mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING FATHER P. MARTIN ``MARTY'' DONNELLY
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , it is with deepest sorrow, highest esteem, and abiding gratitude that I include in the Record the tribute delivered by Father Tony Gallagher in honor of the life of Reverend Paul Martin ``Marty'' Donnelly on February 1, 2019 at the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Toledo, Ohio. Father Marty will be dearly remembered as a faithful Roman Catholic priest, a servant of God, who gave his unselfish and purposeful life to the people of Greater Toledo. Following the tribute is Father Donnelly's obituary. Homily: Marty's Funeral Mass (Excerpts) (Isaiah 61:1-11, Psalm 27, Acts 10:34-43, Luke 10:25-37) A giant among us has left us. Reverend Marty Donnelly has transitioned to the joy of eternal glory, but hurt in our pain of loss. First and understandably, we all offer special and prayerful sympathy to those closest to Marty: Pat, his only brother-in-law; his devoted nieces and nephews; his close friend Tom Landgraff; and his beloved cousins, particularly his second cousin Dorothy Taylor (I always found it awkward to call her ``Buck''). Unquestionably, Buck warrants the deep gratitude of all of us for her many, many years of extraordinary, dedicated, and unselfish caretaking for Marty right up to the end. But what is the end? What is death? Here is my version of another better-phrased story: freighter fully loaded leaving a dock at Toledo Terminal on the Maumee River--dock workers shout ``There she goes'' as the ship is seen as a speck between the water of the bay and the sky--fully, loaded the ship is observed by someone on Put-in-Bay who shouts ``Here she comes''--the loaded ship is the same, the absence or change is in the Toledo workers--and that is death. Today we grieve the absence of Marty Donnelly. Yet we believe that angels have already shouted ``Here he comes.'' Marty Donnelly knew that if life has the last word, then love must overcome negativity and discord, forgiveness must overcome bitterness, and generosity must overcome greed. Marty had such faith. Yet, with great zest he appealingly owned his own humanity and was clearly animated by a profound prayer life, by the teachings of Vatican II and Pope Francis, and by a continued embrace of Sacred Scripture. Consider our first reading from Isaiah: the lowly hear good news, the broken-hearted are healed; captives are set free; prisoners are released; mourners are comforted and given happiness, fancy attire, and called oaks of justice; ancient ruins are rebuilt; ruined cities are restored; everlasting joy will be with people who will be in a covenant with the Lord. In his meaningful and large life Marty understood this mission. He remained, in his own words, ``terminally hopeful.'' In that light he was one o
KEEPING RUSSIAN ENTRAPMENTS MINIMAL AND LIMITING INTELLIGENCE NETWORKS ACT
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 1617, the Keeping Russian Entrapments Minimal and Limiting Intelligence Networks Act, or the KREMLIN Act. prgtoken The intelligence community is united in its assessment that Russia attempted to sabotage the 2016 U.S. election and that America is not alone in facing these dangers and attacks. In fact, recent reports indicate that Russia continues to engage in information warfare and political interference in the West that threatens the health of democratic institutions within member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, otherwise known as NATO. prgtoken Among many examples, the Russian Federation is linked to cybercrimes in Ukraine and Germany, disinformation campaigns here in the United States, intelligence support for pro-Russian Bulgarian candidates, and financing for pro-Russian parties in France. prgtoken The bipartisan KREMLIN Act which I introduced with my friend, Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah, acknowledges the active threat of foreign interference on the United States and our NATO allies. prgtoken Specifically, this legislation would require the Director of National Intelligence to submit three intelligence assessments to Congress. These assessments must analyze: prgtoken First, potential military action by Russia against members of NATO; prgtoken Second, potential responses by Russia to an enlarged U.S. or NATO presence in Eastern Europe; prgtoken Third, potential areas where the Russian Government could exploit weaknesses and divisions among the governments of NATO and her allies. prgtoken Most importantly, the KREMLIN Act recognizes that Russian meddling with our allied NATO countries constitutes a direct threat to the United States. prgtoken By providing the appropriate congressional committees with these comprehensive assessments, we will be better prepared to thwart efforts in the future that aim to weaken international democratic institutions. prgtoken Madam , . House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, March 12, 2019. Hon. Adam Schiff, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC. Dear : This is to advise you that the Committee on Foreign Affairs has now had an opportunity to review H.R. 1617, the ``KREMLIN Act,'' which falls within our shared Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate that you have consulted with us on this legislation. The Foreign Affairs Committee has no objection to considering this bill on the House floor. To expedite that consideration, the Foreign Affairs Committee is willing to waive referral, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over the le
MAKE FULL EQUALITY A REALITY
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , no American should face legal discrimination because of who they are or who they love. prgtoken As a Nation, we have made stunning progress toward realizing this dream of full equality and acceptance for our LGBTQ family, friends, and neighbors. But despite our success, including repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and achieving marriage equality as the law of the land, there is more work to do. prgtoken In many States across this country, LGBTQ individuals remain vulnerable to discrimination, with little recourse. Unlike other groups protected by civil rights laws, LGBTQ Americans can be fired from their jobs, evicted from their apartments, or refused service at prgtoken a restaurant simply because of who they are. prgtoken The current patchwork of State laws is not enough. prgtoken That is why I am proud to join with my colleagues to again introduce the Equality Act to ensure protections already extended to other protected classes are equally available to LGBTQ Americans. prgtoken It is time we prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, Federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of Federal funds. prgtoken Let's make full equality a reality for all of us.
