mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Cheryl Marie Stanton (Executive Calendar)
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-4-9

I come to the floor this afternoon to speak in support of my friend Cheryl Marie Stanton, who is well qualified to be the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division within the U.S. Department of Labor. In her previous role as executive director for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, she gained valuable experience that will prepare her well for the role she is about to take on within the U.S. Department of Labor. She is also someone who has vast experience in labor and employment law, both in public life and in the private sector. She also served as Associate White House Counsel, as liaison to the Department of Labor. prgtoken Cheryl currently works at the Social Security Administration as associate to the Chief of Staff. She previously served as the executive director for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, to which she was appointed by then-Governor Nikki Haley in 2013. prgtoken Cheryl is someone I have known for more than 20 years. Like me, Cheryl served as a law clerk to then-Judge Samuel Alito on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Although we never clerked at the same time--she clerked the year before, and I got to know her through mutual friends initially and then got to know her independently through that clerkship experience--she is someone who is well regarded within the Alito chambers as being a hard-working law clerk and someone who everyone enjoyed working with and getting to know. prgtoken I still remember many years ago, when she was serving at the White House Counsel's Office as Associate Counsel, she took my family and me on a tour of the White House and showed genuine interest in them. This is the kind of person who comes with a lot of academic and professional qualifications. When you add to that this X factor, this intangible factor of being someone who is genuinely interested in people, genuinely interested in their well-being, their welfare, and making sure they are informed and happy, this is exactly the kind of person we would want in a position like this one. prgtoken Her academic credentials are, of course, impeccable. She received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and her undergraduate degree from Williams College. prgtoken In short, Cheryl Stanton is someone I look forward to voting for and confirming to this position within the Department of Labor. I urge my colleagues to support her nomination. prgtoken Thank you.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-9

I was fortunate to grow up in a military family. My dad served for 31 years in the U.S. Air Force. He actually started out at a very young age as a B-17 pilot in the Army Air Corps before the Air Force was even created. prgtoken He was stationed at Molesworth Air Force Base in England and flew missions across the English Channel into Germany during World War II. He flew 26 of those missions, and he was successful in completing each one of them except for the last one. On the 26th mission, he was shot down and captured as a POW for the last 4 months of the war. prgtoken Growing up in a military family obviously means a lot to me. I grew up with a father who demonstrated every day what it means to be a patriot. Of course, like most military brats--that is what we called ourselves--I spent a lot of time traveling around the country. Of course, I was born in Texas and consider San Antonio home, but we prgtoken lived in Mississippi and in Kensington, MD, right outside the District of Columbia. I graduated from high school in Japan. This is pretty typical of a lot of military families because they tend to move around quite a bit. One of the biggest challenges, being a student growing up in a military family, is frequently having to change schools. That requires a little bit of resilience on the part of the student because they have to learn how to make friends, even in new settings. prgtoken Despite the challenges of moving around as a kid, there was one thing I was always grateful for. I had the privilege of witnessing not only my dad but so many others of our U.S. military servicemembers in action. Seeing their courage and sacrifice showed me early on that there is nothing we can do to adequately repay these men and women for their service to their country, but you better believe we have to try, and we are going to keep trying--not just to repay them but to recognize them and to honor them. prgtoken In Congress we accomplished a lot for our military over the last few years. We restored America's defense with the greatest investment in the military in decades, including the largest troop pay raise in nearly 10 years. That is after we tried unsuccessfully to do what we have done from time to time, which is to cash in the ``peace dividend.'' Unfortunately, we can't cash in the peace dividend because there never seems to be peace, as much as we would hope and pray for that. prgtoken But supporting our heroes on the battlefield is only part of our responsibility toward the military. We are also focused on ensuring that they get the care, support, and opportunities they need once they come home and take the uniform off as a veteran. prgtoken I have heard from many of my veterans in Texas who are frustrated with the services provided by VA facilities. They shared stories about having to travel hours upon hours to receive care, sometimes forcing them to accept lower quality care or sometimes to forego it enti
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-4-9

