mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DARK MONEY
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-4-23

I thank Senator Durbin, who is a leader in our caucus, but also a very important leader on these issues. prgtoken We are here this evening because a group of us now embark on a series of speeches on the Senate floor to shine some light into a network of phony front groups--a web of deceit conceived and bankrolled by the Koch brothers and other self-interested billionaires to advocate for very selfish and unpatriotic policies. prgtoken This web of deceit has infiltrated and populated the administration, and it is swamping the interests of everyday Americans. I will not dwell on its policies. The billionaires having to hide behind these front groups tells you all you need to know about their policies. prgtoken There are plenty of billionaires these days, and a bunch of them do pretty good stuff, but there is an extremist subset trying to quietly remake America to their ideology, and they are behind the web of deceit. prgtoken When an issue affects some hyperwealthy interest group, the web activates. In the Halls of Congress, on cable news, in opinion pages, on social media, the front groups will be everywhere, with fake news, bogus studies, and phony science. prgtoken This is a well-studied phenomenon. Two speeches ago, I had a stack of books about this high here on the desk with authors who had written about it. There is also excellent academic research by Robert Brulle, Riley Dunlap, Nancy MacLean, David Rosner, Gerald Markowitz, Michael Mann, and many others who deserve credit for shining light into these front groups. prgtoken The graphic behind us is actually a diagram from the work of Professor Brulle. To the uninitiated, it might appear that these are all actual, different groups and that they might actually represent-- who knows--thousands, maybe even millions of real people across America. That is the scheme. These front groups are designed to provide a simulacrum, a manufactured, artificial appearance of public support for ideologies and policies that actually just benefit the richest of the rich or the ``pollutingest'' of the polluters. prgtoken Got a tax scam to sell? Call in the front groups who will parrot, falsely, that the middle class will benefit, when it is the billionaires and big corporations that actually make out like bandits. prgtoken Want to block action on climate change and let fossil fuel companies keep polluting for no charge? Quick, activate those front groups to spread climate denial, the original fake news: Climate change isn't happening; or, OK, maybe it is, but we don't really know how human activity is the cause; or, OK, maybe it is, but who knows how bad it will really get. OK, really bad, but it is too hard, so let's leave it to some other generation. prgtoken Never mind what the real scientists have to say. The web of deceit has fake scientists, and it doesn't matter to the web if their phony scientists are right or wrong. They couldn't care less. They just h
Nomination of Mike Pompeo (Executive Session)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2018-4-23

the preamble of our Constitution lays out a vision that includes establishing justice and promoting the general welfare. Certainly we have the challenge in America of making sure the doors of opportunity are wide open and not slammed shut. prgtoken For centuries, we have been working to try to make sure that vision comes into full realization, but today we are considering the nomination of Stuart Kyle Duncan to a lifetime appointment on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. This individual is not supportive of our constitutional vision of open doors; he is intent on slamming them shut--slamming them shut on all LGBTQ communities; slamming them shut on women seeking reproductive rights and healthcare; slamming opportunity shut on those who simply wish to vote in America in fulfillment of the vision of our constitutional democratic Republic; slamming the doors shut on those who are here and have been here legally, who are seeking to become citizens. prgtoken Mr. Duncan is probably best known for his work on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, a landmark case opposing the ACA's requirement that employers provide insurance coverage opportunity for contraception and for undermining the healthcare of countless women across America. prgtoken You might say: Didn't his side of this case win in the courts? Well, not for the reasons that this individual put forward. The Court rejected the arguments Kyle Duncan made. He refused to acknowledge the importance of birth control in women's lives, arguing that the government does not have a compelling interest in ensuring access to birth control without cost-sharing. The Court said that is wrong and that the government does have a compelling interest. Mr. Duncan argued that the Court was not required to consider the impact of this law--or the possibility of overturning it--on employees under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Every single member of the Court, whether in the majority or in the minority on the opinion, threw out that argument, reaffirming that burdens on third parties must be considered. Although the verdict came down on the side Mr. Duncan advocated for, the Court soundly rejected his arguments and his reasoning. prgtoken After Hobby Lobby, he wrote an amicus brief in Zubik v. Burwell on behalf of Eternal World Television Network, a nonprofit seeking an exception from the ACA birth control benefit. He made some of those same arguments again, and again the Court rejected his reasoning and directed the government and all parties involved to arrive at an approach that ensures that affected women ``receive full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage.'' prgtoken It is certainly a concern to have a nominee who wants to slam the door shut on the freedom of women to access the reproductive healthcare that they desire, but there is more door-slamming here than that. He is an ardent opponent to equality and opportunity for the LGBTQ community
HONORING GERI SHAPIRO
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-4-23

