mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Economic Growth (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-7

the performance of the U.S. economy is something to behold. It doesn't matter if you measure it by the unemployment rate, by the quarterly growth rates, or by wages, virtually every sign points to a growing thriving economy. prgtoken Let me emphasize some of the outstanding job numbers that came out just last week. In April, there were 263,000 new jobs created-- 263,000--beating even the most optimistic estimates. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent--the lowest unemployment rate in nearly half a century. prgtoken The first quarter saw a 3.2 percent growth, the best in 4 years. The truth is, the United States' economy has taken off like a rocket. prgtoken Today we find ourselves in what some economists refer to as a ``full employment'' economy, because there are more job openings than there are job seekers. That is a remarkable place to be, and I have no doubt that it is in significant part due to the pro-growth policies created by a -led Congress and the administration the last 2 years. prgtoken Less than 1\1/2\ years ago we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We tried to make this a bipartisan effort, but our ic friends wanted no part of it. This was the first major tax overhaul in a generation. This legislation removed many of the burdens from families, entrepreneurs, and job creators and let the free market take the wheel. prgtoken A lot of pundits and a lot of the naysayers--the professional cynics--said it wouldn't work, but I think the results speak for themselves. Workers prgtoken are bringing home more in their paychecks, and businesses are using their savings to invest in their employees. prgtoken One of the most common remarks I hear from employers when I am in Texas is that they can't find enough qualified workers for the job openings that exist. That is their biggest challenge because of this booming economy. prgtoken In the days and months following the signing of the tax bill, companies began announcing how they would use the money that they would save because of the legislation to invest in their employees and their business. We heard from big companies like AT&T, which is headquartered in Dallas, which provided $1,000 bonuses for more than 200,000 of its employees, including more than 32,000 who live in Texas. There was also Southwest Airlines, which gave all 550,000 of its employees a $1,000 bonus. Plus Southwest Airlines donated $5 million to charity, to boot. prgtoken We saw headlines in the major newspapers about how these and countless other big companies were using their savings, but the less read stories about local businesses in small town papers are just as important. prgtoken This week is National Small Business Week, an opportunity to celebrate small businesses that line Main Streets throughout America, but don't let the word ``small'' fool you. America's 30 million small businesses are an economic force unparalleled anywhere in the world. More
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-5-7

. Madam , on Thursday, May 2, 2019 I was inadvertently detained on Roll Call Votes 175 through 184. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted in the following manner: No on roll Call No. 175; Yes on Roll Call Vote 176; Yes on Roll Call Vote 177; No on Roll Call Vote 178; Yes on Roll Call Vote 179; No on Roll Call Vote 180; No on Roll Call Vote 181; No on Roll Call Vote 182; Yes on Roll Call Vote 183; and No on Roll Call Vote 184.
HONORING LINNIE ``PAPA'' DARDEN
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-5-7

I rise today to recognize Mr. Richard ``Dick'' Eckburg, who is being honored at the Legends, Leaders, and Life Well Lived Award luncheon on May 9. prgtoken Well deserving of this honor, he should be an inspiration to us all about how to constantly strive to make the world a better place to live. prgtoken A Korean war veteran, Dick worked at UPS for 32 years, eventually becoming the vice president of public affairs. Since then, he has dedicated countless time and resources to numerous charitable organizations around the Savannah area, including the Telfair Museum, the Lucas Theatre, the Bethesda Academy, and many more. prgtoken Dick's work with each of these organizations, along with that of his wonderful wife, Judy, has changed the face of Savannah and improved the lives of many in our community. prgtoken I couldn't be prouder to have him in the First Congressional District of Georgia. I thank Dick for his service in the military and especially for his service to our community. He continues to truly exemplify a life well lived. honoring dr. les wilkes
IN RECOGNITION OF TAYLOE AND HELEN MURPHY
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-5-7