I come to the floor to speak in support of Dan Domenico, the district judge we will be voting on shortly. prgtoken I strongly support Dan Domenico for the district court position in the District of Colorado. Dan has impeccable academic and legal credentials. A native Coloradan, he is well known and well respected throughout the entire Colorado legal community. These characteristics make him very well suited to be on the bench. prgtoken A native of Boulder, CO, Dan received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his juris doctorate from the University of Virginia--it has been a good week for the University of Virginia: a new Federal judge and a national championship--where he graduated order of the coif and was the editor of the law review. prgtoken After law school, Dan joined the respected firm of Hogan & Hartson and then clerked for Judge Tim Tymkovich, who is now the chief judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken Following his clerkship, Dan continued his public service as a Special Assistant to the Solicitor in the U.S. Department of the Interior. There, he advised the Secretary and the Department on matters related to national parks, fish and wildlife, Bureau of Land Management issues, and Indian affairs. These are all areas that matter a great deal to Colorado and the West. prgtoken Dan was then appointed to be the solicitor general for the State of Colorado. While he was the youngest person tapped for the position, he then became the longest serving solicitor general in our State's history, holding the position for 9 years. As solicitor general, Dan represented the State in both State and Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He oversaw all major litigation for the State, and he provided legal advice to the Governor and State agencies. prgtoken Dan is currently the founding and managing partner at the Kittredge LLC, where he represents clients in high-stakes, complex litigation and appeals. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver's College of Law, where he teaches courses in natural resources law and constitutional law. prgtoken As impressive as this background is, it is also an insight into the type of judge Dan would be. I am particularly struck by Dan's service as the Colorado solicitor general. prgtoken While the ic leader may object to Dan Domenico, two ic Governors in Colorado did not. In fact, they kept his service. In fact, Dan served as solicitor general for the State of Colorado during one Governor and two ic Governors. He served, regardless of party, with competence and zeal. That is what the Colorado legal community would tell anyone who wishes to listen. His approach to the legal issues he confronted was the same regardless of the party in power. He looked to the law. And that is what we expect in every judge. That is what Colorado wants. That is what our country needs. We need experience
IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-4-9

I rise today in celebration of National Library Week, which began on Sunday and runs through Saturday, April 13. prgtoken This year's theme is ``Libraries = Strong Communities,'' and Melinda Gates is the honorary chair. prgtoken In the last 20 years, the Gates Foundation's Global Libraries initiative has been dedicated to enhancing libraries and empowering local communities. prgtoken National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. prgtoken , libraries have always been great equalizers in our society. Nearly 1.3 billion people visit public libraries every year, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. prgtoken They are at the heart of our cities, towns, schools and campuses, providing critical resources, programs, and expertise. Libraries provide a public space where all community members--regardless of age, culture, or income level--can come together to connect and learn. prgtoken First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. prgtoken It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries, including schools--public, academic, and special-- participate. prgtoken There are several celebrations throughout the week, including today, which is National Library Workers Day. It is a time to show appreciation for the staff, administrators, and Friends groups, and recognize the valuable contributions made by all library employees. prgtoken Tomorrow is National Bookmobile Day, which is celebrated today to recognize contributions of our Nation's bookmobiles and dedicated professionals who make outreach possible and books accessible in our rural communities. prgtoken , from the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress, to the smallest local libraries around, I hope Americans will support their local libraries this week with a visit.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-4-9

