mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-5-15

this year, my alma mater, the University of Miami, celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. prgtoken Early on, in 1943, UM recognized the need to advance the field of oceanographic research, establishing what was known then as the UM Marine Laboratory in a small boathouse on Belle Isle in Miami Beach. prgtoken Fast-forward to today. UM's Rosenstiel School has transformed into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions, including developing state-of-the-art approaches to tackling some of today's most pressing environmental problems. prgtoken This vital research includes coral reef restoration and sustainable fishing studies that have had a positive impact on south Florida as a community and as stewards of our fragile environment. UM's efforts help ensure that future generations enjoy our unique and beautiful oceans for centuries to come. prgtoken I would like to congratulate UM Rosenstiel students and the staff, both past and present, for their commitment to oceanographic and atmospheric research and for the work that has made it this wonderful institution that it is today. prgtoken So happy 75th. Go Canes. Honoring the Contributions of Stanley Tate
REPEAL OF WATERWAY REGULATION
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-5-15

as we debate the farm bill this week, prgtoken the House has an opportunity to permanently eliminate one of the worst examples of runaway government and unaccountable bureaucracy by the administration. prgtoken The 2015 waters of the United States rule, better known as WOTUS, is harmful to farmers and agricultural producers in Indiana and across the country. This rule gives unelected bureaucrats at the EPA the power to broadly interpret what is a navigable waterway. This rule can be interpreted in a way that even a puddle can be considered a navigable waterway subject to Federal regulation. prgtoken I am proud to represent nearly 12,000 farms in northeast Indiana, and each and every one of these operations could be subject to this overreaching rule. At a time of falling commodity prices, the last thing that Hoosier farmers need is an ambiguous, broad, and costly government decree that seeks to regulate nearly every aspect of their operation. prgtoken I applaud efforts by the administration to delay this damaging rule, but it is time to permanently repeal WOTUS. I urge my colleagues to support its elimination as Congress considers the farm bill this week.
AMERICAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-5-15

I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding. prgtoken , I appreciate the gentlewoman's emphasis on preparing people for the real world through educational experiences that expand not only their abilities, but also their dreams. A lot of times the best education takes place when a person is dreaming. I have seen a lot of things happen in Michigan as a result of people all of a sudden being caught with a sweet spot dream saying, ``Could I do that?'' and they have done it. prgtoken Since coming to Congress, my top priority has been creating good- paying jobs and growing a healthy economy in Michigan. We have had our challenges. We are delighted to see some very positive things taking place in Michigan, and specifically in my district. That is why every year we hold a large job fair at multiple places in my district. We had one just last week, in fact. prgtoken Over the years, we have helped the hardworking men and women in our communities find employment, further their education, and pursue career advancement opportunities. That is a key: to let them know that they can advance; they are not stuck; you can always move on. prgtoken When we did our first job fair back in 2011, the national unemployment rate was around 9 percent. Now it is down below 4 percent for the first time since 2000. prgtoken As our economy continues to thrive, there are currently 6.6 million job openings waiting to be filled across the country, and businesses are anxious to hire workers with the right experience to fill them. prgtoken I just met with six of those employers just before coming here, and their only concern is: How do we fill the jobs that we have to take on all the contracted projects in construction that we have? prgtoken My colleagues and I on the Education and the Workforce Committee are working in a bipartisan way to help bridge the skills gap by expanding career and technical education. prgtoken In today's economy, we need to celebrate the fact that not everyone follows the same path. That is a good thing. We need to move beyond the notion that a 4-year degree is the only way to climb the ladder of opportunity. prgtoken In Michigan, we have a number of community colleges, career centers, and school districts leading the way in career and technical education. I think they have heard Chairwoman Foxx speak and they have gotten the point. We let it slide too long, and now we are picking up. These programs have helped numerous students thrive and develop a diverse and marketable skill set that prospective employers are seeking. prgtoken The bipartisan legislation we passed in the House will strengthen CTE programs to help more students obtain the in-demand skills and jobs of the future. The House-passed bill will also remove unnecessary and duplicative licensing requirements that act as a barrier for workers trying to get their foot in the door. prgtoken Coming from Michigan, we have a long and rich tradition of manufacturing, engineering,
MEDGAR EVERS HOME NATIONAL MONUMENT ACT
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-5-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I appreciate Mr. Thompson introducing this bill, and introducing it with his remarks so far. This is an important one to me, too, which is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. prgtoken I remember this gentleman, and I remember the events of his assassination. I think it had an impact on everybody. prgtoken Medgar Evers was born in 1925 and served in the military during World War II in both Germany and France and then became one of those who fought to try and integrate a law school in the 1950s. prgtoken He was assassinated, as Mr. Thompson said, in 1963, and I clearly remember watching that on the news at the time and being impacted by it. prgtoken Mr. Soto probably wasn't even born then, but the rest of us still remember this event going on there. prgtoken He tragically died within an hour after that shooting and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The home was donated to Tougaloo University, and it is currently being operated as a museum with period pieces, as well as the memorabilia that talks about the legacy of this icon of the civil rights movement. prgtoken I am happy that we are doing this particular bill, because these are the kinds of projects that should be national monuments. These are the historical sites that need to be in the National Park System so that people can go there, they can learn, and, more importantly, so they can remember. Because it is in forgetting in which we sin; in remembering is when we will never forget the legacy of Medgar Evers and what he sacrificed to move this country forward in some particular way. prgtoken So I commend Representative Thompson for introducing this legislation. I am very proud of the way we are doing it. This is the proper way of creating a national monument: by legislative action and going through the legislative process, during the hearing, during the committee, bringing it to the floor, and then taking it over to the Senate. prgtoken I expect this to be passed very quickly. I expect this to become a reality. And I expect this to be an illustration of how Congress should be creating national monuments going forward in the future. prgtoken , I have no other speakers, and .
AMERICAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-5-15

