mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-10-1

I rise as a former State certified firefighter one from Pennsylvania. As we kick off the month of October, I mention that next week is Fire Prevention Week. prgtoken In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge established Fire Prevention Week, and today it is the longest running public health observance in the Nation. It is celebrated each year during the week of October 9 to commemorate the devastating Great Chicago Fire. prgtoken This is an opportunity to educate one another on simple measures we can all take to prevent fires at home. You can bolster your family's safety by testing your fire alarms monthly, giving home heaters appropriate space, and having an escape plan if, God forbid, your home does catch fire. prgtoken We must also do more to prevent wildfires. As former chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, I have been a part of many conversations, meetings, and hearings about how we can better prevent forest devastation as a result of wildfires. prgtoken We continue to see devastating wildfires on the West Coast. Homes, businesses, and forests are burning to the ground. The air quality is dangerous, and millions of Americans are at risk. prgtoken For decades, the health and resiliency of our national forests have been in decline due to a lack of management and, more recently, extreme environmental policies. prgtoken With nearly 90 million acres of forestland in need of urgent treatment, Congress needs to finally act and provide the tools and authorities to enable the Forest Service to proactively manage. Doing so will directly help prevent wildfire outbreaks, support our local communities, and restore the health of our Nation's forests. And a healthy forest is one of the largest carbon sinks in the world. prgtoken The 2018 House-passed farm bill contained bipartisan, commonsense forest management provisions to help prevent loss of life and property from these fires. These bipartisan authorities were created with input from the U.S. Forest Service under both the and administrations. These were ideas that were well vetted through hearings and markups and supported by the House Agriculture Committee and on the floor. prgtoken However, Senate have refused to even discuss these needed reforms. Since these provisions were rejected, 3.5 million acres of Forest Service land have burned. prgtoken Wildfire response and recovery efforts should not be a partisan issue. We are blessed as a nation to have hundreds of millions of acres of beautiful forestlands, and the best way to prevent forest fires is through a well-managed forest. prgtoken , well-managed forests, again, are the largest carbon sinks in the world and the greatest filters for our watersheds that originate in those forests. Our forests provide great opportunities for outdoor recreation, but they are also unparalleled environmental tools. Our national forests serve as some of the Nation's largest carbon sinks. prgtoken
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2020
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-10-1

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 4:30 p.m Monday, October 5; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the Newman nomination.
Remembering Laurie Smith Camp (Executive Session)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2020-10-1

less than 2 weeks ago, this country lost one of its most brilliant legal minds--Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her passing has left a void that can be felt all across our Nation from Nebraska to Washington. prgtoken Sadly, Nebraska recently lost another great jurist--Judge Laurie Smith Camp. Judge Smith Camp was the first woman to serve my State as a Federal judge, a position she had held since 2001. This body voted 100 to 0 to confirm her just 6 weeks after President nominated her. That doesn't happen very often anymore, and her unanimous approval was a testament to her incredible talent. prgtoken Judge Smith Camp grew up in Omaha, but she left Nebraska to attend college at Stanford University. She graduated with distinction. And I am glad to say that she came back home to attend the University of Nebraska Law School where she distinguished herself again as editor-in- chief of the Nebraska Law Review. prgtoken Before becoming a Federal judge, she served her State through a series of jobs that spanned the legal profession. She began her career in private practice but soon moved on to become general counsel for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, the head of the Nebraska attorney general's civil rights section, and then the chief deputy attorney general for criminal matters for the Nebraska attorney general. These wide-ranging experiences were part of what made her an exceptional Federal judge. prgtoken Another part was her love for the law and the compassion that flowed from it. She was well known for her dedication to equal treatment for all, regardless of background, and for a sentencing philosophy that preferred rehabilitation to punishment. prgtoken She also understood that success isn't just about achieving your professional goals. She was profoundly generous with her time and, when she wasn't leading Nebraska's district court, she could be found promoting women's participation in the legal profession or mentoring young Nebraska attorneys. This was in addition to recently being elected president of the Omaha Bar Association--a job that she had held since June. prgtoken Laurie was also my friend. She spoke at an event I held in 2016 called Bridging the Gap, which aims to encourage women to engage in their communities at the local, State, and Federal level. I am lucky to have known her personally and to have seen up close the wise advice and the quick wit that made her famous among her colleagues and those she mentored. prgtoken Through her example, she inspired a generation of young women in Nebraska and beyond to pursue careers as attorneys, advocates, and community leaders, just as Justice Ginsburg did. Both of these extraordinary women blazed a trail that today's young women and girls can follow. I join with both their families in mourning their passing and celebrating their lives. prgtoken . prgtoken .
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-10-1

