mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ENDANGERING AMERICANS WITH GUN CONTROL
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , this week the new majority has endangered more Americans with its push for more and more gun control. prgtoken By definition, criminals don't follow the law. Criminals don't honor gun laws. They steal. They commit murder, all sorts of crimes without permission. They don't seek permission when they take something from you, when they enter your home. prgtoken They don't seek permission to become gun owners. Yet, what happens here in the legislation this week, limits the rights, limits the ability for people to defend themselves, defend their own homes, defend their own families, by having less options or less ability to get a weapon if they need it, especially timely. prgtoken These measures do not work. They do not work to stop the shootings that are often cited as the reason to deny people their Second Amendment rights in this country. prgtoken Indeed, it is a political agenda that gets pushed in every election, every possible time in legislation, and finally, with the majority they have, they are able to push this stuff through and harm innocent Americans and their ability to defend themselves. prgtoken This has to come to a stop. I hope the Senate will defeat this measure.
North Korea (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-2-28

I would like to begin with a few words on President 's Hanoi summit with North Korea. The President should be commended for his personal commitment to persuading Kim Jong Un to pursue a different path. prgtoken By January 2017, it was clear the prior administration's policy of strategic patience had not worked. In retrospect, it was not very strategic to sit patiently while North Korea dramatically expanded its nuclear and missile capabilities. The administration, in taking a different path, moved quickly to adopt the policy of maximum pressure, rallying international partners to respond firmly to North Korea's provocations. The President also demonstrated a willingness to engage the North Korean leader directly, breathing new life into our diplomacy to solve this seemingly intractable problem. prgtoken The President has gone the extra mile to demonstrate his sincerity in wanting to resolve this issue. It was smart to bring Kim Jong Un to Singapore and to Vietnam to expose the North Korean delegation to the kind of economic prosperity that could be possible if he were to choose a new path. prgtoken High-level diplomacy can carry high-level risk, but the President should be commended for walking away when it became clear insufficient progress had been made on denuclearization. Kim Jong Un now has a long train ride home, and he will have time to reflect on the future that is still within North Korea's grasp, but the President has demonstrated that such a future must be accompanied by real denuclearization. prgtoken Every country has a stake in North Korea's denuclearization. I hope China and other countries with influence over Kim Jong Un will do their part to urge him to return to the negotiating table and seize the opportunity to bring prosperity to the people of North Korea and peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula and to the region.
Introductory Statement on S.J. Res. 10
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2019-2-28

I rise today to speak on the resolution that I am joining Senator Udall in introducing. It would reverse the President's ill-advised decision to declare a national emergency and commandeer funding provided for other purposes by Congress and instead redirect it to construct a wall on our southern border. prgtoken I thank Senator Udall for his leadership and also recognize the support we have received from our cosponsors, Senator Murkowski and Senator Shaheen. prgtoken Let me be clear. The question before us is not whether to support or oppose the wall. It is not whether to support or oppose President . Rather, it is this: Do we want the executive branch now or in the future to hold a power that the Founders deliberately entrusted to Congress? prgtoken It has been said that Congress's most precious power is the power of the purse set out in plain language in article I, section 9 of our Constitution. It reads as follows: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.'' prgtoken Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist 72, made clear the Founders' view that only the legislative branch commands this power, not the judiciary and not the executive. James Madison, in Federalist 58, called the power of the purse ``the most complete and effectual weapon with which any constitution can arm the [ . . . ] representatives of the people.'' prgtoken Congress's power was jealously guarded in the early days of our Republic. No less an authority on our constitutional framework than Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, in his famous ``Commentaries,'' explained that ``[i]f it were otherwise, the executive would possess an unbounded power over the public purse of the nation, and might apply all its monied resources at his pleasure.'' prgtoken Throughout our history, the courts have consistently held that ``only Congress is empowered by the Constitution to adopt laws directing monies to be spent from the U.S. treasury.'' prgtoken I strongly support protecting the institutional prerogatives of the U.S. Senate and the system of checks and balances that is central to the structure of our government. prgtoken I support funding for better border security, including physical barriers where they make sense. I understand the President is disappointed that the funding he requested did not pass, but the failure of Congress to pass funding in the amount the President prefers cannot become an excuse for the President to usurp the powers of the legislative branch. prgtoken This is not the first time I have made this argument against Executive overreach. In 2015, I authored the Immigration Rule of Law Act, legislation that would have provided a statutory basis for the Dreamer population, while rolling back President 's 2014 Executive orders expanding that program. prgtoken As I explained at the time, even though I supported comprehensive immigration reform and was disappointed that it had
