mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM COMPETITION AND EXTENSION ACT OF 2018
Jeb Hensarling (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank the majority whip for his kind words and our ability to work together to put together a product that we are both proud of and that the House passed. Again, we regret that those on the other side of the Capitol have not seen the wisdom to put forth any plan. prgtoken What we have before us is something that is quite simple. If you believe that you want to create at least 6 months of certainty for the market, for the real estate market, residential market, particularly in flood-prone areas, then you will pass this bill, because this is the one that creates certainty that every single current policy of the NFIP is extended for 6 months. That is what it does. prgtoken It codifies one particular policy of the NFIP, and this creates more certainty. This is what people have come to the floor to say they want. prgtoken Again, I lament the fact we are not doing a 5-year reauthorization. I lament the fact we are not dealing with many of the challenges that I mentioned earlier, but at least, today, we can create certainty for 6 months as negotiations continue in the next Congress. prgtoken , I urge every Member to support this bill, and .
NATHANIEL P. REED HOBE SOUND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , S. 3456 would rename the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, located in southeast Florida, after Nathaniel P. Reed, who passed away on July 11, 2018, at the age of 84. prgtoken Nathaniel P. Reed was a prominent conservationist who served as an Assistant Secretary of the Interior from 1971 to 1977 and later returned to Florida to form an advocacy group to help preserve and restore the Everglades. He also joined forces with former Senator Bob Graham to launch the Florida Conservation Coalition. prgtoken Renaming the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, which is located near his home in Florida, in honor of Nathaniel P. Reed is a tribute to his legacy of conservation and public land stewardship. prgtoken , I urge adoption of the measure, and .
TRIBUTE TO DAVID ADKINS
Kevin Yoder (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-12-21

as I leave Congress at the end of this year, I am reminded that each of us have been fortunate to have careers in public service because of mentors who have helped us along the way. prgtoken One such mentor for me was my friend David Adkins. Long before I stood for public office I was an aide to State Senator David Adkins. David served as a talented and distinguished leader who helped guide our state on many issues. He helped me understand the importance of sound public policy, compassion and empathy for others and the need for levity on occasion to make governance work. prgtoken Although he was leaving public service as I was starting, David has remained a good friend who has helped provide mentorship and advice along the way. We don't always agree on the issues, but we always agree that our government needs leaders who are willing to step up and solve problems to keep our nation strong. More than anything David is a proud Kansas Jayhawk, who, like myself, served as Student Body President at the University of Kansas. prgtoken Now David serves as the executive director of the Council of State Governments in Lexington, Kentucky. prgtoken , I'd like to thank David for his mentorship to me, his service to the people of Kansas, and to his lifelong dedication to creating good public policy to benefit our great nation.
GODSPEED AND FAREWELL
Mark Sanford (Republican, SC) \u2014 2018-12-21

it had been my intention to do a farewell address on the House floor on Thursday. In fact, I had reserved half an hour of floor time and had intended to not only offer a farewell but to talk one last time about the dangers headed to our economy and country, based on the build-up of our national debt and the economic bubble this has brought about. As it turned out, the day got turned upside down, and so as a consequence, I include in the Record the following. I would have simply risen to say thank you; as it stands, I write to say thank you. As a boy, our family would watch the movie ``It's a Wonderful Life'' each Christmas. It was one of our traditions, and it's a telling tale of life's real blessings and the importance of remembering them. It's in that spirit that I recognize how blessed I have been to have been an active participant in federal and state political debates over the last quarter of a century. It was Teddy Roosevelt who spoke much of the man in the arena, but what's often times forgotten about those who apply his speech to politics is the people who put folks in the arena. And that's where my thanks begin. I ran for Congress for the first time back in 1994 not really having much of a clue on the political process but certainly being concerned, revolted by, and impassioned on the dangers of our federal debt--and what it could do to our economy and our republic. I held flip charts in front of Rotary Club gatherings and walked through rather mind-numbing sets of numbers in explaining the dangers of our debt. I talked about the fall of the Byzantine Empire. I talked about the debt-load in Spain in the sixteen hundreds. I talked about a lot of rather narrow details, and I look back now at those talks and cringe. Those who sat in the back row must have thought to themselves, ``I have no idea what he is talking about, but he sure is passionate about it--and based on that I'll give him the benefit of my vote.'' This was the beginning of 25 years of kindness, generosity, understanding, and more that me, Jenny, and the boys were the recipients of over the years. I don't know how to best express my deep appreciation to the people of the 1st District, and to the people of the State of South Carolina, for the trust they placed in me and the grace they offered me and the family. It's well-known that on same days I exceeded their expectations on duties performed. It is equally well- known that on other days I fell short. But having seen both the highs and the lows of politics, and in falling at both ends of the ``expectation-fulfillment-spectrum,'' I can say with certainty that I have been blessed to serve a most grace-filled lot. For that, I am indeed Jimmy Stewart's character in ``It'
TRIBUTE TO BOB CORKER
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-12-21

