mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO FELLOW KANSANS
Steve Watkins (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-1-8

many Kansans have followed the path from military to political service, names like Pompeo, Roberts, Dole, and Eisenhower. prgtoken I stand on the shoulders of giants. I do so with humility and with gratitude that the people of Kansas have bestowed upon me such an honor. prgtoken To my fellow Kansans: I won't let you down. prgtoken To my colleagues: We will have our disagreements and our debates. We should. But we should also maintain civility and integrity, and we should work to make the government more efficient, more accountable, and more effective. prgtoken God bless the 116th Congress and the great people of Kansas, and may God bless the United States of America.
CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM EXTENSION ACT
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-1-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today along with my colleague, Chairman Thompson, in strong support of H.R. 251, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act. This bill reauthorizes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, more commonly known as CFATS, for 2 more years. prgtoken CFATS began as a program aimed at keeping dangerous chemicals out of the hands of terrorists. In recent years, it has grown, in large part, due to partnerships between the Department of Homeland Security and industry stakeholders working to identify high-risk facilities and ensuring appropriate security measures are in place to mitigate these risks. prgtoken The current CFATS authorization expires January 18, and swift action is needed to make sure there is no lapse in this program. prgtoken I believe this program has achieved its purpose in making Americans safer by helping chemical facilities secure dangerous substances. Mr I support this reauthorization and urge my colleagues in the Senate to also act with the urgency required to prevent this program from expiring. prgtoken , .
BORDER SECURITY
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , in 2007 there was a vote in this body about whether or not we provide a barrier, a wall, a fence, and we had ic leaders who voted for it back then, both here and in the Senate. Seventy-nine Senators voted for it back then. prgtoken The problem is not better on our border, and, in fact, the drugs coming across are worse. There was enough fentanyl coming across in the past year to kill every American adult. The problem is worse. prgtoken Folks here were for a wall, a barrier. It seems the only difference is now there is a President that some in here absolutely despise.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed (Continued)
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-1-8

I believe this body can do different, so I ask my colleagues to put politics aside and vote yes on the motion to proceed to this legislation that will help enhance our national security and will take strong action against a reprehensible and racist movement known as BDS. prgtoken I know there are some who believe we should shut down the Senate because of the current funding situation in the Federal Government, but let me remind Members of this Chamber that in 2013, under ic Majority Leader Harry Reid, what was voted on during the shutdown in 2013--here it is--a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take actions to implement the agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States concerning transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. Somehow, in 2013, it was OK to find time for that measure. prgtoken While complaining about finding time for other measures right now, during the shutdown in 2013, they found time to address the Security Clearance Oversight and Reform Enhancement Act. They found time for the Small Airplane Revitalization Act. They found time to ensure that any new or revised requirement providing for the screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor prgtoken vehicles for sleep disorders is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding and for other purposes. Now they don't want to bring up anti-BDS legislation because we shouldn't be talking about anything else, but in 2013, they had time to vote on and to consider things like extending the period during which Iraqis who are employed by the U.S. Government in Iraq may be granted special immigrant status and temporarily increasing the fee or surcharge for processing machine- readable nonimmigrant visas. prgtoken I am not downplaying the importance of these bills. I am saying that there seems to be a significant double standard and a significant partisan double standard because what is being complained about today is the same thing that was fine in 2013--had time to vote on a couple of district judges as well, but now there is no time for that. prgtoken People are saying we shouldn't vote on this legislation until the government is funded. I have said it very clearly--we need to fund the government. What also needs to be very clear is how people will vote on this legislation, to not hide behind the shutdown how they would vote on anti-BDS legislation. prgtoken We have heard the rhetoric. We have heard the very real comments from not fictitious Members of Congress but from actual Members of Congress who support an anti-Semitic movement. We can condemn it today with a simple vote to proceed. If people don't want to take too much time to debate it, I think everybody knows that it is right to support an anti- BDS position. They know it is right to oppose Assad and his chemical attacks and the other torturous actions he has taken against his own people.
HONORING JUDGE PAUL CHERRY
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Judge Paul R. Cherry on retiring from his position as Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Indiana. Judge Cherry graduated from Huntington University in 1973 and obtained his J.D. from Ohio Northern University School of Law in 1977. He began his distinguished legal career in private practice from 1978-1988 and was elected as the DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney three years later. Judge Cherry went on to become a DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge and on October 1, 2003, he was appointed to the United States Court of the Northern District of Indiana as a Magistrate Judge. prgtoken Judge Cherry has had a distinguished career on the bench and has helped to keep our community safe. He has tried two capital cases, numerous drug related cases, and conducted his hearings in a fair and professional manner. In his spare time Judge Cherry is a member of several bar associations and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Huntington University, Calumet College, and Valparaiso Law School. prgtoken I applaud Judge Cherry on all his accomplishments and thank him for a lifetime of service to our community.
IN MEMORY OF T. MOFFATT BURRISS, SR.
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-1-8

