mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S. 568
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-2-26

I come to the floor today to express my support for the Child Care for Working Families Act, which I was proud to introduce earlier this afternoon with Senators Murray, Casey, and 30 of our Senate colleagues. prgtoken We know that investments in early childhood programs are foundational for future academic and social success. Yet child care remains unaffordable for too many working families in the United States. prgtoken For parents worried about how to pay for basic living expenses like housing, food, education, and transportation, increasing child care costs can place a heavy burden on family budgets. prgtoken As a young immigrant from Japan who was raised by a single, working mother, I understand the difficult decisions families have to make every day to survive. I have experienced these challenges firsthand. Yet, all these years later, for many Hawaii families, child care costs exceed all other expenses besides housing. prgtoken On average, Hawaii parents can expect to pay $8,280 per year, or $690 per month, in child care expenses. These costs are 25 percent higher than they were just a decade ago, but wages have hardly kept pace. As a result, Hawaii families will dedicate around 11 percent of their family budget to child care--exceeding the government's standard for affordable care. prgtoken Unfortunately, even for families that can afford child care, finding that needed care may be difficult. This is because our early childhood educators and child care workers are overworked and underpaid. In addition, there is a severe need for more facilities to accommodate the families that need them. The need is great, and that is why the Child Care for Working Families Act is so important. This legislation will make sure working families have access to high-quality, affordable early childhood programs. prgtoken Specifically, the bill expands the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant program to guarantee that working and middle class families have access to affordable child care--ensuring that these families do not have to pay more than 7 percent of their income toward care, regardless of how many children they have. prgtoken The bill also expands Head Start to promote universal preschool for young children. prgtoken Additionally, the bill also addresses the need to support our early childhood workers by making sure teachers, care givers, and other workers responsible for our children are fairly-compensated and fully- supported with training and professional development opportunities. prgtoken These are the core provisions of the bill, which represents an essential investment in the stability and prosperity of working families in Hawaii and across our Nation. Every family deserves access to high-quality, affordable early childhood programs, and we will continue fighting to make child care more affordable for all children. prgtoken s for their continued support in this effort, and
EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Tom Malinowski (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-2-26

. Madam , I rise to urge that we come together today to defend the Constitution of the United States by repudiating President 's emergency declaration of February 15. prgtoken Few provisions of the Constitution are more plain than Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' prgtoken The President has immense powers, but he cannot spend money unless we, the people's Representatives in Congress, have agreed that he can. prgtoken Now, there might be extraordinary circumstances when a President could violate that principle, when all of us would agree that he must act but there is no time to ask Congress for funds: a military invasion or a massive natural disaster, for example. The National Emergencies Act provides for that. prgtoken But if the situation on the southern border were that kind of emergency, then the President hasn't been acting like it. For 2 years, when his party controlled the House and Senate, he never asked us for money to build a wall, and if we truly faced that kind of imminent threat, a wall would not even be an emergency measure given how long it would take to build. prgtoken The critical point is this: When the President finally got around to asking us for money, we deliberated on his request, and we said no. You may believe we were right or you may believe we were wrong, but that is what the elected Representatives of the American people decided. prgtoken So the question before us today is not how do we secure the border; it is whether this President or any President can use emergency powers to defy the Congress when he disagrees with a prgtoken decision that we have made. Are we going to stand by and watch this President seize funds from the military to forcibly take land from law- abiding American citizens to build something that Congress has said should not be built? prgtoken We know this would be wrong. The National Emergencies Act is for genuine emergencies. It is not a get-out-of-the-Constitution-free card for Presidents who want something that Congress won't give them. prgtoken Now, I have heard some people say that President did the same thing. I am sorry, he did not. Both President and President were sometimes accused of exceeding their constitutional authority; the courts sometimes overruled them. But neither nor nor Nixon nor Reagan nor Roosevelt nor Lincoln nor any President since the founding of our Republic has ever decreed an emergency to spend money that the Congress explicitly denied them. prgtoken If you want to find a precedent for what President has done, I can give you one. When I was a diplomat representing our country and standing up for our values around the world, I had this exact same debate with authoritarian governments in Ethiopia, in Bahrain, and in Egypt, telling them: Do not use emergency powers to get around your constitutions. I never thought
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8, BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1112, ENHANCED BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-2-26

