mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CORRECTING THE RECORD ON MOTIONS TO TABLE
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-23

. Madam , I am kind of a stickler for details and accuracy in terms of some of the things that have been said here, because these debates are going to be enshrined in the Record and they will be there forever. But I want to go back to something said about the votes on impeachment: I repeat, nobody, nobody, or , has had an opportunity to vote on Articles of Impeachment. And contrary to what has been said, voting to not table does not mean you get an automatic vote on the impeachment. prgtoken I will give you an example. On November 6, 2007, the House rejected a motion to table a Representative Kucinich resolution to impeach Vice President , and then moved to adopt a motion to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee. And that is what most of us had in mind. prgtoken So I can't say everybody, but I can say that it is just inaccurate to say that people would have automatically voted for impeachment or that voting not to table would mean a vote--an automatic vote on impeachment. I think it is important for the Record to be clear.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-23

I rise to discuss the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement also known as USMCA or NAFTA 2.0. prgtoken Due to Pelosi and the negotiators' tireless work, this USMCA is better than the current NAFTA and what the Administration presented in the original agreement. USMCA will establish labor specific enforcement measures and an independent review body to ensure that Mexico is complying with labor obligations. prgtoken However, after careful consideration, I will vote NO on the passage of USMCA. prgtoken I am disappointed by the lack of strong environmental protections. Our planet is feeling the effects of climate change every day, and the lack of strong environmental protections is something I cannot abide. prgtoken What's more, USMCA does not contain any binding climate standards. In fact, the deal barely mentions climate change at all. prgtoken Finally, USMCA supports dirty fossil fuels, allows oil and gas corporations to run rampant, and fails to address toxic pollution. prgtoken This is a shame in a time when our planet--and our trade deals-- deserve better. prgtoken Without stronger protections, this trade deal will have catastrophic consequences to the environment for many decades to come. prgtoken In order to meaningfully act upon our changing climate, to address our warming planet before it is too late, and to save future generations from a climate emergency. prgtoken I know that this bill will pass, so I pledge to continue work to address climate issues relating to globalization and trade policy.
DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE 90TH ANNIVERSARY
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-12-23

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Daughters of Penelope, in honor of the upcoming 90th anniversary of the organization. The Daughters of Penelope promotes the ideals and traditions of Hellenism in America, focusing on service to one's community. prgtoken For nearly a century, they have remained steadfast in promoting the rich traditions of Hellenism, civic responsibility, and family through their philanthropic and educational efforts. The Daughters of Penelope have not only maintained these traditions within the Greek community, but also shared them with our larger communities and without a doubt made them a better place for everyone to work and live. prgtoken On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank the Daughters of Penelope for the decades of commitment to our shared ideals. I hope they all enjoy celebrating this exciting milestone.
HONORING STEVE GRADOWITZ
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-12-23

. Madam , I rise today to honor Steve Gradowitz, who is retiring from an illustrious career as a radio personality in Bakersfield, California, which I have the honor of representing in this Chamber. prgtoken Born and raised in Bakersfield, Steve graduated from East Bakersfield High School before joining the active ministry. Upon leaving the ministry in 1968 he began what would become a lifelong career in broadcasting. And after a brief stint working in Honolulu, Hawaii, Steve returned home to California with his wife Jan to begin their family. prgtoken Despite being best known as Bakersfield's morning voice, Steve also has a successful entrepreneurial background. In 1975 he and Jan founded Christian Building Maintenance, a janitorial service; and sold the successful company in 1984 while he moonlighted at KAFY. They also became top agents for Century 21 Real Estate. In 1986 Steve began working at KUZZ, where he would go on to spend 33 years with the Buck Owens Productions station as Bakersfield's premier morning personality. prgtoken As any member of the Bakersfield community will attest, we are tremendously lucky and grateful to have had Steve help us wake up and get going every weekday morning for so many years. His on-air excellence during his tenure at KUZZ earned him numerous accolades including: the Bakersfield Californian's reader's poll Favorite Morning Personality, the Billboard Personality of the Year, and the Academy of Country Music's Air Personality of the Year. prgtoken I have had the pleasure of getting to know Steve over the years, and he is as good a person as he is a radio personality. In fact, in typical Steve fashion, when I asked him to emcee the Merle Haggard Post Office Declaration last April, he generously agreed. And as with anything Steve does, the event was better off with him being there. Steve's unique and insightful style of broadcasting will be greatly missed by his countless dedicated listeners, but I join legions of his listeners in wishing he and Jan nothing but the best in retirement. On behalf of California's 23rd Congressional District, I want to congratulate Steve on his admirable career, and thank him for his dedicated service to the residents of Bakersfield, California.
IN HONOR OF HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S ``ANITA NEWMAN WAY''
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-12-23

