mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
URGING ADHERENCE TO THE ``ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'' POLICY BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2017-11-1

I commend Ranking Member, Mr. Engel, along with Chairman Yoho, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Sherman, for introducing H. Res. 422. prgtoken I am an original cosponsor of this legislation. As the Cochair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China, I have been gravely concerned by the Chinese government's efforts to curtail Hong Kong's autonomy and crush pro-democracy voices in this city. prgtoken Twenty years ago, China promised to guarantee Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms for 50 years through the Sino-British Joint Declaration. These promises have been needlessly strained in recent years, calling into question the viability of a `One Country, Two Systems' model that has provided great benefits to both China and the world. prgtoken The threats to Hong Kong's autonomy and its freedoms are progressing. At the recent 19th Party Congress, Communist Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping reiterated the fact that Hong Kong's autonomy is limited by Beijing's ``comprehensive jurisdiction''--meaning that Beijing has the final say on what freedoms are exercised in Hong Kong and who gets to lead the city's government. prgtoken On October 11, 2017, a British human rights activist, Benedict Rogers, was denied access to Hong Kong by the Chinese government. Mr. Rogers was also warned not to continue meeting with pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong by the Chinese Embassy in London. prgtoken Beijing is now telling foreigners with whom they can meet in Hong Kong and barring entry to those who will not comply. prgtoken This is a chilling development that should be a concern from all countries and corporations that have an interest in Hong Kong's freedoms. Maintaining these freedoms and the rule of law are vital economic interests of the United States. prgtoken The governments and legislatures of the UK and the United States should work together to ensure that the Sino-Declaration Joint Declaration remains in force to protect Hong Kong's unique way of life. prgtoken Xi Jinping also said recently about Hong Kong that he would ``never allow anyone, any organization, or any political party, to separate any part of Chinese territory from China . . . and that attempts to endanger China's sovereignty and security, to challenge the power of the central government . . . [crosses] the red line.'' prgtoken Given Beijing's expansive view of its own security to include anyone peacefully seeking political reforms or rights protections, these are ominous words indeed. prgtoken Beijing has ramped up efforts to destroy the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. This past year, six elected legislators were disqualified after the National People's Congress intervened in Hong Kong's judiciary. Then, in August, a Hong Kong court issued heavier sentences for Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow, leaders of the peaceful Umbrella Movement of 2014. prgtoken Mr. Wong, Mr. Law, and Mr. Chow should now be considered Hong Kong
RESILIENT FEDERAL FORESTS ACT OF 2017
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2017-11-1

I appreciate the gentleman from Arizona presenting this issue about Secure Rural Schools. I am an old school teacher. I understand how significant and important it is. prgtoken The issue, though, for Secure Rural Schools is not the reauthorization, it is finding a funding stream to keep it going. Unfortunately, this amendment doesn't solve the problem. It is not reauthorization, it is the funding, and this provides no funding whatsoever. It doesn't do what we need to do. It simply is another delay tactic. prgtoken And let's face it, we are dealing with more significant issues in this Nation, like who is going to win game seven tonight. That is important stuff. That is what we should be talking about. And if you don't pass this forest resiliency act today, there won't be enough trees to make bats for next year's season. prgtoken Please vote ``no'' on this amendment, vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill, and let's go home. prgtoken , .
35TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNKER'S THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2017-11-1

I wish to congratulate Unker's Therapeutic Products for its 35th year in business. This is an impressive milestone for their organization. prgtoken Unker's Therapeutic Products' story of starting out with Patrick Henry's hard work in his garage to being a staple in Wyoming and even sponsoring racecars is the embodiment of the American dream. I am pleased to hear of the company's success and of the plans to continue this business for years to come. Unker's Therapeutic Products provides both good jobs and much-needed services to the people of our towns and communities. It is greatly appreciated. Good businesses make for strongly knit communities, and that helps us all. prgtoken President and CEO Patricia Pendelton and all the folks at Unker's Therapeutic Products can be very proud they have served Weston County and the State of Wyoming for so long. Their hard work and determined effort have played a part in its current and continued success. prgtoken I extend my best wishes and congratulations to Patricia and to everyone who is a part of this company. prgtoken Thank you.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF FIREFIGHTER ROBERT ``SKIPPY'' TILEARCIO
Peter T. King (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-11-1

