mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY, NEBRASKA
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-3-1

I rise today to congratulate my home State of Nebraska on 150 years of Statehood. prgtoken On March 1, 1867, Nebraska became the 37th State admitted to the Union. Today, as we celebrate this milestone 150 years later, we honor the legacies of the pioneers who took great risks and overcame countless obstacles in pursuit of opportunity. prgtoken Our State's pioneer heritage has always inspired me. I am proud to be a fifth-generation resident of Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. My family was part of the Homestead Movement, settling in western Nebraska and working as sugar beet laborers to build a bright future for generations to come. prgtoken The pioneer spirit is still alive and well today, which is one of the many reasons the ``Good Life'' is such a great place to live. Nebraskans' work ethic is second to none. From the producers who have made the Third District the top-producing agriculture district in the country, to the small businesses which employ nearly half of Nebraska's workforce, productivity is a hallmark of our State. prgtoken In addition to our pioneer spirit, Nebraskans are known for their kindness. I am proud of our State's reputation as ``Nebraska Nice'' and enjoy introducing my colleagues in Washington, D.C to Nebraska visitors any chance I get. prgtoken From Huskers football to world-class research facilities, from Runza to prgtoken Dorothy Lynch, and from the Oregon Trail to the Homestead National Monument, there is an endless list of unique reasons for Nebraskans to be proud. prgtoken I am honored to represent some 65,000 square miles of the Cornhusker State in Congress, and I will continue working every day to uphold our legacy of opportunity. prgtoken In celebration of Nebraska's 150th birthday, it is only fitting to close in true Nebraska fashion: Go Big Red.
CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF NEBRASKA ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADMISSION OF THAT STATE INTO THE UNITED STATES
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-3-1

I rise to recognize a pivotal moment in our Nation's history. On this day, 150 years ago, the Territory of Nebraska became the 37th State to enter the Union. prgtoken Let me tell you the story of Nebraska. In a deep and powerful way, it is the story of America. America grew up in Nebraska. We were the first State admitted after the Civil War, but our admission was first vetoed by President Andrew Johnson. It was the only time in American history that this had happened. The reason? President Johnson disagreed with a fundamental condition of Nebraska's statehood--that Black men be allowed to vote. prgtoken Fortunately, Congress overrode this veto, and on March 1, 1867, Nebraska became a State. I said before that Nebraska's statehood was a pivotal moment for our country. Nebraska gave America a chance to be better. prgtoken By bringing Nebraska into the Union, our country turned away from slavery forever. We turned toward the truth about humankind--that everyone is precious in Heaven's eyes. By making Nebraska a State, America reached for a future more closely aligned with that truth. prgtoken Since that new birth of freedom, our Nation has taken many more steps--some bold strides, some stumbles--but always we seek to be more fully the country we were made to be. At a crucial moment, Nebraska strengthened our commitment to do that. Nebraska renewed America's identity. prgtoken As a State, Nebraska had not only hard but also humble beginnings. They called it the Great American Desert. In the early 1800s, the famous military officer and explorer Zebulon Pike shrugged us off, saying simply: ``Not a stick of timber.'' A few years later, geologist Edwin James and MAJ Steven Long gave us this review: ``The land was uninhabitable by a people depending on agriculture.'' prgtoken Today, wagon ruts can still be seen on Windlass Hill on the Oregon- California Trail, where settlers passed through. They were looking for greener pastures. prgtoken Well, last year Nebraska ranked No. 1 in the Nation in beef exports. The State ranked No. 1 in both the number of mother cows and cattle on feed. We are the beef State. We are Corn Huskers. With both corn and cattle, we produce high quality protein products that are sought by consumers all around this globe. We are No. 1 in the Nation in great northern bean production, popcorn production, and irrigated acres of cropland. Nebraska agriculture is diverse and it is expansive. prgtoken We also have more miles of river than any other State. As we sit over the great High Plains in the Ogallala Aquifer, water flows to seven other States from Nebraska. Our abundant supply of groundwater makes us leaders in producing soybeans, wheat, pork, and grain sorghum. prgtoken But I am getting ahead of myself. prgtoken In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. It made Americans really a simple offer: Strike out west, cultivate 160 acres of surveyed government land for 5 years
PRESIDENT HITS HOME RUN
Lamar Smith (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-1

