mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING ANNUAL APPRECIATION BANQUET AT SRI VENKATES- WARA SWAMI (BALAJI) TEMPLE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-9-8

today I honor Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple's significant, enduring contributions to our community, state, and country. prgtoken The Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple has opened its doors to devotees for more than 30 years. Its mission is to promote the highest values of Hindu culture, philosophy, religion, spirituality, and tradition in the United States with benevolence, compassion, and tolerance. It holds a prestigious reputation as one of the most beautiful and authentic Hindu temples outside of India. prgtoken Each year the annual Appreciation Banquet is held to honor all who worship and participate in the Temple's social and cultural gatherings. The Banquet also serves as an opportunity to show Hindu traditions to our children, and to promote getting youth further involved in temple activities. prgtoken Every time I visit the beautiful Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple in Aurora, Illinois, I am inspired by the congregation's devotion and its commitment to making our community stronger. Hinduism is a religion that prides itself on pluralism, inclusion, tolerance, non-violence, and the embrace of diversity. prgtoken These are not only the values of the temple; they are also our shared American values. When people try to divide Americans or separate us, we need to remember that all of us belong together and that diversity and inclusion make us stronger as a country. prgtoken I honor the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple's annual appreciation banquet in Aurora, Illinois on September 9th.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 601, REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT
Ruben J. Kihuen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2017-9-8

I encourage my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can consider H.R. 3440, the Dream Act, introduced by my friend, Representative Roybal-Allard. prgtoken Aside from being a Member of Congress, I am the proud son of a farmworker and a housekeeper. My family came to America when I was 8 years old, and they came here in pursuit of the American Dream. prgtoken They came here because they knew that, in America, if you worked hard, sacrificed, played by the rules, stayed out of trouble, and got a good college education, that you could become anything or anyone because America had compassion, America had empathy, because America was the land of opportunity, and my parents wanted a piece of that land of opportunity. prgtoken Less than 30 years later, their son, who came here with no money, no contacts, no friends, is a Member of the most powerful legislative body in the world. That is the American Dream. And when I got elected last year, in 2016, I became the first DREAMer in American history to get elected to this body, and also the first former undocumented immigrant to ever serve in this body. prgtoken So when we are talking about the Dream Act, we are talking about real lives. We are talking about 800,000 young Americans, 800,000 young Americans who are going to our universities, our colleges, who are our teachers, our doctors. Some of them are protecting our country, our liberties, and our freedoms in the military. prgtoken It is time for Congress to put their political games aside and start putting the interests of these young Americans first. prgtoken There are currently, right now, a few DREAMers out on the lawn who are fasting because they want that opportunity at the American Dream, that opportunity that was given to me and my family, that opportunity that has been given to so many immigrant families for so many years because, look, let's face it, at the end of the day, unless you are Native American, we all come from somewhere else. We are all descendants of immigrants or immigrants ourselves. And it is not right for us to come here and then close the door behind us. That is not what America stands for. That goes against all American values. prgtoken So I encourage my friends, forget about the tweets and the Facebook posts that you feel sorry for these DREAMers, that you love these DREAMers. If you really do, let's bring up that bill for a vote today, and I guarantee you that the votes are there so we can get it passed. prgtoken At the end of the day, if we take away this DACA status from these young Americans, we are going to have a potentially close to $500 billion adverse economic impact. There are currently 3,200 entrepreneurs who are DREAMers. These DREAMers are paying taxes. We educated them K-12, and now we are telling them that they can't go to universities or colleges. That is un-American. That is not the America that I know. prgtoken I encourage my friends today, on both sides of the ai
RETIREMENT OF JUDGE WILLIAM E. ALEXA
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-9-8