I rise today in support of H. Res. 145, the rule providing for consideration of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) and the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 1112). prgtoken These critical bills would ensure that there is a comprehensive background check on every firearm purchase, something that 97 percent of American voters, including 97 percent of gun-owning households, support. prgtoken H.R. 8 requires background checks on all firearm sales, including those conducted by unlicensed gun sellers, closing what has become known as the ``gun show loophole.'' prgtoken H.R. 1112 closes another loophole in current statute that allows gun dealers to transfer a firearm after three business days if they have not received a definitive response from the background check system. prgtoken Tragically, this gap became known as the ``Charleston loophole'' when it contributed to the brutal murder of nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in 2015. prgtoken Congress must act immediately on the ABCs of gun violence prevention. prgtoken A is for Assault Weapons Ban. prgtoken B is for Background Checks Reform. prgtoken C is for Closing the Gun Show Loophole. prgtoken These measures make progress on B and C, and I urge my colleagues to support them.
INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CLEMENCY HOME RULE ACT
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2019-2-26

. Madam , today, I introduce the District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act, a bill that would give the District of Columbia exclusive authority, like the states and territories, to grant clemency to offenders prosecuted under its local laws. prgtoken While District law appears to give the mayor authority to grant clemency (D.C. Code 1-301.76), it is the opinion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that the president, and not the mayor, has the authority to grant clemency for most offenses prosecuted under D.C. law, particularly felonies prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney in the D.C. Superior Court. Under current practice, clemency petitions for D.C. convictions, like federal convictions, are submitted to the DOJ for the president's consideration. prgtoken Whether or not DOJ's view is correct, my bill would remove all doubt that the District, and not the president, has the authority to issue clemency for local offenses. The District, like the states and territories, should have full control of its local criminal justice system, the most basic responsibility of local government. Since the D.C. Council has the authority to enact local laws, District officials are in the best position to grant clemency for local law convictions. My bill would provide clemency authority to the District government and would give D.C. the discretion to establish its own clemency system. prgtoken This bill is an important step in establishing further autonomy for the District in its own local affairs. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ANNE MARIE LABELLE
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-2-26

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Anne Marie Labelle. Anne was a wonderful mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt. She was a selfless community advocate and will always be remembered for her strength and love of family. prgtoken Anne was born in Troy, New York before moving to Broward County, Florida as a teenager. After high school, Anne became known for her activism in Sunrise city politics, before retiring far too young after suffering a stroke in 1982. In typical Anne fashion, she fought hard in rehab and recovered to work for local real estate developers in Plantation and Boca Raton. Anne was appreciative of those who helped her in her time of need, so she started volunteering at the Sunrise Rehabilitation Center and became a popular one-on-one volunteer for victims of stroke rehabilitation and brain injuries. She served on the hospital's community advisory board, while also volunteering with Shake-a-Leg, a group for individuals with disabilities who sailed monthly on Biscayne Bay. prgtoken Madam , Anne's commitment to her community is a true testament to the person that she was. Anne will be remembered by the lives that she touched during her 77 years on this earth. Many fond memories of her will forever remain with her sons, Robert and Michael, her sister, Maureen, her grandchildren, Amanda, Matthew, Courtney, Casey, and Kelly, her great-grandchild, Parker, and her nieces and nephews, Ryan, Lauren, Grant, Logan and Abby. Anne's love for her family will be forever enshrined in her last words to her son, Robert, when she told him `tell everyone I love them'. I offer my deepest condolences to her entire family during this time of great sadness. Anne was truly a blessing to our community. I am so pleased to honor her memory. She will be dearly missed.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT
Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-2-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank everyone who voiced their support for S. 47. prgtoken Before we close and turn to a vote, I again express my thanks to my colleagues who helped bring this bill before us today. It is a major win for conservation across the United States, and I strongly encourage all my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation. prgtoken The American people need to know from this Congress that there are opportunities to produce bipartisan wins, whether it is for conservation or public lands or, more importantly, for the people of this country. I think this bill represents that. prgtoken I extend my appreciation and my thanks to respective staffs on both sides of the aisle, for their hard work in bringing this together. prgtoken As my friend from Utah said at the outset of this conversation today, it is not a perfect bill, but it is an effort on the part of many of us who came to this with disparate views, different opinions, and opposition to some of its content. It was an effort to try to do something that reflected common ground. I think this bill reflects common ground. I think it is a win for all of us. prgtoken , I encourage all my colleagues to vote in support of S. 47, and .
Nomination of Eric D. Miller (Executive Calendar)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-2-26

