mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN...
Pat Roberts (Republican, KS) \u2014 2019-10-30

I thank all of my colleagues and especially Senator Daines for pointing out what is happening in rural and smalltown America. As a matter of fact, most of my colleagues-- Senator Hoeven, Senator Capito, Senator Daines, Senator Boozman, Senator Blackburn--all represent large States, and we represent cities, of course, but also rural and smalltown America. I thank them for their concerted efforts. We have all been working together. prgtoken I thank Senator Hoeven more particularly for his work on funding, as he is the distinguished chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and I echo his support for getting these appropriations bills done. prgtoken I just want to talk and add to their comments about this national issue of immediate concern, substance abuse and opioid addiction. I think it is timely because just 1 year ago, the President of the United States signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act into law. This was the legislation that was the culmination of months of bipartisan work. I emphasize the word ``bipartisan.'' We talk about it a lot but seldom see it. This is one effort that we got done. This moved across several committees and both Chambers of Congress. So I think it is something we can take great pride in, showing folks back home that we can actually do something together. prgtoken I am proud to be part of this effort on behalf of both the Finance and HELP Committees in the Senate. The legislation included a bill I introduced to encourage the use of electronic prior authorization in Medicare Part D, which would help overcome one of the primary challenges to patients receiving their medications, including treatments for substance abuse disorders and non-opiate alternatives to treating pain. prgtoken The SUPPORT Act also included our language that would help shed light on the best practices and the barriers to using telehealth for treating substance abuse disorders in children who are covered under Medicaid. It will also focus on how we can utilize telehealth to help children in rural and underserved areas, including how treatment can be offered in school-based settings. All of us who have spoken on this issue have the same problem. prgtoken In last year's farm bill, the Senate Agriculture Committee, of which I am proud to be chairman, also included provisions to help those suffering from substance abuse disorders, primarily in our rural areas. We prioritized funding in the community facilities and distance learning telemedicine programs for projects focused on treating addiction, including opiates. prgtoken I am proud of these efforts, but there is so much work left to do to combat addiction. This is a real epidemic as has been stressed by my colleagues. prgtoken Real progress starts at the local level. In my home State of Kansas, we continue to need assistance in preventing meth use, as was so eloquently discussed by my colleague from Montana, Senator
COLORADO OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ECONOMY ACT
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-10-30

. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the comments of my friend from Colorado. This is certainly an example of the Colorado delegation working together, talking and collaborating, trying to figure out the best path forward for our State and the interests of all of our districts. prgtoken This is an issue, as I talked about earlier, that is very personal to me. I served in Afghanistan, and like I mentioned earlier, the pilots with whom I served received this critical training. My life and the life of my soldiers relied on this training being conducted and the important mission that HAATS performs every year for all of our services. prgtoken But I also learned something else in the Army that--and you don't have to take my word for it--one of the best ways to get information, the best way to figure out what the soldiers and the troops need, is you talk to the folks on the ground, you talk to the folks on the front line. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I applaud the work of Senator Bennet and my very good friend and colleague Congressman Joe Neguse for doing just that, reaching out to our military commanders. prgtoken I want to read, very briefly, a letter that was sent to them by Major General Michael Loh, who not only is a pilot but is the commander of the Colorado National Guard. He said: I am writing to express the support of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act through the diligent efforts of staff within the department, the offices of the bill's sponsors, and the Department of Defense, who have mitigated prior concerns related to military overflight of the potential wilderness areas identified in the bill. prgtoken That is our commander. That is our top commander of the Colorado National Guard that manages this facility, the pilots, and the training that occurs, saying: Thank you. You did your work. The delegation reached out. You have mitigated our concerns. Move forward. prgtoken What else do we need other than that word of our commanders? Joe Neguse and Michael Bennet worked very hard to make sure they were addressing the concerns, and we should take their word for it, not ours. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), my friend.
GRAND CANYON CENTENNIAL PROTECTION ACT
Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-10-30

