mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMENDING THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-12-13

we recently heard a farewell speech from my colleague and friend, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri. I grew up across the river from St. Louis in the town of East St. Louis, IL, and feel a familiarity with Missouri and St. Louis probably more than most residents of my State. We have had many great reminisces about the city and her life, and I wanted to say a few words on the floor today as she ends her service in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken My boyhood hero was Stan Musial--``Stan the Man''--St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer and one of greatest ball players who ever lived. He retired in 1963 holding National League career marks for games played, at-bats, and hits. Asked to describe the habits that kept him in baseball for so long, Musial once said: ``Get eight hours of sleep regularly. Keep your weight down, run a mile a day. If you must smoke, try light cigars. Then cut down on inhaling.'' ``One last thing,'' he added: ``Make it a point to bat .300.'' prgtoken Claire McCaskill has always brought the same sort of natural-born talent and relentless work ethic to public service that Stan Musial-- ``Stan the Man''--brought to baseball in St. Louis. She has stood for office 24 times--lost twice. That makes her batting average considerably better than .300. prgtoken Five years ago, Senator McCaskill and I teamed up to suggest a name for a beautiful new bridge that spanned the mighty Mississippi River between her State of Missouri and mine of Illinois, near St. Louis. Thanks to Claire's leadership, it is called the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. Locals all call it the Stan Span for short. It is a well-deserved, fitting tribute to my boyhood hero and a fitting tribute to Claire McCaskill's tenacity. prgtoken In an age of hyperpartisanship, Claire McCaskill is a bridge builder. She doesn't ask whether ideas come from the left or the right; she asks whether they will work. Like her own political hero, Harry Truman, she is a straight talker, and she can be a bulldog when it comes to demanding accountability for the people who pay for this government and those who rely on it. She has cast historic and heroic votes on the Senate floor. She voted for an economic stimulus package that helped prevent a second Great Depression. She voted to create the Affordable Care Act--one of the most important social and economic justice laws of our lifetime. prgtoken One story about Claire McCaskill seems especially telling. Nearly 2 years ago, she was ready to vote to confirm Neil Gorsuch, a appointee, to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Missouri, a red State, that was a pretty good vote for her politically. But when she met privately with then-Judge Gorsuch, she asked him about a case in which he had ruled that a trucking company was within its rights when it fired a driver who left his broken-down truck briefly on a sub-zero night to find help. prgtoken Senator McCaskill asked Judge Gorsuch: Did you ever think a
RECOGNIZING THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to congratulate the Center for Excellence in Education, a non-profit that sparks curiosity in high school and university students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, on 35 years of service to communities across the country. Because of CEE's collaborative work, students, teachers, researchers, and leaders are successfully paving the way for a new generation of STEM leaders. San Diegans know the value of promoting STEM opportunities. Some of our region's biggest employers are biotech companies, looking to our students for their future researchers in part thanks to CEE's work and alumni. One of the largest economic drivers in our region is our innovation economy, which relies on a workforce versed in STEM fields. CEE sponsors free programs that connect students and their teachers to educational institutions, private foundations, corporations, and government agencies, to help prepare students across the country for these high-quality jobs. Teachers also have benefitted from CEE enrichment programs offered in California and other states across the country. This past year, UC San Diego--one of our burgeoning centers for innovation--hosted CEE's USA Biology Olympiad. As San Diego and our country continue to invest in STEM education and encourage students to be curious and connect with professionals, CEE sets a vision for that future. Their commitment to 35 years of service across the country deserves praise and recognition, and I am proud to congratulate them on their successes.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-12-13

we have just a little over a week to come to some agreement on how to fund the government past next Friday. prgtoken Leader Pelosi and I have given the President two options to keep the government open. Both are noncontroversial. Neither contain any ic demand. We just want to keep the government open. So far, President has not accepted either offer. The President appears to be clinging to his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall, and from what we saw in the Oval Office and news reports about his reaction after our meeting, President is willing to throw a temper tantrum and shut down the government unless he gets his way. prgtoken I want to be crystal clear. There will be no additional appropriations to pay for the border wall. It is done. The President repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for his unnecessary and ineffective border wall, in his words, ``100 percent.'' On Tuesday, he said he would be ``proud'' to shut down the government unless U.S. taxpayers pay for it. Now, just this morning, the President tweeted that Mexico will pay for the wall through savings from the new NAFTA. prgtoken Well, , if you say Mexico is going to pay for the wall through NAFTA--which it certainly will not--then I guess we don't have to. Let's fund the government. prgtoken Honestly, if the President really believed what he tweeted this morning, that his new NAFTA would pay for the wall, he wouldn't be threatening to shut down the government unless American taxpayers fund his wall. He can't