mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PREVENTING MATERNAL DEATHS ACT OF 2018
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2018-12-11

I know that the ranking member already yielded back, so I thank Mr. Burgess for yielding. prgtoken , I wanted to hurry down here to speak in favor of this bill because I have been working on it for many years with my colleague and friend, Jaime Herrera Beutler. prgtoken According to the CDC, maternal mortality rates rose by 26 percent in the U.S. between 2000 and 2014. These deaths are preventable, and they should not be happening in 2018. So to combat this alarming trend, 33 States have established maternal mortality review committees made up of healthcare professionals who review individual maternal deaths and then recommend policy decisions. prgtoken Our bill provides Federal support for these committees and supports efforts to standardize them. It has 190 cosponsors. It has received support from 90 national public health organizations. prgtoken It is really a great example of how the Energy and Commerce Committee works in a bipartisan way. So I thank everybody for being here and thank the chairman for his comity.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2018
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2018-12-12

. But when we are losing towns, and people and firefighters in our communities are choked with smoke, we can do better. prgtoken Last night, in Medford, Oregon, the Jackson County Commission held a public meeting to talk about this fire situation we face. A dad from Jackson County recounted how his daughter with cystic fibrosis had to move away. He told the audience: ``It's been devastating for us as a family. We wish our daughter could live with us.'' Then he went on to say: ``When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.'' prgtoken So you want to talk about life and safety and health issues in America, we should have done better with the Senate. But we are doing okay with this bill, and I intend to support it. prgtoken Today I rise in support of the underlying legislation: the 2018 Farm Bill. prgtoken This bill takes steps to help improve the management of our federal forests by extending expedited management tools for insect and disease projects in eastern Oregon and expanding it to hazardous fuels reduction to reduce the threat of fire and smoke. prgtoken We've also allowed more local involvement from counties in forest management projects and extended funding for collaborative forest projects. prgtoken These all help, but it is unfortunate the Senate rejected provisions from the House bill that would have greatly reduce the threat of fires and smoke in all of Oregon. prgtoken The ability to clean up the burned dead timber after a fire-- responsibly and where it makes sense--and replant a new, healthy forest for the next generation? Excluded. prgtoken Providing tools that help manage our forests in western and southern Oregon--where some of Oregon's worst fires have been in recent years? Excluded, even after devastating fires like the Klondike Fire pictured here burned more than 175,000 acres. prgtoken People in southern Oregon are tired of choking on smoke every year because of poor management. Recently a dad from Jackson County recounted how his daughter with cystic fibrosis had to move away saying ``it's been devastating for us a family. We wish our daughter could live with us.'' But, as he went on to say, ``When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.'' prgtoken You can understand people's disappointment when they see little here to help their region, while efforts continue to lock up more southern Oregon forests as more wilderness--a contributor to several large fires in recent years. prgtoken As someone from Medford told me last night, if something doesn't change, ``We're gonna get killed.'' prgtoken Meanwhile, in central Oregon, the 5,000 residents of Crooked River Ranch are worried they will become the next Paradise, California. We've worked together on a simple public safety bill to make a small adjustment to a neighboring Wilderness Study Area so critical fire prevention work can be done to protect the community. prgtoken Our bill passed the House unanimously, passed a Senate Committee unanimous
HONORING PETE CORREA
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-12-12

I'm honored to recognize the life, achievements, and incredible public service of my good friend Pete Correa. His hard work, activism, and dedication to what's right for Central Texas reflects the best values of our beloved home state. prgtoken Pete has spent decades devoting himself to making Williamson County a great place to work and call home. Under his steady and forward-looking leadership, the region has seen extraordinary changes, ranging from public safety initiatives to large-scale improvement projects. Pete played a critical role in securing a hospital for Round Rock, oversaw the expansion of protections for our brave firefighters and police officers, and acquired and began development of the Old Settlers Park at Palm Valley, which today stands as a beautiful area for residents to enjoy with their families. His commitment to smart, lasting, and strategic development has improved the quality of life for all citizens and put the area on track for continued growth in the future. prgtoken Pete's commitment to investing his gifts, talents, and abilities to improve his community is a deeply held creed that speaks to the generosity and activism of a true and devoted public servant. His resume tells the story of a man unafraid to contribute both his time and energies to a multitude of causes and organizations that rely upon volunteerism and social engagement to make good communities great. prgtoken I've known Pete Correa for many years, and throughout our friendship, he has always been a man of integrity, determination, and God. I proudly join his family, friends, and colleagues in wishing nothing but the best for his richly-deserved retirement. He's been an incredible leader in this community and has done countless good for the people. I admire his commitment to service, thank him for his work, and am proud to call him my dear friend.
RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF AMY PORTER
Edward R. Royce (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-12-12

