mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY ISAKSON
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-12-4

today I rise to honor and pay tribute to my good friend Senator Johnny Isakson on his retirement from the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Throughout the years, I have gotten to know Johnny as a colleague but more importantly as a friend. prgtoken Together, we cochaired the National Prayer Breakfast and attended the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. I always came away from those breakfasts thankful for colleagues like Johnny, who reminded me that we all share a common purpose and a common humanity and that, with faith and forgiveness, we can start anew. prgtoken As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Johnny was always a tireless champion for our Nation's veterans--leading on issues that face all of our brave men and women who have stepped up and served our country. Without Johnny, important legislation like the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act--also known as the Forever GI Bill--to increase the number of veterans who can access benefits under the post-9-11 GI bill, would not have been signed into law in 2017. And prgtoken whether it was his work on the Finance, Foreign Relations, or Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committees, Johnny exemplified a fighting spirit and an enduring commitment to service. prgtoken Not long after I was elected to the Senate, Johnny and I began working together on legislation that was later signed into law to advance research on muscular dystrophy and help strengthen a program that provides information and education for people battling this disease. I will always appreciate his willingness to put partisanship aside in an effort to work toward a bipartisan proposal that would protect Dreamers last year. prgtoken Beyond just our legislative work together, I will always think fondly of Johnny as someone who is decent, caring, and kind. He even hosts a prerecess barbeque that has everything from pulled pork to brisket to mac and cheese and sweet tea and pecan pie. One year, you could smell the hickory-smoked meats in the halls of the Senate for days--and I loved it. prgtoken As we take this opportunity to honor Johnny, I also want to thank his wife Dianne and their three children and eight grandchildren for sharing so much of their beloved husband, father, and grandfather with the U.S. Senate. prgtoken As much as I will miss Johnny's company in the Senate next year, I know that this isn't his final chapter. He will continue to do good work for the people of Georgia, and I am lucky to count him as a friend. prgtoken Thank you Johnny.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-4

I oppose the nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to be a Federal district court judge in the Eastern District of Missouri. prgtoken I believe that people who are nominated to serve as Federal trial judges ought to know their way around a courtroom. There are basic levels of experience and qualifications that a person needs in order to be an effective trial judge. I have no doubt that there are plenty of experienced, qualified attorneys and State court judges in the Eastern District of Missouri, but Ms. Pitlyk is not one of them. prgtoken She has never tried a case. She has never taken a deposition. She has never argued a motion in court. She has never picked a jury. She has never participated at any stage in a criminal matter. The American Bar Association's peer review process rated her ``unanimously not qualified.'' The ABA said that ``Ms. Pitlyk's experience to date has a very substantial gap, namely the absence of any trial or even real litigation experience.'' prgtoken The Senate is not doing our justice system any favors by confirming trial judges who lack courtroom experience. My colleagues should stop rubber-stamping judicial nominees who lack basic qualifications and experience. prgtoken Ms. Pitlyk also has made many statements in her career that indicate that she has prejudged certain issues. For example, she wrote an article describing the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act as ``an unprincipled decision.'' She also gave a speech earlier this year in which she described the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on abortion as ``thoroughly activist,'' and ``politically biased,'' and as containing ``gross defects.'' prgtoken She has spent much of her legal career advocating against reproductive rights, including a 2017 article in which she wrote that ``surrogacy is harmful to mothers and children, so it's a practice society should not be enforcing.'' She also said in a 2017 press release that ``surrogacy diminishes respect for motherhood and the unique mother-child bond, encourages exploitation of women, and it commodifies pregnancy and children. Surrogacy also weakens society's natural abhorrence of eugenic abortion.'' prgtoken My colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth wrote a powerful letter in response to Ms. Pitlyk's attacks on surrogacy. Senator Duckworth's letter talked about her two beautiful daughters and her use of assisted reproductive technology to start a family. She wrote: ``No American should be denigrated and insulted for starting a family with the help of assisted reproductive technology or opting to use surrogacy, which is often a last resort.'' She went on to write: ``As a mother who struggled with infertility for years and required IVF to start my family, I would be one of the many Americans who could never enter Ms. Pitlyk's courtroom with any reasonable expectation that my case would be adjudicated in a fair and impartial manner. . . . Not afte
CONTRIBUTIONS OF HARDWORKING PORTUGUESE IMMIGRANTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-4