. Madam Chair, the balance of my time. prgtoken Since we are engaging in a little bit of a geology course, I would like to point out, at the Kanab North Uranium Mine that has already been closed, within 400 feet of the mine site where the fence is, after 20 years, levels are as high as 10 times above the naturally occurring level for uranium concentration. This has been open and exposed for 20 years. The mine ceased operations in the 1990s. prgtoken I use that to say that, as far as I understand, the House of Representatives is a national legislature, and as a national legislature, we have responsibilities to deal with issues, regardless of whether it is in my particular district or in my colleague, Mr. Gosar's particular district. prgtoken Over the course of the last couple of days, we have heard our colleagues call this bill a number of things: a tired, old retread; a national security threat; a Federal land grab; an attack on science; and even an idle waste of time. I want to assure this Chamber and the American people that protecting the Grand Canyon is none of these characterizations. prgtoken The truth is, this bill is a critical safeguard for the Grand Canyon, one of the most iconic landscapes in the world, and the vital Colorado River watershed that supplies drinking water for communities throughout the Southwest. prgtoken Forty million people depend on that source. We just passed, overwhelmingly, the drought contingency plan for five States, including Arizona, because of the imminent threat of drought and the need to protect that river and that water source. prgtoken Most importantly, this bill is in response to Tribal communities that have experienced firsthand the toxic legacy of uranium mining. When I first got involved in this effort over a decade ago, it was not because of narrow special interests. It was because the Navajo Nation, the Havasupai Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and other impacted communities were calling for an end to the contamination associated with uranium mining. prgtoken These communities have lived on the land since time immemorial. Their interests go beyond the handful of jobs associated with the boom and bust cycle of the mining industry. prgtoken Historically, Tribal communities in the Southwest have borne the brunt of uranium mining's impact, with some estimates placing over 1,000 abandoned uranium mines and four mills on the Navajo Nation alone. prgtoken In 2008, health officials discovered that nearly 30 water sources in the Navajo Nation contained unsafe levels of uranium, and 27 percent of the residents tested positive for high levels of uranium. prgtoken The Navajos are not alone. In fact, the Havasupai, who live in the Grand Canyon and depend on the aquifer beneath the Colorado Plateau, are dealing with contaminated groundwater associated with the active discharge by the Canyon Mine. This is why several Havasupai Tribal leaders and
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS AT THE MEXICAN BORDER
Filemon Vela (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-10-30

last Friday, many of us attended the funeral for our colleague, Elijah Cummings. His story and the service were inspirational. On that same day, this article concerning the deteriorating conditions of the Mexican border appeared in The Texas Tribune about the consequences of the administration's Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP. prgtoken The article describes America's inhumanity unfolding in Matamoros, Mexico, a border town in which I, as a child, spent much of my time and in which my ancestors are buried. It is a story about America's cruelty, for which the President of the United States is directly responsible. prgtoken As I thought about what I could do about this situation, I couldn't help but ask myself: What would Elijah do? prgtoken By creating obstacle after obstacle, the administration does everything within its power to prevent asylum claimants from having their rightful day in court, whether they are entitled to stay or not. prgtoken Its latest obstruction is the Migrant Protection Protocols, which are anything but protection. The MPP forces asylum claimants to wait in dangerous Mexican border towns as their claims are processed, and they have proven to be nothing more than a weapon used to destroy America's longstanding reputation as the world's greatest melting pot. It is a blatant violation of the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution. prgtoken Our Nation's asylum laws guarantee the right to live in the United States while claims are adjudicated. Over 1,500 people now live in squalor in Matamoros, Mexico. They have no running water and a marginal number of toilets for all of them. They are housed in tents and forced to bathe naked out in the Rio Grande River. Their daily subsistence depends on the goodness of the volunteers from the Rio Grande Valley and across this Nation who cross into Mexico every day to provide a simple meal. The conditions are worse than those that I have seen in Syrian refugee camps. prgtoken This is not the way America is supposed to work. prgtoken The administration claims that by creating secret, sham, tent courts along the border that it is processing asylum claims. This is nothing more than a glaring effort to obliterate due process. In these so- called courts constitutional protections vanish, and civil liberties disappear. prgtoken The administration's policy is severely restricting and imposing barriers on the very fundamental bedrock of our legal system--the attorney-client relationship. Lawyers representing these asylum claimants are reporting that the MPP policy is making something as simple as the opportunity to meet with their client an impossibility. As of this August, less than 2 percent of those in MPP court even had lawyers representing them. The forcible removal of claimants to another country while they await adjudication is a judicial charade, represents a total abdication of the principles of fairness that are the foundations of o
VOTE EXPLANATION
Kamala D. Harris (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-10-30

