mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO WAYNE HAVER
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2018-4-25

today I wish to recognize and congratulate Mr. Wayne Haver, principal of Southside High School in Fort Smith, AR. Mr. Haver will retire at the end of this school year after 48 years of service to Fort Smith Public Schools. prgtoken Having started as a teacher at Southside in 1970, Mr. Haver has had a long, distinguished career as an educator and administrator. He became an assistant principal at the school in 1974 and, in 1982 was named principal and has served in that role ever since. prgtoken Enrollment at Southside now stands at over 1,500 students, and the community has witnessed how much the school has changed and grown under Mr. Haver's guidance. Thousands of students have graduated from the school during his tenure. prgtoken As principal for more than 35 years, some of those graduates have returned as teachers and now work alongside an educator who served as a mentor both while they were students and now as instructors. Southside has also been recognized three times as a School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, a testament to Mr. Haver's leadership. prgtoken In 2013, Mr. Haver was named Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Education Office Professionals. At the time, he was only the second Arkansas educator to have received the award. prgtoken Upon his retirement, Principal Haver will be leaving an incredible legacy of education and service to his community. He is only the second principal Southside High School has ever had in its 55-year history. He has spent his career devoted to education, seldom missing a day of work. He is admired by his staff, who say he is an incredible man to work for and will be greatly missed. prgtoken His musical ability has been cherished by students and faculty alike and will be remembered fondly after he retires. He learned to play the school's fight song on his harmonica, and his performances became a fixture at pep rallies and other school events. prgtoken I congratulate Wayne Haver on a remarkable career and admire his dedication to the students and families of Fort Smith and Southside High School. As a native of Fort Smith, I am incredibly proud of everything he has accomplished. His dedication and professionalism have certainly helped to make the community a better place to live. I wish him all the best in retirement and thank him for his countless contributions to Southside High School.
RECOGNIZING MOLLY McLAUGHLIN SALMI
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today to recognize--and say farewell-- to a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce staff who is retiring after more than 29 years of public service to the People's House. prgtoken Molly McLaughlin Salmi began her congressional career on the Committee as a Staff Assistant in the 100th Congress. With hard work and unparalleled policy expertise, she rose through the ranks, serving as the Deputy Director of Workforce Policy for the last 16 years. prgtoken Eight Committee Chairs--s and --have had the benefit of Molly's guidance, direction, and honest feedback. Her tireless dedication to sound policy and extensive knowledge has resulted in a better workplace for every working American. prgtoken Molly has relentlessly worked to modernize wage and hour laws-- clarifying requirements that would otherwise have a detrimental effect on working Americans, preserving volunteer opportunities, enhancing employment opportunities for America's youth, and, in particular, increasing workplace flexibility. prgtoken Molly has navigated us through countless hearings, markups, floor debates, field hearings, member briefings, roundtable discussions, and stakeholder meetings, and through it all, she has been a trusted adviser, dedicated public servant, distinguished colleague, and an invaluable member of our Committeee family. prgtoken While Molly's policy achievements over the years are immeasurable, she is equally regarded for her mentorship and grace. Countless young staffers have been blessed to receive Molly's advice and guidance, much to their great appreciation and benefit. prgtoken Molly Salmi, on behalf of my colleagues, we are deeply grateful for your many years of service to the American people and the U.S. House of Representatives, and we wish you all the best in the years ahead.
COMMENDING LOCAL 2018 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FOR THEIR DECISION TO ENLIST IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND OUR COMMUNITY SALUTES OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA FOR HOSTING THE SEVENTH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL...
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today to recognize the 47 Frederick, Virginia area high school seniors who plan to enlist in the United States Navy after graduation. These students have excelled in their academic and extracurricular activities, and I offer my sincere congratulations upon their high school graduation. prgtoken I commend these student leaders for their selflessness and courageous decision to serve their country as members of the United States Navy. prgtoken Hakeem Allen; Alejandro Ambrizrodriguez; Robert Ammen; Gregory Andrews; Patrick Ayala; Arlice Baker; Johannes Booysen; Kole Cacho; Joshua Campbell; Bobbie Dube; Nakita Dubrovin; Schaylene Liam Durso; Alexander Eshoo; Daeshawn Gallaway; Lauren Gruber; Stephen Guyton; Marcus Jomah; Allen Jones; Catherine Keller; Jacob Layton; Riley Lemison; John Lipscomb; Devin Majean; Austin Martin; Christopher Martin; James McCulloch; Tyler McElroy; Cole Minicucci; Ronnie Norton; Maria Pavon Bonilla; Emma Pierce; Hunter Rankin; Zachary Resch; Morgan Rizzo; Candace Romagna; Preston Short; Christopher Smith; Kyle Staymates; Dante Stephens; Zoltan Szombathy; Brianna Thompson; Noah Thompson; Brandon Tolbert; Dominic Traver; Nicholas Willging; Ethan Williams; Zoe Williams. prgtoken These students will be honored by the Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Our Community Salutes at their 7th Annual Military Enlistee Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. prgtoken , I ask colleagues to join me in thanking these young men and women and their families for their dedication to serving this great Nation. We owe them and the many Americans who have served and will serve a debt of gratitude.