. Madam , I rise today to recognize former Highland Elementary School principal Anita Newman. Principal Newman served as an educator in the Daviess County Public Schools district for 36 years before she retired in 2012. She began her career as a teacher at Masonville Elementary School and joined Highland Elementary School as a teacher in 1978. After a stint as principal of Utica Elementary School, she returned to Highland Elementary School as principal in 1989. Principal Newman is a distinguished graduate of both Kentucky Wesley College and Western Kentucky University. I know that the new ``Anita Newman Way'' at Highland Elementary School, dedicated this month, will be a reminder of her lasting legacy on the hearts and minds of young Daviess County students. I thank Principal Newman for her service.
RECOGNIZING PRIME MINISTER MODI'S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PEACE WITHIN JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-12-23

. Madam , I rise today to highlight the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir within the greater context of the Indo- Pakistani conflict. prgtoken Just recently, the Indian Parliament passed legislation that changed the status of Jammu and Kashmir by modifying provisions that impeded economic development and affording the people of Jammu-Kashmir the same rights as the people of India. prgtoken Article 370, an outdated provision of the law that governed Jammu- Kashmir, is no more. Article 370 and the polarized political environment that it created resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives within the region. prgtoken Pakistani-based terrorist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba have conducted terrorist attacks that have disrupted the society and economy of Jammu-Kashmir. They have attacked innocent women and children, and agricultural workers. prgtoken Prime Minister Modi has made it clear that this change was necessary to facilitate peace and economic prosperity. I applaud Prime Minister Modi and the Parliament for their leadership on ensuring the stability of Jammu-Kashmir. prgtoken Madam , I would also like to commend the Administration's continued work with Prime Minister Modi to ensure peace within the region.
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
Juan Vargas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-26

. Madam , I rise to speak on the impeachment articles introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach . Earlier this week over 750 historians published a statement condemning for his flagrant abuses of power and urged the House to impeach him. In just a couple of days that number has quickly doubled, with a total of 1,507 signatures. prgtoken These historians highlighted that one of our Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, wrote impeachment was created to deal with the ``misconduct of public men'' which involves ``the abuse or violation of some public trust''. This exactly what has done, time and time again. prgtoken Our Constitution was written to ensure there are checks on our power as elected officials. It ensures that we cannot become kings; that we remain public men and women. That is the foundation upon which our country was built. In a democracy, our rulers are the people, the citizens, our constituents, and we were chosen to stand in public office to serve them. prgtoken The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, but it is our actions in high office that give those great words meaning and power. As public servants we are trusted to abide by the law and to only use our positions in office to protect and support our country. prgtoken has used the power of the presidential office for his own personal gain, violating the trust of the American people. prgtoken He has withheld from our ally, Ukraine, $391 million in military and security assistance. That $391 million was approved for Ukrainian assistance by and ic members in legislation that passed the House and the Senate. Congress, finding common ground in our American values that compel us to support our ally, provided this money. But put it on hold. prgtoken To leave our ally's civilians and soldiers to struggle as they fight against our shared adversary and dangle this congressionally-approved aid in front of them, is alone bad leadership. It is the behavior that stains our country, tarnishing our name in the eyes of countries who look to us as leaders of the free world. But leaving our allies without support is an offense tends to repeat, and it alone is not the impeachable offense. prgtoken used his trusted power over congressionally-approved money, our constituents' money, not to protect our ally or our constituents, but to bolster his chances in winning our next presidential election. The United States Ambassador to the European Union testified that would release this aid and meet with the Ukrainian president in person only if Ukraine publicly announced an investigation into 's political rival, Former Vice President . He abused his trusted power. That is the first impeachable offense. prgtoken Congress moved to seek out the truth for the American people, but continued to block this co-equal branch of g
RECOGNIZING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF SIVANANTHAN LABORATORIES
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-30

