mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-2-7

our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee are meeting to advance a number of judicial nominees and the President's choice for Attorney General here to the Senate floor. prgtoken In Bill Barr, President has nominated a tried-and-true public servant and a proven professional to lead the men and women of the Department of Justice. prgtoken Testifying before the committee last month, Mr. Barr expressed his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, the Constitution, and the American people. prgtoken My colleagues don't have to take his word for it. Having served as Attorney General once before, Mr. Barr's qualifications and job performance speak for themselves. prgtoken In 1991, this body saw fit to confirm him to head DOJ by a voice vote. That was the third time he had earned Senate confirmation without opposition. On both sides of the aisle, Senators were vocal in their praise for the ``independent voice'' of an ``honorable guy,'' William Barr. prgtoken Today, the job description remains exactly the same as it was years ago, and before us is a nominee who remains eminently well qualified to discharge these duties. The Senate needs to act quickly to put Bill Barr back to work at the Justice Department. I hope and expect he will be confirmed next week. Natural Resources Management Act prgtoken Today, the Senate officially turned to the Natural Resources Management Act, a broad bipartisan package of 100-plus distinct land bills with importance to nearly every Member of this body. I am certainly one of them. prgtoken This comprehensive legislation includes two initiatives I introduced with my House colleagues Andy Barr and Hal Rogers. They will incorporate two Civil War sites in Kentucky as part of the National Park System, Camp Nelson and Mill Springs Battlefield. By designating these two sites as national monuments, we will ensure that their rich history will be preserved for the education and service of future generations. prgtoken Camp Nelson was established in 1863 in Jessamine County. It would become arguably Kentucky's top recruiting station and training facility for the Union's African-American soldiers. In later years, those seeking freedom from slavery fled to the camp. This historic site helped expedite the destruction of slavery in Kentucky. prgtoken My other proposal would protect Mills Springs Battlefield, the site of an 1862 battle that historians remember as the Union's first significant victory in the West, and one of its earliest major victories in the whole Civil War. prgtoken Preserving these sites isn't the only way Kentucky will benefit from this sweeping lands package. The bill will help historically Black colleges and universities like Kentucky State University preserve their distinguished contributions to our communities; it extends the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail into Kentucky; and it bolsters our critical efforts to combat invasive specie
BORDER SECURITY
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-2-7

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina, Representative Walker, for his service and his leadership, not just to this body, but myself personally. prgtoken He is a spiritual leader and mentor for so many. We have a lot of ways to measure success in life and in this job, but I can tell you, one of them is to maintain a healthy relationship with our Lord and savior, and I want to thank him publicly. prgtoken This is a serious issue, and it is one that we in Texas have a lot of knowledge about and experience with, unfortunately, and that is border security. It is also a humanitarian crisis. prgtoken , we are on the front lines, and we see the drugs, gangs, and criminal activity pouring into the great State of Texas, not just along the impact zone immediately across from the southern border, but in communities in west Texas, in the 19th Congressional District, and not just my population center, but in rural communities as well. prgtoken Here is a statistic that is pretty startling. Since 2011, 180,000 illegal immigrants were charged in the great State of Texas with 290,000 crimes. prgtoken I talked to local law enforcement officers, sheriffs, police chiefs, and others in my communities over the last few weeks. They are telling me that the volume of drugs coming into our communities is off the charts and that the crime has increased exponentially--not just property crime, but violent crime. prgtoken They are telling me that gangs, not just the shoestring gangs, as they call them, but the very violent gangs and cartels, the Sinaloa cartel and the Los Zetas cartel, are in my district in west Texas. They are showing up in our backyards and our neighborhoods, and it is scary. prgtoken Here is the sad fact: This country has the resources and tools to do something about it. Our President has asked for those resources and tools. He has a comprehensive border security plan, and we have to have political will. We have to be able to put our country first, especially when it comes to the safety and security of our people. prgtoken , I have heard people say that drugs are coming through only ports of entry. You can tell from this map, they are coming across the border at various places. prgtoken Just a month ago, there was 700 pounds of cocaine caught at the border, and we had our largest drug bust up in my district in a little town called Denver City, about 22 kilos of cocaine. So we have to do something about it. prgtoken , I beg of my colleagues to do the right thing and put their country before politics. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
SHOW YOUR WORK CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-2-7

the Congressional Budget Office is supposed to help Congress evaluate the fiscal costs and benefits of legislation. Given the weight these scores have on the ability of Members of Congress to make policy decisions, it should be a top priority that the CBO standards are of the highest possible quality. prgtoken CBO should improve and could improve the accuracy of its projections by adopting a transparent process that would allow independent experts to provide technical contributions and verify their conclusions, as is the standard for all academic journals. prgtoken That is why I have introduced the CBO Show Your Work Act, which would require the CBO to publish online all nonproprietary data, models, and processes utilized in the analysis and scoring of legislation. prgtoken CBO is the internal accountant for every Member of Congress. Therefore, Members of Congress, and the public they serve, should have access to the data, models, and processes that create the numbers we rely on.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-2-7