RECOGNIZING BAY COUNTY JAIL ASSISTANT WARDEN FRANK OWENS ON HIS RETIREMENT
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today to recognize the Assistant Warden of the Bay County Jail, Frank Owens and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement. Assistant Warden Owens began his career in law enforcement in 1968, but his love and respect for law enforcement began many years before that. Over the years he has worked in Tallahassee and Georgia, before choosing to settle down in Bay County in 2006. prgtoken Mr. Owens dedicated his life to law enforcement--50 years to be exact--it's what makes him happy. Every day he wakes up, he is excited to go to work. For Frank Owens, serving in law enforcement was never just a job, it was a calling. prgtoken , please join me in saying thank you to the Assistant Warden of the Bay County Jail, Frank Owens and his family, for their years of service and sacrifice, and wish them luck as they move on to enjoy a new chapter in life.
NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican, TN) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise this evening on behalf of some of my greatest constituents, Oak Ridge High School, in the Third District of Tennessee. prgtoken The Department of Energy created the National Science Bowl in 1991. This is one of the most prestigious competitions in math and science for our high school and middle school students. prgtoken Oak Ridge High School is the only high school in the great State of Tennessee to participate in the finals this year that will take place this weekend. prgtoken I would like to announce that Joseph Andress, Henry Shen, Steven Qu, Melody Guo, and Batu Odbadrakh are our outstanding students for Oak Ridge High School. prgtoken Go Oak Ridge. Go National Science Bowl. Go America.
CORRECTIONS Act (Executive Session)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2018-4-25

I am glad to be here today to be on the Senate floor to rise to urge my colleagues to confirm Mike Pompeo as our next Secretary of State. prgtoken The Senate is an institution built on history and tradition. We hear that quite a bit as we walk the halls, particularly where it comes to confirmations. prgtoken Confirming the President's Cabinet, confirming judges, confirming a Supreme Court Justice, I think, is one of the greatest honors that we enjoy as Senators. prgtoken Recent Secretaries of State have enjoyed strong bipartisan support from this Chamber during their own confirmation process. Hillary Clinton was confirmed by a vote of 94 to 2. John Kerry was confirmed by a vote of 94 to 3. These are overwhelming, bipartisan votes, and it is not because everybody in this Chamber agrees with everything Secretary Clinton or Secretary Kerry would have done on most of the foreign policy questions. The result is the Senate's strong tradition of confirming qualified nominees to represent the United States on the world stage. This very crucial position, Secretary of State, gives the President his or her voice around the world in the diplomatic realm. But when it comes to the confirmation of this nominee, Mike Pompeo, many of my colleagues have prgtoken seemed way too ready to brush aside this long-held tradition. What is the reason for this? I think you would agree with me--the reason is pretty obvious--that it is just flat-out partisanship. Partisanship is the only explanation because it certainly could not be, is not, and will not be the nominee's qualifications. prgtoken We have all heard Mike Pompeo's resume by now. His list of experience and accomplishments make him more than qualified to serve as this Nation's top diplomat. I think some of his qualifications are worth repeating. prgtoken He was first in his class at West Point. He was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army and served honorably. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. prgtoken After law school, Mike worked at one of the country's very prestigious and top law firms before he cofounded a company where he served as CEO. He then joined another company where, again, he served as the CEO. prgtoken That was all before Mike was elected to serve four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where I was very fortunate, in my years as a U.S. Congresswoman, to serve and work alongside him and to call him my colleague. prgtoken During his time in Congress, he served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Just on the title alone, ``Permanent Select''--it is a committee selected by the and the minority leader--you know that it is extremely important because it deals with all of the Nation's intelligence. prgtoken We know that after he left that position as a Congressman, he became President 's Director of the CIA. By all accounts and by all
MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise in support of H.R. 5447, The Music Modernization Act there is broad, bipartisan agreement that current music licensing laws no longer meet the needs of creators and music providers in the digital age. Southern California has established itself as a leader in the entertainment industry, and supporting our artists and music industry is a job creator for my constituents. prgtoken This bill would address the inefficiencies in the music industry's licensing system by establishing uniformity in the licensing process. Licenses will now be managed by one entity which in turn would be paid for by the licensees. In addition to an increase in efficiency, the Music Modernization Act would foster a more transparent relationship between creators and music platforms. Information regarding music owed royalties would be easily accessible through the database created by the Music Modernization Act. This transparency will surely improve the working relationship between creators and music platforms and aid the music industry's innovation process. prgtoken Most importantly, this bill would establish a uniformed rate that would allow song writers and artists to receive fair market pay for their ideas and creations. prgtoken As a society, we value the work and products of artists, creators, and the music industry. For years now, creators, and music providers have spoken out about the outdated music licensing process and the issues they repeatedly face because of its flawed system. It is only fair that we address these inefficiencies and bring the music industries' processes in accordance with the digital age.
