mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO MARY JO CODEY
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-6-29

today I wish to honor the legacy of a great New Jerseyan upon her retirement from a 40-year teaching career. As Mary Jo Codey wraps up her final school year at Gregory Elementary, a public school in West Orange, NJ, we congratulate her on a long and fruitful career inspiring and educating our children while putting them on the path to success. Even as the first lady of New Jersey under the administration of her husband, Richard Codey, Mary Jo refused to leave the children she loved so much, saying, ``When asked if I would resign my teaching responsibilities during my tenure as the First Lady, my response was consistently `no.' Teaching was and is my passion!'' Her dedication and service to her students and to her State will not soon be forgotten. prgtoken While teaching may have been Mary Jo's first passion, her drive to make life better for children and families extends well beyond the classroom. I have been honored over the years to work closely with Mary Jo on an issue near and dear to her heart. Ten to 20 percent of women across America are suffering from postpartum depression, and after the birth of her first son in 1984, Mary Jo was one of them. Then, after the birth of her second son, her depression returned, but this time she was able to recognize it and seek treatment for it. Instead of hiding her illness or being ashamed of it, Mary Jo's personal struggle became the motivation for her to raise awareness for postpartum depression and work tirelessly to improve diagnostic and treatment options on the State and Federal level. prgtoken Thanks to her leadership, New Jersey became the first State to provide resources to ensure that uninsured mothers can receive postpartum depression screening and treatment. I am proud to say that Mary Jo and I worked together to pass the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom's Opportunity To Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act, or MOTHERS Act, as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. This legislation encourages better education, support services, and research for postpartum depression, and we owe its passage largely to advocates like Mary Jo Codey. Now, we still have a long way to go to ensure that postpartum depression and other aspects of maternal mental health are given the awareness and resources that they deserve. However, even as she closes the book on her teaching career, I know that Mary Jo's work is far from over, and she will not rest until we reach our goal. Whether it is her advocacy on behalf of postpartum depression or breast cancer, of which she is a survivor, her commitment to improving the lives of children, mothers, and families is unwavering. prgtoken With that, I look forward to continuing to work with Mary Jo in the coming years, thank her for her incredible service to New Jersey and all of us, and congratulate her on her retirement.
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BALLARD LOCKS IN WASHINGTON STATE
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-6-29

together Senator Murray and I will continue to advocate for this critical infrastructure, working to ensure our colleagues and the administration understand the importance of the waterways and navigation systems in the Pacific Northwest. Investing in our water infrastructure supports jobs, economic security, and healthy communities. Senator Murray and I are proud to fight for the investments the Army Corps needs to operate, maintain, and restore the Ballard Locks.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2017-6-29

last night in the Kennedy Caucus Room, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society honored the Senate Appropriations Committee with a celebration of its 150th anniversary. Past and present committee members and staff gathered to reflect on the history of the committee, and Senate Historian Betty Koed gave a wonderful keynote address. prgtoken Established on March 6, 1867, the committee's powers are rooted in article 1, section 9, of our Constitution which states, ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.'' The Founders recognized the power of the purse as one of the most important tools Congress has to ensure our system of checks and balances and to conduct oversight of the executive and judicial branch--but it is much more than that. The Appropriations Committee is where we translate the priorities of a nation into the realities of the people. prgtoken Our country is not a business, where we allocate resources only according to the bottom line. We do not invest in order to make a profit or a one-for-one dollar in return. We invest in those areas where it is uniquely right for government to take the lead. We invest in the areas that make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans and that help build the foundations of our country and our economy-- infrastructure, national security, our environment, education, science and research, healthcare. prgtoken I want to thank the U.S. Capitol Historical Society for organizing this anniversary celebration, and I ask unanimous consent that the text of the remarks given by Senate Historian Betty Koed be printed in the Record.
NO SANCTUARY FOR CRIMINALS ACT
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-6-29

I think it is important to reflect back on why localities adopt these community trust policies. prgtoken The chairman of the committee mentioned somebody in San Francisco who is suing the city. In a way, that shows the efficacy of the trust policies. prgtoken This man, Mr. Figueroa-Zarceno, was a victim of crime. His truck was stolen. He went into the police department to report that his truck was stolen. There was a removal order that was 10 or 20 years old. He has an American citizen child. He is a working person. When he went outside, he was picked up by ICE. prgtoken I think what that tells other people who are victims of crime who might have an outstanding removal order is: Don't report the crime. It is one thing if you have lost your truck. It has been stolen.
CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TACO PALENQUE
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-6-29

