mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE CALIFORNIA FIRES
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-9-12

California and the West, as has become all too frequent, have experienced devastating fires this year. The loss of life and damage to property has been immense, and we are just partially through the fire season. prgtoken Our firefighters, in particular, whether they are U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, volunteers, contractors, or municipal, have worked hard and sacrificed to protect the communities and resources, such as the firefighters I saw in northern California all the way up from Los Angeles County. prgtoken At the peak of California's summer fires, there were more than 14,000 firefighters from 17 States joined in this effort. The work is brutal. It is hot, smoky, tiring, and there are few breaks, if any. These recent fires took a heavy toll on these men and women. prgtoken In July, the Ferguson fire took the lives of Braden Varney and Captain prgtoken Brian Hughes, both killed while battling flames near Yosemite National Park. prgtoken Later that month, the Mendocino Complex fires, on record as the largest wildfire in our State's history, burning more than 459,000 acres, took the life of Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett from Utah, who died after he was injured while working on an active portion of the Ranch fire. prgtoken The Carr fire in my district was one of the most severe fires our State has ever seen. It devastated 229,000 acres, destroying nearly 1,100 homes, and took the lives of eight people, including three firefighters and one utility lineman: Jeremy Stoke, Don Smith, Andrew Brake, and Jay Ayeta. prgtoken This fire was so large and hot that it created its own weather system, including a fire tornado the size of three football fields with winds up to 165 miles an hour created by the fire, leaving families with little time to find their way through bottleneck traffic to safety. prgtoken Tragically, the fast-growing flames entrapped four residents unable to escape their homes in time, including Daniel of Keswick, as well as Melody Bledsoe and her two great-grandchildren, James and Emily Roberts. prgtoken As the flames continued, more than 5,000 firefighters and emergency personnel put their lives on the line battling the fire, at times working more than 24-hour shifts. prgtoken Some of these individuals, as local residents, lost their own homes in the flames, yet they spent weeks protecting others. The courage of these men and women in some of the darkest times of these affected areas will long be remembered. prgtoken s from California, together today for our support of each other. We have all felt this each in our own way as still more fires rage on right now throughout our State. prgtoken , I now ask that the House observe a moment of silence for all of those who lost their lives in these terrible fires and to stand in solidarity with the many individuals who are now starting the long, painful process of rebuilding their lives.
IN RECOGNITION OF MR. WILLIAM CARSON ``BILL'' PROUT
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2018-9-12

I rise today in recognition of Mr. William Carson ``Bill'' Prout on the occasion of his retirement from Green Top Sporting Goods, an iconic small business in the heart of Virginia's First District. Bill has dedicated twenty-two years to Green Top, reflecting his lifelong commitment to service and excellence in our community. prgtoken Prior to joining Green Top, Bill served our country as a Sergeant in the United States Army. During his tours of duty, Bill served in Abera, Ethiopia, and Udorn, Thailand before volunteering for service in Vietnam where he served with the Army Security Agency. After his time in the Army, Bill worked at Cherry, Bekaert & Holland for twenty-five years, demonstrating his dedication and determination as a leader. Once at Green Top Sporting Goods, Bill rose through the ranks to become President and CEO, leading through change and example. He oversaw the company's move to their current 67,000 square foot location and their expansion from around 50 employees to over 120. Under Bill's guidance, Green Top has solidified itself as a shining example of small business excellence. prgtoken Bill has been married to his wife, Patty, for forty-seven years and has two children, Billy and Corey, and four grandchildren, Andrew, Mattie, Sloan, and Teddy. In his well-deserved retirement, Bill is looking forward to spending time with his family and visiting Virginia Beach, as well as staying active with the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Richmond where he has attended for twenty-six years. prgtoken , I ask you to join me in recognizing the lifetime of accomplishments of Mr. William Carson ``Bill'' Prout, a true servant, leader, and outstanding member of our community. May God bless Bill and his family as they enter this new phase of life, and on behalf of America's First District, I say thank you.
RECOGNIZING CROYDON FIRE COMPANY
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-9-12

