mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REVIS BROWN
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-9-17

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of Revis Brown of Anna, Illinois, who passed away peacefully earlier this month. Revis, born on August 5, 1926, was a decorated World War II and Korean War veteran who served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. prgtoken Immediately after graduating high school, Revis enlisted to serve his country in the Pacific during World War II. While fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Revis was blasted and wounded with shrapnel, but continued to fight on bravely. Though some of this shrapnel remained in his back for the rest of his life, Revis selflessly reenlisted to fight in the Korean War. After his service was finished, Revis worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. Revis Brown was a hero during wartime and an exemplary citizen during times of peace. He was the definition of a true American, and we wish his family and friends our prayers in their time of mourning. prgtoken Madam , please join me in honoring Corporal Revis Brown for his service to our country and his contributions to Southern Illinois. May he rest in peace.
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-17

I thank both of my colleagues from North Carolina for their leadership on doing their best to help HBCUs. prgtoken However, , I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2486, the FUTURE Act. Under the guise of a manufactured deadline, House are rushing through a bill that will negatively impact student borrowers across the country. prgtoken I want to make one thing clear: In no way does my criticism of the underlying bill diminish my support for America's HBCUs and MSIs and the important role these institutions of higher learning play in our country. prgtoken My issue is with this bill and the process by which it is before us. We have a responsibility to diligently and responsibly allocate taxpayer dollars. Too many in this body find it way too easy to spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars without promising accountability. That is an insult to every citizen who has entrusted us with their representation. Yet, the ' bill before us uses budget gimmicks to skirt House protocols. prgtoken This flawed bill also eliminates account maintenance fees, programs that serve low-income minority students through financial aid awareness and borrower assistance services. In addition to funding and policy issues, the bill has serious process issues. Our colleagues have skipped the markup process and brought it straight to the floor. prgtoken This unnecessary move to push forward a bill without the deliberation of the committee is a disservice to America's students. We have the time to deliberate this legislation with all parties at the table, but my colleagues aren't interested in sound policy, they are interested in sound bites. prgtoken Simply put, there are better ways to accomplish the policy goals of this bill and really work toward improving the future of American students.
HELEN KELLER NATIONAL CENTER REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2019-9-17

the balance of my time. prgtoken H.R. 2134 is legislation to reauthorize the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. The center offers groundbreaking educational programs across the country that help deaf- blind individuals triumph over adversity, just as Helen Keller did more than 50 years ago. By passing today's legislation, we ensure this center can continue its critical work providing our Nation's deaf-blind with the resources needed to lead successful and independent lives. prgtoken , I join my colleague, Congressman Pocan, whom I thank for authoring this bill. I once again urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2134, and .
HONORING THE KESSELRING NAVAL PROPULSION SITE IN WEST MILTON, NY FOR RECEIVING THE TOWN HERITAGE AWARD ON THEIR 70TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-9-17

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site in West Milton, NY for receiving the Town Heritage Award on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. prgtoken The Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site was founded in 1948 and began operations in 1955. Previously known as the West Milton site, it was renamed the Kenneth A. Kesselring Site in 1968. Despite being established to serve as a testing location for liquid-metal cooled power breeder reactors, the site's focus changed to the testing of propulsion plants through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. Over the next four decades, several generations of power plants were successfully tested at Kesselring before being deployed onto submarines like the USS Ohio. prgtoken Today, the Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site serves as a training site for Nuclear Reactor Operators. Kesselring allows for trainees to have a hands-on experience to better prepare them for operating these complex systems. Kesselring has trained over 50,000 sailors since 1955. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st congressional district, I want to join The Saratoga County History Roundtable in honoring the Kesselring Naval Propulsion site and the Town of Milton on this historic occasion. I also want to thank the leadership team at Kesselring and the service members who have trained there for their dedicated service. I look forward to the continued success of the Kesselring Naval Propulsion site training future generations of sailors and submariners.
Prescription Drugs (Executive Session)
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-9-17

