mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-1-24

the balance of my time. prgtoken Members on both sides of the aisle can clearly show that today has been a day of speeches, of passion, and of good faith beliefs on both sides of the aisle. I want the American people to know that the people making these arguments on both sides of the aisle have bona fide ideas about how to get the government open, how to keep us safe, and how to move forward from this very difficult position. prgtoken I was an attorney for 24 years in my prior profession, and in my closing arguments, oftentimes I would point to the facts that were most beneficial to my case and to my client. But there was a vehicle that came up while I was practicing; it was called mediation. Mediation was a way that the parties could come to the table and all get something and all give something in return. prgtoken We have heard the same broken cure come from the majority since they became the majority. That cure--albeit in their view, their version of how to move forward--will not work. The practical constraints will require an agreement that the House, the Senate, and the White House all can agree on. That is the practical reality. prgtoken We agree that the hardworking men and women of the Coast Guard, TSA, and contractors are suffering, and we have got to stop that suffering. But when we know that the vote today--which I will oppose with my vote on behalf of my constituents. When we know that that will not work, then we have got to come back to the table with something that will work. prgtoken To continue to press for something that will not reopen the government and will not get our task done--and, again, I stress the fact that we are going to end this fiscal year in September of this year. In a few short weeks, when we move past this crisis, we are going to, in our respective subcommittees--and there are 12 on the great Appropriations Committee, including this great Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Ms. Roybal-Allard and I will be debating this again. prgtoken , I thank her for her hard work in these difficult times. This is fraying on me, this is fraying on our friends in the majority, and this is fraying on our staffs and the American people. But the solution is clear: Give us--give the American people--funds for a border wall as part of an overall compromise to get border security, to get the government open, and, yes, to look at other ways to keep our southern border and the American people safe. prgtoken So my ``no'' vote today is not a ``no'' vote just to say no. My ``no'' vote today is a statement to say to our friends in the majority, as well-intentioned as they may be--and I can stress to my colleagues that we on the minority side are well intentioned. It is not about good faith or bad faith; it is about bona fide differences. prgtoken The American people elect us to lead. Our great Republic is not an easy way to govern, but, , I would submit it is the best way to govern. I kn
IN RECOGNITION OF HALTOM CITY FIRE CHIEF PERRY BYNUM
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the achievements of Chief Perry Bynum of the Haltom City, Texas Fire Department. Chief Bynum recently retired after serving the citizens of Haltom City for nearly 30 years. prgtoken Throughout his career, Chief Bynum held many positions within the fire department, rising through its ranks to become Chief. He was a charter member of the department's Honor Guard and the Haltom City Firefighters Association Local 3562, and he also is a member of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, the Tarrant County Fire Chiefs Association, and the North East Fire Department Association. prgtoken During his tenure, Chief Bynum served as Haltom City's Emergency Management Coordinator and was instrumental in establishing and strengthening the city's Emergency Management Program. In 2007, he was recognized by his peers to receive the prestigious ``Excellence in Emergency Management Award'' from the Emergency Management Association of Texas. In addition, he has served as both a member and chairman of the North Texas Council of Government's Regional Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee and on the First Responder's Advisory Board. prgtoken Throughout his career, Chief Bynum dedicated nearly three decades of his life to public service. His expertise and leadership will be sorely missed not only by the citizens of Haltom City, but also by his colleagues across Texas and beyond. He has truly been an outstanding public servant, and on behalf of the 26th District, I wish him all the best in retirement.
REMEMBERING J. HAROLD SHEPHERD
David Perdue (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-1-24

