mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING MS. PATRICIA GARDNER
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-1-25

. Madam , I rise to recognize Ms. Patricia Gardner and commend prgtoken her on her career and contributions to our community. prgtoken Ms. Gardner worked as a nonprofit executive manager for over two decades before she joined Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (``SVCN'') as CEO in 2001. Under her leadership, SVCN followed its mission to foster and magnify the influence and contribution of nonprofit agencies and business in Santa Clara County. SVCN works to help our community by assisting individuals and families who are disenfranchised and who struggle to meet basic needs. SVCN also helps guide our local nonprofits through difficult financial times and to build up their capacity to become better service providers. As SVCN increasingly became an important voice with the nonprofit sector, local foundations, and local and state governments, it expanded from a small group of fewer than 50 agencies and a budget of under $100,000 to representing over 200 agencies and a budget of over a million dollars. prgtoken In addition to her role with SVCN, Ms. Gardner was actively involved in a variety of local concerns to our community. Among other things, she served on a number of key policy committees, including the Blue Ribbon Committee on Housing and Homelessness, the City of San Jose and County Senior Nutrition Task Forces, the Juvenile Justice Systems Collaborative, the City of San Jose General Fund Structural Deficit Committee, and the Measure A-Hospital Bond Oversight Committee. prgtoken Ms. Gardner received recognition for her service in our community. Senator, then-Assemblyman, Jim Beall, selected her as Woman of the Year, and the local nonprofit, United Way, named her Community Builder of the Year in 2011. The following year, Community Solutions awarded the Community Builder Award to SVCN for Ms. Gardner's advocacy to preserve funding for essential services. In 2018, Ms. Gardner received the Siempre Award from Grail Family Service and the Alumni of the Year award from the San Jose State University's College of Social Sciences-- Political Science. The San Jose Business Journal added Ms. Gardner to its Women of Influence list, and she is generally known across our state as one of the leaders in nonprofit advocacy. prgtoken I have known Ms. Patricia Gardner for over forty years. She is efficient, capable, organized and a leader. But most of all, she is a caring human being whose passion for justice and compassion have led her to a life of service to others. I feel privileged to know her as a friend and fortunate to live in a community that is healthier and more fair because of her service. prgtoken I wish to congratulate Ms. Gardner on her career. Today we honor her for her leadership and advocacy in our community. I wish her the best of luck in exploring her next chapter as she transitions to her next pursuit.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-1-25

the announcement this morning that air operations in major cities in this country on the east coast and other places could be delayed or are interrupted comes as no surprise. prgtoken This last week, I met with air traffic controllers in St. Louis and in Aurora, IL. We have over 600 air traffic controllers in Northern Illinois because of O'Hare, Midway, and so many other important airports in that region, and, of course, in St. Louis, with Lambert airfield and others. They have quite extensive air operations. prgtoken They explained to me what is going on with air traffic controllers. It shouldn't have worried us before the shutdown. It should frighten us at this moment. prgtoken Currently, air traffic controllers work 10-hour shifts. It is a stressful job--an important, stressful job. There is hardly any person more on the frontline of public safety than an air traffic controller. They are expected to concentrate--to concentrate exclusively--for 10 straight hours on each shift. Because of a shortage of air traffic controllers, they now are working 6 days a week. prgtoken If you can only imagine for a moment what it is like, and, if you have been to an air traffic control tower, you know what it is like--at least from an outside observer's point of view. There they are, with a screen full of dots. In each one of them is an airplane, and in each airplane tens, maybe even hundreds of lives, and they are trying to make certain that nothing terrible occurs. prgtoken Imagine the added burden they face now on the 35th day of this government shutdown. As of today, they will have missed two pay periods. The last paycheck came last year. I listened to these air traffic controllers explain what it meant to them. For some of them, it has gotten down to the basics. In the St. Louis area, one of the air traffic controllers has to drive a long distance each day. They didn't have the cash for gasoline. He sold his plasma in order to fill the tank to go to work. prgtoken At another air traffic control meeting in Aurora, one of the controllers came to me and said that one of his colleagues, who had been working for some time, came to him and said that he only had 5 days left that he could continue doing this--working for nothing--and then he would have to go look for other jobs and possibly jeopardize his future in air traffic control. prgtoken The stories came to me one after another. There was a young family where a little child of the family is suffering from medical illnesses of a serious nature. Luckily, they still have health insurance when they are not being paid. When it comes to the out-of-pocket expenses and copayments, they don't have money for it. prgtoken Those are the realities these men and women face. They are the realities that have to be on their minds every waking moment. We pray, as passengers in these aircraft, that the only thing on their mind is their job. Instead, for many of these people, i
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-1-25