I rise today to focus on a serious issue that has plagued our society and impacted the lives of so many people across our great Nation: sexual assault. prgtoken During my time at Iowa State University, I served as a volunteer counselor at a crisis center that provided shelter and support to survivors of abuse and sexual assault. I heard so many gut-wrenching stories of women and of men fleeing domestic abusers, suffering not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. Taking calls on our hotline from people who had been raped and sexually abused was absolutely heartbreaking. prgtoken Abuse is not something you can just simply forget; it stays with you forever. And I know this personally. As a survivor and as a Senator, I feel it is important to be a voice for the thousands of victims across Iowa and so many more across our Nation who have fallen prey to sexual assault, to rape, to harassment, and other forms of abuse. Our country is facing a mental health crisis, and one cannot help but feel that these issues are all too often interwoven into the stories of so many Americans. prgtoken April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As lawmakers, it is a stark reminder that we must take a long, hard look at how we combat this problem and take real steps to confront sexual assault in our society. prgtoken Just last week, with my colleagues Senator Grassley, Senator Gillibrand, and others, we reintroduced a bipartisan bill to combat sexual assault on our college and university campuses. Our bipartisan measure will make campuses in Iowa safer and ensure victims are fairly heard by changing the way our universities handle sexual assault cases. prgtoken But it is not just these young men and women at these institutions who have been victimized. Like so many of you, I was horrified-- absolutely horrified--to hear of the crimes committed by Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnastics doctor who abused hundreds of young athletes. The actions of Nassar and the individuals and institutions that facilitated and then protected his behavior are inexcusable. prgtoken The cases were also symptomatic of broader problems our society faces on sexual assault, rape, harassment, and abuse, leaving women and men, young and old, vulnerable. These types of failures are the reasons I have worked with my colleagues in Congress on reforms to ensure sexual misconduct is reported, responded to, taken seriously, and ideally prevented. For instance, we introduced a bill to require the governing bodies of U.S. amateur athletic organizations to immediately report sex abuse allegations to local or Federal law enforcement or a child welfare agency. prgtoken But the work doesn't end with our educational and athletic institutions; we must challenge people to do better prgtoken to protect people from these horrendous actions. In the case of the military, the Department of Defense should take a stronger posture in terms of preventing sexual assault
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-4-9

there is one thing pretty much every American can agree on. It is that illegal robocalls are a major nuisance. Who hasn't been annoyed after answering the phone and discovering it is an automated message asking you to purchase some product or provide sensitive personal information? prgtoken But, of course, these calls aren't merely a nuisance. Scammers use these calls to successfully prey on vulnerable populations, like the elderly, who may be less technologically savvy. It is no surprise that people are deceived. I think most of us have received robocalls that sounded pretty credible, and the practice of spoofing numbers adds another layer of deception. Scammers can disguise the actual number they are calling from so the call looks like it is coming from a legitimate number. You may recognize the number calling you as a trustworthy local number, but the actual call may be from a scam artist. prgtoken I remember an article from my home State a couple of years ago that reported that scammers had successfully spoofed the number of the Watertown Police Department. So to anyone who received that call, it looked as if it was really the Watertown Police Department calling. prgtoken If the source looks credible and the call sounds credible, it can be difficult not to believe it, which is why people fall prey to robocall scam artists every single day, sometimes with devastating consequences. prgtoken Scammers' goal is to steal the kind of personal information that can be used to steal your money and your identity. When scammers are successful, they can destroy people's lives. prgtoken There are laws and fines in place right now to prevent scam artists from preying on people through the telephone, but unfortunately, these measures have been insufficient. Almost a year ago today, when I was chairman of the Commerce Committee, I subpoenaed Adrian Abramovich, a notorious mass robocaller, to testify before the committee. His testimony made it clear that current fines are insufficient to discourage robocallers. Robocallers just figure that those fines are part of the cost of doing business. prgtoken In addition, the Federal Communications Commission's anti-robocall enforcement efforts are currently hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violations. To address these problems, at the end of last year I introduced the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED Act. prgtoken Last week, my bipartisan legislation passed the Commerce Committee by unanimous vote. The TRACED Act provides tools to discourage illegal robocalls, protect consumers, and crack down on offenders. It expands the window in which the FCC can pursue intentional scammers from 1 year to 3 years, and in years 2 and 3, it increases the financial penalty for those individuals making robocalls from zero dollars to $10,000 per call to make it more difficult for robocallers to figure fines into their cost of
Nominations (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-4-9

. Later today, the Senate will vote to advance the nomination of Daniel Domenico to serve as U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado. prgtoken After we vote on his confirmation, we will do the same for Patrick Wyrick, nominated to a vacancy in the Western District of Oklahoma. prgtoken Mr. Wyrick is a two-time graduate of the University of Oklahoma and held a clerkship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma at the outset of his legal career. That career included time in private practice, as the State's Solicitor General and, most recently, as Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. prgtoken I am sorry to say that this week will mark 1 year since Mr. Wyrick's nomination was first received in the Senate. I hope each of my colleagues will join me in long-overdue support for its prompt consideration on the floor. prgtoken Over the course of the week, as I have outlined, we will consider four other well-qualified nominees who have been waiting on the Executive Calendar for far too long. We will build on the action taken last week to restore some reason and sanity to the nominations process, which has suffered in recent years under the burden of partisan obstruction. prgtoken Before the week is through, we will also turn to the nomination of David Bernhardt to lead the Department of the Interior. The Senate has confirmed Mr. Bernhardt twice before to serve that Department as Deputy Secretary and as Solicitor. When you hear the nominee and review his credentials, it is easy to see why. Mr. Bernhardt has significant private practice experience, as well as a past record of service at the Department. prgtoken Along the way he has earned the respect of those who rely on the public lands the Department of the Interior is charged to oversee, from Native American leaders to sportsmen's groups. He has been praised as a ``proven leader'' who ``act[s] with integrity'' and has ``the right approach and skill set.'' prgtoken I hope each of my colleagues will join me in voting to confirm him later this week.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZATION ACT
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-4-9