. Madam , beginning with Gov. Henry McMaster lowering flags across South Carolina, tributes are being made to honor the memory of T. Moffatt Burriss, Sr who is an American War Hero, business leader, pioneer of the modern Party, and devoted Family Man. I include in the Record the obituary from The State on January 6, 2019: Thomas Burriss Sr. Chapin SC.--Thomas Moffatt Burriss, Sr. passed away on January 4, 2019 at the age of 99. He was born in Anderson, SC, on Sept. 22, 1919, to Frank Judson Burriss and Frances Moffatt. He had two siblings, Frank J. Burriss, and Jean Burriss Wattley, both now deceased. Upon graduating from Clemson College in 1941, he moved to Orangeburg and taught physics and science at Orangeburg High, where he met his future wife, Louisa Righton Hay, of Morristown, Tennessee. When the war broke out on December 7, 1941, Moffatt was called into the service at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he volunteered for paratrooper training school. While on a two week leave, he and Louisa were married on June 22, 1942, in Morristown, IN by Louisa's father, a Presbyterian minister. In May, 1943, Moffatt's unit was ordered to North Africa to prepare for the invasion of Europe and would not see his wife again for two and a half years. Moffatt was involved in almost every major World War II European battle including Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Belgium. In Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, Burriss's company was the lead company in the famous Waal River Crossing and the capture of the Nijmegen Bridge. As a company commander, Captain Burriss's part in the battle was portrayed in the movie A Bridge Too Far. For his service during the war, he received the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, and Combat ``V'' for valor, the Purple Heart, three Presidential Unit Citations, French Fourragere, Belgium Fourragere, and the Dutch Lanyard. After the war, Moffatt and Louisa moved to Columbia where he taught school for a few years and then went into the construction business. In 1970, Moffatt and his three sons formed Burriss Construction Company which was involved in major construction projects throughout the southeast. He was active in numerous civic and business organizations including the Executives Association of Greater Columbia (EAGC) of which he was president in 1964-65, a Board Member of Lions Club, Presbyterian Home of SC, Medical Missions, SC Lottery Commission, and as Executive Director of the Business and Industry Political Action Committee (BIPEC). Moffatt was a founding member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a ruling Elder. In 1976, he was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives where he served un
PROTECTING SNAP
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-1-9

. Madam , right now, 12,643 Pennsylvanians are being denied a paycheck because of a partisan fight they have no control over. It is time to end this shutdown and restore our government's ability to protect our country and deliver vital services to our people. prgtoken The longer this shutdown goes on, the worse the impact will be, not just on Federal workers, but on the communities that depend on them. Unless we act, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will be at risk. Over 94,000 families in my district depend on SNAP, and national data shows that over 40 percent of beneficiaries are children. prgtoken I have heard from food banks in my community that they expect a twelvefold increase in people who need assistance if SNAP recipients don't receive their benefits. That is unacceptable. prgtoken We must reaffirm our most fundamental duty: to stand with and support our most vulnerable constituents. Let's act to protect people across this country from hunger and malnutrition by protecting SNAP and reopening the government.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Continued
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-1-9