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of this year's Outstanding Virginians, Tayloe and Helen Murphy, two dedicated servant leaders from the First District of Virginia. prgtoken Tayloe Murphy received his Bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1953 and his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1960. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1954 to 1957. He then served aboard the U.S.S. Newport News, and later on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Tayloe Murphy was elected to the Virginia General Assembly as a Delegate to represent the 99th District from 1982 until his retirement in 2000. His committee assignments included Labor and Commerce, Courts of Justice, Corporations Insurance and Banking, and Chesapeake and Its Tributaries. He was later appointed Secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Mark Warner. Throughout his political career and beyond, Murphy has been a champion of the environment. He has worked hard to be a leader in the efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, with includes his landmark legislation in 1988, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. prgtoken Helen Murphy graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1956, and shortly after, married Tayloe. Helen is also an avid environmentalist who has dedicated her life to conservation. Helen served on the board of the Nature Conservancy, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, among others, and was a founding member of The Garden Club of the Northern Neck. Helen also served as the President of the Menokin Foundation and was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Virginia Chapter in 1999. prgtoken The couple continues to work to address environmental issues to this day. Tayloe and Helen have devoted their lives to leaving a legacy through their leadership and unrelenting conservation efforts in the Commonwealth and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Tayloe and Helen could not be more deserving of this year's Outstanding Virginian Award. prgtoken Madam , I ask you to join me in recognizing the incredible accomplishments and devotion of Tayloe and Helen Murphy. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for their service to our great Commonwealth of Virginia. May God bless Tayloe and Helen Murphy in all their future endeavors.
INAUGURAL COSI SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-7

today I wish to acknowledge the inaugural COSI Science Festival that took place in Columbus during the first 4 days of May. COSI is a statewide science center that has been engaging, inspiring, and transforming Ohio's young citizens since 1964 and directly impacts over 1 million people annually. This festival event serves as a conduit to involve students, educators, policymakers, and families in STEM. COSI hosted the culminating event, the Big Science Celebration, where thousands of individuals gathered to experience hands-on learning around critical industry sectors for Ohio, such as agriculture, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. prgtoken COSI's Science Festival partnered with NASA, DOT, and several state agencies to provide hands-on learning opportunities. Local mayors from 10 partner-cities were also featured to demonstrate the value of STEM in our communities. Pioneers in STEM of all ages from central Ohio were appointed as STEM Stars to serve as liaisons between community and industry. prgtoken Visitors to the science festival experienced hands-on scientific demonstrations, interactive exhibits, workshops, and much more. Ohioans had the opportunity to take part in an event that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact in the STEM field. prgtoken I am honored to recognize the COSI Science Festival on this important event highlighting the impact of STEM throughout our nation. prgtoken Congratulations to all who were involved in making it a success.
Ex-Im Bank (Executive Calendar)
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-5-7

later today I believe the Senate will be considering nominations of three Board members for the Export-Import Bank, and this is a very important and, I think, unfortunate development. prgtoken Since 2015, the Ex-Im Bank Board has not had a quorum. The confirmation of these three nominees will change that and give them a quorum, and that matters for a number of reasons. Perhaps the principle reason is that in the absence of a quorum, such as the way we have been operating for these last 4\1/2\ years, the Ex-Im Board cannot approve transactions without a quorum, and it requires Ex-Im Board approval to do a deal over $10 million. So for these last 4\1/2\ years, the Export- Import Bank has been in existence and operating, but at a very much smaller level than what it had done previously, and what, I am afraid, it will again resume. prgtoken Let me explain why I oppose confirming this quorum to the Board of the Export-Import Bank. First of all, as I will explain, I think that with a quorum there is a very real risk that the Ex-Im Bank returns to business as usual, which is a form of crony capitalism and taxpayer subsidy of companies far and wide. prgtoken Historically, the fact is the Ex-Im Bank has used the American taxpayer to subsidize some of the largest and best connected companies in the world, including governments that are very unfriendly to the United States. So I want to describe my policy objections to the Ex-Im. I want to rebut some of the arguments that proponents of the Ex-Im Bank make. I want to walk through a little history to remind my colleagues about the folks who have blocked what I think are very commonsense efforts to make some meaningful reforms. Then, finally, I do want to discuss a path forward. So let me walk through my concerns, my objections to the way Ex-Im Bank has operated in the past when it is in full-blown operation mode and with a quorum on the Board. prgtoken First of all, it has been a series of risky bets for taxpayers. The Ex-Im has sometimes claimed it only takes risks that private lenders are unable or unwilling to take. Well, we should stop right there and ask ourselves, if private lenders are unwilling or unable to take a risk, why should taxpayers be forced to take that risk? Yet, at the same time, the Ex-Im Bank also claims it only makes safe bets. Well, it is impossible to do both. prgtoken The Bank cannot take only those transactions so risky that no one else will do it and at the same time be doing only safe transactions. It is pretty obvious. The fact is, Ex-Im Bank wins business by systemically underpricing the risk. That is why borrowers prgtoken go to the Ex-Im Bank, instead of any number of private lenders that would not offer deals on the same terms as the Ex-Im Bank. No, because they have shareholders to answer to--Ex-Im Bank, not so much. prgtoken Proponents of the Ex-Im Bank point out that the Bank isn't drawing any money from the U.S. Treasury
KEEPING SOCIETAL PROMISES
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-5-7