RECOGNIZING THE MEMORIAL TO THE 1913 ITALIAN HALL DISASTER
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , it's my honor to recognize the dedication of the memorial to the Italian Hall disaster of 1913. Through their work to make this monument a reality, the village of Calumet and the Italian Hall Memorial Park Committee have ensured that the disaster and its victims are forever remembered by the people of Michigan. prgtoken For over 100 years, the area now known as Calumet was the heart of Copper Country, attracting thousands of Americans and immigrants from around the world, and producing more mineral wealth than the California Gold Rush. In response to long work days, low wages, and harsh work conditions, the Keweenaw chapters of the Western Federation of Miners voted to strike on July 23, 1913. The strike would last nine months-- and though unsuccessful in achieving its goals in the short term, it marked a turning point for Copper Country and the rights of the miners that called it home. prgtoken On Christmas Eve, 1913, hundreds of striking miners and their families gathered to celebrate the holiday on the second floor of Calumet's Italian Hall. However, a panic broke out after someone falsely shouted ``fire'' in the crowded hall. In the ensuing rush to escape the building, seventy-three people, including fifty-nine children, were killed. One hundred and six years later, the village of Calumet dedicated a new four-ton granite monument inscribed with the names of those lost in the Italian Hall disaster. The site of the Hall now serves as a place for quiet reflection and remembrance of tragedy as well as the history of the Upper Peninsula. prgtoken Madam , the Italian Hall disaster remains fixed in the memories of Michiganders more than one hundred years later. On behalf of my constituents, I would like to thank the Italian Hall Memorial Park Committee and the village of Calumet for their work to ensure that the tragedy and the lives lost there are never forgotten.
OPPOSING EXTREME PRIORITIES
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , I rise here this morning to speak out against the extreme priorities of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. With so many pressing issues facing the 116th Congress, I find it appalling that H.R. 1 has been reserved for legislation that completely undermines the democratic framework of our country. prgtoken Simply put, this bill is nothing more than a thinly veiled power grab through more government, more regulation, and political speech repression. To call this legislation the For the People Act is borderline ludicrous. prgtoken H.R. 1 would eliminate States' authority to set voting qualifications, restore voting rights of convicted felons even if it contradicts State or local policy, outlaw voter verification, and force taxpayers to subsidize anonymous donations even if it is for a candidate they do not support. prgtoken This is just the tip of the iceberg. H.R. 1 is not for the people but, rather, an attempt to expand power to Federal bureaucrats and unelected Federal judges, undercutting the will of everyday citizens and the Constitution. prgtoken This is not reform. This is a shameless attempt to keep one party in power, and the American people deserve better.
RECOGNIZING DAVE SNUGGS OF GREAT FALLS
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , I rise today to honor Dave Snuggs of Great Falls who founded and leads My Neighbor in Need, a nonprofit organization that helps provide resources to people in need. With the help of computer programmer Tom Penwell, Dave created myneighborinneed.org, a platform for people to anonymously request help. The organization evaluates a request and lists it on their website where members of the community can volunteer to meet the need. My Neighbor in Need relies on the generosity of neighbors to fulfill essential needs, including winter clothes, beds, furniture, car and home repairs, help with utility bills, and transit passes or bicycles for people to get to and from work. The organization, which celebrates its seventh anniversary on March 20, has helped fulfill nearly 13,000 individual requests for help. My Neighbor in Need has grown from a one-man operation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in Montana and nine cities in Wisconsin. In 2013, Dave launched a similar concept to meet the needs of Montana students. My Student in Need now operates in over 160 schools throughout Montana and has helped fulfill over 2,800 requests from teachers on behalf of their students. ``I always have believed that people genuinely want to help their neighbors if they were made aware of their needs,'' Dave said. ``My Neighbor in Need and My Student in Need truly represent the good in the communities we serve.'' Madam , for his dedication to our communities and his innovative approach to helping those in need, I recognize Dave Snuggs for his spirit of Montana.