it is my great honor to recognize a dear friend, a dedicated public servant, a tireless advocate, and one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, Ms. Geri Shapiro. Geri is receiving the ``Legacy Award'' at this year's ``Volunteers Spirit Awards'' in Westchester, hosted by Volunteer New York. I cannot think of a more deserving or impressive honoree. prgtoken A Senior Advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Geri is a longtime Westchester resident who is intimately involved with a wide-array of important issues that impact our community and its residents. She is a staunch advocate for the county, working with leadership from all levels of government, nonprofits and the business community. Geri understands finer details of the ``big picture'' of any issue--seniors, people with disabilities, access to social services, nuclear power, healthcare--but her primary focus is always on the person or family whose life is directly impacted. prgtoken The story of how Geri got into public service is an inspiring one. Her first career was as a stay-at-home mom who devoted much of her time volunteering at her daughter's school and caring for her aging parents. She was active in the Edgemont PTA and served as PTA president. In 2000, she began volunteering for Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate campaign. Known by her family as the ``expeditor,'' her skills and experiences were quickly recognized and, at age 59, she was asked to serve as Westchester County Regional Director for Senator Clinton. In 2009 she transitioned to Regional Director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor. prgtoken Though Geri is not always in the spotlight, you can be certain she is always working to make Westchester County a better place, all while inspiring and empowering others. Throughout her career, she has mentored staff, volunteers, and members of the community, particularly women. Geri has been honored with the National Association for Female Executives 2012 Women of Excellence Award for Service to New York for her ``vision, courage, compassion, proven success and generosity as demonstrated by how they help other women succeed.'' prgtoken Volunteering, and a bit of tenacity, opened a new door in Geri's life. I'm certainly glad it did. Geri has done some amazing work on behalf of Westchester County and its residents, and we are all grateful for her advocacy. As Volunteer New York honors her with their Legacy Award, I too would like to send my appreciation to Geri, and my personal thanks. She has been a great partner to me in the community for many years, but more importantly, she has been a wonderful friend. Congratulations to Geri on this great honor.
COMMEMORATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-4-23

I rise today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. prgtoken Today, Israel is home to over 8 million people--all with unique histories that stretch from around the world. The nation has become fertile ground for business, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with companies leading the way in cutting edge technologies. Israel has also worked to strengthen their global outreach and assistance through the work of organizations such as MASHAV--sharing expert insight and technical assistance with countries in the developing world, and helping to lift people out of poverty. prgtoken Founded as a Jewish state in 1948 following the aftermath of the horrific genocide that was the Holocaust, Israel's existence is a tribute to perseverance. From the beginning, many of Israel's neighbors rejected their right to exist--some even taking up arms and attacking the young nation. I have been, and will continue to be, an ardent supporter of Israel, and have advocated for robust U.S. engagement to help ensure their safety and encourage peace in the region. prgtoken I am proud to rise in support of Israel on this exciting anniversary, and to celebrate the deep ties that have been forged between it and the United States--including in the Ninth District of Washington state. I look forward to the future.
HONORING JENNIFER O'BRIEN, 2018 NEW YORK MOTHER OF THE YEAR
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-4-24

I rise today to recognize a dear friend, Jennifer O'Brien, of Binghamton, New York. She was recently designated as the 2018 New York Mother of the Year. Jennifer has dedicated her life to helping others and especially those who have been less fortunate. prgtoken Jennifer is the mother of two beautiful children, both of whom have cerebral palsy. Along with her full-time job at Health Processes, Jennifer serves as the executive director of Life Is Washable and as the executive director of the American Special Hockey Association. prgtoken Through Life is Washable, Jennifer has implemented innovative programs which have allowed children with special needs to play sports and participate in community events with their families. In addition to serving over 50,000 people with these programs, Jennifer serves over 3,000 members of the American Special Hockey Association. prgtoken She is also responsible for the construction of the largest accessible playground in New York State, known as OurSpace at Rec Park in Binghamton, New York. prgtoken , please join me in recognizing Jennifer O'Brien's outstanding accomplishments as a wife, a mother, and an advocate. Jennifer is one of those rare individuals who possesses endless energy, integrity, courage, tenacity, and compassion.
BREAKING THE SILENCE: ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CAMPUS
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-24