one of the things we are going to do tonight is touch on some of the numbers that have substantially come out since last Thursday and Friday, and then even more numbers that came out yesterday and today. This is sort of the continuation of the theme that we have been doing since the very beginning of the year, a theme of what do we as a society have to do to keep our promises. prgtoken The number of times--and I don't want to be too snarky--that we will have Members come behind these microphones or in our committees and want to do policy by anecdote--because telling stories is great. They make people happy. It is easy to understand. But it is not math. It is not public policy. prgtoken We have to stop trying to make public policy by feelings, by impressions, by stories, and start doing it by the numbers because the numbers ultimately make our lives better when we get it right. prgtoken The greatest fragility in our society right now, if you look, is the unfunded liabilities of Social Security and Medicare. We have a moral obligation to keep our promises, but the only way mathematically we keep our promises is to do a handful of things. It turns out, by doing this handful of things, my 3\1/2\-year-old little girl has a great future, and the person who is a baby boomer who has moved into retirement also has a stable future. prgtoken We have been doing this every week, our five elements of economic growth of things that would provide population stability, dealing with the benefits and incentives to stay in the workforce, technology disruptions, how there is a revolution coming in healthcare through technology and these drugs that are curative, how we are going to finance those and bring those into society, so that we stop having the debate on who pays in healthcare but what we pay. We have this ability to have this disruption. prgtoken Then the other thing is what we do to continue the employment cycle, keeping people in the labor force, encouraging others to enter it. We are going to walk through some of those different numbers. prgtoken The crazy thing is this stuff shouldn't be or . This should be society's goal, that growth is moral because it provides opportunity. prgtoken I want to walk through a couple of things that have happened in the last few days. Think about the data we received last Friday. If you love and care about people, if you go back and look at some of the economists' writings from just a couple of years ago about our brothers and sisters who didn't graduate high school, who didn't have any particular technical skill sets, we had written them off as being part of the permanent underclass in our communities and our society. Yet that is the very quartile that right now is having the fastest movement in their wages. prgtoken How do we keep that going? How do we keep that going as long as possible? prgtoken The jobs report, the unemployment reports we received, was amazing. We
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Mike Crapo (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-5-7

I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing entitled ``Privacy rights and data collection in a digital economy.'' Committee Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions prgtoken The Committee Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing entitled ``Making electronic health information available to patients and providers.'' Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 2:30 p.m to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Dale Cabaniss, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and Michael Eric Wooten, of Virginia, to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a business meeting and hearing entitled ``Intellectual property and the price of prescription drugs.'' Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management prgtoken The Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF CATHY GOODMAN
Pete Olson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-7

the young lady behind me is Cathy Goodman. Cathy is the first school nurse at Settlers Way Elementary, and she is still that nurse 25 years later. prgtoken Why stay for 25 years? To quote Cathy: ``My ministry began when SWE opened its doors and I stepped through them. I knew that I'd come home.'' prgtoken Cathy's ministry involved my daughter, Kate. That 10-year-old little girl prgtoken left the only life she ever knew when we moved back home in August of 2007. Every day during Kate's first month of school, we got a call. She had an upset stomach and was sent to see the school nurse, Cathy. prgtoken Cathy turned on her ministry and became Kate's best friend--problem solved. prgtoken Thank you, Cathy Goodman, for your unending love and faith. May God always bless you like you always blessed us.
CHAMPIONING AMERICAN BUSINESS THROUGH DIPLOMACY ACT OF 2019
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-7

