mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
North Korea (Executive Calendar)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-2-25

I want to offer some thoughts regarding the ongoing negotiations with North Korea that began with the Singapore summit between President and Kim Jong Un and will continue in a few days when the two leaders meet again in Vietnam. prgtoken I join the chorus of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have expressed concern regarding the outcome of the last summit and the subsequent negotiations. This is not meant as a criticism of the diplomatic process itself. Clearly, we are in a much better place now than 2 years ago, when the President was promising fire and fury for the Korean Peninsula, terrifying our South Korean allies, who stand to lose millions of their citizens in any confrontation with North Korea. Furthermore, if the Singapore summit had resulted in a clear path toward denuclearization, I would be standing here right now commending these diplomatic efforts. prgtoken The maximum pressure campaign, significantly enhanced by this body's sanctions regime and the United Nations Security Council's resolutions, brought North Korea to the negotiating table. It was a golden opportunity and, unfortunately, it was squandered by this ill-prepared administration, which seems more concerned with photo ops than with the substance of the negotiation. prgtoken The Singapore summit was a loss for the United States and our alliances and a great publicity win for North Korea. The 2005 six-party joint statement contained significantly more commitments from North Korea than the joint statement of the Singapore summit. Given President 's bluster and renouncement of the JCPOA, one would have thought that he would leave Singapore with an ironclad commitment and schedule for denuclearization. Instead, he got less than in any past negotiation with North Korea. prgtoken Most concerning to me is that without obtaining a single concrete concession from North Korea, President undermined our alliance with the Republic of Korea by characterizing our joint exercises as provocative war games. It was a huge propaganda win for North Korea and a huge loss to the United States and to the readiness of the joint force. The regularly scheduled exercises are very important to troop readiness and our regional security. While I understand the need to create diplomatic space for these negotiations to proceed, we must ensure that we do not sacrifice readiness for empty promises. prgtoken While I am pleased with the agreement on the return of prisoners of war and missing-in-action personnel remains, which rightfully continue to be important issues for U.S. families, the Singapore summit was mostly pomp and circumstance that did not advance our national security interests. In fact, it could be said that we are in a worse position than we were before the summit. President undeservedly transformed Kim Jong Un from a ruthless dictator to a world statesman in short order. He has since used his stature from t
MSPB TEMPORARY TERM EXTENSION ACT
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-2-25

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank House leadership for bringing H.R. 1235, the MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act, so quickly to the floor at the request of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. prgtoken Chairman Cummings and I introduced this bill to prevent a potential crisis at the Merit Systems Protection Board, a vacant Board without any members. Acting Chairman Mark Robbins is and has been the sole member on the Board since January 2017. His holdover term expires at the end of this month, the 28th of February, and it cannot be extended without legislation. We planned to address this issue through regular order, but circumstances arose that prevented us from doing so. prgtoken The subcommittee I am going to chair originally scheduled a hearing to examine the problem on February 14, but the hearing was postponed to the end of this month to allow all Members to attend the funerals of our colleagues John Dingell and Walter Jones. prgtoken We hoped that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would take action to address the problem during its business meeting on February 20. Although the Senate committee was able to approve two nominees for the Board, Chairman Johnson indicated he would withhold those nominations from the Senate floor pending the naming of a third nominee by the White House. prgtoken The Senate committee was also reportedly working on language to extend Mr. Robbins' holdover term for another year, but no legislation was considered at the markup, thus our action today. prgtoken Given these events, it appears less and less likely that the Senate will be able to confirm new Board members before time runs out this Thursday. That is why the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Chairman Cummings and I, introduced this stopgap measure, H.R. 1235, to ensure some work by the MSPB will continue. The legislation will provide a one-time, 1-year extension for Mr. Robbins' term to give the Senate more time to confirm the additional Board members. prgtoken This version of the bill before us eliminates the provision prohibiting dual appointments because Mr. Robbins assured us he would continue to recuse himself from working on matters related to OPM and that he would recuse himself from OPM matters that related to votes he had taken at MSPB if this bill is enacted. prgtoken This amendment is in response to many of the concerns raised by our friends. prgtoken We urgently need to pass this bill because we need to ensure that MSPB can continue its operations. If Mr. Robbins' term expires without new members confirmed, it will be the first time in the agency's history that the Board has no members at all. We will be entering uncharted new territory, and not good territory. prgtoken If there is no principal officer to lead the agency, not only is it unclear prgtoken which agency functions may continue and which ones must be suspended, but, also, whether th
THANKING KAREN L. HAAS FOR HER SERVICE AS CLERK OF THE HOUSE, AND WELCOMING CLERK-DESIGNATE CHERYL L. JOHNSON
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-25