CELEBRATING OAKLAND LITERACY COUNCIL'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Andy Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I am proud to rise today in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Oakland Literacy Council. prgtoken Since the Oakland Literacy Council was formed in 1984, volunteers have helped thousands of adult learners improve their literacy skills with the simple method of one neighbor helping another. prgtoken The dedicated and trained volunteers of the Oakland Literacy Council provide free basic literacy and English language instruction to adults who live in Oakland County, Michigan. prgtoken For 35 years, the efforts of the Oakland Literacy Council have helped residents, students, and workers improve their English language skills so that they may communicate with their child's teacher, enhance their skills for a GED or to become a citizen of the United States, and improve their reading to receive promotions at work. prgtoken I commend the tireless work of the Oakland Literacy Council as it continues to improve the lives of Oakland County residents and strengthen the fabric of our southeastern Michigan community.
HONORING ROB WYNBRANDT
Larry Bucshon (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I rise to honor the contributions of Rob Wynbrandt, who will retire on March 15th as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). I commend his 30 years of legal service and guidance for cardiothoracic surgeons and their patients. prgtoken Mr. Wynbrandt graduated from Northwestern University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and obtained a Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of Michigan in 1979. He worked for many years as a partner in a Chicago law firm, serving clients such as The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Radiology, and the American College of Surgeons. In 2002, Mr. Wynbrandt was named STS Executive Director and General Counsel. prgtoken Once Mr. Wynbrandt took the helm at STS, he expanded its staff and oversaw the development of programs on patient safety, public reporting, and professional medical education for cardiothoracic surgeons. It was under Mr. Wynbrandt's legal expertise that the STS launched its now world-renowned National Database. As a result of his leadership, the database has become the gold standard for clinical outcomes registries and serves as the bedrock for quality improvement initiatives involving heart and lung surgery patients. prgtoken I congratulate Mr. Wynbrandt on a distinguished career at STS, and join his family, friends, cardiothoracic surgeons, and their patients from around the country in extending my best wishes in his retirement.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-3-12

I rise today in support of H.R. 1592, the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act. prgtoken As co-chair of the House Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am proud that we continue to provide the resources necessary to have a dominant and prosperous workforce. For instance, this past July, we authorized the Carl D. Perkins Act to advance career and technical education. prgtoken We must continue developing a 21st century workforce to meet the technical demands our country is facing now and into the future. That is why, together with my friend, Congressman Jim Langevin, we have introduced a bill to help protect our sensitive data and critical infrastructure from bad actors. prgtoken Our legislation directs the Department of Education to create a comprehensive grant program that integrates cybersecurity education into new and established postsecondary CTE programs. prgtoken With more than 16 critical infrastructure sectors in our country, we must prepare our next generation of learners to have the most sophisticated and comprehensive educational programs to protect our Nation's most dire assets, systems, and networks. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I thank Mr. Langevin for his work and leadership on this issue.
