mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-26

. Madam , I am proud to join the American Diabetes Association and millions of doctors, nurses, health professionals, and concerned Americans to recognize American Diabetes Month. prgtoken Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It effects more than 30 million Americans--seven million of whom are undiagnosed. By the end of this year, more than 40,000 people will be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes--which is identified as the body's inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes--which indicates a deficiency in the way the body uses insulin--remains the most common form of diabetes, and makes up more than 90 percent of all diabetes cases. In addition, 10 percent of all women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which blocks a mother's ability to use insulin and can complicate the health of both the mother and the baby. Without proper treatment, diabetes can lead to serious and sometimes deadly complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, lower limb amputations, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and even stroke. prgtoken In my home state of California, more than 4 million people-- approximately 13 percent of the adult population in our state--have diabetes. What's worse, more than 1 million Californians have diabetes, but have not been tested and are unaware that they are living with the disease. An astounding 10 million Californians have prediabetes, which is a health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. By the end of this year, 263,000 residents of our state will be newly diagnosed with diabetes. prgtoken The troubling increase in the number of Americans living with diagnosed diabetes has also increased the overall economic costs of treating the disease. According to a 2018 American Diabetes Association report, in 2017 the cost for treating diabetes was an astounding $327 billion. Americans diagnosed with diabetes had medical expenses that were 2.3 times higher than Americans without diabetes, and spent, on average, $9,600 on healthcare expenditures. That same report found that in the state of California, the overall cost of medical expenses and treatment of diabetes was $27 billion. prgtoken For minority communities around the country, the risk of developing diabetes or suffering from complications of the disease is devastatingly heightened. Diabetes effects 15 percent of American Indians and Alaska natives, 13 percent of African Americans, 12 percent of Hispanics, and 8 percent of Asian Americans. Though they are most impacted and at risk of developing diabetes, it's no secret that minorities often lack access to quality health care, are more likely to have prediabetes, are more likely to suffer from complications of diabetes, and in some cases, are nearly twice as likely to die from diabetes. prgtoken To this end, for many years, I have proudly authored and fough
HONORING GARY MERVIS, CHAIRMAN OF THE ROCHESTER PROJECT EXILE ADVISORY BOARD
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-11-26

. Madam , today I rise to honor Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board and Camp Good Days founder, Gary Mervis. prgtoken Gary has been the Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board since its inception in 1998. It is the longest running Project Exile in the country. There is a reason this program has withstood the sands of time--its success is abundantly clear and the statistics are staggering. I was fascinated by the facts and figures of this program's success--five hundred seventy-seven defendants indicted and fifteen thousand six hundred illegal guns removed from our streets. That last statistic is incredible, since Rochester had a homicide rating of seventy in the late nineties when this program began. The homicide rate qualified Rochester as having the highest per capita homicide rate of any city in New York State. prgtoken In developing this program, community leaders, officials and other community members stood up and said ``No more!'' Gary and his colleagues began meeting once a month to help battle the scourge of illegal guns and drugs in this community, doing what they could do to make things better. As it has been said, ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'' Gary and his fellow citizens of Rochester could have remained motionless and let guns and drugs take over the neighborhoods--but they did not. Instead, they gathered together and created a really remarkable program that works-- and it shows. Those statistics from the nineties have never recurred. I applaud Gary's leadership and the efforts of those involved with Project Exile and encourage these efforts to continue on into the future. This program has been a shining beacon for others throughout the country--and its success has allowed other programs to flourish as well. prgtoken Gary has clearly given much of himself for his community in service. I thank Gary for all that he has done and will do in the future. prgtoken Given the above, l ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to honor Chairman of the Rochester Project Exile Advisory Board and Camp Good Days founder, Gary Mervis.
IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JOSEPH C. McCONNELL, JR.
Paul Cook (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-11-26

