mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CHRISTA McAULIFFE COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 2019
Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-19

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I would like to first start by taking just a few minutes to recognize a dear friend of mine, a member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Sean Duffy of Wisconsin. prgtoken Sean has been a good friend of mine since the very beginning of when he started running for Congress, and I have had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Duffy since he came to Congress in 2011. prgtoken As we say on the committee, known for his punctuality, it is kind of amazing that he is here now. This might be the first time he has been on time in all his 9 years of service in the House. prgtoken Sean has been a huge asset for the Financial Services Committee and his constituents in the Seventh District of Wisconsin. He has worked on national issues of importance, like flood insurance; large issues, like international regulation of insurance agreements; as well as important, smaller issues that are very important to people's lives, like mold and lead-based paint remediation and providing better options for residents of public and assisted living or assisted housing. He has been a great advocate for his constituents, and I have been honored to work with him as a colleague. prgtoken He has led three separate subcommittees on the Financial Services Committee. He has had a meaningful impact on public policy. He has developed meaningful relationships on both sides of the aisle in this institution and has been willing to have some of the bigger debates on policy that, perhaps, were divided in the party. He has always done so with a joyful heart and a fantastic capacity for communicating. prgtoken At some points, to the dismay of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, including the chairwoman of the committee, the debate can sometimes get rough-and-tumble, but he always does it with a smile on his face; and you can have a conversation with him afterwards, no matter how difficult or challenging the conversation or debate. prgtoken While Sean has been a colleague, I have counted him as an adviser and a friend and somebody I knew I could talk to even in the toughest of times. prgtoken Sean is leaving because of his family. He has made a decision that it is the right thing for his family, to depart our institution and our schedule and the challenges of public life at this time in his family life. He has got a beautiful family, some of whom are here behind me today. prgtoken So we wish Sean and Rachel Duffy the best, and we will keep them, certainly, in our thoughts, but forever in our prayers and in our hearts. prgtoken I thank Sean so much for his leadership. prgtoken , I rise in support of S. 239, the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019. prgtoken I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the dean of the Michigan delegation, who has the bill here in the House, H.R. 500, and who has gathered more than 309 cosponsors on this bill to see it across t
CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SERVICE COORDINATORS
Steve Stivers (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Association of Service Coordinators. prgtoken Service coordinators work in all U.S. states and territories, but Ohio is where they look to for training, advocacy and support thanks to AASC. In 1999, Janice Monks founded the membership organization out of her home in Central Ohio, which was one of the first regions where service coordinators joined the staff of affordable housing properties with the help of federal grants. prgtoken Over the past two decades, AASC has created a documentation system for service coordinators to more easily track and report resident outcomes and has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a formal guidebook outlining industry standards and practices. This year, the organization hosted its largest annual National Service Coordinator Conference in Denver, Colorado and membership exceeded 3,300. prgtoken AASC's purpose is to serve as a constant support for service coordinators who empower their residents to live well. Service coordinators serve as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of low- income seniors and families who need connected to vital supports that keep them living independently or help them move up and out of poverty. In the course of that work, service coordinators also play an integral role in realizing nationwide policy goals such as reducing healthcare costs, keeping older adults in their communities and increasing self- sufficiency. prgtoken In honor of AASC's anniversary, service coordinators across the country are celebrating Service Coordinator Day today. My colleagues may be hearing from service coordinators who are recognizing the anniversary by sharing with Congressional offices the profound impact this profession has on our nation's most vulnerable. prgtoken I wish to congratulate President Janice Monks and the American Association of Service Coordinators on this milestone anniversary and convey my most sincere appreciation for their dedication to service.
APPROPRIATIONS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-9-19

