mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT OF 2019
Gary J. Palmer (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-9

I thank the gentleman for yielding, particularly in regard to the fact that I am speaking in opposition. prgtoken , I rise in opposition. This bill would authorize the appropriation of $100 million, annually, for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. While this may sound like a worthy goal, the devil is always in the details. prgtoken Although the EPA touts the program as a way to achieve cost-effective emissions, the reality is much different. Funds from this program have gone to a number of questionable items, including $750,000 for cherry pickers in Utah, $1 million for electrified parking spaces at a truck stop in Delaware, and $1.2 million for a new engine and generators for a 1950s locomotive in Pennsylvania. prgtoken The President's budget only requests $10 million for this program, yet this bill would authorize 10 times that amount. We simply cannot continue asking taxpayers to fund a program that wastes their money on frivolous projects. prgtoken This program was intended to be a short-term effort to assist States and local government in meeting diesel emissions standards but has joined a long list of temporary government programs for which there is no end in sight. prgtoken The GAO has noted that funding to reduce diesel emissions is fragmented across 14 programs at the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the EPA. Surely, we can make due with one less. prgtoken With a national debt exceeding $22 trillion and growing every day, we cannot afford to give additional resources to a program that clearly duplicates, at least in part, 13 other programs and has a marginal impact, at best. prgtoken The authorization for this program expired in 2016, and it should not be resurrected. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM CRAIG
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-9

today I wish to honor the career of Dr. William ``Bill'' Craig, who retired on June 25, 2018, after 58 years of civilian service. Dr. Craig served as the director of the Software Engineering Directorate SED for 30 years at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. Through his direction, SED experienced significant growth not only within its customer base but also by expanding its facilities. He has provided decades of service to improve the development and fielding of numerous Army systems, as well as the quality of life in his community and across the State of Alabama. prgtoken Mr. Bill Craig is a native of Senatobia, MS, and he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University. His civil service career began in 1960 at Dr. Werhner von Braun's astronics laboratory. Ten years later, he moved to the Army Ballistic Missile Defense Agency. He later became a charter member to the Army Missile Command's Missile System Software Center in 1976. prgtoken Bill has earned many recognitions throughout his career, including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. In 1985, he was awarded Supervisor of the Year by the North Alabama Chapter of Federally Employed Women. Bill was the first recipient of the Joseph C. Moquin Award given by the Huntsville Association of Technology Societies. Bill also received the Medaris Award from the Tennessee Valley National Defense Industrial Association, and he was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, the Order of Saint Barbara, and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara. prgtoken What is truly remarkable are Bill Craig's many contributions to the State of Alabama and the U.S. Army through his work at Redstone Arsenal. I am proud to take this time to recognize him for his service to the people of Alabama and the people of our country. Bill is a highly respected leader and visionary in the State, and I thank him for his commitment to Alabama.
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED AUGUST 4 IN DAYTON, OHIO
Michael R. Turner (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-9-9

. Madam , on August 4, a mass murderer opened fire on innocent civilians in Dayton, Ohio's historic Oregon District. Hundreds of people were present in the street, restaurants, and bars in this two-block area that is less than 5 minutes from my home. prgtoken The killer wore body armor and a mask and carried over 200 bullets. Armed with a reconfigured weapon, he fired almost 50 bullets in 32 seconds. In that time, he killed nine people and wounded 27. prgtoken Later, we heard a familiar story. People who knew him had feared that this man was a danger. He had told people that he wanted to be a mass shooter. However, he passed a background check in the purchase of his weapon. prgtoken My daughter told me of the courage of the police officers at the scene. She heard the first shots, turned and looked, and watched the officers, unflinching, run immediately toward the gunshots. Within 32 seconds of the shooter opening fire, Dayton Police took down the shooter. prgtoken Let me be clear: The officers didn't receive the call in 32 seconds. The officers didn't show up in 32 seconds. They killed him in 32 seconds. prgtoken Even with the Dayton Police officers' incredible heroism, nine innocent civilians were killed, and 27 were wounded by the shooter's gunfire. He was armed with a magazine of 100 bullets and had another magazine with him. If he had not been stopped, the death toll could have been unimaginable. prgtoken When the President came to Dayton, he congratulated the police officers on their training. Sergeant Knight responded, ``Sir, you can't train courage.'' prgtoken Today, Sergeant Knight and these courageous Dayton officers received the Medal of Valor at the White House: Officer Jeremy Campbell, Officer Vincent Carter, Officer David Denlinger, Officer Ryan Nabel, and Officer Brian Rolfes. prgtoken Their bravery and quick action saved hundreds of people's lives, including my own daughter. They are here with us today and joined by Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. Please join me in thanking them. prgtoken Now, Madam , we need to show the courage of these police officers. Let's work together to pass bipartisan bills that actually have a likelihood of becoming law and that will make our country safer. prgtoken The forthcoming debate will be about our values, American values and human values. How could we get to a place where people are routinely killing innocent people whom they do not know? prgtoken The debate must also be about mental health, how to identify those who are a threat, remove their ability to do harm, and get help for those who need it. This debate will be about violence in our culture and the virtual world that so many of these killers have spent countless hours training in. The American public rightfully demands that this debate will include a conversation about guns. prgtoken As we pause for a moment of silence to think of those who were lost in Dayton, Ohio, let's think of all of those who have been lost in mas
ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUEL AVAILABILITY ACT
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-9-9