. I was absent from the United States Senate vote on May 9, 2019, for vote No. 106, the confirmation of Michael Park to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on May 16, 2019, for vote No. 114, the confirmation of Wendy Vitter to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on May 16, 2019, for vote No. 205, the confirmation of Peter Phipps to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 24, 2019, for vote No. 228, the confirmation of Wendy Williams Berger to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 24, 2019, for vote No. 229, the confirmation of Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 30, 2019, for vote No. 236, confirmation of Michael Liburdi to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 30, 2019, for vote No. 241, the confirmation of Sean Jordan to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 31, 2019, for vote No. 254, the confirmation of Jeffrey Vincent Brown to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 31, 2019, for vote No. 255, the confirmation of Brantley Starr to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on July 31, 2019, for vote No. 258, the confirmation of William Shaw Stickman IV to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Had I been present I would have voted no. prgtoken I was absent from the United States Senate vote on September 25, 2019, for vote No. 305, the Schatz motion to instruct to include the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act in the National Defense Authorization Act. Had I been present I would have voted yes.
HONORING VANESSA WHITING OF CLEVELAND, OHIO
Marcia L. Fudge (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-10-30

today I rise to honor Vanessa Whiting of Cleveland, Ohio, the recipient of the 2019 Black Professional of the Year Award. prgtoken Ms. Whiting will become the 39th individual to receive this distinguished award given by the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation at their annual scholarship and awards gala. Each year the organization honors an African American professional for their career accomplishments, community engagement, and civic contributions. prgtoken Through her considerable achievements as an attorney, entrepreneur, and civic leader, Ms. Whiting is most deserving of this long overdue recognition. She embodies the mission of the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, which is to create opportunities for African American professionals by providing scholarship, leadership, and career development. prgtoken As president of AES Management and a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee, Ms. Whiting has made hiring people from her community a priority, creating employment opportunities where there are few options. prgtoken Ms. Whiting has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney. Throughout her law career, she focused her work on revitalizing struggling neighborhoods and helping small and minority-owned businesses succeed. prgtoken Ms. Whiting has committed her time and talents to address affordable housing, the need for community centers, and other projects in our area designed to uplift the community and empower its residents. prgtoken Ms. Whiting was recently elected chair of the MetroHealth Hospital Board of Trustees where she continues her work promoting diversity and inclusion throughout Cuyahoga County's public health system. She has served in many key board positions in the Cleveland community, including the NAACP Cleveland Branch, the Tri-C Foundation, Karamu House, and the Cleveland Housing Network Board of Trustees. prgtoken , I commend Ms. Whiting for her outstanding contributions to Ohio's 11th Congressional District. My sincere congratulations go to Ms. Whiting on this distinguished accomplishment, and I thank her for her leadership and her service.
RECOGNIZING THE EXEMPLARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY OF GUAM IN CELEBRATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN MONTH
Michael F. Q. San Nicolas (Democrat, GU) \u2014 2019-10-30

