mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CLIMATE ACTION NOW ACT
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-1

I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which preserves our Nation's commitment to the Paris Agreement and keeps our promise to the American people to take meaningful action on climate change. prgtoken The Paris Agreement paved the way for our Nation to develop a robust plan for cutting emissions which both threaten public health and contribute to global climate change. Part of this plan was to clean up the transportation sector, now the largest single source of emissions in the country. prgtoken My home State of California was critical in the effort to establish more stringent vehicle emissions standards. When the administration irresponsibly chose to abandon part of this plan by rolling back - era vehicle emissions standards, I introduced legislation that would protect these standards and the benefits that they ultimately bring to our communities. prgtoken I am pleased to see so many of my congressional colleagues join me in proposing meaningful solutions to combat climate change, but we must do more. We must act together as a nation to lead the way. prgtoken Our Nation cannot afford to cede its international leadership. By not participating in the Paris Agreement, we risk irreversible damage to our planet and endanger the American people. prgtoken I think about my grandchildren, Anna and Robby. It is their future I am thinking about. They will be greatly impacted if we don't do something now. prgtoken Tackling climate change is and always has been my top priority. We must act now to mitigate the effects of climate change before it is too late. I have spent the last decade helping lead on this effort, and I am immensely pleased to be able to support the Climate Action Now Act on the floor today.
CLIMATE ACTION NOW ACT
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-1

President has made clear what climate action he doesn't like. He doesn't like the Paris Agreement, which contemplated that every nation in the world would set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. prgtoken He doesn't like the Clean Power Plan, which encouraged each State to create its own strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions. And he doesn't like the CAFE standards that required automakers to lower emissions from cars and trucks. prgtoken Now, last month, the President's own EPA administrator came to the Energy and Commerce Committee, and he testified, and he agreed that climate change is happening, and that it is driven largely by human activity. prgtoken So the question is, what climate action does President support? And that is the point of the Climate Action Now Act, which simply invites the President to tell us his strategy. prgtoken Now, there are many options, many bipartisan options, many mentioned by my colleague from Oregon, Mr. Walden. These are increasing research into energy storage technologies, pricing carbon, incentivizing more renewable energy, requiring or incentivizing energy efficiency, easing regulation for developing renewables, developing carbon capture and negative emissions technology, or investing in resiliency and more. prgtoken And we don't even need the President to draft new ideas. We have got existing bills from the last Congress and from this Congress we have assembled into The Climate Playbook, which you can find right on my Congressional website. prgtoken , we get that you don't like President 's climate action ideas. Now tell us your climate action plans. prgtoken I encourage each of my colleagues, and s, to join me in making that request to President by supporting and passing H.R. 9. Congress has a Climate Playbook. prgtoken , tell us yours.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 9, CLIMATE ACTION NOW ACT
Debbie Lesko (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-5-1

. Madam , it is about time that the American people know where Members of Congress stand on this radical proposal of the Green New Deal, which will change nearly every aspect of Americans' lives. Even the sponsor of this legislation has requested hearings on this proposal since the and the ic leadership refuse to give the Green New Deal any legislative hearings. I would like to lay out some of it here. prgtoken Estimations show energy bills under the Green New Deal would spike by as much as $3,800 per year, per family. prgtoken The resolution calls for upgrading all--all--existing buildings in the United States and constructing new buildings to achieve maximal energy efficiency, which could range between $1.6 trillion, with a t, and $4.2 trillion in cost. prgtoken What is the estimated total price tag for the Green New Deal? Up to $93 trillion. That is with a t, trillion dollars. prgtoken So where is this money going to come from? The Green New Deal could cost nearly $65,000 per year, per household, much higher than the average family income. prgtoken We have seen the ic majority bring messaging bill after messaging bill to the floor. Why not this one? Why not the Green New Deal? Why not truly let the American people know where the stand on what I believe is a radical proposal that will hurt our Nation and kill jobs? prgtoken Madam , I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice), my good friend.
National Day of Prayer (Executive Session)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2019-5-1

