mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Gina Haspel (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-5-10

I rise to talk about an extremely qualified person who has been nominated to be the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. prgtoken I just left a meeting with Gina Haspel, who is a woman who has spent her entire career at the Central Intelligence Agency protecting our country. Over the decades, she has been in the field a number of times and has been in a number of dangerous situations. She has been an analyst. She has been in leadership. She is currently the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. By the way, she is the first woman who has ever been the Deputy Director of this Agency. Of course, she would be the first woman Director if she is to be confirmed. prgtoken I had an opportunity to talk to her about a lot of issues, including the morale at the CIA and how people feel about her being the Director. As you can imagine, folks over there are extremely excited about this-- one of their own, someone they know and trust. They understand she has their interests at heart. I think it would be terrific for that Agency to have someone with her capability. She would be only the second Director in the history of that Agency who came up through the ranks. prgtoken I also went down to what is called the SCIF, which is a place where you can look at classified information. This week, I had the opportunity to review her background, not just what is available publicly but also what is in a classified form. Suffice it to say, I was very impressed. prgtoken I spent my time looking at her record, looking at her background, talking to her personally, talking to other people in the intelligence community to understand the impact she would have on the men and women of that Agency. I can state that I truly believe she is not only qualified, but she may be the most qualified person you could think of to run this Agency, and she will be good for the Agency. prgtoken I have the opportunity, when I go around the world to make visits on behalf of the Foreign Relations Committee--I am a member of the Foreign Relations Committee--to meet with CIA personnel. I was in Ukraine, in the Czech Republic, in Germany over the Easter break, with our troops on Easter, and had the opportunity to meet with some of the CIA employees overseas. I can just state, you would be so proud if you had the opportunity, as I have had, to meet with some of these people and talk to them about what they are doing every day to help protect us and the risks they take every day to help protect us on behalf of our national security. prgtoken Who better to provide the President of the United States with the sort of intelligence analysis needed to deal with so many challenges we face around the world than someone who has been in the trenches, who has been one of those people out in the field like the folks I met with as recently as last month? She is someone who has a deep understanding of intelligence operations. prgtoken By the
PROTECTING CIVIL SOCIETY, FAITH-BASED ACTORS, AND POLITICAL SPEECH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-5-10

our hearing today will explore U.S. policy responses to the growing trend of government incursions on the space for non-state actors in Sub-Saharan Africa. As authoritarian regimes and backsliding democracies have entrenched themselves in countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, the ic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, governments have increasingly encroached upon the mediating space between individuals and the state, particularly against religious groups and journalists, who often stand as independent institutional checks to authoritarian rule. prgtoken Protecting non-governmental sector in Sub-Saharan Africa is critical to preserving civil and political rights within the region. As we learned from the U.S. civil rights movement, groups such as churches and independent journalists are the safekeepers of civil liberties. Through sanctions and public diplomacy tools, the international community can protect the space for these safe-keepers to operate in Sub-Saharan Africa. prgtoken For example, the Catholic Church in the ic Republic of Congo is the only organization with a nationwide institutional presence and moral authority capable of checking Kabila's growing authoritarian rule. The National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO, per its French acronym) is the only civil society institution that pressures the Kabila regime to respect human rights and democratic principles. CENCO mediated the Saint Sylvester political agreement in 2016. It also oversees the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (CEJP) which conducts voter-education and election-observer training programs and is a recipient of USAID funding, and has expressed ``moral support'' for pro-democracy protests. prgtoken The Catholic Church's leadership in the Congo does not come without a cost. Priests, nuns and parishioners have been targeted, attacked, and killed in retaliation for its leadership. A few months ago, Father Sebastien Yebo, parish priest of St. Robert in an outer eastern suburb of Kinshasa, was was abducted by Congolese security forces. Interviewed on RFI radio, Father Joseph Bema from St. Kisito's parish said he has rarely slept at home since the brutal suppression of the protest marches organized by the Lay Coordination Committee on Jan. 21. prgtoken The closing of space for faith based organizations and other civil society organizations is a worrying trend in a number of Sub-Saharan African countries. Humanitarian aid workers, journalists, priests and political candidates (and their families), have been increasingly targeted and threatened by governments in Sub-Saharan Africa. prgtoken If we look north of the DRC, we can see that in South Sudan, a country I visited twice since its independence, we see humanitarian organizations are harassed by government forces. Last year, humanitarian organizations reported over 700 cases of humanitarian access incidents. The environment for humanitarian operations
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2018-5-10

