mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Executive Session)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-11-20

first of all, let me say that I totally agree with my friend from Montana on the importance of, after a year of deliberation--or maybe ``deliberation'' is too strong a word--more than a year since all three countries agreed on an agreement, that we still have not gotten a chance to vote on this agreement on the Senate floor; we have to wait for the House to do that. I want to do everything that I can to encourage the House to move forward with this. I think better trade policy can turn a good economy into a great economy, and we need to be working on that great economy.
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-11-20

I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding to me and for leading here on this National Bible Week. prgtoken I would like to start out with just a touch of levity, because we are called to address the , and I know that the happens to also be a man of God and a Bible scholar. prgtoken In addressing the , I enjoy revisiting Ecclesiastes 10:2, which says: ``A wise man's heart is at his right, but a fool's heart at his left.'' prgtoken I couldn't resist that, and I pray that you forgive me, , for that bit of levity at this time. prgtoken I would move on to my favorite verse, which is Ecclesiastes 9:10: ``Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.'' prgtoken It calls us not to just wander through this life and touch things gently and kind of let the flow of life go by, but we are given gifts by God. He fills us with skill sets that we haven't yet developed, whether it is intellectual, whether it is physical, but skill sets of the heart, and to put our vigor to those things that please Him. prgtoken So with that verse in mind each morning, I pray that God will loan me the measure of his wisdom, that He would have me use this day to go forth and glorify Him. And if there is time for a little extra blessing, let me do so with joy. That sustains me through every day. prgtoken Another verse that sustains me through these future days came to me this morning at our gathering. This is the first chapter of Jeremiah, verse 17, that says: ``Meet them undaunted, and they shall have no power to daunt thee.'' prgtoken That says, in my vernacular, never let them see you sweat, but go forth with courage and with confidence. Do those things that God calls you to do, and do so with your might. prgtoken I also look back on a verse in James that has caught my eye for some time, prgtoken and it calls us, I think, in the right way, : ``Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.'' prgtoken That fits with a prayer that I offered for years when we went through the farm crisis years of the 1980s. Things were falling down around us. The economy had essentially collapsed, and my neighbor's farms were being sold weekend after weekend in farm sales. prgtoken I was being tested in a similar way myself. Each day, I would pray that God would be finished testing me and start to use me. prgtoken And we should take joy in that test before we are made perfect in the tests that He provides for us. I know they are in the Book of James, which is one that has stood out for me for a long time, and that is: If you fail to do what you know is right, then you have sinned. prgtoken And I recall an issue that was going on in the Iowa State legislature. I was here in Congress, but I needed a bill introduced and moved in the State legislature. There we
Introductory Statement on S. 2916
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise to join my colleague, the senior Senator from Vermont, in introducing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. This bill would update and reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have provided life- saving services and housing for America's homeless youth for more than forty years. prgtoken Homelessness is affecting youth in unprecedented numbers. According to a recent study by Voices of Youth Count, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of these youth may stay away from home for a few nights, while others have been living on the streets for years. Approximately 73 percent experienced homelessness lasting more than one month. The study also found that homelessness is just as prevalent in rural communities as it is in urban communities. prgtoken And sadly, these statistics likely underestimate the scale of this problem. This month, I met with teachers and specialists from Lewiston, Maine, who work directly with young people in Lewiston High School whose families experience homelessness. We talked about the pressures that student homelessness places on teachers, school administrators, and their already strapped resources, and, of course, on the children and teens themselves. Although schools often serve as a first stop for assistance, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would reauthorize and strengthen the programs that help homeless youth meet their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential services for those who cannot be reunified with their families safely. prgtoken The three Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional Living Program--help community-based organizations reach these young people when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early intervention can help them to escape victimization and trafficking. prgtoken As Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, working to end the scourge of homelessness--among both youth and adults--has been one of my top priorities. Along with Senator Jack Reed, I created a grant program to reduce youth homelessness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there has been a 15 percent drop in chronic homelessness since 2007. We must build on this success. Homeless youth should have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers, and this bill is an important step in that direction. prgtoken In Maine, our homeless shelters are critical partners in the fight to end human trafficking. Earlier this year, I hosted U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson in Lewiston. We visited New Beginnings, where we saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless Youth Act resources are prgtoken providing essential safety nets for young p
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize November as National Adoption Month. prgtoken This month we celebrate the life-changing act of adoption that has touched the lives of so many in our country. American families nationwide open their homes and their hearts to children in search of a stable environment and a forever home. prgtoken Despite the many parents that adopt, there are still so many children in the foster care system in search of a place to call home. In 2018, almost half a million children and teenage youth were in U.S. foster care. As a country we must always strive to help the most vulnerable citizens among us. All children in America deserve a permanent family that can provide them with the love, support, and encouragement needed to reach their full potential in life. prgtoken During this important awareness month, we recognize the unconditional love adoptive parents provide to their children, and we hope that all children will soon be welcomed into a loving family.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MS. JENNIFER T. GRAHAM