every President since 1952 has signed a national declaration declaring a National Day of Prayer. It is bipartisan cooperation to recognize people who pray and who set aside time to spend time with God and pray for the Nation. Quite frankly, for us as a party and as a body and as a nation, it is a good thing to pause. prgtoken This year, on May 2, with the theme ``Love One Another,'' we will again have a National Day of Prayer. There is not a requirement for Americans to pray. There is not a requirement for people to direct themselves to pray by a certain method at a certain location. It is just a call to the Nation to say that we have great needs as a country. prgtoken As we watch the attacks on synagogues in our country, as we watch bombings of Christians in Sri Lanka, gun battles that have erupted in churches in the United States, mosques that have been attacked, people of faith being targeted simply because of their faith, it is reasonable for us as a nation to pause and say ``How are we doing?'' as this year's theme is ``Love One Another.'' prgtoken We as a nation have a long history of prayer. Hanging in the Rotunda in this Capitol Building is a painting called the Embarkation of the Pilgrims. That painting depicts the beginning of America. It has been hanging in that same spot in the Rotunda since 1843. The painting is simply of a group of people on a deck of a ship leaving out from Europe and huddled around an open Bible and praying. The painting was designed and created to depict how America began in the 1600s--people on the deck of a ship, around an open Bible, praying. prgtoken That is still something I would encourage Americans of faith to stop and do, and it is still one of the most humbling experiences that I experience each time someone from my State of Oklahoma catches me, as someone did this morning, and says: Every day, my wife and I pray for you. prgtoken It is not a terrible thing to do as a nation--to love and pray for each other and for the future direction of our country. prgtoken If I can model for the Nation for just a moment in my own way and encourage the Nation on our National Day of prgtoken Prayer to pause and pray, I would simply say this: prgtoken Let us pray as a nation. prgtoken Father, guide us. We need Your help. The controversy, the division in our Nation, the anger, the struggle. Help us to be able to love one another. Help us to be able to see each other as You have created us and to respect You, Your wisdom, and Your guidance. Father, we admit that we do not know as much as You, so we need Your help. We need Your insight. prgtoken For our first responders and our military scattered around this Nation and around the world, we pray for Your protection for them. We pray that You would give them insight to help them to represent us well. prgtoken For members of our State Department, members in our government who are scattered around the Earth, members of our intellige
Opportunity Zones (Executive Calendar)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-5-1

today we have an economy that is booming. Unemployment is at its lowest in Iowa since 2000, and wages are up. prgtoken In the first quarter of this year, we saw 3.2 percent GDP growth, which far exceeded expectations, but we know economic statistics alone don't completely tell the story of the health or wealth of a community. prgtoken More than 52 million Americans, including approximately 90,000 Iowans, live in economically distressed communities. Some have dubbed these communities as ``left behind'' due to low incomes, their high housing vacancies, people out of work, and not a lot of hope for the future. For too long, so many of these communities were limited not because of lack of ingenuity but simply by a lack of access to opportunity. Folks across Iowa have felt the door to a better job or a higher wage was closed to them. prgtoken The Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, has been doing a tremendous job working to help these areas through both economic development and workforce development efforts. Programs like Future Ready Iowa help folks learn the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers and the jobs of tomorrow. prgtoken Places like Dubuque, through its Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce, are working day in and day out to improve the local economy, spur on investment, and get workers trained and back on their feet. They also recognize the challenges unique to the city and its people, like childcare access and housing. prgtoken At the Federal level, we also took concrete steps in late 2017 to recognize the specific needs of these communities. Senator Tim Scott's wonderful initiative, Investing in Opportunity Act, was included in the tax reform package and created what we now know as the Opportunity Zones Program. I thank Senator Tim Scott for working so hard on this opportunity for millions of Americans. They are seeing the benefits. Thank you, Senator, very much. prgtoken The Opportunity Zones Program is tremendous. This program incentivizes long-term investment in these low-income and distressed communities by allowing private capital to be used to support small businesses, encourage our entrepreneurs, and to develop dilapidated properties in ZIP Codes most in need of resurgence. prgtoken From the heart of Des Moines to rural areas around my State of Iowa, opportunity zones are beginning to unleash the economic potential of Iowa's communities. prgtoken Nearly a year ago, the Treasury Department approved 62 opportunity zones in Iowa, which include the communities of more than 200,000 Iowans. prgtoken Last summer, as part of his opportunity zone tour, Senator Scott joined me in visiting two of these Iowa organizations located in one of the opportunity zones. He had talked about these briefly. One was the Des Moines Dream Center, and the other was the Phenix School Apartments in West Des Moines. Since becoming eligible for private investment, the Des Moines Dream Center has
CONGRATULATING DAVID BLOM ON HIS RETIREMENT
Steve Stivers (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-1