today I wish to honor an incredible man and an incredible Georgian. J. Harold Shepherd passed away earlier this month, but his legacy will far outlast his time on earth. If you have spent time in Georgia or anywhere in the Southeast you may have heard of his family's work at the Shepherd Center. The Shepherd Center, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country and the result of Harold's lifetime of passion for others and the disabled community. prgtoken A fourth generation Atlantan, Harold was the youngest of six children. He started in construction with his father at age 15, and as a young man started Shepherd Construction Company with his three brothers. Harold and his family members oversaw the construction of thousands of miles of interstate highways and city and country streets, and built all but one section of I-95 in Georgia. prgtoken Harold's proudest achievement, however, was the Shepherd Center. The prgtoken hospital was founded after James, Harold, and his wife Alana's son, sustained a serious spinal cord injury on a beach trip. James spent six months at a rehabilitation hospital in Colorado, where he ultimately regained his ability to walk. When James returned home to Atlanta, he and his parents grew frustrated with the lack of rehabilitation care options in the Southeast and developed a plan to open the Shepherd Center. prgtoken What started as a six-bed rehabilitation unit is now a world- renowned, 152-bed research and rehabilitation facility spread across three campuses. Until his passing earlier this month, Harold spent nearly every day volunteering at the hospital and developed a reputation for being an incredible storyteller and historian. He was beloved by the staff at the Shepherd Center, and dedicated his life to them, his family, and the disabled community in Georgia. prgtoken Harold is survived by his wife, Alana Smith Shepherd; his sons James H. Shepherd, Jr. and Thomas C. Shepherd; and his grandchildren Julie Shepherd, James H. Shepherd III (Sarah), and Thomas C. Shepherd, Jr. He is also survived by four great grandchildren, James Harold Shepherd IV, Josephine Shepherd, Virginia Shepherd, and Annie Shepherd. prgtoken Mr. Shepherd will be greatly missed, and I thank him for his service to our community.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-1-24

If I were sitting at home or in the Gallery right now, I would be incredibly frustrated. I am frustrated, but if I were home, I would be particularly frustrated. Why? prgtoken Think about what we have agreed upon in this colloquy from both the ic and side of the aisle. We agree that border security is important. We agree that it is one of the primary functions of the Federal Government. We agree that there needs to be more money, and although in legislation we have not agreed, we certainly have statements from and, of course, as well as s, that barriers are also important. prgtoken Collin Peterson, a on the House side, put it well. On January 22, 2019, he said: Give the money. I'd give him the whole thing . . . and put strings on it so you make sure he puts the wall where it needs to be. Why are we fighting over this? We're going to build that wall anyway, at some time. prgtoken My ic Senate colleagues have said something along the same line, maybe not as point-blank but they certainly have said it. We agree there. We agree that the American worker who continues to show up but is not getting paid needs to get paid. prgtoken As for those TSA agents and those air traffic controllers whom we use as we go back and forth to our districts, God bless them. More than 51,000 TSA agents are working without pay. There are 10,000 air traffic controller support staff who remain furloughed. prgtoken By the way, I and others have introduced legislation to pay those while they are working. I think it is something we, the Senate, should take up. We need a solution that fulfills our national security responsibilities, ends the shutdown, and so that these workers can get paid. prgtoken I say it is time to move forward, negotiate, and come to the table, but you may ask: If ic and Senators all agree to this, then, why is it not happening? prgtoken In fairness to President , whose rhetoric sometimes inflames and sometimes pushes off and, as my colleague from Ohio said, who sometimes describes things in a way that misrepresents his actual intent, it is not a wall from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. It is a wall in certain places that are high flow with pedestrian traffic. But, nonetheless, clearly, we have come to a point where a personality conflict between the President and the has put them at loggerheads and, apparently, they are unable to negotiate. prgtoken It is clear from our colloquy that Senators on both sides of the aisle would like to come to a solution that secures the southern border, opens the government, and pays the workers. prgtoken In fairness to the President, he has put forward an opening offer. He has said he wants that money for the barrier, but he has put other issues on the table that are near and dear to ' hearts that, hopefully, would open the way to a compromise. <|p|
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-1-24