I rise today to celebrate the passage of legislation this week called the AMIGOS Act. It is a bill that will spur Portuguese investment in our economy and help create jobs here in America. prgtoken As a proud Portuguese American and a co-chair of the Congressional Portuguese Caucus and a member of the Hispanic Caucus, I joined with Congressmembers Cicilline, Nunes, and others, in being the original cosponsors of the AMIGOS Act. I want to thank my colleagues this week for their support in the passage on a bipartisan basis. prgtoken Our friendship with Portugal and the contributions of hardworking Portuguese American immigrants are an important part of our country's history and our heritage, as well as our economy. prgtoken The United States is Portugal's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In 2018 alone, trading between our two countries reached in excess of $5 billion. This will only increase that economic activity, because this bill will make it easier for Portuguese investors, business people, to increase their operations in the United States, growing both our economies, drawing our nations even closer together, and creating more jobs. prgtoken More than 100 Portuguese companies today already have operations in the United States. What do those operations do? They create jobs. They create opportunities. And they build additional prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. prgtoken We have done our part. Now it is time, we hope, that the United States Senate will do their part so that we can send this bill to the President that has, again, strong bipartisan support. It will obviously be good to get this measure passed, hopefully, before the end of the year. prgtoken Senators Whitehouse and Toomey, again bipartisan, have already introduced their version of the legislation, the AMIGOS Act, in the United States Senate. We thank them for their strong efforts and their partnership. prgtoken Sharing prosperity in this instance can only benefit both the United States and Portugal, and it is this kind of commonsense trade policy that we need to be advocating for, along with continuing to build on our partnerships both within the European Union as well as within South America and with Asia, and, of course, with our closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico. prgtoken Trade obviously done properly can create good-paying jobs in America and benefit our relationships and our economic activity with those countries who we value the most.
12 DAYS OF SALT
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-4

I rise today on behalf of the taxpayers of New Jersey. There are 12 days left in the legislative calendar, and I urge the House to close 2019 by lifting the cap on the State and local tax deduction cap, or SALT. prgtoken I will be here on the floor every day this holiday season highlighting the impact of SALT on my constituents and on Americans across the country for the 12 days of SALT. prgtoken And on this first day of SALT my constituents have said to me that SALT is the number one concern they have. I meet teachers, firefighters, homeowners, and small business owners who owed thousands more on their taxes this year as a result of the $10,000 deduction cap. prgtoken Capping SALT deductions is an attack on New Jersey residents, businesses, homeowners, and unfairly imposes a marriage penalty on couples filing jointly. It is an attack on States that invest in their communities--investments in roads, libraries, schools, first responders, and teachers. prgtoken So I urge my colleagues to pass SALT legislation immediately and to stop double taxing hardworking Americans.
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-4

. Madam , I am alarmed and outraged by the Administration's decision to increase hunger and food insecurity for millions of Americans. Governments should strengthen their people, assist the vulnerable, and improve well-being. Instead, the Administration has advanced a rule change to cut millions of low-income children, families, veterans, people with disabilities, and seniors off their food stamp benefits, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Administration estimates that at least 3.1 million families would lose their SNAP benefits, including stopping free and reduced school meals for nearly one million children. prgtoken In 2017, almost 40 million people, including more than 12.5 million children, experienced food insecurity. In my home state of Illinois, more than 63 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children and almost 30 percent are in families with members who are elderly or disabled. This rule targets the most vulnerable people in my state and across the nation. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture admits that this policy would exacerbate food insecurity for millions of Americans. prgtoken This is unacceptable. Millions of low-income Americans rely on SNAP as the first line of defense against hunger and food insecurity. By imposing this harmful rule, the Administration actually increases hunger and hardship by erecting additional barriers for families and individuals who are trying to meet one of the most basic needs for survival. prgtoken I stand in strong opposition to this unnecessary and spiteful rule. The Administration is attempting to impose a policy that Congress has rejected twice in the last two versions of the Farm Bill via bipartisan votes. The policies of this Administration have advantaged the most secure and left working families and our most vulnerable populations behind. As the Administration prioritizes giving trillions of dollars to the most privileged corporations and billionaires, it literally takes food from hungry children. I reject this disgraceful rule and will continue to fight for the people of Chicago and the nation to ensure they receive the food they need. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this proposed rule and demanding that the Administration rescind the rule immediately.
VOTING RIGHTS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-4