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this legislation, H.R. 1760, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act, is, in fact, another bipartisan bill sponsored by Mr. Flores, who just spoke, along with Jerry McNerney from California. prgtoken At the end of the last Congress, the House passed the identical bill on suspension and also on a voice vote after the Energy and Commerce Committee had reported the bill favorably and also on a voice vote. prgtoken Nuclear innovators face a critical challenge as they work to bring several promising advanced nuclear technologies to the market. These new designs require fuels that have different attributes than what is used in today's fleet of nuclear reactors, but the fuels are not commercially available. prgtoken So this bill ensures nuclear innovators will, in fact, have the advanced fuels needed to develop and demonstrate their products commercially. The bill provides a direct path to align advanced nuclear fuel supply with initial demand for the deployment of next generation nuclear technologies. It provides for the development of the technical information necessary to assist the creation of the regulatory licensing framework for these fuels. prgtoken The bill also directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a temporary program, operating to support a public-private partnership that is going to make what is known as high-assay low-enriched uranium available for use in the first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear reactor designs. prgtoken It is going to provide for the information necessary to inform the new-market developments and cost recovery for any initial Federal investment. prgtoken So, in short, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act takes the necessary steps to ensure that the infrastructure will be in place in time to enable the development and deployment of a new generation of nuclear technologies across the U.S. prgtoken It is an important bill for ensuring the Nation's international leadership on nuclear technology to ensure that our energy security and achieving our clean-energy goals are, in fact, done. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill and when it passes, I urge our Senate colleagues to adopt it as well. It is a bipartisan bill and, again, I congratulate the leadership on both sides of the aisle for bringing this bill to the floor for debate in a vote this afternoon. prgtoken , .
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF RAMIAH ELIZABETH LEONARD
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-9

. Madam , I ask for the House's attention to recognize the life of Ramiah Elizabeth Leonard. prgtoken Ramiah was born on February 16, 2009 to Eugene and Rasheda Leonard in Jacksonville, Alabama. They chose a very special name for their special delivery who was born on her mother's birthday. Her godparents, Sherman and Latoya Young, Jr were named at her birth. prgtoken Princess Ramiah was a sassy toddler and grew into an active child. She loved music, singing and dancing. She could always be found adorned in the latest fashions including glitter lip gloss. prgtoken She attended DeArmanville Elementary School and Oxford Elementary School. She was in fifth grade at C.E. Hanna Elementary School and a proud member of the Jacket Singing Sensations. She also attended the TLC Camp Life Enrichment After School program. prgtoken Ramiah accepted Christ at the age of eight under the leadership of her father. She loved Jesus Christ and was an active member of The Life Center Church. prgtoken On August 30, 2019 at 8:08 am, Ramiah passed away exchanging her princess crown for a set of wings. Her legacy will live on through her parents. prgtoken Madam , please join me in remembering the life of Ramiah Elizabeth.
RECOGNIZING BIOLOGIQ
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-9-9