. Madam , President hit a home run in the State of the Union Address last night. As he said, the way to renew the American spirit is to put Americans first--their jobs, their safety, their education, and their health. He also focused on border security. The rule of law will stop drugs and protect American jobs and lives. prgtoken A recent poll found that, by a 2-to-1 ratio, voters feel that the President has kept his promises to the American people. Another poll revealed that 78 percent of Americans had a positive response to President 's State of the Union speech. No doubt Americans will rally behind him and support his efforts to put Americans first. prgtoken President 's words will be long remembered: ``My job is not to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America.''
IN RECOGNITION OF KAREN RUSSELL
Barbara Comstock (Republican, VA) \u2014 2017-3-1

I rise to recognize and thank an extraordinary leader, Karen Russell, for the incredible impact she has had on individuals, families and communities in the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. prgtoken Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc or ECHO, for short, is dedicated to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their optimal level of personal, social and economic success. ECHO accomplishes this by providing comprehensive vocational assessments, supported employment, extended employment services, medically fragile day support and training in work skills and socialization. prgtoken In 1975, ECHO opened its doors offering services to 8 adults and 41 years later, the non-profit's accomplishments are extraordinary. It has served more than 550 individuals and currently has contractual arrangements with 14 business partners at 17 worksites. ECHO also has 30 community partners and 15 community volunteers. prgtoken One person whose extraordinary leadership was essential to ECHO's success was Marketing Manager, Karen Russell, who retired on December 1st, 2016, after nearly 40 years in that critically important role. A native of Lovettsville, in Loudoun County, Karen started as ECHO's Secretary, Bookkeeper and Transportation Manager in 1977. prgtoken Karen Russell's marketing success has been derived from her belief in the dignity and worth of every individual and her passionate appeal to prospective employers, on behalf of ECHO participants. Karen has taken great pride in the accomplishments of this skilled and reliable workforce of 140 persons with disabilities, as they fulfill their responsibilities to commercial and government customers every day. Her tireless efforts advocating for ECHO participants has resulted in a profound change in public perceptions. Society has come to realize that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are actively contributing members of the community who, when they are given a chance to work, have a profound impact on the effectiveness and morale of individual businesses and government agencies. prgtoken , I ask that you and our colleagues join me in recognizing and thanking Karen Russell, the Marketing Manager at ECHO, for her tireless and passionate advocacy on behalf of those with disabilities and her exemplary leadership of an organization that has been highly successful in empowering them to overcome barriers to employment and in achieving their optimal levels of personal, social and economic success.
RARE DISEASE WEEK
Leonard Lance (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-3-1

this week we recognize the work of the tireless advocates fighting rare diseases. prgtoken I have the honor of serving as the chair of the House of Representatives Rare Disease Caucus. I consider it one of the greatest responsibilities of my service to work for innovative treatment and new technologies and to build an atmosphere of appreciation and understanding in Congress for the hard work of all of the patient advocates. Their passion is often driven by the care of loved ones, and their personal stories are profiles in courage. prgtoken Hearing from thousands of advocates, many of whom are here in Washington this week, gives the members of the caucus renewed energy and purpose. Events held during Rare Disease Week here on Capitol Hill and at the NIH in Bethesda highlight what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done. prgtoken One of those champions joined us in the House Chamber just last evening. I was very proud that President invited New Jersey resident Megan Crowley to his joint session address. Megan's story of combating a terrible rare disease is a testament to the American spirit. Megan is now a student at Notre Dame. I salute her, her parents, and her family for their courage. prgtoken Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act was a major accomplishment in the last Congress--indeed, in my opinion, it was the most important piece of legislation passed during the 114th Congress. We worked in a bicameral, bipartisan way. We worked with the White House and with the Department of Health and Human Services. It passed overwhelmingly in the House and in the Senate, and now it is the law of the land. prgtoken I am encouraged that the administration will carefully implement its provisions to our healthcare system, improving the healthcare system and to help spur the next great medical innovations. prgtoken Congress will join and help direct that effort and proceed through the appropriations process to match progress and research funds. prgtoken Right now it takes 15 years for a new drug to move from the lab to the local pharmacy. The CURES Act modernizes clinical trials to expedite the development of new drugs and devices, removes regulatory uncertainty in the development of new medical apps, and breaks down barriers to facilitate increased research collaboration. prgtoken Patients with degenerative conditions, cancers, and rare diseases await the genius of these new solutions. We need to do everything we can to help find these cures. prgtoken I have met with many rare disease patients, advocates, and their loved ones. Their work is inspiring, and it gives our caucus a mission and a purpose. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join the Rare Disease Caucus and help us in this great cause. In this, the week that we recognize the work of the tireless advocates across the Nation, I salute all of them for what they are doing for the American Nation.
OIRA INSIGHT, REFORM, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Jason Chaffetz (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-3-1

