mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Thomas Farr (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-11-29

there has been a lot of activity in the Senate today, and I wish to cover a couple of topics, starting with the nomination of Thomas Farr to be a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. I understand we will not be voting on that nomination today. prgtoken I hope our colleagues will take the time between now and whenever we may cast a final vote on that nomination to take another look at the record because a number of very informative things have come out in recent days about Mr. Farr's record. prgtoken I want to take us back to a moment where this Senate Chamber was back in 2006. Back in 2006, the U.S. Senate passed the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act by a vote of 98 to 0. Ninety-eight Senators in favor of the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization--none opposed. The House passed the same bill by a vote of 390 to 33. President signed that bill into law. prgtoken Fast forward to 2013, we have a case in the Supreme Court, Shelby County v. Holder. The Supreme Court, by a vote of 5 to 4, took a big bite out of the enforcement provisions of the Voting Rights Act. They eliminated the preclearance provisions. What we saw within a matter of weeks and months were States around the country that had previously been subject to the preclearance provisions beginning to enact laws putting up barriers to people's ability to vote, especially minority voters. Texas enacted legislation and North Carolina enacted legislation, among others. prgtoken I want to focus for a moment on what happened in North Carolina because in North Carolina the State legislature passed a bill that put up all sorts of obstacles that made it much harder--for African Americans especially--to cast their vote, to exercise their right to vote. When that bill was appealed to the Fourth Circuit, the Fourth Circuit found that North Carolina State legislation had targeted African-American voters with almost ``surgical precision,'' and they threw out that North Carolina law. prgtoken Well, just a few days ago, this Senate confirmed a nominee to be legal counsel at the Department of Agriculture, Stephen Vaden, who was one of the people who filed and coauthored an amicus brief in support of the North Carolina law that was overturned. The Senate acted, and we did that. prgtoken It turns out that just a few days later, we have a nomination not for the general counsel for the Department of Agriculture but for somebody to be on the U.S. courts who was the architect and the defender of these North Carolina laws, Thomas Farr. That same law which the Court said targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision, trying to deny them their right to vote, was also found by the Court to be ``the most restrictive voting law North Carolina has seen since the era of Jim Crowe.'' prgtoken Thomas Farr wasn't just a key player in that case in defending North Carolina's discriminatory law, he was also a key player in passing o
MY WORK FOR AMERICA IS NOT DONE
Luis V. Gutiérrez (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-11-29

when I was born, separate but equal was the law of the land. Even in a northern city like Chicago, a young Puerto Rican kid knew where he could and could not go, which beaches and pools were open to him, and which were off-limits. prgtoken Segregation and discrimination by race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation were deeply embedded in the customs and culture of our society, and upheld by the State and Federal Government. prgtoken So as I prepare to leave office after 26 years representing the people of the Fourth District of Illinois, I think it is important to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go before this country lives up to its lofty ideals enshrined in our most sacred documents and origin mythology. prgtoken That a Puerto Rican born in Chicago in 1953, 65 years ago, the son of Spanish-speaking immigrants with little education who were driven by poverty from the mountains of Puerto Rico, would be able to speak into this microphone at all is perhaps a ringing endorsement for what this Nation stands for. prgtoken But let us be clear: People sacrificed and died so that I could speak here today. People I never met, like Medgar Evers, Emmett Till, and countless others, died in the struggle against discrimination and American apartheid, and opened the path for me to be here today. prgtoken The Voting Rights Act and other civil rights legislation passed in my lifetime on this floor were soaked in the blood of martyrs, old and young, who kept moving forward until everyone had the right to vote and every vote was counted. prgtoken Even as the President and his party challenge the principles of the Voting Rights Act today, I have always tried to honor those who have given their lives to make America freer and stronger. prgtoken To be blunt, were it not for the sacrifice of Black Americans, Black people in this country and their allies, who literally had their homes and churches bombed fighting to make this country live up to its own creed, I would not be here speaking to you today. That has always and will always guide me. prgtoken When the Fourth District was created to give Latinos an opportunity in Chicago to have a voice in Congress, I was the first to win that seat. While the majority of my constituents then in 1992 were 65 percent Latino, on election day, the majority of voters were White. prgtoken In 26 years and 13 elections, that has changed. Today, voters on election day in the majority Latino Fourth District, which I represent, are, in fact, Latino. prgtoken Early on, I realized the constituent services in my district were not restricted to veterans' benefits and Social Security, although we work hard on those issues. In my district, helping people navigate the complex and expensive process of citizenship was a top need and became a top priority for my office. prgtoken We helped more than 55,000 people--let me underscore that, 55,000 immigrants--become citizens, sponsoring w
Appropriations (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-11-29

