mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FIGHT ILLICIT NETWORKS AND DETECT TRAFFICKING ACT
Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-1-28

the FIND Trafficking Act will require the Federal Government to investigate the ways in which sex and drug trafficking rings are capitalizing on the anonymity, such as bitcoin, to finance the worldwide industry of modern-day slavery and sexual exploitation without fear of detection. This would provide policy and regulatory recommendations on ways to crack down on these horrendous abuses. prgtoken It is estimated that more than 45 million men, women, and children are affected by sex and human trafficking across the globe. Since 2011, my home prgtoken State of Massachusetts has been working to tackle this growing industry. We have been working to end this modern-day slavery and exploitation through coalitions and innovative partnerships between survivor-led, community-based organizations, businesses, and local and State government agencies. prgtoken While these coalitions are making progress, they cannot do it alone. The Federal Government has a critical role to play in providing resources and research to guide this work. The FIND Trafficking Act will shed much-needed light in the ways that technology-based currencies have fueled and financed these human rights abuses. We will not rest until every survivor receives justice, and we dismantle these systems of oppression and exploitation that drive trafficking and abuse. prgtoken To all survivors: We see you. We believe you, and we are fighting for you.
PROMOTING TRANSPARENT STANDARDS FOR CORPORATE INSIDERS ACT
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-1-28

I thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for working in a bipartisan manner to craft H.R. 624, a bill to help the Securities and Exchange Commission better protect hardworking Americans from financial fraud. prgtoken As a new member on the Financial Services Committee, I look forward to working together with both the chairwoman and the ranking member on similar commonsense pieces of legislation. prgtoken However, we cannot forget that the most recent shutdown all but caused the SEC to shut its doors. If people wanted to manipulate and defraud financial markets that was the perfect time to get away with it. prgtoken Now that the shutdown has ended, we have to work together to ensure that the government stays open to protect consumers and focus on proactive measures like H.R. 624 that will strengthen our markets. prgtoken , I support H.R. 624, and I thank the chairwoman for her leadership.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-1-28

as the dust settles from the longest shutdown in American history, we have work to do to get our country back on track. Hundreds of thousands of Federal workers who endured a month without compensation need to get their paychecks and backpay as soon as possible. So I have written a letter to President urging him to expedite the delivery of those paychecks. prgtoken At the same time, we must be mindful of the hardships that persist for Federal contractors, who may not receive the backpay they have missed and who may have lost health insurance during the shutdown. We need to find a solution as well for those contractors. Senator Smith of Minnesota is working on that, and I hope we can do something to help them. It is of no fault of their own that they lost pay. prgtoken But there are some costs from the shutdown that cannot be recouped. The CBO today released a report about the lasting damage that the shutdown has done to the American economy. According to the CBO, the 5-week shutdown cost the U.S. economy $11 billion overall, including $3 billion in economic activity that can never be recovered. prgtoken Let me repeat that. The shutdown has cost the U.S. economy $11 billion. What a devastating and pointless exercise this has been. If President didn't appreciate the error of his ways already, his CBO ought to set him straight--no more shutdowns. They accomplish nothing. They only inflict pain and suffering on the country, our citizens, our economy, and our national security. That is a lesson we all must keep in mind. prgtoken The continuing resolution we passed on Friday only runs until February 15. In 3 weeks, we must pass additional appropriations to avoid another shutdown. Let the CBO report be a dire warning to President and my colleagues in the Senate against shutting down the government again. prgtoken Now, in these next 3 weeks, House and Senate appropriators named to the conference committee on Department of Homeland Security will endeavor to strike a bipartisan deal on border security. The good news is that we begin this process with plenty of common ground. and s alike agree on the need for stronger border security. Though sharply disagree with the President on the need for an expensive and ineffective border wall, we agree on the need to strengthen our ports of entry, as well as the need to provide more drug inspection technology and humanitarian assistance. Since so many of the drugs come through the portals, a border wall will do no good at all, but strengthening those portals is vital. prgtoken Because we have set this up as a conference, ic and leadership--House and Senate--will be involved, as well as the appropriators from those committees. Everyone has skin in the game. So in the next 3 weeks, the goal of the committee should be to find areas where we agree and work on them together. <
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION ACT
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am so pleased that this body will vote on H.R. 56, the Financial Technology Protection Act, which passed the House in the 115th Congress. This bill would strengthen and expand efforts to deter terrorists and illicit abuses of financial technology through interagency coordination and research through collaboration with private institutions and citizens. prgtoken As stated in last year's National Money Laundering Risk Assessment from the United States Department of the Treasury, many cryptocurrencies are being designed to make virtual currency transactions untraceable and are increasingly being used by bad actors. prgtoken The talent and technological capabilities to track these transactions must keep up so the government can identify terrorists, hackers, and other criminals who try to hide their activities and proceeds using cryptocurrencies and related exchanges. prgtoken This bill would establish a public-private sector task force, a grant program to encourage the development of largely open-source tracking technology, and a whistleblower reward program to counter terrorist uses of digital currencies. Also, it would require the government to examine how state and nonstate actors, including foreign terrorist organizations, use these cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions, finance terrorism, and launder money. prgtoken I thank Congressmen Budd and Lynch for reintroducing this bipartisan legislation. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support it, and .
Introductory Statement on S. 247
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-28