CLOTURE MOTION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-3-12

I recently reintroduced the Accountability through Electronic Verification Act this Congress, as I have in previous Congresses. This commonsense bill would require all employers to use E-Verify programs, which in turn would ensure that they are employing nothing but a legal workforce. prgtoken As most Americans have realized, the immigration debate here in the Congress today--and for a long time--has become highly partisan and obviously has been controversial. Of course, worst of all, it has become completely unproductive. prgtoken I believe there is a sliver of hope, however, and that is through the passage of an E-Verify program that makes E-Verify mandatory. prgtoken Whether you are a or a , whether you are for open borders or you want secure borders, we all ought to agree that enforcing the law and protecting Americans is a bipartisan goal. prgtoken In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act made it, for the first time, a Federal crime to employ undocumented workers. Ten years later, in 1996, Congress created a new tool to verify employment eligibility known as E-Verify. prgtoken Today, E-Verify is a voluntary program that gives employers a web- based tool to verify the identify and employment eligibility of new employees. prgtoken I have worked to renew and expand the program for use in all 50 States and to allow for information-sharing between Federal Agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. prgtoken Participating employers then tap into a user-friendly, free electronic system that cross-matches documents provided by employees on their I-9 forms with Federal records available to show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. So the records of a worker applying for a job can be compared with government records to know whether somebody is legally in the country. prgtoken Today E-Verify provides instant verification for more than 750,000 employers and businesses all across America. In fact, my Senate office uses E-Verify when hiring employees whom the taxpayers pay for, but I am responsible for their employment. My Senate office uses E-Verify when hiring our staff, and I have found it to be quick and easy to use. prgtoken At my annual 99 county meetings that I have throughout Iowa, I regularly hear about the growing economy, rising wages, and the vitality on Main Streets. Iowa now ranks first in the Nation for the lowest level of unemployment. That also means there are growing challenges for employers in my State to hire the workforce needed to grow and expand. I will bet a lot of my colleagues hear that in their respective States as well. prgtoken We need to make sure hiring practices don't harm U.S. workers or those authorized to work in the United States. That is why I reintroduced the bill I announced in the first words of my speech today, the accountability through electro
CLOTURE MOTION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-3-12

I would just point out that what my friend and colleague from Hawaii described as a distraction is one of the key points of the ic Party. prgtoken Medicare for All, as they call it, is part of the so-called Green New Deal, which would bankrupt the country, which is unaffordable, unworkable. The fact is, this Medicare for All proposal, which so many of the have signed on to, would cost a minimum of $33 trillion and maybe a lot higher after what we have heard from the Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, as to the things he wants to do going beyond just Medicare for All. prgtoken We know that taxes would increase significantly under their proposal. We know that for Americans who have health insurance right now through their work, over 150 million Americans would lose that. We know that for people on Medicare, it would make their ability to use Medicare much harder. Then, of course, there would be the issue of rationing for care--the lines and the time to wait. prgtoken There was an article in the New York Times, an opinion piece by David Brooks, on Friday, talking about why the so-called Medicare for All will not work, and it made reference to healthcare in Canada. prgtoken I would say to the Presiding Officer that as a Senator who is also a surgeon, I operated on people from Canada in my practice prior to becoming a U.S. Senator and while practicing in Wyoming. People in Canada--where the healthcare is paid for by taxes but is free--I have taken care of people who couldn't afford to wait the amount of time it would take to get their free operation. prgtoken The article in the New York Times on Friday made reference to the fact that the waiting times are so long that after you are actually seen by the primary care provider in Canada, the wait time to get to see an orthopedic surgeon is 9 months--9 months. The are proposing something that has given the people of Canada a waiting time of 9 months. prgtoken So what we see under this Medicare for All proposal--and I have just introduced today this Senate resolution saying that Medicare for All should be rejected, and there should also be a rejection of the tax increases, the loss of choice, and the long lines that will come from this -sponsored proposal for Medicare for All. prgtoken Thank you. prgtoken .
KEEPING RUSSIAN ENTRAPMENTS MINIMAL AND LIMITING INTELLIGENCE NETWORKS ACT
Chris Stewart (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in favor of H.R. 1617, and I am proud to cosponsor this bill with my friend, Mr. Krishnamoorthi. prgtoken The Keeping Russian Entrapments Minimal and Limiting Intelligence Networks Act, also known as the KREMLIN Act, is a commonsense bill that directs the intelligence community to conduct an assessment on the leadership of the Russian Government's plans and intentions, as my friend Raja has said, especially in regards to NATO. prgtoken Madam , with some questioning Washington's commitment to the transatlantic alliance, this bill also serves as a reminder to our allies of the U.S. Congress' commitment to NATO. prgtoken NATO is indispensable. As a former military officer, I know firsthand how true that is. It is also as important today as it has ever been. Understanding the threats that the Kremlin continues to challenge to this important alliance is of utmost importance. prgtoken In particular, the bill seeks assessments in three areas: prgtoken First, any potential military action against NATO members; prgtoken Second, potential reaction to the expansion of NATO; and, prgtoken Third, potential weaknesses and areas of division against NATO allies. prgtoken Learning the Russian Government's intentions in these areas will better enable the United States Government to counter any attempts to undermine this critical alliance that we call NATO. prgtoken I thank the , urge passage of H.R. 1617, and reserve the balance of my time.
