mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-4-12

today the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Patrick Pizzella to be the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, DOL. The Department of Labor is charged with enforcing laws to keep workers safe on the job, ensuring workers are paid the wages they are owed, helping to develop our workforce, and keeping critical data on our employment market. prgtoken Patrick Pizzella brings a wealth of relevant experience in both ic and administrations. President designated Mr. Pizzella as acting Chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, FLRA, in January 2017, a position which he held through December 2017. President appointed Mr. Pizzella to the FLRA in August 2013, after which he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote on October 16, 2013. prgtoken Mr. Pizzella served under President from 2001 to 2009, as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Administration and Management at the Department of Labor. Mr. Pizzella was nominated by President in April 2001--approved in May without a hearing by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HELP, under Senator Ted Kennedy--and confirmed by the full Senate 2 days later. prgtoken Mr. Pizzella also served at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the U.S. General Services Administration. prgtoken This day is long overdue. President initially nominated Mr. Pizzella to be the Deputy Secretary of Labor on June 20, 2017. The Senate HELP Committee received Mr. Pizzella's HELP Committee application on June 29, 2017. On June 23, 2017, the committee received Mr. Pizzella's Office of Government Ethics, OGE, paperwork, including his public financial disclosure and ethics agreement. Based on these documents, OGE determined that Mr. Pizzella ``is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest.'' Mr. Pizzella completed all paperwork in accordance with the HELP Committee's rules, practices, and procedures. The HELP Committee held Mr. Pizzella's hearing on July 13, 2017, and reported his nomination favorably on October 18, 2017. prgtoken Pursuant to Senate rules, Mr. Pizzella's nomination was returned to the President at the end of the first session of the 115th Congress. In fact, Mr. Pizzella was one of nearly 100 of President 's nominees who were returned to the President. It is unfortunate the Department of Labor has had to operate without its second most senior official for more than 9 months since Mr. Pizzella's initial nomination. prgtoken President again nominated Mr. Pizzella to be the Deputy Secretary of Labor on January 8, 2018. The HELP Committee again favorably reported Mr. Pizzella's nomination on January 18, 2018. prgtoken The Department will greatly benefit from Mr. Pizzella's leadership and experience, and I look forward to supporting his confirmation.
The FBI (Executive Calendar)
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-4-12

from Wyoming for the great remarks he made about Andrew Wheeler. You know, it is awfully hard to find anyone who knows him well who will say anything bad about him. I guess the only thing you can criticize him for is that he worked for me for 14 years. prgtoken But I will tell you, during that timeframe, over a 14-year period, I don't remember anyone ever accusing him of being unfair, of being negative in any way at all. But a couple of things were said, and I think I need to correct the record. I need to be the one to correct it because I am the guy he worked for over a long period of time--both in my personal office and in my capacity as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Because I know him so well, I have to correct the record on his behalf. prgtoken One allegation made against Andrew in a news article is that he retaliated against a witness at an EPW--that is Environment and Public Works--Senate hearing in 2005 because we were unhappy with the witness's testimony. Nothing in the news article was true or accurate. This was an article that came out just the other day. prgtoken The witness in question and the major source of the article was Mr. Bill Becker. He was then the president of STAPPA, the Association of State Air Directors. These are the State directors who are becoming more prominent in what they are able to get through. prgtoken Mr. Becker charged at that time that in retaliation for his January 2005 testimony, the committee launched an investigation into his organization's finances. prgtoken In reality, the investigation was actually launched almost a year before Mr. Becker appeared before the committee. That is a huge difference. The article cannot be true. prgtoken Prior to the hearing, my staff notified the minority staff of the committee that he was currently under investigation, and we recommended against calling Mr. Becker as a witness. prgtoken I still have a copy of the memo my staff prepared for me before the hearing in 2005, noting that they had notified the minority staff about the investigation. This is the memo, and I ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record.
PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-4-12