. Madam , today I rise to recognize Sivananthan Laboratories as it celebrates the tenth anniversary of its founding, and its founder Dr. Sivalingam Sivananthan for his many contributions to science and applied technology. prgtoken Dr. Siva began his pioneering research on molecular beam epitaxy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in physics. His success in developing technical applications for MBE, and his awareness of the confluence of our state's great research universities with the scientific and engineering talent located in the Chicago area, forged a vision to create a technology incubator in the mold of Bell Laboratories and Xerox PARC. That vision was fulfilled by the incorporation of Sivananthan Laboratories in the fall of 2009. prgtoken Since its creation, Sivananthan Laboratories has assisted emerging Chicago-area small businesses to research new technologies and convert that knowledge into innovative new products and services. Sivananthan Laboratories also has provided foundational support to InSPIRE, a not- for-profit whose mission is to spark interest in the sciences among Chicago-area students and nurture the growth of a renewable energy ecosystem in Illinois. prgtoken In recent years, Dr. Siva and Sivananthan Laboratories have turned their interest towards innovation in artificial intelligence and machine learning tools that support automatic data processing of infrared imagery. Sivananthan Laboratories has also increasingly explored the use of infrared imagery in the agricultural and medical sectors. Based on their long history of groundbreaking research and track record of converting that research into commercially viable technologies, we can look forward to exciting new contributions to our scientific understanding and the development of new economic enterprises in Illinois and beyond. prgtoken Madam , I want to recognize the great achievements of Dr. Siva and Sivananthan Laboratories on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its founding, and acknowledge their tireless efforts to advance research in both hard science and applied technologies. As a former member of the Sivananthan Laboratories team, I take special pride in their achievements and wish them the very best in all their present and future endeavors.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-1-6

I want to wish all Iowans and maybe, in turn, all Americans a happy New Year. As 2020 begins, I am focused on passing the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. I am leading a meeting of the Finance Committee tomorrow to report out the bill, so the Senate floor vote is imminent. prgtoken I am continuing to work, in a bipartisan way, to lower the cost of prescription drugs with the Grassley-Wyden Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. prgtoken In the coming weeks, I will begin my 40th annual 99-county tour of my State to continue to hear what is on the minds of Iowans so that I can better serve them in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I look forward to remaining in touch with Iowans as the new decade begins. prgtoken . prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-6

. Now, , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, January 7; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Carranza nomination; that notwithstanding rule XXII, the postcloture time expire at 12:15 p.m. tomorrow; and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess following the vote until 2:15 p.m. to allow for weekly conference meetings, and that at 2:15 p.m the Senate proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 329.
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-1-6

it has been 19 days today--19 days--since the House of Representatives impeached the President of the United States. It has been 19 days since we were told that it was urgent that President be impeached and removed from office. It was urgent for the safety of the country. It was urgent for national security. It was urgent to protect the Constitution of the United States. It was urgent; it had to be done now. The articles had to be rushed through. The rules had to be violated. There couldn't be due process. It was urgent. prgtoken Where are we now? Nineteen days later, the of the House has prgtoken still not transmitted the articles to this body for a trial, has still not appointed managers for a trial, has still not exhibited the articles before this body for a trial. prgtoken We now have the longest delay in American history in providing notice to this body and actually moving forward with a trial, and now I think we have a better sense of what was urgent. What was urgent was fulfilling the partisan vendetta that the of the House and the have against this President. What was urgent was overturning the results of an election that they have never accepted. That is what was urgent. prgtoken But now--now that it is time to actually try the case--well, now the and the aren't so sure. In fact, now they don't seem to want a trial. Now, when it is time to put up or shut up, actually put the evidence forward to be judged, Pelosi is saying that she may withhold the articles indefinitely and prevent this body indefinitely from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities-- after, of course, a bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives voted against impeachment. prgtoken I think we can probably see, the longer we wait, why the is so reluctant now to have a trial. It was a purely partisan process in the House. She had abandon her and vote with s in a bipartisan coalition against impeachment. The articles don't even allege a crime. This was the first time in American history in the impeachment of a President in which no crime was even alleged in the articles, no evidence of a crime even presented. No wonder she doesn't want to have a trial. No wonder she is now sitting on the articles and will not permit a Senate trial to begin. prgtoken Well, here is the problem with that: The Constitution of the United States is really clear. The House has the power to impeach. They have done that. But the Senate--and the Senate alone--has the power to try. prgtoken The Constitution, article I, says that the Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases, to adjudicate what has happened in the House, to examine the facts, and to render a judgment of some sort. Now the House is attempting to prevent the Senate from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, its constitutional prerogative. prgtoken All of this division and rancor--all of this bitte
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2020-1-6