Tax Reform (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-4-25

. Thank you. prgtoken , as the Senate considers the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State, we have to ask ourselves many questions. Among them are these: Will Mr. Pompeo offer the kind of independent judgment that is necessary to help restrain President 's worst impulses, or will he be somebody who becomes a ``yes'' man to the President of the United States? Will Mr. Pompeo continue in his past attitude, which reflects a ``shoot first, ask questions later'' approach to foreign policy? And can somebody like Mr. Pompeo, who has made very divisive, polarizing, and, in fact, hateful remarks here in the United States be able to reflect American values abroad? prgtoken I regret to conclude that I do not think Mr. Pompeo can pass these tests, and I will oppose his nomination for Secretary of State. prgtoken We all know that our country is facing formidable challenges. Armed conflicts are raging in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, creating refugee crises across borders. Russia's campaign to undermine Western democracies continues at pace and has sharpened divisions in our society. It has bolstered populous movements at home and abroad, and we have seen terrorist networks continue to expand their reach into information space. Changes in our climate have resulted in drought, natural disaster, and famine, and as the President of France reminded a joint session of Congress today, there is no planet B. prgtoken Of the many crises we are confronting, at least one of them is entirely of President 's own making, and that is the potential unraveling of the Iran nuclear agreement. Let me say that I agree with all of those who believe that we should never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. That is exactly why it is so important to keep that agreement in place. prgtoken In just a few weeks, President will make a decision. He will decide whether to waive the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in order to keep the Iran agreement intact or whether to blow up that agreement. prgtoken As the President of France reminded us today, that agreement was forged with our European allies, Russia and China, and yet it has cut off Iran's pathways to nuclear bombs, it has imposed very tough constraints on their nuclear program, and it has subjected Iran to the most comprehensive inspection and monitoring regime ever negotiated--an inspection regime that would disappear if we backed out of that agreement, leaving us blind to exactly what the Iranians were doing with respect to their nuclear program. prgtoken Our State Department, our Defense Department, and our intelligence community have all assessed time and again that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear agreement. Secretary of Defense Mattis testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee just last fall that the Iran deal was in the national security interest of the United States. Despite that consensus even prgtoken among the President's current
MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today in support of the Music Modernization Act. I also come from one of those districts that is a hub. prgtoken After meeting with songwriters and producers in my district and listening to their testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, it is clear we risk losing the next generation of songwriters if we do not address the rate standards for digital streaming. prgtoken Recently, I met with world-renown songwriter, Paul Williams, and I have had open discussions with hundreds of songwriters from around the country. Songwriters from my district have voiced that it is nearly impossible to earn a fair income via digital streaming. They are usually not the famous performers and cannot go on tour to earn a living. prgtoken Over 50 percent of their income is derived from licensing performance rights to their music. One of my constituents, Michelle Lewis, shared that she made just $3.78 for 1.3 million streams of her work on one streaming service. As the Grammy Award winning artist and songwriter Ne-Yo stated: ``Even if you write a hit song that's streamed millions of times, you're still not going to earn enough to pay the rent from streaming. And that's where the entire industry is moving,'' which prgtoken is why I support the Songwriters Equity Act, AMP, the CLASSICS Act, and MMA. prgtoken MMA also closes a loophole, which has negatively impacted early music icons of Motown, jazz, blues, and rock and roll. According to Grammy Award winning artist Dionne Warwick: ``How could it be that 1979's `I'll Never Love This Way Again' receive compensation, but 1969's `I'll Never Fall in Love Again' . . . does not?'' prgtoken Recently, legacy songwriter and performer Darlene Love visited my office to express her support for closing the legacy loophole. Born in Los Angeles, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. She sang backup for Elvis, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. After decades of listening to her hard work being streamed without being compensated, with the passage of MMA, she and other songwriters will finally have access to the fair compensation they deserve. prgtoken If we are serious about supporting a next generation of songwriters, then we must continue to address antiquated, though well-intentioned, laws.
