mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING MRS. JENNIFER HOMENDY ON HER CONFIRMATION AND SWEARING- IN TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-11-14

I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Jennifer Homendy on her confirmation and swearing-in as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Mrs. Homendy was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on July 24, 2018 and sworn in on August 20, 2018. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and having worked alongside her for twelve years, I prgtoken am especially proud to recognize this distinct honor. prgtoken Mrs. Homendy has committed her professional career to improving safety and fighting for consumer protection. As Staff Director of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, she was instrumental in the passage of a number of key bills and has a record of rigorous oversight of the implementation of Congressional mandates. Under her guidance, major authorization bills including the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2016, the Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016 contained important provisions that have demonstrably improved safety and efficiency. prgtoken In addition to her work on Capitol Hill, she advocated for the fair and safe conditions for the men and women of the nation's transportation workforce during her time with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department. She also recently completed the Stennis Fellowship, a high honor for senior congressional staff who are dedicated to public service and improving our Congress as an institution. prgtoken Her impact on transportation safety extends to the farthest reaches of our transportation network, and I am grateful for her service and expertise. As a policymaker, I look forward to her thoughtful contribution to the National Transportation Safety Board. Based on her experience and the legacy she created as a congressional staffer, I think we can all trust that she will continue to be a strong advocate for making our transportation and infrastructure systems safer. prgtoken Beyond her impressive public service, Jennifer has also found time to become an accomplished runner and triathlete, and is a dedicated and loving mother and wife. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Jennifer Homendy on this award and on the accomplishments throughout her career. The National Transportation Safety Board is fortunate to have such an exceptional Member, and the safety of the American public will surely benefit from her expertise. I wish her the best as she begins her term.
Remembering Claiborne Pell (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-11-14

let me begin by thanking my senior Senator, Jack Reed, for calling us to the floor to reflect and memorialize a truly splendid Senator who represented the State of Rhode Island, our friend and a great Rhode Islander, Claiborne Pell. prgtoken I think my senior colleague has done an exemplary job of following in Senator Pell's footsteps of decency, civility, and quiet determination in the seat that Senator Pell once held. I cannot claim to hold the seat the Senator once held, but I can claim to have the desk at which Senator Pell once sat. If you look here right under where it says ``Pastore''--a Rhode Island Senator--in carved letters, you see in very small letters ``P-e-l-l'' and then ``R.I.''--like anybody needed to know that Claiborne Pell was from Rhode Island. prgtoken Claiborne Pell was very important in my political life. He spent years--in fact, decades--refusing to get involved in primaries. ``It is up to the party,'' he would say. When I ran for attorney general the first time I ran for elected office, I was in a three-way primary, and Claiborne Pell, for the first time in his career, endorsed me in that primary. He more than endorsed me; we went to a little park near his house in Newport, and he allowed me to film myself walking with him and conversing with him for my first commercial. Well, you can imagine, in a State like Rhode Island, when a legend like Claiborne Pell in the ic Party suddenly appears in your commercial in a primary--let me just say it was not a good day for my primary opponents. It was incredibly generous of Claiborne Pell to break a multidecade tradition on primaries in order to launch my first political effort, and I hope I have conducted myself since then in such a way that I never gave him or his family cause to regret it. prgtoken As Senator Reed pointed out, one of the significant lessons from Claiborne Pell's career here in the Senate--and it is one that I think of all the time--was that he looked beyond the scrum of the moment. There is always something going on here in the Senate. There is always some fight or some issue that is on the front page of the Washington Post and on the news channels. That is always, always, always going on, and that bright, shiny object very often attracts an enormous amount of attention in this body. I suspect that Senator Pell paid less attention to that daily scrum than almost anybody who has served in the Senate. He had a much more patient soul and steadily and quietly and modestly worked away at his priorities. prgtoken He used to make fun of himself for his interest in ``choo-choos.'' He would say ``choo-choo.'' Well, we have Amtrak in large part because of Senator Claiborne Pell's work. The Pell grant is named after him because of persistent leadership making sure that such a grant existed. Over years of work, he finally got it done. It was ultimately named for him, and it remains today an important part of how
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6784, MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT, AND PROVIDING FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2018, THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2018
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2018-11-14

