mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING MODESTO FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF SEAN SLAMON
Jeff Denham (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-3-21

I rise today to acknowledge and honor Modesto Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon, who announced his retirement after serving the community of Modesto for 29 years. prgtoken In 1989, Sean began his successful career with the Modesto Fire Department. Throughout his many years of service, he has held various positions, including Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Training Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief of Operations and Training, and Fire Chief since August 2014. prgtoken In addition to his dedicated service, Chief Slamon previously served as President of the Training Officers section of the California Fire Chiefs Association and remains on the team as an Area Director. Currently, Sean is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the California Fire Chiefs Association, in addition to being the former President of the Stanislaus County Fire Chiefs. prgtoken Knowing that education is the key to success, Chief Slamon obtained a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Studies from California State University, Long Beach as well as an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science from Modesto Junior College. He has furthered his education and training by obtaining numerous certificates from the California State Fire Marshalls Office and FEMA, and is a state certified instructor in numerous command and management courses. prgtoken Sean has been happily married to his wife, Shannon, for 23 years. Together, they have two children: Zachary, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate who is currently serving as an Airman 1st Class in the United States Air Force, and Courtney, a Senior in High School, who will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the Fall. prgtoken Chief Slamon's 29 years of experience, knowledge, and commitment are unparalelled. His expertise has led him on a new journey as the Fire Chief of the Carson City Fire Department. prgtoken , please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to the Modesto Fire Department by Chief Sean Slamon as we wish him continued success in his future endeavors.
SAN JACINTO COLLEGE NAMED 5TH BEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE NATION
Pete Olson (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-21

I rise today to congratulate San Jacinto College of Houston, TX, for being named the fifth best community college in the country by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. prgtoken Ten top-notch community colleges were nominated for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Award for the schools' student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings for graduates and accessibility and success of minority and lower income students. San Jacinto was recognized because of its extreme focus on supporting and working with students to ensure they are the most equipped to find a job and prepare for life after graduation. Between 2007 and 2015, the number of certificates and associate degrees San Jacinto College has awarded has increased by an impressive 140 percent. San Jacinto College works closely with local workforce to develop degree programs that match employment needs and their strong leadership is paying off for their students and our local money. prgtoken On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to San Jacinto College for being named the fifth best community college in the country. We are proud of their strong commitment to prepare students for life after graduation. Keep up the good work.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2017-3-21

if I make it to Heaven--and I hope I do-- the first question I am going to ask God is why bad things happen to good people. We have had some bad things happen in Louisiana to some really good people, as my colleague from Louisiana just referred to. prgtoken This past weekend, while most of us slept, Louisiana lost yet another officer in the line of duty. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office Sergeant Shawn Anderson--as shown in this photograph here--was a law enforcement veteran. He was a military veteran, and he was a father. He served high-risk warrants. He had been recognized for doing his job without having resorted to firing his weapon. In short, he was an American hero, and he was a Louisiana hero. prgtoken On Saturday night, Sergeant Anderson was just doing his job. He went into a barbershop in search of a suspected rapist. Sergeant Anderson lost his life. A line of law enforcement vehicles escorted his body from the scene, and their flashing blue lights lit up the dark night. prgtoken It has been a tough few months for our law enforcement families in Louisiana. We have buried six officers who were shot and killed simply because they were wearing a badge. prgtoken In January, Westwego Police Officer Michael Louviere stopped to help at a traffic accident, and he was shot in the back of the head. Michael was not even on duty. He was driving home and saw an accident and immediately stopped his car to help. That is the kind of person he was. prgtoken The Presiding Officer and all of those listening to me today, no doubt, saw the news footage as to what unfolded along a busy Baton Rouge highway last summer. July will no longer be just about hot dogs and fireworks for us in Louisiana. The shootings that took the lives of three law enforcement officers shattered our summer and broke our hearts. prgtoken Just a month earlier, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Deputy David Michel was shot three times in the back--not once, not twice, but three times--and he died in Harvey. His killer, apparently, shot him because the killer did not want to return to jail. prgtoken I would ask all of those who wish to, to join me in saying a prayer for these law enforcement officers and their families. They were sons and they were fathers and they are going to miss out on holidays and birthdays and graduations. They were men who sacrificed their lives so we could sleep a little bit better at night. prgtoken Let us also, while we are praying for these brave men--and, yes, women too--pray for an end to the violence. We have had enough flashing blue lights light up the dark nights in Louisiana. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF REPRESENTATIVE ENI FALEOMAVAEGA
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-3-21