I rise today to speak on behalf of the nomination of Mr. John Rakolta to become the Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. prgtoken Mr. Rakolta is the owner of a construction company that builds major projects like factories, churches, hospitals, and airports. His firm guides the work of thousands of workers here in the United States and in countries around the globe. With revenues of approximately $1.7 billion annually, he has built one of the largest and most successful general contractors in the Nation. prgtoken I presume this success has made him a prosperous person, but he is also a person who is actively engaged in his community. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, several of which have focused on the rejuvenation of his city of Detroit and its less advantaged citizens. He has also received so many awards that it would be impractical to list them all here today, but I note that he has been honored by such groups as United Way, the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League of Detroit, the Boy Scouts of America, and New Detroit. prgtoken Of course, my friends on the other side of the aisle are dutiful in their examination of any possible flaw. I am convinced that the concerns they may have raised are not well-founded, and he is, in fact, entirely qualified and appropriately nominated to this important position. prgtoken I note that I am biased in favor of Mr. Rakolta because I have known him personally for more than 30 years. He and his family have spent dozens of evenings in the home of my parents, studying the teachings of their faith. He is a man who makes commitments only after a great deal of thought, and when they are made, he is fully loyal to them in his business, in his community, in his Nation, in his faith, and in his marriage and family of 4 children and 11 grandchildren. prgtoken I know John Rakolta as a man of honor and integrity, and I am convinced that he will serve the country well. prgtoken .
Brett Kavanaugh (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-9-17

I want to get straight to the point this morning. I find it incomprehensible that some of our friends across the aisle are repeating the same missteps that turned last fall's Supreme Court confirmation battle into a black mark on the history of this body. prgtoken I want to make it clear that I have no desire to relitigate the disputes borne from Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings. I do not want to hear my friends on the other side of the aisle leverage more of the same baseless, salacious allegations in the name of partisan politicking. But when you stop and think about it, since they have chosen to go there, it is imperative that I speak out--that we speak out--about what is transpiring. prgtoken I was not in the Senate for the first go-around on this, but I am here now, and I can tell you that I intend to give their arguments exactly the amount of deference and respect they deserve. prgtoken Sitting on the sidelines is never easy, but it is especially difficult when you are watching a fight and you know you could get in there and help win that fight. I know this feeling very well. Last fall, I was fighting to go from the House of Representatives to the Senate. I was also fighting to become the first female Senator from the great State of Tennessee--the very first. prgtoken While on the campaign trail, I got more than an earful from other Tennessee women who were watching this breathless coverage of Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation. These women were concerned that their voices were not being heard in this debate. They were concerned also for spouses, sons, brothers, and male colleagues. They could see these baseless claims, and they were concerned for the lack of due process. They did not like for 1 minute what they were seeing, and I didn't like it either. prgtoken These women came from all political walks of life and all areas of our State. They were disgusted by the nature of the sexual assault allegations, and they were horrified by what they rightly saw as an eagerness to set aside the due process that is so important to this Nation and to the rule of law. It was being set aside in order to make an example out of Kavanaugh. prgtoken Were flimsy allegations and social justice buzzwords really the new standard for credibility? prgtoken As much as I wanted to reassure these women that sanity would prevail, in the back of my mind I remained fully aware that, if left unchecked, insanity is fully capable of carrying the day. It knows no bounds. prgtoken As it turns out, conservatism prevailed in Tennessee, and sanity prevailed in the U.S. Senate. I was humbled when Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh performed my ceremonial swearing-in this past January and when I received the additional honor of being one of two women afforded a seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee--humbled, truly humbled, but also prepared to stand up for what I know is right. prgtoken I will not ab
HONORING CONGRESSMAN SEAN DUFFY
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-18