I rise to recognize the outstanding service of Amy Porter, my chief of staff for 17 years, including the last 6 years on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Amy is a skillful manager and leader who has been central to everything I have accomplished in Congress. prgtoken Amy has been a tremendous asset to my office in no small part because she has the heart for tackling some of the toughest issues and the drive to see them through. She ensured that issues like combating human trafficking and protecting children in adversity were front and center to our agenda. prgtoken When I became chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, she encouraged us to use this platform to call attention to the plight of disadvantaged groups around the world, particularly women and girls. This included holding a series of hearings on ways the United States could support women's empowerment around the globe, from promoting girls' education to women's inclusion in peace processes. prgtoken But, of course, Amy made sure we didn't stop there. She pressed us to develop solutions that would make a difference. As a result, the committee has passed many pieces of legislation--the READ Act; the Women, Peace, and Security Act; and the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act--that will give more women and girls a voice in decisions affecting their lives. prgtoken Amy traveled during her personal time to Cambodia and to India to work in orphanages and shelters, helping young girls subjected to human trafficking. She was relentless in helping me press governments on human rights, from the discriminating treatment toward those some still call the untouchables, the Dalits of India, to the genocide of the Rohingya of Myanmar, to female victims of trafficking and abuse worldwide. prgtoken From day one, Amy has understood how to reach out and connect with my constituents. When she announced over a decade ago that I should hold an annual event for women in my district to network and learn more about what I was doing in Washington, others were quickly dismissive. They questioned whether women who weren't already involved in politics would be interested in attending lectures on various policy issues or foreign affairs. However, 1,000 women in my district came to our seventh annual conference to hear former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discuss lessons from her career. prgtoken That is the amazing thing about Amy. For her, it is never enough to point out a problem. She possesses an unshakeable drive to make this world a better place, and the vision and leadership to realize even the most lofty ambitions. prgtoken It is thanks to her dedication that we were able to bring hundreds of adopted children home from Congo to their legal parents in the United States after their exit visas were suspended. Children stuck in filthy and underfunded orphanages were dying. Amy heard about it and traveled to Kinshasa on these children's behalf. prgtoken When
TRIBUTE TO BILL NELSON
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-12-12

we have just heard the words of the senior Senator from my State, and I wanted to just take a moment because it reminded me of a truism that came to mind as I heard him speak and as I reflected back on our almost 8 years of service here together. prgtoken Political divisions have existed in our country since its very beginning. What has changed is, there was a time not so long ago when Americans knew each other; when Americans had political differences, but they also served on the PTA board together; when we disagreed about whom to vote for, but we coached each other's kids in Little League or we were members of the same church and worshiped together or we lived side by side as neighbors. prgtoken When all you know about someone is whom they voted for or what their political positions are, it is easy to dislike them, but when you know them as a fellow parent, as a neighbor, as your children's coach, as someone you live side by side with, then you know them as a person. It is a lot easier to dislike a political opponent than it is to dislike the whole person. prgtoken I raise that point with you because I am very proud of the relationship, the working relationship, we have had in our 8 years here together. One of the things that made that possible is that I knew Bill Nelson as a person. If all I knew about him was that he and I did not always vote the same way on every issue--that is what most people know about us who serve here. That is one of the challenges we so often face. The men and women we represent in our representative parties and in our representative political leanings usually only know about our colleagues in the 3 minutes they may see us in a television interview, but we get to know each other as people. We get to know each other outside of politics. prgtoken I knew Bill Nelson, and I know Bill Nelson, as a person and as a man. I am an enormous admirer of his knowledge of Florida. He knows every nook and cranny of the State. He might not remember this, but we were together on a Coast Guard aircraft after one of our storms, and as we overflew the State from above, he was pointing out and identifying down at the street level every corner of the geography of the State. I remember thinking: I have been in Florida politics for awhile. I know the State fairly well, but he knew it down to the street level. So to try to keep pace, I went back and opened up the Atlas and tried to replicate 25, 30 years of State service to try to at least be in the same neighborhood as he is in his knowledge of our State. It is incredibly impressive. It wasn't something he memorized by looking at a book. It was because he had been to all of these places at some point during his time of service to our State. prgtoken I would say that certainly in the last quarter century, there has been no greater champion not just for Florida's space industry but for the space program; not just for NASA but for all of it
RECOGNIZING DIWALI
Mike Coffman (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-12-12