this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, Virginia. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely in different ways on the GW Forest. prgtoken In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left to nature and not disturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in agreeing on which lands are best suited to which purposes. prgtoken In the lead-up to the latest multi-year GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, succeeded. Through hard work and consensus, the Collaborative made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvest and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the Collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of the Forest in Bath County. Again, this collaborative succeeded, with everyone getting some of what they want and giving some ground. prgtoken The Collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,500 prgtoken acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to partner on this with my colleague Senator Mark Warner, and we are following in the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. prgtoken Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the economy and good for the environment. Land disputes may often be contentious, but this example proves they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage the Senate to support this bill.
INTRODUCTION OF THE PROMOTING ACCESS TO DIABETIC SHOES ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-1-28

. Madam , today I am pleased to introduce the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act, which would remove an unnecessary burden, allowing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to prescribe diabetic shoes. prgtoken According to the American Diabetes Association, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, and it is a condition that affects approximately 9 percent of the population. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics are faced with a high lifetime risk of developing foot ulcers. Specialized insoles and footwear are required to prevent further breakdown and injury, and to ensure that recurring ulcers do not develop. If these ulcers are allowed to recur multiple times, patients can lose toes or feet entirely. prgtoken Currently, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who often act as primary care providers for many patients with diabetes, are required to refer diabetic Medicare patients who need therapeutic shoes to a physician for further certification. The patient must then refer to the physician going forward. In addition to accruing unnecessary fees, this process delays patients from getting efficient and time- sensitive care. prgtoken Timely access to diabetic shoes is crucial, and is well within the scope of treatment that nurse practitioners and physician assistants should be able to prescribe. That is why I am proud to sponsor the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me to pass this important piece of legislation.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-1-28