next Friday, appropriations expire for 7 of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019, and we are in good faith negotiations with our counterparts here in the Congress to get them enacted. The good news is that because of the bipartisan work in the Senate, approximately 75 percent of the Federal Government is funded for 2019. The bad news is that the 7 bipartisan appropriations bills are hanging in the balance for one reason and one reason only--President . prgtoken President has said that he wants to shut down the government unless he gets $5 billion from the American taxpayers for an unnecessary border wall. The President hasn't even tried to get Mexico to pay for it, as he promised in his campaign over and over and over. He hasn't outlined a plan to deal with eminent domain concerns or even a plan as to how it would be built. He hasn't even spent the $1.3 billion Congress allocated last year in the fiscal year 2018 budget for border security--fences, drones, technology--which actually makes sense. Now he is asking, having not spent that money, for more. So this isn't actually about border security. This is the President's way of trying to manufacture a shutdown to fire up his base. prgtoken Make no mistake. The President is the only person who holds the ultimate responsibility for a government shutdown. He can decide if we are going to have one or not have one. He, certainly, has the power to shut down the government, but he has two very reasonable ways to avoid one. prgtoken First, he could agree to sign the bipartisan DHS appropriations bill that the Senate and s have already agreed to, which includes $1.6 billion for border security on top of the $1.3 billion that President still hasn't spent from last year. It is just what we have done in previous years--funding for fencing on the border where the experts say it makes the most sense. It would protect our border far more effectively and far more quickly than any wall. prgtoken Leader McConnell voted for that bill. Chairman Shelby voted for it, as did Senator Rubio. Even Senator Graham, the President's strongest supporter and closest ally in the Senate, voted for that bill. Now, all of a sudden, it seems that the s, afraid to buck the President even when they know he is wrong, want to renege on that agreement to go along with the President's shutdown plan. But it doesn't have to be that way. This bipartisan negotiated deal remains on the table and would, certainly, receive more than 60 votes in the Senate. prgtoken Second, if the President doesn't want to agree to that bipartisan bill, we could avoid a shutdown by passing a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. We think it should be for a whole year. It would keep the government open and still provide another $1.3 billion for border security on top of the $1.3 billion the President has not yet spent
CONDEMNING THE USE OF CHEMICAL AGENTS ON UNARMED ASYLUM SEEKERS
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-11-29

the cruelty, heartlessness and failure of the administration immigration policy have reached a new low point with the reprehensible use of chemical agents against unarmed asylum seekers including children. The unilateral, unlawful policy requires those seeking asylum in the U.S. to remain in Mexico after adding their names to an interminable waiting list facing deteriorating living conditions in what increasingly have come to resemble detention camps. The use of violence and fear to deter legal asylum applications ignores the real social, political and economic forces driving emigration and the role of current and historical U.S. foreign and economic policies in creating those conditions. A nation of immigrants such as the United States deserves, demands, a policy collectively-negotiated with our neighbors grounded in democracy and human rights and dedicated to mutual social and economic development.
IN MEMORY OF MRS. EUNICE L. MIXON
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2018-11-29