it is with great respect and admiration that I take this time to honor Judge William E. Alexa, and to wish him well upon his retirement. Throughout his many years of public service, Judge Alexa has been dedicated and unwavering in his support of the local community. After more than thirty years of public service, Judge Alexa will be retiring in October of this year. To commemorate this special occasion and to pay tribute to Judge Alexa's extraordinary career, a celebratory event will take place on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at the Old Towne Banquet Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. William Alexa is a veteran of the United States Army, having served between 1962 and 1964. Following his military service, he went on to graduate from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 1973. Not long after law school, from 1975 to 1978, Judge Alexa held the positions of Porter County Deputy and Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. In 1988, he was elected to the Indiana State Senate, faithfully serving his constituents of the Fifth District for the next fourteen years. As a member of the Indiana General Assembly, Senator Alexa served on the Judiciary Committee, the State Budget Committee, the Commission on Courts, and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Military. As a legislator, he co-authored a bill that established the Indiana Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs. From 2000 to 2002, Judge Alexa also served as Chair of the Indiana Criminal Law Study Commission. In the private sector, Judge Alexa practiced law from 1978 to 2002, at which time he was appointed to serve the remainder of the term of Judge Thomas W. Webber Sr. He was reelected in 2006 and 2012 to continue serving as Porter County Superior Court Judge. For his admirable and devoted career in public service, Judge Alexa has received numerous accolades and awards, including the Sagamore of the Wabash, bestowed upon him by the late Governor Frank O'Bannon, and the Distinguished Public Service Award, presented to him by the American Legion of Indiana. Aside from his work, Judge Alexa gives much of his time to numerous charitable endeavors, and for that he is worthy of our respect and appreciation. Judge Alexa's commitment to the community and to public service is exceeded only by his devotion to his amazing family. He and his wife, Joyce, have two loving children and three beautiful granddaughters. I am honored to call Bill Alexa a friend and I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me over the years. I am even more grateful for what he has done for so many for so long, stranger and friend alike. His service has improved the future we will live in I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Judge William Alexa for his outstanding service to the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond. His unwavering dedication to improving the quality of life for all Hoosiers is truly admirab
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-9-8

. Madam Chair, the gentleman's agreement is an extraneous amendment that puts the same parameters on attorneys' fees under the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act that are already in place for attorneys' fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act. In other words, the attorneys' fees are already set for this. The Equal Access to Justice Act caps the hourly rate and requires that the parties be the prevailing party--so the fees are capped. prgtoken Maybe the gentleman is not aware that the Equal Access to Justice Act, as I said, caps the hourly rate for attorneys' fees unless the court--this is up to the court--unless the court determines an increase in the cost of living--a special factor, such as limited availability for a qualified attorney for the proceedings involved--justifies a higher fee. So the court would look at this very, very carefully, take everything into account, and then only when the court would see a need to make sure that we have paid an attorney fairly for their time. prgtoken So the gentleman's amendment is already codified and is not needed. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2017-9-8

. Madam Chair, this amendment doesn't make sense from an economic perspective or a health perspective. It would block implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's commonsense standards for sources of emissions of methane in the oil and gas industry. prgtoken And while we invest in renewable energy, at the same time, we know that we can't wait to transition entirely to renewable energy before we address other side effects of the extraction process, like methane. Pound for pound, methane pollution from oil and gas wells is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for a quarter of human-made climate change. prgtoken This EPA rule, frankly, is just a starting point. It is a long overdue standard for the oil and gas industry to reduce methane pollution. Frankly, I wish these rules went further, but these stricter standards are a good start; they are necessary. Scientists have published data that shows that methane released during extraction is an incredibly large contributor to the climate threat. prgtoken I think it is really critical not to prevent the EPA from moving forward and fulfilling the mission that Congress gave them to protect our air, water, and planet, and that is what this amendment would do, which is why I oppose it.
RECOGNIZING MAJOR GENERAL TIMOTHY LOWENBERG
Denny Heck (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2017-9-8

I rise this morning to recognize the passing of a friend of mine for 30 years--a friend to me, to our Nation, and a friend and champion to our servicemembers--Major General Timothy Lowenberg. prgtoken Tim truly believed in service and began his public life at a young age, first in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Iowa. prgtoken It is rare in life to have the opportunity to meet a person whose very courage is contagious--Tim's was. A prgtoken person whose patriotism and steadfast advocacy never failed to inspire, but that was Tim. prgtoken General Lowenberg testified before Congress many times as the adjutant general of Washington State. Many of you may have met him. He was always advocating for measures to keep us safe, and on behalf of his fellow servicemembers. prgtoken Sadly, Tim died suddenly on August 27, leaving behind a legacy built over 44 years of service to the military and the community. His wife, Mary, and his daughter, Cathy, lost a devoted husband and loving father, and our State and Nation lost a true patriot.
REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-9-8