I particularly commend John Shimkus, the chairman of the subcommittee, who helped shepherd this bill through; Chairman Walden; Ranking Member Pallone and others; Mr. Tonko. It is truly a bipartisan work of art; 49-4 is what this bill passed in our committee. prgtoken I can remember way back when when President Reagan was in office and signing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in the Rose Garden. He said: We are going to keep our promise. The Federal Government is going to take care of nuclear waste. That is going to happen. prgtoken Well, here we are now nearly 50 years later. I can remember the Upton-Towns bill back in the 1990s, a bill that did very much along the lines of what this bil does. We came within just a vote or two of having it overridden by the U.S. Senate, stopping it in its tracks. So, decades later, here we are again. prgtoken In my district, we have two nuclear plants. Both of them have run out of room in their storage, so they have dry casks that are literally a John Shimkus baseball throw away from Lake Michigan. prgtoken Every one of these 100-some sites across the country is in an environmentally sensitive area, and at some point they are going to run out of room. In Michigan, we have got two other sites that also have dry casks in addition to the two in my district. prgtoken So we spent nearly $40 billion. Enough time has gone by. We need to deal with this. And for those who are against this bill, your alternative is just keeping it there--just keeping it in California, just keeping it on that pristine river, just keep it on the Great Lakes for however long. That is not the answer. This bill is. prgtoken Because it is bipartisan, I am confident that not only will we have the votes to get this thing through today, but we are going to get it ultimately to the President. prgtoken So, again, I want to thank our leadership on both sides of the aisle for getting this thing done.
REMEMBERING SAMUEL EASON BALCH
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-5-10

today I wish to honor the life of Samuel Eason Balch of Birmingham, AL, who passed away peacefully at his home on April 14, 2018. He will be long remembered for his love of life and his ability to maintain a positive outlook despite any adversity that came his way. prgtoken Mr. Balch's industrious spirit began showing at a young age. While attending high school, he tended to his family farm and worked at a local drugstore. Following graduation, Mr. Balch entered the University of Alabama School of Commerce, where he quickly became involved in the political scene and the campus social scene. After earning his bachelor of science in business, Eason enlisted in the U.S. Army. prgtoken Mr. Balch began his military career by entering the Army Officers' Training Corps, OTC, exhibiting his dedicated work ethic from the start. He was quickly commissioned second lieutenant. After graduating from OTC, he was transferred to Fort Pickett, VA, where he was promoted to captain and shipped out to La Havre, France. Eason finished his time in the Army as a major. It will not be forgotten that Mr. Balch spent much of the first half of his life serving our great Nation, proving his honor and dedication to service. prgtoken Following his years of service to the Army, Eason attended the University of Virginia School of Law. After receiving his law degree, he and his family moved to Birmingham where he joined the law firm Martin, Turner, and McWhorter, which is today known as Balch and Bingham. Mr. Balch played an integral role in developing and growing the firm and went on to become a highly respected, valued adviser for many young lawyers throughout Alabama. I, along with many others, considered Eason to be one of the top utility lawyers in the United States. prgtoken Outside of his professional career, Mr. Balch held a national presence in the Public Utility Bar and served on the board of directors for the Alabama Power Company for over 20 years. He was also a devoted member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL, for 70 years. prgtoken Eason and his lovely wife, Betsy, were good friends to my wife, Annette, and me for many years. I will always remember his ability to entertain any audience. Eason never met a stranger. prgtoken I offer my deepest condolences to Eason's children and to all of his loved ones as they celebrate his life and mourn this great loss.
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-5-10

I rise in support of H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act. This is an enormous achievement for Chairman Shimkus, who has worked so hard, and so long, to make this day a reality. prgtoken The Nation needs a safe, environmentally conscious plan to dispose of this waste. This plan is bipartisan and sensible. prgtoken New Jersey is home to four nuclear reactors at three generating stations: Oyster Creek, Hope Creek, and Salem. Oyster Creek will be closing this October. prgtoken In the congressional district I serve, these plants account for about half of the power generation and 90 percent of the carbon-free electricity. New Jersey's nuclear plants avoid 14 million tons of carbon emissions each year. prgtoken The Public Service Enterprise Group, FirstEnergy, and Exelon are doing their part in storing their station's spent nuclear fuel on-site, but we need a permanent site. The expertise and know-how of the Federal Government has a responsibility to my constituents and to the American people. I want the 3,000 metric tons of nuclear waste out of New Jersey and consolidated in a national protected facility. prgtoken New Jersey ratepayers have contributed nearly $2 billion to the Department of Energy's Nuclear Waste Fund to dispose of nuclear waste at a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain. My constituents should see a return on that investment. New Jersey is one of the top State contributors to this fund. It is time for the government to hold up its end of the bargain and permanently remove this waste from New Jersey and other States. prgtoken , I urge a ``yes'' vote.
FREED AMERICANS IN NORTH KOREA
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-5-10

I rise to offer a big welcome home to the three Americans who arrived early this morning back in the United States, in their words, the greatest Nation in the world, following their captivity in North Korea. prgtoken I commend Secretary of State Pompeo for his work to secure the release of these Americans and to President for resetting the negotiating dynamic that led to this day. If we were following the prior administration's strategic patience, they would still be imprisoned. prgtoken With the freeing of these Americans and the other recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, including what is reflected in this photo, both North and South Korea removing their respective propaganda speakers from the DMZ, one cannot help but recall the events of 1989, in Eastern Europe, and the thaw that resulted in the freeing of half a continent. prgtoken Today's homecoming is a positive step in achieving lasting peace, but we still have a long way to go. It is a prgtoken shame that this could not have come to fruition in time for Otto Warmbier's safe release. prgtoken Let us hope that, with the forthcoming talks between the United States and North Korea, much more progress will be made.
TAX REFORM
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-5-10