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Let me mention that the bill does not require any of these agencies to provide new analysis. And I haven't really heard an example or a reason why something would be prohibited in an agency from sharing existing cost-benefit analysis. prgtoken What could the agencies have that they should not share with OIRA? prgtoken It just seems reasonable that if they have this information, they should share it. Ultimately, we do work for the American people, and the American people should be able to see this information as it goes to OIRA. prgtoken , .
Russia (Executive Calendar)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-1

I am here to discuss, along with the Senator from Delaware, the issue of Russia. I know it has been at the forefront of much of the debate that is ongoing in this country. I wanted to begin by commending the Vice President and Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of State for the strong message of support for NATO. That includes the President last night and their strong support, by the way, for the Transatlantic Alliance that these individuals outlined during their respective visits to the Munich Security Conference and meetings with allies in February. prgtoken At that Munich Security Conference on February 18, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said: ``I hope [he means the world] will choose a democratic world order, a post-West one, in which each country is defined by its sovereignty.'' I think that based on recent history, it is clear that when a Russian leader says ``post-West,'' we should interpret that as a phrase to mean post-America. prgtoken So I would ask the Senator with regard to this, what are his views with regard to Vladimir Putin's desire to establish spheres of influence in Europe and the Middle East, create divisions with our allies. How should we view the Russian world view as it compares to the national interests of the United States?
BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORT
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-3-1

I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for March 2017. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the prgtoken amounts the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2017, S. Con. Res. 3. This information is necessary for the Senate Budget Committee to determine whether budget points of order lie against pending legislation. It has been prepared by the staff of the Senate Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, CBA. prgtoken My last filing, which was based on enforceable levels relative to the fiscal year 2016 budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 11, and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, P.L. 114-74, can be found in the Record for November 16, 2016. The information contained in this report for fiscal year 2017 is current through February 27, 2017. prgtoken Tables 1-3 of this report are prepared by my staff on the Budget Committee. prgtoken Table 1 gives the amount by which each Senate authorizing committee exceeds or is below its allocation for budget authority and outlays under the most recently adopted budget resolution. This information is used for enforcing committee allocations pursuant to section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, CBA. All committees are in compliance with their allocations assumed in the budget resolution and match the levels that I included in the allocation enforcement filing of January 17, 2017. prgtoken Table 2 gives the amount by which the Senate Committee on Appropriations exceeds or is below the statutory spending limits for fiscal year 2017. This information is used to determine points of order related to the spending caps found in sections 312 and 314 of the CBA. As the Federal Government is currently operating under the terms of the latest continuing resolution and temporary funding is not included in enforcement totals, this scorecard shows $543.5 billion in security and $415.2 billion in nonsecurity budget authority remain available for full-year appropriations. prgtoken Table 3 tracks compliance with the fiscal year 2017 limit for overall changes in mandatory programs, CHIMPS, in appropriations bills, established in the fiscal year 2016 budget resolution. The limit for this fiscal year is $19.1 billion. To date, there are no recorded CHIMP entries on this scorecard. Division A of the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, P.L. 114-254, included a qualifying CHIMP, $170 million, but the Appropriations Committee included a provision to prevent its budgetary effects from being entered onto the scorecard. This exclusion was the first of its kind since the creation of the new rule in 2015. This information is used for determining points of order under section 3103 of that resolution. prgtoken In addition to the tables provided by Budget Committee staff, I am submitti
CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF NEBRASKA ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADMISSION OF THAT STATE INTO THE UNITED STATES
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2017-3-1

