mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO DAVID AHART AND CATHY GLENN
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-9-28

today, I wish to congratulate and thank Mr. David Ahart and Ms. Cathy Glenn on their retirement for their more than 28 years of service to the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I have worked with Dave and Cathy in various roles within the U.S. Senate Recording Studio for nearly three decades. prgtoken Before working in the radio division, Dave worked on the television side of the Senate Recording studio. prgtoken Cathy also worked on the television side before coming to radio. Before that, she worked for Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona. prgtoken It is not unusual for me to go to the Senate recording studio multiple times a week. If you do the math, you can see I have gotten to know Dave and Cathy very well over the years. prgtoken I have always said that representative government is a two-way street, and communicating with Iowans through the media has always been an important part of my job. Dave and Cathy are an instrumental part of that process. Put simply, they have helped me keep in touch with Iowans, and for that, I couldn't be more grateful. prgtoken It's also worth noting that Dave and Cathy are immensely kind and patient. Many days, my schedule can change in an instant. Dave and Cathy are always generous with their time and help me and my staff complete the work that needs to be done. prgtoken Those who know Dave and Cathy know you never leave their studio without a smile and laughter. They are as friendly now as they were 30 years ago. prgtoken Dave, I hope you get back to Denison soon and stop at Cronks. prgtoken Dave had family who lived in Denison, IA. Cronks is a mutually favorite restaurant that I always try to stop at when traveling through the area. prgtoken Cathy, as you celebrate, make sure to eat an extra piece of chocolate for me. I think you have as big of a sweet tooth as I do. prgtoken I wish Dave and Cathy all the best in retirement and the years to come. prgtoken So to you two, I say thank you for all you have done. The U.S. Senate, the Senate Recording Studio, my staff and I will be forever grateful for your service.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2017-9-28

this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing a multigeneration cornerstone of the community in Fallon County. Baker Furniture has served the people of eastern Montana for over eight decades. Through the years, the team at Baker Furniture has skillfully navigated changes in consumer tastes and a shifting business climate in order to provide quality furniture and appliances for the folks in Baker. prgtoken Baker Furniture initially began operations on Main Street in 1936, by the original proprietor, Leif Holmlund. Leif's understudy in the furniture industry, Army veteran Orville Stevens, would eventually take the reins of the enterprise in the 1960s. Under Orville's guidance, the business flourished. Orville's sons, Tom and Dave, also pitched in to help make the business a success. prgtoken Tom and Dave went on to assume the primary duties for the business in the late 1990s. After a life that included service to his Nation, raising a family, and operating a successful business, Orville passed away in 2009. Since his passing, the business that Orville developed has continued to thrive and meet the needs of the community. prgtoken Small businesses, operated by hardworking family members, are an engine of commerce for many rural communities across Montana. Baker Furniture is a shining example of this business model, and many shoppers in Baker and the surrounding area are grateful. Thank you to the team at Baker Furniture for the many years of excellent service to your neighbors, and I wish you continued success in the future.
Tribute to Mary Jo Brown (Executive Session)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2017-9-28

I am honored to come to the floor today to express my support for the President's nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Judge Ralph Erickson. prgtoken Judge Erickson is a longtime North Dakotan and has been a tremendous public servant in his current capacity as Federal district court judge in Fargo, ND. He has made our State proud, and I am confident he will be an excellent addition to the Eighth Circuit Court. prgtoken Judge Erickson has a distinguished legal career which spans over two decades. After working in private practice for 10 years, he served as a magistrate judge for Cass County and then as a State district judge for the East Central Judicial District Court. In 2003, Judge Erickson was nominated by President to the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota and was quickly confirmed by the Senate unanimously. prgtoken Throughout his tenure, Judge Erickson has demonstrated deep respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. His judicial experience ranges from overseeing routine civil cases to cases involving extreme criminal violence. Throughout all of these cases, Judge Erickson practiced a measured and prudential legal approach that is necessary for a position on the second highest court in the United States. prgtoken Judge Erickson has also proved to be a champion for Indian Country. He serves as the Chair of the Tribal Issues Advisory Group on the United States Sentencing Commission, where he works to preserve Tribal sovereignty. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I believe Judge Erickson's expertise on this issue will be a valuable asset to the Eighth Circuit Court. prgtoken , part of our duty as Senators is to evaluate the qualifications of the President's appointees and to vote on their nominations accordingly. This is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Erickson will be an excellent circuit judge. I am honored to be here to support his nomination and to urge my colleagues to vote yes. prgtoken I would also like to note that in the Gallery today we have his daughter Elizabeth joining us. I think it is wonderful that she could be here to see her father's confirmation vote. She is a sophomore at Catholic University and just an outstanding young person, and there is no doubt that she is extremely proud of her father today. So it is wonderful to welcome her here for this momentous occasion. prgtoken With that, , .
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery Effort (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2017-9-28