It is easy for me to brag about Idaho's small businesses because they are consistently making national news for their innovative ideas. Just last month, the Office of Advocacy announced Idaho ranked third in the Nation for the fastest growth of small businesses, creating jobs and economic opportunity across the State in 2018. Globally, Idaho is renowned for our ``Famous Idaho Potatoes,'' and recently, Idahoans have begun using their vast knowledge of the potato to innovate. As a result, new market-altering products are emerging, such as BioLogiQ, Inc.'s sustainable bioplastic resin. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my pleasure to recognize BioLogiQ, Inc as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for September 2019. prgtoken BioLogiQ of Idaho Falls was founded in 2011 by an Idaho native, Brad LaPray. Like so many Idahoans, LaPray spent a lot of his youth playing and working outdoors and developed a passion for nature and the agriculture industry. He moved away for a while and developed an interest in bioplastics, but eventually came back home to Idaho where he saw an opportunity to use his interest in bioplastics and his passion for the agriculture industry to create a business. LaPray understood that a percentage of all potatoes is turned into starch and not used for human consumption. His company, BioLogiQ, uses excess potato starch to create a sustainable bioplastic resin. prgtoken LaPray created BioLogiQ to provide people with environmentally friendly plastic products made from renewable resources and reduce plastic waste globally. As stated on their company's website, ``BioLogiQ, Inc. is a plant-based manufacturer focused on bringing sustainable packaging solutions to brand owners, retailers, and the plastics industry. Using its proprietary process, BioLogiQ's makes a low moisture content plasticized starch resin pellet called NuPlastiQ. We make NuPlastiQ in pellet form so plastic product manufacturers can use them like other traditional plastic resin pellets using their standard production equipment. BioLogiQ's NuPlastiQ pellets are designed to be blended with conventional petroleum-resin pellets to make BioBlends that increase the sustainability of all plastic products.'' NuPlastiQ technology makes it possible to reduce the thickness of plastic bags and is most widely seen in TaterMade Bags at retailers such as Walmart and Sam's Club. prgtoken Through their hard work, expertise, and desire to make a difference, BioLogiQ is now an industry-leading sustainable bioplastic resin provider. BioLogiQ is reshaping the bioplastic market, and I have full faith they will continue to be successful. I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Brad LaPray and all of the employees at BioLogiQ, Inc for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for September 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look
Order of Procedure (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-9-9

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the postcloture time on the Craft nomination expire at 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Darling nomination, the postcloture time expire at 2:15 p.m. and if either of these nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; finally, that notwithstanding rule XXII, following disposition of the Darling nomination, the Senate vote on cloture motions for the Akard, Cabaniss, and Byrne nominations.
RAISING AWARENESS OF DAMAGE DONE BY MANDATORY ARBITRATION AND SUPPORTING THE FAIR ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-10

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for all of her hard work on the Equal Rights Amendment and standing up and fighting for women. prgtoken Madam , I am pleased to join my colleagues of the ic Women's Caucus to emphasize the importance of passing H.R. 1423, the FAIR Act for women in the workplace. I applaud the work of Hank Johnson, who has authored this legislation and, in some cases, worked with constituents over 14 years who are involved in forced arbitration of settlements that seem never to be settled. But statistics say that, if they are settled, usually the woman loses. prgtoken I might say that the Judiciary Committee is marking up this bill right now, as we speak. I hope it comes to the floor. We should have strong, bipartisan support for this injustice and pass the FAIR bill. prgtoken Forced arbitration is a trap. Binding a victim of workplace misconduct to arbitration, particularly anyone subjected to harassment or discrimination, is just plain wrong. Forced arbitration denies survivors a fair shot at justice. In fact, most employees do not even know they have entered into such an agreement until an incident occurs. prgtoken So not only has a person been harassed or had their rights violated at work, but now the employer gets to dictate how the matter is settled. How fair is that? prgtoken I want to recognize a woman present in the gallery this evening who knows all too well the deficiencies of forced arbitration agreements. prgtoken Karen Ward is a distinguished former partner at the New York accounting firm of Ernst & Young, which is refusing to let her take her sexual harassment case to a public courtroom because of a forced arbitration contract clause. prgtoken Not only is this unfair, it is expensive, as Ms. Ward has told us she has already spent $185,000 to arbitrate her claims because of a provision in her contract that requires her to split the cost of the dispute resolution. prgtoken Ernst & Young and other firms with similar employment contract terms claim that forced arbitration is more efficient and streamlined. They don't tell you that the process is hidden from the public, that people can't see it. It is not transparent. And they don't tell you how secrecy surrounding arbitration settlements only helps perpetuate the problem of harassment or discrimination in the workplace. And it is costly emotionally and financially, as her case illustrates, with the $185,000 cost so far. prgtoken Ms. Ward has said that she has heard from dozens of women bound by arbitration agreements. She said: ``They see that the cost can caution financial ruin and they choose to live with injustice.'' prgtoken In other words, the system is built like a wall against the rights of women, costing them out of the process, making it totally unfair to them. prgtoken Underreporting and secretive settlements have roles in creating and cementing a culture of harassment in the workplace. prgtoken Passing the
Budget Proposal (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-9-10