I rise today to honor the memory of longtime New York City Firefighter Robert ``Skippy'' Tilearcio, who passed away last Wednesday from a malignant tumor resulting from his months of recovery efforts at Ground Zero. prgtoken Skip was a tireless advocate for the Zadroga 9/11 Healthcare Act. He came to Washington about six times to fight for its extension in 2014 and 2015, even before he was diagnosed with a fatal tumor. I had the privilege of meeting Skip Tilearcio when he would make these painful trips to Congress. On his final visit Skip was confined to a wheelchair but his spirit was as strong as ever. Skip truly personified the courage of New York's Bravest. prgtoken Skip Tilearcio was the 15th firefighter to die this year alone from a 9/11 related illness. Many more are sick and suffering from these dreaded 9/11 illnesses. But because of Skip Tilearcio's heroic and successful effort to extend the Zadroga Act, these brave first responders will receive the very best medical care and treatment. My sincerest condolences go out to his wife Tina and his two children Tatiana and Robert. R.I.P. Firefighter Robert ``Skip'' Tilearcio.
ADVOCATING FOR PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRY
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2017-11-1

in closing, I want to mention how I came to really be converted to the cause of right to try. prgtoken I served in the Arizona State Legislature with Laura Knaperek, who was also serving in the legislature when I first met her. By 2014, she was no longer serving in the State legislature. She was an advocate. That year, Laura was in the fight of her life against ovarian cancer, and her mission was to see right-to-try legislation passed into law. prgtoken In the end, her efforts for this cause succeeded beyond everyone's wildest expectations when 80 percent of the electorate in Arizona voted to enact right to try. But, unfortunately, Laura is not with us because she lost her brave battle with cancer last year. Her legacy as a tireless patient advocate lives on. prgtoken I will continue to carry on the fight not just for Laura Knaperek, but for all those patients across this country who are battling against the odds every day. prgtoken I am joined by those who are here tonight, those who have cosponsored this bill, and many other advocacy groups, such as the Goldwater Institute in Arizona that continues to fight for this. prgtoken I fight for Bertrand Might. Bertrand is a very special little boy. He was the first person ever to be diagnosed with a rare, fatal genetic disorder called NGLY1 that has left this 7-year-old paralyzed. Because the disease was only identified by scientists in 2012 and only a few people worldwide have been diagnosed with it, there is no cure and no treatment available. Because the disorder is so rare, a drug may never be developed to treat it. prgtoken But scientists have found that Bertrand responds to certain investigational therapies. So Bertrand's family will have to rely on trying those new investigational medications as long as they have access to them. That is why we need this right-to-try legislation. prgtoken I fight for Jordan McLinn. Seven-year-old Jordan says he wants to grow up to be a firefighter so he can save lives. He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which could leave him paralyzed within 5 years and shortens his life expectancy to only 20 years. There is a drug now being used in clinical trials that is helping young people like Jordan, but it could take another 7 years for that drug to be available on the market. His parents cannot afford to wait for the FDA to give that drug its final approval. He could be in a wheelchair by then. This investigational drug could add years to Jordan's life, which would give him the chance to save others. prgtoken We have already heard, when Representative Fitzpatrick discussed Matt Bellina, his needs and his advocacy. We fight for him, and we fight for Mikaela Knapp. prgtoken At 24, Mikaela was diagnosed with a deadly form of kidney cancer that had already migrated into her bones before she even knew she was sick. She went through every known treatment in a matter of months and nothing worked. Her high school sweetheart, Keith, heard about
Nomination of Bill Wehrum (Executive Calendar)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2017-11-1

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 2, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Eid nomination, equally divided between the leaders or their designees; that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Eid nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
HONORING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF MEREDITH COREY-DISCH, OWNER OF COMMUNITY LOAVES
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2017-11-1

I rise today to ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Meredith Corey- Disch, a leader and business owner in my district, who was a recipient of a spot at the James Beard Foundation's Inaugural Class of the Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellowship program. This program, hosted at the prestigious Babson College, aims to help female chefs and owners grow their businesses by cultivating women's leadership in the culinary industry. Meredith Corey-Disch and her business partner, Sarah Bogdanovitch, are exceptional entrepreneurs. Their business was founded on the belief that it should be local, community focused space that provides organic, traditional foods with shared work and fair pay. ``Community Loaves'' began in 2011 in Jacksonville, as an organic bike-delivered subscription bakery. The pair then opened a bread shop in 2014, where they served all-organic bread and pastries for breakfast and lunch. They kept the business community focused by holding special pizza nights and farm to table dinners in their garden and invited surrounding neighbors to these events. Meredith began her love of bread making through an apprenticeship in a bakery, while brainstorming ways she could start a business people would enjoy back in her hometown of Jacksonville. She can be described as thoughtful, kind, generous, and creative. With these skills, along with her passion of bread making, Meredith will continue to spread her passion throughout Northeast Florida. We need more creative small business owners like Meredith. She has been a true example of leadership for women in Northeast Florida and I look forward to seeing her future culinary successes I applaud Meredith Corey-Disch for her leadership in not only the culinary community, but in Northeast Florida as well.
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK ACT
Paul Cook (Republican, CA) \u2014 2017-11-1