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today to lend my strong support for this balanced budget amendment. prgtoken , the very first bill I introduced when the 115th Congress kicked off last year was a balanced budget amendment. With the national debt at over $21 trillion, it is no secret that the Federal Government has a spending issue. prgtoken Before coming to Congress, I served in the Alabama State Legislature. Like many States, Alabama is required to pass a budget that does not spend more than we have. We do it each year. prgtoken A balanced budget is not some far-flung idea. Families in southwest Alabama and all around the country sit around the kitchen table and figure out how to make ends meet. Small businesses face the exact same challenges. The Federal Government should be required to play by the same rules. prgtoken I want to be clear about a few things. First, despite what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle believe, the answer to our debt issue is not to tax the American people more. We do not have a tax problem. We have a spending problem. prgtoken Second, the most serious drivers of the national debt are on autopilot. So-called mandatory spending programs must be reined in, and a balanced budget amendment would finally require Congress to tackle those programs head on. prgtoken , I know passing a balanced budget would be hard, but I didn't run for Congress because I thought the job would be easy. We were elected by our neighbors to make difficult choices and decisions. prgtoken We can make a strong step in the right direction by passing this balanced budget amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution today.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE GREEN BAY ELKS LODGE
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2018-4-12

I rise today to recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Green Bay Elks Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk. Since March 15, 1893, members of the Elk Lodge have worked tirelessly to spread their core values of charity, justice, patriotism, and brotherly love in their communities through philanthropic and social engagement. prgtoken As the largest non-governmental scholarship provider in the United States, members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk provide the leaders of tomorrow with the resources they need to succeed. The Green Bay Elk Lodge awards the Most Valuable Student scholarship, Legacy scholarship, and State scholarship to deserving Wisconsin students every year to help them achieve their academic pursuits. The Green Bay Elk Lodge also champions many educational initiatives for Wisconsin youth including drug awareness campaigns and anti-bullying campaigns. prgtoken For 125 years, the Green Bay Elks Lodge has honored and supported the brave men and women serving our country. Today, the Green Bay Elk Lodge continues this legacy of helping veterans with events such as Soup for Vets, Heroes Closet, and Welcome Home Kits to provide Veterans with the services and support they need upon their return home. These events demonstrate the organization's commitment to spreading patriotism and respect to those who have sacrificed so much for our country. prgtoken , I urge all members of this body to join me in applauding the Green Bay Elks Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk and the organization's commitment to serving and empowering veterans and youth in the community of Green Bay.
AMENDING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE WATER RIGHTS QUANTIFICATION ACT OF 2010
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-4-12

judges and litigants in our State of Kansas have been anxious to have the vacant positions in our State filled. One of those two vacancies in district judgeships is the longest open vacancy in the country, and today we accomplished the filling of one of those positions with the confirmation of John Broomes. prgtoken I rise to express my pleasure to my colleagues and to Mr. Broomes--my pleasure for his willingness to be considered for this position, to be nominated by the President, and now to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate--and to express my pleasure to my colleagues for seeing his qualifications and experience and capabilities and making that confirmation happen just a few moments ago. He is a highly qualified individual, he is a well-respected attorney, and he has the intellect and legal mind and legal experience to receive this lifetime appointment as a Federal judge. prgtoken I take these lifetime appointments very seriously, and I want to make certain that, as a Kansas Senator and as a U.S. Senator, I am doing my part to put highly qualified and soundly principled judges in place to serve Kansas and the country. John Broomes meets these qualifications. In my conversations with him over the last year, he expressed a judicial philosophy that is dedicated to the interpretation of the law as written, recognition that no person is above the law, and treatment for all litigants in a fair and legal fashion. prgtoken I appreciate Mr. Broomes' naval service to our country. His willingness to serve is a mark of his character and his love for our Nation. prgtoken I want to highlight a note from a distinguished professor at Washburn Law School in Topeka, KS. He indicated in his letter that he found Mr. Broomes to be ``the most gifted legal mind he has ever encountered. Equally important, he is an honest and principled person and among the very best lawyers I know.'' Dr. David Pierce, a law school professor, is a highly regarded member of the faculty and chairman of the Washburn business and transactional law program, and his confirmation of my view of John Broomes is very fulfilling to me. It gives me great confidence that we have made a wise decision today. prgtoken Mr. Broomes served as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Bostwick and U.S. District Court Judge Monti Belot, and their reputation and experience add to Mr. Broomes' qualifications. prgtoken I met Mr. Broomes' family, and I was so impressed with him as a father. I was impressed with his wife and their children. He has a reputation as a solid, decent, and conscientious person and a man with a conscience. He also has a reputation for expertly managing cases and solving complex litigation. He has been a valuable attorney to the Hinkle law firm, a highly regarded law firm in Wichita, KS. That firm is known for employing associates and having partners who meet the qualifications that we would want in a judge. He focuses on business an
PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-4-12