I rise to object in the strongest possible terms to President 's continued raid on the budget of the U.S. military. As a candidate, the President promised the American public that he would build a border wall with Mexico and that Mexico would pay for any wall that he would build. The President has broken his promise. It shocks me that, as Commander in Chief, he now insists that it has to be our troops, our military families, and our Nation's security that has to be sacrificed for his foolishness. Frankly, it shocks me even more that colleagues in this body seem perfectly willing to let him do that. prgtoken If you will not stand up for the men and women in our military, whom will you stand up for? If you will not stand up for important projects in your own State, whom will you stand up for? If you will not stand up to protect your Defense authorization bill or your Defense appropriations bill when they are being cannibalized, when will you stand up? prgtoken We will have a vote soon to block the President's destructive efforts to weaken our military and to trample on the power of Congress to set the Nation's budget and appropriations levels. I am hoping that my colleagues, ic and , will stand up. prgtoken Let me first address the need for a secure border. I have called the President's insistence on using military monies to build the wall foolishness. What do I mean by this? prgtoken I don't challenge the need for border security. I strongly supported a comprehensive immigration reform package in 2013 that included vast amounts for border security, much more than the President has asked for. The bill had strong bipartisan support in the Senate, but the -majority House refused to even take the bill up in committee, much less on the floor of the House. Had we passed that bill in 2013, it would have been a powerful step forward for immigrants, Dreamers, employers, TPS recipients, the American economy, and the security of America's borders. prgtoken In February of 2018, I worked with a bipartisan group of 16 Senators--8 and 8 s. We put a proposal on the table, a permanent fix for Dreamers and a major investment in border security. In fact, we put an investment in border security into that bipartisan bill that had every penny that the President asked for for the next 10 years, $25 billion, but President attacked that bill and killed the bill, even though he had earlier indicated that he would sign it. There was $25 billion for border security over 10 years, with basic guidelines to ensure that the monies were spent wisely and not foolishly. prgtoken I learned something from that experience. What I learned is that I don't believe the President cares about solving the border security issue. The substance of it means nothing to him, or he would have embraced a deal that gave him every penny he asked for in February of 2018. prgtoken H
RAISING AWARENESS OF DAMAGE DONE BY MANDATORY ARBITRATION AND SUPPORTING THE FAIR ACT
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-10

. Madam , I rise also today in support of the FAIR Act and to bring an end to the secret arbitration process that silences victims of harassment and discrimination. This is a fight that we have been waging for years now. It is about doing the right thing and giving a voice to women like Jasmine Edwards. prgtoken Jasmine is an African American woman who was a comanager of a Guess retail store. When she began there, she came to the store with 15 years of retail experience and was promised that she would be promoted to manager shortly, but then the harassment started. prgtoken Her boss instructed the women at the store to ``dress sexier.'' He regularly made racist and sexist comments about employees and about customers. He would stare at female customers and then share his observations with Jasmine. He would continuously make offensive remarks about African Americans and would claim they would be more likely to steal from the store, and he even segregated employees by shift. His behavior was so concerning that even the customers noticed this and began complaining about him. prgtoken Jasmine voiced her concerns about her manager's behavior, but rather than taking her seriously, she was retaliated against and she was accused of theft. There was no investigation of those claims against her. She was bullied. Eventually the stress was too much to handle, and so Jasmine had to resign. prgtoken But she wasn't done fighting. She found an attorney and she filed a complaint in court. But this clothing company--again, Guess retailer-- now says the case must be sent to arbitration. Why? Because on one of her first days at the retailer, the company says that Jasmine agreed to arbitrate any disputes. prgtoken Of course, the arbitration agreement requires her to stay silent about what happened; and, under the arbitration agreement, it is the company-funded arbitrator who gets to decide what type of evidence there would be. prgtoken I would ask anybody here: What kind of justice is that? prgtoken It will be no surprise to you that Jasmine would rather have an impartial judge hear her case. Wouldn't we all? But that is not something she will likely be allowed to get. prgtoken That is why we need to pass the FAIR Act now, because we have had enough. No more looking the other way when powerful men use their position of authority to victimize women. No more excuses for abusers just because of their status, their position, or their gender. No more telling women to stay silent or to get over it. prgtoken No more.