mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tribute to Christian Cook (Executive Session)
Richard Burr (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-3-13

I rise to recognize a gentleman by the name of Christian Cook. prgtoken Christian Cook has been a vital member of the staff on the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence for the last 8 years and has been my personal designee on the committee for the majority of that time. Throughout Christian's career, he has continuously put his country above himself and has been tirelessly dedicated to achieving excellence in all areas of his work across the national security spectrum. prgtoken His passion to serve first led him to become a special agent for the U.S. Secret Service, where he expertly conducted investigations of violations of Federal criminal law and threats against the President and Vice President. He worked diligently to ensure that the safety and security of the President, the Vice President, and numerous foreign heads of state were without question. Christian also served a pivotal role in the design, preparation and execution of the security plan for the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade. Christian's focus on supporting national security efforts continued when he transitioned to the private sector. prgtoken While working with Booz Allen Hamilton, he skillfully developed time- sensitive and complex tactical solutions for classified U.S. intelligence clients. With The Cohen Group, Christian provided strategic insights that enabled key clients to meet their evolving global security needs. At the USIS, he also seamlessly managed complex, classified programs for the U.S. intelligence community and for Federal law enforcement Agencies, substantially strengthening their counterterrorism capabilities. prgtoken Christian subsequently joined the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It is hard to know where to start to list his many accomplishments. In the last 8 years, he has done everything, and he has done it all to his own exceedingly high standards. He initially served with the audits team and was intricately involved in the committee's oversight of the U.S. intelligence community's 17 intelligence Agencies. By conducting thorough reviews of specific intelligence programs, his expert knowledge and deep insight enabled the committee to identify items of concern and outline proposals for their improvement. prgtoken It quickly became clear to me that Christian had an unsurpassed capability to conduct intelligence oversight but also a unique ability to analyze complex challenges and identify solutions. At that time, I personally selected him to be my designee on the committee. As my designee, he expertly analyzed and advised me on the myriad of threats across the intelligence landscape. prgtoken He also flawlessly facilitated the development, passage, and implementation of critical intelligence-related legislation in this body. prgtoken Several of Christian's colleagues have had the privilege to work with him for years. When asked what words best describe Christian, numerous clear themes reso
FIVE PILLARS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE SAVES US
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-3-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken With all due respect to the gentleman from Arizona, he is very weird in that he runs his congressional office like a think tank where people contemplate the ways that technology can improve healthcare and the environment in a nonpartisan way, because these are not issues that have anything to do with whether someone is a or a . prgtoken But so many of these ideas that the gentleman and I have discussed for years fail to make their way into the most dynamic economy and marketplace in the world, which is the United States of America. prgtoken So my question for the gentleman is: How do we go from the innovative space of great Americans coming up with sensor technology to action in the Congress or within our government that is worthy of the great people we serve?
CONGRESS MUST MEET ITS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2019-3-13

I rise today with a heavy heart as another individual has lost her life on U.S. Highway 12 in my home State of Minnesota, in fact, right in my neighborhood. prgtoken U.S. Highway 12 is the road we drive to get to and from our hometown of Delano, Minnesota. This is one of the most dangerous stretches of road in our State. The highway has actually been called the ``Corridor of Death.'' prgtoken On March 2, 2019, Marleena Anna Dieterich, an 18-year-old from Delano, Minnesota, lost her life in another crash on this highway. prgtoken Marleena was a student at Delano High School, a member of our hometown, and a young life with so much promise. We lost her far too soon. prgtoken Today I rise to remember the life of Marleena, to remember that she was an honor student, a black belt in Taekwondo, and was planning to major in biomedical sciences and minor in premed. Her life held endless promise. prgtoken This accident, like so many on U.S. Highway 12, was tragic and senseless. prgtoken Over the years, some improvements have been made to portions of U.S. Highway 12, but until massive improvements are made to the most dangerous stretch of this highway, tragic accidents will continue to occur. prgtoken Since the beginning of 2019, just 2 months, 14 crashes have already occurred on that stretch of the highway leading into Delano in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. More must be done, and quickly. prgtoken While we are committed to working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Highway 12 Safety Coalition to ensure that Minnesotans can travel safely and securely on this road, I am inviting our Transportation Secretary Chao to visit us and see firsthand some of our most desperate transportation needs in Minnesota. prgtoken At the Federal level, Congress must start to exercise its obligation under Article I of the Constitution to dedicate and direct Federal funds to build, prgtoken maintain, and improve our Federal highways, especially lifesaving safety improvements. prgtoken Together, we can find a solution to the safety hazard that U.S. Highway 12 poses, and together, we will. Congratulations to the Minnesota Whitecaps
RECOGNIZING McCAFFREY'S FOOD MARKETS
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-3-13