, and I rise in support of providing critical emergency relief to respond to the catastrophic damages wreaked by Hurricane Harvey and the expectation of damages from Hurricane Irma. prgtoken And I also want to acknowledge the cooperation and the good will extended to us by Chairman Frelinghuysen. It is a pleasure for me to work with him as well. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers remain with all those whose families, lives, homes, and businesses have been upended by these disasters. This Congress and the American people are with you in your time of need. prgtoken I am pleased this package provides a temporary suspension of the Federal debt limit to prevent a catastrophic debt default and a continuing resolution extending Federal funding through December 8. As in 2013 and 2015, when faced with government funding deadlines and impending sequestration, we must use the time until the CR expires to develop a new budget agreement with realistic caps on defense and nondefense discretionary spending. prgtoken , .
REMEMBERING DAVID ``TED'' EYRE
Orrin G. Hatch (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-9-11

today I wish to pay tribute to one of Utah's great public servants, a loving husband, father, and grandfather and a remarkable leader, David ``Ted'' Eyre. Sadly, Ted recently lost his battle with cancer. He leaves behind a grieving community that he served for many years as mayor of Murray City. prgtoken Ted had a strong, yet kind demeanor that inspired others to work hard and do what was best for their community. As mayor, he made a tremendous impact on the infrastructure and neighborhoods of Murray City, a thriving community tucked into the Salt Lake Valley. prgtoken Ted was able to accomplish many important things for the local community, including: improving Murray Park, the heart of the city; acquiring the historic Murray Theater, Murray Chapel, and Murray Mansion that will serve as gathering places for years to come; expanding Fashion Place Mall and the University of Utah Midvalley Health Center; acquiring properties in the downtown redevelopment area for a new city hall and fire station; and adopting a new general city plan. prgtoken Ted had two great passions--aviation and people. Both interests guided him in his decisions throughout his life. He received a degree in aviation science at San Bernardino Valley College. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam war flying a U- 21 Ute transport aircraft in the aviation division of the signal corps. After his military service, he continued his love of flying and excelled as an airline pilot for 30 years for Western and later Delta Airlines, serving as captain for much of that time. prgtoken On January 7, 2014, Eyre was sworn in as the mayor of Murray City, quickly endearing himself as a capable leader who valued the input of all and who fought hard to prepare the community for the future. Mayor Eyre left an indelible imprint on the city he led and the citizens he served. prgtoken Throughout his life, Eyre not only distinguished himself as a talented pilot, courageous soldier, and devoted public servant, he also became a friend to all he came into contact with and was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. I am grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to a great man, his life, and the example he leaves behind. His influence will be felt for generations to come. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED
John McCain (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-9-11

today, our Nation commemorates the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took the lives of thousands of innocent Americans. We all join in solemn remembrance of the victims, and our hearts go out to their families. prgtoken September 11 is a fitting day for the Senate to begin the consideration of the Defense authorization bill. The anniversary of those horrific terrorist attacks should serve as a reminder of the reason brave, young Americans are currently deployed around the world, fighting on behalf of freedom. I urge my colleagues to keep in mind the meaning of this day throughout the consideration of this important legislation, which will provide our men and women in uniform the resources, equipment, and support they need to keep our Nation safe. prgtoken I would like to extend my appreciation to the majority leader for his willingness to move expeditiously to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 and for his leadership. prgtoken I would also like to thank the Armed Services Committee ranking member, the Senator from Rhode Island, for his hard work on the NDAA. I remain appreciative of the thoughtfulness and bipartisan spirit with which he approaches national security issues. prgtoken The fact is, the NDAA is a piece of legislation in which this body-- Members on both sides of the aisle--can and should take enormous pride. Not only does this legislation provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need and deserve, but it is a product of an open and bipartisan process that represents the best of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The Senate Armed Services Committee passed the fiscal year 2018 NDAA unanimously by a vote of 27 to 0. I repeat. The Defense authorization bill was passed by a unanimous vote of 27 to 0. That means all 14 members and the 13 ic members of the committee voted in favor of this legislation. During the markup, the committee considered and adopted 277 amendments that were offered by both s and . prgtoken Now we hope to consider the legislation under an open amendment process on the floor, which will allow all Senators to have their voices heard. This process, which is exactly how legislation is supposed to make its way through the Senate, has become disappointingly rare. For too long, partisanship and politics have triumphed over principle and policy. This legislation is an opportunity for us to reverse that trend and restore regular order in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The need for this legislation is self-apparent to anyone who is paying attention to today's world. With global terrorist networks, increasing great power competition with Russia and China, malign Iranian influence that is spreading across the Middle East, a North Korean dictator who is racing to acquire missiles that can hit the United States with nuclear weapons, the threats to our national security have not been more complex or daunt
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-9-11