I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding and for her leadership in the area of education, workforce development, career and technical education. It is greatly appreciated and a pleasure and honor to work with the gentlewoman. prgtoken , every Member of this Chamber is familiar with the issue surrounding the skills gap. The American workforce currently faces a shortage of 6 million skilled workers. That number continues to grow at a rate faster than anybody could anticipate. We expected not to hit 6 million job openings until the year 2020, and here we are, 6.5 million jobs open and available that need to be filled here in 2018. prgtoken Employers from numerous different fields have weighed in on the issue, and the majority of employers agree that vacant positions remain unfilled because candidates lack many of the skills that they need for a given job. prgtoken While soft skills, such as communications, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking are important for many jobs requiring daily interaction and working as part of a team, hard skills, which are learned in a classroom or a skills-based course, have significantly contributed to the skills gap. prgtoken As a senior member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce as well as co-chair of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, I believe that by modernizing the current Federal law and investing in skills-based education programs, we can begin to narrow the skills gap, put people back to work, and continue to grow this economy. prgtoken The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act has not been updated in more than a decade. The law no longer reflects the realities and challenges facing students and workers today. Current policies restrict the prgtoken ability of State leaders to invest Federal resources and prioritize economic growth and local needs. It fails them in having the flexibility to be able to react to immediate workforce needs. prgtoken In an effort to close the skills gap, my colleague Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and I introduced H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. prgtoken H.R. 2353 makes impactful changes to the law by giving authority back to the State and local leaders, who have a thorough understanding of the regional workforce; aligning career and technical education programs with high-skilled, lucrative, and in-demand jobs; and increasing transparency and accountability, while also assessing the success of skills-based education programs; and limiting the Department of Education's role in the CTE programs, empowering the State and the local leaders. prgtoken Now, while this bipartisan legislation passed the House unanimously last year and still awaits action in the Senate, in a time when critical industries have vacant jobs but not enough qualified workers to fill them, it is imperative that we work to get this bill signed into law for the prosperity of our economy
LIEUTENANT OSVALDO ALBARATI CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SELF-PROTECTION ACT OF 2017
Bob Goodlatte (Republican, VA) \u2014 2018-5-15