it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished educator, political activist, and dear friend of longstanding, Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon. Sadly, Eunice departed to her eternal reward on Thursday, November 22, 2018. On Sunday, December 2, 2018, friends and family will gather to celebrate the wonderful life of this exceptional woman at a homegoing service held at First Baptist Church in Tifton, Georgia. prgtoken Eunice Lastinger Mixon was born in Tifton, Georgia on November 1, 1931, to the union of the late Robert and Carrie Lastinger. A product of the Tift County School System, she went on to attend classes at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Norman Park Junior College, Valdosta State College, and the University of Georgia where she earned both Master's and Specialist Degrees in Science Education. prgtoken Winston Churchill said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Through every stage of her life, Eunice always gave herself to others. She served as an educator for 30 years within the Tift County School System and at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College before redirecting her passion to politics. Her first official post in politics came in 1974 when she became the Tift County campaign chair for former Governor George Busbee. She also served as a delegate to the 1988 and 1992 National ic Conventions, and as a member of the Georgia ic Executive Committee. Over the years, she has helped campaign and fundraise for several political figures including former Georgia Lieutenant Governors Zell Miller, and Pierre Howard, former Georgia Governors Roy Barnes, Joe Frank , and Sonny Perdue, former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, former Georgia Secretary of State Max Cleland, U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as well as yours truly. prgtoken Eunice's distinguished civic service was mirrored by her extensive involvement in her community. In conjunction with her professional accomplishments in politics, she served on several boards, including the Georgia Student Finance Commission; Vocational Education Task Force; Advisory Council on Consolidation of Education Programs; Georgia Civil War Commission; Joint Board Liaison Committee; and the Georgia State Bar Disciplinary Board. She has served as the doorkeeper to the Georgia State Senate, and has served on the State Bar of Georgia's Investigative Panel; the Tifton/Tift County Library Board; the Coastal Plain Regional Library Board; the Heritage Trust Commission Board; and the State Election Board. prgtoken Eunice received several awards for her extensive achievement, service, and public distinction. These include induction into the Tift County Chamber of Commerce's Wall of Fame in 2014; the Liberty Bell Award by the Tifton Judicial Circuit Bar Association in 2016
THE ISRAEL ANTI-BOYCOTT ACT
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-11-29

today I wish to add myself as a cosponsor of S. 720, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation in its modified form. I have long and staunchly opposed the BDS movement and associated efforts to unfairly isolate Israel in international forums. This legislation will prevent international entities from imposing their will on U.S. businesses with regards to their decisions, consistent with U.S. law, to conduct commerce with our close ally Israel and its citizens. prgtoken After carefully examining the proposed changes to the legislation, I support the amended version of this bill put forward by my colleagues, Senator Cardin and Senator Portman. This revised version of the legislation makes meaningful revisions to the original language to clarify and improve First Amendment protections. Initial concerns that this bill unintentionally infringed on individuals' First Amendment rights have now been addressed by these changes, agreed upon earlier this year, and I feel confident that these modifications safeguard Americans' constitutional right to free speech.
REMEMBERING LUIGI TELARA
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2018-11-29

I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to Luigi Telara, who passed away earlier this year on April 1. An Italian sculptor who hailed from the marble quarries of Carrara, Italy, Luigi's life was one of hard work, dedication, and beauty. While he spent a majority of his life in Italy, Luigi lived in Proctor, VT, where he worked for the Vermont Marble Company for 6 years. Although his time in America was short, the impact of his work can still be seen today in Vermont, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and even right here in the U.S. Capitol. prgtoken Although fostered and honed in his home country, Luigi's love for the art of sculpting spread far beyond his European roots. After attending Professional Institute for Marble, Industry, and Crafts--l'Istituto Professionale per l'Industria e l'Artigianato del Marmo--and later on Magistero d'Arte in Florence, the State of Vermont was lucky enough to become a second home and a source of inspiration for Luigi's grand marblework and refined artistry. He joined the Vermont Marble Company in 1955, where he was able to sculpt pieces we continue to feature here today, on the steps of our Capitol. prgtoken It was during his 6 years at the Vermont Marble Company that Luigi Telara made his mark on our great democratic institution with his assistance in the creation of the plaster models of the god of war and goddess of peace statues that stand atop the Capitol steps. ``War'' is a male figure with his head slightly titled and his gaze fixed ahead, ready to conquer what is ahead of him. To the right of ``War'' is ``Peace,'' standing in a contrapposto pose, holding a fruit-bearing olive branch in her left hand, extending it towards ``War.'' prgtoken Luigi's work should serve as a subtle reminder of what is at stake when you prgtoken are a Member of the Senate, the Nation's conscience. An important message that is too often overlooked. Next time you are running up the steps to make it for a vote, take a second to appreciate the dedication to detail that was put into the statues by Luigi, by Francesco Tonelli, by Franco Marchini, and by Geno Fregosi at the Vermont Marble Company. prgtoken Following his tenure at the Vermont Marble Company, Luigi went back to his hometown of Carrara where he became a teacher at the Instituto d'Arte Felice Palama di Massa and held the position of chair for 30 years. He never lost his passion for the art of sculpting, as he would continue to carve as a private practice. prgtoken Although not a citizen on paper, Luigi exemplified what it means to be an American. The United States is a country of immigrants after all, a great melting pot of cultures, and as Luigi's life and work demonstrated, our democratic institutions are the better for their service. Legacies like Luigi's serve as a reminder of what we as a nation lose when we put up walls and close our doors to those seeking to do what our ancestors did before us. We must n
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND JOSEPHUS EGGELLETION, JR.
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-11-29