I rise today to speak in opposition to the nomination of Eric Miller to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken As an attorney and former attorney general, like my good colleague from Connecticut, I have a deep respect and appreciation for our Federal judiciary. I believe that carefully guarding the professional reputation of our Federal bench is critical to maintaining respect for the rule of law in our country. prgtoken The American people must be able to trust that our Federal judges will be fair and neutral arbiters of any dispute before them. So in considering whether a nominee is deserving of the awesome responsibility of a lifetime appointment to the Federal bench, we must carefully evaluate their professional and personal qualifications to ensure that they are of the highest intellectual, professional, and moral caliber. prgtoken I have carefully reviewed Mr. Miller's record, and I believe that he is the wrong candidate to fill this judicial seat. I believe my colleagues know it. That is why they have made every effort to jam this confirmation through. prgtoken The majority-led Judiciary Committee and leadership have taken extraordinary steps to rush this nomination. s held Mr. Miller's confirmation hearing during an October recess, without the consent of minority members of the committee, questioning him for just 5 minutes and then gaveling out. As you heard, only two Senators were at that hearing. That is not regular order in the Senate. prgtoken Unfortunately, the leadership continues to attack regular order in the Senate by attacking Senate precedent. This nominee, if confirmed, will be the first circuit court judge advanced without the support of either of their home State Senators. That is the blue-slip process. prgtoken The blue-slip process is an essential tradition of respecting the wishes of each nominee's home State Senators, and it is the start of the advice and consent process. prgtoken This is about our system of checks and balances, respecting one another, and the prerogatives of the Senate that ensure every Senator has a voice in the selection of judges in their home State. This institutional check has never been more important than it is today because we have a President who undermines the legitimacy and impartiality of the courts. prgtoken By bringing up this confirmation for a vote before the Senate, leaders are circumventing Senators, ignoring the people we were elected to represent, and damaging our critical role in appropriately deliberating on lifetime judicial nominees and representing the will of our constituents who elected us. This is a dereliction of the Senate's duty, and it is an assault on our institutions. prgtoken If confirmed, Mr. Miller will have a lifetime appointment to one of the highest courts in America. He will make decisions on our Nation's most important issues and will have the power to ch
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-2-26