our local businesses in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, help make our community vibrant and prosperous. Today, I am proud to recognize one such business, McCaffrey's Food Markets, which was recently named Business of the Year by the Newtown Business Association. Each year, the Newtown Business Association recognizes a business that contributes to our regional economy and contributes substantially to the community at large. prgtoken The McCaffreys opened their first supermarket in 1986 in Lower Makefield and over the past three decades has expanded throughout Pennsylvania and prgtoken New Jersey while maintaining its headquarters in Middletown Township. prgtoken McCaffrey's Food Markets and the McCaffrey family are both noted for their generosity to our community and are noted supporters of the American Red Cross, St. Mary's Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, and the 9/11 Garden of Reflection, among many other organizations and memorials. prgtoken , I applaud McCaffrey's Food Markets, the McCaffrey family, and all their amazing employees for their investment in our community and their entrepreneurship. prgtoken I also thank Bill Sheffer and Beverly Dimler of the Newtown Business Association for all their leadership in our community. Recognizing Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
SUPPORTING STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTION
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-3-13

tax day is approaching on April 15, and I again rise to state my support for the State and local tax deduction. prgtoken There were many positive aspects to the tax bill that I voted against. prgtoken I support reducing the corporate tax rate, but it should not have been done by increasing personal taxes on any hardworking middle-income Long Islander in my district. prgtoken The $10,000 cap that was made to the SALT deduction was a punch in the gut to middle-class taxpayers in my district. prgtoken There were positive aspects, as I said, of the tax bill: expanding the medical expense deduction, preserving education and student deductions, doubling the child tax credit, the AMT changes. prgtoken And as I stated, changing the corporate tax rate helps make the United States more competitive globally, to improve our business climate, to help create more jobs, but it should not be done by raising taxes on the personal income side. prgtoken I have been working closely with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address this issue. I have been working with ic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. I cosponsor legislation between Peter King, a , and Tom Suozzi, a , H.R. 257. Nita Lowey introduced a bill that I cosponsor, H.R. 188. prgtoken , I encourage all my colleagues in this Chamber to work together to address this important issue, because it is important to deliver tax relief to all Americans. prgtoken Now, I do have an important message, though, to the Governor of New York, the mayor of New York City, those who are running State and local governments in States like mine. The reason why our State and local tax deduction was as high as it was is because our State and local taxes are as high as they are. prgtoken So everybody needs to look in the mirror and figure out what we can do to do our part, because all levels of government need to deliver tax relief. prgtoken My home State of New York has some of the highest taxes in the entire country. It is ranked as the second worst State in the entire Nation to do business. You couple that with the loss of the SALT deduction, and it has only sped up the amount of businesses and individuals who are choosing to leave our State. prgtoken It was very upsetting to see an effort by elected officials, some here in Congress, others in the State legislature to push away 25,000 good-paying Amazon jobs that would have been coming to Long Island City. prgtoken Now, we all must do our part. The State and local tax deduction has been around in some way since, you could say, Abraham Lincoln's administration. He used the State and local tax deduction to help keep this union together and fight the Civil War. prgtoken It was a tough debate a little over a year ago now when the tax law was passed through both Chambers and signed by the President, but next month, as April 15 approaches and people have to pay their taxes, they are going to be seeing less in the
HONORING LAURA SKAER
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, WA) \u2014 2019-3-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor the career of Laura Skaer, Executive Director of the American Exploration & Mining Association. Laura is retiring this month, after serving as Executive Director of the AEMA for the last 22 years. prgtoken Laura's work on behalf of the AEMA has led this organization to become the largest membership-based mining industry trade association in the United States. Laura's career began as a lawyer in Missouri, but eventually took her through various positions in the natural resources industry. Laura has played a vital role in advocating for our natural resources industry, and is well known for her effective work in coordinating the efforts of the public and private sectors. prgtoken Laura has also been widely acknowledged for her efforts on behalf of the AEMA. Among her many awards and accolades, Laura has been named President of the Independent Petroleum Association Mountain States, Regional Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and a member of Colorado's Minerals, Energy and Geology Policy Advisory Board. Additionally, in 2004, Laura received the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Sustainable Development Award and has also received special recognition from the U.S. Forest Service, Division of Minerals & Geology Management. prgtoken I appreciate Laura's work on behalf of the AEMA and the positive example she provides to the people of Eastern Washington. I wish her the best in this next chapter of her life.
ACKNOWLEDGING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS POSES A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-3-13