I rise today to introduce the Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Cantwell on this initiative. Our bipartisan bill supports a new pilot program at the National Park Service (NPS) to support the use of native plants. This legislation also encourages the Park Service to review existing data and study the cost-effectiveness of using native plants. prgtoken Native plants are species found naturally in regions and can provide valuable functions to our National Park System. Benefits range from using less water and pesticides, purifying the air, and recharging groundwater in wetlands. By using native species, the Park Service can also improve habitat for wildlife and restore important species of birds and butterflies to their natural habitat. prgtoken In Acadia National Park, native plants are an important part of the ongoing conservation work. I commend Superintendent Kevin Schneider and all those who work on these issues at the park for their work to encourage the use of native plants. Acadia National Park protects more than 900 plant species, including some that are globally, nationally, and locally rare. prgtoken Native plants, however, face many threats such as non-native pests, non-native plants, diseases, and a changing climate. Today, almost one quarter of Acadia National Park's species are non-native to the park. The tree species of Acadia, the red spruce, is projected to lose a substantial amount of its habitat in coming decades as a result of climate change. In addition, invasive pests, such as Emerald Ash Borer and the hemlock woody adelgid are impacting northern forests, and the emerald ash borer has already been identified in Maine. prgtoken This bill will ensure that we preserve Maine's cultural history and natural heritage. Acadia's native plant communities includes many iconic species such as the blueberry barrens near the mountain summits, the towering white pines in older forests, and the cranberry bogs along Northeast Creek that contribute to Maine's iconic landscape. Other native plants in Maine are the wildflowers that bloom in August and September, such as asters and goldenrods, helping to attract the more than 3.5 million visitors a year to one of the seventh most-visited national parks in the United States. prgtoken I am pleased to report that our bipartisan bill has earned the support of the Garden Club of America, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to help protect the natural landscapes at our national parks and keep native plants thriving for years to come. prgtoken Thank you, .
RECOGNIZING ALL AMERICAN BEEF BATTALION
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-1-6

I rise today to recognize the commendable actions of the group known as All American Beef Battalion, which provided an immeasurable service to our veterans, active servicemembers, and their families at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO, on Veterans Day. prgtoken Bill Broadie, a veteran who was injured during the Vietnam war, was dismayed to find on his return home that anti-war protesters were not just opposed to the conflict, but actively directed their ire at troops returning from the war. After the events of September 11, 2001, Broadie--now a cattleman in Kansas--wanted to provide a service that showed the troops about to deploy into war that their service would not go unappreciated. In 2008, the All American Beef Battalion was born. prgtoken Broadie utilized his cowboy instincts to come up with an innovative way to show the appreciation he and so many American men and women feel toward these brave servicemembers: a ribeye steak dinner for the servicemembers and their loved ones. With that purpose, the volunteers at the All American Beef Battalion have served over 400,000 people across 26 States, including my home State of Colorado, where they have hosted these dinners at least 10 times. prgtoken On November 10, 2019, they served 150 veterans and their families at the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 143 in Colorado Springs, CO. This provided a wonderful way for these men and women to celebrate our Nation's 101st Veterans Day and, as a special treat for the former U.S. Marines present there, the 244th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. prgtoken Our country's military servicemembers, both veterans and Active Duty, sacrifice so much in defense of our freedoms. I am so pleased that the All American Beef Battalion has found a unique way to show these brave men and women how much we appreciate their service.