I rise today to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Taco Palenque. prgtoken Taco Palenque opened on July 1st, 1987, with the purpose of serving delicious and authentic Mexican cuisine. Over its thirty years of existence, it has served some of the best food in all of South Texas. Founded by Mr. Juan Francisco ``Pancho''' Ochoa in Laredo, TX, Taco Palenque has seen much success. With over 1,500 employees and 21 locations across Texas, including in San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen, and Mission, Taco Palenque has shown to be a top-quality restaurant chain. prgtoken Offering everything from traditional tacos to homemade menudo, Taco Palenque never fails to provide excellent cuisine to Texans. The hard work and effort that is shown through Taco Palenque's cuisine speaks to the dedication of Mr. Ochoa, who always made sure to never serve any food that he does not personally like. This mindset has brought him many honors including The Chamber of Commerce's Laredo Businessman of the Year award. He has also been honored by the Texas legislature for his work and contributions to the restaurant industry. prgtoken His restaurants have also been recognized for their outstanding customer service which came through Mr. Ochoa's dedication to customer satisfaction. For Mr. Ochoa, no task is too small to preserve the famous taste of his restaurants. Regardless of the cost, customer satisfaction takes priority. This is one of the many reasons for Taco Palenque's ongoing success. prgtoken Taco Palenque is not just a thriving business but a family owned operation. From the outset, this organization would not have been possible without the help and expertise of Pancho's family members. Mr. Ochoa's wife, Flerida, was instrumental in helping to create some of Taco Palenque's most famous recipes. She worked tirelessly with Mr. Ochoa to perfect everything that is served. As the business expanded, his children took on several important roles in the business, including General Director of the company and manager of several different restaurants. prgtoken I would also like to note that Taco Palenque has supporters here in our nation's Capital. Over the last several years, my office has hosted ``Laredo Day'', a widely attended and bi-partisan reception that features the culture and cuisine of Laredo, TX. At this event we serve Taco Palenque which is often noted by our guests to be some of the best food that they have ever had. These guests include members of Congress, ambassadors, and cabinet officials. The food is so popular my office oftentimes has to limit the number of guests to the reception. prgtoken Taco Palenque does not limit itself to merely serving good food. Throughout Taco Palenque's existence, the restaurant has partnered with advocates and organizations that promote the well-being of the local community. As a sponsor of multiple youth sports teams and organizations, such as Mercy Ministries of Laredo, the Boys and Girls Club of
VOTE EXPLANATION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-6-29

I was necessarily absent for the cloture vote on the nomination of Neomi Rao to be the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the White House Office of Management and Budget. prgtoken On vote No. 155, had I been present, I would have voted nay on the motion to invoke cloture on the Rao nomination. prgtoken This administration has dedicated itself to undermining many of the commonsense regulations that protect public health, workers, consumers, students, and the environment. prgtoken Ms. Rao's previous writings show that, as OIRA Administrator, she would likely continue this trend and actively work to prevent any new regulations from being implemented. prgtoken She has previously called for increased political oversight of independent agencies, like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and dramatically limiting the regulatory authority of other Federal agencies. prgtoken This is concerning as OIRA plays a critical role in the Federal regulatory process and often determines how new regulations are implemented. prgtoken Therefore, I would have voted against cloture on Ms. Rao's nomination as I do not believe she will adequately defend agencies' duties to set safety standards that protect the public.
Healthcare Legislation (Executive Calendar)
Heidi Heitkamp (Democrat, ND) \u2014 2017-6-29

