mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING BARBARA BUSH
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-4-18

tonight I want to talk about the passing of an extraordinary woman--a woman who captured the hearts of Americans across every spectrum. prgtoken Barbara was one of the most popular people in America--and for good reason. One of only two women in the history of our country to be both the First Lady of the United States and also the mother of a President, she consistently used those platforms that, as she would say, God graced her with, for good causes. prgtoken There are many stories, but one I would like to recount was shortly after President 's election. She went to an AIDS hospice here in Washington, DC. This was a time when the AIDS epidemic was a huge crisis. Frankly, there was a stigma attached to it and a lot of nervousness about the disease. prgtoken Barbara picked up a baby with AIDS and cradled that baby. She hugged and kissed kids with AIDS. The message was very clear: There should be no stigma. We have nothing to fear. It is time for us to embrace these people. Her quote that day was everlasting: ``There is a need for compassion.'' She spoke to the heart. prgtoken She also used the platform she had to empower people through literacy. This was one of her great causes. She believed the world would be a much better place if everyone could read, write, and comprehend, and the Barbara Foundation for Family Literacy continues to do amazing work. She has touched the lives of so many--so many young people, so many adults--and brought them into a new world through literacy. prgtoken She accomplished a lot more through her distinguished life. She was dignified, straightforward, witty, and well-intentioned. She had a habit of speaking her mind freely, and sometimes that got her in a little bit of trouble, but, frankly, when she did that, almost all of us nodded our heads in agreement. prgtoken Interestingly, her Secret Service code name was ``Tranquility.'' For anyone who knew her personally, that might have seemed to be an odd code name. Probably she chose that code name herself, by the way. She wasn't always tranquil. In fact, she was sometimes feisty--famously so. prgtoken One story that I think shows some of her feistiness was when she was having dinner one night with the President of the United States--43, who happened to be her son--and in front of many others, including staff, she commented critically on his table manners, which, of course, she loved, and so did he. prgtoken The night before she left us, that feistiness was on display when Barbara , instead of asking for pain medication, asked for a glass of bourbon and, with a smile, took a sip. prgtoken I think the name ``Tranquility'' was also fitting for her. It was fitting for her because she was a calming influence. She made things more tranquil. I saw that firsthand at the White House, where she made life easier for everybody. prgtoken I had the pleasure of first getting to know her when I was doing volunteer ad
HAPPY SESQUICENTENNIAL TO RENO, NEVADA
Mark E. Amodei (Republican, NV) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today with birthday wishes for the premier municipality in the Nation--not the Big Apple, not the Windy City, not the City by the Bay, or the Big Easy. prgtoken I am talking about the Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, Nevada. Reno turns 150, celebrating its sesquicentennial. prgtoken Congratulations to you Mayor Hillary Schieve and the city council. prgtoken Happy birthday, Reno, Nevada.
Remembering John A. Williams (Executive Calendar)
Johnny Isakson (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-4-18