I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of Chairman Goodlatte's balanced budget amendment. prgtoken Clearly, the status quo here in Congress is failing the American people, and real change is needed. Our budget process is broken, and a balanced budget amendment is exactly the mechanism we need to force the decisions to get our fiscal house in order. prgtoken Congress has passed more than 100 continuing resolutions just in the last 20 years. We move from one continuing resolution and one omnibus to the next. prgtoken I knew when I came to Congress that the Federal budget process wasn't working as intended. From the outside, it doesn't look good. Now having served on the Budget Committee for more than a year, I can say it doesn't look any better from the inside. prgtoken The latest omnibus supported a number of provisions, like funding our military, fighting the opioid epidemic, agricultural reform, school safety measures, measures that I support, but these priorities can and must be achieved in a fiscally responsible manner that doesn't grow the size of the Federal Government. prgtoken How do I know we can achieve that? Because we took steps in that direction on the Budget Committee. Last year, the committee passed a budget that would balance in 10 years. It was a fiscally responsible path towards funding critical government programs, but that budget isn't enforceable and no one is accountable. prgtoken So I think the first step is to pass this balanced budget amendment here in the House. It is long past time that Congress finally put an end to irresponsible spending, saddling our children and grandchildren with an insurmountable debt. prgtoken This amendment would make balancing the budget the norm rather than the exception. It would codify Congress' responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. prgtoken There are numerous proposals to reform our Federal budget process, some that I have introduced myself, but I believe this amendment would be the most meaningful budget and spending reform that we could enact. It works for the States, it works in Pennsylvania, and it will work for Washington. prgtoken , I thank Chairman Goodlatte for his leadership. Every Congress since 2007, he has introduced this amendment to balance our Federal Government. It is an important effort and one that he has led.
FARM BILL AND NUTRITION
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-4-12

I want to thank G.T. Thompson, my colleague from Pennsylvania, our subcommittee chairman on the Nutrition Subcommittee for his leadership. prgtoken G.T. Thompson deeply feels about the condition that people have who may be living in poverty, who may be suffering from food insecurity for themselves and their family. And I say to Chairman Thompson that it has been a pleasure to serve for the last 15 months under his leadership on the Nutrition Subcommittee. prgtoken The reforms that we are seeking to implement in H.R. 2 in the SNAP program, in this 2018 farm bill, are truly intended to assist people out of dependency and into employment. prgtoken I have heard from so many employers throughout my district in the Catskills and Hudson Valley and in central New York that they have jobs available, but they simply can't find qualified people to meet those jobs and to fulfill those responsibilities. prgtoken In fact, this morning in the Budget Committee, we had the Director of the Congressional Budget Office before us, and one of the topics that was raised was the fact that there are very low workforce participation rates among able-bodied people between 18 and 65 in our Nation. And this is part of the problem that we have a workforce participation rate nationally of approximately 63 percent. prgtoken In a number of the counties that I represent in the 19th Congressional District in New York State, that workforce participation rate for able-bodied, employable people between 18 and 65 hovers at 60 percent or slightly below 60 percent. There are plenty of jobs that are there, but, unfortunately, people do not have the skills, the training, sometimes the work ethic, and the notion of what it means to get up and go to work every day and meet the need of that employer and customers of that employer. prgtoken So this is a real serious issue in our country. If we are going to deal with the looming fiscal crisis that we have for mandatory spending programs like Social Security and Medicare, for instance, we need to get more people in the workforce. We need to create more opportunities to give people a hand-up, and not simply a handout. prgtoken Now, one of the things that is truly important about this SNAP reform that Chairman Thompson and Chairman Conaway are leading the way in H.R. 2 on, in this 2018 farm bill, is that we are going to make it easier for people who are on the SNAP program to qualify for the program without having every nickel of any asset that they possibly have to count against their qualification. prgtoken So, for instance, this legislation will allow a family on SNAP to have a savings account of up to $2,000 without that counting against the asset test. Today, that simply isn't the case. So a family that might need money for fixing their car, or having their kids go to the orthodontist or the dentist, or some other kind of family emergency--to buy a washing machine, for instance--they are not even allowed
PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Bruce Poliquin (Republican, ME) \u2014 2018-4-12