Congress and our country desperately need to have an honest, meaningful, transparent, and bipartisan conversation about improving our healthcare system. It shouldn't be a tall order, but around here things that seem common sense to the rest of the country are never simple. Instead, partisanship too often wins. We have seen that with the Senate healthcare bill, as it was crafted behind closed doors without allowing any or the public to see it until it was a proposal. prgtoken It is good news that a vote on the bill was delayed, but we must continue to have this conversation as the debate continues. That bill was bad for North Dakota. Only when we seek real bipartisan solutions do I believe we will be successful in improving our healthcare system. prgtoken We need to reform our healthcare system. I have been saying it for years. In fact, I have proposed a number of fixes over the past 3\1/2\ years, but none of those fixes are embodied in the healthcare bill. It is just not the right direction. prgtoken Just yesterday, I joined many of my colleagues to bring up some commonsense bills we can and should take up right now to make sure American families aren't hurt in the near term. We called on s to work with us, but, unfortunately, they objected. I want to work in a bipartisan way. I want real healthcare reform. But, unfortunately, I do not believe everyone in Congress feels that way. prgtoken First, we need to talk about the facts of the Senate bill--facts that are from very reputable nonpartisan sources. prgtoken Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report reinforcing that the Senate bill is just as terrible as the bill that came out of the House of Representatives a prgtoken few months ago. The Senate bill would rip away health insurance from 22 million Americans by 2026, including 31,000 North Dakotans who would lose private health coverage. You can't put a few bandaids on a bad bill and expect that North Dakota would not feel that pain. prgtoken Just as in the House bill, the biggest savings would come from severe cuts to Medicaid--a program that would see a 26-percent cut in 2026. The bill would slash a lifesaving program that 90,000 North Dakota children, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families rely on for affordable, quality care. That includes 36,000 children in my State. prgtoken The Senate healthcare bill would get rid of the Medicaid expansion and cap the amount of Federal funding States can get to cover those traditional Medicaid patients. That would drastically reduce the amount of Medicaid funds going to the States. This would push those remaining costs onto States and counties that can't afford it. Importantly, it also would push the cost onto other patients. The American Hospital Association estimates that North Dakota Medicaid would lose $1.2 billion through 2026. At
Introductory Statement on S. 1507
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-6-29

today I am introducing the State Flood Mitigation Revolving Fund Act of 2017 along with Senators Kennedy and Menendez. prgtoken The purpose of this bill is to reduce flood risk and the costs associated with flooding by establishing a State revolving loan program to fund mitigation projects for homeowners, businesses, and communities. This includes activities such as home elevations, flood proofing, acquisitions, and environmental restoration. By funding projects that reduce risk, the bill also provides an avenue to help middle-income and low-income property owners reduce their flood insurance premiums. prgtoken , flooding is the most common and costly hazard facing American property owners. Every year, we are reminded of this when we see catastrophic flooding in communities across the country. Since 2010, my home State of Rhode Island has experienced two Presidentially- declared flooding disasters, which have cost the Federal government over $86 million in payments from the National Flood Insurance Program. Nationally, disasters like these have caused FEMA to pay out an average of nearly $3 billion a year in flood insurance claims over the last five years--not to mention the billions in disaster payments for uninsured damage. prgtoken Almost universally, experts remind us that the best way to reduce the cost of flooding is to engage in proactive, not reactive, flood mitigation. This is what the State Flood Mitigation Revolving Fund Act seeks to do. prgtoken Modeled on the successful Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, this bill creates a straightforward and easily accessible program through which States can offer low-interest loans to homeowners, businesses, and communities who want to mitigate their flood risk. By creating a revolving fund, the bill will allow States to design and more efficiently implement their own flood mitigation strategies provided that they help achieve Federal objectives such as reducing disaster payments. prgtoken Within this construct, the bill gives States the flexibility to undertake flood mitigation projects without the red tape associated with other Federal disaster mitigation programs. The bill requires state to provide a match of 20 percent, but they would have an incentive to further leverage Federal dollars, as many already do under the drinking water and clean water SRFs. prgtoken Additionally, the bill ensures mitigation assistance is focused on where the flood risk is greatest and where people are most vulnerable. The bill requires States to prioritize mitigation assistance for low- income homeowners and geographic areas, pre-FIRM buildings, and severe repetitive loss and repetitive loss buildings. Finally, it gives States the option of providing additional subsidization for low-income property-owners and-communities that simply do not have the wherewithal to assume additional debt. prgtoken , as we talk about appro
RECOGNIZING THE BIRTHDAY OF LUCI BAINES JOHNSON, THE YOUNGER DAUGHTER OF U.S. PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON AND HIS WIFE, FORMER FIRST LADY, LADY BIRD JOHNSON
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-6-29