it is my honor to recognize Diwali, a festival of lights celebrating the Hindu New Year. Originating in India, Diwali is the largest and one of the most important celebrations observed within the Hindu religion. Diwali's festival of lights symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. prgtoken Diwali festivities include deep cleaning and extensive decorating of office buildings, temples, and homes. The celebration begins by lighting clay lamps in temple windows in honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and wealth. Traditional Indian feasts take place with friends and loved ones, during which, sweets and presents are prepared and shared. prgtoken The significance of this event is not exclusive to India. Today, where there are Hindus they honor their traditions and observe this important day. Here in Colorado, for example, we have a thriving and growing Hindu community. The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of the Rockies also known as the Hindu Temple of Colorado located in the City of Centennial, and the 6th Congressional District exemplifies this. prgtoken It is with great pride that I join all in recognizing Chairman Ved Nanda, President Sudhir Verma, Vice President Sridhar Talanki and Board Members: Arjun Sen, Mahesh Anandan, Anshuman Purohit, Asha Vasant, Deepak Malhotra, Madhu Bhat, Rajesh Agarwal, Rajesh Kaul, Ravi Raj, Reva Nayar, Sanjai Natesan, Sony Das; and volunteers Rahul Mirchand, Poonam Kakkar, Satish Kumar, and Suresh Lakkaraju. prgtoken I wish them and all the Temple's members well as they celebrate Diwali.
TRIBUTE TO BILL NELSON
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-12-12

I rise today to thank and honor our colleague and ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Bill Nelson. prgtoken As has been mentioned by some of our colleagues, Bill Nelson has served the people of Florida and our Nation with distinction in a career spanning more than four decades. prgtoken I have been honored to have Bill Nelson as a colleague from my first day in the Senate and for the last 4 years as a partner in an especially successful working relationship on the Commerce Committee. Over this time, we fostered a can-do spirit with committee colleagues and drove nearly 100 committee legislative accomplishments. Together, we worked on policy for our Nation's future in technology, aviation, ocean management, surface transportation, scientific research, space, and many other areas. prgtoken Senator Nelson exhibited an especially extraordinary passion for prioritizing safety, the future of manned spaceflight, and an unshakeable belief that powerful companies should be held to account when consumers aren't treated fairly. prgtoken Certainly in the instances when we used the authorities of our committee to demand answers about cyber security failures, troubling privacy violations, and the scourge of illegal robocalling, I always knew that Senator Nelson had my back. We are both passionate about serving the people of our respective States. prgtoken I won't soon forget my visit with Bill to the Everglades, where he-- clearly in his element--introduced me to some alligators and some unwelcome python squatters, which nonetheless love Florida too. I still have a photo holding on to one of those big snakes. It makes our rattlesnakes in South Dakota look small by comparison. prgtoken Certainly in the instances when we used the authorities of our committee to demand answers about all of these other important issues, we worked closely together. prgtoken I was pleased to not only join him in Florida but also to welcome him to South Dakota to see some of the issues that are important in our State. On a very, very cold October day, I had the privilege of showing Senator Nelson Mount Rushmore. I remember that as we walked up there, the wind was blowing--as it typically does in South Dakota--about 30 or 40 miles an hour, and the wind chills were very, very cold. I know that as someone who spends a lot of his time in the great State of Florida, where many of my constituents, like those of Senator Klobuchar's, spend their winters, it probably felt especially cold to him. But we had a chance to go underground and look at some of the tunnels of the old Homestake gold mine that are now host to the National Science Foundation's Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. I remember thinking at the time that Senator Nelson is the only Senator in Senate office who has been in space, so he has been thousands and thousands of miles in space, and now he has been 5,000 fee
HONORING THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION
Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-12-12