I thank Ranking Member McGovern and Representative Khanna for all they have done to help lead the efforts to end the United States' unauthorized war in Yemen. prgtoken Congress' sole responsibility over offensive use of force is outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution: ``Congress shall have power to . . . declare war.'' James Madison argued that this power ``is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature.'' Yet, today, House s are attempting to avoid their responsibilities by sneaking unrelated language into this rule which will prohibit consideration of a War Powers Resolution pertaining to the U.S.-Saudi war in Yemen. prgtoken To be clear, they took a bill about removing gray wolves from the endangered species list in North America and included a provision prohibiting even just the discussion of war in Yemen. prgtoken Now, there are rare Arabian wolves native to Yemen--about 1,000 to 2,000--roaming in the Middle East. Canis lupus arabs is a subspecies of gray wolf. But this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is the deprivileging of H. Con. Res. 138, which is just another abdication of our responsibilities as Members of Congress. prgtoken We are literally elected to make decisions about war and peace, and we are failing to do the most basic function of our job: to uphold the Constitution. We should at least have the courage to make the decisions about war and about conflicts in which we are entangling our constituents who serve in the military. prgtoken Today, as Mr. McGovern said, Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet, with the U.N. saying that 14 million people--half the population of Yemen--are either experiencing full-blown famine at the risk of death by starvation as soon as the end of the year. prgtoken Since 2015, U.S. forces have been backing the Saudi war by assisting in targeting, logistical support, and refueling deadly Saudi airstrikes in a war that has nothing to do with fighting al-Qaida.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6784, MANAGE OUR WOLVES ACT, AND PROVIDING FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2018, THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2018
Lloyd Doggett (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-11-14

I look forward to a Congress with the courage to end support for these crimes, to cease American sales to the Saudis, and to do something to hold Mr. Khashoggi's killers accountable. prgtoken But to say, wait until a much-improved new Congress comes into session to do anything about it means that tonight and every day going forward to January 3, more children will be starved; will be victims of cholera; and will be victims of bombings and blockades. When this Congress has the power to do something about it now, we ought to act today by rejecting this rule.
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 115TH COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL
Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican, LA) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 115th Combat Support Hospital headquartered in Fort Polk, Louisiana. prgtoken The 115th Combat Support Hospital was established in 1918 and is recognized as having the highest combat injury survival rate in the world. The unit has been deployed in World War I, World War II, Desert Storm, and the Iraq war. prgtoken In World War II, the 115th Combat Support Hospital received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its work while on the front lines across Europe. prgtoken The 115th Combat Support Hospital has become the standard for all medical units and a central asset for Fort Polk, the Joint Readiness Training Center, and the United States Army. prgtoken I had the incredible opportunity to witness the work that the hospital does when the unit set up at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana, to celebrate their centennial anniversary. prgtoken These soldiers enter the field, build a facility, and become a fully functioning hospital in a matter of hours. The unit and its facilities, which include an emergency room, operating room, pharmacy, and lab, are all trained to set up in 12 to 18 hours. prgtoken The 115th Combat Support Hospital also contains subordinate units that provide optical care, veterinary services, preventive medicine, and a ground ambulance company. prgtoken The work they do saves lives and allows troops to return home and back to their families. I am thankful for the honorable men and women that comprise the 115th Combat Support Hospital, as they reflect the absolute best of the United States Army. prgtoken The 115th Combat Support Hospital is truly a great asset to our military. Today, I join our country and all members, both past and present, of the 115th Combat Support Hospital in celebrating 100 years of lifesaving work. I look forward to continuing to witness their successes and achievements at Fort Polk for many years to come.
RECOGNIZING JOHN ECK, SR.
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise today to recognize John Eck, Sr of Springfield, Illinois, on being named the 2018 First Citizen by the State Journal-Register newspaper. prgtoken Each year, the State Journal-Register recognizes a community leader as the First Citizen who is committed to helping our Springfield community prosper, and they chose a phenomenal leader for 2018. prgtoken Upon retirement 13 years ago, Mr. Eck's commitment to philanthropic endeavors has surged throughout Springfield and central Illinois. Most notably, Mr. Eck was instrumental in helping to raise money to save the financially struggling St. Patrick Catholic School, which was set to close on its 100th anniversary. prgtoken In addition, John has served on numerous local boards, including the St. John's Hospital Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois, the United Way, and the American Business Club. prgtoken Throughout John's career, he has never been afraid to step up and do what is right to support the greater Springfield community, and it doesn't appear he plans on stopping now. prgtoken , I thank John for his relentless commitment to helping others, and I congratulate him on a well-deserved award.
ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018, THROUGH MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-11-15