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor the life of United States Air Force Captain Joseph C. McConnell, Jr. Before his tragic death in a flight-testing accident, Captain McConnell served his country in both World War II and the Korean War, where he was a triple jet ace and still holds the American record for most jet kills. prgtoken Captain McConnell entered the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943 during World War II; flying 60 combat missions in Europe as a B-24 Liberator navigator. Following the war, he went on to earn his pilot wings in 1948 and subsequently fought in the Korean War. Captain McConnell served as a pilot with the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Fifth Air Force and was stationed at George Air Force Base in Victorville before being assigned to K13 in the Republic of Korea. Within four months, Capt. McConnell had shot down 16 enemy fighter jets, becoming the leading jet ace of the Korean War and the first triple jet ace in American history. ``For his extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations'', President Eisenhower presented Capt. McConnell with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Nation's second highest decoration for valor. On August 25, 1954, Capt. McConnell was killed while service testing the newer, more powerful F- 86H Sabre at George Air Force Base. prgtoken Captain McConnell's skill and daring over foreign battlefields in defense of our nation was unmatched during the Korean War. Although he was tragically taken from this earth far too early, his spirit lives on in the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force that continue to follow in his footsteps today.
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF MARK BLISS
Jason Smith (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-11-26

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of journalist Mark Bliss, who is retiring after a 40-year, distinguished career in journalism, which included over 30 years spent reporting for our local prgtoken paper the Southeast Missourian. For my whole life--literally--Mark has been a stoic reporter of news both local and national, and our community has been made better off by his work. prgtoken I was fortunate to work with Mark as he reported on politics in Missouri and Washington, DC. He accompanied me to many farm visits and trips to local businesses, and I knew to expect his call when issues affecting our country arose. At every meeting, his sharp thinking and dogged determination to find the best story for his readers was apparent, and he challenged me to work harder, ask more questions, and match his incredible tenacity and enthusiasm for the people around us. prgtoken Before he ever shook my hand or typed my name in one of his columns, however, I, and many in our community, knew him intimately. He tempered his no-nonsense reporting of the news with a tender, emotional, humorous weekly column titled ``Mark My Word,'' which touched on topics including politics, business, family, and food--in one word: life. He introduced himself to readers at the same time as he informed them about the goings-on of their town, state, and world. prgtoken Mark's reporting is a perfect example of why a healthy, local press is essential to the flourishing of any community. Because of Mark's natural inquisitiveness and wealth of historical knowledge, his columns put events in context and made them matter to his community. He not only reported on current events but understood them, and he was able to report the news in a way that helped his readers understand them as well. At a time when it felt as if a different local paper was closing every other month, Mark reminded us of what local news could and should be--and why it is so important to support these vital organizations. For this reason and many others, I am sad to see him retire, but I am thankful for the long record of service he leaves behind.
IN HONOR OF THE NCAA 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Brett Guthrie (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-11-29

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) 150th anniversary of college football. In November 1869, the first college football game was played between Princeton University and Rutgers University. In the 150 years that have followed, college football has become one of America's favorite pastimes. I, for one, enjoy rooting for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, and for my alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy. Congratulations to the NCAA and all of the talented athletes on 150 years of college football--and here's to 150 more. Go Army, Beat Navy.
HONORING MARILYN ELAINE HARBORD
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-29

. Madam , I rise today to honor Marilyn Elaine Harbord on her 90th birthday. prgtoken Marilyn Elaine Harbord was born in Turlock, California in 1929 and was raised in Newman, California. She earned her associate degree in Art from Stockton Junior College, a bachelor's degree in Business and Art from San Jose State University and attended graduate courses in Secondary Education at California State University, Chico. In 1985, Ms. Harbord began her public service in the California State Legislature as a legislative secretary for Assembly Member Norman Waters. Her passion and dedication to serving the people of California didn't stop there, as she would spend three years from 1990 to 1993 as a legislative secretary for former State Senator Mike Thompson. prgtoken In addition to her political advocacy, Ms. Harbord is an active member of her local community. She has volunteered for many local organizations, including those that worked with children, while working at various times as a travel agent in Chico, California, and as a business manager for the advertising and publicity department of Columbia Pictures. She also served as the secretary for the Gold Fields mining corporation in Cameron Park, California. Ms. Harbord is a hardworking professional who dedicated her life to serving the community--and the causes--she so passionately cared about. prgtoken Ms. Harbord is proud to share her long and rich history in public service with her four children, Nancy, Linda, Kenneth and Janet, along with her eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Her family describes her as a mother and grandmother with an exceptional sense of humor and creativity, which she continues to incorporate in her hobbies, such as gardening and writing. prgtoken Madam , Marilyn Elaine Harbord is an outstanding citizen who sought to better the livelihood of our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2019-12-2

