mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-5-22

. Madam , I rise today regarding missed votes due to my daughter's graduation from High School. Had I been present for roll call vote number 218, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1952, the Intercountry Adoption Information Act, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 219, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and agree on H. Res. 106, Denouncing female genital mutilation/cutting as a violation of the human rights of women and girls and urging the international community and the Federal Government to increase efforts to eliminate the harmful practice, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 220, On Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 389, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1500) Consumers First Act, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1994) Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, and providing for proceedings during the period from May 24, 2019, through May 31, 2019, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 221, On Agreeing to the Resolution on H. Res. 389, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1500) Consumers First Act, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1994) Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, and providing for proceedings during the period from May 24, 2019, through May 31, 2019, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``nay.''
Introductory Statement on S. 1602
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2019-5-22

I rise today to introduce the Better Energy prgtoken Storage Technology Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Heinrich on this initiative. I would also like to thank Senator Gardner, Senator Smith, Senator Coons, Senator McSally, and Senator King who have joined us as original cosponsors of the BEST Act. prgtoken Our bipartisan bill supports narrowly tailored energy storage research to develop the next generation of technologies at the Department of Energy. Advancing next generation energy storage technology will allow us to integrate more renewables into the power grid, such as wind energy or solar energy which, in turn, will help to reduce emissions and slow climate change. prgtoken Energy storage systems provide a wide range of benefits. First, these technologies increase the reliability and the resilience of the electric grid by limiting potential disruptions. Energy storage helps us to better manage supply and demand on the grid and allows for the expanded use of renewable energy. The reliability of our grid and grid- scale storage systems go hand-in-hand. prgtoken Second, this type of technology can decrease energy costs, a goal that we all share. In Maine, the price of electricity rises steeply during the coldest days of the year. For example, in late 2017 and early 2018, very cold temperatures in New England led to higher energy costs--more than a billion dollars in the wholesale energy market--in just 15 days. prgtoken The next generation of energy storage technologies could help to transform our grid, meaning that we would no longer need to generate more expensive power to meet demands during the hottest and coldest days of the year. Instead, we could use more affordable energy sources that have been stored for later use. prgtoken Third, energy storage systems can allow for more intermittent renewable sources, such as wind and solar power, to be placed on the grid and used precisely when they are needed. The Aqua Ventus, a floating, deepwater offshore wind project being developed by the University of Maine and a consortium of groups, could benefit from energy storage innovation. Off the coast of Maine, there are very strong and consistent winds where offshore wind turbines can produce electricity almost 50 percent of the time. This next generation storage technology will ensure that we can use this wind power closer to 100 percent of the time by storing electricity to use when the wind isn't blowing. prgtoken One of the biggest hurdles to commercializing energy storage is cost. To overcome this obstacle, our bill specifically directs the Department of Energy to work to decrease the cost of this exciting technology. This is similar to the Department's SunShot initiative that decreased the price of solar power by approximately 75 percent in less than a decade. prgtoken Furthermore, energy storage systems are technology neutral. This bill will foster innovation and enhance deploym
Introductory Statement on S. 1643
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-5-23