Tribute To Jean Pollard (Executive Session)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-2-28

as you know, I try to come down to the floor every week to talk about someone in my State who is making a big difference in Alaska, a big difference in their country, and a big difference in what I believe is the best State in this country. That is just my opinion. I am sure the Presiding Officer thinks his State is the best in the country, but that is why we are all here in the Senate. prgtoken Of course, Alaska is beautiful, particularly now as the snow is on the ground and the Sun is out. It is back out and high in the sky. It is also nearly time for the Iditarod--the last great race--something, I am sure, Senator Murkowski and I will be talking about on the floor in the coming weeks. It kicks off this weekend. prgtoken We know it is a beautiful and amazing State, but what really makes Alaska such a great place are the people--the people who work tirelessly for causes they believe in. prgtoken Many people don't know this, but Alaska is also incredibly diverse. In fact, Anchorage--my hometown and the State's largest city--is home to the country's three most diverse census tracks, racially and in terms of nationalities. By the way, the fourth is Queens, NY. prgtoken I will just give you an example. Last week, we had this great event called Bridge Builders. It was in Anchorage. There were all of these different ethnic communities in Anchorage coming together. I spent a lot of time there on Saturday. prgtoken We are very proud of our diversity. We are proud that more than 100 languages are spoken in our schools. Think about that if you want to talk about diversity. We are proud of the foods and the cultural events. We are proud of the unique tapestry that makes up Alaska. prgtoken We are very proud of our history, and we are also blessed to have people who work diligently for all of us to keep history alive. I can think of no better way to cap off Black History Month than to recognize someone who, for years, has been fiercely determined to unearth a very important part of Alaska's history--actually, a very important part of America's history--one that transpired in my State but that greatly influenced our Nation during a very critical time. prgtoken I want to introduce you to Ms. Jean Pollard. She is our Alaskan of the Week. Jean has brought back the story of the African-American Army Engineers of the 93rd, 95th, and 97th regiments who were in the U.S. Army during World War II and stationed in Alaska during World War II. prgtoken More than 3,000 of these brave soldiers were integral in Alaska in building what we call the Alcan Highway--the Alaska-Canada Highway--one of the 20th century's greatest engineering feats. prgtoken Let me tell you about Ms. Pollard. Now a retired schoolteacher, she grew up in Georgia. When she was a teenager, her father, who was in the Army, got transferred to Alaska. Like all Alaskan students--like our good students, our pages in the Senate--she took a class on her State's hi
ENHANCED BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam Chair, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia for the time. prgtoken Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1112. This legislation is an attack on the constitutional rights of prgtoken Americans. This bill puts incredible roadblocks in the way of law- abiding citizens seeking to exercise their Second Amendment rights that are guaranteed to them in the Constitution. prgtoken We should be focused on enforcing the current laws that we have on the books instead of passing Federal mandates that stifle freedom. This bill creates a bureaucratic maze that will allow the Federal Government to sit on its hands and force citizens to submit formal petitions to the Attorney General when they are trying to legally purchase a firearm, to ask permission to exercise their constitutional right. prgtoken What other constitutional right would you suggest we put this level of restriction on? The freedom of the press? The freedom of religion? Should we start having the Federal Government review every media outlet's story for 10 days before they can be published? before a church can meet for worship? I don't think so. prgtoken It is my hope that we will soon move forward with solutions, solutions that will actually make a difference for hardworking Americans across this great country. prgtoken When I was sworn in as a Member of the House earlier this year, I saw great potential for Congress to come together and advance solutions to our Nation's greatest problems. Instead, I find myself standing here on the floor of this Chamber fighting for the basic liberties that our Founding Fathers sought to guarantee for every American. prgtoken Madam Chair, I will continue to stand and continue to fight each and every day, and I urge the House to reject this misguided legislation.