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise today to recognize Ms. Meg Heap, who was recently honored by the Zonta Club of Savannah for her work to reduce domestic violence against women. prgtoken Serving as the district attorney for the Savannah area since 2013, she has spearheaded a number of programs in coastal Georgia to create greater equality for women. She created an early notification prosecutor position for domestic violence and an early notification process for the Victim Witness Program. Additionally, she created a one-stop Chatham County Family Justice Center. prgtoken In 2019, the District Attorney Association of Georgia selected her as the District Attorney of the Year. prgtoken From Savannah originally, Ms. Heap can be an inspiration to all of us about giving back to your community. prgtoken Thank you, Ms. Heap, for all of your work to make Savannah a better place to live, and thank you to the Zonta Club of Savannah for recognizing her achievements. Happy 95th Birthday to Mr. Howard Young
Remembering Nathan Lane (Executive Calendar)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise to join my colleagues from Iowa, Texas, and Alaska in calling for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA. VAWA was foundational to addressing domestic violence and sexual assault and supporting survivors in their recovery. prgtoken VAWA expired earlier this year, and it is critical that the services and tools offered through the law are reauthorized so we can continue to help and empower survivors. Additionally, it is important that we make it known that crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking are not tolerated. prgtoken Senator Ernst will be introducing this legislation, which I am cosponsoring, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. This bill includes key Tribal provisions, such as expanding Tribal criminal jurisdiction and upholding Tribal sovereignty while prgtoken amending the 2013 VAWA, and providing increased funding for Indian Tribes to address violence committed against Indians on their lands. prgtoken A Department of Justice report found that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetime, and Native women are significantly more likely to experience cases of stalking and physical violence by an intimate partner. prgtoken Under Senator Ernst's VAWA bill, Indian Tribes will be allowed to train more lawyers and Tribal court judges, further strengthening the Tribal criminal justice system; have access to increased data and reporting on the subject of missing and murdered Indians; and will require the Department of Justice to issue annual reports to Congress in order to thoroughly track the progress of the special criminal jurisdiction and better determine trends of violence committed on Indian lands. prgtoken The Committee on Indian Affairs has held hearings on violence against Indians and missing and murdered Native Americans. As chairman of the committee, I introduced legislation that would increase resources to Indian victims of crime. The Senate majority VAWA includes my SURVIVE Act, which would provide Indian Tribes with a 5-percent Tribal set aside of the Crime Victims Fund. Prior to our work on this initiative, Tribes were accessing less than 1 percent of this important funding. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have included a Tribal set- aside in the three previous fiscal years of criminal justice science packages, which underscores the importance of passing authorizing language, such as my SURVIVE Act. prgtoken This VAWA bill also includes Savanna's Act, a bill I am cosponsoring, named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a pregnant woman from the Spirit Lake Nation in my home State who went missing and was found murdered 8 days later. Savanna's tragic death did not go unnoticed and has helped to raise awareness about missing and murdered Native American women. Savanna's Act will help to address cases of missing or murdered Indians by directing t
Internet Exchange Act (Executive Session)
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-11-20

reserving the right to object, we have made progress here this evening in the sense that my colleague has brought up another topic--transparency for prescriptions. prgtoken Across the board, when it comes to hospitals and exposing their charge practices, drug companies becoming transparent and competing, health insurance companies getting rid of the secret agreements behind the scenes, and even practitioners, publish your prices in print or on the web so we as employers and consumers of healthcare can try to make the right decisions and bring costs down. prgtoken I do object to the original request.
CONGRATULATING MOHAWK TRAILS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON BEING NAMED A 2019 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate an outstanding school in my district that is being honored as a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School. It is a pleasure to congratulate Mohawk Trails Elementary School of Carmel, Indiana, in celebration of this special occasion. prgtoken The National Blue Ribbon designation, given by the United States Department of Education, is awarded to both public and private schools across our great nation. Started by President Reagan and given annually since 1982, the award celebrates great American schools that achieve very high learning standards or are making significant improvements in the academic achievements of their students. In my district and across the country, the award recognizes the great educators, students, and parents who have worked so hard to ensure our children reach their full potential and achieve academic success. prgtoken For all of these reasons and many more, I am very proud that Mohawk Trails Elementary School is receiving this prestigious designation. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the school's commitment to providing young Hoosiers an exceptional education. While hundreds of schools nationwide were nominated, only 362 schools were designated as 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Of the 362 schools, Mohawk Trails Elementary School was one of only 12 Indiana schools to receive recognition, making this recognition all the more impressive. Under the guidance of a dedicated staff and dynamic Principal Jennifer Greene, the Mohawk Trails Turtles have become a beacon for success in youth education. prgtoken Mohawk Trails Elementary School is committed to providing a nurturing environment for the intellectual, physical, and social development of each child. This commitment to the well-being and development of the student body is led by a dynamic staff of teachers, working to shape the future through the lives they are positively influencing in their classrooms daily. The dedicated staff at Mohawk Trails engages students in meaningful educational tasks that promote thinking and reasoning and it is because of their hard work that Mohawk Trails Elementary School has been deservedly honored with this Blue Ribbon Award. prgtoken As an advocate for education and youth, I want to acknowledge how important it is to our nation's future to encourage and raise a new generation of Americans who have the skills and knowledge to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Students like those at Mohawk Trails give me hope that we will accomplish this vital mission. Their outstanding work is an inspiration to students, educators, and parents across the nation. Once again, congratulations to Mohawk Trails Elementary School. I am very proud of them.