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I thank Chairwoman Waters of the House Financial Services Committee for offering this resolution. prgtoken I rise in support of this resolution, and I look forward to working with the gentlewoman from California to incorporate its basic principles into future legislation produced by our committee to tackle the illicit drug trade, international financing that moves around the globe that is illicit in nature, as well as combating human trafficking and using the financial system to traffic in human beings, which I think is absolutely abhorrent. prgtoken This resolution reflects the Financial Services Committee's longstanding emphasis that we have on protecting our national security and ensuring the integrity of the financial system. The size and scope of that system, along with the preeminent role of the U.S. dollar in global trade, requires us to remain vigilant against illicit finance, money laundering, and other significant threats. prgtoken Already this Congress, the House has passed several of our committee's bills designed to identify new risks in illicit finance and to strengthen our banks' cooperation with law enforcement authorities. We are also looking forward to addressing a more comprehensive reform of processes under the Bank Secrecy Act in order to crack down on money laundering much more effectively. prgtoken We believe technology can be a great driver of those reforms and more efficiently and effectively enforce those laws. We are working together to achieve that bipartisan outcome and update to that very important piece of legislation. This, I think, represents a down payment, rhetorically, on that interest that we have of combating illicit finance wherever it may be. prgtoken I hope that we can continue to engage in a meaningful way in that bipartisan dialogue to achieve reforms to the Bank Secrecy Act, with the understanding it is important to safeguard our national security, while upholding a financial system that is open, transparent, and efficient and that is, in many ways, the envy of the rest of the world, without unduly burdening businesses in a manner that ends up turning away legitimate trade and commerce. Striking that balance is obviously that fine art that this Congress seeks to do, and we hope to do that well coming out of our committee. prgtoken Now, s and should also be able to agree that these laws and regulations require us to strike a balance. That has to be a stated objective, and I am hopeful that the chairwoman will continue to work with us based on that principle. I am encouraged by that opportunity on the Bank Secrecy Act and Illicit Finance for us to tackle those items. prgtoken I thank the chairwoman for sponsoring this resolution I ask my colleagues to support it, and .
DIRECTING THE REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-3-13

first of all, I want to associate myself with those clear, concise comments of my friend and colleague from the great State of Alaska. He is absolutely right from not only a military standpoint but also from the standpoint of getting this resolved through a political resolution. prgtoken We are going to consider the Senate joint resolution today, and it is a joint resolution that directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostility in the Yemen conflict unless authorized by Congress. The premise of this resolution is fundamentally flawed. prgtoken Let's start here, though. Every single one of us--all 100 of us--can agree what a horrible situation this is and what a horrible catastrophe this is in Yemen. But this resolution sets a bad precedent for using the War Powers Act to express political disagreements with a President under expedited Senate rules. prgtoken I want to start by making it absolutely clear what is and what is not happening with respect to our current U.S. engagement in Yemen. prgtoken First of all, this is what isn't happening. What is not happening is the injection of U.S. troops into active hostilities in Yemen. We are not doing that. prgtoken What we are doing, however, is most important. We provide limited, noncombat support, including intelligence sharing, and the practices that minimize civilian casualties to the Saudi-led coalition. This support is advisory in nature and helps defend the territorial integrity of the region, which faces a very real threat from the Iranians and the Iranian-backed Houthis. prgtoken This point can't be understated. The United States conducts war operations entirely differently from any other country on the face of the Earth, and it is done with a direct and involved method of minimizing civilian casualties. Our presence here assists the parties in conducting operations to minimize those civilian casualties, and it is badly needed there because there are tremendous civilian casualties. prgtoken Iran's support for the Houthis, notably the transfer of missiles and other weaponry, threatens to undermine our partners' territorial integrity. It imperils key shipping routes and puts U.S. interests at risk, including the thousands of U.S. personnel and citizens currently within the range of Iranian-made missile systems under the control of the Houthis. That said, there can be no argument that after 4 long years of conflict, Yemen, a country with a long history of socioeconomic challenges is now in the grip of the world's worst humanitarian crisis at this moment. An estimated 24 million--80 percent of the Yemeni population--are in need of some kind of assistance and 15.9 million people--more than half of the country's population--remain severely food insecure. prgtoken A resolution to this conflict must be found, and make no mistake, many of us on a bipartisan basis are working regularly every day to do everything within our power to restore peace in a c
TRIBUTE TO JESSICA WATKINS
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-3-13