on September 23, Congress will lose one of its most dedicated Members as Sean Duffy retires from the House. prgtoken I will miss his unwavering commitment to conservative principles and the way that he never backed down from a fight. In fact, he welcomed them. But he also engaged in a battle of ideas, and he never made it personal. prgtoken It is because of this attitude that freedom and liberty will be sustained a little longer, and I wish we had more like him. I also respected his legislative accomplishments, particularly his commitment to protecting our State-based system of insurance regulation, just one of his many passions during his time as chairman and ranking member of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee. prgtoken , Sean will be remembered by me as a friend, a loving father, a dedicated husband, and a humble public servant. I, for one, hope this is not the last we hear or see of Congressman Sean Duffy.
RECOGNIZING WILLIAM McVEY
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize William McVey of Jackson, Michigan as he is posthumously presented the Bronze Star Medal. prgtoken McVey, and his entire M4A1 Sherman tank crew, are receiving this high honor because of their heroism during World War II. prgtoken The crew's story of battling enemy forces outside Cologne, Germany was the subject of the recent book, ``Spearhead,'' by author Adam Makos. prgtoken Outgunned by German tanks, and facing harrowing odds, McVey and his band of brothers pushed eastward across Europe after D-Day, gaining critical ground for Allied forces. prgtoken Our nation is forever grateful to the Greatest Generation and soldiers like William McVey who fought for freedom around the world. Their actions, which came at great personal cost, changed the course of history. prgtoken While William McVey is now gone, may this long overdue Bronze Star serve as a reminder for generations to come of his incredible valor and service to the country he loved.
RECOGNIZING THE UNVEILING OF THE POW-MIA MONUMENT IN WATERLOO, ILLINOIS
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the unveiling of the POW-MIA monument in Waterloo, Illinois this weekend. Waterloo was named an official ``POW-MIA'' city earlier this year by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum. prgtoken With National POW-MIA Day occurring this weekend, it is important to remember the 82,000 men and women who served our country and did not come home. This new monument honors the bravery and sacrifice of these American patriots and ensures that those who have not been accounted for remain in our thoughts and prayers. prgtoken Madam , please join me in recognizing this momentous occasion for the people of Waterloo and the American heroes they honor.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-9-18

I rise in commemoration of Constitution Day, celebrated nationwide yesterday, the date, September 17. prgtoken Two hundred thirty-two years ago, our Founding Fathers gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and signed a document that remains the supreme law of the land today. In those 232 years, the United States has become the most powerful, the most prosperous Nation in the history of the world, and that success has come as a result of the framework set by our Constitution. prgtoken The genius of the Framers was their determination to maximize the freedom of the individual while recognizing the need for a central government limited in size by our Constitution. The Founders understood the nature of man. The Founders understood that power corrupts. prgtoken Under the framework of federalism, we created a divide between the States and the Federal Government, allowing for powers to be shared. In fact, the 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. prgtoken At the Federal level, we established three coequal branches of government, which established a system of checks and balances to offset the concentration of power. To complement the laws established, our Founders put in place the Bill of Rights as a safeguard to protect the individual from the threat of government tyranny. Our sacred rights and freedoms endowed by our Creator are recognized as inherent and untouchable because of our Bill of Rights. prgtoken As the Father of our Constitution, James Madison, stated: In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by power. America has set the example . . . of charters of power granted by liberty. prgtoken Our constitutional system of government is the envy of the world and has served as a model for countries worldwide that are seeking to create representative governments. That is why it is so important for us to observe days like Constitution Day. Americans of all ages should be learning and should be studying our Constitution. They should be taking in what makes our Constitution so uniquely successful in nurturing a free and a prosperous society. Our grand experiment has stood the test of time, yet we must continue to be vigilant in the preservation of this most important part of our American legacy. prgtoken So, today, I encourage every Montanan and every American to read the Constitution. Discuss it at the dinner table. Discuss it with your family members. Discuss it in your classrooms. Discuss it with your friends. Discuss it with your neighbors. prgtoken As the preamble states, ``We the People'' established our Constitution, and it remains up to ``We the People'' to ensure its success. prgtoken May God continue to bless this great Nation. prgtoken .
Unanimous Consent Agreement--S. 1790
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-9-18