. The latest political ploy by the is to paint the Senate majority leader as an obstructionist because he hasn't moved to consider certain bills passed by the other body. prgtoken Well, let's think about that for just a minute. They can hardly use that talking point anymore. prgtoken Yesterday, the Senate majority leader moved to take up the House- passed appropriations package, and the Senate blocked that motion. prgtoken The Senate isn't obliged to consider every partisan bill from the House, and the House doesn't have to consider every bill that is passed by the Senate. But if there is any House bill that the Senate has the responsibility to take up, to debate, and to amend, it is the annual spending bills to keep government operating. We have to fund the government, and that is what we are doing. prgtoken So I hope we don't hear any of this bellyaching anymore when we have a House bill that the Senate doesn't somehow take up. prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-9-19

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m Monday, September 23; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the McGuire nomination; and that finally, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's and yesterday's sessions of the Senate ripen at 5:30 p.m Monday, September 23.
CHRISTA McAULIFFE COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 2019
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-9-19

I thank Mr. McHenry for his leadership on this, and for his co-sponsorship. prgtoken I want to particularly cite Steny Hoyer, not only as a great friend, but as one who really helped shepherd this to the floor today. prgtoken These are not easy. In fact, I talked to a colleague earlier today who has got another coin bill, and I told him I don't know if I can ever do another one of these again. It takes a lot of work. prgtoken This has been bipartisan from the very start, and I want to thank my friend, Mike Crapo, who used to be on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who now chairs the Senate Finance Committee. prgtoken But particularly, I want to thank my three colleagues that I see on the other side here, Debbie Dingell, Annie Kuster, and Chris Pappas, for their help to make sure that we could, in fact, get more than 290 cosponsors, which is the magic number to try and get this thing done. prgtoken It is, as Mr. Hoyer, the majority leader, said, an important piece of legislation; it really is. It is, in essence, the Senate companion. Our bill, H.R. 500, is the companion to the Senate bill, S. 239, which passed at the end, just before the August break in the Senate. prgtoken But we only do two coin bills a year. And as one that helped buttonhole Members about this, there is no cost to the Treasury. That is important. All of the costs are firstborn; the sale of the coins all goes to reimburse the Treasury for the costs that are associated, and then the profits from the coins go to the particular cause; in this case, it is FIRST. prgtoken Many of us on both sides, all across the country, have seen FIRST competitions in high schools, with high schools, tens of thousands of high school students over the last 10, 15-some years. prgtoken More than 3,500 individual corporate sponsors help to enlist people to be encouraged to go into the math and science fields, to compete, to develop robots, to compete against each other, to work with each other, build team partnerships, and it really makes a difference. prgtoken In fact, there is a story that the current Air Force Academy Superintendent apparently said earlier this year that one of the first things that they look at for students for admission to the Air Force Academy is: Did they participate in FIRST. Because they know that if they did, that is an outstanding outside-school activity and they know that they are on the right path. prgtoken What this coin is going to do, with Christa McAuliffe's picture, but the other six astronauts that were with her on that fateful January day, the sale of that coin is going to help FIRST, which was set up by Dean Kamen, who, in my book, is a rock star. But he, in essence, is the Thomas Edison of today. prgtoken Yep, he did the Segway. He also did the kidney dialysis machine. He has done prosthetics so that our veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are actually able to be functional in a way that makes up for the loss of thos
REMEMBERING JOYCE ADAMS
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-9-19

today I would like to remember in the record a longtime member of the U.S. Military Academy West Point's admissions team, Ms. Joyce Adams. prgtoken For the last 39 years, Joyce Adams has served with distinction as valued member of the West Point admissions family. From 1980 until 2002, Joyce Adams served as a candidate technician first in the mid- Atlantic region and later in the far West region. In this capacity, she assisted more than 60,000 candidates navigate the West Point application process. prgtoken In 2002, Joyce was promoted to be congressional nominations specialist. In this position, she assisted all 541 congressional offices in navigating the nomination process. During her more than 17 years as the U.S. Military Academy nominations specialist, Joyce directly impacted more than 100,000 candidate nominations and earned the respect and admiration of candidates, parents, admissions officers, and Members of Congress. prgtoken In addition to this work, Joyce also volunteered to serve as the candidate technician for all recruited athlete files. Thanks to her hard work and attention to detail, all of West Point's varsity athletic teams were positioned to compete at the highest level. prgtoken I have it on the highest authority from West Point that Joyce's impact on the directorate of admissions, on the U.S. Military Academy West Point, and on the Nation will be felt for years to come. The candidates she assisted have risen to the highest levels of military and civilian leadership, and she will be missed.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 1044
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-9-19