I rise today to recognize the career of Dave Blom as he retires after 17 years of service as president and CEO of OhioHealth this July. prgtoken While his leadership in the industry is unparalleled, as a veteran, I want to focus on what strikes me about Dave the most, and that is his commitment to improving access to healthcare for those who have served our Nation. prgtoken In 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs was facing rising numbers nationally, and, unfortunately, many veterans were not receiving the good care that they deserved. As a result, the Congressional Commission on Care was formed, a 15-person task force that would make recommendations about how to best serve our Nation's veterans with healthcare. prgtoken I knew Dave's knowledge of healthcare and longstanding commitment to our Nation's heroes made him an outstanding candidate for that Commission, and I was proud to work with my colleagues, Representative Beatty and Representative Tiberi, at the time, to secure him an appointment from Boehner. prgtoken In 2015, Dave Blom and the Commission got to work. After over 10 months prgtoken of effort, they ultimately produced 18 reforms for the VA and Congress, including the VA Mission Act, which gives veterans access to local providers outside the VA system and guarantees timely access to care. prgtoken Dave was a vital contributor to these reforms, and I know he counts his time on the Commission among the most rewarding experiences of his life. prgtoken It is impossible to quantify the impact that he has had on the lives of millions of veterans and their families across this country, but it is certain to resonate with veterans far into the future. prgtoken I am incredibly grateful for Dave's service and his leadership, and I wish him all the best in his next chapter of life. I am confident that he will remain involved in central Ohio and its communities for a long time to come. I am also fortunate to call him a friend. He is a great leader in healthcare, and he has been a great leader for our country. prgtoken I thank Dave Blom for his service to our veterans, and I congratulate him on an incredible career in healthcare.
Order of Procedure (Executive Calendar)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-5-1

I ask unanimous consent that all postcloture time on the Brasher nomination expire at 3 p.m. today and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. prgtoken I further ask that following disposition of the Brasher nomination, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Ruiz II, Arias- Marxuach, and Wolson nominations in the order listed, and that if cloture is invoked on the nominations, the postcloture time on the nominations expire at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order in which cloture was invoked; and finally, if confirmed, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Rape Kit Backlog (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-1

from time to time, our country has listened with empathy and heartbreak as survivors of various forms of sexual abuse come forward, men and women alike, who have bravely shared their stories, reviving a national conversation about sexual violence and inviting others to share their stories after years or even decades of silence. We know that these cases aren't limited to any class, place, age, gender, or circumstance. We have heard from major public figures and close friends alike, highlighting an issue that has for too long hidden in the shadows. prgtoken Some of the most disturbing allegations are those that take place against our children in school. Last month, Senator Hassan and I introduced the Jenna Quinn Law, which would help educators and caregivers identify and prevent child sexual abuse. It literally teaches people how to recognize the symptoms, what children are saying, when they are not vocalizing their plight, by the way they act. It would allow the use of grant funds for specialized training to ensure that teachers and school personnel are prepared to recognize and report child sexual abuse. prgtoken This legislation is named after a brave Texan, a child abuse survivor herself, and has been modeled after successful State legislation. It is an important step in our efforts to stop sexual abuse, and I hope we can take these reforms, which have been adopted now by more than half the States, and make them nationwide. prgtoken Of course, protecting students from sexual abuse doesn't end after high school, as we know. In recent years, our country has followed high-profile cases involving students even at our colleges and universities. We all remember 2011, when the now notorious Penn State football coach, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested and charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse of boys. What happened next was a combination of support for the survivors and disgust with those who knew about the allegations but did nothing. Employees, ranging from a graduate assistant to the university president himself, were aware of the allegations but remained silent. prgtoken Then there is Larry Nassar, an employee at Michigan State University and a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor. He was accused of molesting hundreds of young athletes under his care, and more than 250 women shared their testimony at his sentencing last year. Despite numerous complaints about Nassar's behavior, some dating back to the 1990s, university officials kept quiet. Law enforcement was never informed, and his disgusting abuse was allowed to continue unreported for years. prgtoken Sadly, these are not the only instances of university officials turning to avert their gaze from sexual misconduct. It has happened at other major universities across the country, including one in Texas. In each of these cases, university leaders did not take action against the abusers despite the fact that official title IX or external inve
Nomination of Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II (Executive Session)
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-5-1