reserving the right to object, I am here today to object to this unanimous consent request on behalf of the junior Senator from Texas, Senator Cruz. prgtoken As the Senator from Massachusetts knows, Senator Cruz is also deeply interested in this issue. Both Senators have complementary pieces of legislation. They have had the language of their legislation agreed to unanimously by both the majority and the minority of the Commerce Committee. prgtoken So I would ask the Senator from Massachusetts to reach out to the Senator from Texas, and I understand he is fully willing to work with the Senator from Massachusetts on amending the House bill to ensure that it passes the Senate with the Cruz amendment that would not be objectionable to supporters of this bill. prgtoken As a result, I object.
RECOGNIZING LAKE COUNTY MANAGER JEFF COLE
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-10-1

I rise today in memory of Sergeant Daniel McKinnon Angus, a local hero in Florida's 15th District, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on January 24, 2010. prgtoken Daniel graduated from Armwood High School in 2000 and, in 2003, joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he knew he belonged and hoped to make a career of serving his community and country. prgtoken Daniel stood out among his peers and received the Combat Action Ribbon, two Good Conduct Medals, the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and a number of service decorations. prgtoken Daniel loved spending time with his wife, Bonnie, and his 1-year-old daughter. Now 11 years old, may she always know and treasure the knowledge of her father's heroism. prgtoken Men and women like Daniel who are willing to lay down their lives in defense of our country and in support of others many miles away are what make our Nation the greatest on Earth. Let us never take their sacrifice or that of their surviving families in vain.
THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
Larry Bucshon (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-10-1

. Madam , I rise today to thank President for nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court, and urge her immediate confirmation. prgtoken Currently serving on the Seventh Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals in South Bend, Indiana, Judge Barrett has shown throughout her highly-successful legal career that she has an outstanding legal mind and that she is more than qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. prgtoken As a fellow Hoosier, I have the utmost confidence that Judge Barrett would honorably carry out the duties of a Supreme Court Justice and would help defend the constitutional rights of all Americans. prgtoken I also believe that she appropriately understands the role of the Federal Judiciary in our Republic is to rule on the law--not to make it up from the bench. prgtoken I thank Indiana's Senators for indicating their support of Judge Barrett's nomination, and urge the rest of the United States Senate to follow suit and quickly confirm this highly-qualified Hoosier to the bench.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-10-1

I have 3 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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation prgtoken The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support prgtoken The Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 9:15 a.m to conduct a hearing.
NOMINATION OF AMY CONEY BARRETT
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-10-1

I don't think I am overstating the severity of the situation when I say that this past week has been one of the most chaotic and divisive in our Nation's history. The American people met the news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death with an outpouring of sympathy; but, of course, rather than let an opportunity go to waste, radicals and activists, fueled by the same hatred that still fills our streets with violence, emerged from the shadows and exploited a nation's grief. prgtoken Rarely--or perhaps, never before--in the history of this country have the so-called progressive movement, the activist left, and even some members of the Senate minority worked so tirelessly to scare the American people into submission. prgtoken Their willingness to use differences in family, religion, and personal morality to impugn the integrity and competence of Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett without giving her the benefit of even a single conversation shocks the conscience. It is a scandal beneath the dignity of this body. prgtoken In the coming weeks, I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to meet with Judge Barrett, as I did today. I think you will find that she is not trying to get off easy. As a fellow conservative woman who cherishes a deep faith and commitment to family, I can assure you, she has already been tested by fire and passed with flying colors.
FIRE FACTS
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2020-10-1