I appreciate the comments of my colleague from Nebraska, and our hearts go out to those victims of the hurricane now in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, following the terrible devastation in Texas and Florida. These are American citizens who deserve our assistance and urgent help. prgtoken I am glad to hear there is now more support mobilizing on the island. I would like to associate myself with the comments of those who talk about the need to move quickly to save lives.
Hurricane Recovery Efforts and Targeted Tax Relief (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-9-28

it has been quite a few weeks now since Harvey hit and, then, Irma. Now Maria has devastated the island of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Of course, my gaze has been firmly on the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey back in my home State of Texas. Yet we are joined together with those who suffered under Irma and Maria, and we will remain steadfastly with them as we all work to recover from these terrible hurricanes. prgtoken Last week, I rode in a Black Hawk helicopter with Russ Poppe, as well as our Adjutant General, John Nichols. Mr. Poppe is executive director of the County Flood Control District. We were able to survey in the air things I had seen up close during several trips back home, the wreckage of the land and livelihoods. prgtoken It is an emotional thing for families and homeowners to basically take all of their worldly possessions out to the front of their house and put it in the front yard because it is completely ruined as a result of the water, along with things like the drywall, trying to attack the mold before it grows and makes the house uninhabitable. prgtoken We saw from about 10,000 feet in the air what we had previously seen from the ground, but from the air, you definitely get a different perspective on the waterlogged landscape. You see so much more. You see the levees, the reservoirs, the areas hit. You see the damaged goods and drywall that people have taken out of their homes as the first step toward recovery. It definitely has an impression on you, particularly with the size and scale of the affected area. It is really hard to believe until you see it from that perspective. prgtoken So when I took off my headset and sunglasses--and by the way, Paul Ryan joined us on that particular trip, and we all appreciate his being there. When we stepped off the chopper, what I thought about was not only what we have done so far but how much further we still had to go. It is not just about building materials, street and roof repairs, or even the temporary housing that people need, although all of those things are surely important. We need to remember that the remedies are not going to be one-size-fits-all. We need broad support, but we also need targeted and narrow support to help people get back on their feet. We need to keep each family in mind and what their own particular needs may be depending on their particular circumstances. prgtoken As I started out to say, it is not just Texas we are talking about anymore; it is Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands too. We all remember that those places were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria right after Texas was hit by Harvey. prgtoken I want to make one thing clear, though: We in Texas stand together with our fellow Americans who suffered from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, as well as those who suffered from other natural disasters occurring in and around our country, and we will do everything we can to help the p
FAA Reauthorization (Executive Calendar)
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-9-28

it is nice to see the ranking member of the Commerce Committee on the floor today. I appreciate that he and I share a particular view about the privatization of air traffic control. prgtoken Today, we are going to presumably pass a 6-month extension for the Federal Aviation Administration. It was passed by the House earlier today, and once again we are in a position which, in my view, we shouldn't be in. We ought to be passing a long-term authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. Last year, we did so. The Senate, with 95 votes, passed a 4-year FAA bill. It was the kind of meaningful, bipartisan accomplishment that is too rare in Congress today. prgtoken I supported that bill, but unfortunately when it was sent to the House and it came time to meet that last year's deadline, we were ultimately forced to pass a short-term extension--which I opposed. prgtoken Our ongoing efforts to pass a long-term bill, s and in both Chambers of Congress, have found common ground and consensus among the entire aviation community on a wide range of important issues. prgtoken I am talking about reforms to strengthen the Contract Power Program, one of the most and overwhelmingly popular and successful FAA programs. That matters a lot to the State of Kansas, and communities in the State of Nebraska as well, the home of the Presiding Officer in the Senate. prgtoken I am talking about streamlining the aircraft certification process that allows the FAA to focus its valuable resources elsewhere while generating a positive impact on our economy and job security in the aviation manufacturing sector. Because, once again, Congress refuses to set aside the perpetually controversial proposal to privatize our Nation's air traffic control, we are left, again, with a short-term extension. It is another one of those take-it-or-leave-it moments that is occurring here at the eleventh hour in advance of September 30. prgtoken We know in the Senate this proposal for privatization will never have the votes to pass. Yet we keep considering short-term extensions that are damaging to the aviation community, particularly the airports that need certainty in planning their infrastructure projects, and they will be, first and foremost, to improve the safety for our air travelers. prgtoken A 6-month extension, in my view, is too short to provide the certainty that is needed. The grant process, at the Department of Transportation, will be ongoing, but no airport can plan based upon whether the FAA is going to be authorized 6 months from now. prgtoken I have come to the floor numerous times before to talk about how Kansas is a special place when it comes to aviation. Kansas has built three out of every four general aviation aircraft since the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk. Today, over 40,000 Kansans earn a living in manufacturing, operating, and servicing our world's highest quality aircraft. These aviation
DISASTER TAX RELIEF AND AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2017
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-9-28