have it both ways. The President's position on the wall is totally contradictory, ill-informed, and frankly irresponsible. It is not a serious proposal. It is a throwaway idea the President used--used in the campaign and still uses--to fire up his base. prgtoken A temper tantrum and shutdown threat isn't going to change any minds in Congress. President has several ways to avoid a shutdown. He should pick one and soon, but if we wind up with a shutdown, it will be entirely the President's fault. President himself would not dispute that in the Oval Office on Tuesday. He almost bragged that he would shut down the government--what irresponsibility. prgtoken I would just like to remind my friend the majority leader that if we arrive at a shutdown, the onus for reopening the government will soon fall in his lap. When take control of the House in January, will pass one of our two options to fund the government, and then Leader McConnell and Senate s will be left holding the bag for a shutdown if they don't pass our bill now. prgtoken So there is no way for my friends to avoid the issue. There is no way for Leader McConnell to avoid the issue, fearful of President as they all might be. Either s help deal with the President now or they will be left dealing with a much bigger problem in January.
HONORING THE LIFE OF REBY CARY
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to honor the life of a Black icon in the Fort Worth community, Reby Cary. prgtoken Reby lived a monumental life, and as the former Fort Worth Star- Telegram columnist Bobby Ray Sanders expressed: ``He was an activist from the heart, and he was not afraid.'' prgtoken He was among the first African Americans to graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard radioman school in New Jersey and the first African American to be elected to the Fort Worth Independent School District. He shared many of the successes of Black pioneers in the community, many of whom didn't receive the accolades they deserved in what was then a segregated society. prgtoken After serving multiple tours in World War II, Mr. Cary came back to Tarrant County, where he started teaching history at Dunbar High School when it was a new high school. prgtoken He later became the first Black instructor at Tarrant County Junior College. He went on to serve three terms in the Texas House of Representatives, continuing to serve his Carver Heights community and all of Fort Worth. prgtoken Mr. Cary was a proud member of The New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He credited God for the many blessings that came his way and his mother for keeping him on what he called ``the straight and narrow.'' prgtoken He wanted to tell Black Fort Worth's story, and he wanted to ensure that the history of the African American community was documented and remembered for generations to come. He became a Black historian and authored 20 books about the history of African Americans in north Texas. prgtoken My condolences go out to his family and friends. His presence will be missed but never forgotten. prgtoken I also want to let all of his friends know in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, his church, and all of the organizations that he volunteered for in Fort Worth just how important that legacy was for him.
SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2018-12-13

I first wanted to thank Senator Roberts and Senator Stabenow for their fine leadership on this farm bill, as well as their staffs. I had a great opportunity to thank them. prgtoken This was something that was universally well accepted and exciting for our State and, really, for every State in the country--the way we got 87 votes. As I noted, at home, we don't get that many votes for a volleyball resolution. It really put the bill in a good place to get this done. I thank them for their leadership. prgtoken I also want to thank Brian Werner from my own staff, who has long worked on these issues, as well as at home, Andy Martin and Chuck Ackman, who have done ag work for us in Minnesota. I thank them for their work on this bill as well. Tribute to Claire McCaskill prgtoken , I am here to make some brief remarks about two of my favorite colleagues who are leaving us. They are both good friends of mine, both from the middle of the country, and both extraordinary leaders. prgtoken I will start with my friend, Senator Claire McCaskill. Senator McCaskill and I were first elected at the same time, so we came in together. prgtoken During our years of serving together, I have seen this strong, incredible woman stand up for the people of Missouri and stand up for the people of this country. prgtoken We were the only two women in our Senate class when we came in. One of my first memories of Claire, which occurred near the beginning of our time in the Senate, was that we were driving out of the Capitol together to go speak prgtoken at an event. I looked out the window, and there was my husband John walking across the lawn with a pink box. She sees him, and she looks at me, and she says: What is John doing, walking across the Capitol lawn with a pink gift-wrapped box? prgtoken I yelled out the car window, and I said: What are you doing with the pink box? prgtoken He yelled back: It is the Senate spouse club event. I am going to Jim Webb's wife's baby shower. prgtoken Claire looked at my husband and said, in her typical, blunt way: That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen. prgtoken That is Claire. prgtoken We were rejoicing together in the car at that moment, as we thought we were witnessing a milestone in Senate spouse history but also in our own histories and in the journey of having more women in the Senate. prgtoken Claire is someone who never keeps quiet, who always speaks her mind, and that is so refreshing. prgtoken When she found out about the substandard care for our veterans at Walter Reed, she took it on. She was a freshman Senator, but she wasn't quiet, and she took it on. prgtoken Her dad was a veteran, and she felt that the veterans of today deserve the same quality care that he got. That is the kind of leadership she has always shown. prgtoken She never backs down, especially in the face of corruption. I think a lot of that was because of her work as a prosecutor. We sha
TRIBUTE TO WILFRED R. DeFOUR, SR.