Tribute to Sam Mamet (Executive Session)
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-3-12

today I rise to recognize a great citizen of the State of Colorado and a dear friend of mine, Sam Mamet. Sam is retiring at the end of March after 40 years of working with the Colorado Municipal League. CML is an organization that is dedicated to representing the best interests of cities and towns throughout the State of Colorado. prgtoken In 1979, shortly after receiving a master's in public administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Sam began his tenure at CML. For 26 years, he worked diligently to make sure that local communities had the proper tools to better serve themselves. prgtoken In 2005 he was appointed executive director of the organization. From this unique position, Sam was at the forefront of developing the organization's policies and executing vital programs with the overarching purpose of helping those who oversee communities become more effective leaders. It is clear to the people of Colorado that Sam has excelled in this position from day one. prgtoken It is unlikely you will find someone in Colorado government or politics who doesn't know Sam or hasn't worked with Sam, and there is no shortage of recognition for the incredible work he has done. If you need proof, you can look through the abundance of awards he has received, including a lifetime achievement award from the Colorado City & County Management Association earlier this year. It is also not surprising that Sam has his own day, Sam Mamet Day, on February 4, which was dedicated by the city of Greenwood Village as a thank-you for his years of sincere dedication to them. These are just a few of the many examples of appreciation that showcase the passion and zeal Sam has for the cities and communities across our great State. prgtoken I can't stress enough how Colorado communities have benefited and how the State of Colorado has benefited from the work of Sam Mamet. His years of persistence and dedication in his work have had a tremendous and monumental impact. His work transcends beyond partisanship, and I think that is the most important thing to talk about. When you see Sam Mamet, you don't think of left or right or red or blue. You see nonpartisanship in the work he does. prgtoken He cautions leaders to avoid demeaning an issue or individual on the other side, something so important in today's political environment, and to focus more on cultivating policies that will simply benefit each and every community based on the specific needs and requirements of the people. We need more leaders like Sam. prgtoken Sam has long believed public service is the highest calling. He recognizes the gravity the position holds and why it is so important that public servants are given the tools necessary to better the streets and neighborhoods and communities they belong to. This is what each and every citizen expects of their leaders and what he has dedicated his life to accomplish. ``Empowered Cities and Towns, United
Buybacks (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-3-12

before I get to my main topic, I just want to briefly respond to something the ic leader, the Senator from New York, said regarding the tax cuts bill that passed in 2017. prgtoken The , none of whom voted for it, obviously, have not ceased to criticize the passage of that tax relief bill, notwithstanding the significant economic progress that we have seen as a result of its passage, coupled with relief from regulations and other policies that have been implemented by this President in working with the Congress. prgtoken There is historic economic data to report. We have record unemployment rates all across the country. We have seen record wage increases. prgtoken The Senator from New York talked about how this hasn't benefited working Americans. That couldn't be further from the truth. If you look at the data, it is very clear that wage rates are growing. They are growing at the fastest rate in over a decade. Today, we actually have more jobs available in this country than we do people looking for jobs. That is also a historic first and something that has been happening now for many months in a row. prgtoken We have record low unemployment, record high wages, and growth in the economy that we haven't seen in over a decade either--3.1 percent in a calendar year, fourth quarter over fourth quarter. That is the first time we have seen north of 3 percent growth in our economy since 2005. So if you look at the evidence, it is pretty clear that the tax relief bill that was passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President in late 2017 is having the desired effect. prgtoken With respect to the arguments that were made that this is what is contributing to the debt and the deficit, just last week there was a piece in the Wall Street Journal by a former colleague of ours, Senator Phil Gramm from Texas, who pointed out the Congressional Budget Office has adjusted its projections when it comes to growth in the economy since the tax bill passed. prgtoken In 2017, when it was in the process of being passed, the CBO was projecting 2 percent growth in 2018 and 1.7 percent growth in 2019. They have now modified those projections to 2.9 percent in 2018 and 2.7 percent in 2019. prgtoken What that means is--an additional percentage point of growth means higher government revenues. In fact, the CBO has adjusted their projections with respect to government revenues upward to about $1.2 trillion over the next decade. Government revenues of $1.2 trillion would be about 80 percent of what the projected cost of the tax bill was, about $1.5 trillion. At the time, we projected we would see additional economic growth as a result of passing tax reform and allowing individuals and businesses, whether they are organized as C corps or whether they are organized as passthroughs, to benefit from these provisions and changes in the Tax Code--faster cost recovery and lower rates--that would encourage the