CELEBRATING THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today to recognize the celebration of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's 120th Anniversary. A time capsule will be buried on April 25, 2018 to commemorate this momentous occasion at Roswell Park's campus in Buffalo, New York. The capsule will remain sealed until the year 2118. prgtoken Included in this time capsule along with contributions from many others from the Western New York community will be a copy of this extension of remarks presented alongside a speech I delivered on the Floor of the House of Representatives last week calling for the continuation of Roswell Park's distinguished standing as a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center. prgtoken Doctor Roswell Park gave the world cancer research when he opened as the first dedicated cancer center in 1898, and this esteemed facility has been contributing to our understanding of cancer and pioneering treatments ever since. prgtoken For 120 years Roswell Park has been recognized nationally for its groundbreaking work in the fight against cancer. That same confidence is felt by people here in Western New York who walk through those doors every day knowing that Roswell Park is the home of compassionate cancer experts who care for those afflicted with cancer. prgtoken Roswell Park gave the world the first preclinical chemotherapy program, the prostate-specific antigen test, and it is collaborating today with Cuba on a promising new lung cancer vaccine. New clinical trials to treat metastatic breast cancer and immunotherapy are occurring there today. prgtoken Today's discoveries provide great hope for the future of cancer prevention and treatment. While it is uncertain what cancer care will look like 100 years from now, it is certain that Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will be leading the way. prgtoken , I thank you for allowing me this time to recognize the great influence that Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has had not only in the great city of Buffalo, but throughout the nation. It is an honor to celebrate this anniversary today.
Dark Money (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-4-25

I rise today to join my colleagues and to associate myself with their remarks on the critically important issue of unlimited and unaccountable money in our political system. I would like to thank my colleague from Rhode Island, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, for organizing this speaking series and for being a national leader on the issue of campaign finance reform. prgtoken While my colleagues make important points about how our rigged campaign finance system can and does serve as a channel for anonymous billionaires and special interests to exert undue influence across our political system, I would like to focus my remarks on a related issue: how our broken campaign finance system also threatens our national security. prgtoken There is no serious dispute that malign foreign actors like Russia are working to subvert our democratic processes and sow chaos in our political system. As we have seen, their strategies depend not on direct conventional attacks upon our Nation, but an prgtoken asymmetric approach that exploits the existing divisions and vulnerabilities of our open society, our democratic institutions, and our free markets. prgtoken Even though we are now aware of this, we have not taken the necessary steps to repair the situation. Indeed, our Nation retains a campaign finance system that empowers anonymous donors to funnel unlimited amounts of money to influence public policy at every level of government, and to hide their actions behind corporations. prgtoken This misguided system, which fell into place in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010, allegedly has been exploited by foreign adversaries to advance their agendas on our soil. prgtoken How does this threat work? Prior to Citizens United, an incorporated entity did not have the same right as a flesh-and-blood human being to make contributions and expenditures in elections. This distinction makes sense. Corporations typically are permanent legal entities. They can amass outsized sums of wealth and, critically, they can shield the human beings behind them from scrutiny and liability. It is easier for those who wish to circumvent the laws protecting our democratic system to do so from behind a corporate mask. Thus, when the Supreme Court gave corporations the right to make unlimited independent expenditures in elections, it also opened the door for those who wish to hide their election spending to cover their tracks with shell companies and other entities that only exist on paper. prgtoken Our Nation historically has sought to safeguard our system of government from foreign influence. The Constitution requires the President to be a natural-born citizen. Early lobbying disclosure reforms were crafted with the threat of foreign propaganda in mind. And it remains a Federal crime for a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to spend money to influence our elections. But how can we know that authorities have the