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, December 3; further, 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, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Komitee nomination under the previous order; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the conference meetings.
RECOGNIZING R & H MACHINE, INC.
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-12-2

as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor R & H Machine, Inc located in Caldwell, as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for December 2019. prgtoken R & H Machine's story began on a wheat farm in Washington State in the 1950s. In an effort to supplement their income, wheat farmers Ray and Arline Stueckle began welding and selling replacement farm equipment made of chrome alloy, a durable material that greatly expanded the lifecycle of farm equipment. After several decades of growth, the family business moved its operations to Caldwell in 1978 to better serve its clientele across the Pacific Northwest. prgtoken Today, R & H Machine is owned and operated by the Stueckles' daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dave Organ. The business manufactures and sells a product line of about 1,500 parts made from chrome alloy and distributes thousands of farm tools across the U.S. R & H Machine equipment is estimated to last about 15 years longer than the life of standard equipment and three to five times longer than the life of hard-faced equipment. Dave Organ is constantly designing and developing new parts at the request of his customers. The Organ family prides itself on upholding the founder's commitment to providing the farmer the best deal possible and a superior product. prgtoken Congratulations to Dave and Kathy Organ and all of the employees at R & H Machine, Inc for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for December 2019. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.
Senate Legislative Agenda (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-12-2

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break, and I trust the Presiding Officer did, too. I hope all enjoyed time with their families and friends last week. prgtoken It was my pleasure to be back home in Texas and spend time with some incredible people who and some organizations that are doing a lot of good in their communities. prgtoken For example, I volunteered at the Central Texas Food Bank, which has a service area that is twice the size of Massachusetts. It has been fighting hunger for nearly four decades. I joined those there to help distribute to low-income families some of the food they had collected as they prepared for Thanksgiving, and I had the chance to speak with dozens of constituents there in the Austin area. prgtoken Then I got in my car and went south about 70 miles to San Antonio, which is my hometown, where I volunteered with the preparations for the 40th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner. As I said, this dinner has been going on for 40 years, and it serves 25,000 people each year in the San Antonio area who might otherwise go hungry. The numbers are immense. I spent a little bit of time as a volunteer with a number of folks and picked the turkeys apart and broke them up into small, bite- sized pieces. They told me that they served 9,400 pounds of turkey during this 40th anniversary dinner. It is really one of my favorite events each year, and it was made even more special since they dedicated this year's dinner to Mary, Raul's wife, who, sadly, passed away earlier this year. prgtoken Then I traveled up to Wichita Falls, where I was able to spend a little bit of time at Sheppard Air Force Base with the families of deployed airmen. I think it is very important that we remember, particularly during the holidays, that having a loved one in the military service who is deployed and separated from the rest of the family involves a lot of sacrifice, not only on the part of the servicemember but on the ones who are left behind, as that hole in your heart feels a little bit bigger during the holidays. prgtoken My dad served 31 years in the U.S. Air Force. Fortunately, by the time I came along, his long-term deployments had long been over. Still, every time I meet a young family whose loved one is deployed overseas while the family waits behind, it tugs at my heartstrings. So we thank not only those who wear the uniform of the U.S. military but those family members as well, who, I believe, also serve. prgtoken We have an all-volunteer military. No one makes you join the military anymore in America. We should thank all of them for their service in different ways. prgtoken It was encouraging to me to meet with these patriots and thank them for their sacrifices and help to distribute a little bit of Thanksgiving love and food ahead of the holiday. prgtoken I came back here to Washington refreshed, having spent that time with constituents and family and friends, and I am eager to get back to
TRIBUTE TO JAY GRASSLEY
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-12-2

