mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-7-17

this week America celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of mankind's--and America's--greatest achievements: walking on the surface of the Moon. prgtoken Although then only a child, I well remember the earth shake and the dishes in our kitchen cabinets rattle as the Saturn V engines were tested nearby. Even now, 50 years after the Moon landing, I get chills remembering when Apollo astronauts landed and later planted the American flag on the Moon's surface. prgtoken It was American ingenuity, boldness, technical prowess, and economic might that made this historic achievement possible. prgtoken I am proud to say the legacy of the Apollo 11 Moon landing lives on in the Tennessee Valley of Alabama that I represent. Some history is in order: prgtoken The Tennessee Valley's Marshall Space Flight Center is the birthplace of America's space program. Americans generally, and Alabamians in particular, designed and engineered the Saturn V rocket that launched the historic Apollo 11 and took American astronauts to the Moon. prgtoken I will never forget the flames and the roar as our Saturn V rocket was launched and carried the Apollo 11 crew in vehicles to the Moon. I remember with tremendous pride Neil Armstrong's words as he set foot on the Moon: ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' prgtoken That giant leap meant to benefit all mankind is a prime example of American exceptionalism and helped cement America's status as the best, most powerful and most influential nation in world history. prgtoken When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted America's flag on the Moon surface on July 20, 1969, there was no doubt that America's space program had passed the Russians and become the preeminent leader in space exploration, a position America maintains today. prgtoken This week, America not only reflects on the miraculous achievements of the Apollo 11 mission, but we also honor those who played a critical role in its ultimate success. The Tennessee Valley is immensely proud of our pivotal role in landing a man on the Moon and, equally importantly, returning them alive to Earth. prgtoken Reflecting our pride in America's achievement, there are two--that is, two--Saturn V rockets displayed at the United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. prgtoken These Saturn V displays help inspire the next generation to reach for the stars and achieve what now may be thought impossible. prgtoken While it is important to remember the historic achievements of the Apollo missions, it is also important to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the effort to achieve American greatness. prgtoken In that vein, Huntsville has named schools after Apollo Command Pilot Virgil ``Gus'' Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger Chaffee, each of prgtoken whom died in a capsule fire during an Apollo 1 ground test. prgtoken After the Moon landing and return of Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Mi
SOUTHERN BORDER CRISIS
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-7-17

I thank Mr. King, his passion for this. And I want to run through a few numbers before I go to Mr. Chip Roy from Texas. prgtoken Southwest border apprehensions by U.S. Customs, total apprehensions from October 2018 to May of 2019, 593,507. prgtoken May of 2019, apprehensions alone, 138,887--highest month in over a decade. prgtoken Total inadmissibles in October of 2018 to 2019, 82,808. prgtoken Inadmissibles, these are people who can't come into the country because of their record. prgtoken , 2019, 6 months total already has exceeded the total for the year of 2015. prgtoken At this time, I yield to Mr. Chip Roy from Texas, a passionate individual about this. And I, again, thank Mr. King.
JETTIE COURT EARNS GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD
Pete Olson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-17

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Jettie Court from Dulles High School for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. prgtoken The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. To earn this distinguished award, Jettie had to spend at least 80 hours developing and executing a project to benefit the community, as well as have a long-term impact on girls. For her Gold Award project, Jettie started an annual feminine hygiene product collection called ``Help the Girls. Period'' through the Dulles High School's student council. She led a team of 16 volunteers to help collect 213 packages of feminine products. Court donated the products to East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. She also ran a campaign to help women by educating the community and raise awareness of the need of feminine hygiene products. prgtoken On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Jettie Court for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. We are confident she will have continued success in her future endeavors. We are very proud of her accomplishment.
U.S. VICTIMS OF STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM FUND
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-7-17

