mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN MEMORY OF AL YOUNG
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to honor the late Mr. Al Young of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Young passed away on December 25, 2019 at the age of 77. Mr. Young was an icon in the bourbon business, one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky's signature industries. prgtoken Mr. Young was born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 20, 1942. Following his graduation from Western Kentucky University and later Southern Illinois University, he began his career in the distilling industry in 1967. He served in a variety of roles and became Distillery Manager of Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky in 1990. He was named Brand Ambassador for Four Roses in 2007, where he served until his passing. Mr. Young was a part of the Four Roses family for over fifty years. prgtoken Mr. Young was inducted into the Kentucky Distillers' Association Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2011. He was one of the KDA's official historians due to his extensive knowledge of the industry. He was also inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2015. He authored the book Four Roses: The Return of a Whiskey Legend. Mr. Young was passionate for the industry and was well known by bourbon fans around the world. prgtoken Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers' Association, said ``Al was an ambassador for Kentucky bourbon long before the job was even invented. The thing I'll remember most is that Al was always smiling. Always. You just knew he loved his job, his family, and his life. We were lucky to share in his spirit.'' prgtoken Mr. Gregory is survived by Gretchen, his wife of 52 years, their three children Marc, Heather, and Christine, and four grandchildren. prgtoken It is my honor to acknowledge the life of this accomplished man, Mr. Al Young, before the United States Congress.
RECOGNIZING GINA LOSS OF GREAT FALLS
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2020-1-8

. Madam , I rise today to honor Gina Loss, founder of the Great Falls Project Linus chapter, for leading efforts to provide comfort to Montana's children. Project Linus is a national organization with chapters throughout the country. Its primary mission is to create handmade blankets to give to children who face a challenge, crisis, or emergency. Facing her own challenges, Gina was inspired to create a local chapter of Project Linus. When faced with personal challenges, Gina believes many people often ask, ``Why me?'' When she confronted her own challenges, she asked herself, ``How do kids get through hard times in life?'' Considering that question led her to found the Great Falls chapter of Project Linus in March 2006. Since its launch, the chapter has given more than 15,000 blankets to kids through hospitals, dentist offices, and neonatal intensive care units, among others. The entire community has embraced the effort, and now hundreds of volunteers across Montana offer handmade gifts of comfort for thousands of kids in need. Volunteering her time and resources, Gina uses her home as the chapter's headquarters, overseeing everything from storage to quality control. Her home is also the distribution center where the blankets are sent around the state. Gina says people don't realize how much a blanket means to a child who is thrust into difficult, challenging circumstances. She says as soon as a kid gets one of their blankets, they immediately settle down and never let it go. Madam , for bringing together people across the state to provide comfort to children when they need it most, I recognize Gina Loss and the Great Falls chapter of Project Linus for their Spirit of Montana.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-1-8

I have 2 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 Environment and Public Works prgtoken The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: William Scott Hardy, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, John F. Heil III, to be United States District Judge for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma, David Cleveland Joseph, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, Cory T. Wilson, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Edward Hulvey Meyers, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.
CONGRATULATING REESE DEHEN ON HER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2020-1-8

I rise today to honor Stan Nelson for his decades of service to the United States and to the city of Anoka, Minnesota. prgtoken Stan is well known throughout his community as a man of faith, family, and football. Some know Stan as ``Coach.'' Others know him as ``Lieutenant Junior Grade.'' Others know Stan as a Minnesota Senior Olympic gold medalist. Today, we add ``Hero'' to the list of titles that accompany his name. prgtoken Stan was a student and football player at Augsburg College who went on to enlist in the Navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Stan operated one of the first boats to land on Omaha Beach on D-day. prgtoken Following his service in World War II, Stan went on to coach the Anoka High School football team for 26 years, becoming a legend in Anoka and a mentor for generations of players. In honor of his repeated sacrifices, Haven for Heroes, a local nonprofit that provides transitional housing for veterans, recently dedicated their auditorium in honor of Stan. prgtoken Men like Stan deserve to be honored. He has lived a life as a servant leader. And at age 99, he hasn't slowed down. prgtoken , we are honored that Stan's name will forever adorn the Haven for Heroes auditorium, and I thank him for his service to Anoka and to his country. Recognizing Starkey Hearing Technologies
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-1-8