the Senate is a great place. It is a great honor to be able to speak here, whether you are discussing your beliefs on an issue of major importance, honoring a friend, or, on rare occasions but all too often when you get to be my age, paying tribute to someone who has given so much and passed away. prgtoken Such happened in my State this past Monday, on the 16th of April, when John A. Williams died. He was 74 years old. prgtoken John Williams was a giant in every way in our State. He was a giant entrepreneur. He founded two great companies, one of them called Post Properties, the largest apartment REIT on the New York Stock Exchange. He started it in 1993 and built it to new heights. prgtoken Most recently, a few years ago, he started PAC, Preferred Apartment Communities, a REIT also, and he did the same with it--employing thousands of people, building thousands of units for housing in America. prgtoken He set the pace of housing in his career. I don't know how many people have noticed that in the suburbs of all major cities today, office parks and apartment complexes of any size are now some of the most beautifully landscaped places in the community. Thirty years ago, nobody planted a stick. Nobody planted a shrub. Nobody planted a flower. prgtoken John Williams became the largest importer of Holland bulbs in the United States of America. Every spring, tulips blossomed at Post Properties apartment buildings. In fact, he changed the advertising mode for apartments. Instead of calling them apartments, he called them apartment homes because he wanted his apartments and all the rental units to be looked upon by the people who lived there as their home. He sold that concept and built that concept and replicated it over and over, and it became the standard in Georgia. I have traveled the country, and it has become the standard all over the country in terms of apartment houses and landscaping for major commercial properties. prgtoken He was a great entrepreneur, building two great companies and helping thousands of other people in many other ways to build their companies. prgtoken He was a great father, a great husband, and a great family man. His wife Nancy is a wonderful ``first lady'' in our community. Parker, Sarah Brook, and Jay, his children, are all great contributors to our community. They all know how lucky they are to have had such a great father. prgtoken He was a great sportsman. When I say a great sportsman, I mean a great sportsman. He built Ranger, a replica of the 1937 America's Cup winner, one of the biggest yachts in the world, and sailed the world on that yacht and won races all around. prgtoken Also as a sportsman, he was a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He invested with Arthur Blank in the Atlanta Falcons. They almost got to the Super Bowl--they got to the Super Bowl; they just couldn't finish the drill with the Patriots. One day we are going to figure out a way to do that, and
TAXPAYER FIRST ACT
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today in support of H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Jenkins and Ranking Member Lewis for their thoughtful approach to this legislation. Many of these reforms, I think we can all agree, are long overdue, and the American taxpayer deserves better. prgtoken By requiring the IRS to submit to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy and overhauling the tools of enforcement in order to protect American taxpayers, we will be creating a culture at the agency that will focus on one singular mission, and that is taxpayers first. Frankly, , this should be the motto of every Federal agency. prgtoken For the first time, this bill will codify an Independent Office of Appeals, so that all taxpayers have access to an administrative review process, and give Congress additional oversight over the agency itself. prgtoken Additionally, the Taxpayer First Act simplifies enforcement actions of the IRS so that individuals and small-business owners understand their liabilities and what potential actions could be taken by the IRS. prgtoken I also want to thank the committee for including a number of important provisions to this bill to protect taxpayers' identities and further combat cybersecurity threats. prgtoken In recent years, we all know that millions of Americans have had their personal and financial information stolen and jeopardized through data breaches of companies like Equifax, Target, and even at the Office of Personnel Management. prgtoken I am glad to see Congress continuing to push for proactive measures to protect Americans against tax fraud schemes by working with Federal, State, and private partners. These protections will be especially important as the IRS seeks to modernize its services and its IT systems. prgtoken With the recent passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress passed legislation to reform our Nation's Tax Code for the first time in over 30 years. Today we have the opportunity to begin reforming the Internal Revenue Service for the first time in 20 years. prgtoken , this is vitally important legislation, and I urge all Members to vote ``yes.''
Unanimous Consent Request (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2018-4-18

reserving the right to object, I would simply say this is peeling out pieces of the bill that one Senator in this Chamber likes and basically telling every other Senator on both sides of the aisle, s and who negotiated this, to go pound sand: We don't like the provisions that have been negotiated on both sides, very carefully, over months. prgtoken I might add, this bill has been introduced and dealt with at the committee level during five different Congresses--five different Congresses. This year, it has passed not once, but twice, out of the Senate Commerce Committee by a voice vote. prgtoken It seems to me, at least, that even after it came out of the committee, the fact that we negotiated this with the Senator from Washington and multiple Senators on the other side of the aisle, both on and off the committee, to come up with a balanced package that enjoyed broad bipartisan support--65 votes--until this afternoon, suggests to me this is purely politics being played with this legislation. prgtoken This is an important bill. This is the Coast Guard. This is VIDA. VIDA was referred to the Commerce Committee by the Parliamentarian. We have worked with the Commerce Committee; we have worked with the EPW Committee; we have worked with the EPA. The EPA is supporting the solution. This is not the political-level EPA; these are the career folks at the EPA who support the solution we have come up with. Yet we run into these objections that are all of a sudden--all of a sudden-- coming up out of thin air. prgtoken So, , I object.
CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANNON FREE LIBRARY
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today to recognize and celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Cannon Free Library in Delhi, New York. prgtoken Libraries play an important role in our upstate communities, cultivating a love of learning and reading, and fostering a profound sense of fellowship among residents. For 100 years, the Cannon Free Library has enriched the lives and minds of the citizens of Delhi by encouraging imagination and serving as a place of gathering. Through its many program offerings, youth services, and wide selection of books, the library is a cornerstone of the community. prgtoken On behalf of the 19th Congressional District and the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and congratulations to the Cannon Free Library. As the library celebrates its 100th birthday, I would like to commend the staff, the Cannon Family, and the residents of Delhi on this achievement and wish them continued success in its next 100 years.
RECOGNIZING WILDWOOD MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL
Daniel Webster (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-4-18