I ask unanimous consent to take from the 's table the bill (H.R. 3823) to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to provide disaster tax relief, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.
MAIN STREET CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2017
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-9-28

. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered; that the Schatz amendment No. 977, as modified with the changes at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the committee-reported substitute amendment, as amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
THE 2018 FISCAL YEAR
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-9-28

this coming Sunday is new year's day, the start of the Federal Government's 2018 fiscal year. prgtoken Several weeks ago, Congress passed and the President signed a temporary spending bill to carry the government through December 8. This temporary bill was necessary because, although the House passed its spending bills, the Senate did not. prgtoken One of the more glaring problems with the CR is that it continues the years' long practice of shortchanging prgtoken our defenses and the men and women in our military. Defense spending and defense policy are frozen, and the changes this House has insisted on in both the Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations bill are stalled, to the detriment of our defenses and our men and women in uniform. prgtoken Secretary Mattis has written, ``Long-term CRs impact the readiness of our forces and their equipment at a time when security threats are extraordinarily high. The longer the CR, the greater the consequences for our force.'' prgtoken The risks are real, . We see threats growing daily from North Korea and Iran. The fight continues against ISIS and against terror in Afghanistan, and now we need to deploy urgently needed resources to Puerto Rico. There is no need to wait until December 8 to get a full-year Defense Appropriations bill. I call on the Senate to act promptly next week even and get our troops funded.
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR LUKE KENLEY FOR HIS SERVICE TO INDIANA
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-9-28

I rise today to honor the retirement of Senator Luke Kenley from the Indiana State Senate after 25 years. For decades Senator Kenley has served not only his constituents in Indiana's 20th Senate district, but has served our state and our nation. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District are forever grateful for Senator Kenley's commitment to making our Hoosier home and our country a better, safer, place to live. prgtoken The oldest of eight children, Howard ``Luke'' Kenley is a life-long Hoosier and was raised in Hamilton County. He and his siblings split time between Noblesville during the school year and working summers at his grandparents' west Texas cattle ranch in Ft. Stockton. Senator Kenley graduated from Noblesville High School as their senior class president in 1963, where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Sally. Senator Kenley then attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, my alma mater. He graduated in the class of 1967 earning his bachelor's degree in economics. Following graduation from Miami, he went on to Harvard to pursue his law degree. Senator Kenley left law school in 1969 during the fourth year of the Vietnam war to enroll in officer candidate school (OCS) where he graduated first in his class with the rank of Lieutenant. After completing OCS, Senator Kenley returned to Harvard to finish his law degree in 1972. Senator Kenley then returned to Noblesville to start his career and begin a family with his wife, Sally. prgtoken Senator Kenley practiced business law in Indianapolis for two years, after which he left to run the family business, founded in 1940 by his grandfather R.A. Kenley. Under his leadership Kenley Supermarkets, in Noblesville, grew tremendously from 20 employees and $2 million in yearly sales to two stores and 175 employees with $16 million in yearly sales. Senator Kenley managed operations from 1974 to 1998, at which time Marsh Supermarkets purchased the business. In addition to his time at the helm of Kenley Supermarkets, Senator Kenley served as the Noblesville City Court judge at the urging of Hamilton County leaders. In 1990, after 15 years and 40,000 cases, Senator Kenley retired from the bench. It was not long before he was again asked to serve. In 1992, Senator Kenley was tapped to fill the vacancy in state Senate campaign in his home district. Senator Kenley won the seat and has served with distinction ever since his first term. prgtoken He earned respect from his peers during his very first term and he was awarded ``Freshman Legislator of the Year''. During his career in the Senate, Senator Kenley worked tirelessly on the Tax and Fiscal Policy committee to make Indiana a fiscally responsible and affordable state. He is responsible for pushing through the largest tax cut in Indiana's history, while simultaneously leading the charge on welfare reform. His budgetary talents led him to the chairmanship of the Senate Appro
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL FISHING TEAM
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2017-9-28

