mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY'S FIRST RHODES SCHOLAR MR. VIDAL ARROYO
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Vidal Arroyo for being selected as the first ever Rhodes Scholar from Chapman University, a prominent research University in my district. prgtoken As one of 32 U.S. scholars selected for a Rhodes Scholarship, he will be provided all expenses for up to four years of study at the University of Oxford in England. Mr. Arroyo earned his place as a Rhodes Scholar, not only for his outstanding scholarly achievements, but for his character and commitment to his education. prgtoken I applaud Mr. Arroyo for maintaining a perfect GPA in his educational career. He has expressed his unique passion to become a new paradigm of science by striving toward his goal of creating artificial intelligence tools that are driven to treat cancer. prgtoken Mr. Arroyo comes from a humble background and is the first in his family to attend college. As a founder and President of Chapman STEMstors, he has been mentoring at-risk youth to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. prgtoken While volunteering at Children's Hospital of Orange County, he was exposed to children struggling with obesity and other diseases after being declared cancer-free; thus, motivating him to conduct research on the relationship between cancer and obesity. His passion for finding treatments for cancer is demonstrated by his drive to design artificial intelligence algorithms that can be used to personalize cancer treatment. Mr. Arroyo's contributions toward supporting and developing tools for cancer treatment could potentially impact the lives of millions around the world. prgtoken Mr. Arroyo's passion for education has been the framework of his success. As a first-generation college student, and now Chapman University's first Rhodes Scholar, he is an extraordinary inspiration to our community. For this reason, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing the accomplishments and career of Vidal Arroyo. Go Panthers.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ROBERT HAROLD OGLE, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise today, on behalf of Representatives Danny Davis, Gregory Meeks, David Scott, Emanuel Cleaver, Al Green, Steven Horsford and myself, to recognize and honor the life and legacy of Robert Harold Ogle--a founding member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and a trailblazer in the United States Congress. prgtoken Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was established on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The founding members of Alpha Phi Alpha are affectionately known as the Seven Jewels. These men were pioneers in their respective fields and their accomplishments were monumental considering the racial attitudes of our nation in 1906. prgtoken Jewel Henry Arthur Callis became a practicing physician and a Professor of Medicine at Howard University. He was also the only member of the ``Cornell Seven'' to become General President of the fraternity. prgtoken Jewel Charles Henry Chapman was a leader in higher education and became a Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University. prgtoken Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League. prgtoken Jewel George Biddle Kelley was the first African American engineer registered in the state of New York. prgtoken Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray pursued a career in education and taught in public schools in Washington, D.C. prgtoken Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy was the first architect registered in New York and the first African American to pass the military commissioning exam, becoming a First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard. prgtoken As members of Alpha Phi Alpha gather on Capitol Hill this week for Alpha Days on the Hill, it is only fitting to recognize the life and legacy of Jewel Robert Harold Ogle, who was the first known African American to have served as a professional Senate committee staffer. prgtoken Jewel Ogle was born in Washington, D.C. in 1886. He was educated at the historic M Street School, one of the nation's first public high schools for African American youth. After graduating from the M Street School, Jewel Ogle studied at Cornell University where he earned a degree in agriculture with an emphasis on business administration. prgtoken Senate records show that Jewel Ogle was originally hired in 1919 as a ``laborer'' for the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Francis E. Warren of Wyoming. His title was changed to ``messenger'' for the committee in 1921, and he was finally named an ``additional clerk'' in 1930. prgtoken It is important that we honor Jewel Ogle, who a century ago, paved the way for African American congressional staffers today. He established and exemplified the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in leadership, scholarship, and service. At his funeral service, Jewel Nathaniel Allison recognized Jewel Ogle for ``his unabated enthusiasm and his fighting spirit.'' As members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fra
TRIBUTE TO JAMES H. BILLINGTON, 13TH LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS
David E. Price (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I am pleased to join numerous colleagues in honoring the life and legacy of James H. Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress, who died on November 20, 2018. prgtoken Before Jim Billington's appointment as Librarian of Congress in 1987, he served thirteen productive years as director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Before that, and throughout his career, he was a researcher and author, continuing to produce serious scholarship on Russian history and culture. prgtoken Jim was the inspiration behind the Open World Leadership Center, a unique Library of Congress--Legislative Branch initiative which for twenty years has administered thousands of exchange visits to the United States of professionals and other leaders from post-Soviet and post-communist states. As a current board member of Open World, I have deepened my appreciation of Dr. Billington's legacy and of the way the Center can compliment and support the House's work, through the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), to promote parliamentary development in emerging democracies. prgtoken Like many members of Congress, I have enjoyed a cordial and productive working relationship with Jim Billington for years--from the Legislative Branch Appropriations subcommittee, to Open World, to encouraging Congressional Research Service engagement with HDP's partner legislatures, to the building of programs such as American Memory--the national digital library--and the John W. Kluge Center's program for visiting scholars. In recent years, Jim and his wife Marjorie have been a welcoming presence at the wonderful Library of Congress dinners, sponsored by David Rubenstein, featuring authors of major studies in American biography and history. prgtoken Madam , Jim Billington lived a full and consequential life of scholarship, institutional innovation, and public service. We miss his cordial and collegial presence as we mourn his passing and appreciate his wide-ranging legacy. We extend gratitude and good wishes to Marjorie and their family in the hope that the outpouring of affections and appreciation will offer solace and support at this time of loss.