people often forget that each of us comes to the Senate having done other significant things in life. Mr. Corker, the Senator from Tennessee, came here with a series of experiences that greatly informed his work in the Senate, as well as the work of his colleagues. prgtoken Mr. Corker was a success in business long before he entered politics, and he brought the lessons of that success into public service. He was the deeply respected mayor of Chattanooga, TN. Mayors are perhaps the most accountable elected officials in the Nation. They are a pragmatic results-oriented stock. They live in the communities that they govern, so there is no place to hide, and they are forced to defend their records because the electorate knows what they have done and haven't. No room for spin when you are a mayor. prgtoken Bob then brought the lessons of both of these careers to the U.S. Senate where he is known as a no-nonsense Senator who cuts through the bluster and focuses on the facts. On difficult problems, whether it was the Iran nuclear agreement or working to save the American automobile industry from near collapse, he brought discipline to our deliberations. prgtoken I would like to say a few words about Bob's work as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has historically held a preeminent role in the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy. Chairman Corker approached the position with all of the grace and diplomacy appropriate to the office. prgtoken As the Senate's representative to the executive in foreign policy, he ably represented our interests. He asked the questions that were on so many of our minds and then he returned to the Senate to explain the administration's thinking. He calmed many of our anxieties about the turbulent world in which we live. I like to think that is because Mr. Corker is a thoughtful, methodical, and calm thinker. His calm, steady leadership as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee these past several years will be greatly missed.
ADJOURNMENT FROM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018, TO MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-12-22

reserving the right to object--and I will not object--I had hoped to have been recognized earlier to offer a unanimous consent request to call up H.R. 7397, ic whip Steny Hoyer's bill to end the government shutdown and fund the government through February 8. I was told that I would be blocked from doing that. prgtoken For the life of me, I don't understand why President and congressional s have shut the government down three days before Christmas. I think it is embarrassing and it is wrong. 800,000 Federal employees will not get paid during this holiday season because of the shutdown. prgtoken The Senate passed a continuing resolution unanimously. We were set to do the same thing in the House, until the President had a temper tantrum. prgtoken It is frustrating that s won't allow us to proceed to end this shutdown. I would hope that maybe the would be open to a unanimous consent request so I could bring this legislation up so we can fund the government and end the shutdown.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-12-22

I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration and that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of PN Nos. 2507, 2626, 2638, 2639, 2670, 2671; that the nominations be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.
IN HONOR OF 115TH CONGRESS HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-12-27