. ``Have courage and be kind.'' These were the words Megan Rondini left behind on a whiteboard in her school apartment. prgtoken Yesterday, at a Sexual Assault on Campus Forum at Rice University in Houston, Texas, sponsored by the Victims' Rights Caucus, Megan's father, Mike Rondini, spoke these words. He is from Austin. He tries to live by these words every day. prgtoken Megan Rondini was sexually assaulted while a student at the University of Alabama in 2015. Doing everything a sexual assault victim should do, Megan immediately called the police and went to the hospital, but the hospital did not have a sexual assault forensic examiner or a SANE on staff, meaning no one there was trained to properly deal with a sexual assault victim or properly collect DNA evidence for a rape kit. prgtoken As a former prosecutor and a judge, I have seen, firsthand, the trauma and pain that rape causes victims. Sometimes that pain never goes away. The hospital's failure to provide adequate care left Megan feeling hopeless and alone. prgtoken After the hospital, she went to the police station, and there she was treated with disdain. The police didn't believe her and instead read her, the victim--get this--the Miranda warnings. Are you kidding me? Rape is never the fault of the victim. prgtoken When Megan sought counseling at the university, the counselor abruptly interrupted her and told her she was close to the family of the rapist and promptly turned Megan away, providing no other counselor. prgtoken Megan was completely failed by the system--by the university, the hospital, and the police not long after, she took her life. prgtoken Megan's story is heartbreaking, but her memory reminds us that we must be tenacious in fighting sexual assault on campus and everywhere else. The unfortunate reality, , is that stories like Megan's are common. prgtoken Congressmen Olson, Culberson, and I joined together at the forum yesterday, and we all heard stories about this, firsthand, from victims. It is always personal. When victims are ignored and rejected, they feel like they have been abandoned, and in many cases, they have been. They are forced to relive their attack over and over again. prgtoken Last year, I introduced, along with my friend, Carolyn Maloney, the bipartisan Megan Rondini Act, a bill that would require hospitals to provide access to a SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensics Examiner) or a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) or have a plan in place to get a victim to a nearby hospital that can provide forensic medical services. Professor and sexual assault nurse examiner Nancy Downing from Texas A&M testified yesterday that by providing SANEs to rape victims, a hospital can dramatically improve a victim's chance to recover emotionally and medically from the attack. prgtoken In addition, I am a cosponsor to Carolyn Maloney's (NY) bipartisan legislation to require colleges to have a sexual assault victim advocate on staff to assist
AMERICAN SPACE COMMERCE FREE ENTERPRISE ACT
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-24

I include in the Record an op-ed that I wrote in January called ``A one-stop-shop for private space exploration.'' [Jan. 22, 2018] A One-Stop-Shop for Private Space Exploration (By U.S. Rep. Brian Babin) In the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted National Space Council, Vice President called for an overhaul of how the U.S. regulates commercial space activities. The potential of a robust economy in space will ``unlock new opportunities, new technologies, and new sources of prosperity,'' said. The American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act (H.R. 2809), recently passed by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, accomplishes the vice president's goals. This bill places authority over private sector space activities in the agency best equipped to foster economic growth, the Commerce Department. The bipartisan legislation streamlines regulatory processes, limits government intrusion, promotes American innovation and investment, protects national security and satisfies our Outer Space Treaty obligations. As chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee's space subcommittee, and as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have the unique perspective of overseeing both of these agencies. Because of this perspective, I believe placing this responsibility at the Commerce Department is a good long-term decision for the United States and the space industry. The administration proposed giving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), housed within the Department of Transportation (DOT), responsibility for managing a broad interagency review of all private sector space activity proposals through an opaque process without defined approval timelines, regardless of how benign those activities may be. My committee held numerous hearings on this idea to hear directly from experts and stakeholders. We found that FAA accomplishes its current mission--managing launches and re- entry--very well. However, the agency is challenged to meet its existing obligations to regulate launch and reentry, and should not be burdened with the additional responsibility of authorizing and supervising private activities in space. Moreover, current law actually prohibits DOT from regulating activities in space. It only has the ability to deny a launch if no other agency has licensed the activity. Congress did not intend or design this authority to create regulatory authority for on-orbit activities, or authorization or supervision process for Outer Space Treaty compliance. In contrast, the Commerce Department's mission is to ``create the conditions for economic gro
HONORING ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-4-24