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1044 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the Lee amendment, No. 939, be agreed to, that the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
REMEMBERING DEB BOWMAN
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-9-19

today I wish to honor the life of Deb Bowman. prgtoken There is a difference between public servants and bureaucrats, and we have known or dealt with both. Our office spends an incredible amount of time and energy helping constituents bust through the Federal bureaucracy, and unfortunately, we often bump heads with federal bureaucrats. It is time-consuming and aggravating for constituents. After experiences like these, we unfortunately have a tendency to stereotype all government employees in that manner. prgtoken Thankfully, that is not always the case. There are examples of legitimate public servants, often behind the scenes, who truly seek to make the lives of our citizens better. One of those special individuals is Deb Bowman. prgtoken Deb Bowman was the truest, most sincere--and brutally honest--public servant I have had the honor of knowing. prgtoken For those of us who knew Deb, especially her family--her husband Randy, her children Brooke and Jessamine, and her grandkids--our hearts ache. At just 65 years old, Deb passed away on September 17, 2019, after a fairly recent lung cancer diagnosis. Years earlier, Deb became a kidney transplant recipient, and I believe that experience and the other hardships in her life shaped her view of public service. prgtoken Deb was a loyal friend who worked with me while I served as Governor. She was a tremendous asset on my 2002 transition team, as a senior adviser and cabinet secretary. Prior to that, Deb was an adviser to Governors Mickelson and Janklow and she went on to serve Governor Daugaard before her retirement in 2014. prgtoken It is not hard to understand how four Governors saw the same value and passion in Deb. It is a testament to the legacy she has left. prgtoken Deb was a fierce conversationalist. Her ability to identify with those less fortunate was her signature quality. She was able to put a ``face'' on the policy decisions that were made and reminded Governors, legislators, and State employees that the monetary and policy decisions we make impact real people and families. She was a tough and relentless advocate for those less fortunate. And she inspired understanding about the role society and State government played when it came to children, the poor, and the elderly. prgtoken Often, Deb would be outright arguing a position with me, and she would say, ``Oh now come on Governor, that's `bullcrap', have you considered . . . .'' Needless to say, Deb won those debates multiple times, and our State is better off for it. prgtoken She understood that her value was not mimicking the opinions being expressed around the table. She brought compassion to her advocacy, and I believe it made me a better Governor. Her service was not without sacrifice. On top of time away from her family and the strain upon her health, her empathy was so deep and pure that she carried the weight of the vulnerable through long hours and personal anguish. Yet despite many t
The Judiciary (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-9-19

