mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-8-1

I rise to discuss the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, as some of my colleagues have been doing today. prgtoken President has chosen a superbly qualified nominee to the Supreme Court--and believe me, I know what is good and what isn't good. Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most widely respected judges in the country. He has authored 300 opinions during his 12 years on the bench in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals--the second highest court in the country. The Supreme Court has adopted the positions in his opinions a dozen times. He has written multiple dissents that have carried the day in the Supreme Court. He has authored articles in the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, and the Georgetown Law Journal. He has also taught courses at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown. None other than Elena Kagan, in fact, hired him to teach at Harvard. prgtoken I would like to take some time today to focus on a subject on which Judge Kavanaugh has really made his mark as a jurist. I want to talk about substance. I want to talk about what Judge Kavanaugh has written in his opinions and how he has been a true intellectual leader on the court. I hope my colleagues on both sides listen to this because we haven't had a nominee like him in a long time. prgtoken So much of the discussion about Judge Kavanaugh, so far, has been substance-free. have hurled accusation after accusation that has been divorced from reality. They say those who support Judge Kavanaugh are complicit and evil. They say his nomination threatens the destruction of the Constitution. They say people will die if he is confirmed. Lost in all of this is any actual discussion of Judge Kavanaugh's written opinions, of the way he approaches cases. prgtoken When Judge Kavanaugh met with me last month, he said he hoped my colleagues would read his opinions. That is how they can learn what kind of a judge he is. That is how they can learn how he thinks. That is how they can learn why he is so respected by and s alike who are on the circuit courts of appeals and who hold other judgeships. prgtoken Regrettably, my ic colleagues have been too busy one-upping each other's apocalyptic rhetoric to take a look at what Judge Kavanaugh has actually written, so I would like to take some time to do that today. I would like to focus in particular on the subject on which Judge Kavanaugh has arguably had his greatest influence as a judge--the separation of powers. prgtoken The separation of powers is a core component of our Constitution. It is, in fact, the first and the most important way the Constitution protects our liberty. prgtoken Justice Scalia was fond of saying that ``the genius of the American constitutional system is the dispersal of prgtoken power.'' By separating authority among competing branches of government and then further dividing it between the Federal Government and the States, the Constitution makes it extr
TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINE McLEOD PATE AND NIKOLE NELSON
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-8-1

it is the end of the week on the Senate floor, and it is my favorite time of the week. I think it is the pages' favorite time of the week, too, because we get to talk about the Alaskan of the Week. This is a speech I give every week. The whole purpose is to talk about somebody in my community, somebody in my great State, who has done something important for their fellow Alaskans or maybe their fellow Americans. Sometimes it is someone very famous. Other times it is somebody who is working hard every single day and doesn't get a lot of recognition. What we like to do is come and talk about them. We like to brag about them. prgtoken I like to brag about my State. We all like to brag about our States. When it comes to size, beauty, grandeur, and majestic nature, I think Alaska takes the cake of all the other States, but others might disagree. I know the Presiding Officer loves his State very much. prgtoken What we want to encourage people to do is come on up to Alaska, see it for yourselves. Spend some time there. We are getting ready for a little recess. Some of my Senate colleagues will be coming up and seeing our great State in the next week. prgtoken I guarantee you, if you are watching, it is going to be the trip of a lifetime. You will love it, absolutely love it. More than anything, it is truly the people of Alaska who make it such a special place. We like to celebrate these people. They are individualistic, rugged, tough but very community-oriented. We call them our Alaskan of the Week. prgtoken I am going to break a little rule on the Alaskan of the Week this week because it is going to be the Alaskans of the Week, not one but two--two people who are doing great things and, in many ways, reinforcing each other's great work in Alaska. prgtoken I am going to talk a little bit, though, about one of the challenges. We like to brag about how wonderful our States are. Let's face it, all States in our great Nation have challenges and problems. One of the ones that a number of us back home in Alaska are focused on is a really big challenge and a really problematic issue in my State; that is, the very high rate of domestic violence and sexual assault we have in Alaska. We have some of the highest rates in the country. This is horrible, and it impacts families and, of course, victims and survivors. Of course, it is not just a problem in Alaska; it is a problem all across the country. In Alaska, it is an acute problem. It is a big problem. prgtoken The good news is, we have hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Alaska who have recognized this as a big problem and have banded together in using their energy, creativity, and drive to have turned to the survivors of this abuse and turn to help them and help them break out of what oftentimes is generational violence--family victims after family victims. prgtoken Today, I recognize two such Alaskans, who are literally leading the way on this very importa
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-8-1

