,000 cases that were pending. Think about that. Your court system has 800,000 cases that are pending. There are exactly 400 immigration judges that are there to hear these 800,000 cases. Do the math on that. Think about how many cases that would be. prgtoken It is a 2-year wait at this point to get the case heard. S
BILLY JOEL'S 70TH BIRTHDAY
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-5-9

. Madam , I rise today to wish a very happy 70th birthday to Billy Joel, a resident of the greatest congressional district in America, the First Congressional District of New York. prgtoken He has sung about Allentown; he has sung about Vienna; but he never forgot where he came from. It is important, whether you are in politics, music, or business, to never forget where you come from. prgtoken He would sing songs about our bays, our beaches, our boaters, our fishermen, our restaurants, our media. He is someone who, to this very day, looks at Long Island as his home. prgtoken He has a concert tonight celebrating his 70th birthday with so many fans. prgtoken From everyone who lives in the First Congressional District, for all of Long Island, a very happy 70th birthday to a very special person. prgtoken Happy birthday to Billy Joel.
Tribute to Mike Hackley and Recognizing BBQGuys (Executive Session)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-5-9

I rise as a Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to highlight a veteran-owned Louisiana business that is a true success story. With me today is my colleague from my office, Ms. Cassie Leonard. prgtoken We all know small businesses are how many Americans live the American dream. They start small; they start with a passion; they create jobs; and then they help us compete globally in America and spark innovation. These American small business owners are often our friends. They are often our neighbors. prgtoken They succeed through the hard work of entrepreneurs like Mr. Mike Hackley of Baton Rouge. I am talking about Mike and his business BBQGuys because it is National Small Business Week and because BBQGuys was named Senate Small Business of the Week just last week. prgtoken Mike has served our country in many ways. He has served our country in the Air Force for more than 10 years. Once his military career ended, he worked in a number of different sectors. Like a lot of Louisianans, Mike loves the outdoors. In Louisiana, we will barbecue no matter how hot it gets outside. prgtoken Mike turned his passion into a profession, and he did it by starting an outdoor business called The Grill Store & More. prgtoken Early on, being the perceptive business person he is, Mike saw an opening with e-commerce, something we take for granted today. He launched a website called www.bbqguys.com, and he did this in 2001, 18 years ago, when Americans who did have the internet were on dial-up connections. prgtoken Today, 18 years later, BBQGuys is a giant in outdoor living online retailers. Mike now employs nearly 300 workers. He started with less than 10. That is the American dream. That is American success, and BBQGuys continues to evolve and to grow. prgtoken They started designing and manufacturing premium barbecue grills, with manufacturing operations here in the United States, and they are looking to export into Europe and Australia. prgtoken Mike also remains committed to a culture of teamwork at BBQGuys. Every day he makes a point of going around the office to say good morning to his employees, and I am not talking about just to the executives. It is no wonder Mike has a high employee retention rate, a reputation for outstanding customer service, and an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau. BBQGuys has also been named one of the 5,000 fastest growing businesses in the United States by Inc. Magazine for 11 years in a row. prgtoken I am proud to stand today before the U.S. Senate to say I am proud of Mike Hackley. I am proud of what he has built. He is realizing the American dream, and he is creating good jobs for my State. prgtoken Mike, if you are listening, thank you for making Louisiana proud. prgtoken .
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-9

yesterday, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration that I chair held a hearing on the humanitarian and security crisis along the southern border. One of the witnesses we heard from was Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost, who leads the dedicated law enforcement officers who safeguard our Nation's borders every day. She has been with the Border Patrol for 25 years, and she has witnessed firsthand the ebb and flow of border crossings during that entire quarter century. prgtoken Chief Provost announced the most recent data that shows how dire the situation along our southern border is. She described these numbers as off the charts, which I think is a gentle way of putting it. prgtoken Before I get to the numbers, let me provide some context. In October 2018, the start of the fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection encountered nearly 61,000 migrants at the border. That is higher than any month in the previous fiscal year. At the time, we were all alarmed by the increase, but last month's numbers completely eclipsed those levels. Chief Provost announced at our hearing yesterday that in the month of April, CBP encountered more than 109,000 illegal immigrants along the southern border. From October to April, we jumped from roughly 61,000 to 109,000 per month, a 78-percent increase over just the 6-month period. prgtoken In addition to that enormous monthly total, she told us about the record-breaking daily total last week. Border Patrol apprehended 5,200 people in a single day--the highest number on record. The problem is that we can't simply send these migrants home under the current state of the law. So the more individuals we apprehend, the more detention space we need. If we don't have the detention space, these individuals would simply just be released into the American population. We will never hear from most of them again, unless they commit some other crime. prgtoken But the fact of the matter is, we are overtaxing the capabilities of the Border Patrol, of Customs and Border Protection, of the local communities, and of the nongovernmental organizations that try to assist these migrants while they are in our country and in our custody. On certain days over the last month, CBP has had more than 14,000 people in custody, far greater than the capacity they are able to hold. prgtoken People may ask: Why do we have to detain people? Why can't we just let them go and tell them to show back up for a future court date? prgtoken We know from sad experience that the majority will not return for that court date, even if they have legitimate claims for asylum. We now know that there are more than 700,000--I think approaching 800,000-- backlog immigration cases waiting to be heard by an immigration judge. This, again, is overwhelming our capacity to deal with these on an individual basis. prgtoken Back to the numbers, earlier this week the Rio Grande Valley Sector announced that their sta
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Lizzie Fletcher (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chairwoman, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam Chairwoman, as I stand here this morning, my district and the entire Houston region are underwater again. A severe rainstorm swept across the Houston area last night. Our bayous, creeks, and tributaries are over their banks. Rivers are cresting near record levels and may surpass them before the weekend is over. Nearly 90,000 residents have gone without power, and many are trapped by floodwaters. prgtoken Parts of our area had up to 7 inches of rainfall within just a few hours last night, and it is still raining. It is the worst rainfall we have had since Hurricane Harvey. And last night, I heard from my constituents, it felt like Harvey and they were afraid. prgtoken As Members of this body will recall, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and the Gulf Coast in August of 2017. It dumped nearly 60 inches of rain; it claimed 68 lives; and it caused an estimate of $125 billion in damages. It was the second most expensive hurricane in United States history. prgtoken Members of this body responded to Harvey's devastation. In February of 2018, this body appropriated more than $4 billion to Texas, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds, explicitly to rebuild and mitigate against future storms, storms like the one we are having right now. prgtoken But nearly a year and a half after those appropriations were made, those funds have not arrived. Why? Because the Department of Housing and Urban Development has not published the rule governing the fund's use in the Federal Register. prgtoken Most recently, HUD told our State agencies that the rules were set to publish on May 1 of this year; but again, the day has come and gone, and all we have is silence. prgtoken This is unconscionable. It is for this reason that I offer this amendment today. My amendment requires the publication of the rule governing the 2017 CDBG-DR fund's release within 14 days. prgtoken I am joined in this amendment by my colleagues as cosponsors, and I would like to thank Mr. Graves and Mr. Rouzer for cosponsoring this truly bipartisan amendment. I know they have worked tirelessly on these issues for a while, and I appreciate their partnership on this issue. prgtoken I also thank my colleague and cosponsor from Houston, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. prgtoken I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).