today I wish to celebrate the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming's 2017 honoree, Peter Wold. prgtoken Since 1978, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming has been working to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Their mission is to inspire all youth, especially those who need them the most, to reach their full potential and to be productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Their activities provide the children in our community with a sense of competence, usefulness, and belonging. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming is grateful for Peter's contributions to their critically important mission. prgtoken On September 20, 2017, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming will be hosting the 19th Annual Awards and Recognition Breakfast. Every year at this event, the Boys and Girls Clubs honors a member of the community who has made outstanding contributions to both their organization and the city of Casper. It is a wonderful celebration. Peter Wold is a perfect honoree because of his commitment to the youth across the State of Wyoming. prgtoken Peter is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and family man. He is a native of Casper, WY. Peter attended Colorado State University and earned a bachelor of science degree in biological science. He started his career at a trout farm in Idaho and later became one of the most influential landmen in the State of Wyoming. Peter followed in his father John Wold's footsteps at Wold Oil Properties, a family owned and operated oil and gas company characterized by consistency and western values. Since 1993, he and his brother Jack Wold have owned and managed the company. Peter is currently the President of Wold Energy Partners and CEO of Wold Oil Properties. prgtoken Throughout his career, Peter gained valuable experience and knowledge of Wyoming industries, businesses, and communities. Since 1979, he has been managing member of Hole-in-the-Wall Ranch. Peter was a representative on the Bureau of Land Management's National Public Lands Advisory Council. Previously, Peter served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission and a member of the board of directors of the Independent Petroleum Association of Rocky Mountain States. He is an active member of the Wyoming Association of Professional Landmen and the American Association of Professional Landmen. Peter Wold also served on the corporate boards of Arch Coal Corporations and Oppenheimer Funds. prgtoken The Wold family has a proud tradition of public service and helping the people of Wyoming. Peter represented Natrona County in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1989 to 1992. His passion to give back and sense of duty to the people of Wyoming was instilled in him by his father, John Wold. John Wold served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959 and the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1971. He was the
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018--MOTION TO PROCEED
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-9-11

as we saw yesterday, Mother Nature once again has crippled part of our Nation. Hurricane Irma made landfall on Sunday, hitting the Lower Keys of Florida and then moving up the State's western coastline. Like Hurricane Harvey in my home State of Texas, the devastation in places like Marco Island and Orange County means tough days and long nights ahead for the residents there. prgtoken My prayers, like those of so many others, go out to those who have been impacted by this devastating storm, including those who evacuated safely but will soon travel back to Florida, finding that everything they had is gone as a result of the storm. prgtoken As Irma continues to affect Florida and the southeastern United States, we stand ready to support the people in those States just like so many did for us in Texas with Hurricane Harvey. Remembering September 11 prgtoken , on another separate note, as we all have seen and recall, today is the solemn anniversary of a day that has had an even more profound impact on our country than the recent storms. September 11 will always be remembered as the day that never quite goes away, the day that remains a reminder of what can be taken from us in the blink of an eye. prgtoken I have always said that it is etched in my memory like only one other event in my lifetime, and that was in 1963 with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I remember where I was and what I was doing at that time when I first heard about it. Of course, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I learned of the prgtoken terrible events of 9/11. I was on the telephone talking to a colleague of mine when my wife said: You need to see what is happening on the television. I turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane hit the towers in Manhattan. prgtoken Yes, it was 16 years ago that 19 Islamic terrorists snuck into our country in defiance of our laws and attended flight schools in defiance of all propriety. Sixteen years ago today, they hijacked four commercial planes full of innocent passengers and, at 8:46 a.m. on Tuesday morning, flew the first one directly into one of the tallest buildings in our largest city in the United States. prgtoken Seventeen minutes later--the event, which my wife directed my attention to on the TV set--the second plane hit, and shortly thereafter, flight 77 slammed into the western wall of the Pentagon, and Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. Thanks to the heroic actions of passengers on Flight 93, that plane could have very well headed here to Washington and crashed into the Capitol, taking who knows how many lives along with it. prgtoken As it was, 3,000 people were killed that day, and afterward almost 300 million U.S. citizens saw the world anew through fresh eyes. The terrorists must have thought they could bring our Nation down, topple it as they did the twin towers, but they badly miscalculated. Th