for the information of Senators, the cloture vote on the compound motion to go to conference on S. 1790 will occur at this time. I ask unanimous consent that if the compound motion is agreed to, it be in order for the following motions to instruct, which are at the desk--Van Hollen, Cotton, Jones, Schatz, Peters, McSally, McConnell or designee--to be considered at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the ic leader, but prior to September 26, in the form of Senate resolutions taken up and considered on the same day with no amendments in order.
COMMEMORATION OF CONSTITUTION WEEK WITH THE CORPUS CHRISTI DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), like the DAR Corpus Christi Chapter I represent, we pause every year from September 17 to September 23 to celebrate Constitution Week. prgtoken In 1765, James Wilson stated, ``Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.'' The Constitution enshrined the timeless yet precious principles of limited government and protection of God-given liberties. It not only established a nation, but it became the foundation of a self-governing, free-people. prgtoken The United States Constitution remains as a testament and beacon of hope to those that do not share our freedom. One hundred and prgtoken sixteen congresses and forty-five presidents later--through many challenges, our Constitution has withstood the test of time. We must continue to guard these blessings earnestly and never take them for granted. prgtoken This is precisely the mission of the DAR Corpus Christi Chapter. Since its conception in 1927, the DAR Corpus Christi Chapter has promoted citizen education and the preservation of American history. They have worked to connect the past with the present by digitizing genealogical records and helping others identify their patriot ancestors for the betterment and education for our children. I know our community joins me in thanking DAR Corpus Christi Chapter, for their volunteer efforts to preserve American history, promote patriotism, and secure the values of our Constitution. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me, and the Corpus Christi Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter, in observing Constitution Week, and the God-given, blessings of liberty it established.
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF BOBBY AND RUTH WOOD
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the retirement of Bobby and Ruth Wood from the Walnut Lawn Funeral Home. prgtoken After 50 years of service to the residents of southwest Missouri, Bobby and Ruth Wood, owners of the Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri, have decided to retire. The Wood's established Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in 1989 and over the years have earned their trademark ``tender moments-tender care.'' prgtoken The Wood's have a long and respected history in the funeral industry. Bobby Wood started his career as a teenager, working in different roles at a local funeral home. Bobby then attended the Gupton-Jones Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas, becoming a first-generation licensed funeral director and embalmer. In 1960, Bobby met his wife Ruth who is a registered nurse and a graduate of St. John's School of Nursing. prgtoken Bobby and Ruth live by their trademark ``tender moments-tender care.'' Along with being licensed funeral directors, both are pre-need counselors and know how to tend to the needs of those in their community. They know how to give members of the community the care they need in order to make them feel comfortable in their most difficult moments. While the Wood's are leaving their business in good hands with their daughter, there is no doubt that Bobby and Ruth will be missed. prgtoken Madam , it is clear that the Wood's care for their community deeply and have put in their years serving the residents of southwest Missouri. I wish Bobby and Ruth a long and happy retirement. It is well deserved and well earned.
REAUTHORIZING SECTION 215 OF THE PATRIOT ACT
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-18

. Madam , today in our Judiciary Committee was quite interesting. For some people, it was quite a role reversal. prgtoken We had a hearing on the potential reauthorization of the FISA courts and discussion about powers of our DOJ, FBI, and NSA under what is often referred to as section 215. prgtoken It was interesting in the way of role reversals because, for years, we have been told that are the real civil libertarians. They are the ones who are trying to defend privacy rights, rights of Americans to think what they want, do what they want, and without being interrupted or spied upon by the Federal Government. prgtoken Yet, today, over and over, we heard apologies basically from our ic friends to the representative of the Department of Justice, the FBI, and National Security Administration for comments of some s. prgtoken There really was no need to apologize. We weren't attacking these three individual witnesses, but there are issues that are still unresolved that many of my friends across the aisle used to be concerned about, privacy and Fourth Amendment rights that are supposed to protect us from improper search and seizure or spying, or surveillance being one of the more important. So we had these witnesses. prgtoken It was interesting, and if I were our friend Israel, I would be very concerned, because I asked these representatives, first of all, does the Department of Justice, the FBI, or the NSA consider Russia to be a known terrorist organization under section 215. Each of the representatives indicated, in turn, that they could not answer that question. prgtoken Well, the silence seemed to speak volumes to me. It should have been an easy question to answer. prgtoken I asked about Israel. Does the DOJ, FBI, or NSA consider the Ambassador from Israel to be a representative of a terrorist organization, and they couldn't answer that question. prgtoken That is quite interesting. prgtoken But my concern arose out of reading and hearing, in prior years, about how apparently Jeff Sessions was surveilled because he was speaking to a Russian Ambassador, and there were reports that the Ambassador from Israel had been surveilled. prgtoken So, under 215, they are supposed to be part of either a known terrorist or an ally, someone who identifies with a known terrorist organization. prgtoken So it is interesting that things have evolved the way they have so that our own intelligence can't tell us whether Russia or Israel is considered a terrorist organization. It is quite alarming. prgtoken But ever since I first got here, my first term, when we took up reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act--and I understood when the PATRIOT Act was passed, it was just days after, maybe a week or so after 9/11, and we didn't know who had hit us, were they about to hit us again, were 3,000 or more people going to be dying any day again and again. prgtoken So I wasn't here, but Congress passed this overarching bill that