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Thursday, January 9; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Ray nomination.
Nomination of Eleni Maria Roumel (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-1-8

for 3 years now, I have been hard at work alongside an administration that prioritizes filling vacancies on the Federal bench with smart, dedicated, constitutionalist judges. When I am at home in Tennessee, that is what people tell me they want to see--constitutionalist judges, not activist judges. prgtoken I know that I have sounded like a broken record in my reiterating just how important it is to keep these judicial nominations moving through the Committee on the Judiciary and moving to the floor, but I will tell you this: I think it is a message that needs to be repeated day in and day out because the American people and, as I said, Tennesseans know that this should be a priority, for this is how we continue to protect freedoms from generation to generation. prgtoken Since 2017, we have confirmed over 180 nominees, and even in the face of partisan bickering, we have no plans at all to slow that pace. We were in the Committee on the Judiciary today, hearing again from the nominees whom we will move forward and bring to this floor for confirmation. I want to shine light on a court that doesn't get a whole lot of attention, but let me tell you that we would be in real trouble if we did not have this one. prgtoken I have come to the floor to support President 's latest nominee to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims--Eleni Maria Roumel. prgtoken I first met Eleni when she joined the nonpartisan Office of General Counsel for the House of Representatives. During her 6-year tenure, Eleni advised those of us who were members of the Energy and Commerce Committee as we faced some challenging and high-profile legal matters and as we looked at laws that were going to affect the American people and how they lived their lives every single day. prgtoken The Energy and Commerce Committee in the House has wide jurisdiction. Of course, energy policy, commerce and trade, healthcare, manufacturing, pro sports, privacy, and the internet all come under that jurisdiction. So Eleni served us well in providing advice. I witnessed her commitment to bipartisanship as she served both sides of the aisle with the same quality of representation. She did it all while she was pregnant with her son, John, who is now 2 years old, and as someone who has been a working mom, I know the challenges that this presents. prgtoken From her time as a truly excellent student at Tulane Law, to her work in the private sector and beyond, Eleni's professionalism has elevated her above the rest of the pack. prgtoken She practiced intellectual property law and earned a promotion to partner as she represented both pro bono clients and publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. prgtoken She taught and mentored students as an adjunct professor at Charleston Law School. prgtoken She solidified her reputation as a lawyer committed to the rule of law in her work handling government oversight of Federal agencies. These cases were vital to the safeguarding
RECOGNIZING ATLANTIC/CAPE CASA
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2020-1-8

today, I would like to recognize the various CASA branches throughout our region that have dedicated themselves to vulnerable children in southern New Jersey. prgtoken CASA stands for a court-appointed special advocate. They are selfless volunteers who act as the child's voice during legal proceedings. These volunteers specialize in understanding the physical and emotional needs of the child and work tirelessly until finding them a permanent home, preferably with family members or with an adopted family. prgtoken Because of organizations like CASA, abused or neglected children have present, trustworthy adults in their lives who sympathize with their struggles, who understand them, and who fight on their behalf. prgtoken Therefore, I thank all the CASA branches in our district for protecting the youth of south Jersey and ensuring that every child has a caring home. I thank them for their good work, for their love, and for the difference that they make in people's lives.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2020-1-8