THE POWERS OF WAR ARE ENTRUSTED TO THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-5-8

as the Judiciary Committee sits at this time to uphold the rule of law, I want to make sure that the American people understand the role of the United States Congress, that is, to represent the people, to engage in oversight and truth. prgtoken As a student of the Mideast, a visitor of the Mideast on behalf of this country on any number of occasions, and, of course, throughout the Iraq war, and, of course, also visiting that area of the world during the Afghan war, I know what our soldiers go through. Boots on the ground. prgtoken I can never live their life, but I am very concerned about the presence of the U.S. military by way of a naval ship that is in the Mideast at this time. No explanation has been given to the American people. prgtoken The Secretary of State makes a surprise visit to Iraq. prgtoken I simply want to say that the powers of war are entrusted to the United States House of Representatives, the United States Congress. prgtoken It is inappropriate for there to be saber rattling by this administration with Iran with no explanation as to why we send young men and women into harm's way. We should not use one approach to start a war to overcome an approach dealing with the investigation of the rule of law. I oppose any such saber rattling. prgtoken We need to understand what is going on in the Mideast. We have to protect the men and women of the United States military, though, they fight for us.
HONORING ROBERT H. TWISS, PH.D.
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the 85th birthday of Dr. Robert H. Twiss and a lifetime of work promoting and progressing environmental stewardship in Marin County and the entire Bay Area. prgtoken Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Twiss and his family moved to Washington, then Oregon, and finally settled in San Jose, California, when Dr. Twiss was in the second grade. After attending Willow Glen High School, Dr. Twiss graduated from San Jose State University in 1955, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conservation. During this period, he proudly played the banjo for a band in San Francisco. He then honorably served in the Michigan Air National Guard and the United States Air Force as a tactical fighter pilot. He later earned both his Master's and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources. prgtoken After completing his education, Dr. Twiss opened his own consulting company, which is still active today. In this capacity, he has consulted on projects for California's Attorney General, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Water Resources, and many other important agencies and environmental organizations. prgtoken Dr. Twiss was Professor of Environmental Planning at The University of California, Berkeley from 1968 to 1994. In this role, Dr. Twiss taught new generations of environmentalists all aspects of the work including planning, research, and consulting. He was also involved in graduate-level instruction on ecological planning and environmental law and served in a variety of leadership roles including as Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, and Chair of the Faculty of the College of Environmental Design. He also directed the Ph.D. program in Environmental Planning. prgtoken Among his many contributions to research on environmental planning, Dr. Twiss was Faculty Principal Investigator for the Research Program in Environmental Planning and Geographic Systems at the University of California, which developed tools and programs to allow open access to geographic information on land use, natural resources, and became the world's first web-based geographic information system in 1993. Dr. Twiss, always wanting to share his knowledge and information with others, received the patent for his system and put it in the public domain for others to use and benefit from. prgtoken Dr. Twiss enjoys spending time with his loving wife and partner Amy Skewes-Cox and their son Carson, along with his children Gregory and Gail from a previous marriage. He loves spending his time outside in nature hiking, sailing, and flying his own small plane. He is also known as an avid banjo and ukulele player, much to the delight of his friends and family. prgtoken Madam , Dr. Twiss's leadership and vision has helped make remarkable strides towards maintaining and growing environmentally sustainable practices that will benefit the r
Women's Healthcare (Executive Calendar)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-5-8

I come to the floor this afternoon to join my colleagues in raising concerns about the unrelenting attacks that this administration has waged on the health of women in New Hampshire and across the country. prgtoken With Mother's Day just around the corner, it is important to make clear that we cannot stand idly by while the administration undermines access to maternity care, to family planning, and to reproductive care for women. prgtoken Through misguided executive orders, regulations, and other actions, this administration is making it more difficult for women to access the care and services they need in communities across the country and abroad. prgtoken Now, new mothers deal with significant medical expenses. That is why we prgtoken worked very hard, when we were writing the Affordable Care Act, to require insurance coverage for maternity care, to help new mothers cover the cost of obstetric services and of hospital charges for childbirth and other expenses. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act and the access to maternity care coverage it provides have made a real difference for so many people in New Hampshire and across the country. prgtoken One of those women is Samantha Fox from Bow, NH. Samantha is now a State legislator in New Hampshire, but prior to the Affordable Care Act, Samantha was denied coverage for health insurance because of a reproductive system disorder, and the insurance that she was able to get didn't provide prenatal and maternity care coverage. prgtoken Well, thanks to the ACA, she was guaranteed coverage of these vital maternity care services that were so important when she gave birth to her son Leo in 2017. prgtoken We can't go back to those days before the Affordable Care Act, when only 12 percent of health plans on the individual market covered maternity care or when women could be charged higher premiums than men for the very same coverage. prgtoken But that is exactly what the administration is trying to do by expanding the availability of junk plans that are not required to cover maternity care, and that is what this administration is trying to do by urging the courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. prgtoken Now, in addition, at a time when 43 percent of childbirths in this country are covered and paid for by the Medicaid Program, the administration continues to propose Medicaid block grants and funding caps that would fail to adequately support States for the cost of coverage for pregnant women and new mothers. prgtoken Senator Casey was very eloquent in talking about what will happen if the effort to reduce Medicaid is successful. prgtoken Sadly, the barriers to women's healthcare that this administration has created go beyond just insurance coverage. They are also imposing significant impediments to access to family planning services. prgtoken The administration's title X gag rule would violate the provider- patient relationship by prohi
Nomination of Janet Dhillon (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-8

the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is charged with protecting workers and job applicants against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. prgtoken Janet Dhillon, the latest nominee to be a member of that board, has spent her career, unfortunately, doing the opposite. She has spent years advocating for corporations over workers and has a track record that puts her in direct opposition to the mission of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For example, under Ms. Dhillon's leadership, the Retail Litigation Center filed briefs in support of policies making it more difficult for employers to be held liable for harassment. prgtoken I am also concerned that Ms. Dhillon has declined to answer whether she would uphold the EEOC's current position that the Civil Rights Act forbids employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The EEOC is considering issues that are critical to protecting workers, including ongoing court cases to protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination and improve pay data collection for women in the workforce. Women, on average, make 80 cents per every dollar earned by a man. The gap is even higher for women of color. We need Commissioners at the EEOC who will fight to close this gap. prgtoken No matter your age, race, occupation, religion, or sexuality, you should be treated with dignity, and for too long, with too many people, this has not been the case. Ms. Dhillon has not demonstrated that she will be a champion for these workers. prgtoken In the past, we have always tried to move EEOC nominations in a bipartisan way, with ic and nominees confirmed at the same time, but for months, for reasons I cannot explain, my colleagues have refused to hold a vote on a ic nominee to this Commission. This obstruction has forced the EEOC to operate without a quorum, preventing it from conducting crucial business, such as issuing new policies, guidance, and regulations. prgtoken This is another example of s changing Senate norms and traditions when it comes to their quest for nominations. We are also seeing that this week with votes on two Second Circuit nominees from New York who are being pushed through over objections by both home State Senators. Before this year, we had never, never seen a judicial nominee receive a vote without a positive blue slip from either home State Senator. ``Blue slip'' is just a formal term; it is actually an approval by the Senator of a nomination. prgtoken By the end of this week, it will have happened four times--in the State of Washington, New Jersey, and now New York. This is a terrible precedent that could end up affecting each of our States. prgtoken s appear determined to ignore traditions and common sense in their effort to confirm the highest possible volume of President 's ext
CONGRATULATING ARVIN HIGH SCHOOL COLOR GUARD
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-8

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the Arvin High School color guard. prgtoken Ranked number one in California, the Bears recently won the Western Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this last April brought home the silver medal at the World Color Guard Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The team has proven that hard work, practice, and teamwork can bring success in any arena. prgtoken Led by Director Bryan Dandin, I am so proud of team members Ivan Perez, Andrea Ramos, Ivory Rose Iglesias, Karen Jaqueline Islas Rosas, Jose Nava, Melisa Sierra, Jocelyne Tapia, Yasmin Zavala, Maria Nunez, Maria Ramos Navarro, Juan Gomez, Cithali Barrena, Veronica Sanchez, Cassandra Cervantes, Enrique Portillo, Nevaeh Arriaga, Emily Watson, and Jessica Sierra. I look forward to their future victories and the success I know they will have in life. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the team. prgtoken Go, Bears.