today Senator Crapo of Idaho, Senator Merkley of Oregon, Senator Risch of Idaho, and I are introducing the Forest Management for Rural Stability Act. This legislation replaces the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) to provide revenue sharing with and compensation to over 700 rural forested counties in the over 40 States that host America's treasured, public forested lands and wildlife refuges. prgtoken In 2000, then-Senator Larry Craig, also of Idaho, and I, had signed into law SRS: a 6-year long safety-net program to stabilize county budgets following years of depleted revenue sharing payments from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Oregon and California Grant Lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Over its lifetime, SRS has been a success, providing more than $6.8 billion nationwide for rural roads, schools, and healthy forest projects. SRS also provided the basis for the beginning of, and the now growing propensity for, the USFS and the BLM to collaborate with local people and interests on the management of these public lands, and for local folks and counties to collaborate together and with the USFS and BLM, in return. prgtoken Despite its many successes, the continuation of SRS is in jeopardy. The program expired in fiscal year 2016. Congress passed a two-year extension of the program, but after its expiration. And this was not the first time nor the last time Congress allowed it to expire--SRS is expired right now, though Senator Crapo and I are attempting, in these last moments of the 115th Congress, to reauthorize it again for at least a year, perhaps two. prgtoken This stop and start existence of this program hits at the heart of any attempts at collaboration. And it certainly undermines any attempts for a county to budget. Our rural counties should not continue to suffer neither this uncertainty, nor the market based uncertainty that comes with simply relying on revenue sharing and forest management for support. prgtoken That is why Senator Crapo and I propose an SRS modernization, funding certainty while supporting active forest management. The Forest Management for Rural Stability Act establishes a permanent endowment fund, prgtoken the Natural Resources Permanent Fund, to provide stable, reliable, increasing payments to counties, in perpetuity, removing them from the vagaries of Congress or the market. prgtoken Under this legislation, Congress charters a fiduciary corporation, the Forest and Refuge County Foundation, to manage the endowed fund. The corporation will be independent from any instrumentality of the U.S. government, including Congress, to ensure the principle balance is held in perpetuity and is separate from annual appropriations. The corporation will be overseen by a board of directors responsible for a transparent governance structure. The principle of the fund will be invested to earn interest. To grow the fund, i
END MASS DEPORTATION ACT
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-5-23

I take to the floor today to urge my colleagues to halt the President's indiscriminate deportation regime. This administration is targeting immigrants who are deeply woven into our communities, and this inhumane approach must end. prgtoken For 30 years, David Chavez-Macias, who was born in Mexico, lived in Reno, NV. He worked as a landscaper during the week and went to church on Sundays. He raised four children, and he tried to follow the law. He paid his taxes and hired attorneys to help him become an American citizen. In 2013, he was pulled over for turning left as the street light changed. That traffic stop brought him to the attention of immigration enforcement. prgtoken Now, the previous administration had permitted Mr. Chavez-Macias to stay with his family. After all, he had a heart condition that required regular treatment, and he had been a hard-working community member for decades; yet under this administration, David was deported to Mexico, ripping him from his family. prgtoken Now, as a granddaughter of immigrants, I understand how much immigrants like David contribute to American communities, and as a native Nevadan--a State where one in five schoolchildren have an undocumented parent--I know how deeply communities are hurt when we drive out longtime members. That is why I am introducing the End Mass Deportation Act to keep the administration from pursuing people like David. This bill will make sure we are not indiscriminately targeting people for deportation who have contributed to their communities for decades. prgtoken Just days after taking office, President issued an Executive order that changed our immigration enforcement priorities. He gave ICE the green light to aggressively pursue anyone without papers, not just people who had committed serious crimes or posed a threat to our public safety. My bill rescinds this cruel and counterproductive order. prgtoken Now, the administration is deporting people who have lived in the United States--sometimes for decades--playing by the rules, providing for their families, starting businesses, and contributing to their communities. In