today I recognize Jessica Watkins, the Nassau County Teacher of the Year from Yulee Elementary School in Yulee, FL. prgtoken Jessica builds relationships with her students and enjoys seeing them thrive in the classroom and after graduation. She cares for her students and believes they can rise to any challenge set before them. prgtoken Outside of her classroom, Jessica has dedicated her time to mentoring new teachers and interns. She also has served on her school district's reading curriculum building team, the writing professional development team, and the language arts/grammar building team, all in efforts to improve student outcomes in classrooms beyond her own. prgtoken Jessica is a fourth grade teacher at Yulee Elementary School, where she serves as the fourth grade chairperson, is on the school leadership team, and on the positive behavioral interventions and support team. She has spent 4 years teaching in Nassau County and 8 years overall in education. prgtoken I extend my best wishes and gratitude to Jessica for her dedication to her students and colleagues. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2019-3-13

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Thursday, March 14; 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; that the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.J. Res. 46, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that no amendments be in order to the joint resolution.
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-3-13

the news cycle is relentless here in Washington, DC, and between cable TV and social media, it is pretty hard to remember what happened an hour or a day or a week ago, but it is important to talk about the context surrounding today's circumstances, and that is why I wanted to come talk a little bit more about what is happening on our southern border. prgtoken Twelve hundred miles of Texas is common border with Mexico, and we are at ground zero when it comes to what comes across the border and what happens at the border. Frankly, it is a lot more complicated than most people seem to appreciate, at least by the way they talk about it. prgtoken Not only is the border a source of economic energy for our country, by trade and legitimate travel, we know our border communities themselves are among the safest in the country. Their crime statistics are basically equivalent to that of any other comparable city in any other part of the country, but what happens across the border is a very different story. prgtoken Some of the most dangerous cities in Mexico are right there along the border, primarily because they are still controlled by the cartels that operate what are called plazas where they essentially take tolls or shake down people who are trying to come across for whatever purpose it might be, whether it is people coming across to find a job in the United States or drug traffickers or human traffickers--people selling women and children for sex or human servitude. prgtoken So it is a complicated scenario, to be sure, but one thing I can tell you is, there is a humanitarian crisis at the border that was not manufactured by the administration. In fact, the denial in which a lot of our ic colleagues find themselves I think is more related to the fact that President is the one currently identifying it rather than the facts on the ground because, in 2014, President called what was happening at the border a humanitarian crisis, and that did not seem to be a controversial comment at the time, but now that President is calling this a crisis and emergency, people, unfortunately, can't take off their partisan jersey, and many call it a fake emergency or fake crisis, which is demonstrably false. prgtoken Let's go back to 2014. That year, about 68,000 families were apprehended at the southern border, an overwhelming number. This, coupled with an unprecedented surge of unaccompanied children, led President , as I mentioned, to call this a ``growing humanitarian and security crisis.'' That was President . He was right, especially about the growing part. prgtoken Let me just pause for a moment to talk about why are we seeing children and families coming across the border as opposed to adult men. prgtoken We detained about 400,000 people coming across the border last year, but we are seeing more and more unaccompanied children and family units coming across the border. The s
GENERAL LEAVE
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-3-14

I would like to thank Chairman Nadler for yielding. prgtoken , my call today is for full transparency, with a clear focus on the sinister motives of Russia's corrupt leaders. Their interference in our 2016 elections has created confusion, anger, bewilderment, and division--exactly what Russia wanted. prgtoken Today's resolution calls for the Department of Justice to make Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, along with any findings, available to the public to the maximum extent permitted by the law and to provide the report and its findings, in entirety, to the Congress of the United States of America. prgtoken So whether you have used Special Counsel Mueller as a patriot conducting a nonpartisan investigation into a foreign power's possible influence in our elections or as a witch hunt, a full accounting and public release of the findings is needed to heal our political differences. prgtoken This is not about embarrassing President . This is about closure and full disclosure. prgtoken If there was no collusion, as the President has emphasized, then he should want complete transparency the American people deserve no less.