the big career spenders here in the House and in the Senate who have only recently found fiscal discipline, well, today they have the chance to join me to vote for, vote ``yes'' for, a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. prgtoken When I was the Maine State treasurer, , I helped make sure that Augusta's books were balanced without gimmicks. Now it is well time that Washington is forced--forced--to live within its means just like every other family and small business in the State of Maine. prgtoken , 49 States in this country have constitutional amendments at the State level to make sure they spend only what they take in. It is about time Washington has the same discipline it is not fair and it is not right when career politicians spend every single nickel that they collect from you in taxes and then borrow as much as they want to spend more. The spending in this town, , is out of control. prgtoken A lot of us have seen enough. That is why I ask every and every in both the House and in the Senate to pass a commonsense, balanced budget amendment to our Constitution. prgtoken I am very proud to say, , that the first piece of legislation that I cosponsored the day after I was sworn in 3 years ago was a balanced budget amendment. Every big spending bill in this town is loaded with pork. The process is terrible. To force an up-or-down vote in the 11th hour on a bill that is a couple of thousand pages long does not make sense. A balanced budget amendment would finally force Washington to prioritize our spending, like we do for those of us who run businesses or balance a family checkbook. Prioritize our spending, and that will help eliminate waste. And that only will lead to balancing our books and then having the ability to start paying down $21 trillion in debt. prgtoken I look, , at these young adults in the gallery. It is immoral to saddle these great young adults with $21 trillion in debt, and rising, that they have got to pay. A Federal Government's budget which is legally required to be balanced will force the House and the Senate, even with the Senate's harmful 60-vote filibuster rule, to spend only what we take in. prgtoken , this is our chance, today, to start running our government more like a business, more like a family budget. It is common sense to spend only what we take in.
FARM BILL AND NUTRITION
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-4-12

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding to me today to speak on one of my favorite topics. prgtoken Perhaps I look at the importance of SNAP through a different set of lenses than some of my peers who sit among me. I spent nearly the last 30 years as a physician counseling and advising expecting moms. prgtoken Starting a family is a special and scary time for many of my patients. Almost all of them would come to me with a list of questions and problems. And despite the variety of their concerns, many could be solved with proper and improved nutrition. prgtoken SNAP assisted many of my patients in providing nutrient-dense foods for my mothers and children. The importance of nutrition in the weeks prior to conception, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and within the early years of infancy can never be overestimated. prgtoken In the United States, one in eight people identify as being food insecure. To put that into perspective, of the 5,000 babies I delivered, 625 of them are food insecure today. The thought of this, alone, weighs on our hearts and makes them heavy, and that is why I am so proud of this farm bill's nutrition component and why we worked so hard to get it right. prgtoken Our farm bill increases nutrition education, incentivizes our SNAP recipients to make healthier choices, and increases access to nutritious foods. prgtoken And for those people who live in our Nation's food deserts with limited access to grocery stores, we thought about you, too. We have to incentivize retailers to want to invest in these underserved communities. That is why we have extended and improved the Healthy Food Financing Initiative that gives grants to retailers to open businesses in areas that lack the access to healthy foods. prgtoken So I ask you today: How could anyone vote against a bill that looks at the food insecurity problem in this country from so many angles through the eyes of so many people? prgtoken We all know that food is health and that, truly, we are what we do eat. This bill will help all Americans become more healthy and to stay more healthy, and that is why I am so proud to support this bill and look forward to its passage, getting it on through the Senate and on to our President to sign.
PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Mark Walker (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-4-12

I thank the gentleman. prgtoken Our national debt stands at over $21 trillion. This is not a surprise to anybody. It should frighten us enough to immediately alter the behavior of this House. prgtoken Congress approved the largely unpaid $1.3 trillion omnibus, several supplementals, and exploded 2 years of spending caps all in the last few months. Unsustainable, mandatory, and undisciplined discretionary spending designed decades ago has created a debt monster that is seemingly unstoppable. prgtoken Over the last few months, we have heard a great deal with our ic friends and their newfound concern about the rising deficits and debt. So my question is: How many would join us in supporting the balanced budget amendment? prgtoken Many ic Members in the past were willing to vote for what 49 out of 50 States already have, a balanced budget. In fact, in 1996, a balanced budget amendment garnered 72 ic votes in the House, including our esteemed colleague across the aisle, Mr. Hoyer. prgtoken In 2011, the same version we are voting on today got 25 votes in support. I wonder how many have the courage to support it now. We know what it takes. We should roll back wasteful spending, including rescinding appropriations that aren't needed. We need to reform our entitlement programs, including getting able-bodied adults back to work. This is about hope, not judgment. prgtoken , I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment that is our moral obligation to ensure the American Dream remains attainable for our children and for future generations.