Nevada, almost 90 percent of undocumented residents have been in the United States for more than 5 years. prgtoken These are people who own their own homes. They are people who pay billions of dollars in taxes each year. Their children are citizens, legal permanent residents, and Dreamers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends. The impact of this policy on American families has been profound. Since President signed his Executive order, arrests of immigrants without criminal records have tripled. prgtoken The End Mass Deportation Act would make the administration focus our law enforcement resources where they should be: on people who pose a legitimate threat to our communities. prgtoken Historically, prosecutorial discretion was used to take into account the compelling c
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Ron Kind (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I rise in strong support of the SECURE Act. This legislation is meant to address one of the great gaps we have in retirement savings: employees in small businesses, primarily affecting women, minorities, and young adults. prgtoken I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on the issue. I want to thank my good friend Mike Kelly for partnering with me throughout this process, along with former colleagues Dave Reichert and Pat Tiberi, with whom I had a chance to work on this issue in particular. prgtoken I also want to thank the Representative in the chair today, Representative Elaine Luria, our commander. She is the one who introduced the Gold Star fix. It was a mistake that was made in the Tax Code that adversely affects survivor benefits for children of our fallen soldiers. prgtoken It also fixes distributions to Native American children and to students who receive scholarships and grants. I thank her for her leadership on it. prgtoken This is a good, bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support it.
IN RECOGNITION OF ALINA T. HUDAK'S 35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise in honor of my friend, Alina Hudak, Deputy Mayor of Miami-Dade County, and her 35 years of public service to the greater Miami community. prgtoken Alina began her career in the Miami-Dade County government as a management trainee in 1984. In 1993, she became the first Hispanic woman appointed to the position of Assistant County Manager. In 1996, she was tapped for the position of Director of the General Services Administration. In 1998, she rejoined the County Manager's Office, and she took over the post of County Manager in 2011. She currently serves as Deputy Mayor of Miami-Dade County as well as Director of the Solid Waste Management Department. prgtoken Alina has worked with nearly every department of Miami-Dade's extensive administration, and she possesses an unrivaled knowledge of the County. Throughout her career, she has overseen an impressive portfolio of departments, including the nationally recognized Police and Fire Rescue, Animal Services, Elections, Transit, Public Works, the Citizen's Independent Transportation Trust, and the Public Health Trust. She spearheaded the County's Haitian Relief Efforted, the United Way campaign, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign, and has acted as liaison for numerous county tournaments and events. prgtoken Alina continues to give to the Miami-Dade community. She is an active alumna of the University of Miami, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in Public Administration. She is also deeply involved in the American Society for Public Administration and the International Women's Forum. prgtoken We have all witnessed Alina's extraordinary skill and dedication to Miami-Dade County. She has served with grace and heart, and I look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make on our community for years to come.
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy, and I appreciate his moving forward on the issue of retirement security, for which he has been a tireless champion. prgtoken We are facing a retirement crisis in this country. Nearly half of households headed by someone 55 or older lack retirement savings. One of the many reasons they are not saving enough is lack of access to retirement plans. This bill moves in that direction. prgtoken I appreciate it is going to increase access to employer retirement plans for people who work in small business and part-time workers. prgtoken Of particular interest to me is a provision in this bill that fixes a quirk in the current law that prevents many home care workers from participating in a 401(k) or saving with an individual retirement account, an IRA. prgtoken I heard directly from home healthcare workers in Oregon about this problem. I am pleased, working with the committee, we have been able to fix this quirk moving forward. I anticipate this is one of many bills that will be moving forward dealing with retirement security in America, and I look forward to that progress.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GERALDINE ``JERRY'' EMMETT
Ruben Gallego (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-5-23

