mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Cloture Motion (Executive Calendar)
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-7-20

Mr. Delrahim's appointment is just one example among many. This particular example serves an important case in point. are deliberately slow walking dozens of confirmations in a cynical effort to stall the President's agenda and hurt the President, but they are hurting the country, and they are hurting the Senate. They are hurting both sides. prgtoken I don't want to see s respond in kind when become the majority and when they have a President. prgtoken It won't surprise anyone to hear that they are not limiting their obstruction campaign to executive branch nominees. In fact, looking at the judicial branch shows that this is part of a long-term obstruction strategy. In February 2001, just days after the previous President took office, the Senate ic leader said they would use ``any means necessary'' to obstruct the President's nominees. A few months later huddled in Florida to plot how, as the New York Times described it, to ``change the ground rules'' of the confirmation process. And change the ground rules is exactly what they did. prgtoken For two centuries, the confirmation ground rules called for reserving time-consuming rollcall votes for controversial nominees so that Senators could record their opposition. Nominations with little or no opposition were confirmed more efficiently by voice vote or unanimous consent. prgtoken have literally turned the confirmation process inside out. Before 2001, the Senate used a rollcall vote to confirm just 4 percent--4 percent--of judicial nominees and only 20 percent of those rollcall votes were unopposed nominees. prgtoken During the Administration, after changed the ground rules, the Senate confirmed more than 60 percent of judicial nominees by rollcall vote, and more than 85 percent of those rollcall votes were on unopposed nominees. prgtoken Today, with a President again in office, are still trying to change the confirmation ground rules. The confirmation last week of David Nye to be a U.S. district judge was a prime example. The vote to end debate on the Nye nomination was 97 to 0. In other words, every Senator, including every , voted to end the debate. Most people with common sense would be asking why the cloture vote was held at all and why the delay. prgtoken But did not stop there. Even after a unanimous cloture vote, they insisted on the full 30 hours of postcloture debate time provided for under Senate rules. To top it off, the vote to confirm the nomination was 100 to 0. prgtoken I don't want anyone to miss this. demanded a vote on ending a debate none of them wanted, and then they refused to end the debate they had just voted to terminate--all of this on a nomination that every supported. That is changing the confirmation ground rules. prgtoken Only four of the previous 275 cloture votes on nominations ha
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AUTHORIZATION ACT
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2017-7-20

I would like to acknowledge and thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership in undertaking this effort as we take the next step in advancing the 2017 Department of Homeland Security authorization bill. prgtoken As part of this broader legislative effort, I sponsored the Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act because I believe we need to make sure that our Intelligence Committee has the best and most robust training in the world in order to keep our Nation safe. prgtoken In 2015, the Department's Chief Intelligence Officer identified the need to strengthen the workforce at the agency by giving intelligence analysts the tools they need to succeed. I served as an intelligence officer for 7 years in the Marine Corps and worked in the Intelligence Committee, including at the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, so I know firsthand the value of intelligence analysts gaining experience in different mission areas in order to broaden their ability to do their jobs more effectively for the American people. prgtoken This program does that. It encourages analysts to gain experience in all of the various agencies that are part of the larger DHS community. prgtoken With authorization, this bill will ensure that we are building and strengthening the expertise among employees prgtoken at the DHS in order to keep the country safe.
RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO SERVED ON WAKE ISLAND
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2017-7-20