I rise today to congratulate the Bolivar High School Fishing Team and their recent victory in the National Youth Fishing Association (NYFA) South Division Championship. prgtoken Bolivar High School anglers, Andrew Johnson and John Hubbert, emerged as champions of the high school division on Sunday, July 16, 2017. prgtoken Taking place at the Pomme de Terre Lake, the NYFA South Division event brought 290 high school and middle school teams to southern Missouri where the anglers from Bolivar took first place. John and Andrew not only brought home a trophy but $2,000 worth of scholarship money as well. prgtoken I am honored to both recognize and congratulate Andrew and John, along with the Bolivar High School Fishing Team, on this terrific achievement. On behalf of Missouri's 7th Congressional District, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating this team and these two individuals on their outstanding achievements.
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery Effort (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2017-9-28

I rise to voice my strong support for the nomination of Ajit Pai to a second 5-year term as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. prgtoken Mr. Pai has served as a Commissioner of the FCC since 2012, when he was first confirmed by a voice vote in the Senate. Mr. Pai was designated by President to be the 34th Chairman of the FCC in January of this year and was renominated to a second term to the FCC in March. prgtoken In July, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which I am privileged to chair, held a hearing on the nomination of Mr. Pai, and the committee reported out his nomination favorably on August 2. prgtoken Prior to becoming a Commissioner, Chairman Pai worked on telecommunications policy in both the public and private sectors, notably serving in the Senate as a staffer on the Judiciary Committee as well as in the general counsel's office at the FCC. prgtoken It is my belief that Mr. Pai's stellar career and communications policy, his integrity, and his tireless work ethic all serve him well as he continues to serve the FCC and guide the agency back to being a more collaborative and productive institution. prgtoken In just 9 months since becoming Chairman, Mr. Pai has made much needed reforms to improve transparency at the FCC and to improve the agency's processes. I am particularly heartened by Chairman Pai's efforts to treat his fellow Commissioners fairly by instituting the process of sharing documents with other Commissioners before discussing them publicly. prgtoken Additionally, under Chairman Pai's leadership, the public is now able to view the text of all agenda items in advance of Commission meetings. Also, prgtoken to better reflect the realities of today's competitive landscape, Chairman Pai has announced the creation of an Office of Economics and Data to provide cost-benefit analyses to better inform the FCC's work. prgtoken These measures are a significant step forward from the last Chairman's leadership style, which I frequently criticized as being hyperpartisan and warned would lead to counterproductive outcomes over the long term. That is why, a little over a year ago, I felt compelled to stand in this same spot and to strongly criticize the previous Chairman of the FCC for leading the Commission with unprecedented partisan zeal. At that time, I noted that the voting record for open meetings at the Commission showed a long history of consensus-building with the previous five permanent FCC Chairmen combining for only 14 party-line votes at open meetings during their tenures. However, this all changed under Chairman Wheeler as he pursued a highly partisan agenda, driven by ideological beliefs more than by a sober reading of the law. Chairman Wheeler forced 3-to-2 votes on a party-line basis a total of 31 times. To put it another way, in 3 years under Chairman Wheeler, the FCC saw over twice as many partisan votes than in the previo
HONORING RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAROLD T. RIGGINS, III
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-9-28

today we honor retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Harold T. Riggins, III, decorated combat soldier, community trailblazer, and passionate advocate for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. prgtoken During 27 years of active military duty--first as an enlisted Sergeant, then as an officer--LTC (R) Riggins deployed with the 101st Airborne Division for two tours in Iraq, earning distinction as a proven combat leader. For his outstanding service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, coveted Ranger Tab, and multiple medals and badges. prgtoken While working post-retirement as program director for the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP), he personally walked 38,000 Fort Campbell soldiers, hand-in-hand, through one of the toughest processes they experience at the end of their careers. Working with multiple city, county and state governments, and thousands of companies in a one-stop facility, he delivered a ``smooth takeoff'' for each of the 400 soldiers transitioning monthly from the Army, helping them successfully move into the National Guard and Reserves, higher education, civilian or self-employment worldwide, while learning to plan financially and utilize federal and state benefits. His servant attitude, superior management, and infinite compassion make him an inspirational model for military personnel nearing end of service. prgtoken Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. We now celebrate LTC (R) Riggins, who for seven dynamic years ensured the 1 percent of Americans who sacrificed to serve our nation thrive in the communities they love.