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise to address National Bible Week. prgtoken The Bible is very important in this country. In part, it is important because it is the Word of God, and that makes it the most important book, but it is a particularly important book in America, and it is a book that everybody should familiarize themselves with because I don't think you can understand either the Declaration of Independence or our Constitution without reading the Bible. prgtoken You have to remember what America was like in its founding and probably prgtoken at least the first 125 years after its founding. People learned to read by either learning to read the Bible itself or maybe learning to read another book, such as ``The New England Primer,'' which had many excerpts from the Bible in it, or ``McGuffey's Fourth Reader,'' which had 10 chapters, which were solely parts of the Bible and also included the Sermon on the Mount. prgtoken The Puritans, of course, who were such an important factor in the founding of America, encouraged everyone to read the Bible. In 1782, the U.S. Congress even commemorated an American Bible. The reason they commemorated an American Bible is, at that time, there was somewhat of a crisis in America. We had a Revolutionary War going on. It was difficult to get Bibles from England. So somebody else had to get a Bible or they had to get Bibles in other ways, and Congress talked about that. But when you think about that, you realize why, for so many early Americans, the Bible was so important to them. prgtoken It is kind of funny nowadays where they pretend that there is a separation between church and state in America, because John Jay, who was the first Chief Justice of the United States, was also president of the American Bible Society; and I could go on at length from early Supreme Court decisions in which they talked about the importance of God and made reference to the Bible. prgtoken Other important Americans early on, Andrew Jackson, the Bible is ``the rock on which our Republic rests.'' prgtoken We can take two things out of this: First of all, we could remember that the great Andrew Jackson felt the Bible was very important, and, secondly, remind people--because a lot of people around here don't know it--that we are a Republic. prgtoken Abraham Lincoln, of course, was known as our greatest Biblical President. There are all sorts of lessons in the Bible. prgtoken I think in First Samuel it is interesting to read when the Lord did not like Israel turning from Him and viewing Him as primarily their king over Israel, but instead they wanted kind of a strong central government under a king--example one of many lessons that I think our forefathers read when they designed our wonderful country. prgtoken But in any event, I think, for National Bible Week, what every one of us should do is take some time to read the Bible, particularly the parts of the Bible in which Israel was formed, because I think it was very important f
Pensions (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-11-20

reserving the right to object--and I will object--I am disappointed that my colleagues are offering such a short-term, piecemeal approach toward resolving the problems of our historically Black colleges and minority-serving institutions, when I have repeatedly offered a much better idea, and they have blocked it. I will offer it again in just a moment. I know the Senator from North Carolina is here to speak on the same subject. prgtoken Compared to what I have offered, they are offering a short-term, 2- year, budget gimmick-supported idea that will have a difficult time passing the Senate. What I have offered and they have blocked is permanent funding of historically Black colleges and minority-serving institutions--permanent funding--at the level of $255 million a year, properly funded. That is No. 1. There is assurance from the U.S. Department of Education that every single historically Black institution--there are 97 of them--have enough funding to go until next October. Even the Senate ought to be able to do its job in that period of time. prgtoken At the same time, I have offered the Alexander-Jones bill offered by the distinguished Senator from Alabama, which would simplify the Federal aid application form called the FAFSA for 8 million minority students, among 20 million families in this country. prgtoken Why would anybody want to take a short-term, piecemeal approach that is based on a budget gimmick that couldn't pass the Senate compared with permanent funding for historically Black colleges and a bipartisan proposal to change the hated, dreaded FAFSA by reducing the number of questions you have to answer from 108 questions to between 18 and 30? This prgtoken document is the single biggest impediment to minority students going to college in America today, and the are blocking the passage of a bipartisan bill. prgtoken I object.
RECOGNIZING JODIE PENROD JOLLY FOR THE 2019 MONTANA CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Jodie Penrod Jolly of Dillon for Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation for her service to her country and her support of fellow veterans in her community. Ms. Jolly is a veteran of the United States Air Force where she served as a nurse for over thirty years. She has received multiple commendations over her time in the Air Force including the USAF National Defense Medal and the Saudi-Kuwait Liberation Medal. Ms. Jolly had one goal when she came to Dillon: to support and help veterans in the community. She started the Beaverhead Chapter of Joining Community Forces and hosts an annual dinner to honor veterans, active duty personnel, and their family in the community. Ms. Jolly is known to be a go-to person in the community for veterans seeking assistance, connecting them with Veteran service providers. She is also active with the VFW Bill Carroll Post 9040, serving as Senior Vice- Commander. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending Jodie Penrod Jolly for her dedication to and support of veterans in her community.