it is my pleasure to recognize Wildwood Middle High School and their many accomplishments during the 2017-2018 school year. prgtoken Congratulations to the girls and boys basketball teams on winning the Class 1A state championship. This is the second consecutive state title for the girls basketball team and the first state title since 1953 for the boys basketball. I am happy to recognize the contribution of the coaches and players to this historic season. Principal and girls basketball coach Richard Hampton and boys basketball coach Von Moreland were both named Class 1A Coach of the Year. Kari Niblack and Darion Wilson were named Class 1A Player of the Year. prgtoken Congratulations to the Wildcats football team on an undefeated season. Coach McKinley Rolle was named Class 1A Coach of the Year. Coach Rolle led the team to their first undefeated season since 1985. prgtoken Congratulations to Kylie Ondriezek on being named Sumter County Teacher of the Year. Ms. Ondriezek is a graduate of Wildwood Middle High School and returned to teach English. prgtoken Wildwood Middle High School's dedication to quality education and creating opportunities for success is evident from these recognitions. I am pleased to recognize Wildwood Middle High School and congratulate the students, teachers, and administrators for their hard work and outstanding accomplishments. May their example inspire many to follow in their footsteps.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5444, TAXPAYER FIRST ACT, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5445, 21ST CENTURY IRS ACT
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2018-4-18

I, too, sit on the Rules Committee, and what we witnessed Monday was an amazing thing, coming together in a bipartisan fashion on some very important bills to bring reform to the Internal Revenue Service. prgtoken And I might respond to the gentleman's comments. prgtoken It was a very open process through the Ways and Means Committee. It was, as far as I recall, at least a 3-year process, working bipartisanly, very cooperatively, in a comprehensive fashion in order to get the work done that was brought together and culminated with the work that we see here today. prgtoken So, as far as an open process, I don't know what could have been more open. It was one that we can be proud of, one that we should see more of in this institution, frankly, and I am very proud that we are able to be here today, following a long history of using the closed rule process when we are considering these kinds of bills as it pertains to revenue. prgtoken With that, , .
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE SUBMITTED BY BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-4-18

thank you very much. prgtoken I come to the floor again today to visit a moment about S.J. Res. 57. It disapproves the CFPB guidance on indirect auto lending. This is a piece of legislation I introduced, and I appreciate the strong and valuable assistance I have had from the Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. Toomey, and certainly the chairman of the Banking Committee, the Senator from Idaho, and other colleagues. prgtoken I want to talk just a moment about process, the use of a CRA, and the fact that the CFPB utilized what they called guidance as compared to a rulemaking process. prgtoken I want to make certain that my colleagues understand that Agencies and Departments still would be encouraged to put out guidance to ensure appropriate compliance with the law. This CRA resolution ought not have a chilling effect on guidance because guidance is a useful tool. It can be helpful to those who are being regulated, but it needs to be issued for traditional purposes--guidelines for complying with Federal law. prgtoken One of the CFPB's errors in issuing this guidance in this instance was that they proceeded down the path of an aggressive enforcement action in search of market-tipping settlements. If enforcement action is desired on the part of the agency, then a full rulemaking process ought to be conducted, and that is what the CFPB did not do. The CFPB used the guidance as an enforcement weapon instead of guidance in its more traditional and helpful purpose. It is important that we in Congress reorient the guidance process back to its intended form by ensuring that the CFPB cannot replicate its mistakes with regard to indirect auto lending. prgtoken The authors of the Congressional Review Act that we are operating under on this resolution, Senators Nickles, Reid, and Stevens, in the Congressional Record of April 1996, said: ``The authors are concerned that some agencies have attempted to circumvent notice-and-comment requirements by trying to give legal effect to general statements of policy, `guidelines,' and agency policy and procedure manuals.'' prgtoken Even in 1996, my previous colleagues were concerned about what actually transpired at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Clearly, the CRA was passed in 1996 with the understanding that agency guidance had been used inappropriately. prgtoken It is important for Congress to reassert its role in policymaking from the executive branch. All Members of Congress ought to be committed to conducting oversight over the rest of the Federal Government. Failure on the part of Congress to hold Federal agencies to account when they stray from their statutory and congressionally intended jurisdiction means we will get de facto legislation being originated in the executive branch. This effort is about making certain that the form and function of the Federal Government is accountable to the American people. prgtoken Kansans hold me to account for the actions I ta
Nomination of Mike Pompeo (Executive Calendar)
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-4-18