if I could just begin with a hearty ``amen'' to the great words of my senior Senator, it felt like old home week there for a moment, with the quote about the Nebraska sky. My kids--I have one of them with me almost every week in DC. We commute, and I bring somebody with me. Another two of them are almost surely going to be exploring along the Platte River later this afternoon, as happens almost every day. As for the comments about the 1986 campaign between Kay Orr and Helen Boosalis, it was the first time in America that two women had run for Governor of any State. I worked for Kay, the Governor; it was the first campaign I had ever worked on as a 14-year-old. And then, most fundamentally, were her great words about the Homestead Act and the settling of America. I am a fifth generation Nebraskan and descended from homesteaders in the exact counties that the Senator was talking about engaged in Jefferson County. prgtoken Our State on its 150th anniversary, looks back on a history built by grit from homesteaders, as Senator Fischer mentioned, to a football team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Today, we celebrate all of those things that make Nebraska special: hard work, resolve, and love and care for our neighbors. prgtoken Millions of men and women settled Nebraska when our State was still known as the Great American Desert. The Homestead Act made land ownership accessible to anyone--to widows, to former slaves, to immigrants. People of totally different backgrounds could legally own 160 acres of American land, and as long as they worked and lived on that land for 5 years, they would get the deed. Your care of the land is what mattered, not your background, not your status, not your family name, but your willingness to work and to contribute and to feed the world as our State still does today. prgtoken Today, Nebraska is the breadbasket of the world, exporting more than $6 billion a year of agricultural products. We have cared about the land for this last century and a half, but we care even more about our neighbors. Two towns tell that story well. prgtoken During World War II, North Platte launched a hospitality initiative that reached 6 million American troops as they would head for Pacific and European theaters in World War II. Folks in the town saw trains stop in North Platte every day and decided that they would cheer those servicemen who were on their way to the war to fight for our freedom. prgtoken On Christmas Day in 1941, a young woman named Rae Wilson, a 26-year- old saleswoman, founded the North Platte Canteen. For 4 years, volunteers would meet each train--full of troops and passing through North Platte--with candy, with fruit, with smiles, with hugs, and with encouragement, thanking those men for how they were going to fight to defend the freedoms that made places like Nebraska and the rest of this Nation great. Some soldiers would go on to become POWs, including the fir
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Jeff Flake (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-3-1

with a heavy heart I wish to mark the passing of a pillar of the Arizona law enforcement community. prgtoken When people think of the Old West, they often picture a Stetson- wearing lawman sitting astride his horse, keeping watch over his community. prgtoken For generations of residents in southwestern Arizona, that lawman was Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden. prgtoken With his towering frame and trademark mustache, Sheriff Ogden looked every bit the part. prgtoken Despite his imposing physical presence, Sheriff Ogden was a kind, compassionate man, beloved by his deputies and celebrated by his community. prgtoken After 4 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Ralph Ogden began his 42-year law enforcement career as a dispatcher and jailer in Parker, AZ. prgtoken A dedicated public servant, he would eventually serve as chief deputy for 12 years. prgtoken Ralph would go on to be elected to five consecutive terms as sheriff, with prgtoken his 20-year tenure the longest in Yuma County history. prgtoken Sheriff Ogden always understood the importance of getting to know the community he served and encouraged his employees to get involved in charities, religious groups, and service organizations. prgtoken He valued teamwork and recognized that no one can succeed on their own. prgtoken This philosophy of always having each other's back was something he carried with him throughout his time with the sheriff's office, and it was reflected in the way he treated those around him. prgtoken Sheriff Ogden was known to write personal birthday and anniversary cards for each of his employees, just to show that he valued their service and friendship and that they were important to him. prgtoken When asked about the benefits of serving in law enforcement, Sheriff Ogden said that, when you go home tired and beat after a long day, you sleep well knowing you did some good. prgtoken Sheriff Ralph Ogden did a lot of good, and I know he is resting well.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-3-1

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m Thursday, March 2; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Carson nomination as under the previous order.
SEARCHING FOR AND CUTTING REGULATIONS THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME ACT
Dennis A. Ross (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-3-1

it is interesting because creatively my friend from Maryland is trying to do unsuccessfully what they have done all along unsuccessfully, and that is just create a carve-out of regulations for review by the SCRUB Act. prgtoken Now, what regulation is so perfect it should never be reviewed again? None. And that is why the SCRUB Act is so important. You see, this bill went through regular order. prgtoken In the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, we went through a markup, and my friends across the aisle had an opportunity to make their amendments. We came to the floor. They had an opportunity to make their amendments. Two were accepted--made it a bipartisan bill. prgtoken But, more importantly, let's take the impact of this bill and what it does to our economy. The Small Business Administration says that annually each business must pay $20,000 a year in compliance costs because of our regulatory environment. The Competitive Enterprise Institute says that that is $15,000 per household. prgtoken Members, we were elected to be accountable to those who elected us; not to allow some unaccountable, unelectable bureaucracy to make rules and regulations that have filled up 178,000 pages of the Code of Federal Regulations. prgtoken Let us do what we were elected to do, and reach back and take that authority that we have given to these regulatory agencies. Let us pass this SCRUB Act so that we will have the opportunity to not only review, but eliminate those regulations that are no longer necessary, inefficient, and ineffective. prgtoken Members, I ask for you to oppose this motion and vote for the underlying SCRUB Act and let us regain the authority that the people have given us. prgtoken .