. Madam , it is my great honor to rise today in celebration of Filipino American History Month. During this month of October, we take the time to recognize and commend the innumerable contributions of our Filipino-Americans. As Filipino American History Month comes to an end, it is important that we reflect on the historical events that that have enriched our island and our country into prosperity. prgtoken The island of Guam and the Philippine nation share a mirrored colonial history, having both been under Spanish rule for hundreds of years and later governed by the United States. At the end of World War II seventy-five years ago, many Filipinos left their families and their homes to help rebuild Guam from the destruction left by the Imperial Japanese's three-year occupation of the island. Filipinos continue to bring their expertise in construction and labor to the island in the wake of man-made and natural disasters, for this we are grateful. prgtoken Today, Filipinos on Guam remain a true pillar of our community. They continue to play prgtoken vital roles by providing professional and economic support in the fields of healthcare, education, and infrastructure. With Filipinos proudly being the second largest ethnic demographic on Guam, one can easily discover unique Filipino hubs filled with Filipino cuisine, fashion, and pop culture throughout Guam. Furthermore, their significant contributions are evidenced through the many community organizations formed for the benefit of charity, education assistance, and goodwill. prgtoken The peoples of the Philippines and Guam's shared history, culture, and traditions will forever bind us. Our shared pursuit of the CHamoru cultural foundation of harmony and striving to do good for all, (inafa'maolek) has been easily achieved and manifested in the melting pot of Guam due to the strong relationship fostered by the Filipino Community in Guam and the people of Guam. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to reflect upon the rich history & contributions of Filipino-Americans. Throughout America's history, present, and future, the Filipino community has played and will continue to play a major role in enriching the quality of life for the people of the United States, and for their outstanding contributions they are worthy of our respect and gratitude. On behalf of the People of Guam, I extend our great thanks (un dangkulu na Si Yu'us ma'ase) to all Filipinos in Guam and across our nation.
GRAND CANYON CENTENNIAL PROTECTION ACT
Ann Kirkpatrick (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-10-30

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1373, the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. prgtoken I have lived in Arizona my entire life, born and raised there. I remember frequently visiting the canyon as a child, marveling at its magnificence and its beauty. I have hiked down the Grand Canyon with my family, camped on the banks of the Colorado River. It is not a place where we should have uranium mining. prgtoken There are many Native American Tribes who live in that area and who consider that a sacred site. For hundreds of years, their ancestors visited the Grand Canyon. They continue to worship there and have ceremonial sites in the Grand Canyon. prgtoken We just cannot allow this kind of contamination to continue. The problem with uranium mining is that the retroactive disposal of uranium is very, very difficult to clear from the land.
IN CELEBRATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-10-30

I rise today to recognize October as Filipino American History Month, a time for all Americans to remember and celebrate the incredible past, present, and future of our fellow citizens whose heritage lies in the great country of the Philippines. prgtoken I am especially humbled to do so as the proud Representative of Hawaii's First Congressional District, where live more Filipino Americans--close to 200,000--than in any of our 440 districts throughout our country. And with Hawaii's Second Congressional District number two, at about 175,000, our Fil-Am community in Hawaii stands at about 375,000, one-quarter of all Hawaii residents and, by far, the largest percentage of any State or territory. prgtoken We observe Filipino American History Month in October because the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in the continental United States took place in 1587, when the Luzones Indios came ashore from the Manila-built galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza in Morro Bay, California. prgtoken And in 1906, 113 years ago, the first 15 sakada, or contract laborers, arrived in Honolulu from the Philippines aboard the SS Doric, marking the first sustained immigration into our country and the humble beginnings of Fil-Ams in Hawaii. prgtoken Today, our Fil-Am community numbers some 4 million throughout our country, now the second largest of our Asian American groups. prgtoken The story of Filipino Americans is the story of America. From very humble beginnings, they have risen through hard work, sacrifice, commitment to advancing the next generations, and mutual support to achieve so much already. prgtoken Hawaii Fil-Ams, in particular, have been trailblazers: prgtoken Peter Aduja became the first Fil-Am elected to public office in the United States when he was elected to the Hawaii territorial House of Representatives in 1954. prgtoken Benjamin Menor became the first Fil-Am higher court judge as associate justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. prgtoken Ben Cayetano was the first Filipino American Governor of a U.S. State. prgtoken Major General Antonio Taguba was the second Filipino American promoted to general officer rank in our Army. prgtoken Eddie Flores, Jr bought the first L&L Drive-In on Liliha Street in Honolulu in 1976, turning it into a national franchise. prgtoken Carolina Dizon Wong was the first Filipino American woman to obtain an M.D. degree. prgtoken Ines Cayaban was the first Filipino American graduate of the school of public health, nursing, and social work at the University of Hawaii. She received the prestigious Jefferson Award in 1986 for her service. prgtoken Francisco Flores ``Corky'' Trinidad, Jr of Honolulu was an award- winning editorial cartoonist of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, who became the first Asian editorial cartoonist syndicated in the United States. prgtoken And a loyal veteran of the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment that fought alongside our troops in the Philippines during World War II, Domingo Los