I commend my colleague from New York for his tireless work to ensure that the brave men and women who selflessly responded to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, receive the compensation and care they deserve. Out of respect for his work and their sacrifice I do not want to hold up the passage of this bill. However, I think it is also important that we remember the other Americans who have suffered and lost loved ones at the hands of foreign terrorists. In 1979, a group of Americans were taken hostage from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. prgtoken In 1981, after 444 days of torture, 52 of them were finally released. Years later, I had the opportunity to meet with several of these brave Americans who reside in my State. In 2015, I worked with my colleagues in this body to ensure that these victims, their families, and other victims of international terrorism were able to receive compensation through the creation of the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. Congress was clear that this fund was created specifically to help the Tehran hostages and other victims of state-sponsored terrorism who were not eligible to participate in other compensation funds. prgtoken However, due to a misinterpretation of the statute, the fund has become overwhelmed. This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Time is not on our side. People who have been waiting for decades are now dying without the compensation they were promised. prgtoken Will Senator Schumer work with me and Chairman Graham to secure a solution to this problem in the next appropriate vehicle so that the Tehran hostages and other victims of state-sponsored terrorism can finally receive their due?
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED EXPORT TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA OF CERTAIN DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES
Brian J. Mast (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-7-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to S.J. Res. 38. And I want to focus my remarks on the rationale behind the President's emergency declaration and ask that we think about the definition of the word ``declaration'', what that means to each of us. prgtoken My friends on the other side of the aisle would prefer to forget that these arms sales were expedited for a very specific reason. They are omitting this information because it doesn't fit into their narrative that the President is doing a favor to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. I can tell you that defense is no favor. prgtoken The threat that emanates from Iran that precipitated this emergency declaration is very, very real, and, as a result, so is the need for the weapons sales to our partners. prgtoken So let's think about it: Are these situations emergencies? prgtoken Do they pose an immediate risk to life--an immediate threat to life? prgtoken In May in the days leading right up to this emergency declaration, Iran and its proxies executed several attacks throughout the Middle East over just 2 weeks. prgtoken Four oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman. I would say that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken Armed drones struck Saudi oil fields. I would say that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken The head of the Quds Force called on terror groups to prepare for a proxy war. I would certainly call that an emergency and a very direct threat to life. prgtoken A rocket was launched near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. I would call that an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken A bomb-carrying drone was launched by Houthi rebels targeting a Saudi airport on May 21. I would say that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken Now in the weeks since the emergency declaration, Iran has only ramped up its attacks and it is precipitating the need to have this emergency declaration. prgtoken Houthi rebels have continued attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia. That is an emergency and a direct threat to life. prgtoken The IRGC perpetrated another attack on commercial shipping, this time targeting Japanese and Norwegian oil tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. I would say that that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken A rocket hit an oil drilling site in Iraq's southern Basra Province striking inside a compound that housed contractors and employees of Exxon Mobil. I would say that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken Iran shot down a U.S. military asset over international waters. I would say that is an emergency. prgtoken Just last week three Iranian paramilitary vessels tried to impede the passage of a British oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and I would say that is an emergency and a threat to life. prgtoken Now, even as Iran continues to threaten international shipping and civilians in the Middle East, there are Members of this body who want to creat
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE FIND WILLIAM P. BARR AND WILBUR L. ROSS, JR., IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Mark Meadows (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-7-17

. Madam , I want to make a point that in this body now on 2 consecutive days, we have broken the rules of Congress to expedite things. prgtoken In this particular contempt resolution, I want to make sure that the Record reflects that we broke rule 2(f) on the committee about notice. It was brought to the attention of the chairman, and here we are again going and violating the rules of this House, not rules that the minority put in place, but rules that the majority put in place. We gave the chairman the chance to perfect this procedural problem, and yet they continued on to hold this contempt violation. prgtoken I can tell you, they may vote today to hold them in contempt, but it is a violation of Congress' very rules itself that should have been remedied. I ask that the gentleman opposite withdraws his resolution so that we can perfect this.
Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-17