it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and longtime Broward County politician, Reverend Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. prgtoken Joe was born on April 23, 1949, in Miami, Florida, to a family that, though of humble means, was rich in love for one another and their community. He graduated from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale and completed his undergraduate studies at Florida A&M University, before starting a life dedicated to public service and his community. prgtoken As one of Broward County's longest-serving black elected officials, his political career began in 1990 on the Lauderdale Lakes City Council, where he filled the vacancy of the late Sol Rossman. Joe went on to become Broward County's first African American mayor. He then served in Florida's House of Representatives from 1992 through 1998. His political career continued when he was elected to the Broward County Commission, where he served until 2009. prgtoken After a long battle with prostate cancer, Joe died on November 21, 2018 at the age of 69. He will be remembered as a caring friend and committed public servant whose career spanned more than 20 years. prgtoken , I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Joe's wife, Carolyn and his entire family. While he is no longer with us, his spirit and loving memory will always live on, and he will be dearly missed.
INSPECTOR GENERAL ACCESS ACT OF 2017
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-11-29

H.R. 3154 would not prohibit OPR from investigating attorneys. It would simply add the ability to investigate attorneys when appropriate prgtoken in the IG's authority, an additional layer of accountability. prgtoken Empowering IGs has been, and should continue to be, a nonpartisan issue. prgtoken The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform relies on the work of IGs, and we strongly support ensuring they can do their jobs effectively. prgtoken This bill was ordered reported by the Oversight Committee unanimously. I urge my colleagues to continue their support for IGs by supporting the Inspector General Access Act. prgtoken , .
Nomination of Kathy Kraninger (Executive Session)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-11-29

10 years ago, greedy financial institutes crashed our economy and crushed working families all across this country. Millions of Americans lost their jobs, millions lost their homes, and millions lost their life savings. That crisis was no accident, and it was no act of God. It was caused because Washington looked the other way while greedy Wall Street bankers scammed hard- working American families. It can happen again if we let it. prgtoken If we learned anything from the financial crisis that nearly drove our economy over a cliff, it is that American families desperately need a strong consumer watchdog. Before the crisis, financial institutions sold consumers predatory loans that were like grenades with their pins pulled out. When they exploded, they wiped out trillions of dollars of wealth and caused millions of people to lose their jobs, their savings, or their homes. prgtoken The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to level the playing field for consumers and make sure that Washington never again looks the other way while millions of families get squeezed. prgtoken On June 18, 2018, President announced his intent to nominate Kathleen Kraninger as Director of the CFPB. Ms. Kraninger is a political appointee at OMB who has spent more than a decade working on homeland security policy in the executive branch and on Capitol Hill. She has never--I repeat, never--worked on consumer protection issues either in public service or in the private sector. She has zero track record of standing up for consumers. prgtoken The White House championed Ms. Kraninger's experience as a manager when announcing her nomination. A White House official stated that Ms. Kraninger ``will bring . . . much-needed management experience [to the CFPB].'' A quick search on Google shows that is bogus. prgtoken Ms. Kraninger's tenure at OMB has been marred by systemic management failures. As an OMB official with primary responsibility over the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, Ms. Kraninger was one of the officials responsible for managing and implementing President 's zero-tolerance policy. The policy resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe in which thousands of children were ripped from the arms of their mamas and daddies and thrown into cages. prgtoken Ms. Kraninger bungled the response to the three catastrophic hurricanes of 2017. Under Ms. Kraninger's leadership, OMB's budget requests in the wake of Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey were too little, too late. prgtoken Ms. Kraninger oversaw a budget that, if enacted, would have exacerbated, rather than alleviated, the Nation's affordable housing crisis. prgtoken No, it isn't Ms. Kraninger's management experience that got her a giant promotion; it is her enthusiasm for Mick Mulvaney's anti-consumer agenda that earned her this reward from President . How do I know that? I asked Ms. Kraninger if she disagreed with one single action