I rise today in strong support of S. 47, this lands package. prgtoken , I want to thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their bipartisan work on this important bill. prgtoken Our public lands define our Montana way of life. Three principles guide my approach: conserve our public lands, increase public access, and trust our local communities. prgtoken These principles guided me to protect the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. I met with the residents and community leaders, and the consensus is clear: They don't want mining in Paradise Valley. That is why I introduced the legislation to permanently ban mining on 30,000 acres of public land just outside Yellowstone Park. That measure is included in this package today. prgtoken This package also permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. prgtoken Susan and I raised our kids hunting, fishing, and backpacking on our public lands in Montana, and I know how critical LWCF is to Montana. prgtoken Permanently protecting the gateway to Yellowstone and permanently reauthorizing LWCF will help preserve and expand public access to our public lands. prgtoken , I strongly urge passage of this bill. It is so important to Montana.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 46, TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want you to know it flatters both me and the gentlewoman from California that you have made it your habit to be down here during Rules Committee time. It is good to know that you respect what we do upstairs as much as the members of the committee do. prgtoken I always enjoy coming down for the Rules Committee debate, because it is the only debate on all of Capitol Hill where the Reading Clerk reads every single word of the bill that we are about to consider. Ordinarily, we waive that, but the rules don't let you waive it. You have to read the rule so folks will understand what is happening today. prgtoken I happened to time the Reading Clerk today. I didn't put him up to anything special. He read as he always does. It took him 1 minute and 6 seconds to read the resolution that is before us. prgtoken I heard my friend from California talk about the important constitutional questions that are here before us today. I heard my friend from California equate our President to discredited despots around the globe and how we must stand up to prevent that behavior here in America. I heard my colleagues who took to the floor this morning for 1 minutes be sanctioned by the Chair and advised to cease engaging in arguments of personality and attacks against our President. prgtoken One minute and 6 seconds it took to read the resolution before us today, , and that is 1 minute and 6 seconds longer than this resolution has been considered in total in every committee throughout this Capitol. prgtoken I want to say that again. You heard my colleague talk about how critically important this resolution of disapproval is as it relates to our constitutional powers. You heard it described as a power grab equivalent to those of discredited despots. And we haven't talked about it at all in this Chamber. In committees, not one witness has testified. prgtoken One minute and 6 seconds is how much we have invested in these nationally important matters. prgtoken I listened, , as you cautioned Member after Member to cease engaging in personal attacks on the President during their 1 minutes this morning I am concerned that that is exactly what we are doing here today. prgtoken If you want to have a debate about Article I and Article II powers and how we ought to retrieve the power that has slid down Pennsylvania Avenue through administration after administration after administration, I am not just your willing partner, I am your enthusiastic partner and passionate advocate. But that is not the bill we have before us today. It is not the debate we are going to have today. prgtoken This is another in a long string of measures that have been brought to the floor of this House that could have been brought in a bipartisan way. I don't mean one ; I don't mean two s; I mean the majority of and the majority of s standing together to speak with one voi
GRAND CANYON CENTENNIAL
Martha McSally (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-2-26

in January 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt famously declared, ``Let this great wonder of nature remain as it is now. You cannot improve on it.'' He said these words while designating the Grand Canyon as a national monument. Eleven years later, it became a National Park, and today marks the centennial of that designation. prgtoken Known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is more than history to Arizona, it is a part of who we are. Millions of visitors come to see this magnificent national park, from its archeological sites to its one-of-a-kind trails; and for centuries, this vast array of canyons and mountains has served as a home to many different peoples, including many Native American tribes. prgtoken It was in 1869 that geologist John Wesley Powell first led an expedition down the hazardous Colorado River, during which he noted the ancient clues he found hidden in the layers of rock that told the story of its creation. His expedition led to future explorations further chartering and mapping the great canyon. By the time it officially became a National Park in 1919, the Grand Canyon attracted some 44,000 visitors. Today, Arizona hosts more than 6 million visitors each year, and with a total economic impact of almost $1 billion a year, it is the greatest attraction in our State. prgtoken All Americans, but especially Arizonans, are truly blessed to have such a natural wonder to visit like the Grand Canyon. I share in Teddy Roosevelt's amazement, passion, and wonderment of the Grand Canyon, and I will continue to advocate for this park so that it may last for many more generations to come.
TRIBUTE TO IAN JACKSON
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-2-26

today I honor Ian Jackson, the Volusia County Teacher of the Year from T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, FL. prgtoken Ian is an Advancement Via Individual Determination teacher, working prgtoken with students from 8th to 12th grade and considers it his job to change the trajectories of his students for the better. After receiving this award, Ian noted that it was not just him being recognized, but also his students for their success. prgtoken Ian urges his students to strive for greatness in their middle school and high school coursework in preparation for the college workload. He focuses on ensuring his classroom feels like a second home to his students when they struggle and are in need of support. prgtoken Many of Ian's students come from difficult circumstances, so he works to establish strong relationships and create a positive environment for them. He dedicates his time to listening to the needs of his students and conveying to them that he cares about their well-being. Eighty percent of his students are accepted into 4-year universities and many stay in contact with him through college and beyond. prgtoken Ian has taught at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School since 2005. He previously taught English as a second language classes in Georgia. He earned his bachelor's degree from Tocca Falls College. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Ian for his dedication to helping his students succeed in life. I look forward to learning of his continued success in the coming years.
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-2-26

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Wednesday, February 27; 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 Desmond nomination under the previous order.