I rise today to introduce the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act, a bill that would help rural students achieve their higher education goals and connect their successes with economic opportunities in their own communities. I want to thank Senator Hassan for introducing this bill with me. prgtoken The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act aims to improve the outcomes for rural students who are pursuing higher education and skills-based credentials that will prepare them to meet the workforce needs of their home communities. prgtoken According to the 2010 census, Maine is now the most rural State in the Nation. Two out of three Maine schools are in rural communities, and more than half of Maine's students attend those schools. While nearly 90 percent of the students in my State graduate from high school, only 62 percent enroll in higher education, at least right away. According to a recent report by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, only 30 percent of Maine students go on to earn a 2-year or a 4-year degree. So we have a huge dichotomy between the number of Maine students who graduate from high school and the number who are successful in graduating from some sort of higher education. prgtoken Maine's experience reflects the trends observed nationwide. Rural students tend to graduate from high school at higher rates than their peers in urban districts and at about the same rate as their peers in suburban schools, but only 59 percent of rural graduates enroll in college upon graduation, which is a lower percentage than their counterparts in urban and suburban areas. prgtoken The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act would help spur innovation, investment, and strategies that would improve college access and success for rural students. It would create prgtoken a demonstration program to encourage rural community stakeholders to partner together to help students go on to college or obtain some other postsecondary education, complete this education, and enter the workforce. These partnerships would draw on the talents of local school districts, institutions of higher education, regional economic development entities, rural community organizations, and the private sector. The bill encourages these partnerships to develop and implement strategies to help students and their families navigate higher education opportunities and addresses the barriers to their achievement. prgtoken For example, the bill calls for partnerships to coalesce around approaches that boost higher education enrollment rates for referral students by exposing students and their families to college campuses, courses, internships, and career pathways to jobs at home. These partnerships could also focus on rural incompletion rates of nontraditional students who may need additional credentials or who once began but did not finish higher education. prgtoken To meet the demands of toda
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-1-8

I rise today to honor the life of Izard County Sheriff Earnie Blackley. Sheriff Blackley passed away on January 4, 2020, after a brief battle with cancer. prgtoken He first joined the Izard County Sheriff's Department in 1993 after having previously worked as a police officer in Greenville, MS, and served as chief deputy for 18 years before being elected sheriff in 2018. prgtoken Sheriff Blackley was a dedicated law enforcement official; a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; and a man of faith. His obituary noted how he was known for hosting fish fries to benefit a variety of causes and organizations. The outpouring of love and support shown to the sheriff and his family since his diagnosis is a testament to how well he served his community and how much that service was recognized and appreciated by all it impacted. prgtoken After being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in May of last year, Sheriff Blackley asked for prayers as he faced this serious diagnosis head on while also continuing to serve. Over 1,000 people reportedly turned out to a fundraiser in his honor shortly thereafter. prgtoken Sheriff Blackley was clearly a leader who inspired love, confidence, and respect. I am tremendously grateful for his decades of service in law enforcement and for the way he lived his life. prgtoken I join with many in his community and across the State of Arkansas in mourning his passing and praying for his loved ones, including his wife Theresa, during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone in Arkansas, I pray prgtoken God will bless the Blackley family and the people of Izard County as they cope with this loss and celebrate the life of Sheriff Earnie Blackley.
SECURE 5G AND BEYOND ACT OF 2020
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-1-8

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 2881, the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020. prgtoken In today's digital age, we rely on our communications networks for everything from grocery shopping to applying for jobs. In the past decade, we have upgraded from 2G to 4G and are now in the process of entering the fifth generation of communications networks to accommodate Americans' demand for access. prgtoken Making a simple transaction online is second nature for many Americans, and we expect the network on which the information is transmitted to be secure. The legislation before us is a step forward in enhancing network security. prgtoken It requires the President, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, to develop a strategy to ensure the security of 5G and future generations of telecommunications systems and infrastructure. prgtoken The administration must also identify potential security threats or vulnerabilities and promote responsible international development in deployment of networks. prgtoken Lastly, the bill requires a strategy implementation plan and charges the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to carry it out. prgtoken It is essential that the administration continues to take steps to secure our networks, and this bill provides direction to do just that. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation, and .
Anti-Semitism (Executive Session)
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-1-8