today I wish to honor the servicemembers and civilians who served on Wake Island in World War II, as the last gathering of the Survivors of Wake-Guam-Cavite, Inc is scheduled to be held in Boise in September. prgtoken Survivors of the defense of Wake Island and their families have held annual reunions and other get-togethers for the last nearly 71 years. Idaho became home to annual reunions of Wake Island survivors and their families. Many of these gatherings have been organized by Alice Ingham, whose husband was on Wake Island, but since many Wake Island survivors have now, unfortunately, passed away, the organization has decided to wind down their reunions, noting, ``We would like to honor all of our Wake men--the living, the deceased, and those who never made it home from the war--with this final reunion.'' The last worker from Idaho, Joe Goicoechea of Boise, passed away this past year. prgtoken The astounding Americans who served on Wake Island and their families are lasting examples of courage and resolve. The history of World War II and the bravery of the American servicemembers who fought for our Nation and its allies are familiar parts of our collective national history, but an often overlooked part of this legacy is the service of the civilian workers on Wake Island who were swept into the war. The civilian workers, including many Idahoans, working for Morrison Knudsen Company, building infrastructure on the island, when it was attacked the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbor, immediately became soldiers. Their service cannot be forgotten. I thank all those who have helped keep the memories of those who served on Wake Island alive. prgtoken In Veterans Memorial Park in Boise, a memorial honoring Americans who served on Wake Island gives the following account: ``Five hours after bombing Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, Japanese forces attacked Wake Island, a tiny island midway between Hawaii and Japan. The United States was constructing a runway essential for planes to refuel on their way through the area. There were 449 Marines, 68 Sailors, 6 Army Air Corps, and 1146 civilians employed by the Boise-based Morrison Knudsen Company on the island. Approximately 250 of the MK workers were from Idaho. For 15 days the military and civilians bravely defended the island from the Japanese forces. Wake Island fell to the Japanese on December 23, 1941. ``Following the battle, 98 civilian construction workers were kept on Wake Island to labor for the Japanese. When their work was complete, they were forced to dig their own graves before being executed. The remaining defenders of the island, both military and civilian, were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese and held for 44 months. These brave heroes endured exceedingly harsh conditions, serving as slave labor for the Japanese government in Japan and China. Many died in captivity. In 1981 the civilian MK employees were granted Ve
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-7-20

my colleagues and I have been on this floor for the last 7 years talking about the problems with Care and the need to address them. prgtoken In the early days, when Care was still being cobbled together, we talked about individuals losing their coverage. Promises were made that if you liked the plan you had, you could keep it. That turned out to be a broken promise. prgtoken In 2009 and 2010, we talked about premiums skyrocketing. Today, we are still talking about it. Premiums are more than 100 percent higher in Wyoming today than they were when the law was passed. Our insurer has fortunately been more conservative in their approach. So premiums didn't spike the way they did in other States. prgtoken I usually enjoy being right, but in this case, I am very sad to have watched the worst possible scenario play out. Time after time, President was faced with problems in implementation and in outcomes, and he would dismiss them by saying: ``It just needs more time,'' or, as this cartoon shows, ``it just needs a tune up.'' prgtoken We and the American people gave it time and money--specifically, 7 years and hundreds of billions of dollars. We are now left trying to pick up the pieces of health insurance markets all across the country. prgtoken You can see here that this ambulance is Care. Behind it is its engine and other key components, and they have completely fallen apart. That is the private insurance market today. The part you don't see here is that there is a patient in the back of this ambulance. This isn't just about politics. This is about real people and whether they can afford an insurance premium that is in some cases higher than their rent or their mortgage payments each month. prgtoken Even before its passage, my colleagues and I talked about the danger that Care posed to private insurance markets. prgtoken Insurers have already left the market in droves. In Wyoming, we are down to one carrier. We lost the others to the economics of Care, and we will be lucky to keep the one we have. I know many people in our country are going to be in the position of having no insurers offering plans in their county. prgtoken How could this happen? It has happened because of politics being put before patients and an unwillingness to take on the hard task of fixing something that you have sold as the perfect solution. prgtoken I can tell you that healthcare isn't a simple issue. It is incredibly complex and, really, there is no one right way to tackle it. I was the ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee when Care passed. We worked hard to find common ground. When it became clear that there was not a reciprocal commitment to that from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we did work hard to try to stop it. prgtoken Now we are finally in a position to do so. We have a President in the White House who is committed to repealing
SAUDI ARABIA
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-7-20