this morning the FAA grounded planes at prgtoken LaGuardia Airport, averaging more than 1,000 flights a day. They made this decision because of a shortage in air traffic control staff, who are not being paid because the President fulfilled his promise to shut down the government 35 days ago. prgtoken The FAA's website crashed as people looked for information. Stocks for airlines took a hit, and air traffic in other airports, including Philadelphia and Newark, were delayed because of staffing shortages. We will continue to see the ripple effects of this today. It is not like if travel in and out of LaGuardia is disrupted, it will be business as usual at other airports. More flights will be delayed. LaGuardia has resumed operations, but what is clear is that the ATC, or the air traffic control staff, is thin, and they are making game-time decisions--go, no go. prgtoken Apparently, we need another reminder that this shutdown is stupid and dangerous, that it leaves communities and commerce on the edge, because the voices of those affected already--Native Americans, Coast Guard servicemembers, FBI agents, IRS employees, National Park Service workers, and domestic violence victims--weren't enough. The FAA is unique because they have an obligation and the authority under the law to make a go-no-go decision based on safety. They can look at their staffing numbers and say: We can't do this safely, so stop. But the FBI and the Coast Guard don't get to say: Hey, hold off, everybody. prgtoken TSA agents and the TSA itself does not have the authority to make a similar call. They can raise the alarm, but they do not have the authority to stop people from coming through checkpoints. They just have to make do. The same goes for all of the families affected by the shutdown. There is no ``go-no-go'' decision. They just have to try to make it work. prgtoken The FAA decision demonstrates what is happening throughout the government and throughout society right now. People are right on the edge. Some of them have fallen off that edge. Today, the shutdown became an inconvenience to the very small percentage of Americans who fly regularly, but, more importantly, today is an indicator of what is happening to the government, of who matters to the government. prgtoken I certainly hope, as lots of pundits, and journalists, and politicians have mentioned, that once air traffic starts to slow, once airports get snarled, we are at the end of this process and the shutdown will end shortly. I don't know if that is true, but I sure hope it is true. prgtoken On another level, it should precipitate a little shame, a little introspection about how we got here, because to fix this now, when airports are snarled, is to say we were OK with people not getting food stamps, we were OK with Native American health clinics running out of medicine, Federal workers working without two paychecks, and Coast Guard men and women deployed without p
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-1-25