I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 613) to amend title 18, United States Code, to require that the Director of the Bureau of Prisons ensure that each chief executive officer of a Federal penal or correctional institution provides a secure storage area located outside of the secure perimeter of the Federal penal or correctional institution for firearms carried by certain employees of the Bureau of Prisons, and for other purposes.
FLORIDA'S SUCCESS UNDER TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-5-15

I had the great honor as a sheriff in Florida representing the Florida Sheriffs Association to work with Matt Gaetz when he was in the House. I have to tell you, there is no one that works harder for the State of Florida and this country now that he is in Congress. I just want to thank him for the hard work. He has always been a great partner to work with. We had some great successes there, and then to come up here and actually be part of the first tax cuts and reform in over some 30-odd years was significant. prgtoken , I yield to my colleague from north central Florida's Third District, Mr. Ted Yoho. He is a small-business owner himself who understands taxes and the regulatory burden that businesses face.
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2018-5-15

I rise today in support of legislation I have introduced with several of my colleagues--Senators Murkowski, Barrasso, Stabenow, and Cassidy--that would remove a barrier that prevents patients from getting the most affordable prescription drug prices at the pharmacy counter. prgtoken , Americans have the right to know which payment method--whether it is using insurance or paying with cash out of pocket--would provide the most savings when they are purchasing prescription drugs. The two bills we have introduced would establish some clarity in this incredibly opaque drug pricing system. prgtoken Nearly 60 percent of Americans, including roughly 90 percent of seniors, take at least one prescription drug. In 2016, Americans spent more than $330 billion, including a staggering $45 billion out of pocket, on retail prescription drugs. The Federal Government picked up another $139 billion through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. prgtoken Prescription drugs amount to nearly 18 percent of all healthcare expenditures and are the second fastest growing expenditure within healthcare. Moreover, two-thirds of personal bankruptcies in our country have been attributed to the cost of medical care, including prescription drugs. To make informed decisions, at the very least, we should have the right to know how much our prescription drugs cost. prgtoken At a series of hearings held by the Senate HELP Committee, I have questioned repeatedly one particularly egregious practice that conceals prices from patients at the pharmacy counter. This practice is the result of what are known as ``pharmacy gag clauses.'' These are contract terms prgtoken that prohibit pharmacists from proactively telling consumers if their prescription would actually cost less if they paid for it themselves rather than using their insurance plan. In other words, if the consumer is using insurance, pharmacists can actually be prohibited from disclosing whether the consumer is paying the lowest possible price. In fact, the pharmacist is prohibited from sharing this vital information unless the consumer explicitly asks. prgtoken Most consumers would never guess that it would be cheaper for them to pay out of pocket than to use their insurance plan to purchase the medicine they need. Insurance is intended to save consumers money in this situation, but that is not always the case. Gag clauses in contracts that prohibit pharmacists from telling patients how to obtain best prices obscure what the true cost of the drug could be and the fact that it could be lower than what the patient is paying. Several recent investigations, including by the New York Times and NBC News, have highlighted this unacceptable practice. For example, a consumer paid a copay of $43 for a cholesterol drug; however, had that same consumer paid cash rather than using his insurance, the cost would have been only $19. Another investigation told the story of a con
National Police Week (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-5-15