Saudi Arabia is a crucial ally in the fight against terrorism. Many of the same terrorist organizations that threaten the United States also desire to overthrow the Saudi government and break our partnership. prgtoken It's a key member of the coalition to fight ISIS, with its pilots flying alongside Americans since day one of the campaign in Syria. Last year, Riyadh adopted strict laws prohibiting fundraising for terrorism, jointly designating support networks for al-Qaeda and the Taliban. prgtoken Saudi intelligence has assisted in preventing terrorist plots targeting the U.S. In 2010 Saudi assistance helped foil an attempt by al-Qaeda to conceal bombs on a cargo plane en route to the United States. The Saudis are also battling Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. These rebels not only threaten the Kingdom but also targeted our own warships and destabilize the Red Sea trade routes. prgtoken The current diplomatic standoff between Saudi Arabia and Qatar demonstrates that Riyadh is willing to take a stand against state sponsorship of terrorism in the region. This is all encouraging. However, the Saudis still have much more they need to do at home to counter the sources of extremism in the region. prgtoken The battle against terrorism will uitimately have to be fought and won on the battlefield of ideas. Saudi Arabia has simply not done enough to defeat extremist ideology. The Kingdom is playing the role of both arsonist and firefighter when it comes to Islamic extremism. prgtoken Nowhere is this more evident than the textbooks Saudi Arabia produces to teach its youth. For far too long Saudi Arabia's education curriculum has inspired the very ideology that is at the root of many terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda. prgtoken Saudi textbooks are full of anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories, and calls to violence that have incited students both at home and across the world. This poisonous ideology has provided the groundwork for generations of radicalization and extremism. prgtoken In fact, ISIS adopted official Saudi textbooks for its schools in 2015 until the terrorist group could publish its own. Moreover, its export of hateful material through Saudi-funded schools abroad has helped spread the toxic ideology to more tolerant and open Muslim communities in countries such as Kosovo and Indonesia. prgtoken While the Kingdom has repeatedly pledged to remove extremist content from its curriculum, troubling language remains in many of the most recent editions of Saudi textbooks. In 2006 the Saudis committed to eliminate all passages that promoted hatred towards any religion by 2008. prgtoken Yet even today textbooks include content that discourages befriending ``infidels,'' claims the goal of Zionism is world domination, and encourages ``fighting'' any polytheist or infidel who refuses to submit to the supremacy oflslarn. This intolerance is unacceptable and directly contributes to the widespread persecution of reli
RECOGNIZING MAJOR PATRICK W. MILLER
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-7-20

I rise today to recognize Major Patrick W. Miller for his outstanding acts of heroism and his dedicated military service. prgtoken Major Miller received his commission into the Medical Service Corps in 2003 from St. Bonaventure University and continued his service as Medical Platoon Leader for the 1st Cavalry Division in Texas. His battalion was soon deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, where he served for 13 months. Major Miller was promoted to Battalion Assistant Operations Officer and spent another 15 months in Iraq before returning home. prgtoken In 2011, Major Miller was assigned as Chief of Resource Management for U.S. Army Medical Activity at Fort Drum. He remained there until moving back to Fort Hood to act as Brigade Comptroller for the 1st Medical Brigade. It was there that on April 2nd, 2014, Major Miller heard gunfire outside his office. Miller faced the attacker and was injured while trying to impede the rampage. prgtoken Major Miller was able to get to safety and call 911, sounding the alarm on the attack. Despite the horrific circumstances, Major Miller continued to maintain his composure and conduct himself professionally, all the while remaining cognizant of the well-being of those around him. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Major Patrick W. Miller for his heroic actions and the dedication and honor with which he serves our country.
Healthcare (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-7-20

yesterday, several of my ic colleagues spoke in opposition to the nomination of John to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. They were particularly concerned about his activities outside of the courtroom, especially his personal blog posts. The comments of my friend, the junior Senator from Minnesota, were representative of their concern. prgtoken He reminded us that he has been serving on the Judiciary Committee for 8 years. He said that by confirming someone to the Federal bench like Mr who has blogged about controversial political and policy matters, the Senate would be doing something unprecedented. Specifically, my friend from Minnesota--in angst--said, ``I don't think we have been here before.'' ``I don't think we have been here before,'' he said. I would encourage my friend to think a little harder about his tenure on the Judiciary Committee. Just a few years ago, the Senate considered President 's nomination of Stephen Bough to be a Federal judge in Missouri. Mr. Bough had been quite an active blogger himself. His blogging and online commentary were not simply confined to political satire and sarcasm. His blogging didn't use merely flippant or intemperate language. His blogging demonstrated a real and palpable animus toward conservatives and s in general, toward elected s in particular, and by name--by name. He insulted and impugned people from his home State, such as Senators, his Governor, the President of the United States, and a nominee for President, just to name a few. prgtoken Mr. Bough's posts were truly mean-spirited. It wasn't just that he called s ``knuckleheads''--which he did. That was when he was feeling especially kind. No, he said specific s were ``corrupt.'' They had done ``evil things''--``evil things.'' I can go on and on about his corrosive rhetoric. prgtoken He approvingly posted an article describing how San Francisco was contemplating naming a sewage plant after President as a suitable legacy for the President and posted another one that said his Governor was highly ``ignorant.'' prgtoken His invective was not reserved to members of the political branches. He said that his State supreme court was the most corrupt in the history of the State. I am not making this up. He is an officer of the court, calling the supreme court the most corrupt in the history of his State. prgtoken For my ic colleagues who now profess to care about the judgment of judicial nominees who blog, I submit that impugning the integrity of the tribunal that has jurisdiction over their professional conduct and law license, as Mr. Bough did, is more than a few tweaks shy of exhibiting sound judgment. prgtoken Mr. Bough also implied that President made his Supreme Court appointments as some sort of quid pro quo. He harshly criticized sitting Supreme Court Justices by name, and he claimed that
KING COVE ROAD LAND EXCHANGE ACT
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2017-7-20

