mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING JOHN HARRITY, PRESIDENT OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE COUNCIL OF MACHINISTS, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-1-25

it is my great privilege to rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered today to celebrate an outstanding member of Connecticut's labor movement and my good friend, John Harrity. John, who has been a proud member of IAM since the day after he was hired as a vertical turret lathe operator at Pratt & Whitney nearly forty years ago, marks his retirement having served as President of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists since 2012. prgtoken John began his union service with IAM Local 1746 where he served as a Shop Steward and Senior Steward as well as editor of the Local Lodge 1746 newsletter. In 1986, he was elected Business Representative, beginning his service with the Connecticut State Council of Machinists, and four years later he prgtoken was asked to take the position of Editor/Organizer for IAM District 91 and then an organizer for IAM District 26, a position which he has continued to hold until now. From contract negotiations to communications to organization efforts, John's work has helped to secure economic and retirement security for his members and their families. As President of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists, John has been the voice for more than 10,000 active and retired IAM members and they could not have asked for a more passionate or dedicated leader. prgtoken John's work for IAM members has extended far beyond his role within the union itself. He has served as director of GrowJobsCT, a program that brings together labor and state business interests on issues of common concern in order to support manufacturing and its associated jobs throughout Connecticut. He has also served on a number of boards and commissions related to jobs, including as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Green Bank and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Roundtable on Jobs and Climate. He was a founding member of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition, a member of the Advisory Board of Connecticut's Manufacturing Innovation Fund, and co-chair of the Workforce Development Committee of the Manufacturing Innovation Fund in its Investing in Manufacturing Community Partnerships federal initiative. John also played a critical role in the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Goodwin College where he is an adjunct faculty member. prgtoken Over the years, John and I have worked on countless issues together and I will always be grateful for his candor, friendship, and support. He has dedicated a lifetime to ensuring safe workplaces. Today, as he marks his retirement, I am honored to stand and extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to John Harrity for his bold leadership and outstanding contributions to IAM and Connecticut's labor movement. I wish him, his wife, Cindy, his children and grandchildren the very best for many more years of health and happiness as they begin this new chapter.
DACA and Other Issues Before the Senate (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-1-25

there are now only 13 days remaining before the continuing resolution expires on February 8. In that short amount of time, we must seek a budget deal, an agreement on healthcare legislation, and a bipartisan bill to protect the Dreamers and provide for border security. All these items are important. All of them are urgent, and we are working hard to get them all done. prgtoken On the issue of immigration, the bipartisan group of moderate Senators should continue trying to find a consensus. I think that is an excellent idea. The White House, unfortunately, has proven unreliable and wildly unpredictable. Within the course of hours, they say different things. Every time the President moves forward on one thing, his staff pulls him back and undoes what he said. The action should be here in the Senate to find a narrow deal on DACA and border security. prgtoken Now, as we have found time and again, when we open up the negotiations to discussions of broad immigration reform, there is no end to what each party says could be on the table. s want vast curtailment of legal immigration. want to discuss a pathway to citizenship for 11 million. That is a recipe for delay when we can't afford one. Some on the other side are insisting on expanding this beyond the DACA and border security issues. That will just delay. That will just make sure that things don't work. prgtoken My colleagues, particularly the leader and his more moderate Members, should feel the pressure to get this done, or else this administration will start separating families, taking kids out of school, servicemembers out of our military, and workers out of our companies. They will rip them from the American fabric in which they are embedded. What a tragedy that would be. prgtoken So the clock is ticking on Dreamers, and we don't have time for extraneous issues that some on the right or the left might want to add that have nothing to do with DACA or border security. The clock is also ticking for pensioners, for victims of opioid addiction seeking treatment, and for our veterans seeking quality healthcare. We have other issues: rural infrastructure, childcare, things that want to get done in this deal. We have to get a budget deal and a DACA deal that can get 60 votes--13 days before Dreamers get a lot closer to deportation; 13 days to help our economy, our communities, and the middle class, who have been waiting for over a year for this Congress to do something for them, instead of just helping business interests.
HONORING JON JUMPER
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-1-25