I thank the distinguished leader for recognition and calling us together to salute two great women in this Chamber. prgtoken , I rise for the great honor of swearing in Cheryl Lynn Johnson as the 36th Clerk of the House of Representatives. This is a very distinguished and prestigious role. prgtoken Mr. McCarthy, I was pleased to appoint the first African American woman Clerk of the House, Lorraine Miller, when I was before, and now I am happy to be appointing the second. prgtoken We are privileged to be joined by Cheryl's parents, the Reverend Charlie Davis and Cynthia Davis of New Orleans, who are with us in the Chamber. Thank you for being with us. prgtoken We are also pleased to welcome Cheryl's husband, Clarence Ellison, and her son, Bradford, to this Chamber today as well. Welcome to you, and thank you. prgtoken I join our colleagues, the distinguished ic leader, the leader, and distinguished whip in saluting House Clerk Karen Haas for her many years of distinguished service to this institution. prgtoken Anyone who knows her is proud of her service. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I thank you, Karen, for the great integrity and dedication for which you have served the people's House. Thank you so much. prgtoken She has been magnificent. prgtoken Cheryl Johnson embodies public service and has dedicated her career to strengthening many of the most important institutions of our democracy, including our own. prgtoken Indeed, today is a homecoming, as Leader Hoyer has mentioned, as Cheryl returns to the House of Representatives where she worked with distinction and honor for Chairman Lacy Clay, Sr.--I emphasize senior-- of the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials; and the House Committee on Post Offices and Civil Service Subcommittee on Investigations. prgtoken Our country is stronger for her work on the then-Committee on Education and the Workforce to secure justice and progress for our children and advance fairness and respect for our workers. prgtoken In the Congress, she earned the respect of all--Members and staff, and s--for being a leader of compassion, courage, and commitment. prgtoken Cheryl returns to the House after more than a decade at the Smithsonian Institution. Her great dedication to that American treasure--which is the largest museum in the world--has ensured that it will remain a source of creativity, innovation, and research for generations to come. prgtoken Our Nation is particularly grateful for her extraordinary vision and persistence in helping transform the dream of the National Museum of African American History and Culture into a reality. prgtoken Cheryl has made a difference empowering millions of Americans and visitors from abroad to explore and be inspired by the beauty and richness of American culture and history. prgtoken Cheryl's strong leadership and deep love and respect for the
IN HONOR OF ANTONIO VACCARO'S 100TH BIRTHDAY
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-2-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor Antonio Vaccaro, who celebrated his 100th birthday this past Saturday. A longtime resident of Portsmouth and a communicator like no other, Mr. Vaccaro spent much of his career working as chief engineer at the radio station WHEB in Portsmouth. prgtoken During World War II, Mr. Vaccaro answered the nation's call and served as a member of prgtoken the elite Flying Tigers. As a member of the Flying Tigers, he took charge of communications, using his unique skillset to send many messages, including the first message announcing the end of the war. He is a father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather to a loving family who worked tirelessly to ensure that Mr. Vaccaro was finally recognized with the Purple Heart more than half a century after his service. prgtoken On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to wish Mr. Vaccaro a very happy birthday. I hope that he had a wonderful celebration with his friends and family, and I want to thank him for his service to our country and his dedication to our community.
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Resumed
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-2-25