no matter how intractable something might seem, the Senate is the Senate, and we should be the conscience of the Nation, and we can work things out. prgtoken One of my closest friends in this body is the distinguished senior Senator from Alabama, Mr. Shelby. He and I were talking just a couple of minutes ago. We know that we can get these things done. The Senate can be the conscience of the Nation. There are 100 men and women of both parties who are here because they love this country, and they want it to be better. prgtoken Now let's just sit down and do our work. Senator Shelby and I got every single appropriations bill last year through our committee, virtually unanimously in most cases. It worked. We proved it could work. It hadn't been done for years. We proved it could be done. prgtoken We did not do it with press conferences. We did not do it with gimmicks. We did not do it with histrionics. We did it with hard work, sometimes late into the night. prgtoken I say that in light of what we have seen during the shutdown. For 35 days, President robbed hundreds of thousands of American families of their paychecks and forced dedicated public servants-- professionals--to turn to food banks and unemployment benefits to feed and support their families. prgtoken For 35 days, President denied millions of taxpaying Americans access to public services. For 35 days, President inflicted pain on the American people. prgtoken Anyone who has taken the time for the briefing knows it has compromised our national security. And for what? prgtoken The rest of the world looks at us and sees us as being weak. Our enemies have been able to exploit the fact that we have had this shutdown. And for what? prgtoken All of this pain and suffering is going to end now, right where it began. prgtoken On December 19 of last year, the Senate passed a bill by voice vote to fund the government to February 8. Virtually every and every supported it, and it is nearly what the President has proposed today. We in the Senate did that back on December 19. The President was going to support it. He was then criticized by some in the conservative media, and he thought he had to break his word and precipitate this national crisis. prgtoken Dozens of Vermonters have contacted my office to share the pain the shutdown inflicted on their lives. prgtoken Northfield, VT, is one of our prettiest towns. It is not far from where I was born. A number of my ancestors settled in that area. prgtoken A Vermont family there found they could not complete their U.S. Department of Agriculture 502 direct home loan, and that closed the door on the American dream of owning a home, something so many Vermonters dream of. prgtoken A small business owner in Brattleboro, who employs Vermonters prgtoken and shows entrepreneurship is alive and well in our small State, wrote my office. What happened? He could not get the Departmen
HONORING THE CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. JOANNE GAUS
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-1-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor Ms. Joanne Gaus and recognize her tremendous impact as a teacher at St. Richard Catholic Elementary School in Chicago. Ms. Gaus' dedication to her students is nothing short of remarkable. At the age of 71, she claims she is ``not quite done yet'' despite her reputation for being the first to arrive and the last to leave for over 50 years. Her commitment to her profession and distinguished tenure stand as an example to all educators striving to prepare our country's youth for the future. prgtoken Ms. Gaus started her career by teaching second and third grade at a time when teaching jobs were hard to come by. Her former students are quick to praise her, noting that she instilled confidence and curiosity in them, traits that have lasted throughout their academic careers and lives. Respected by her colleagues as well, the St. Richard School staff find her enthusiasm and creative approach to teaching to be contagious. She is also beloved by parents, since they know their children will be well taken care of and respected under her tutelage. prgtoken Examples of Ms. Gaus' efforts range from decorating her classroom for the seasons, redesigning the classroom to encourage peer interaction, and incorporating new technologies into her curriculum. She always goes the extra mile in all of her interactions with students, while teaching them both academics and how to be responsible. She is constantly planning new ways to get her students excited, with class pets, creative desk set-ups, and projects. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Joanne Gaus. This outstanding Catholic educator has devoted her life to bettering the lives of her students, and she continues to spark their appreciation of their faith at a young age. I congratulate her on her distinguished accomplishments, thank her for her service, and wish her well in her future endeavors, whether she is teaching in the classroom or teaching lessons of life.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-1-25

today I am introducing the Preserving American Justice Act to ensure that foreign governments face serious consequences if they assist their citizens to escape legal accountability in the United States. prgtoken Recently, Oregon's largest newspaper, The Oregonian, uncovered that five Saudi nationals with criminal charges departed the Nation before facing justice. These men were arrested for serious crimes including vehicular murder of an innocent teenager, sexual assault, rape, and child pornography. According to news reports, U.S. government officials believe the Saudi government helped these five men with actions ranging from posting bail to facilitating their escape from the United States. These reports claiming the Saudi government is whisking away criminals facing justice in Oregon show a shocking disdain for our Nation's criminal justice system. Given the disturbing similarities in these five cases, a thorough investigation is essential to better understand the involvement of the Saudi government. prgtoken When anyone commits a crime in the United States, they must be held accountable. The administration has failed to explain what, if anything, it is doing to ensure these men face American justice. That failure is completely unacceptable. Foreign governments cannot disregard our laws and abuse diplomatic privileges by helping criminals escape. No one is above the law, and I am committed to making sure the Saudi government understands that it cannot behave this way here in Oregon or anywhere in the United States. prgtoken The legislation I introduced today would direct the Department of Justice to investigate these five cases and bring to light the involvement of the Saudi government. If the Department of Justice concludes that the Saudi government was involved, then my bill would bar Saudi Arabia's leaders from the United States until their government returns the suspects who have fled. The legislation would also create a major tax penalty on governments and sovereign wealth funds for any country that help its citizens escape American justice. More broadly, my legislation would help Americans understand how widespread this practice is, direct the Department of Justice to maintain a list of any foreign governments that help their citizens evade American justice, and create tough consequences for those governments and their leaders. prgtoken I believe that my colleagues who talk about ``putting America First'' would agree that foreign governments cannot undermine American laws. I'm all for doing more to protecting Americans from real threats and ensuring that the victims of these crimes get the justice they deserve in an American court of law. So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting measures that would hold foreign governments accountable.
CONGRATULATING REVEREND LUKATA AGYEI MJUMBE
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-1-25