I know I speak for my colleagues when I say that we all loved Jerry. How could you not love Jerry? prgtoken Her spirit and unwavering optimism and her love for our State and our party made her the quintessential Arizonan. She lived to 104 years old, and she really lived. She lived in a way that set an example for all of us. She made every day count. prgtoken Her life spanned some of the momentous times in our Nation's history: the Great Depression, the fight for women's suffrage, World War II, and the civil rights movement. prgtoken In 1914, when Jerry was born, women did not have the right to vote. Who could have thought then that a century later Jerry would announce our State's delegates on the floor of the 2016 ic National Convention for the first major-party female Presidential nominee in our Nation's history. It was an honor to stand by her side that day, and it is a moment I will never forget. prgtoken In her 104 years, Jerry saw our State and our country through some tough times, but she never lost hope, she never lost optimism, and her commitment to bringing about the change she believed in never wavered. prgtoken Her son Jim recalled that her biggest lesson was: No matter what is going on at that time, as long as you keep hope, you keep believing things will change, and you are doing you best to help change, it will change. prgtoken Those words guided Jerry's life. Those words have inspired me and should inspire us all as we keep fighting for the things we believe in. prgtoken We will miss you, Jerry.
ABORTION
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-23

I rise to speak about the recent uptick in State efforts to criminalize abortion. These proposals, which have been passed in eight States just this year and that have been proposed in many others, impose harsh criminal penalties on women who have abortions or on doctors who terminate pregnancies. prgtoken The laws deny women the freedom to make their own healthcare choices. Therefore, they clearly violate the constitutional protections established in Roe v. Wade and subsequent cases. In fact, many of the proponents of these laws openly advertise them as being part of a strategy to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and to return to the days when States used the criminal law to punish women and doctors for contraception and abortion. prgtoken Abortion is a contentious issue. People feel so strongly about it. I understand that. I feel strongly about it, too. It can sometimes appear that there is little common ground between people who call themselves pro-choice and people who call themselves pro-life, but there is common ground among so many of us. For example, Americans with many different views on abortion overwhelmingly believe that Roe v. Wade should remain the law of the land. More than 70 percent of Americans support the decision and believe it shouldn't be overturned. prgtoken People understand that, whatever they think about abortion for themselves and their own families, they do not believe the State should make the decision for every woman. Women should be able to make their own decisions about pregnancy, contraception, and abortion without State interference, and appropriate regulation of abortion, just as of other medical procedures, especially late in a pregnancy when a fetus could survive independently, is allowable as long as the life and health of the mother receive careful protection. prgtoken In addition to the support for Roe v. Wade, there is also common ground based on data about strategies that work, and I want to offer a common-ground perspective on this issue. There is a way to dramatically reduce abortion in this country that both pro-life and pro-choice should embrace. It is a strategy of compassion. Let me start with a noteworthy fact that is almost never mentioned. prgtoken During the last 25 years, which is the time I have been in elected office, the abortion rate in this country has been cut in half. This is remarkable. You never hear this discussed. By 2015, during the administration, the abortion rate in the United States was at its lowest level since Roe v. Wade became law. In fact, if you were to just measure it by the data, you could argue that the administration's years were the most pro-life period since Roe v. Wade. prgtoken Why has this happened? prgtoken While there are a number of reasons, the most important one is this: The rate of unplanned pregnancies is decreasing. Teen pregnancies are decreasing. If the number of unplanned p
HONORING JESPY HOUSE AND THE MICHAEL OCH HOUSE
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate a nonprofit organization that helps serve the intellectually and developmentally disabled community in my district. For the past forty years, JESPY House has been a vital part of South Orange, New Jersey. prgtoken JESPY House has provided housing, job training, and life skills to hundreds of disabled people during its long history as a public service organization. In two weeks, JESPY House will host the grand opening of its newest expansion--the Michael Och House, a Center for Aging at JESPY. prgtoken The Och House is part of JESPY's ``Aging in Place'' program, which provides for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live in a client-centered, community-based setting during their senior years. prgtoken The Och House will help JESPY to ensure its clients are able to age with dignity. They will have increased nursing and health care screenings, healthy living workshops, on-site physical therapists, and age-appropriate accessibility furnishings. prgtoken I am proud to represent organizations that are doing great things for those in need. JESPY House is a model for advancing independence among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring them.
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Stephanie N. Murphy (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , if you spend your life working hard, then you should have the dignity of a secure retirement. That is why I rise today in strong support for the SECURE Act, a bipartisan bill that will help more Americans retire with dignity and with a higher quality of life. It allows older Americans to continue to invest more and for longer in their traditional IRAs so that they can get a greater ROI on their hard-earned money. prgtoken It also contains a provision I authored requiring employers to allow long-term, part-time employees to participate in a company's 401(k) plan. This change will especially help women, as women are more likely than men to be long-term, part-time workers. prgtoken Finally, the SECURE Act fixes a mistake the s made last Congress when they rammed through their partisan tax giveaway to corporations and the wealthy. In doing so, they inadvertently raised taxes on Gold Star children and families. prgtoken As we fix this problem today, I hope this body remembers that process matters and that a bad process leads to unintended consequences that hurt everyday Americans. I am glad that we can undo some of that damage today. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support the SECURE Act, which is a good piece of bipartisan legislation that helps countless American families.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GERALDINE ``JERRY'' EMMETT
Ann Kirkpatrick (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2019-5-23

no woman or person I have ever known has appreciated the right to vote quite like Jerry Emmett. prgtoken She was born at a time when being a woman meant being silenced. She was raised at a time when women had to fight to be heard and worked 10 times as hard to be taken seriously. She aged to see women become prominent and powerful, and she passed away the same year that we had the most women elected to Congress. prgtoken I remember well the first time I met Jerry Emmett. She was very close friends with the late Carolyn Warner, our former superintendent of schools. Jerry was always the teacher. I was a newly elected State legislator at a political event, and Jerry and Carolyn were there. prgtoken Carolyn Warner said: Do you have a card? prgtoken I said: Oh, I don't have them with me right now. prgtoken Jerry Emmett said: Always keep your cards in your pocket. prgtoken So, Jerry, this is for you.