we are beginning to wrap up the appropriations package, which includes the prgtoken fiscal year 2019 bills for the Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Agriculture, Rural Government, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; as well as Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, or T-HUD. prgtoken This is really quite an accomplishment this morning. It is perhaps not necessarily noted in the trade press out there, but the fact is, we are doing our business here. We are doing the business of lawmakers and legislators when it comes to our annual spending bills. prgtoken The fact that this is August 1 and we will be wrapping up in a matter of an hour or so, a couple of hours, 4 appropriations bills on top of the 3 that we have previously done--so 7 out of the 12 appropriations bills--is good progress. This is important progress. Some might say it is historic progress. I say it is progress that is long overdue. prgtoken I believe it is because of the leadership of Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairman Leahy. They came together to basically lay down a path forward for the Appropriations Committee, urging us, as chairmen of our respective subcommittees, to go back to a process that was a working and functioning process where we do the work of appropriators--not as authorizers but as appropriators--in advancing these multiple spending bills. In my view, where we are today is the result of good leadership at the committee, good leadership that says that committee work matters. prgtoken To be able to lead the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has been a very distinct privilege and an honor for me. These are areas that are clearly of interest to my home State. When we talk about our Nation's public lands, when we talk about support for our indigenous people and the agencies that support them--whether it is the BIA or the IHS--when we think about the arts and the contribution of the arts to our Nation, the issues that are within this subcommittee's jurisdiction are good, are important, and it is necessary that on an annual basis we work to advance these priorities. prgtoken We haven't been able to really advance them, not only not here on the full floor but actually through the full committee. It has been many years--actually, since fiscal year 2010 that we have had an interior bill before the full Senate for full consideration. So, again, this is truly a milestone. prgtoken As I mentioned, I want to thank Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairman Leahy for their leadership on this. I also want to acknowledge and thank Leader McConnell for placing a priority on the appropriations process. He urged us to advance, without delay, this multitude of spending bills to return us back to regular order. prgtoken He set forth a pretty aggressive schedule for us. In fairness, there were a lot of folks out th
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019--CONFERENCE REPORT
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-8-1

yesterday I had an opportunity to go through and thank all of the appropriate people. prgtoken This is arguably the most significant bill that we will have this year--as we have had every year. This is the 58th consecutive year we had a Defense authorization bill. This is dedicated and named after Senator McCain. It is the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. We are very proud of the input we had from his staff and from him, and we went through it in record time. prgtoken I certainly thank my counterpart, Senator Reed. He and I have worked very closely together for many years. prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO DAVE TRUE
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-8-1

I rise today to recognize Dave True, who will soon be honored for his contributions to his local community and the agriculture industry across Wyoming. Each year, Senator Enzi and I have the opportunity to introduce outstanding individuals as they are inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. As one of the 2018 inductees, Dave is an outstanding addition to their ranks. prgtoken Seventy years ago, Dave's father moved to Casper, WY, as part owner of a drilling company and established what would eventually become the True Companies. In the years that followed, Dave worked with his father and brothers to expand the company's focus. Today the True Companies is a prgtoken diversified portfolio of farms, ranches, and feedlots, as well as businesses in the oil and gas and transportation sectors. prgtoken Together with his wife, Melanie, Dave works to make sure the family business endures for the next generation: their children, Shane and his wife JoAnn; Christy and her husband Quintin; Bryce and his wife Kelsey; Ashley, who interned in my office, and her husband Gene; and the many grandchildren. prgtoken Today, Dave manages the agricultural holdings and actively seeks out opportunities to serve the larger agricultural community. Dave has given his time to the Wyoming 4-H Foundation, the Casper Rotary Club, the Farm Bureau, and many other organizations who share his passions. As a member of the University of Wyoming's College of Agriculture advisory council and as the current president of the University of Wyoming board of trustees, Dave plays an active role in guiding students who make Wyoming's future so bright. prgtoken The scope of Dave's leadership is not limited to the borders of Wyoming. For many years, Dave served as treasurer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and has mentored countless members of the national agriculture sector. Never too busy to attend educational workshops, I remember when Dave shared his biggest successes and his biggest failure during a beef symposium. His willingness to share obstacles in his own enterprise and offer advice has made Dave an outstanding resource for the next generation of producers. prgtoken This year marks the 150th anniversary of Wyoming's status as a U.S. Territory and the 106th annual Wyoming State Fair. Although the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame began only in 1992, Wyoming has a longstanding tradition of recognizing those who are integral to the success of our State's agricultural industry. Selection as a member of this outstanding group is one of many honors Dave has received, and it is one that is undoubtedly well-deserved. The members of this elite club grow crops and raise livestock while building a strong foundation for the next generation of successful producers. Together, they will make the next 150 years of Wyoming's history as rich as the last. prgtoken It is with great honor that I recognize my friend as an outstanding m
TRADE SECURITY ACT
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-8-1