I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), my good friend, for yielding. prgtoken As we all know, the West has been on fire. prgtoken In my home State of Washington, over 700,000 acres have burned, causing thousands of families to evacuate, leaving their homes, their businesses, and their farms behind. Whole towns have essentially been wiped off the map. prgtoken Smoke blanketed central Washington, with fires raging up and down the West Coast. The air quality of our cities and our rural areas ranked the worst in the world. prgtoken As the people of central Washington and many of my colleagues in Congress understand, healthy, resilient forests are the key to wildfire prevention. We have made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done. prgtoken Without our leadership in Congress, families will continue to lose their homes and their businesses, and jobs will continue to be lost, and our public health will continue to be threatened. prgtoken While a loss of homes and livelihoods is heartbreaking, there is nothing more tragic than the loss of life. prgtoken Today, I join the people of central Washington in mourning the loss of 1-year-old Baby Hyland, whose life was tragically cut short as his parents fled to escape the Cold Springs fire that was raging across Okanogan County. The Hyland family has suffered immeasurable loss with the deaths of both their toddler as well as the death of their unborn child. My heart aches and my prayers go out for the Hylands as they recover from their own wounds in this unimaginable heartbreak. prgtoken These tragic circumstances fall on us, . We are responsible, as the Federal Government, for failing to deliver a management strategy that enables us to prevent these catastrophic events. prgtoken We cannot continue to sit idly by. prgtoken We have to responsibly log our forests and graze our lands, or we will watch them burn. prgtoken These wildfires and this year have truly tested our resilience, but of this I am certain: in the face of catastrophe, central Washington will recover. prgtoken Now it is the Federal Government's responsibility to do everything in its power to prevent another disaster like this again. prgtoken For years, extreme environmentalist groups have insisted that we leave our forests and natural lands alone, leaving them in their quote ``natural state.'' But as we witness, year-after-year, that strategy simply does not work. prgtoken Many point to climate change as a contributing factor; I am not here to refute that. At the end of the day though, the facts remain: our land management--or lack thereof--is a serious problem. prgtoken Decades of mismanagement, misguided environmental policies, and lackluster forestry and grazing practices have led to forests and grasslands that act as tinder for wildfires, just waiting to be set ablaze each summer. prgtoken We cannot continue to sit idly by. We have to responsibly log our forests and graze our land
TRIBUTE TO ROBINSON DESROCHES
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-10-1