I join my colleagues in singing the praise of our staff. But let me just note--and, of course, I have had great staff as well, Rick Dykema and Kathleen Staunton, who have been with me the entire 30 years that I have been a Member of this body. prgtoken But staff, as well as the Members, we quite often take for granted what does really enable us to conduct ourselves in this way. It is very easy to overlook. The American people overlook it. We all overlook this. And, that is, we take for granted the safety and security that we operate in. No matter how good our staff is, no matter how great we are, if we were not safe, we could not be conducting this business of our democratic country. prgtoken Let us note that Officers Jacob Chestnut and Detective John Gibson were two law enforcement officers who gave their lives while I have been here in order to secure the safety we need to do the public business. So as I leave this body, I would like to make sure they know--I am sure they are listening from above and maybe their families will hear--that there are Members who are grateful to the sacrifice that they made. They gave their lives to keep a terrorist out of this building that would have done damage or murdered Members. prgtoken So with that said, I have been here 30 years. I am overwhelmed with gratitude toward the voters who sent me here and to God that gave me the opportunity to live life that permitted the voters to elect me as their representative in Washington. prgtoken I spent 7\1/2\ years in the Reagan White House with President Reagan, and after that, from 1981 to 1988, I came directly into combat-- political combat of running for the House and was elected in 1988, and I have served here since 1989. prgtoken It has been one of the most wonderful, glorious times. It is the best life I could ever, ever have imagined. And I know a lot of people, they gripe about the hours and sometimes some of the friction that happens among debates over important issues, but I am so grateful to have this chance. prgtoken And, again, there are so many people who are serving their country who are not anywhere nearer to having the wondrous life that we have. My father was a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps. He joined up after Pearl Harbor to protect our country. prgtoken Again, a lot of people, when they see this happening, they don't quite understand. This is what was given to us. There is sacrifice behind us. There is sacrifice in the air of all these people who sacrificed over our country's history, and especially my father's generation, the great generation that gave us this freedom that is all around us that you can feel it. prgtoken Thank God that I had a personal chance to participate in this wondrous, wondrous gift that, yes, God, our Founding Fathers, and, yes, our parents, in the greatest generation, gave us, and the other people who now are overseas to this very day defending our right to conduct ourselves this
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO RETURNS BY EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS AND RETURNS BY CERTAIN NON-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-12-12

as this session of Congress draws to a close, it provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge and express our appreciation to those Members of the Senate who will be retiring in just a few weeks. One of those Senators who is retiring and whose leadership and institutional knowledge will be missed is my friend Orrin Hatch of Utah. prgtoken I have known Orrin since my first days 22 years ago in the Senate, and I much appreciated working with him over the years. His mentoring, his guidance, his love, and his sharing of his faith have made a tremendous difference to me. prgtoken He comes from a State that borders my own. We are neighbors. As a western Senator, he has an understanding of what is truly important to the people in our neck of the woods and has fought to make this country better during his time in the Senate. prgtoken Before I talk about his many accomplishments in public service, I want to acknowledge some of the other things about him that have also been mentioned, his life and role beyond the Senate. prgtoken So often it is easy to gloss over things that are important to Senators personally. Sometimes it is easy to forget the men and women we know have their lives that stretch beyond these Halls. Orrin has been married to his wife Elaine for more than 60 years. He is a father of 6, grandfather of 23, and currently has 24 great-grandchildren. He is an author and a man of many talents. It has been mentioned that he is a talented composer and musician and has both a gold and platinum record from the Recording Industry Association of America. He has been instrumental in the musical world and has been awarded an honorary Grammy. He has been the main protector of copyrights. prgtoken Orrin has dedicated his life to serving the people of Utah. He has always worked for the best interests of Utah, and that includes Americans nationwide. prgtoken He has served in the Senate since 1977 and since 2015 has been the President prgtoken pro tempore, where he can be seen presiding during the opening of the Senate for daily business probably more than any other President pro tempore of the Senate. prgtoken The numbers are in, and they are impressive. He has served under seven Presidents, been a part of both the minority and majority, and has served the people of Utah and the U.S. Senate for over 40 years. Orrin has served in a variety of leadership roles and has helped America every step of the way. He has had the opportunity to serve as the chairman of three major Senate committees--the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Judiciary Committee; and most recently, the Finance Committee while doing the tax bill. He has run for President. He has been considered as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court. He has played a role in confirming every Supreme Court Justice currently sitting on the bench. Orrin is eminently qualified for so many positions, and America has been lucky to have his