I want to talk briefly about two subjects. The first is sexual harassment. More specifically, I want to talk about a bill I am going to be introducing. It is about the abuse of nondisclosure agreements across government. prgtoken There are victims of sexual harassment who are prohibited from talking about their experiences because of a nondisclosure agreement that is attached to a settlement and has been paid for by taxpayers or, in some cases, with private funds. Victims are silenced. Victims are silenced so voters can't find out about this disgusting behavior. prgtoken I have always believed that sunlight is the best antiseptic and the best disinfectant, and it is long past time, in my opinion, that we stop revictimizing people who wanted nothing more than to come to work every day and be treated with basic human dignity. prgtoken The title of my proposed law is the Stop Silencing Victims Act. It is really very simple. It would say that if you are a State or Federal employee or if you are a public official or a public employee and you are accused of sexual harassment and you settle that lawsuit--whether you settle it with taxpayer funds or private funds--then a nondisclosure agreement is prohibited in that settlement unless the victim wants to have a nondisclosure agreement. In other words, if you are accused of sexual harassment and you settle the case, the taxpayers are entitled to know about the settlement unless the victim decides otherwise. prgtoken I am going to be careful here. We believe passionately, as we should, in due process in America; that just because you are accused of something doesn't mean you are guilty of it. Some of my colleagues have suggested in the past that you are morally tainted if you don't automatically believe all accusers. I don't agree with that. I think you are morally tainted if you don't treat both the accuser and accused with respect and dignity and due process. So the purpose of my bill is not to take away anybody's due process. Just because you are accused of something doesn't mean you are guilty of it. prgtoken Having said that, I think we have to face the facts in America. We have had far too many instances of sexual harassment. We have seen it in Hollywood repeatedly. I don't know how the actors in Hollywood have time to make movies; they are too busy molesting each other. prgtoken It is not just in Hollywood. It is all across society. It is in the Halls of Congress. It is in the halls of State government. It is in the boardroom. It is all across America. For the first time in a long time, women who are usually--not always but usually--the victims of sexual harassment have started to speak up. I thank them for that. prgtoken My bill will further enhance their voice. If they make an accusation of sexual harassment and the alleged perpetrator is a State employee or Federal employee and the lawsuit is settled, no longer will you be able to have an agreeme
SAVE THE INTERNET ACT OF 2019
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2019-4-9

again, I would say s are for stopping any kind of action that throttles or blocks even paid prioritization on the internet. We share that common view of net neutrality. prgtoken But I would remind my colleagues that the legislation before us does not in any way provide any regulatory oversight over where you go when you get off the ISPs, get off that freeway, if you will, into places like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. They are great American companies. But what I hear from my constituents is they are concerned about pay prioritization, the security, the trust, the data, and all of that that the edge providers are a huge part of this ecosystem. prgtoken , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF MUCAAD HUSSEIN ABDALLA
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2019-4-9

I rise today to congratulate the St. Cloud VA for being one of only 18 hospitals nationwide to be selected to participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to establish the highest level of care for our military veterans. prgtoken Our veterans and our community rely on the St. Cloud VA to provide the highest level of care possible already. So to those of us in the community, it comes as no surprise that our VA will now help lead the Nation and the VA system to help establish these standards. prgtoken The selection is a great honor and testament to everyone who makes the St. Cloud VA the success it is today. The opportunity to lead our VA system to the highest standard of care for our Nation's heroes is indeed a high calling. prgtoken Congratulations to the St. Cloud VA, and good luck in your mission.