. Again, may I suggest we talk about this legislation. We thought 9 years ago or 8 years ago that we would have this road built. There is no Federal money involved in it. It is a road that needs to be done, and if we reinstate this language, what will happen is there will be a time where the road again will be studied and won't be built. For forty years, they have waited and lost lives, and we are talking about letting the Federal Government get involved again. prgtoken , I am saying this is the time to build the road. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE MEMORY OF OFFICER MIOSOTIS FAMILIA
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-7-20

. I also include in the Record my full statement. May God bless Officer Miosotis Familia's memory. prgtoken and my colleagues, today I rise to honor the memory of Officer Miosotis Familia. Officer Familia was a member of the New York Police Department's 46th Precinct in the Bronx who lost her life in the early hours of July 5th. She was targeted by a deranged ex-convict who assassinated her in cold blood. All of New York was affected by this evil act. The 48-year-old loving mother devoted her life to helping others. Sadly, she becomes the third female NYPD officer to be murdered on the job; the first in New York since 9/11. prgtoken Officer Familia had two daughters and a son. She wanted to leave them a better future, a safer city. Every one of the 36,000 uniformed members of the NYPD goes to work every day for this vision. They sacrifice. They risk bodily harm, and worse. Too often they do so despite a hostile media and an indifferent public. As New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said about her, and all law enforcement personnel, at Officer Familia's funeral: ``Cops are regular people who believe in the possibility of making this a safer world. It's why we do what we do. It's why we run toward, when others run away.'' He remarked, furthermore, ``Everything our government stands for--freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear-- everything starts with public safety. Miosotis knew this, and she wanted all of us to play our part. That is why violence against the police and what we represent is a dishonor to civilized society. We should be outraged that any single person had so little regard for your right to public safety.'' prgtoken Through it all, Officer Miosotis Familia carried love in her heart: love for the Bronx neighborhood she patrolled; love for the people of her city and state; and love for the oath she swore all those years ago when she made the decision to enter law enforcement: To serve and protect. prgtoken Her killer--and I refuse to mention his name--was driven only by hate. This is the hate which in 2016 resulted in the sharpest spike in police killings in five years. It is the hate that robbed three children of their mother with a single gunshot on a dark Bronx street. I want to share with this Chamber a recollection by Officer Familia's oldest daughter, delivered at her funeral. She said that Miosotis came into her room on July 4 before going to work, a regular person believing in the possibility of bringing about a safer world. prgtoken She said, ``I'm going to work now. And I love you.'' She hugged her daughter, twice, and left to join her fellow officers. Now Officer Familia joins those lost in the line of duty. With love in her heart, she kept us safe. With a renewed dedication to law enforcement and the communities they serve, we pledge here to keep Officer Miosotis Familia's legacy alive.
HIGHLIGHTING HALL GROWS
Doug Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2017-7-20

I rise today to highlight the success of my friends and neighbors at the Hall County Chapter of the Georgia Farm Bureau. This past year, the Farm Bureau launched Hall GROWS, an educational initiative designed to help students expand their knowledge of agriculture. prgtoken In my home State of Georgia, agriculture is the largest industry, contributing $74 billion to the State's GDP. Our young people represent the next generation of farmers, agricultural experts, and consumers. It is our duty to ensure that these young students possess an understanding of the strategic advantage that agriculture represents for the United States. prgtoken The Farm Bureau is donating time, funding, and other resources so that schools can cultivate gardens, hold workshops for educators, and have classroom activities to help students. Because of efforts like these, Hall GROWS can continue to make an impact both in the lives of students and on the future of the industry. prgtoken The Farm Bureau's willingness to support students attests to the generosity of the American farmer. I am excited to see this program make a positive difference in communities like my own in Hall County in Gainesville, Georgia. prgtoken Again, congratulations to the Hall County Farm Bureau for their work and effort and Hall GROWS.