Introductory Statement on S. 1359
Tina Smith (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-5-8

climate change is the existential challenge of our time. I know this because this is what the science says. I know this because I have seen the impacts of climate change in my State. I know this because it is what our children who will live with the consequences of a changing climate tell us. In a recent poll, half of Americans age 18 to 29 describe climate change as a ``crisis that demands urgent action.'' prgtoken Today I rise to discuss how the clean energy revolution can be the way we fight climate change and the way we create jobs and opportunity. Colleagues, in this global challenge, the United States can lead or we can follow. I want us to lead. prgtoken This morning, as a Senator from an agricultural and high-tech State from the Upper Midwest, I have joined with Representative Ben Ray Lujan, who represents the great State of New Mexico, a State with significant oil and gas resources, to introduce the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019. Our legislation would dramatically expand clean electricity and put the United States on a path to net zero greenhouse gas emissions from the electric sector by the middle of the century, including a nearly 80-percent reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 2005. prgtoken Not so long ago, the United States was a global leader in tackling climate change. President took strong action to remove carbon emissions from cars. He advanced the Clean Power Plan to significantly reduce emissions in the electric sector, and he provided the essential leadership that led to adoption of the international Paris climate agreement, which commits the countries of the world to collectively hold global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. prgtoken Unfortunately, our current President has moved unilaterally to undo these actions, as if we can bury our heads in the sand and ignore the reality that a warming climate threatens our health, it threatens our financial stability, and it threatens our very existence. I regret to say it, but for the most part, the -led Congress has gone along with President as he has ceded U.S. leadership on climate and clean energy to our competitors. prgtoken The result of this? Our global competitors are happy to dominate in this field. This is, I think, quite interesting. China has more than twice as much wind power as the United States, and in 2018, China beat the United States on new wind installations by more than 3 to 1. Half of all new solar installations in the world last year happened in China. Here at home, President 's policies caused the solar energy industry to shed 20,000 jobs as the United States lags in fourth place on installed solar energy. prgtoken Fortunately, while Washington wavers, there is a groundswell of support for the clean energy revolution at the local level. When President moved against the Paris climate agreement, Americans responded with the ``We Are Still In'' campaign. Churches
Remembering Robert Pear (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-5-8

I begin this morning with a heavy heart, having heard of the abrupt passing of New York Times journalist Robert Pear. prgtoken It just so happens that Robert lived on my floor in college during freshman year. While everyone else in those days had long hair and wore bell-bottoms, Robert had a flattop, was always studious, inquisitive, polite, and very decent, earning him the nickname ``The Deacon.'' He was the first to go into the library and the last to come out late at night. The Deacon was different from most of us but earned all of our respect. prgtoken Robert maintained the qualities of studiousness and inquisitiveness, politeness and decency throughout his personal and professional life. In my view, he represented the very best of America. prgtoken When Robert's byline appeared on a story--and so often, his stories were on the front page, above the fold of the New York Times--the reader knew the reporting would be both important and authoritative. prgtoken His death is a loss for journalism itself. I send my condolences to his family in this moment of profound grief.