. Madam , I rise today to support the passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4. prgtoken This crucial legislation would give more power to the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965. That law protected the right to vote for all Americans, particularly Americans of color. It gave a strong voice to the voiceless. And when those Americans spoke, they created a more diverse Congress. Clearly, we are all better for it. prgtoken But, slowly, certain State governments have tried to hinder the voting rights of minorities. They call it something else, but that is what they want to do. That is why we need this bill to become law. prgtoken We need the government to provide oversight if States are guilty of too many voting rights violations. We need to protect the right to vote for all Americans because, for too many of us, the power of the vote is the only power we have.
HONORING MR. FELIPE `TRES' BARRERA
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-12-4

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Felipe `Tres' Barrera, a member of the Washington Nationals 2019 World Series Champions and a Rio Grande Valley Native. prgtoken Tres Barrera is an incredibly talented professional baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals. He was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, and moved to the Rio Grande Valley when he was 10 years old. Tres played on the baseball team for Hidalgo High School his freshman year, winning the District 32-3A Most Valuable Player award, before transferring to Sharyland High School. At Sharyland High School, Tres played football and baseball, and quickly became a standout athlete and student. He was selected to two all-state teams, and won the 30-5A Most Valuable Player and the All-Valley Player of the Year as a senior. His batting average was an astonishing .452, hitting 22 home runs during his time at Sharyland High School. prgtoken Tres' incredible work ethic, determination, and sheer talent earned him a spot on the renowned baseball team for the University of Texas at Austin. As a freshman, Tres was the team's starting catcher, won the 2014 College Home Run Derby, and led Texas to the College World Series. His achievements continued on. prgtoken During his sophomore year, Tres was a vital part of the University of Texas' Big 12 championship team, while adding his name to the All-Big 12 second team. In his junior year campaign, Tres earned the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 baseball honors and was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention. He left Texas after his junior year to join the minor leagues, but only after walking away with 20 home runs and 106 runs batted in (RBIs) for the University of Texas at Austin. prgtoken Tres Barrera's hard work and dedication continued for the next three years as he played for a number of minor league teams before being called up to the Major League Baseball, MLB, on September 8, 2019, for the Washington Nationals. Being a member of the Nationals, Tres participated in one of the most unlikely runs in the history of professional baseball. prgtoken The Nationals' record through 50 games was a poor 19 wins and 31 losses before they won 74 of their next 122 games. This secured the Nationals a wild-card spot in the postseason, The Nationals continued their unlikely playoff run until the very end, where they beat the Houston Astros in seven games, winning the World Series on October 10, 2019. On that day, Tres earned himself the coveted World Series ring. prgtoken Madam , Mr. Tres Barrera worked tirelessly to prove that with determination, will power, and commitment, we can accomplish anything we set ourselves to do in life. Tres made history, gave young people across our country the hope to achieve anything they set their mind to and for that I stand here today to recognize him. He is a proud son of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, and we appreciate him for his work and dedication to the Washington Nationals.
PALLONE-THUNE TELEPHONE ROBOCALL ABUSE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND DETERRENCE ACT
Jefferson Van Drew (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-4

I thank Chairman Pallone for yielding time and for all of his work. prgtoken , I rise in strong support for the TRACED Act, a good anti-robocall bill that is badly needed given the robocall epidemic facing our United States of America. prgtoken Robocall scams are at an all-time high, and they are getting worse. Data shows that New Jersey residents reported the most robocall complaints of any State in the Nation last year. prgtoken Robocalls not only impede our quality of life as family dinners and important work meetings get interrupted, but they also effectuate scams, scams that take advantage of vulnerable populations such as our senior citizens, who need to be protected. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation is a critical step toward ending the scourge of robocalls. I am pleased to see portions of my own robocall bill, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, incorporated in the TRACED Act. While there is more to be done, without a doubt, I am proud to be a part of this important effort to help protect consumers, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Impeachment (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-4