Socialism (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-2-28

as strange as it seems, socialism is having a bit of a resurgence here in the Nation's Capital these days. prgtoken Why, you might ask, has this failed economic theory that is so destructive of individual freedom captured the attention of some of our friends in the ic Party? I admit, to me, it is somewhat of a mystery. prgtoken My guess is I am not the only one who assumed that every American has learned the lessons of history and that those lessons are common knowledge. Apparently not. One other possibility is that socialism is a stalking horse for other, less obvious goals. I will have more to say about what the Founders believed about the concentration of government power that would be needed to implement these utopian schemes at a later time. I also will return to the Senate floor at another time to talk about the well-funded efforts, including in the State of Texas, to advance the cause of socialism, unbeknownst to most of my fellow Texans. prgtoken Maybe self-identified socialists or democratic socialists--by the way, that is an impossible contradiction in terms. You can't be democratic and a socialist at the same time. Obviously, people put those two terms together to try to mask their true intentions. prgtoken Obviously, these self-identified democratic socialists have never learned what it is or what it stands for. Recent polling suggests that Americans have vastly different ideas about what socialism really means. A Gallup poll, for example, found that 23 percent of the people who responded understood that it means economic equality--though the definition of what equality looks like varies pretty significantly. About the same number of people said they didn't know or had no opinion of what socialism means. Roughly 17 percent understand it to mean government ownership or control of business and the economy. prgtoken There were a variety of answers, ranging from government-guaranteed benefits to communism, to people simply being social and getting along. That is what some people think socialism is. This confusion about what, exactly, socialism is has allowed its supporters to push this discredited idea back into the political mainstream. prgtoken The so-called democratic socialists are trying to convince the American people that bigger government and less liberty are the solutions to economic inequality. But they don't just want economic opportunity or equal opportunity; they want equal outcomes. They clearly want to put the government in charge of Americans' lives. prgtoken To be sure, they will not be honest about the means by which that equality would be accomplished under socialism. They use a lot of feel- good phrases to mask the consequences of their argument. They say things like ``give a voice to the voiceless'' or ``to achieve a more just society.'' What they don't tell you is that in order to redistribute economic benefits, you would have to marshal the power of the gov
IN MEMORY OF LOU WACKER
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , I rise in memory of Lou Wacker, who died on February 15, 2019, at the age of 84. Mr. Wacker was the celebrated football coach for 23 seasons at my alma mater, Emory & Henry College, where he compiled an impressive record and shaped the lives of many young men. The Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted him as saying on his retirement, ``To say that Emory & Henry College and the football program have been a big part of my life for 23 years would be an understatement; it has been my life.'' prgtoken Coach Wacker was a native of Richmond and excelled at football during his time at the University of Richmond. Before his tenure at Emory & Henry, he was a defensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College. His arrival at Emory & Henry in 1982 started an incredible run for the Wasps. By the time he retired in 2004, his teams had compiled a 164-76 record, including seventeen consecutive winning seasons, a 37-game winning streak from 1991 to 1998, and eleven Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships. prgtoken After retiring, Coach Wacker stayed close to Emory. For his great success, he received many honors, including induction into the Emory & Henry College Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. The home grandstand at Emory & Henry's football stadium also bears his name. The many players and assistants he mentored over the years will remember him for his skill as a coach and for the impact he had on them. prgtoken Coach Wacker's survivors include his children Bruce, Kristen, and Louis, and his grandchildren Anna Whitehead, Adele Kraus, and Robin Kraus. I offer my condolences to them on their loss.
TRIBUTE TO PATRICK ARMSTRONG, JR.
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-2-28

this week I have the honor of recognizing Patrick Armstrong, Jr of Heart Butte, for his dedication to Glacier County. prgtoken A member of the Blackfeet Nation, Mr. Armstrong was born and raised in Browning, MT, where he attended Browning Public School Systems, K- 12. He has been an educator at Browning Elementary for 5 years, where he currently teaches fourth grade. Patrick and his wife, Anna, have three children. prgtoken Mr. Armstrong has always been actively involved in sports and has been officiating for 20 years. Since then, Patrick has been heavily involved in officiating high school basketball. He was recently nominated as this year's boys basketball official of the year by the National Federation of High School Association, Montana High School Association, and the Montana Officials Association. To be nominated for this award, you must exemplify upstanding character. Mr Armstrong is a prominent mentor in his community. He is a humble man who knows the value of a strong community. prgtoken I congratulate Patrick on his role in bringing together and growing the Browning community.
RECOGNIZING MIKE LONG
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-2-28

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York and my good friend, Mike Long, who has stepped down from this position after decades of service. prgtoken Mike Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in southern Queens. In 1959, Mike Long dropped out of the 12th grade to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He felt strongly that his duty was to our country. prgtoken That commitment to sacrifice and service above self is a common thread throughout Chairman Long's life. He served on the New York City Council for a term representing Brooklyn, and he stepped up to become chairman of the Conservative Party, a position he held for 30 years, which is a testament to his character, commitment, work ethic, and determination to stand up for his principles. prgtoken He is a lifelong advocate for limited government, economic freedom and opportunity, constitutional liberties, and improving the lives of everyday, hardworking New Yorkers. He is one of the rare political leaders in New York who has earned deep respect from both his political allies and his political opponents. prgtoken I am proud to count him as a true friend, and I want to thank him, his wife, Eileen, and his family for his lifetime of service to New York State and the United States of America.