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted on the following dates and times and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Friday November 16, at 3 p.m Tuesday, November 20, at 10 a.m and Friday November 23, at 12 noon. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Friday November 23, it next convene at 3 p.m. Monday, November 26, and that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, 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 Vaden nomination, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; finally, that the cloture motions filed during today's session of the Senate ripen at 5:30 p.m Monday, November 26.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DAMON P. NELSON
K. Michael Conaway (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise also this morning to honor the life and legacy of my friend, Damon Nelson. prgtoken A lot of wonderful, lofty things have been said about him this morning in this Chamber. Every single one of those was true. I certainly identify with each and every one of those remarks. I will not repeat those but will walk a different path. prgtoken I did not realize the extent to which Damon impacted staffing across the Hill. Once he passed, I began to get information about folks whose lives had been touched and whose careers here in Washington had been started as a result of being hired and mentored by Damon over the years. There are people on my personal staff whom I did not realize had a direct connection to Damon because he had started their careers here in Congress and on the Hill through his mentorship and help. prgtoken I got to know Damon extremely well as a result of working on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and his role as staff director, particularly when I took over running the Russia investigation. Damon was my direct contact with the staff. He did a masterful job at trying to expeditiously conduct that investigation, making sure that we dotted the i's and crossed the t's, making some really difficult decisions as we walked that path. prgtoken In addition to that, Damon handled the rest of the business of the Intelligence Committee, that important business that continues to go on in addition to the Russian investigation, doing a masterful job of shepherding all of that responsibility. He did it with class. He did it with a calmness and a self-assuredness that made it work. prgtoken Damon's humor and, yes, sarcasm, which has been mentioned often today, was a signature of his, but he used it well and in an appropriate manner. It was never in a hurtful or harmful manner, but to keep up the atmosphere. prgtoken , Damon's memory will live on in all our lives. Those of us who knew him will not forget him. He was that kind of an individual. prgtoken Obviously, my heart and prayers go out to his wife, Dana, and his family. He adored, loved, and worshipped his wife. She is in a hurting place today, as is his family. prgtoken All of us who knew him as a friend will miss him I miss my friend. prgtoken , from Utah (Mr. Stewart).
HONORING DR. HERB LONDON
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-11-15

our Nation lost an intellectual giant and visionary leader this past Saturday, November 10, 2018. prgtoken Dr. Herbert London was a legendary conservative author, scholar, commentator, and defender of freedom. He was a scholar's scholar and a gentleman's gentleman. prgtoken A New Yorker of great stature, Herb grew up playing basketball and led his high school team to a city championship. After completing his studies at Columbia University, Herb's hoop-playing skills caught the eye of the Syracuse Nationals; however, an injury blocked his athletic career. prgtoken Herb went on to earn a Ph.D. from New York University and later served as the dean of NYU's Gallatin division. From running for political office to leading the Hudson Institute to founding the London Center for Policy Research, Dr. London was the definition of a renaissance man and a true patriot, committed to bringing about a stronger, more principled Nation. prgtoken A 6'5'' tower of humility, integrity, and vision, Herb will be sorely missed, and his legacy will forever be enshrined in the hearts and minds of many. prgtoken My prayers are with the London family as they heal from this tremendous loss. prgtoken May he rest in peace.
HONORING STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOM SAUNDERS
Luke Messer (Republican, IN) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise today, on behalf of the entire 6th Congressional District of Indiana, to recognize State Representative Tom Saunders for his contribution to our state. prgtoken For 22 years, Tom has represented East Central Indiana with honor and integrity in the Indiana General Assembly. He has always put the interests of his district first and continues to be a strong advocate for improving our schools, rebuilding Indiana's infrastructure and giving a voice to our local governments. It was an honor to serve with him during my time in the Indiana General Assembly. prgtoken On a personal note, Tom has been a loyal friend and wise adviser during my entire tenure in Congress. I thank him for his friendship and support of my work and wish Tom and his wife, Sue, continued success in all that God has planned for their family.
Immigration (Executive Session)
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise to speak on the nomination of Commissioner Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. prgtoken The Federal Reserve is charged with ensuring financial institutions are safe and sound, promoting financial stability and carrying out U.S. monetary policy. prgtoken Decisions made by the Federal Reserve have a significant impact on the economy, businesses, and households across the Nation. prgtoken Commissioner Bowman is highly qualified to fill the Federal Reserve Board role reserved for a person with community banking experience. prgtoken Commissioner Bowman has served as the State Bank Commissioner of Kansas since February 2017. prgtoken Prior to that, she worked as a vice president at Farmers and Drovers Bank, a Kansas-based community bank with $175 million in assets. prgtoken She has also previously served in a number of government roles, including as a staffer in both the Senate and House, as well as in various roles at the Department of Homeland Security. prgtoken Commissioner Bowman learned banking from the frontlines to the back office at Farmers and Drovers Bank, an institution with which her family first became involved in 1882. prgtoken As a former community banker and bank regulator, she is intimately familiar with the business of banking, its regulatory framework, and how regulators' decisions impact banks and the communities in which they operate. prgtoken She knows firsthand the unique relationships that community banks foster with their local communities, often operating through relationship banking to provide access to credit, support employment, and promote economic growth. prgtoken In her nomination hearing, Commissioner Bowman noted, ``I have witnessed firsthand how the regulatory environment created in the aftermath of the crisis has disadvantaged community banks.'' ``If confirmed, I will bring this perspective to my work at the Board to ensure that rules preserve the resiliency of the financial system, but are appropriately tailored to the size, complexity and risk of an institution.'' prgtoken I am encouraged by the attention she has paid to the need to appropriately tailor regulations and the potential consequences of not doing so. prgtoken In May, the President signed into law S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. prgtoken This bill tailors regulations for midsized and regional banks and provides meaningful relief to community banks. prgtoken Commissioner Bowman brings a unique expertise and perspective to the Federal Reserve as it continues implementing key provisions of the bill. prgtoken The Federal Reserve also sets U.S. monetary policy. prgtoken In her confirmation hearing, Commissioner Bowman reassured the Banking Committee that her decisions would be based on sound economic policies. prgtoken This is significant during a period of monetary policy normalization at the Fed. prgtoken I am confiden
HONORING THE LIFE OF DAMON P. NELSON
Chris Stewart (Republican, UT) \u2014 2018-11-15