I rise today in support of the nomination of Rodolfo Ruiz to serve as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. prgtoken I first met Judge Rudy Ruiz in 2012 when I appointed him to the Miami-Dade County Court, when he was only 33 years old. He served Miami-Dade County very well, and 3 years later I had the opportunity to appoint him to the circuit court bench. prgtoken Judge Ruiz has an impressive record. He graduated from Duke University and earned his law degree from Georgetown University. prgtoken Following law school, Judge Ruiz clerked for Federal Judge Federico Moreno in the Southern District of Florida and later served as assistant county attorney for Miami-Dade County. prgtoken With 7 years of distinguished service as a judge in Florida, it is no surprise that the administration has nominated him for this position, and the American Bar Association agrees. They unanimously rated him as ``well qualified'' for the robe. prgtoken Judge Rudy Ruiz has honorably served the State of Florida, and I am proud to support his appointment to the Federal bench today. prgtoken .
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-5-1

I rise today to recognize a talented group of young musicians from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who were recently honored for their performances. prgtoken Last month, the Bensalem High School Jazz Band traveled to perform in the Cavalcade of Bands Jazz Championships. Bensalem High School Jazz Band, well-known for their outstanding performances, was the only band given the superior rating at the event and was also named grand champion. prgtoken This is the third time that Bensalem High School Jazz Band has been named grand champion over the past 11 years, a testament to the band's skills, dedication, and work ethic. prgtoken Critical to the success of these young people is the director of the Bensalem High School Jazz Band, Michael Zimmerman. We extend our gratitude to him for working with our community's youth and students to sharpen their musical abilities, and we congratulate all performers in the Bensalem High School Jazz Band for their earned distinctions.
IN RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIAN LEE ON HIS OFFER OF APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-1

. Madam , it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Christian Lee of Findlay, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. prgtoken Christian's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Military Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2023. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. prgtoken Christian brings a tremendous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2023. While attending Findlay High School in Findlay, Ohio, Christian was a member of the National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, and Merit Honor Roll. prgtoken Throughout high school, Christian was involved with cross country and rugby, having served as captain of both his senior year, as well as participating in many other extracurricular activities. I am confident that Christian will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Military Academy. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Christian Lee on his offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Christian will excel during his career at West Point, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.
CLIMATE ACTION NOW ACT
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-5-1

I urge opposition to this amendment. prgtoken Listen, in the transmission world, other than Texas, no State is alone. California is in the Western interconnect. So we have great support for States' rights, but decisions made by California will affect Nevada and will affect Arizona. prgtoken For example, we have seen how decisions in some areas actually benefit the fossil energy in other areas, such as support of fossil and nuclear power in Arizona for California's electricity requirements. prgtoken The basic underlying amendment really does nothing to address things that we would like to support--conservation, innovation, adaption-- trying to, in a bipartisan approach, address the real issue, which is how do we reduce carbon dioxide emissions in a way that protects the economy, grows the economy. We also feel that our citizens are better served when they have good paying jobs and they are working versus a risk of not doing that if you move down an unchecked path. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and .
TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY CONCEPCION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-5-1

today I recognize Anthony Concepcion, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several months. prgtoken Anthony will be graduating later this week from the Mason LIFE Program with a comprehensive concentration in music appreciation and a minor concentration in recreation and leisure education. Anthony is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Anthony for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.