I rise today to recognize a nonprofit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that gives individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the ability to contribute to society in a variety of meaningful and fulfilling ways. prgtoken Shared Support, Inc in Warminster is a unique program that gives participants work experiences in multiple settings. One of Shared Support, Inc.'s impressive stories involves Jimmy Garcia, who assists the residents of the Neshaminy Manor nursing home. prgtoken Recently, during a painting activity session, Jimmy was extremely helpful in making sure the residents had the supplies they needed to accomplish their tasks. He also took a trip with Neshaminy Manor to the Middletown Grange Fair, assisting Warwick-based Ross Mill Farm with the hard work of cleaning the animal pens. prgtoken I applaud Jimmy for his hard work and for being an outstanding citizen in our community. I would also like to thank Shared Support cofounder and CEO Christine Martin, direct care professional Mike Hegarty, and Neshaminy Manor's activities aid Margaret Matthews for all of their amazing work with an amazing organization. Our community really thanks them for all the work they do.
ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019--CONFERENCE REPORT
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2018-9-12

I will try to be brief. It is getting late. prgtoken A few months ago, I came to the floor and urged my colleagues to set aside partisan disputes so that we could focus on our most basic constitutional responsibility: funding the government in a deliberate and timely manner. prgtoken Most observers deemed the prospect dubious at best. Who could blame them? Like so much in Washington, the appropriations process was broken, but at the urging of Leaders McConnell and Schumer and with the help of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle--Vice Chairman Leahy, in particular--we began to put the pieces back together. prgtoken Steadily, methodically, we passed 9 of the 12 annual appropriations bills in the Senate by overwhelming bipartisan margins. Today, I am pleased to present my colleagues with the first dividends of their cooperation. prgtoken The conference report before the Senate tonight contains the 2019 appropriations bills for Energy and Water Development, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch. It contains very critical funding to help transition our veterans to the new healthcare program they deserve and have earned under the VA Mission Act. It funds nearly 200 construction projects that are very important to America's military. It does a lot of other things, but I can say that this is an important package, and it is very important in what this package does not contain. It contains no poison pills--none of the partisan riders that have taken down appropriations bills in recent years in this package. As a result, the conference report looks a lot like the package that passed the Senate a few months ago by a vote of 86 to 5. prgtoken We have a long way to go, but we are getting there with this first batch of appropriations bills. I want to take a second and thank the leaders of both sides, Vice Chairman Leahy, the members of the Appropriations Committee, and all of my colleagues for their cooperation in this effort. I look forward to continuing to work together and urge you to vote for the conference report.
SPECIAL ENVOY TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM ACT OF 2018
Edward R. Royce (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-9-12

the balance of my time. prgtoken We have seen the horrific consequences when free societies turn a blind eye to anti-Semitic incitement and to anti-Semitic violence. Passage of this bill reaffirms that combating anti-Semitism is a top priority for the United States, and it will fill the Special Envoy position and provide it with adequate staff that is going to strengthen our ability to work with our partners overseas. prgtoken So I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and .
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Executive Session)
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2018-9-12

back to the subject of Bosnia, the carnage and tragic conflict that occurred in the early 1990s was more than about Bosnia. It was about security in a Europe just emerging from its Cold War divisions and the international principles upon which that security was based. For that reason, the United States, under President Bill Clinton, rightly exercised leadership when Europe asked us to, having failed to do so themselves. The Clinton administration brokered the Dayton peace agreement in November 1995 and enabled NATO to engage in peacemaking and peacekeeping to preserve Bosnia's unity and territorial integrity. That was the Bosnian peace agreement. prgtoken Almost a quarter of a century later, after the expenditure of significant diplomatic, military, and foreign assistance resources, the physical scars of the conflict have been largely erased. As we learned during our recent visit, the country remains far short of the prosperous democracy we hoped it would become and that its people deserve. Mostar, a spectacular city to visit, remains ethnically divided with Bosniak and Croat students separated by ethnicity in schools, even inside the same school buildings. Bosnian citizens, who are of minority groups, such as Jews, Romanis, or of mixed heritage, still cannot run for certain political offices. prgtoken This is 2018. They can't run for State-level Presidency, simply because of their ethnicity. Neither can Bosniaks and Croats in Republika Srpska or prgtoken Serbs in the Bosnian Federation run for the Presidency because of their ethnicity, in Europe in 2018. Nor can those numerous citizens who, on principle, refuse to declare their ethnicity because it should not replace their real qualifications for holding office. prgtoken This goes on despite repeated rulings by the European Court of Human Rights that this flaw in the Dayton-negotiated Constitution must be corrected. In total, well over 300,000 people in a country of only 3.5 million fall into these categories despite what is likely their strong commitment to the country and to its future as a multiethnic state. This is simply wrong, and it needs to end. prgtoken In addition, youth employment in Bosnia is among the highest in the world, and many who can leave the country are doing so, finding a future in Europe and finding a future in the United States. This denies Bosnia much of its needed talent and energy. prgtoken Civil society is kept on the sidelines. Decisions in Bosnia are being made by political party leaders who are not accountable to the people. They are the decision makers. The people should be decision makers. Corruption is rampant. Ask anyone in Europe, and they will tell you, Bosnia's wealth and potential is being stolen by corruption. prgtoken General elections will be held in October with a system favoring the status quo and resistance to electoral reforms that would give Bosnians more rather than fewer choices. prgtoken The compro
BUDGET ENFORCEMENT LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2018-9-12