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 1488 would redesignate Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as Indiana Dunes National Park. prgtoken Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established by Congress in 1966. The designation of the national lakeshore as a unit of the National Park Service was the culmination of decades of work by conservationists, area residents, and elected officials. prgtoken The original law included 8,330 acres of land and water. The National Park Service conservation advocates continued to seek expansion of the boundaries, and five subsequent laws increased the size of the national lakeshore to more than 15,000 acres. prgtoken In October 1916, shortly after the National Park Service was established, NPS Director Stephen Mather held hearings in Chicago to gauge public sentiment on a Sand Dunes National Park. In a Department of the Interior report published after the hearings, Director Mather stated: ``No national park or other Federal reservation offers this phenomenon for the pleasure and edification of the people, and no national park is as accessible. Furthermore, the dunes offer to the visitor extraordinary scenery, a large variety of plant life, magnificent bathing beaches, and splendid opportunities to camp and live in the wild close to nature.'' prgtoken Despite Director Mather's support, the national park proposal was abandoned at the onset of World War I, and prgtoken several years later, in 1925, Indiana Dunes State Park was established. Redesignation of the national lakeside as a national park would make Indiana Dunes the 60th national park in the United States. prgtoken , .
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS CAUCUS
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2017-11-1

I thank Congressman Lipinski, my friend from Illinois, for holding this Special Order this evening, to highlight the important work being done by the Climate Solutions Caucus, to develop economically viable solutions to address climate change. prgtoken , changing weather patterns and extreme weather events threaten nearly every aspect of New York State's economy, including our agricultural and outdoor recreational sectors. The recreational economy alone generates $42 billion in consumer spending each year, while supporting over 300,000 Empire State jobs. As we work to address climate change in a bipartisan manner, we must employ a variety of techniques that both mitigate impacts and support economic growth. prgtoken I am currently working with my Agriculture Committee colleagues on conservation legislation for the next farm bill that will provide important data points on conservation programs and outcomes, allowing legislators and regulators to most efficiently use taxpayer dollars to achieve real conservation results for our farms. These incentive programs support farming practices that, among other benefits, like increasing yield, lowering the amount of fertilizers that are employed, pull carbon from the air and sequester it in the soil. prgtoken In addition to sequestering carbon in the soil. We can also work to reduce emissions through greater efficiency in the transportation sector. Indeed, the transportation sector is one area where CO2 emissions have risen in the last 20 years, unlike, for instance, the electric generation sector. prgtoken One easy fix would be to modernize the air traffic control system to fly planes on more direct satellite guided routes because direct routes save fuel. When Canada switched to a modern air traffic control system, the national fleet was able to reduce emissions in that nation by millions of tons per year. prgtoken These commonsense changes are great steps forward in combating climate change, but our work is far from over. We must address the real impacts of man-made climate change and emphasize the need to develop and create jobs with a goal of protecting our environment. It is critical that we work together to develop smart solutions that will conserve our natural resources and protect our communities and infrastructure for future generations. prgtoken , I am very pleased to be a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and I look forward to working with my colleagues. I, particularly, want to applaud our distinguished friend from Illinois, Mr. Lipinski, for organizing this Special Order tonight on a bipartisan basis so that we can address this issue and allow the folks at home and all around the United States to better understand the work that is being done here in Congress on a bipartisan basis to address climate change.
Nomination of David Stras (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-11-1