I rise today to honor the life and memory of a true statesman, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega. prgtoken I'm Congressman Paul Gosar and I represent Arizona's Fourth Congressional District. prgtoken I am also Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. prgtoken I would like to start by thanking Congresswoman Amata for her great leadership in the House of Representatives and for organizing this bipartisan special order today to pay tribute to our colleague Eni. prgtoken On February 22, 2017, a Member of the House who served the Congress and represented the people of American Samoa for 26 years, passed away out West while at his home in Utah. prgtoken Eni was a patriot who honorably served this great nation in uniform in the U.S. Army. Unfortunately, he was exposed to Agent Orange during one of his tours, something that negatively impacted his health for the rest of his life. prgtoken Eni did not let this incident hold him back though and went on to serve our great country for nearly three decades as the Delegate for American Samoa. He also served the territory as its Lieutenant Governor. prgtoken I got to know Eni through our work together on the House Committee on Natural Resources. Eni was a passionate and effective member on issues impacting the Pacific. prgtoken Eni was a devoted husband and father of five children. Eni and his wife were active members of their church. prgtoken Family, friends and colleagues were saddened to learn of his passing last month. This demonstrates just how much he will be missed. I am confident there will be a large turnout next Saturday the 25th at his memorial service and subsequent reception that follows to celebrate his life. prgtoken Again, I would like to thank Congresswoman Amata for organizing this most worthy tribute to our colleague Eni. Eni left big shoes to fill, but Congresswoman Amata has stepped up, continued the excellent representation the people of American Samoa have come to expect, and become an effective leader that is respected throughout the country. prgtoken I know Eni would be proud of the Congresswoman and the great work she has done for American Samoa.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2017-3-21

I rise today to pay tribute to Warren Blaylock, a friend and true public servant who was a lifelong resident of Crawford County, AR. Warren was a World War II veteran and someone I admired greatly for the vital role he played in his community for decades. prgtoken Born in 1921, Warren grew up near Alma, AR, and knew the harsh realities that many Americans encountered during the Great Depression. He graduated from Alma High School and went on to join the Army during World War II. During the war, he served as a combat medic with the 67th Evacuation Hospital. His unit landed at Normandy just days after the Allied forces stormed the beaches on D-day and went on to follow the Allies as they marched through Europe. Warren was promoted to first sergeant while serving in Europe, and he received several awards and commendations, including two Bronze Stars, the Superior Unit Award, and the Combat Medical Badge. prgtoken I am so thankful for his service alongside so many others in the ``greatest generation'' as they risked their lives in the defense of freedom. prgtoken Even after he left the service, Warren spent the rest of his life giving back to his community and advocating for causes he believed in. prgtoken After returning home from the war, he attended the University of Arkansas and earned a bachelor's degree in business. In his professional life, he was vice president and general manager of the Derrel Thomas Company in Van Buren, AR. Still, Warren found time to participate in numerous civic organizations within the community. He was an active member of the Alma United Methodist Church for decades and served on the Methodist Health and Rehabilitation Board for 41 years. Additionally, Warren served on various other boards and organizations and was a pillar in the community. Perhaps most notably, he was a member of the Rotary Club--first in Van Buren and then in Fort Smith--for 54 years and maintained perfect attendance. This is just one example of Warren's dedication to serving and giving back to Arkansas. prgtoken While Warren never sought recognition for the work he did on behalf of his community, his contributions were noticed and recognized by the city of Alma, as well as on the regional and State levels. He was inducted into the Arkansas Senior Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2015, I had the honor of participating in the ceremony where Warren was inducted into the Arkansas Military Hall of Fame on the basis of his honorable military service and exceptional State and community service. This was yet another reminder of how loved and valued Warren was by so many people whose lives he touched. prgtoken As active as he was, Warren always enjoyed spending time on his ranch tending to his livestock. In fact, he was also a talented auctioneer who would lend his skills to various charitable auctions and events. prgtoken A devoted follower of Christ, a wonderful father and family man, a respected humanitarian, an
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-3-21