section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, BBEDCA, establishes statutory limits on discretionary spending and allows for various adjustments to those limits. In addition, sections 302 and 314(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 allow the chairman of the Budget Committee to establish and make revisions to allocations, aggregates, and levels consistent with those adjustments. prgtoken The Senate will soon consider the conference report to H.R. 5895, a spending measure covering programs within the jurisdiction of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water, military construction and Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch. The military construction portion of this legislation includes funding for military construction designated as overseas contingency operations funding pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of BBEDCA. These provisions provide $921 million in budget authority for fiscal year 2019. The inclusion of the overseas contingency operations designations with these provisions makes this spending eligible for an adjustment under the Congressional Budget Act. prgtoken On June 18, 2018, I filed an adjustment relating to S. Amdt. 2910 to H.R. 5895, which contained appropriations for the same three appropriations subcommittees. The military construction portion of the amendment contained $921 million in revised security budget authority designated as overseas contingency operations, and the budgetary adjustment was made to accommodate this spending. prgtoken Since the level of overseas contingency operations spending in the conference report is consistent with the previously filed levels and appropriately designated, those funds are now available for use in this conference report, and no further budgetary adjustment is warranted at this time.
MODERNIZING THE PITTMAN-ROBERTSON FUND FOR TOMORROW'S NEEDS ACT
Austin Scott (Republican, GA) \u2014 2018-9-12

I rise today in support of H.R. 2591, Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act. prgtoken As a lifelong outdoorsman and current vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I am honored to be here today to discuss this bipartisan legislation. prgtoken If enacted, H.R. 2591 would provide national, broad-based support to State fish and wildlife agencies to develop, guide, and enhance collective efforts to recruit new hunters and sportsmen, all while continuing to protect our Nation's natural resources. prgtoken Through a system of user pay, public benefits, Pittman-Robertson is the foundation of wildlife conservation funding in the United States. prgtoken In the early 1900s, many wildlife species were beginning to dwindle and disappear. To address this decline, State fish and wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with hunters and conservationists to help draft and enact the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Known today as the Pittman-Robertson Act, this legislation became law in 1937. prgtoken Since it was first enacted, the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund has collected over $11 billion from sportsmen and - women to be used by States to fund wildlife conservation efforts, habitat acquisition and management, public access to lands, hunter education, and development of ranges affiliated with hunter safety programs. These funds are collected from an excise tax on sporting equipment, which is coupled with State funds from the sale of sporting licenses. prgtoken Over the past century, States have spent these funds to restore game and nongame species that were on the brink of endangerment and extinction. Specifically, Pittman-Robertson funds have helped rebuild white-tailed deer, turkey, duck, beaver, elk, osprey, and bald eagle populations. Effectively, Pittman-Robertson creates a direct link between those who hunt and participate in sportsmen activities and the health of the resources needed to expand and enhance those opportunities. prgtoken However, in recent years, the increasing urbanization and suburbanization of our population has made it more difficult for the public to participate in hunting and outdoor recreational activities. prgtoken Correspondingly, the average age of Americans purchasing hunting licenses and equipment is steadily rising as younger Americans are not joining the sportsmen population. prgtoken This has a significant ripple effect, not only on the key Federal funding models that support the conservation of fish and wildlife, but also on the base of support for our public lands and on thoughtful natural resource policy. prgtoken H.R. 2591 seeks to address this growing issue head-on. prgtoken Without any Federal mandate or any increase in existing user fees or taxes, H.R. 2591 will preserve the current user-pay, public-benefit funding of wildlife conservation for generations to come, while further expanding flexibil
CONGRATULATING MOOERS FREE LIBRARY ON ITS 101ST ANNIVERSARY
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-9-12