I come to the floor today as the chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to express my strong support for the End the Government Shutdown and Secure Our Borders Act. This legislation includes many important priorities, and they are important priorities that we need to address now. prgtoken In the past several days and weeks, there has been a lot of talk about who has more leverage, who is winning, and what the political stakes are. You hear a lot of different answers to those questions, depending on whom you ask, quite frankly, but I will tell you one thing: Those are not the questions on the minds of our Federal workers. prgtoken Just this morning, at about 4 o'clock, I had a conversation with several TSA agents at Yeager Airport, where I fly out of to come to Washington. In talking about the situation, what I got in response from them was a lot of headshaking and a lot of questions. Their questions had to do with this: How are they going to pay their bills and when is this going to end? I understand their frustration. I am frustrated. prgtoken That is exactly why I have always said that a shutdown is no way to govern. It is not in anyone's best interest. It is a disservice to our Federal works. It is a show of our inability to do our jobs in conjunction with those on the other side of the aisle, and it is a signal to the American people that we think this confusing and ineffective way to govern is OK, when it is not. It is not OK. prgtoken We are here in this body to work together, to get over the rifts that we may have, and to move forward to do the people's work. We have to fix this situation, and we have to fix it now. prgtoken We have an opportunity today to do that, and I plan to do that by voting for the President's proposed compromise. This proposal does two things that we should all want. It reopens the government, and it helps to secure our southern borders. If we pass this amendment--and I hope we do--we will bring our furloughed workers back to work, and they will get paid. We will pay the dedicated men and women of our Coast Guard, our Federal prison guards, our TSA and Border Patrol personnel, and many others--many of whom I have talked with--and we will take a major step forward in securing our Nation. prgtoken I believe the resources in this bill are necessary because I believe we do face a crisis on our southern border. Last year, in the last 3 months of 2018, over 153,000 people were apprehended illegally crossing the southern border. And that number does not include the people who crossed illegally, but were not apprehended. The number of illegal border crossings was up more than 80 percent in the last 3 months of 2018, as compared to the last 3 months of 2017. prgtoken The composition of those being detained for crossing the border is changing. In 2000, 98 percent of those detained for illegally crossing the border were Mexican nationals, and most were sin
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-1-24

you may have presided before, but you haven't presided when I have spoken on the floor, so it is great to welcome you, as both my colleague and the Presiding Officer, and I am glad to be working with you and glad we are both here today. prgtoken We are both here today at a time when the American people really expect the government to work; the American people really expect people in Congress to be able to find middle ground. For too long we have been stuck--frankly, on both sides of the aisle--with too many people who ran for office saying: If I don't get what I want--I just don't want anything to happen unless it is exactly what I want. The best I can tell, that doesn't work anywhere. If you are getting what you want wherever you are working, wherever you are living, wherever you are going to church, there is probably something wrong with you. Democracy is about compromise. prgtoken I think one of the great fallacies of the second option we will have today is that it is designed to keep the government open for 2 weeks at last year's spending levels, and then, at the end of 2 weeks--I don't know what happens then. There will be no information that Members of the Senate and the House will know 2 weeks from now that they don't know now. There is nothing that could be debated or discussed in the next 2 weeks that couldn't be discussed in the next 45 minutes. prgtoken I think it is pretty clear to the American people that this has boiled down to a fight in which we need to reopen the government and, frankly, we need to secure the border. prgtoken I just heard our good friend, our colleague from Virginia, say that, generally, his side of the aisle has been better than our side of the aisle at securing the border. I don't think that is necessarily true, but I am glad to concede that if our friends on the other prgtoken side want to step up and work with us to secure the border--fine. prgtoken I will also point out that securing the border for the last four Presidents has meant building barriers, and every time that happened, those barriers worked. prgtoken When President George H.W. built a barrier south of San Diego, the detentions of people coming across the border decreased by 95 percent. That is really the only way we have of measuring whether this was better before the barrier or after the barrier. When you have 95 percent fewer people coming across and being detained, something must be working. prgtoken President Clinton built a barrier at El Paso, and detentions went down 95 percent. President built a barrier at Yuma, and detentions went down 90 percent. When you have a 90- or 95-percent solution, you should be able to make that solution a part of moving forward to solve the problem. prgtoken The President has come, in my view, quite a way. He has gone from a big wall all along the border to a barrier only where a barrier makes sense. The President would like to add 10 or 20 perc
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-1-24

this is what we just heard. The Senator from Wisconsin asked unanimous consent that the Senate approve pay for 400,000 workers who are being forced to work without pay. No objects to the Senator from Wisconsin's idea, but the ic leader does. That means the ic leader is saying to 53,000 TSA employees who make about $40,000 a year that he objects on behalf of the ic side to paying them while they are forced to work. He is saying to 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents that he objects to paying them while they are forced to work. prgtoken Senator Johnson says that on the side, we want to pay 42,000 Coast Guard employees who are forced to work and aren't getting paid. The ic leader says he objects to that and to 14,000 air traffic controllers, 16,000 Bureau of Prisons corrections officers, and 35,000 IRS employees. They are being forced to work. The s are saying pay them; the ic leader objects.
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-24