after the longest shutdown in government history, Federal employees across the country are finally returning to work. National parks are reopening, grant programs are up and running again, and those who depend on essential government services are now being helped by our Nation's public servants. prgtoken One of the things that impressed me the most during the shutdown was, as I met with our Federal employees who were affected, their dedication to their jobs and to the services they were providing to the American people. Like the rest of the Members of Congress and people in this country, I was thrilled when we were able to end that shutdown last week, and I was especially pleased to work with my colleagues to make sure government operations would return to normal. This shutdown should never have happened. prgtoken For 35 days, partisan gamesmanship forced government Agencies to close their doors, and more than 380,000 Federal workers were furloughed and another 450,000 employees worked without pay. prgtoken These Federal workers, some of whom live paycheck to paycheck, were forced to have very difficult conversations with their families on what bills will not be paid this month and how to make ends meet. I remember I was at the Coast Guard station in New Hampshire last week meeting with members of our Coast Guard who were talking about the Coast Guard cutter that is stationed there--the Reliance--heading out that morning and the families of those Coast Guard members who were on the Reliance not having any idea when they would again be paid. prgtoken Thankfully, these 800,000 employees and thousands more Federal contractors are returning to work. Unfortunately, the prolonged economic effect of the shutdown and the morale of the Federal workforce is going to last much longer. prgtoken A report released today by the Congressional Budget Office found that during the shutdown, the economy took an $11 billion hit, including $3 billion that is gone forever, which we are never going to be able to recover. When people aren't paid, they don't shop. They don't travel. They miss payments. They default on loans. They can't participate in our economy if they have nothing in the bank. prgtoken Although the shutdown has ended, some Federal employees who have gone without a paycheck for over a month still may not get paid until the end of this week. I know everybody is trying to make sure those paychecks go out as soon as possible. They can't go out soon enough for those workers who have missed their paychecks. prgtoken As the President continues to threaten another shutdown in the coming weeks, Congress needs to take additional action to protect Federal workers. I am cosponsoring three bills that would provide some financial security to those employees. These bills would eliminate penalties for Federal workers who make early withdrawals from their savings plans, require the government to pay back all Federal em
HONORING THE MIDDLETOWN LIONS CLUB ON THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR 90TH ANNIVERSARY
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-1-28

. Madam , it is with great pride that I rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Middletown Lions Club as they celebrate their 90th Anniversary. Striving to always meet the Lions' motto, ``We Serve,'' the Middletown Lions have served our community and the families they serve with pride and distinction. prgtoken The second oldest chartered Lions Club in Connecticut, the impact that the Middletown Lions have had in the community is immeasurable. In 1961, the Club volunteered for and helped to establish Big Brothers Big Sisters; they created Lions Park in 1963, a space that families continue to enjoy today; they have managed the vendor services for the Middletown Regatta; and helped to coordinate the first ``After Ball'' which provided a safe environment for graduating high school seniors to eat, dance, and socialize on prom night. The Club continues to strengthen our community through their support of the food bank and service projects for the hungry and homeless at the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen and the New Horizon's Women Shelter. prgtoken At the heart of any Lion's Club is their mission to supporting individuals with vision impairments. To that end, the Middletown Lions have conducted medical and eye screenings for countless adults, seniors and children. Additionally, their work with and support of KidSight USA has helped to save the vision of some of our most vulnerable children six months to six years of age. For the Middletown Lions, their service projects extend beyond supporting those facing visual impairments. Their work on behalf of the Clara Barton Diabetes Camp Rising Sun, a camp for children with cancer, the Connecticut Radio Information System for the blind or print challenged, as well as their fundraising efforts to provide hearing aids and service dogs have made all the difference in the lives of thousands of families and children. prgtoken Over the course of the last ninety years, the Middletown Lions have not only met their mission but have set the standard for what it means to live up to the motto ``We Serve.'' Today, as they celebrate their 90th Anniversary, I am honored to stand today to pay tribute to the Middletown Lions Club for the myriad of ways that they have improved the quality of life for children, adults, and seniors as well for all of their efforts to enrich the Middletown community. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone and best wishes for many more years of success.
EXASPERATION/FRUSTRATION
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-1-28