I rise today to honor and recognize Mooers Free Library on its 101st Anniversary. prgtoken Since it first opened its doors to the public in 1917, the Mooers Free Library has worked to provide the community with free access to the world of information and ideas, and to enhance community life. The Mooers Free Library is part of the Clinton Essex Franklin Library System, which allows residents to request books from any library in the tri-county area, as well as links the library to a worldwide network of books. prgtoken In order to meet the public's advancing intellectual and cultural needs, just last year the Mooers Free Library opened a brand new building with an updated book collection, new computers, and an afterschool program for children. As Mooers Free Library continues to prosper, the community grows along side it. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate Mooers Free Library on its 101st Anniversary and thank the dedicated people who work there for their tireless commitment to serving the community.
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-9-12

on one final matter, the pain that opioid addiction and drug abuse has inflicted on families across America is almost unfathomable. Every day, 115 more American lives are lost to overdose. Synthetic opioid deaths nationwide skyrocketed six- fold from 2014 to last year alone. prgtoken Sadly, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is all too familiar with these statistics. More than 1,500 Kentuckians died from a drug overdose in 2017, and Kentucky has ranked among the top 10 States for opioid fatalities for several years. prgtoken The tragic medical trends are only one of the ways this crisis is crippling communities all across our country. These drugs eat away at economic opportunities, they erode our labor market, and they make it even harder for distressed communities to get back on their feet. prgtoken So this is nothing short of a national emergency, and that is why Congress has already passed major legislation to address it, and very soon we will take significant new action by passing the legislation that has been shepherded by Senator Alexander and his committee colleagues. This landmark package combines work from 5 different committees and 70 different Senators. prgtoken I am proud that two of my bills are included--the CAREER Act, to help individuals in recovery transition back into the workforce and access housing services, and a second provision that will step up accountability on Federal efforts to combat addiction among pregnant mothers. prgtoken These are just two pieces of this comprehensive package. prgtoken It will cut the supply of illegal drugs that pour over our borders, make it easier for communities to invest in recovery efforts, extend a helping hand to families and caregivers, and provide for the longer term medical innovation we need to put this crisis in the rearview mirror. prgtoken I am pleased to have played a part in developing this landmark response. prgtoken I am grateful to Chairman Alexander and his colleagues, and I will be proud to vote for this legislation very soon.
AMERICA IS #BETTEROFFNOW
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2018-9-12

I thank my friend from Texas, appreciate all of that information, talking about the positive impact that is happening all across America with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. prgtoken When we talk about are you really better off now, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is one of those great examples of something that has been accomplished over the last 2 years. prgtoken The act itself just helped jump-start our economy. It repealed the Care individual mandate penalty. The standard deduction was nearly doubled, up to $12,000 for single filers, to $18,000 for a head of household, and to $24,000 for joint filers. prgtoken The child tax credit for families was doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, and individual along with business tax rates were cut across the board for every tax bracket. That means this year a middle-class family of four in Kansas will keep an extra $2,100 of their hard-earned money in their pocket, money they can use, save for their retirement, save for their children's college education, or maybe go out for a dinner and a movie. prgtoken The law also cut corporate rates from 35 percent, which was the fourth highest rate in the world and the highest amongst the developed world, to a competitive 21 percent, encouraging businesses to expand and to reinvest in America again. So far, more than 700 companies around the country have done just that, benefiting millions of hardworking families with bonuses, higher wages, and better benefits. prgtoken In Kansas, 24 businesses with more than 700 locations statewide have prgtoken boosted wages and benefits for tens of thousands of employees. prgtoken During the August work period, I was able to visit with employees at some of those companies, including Legacy Bank. Legacy Bank is a community-based bank based in Colwich, Kansas, with roots dating back to 1885. Today, Legacy Bank operates eight branches throughout my district and has 81 employees. prgtoken In July, Legacy Bank became one of the latest companies in my district to announce a midyear bonus of up to $1,000 per employee. prgtoken In August, I met with employees and the board of directors, who told me the bonuses would not have been possible without the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. prgtoken Also, last month I met with workers from Textron Aviation Facilities in Wichita. In an earlier meeting, Textron officials had said the tax reforms of 2017 have strengthened the environment for aircraft sales in the United States and the outlook remains positive. Textron now has the largest backlog of orders in 8 years, supporting thousands of jobs in our community, which we proudly call the air capital of the world. prgtoken Our district is also home to the largest tax cut bonus in the country. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed, Wichita Railway Systems, a railroad car parts supplier, turned their tax cut into $3,000 to $6,000 bonuses for its employees. The Wichita Business Journal reported that these bonuses would have otherwise