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Reverend Lukata Agyei Mjumbe on his appointment as Pastor of the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church of Princeton. prgtoken Reverend Mjumbe has been a lifelong leader in his community. He has assumed roles as activist, grassroots community organizer, and anti- violence advocate centered in Black and Brown communities. During the aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King Rebellion, he rose to the occasion to assist as a campus and community leader in the city of Atlanta. He has been recognized as a leader for his work in organizing campaigns with organizations and formations in the Black Belt and across the Southern United States. Reverend Mjumbe currently serves as the National Coordinator of the Black Organizing Capacity Support Project of the Praxis Project and as a Member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace. prgtoken On Sunday, January 27, 2019, Reverend Mjumbe will give his inaugural sermon at the historic church. I wish him many wonderful years leading his congregation and success in his new role. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Reverend Mjumbe on his appointment and I pray for God to bless him, his congregation, and the greater Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church community.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--MOTION TO PROCEED--Resumed
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2019-1-28

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). prgtoken Further, if present and voting, the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``yea'' and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``yea.''
HONORING EVA MARGARITA BRAVO
Debbie Lesko (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2019-1-28

. Madam , I rise today to honor and celebrate a life well-lived by Eva Margarita Bravo. At 58 years old, Eva passed away in a Mesa, Arizona hospital with her family by her side on December 7, 2018. prgtoken Eva was a native Arizonan, born on July 21, 1961 and was raised with seven brothers and sisters. She lived in Mesa for over thirty years of her life, where she raised two children, Cealia Bravo and Roberto Bravo III (Bobby), with her husband of thirty years, Roberto Bravo Jr. Eva faithfully served her community as a Medical Assistant, then a Certified Nursing Assistant. She proceeded to follow her passion and had a long, successful career in baking and cake decorating. prgtoken Her son, Bobby, has served on my staff both in Washington, D.C. and Arizona for five years while taking care of his mother in her last few years of life. His dedication to his mother and family while working with distinction on my staff is admirable and inspiring. prgtoken Eva was a great mother to her children. She leaves behind a legacy of love for her family and committed service to her community. It is impossible to write into words the impact and value a person's life has on another, but Eva will be greatly missed by her family, friends and the Mesa community. On behalf of Arizona's Eighth Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to Eva's children, Cealia and Bobby, their family, and their friends who mourn this loss.
BORDER SECURITY
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-1-28

I rise today to commend President for coming together with this 3-week deal that will allow us to open the government, as it has, and continue the discussion on the border security issue we so desperately need. prgtoken It is time to put up or shut up. This has been a bipartisan effort in the past with previous legislation to build the border fence and a lot of rhetoric and a lot of talk by the other side of the aisle supporting a controlled border and legal immigration. prgtoken It is time to go ahead and do it--no more talk, no more obfuscation, and no more pointing fingers in the other direction. We need to have border security in a bipartisan way, as it has been done in the past. prgtoken Who cares that it is President or someone else in the White House only because it is a political fight? This is something our Nation needs. prgtoken So, again, 3 weeks to get it done, 3 weeks to come together and acknowledge that a barrier system on our border is one important component of many to have a secure border and allow legal immigration in this country.