50 years ago, the world was transfixed by a grainy, black-and-white image of Neil Armstrong descending a ladder, preparing to take humankind's first steps on the Moon. I was one of more than half a billion people--the largest television audience in history--glued to the TV screen on that day. I was actually in high school, and, like so many Texans at the time, I was totally engrossed in what was going on. prgtoken Staring at the television, it was hard to imagine that hundreds of thousands of miles away, two brave Americans were sitting on the surface of the Moon while their comrade remained in lunar orbit up above. I didn't quite understand what this development would mean for the future; I just remember thinking at that moment how proud I was to be an American. I looked up to these three men, and I still do, and I marvel at their courage, their intelligence, and their patriotism, as well as that of the tens of thousands of Americans involved in getting them to the Moon in the first place. prgtoken We now know that this lunar trio had quite a sense of humor. Michael Collins was once asked in an interview what he was thinking about in the moments leading up to the liftoff on July 16, 1969, and he joked, ``I was thinking of per diem, you know, how many dollars per mile we'd be paid for this voyage.'' Upon the astronauts' return, we learned that when Buzz Aldrin stepped off the ladder, he told Armstrong he was being careful not to lock the door behind him. And when talking about the fact that most of the photos from the surface of the Moon were of Aldrin, Neil Armstrong joked, ``I have always said that Buzz was the far more photogenic of the crew.'' prgtoken While the first lunar landing meant many different things to people around the world, there is one thing that was abundantly clear: That date--July 20, 1969--established the United States as the world leader in human space exploration. It also put my hometown, the place of my birth, Houston, on the map as a hub for spaceflight innovation in the United States. prgtoken We all remember the very first words uttered by Neil Armstrong after landing. He said, ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.'' Of course, he was talking to the greatest minds of the generation, who were working at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The men and women at Mission Control Center exercised full control over Apollo 11, from the launch at Kennedy Space Center, to landing on the Moon, to the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. prgtoken For more than 50 years now, the Johnson Space Center in Houston has been at the heart of America's space program. The success marked the turning point in space exploration, and folks across Texas are eager to celebrate this momentous anniversary. You can do like I have and visit Johnson Space Center yourself and see NASA's Mission Control from Apollo. It was redesigned to look exactly the way it did in 1969, down to the
HONORING THE LEGACY OF THE ``APOLLO 11'' MISSION
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-7-17

50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, people across the country and around the world watched in eager anticipation as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. prgtoken This historic event ended the space race and brought American innovation, determination, and leadership to the forefront of the global stage. prgtoken This was American exceptionalism at its best. My brother, sister, and I never missed an Apollo liftoff. We all became very familiar with that countdown: Ten, 9, 8--ignition sequence--6, 5--fire the retro- rockets--3, 2, 1. Liftoff. We have liftoff. The rocket has cleared the tower. prgtoken We watched in amazement as we sat in front of that little RCA black- and-white TV. It was like the whole room was shaking. We would sit and watch the TV set until we saw the rocket finally leave all the way out of sight. prgtoken Apollo 11 was a 36-story-high rocket. It started its 8-day, 953,000- mile journey to the Moon and back. prgtoken We all had toy rockets back in the day, and we would repeat that liftoff sequence over and over. My brother and I would climb our garage and launch our toy rockets. prgtoken In Cub Scouts, we built rockets. In Boy Scouts, we built rockets. In our high school physics classes, we built rockets. We had contests to see who could fly their rockets the highest and the farthest. prgtoken I have no idea how many young boys and girls were inspired to go into science because of the joy of watching rockets being launched to the Moon. prgtoken That Apollo jargon took over our daily lives. Our teachers would say things like, ``Lunch is T minus 30 minutes.'' Or at the end of a tough test, they would say, ``Mission accomplished.'' prgtoken As we celebrate this historic event, I think back to all the times I took my children to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, which displays one of the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo 11 mission. This world-class museum and science center, number one of its kind, showcases American innovation in space and aeronautics and provides interactive opportunities to engage with historic events such as the Moon landing. prgtoken In fact, they currently have a traveling exhibit called ``Apollo Redux,'' which allows visitors to sit in an actual mission control console from the Johnson Space Center where the Apollo missions were coordinated. prgtoken It amazes me to think of all the advancements that have been made possible as a result of these Apollo missions. Aerospace and manufacturing revolutions have dramatically changed the way we build and fly airplanes. Research conducted by NASA has helped us to better understand our solar system, as well as our universe. prgtoken In fact, Astronaut Nick Hague of Hoxie, Kansas, in my district, is currently conducting research on the International Space Station. prgtoken We are proud of Nick, who will keep doing a great job for America. prgtoken As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Commi
CONGRATULATING COASTAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-7-17

I rise today to recognize Coastal Middle School in the First Congressional District of Georgia for being distinguished as a Lighthouse School to Watch. prgtoken Organized by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, the Lighthouse Schools to Watch program celebrates high-performing middle schools based on four factors: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure. prgtoken In Savannah, Coastal Middle School has been surpassing the norm in all of these areas, while also taking the initiative to go the extra mile in others. The school teaches classes in both Arabic and Chinese, values quality writing skills, embraces students with disabilities, serves students from abroad, and provides opportunities for students to serve the local community. prgtoken While Coastal Middle School continues to excel, schools across Georgia are also raising the bar. Georgia was the first of three States in the Nation to qualify for the National Forum Schools to Watch program. prgtoken Congratulations, Coastal Middle School. Keep up the good work, and thank you for your commitment to providing students in our area with an exceptional education.
RECOGNIZING MR. ROY LUNSFORD
Russ Fulcher (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-7-17