I came to speak on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch as Associate Justice for the United States Supreme Court, but in listening to my colleague from Florida, I feel like I am missing something because he has described the Affordable Care Act in a way that I do not recognize, and he has talked about a bill that has not even passed the House of Representatives as a fait accompli. prgtoken Care was sold under false pretenses. The President himself said: If you like what you have, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Oh, yes, by the way, a family of four will see a reduction of its premiums by $2,500. None of those have proven to be true. So we are going to repeal and replace Care. prgtoken I have to tell my friend from Florida to please join us. If he does not like the product that is working its way through Congress, please join us and help us make it better because, right now, all I see from our ic friends is sort of like a Pontius Pilate moment--a washing of their hands and letting the s alone do the heavy lifting. We invite them to work with us in a bipartisan way, which is something that did not happen, by the way, in Care, which was passed on a purely party-line vote, and I think it has proven to be a terrible mistake.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Bob Corker (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-3-21

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
NOMINATION OF NEIL GORSUCH
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2017-3-21

I rise today to praise President for selecting an eminently qualified nominee in Judge Neil Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. No one can dispute the academic credentials and intellectual rigor of Judge Gorsuch. In fact, even a former Acting Solicitor General under President , Neal Katyal, called Judge Gorsuch ``one of the most thoughtful and brilliant judges to have served our Nation over the last century.'' Just yesterday, he joined the and ic Senators from Colorado in introducing Judge Gorsuch at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch graduated with honors from Columbia University and then Harvard Law School. He later earned a doctorate in legal philosophy from the University of Oxford. Prior to becoming a judge, Neil Gorsuch was Principal Deputy to the Associate Attorney General and Acting Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice, worked as a litigator in private practice, and served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy. Moreover, earlier this month, the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated Judge Gorsuch ``well qualified,'' its highest rating. prgtoken One of my constituents who went to high school with Judge Gorsuch took the time to send me a note in support of his character, calling him ``the most reasonable, smart, principled, kind, and humble person I know.'' Even at a young age, he made a positive impression on his colleagues--something he has continued to do today. prgtoken During the course of Judge Gorsuch's 10-year judicial career, his opinions have reflected not only his outstanding legal acumen but also his respect for the Constitution and his Scalia-like ability to explain his decisions. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch was nominated to his current position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by President in 2006. As a testament to Judge Gorsuch's exceptional credentials, the Senate confirmed him by unanimous voice vote. Several current Members of the Senate from both parties, including Minority Leader Schumer, supported Judge Gorsuch's confirmation. The people spoke last November, and our new President has put forward a well-respected nominee whom the Senate has previously confirmed with unanimous support. It is time for Washington to work together as our constituents expect us to do, to help protect and defend our coequal branches of government and the rule of law. If confirmed, Judge Gorsuch's dedication to interpreting the text of the Constitution and statutes as they are written rather than attempting to legislate from the bench will help to do just that. prgtoken As Judge Gorsuch himself has stated in one of his opinions: ``A judge who likes every result he reaches is very likely a bad judge, reaching for results he prefers rather than those the law compels.''
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2017-3-21