I would like to take some time today to honor one of my constituents, Mr. Jon Jumper, for his immense dedication to serving California's state government. prgtoken Mr. Jumper graduated from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 1982 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Dance. While attending UCR, he also studied physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, accounting, archeology, and dance history. prgtoken Mr. Jumper is a Tax Administrator for Anaheim's tax office who was originally hired in 1985. First working as a field auditor, then as a tax collector and now as an administrator. During his tenure, Mr. Jumper has worked tirelessly to account for tax revenue and manage audits in the city of Anaheim. prgtoken Mr. Jumper is essential to his office in collecting tax revenue from audits. Mr. Jumper has successfully managed a team of tax professionals, administrative program specialists, and auditors to create exceptional work. His expertise has greatly helped the Anaheim and Santa Ana community receive tax revenue, which in turn has led to better infrastructure, improvements in education, and public services. prgtoken I am pleased to say that Mr. Jumper has contributed greatly to his community and state government. prgtoken , Mr. Jumper is an exemplary citizen. I am honored to congratulate Mr. Jumper for his tenure at Anaheim's tax office and hope he continues to be an outstanding citizen for his community.
OATH OF CITIZENSHIP
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2018-1-25

it is with great pleasure and sincerity that I take this time to congratulate thirty individuals who will take their oaths of citizenship on Friday, February 2, 2018. This memorable occasion will be held at the United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Hammond, Indiana. America is a country founded by immigrants. From its beginning, settlers have come from countries around the world to the United States in search of better lives for their families. Oath ceremonies are a shining example of what is so great about the United States of America--that people from all over the world can come together and unite as members of a free, democratic nation. These individuals realize that nowhere else in the world offers a better opportunity for success than here in America. On February 2, 2018, the following people, representing many nations throughout the world, will take their oaths of citizenship in Hammond, Indiana: Patrick Joseph Fay, Monica Soledad Aguayo Paredes, Feda Izzedin Aljobeh, Olalak Khamkhosy Baccam, Henriette Uwimpuhwe Balinda, Carolina Brambila, Sandra Campos, Jazman Abigail Cruz, Felix Dorado Amaro, Maria Echeverria, Oluwole Elenitoba-Johnson, Maria Isabel Galicia, Omar Agustin Garcia, Martin Herrera, Naomi Juarez, Katalin Csiszar Moore, Cain Eliseo Morales Jurado, Grissel Morelos, Mung San Myi Shi, Otilia Snezana Nikolovski, Hernan Osorio, Ashok Patel, Elena Rangel, Delia Ruiz, Jorge Luis Sullon, Susan Oluwaiemisi, Aleksandar Todorovich, Hannah Tran, Pedro Vargas, and Otoniel Verdugo. Although each individual has sought to become a citizen of the United States for his or her own reasons, be it for education, occupation, or to offer their loved ones better lives, each is inspired by the fact that the United States of America is, as Abraham Lincoln described it, a country ``. . .of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' They realize that the United States is truly a free nation. By seeking American citizenship, they have made the decision that they want to live in a place where, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, they can practice religion as they choose, speak their minds without fear of punishment, and assemble in peaceful protest should they choose to do so I respectfully ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating these individuals who will become citizens of the United States of America on February 2, 2018. They, too, are American citizens, guaranteed the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We, as a free and democratic nation, congratulate them and welcome them.
Tribute to Jonathan Miller (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-1-25

I rise to honor a member of my staff, Jonathan Miller, who has dedicated his life to serving his country and his State. prgtoken Not only does Jonathan serve the people of Ohio each day on our staff, helping Ohio servicemembers and veterans, but he also wears the uniform himself, first as a member of the National Guard and now as a member of the Army Reserve. Earlier this month was his last day in the office for a year as his unit is deploying to fight for our country. prgtoken Jonathan grew up in Macedonia, OH, and graduated from Nordonia High School and Ohio University. In 2011, while working toward his master's degree, he enlisted in the National Guard. Jon told me he enlisted, in part, because he was ``inspired by the debate and repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the stories of veterans in my family,'' like so many who join the armed services because of patriotism, family values, and family precedent. prgtoken He said: ``The Army seemed like the place for me to help my community and my country and to experience new people, places, and ideas.'' prgtoken Jonathan went through officer candidate school in 2013 and now serves with the 300th Chemical Company, Army Reserve, out of Morgantown, WV. He has worked in our office since 2015 and has impressed all of us with his dedication to both of his jobs. In the Senate, he handles veterans and military issues along with energy and environmental policy. He has read, literally, thousands of letters from Ohio servicemembers and veterans over the years and has always worked to make sure their views and concerns have been heard and that our office has helped them whenever we have been able to. He has often called the families directly to follow up and listen to their stories. prgtoken In 2016, during a meeting with the Gold Star Wives of America, Jon learned that education benefits for some spouses who had lost their loved ones in the earliest days following 9/11 would expire before they could make full use of this benefit their families had earned. He immediately brought this issue to my attention, and we worked to introduce the Military Spouses Achieving College Education for Survivors Act. We passed this bipartisan legislation as part of a larger veterans package that will directly affect veterans and their families in my State, in Nebraska, and other States across the country. prgtoken Jonathan has played a critical role in ensuring that our military installations in my State have the support they need to perform critical national security missions--from the 180th in Toledo and the 910 in Youngstown, to Camp Ravenna, to the base in my hometown of Mansfield, to Springfield, and of course to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He often attends visiting Ohio Honor Flight ceremonies, representing our office and supporting Ohio veterans who visit the memorials that have been built in their honor. prgtoken His love for the outdoors and for Ohio has also shone
Work of the Senate (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-1-25