on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, my wife Barbara and I traveled to Carroll, IA, for the induction of our youngest son, Jay Grassley, to the Iowa Girls Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. Jay earned this honor through his work over the last 29 years as a volleyball official. Jay has officiated the most Iowa high school volleyball finals in history with 14 games. With one exception, Jay has officiated at every Iowa State volleyball tournament since 1995. This outstanding record demonstrates Jay's dedication to his work as an official. prgtoken In addition to his officiating, Jay has been a coach and mentor to volleyball players for more than 30 years. His interest in volleyball started when he was a student at the University of Northern Iowa. Jay started the Six Pack Volleyball Club in 1990, and after years of building a strong reputation, his team earned the USA Volleyball 18s Division National Championship title in 2011. prgtoken As I travel across Iowa for my annual 99 county meetings, I often run into Iowans whose relationship with Jay has had a lasting impact. They commonly ask that I tell Jay ``hi'' and follow with a story of how he was a mentor and coach to them or one of their children. As a father, those are heartwarming sentiments for me to hear. Jay's kind nature and motivational spirit help him to connect with people of all ages and make his influence all the more worthwhile. At the hall of fame induction, Jay's fellow coaches and officials described him as ``one of, if not the best, official(s) out there.'' prgtoken Barbara and I are very proud of Jay being named to the Iowa Girls Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
Nomination of Dan R. Brouillette (Executive Session)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-12-2

within a few minutes, we will be voting on the President's nomination for the new U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette. I am here to offer my support for Mr. Brouillette, and I hope my colleagues will vote for him. I am confident that, with his leadership, we will continue to build on the progress we have made under Secretary Rick Perry. prgtoken Secretary Perry has been a very effective Secretary of Energy during his time here. He has used his executive and political skills, which are considerable in his having been the Governor of Texas longer than anybody and in his having been involved in politics for a while, to take charge of this very important Department and lead it in a very strong way. prgtoken For example, one of the best kept secrets in Washington, DC, is that over the last 5 years, we have had a record level of funding for supercomputing, which has allowed the United States to be the first in the world in competition with China and Japan and other countries. We have had significant increases in funding for National Laboratories--a 42-percent increase over 5 years. That is record funding. Secretary Perry has also helped to save taxpayers' dollars by having made sure the huge construction projects we have in some of the Department of Energy's facilities have been brought under control. So Mr. Brouillette, should he be confirmed by the Senate tonight, will be following a very distinguished Secretary in Rick Perry. prgtoken I look forward to working with Mr. Brouillette. I and Senator Feinstein, of California, are the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. We have worked very well together over the last, nearly, 10 years in supporting the Department both under the administration and under the administration. We have worked in a bipartisan way and have had strong support from our colleagues, which has been made possible by excellent Secretaries of Energy. I believe Mr. Brouillette will be yet another one of them. prgtoken He knows the Department well, as he has been the Deputy Secretary since 2017. In my conversations with laboratory directors and others across the country, they feel like he knows them well. I know that this is true in Tennessee. For example, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is our largest science and energy laboratory, Mr. Brouillette has been crucial in the building of the world's fastest supercomputer, Frontier, which is housed in Oak Ridge. As Senator Feinstein and I have insisted, he has also been crucial in making sure that we stay on time and on budget in the building of a huge uranium processing facility at Oak Ridge, which has been the largest Federal construction project in our State since World War II, when the Manhattan Project was created there. prgtoken Mr. Brouillette has visited the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He understands the important work being done there, both at the laborato