I rise today to announce the reintroduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act, more commonly known as the BUILD Act. prgtoken After the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was tasked with creating a single set of integrated disclosure forms for mortgage loans. This set of forms, created by the TRID rule, was designed to provide a more consumer- friendly approach to traditional mortgage lenders. Its aim was to streamline disclosure requirements in the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlements Procedures Act into a single set of forms. prgtoken The measure works for most traditional mortgage lenders; however, it buried not-for-profit, charitable organizations in mountains of paperwork. The weight of the nearly 2,000-page TRID rule is not only burdensome but confusing--especially for small lenders and housing charities that do not have the funding to hire financial experts. prgtoken The forms present a variety of unnecessary obstacles, including the requirement for expensive software with a cost calculator. These costly and complex forms are expected of large banks and institutions, and they can better afford to hire experts who are well versed on the TRID rule, but smaller community-based organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, they simply cannot. The overwhelming majority of the more than 1,200 Habitat for Humanity organizations across our country are faced with limited resources. prgtoken Historically, Habitat for Humanity has built homes for struggling families and provided a low- or no-interest loan. The loan amounts are typically lower due to the free labor of thousands of volunteers in Habitat projects around the world. These loans give Habitat homeowners a chance to establish themselves as creditworthy and a fresh start for their future. prgtoken There are currently 15 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Nebraska. The chapters in Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont, Grand Island, and Columbus, as well as the Sarpy County and Scotts Bluff County chapters have voiced their full support for the BUILD Act. I thank them for that. prgtoken These organizations are a constant source of hope for our communities across the State, and they make significant contributions to provide a hand up for struggling families. The executive director of Habitat's Lincoln chapter recently sent my office the story of a local couple who became a Habitat homeowner. prgtoken Abdelkarim and Sailwa worked hard to provide for their five sons. With help from Habitat for Humanity, the couple was approved for a 30- year, zero-interest mortgage on their new home. Payments are capped at 30 percent of their combined monthly income. Now Sailwa can work part time, and Abdelkarim pursues his degree from Southeast Community College. He is helping to secure his family's future. Their children are comfortable in their neighborhood, where they have made n
CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION OF GEORGE SCIMGER
Paul Mitchell (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-2-7

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate Elba Township Deputy Fire Chief George Scimger's 45 years of service to Lapeer County. Born and raised in North Branch, Michigan, Mr. Scimger has served and protected our community for decades, working his way from a firefighter, to captain, to assistant chief, and now deputy chief. In addition to his duties as a firefighter, firefighting instructor, and hazmat instructor, Mr. Scimger has contributed to many organizations serving as chairman for both the Lapeer County Fire Association and the Michigan State Firemen's Association. George has been honored many times for his commitment to the community. The Lapeer County Fire Association awarded him the award for Firefighter of the Year and Outstanding Officer two times. Also, his home township, Elba Township, awarded him the Chief's Award two times. He has been a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather to his wife of 53 years, Carol, their three children, and four grandchildren. I join George's family, friends, and the Lapeer County community in thanking him for the years of service and wish him well in his retirement.
BORDER SECURITY
Mark Walker (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-2-7