I believe every campaign for elective office in this great Nation is essentially a months-long job interview with the voters or, perhaps more accurately, it is thousands and thousands of individual interviews. Like any employer, the voters have expectations for us once we have been hired to do this job. prgtoken I will never forget I work for the people of Michigan, and I feel very fortunate to have earned the opportunity to serve them. When I ran for the U.S. Senate, I told Michiganders I would be a pragmatic problem-solver and stand by that promise each and every day. We were all sent here to be problem-solvers, especially the hard problems. Making the effort to participate in our democracy is fundamentally optimistic. Voters want us to make their lives and our Nation better. Every Senator elected to this body carries the hopes, the dreams, and the expectations of the people who live in their State. prgtoken While we should never lose sight of our Nation's hopes and dreams, today I wish to focus on expectations. Americans expect us to work together. They expect us to talk to each other. They expect us to negotiate and find common ground where we disagree. They expect us to help our fellow Americans after disasters. They expect us to respond to crises like the opioid epidemic and dangerously underfunded pensions that jeopardize their retirement security. They expect us to keep our borders secure and enact reasonable human immigration policies that keep our Nation competitive and boost economic growth, and they expect us to responsibly fund the Federal Government. prgtoken None of us should be proud of the recent government shutdown. There is no such thing as a good government shutdown. I am nevertheless hopeful that lessons can be learned from last weekend and a better path forward can be found. I think the coming weeks and months are of vital importance to the future of the U.S. Senate as a meaningful, functional institution. prgtoken Let's be honest with ourselves and with the American people. In the last few years, we have not been functional. We have blown deadline after deadline. It took us almost 4 months past the funding deadline to tackle the easiest problem: reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program, a program that provides healthcare to millions of Americans children, while saving taxpayers money. prgtoken As I stand here, healthcare for over 600,000 Michiganders--including over 12,000 Michigan veterans--remains at risk because we have blown through deadline after deadline to fund community health centers, a program that provides cost-effective care to millions of Americans in both rural and urban areas across our country. prgtoken How is it that a nation that put the first man on the Moon still can't put lights on for our own American citizens in Puerto Rico? We need to help families clean out their flooded homes in the gulf, support communities that have faced out-of-c
HONORING DR. SURIN PITSUWAN
Joseph P. Kennedy III (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-1-25

I rise today to remember the life of Dr. Surin Pitsuwan of the Kingdom of Thailand. Dr. Surin, a great friend to countless Americans in the diplomatic and Peace Corps communities, passed away on November 30, 2017. Dr. Surin became a household name in U.S. diplomatic circles, first as Thailand's foreign minister and later as Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Throughout his life in government and academia, Dr. Surin wielded his skills to influence and forge peaceful partnerships with America and the world. Dr. Surin first entered the American experience as an impoverished teenager in southern Thailand as a student of David and Phyllis Johnston--his ``Angels of Hope'' as he called them--two Peace Corps volunteers who helped him receive an American Field Service scholarship to attend his senior year of high school in Minnesota. With the help of grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Winston S. Churchill Association, Dr. Surin received his bachelor's degree from Claremont Men's College (now Claremont McKenna College) in California and a master's and doctorate from Harvard University, and through a Congressional Fellowship from the Asia Foundation worked in the office of Representative Geraldine Ferraro. For a Muslim of Malay-descent who didn't own a pair of shoes until the age of 11 to later become a globetrotting envoy, Dr. Surin never lost his deep sense of humility and grace and ease with communicating. Dedicated to improving the lives of others, he always made time during his frequent trips to his family's hometown to meet with the poor and see how he could help them. He is survived by his wife, Alisa, and their three sons, to whom I extend my deepest thoughts and condolences. I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Surin in 2014 while he was in America to receive the National Peace Corps Association's Wofford Global Citizen Award. Dr. Surin accepted the award on behalf of what he called ``the millions of other so called `Peace Corps Products' all around the world whose lives have been enriched and influenced by [Peace Corps volunteers].'' From his ``Big Break,'' as he called it, with volunteers David and Phyllis until the day he died, Dr. Surin channeled the spirit of the Peace Corps to partner in peace, progress, and understanding. I hope that Dr. Surin's life and work can serve as a model for all of us.
RECOGNIZING ASSISTANT CHIEF JACK MULCAHY FOR 41 YEARS AT THE GLENS FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-1-25