for the past two years, it has been my immense honor to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. prgtoken This esteemed committee is charged with the ``power of the purse'' under the Constitution, and I did not take this responsibility lightly. In leading this committee, I had a singular focus on ``getting our work done.'' prgtoken I am proud to say that in Fiscal Year 2019, we achieved something that hasn't been done in over two decades--passing five Appropriations bills ahead of the end of the fiscal year. prgtoken This is not a remarkable feat nor one that deserves applause. But it is historic, and it signifies that we were able to do what the American people sent us here to do: govern responsibly. This was a critical step in returning to the regular federal funding process. prgtoken These bills, which fund 75 percent of the federal government, included full funding for the Department of Defense and critical national security programs. prgtoken My deepest devotion has always been to our men and women in uniform, all volunteers--to ensure they have the resources they need to fight and succeed in our missions. For their service and sacrifice, they must know they have the full support of the government behind them. I am proud to say we achieved that, providing stability and predictability where there had been none for many years. And we were able to provide historic levels of funding for the care of our veterans who have served our nation. prgtoken Prior to this year, we laid the groundwork for this relative success. In Fiscal Year 2018, we passed all 12 bills in record time through ``regular order,'' and three Disaster Supplemental Appropriations bills, historic in scope, to help our fellow citizens in their times of need. prgtoken It is the duty of Congress to help communities and families recover in times of great tragedy and emergencies, and the Appropriations Committee was consistently able to respond quickly and get resources into the hands of many communities, states, and regions of our nation. prgtoken We achieved this all through an open and transparent process. Over the past two years, we held 160 oversight and budget hearings, received and considered tens of thousands of requests from members, and brought many bills to the floor under an open amendment process. Of this, the committee should be very proud. prgtoken One of the hallmarks of the committee is the collegiality and bipartisan spirit in which our members work. Although we did not agree on everything, we all have great respect for the committee and our Constitutional duty to fund the government. Working in this manner best serves our districts, our states, and our country. prgtoken I owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues on the Committee, especially the Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members, for their work over the past two years. They have fought ferociously for their priorities, and their intentions have always been t
FIXING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S UN-AMERICAN IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-12-31

I rise today as an elected representative, but also as a mother--a mother who is horrified and outraged by the actions taken by the Administration to deliberately separate families. prgtoken Like any mother, I love my children and cannot imagine being separated from them. But because of the Administration's policies, some mothers have no choice. prgtoken Just this week, I have been working to reunite two mothers in my community who were prevented from reuniting with their families. prgtoken The first story I want to share is of Maria Mendoza-Sanchez. Maria has lived with her family in the East Bay for more than two decades. She and her husband Eusebio raised four beautiful children, worked hard, and purchased a home in Oakland. prgtoken Maria went to school while raising small children and went on to become a nurse at Highland Hospital. She was beloved by her patients and her colleagues. prgtoken Maria and Eusebio tried to do the right thing. They paid their taxes and came forward to legalize their immigration status. And for years, they were on a path to citizenship. prgtoken But like many families, Maria and Eusebio's efforts did not matter to the Administration. prgtoken Under President 's misguided enforcement priorities, Maria and Eusebio were targeted for deportation. prgtoken And last summer--after more than twenty years building a life in our community--Maria and Eusebio were torn from their children and deported to Mexico. prgtoken But over the last sixteen months, we didn't give up. We kept working to reunite Maria with her family--to bring her home. prgtoken Finally, after more than a year of work, we were able to secure an H1-B visa for Maria. And this past Sunday, I was honored and overjoyed to join Maria as she was reunited with her children. prgtoken But Maria isn't the only mother torn from her children by President 's immigration policies. prgtoken Also in the news this week was the story of Shaima, whose son Abdullah Hassan has been on life support at Children's Hospital Oakland, in my district. prgtoken Abdullah is two years old and suffers from a genetic brain condition. His mother Shaima, who was born in Yemen, has been barred from travelling to the United States to be with her son because of the Administration's un-American Muslim ban. prgtoken Abdullah doesn't have much time left--and Shaima feared that she would not be able to say goodbye to her young son. prgtoken --is this really who we are? A country that denies mothers safe passage to be with their dying children? prgtoken No family should ever have to endure this. prgtoken And in the face of such unimaginable cruelty, I am proud to say that our community stepped up. I want to thank everyone who showed up, who protested and organized and petitioned for this outcome. prgtoken Because of your advocacy, the State Department granted a visa waiver to Shaima so she can be with her son. She will be able to be with her so
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOSEPH CROWLEY
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-12-31