this shutdown is not a negotiation situation. This is a hostage situation. prgtoken The President of the United States has taken 800,000 Federal workers, tens of thousands of Federal contractors, and thousands of small businesses hostage to extort money for his vanity wall. prgtoken We have all heard from our constituents about the pain the shutdown is causing. This Friday many government employees will miss their first paycheck as a result of the shutdown. Most of us live in a world where we need paychecks, and it is obvious that our constituents shouldn't have to ``make adjustments,'' as the President frames it, for the President's shutdown. prgtoken Our 800,000 Federal workers aren't the only people in our country feeling the impact of the shutdown. The situation is inflicting unnecessary pain on our government contracting community and small businesses that rely on the day-to-day operations of the Federal Government, not to mention the millions of Americans who request government services. prgtoken Let me just tell one story. Michelle Baker is a Federal contractor in Waikiki who helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies to write reports in a way that is accessible to the public. Michelle told Honolulu Civil Beat that she and her husband have resorted to taking out a payday loan with an exceptionally high interest rate to pay for their food this week. prgtoken Let me be clear. There are two people who can end the pain of the shutdown right now-- and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. The President has demonstrated repeatedly that his word is not good. He is an amoral hostage taker, and you cannot and should not negotiate with a hostage taker. prgtoken Senator McConnell, on the other hand, has not held back in exercising his power when he saw fit to do so. Senator McConnell had no problem using his power to unilaterally deny Judge Merrick Garland to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator McConnell had no problem using his power to lower the number of Senators it would take to confirm nominees to the Supreme Court, starting with Neil Gorsuch. Senator McConnell had no problem using his power to force the Senate to come within one vote of denying healthcare to millions of Americans by bringing forth a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Senator McConnell had no problem using his power to ram through a huge tax cut for the wealthiest Americans and corporations at the expense of middle-class families. prgtoken Senator McConnell has the power to end the shutdown by bringing up the legislation that the House has sent us--the same legislation that passed the Senate last Congress--to get the full government open and running again. prgtoken We should all be asking: Why won't Senator McConnell use his power to help 800,000 Federal workers and tens of thousands of government contractors get their paychecks? No one nee
CONGRATULATING DAN DAVIDSON, ORANGE COUNTY'S FOOTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-9

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Western High School championship-winning football coach Dan Davidson on being named Orange County's Football Coach of the Year. Coach Davidson led the Western High School Pioneers to the first-ever CIF championship. prgtoken Coach Davidson built a winning team of hardworking young men--inner city kids, average athletes--and made them believe in themselves and hard work. prgtoken Do you know what? They won CIF this year in Orange County. prgtoken I want to congratulate Coach Davidson because not only did he create and build a football team of winners, but he also changed the lives of many students in central Orange County. prgtoken Coach Davidson, congratulations. All of us in Orange County are proud of you. Keep up the good work.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-9

I thank my friend from Illinois. prgtoken , to recommit because I think it is important we remember President has always wanted a shutdown. He boasted a year and a half ago that what the government needs is a good government shutdown. There is no such thing, as we now know. prgtoken On December 11--not ancient history--he sat in the Oval Office, getting red in the face, shouting: ``I will be the one to shut it down.'' prgtoken He then followed through on that promise by torpedoing a government funding agreement that passed the Senate with unanimous support. prgtoken Once again, Federal employees and Federal contracts were being held hostage by this President, all because of a broken campaign promise. He said Mexico was going to pay for his wall. Now he needs a bailout from the American taxpayer. Fortunately, the new ic majority in this House is going to stand up to this President and has offered a sensible plan to fund the government. prgtoken The bill that passed in the Senate is part of a four-bill package and, by a vote of 92-6, provides a 1.9 percent badly needed pay increase for all Federal employees and guarantees backpay to the Federal employees furloughed during this unnecessary shutdown. prgtoken I support the underlying bill because we can and should end this shutdown now.
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 116TH CONGRESS
Richard E. Neal (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-1-9

. Madam , I thank Secretary Shalala for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I feel like I have a preexisting condition. It is arguing about the Affordable Care Act. For 10 years we have argued about the Affordable Care Act. A campaign is part of forming a government, and no issue resonated with the American people in the last election like the issue of preexisting conditions. prgtoken My friend, the gentleman from California, previously said he didn't understand why people had to buy something that they didn't want. Well, we require people to buy automobile insurance. And, by the way, you don't buy automobile insurance the day after you have been in an automobile accident. And we probably don't want to buy homeowners insurance, but, guess what; we don't buy it the day after our house is burned down. We buy it because the genius of insurance is the spreading of risk. prgtoken So I ask the following rhetorical question, and that is, why should the rest of us annually put $1,000 into our premiums for health insurance to take care of those who don't want to buy health insurance? prgtoken So what this discussion and argument is really about, for the moment, is the following: The child who is born with diabetes is then told, under the old system, that they can never buy health insurance, or, if they do, it has to be rated--back to the old actuarial argument about how do we spread risk. prgtoken The protections that were built into the Affordable Care Act, which I helped prgtoken to write, were based upon the idea of using the best principles of the marketplace while simultaneously using the ability of the Federal Government to prod certain behaviors, and those behaviors included a ban on preexisting conditions as an option for people who didn't want to buy health insurance. prgtoken So what did the other side do? They filed the lawsuit. Now, they generally lecture us on activist judges. They decided that they would challenge what has become okay with the American people, the Affordable Care Act. They would challenge it in the Federal courts and really didn't want to bring down the entire Affordable Care Act. Instead, they wanted to disassemble piece by piece parts of the Affordable Care Act that really, in a lot of ways, have made for its success. prgtoken There is no argument with the following statistic that, today, between 17 and 20 million Americans have health insurance that didn't have it before the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken And back to those people who, by the way, their system of healthcare was the emergency room. So, in the emergency room, we all know, it is a pretty poor way to get health insurance because it really doesn't emphasize preventive care. prgtoken So all of these options that we built into the Affordable Care Act, including making sure that people that had preexisting conditions couldn't be exploited in the marketplace with undue costs, this argument that we continue to have, Madam , here about the Aff
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-1-9