I rise in strong opposition to tonight's vote to advance S. 311. This legislation would reduce families' access to reproductive healthcare, interfere in personal medical decisions that should be left between families and doctors, and criminalize doctors and health professionals. prgtoken Tonight's vote is part of a broader strategy by this administration and some in Congress to take away women's access to reproductive healthcare, including the constitutional right to an abortion affirmed in Roe v. Wade. prgtoken For instance, the administration has already installed two Supreme Court Justices who threaten Roe v. Wade, repeatedly tried to de-fund Planned Parenthood and cut off family planning grants, and given employers the green light to take away birth control coverage from their employees. In the last Congress alone there were 14 anti-women's health votes and 34 anti-women's health bills introduced. prgtoken Reproductive health choices are highly personal and deeply sensitive, and they should be left between families and their doctor. S. 311 would effectively overrule these personal decisions by imposing arbitrary standards--based on political ideology, not medical appropriateness--on health professionals. prgtoken This bill would effectively criminalize doctors and healthcare clinicians for providing the best plan of care to their patients. It would impose civil and criminal penalties including up to 5 years in prison onto providers if they don't comply with the bill's mandates. These mandates could scare medical professionals away from helping women and families obtain reproductive care, including an abortion, further reducing families' access to care. prgtoken More than 17 of the Nation's leading medical, public health, and civil rights organizations oppose this bill. The American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American College of Obstetricians prgtoken and Gynecologists, and the American Public Health Association state that the bill ``. . . injects politicians into the patient-provider relationship, disregarding providers' training and clinical judgement and undermining their ability to determine the best course of action with their patients.'' The American Civil Liberties Union states that the bill ``. . . shows a callous disregard for patients in need of compassionate, evidence-based care when they face difficult decisions.'' prgtoken The majority of Americans want more access to reproductive healthcare, not less. More than 7 in 10 Americans do not want women to lose access to safe, legal abortion. In 1991, a majority of voters in the State of Washington passed the Washington Abortion Rights Initiative, declaring that a woman has a right to an abortion. prgtoken S. 311 is another misguided attempt to reduce women and families' access to reproductive healthcare. I strongly oppose S. 311 and urge my colleagues to vote no.
INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVING AMERICA'S POLLINATORS ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-2-25

. Madam , the peer-reviewed journal Biological Conservation recently published a scientific analysis that paints a terrifying picture for the future of insects and our planet. This analysis concluded that largely because of intensive agriculture, and specifically heavy use of pesticides, over 40 percent of insect species are threatened with extinction. Furthermore, this analysis found that around 41 percent of all insect species have seen their populations decline over the last 10 years, and that 3.5 million of the United States honeybee colonies have been lost since 1947. prgtoken These alarming statistics foretell a catastrophic collapse of nature's ecosystems. Already we are seeing the impacts of the climate crisis wreak havoc on our natural world, public health and, importantly, our food system. Pollinators and other insects are vital to our economy and our livelihoods. One of every three bites of food we eat is from a crop pollinated by bees. This analysis is a call to action to do all we can to protect these valuable insects, particularly in the face of climate change. prgtoken That's why today I am introducing the Saving America's Pollinators Act. This legislation will suspend the use of certain insecticides until they are thoroughly assessed and determined to be safe for pollinators. Furthermore, it establishes a monitoring network for native bees, and clarifies the emergency exemption powers that this Administration is afforded under current law. prgtoken This law is much needed, and my hope is that with this new and alarming information, Congress can finally act to adequately protect our future food supply and agricultural and ecological health before it's too late.
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Resumed
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-2-25

I would like to first thank Senator Murray for her steadfast leadership in the fight to protect women's healthcare and for arranging this time for us to speak this afternoon. prgtoken The legislation we are debating today is just the latest salvo in the far-right wing assault on a woman's constitutionally protected right to an abortion. prgtoken With all due respect to my colleague from Nebraska who introduced this legislation, this bill is a solution in search of a problem. Contrary to what the proponents of this bill argue, it is and has always been a crime to harm or kill newborn babies. People guilty of this crime can already be charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. prgtoken Let's be clear. The Senate isn't debating this legislation today because there is an epidemic of infanticide in this country. There is not one. There isn't one. I can hardly say it because it is really not happening; therefore, this bill is a solution in search of a problem. Instead, we are indulging the majority's use of a false premise to inflame the public, shame women, and intimidate healthcare providers. prgtoken When you strip away the ultraconservative rhetoric, you are left with a very simple argument from supporters of this legislation--that the moral judgment of rightwing politicians in Washington, DC, should supersede a medical professional's judgment and a woman's decision. Conservative politicians should not be telling doctors how they should care for their patients. Instead, women, in consultation with their families and doctors, are in the best position to determine their best course of care. prgtoken In talking to healthcare providers in Hawaii, I have heard how this legislation and other bills like it in States across the country could force them to provide care that is unnecessary or even harmful to patients. The Hawaii Section of the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists made this point persuasively in testimony recently submitted to our State legislature's house committee on health earlier this month. In opposing similar so-called born-alive abortion legislation heard in Hawaii's State Legislature--which didn't make it out of committee, by the way--the group of doctors wrote: We are physicians who provide compassionate, evidence-based care. By criminalizing healthcare providers, this law may actually reduce the number of healthcare providers (not just the surgeons, but anesthesiologists, nurses, midwives, office staff) willing to provide this care. But again, that is the actual intent of this bill. Reducing access to safe abortion care would threaten the health of women in Hawaii. We are the physicians who care for patients when they find out their very wanted, very loved baby has severe fetal anomalies. Families sometimes choose to end the pregnancy and provide their baby with palliative care rather than subject t
JUSTICE ELIZABETH TAYLOR
José E. Serrano (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-2-25