I rise today to congratulate Assistant Chief Jack Mulcahy on his retirement from the Glens Falls Fire Department after 41 years of service. prgtoken After serving in the Army and then the Navy, Mulcahy intended to become a State Police Trooper, but instead found himself with a temporary job at the Glens Falls Fire Department. This summer job turned into a four-decade career of helping those in his community as a firefighter. Mulcahy served in his role of assistant chief for ten years, and before that, a lieutenant for 15 years. Not only did Mulcahy risk his own life in fires to save others, but he also enjoyed assisting citizens in their everyday problems, like rescuing pets from trees. Mulcahy considers himself lucky to have been part of the Glens Falls firefighter ``extended family,'' and looks forward to keeping in touch but also having more time to spend with his wife, three children, and grandson. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st district, I would like to thank Assistant Chief Mulcahy for his years of hard work and dedication to his community, and wish him all the best in the years ahead.
REMEMBERING ELIZABETH ``LIZ'' LEONARD
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-1-25

I rise today to remember a valued member of the central Illinois community, Elizabeth ``Liz'' Leonard. Liz passed away on December 31, 2017 at just 64 years old, but her memory and legacy will continue to live on. prgtoken Liz touched so many lives in the Springfield community where she taught in the Springfield School District 186 for more than 27 years. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. Liz was also actively involved in the Springfield Bible Church and was a ``Huddle Leader'' for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 20 years. prgtoken As so many people in the community know, the entire Leonard family was devoted to football. Liz's husband, Ken, and son, Derek, are high school football coaches for two rival teams in Illinois. The ``Leonard Bowl,'' played between Ken's Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones and Derek's Rochester Rockets, has become one of the most uniting high school sports spectacles in the state. I can only imagine the dilemma Liz found herself in while attending these games and deciding who to root for. prgtoken As someone who knows the Leonard family well, my thoughts and prayers are with them and all members of our local community as we remember the tremendous positive impact the Leonard family and Liz have had on so many of our school districts and communities. prgtoken I thank Liz for shaping young minds, supporting young athletes and Christians, and for being a shining light in all of our communities.
Introductory Statement on S. 2344
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-1-25

I rise today to discuss the pressing need to reform our high-skilled immigration system. This is an issue I've championed for a number of years and one that becomes only more urgent with each passing season. prgtoken It is also an issue that I believe ties in directly with the recent discussions we have been having about merit-based immigration. As I said on the floor last week, high-skilled immigration is merit-based immigration. It is immigration targeted at the best, the brightest, and the most highly educated. It is immigration targeted at individuals who have the skills employers need. If we want to have a discussion about individuals who will add value to our economy, who will bring critical skills to the table, and who will help keep our country competitive, high-skilled immigration is what we should be talking about. prgtoken For years, we have had a system for bringing high-skilled workers from other countries to the United States to fill jobs for which there is a shortage of American labor. This system does not replace American jobs. Rather, it supplements our workforce with talent from other countries in industries where there are simply not enough qualified American workers to meet demand. prgtoken But the system is badly out of date. To begin with, it caps the number of high-skilled worker visas--also called H-1B visas--that employers can obtain each year at a number that is far below demand. This year, just like last year and the year before, USCIS reached the annual cap on H-1B visas within the first week that visa petitions could be submitted. In fact, during that single week, USCIS received over twice as many visa petitions as there were available visas. prgtoken Our laws also lack a straightforward path for companies to hire American-educated students from other countries on a permanent basis after graduation. We educate some of the world's best and brightest here in America and then send them back home because they can't get permanent work in the United States. That makes no sense. In fact, it is just plain stupid. prgtoken There is also a significant backlog for skilled professionals and advanced degree holders who want to come to the United States on green cards. These are the very individuals we should be encouraging to come to our country--individuals who have the technical skills our science and technology companies need and who will earn good salaries and contribute meaningfully to our economy--and yet we respire them to wait years and years to obtain a green card. Again, you want to talk about merit-based immigration? These are the folks we should be welcoming to our country with enthusiasm. Instead, we throw up barrier after barrier until many simply give up. prgtoken At the same time, a handful of companies have found ways to game the H-1B system to displace American employees with lower paid foreign workers. We have all seen the news stories: American workers told