today I want to talk about an issue that has gotten a lot of attention recently, and that is our U.S. trade policy. It is an important topic that affects every one of us. It affects our economy, it affects jobs, and it certainly affects our foreign policy. prgtoken I have followed it pretty closely over the years. I was a trade lawyer when I first started practicing law. I was U.S. Trade Representative, or USTR, under the administration, and now I am a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over these trade issues. prgtoken Most importantly, of course, I am a Senator from Ohio, which is a State that has a big manufacturing sector, a big agriculture sector, and a State where a lot of jobs depend on having a good trade policy. In fact, in Ohio, about 25 percent of our State's factory workers are export workers. In other words, they make products that get exported. Today in Ohio, about one of every three acres that are planted gets exported--soybeans, corn, and wheat. These are good jobs too. Trade jobs, on average, pay about 16 percent more than other jobs and provide better benefits. So it is very important to our economy in Ohio to have these export jobs. prgtoken In America, we are about 5 percent of the world's population. Yet we have about 25 percent of the world's economy. So it is very important for us to have access to the 95 percent of consumers who live outside of our borders. We want to sell them more. We want to open up markets for our farmers, our workers, and our service providers. prgtoken While promoting exports, we also need to ensure that we protect American jobs from unfair trade, from imports that would unfairly undercut our farmers, our workers, and our service providers. Simply put, what we want is a level playing field where it is fair and where we have reciprocal treatment between countries. prgtoken If we have a level playing field, by the way, I believe American workers will be just fine. Our workers and businesses can compete and can win if we have a truly level playing field. prgtoken We want a balanced approach. We want to open up new markets for U.S. products, while being tougher on trade enforcement, so we can compete. prgtoken With my colleagues over the past couple of years, I coauthored a number of laws in this area. One is actually called the Level the Playing Field Act. It does just that. The other is called the ENFORCE Act. These are bipartisan laws that are helping to crack down on unfair trade that hurts U.S. jobs. prgtoken The Level the Playing Field Act helps on the front-end by making it easier for workers and businesses to win cases when foreign companies send us products that are unfairly traded because they are sold below their cost or dumped or because they are subsidized illegally. This makes it easier to put anti-dumping or countervailing duties, also known as tariffs, on those unfairly traded products. That is a
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-8-1

I have 9 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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation prgtoken The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 9:45 a.m to conduct a business meeting and hearing on the following nominations: Rick A. Dearborn, of Oklahoma, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors, and Martin J. Oberman, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board. Committee on Environment and Public Works prgtoken The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 9:45 a.m to conduct a business meeting and hearing on the following nominations: William Charles McIntosh, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Administrator, and Peter C. Wright, of Michigan, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, both of the Environmental Protection Agency, Mary Bridget Neumayr, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality, and John Fleming, of Louisiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and General Services Administration resolutions. Committee on Environment and Public Works prgtoken The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 10:30 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance prgtoken The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Justin George Muzinich, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary, and Michael J. Desmond, of California, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel, both of the Department of the Treasury. Committee on Foreign Relations prgtoken The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: R. Clarke Cooper, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary (Political-Military Affairs), and John Cotton Richmond, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large, both of the Department of State. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nom
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2018-8-1

as we near completion of the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, which has been included in the appropriations package before this Chamber, I wish to thank all of my colleagues for working collaboratively with us. prgtoken The managers' amendment incorporates 14 T-HUD amendments, which adds to the deliberations that produced the bill that we brought to the floor. In drafting this bill, the ranking member, Senator Jack Reed, to whom I am very grateful for his bipartisan collaboration, reviewed more than 800 requests and input from 70 Senators from both sides of the aisle. This truly is a bipartisan product. I also want to thank the staff for their diligence and commitment throughout this process. prgtoken Our Transportation-HUD bill makes important investments in our infrastructure and housing programs that will benefit communities and vulnerable families, seniors, young people, homeless veterans, and so many others across the Nation. Improving our infrastructure is also essential for economic growth, personal mobility, and the creation of jobs. prgtoken I am pleased that we were able to bring this spending bill to the floor so that Members have a full opportunity to analyze and debate this legislation rather than the past practice of moving all the appropriations bills in one enormous, 1,000-page omnibus. That is a great credit to the Senate, to the Appropriations Committee, and particularly its leaders, Senator Shelby and Senator Leahy, and to the majority and minority leaders as well. All of them worked together and made it a goal for us to report all 12 appropriations bills from the Appropriations Committee and bring them to the floor for full and open debate. That is how the process is meant to work. I want to thank my Members on both sides of the aisle and urge my colleagues to support the bill. prgtoken , I wish to also speak about clarifying FDA regulations on ``added sugar'' labeling requirements. It is very important to our pure maple syrup and honey producers in the State of Maine. prgtoken I rise to thank my colleagues, including Chairman Shelby, for including in the managers' package an amendment that I offered with Senators King, Sanders, Hoeven, Shaheen, and Leahy to help protect our pure maple syrup and honey producers from labeling requirements that could create widespread consumer confusion and negatively affect these industries. prgtoken Although FDA's ``added sugars'' labeling requirement is intended to help educate consumers about a product's contents, complications arise when it is applied to single-ingredient sweeteners like maple sugar or honey. The rule would require the label to state that all sugar in these products as ``added sugar.'' prgtoken The Maine Maple Producers Association, along with the individual producers it represents, believes that the term ``added sugar,'' when used wi
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-8-1

I thank Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer for their kind remarks. I hope my wife was listening to that. What the heck. prgtoken We have been working together, and we have to continue that to make the process work, to reach out to each other. Gosh, it is hard work. Senator Leahy and I differ on a lot of things, but we are together on bringing regular order to the Appropriations Committee because I thought all along we owe it to the American people. We are accountable--both parties, both groups. That is what we have been about. prgtoken Thank you again to the leader and Senator Schumer for your kind remarks.