over the past 24 hours we have learned of a high-level meeting between Director Pompeo--Mike Pompeo, the President's nominee to become Secretary of State--and Kim Jong Un, the leader--the tyrant leader--of North Korea, who has threatened to use nuclear weapons not only against our allies but against the United States and has a growing capability in his efforts to do just that. prgtoken We have also seen incredible partisan obstruction threatened on his nomination. The absurd levels of partisanship in this Chamber are a stain on our institution. We see it at every level of nominations, from ambassadorships to commissions to boards. Now we see it at the level of the Secretary of State, a position that will be instrumental in denuclearizing the North Korean regime. prgtoken Director Pompeo had his confirmation hearing last week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We now know that his testimony at this committee hearing took place after he had visited Kim Jong Un, and in this committee hearing, he made it very clear that our goal remains the complete and verifiable irreversible denuclearization. That is the stated goal, confirmed by Director Pompeo: the complete and verifiable irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. Yet we now have people threatening to stop this nomination at a critical time when we face a nuclear threat that is the greatest this country has seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis. prgtoken Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle would decide to deny this country its top State Department diplomat. prgtoken Let me describe what some of our colleagues have said who have claimed now that they are going to vote against Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State but who, just a few months back, voted to confirm Mike Pompeo. One of my colleagues who is voting against Director Pompeo for Secretary of State has admitted that Director Pompeo has been a ``solid manager'' of the CIA, saying: I voted for him to head the CIA and don't wish I had that vote back. I think he has a background in intel and has been a solid manager there. prgtoken Another colleague, who tried to criticize Director Pompeo's diversity policies at the CIA, was met with this response from Director Pompeo, who explained at the hearing that those types of complaints decreased under his leadership. Mike Pompeo stated: ``The number of--we call them `no fear complaints'--the statutory requirement decreased from 2016 to 2017 by 40 percent.'' prgtoken Director Pompeo further explained: ``I'm proud of the record . . . the work that my team has done on this.'' prgtoken So concerns about diversity policies was refuted at the committee hearing. prgtoken Another Senator seems worried that Mike Pompeo is conducting diplomacy and said: ``Pompeo is the wrong person to be engaging in diplomacy.'' prgtoken The nominee to be Secretary of State is the wrong person to be conducting diplomacy? Perhaps we need som
RECOGNIZING DOROTHY McINTYRE AS A PIONEER FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS
Erik Paulsen (Republican, MN) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise to recognize a pioneer of women's sports in Minnesota, Dorothy McIntyre, who was recently inducted in the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. prgtoken There are very few who have done more to advance Minnesota girls sports than Eden Prairie coach and teacher, Dorothy McIntyre. Dorothy arrived in Eden Prairie in 1959, with girls sports in Minnesota nearly nonexistent. But Dorothy led a courageous group of like-minded colleagues to push for change. prgtoken Progress was slow. Gymnastics was first, tennis next, and basketball not until 1976. But Dorothy kept at it, and when she was told girls must play basketball in the fall instead of the winter, her answer was a firm: No, that's not fair. She got results, and today, girls play basketball just like the boys do, and Dorothy McIntyre is a big reason why. prgtoken , I want to congratulate Dorothy McIntyre on her well- deserved induction into the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
CELEBRATING THE BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-4-18

I rise today to celebrate a historical moment for the great State of Illinois. Two hundred years ago today, in this very building, legislation was passed by the 15th Congress and later signed by President James Monroe which allowed the people of the Illinois territory to proceed with statehood. prgtoken This legislation paved the way for representatives in the territory to form a convention from which a State government would later emerge. At the time, in 1818, only 11 counties existed in the territory that could send representatives to the convention to draft governing documents. prgtoken Three of these 11 counties are within my congressional district. I have often said how humble I am to represent a part of Illinois that President Lincoln represented when he served in this Chamber, but I am also immensely proud to represent the area that pioneered Illinois' statehood. prgtoken In December of this year, Illinois will celebrate its bicentennial as a State in our Union. I have called Illinois home for over 40 years, and I am honored to stand here today and recognize the history that was made in this building 200 years ago today.