I rise today to honor one of Louisville's finest, Louisville Metro Police Officer Robinson Desroches. Police work is an unquestionably difficult and dangerous job, but it is among the noblest callings. Each and every day, officers risk their lives to keep our communities safe. Officers such as Louisville Metro Police Officer Robinson Desroches meet the challenges they encounter every day with professionalism, class, and courage. Officer Desroches joined the LMPD in 2019. Serving to keep the peace in Louisville during a time of uncertainty, Officer Desroches has served his community with class and courage during this difficult time. Dedicated service from officers like Officer Desroches during times of protest is important to keep protests peaceful instead of a riot. Officer Desroches and his fellow officers deserve and have our respect and admiration. Officer Desroches was shot on Wednesday night during the protest in Louisville. Fortunately, he is expected to make a full recovery. I join my fellow Kentuckians in wishing Officer Desroches a speedy recovery.
HONORING THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF PASTOR DAVID E. KELLER OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-10-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and ministry or Pastor David E. Keller of Fort Wayne, Indiana, After 34 years of service to the Greater Fort Wayne community, Pastor Keller is retiring from his role as Senior Pastor or Abundant Lire Church. prgtoken In June of 1986, Pastor Keller began his ministry at a small church just across the street from Saint Francis College in Fort Wayne. Through the help of God, he sought to grow his church to include every culture, every tongue, and every nationality. After a significant investment of his own finance and will, what started as an 1,800 square fool facility has grown to a massive 98,000 square fool facility that is completely debt free. prgtoken Pastor Keller has established a diverse outreach that now ministers to 3 major ethnic groups: Asian, Hispanic, and African. This is in addition to a ministry dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing, and the main weekend congregation. He has also helped sponsor and establish a Bible school and Christian orphanage in India, and fostered a multi- campus ministry in Ghana, Africa. prgtoken Today, Pastor Keller is leaving behind a thriving, dynamic, and diverse congregation that ministers to hundreds of people each week. Under his leadership, the Abundant Life congregation has truly become a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multigenerational assembly who understand that ``we are all level, at the foot or the cross.'' prgtoken I wish Pastor Keller, his wife Marta, and their children and grandchildren the very best as he moves on to the next chapter of his life. While we will sorely miss his leadership, there can be no doubt that many in the community are better off today because of his great work.
HONORING JONATHAN ``J.T.'' TENNANT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-10-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor 20-year veteran harbor pilot Jonathan ``J.T.'' Tennant of Brunswick, Georgia, who played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of all crew members aboard the Golden Ray carrier when it shipwrecked over a year ago on September 8, 2019. prgtoken If you visit St. Simons Island in Georgia's First Congressional District, it is hard to miss the Golden Ray, which is a 656-foot-long car carrier that remains capsized in the St. Simons Sound. prgtoken As the investigation into the incident by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board continues, we have been able to gain valuable insight from crew members and others involved. prgtoken Although he had steered a city-block-sized cargo ship from the Brunswick River to the St. Simons Sound several thousand times, nothing could have prepared J.T. for what happened the morning of September 8. prgtoken The Golden Ray was sailing normally, but the rudder and the propeller came up out of the water to where J.T. had no operational control of the vessel, and it started capsizing rapidly. prgtoken He endured flames melting the steel and smoke emanating from airboxes the entire length of the ship. prgtoken As testament to his extensive experience piloting more than 5,000 ships in and out of the Port of Brunswick, J.T. drove the Golden Ray as far up on the Sound as possible that day to ensure all 23 mariners aboard were safe and rescued. prgtoken When you see the giant cargo ship in the Sound and realize there was no loss of life, it is nothing short of a miracle and a testament to the hardworking crew, including J.T. prgtoken Although it is an unfortunate situation, I am thankful for the courage and determination J.T. and the entire crew displayed that day.
EXPEDITED DELIVERY OF AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2020
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-10-1

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 5912, the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2020. prgtoken This bill, which I am very proud to have introduced, gives airports the option to use some of their Airport Improvement Program, or AIP, money to expedite early completion of airport projects. prgtoken Incentives such as these are commonly used in the surface transportation area, as encouraging early completion of road projects obviously can spare drivers additional weeks or months of congestion and sitting in traffic. prgtoken An airfield is no different. Taking a runway or taxiway out of commission can impair airport efficiency and capacity, and it results in flight delays, upset travelers, you name it. prgtoken Additionally, some airports, particularly in cold weather States, are racing against the clock to complete projects during a limited construction season. Even if a project is on schedule, an early winter or late spring can grind construction to a halt, costing the airport time and money. prgtoken This bill is going help ensure that airports have the tools necessary to avoid these situations and get runways back into service faster. prgtoken This bill allows airports to achieve cost savings. Projects completed early means a greater chance of avoiding construction price increases due to inflation. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5912, and .
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-10-1

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act prgtoken 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.
FIGHT NOTARIO FRAUD ACT OF 2020
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-10-1

I have no further speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close. such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I have concerns that H.R. 8225 will only further complicate the immigration system and hurt rather than help the very people it is meant to protect. So with immigrants in mind, I have concerns with this bill as written. prgtoken , .