this holiday season, the ancient darkness of anti-Semitism cast a shadow over New York City during Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. The New York Police Department recorded at least nine separate attacks against Jews--more than one attack for each day of Hanukkah. New attacks are reported seemingly on a daily basis. prgtoken In Crown Heights, the site of deadly anti-Semitic riots incited by Al Sharpton in 1991, a group of men beat up an Orthodox Jew and attacked another with a chair. prgtoken In Williamsburg, another group terrorized an elderly Jewish man on the street. ``Jew, Hitler burned you,'' one of the criminals reportedly said. ``I'll shoot you.'' prgtoken Just outside the city, in Rockland County, a man with a machete stormed a celebration in a rabbi's home and injured five worshippers, leaving two in critical condition. The family of one victim, Josef Neumann, says he may never wake up from his coma. prgtoken These heinous attacks are part of a growing storm of anti-Semitism that has made Jewish Americans fearful to worship and walk the streets in their own communities. They come in the wake of the deadly rampage at the kosher market in Jersey City that left four innocent people dead, including a police detective, and of course they come in the wake of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in our Nation's history: the massacre of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh by a White supremacist. prgtoken According to the FBI, our country suffered a 37-percent increase in anti-Semitic crimes between 2014 and 2018. According to the New York Police Department, the city suffered a 26-percent increase in anti- Semitic crimes in the past year alone. That increase is alarming enough. So is the fact that most hate crimes reported in New York are crimes against Jews. While some of the increase is due to better reporting, much of it is not. prgtoken Jewish Americans bear witness to this harsh reality. Anti-Semitism is an ancient hatred, and today it appears in new disguises. It festers on internet message boards and social media. It festers in so-called Washington think tanks like the Quincy Institute, an isolationist, blame-America-first money pit for so-called ``scholars'' who have written that American foreign policy could be fixed if only it were rid of the malign influence of Jewish money. It festers even on elite college campuses, which incubate the radical boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement--a movement to wage economic warfare against the Jewish State. These forms of anti-Semitism may be less bloody than street crime in New York, but they channel the same ancient hatred, the same conspiratorial and obsessive focus on the Jewish people. prgtoken Anti-Semitic attacks are a symptom of a larger breakdown of public order in our major cities caused by politicians who are letting dangerous criminals roam our streets. prgtoken While Jews were being attacked in New York City, a law w
IRAN
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-8

I had planned to discuss the corrosive political games that the of the House continues to play with the solemn issue of Presidential impeachment, but the deadly serious events of yesterday evening threw those political squabbles into the starkest possible relief. prgtoken I was troubled but not surprised by reports that Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq last night. As I have warned, the threat posed by Iraq has been growing for years, and this threat will continue even beyond the death of Tehran's master terrorist, Soleimani. prgtoken We must remain vigilant in the face of serious threats posed by Tehran. Apparently, these strikes did not kill or wound Americans, but they demonstrate the significant progress Iran has made over the last decade in building a large, long-range, and accurate ballistic missile force. Many of us have long cited the absence of any constraint on Iran's sophisticated missile program as one of the primary shortcomings of the Iran deal, and this strike stands as a reminder to the world of this growing threat. prgtoken We rightly talk a lot in this Chamber about American interests, but last night was another stark reminder that Iran and its proxies have been a cancer on Iraq's sovereignty and Iraq's politics for some time. prgtoken Tehran has long shown disregard for Iraqi lives. Just in the last few weeks, its militia proxies have slaughtered innocent Iraqi protesters, and it has launched ballistic missiles at its territory. The millions of Iraqis who have been taking to the streets for months to protest have understood this perfectly well. prgtoken I spoke to the President last night. I am grateful for his patience and prudence as he and his Cabinet deliberate on how to respond appropriately to the latest Iranian provocation. As a superpower, we have the capacity to exercise restraint and to respond at a time and place of our choosing, if need be. I believe the President wants to avoid conflict or needless loss of life but is rightly prepared to protect American lives and interests. I hope Iran's leaders do not miscalculate by questioning our collective will and launching further attacks. For our part, I certainly hope our own congressional deliberations do not give Tehran a reason to question our national will. prgtoken Top officials will provide a classified briefing to Senators today. As I have prgtoken said before, I hope all Senators will wait for the facts before they pass judgment on the recent strike on Soleimani. Patience, caution, and restraint can sometimes be in short supply around here, but when matters of national security are at hand, it is imperative that we seek out the facts, restrain our partisan urges, and concentrate on protecting our country. prgtoken For this reason, it has troubled me that Pelosi responded to the earliest reports yesterday by leaping to blame ``needless provocations'' by our administration. In other words