I also rise to honor my good friend, Damon. He was a dear friend, trusted colleague, loving husband, and a warrior who loved and served his country. We will miss him. prgtoken Very briefly, I would like to make the observation that the staffs that we work with here on the Hill are some of the finest men and women in the country, and the staff that we work with on the Intelligence Committee is the finest of them all. Damon was their leader. He was looked to for his leadership, for his compassion, for his humanity, and for his example of what it meant to be a warrior. prgtoken I also have to mention his family, as we honor them as well. Some of you know that I wear my father's Air Force wings. My brothers have served in the Air Force. I served in the Air Force. So did Damon's family. prgtoken Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting his father and mother, both retired Air Force who have served valiantly and served proudly, also his brother. I have to mention his wife, an Air Force colonel, who is a leader, a rock. prgtoken Having met her, I can tell you that I would follow her into battle. She is a great example of the finest young men and women that our Nation has to offer. This family has proven that they love their country by serving their country. We honor them in this small way today in the words that we say. prgtoken Damon, God bless you. To Damon's family, God bless you. Thank you for prgtoken generations of service to your country and for being an example to all of us.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DAMON P. NELSON
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican, AR) \u2014 2018-11-15

I rise this morning to join my colleagues in celebrating the life of Damon Nelson. prgtoken While I have only served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for a short time, I grew to know, respect, and cherish Damon as a professional and as a friend. Our work on the committee is some of the most challenging and rewarding I have done since being elected to this body and is supported almost entirely by a loyal staff whose dedication to the American people is second to none. prgtoken As staff director, Damon set the tone and direction of committee staff who work closely with us as members and others in the House. He always greeted us with a smile and positive attitude. His leadership ensured we were fully equipped and prepared for every caucus meeting, hearing, or legislative issue. His staff saw him as a leader who wanted us to have the best, most accurate information and preparation for our work. They followed him with trust and appreciation for his approach to his work. prgtoken As you have heard, he served in the Air Force and deployed to the Persian Gulf War where he earned numerous medals. Over the following years, he moved on to serve in the Capitol here. Over the next many years, Damon moved up and eventually took the helm of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence at a tumultuous time for this Chamber and for our country. His poise, his character, his attitude, and his care for our country shined through in recent years as this committee worked on some extremely sensitive and public matters. Not once did Damon put his own interests above anyone else's. He simply sought to serve his country through his role on this committee and in this body. prgtoken , I wish him and his family the best.