yesterday I left my home in Cleveland and kissed my wife good-bye and headed to the airport early in the morning. I went to gates A, B, and C in the Cleveland Airport and talked to the TSA agents who are all working and working without pay. prgtoken Then, when I got to Washington--I flew into National Airport--I went straight to a building in Arlington where I talked to cafeteria workers. They are Federal contract workers who serve food at our Smithsonian museums and other Federal facilities. They don't work for the Federal Government. Their paychecks don't come from the Federal Government. They are contracted through a company and then paid by these companies. They have lost their jobs during the shutdown. prgtoken These workers, making $12, $13, $14--some with some seniority make $15. They are union. They make 2 or 3 dollars more than the nonunion comparable workers. But they are not getting paid. prgtoken Unlike the 800,000 Federal workers, some working without pay, some furloughed--unlike them, if history is a judge, they will not get paid those lost wages. So these are people making $12, $13, $14 an hour who have already lost 2 weeks of work because of the shutdown, and unless Congress acts, they have no prospect to get that back pay. Again, their wages are at that level. prgtoken Then, last night, to sort of cap the day, in my apartment here I watched the President of the United States talk about his wall and dig in a little more. prgtoken You know, I wish President would talk to the workers he is hurting with this shutdown. I wish that he would go out and, as President Lincoln used to say, get his ``public opinion bath'' and listen to these workers; that he would leave the White House or Mar-a- Lago, where he spends most of his time, and talk to these workers I talked to yesterday--the TSA workers in Cleveland who are working without pay. The anxiety levels are going up and up and up for these workers because this coming Saturday they will miss their first paycheck--and then beyond that too. This also affects the food service workers. prgtoken Last week, President said--imagine this, a billionaire President--his shutdown, the shutdown, which he proudly, as Commander in Chief, said: ``I am proud of this shutdown.'' Last week, he said: ``This shutdown has a higher purpose than next week's pay.'' Imagine that, a billionaire President, living in this beautiful house paid for by taxpayers and having his estate in Mar-a-Lago, and he would say: ``This shutdown,'' this shutdown, ``has a higher purpose than next week's pay.'' prgtoken I wonder if he would tell that to TSA workers, the ones I met in Cleveland, including Aaron Bankston, who told me: If you're the only breadwinner in your family, and to have your kids looking up at you, it's hard to tell them, we don't have anything to put food on the table, that's the hard part. We just hav
ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 116TH CONGRESS
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-1-9

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today to support the ability of the , on behalf of the House of Representatives, to intervene and defend the Affordable Care Act in the case of Texas v. United States. prgtoken This case is a backhanded way to do what s could not do legislatively: repeal the ACA and take away comprehensive health insurance from millions of Americans. prgtoken Madam , I represent a district that has the highest number of people--more than 100,000--enrolled in the ACA. Whether you get your health insurance from your employer, from Medicare, from Medicaid, or from the marketplace, you have something to lose if this disastrous court case is upheld. prgtoken Not only will insurance companies again be able to deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions, young people will no longer be able to stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26. Preventive services like flu shots and annual checkups will not necessarily be covered without cost. Women may, once again, face buying insurance that doesn't cover maternity care. prgtoken Our bipartisan efforts to phase out the Medicare doughnut hole could prgtoken come to an end. Our seniors should not have to choose between paying exorbitant costs for prescription drugs and buying food or paying rent. prgtoken An overwhelming majority of Americans support all of these provisions. prgtoken Madam , with this rule, we simply want to stand in court and defend the valuable protections in the Affordable Care Act that this case threatens to take away. prgtoken Madam , .