. Madam , it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Justice Elizabeth Audrey Taylor for her many years of compassionate service and tireless work to improve the lives of our Bronx residents. Justice Taylor is a great example of the countless contributions that African Americans make every day to the Bronx and our Nation. prgtoken Justice Taylor was born and raised in the Highbridge Section of the Bronx and is a product of the public school system. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Binghamton University and her Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University School of Law. She began her career as a legislative aide in the New York City Council and then went to work in private practice, where she specialized in landlord and tenant issues. Thereafter, Justice Taylor returned to the public sector as the Senior Court Attorney to Justice Edgar G. Walker, who at the time was serving in the Bronx Criminal Court. Until 2008, she continued her commitment to public service by serving as Principal Law Clerk to New York Supreme Court Justice Kenneth L. Thompson, Jr who is currently serving in the Civil Term of Bronx County Supreme Court. prgtoken In addition, Justice Taylor was recently elected Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. She was first elected in 2008 to the Civil Court of the City of New York and has been honored as Judge of the Year by the Bronx County Bar Association and the Bronx Advocates for Justice. prgtoken Justice Taylor is also a member of the Military Academy Review Committee for the 15th Congressional district. She has been a member of this committee since 2014 and has been instrumental in helping our office make military academy recommendations since then. This has allowed numerous students from the 15th Congressional District to attend these prestigious schools with full scholarships. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues join me in honoring Justice Elizabeth Audrey Taylor for her consistently remarkable dedication to the law and commitment to serving her community.
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED-- Resumed
Tina Smith (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-2-25

I rise to join Senator Murray and my colleagues in standing up for doctors and patients in my home State of Minnesota and across the country. prgtoken S. 311 puts Congress in the middle of the important medical decisions that patients and doctors should make together without having political interference. It would compel physicians to provide unnecessary medical care. It would override physicians' professional judgments about what is best for their patients, and it would put physicians in the position of facing criminal penalties if their judgments about what is best for their patients are contrary to what is described in this bill. prgtoken Colleagues, let me be clear. For women, this is a healthcare issue, not a political issue, and this bill, I fear, interferes with the doctor-patient relationship, which should worry us all. We can all agree that people deserve the best medical care based on their individual needs and their doctors' best medical advice. This is how our medical system is supposed to work--physicians and patients making decisions together that are based on patients' individual needs. prgtoken Everybody is different. For example, any oncologist will tell you that each cancer patient's treatment is different. Treatment plans depend on the type of cancer and how advanced the cancer is. Decisions about cancer treatments also depend on each person's age and lifestyle and individual circumstances. The same is true when it comes to pregnancy. Any obstetrician will tell you that every pregnancy is different and that when complications arise, they can completely change the course of treatment. In that moment, women and their families and their doctors are the only ones who are able to make decisions about what is best for a woman and her pregnancy. prgtoken Think about what this means in real life. In August of 2016, Tippy, who is from Minnesota and has agreed for me to share her story, was pregnant and, with her husband, went to their 20-week ultrasound appointment. They were excited because they thought they were about to find out the gender of their new baby, and they had already bought decorations for the gender reveal party. Instead, Tippy and her husband got devastating news from that ultrasound. Their baby, a boy, had stopped developing properly and would not survive. They would never get to meet him and never get to hold him. The ultrasound revealed not only the tragic news about this much wanted child but also showed a dangerous condition that threatened Tippy's own health. Tippy's placenta was enlarged, and to continue her pregnancy would risk the health of her reproductive system and her ability to have future children of her own. prgtoken Tippy, with her family and her doctor, made the difficult decision to have an abortion in order to save her reproductive system. Because she was able to make that medical decision, she was able to have another baby a year later. Tippy a