yesterday afternoon, the majority on the House Intelligence Committee released a report on the evidence it has examined thus far in the impeachment inquiry into President . The report asserted that the inquiry has ``uncovered a months-long effort by President to use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election,'' going on to say that the ``President placed his own personal and political interests above the national interests of the United States.'' prgtoken Those are extremely serious charges, and the conduct they describe is undoubtedly worthy of congressional investigation, which is precisely what the House impeachment inquiry is designed to do. prgtoken Whatever your party affiliation, it is up to us in Congress--and particularly in the Senate--to examine the evidence, remain impartial, and treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. But at the moment, too many Members of the President's party are stretching the bounds of truth in an attempt to defend the President's behavior. Certain Members on the other side have parroted the fiction invented by Vladimir Putin's intelligence services that Ukraine, not just Putin, interfered in the 2016 elections. One Member repeated this falsehood, recanted on live television, and then went back to making similar comments a few days later. prgtoken Yesterday, Leader McConnell, when asked to set the record straight, said that it was a matter for the intelligence committees to look into. prgtoken Well, Leader McConnell, the intelligence committees have looked at it. In fact, according to reports, the -led Senate Intelligence Committee investigated the allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election and found no evidence to support the claims. The -led Intelligence Committee found no evidence, and Leader McConnell and so many of our friends, in febrile obeisance to and his falsehoods and lies, have refused to even rebut that. prgtoken It is a dark day for America when a foreign leader who is our enemy can spread a false truth and is either defended or there is a lack of rebuttal from our colleagues. What the heck is going on here in this America? prgtoken David Hale, the No. 3 official at President 's State Department, was asked by Senator Menendez yesterday whether he was aware of any evidence of Ukrainian interference in 2016. He said: I am not. He was not aware. Fiona Hill, another appointee and a former NSC official, testified under oath that it was ``a fictional narrative.'' prgtoken There is no doubt that the idea of Ukrainian interference in 2016 is a hoax perpetrated by Putin's intelligence services, echoed by FOX News and acolytes of President 's, who similarly have shown no regard for truth--none. prgtoken The fact that Senators are repeating and amplifying this fiction or playing coy about it, as L
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-12-4

atmospheric carbon dioxide just hit new records in our atmosphere, the highest in the history of humankind, and I rise for the 260th time to call this Chamber to wake up. prgtoken As we venture further into uncharted dangerous climate change, the National Council for Science and the Environment issued this report, ``Climate Science Research in the United States and U.S. Territories.'' This report surveys climate research papers from public universities across all of our 50 States--every single one of them--to highlight the breadth and the depth of climate science coming out of our State universities and to showcase the climate science centers and institutes that they host. prgtoken Some colleagues pay no attention to the threat of climate change, but their home State universities sure do. Ten thousand peer-reviewed research papers published out of 80 universities from 2014 through 2018, that is, on average, 185 peer-reviewed articles published on climate change in each State. prgtoken The report says this: ``In every State, public universities invest in scholarship and education to advance fields such as climate modeling, climate impacts, adaptation, and more. Increasingly, they go on, climate science has been integrated into course work on sustainability, energy, engineering, architecture, business, and even political science.'' One wonders what is the hold the fossil fuel industry has over the Party that causes colleagues to ignore the research from their own home state universities? prgtoken The report continues: ``Climate scientists are studying a wide diversity of topics. They measure carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. They are studying carbon and the impacts of a changing carbon cycle. They are studying impacts of climate change on the Nation's food security, crop yields, heat-stress, health impacts, soil erosion; on water resources, including water quality, balance, river basins, drought, precipitation, mountain snowpack; on impacts to critical infrastructure, such as sea level rise on coasts and on subtropical islands, to the impact of permafrost thaw on sub-Arctic rivers.'' ``Finally, researchers are also studying the social science of climate change, including changing attitudes, polarization, opinions, beliefs, and their impacts on framing in the media and on decision- making.'' prgtoken Region by region in every State, the report shows our State universities tracking climate change's consequences in fine detail. Quoting from the report, in the Midwest, ``Agriculture is a major focal area for climate-related research . . . [with] more occurrences of the word `agriculture' in climate-related papers from the Midwest between the 2014 and 2018 than in any other region.'' prgtoken In the Southwest, ``A key focus of scientific research in the Southwest region is on the impact to people and ecosystems from heat, drought, wildfires, and flooding.'' prgtoken In the