this morning about 800,000 Federal employees from the 25 percent of the government that had been shut down for the last 35 days finally were allowed to go back to work and perform the amazing service that they do for the American people in a whole host of different agencies. prgtoken All of us heard from such great Americans coming from our districts, and certainly in the Second District of Connecticut, in eastern Connecticut, was no exception. prgtoken So, for example, Clark Chapin, who is the head of the Farm Service Agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who, again, for 35 days was unable to work on the different farm programs that are so important to eastern Connecticut farmers, particularly in the dairy sector with the new dairy insurance program, his frustration in terms of not being able to get that program up and running, again, was palpable when I talked to him about a week or so ago. prgtoken We also have the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where, again, that was the one branch of the military that was shut down because they don't reside in the Department of Defense. They are in the Department of Homeland Security. prgtoken Even though, as Admiral Carl Schultz, who is the Commandant of the Coast Guard, pointed out on national television, there are Coast Guard cutters serving in Bahrain in the fifth fleet side by side with the U.S. Navy patrolling the territorial waters of the Persian Gulf in the Straits of Hormuz in about the most hazardous waters in the world. Their Navy counterparts were certainly being paid, but the Coast Guard sailors and officers were not. prgtoken In addition, we have got Coast Guard cutters over in the Indo-Pacific region doing work in the Straits of Taiwan, again, highly contested waters. The unique skills that coastguardsmen and -women bring to that particular type of patrol is essential to our country's national defense and national security policy. prgtoken They, again, are just a couple of examples. prgtoken Constituents in the State Department serving overseas in hazardous duty areas--the FAA, the TSA, the IRS, Commerce--this morning, I heard from one of the Commerce employees. She went to work this morning. The payroll system was flooded with folks trying to submit their timecards, and the system crashed. They are still trying to sort that out so that people will get not only their paycheck on Friday, but also retroactive payments. prgtoken Last Thursday, again, hours before the settlement finally was reached and the announcement was made from the White House, I held a telephone townhall meeting. We had 8,000 listeners from all across the district and, again, a very vigorous debate, and there was definitely disagreement about whether there should be a wall on the southern border or no wall. prgtoken But what there was universal agreement about was that shutdowns are wrong, that shutdowns should never be used as a tool or leverage to force a policy
SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS ANNUAL REPORT
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-1-29

I ask unanimous consent, for myself as chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics and for Senator Christopher A. Coons, vice chairman of the committee, that the annual report for the Select Committee on Ethics for calendar year 2018 be printed in the Record. The committee issues this report today, January 29, 2019, as required by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALABAMA AND TUSCALOOSA
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-1-29

today I wish to call attention to the special significance of the year 2019 in our great State of Alabama. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of our State and my hometown, the city of Tuscaloosa. prgtoken Tuscaloosa was incorporated on December 13, 1819, which was one day before the State of Alabama was admitted to the Union. Beginning in 1826 and extending for more than two decades, Tuscaloosa was the State capital of Alabama. This period marked the historic opening of the University of Alabama, the construction of a stately capitol building, and the city's transformation as a center for education, healthcare, and industry. Strategically situated on the banks of the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa became a thriving hub for foundries, cotton mills, forestry, and marine commerce. prgtoken Founded in Tuscaloosa in 1831, the University of Alabama, which is the beloved alma mater of my family along with countless others, has become one of America's premier public research universities. The Capstone of education, the University serves the citizens of Alabama as well as students, faculty, and staff who come from throughout the United States and around the globe to pursue a world-class education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university proudly partners with Stillman College and Shelton State Community College, as well as an abundant community of K-12 schools, to hold stature as a major center for educational excellence. prgtoken Today Tuscaloosa is recognized as one of the region's most economically prosperous cities. International corporations join homegrown industries and businesses to provide a robust climate for job creation, industrial expansion, and a quality of life that is envied and admired by one and all. Recreational amenities, cultural gems, and championship athletic teams are legendary. prgtoken On December 13, 2018, the Tuscaloosa Bicentennial Commission dedicated Bicentennial Square in Government Plaza, located in the heart of the city's burgeoning downtown district. Over the next 12 months, citizens will join together in a diverse calendar of events and programs that will educate, celebrate, and feature 2019 as a year to remember. prgtoken I share in the Record a schedule of events for ``Tuscaloosa 200,'' together with the names of the bicentennial commission members who, along with dozens of other volunteers, have devoted countless hours to planning and organizing the bicentennial commemoration, as well as the companies whose generosity made possible the extensive, yearlong celebration: dedication of Bicentennial Square at Government Plaza, December 13, 2018; ringing in Tuscaloosa 200 bicentennial fireworks, December 31, 2018, at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre; Tuscaloosa 200 bicentennial launch ceremony, January 31, 2019, at the Tuscaloosa RiverMarket; the Bicentennial Bash Family Activities and Music Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Tuscaloosa Amphithe