there is no more noble sacrifice than laying down your life in the service of others. Every year, more than a million law enforcement officers work to keep our country safe and to serve the needs of our communities. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line as they fight crime, and each year, law enforcement officers die in the line of duty. Many of these deaths occur while these officers are investigating crimes and enforcing our laws. Some are even the result of targeted violence against police officers. Other deaths involve tragic accidents, such as Sheriff's Deputy Julie Bridges and Sergeant Joseph Ossman--two police officers who were killed in a traffic accident while working to help their communities weather the onslaught of Hurricane Irma. prgtoken On Friday, I spoke at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines, where we honored six law enforcement officers from Iowa who lost their lives in the line of duty. It was my honor to pay tribute to these brave Iowa heroes, along with their families. prgtoken Losing members of our law enforcement leaves a hole in families and communities that no one else can fill, but we can honor them and remember them and work to support the efforts of other law enforcement officers who carry on their mission, officers who, despite the risks and the rigors of their work, work tirelessly to protect and serve their communities. prgtoken Yesterday, in memory of those who have fallen in the line of duty over the past year, I was proud to submit a resolution designating this week ``National Police Week.'' This resolution is cosponsored by 76 of my Senate colleagues. prgtoken I am also working to clear the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act through my Judiciary Committee so that the bill can be sent to the floor for consideration of the full Senate. This bill authorizes a nationwide partnership between Federal, State, and local law enforcement and prosecutors dedicated to the reduction of violent crime. This partnership will use evidence-based and data-driven approaches to policing. It emphasizes initiatives designed to build trust and collaboration with community leaders and organizations addressing violent crime. A companion bill is working its way through the House of Representatives, and I look forward to voting to support it. prgtoken In addition, I have been a longstanding supporter of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, which provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders. It also includes disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. I introduced a bill to strengthen the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, and that bill was signed into law last year. We worked hard on oversight efforts of this program to make sure that beneficiaries' claims don't linger forever but are timely pa
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-5-15

I have 9 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Thelma Drake, of Virginia, to be Federal Transit Administrator, Department of Transportation, Jeffrey Nadaner, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and Seth Daniel Appleton, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine the nominations of Richard Clarida, of Connecticut, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Michelle Bowman, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the nomination of Aimee Kathryn Jorjani, of Wisconsin, to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions prgtoken The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining Oversight Reports on the 340B Drug Pricing Program''. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Authorities and Resources Needed to Protect and Secure the United States.'' Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session prgtoken of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Protecting and Promoting Music Creation for the 21st Century''. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship prgtoken The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``The State of Small Business in America: An update from the U.S. Small Business Administration.'' Select Committee on Intelligence prgtoken The Select Committee on Intelligence is
China (Executive Calendar)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-5-15

I want to begin by reading an excerpt of an article that ran on October 8, 2012. It was in the New York Times. The article opened with the following quote: A House committee issued a blistering bipartisan report on Monday that accused two of China's largest telecommunications companies of being arms of the government that had stolen intellectual property from American companies and could potentially spy on Americans. The House Intelligence Committee said that after a yearlong investigation it had come to the conclusion that Chinese businesses, Huawei Technologies and ZTE Inc were a national threat because of their attempts to extract sensitive information from American companies and because of their loyalties to the Chinese government. prgtoken The story continued by saying: Allowing the Chinese companies to do business in the United States . . . would give the Chinese government the ability to easily intercept communications and could allow it to start online attacks on critical infrastructure, like dams and power grids. prgtoken This was from a bipartisan report in the year 2012, in the month of October, by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence. Since then, over and over again, we have heard the intelligence community in this country clearly define this threat. In virtually every one of the open hearings that we had on the Intelligence Committee, I or one of my colleagues have had an opportunity to ask every member of the intelligence community--Director of National Intelligence, Director of the CIA, Director of the FBI, the Director of Counterintelligence, Mr. Evanina, or the nominee before us today--and every time one of us would ask: Would you use a ZTE phone? We are still waiting for one of them to say yes. Every single one of them said no, which is why I was pleased a couple of weeks ago when the Commerce Department brought sanctions against ZTE. prgtoken It was not a Congressional issue. Although it could be, it wasn't. It was because, on top of the spying and everything else, ZTE had helped Iran and North Korea evade international sanctions. So the penalty was, American companies could no longer sell component pieces to ZTE, which has led them to being on the brink of being out of business. prgtoken No one should feel sorry for ZTE. This is a company heavily subsidized by the Chinese Government that protects them at home, protects them in China, subsidizes them in China but exports them abroad with the hopes that they can help them steal secrets, monitor, and be an arm and tool of intelligence for them. No one should feel sorry for them. prgtoken So I was surprised to see, a couple days ago--as the President tweeted and then there have been articles about how perhaps maybe these sanctions might be going away in exchange for a deal on agriculture. I want to tell you, if that