on one final matter, later today, President is visiting the great State prgtoken of Indiana. He is joining Hoosiers to celebrate the new jobs and prosperity our agenda is delivering to communities in Indiana and all over the country. After years of ic policies that made life harder for job creators, the United States of America is officially open for business once again. prgtoken Surveys show that since President and this Congress were elected, the percentage of small and independent employers feeling confident about expanding their businesses has nearly tripled. The amount that employers spend on wages, salaries, and benefits for American workers grew more in 2017 than in any calendar year of the administration. The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits is the lowest--the lowest--since 1973. Let me say that again. The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits is the lowest it has been since 1973. Richard Nixon was in the White House back then. s have focused like a laser on getting Washington out of the way. More job opportunities, higher pay, and greater prosperity are already reaching middle-class Americans. prgtoken My colleague Senator Young has been sharing some of the great news that awaits the President when he gets to Indiana. He has heard from constituents like Donald from Noblesville. Donald said: I don't consider myself rich, but applying next year's tax changes to this year's income, I'll pay over $1,000 less in taxes next year. Everyone benefits with the new tax cuts. prgtoken A Bloomington resident named Cathy said this about her husband's tax reform bonus: We have never had this happen. It was much appreciated. prgtoken First Farmers Bank & Trust is raising wages, writing employee bonus checks, and investing more in development for the communities it serves, with 34 branches all across Indiana. prgtoken There are stories like these being written all over the country-- largely because s rolled back job-killing regulations and cut taxes significantly for working families and for small businesses. prgtoken Oddly, our ic colleagues can't bring themselves to admit this is a good thing. Even when the facts show our growing economy is making life better for middle-class Americans, they try to shrug off the facts and fall back on the same old class warfare rhetoric. Even when people like Donald and Cathy explain how tax reform is helping them, scoff at their household finances, saying multi-thousand-dollar tax cuts are just ``crumbs.'' prgtoken Crumbs? Maybe in New York or San Francisco, but in Kentucky, where I come from, working families don't see their tax cuts, bonuses, and pay raises as crumbs. I have a hunch it is the same in Indiana. prgtoken It is curious that only one of Indiana's Senators voted to give Hoosiers these tax cuts and these new job oppo
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-5-10

I have 3 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Lisa Porter, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary, James N. Stewart, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary, James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary, and Gregory J. Slavonic, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, all of the Department of Defense, and Charles P. Verdon, of California, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy. Committee on Foreign Relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Modernizing Development Finance.'' Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: ark Jeremy Bennett, of Hawaii, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Nancy E. Brasel, and Eric C. Tostrud, both to be a United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota, Robert R. Summerhays, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, Andrew S. Oldham, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Alan D. Albright, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Thomas S. Kleeh, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, Peter J. Phipps, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Michael J. Truncale, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Wendy Vitter, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Cheryl A. Lydon, to be United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Sonya K. Chavez, to be United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico, Scott E. Kracl, to be United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, and J. C. Raffety, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia, all of the Department of Justice.
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-5-10

I rise today in support of Chairman Shimkus' bill, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018. prgtoken This legislation is important not only because of what it means to the future of clean energy opportunities for this country, but also what this means for our communities. Nuclear energy has become a safe and effective way to generate energy, all while not producing greenhouse gas emissions. prgtoken The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act would finally put in place a permanent repository for the waste generated by nuclear energy production that powers millions of homes and businesses across the country. We began this process nearly 30 years ago, and today we move it forward. prgtoken My good friend's legislation authorizes the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a safe, permanent place. Right now, spent fuel is sitting on nuclear energy sites around the country, leaving our communities open to larger vulnerabilities and possible attacks or accidents. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act, and I thank the gentleman for his leadership.
IN MEMORY OF PETER HUIZENGA
Randy Hultgren (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-5-10

I rise today in celebration and commemoration of the life of Peter Huizenga from Oak Brook, Illinois, who passed away last Wednesday at the age of 79. prgtoken A businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Peter Huizenga is best known for building Waste Management, Inc into the largest waste disposal company in the world with his cousin Wayne. Upon immigrating to the United States in the 1800s, his Dutch ancestors saw a need for sanitation services in their community west of Chicago. Their humble family garbage collection business would become a Fortune 500 company under Peter's management, employing 75,000 workers worldwide. However, Peter once said: My goal is not to make money but to make a better world. prgtoken Following the sale of the company, Peter devoted his life to philanthropic work in the community through organizations such as Big Shoulders Fund; his alma mater, Timothy Christian School; and many more. His family was always his first priority, and he will be greatly missed by his wife, Heidi; his 4 children; and his 10 grandchildren. All of Illinois will miss him.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-5-10

I thank the gentleman for his comments. He mentioned a number of facts. prgtoken Economically, I think all of us can be happy that unemployment is down. The gentleman then mentioned that there are less unemployment requests being made. prgtoken Is the gentleman aware that, in 2016, we created 400,000 more jobs than we created in 2017? Is the gentleman aware of that fact? That is a fact. prgtoken , .