I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 31. prgtoken , we have a true humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border. In the month of December alone, Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 50,000 individuals on our southern border. Of those, a record-breaking 27,518 were family units; nearly 5,000 of them were unaccompanied children. prgtoken Due in part to the treacherous journey, Border Patrol refers approximately 50 individuals a day for medical treatment. In 1 week alone, at the end of December, they referred 451 people to medical providers for treatment; of those, 259 were children. Seven out of ten people are victims of violence on their journey to the southern border; 31 percent of women are sexually assaulted. prgtoken There has been a significant increase in drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl coming across the border. Unfortunately, this is a crisis partly of our own making. For years, Members on both sides of the aisle have warned against the growing threats posed by our failure to enforce and reform our Nation's immigration laws. Just this week, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said: We want border security. We want to make sure that people who come into the United States of America are authorized to do so, and we know they come in. We don't want contraband. We don't want drugs coming in. We don't want dangerous people coming into the country. So we are for border security. prgtoken Given this, we would think that they would be jumping at the chance to vote for a bill that includes: prgtoken Provisional status for 3 years for 700,000 current DACA recipients, giving them access to work permits, Social Security numbers, and protection from deportation; prgtoken Provisional status for 3 years for 300,000 immigrants whose current temporary protected status is set to expire; $805 million for technology, canines, and personnel to help stop the flow of illegal drugs, weapons, and other contraband; $800 million in humanitarian assistance, medical support, and new temporary housing; $782 million to hire an additional 2,750 border agents, law enforcement, and staff; $563 million to support our immigration court system, including hiring 75 new immigration judge teams to reduce the immigration court backlog of 800,000 cases. prgtoken All of this was included in the reasonable compromise that President put forward over the weekend, but that is not the bill we have before us. Not only did House reject this plan before they even heard the details, the bill they put on the floor today provides not one single reform for our broken immigration system. All this bill does is extend the status quo. prgtoken , I have been to the border more times than I can count. I have talked to these families who are risking their lives and the lives of their children to come here. I have heard the stories of Americans whose family members' lives were cut short
HONORING JUDGE JOHN PAYTON FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-1-24

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mr. John Edward Payton for his twenty-eight years of dedicated service to Collin County, Texas. prgtoken A graduate of Plano East Senior High School in Collin County, Texas, John Payton was first elected to the position of Collin County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 in 1990. Payton had the distinction of serving as the youngest ever elected Judge in Texas, an accolade recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. John would go on to earn Magna Cum Laude honors at Collin College, where he would also achieve recognition for his role on the USA TODAY Academic All-American team and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa International Honor Society. prgtoken His many contributions to our community include his mentorship of at- risk students who benefitted from his steadfast leadership and compassion. More than twenty years ago, Payton realized the need to assist youth by providing community service opportunities through the creation of the Students on Service Community Service Program. Countless lives have been changed by the opportunities presented for these youths to contribute to their community in meaningful ways resulting in an impressive 500,000 plus hours of service to the community. Judge Payton would often spend his weekends with students building homes through Habitat for Humanity or teaching local youth how to operate a farm or greenhouse. John truly built communities in the deepest sense. prgtoken Judge Payton's contributions to the community are numerous, earning him an array of awards and recognitions from respected colleagues and organizations throughout Collin County. On a personal level, John might tout his greatest accomplishment as serving as a loving husband to Shea and a proud father to Katarina. prgtoken Judge John Payton's servant leadership and efforts to provide a constant and strong community support structure for our youth are to be commended. He is particularly to be praised for his unwavering belief that through committed involvement with our youth, we can build the future. prgtoken It has been an honor to know and work with Mr. John Edward Payton over the years. As Judge Payton begins this next chapter of his life, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him for his selfless service to the youth and residents of Collin County. Semper Fidelis.