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to share with my colleagues' sad news that has struck my community with the passing of Wilfred R. DeFour, Sr. at the incredible age of 100. prgtoken Mr. DeFour was raised in Harlem; a proud alumnus of Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx; and later graduate of both the City College of New York and New York University School of Commerce . prgtoken Mr. DeFour was an aircraft technician working on many of the planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. In fact, Mr. DeFour painted the tails of aircraft red by hand that lent the airmen their signature moniker of ``Red Tails''. prgtoken He was a man of extraordinary dignity, the highest character and a great sense of humor. He personified the magnanimity of his generation that endured the division and animus of racial segregation in this country yet still fought for our country and its shared defense. prgtoken Just a few weeks ago in New York City, I had the enormous privilege with my fellow elected officials and community leaders to officially unveil the renaming of the Post Office located at 99 Macombs Place as the ``Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building.'' Mr. DeFour was our guest of honor and shared with us his experience and what his service meant to him. It is my intention to rename the Lincolnton Post Office located at 2266 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10037, where he worked after returning from his military service for over three decades. prgtoken Just last month he said ``I regret so many of my comrades are no longer here with us. It was a great experience. We didn't know that we were making history at the time, we were just doing our jobs. That's about the size of it.'' prgtoken For a man with a larger than life presence, what struck me and those around him was his humility and grace. He told us ``After looking back at it, everyone was pleased with what we did. What we did, we did our best and our best was the greatest.'' We are lesser without him and can only hope to strive to match; but never exceed his example. prgtoken Godspeed Combat Technical Sergeant Wilfred R. DeFour, Sr. It was a pleasure to have known him.
AMENDING THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2018-12-13

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I understand it will be on a voice vote. This exemption, just like the amendment that will follow, is so broad as to render the underlying resolution impotent. prgtoken Let's be clear. The existing conflict the United States is supporting is the primary cause of the humanitarian catastrophe that exists today. Eighty-five thousand kids under the age of 5 have died of starvation and disease. This is the world's worst cholera epidemic in the history of the globe. If we were to adopt this amendment, it could potentially allow for continued unlimited assistance for the Saudi coalition to continue to exacerbate that nightmare. prgtoken I urge my colleagues, on a voice vote, to oppose this amendment.
HONORING THE CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HICKORY HILLS POLICE CHIEF ALAN T. VODICKA
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to honor Chief Alan T. Vodicka and recognize his accomplishments as Chief of the Hickory Hills Police Department. Chief Vodicka's combined 42 years of service and dedication are nothing short of remarkable. As he prepares to retire, we cannot help but admire his service and hope that his distinguished tenure stands as an example to all officers. prgtoken Chief Alan Vodicka, a native Chicagoan raised in Mount Greenwood on the Southwest Side of the city, began his longstanding career with the Hickory Hills Police Department in 1976 after earning a B.A. from the University of Illinois Chicago Circle Campus that same year. Throughout his time with the Hickory Hills Police Department, he has served in many capacities, ranging from a Patrol and Juvenile Officer to Supervisor of Investigation, with his career eventually culminating in a promotion to Chief of Police in 2001. He has also served as President of the 5th District Chief of Police and the Hickory Hills Pension Board, Chairman of the 5th District SWAT, and Director for both the Southwest Major Crimes Task Force and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. prgtoken Chief Vodicka also earned an M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois Chicago, an M.Ed. from the University of Illinois in Instructional Leadership, and studied at the Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Institute. He has shared his expertise with others, serving as a member of the faculty at Moraine Valley Community College and as Vice President of the North Palos School District 117 Board. He takes pride in working with various civic organizations and particularly enjoys engaging with youth. As an active volunteer coach with the Hickory Hills Park District and the Hickory Hills Youth Baseball, Chief Vodicka has shown a well-rounded and genuine commitment to his community. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Chief Alan T. Vodicka. This outstanding public servant has devoted his life to keeping the citizens of Hickory Hills safe and has improved the lives of countless individuals. I congratulate him on his accomplishments, thank him for his service, and wish him well in his future endeavors.
SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to remember those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, in 2012, just 6 years ago. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of that horrible day, when America lost 20 first graders and 6 adults in one of the worst mass shootings in our Nation's history. prgtoken Since 2012, I have kept--and I know others have done similar things to remind us--one page from a newspaper on my desk in the Russell Building. I will not show all of it, but here is the top half of it. It is obviously yellowed from 6 years. It just happens to be the Wall Street Journal, dated Monday, December 17, 2012. At the top of the page it says: Connecticut school shooting. The headline there just says two words: Shattered lives. Then it gives a photograph of almost every child and every adult. They missed a few because of the timing of this. But then it has a biography of each individual killed. As I said, 20 of them were children. prgtoken We have to remember tragedies like this to remind ourselves of our obligation--on many issues, but this is certainly one of them. I wanted to start by reading the names of all of those 26 Americans who were killed on that day. I will just read through them, and after reading each name I will also note the age of the individual on that horrible day in December of 2012: prgtoken Charlotte Bacon, 6 years old; Daniel Barden 7; Rachel D'Avino, 29; Olivia Engel, 6; Josephine Gay, 7; Dylan Hockley, 6; Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47; Madeleine Hsu, 6; Catherine Hubbard, 6; Chase Kowalski, 7; Jesse Lewis, 6; Ana Marquez-Greene, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Grace McDonnell, 7; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; Emilie Parker, 6; Jack Pinto, 6; Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Richman, 6; Lauren Rousseau, 30; Mary Sherlach, 56; Victoria Soto, 27; Benjamin Wheeler, 6; and, Allison Wyatt, age 6. prgtoken Those are the 26 individuals. prgtoken There are so many ways to express our sorrow and to continue mourning as we did as a nation. I can't even imagine what each family had to live through and still lives through today, and how that community had to endure in that moment of horror--those days of horror and mourning and sadness and all these years later. prgtoken The great recording artist Bruce Springsteen, after the 9/11 attacks, wrote a number of songs reflecting upon that tragedy. One of the songs he wrote--at least the lyrics that I remember--probably capture the same sentiment that we all think about when we are thinking about that kind of a tragedy. The name of the song is ``You're Missing,'' and a refrain of the song goes like this: You're missing, when I shut out the lights. You're missing, when I close my eyes. You're missing, when I see the sun rise. prgtoken I am sure that has been the circumstance for those families every day, missing the loved one--for 20 of those families missing a loved one who was age 6 or age 7, and for 6 other families mi
HONORING THE WATKINS HORNETS AND RIDGE ROAD TITANS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2018-12-13

I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing two District of Columbia- based organizations, the Watkins Hornets Youth Association and the Ridge Road Titans Youth Coalition, on winning the American Youth Football National Championships. prgtoken On December 7, 2018, the Watkins Hornets and the Ridge Road Titans traveled to Florida to compete in the American Youth Football National Championships for their respective age groups, ranging from nine to 13 years old. Each of these student athletes, as well as their parents and coaches, persevered through a long season, balancing school, football and other extracurricular activities to become national champions. prgtoken Watkins Recreation Center and Ridge Road Recreation Center, which house their respective football teams, are among the elite when it comes to football. They place a strong emphasis on players as students first and athletes second. Located in the heart of the District's Wards 6 and 7, these organizations have been vital to their surrounding communities, providing programs to at-risk youth and families. prgtoken , I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating these student athletes, parents and coaches on a job well done, as well as in acknowledging the work of both of these organizations in being community strongholds.