. Madam , Mr. Roy Lunsford commits every day to making a positive impact to the lives of his wife, five children, 25 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and his town of Kuna, Idaho. prgtoken That is something we can all learn from. prgtoken Despite being diagnosed with lung cancer, Mr. Lunsford wakes up at 7:00 am to setup cheerful signs and wave to passersby on his street. prgtoken Acts of kindness like Mr. Lunsford's, bring joy to others, and make our communities a better place to live. prgtoken Mr. Lunsford's positive outlook on life deserves recognition and makes me proud to be an Idahoan.
SOUTHERN BORDER CRISIS
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-17

I thank the gentleman from Florida, and I appreciate him yielding. prgtoken This is something we ought to be talking about every day because it is a crisis. It makes a difference. It is helping destroy our country. prgtoken And it is really tragic, though, and I would not superimpose any type of attack on personalities, however, I think what we really have is not evil intentions. I think it is just massive ignorance. Because we have heard over and over: Oh, if you want to secure the border, you want just U.S. citizens, then you are a racist. prgtoken So that just reflects an ignorance.
RETIREMENT OF ST. CLAIR SHORES CITY MANAGER MIKE SMITH
Andy Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-7-17

I rise to congratulate my constituent in St. Clair Shores, City Manager Mike Smith, on his upcoming retirement after nearly two decades of service to the community. prgtoken Mike Smith has been a true hands-on leader. I ran into him at St. Clair Shores Memorial Day parade, which is one of the biggest in the country, where he was rushing around on a golf cart, as ever, personally managing this huge event. prgtoken Mike has also been a leader on an issue extremely important to me and my fellow Michiganders: water quality. He has fought for improvements to the Chapaton Retention Basin, a project I have made it my mission to help fund in order to protect water quality in Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes system. prgtoken While I will miss Mike's partnership, I wish him the very best in his retirement, and I thank him for his tremendous service.
COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY
Katie Porter (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-17

I thank the gentlewoman from Georgia for her leadership on this issue and for being here tonight to talk about those defrauded students who are being hurt and suffering around this country and whose voices are not being heard here in Congress. prgtoken I also rise to talk about the college affordability crisis in our country. prgtoken Next week, freshmen in college and their families will be faced with their first tuition bill. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost per year is just over $19,000 for a public 4-year university and nearly $40,000 for a private university. The price tag for postsecondary education is spiraling out of control, and the cost of college is increasing at a rate almost eight times faster than wages. prgtoken Today, nearly 43 million Americans--that is one in six adults--have Federal student loan debt. The Federal student loan portfolio has risen to over $1.5 trillion, more than doubling from just a decade ago. prgtoken Tomorrow's graduates will face an average debt of $30,000, a crippling amount for any young person to shoulder, before they have even entered the workforce. That amount of debt, that figure, increases every single year, while students' ability to pay off this debt does not. prgtoken Even with the most generous interest rate--4 percent for Federal direct student loans--borrowers will owe over $300 a month on a standard repayment timeline of 10 years, and they will pay $6,500 in interest alone. prgtoken In 2017, Young Invincibles released a report on the financial decline of millennials compared to baby boomers. Their findings are unsurprising for those of us familiar with college debt. prgtoken Despite low unemployment and economic growth, young adults are significantly worse off than those in the generation before them. And for those students who are unable to complete their college degrees, the forecast is even worse. This is where the real problem lies. According to the Department of Education, only 56 percent of borrowers who left before completing their degrees are able to lift themselves out of that debt. prgtoken In 2012, in my book, ``Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class,'' I wrote about the financial risks of attending college, especially for those who are unable to complete their degrees. prgtoken It is true that the typical worker with a bachelor's degree earns 71 percent more than a worker with only a high school diploma. But those caught in the middle between the high school degree and the bachelor's degree are at the highest risk of financial instability. prgtoken While the overall level of education in our country has increased, the largest group of people in bankruptcy remains those with some college. prgtoken And let's be clear: Many of these students who are unable to complete degrees are not uninterested in an education. They enrolled in college and they wanted to earn that degree. And many would still love to fi