I include in the Record the following Proclamation in honor of Israel Independence Day: prgtoken Whereas, the State of Israel has flourished to become the preeminent democracy in the Middle East and today celebrates 70 years of independence; and prgtoken Whereas, Israel has been a dedicated partner to the United States, working with our Nation and other allies to build peace collaboratively and work toward common interests and goals including the safety, security and freedom of all people around the world; and prgtoken Whereas, Our Nation must continue to protect, strengthen and promote our close friend and ally Israel as we strive to achieve greater stability in the Middle East and around the world; and prgtoken Whereas, At 70, despite tremendous challenges, Israel demonstrates continually that principle and motivation are transforming forces allowing Israel to thrive; Now, therefore, be it prgtoken Resolved, that the Honorable Leonard Lance, the Honorable Peter Roskam, the Honorable Doug Lamborn and the Honorable Lee Zeldin, Members of the House of Representatives and co-chairmen of the House Israel Caucus, join Israel in celebration of its Independence Day.
TRIBUTE TO CYNTHIA ``CINDY'' STEVENS
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-4-24

today I wish to celebrate the admirable career of Ms. Cynthia ``Cindy'' Stevens, a native Mississippian whose success in business is accompanied by a lifelong devotion to mentorship and public service. prgtoken After graduating from Mississippi State University, Cindy came to Washington as an aide to Mississippi Congressman Sonny Montgomery. She would go on to serve as his legislative director, helping to develop policies that made our State and country better. prgtoken Diligence and a devotion to good governance continued in her next role as the director of public affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she worked on issues related to campaign finance and the administration of election laws by Federal agencies. She then joined the Washington Board of Trade, serving as a tireless advocate for the business community. prgtoken A reputation for hard work and results has characterized Cindy's work at the global accounting firm Deloitte since she started in 1993 as a member of the support staff for its east coast litigation support services. She was quickly promoted to risk support management and rose to become a principal in government relations, overseeing legislative affairs at the State and local prgtoken levels. She led Deloitte's efforts to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and her collaboration with the strategy groups of other Big Four firms helped meet key legislative and regulatory agency objectives. prgtoken Cindy has been a role model to other female professionals throughout her career. She was a mentor to my current chief of staff when she was first starting her congressional career. Later at Deloitte, she highlighted the achievements and talents of younger female employees to her peers in other firms. She has also been instrumental in efforts to elect women to Congress. prgtoken Cindy's own story of success as one of the highest ranking female principals at Deloitte continues to inspire young women. She remains active in organizations she supports, serving on the Mississippi State Foundation Board of Directors, National Capital Multiple Sclerosis Society Board, and the U.S. Chamber Public Affairs Committee. prgtoken I wish Cindy well in her retirement. I know she will continue to use her talents and experience to benefit her community.
North Korea (Executive Session)
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2018-4-24

I have been pleased to hear about the progress in the planned negotiations with North Korea over their nuclear program. I was glad to hear of Director Pompeo's successful visit to North Korea, and I, as much as anyone in this body, wishes the administration success in these talks and negotiations. Given the history of broken promises, I have my prgtoken doubts as to whether the North Korean regime has any genuine interest or willingness to denuclearize, but even a freeze will be welcome. prgtoken However, I am concerned about the language used by the President today when discussing the North Korean regime. To say that Kim Jong Un has been ``very open'' or ``very honorable,'' as the President did, surpasses understanding. If this description of one of the world's strongman dictators were a singular event, a one-off statement, it could perhaps be excused as an aberration, but, unfortunately, it is not. It is part of a larger pattern of excusing dictatorial behavior that we should not countenance. prgtoken We need not sacrifice the truth and reject objective reality in pursuit of our goals. We cannot pretend that the Kim Jong Un of today is somehow different from the authoritarian dictator who has ruled over one of the most violent and repressive regimes on Earth. prgtoken I am happy to hear that the North Korean Government is apparently engaging as an honest broker in the process of arranging these talks, but I believe that how the President of the United States describes world leaders matters. For the President to describe a leader who stands credibly accused of starving his own people, violently executing his political opponents, and murdering members of his own family as ``very open'' and ``very honorable'' is beyond comprehension. Furthermore, it undermines the moral authority we have long possessed on the world stage. prgtoken The President himself has previously declared Kim Jong Un as ``obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his own people.'' The President has also repeatedly and correctly referred to the North Korean regime's violent torture of Otto Warmbier as ``horrible.'' The pursuit of these negotiations does not require that we surrender the values we stand for as a nation. prgtoken We cannot pretend the atrocities of the Northern Korean regime are a thing of the past. We need to enter these negotiations with our eyes wide open. We must understand and recognize who it is we are sitting across the table from. Only then do I believe we will actually succeed in these negotiations and emerge from this planned summit with the result we all seek--a safer world. prgtoken . prgtoken .