I rise today, along with Congressman Barton, to recognize the birthday of Luci Baines Johnson. Ms. Luci Baines Johnson is the Chairwoman of LBJ Holding Co. She also serves as Vice President of The Business Suites and as a Director of LBJ Broadcasting Co. Ms. Johnson is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Wildflower Research Center, a member of the advisory boards of both the Center for Battered Women and of ``Believe in Me'', and a life trustee of Seton Fund. After many years of service, we are pleased to recognize her today. On Sunday, July 2, 2017, she will be celebrating her 70th birthday. prgtoken Ms. Johnson has degrees from Georgetown University School of Nursing, the University of Texas, and St. Edward's University. Ms. Johnson has served as a Trustee of Boston University, is a past chairman of the Affiliate Fund-raising Drive for the American Heart Association, a former chairman of the University of Texas System School of Nursing, and a former member of the Board of Review of the National League of Nursing. prgtoken Through our shared passion for public service, we have developed a close relationship that continues to grow stronger by the year. Much like her parents before her, she has dedicated her life to public service and it has been an honor to see the contributions she has made throughout the state of Texas. prgtoken Throughout her life, she has constantly displayed the virtues of compassion, passion, prgtoken and integrity. By staying true to herself in the midst of adversity, she has managed to accomplish so much. Through her philanthropic efforts, she has been able to turn dreams into realities for so many. prgtoken , we congratulate Luci Baines Johnson on her successes, and we wish her a happy 70th birthday. We wish her success as she continues to fight for so many people, not only in the Great State of Texas, but across the United States. prgtoken , the recognition of the birthday and accomplishments of Luci Baines Johnson are worth acknowledging.
NO SANCTUARY FOR CRIMINALS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-6-29

. Law enforcement officers have to be able to abide by the law. It is unjust to penalize law enforcement and the citizens they serve because Congress disagrees with the enforcement priorities with respect to our Nation's immigration laws. And they are right. But they also say that they need to build trust in our communities. prgtoken This bill destroys community trust. It also penalizes hardworking governments of mayors and county leaders who are, in fact, trying to run the government and ensure that victims of domestic violence and crime, even as immigrants, are able to be treated in a manner where justice is had. prgtoken What about the National Sheriffs' Association or the Texas Police Chiefs in Texas' major cities who indicate that this bill will serve no good and no good can come to a similar bill in the States? prgtoken Let me say to you, I stand with the Catholic church, and I am not Catholic. What are our values? This church opposes the idea of our values. prgtoken Let me be very clear as I close. We are doing the sanctuary cities bill, but I want to know about the integrity of this place. prgtoken , I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3003, the ``No Sanctuary for Criminals Act,'' which requires state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, expands DHS detainer authority, and expands detention authority. prgtoken I oppose this bill mainly because it directly violates the Constitution of the United States. prgtoken If H.R. 3003 were to become law, it will coerce states and localities to cooperate with immigration enforcement, it will hurt victims and witnesses to crimes, and ultimately make communities less safe, which directly contravenes the stated and alleged goals of this bill. prgtoken Police Chiefs across the nation are responding to less disturbances, not because crime is magically disappearing, but because immigrant communities are afraid to report them out of fear of being targeted. prgtoken H.R. 3003 will completely strip state and local jurisdictions of their ability to enact common-sense policies that breed respect and trust and turn local law enforcement into an auxiliary arm of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). prgtoken To ensure compliance, this bill coerces states and localities by imposing penalties that will deny federal funding for critical law enforcement, national security, drug treatment, and crime victim initiatives. prgtoken This divisive and vindictive administrative policy abridges the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which 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 H.R. 3003 also violates the Fourth Amendment's proscription against unreasonable searches and seizures in respect to the changes it makes to DHS's detainer authority. prgtoken It expands upon current DHS detainer practice by broadening the ways
HONORING ANDREW ROGERS
Kurt Schrader (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-6-29

I rise today to give special recognition to Andrew Rogers, the last surviving member of the heroic 1941 Willamette University Bearcats football team. The 1941 season was a tremendous success for the team, going 8-2, capturing the Northwest Conference title. prgtoken But we remember that Bearcats historic season for far more than just athletics. At the end of the season, Willamette University was invited to play the University of Hawaii on December 6, 1941. prgtoken The following morning, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. Rogers, the entire team, and visiting Willamette supporters volunteered to guard the Punahou School for 10 days while others helped with the injured. prgtoken After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Rogers volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an infantry platoon leader for the 3rd Marine Division throughout the Second World War. He served meritoriously during the final phase of the recapture of Guam, as well as during the Battle of Iwo Jima. prgtoken Rogers reminds all Americans of the impact we can have when we step up in times of need. His military service during a dark, uncertain time in our history is another shining example of the Greatest Generation. prgtoken I am proud to share his story and offer this small piece of recognition for all that Andrew Rogers has done for this great country.