from Washington State for delaying the quorum call. prgtoken I appreciate the opportunity to visit with you today and to share some of the conversations I had yesterday before the Judiciary Committee in regard to the confirmation of a Coloradan, Judge Neil Gorsuch, who now serves on the Tenth Circuit Court, which is housed in Denver, CO. prgtoken Yesterday began his confirmation hearing before the Senate--the first step in a process which will ultimately end in his confirmation as a Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a great honor to be able to introduce Judge Gorsuch to the committee. It is a tradition that Members of the Senate from the home State of the judge nominated to serve on the High Court be allowed to introduce the nominee--in this case, a judge of the Tenth Circuit Court. I joined my ic colleague Michael Bennet from Colorado in this tradition and am very excited to express my support for Judge Neil Gorsuch. prgtoken I thought this afternoon I would share some of the comments I gave yesterday before the committee. I will start by talking about Confluence Park in Denver, CO. prgtoken In downtown Denver, if you look at Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, they join together. That is where the Colorado Gold Rush began. When it was first discovered, it started bringing people out to the West, out to Colorado, to a place now known as Confluence Park, where the two rivers come together. prgtoken At Confluence Park in Denver, if you look, there is a plaque on one of the walls there that has a poem written on it from Colorado poet laureate Thomas Hornsby Ferril. It is a poem known as ``Two Rivers'' describing the settlement of the West. The poem ends with this: I wasn't here, yet I remember them. That first night long ago, those wagon people Who pushed aside enough of the cottonwoods To build our city where the blueness rested. ``Where the optimistic blueness of our Colorado skies rests against the mountains and the plains'' is a good description of our great State. We are reminded about how incredibly diverse our great Nation is, its people and its geography. Judge Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court helps recognize the diversity in geography, the diversity of our country, and it helps to recognize that indeed there are highly qualified jurists who reside west of the Mississippi River. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch is a fourth-generation Coloradan. He is a skier. He is a fly-fisherman. He serves on a court that represents 20 percent of our Nation's landmass. prgtoken Once confirmed, Judge Gorsuch will be only the second Coloradan to have ever served on the Nation's highest Court. The first Coloradan to serve on the High Court was Justice Byron White. Justice Byron White also led the NFL in rushing, which is something Neil Gorsuch won't be able to claim when he is confirmed but is certainly something that makes his confirmatio
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF A RULE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Pat Roberts (Republican, KS) \u2014 2017-3-21

today I rise to speak in support of the President's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, who, right now, is about two-thirds through his second day of hearings--better described perhaps as a grilling. prgtoken Simply put, I think the President made an extraordinary selection. Currently, Judge Gorsuch serves on the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which includes my home State of Kansas. prgtoken Our State has seen firsthand how Judge Gorsuch interprets the law. He has had an outstanding judicial record while serving on the court. What is more, he is highly respected and supported by individuals in the judicial community who align on all sides of the political spectrum-- except, inexplicably, the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch's qualifications are not only noteworthy but extremely impressive. He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He received a doctorate in legal philosophy from Oxford, as a recipient of the Marshall Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholars programs in the country. He has litigation experience from his time as a law partner, and he has clerked for not one but two Supreme Court Justices. prgtoken Examining his record during his time on the Tenth Circuit gives us some insight into the judge's approach to interpreting the law. When we read his opinions, we know he is a judge who follows the law, applying the text of the Constitution and statutes impartially. Of primordial importance to this body is his critique of the executive branch's tendency to assume the roles of the judicial and legislative branches. prgtoken No matter which political party controls the executive branch, this body--the Senate of the United States--must protect its ability to legislate and create laws. The Founding Fathers intended for the separation of powers to remain inviolate. prgtoken Judge Gorsuch understands the role of the judicial branch and the significance of maintaining that balance of power. He has made it absolutely clear that he will not legislate from the bench. I repeat. He has made it clear that he will not legislate from the bench. That might just be the problem for those who would like to vote for a judge who would legislate from the bench. prgtoken I, along with many of my colleagues here in the Senate today, confirmed Judge Gorsuch over 10 years ago. Judge Gorsuch's record was so noncontroversial, the Senate unanimously supported his nomination. That includes the minority leader, Senator Schumer, and then-Senators , Clinton, and . prgtoken I repeat. Judge Gorsuch has received support from across the entire political spectrum. His judicial record over the past 10 years has made him even more deserving of the Senate's full support. prgtoken The American people went to the polls in November, knowing the next President would have the distinct honor of nominating the next Supreme Court Justice. The American people have spoken. As the Senate