this week we have been talking about some sterling nominees for our Nation's circuit courts of appeals. These are our intermediate appellate courts in the country, one step above the trial courts where cases are tried and one step below the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken What most people don't realize is that the Supreme Court only decides roughly 80 cases a year. In other words, there is no guarantee that if your case is tried in the trial court, it will go beyond the circuit court of appeals. So in many instances, our circuit courts are the ``supreme court,'' or the court of last resort. These sterling nominees that the President has nominated include Professor Amy Barrett, who yesterday was confirmed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 55 to 43. For some reason, our friends across the aisle have decided it is to their advantage to inexplicably drag out the clock against a really accomplished scholar--and to boot, a mother of seven--but, of course, to no avail. prgtoken What is worse is our colleagues across the aisle have seemed to have forgotten some of their own priorities when it comes to judges. For example, the senior Senator from Minnesota has said in the past: ``It is time to get women on the bench.'' Well, we just did that yesterday, and we are going to do it again. ``They should get an up-or-down vote . . . that is what women deserve.'' I would say that is what the President's nominees--whether they be women or men--deserve, but, unfortunately, that hasn't always been the case. prgtoken There is still time, however, for our ic colleagues to honor their previous statements and to put more women on the circuit courts without needlessly stringing them along with unnecessary delays. prgtoken Joan Larsen was the first. She was confirmed earlier today. She fulfills the desire of the senior Senator from Vermont to ``confirm women practicing at the pinnacle of the legal profession.'' prgtoken That is certainly where Joan Larsen works. She has been a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and was nominated to the Sixth Circuit, which handles Federal appeals from Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Justice Larsen graduated first in her class from Northwestern University's law school. She then clerked for the prestigious DC Circuit Court of Appeals, right here in Washington, DC. She then went on to serve as a law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Since then, she has worked in public service at the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice during the administration and has taught at the University of Michigan Law School. prgtoken Both of our ic colleagues from Michigan have returned their blue slips, which is the piece of paper which says they are OK with the nomination going forward, signaling their approval. Given her credentials, my question would be, How could they not? <|p
RECOGNITION OF MR. DARRYL DiORIO
Keith J. Rothfus (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-11-1

I rise today in recognition of Mr. Darryl DiOrio for his forty-seven years of service and leadership in the Johnstown community. prgtoken Mr. DiOrio holds degrees from Saint Vincent College, the Pennsylvania State University and Saint Francis University. prgtoken He has devoted his entire career to working in the steel industry, including twenty years at Bethlehem Steel Corporation, six years as President and CEO of Johnstown Wire Technologies, and nineteen years as President and CEO of Gautier Steel Ltd. prgtoken Under Mr. DiOrio's leadership, Gautier Steel recovered from a near shutdown to a multi-million-dollar operation. prgtoken Furthermore, Mr. DiOrio saved thousands of family-sustaining jobs by helping keep both Johnstown Wire and Gautier Steel in the Johnstown area. prgtoken Mr. DiOrio's leadership and great care for the community will leave an impact on Johnstown for years to come. prgtoken I would like to congratulate Mr. DiOrio on his recent retirement and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
IMPROVE FOREST MANAGEMENT
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2017-11-1

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017, that was introduced by Congressman Westerman. prgtoken The House will consider this bill today, which will improve forest management and cut the bureaucratic red tape that has been preventing sound management practices for the Forest Service. prgtoken , devastating wildfires have resulted in the loss of property, loss of pristine landscapes, and, most importantly, the loss of life. 2017 has been the costliest wildfire season on record, with the Forest Service spending over $2 billion. While not the only issue, the greatest cause for this increase in wildfire is a severe lack of forest management. prgtoken This bill provides Federal land management agencies the immediate tools to expedite and increase the scale and efficiency of forest management projects without sacrificing environmental protections. prgtoken , we must do everything in our power to stop these catastrophic wildfires and encourage better land management of our forests. prgtoken Today's bill is one step in the right direction and I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.
MINNESOTA'S NEW HALL OF FAMER
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2017-11-1

I rise today to thank Monticello Public Schools Superintendent Jim Johnson for his work and dedication to Minnesota's children. prgtoken After 18 years serving Monticello, 12 of them spent as superintendent, Jim is heading into a well-deserved retirement. prgtoken Under Jim's close supervision, schools within his district have produced outstanding test scores, increased graduation rates, and higher enrollment in AP classes. He also played an important role improving his district's athletic facilities. prgtoken Not only did Jim help better academics at the schools under his careful watch, he also helped ensure that his district's students had everything they needed to succeed in life. prgtoken Jim, we can't thank you enough for the work you have done to educate our kids. Our kids are our future, and because of you, our future is very bright. The Newest Sauk Rapids Ambassadors