it is my distinct privilege to honor and recognize the accomplishments of a dear friend, a dedicated public servant, and an overall wonderful human being, my colleague Congressman Joe Crowley. This year, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in the Bronx is honoring Joe at their Annual Dinner Dance. They could not have picked a more deserving honoree. prgtoken Joe and I go way back, starting with our days together in Albany as Members of the New York State Assembly. A native of Woodside, Queens and lifelong New Yorker, Joe has served the people of the Bronx and Queens in Congress since 1998. Before being elected to Congress, Joe received a bachelor's degree from Queens College, ran a successful small business for nearly a decade and represented the 30th Assembly District in the New York State legislature. Throughout his career in public service, Joe has been driven by a desire to protect New York's middle class. prgtoken Joe has always been dedicated to making the Bronx-Queens community more prosperous and secure. He established the Crime Stoppers program in 2002 to support local organizations that are working to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and it has delivered more than $1 million in federal funding to the Bronx-Queens community for graffiti clean-up, after-school programming, and civic patrol efforts. prgtoken As Chairman of the ic Caucus, the fourth-highest ranking position in House ic Leadership, Joe's efforts in Congress focused on building strong communities, creating jobs, increasing access to health care and housing, protecting seniors' hard-earned benefits, and opening up educational opportunities for working families. prgtoken When not fighting for his constituents, Joe can be found spending time with his lovely family--wife Kasey Crowley and their three children--or playing with his band. prgtoken Both local and national media have recognized Joe for his effective and impressive record of leadership in Congress. The New York Times has noted that his peers consider him to be a ``hard working representative'' who is ``an impassioned advocate for his district.'' I couldn't have said it better myself. Come January I will miss Joe's presence in Washington, but I know he will continue to be a powerful force for good in the New York City community. Congratulations to Joe on this honor and a remarkable career.
RETIREMENT OF MATTHEW PINKUS
Robert A. Brady (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-12-31

I have the opportunity to inform colleagues that Mr. Matthew Pinkus, our Committee senior policy adviser and parliamentarian to House Administration Committee , retired recently, concluding a congressional staff career which began as an intern in 1971 and included 19 years on our committee, the longest of the more than twenty different congressional professional positions he had held during that period, including time as chief legislative assistant to Rep. Michael Barnes (D) of Maryland for the congressman's entire tenure in the House. prgtoken Whether working in House leadership, on five different congressional committees and in Members' offices, Matt excelled in a huge variety of tasks. A summer college job as a congressional intern in the House for Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal of New York while attending Brandeis University prompted Matt to leave graduate school at U.C. Berkeley after receiving an M.A. in political science and work in Washington full time, first at Congressional Quarterly, then for a month in the Senate, and then the remaining decades in the House. He said of that path, ``I decided very early on that, as much as possible, I would do things the way I wanted and try to have fun. Usually, that worked.'' prgtoken Matt had an eclectic career path since his first full-time job here in 1976, when he left a political reporting job at Congressional Quarterly. He often chose to seek work in specific subject areas which interested him, rather than follow the common alternate staff career path of attaching himself to one or two members and remaining in place. He was first appointed to the Committee on House Administration ic staff in 1991 by Rep. Sam Gejdenson of Connecticut to work on campaign finance reform, and then moved on to the Brookings Institution as a guest scholar on their ``Renewing Congress'' project before returning to the House in 1995 to work on oversight of the executive branch at the Committee on Government Reform. Between Hill jobs in the 1990s, Matt had finished writing a book for Congressional Quarterly in 1998, How Congress Works, and was ready to once again return to the House. Then-House Administration Ranking Member Gejdenson asked him to work on election contests, and he remained here to work sequentially for Ranking Members Hoyer, Larson and Chairwoman Millender-McDonald. prgtoken Matt was probably best known on the Hill as one of the top experts on rules and process, serving on the Rules Committee staff and twice on the Subcommittee on Rules of the House, including as subcommittee staff director. His most distinctive job was as parliamentarian of the House ic Caucus for six years, which recognized and utilized his vast knowledge of the Caucus rules. It was a position created especially for him and lasted through the service of Chairmen Robert Menendez, Jim Clyburn, Rahm Emanuel and John Larson--all while he also worked simultaneously on the House
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-1-2

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaty on today's Executive Calendar No. 7. I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to as applicable; that any statements be printed in the Congressional Record as if read; further, that when the resolution of ratification is voted upon, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.