as much time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of my Championing American Business Through Diplomacy Act, which I was pleased to introduce with the support of my good friend, Chairman Engel. prgtoken Promoting American business abroad means promoting American leadership, prosperity, and our values. It has always been, and should remain, a key component of global diplomacy. prgtoken The very first edition of the Foreign Service Journal, then called American Consular Bulletin, published in March of 1919, included a letter from the editor that stated: ``The Consular Service was organized by our Government for the purpose of furthering the interests of American businesses abroad.'' prgtoken This legislation makes the promotion of U.S. economic interests a principal duty of our missions abroad and requires economic and commercial training for our diplomats. prgtoken It also directs our foreign missions to promote trade agreements and establish points of contact who can assist American businesses interested in entering those foreign markets. prgtoken Promotion of American businesses abroad has never been more important. As transitioning economies work to expand their wealth and capacity, they look to America to bring expertise, financing, and ingenuity. prgtoken If America does not step up its economic engagement in the world, this vacuum will be filled by others, with a potentially devastating impact on American national security. prgtoken While I speak, China is aggressively filling that void. However, its approach does not respect the rights of workers, the environment, or even the sovereignty of other nations. prgtoken China's Belt and Road Initiative is ensnaring developing nations into Chinese debt traps from which they may never escape. This effort is also leading to a new Chinese adventurism, complete with military outposts and expanded leverage in various countries. prgtoken Ground zero for this competition in the developing world is Africa. I have spent much time with African Governments and business leaders. All have told me that America is just not there to compete. I applaud the administration for its new Prosper Africa efforts and know that this legislation is key to its success. prgtoken I can think of no better antidote to combat this predatory influence than unleashing the vitality of American values through our private sector. I naturally think of the world-class tech and energy companies in my own district and home State of Texas. prgtoken Creating more international opportunities for American businesses will help push back on growing Chinese influence across the globe. prgtoken It is time for America to fully wake up and get on the field, or we may ask ourselves later why we did not do more to contain the Chinese threat. prgtoken For these reasons, the Championing American Business Through Diplomacy Act is a critical initiative that deserves our unanimous support. <|p|
UNDERSTANDING RISKS OF U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN VENEZUELA
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-5-7

after meeting with President yesterday regarding the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, I rise to praise the administration for its mindful and strategic response to conditions in that country. prgtoken All options must be on the table, including military force. prgtoken My constituents would likely be among the first in that fight. I am incredibly proud of them. If asked, they will successfully execute any mission that they are called to do. prgtoken Policymakers have an obligation not to send any of America's sons and daughters into any ill-advised conflict. The administration clearly understands the risks associated with military intervention in Venezuela at this time. They include a few things. prgtoken First, if the United States military were to have troops on the ground in Venezuela today, it is very likely that the Maduro regime would scapegoat their own failures. prgtoken The people of Venezuela voted their way into socialism, and now it appears they have to fight their way out of it. While this should be a lesson to us all, military intervention should not be presented as an opportunity for the Maduro regime to explain away why people in Venezuela have no medicine, have no food, are starving, and at times see their own countrymen turning tanks and weapons against them. prgtoken Those failures belong to the Maduro regime. Those failures belong to the socialist dictatorship. prgtoken Were we to intervene in an unwise way, potentially, that would create confusion about the conditions that led to these terrible circumstances. prgtoken Second, if the United States military were to intervene at this time, it is my concern that it would allow the Maduro regime to externalize their conflict. prgtoken It is no surprise to any in this Chamber or many in the administration that there remains some latent resentment within pockets of Latin America regarding U.S. intervention, regime change, and nation-building. prgtoken At a time when we are seeing democratic successes and governments stood up that are beginning to provide for their citizens, it would be deeply unwise to stoke any anti-American resentment with ill-advised conflict. prgtoken Right now, Maduro functionally lacks material support from the forward-thinking countries in the Western Hemisphere, and we would not want to create any opportunity for there to be a call to the new Bolivarian alliance. prgtoken Ultimately, that is what a lot of these transnational criminal organizations want in Venezuela. They want to erode nation-states and borders. They want to end nationalism in our hemisphere so that they have a more permissive environment for their illicit activities. prgtoken Third, the administration clearly understands that, if the United States were deemed to be too involved in the popular uprising in Venezuela, Maduro would potentially have the opportunity to deny the organic desires of Venezuelans to fight for their own freedom. <|