last week, the Senate confirmed President 's 150th judge. That is a significant milestone and one that has been harder to achieve than it normally would be thanks to the ' determination to delay judicial confirmations. Again and again, the have used the time-consuming cloture vote process to delay the confirmations of President 's nominees--even of nominees they ultimately chose to vote for. prgtoken By this point in President 's first term, the s had required cloture votes on just three of President 's judicial nominees--three. Compare that to today. As of September 12, the had required cloture votes on a staggering 71.7 percent of President 's picks for the bench--71 percent. Basically, for more than two out of every three judges, the have required cloture votes. That simply means they have filibustered that particular nominee. The way you end the filibuster is by invoking cloture. prgtoken When the s were in the minority when President was in the White House, at this point in President 's first term, the ic majority had invoked cloture just three times for three judges whom the s had tried to block. As I said, right now, at the same point in President 's first term, we are talking about almost 72 percent of all of the nominations combined having been filibustered. If you think about that and if you add it up totally, cumulatively, it is about 100 now compared to 3 during President 's first term at the same time in office. prgtoken As I have said, many of these were nominees the ultimately went on to vote to confirm. In other words, it was not that President nominated scores of extreme nominees whom the felt they couldn't support. Again and again, the have delayed a nominee, then turned around and voted in favor of him or her. prgtoken In one particularly memorable example, in January of 2018, the forced the Senate to spend more than a week considering four district court judges even though not one single voted against their confirmations--not one single . These judges could have been confirmed in a matter of minutes by voice votes. Instead, the forced the Senate to spend more than a week on their considerations--time that could have been spent on genuinely controversial nominees or on some of the many important issues that face our country. prgtoken So far this September, the Senate has confirmed six district court judges. The forced cloture votes on four of them despite the fact that all four were eventually confirmed by huge bipartisan margins. In fact, one was confirmed by a unanimous vote of 94 to 0. prgtoken If the had had a serious reason for their obstruction of the President's judicial nominees, they would not have been repeatedly turning around and voting for them. Thei
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NORTHEAST MICHIGAN
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , it is my honor to recognize the 30th Anniversary of Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan. Through their dedicated service and steadfast devotion to their community, HFHNEMI has become an indispensable part of Michigan's First District. prgtoken Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 with the goal of helping Americans in need fulfill the dream of home ownership while fostering safe and healthy communities. In total, Habitat for Humanity has helped build or repair more than 800,000 homes and served more than 4 million people around the world. With their first home built in 1990, the volunteers and staff of HFHNEMI have served the people of Northern Michigan for three decades. In 2013, it implemented Habitat for Humanity's ``A Brush With Kindness'' program, providing critical repair services to low-income homeowners who are physically or financially unable to maintain their homes. These projects have included painting, landscaping, roofing, and accessibility improvements throughout Northeast Michigan. Since its founding, HFHNEMI has built, rehabbed, or repaired more than 80 homes for low-income families in Alcona, Alpena, and Presque Isle counties. Day after day, Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan shows what can be achieved when the people of a community work together for the common good. prgtoken Madam , it's my honor to recognize Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan for decades of success and service to Northern Michigan. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such dedicated citizens. On behalf of my constituents, I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
HONORING TELESCOPE CASUAL FURNITURE FOR RECEIVING THE 2019 MANUFACTURER LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNISHINGS ASSOCIATION
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I rise today to honor Telescope Casual Furnishings for receiving the 2019 Manufacturer Leadership Award from the International Casual Furnishings Association. prgtoken Telescope Casual Furniture was started in 1903 under the name the Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty Company. They started in New York City making cots and campstools with ``telescoping'' legs; which is where they derived their name. In 1921, they began moving operations into Granville, New York, in the heart of prgtoken the North Country. Today, their entire operation is in Granville, housed in a one million square foot manufacturing facility and employing hundreds of workers. Businesses like Telescope Manufacturing are the backbone of the North Country economy. They provide good, high skill jobs producing products that are in demand across the country and around the world. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to join the International Casual Furnishings Association in congratulating Telescope Casual Furnishings for receiving this award. They are a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the North Country. I look forward to their continued success.
TRIBUTE TO RICK LATER
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-9-19

this week I have the honor of recognizing Fire Marshal Rick Later of Beaverhead County for his 40 years of service protecting the folks of Dillon and Beaverhead County. prgtoken Later's experience with firefighting began in 1974, when he joined the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department as a volunteer. After decades of volunteer service, Later became fire marshal in 2003. In his new role, he was given the responsibility of not only managing fire safety and prevention in Dillon, but overseeing the safety of Montanans across Fire District No. 2. prgtoken The district stretches from Glen, to the south end of the reservoir, to Horse Prairie to Bannack. Spanning over 5,500 square miles, the county is roughly the size of the State of Connecticut. prgtoken As fire marshal, Later ran the fire hall diligently every day. He oversaw equipment maintenance and managed fire investigations and building inspections. He also worked closely with the Dillon City Council and developed a relationship with the Beaverhead County Planning Board and Zoning Commission. prgtoken Later's service to his community and commitment to volunteering is exemplary of the Montana spirit. I commend him for 40 years of service, and I join the folks in Dillon and Beaverhead County in gratitude for his insight and leadership over the years.