I thank Representative Arrington for coming, and I appreciate his kind remarks, and sobering ones, at the same time. We do have a problem at the border with drugs. We do have a problem with violence of illegal aliens. That is why we continue to message through this. prgtoken Just 2 nights ago, sitting right about there was my sister-in-law whose brother was a United States Army veteran and a good friend of mine who one day messed up his knee. He had surgery, and the next thing you know, he was addicted to pain killers, opioids. Opioids led to heroin, and then, unable to come off heroin, it led to him committing suicide 3 years ago. prgtoken This is a real problem. If we were able to cut down only a small percentage of the drugs, and if we were able to reduce only a small percentage of the murders, the sexual assaults, and the human trafficking, my question is: Would a border structure still not be worth it? prgtoken To me, that is a very commonsense question. How much does it need to be reduced before it is relevant to all of us? prgtoken , from Mississippi (Mr. Guest), our next speaker this afternoon who is a solid new Member, a former district attorney from the State of Mississippi who is already serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. prgtoken MR. GUEST I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken As a former district attorney, I have seen firsthand how damaging narcotics and synthetic drugs can be to individuals, families, and our communities. prgtoken In 2017, drug overdoses killed 72,000 Americans, more than car crashes and gun violence combined. The most dangerous of these drugs, fentanyl, is 50 times more potent than heroin and accounted for almost twice the number of fatal overdoses in 2017. prgtoken Last year, law enforcement officers in Mississippi seized more than 800,000 dosage units of fentanyl. The fentanyl seized was enough to kill nearly 14 percent of the population of Mississippi. prgtoken This lethal narcotic is smuggled into our country by transnational criminal organizations or drug cartels. Just last month, Federal law enforcement officials seized more than 250 pounds of fentanyl at the Nogales port of entry on the United States-Mexico border. prgtoken As we continue to aggressively police our points of entry, drug cartels will attempt to gain access through the areas of the border that are not secured, forcing us to devote manpower to police these unsecured sections of our border. prgtoken It is apparent that drug cartels want to profit from the addiction and the destruction that these drugs have on American lives. This Congress has not only the opportunity but also the duty to act, to help limit the flow of drugs into the country and to protect our citizens by securing our southwest border.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-2-7

we are now on S. 47, our lands package bill, and as we have heard, Senator Lankford's amendment has just been called up. I am happy to speak to that, but I understand he is in the process of coming back to the Hill. We will wait for his arrival, and he can speak directly to his amendment. prgtoken I want to take just a couple of minutes, right off the top, and speak to some of the broader provisions in this bill that I view as significant. Interestingly, I was just visiting with our President pro tempore, and he thanked me. He said thank you because we have a provision that helps Council Bluffs, IA. It is something we have been working on for a long time, and now it appears it will be finally resolved through this legislation. prgtoken That is a prime example of what we have put together with this 100- plus package of land and water bills--bills that help sports men and women, bills that help us with measures on conservation. It is a very wide and broad effort, and yet so many of these provisions are very local and very parochial. However, local issues can help with economic development in a region, and I want to highlight how this package does create economic opportunities in our communities across the country. prgtoken For example, when this bill is signed into law, Fannin County, in rural Texas, will gain local control over the Lake Fannin Recreation Area from the Forest Service. This recreation area right now, we are told, is rundown. It has been closed to the public for many years. The county is looking forward to actually taking ownership so it can transform Lake Fannin into a multiuse recreation area, complete with trails, playgrounds, and water recreation, allowing and encouraging people to come and visit and enjoy. prgtoken We also include a provision for La Paz County in Arizona. This conveys a parcel of Federal land to facilitate the development of a large-scale solar project. It will also allow for a link to an electric transmission line. This is going to be creating local jobs and is going to be bringing renewable energy online to power many of our communities. There is a great benefit there. prgtoken In Tucson, AZ, we removed bureaucratic obstacles to allow for the city to operate a park. They have done this, apparently, for dozens of years without the control of a Federal Agency. So when the local citizens want to operate, perhaps, a farmer's market, they are not going to have to jump over hurdles or be subjected to the whims of Federal officials there. Instead, they are able to make these local decisions. For heaven's sake, if they want to put a little farmer's market in there, they shouldn't have to come to Congress to ask for permission. prgtoken Another example--I mentioned this one before--is in South Dakota, in Custer County. This is a conveyance that will allow the county to have full ownership of all the lands on which it operates its airport. It will allow the county to
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-2-7

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congressman Sablan's amendment to include mental healthcare provided via telemedicine under the definition of a ``covered health service.'' prgtoken The VA healthcare system is an industry leader in telemedicine and should be commended in using it to increase access to care for veterans who would otherwise have to travel great distances on a regular basis to receive the care they need. prgtoken I want to thank my good friend, Congressman Sablan, who is a tireless advocate in the Marianas. He has been an amazing supporter of the veterans there who really have very limited services. I thank him for introducing this amendment to make sure that veterans accessing tele- healthcare are also eligible for childcare assistance, if needed. prgtoken I am pleased to join him in supporting this. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
TIFFANY JOSLYN JUVENILE ACCOUNTABILITY BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-7

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise today in support of H.R. 494, the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2019. The bill reauthorizes the Justice Department's Juvenile Accountability Block Grant--JABG--program, strengthens the program to reduce youth crime, and contains vigorous accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure taxpayer dollars are efficiently and wisely utilized. prgtoken I would like to say thank you to the sponsor of this legislation, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, for her hard work and, as she just explained in great detail, the many things about this bill that are good for us and why I would support this bill. prgtoken When young people commit crimes, it has a serious and long-lasting detrimental impact. Our children represent the promise of a bright future and the hope for continued prosperity. That means improving the juvenile justice system and reducing juvenile crimes is crucial to preserving and protecting the future of our children and our Nation. prgtoken The JABG program provides grants to States, Tribes, and localities to strengthen juvenile justice systems and reduce recidivism among offenders. prgtoken The program currently has 17 authorized purpose areas, including the implementation of graduated sanctions for juveniles; support for prosecutorial initiatives aimed at curbing drug use, violence, and gangs; accountability-based school safety initiatives; the establishment of juvenile drug courts; and bullying and cyberbullying prevention. prgtoken The JABG has a long history of bipartisan support among members of the Judiciary Committee and in Congress as a whole. prgtoken Again, , Congresswoman Jackson Lee, for her hard work on this legislation, and I would encourage my colleagues to support this bill. prgtoken , .
BORDER SECURITY
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-7

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today to discuss an important topic to our Nation's homeland security, the crisis at our southern border. And it is, indeed, a crisis. prgtoken In its most simple form, it is paramount that we know who is coming in and out of our country in order to keep our families and our fellow citizens safe. However, it is impossible to do so when individuals are traversing across our border avoiding checkpoints and bypassing our immigration laws. prgtoken , I have been to our border. I served on the Homeland Security Committee my first session here. We took a trip to the border. We went to California. It was the first time I had ever been to California. We went to San Diego. In San Diego you need a barrier, you need a wall, and you need a fence. You have got 3 million people in San Diego County, 3 million people in Tijuana separated by a highway. It makes perfect sense to have a barrier there, a fence. prgtoken Then we went to Arizona, rugged terrain, mountainous terrain. There you need technology, you need boots on the ground, you need blimps, and you need drones, all of those things. When we were in Arizona, we visited a farmer, a rancher there, who showed us an area where they had a fence. In that area where they had that fence, they had cut it off. It was a 10-foot fence, and they cut it off at 5 foot, put ramps on it, and they had driven a truck over it. prgtoken You have to have a fence, and you have to have technology. prgtoken We went to McAllen, Texas. It was the first time I had ever been to that part of Texas. We went to the Rio Grande River. Now, I grew up in south Georgia; to me the Rio Grande River was this giant river that you saw in a John Wayne movie. It is anything but. It is a narrow, winding river that in some areas is knee deep. People walk across it. You are going to have to have barriers in some of those areas. You are going to have to have boots on the ground. You are going to have to have technology, blimps and drones, all of those things. prgtoken What we are talking about is securing our borders. Everybody wants to say: oh, he wants to build a wall. prgtoken Yes, you need a wall in certain areas, and you need a barrier. But you need technology. But most importantly you need security. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to deny the President the ability to deliver on a campaign promise. That is not what this is about. This is about securing our borders. We need to focus. We need to focus about what we are talking about here. This is real. This is serious. prgtoken Let me tell you how serious it is. I have seen examples of it. I have seen examples that it creates in my own district, my own congressional district in coastal Georgia. prgtoken Just over a month ago, three illegal immigrants were charged with conspiracy to murder a legal, naturalized citizen who threatened to turn them in. prgtoken Now, folks, if you want to
WITHDRAWING FROM INF TREATY
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2019-2-7

President made the courageous decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty last week. This was long overdue. Sadly, there have been obvious Russian violations since 2011. prgtoken The 1987 INF Treaty was achieved by President Ronald Reagan to prohibit development of ground-launched cruise missiles. The INF Treaty was seen as the gold standard of arms control agreements for years, but Russia has been in violation of the agreement, while we have continued to limit our research and development. prgtoken Allowing Russia to violate the INF Treaty endangers American families. Now, Russia will find more incentive to return to the negotiating table, encouraged by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. prgtoken We must continue to seek peace through strength. It was this strategy implemented by President Reagan that prompted Moscow to sign the INF Treaty in the first place. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.