mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MAIDEN SPEECH
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2019-12-17

a very special thanks to my senior Senator, my great friend, and our former Governor, Senator John Hoeven. prgtoken In fact, as he went through much of my speech for me, I thought to myself: Why, this is kind of like when I played high school basketball in Kindred, and we would be ahead by 20 points and the coach would get me off the bench and say: Go in and try not to screw this thing up. That is a little bit how I feel right now, but I thank him for the very kind introduction. Most of it was true. prgtoken The idea of a maiden speech a year into your first term may seem a little odd, but I actually kind of like the idea. It gives me a year's worth of opportunity to reflect, which creates greater clarity about the future and vision. prgtoken The first thing I want to say to all of my colleagues here is thank you for being so welcoming--and I mean all of them. What they say about the Senate and the collegiality of it is very true. It is not just true. It is really important, and it is something worth preserving. prgtoken I can honestly say that out of the 99 that I have met, I love every one, individually and collectively, and appreciate all they have meant to me. prgtoken Kris and I have been married for 33 years. We have five children together, and I am going to talk about one in particular in a little bit. prgtoken Our children range in ages from 12 to 38, and that is too long of a story to explain, but we love and are proud of all of them. prgtoken Our five grandchildren are a little closer in range. They range from 1 to 7, and we love every single one of them--Lyla, Beau, Nico, Chet, and Willa--with all the love any grandparent could come with and with all the love that God has for us. prgtoken I think it is important for people to know I am a child of God and a follower of Jesus, and it informs everything that I do, both at home and here and throughout life. prgtoken I think it is important to know a little bit about where you come from. I was raised by loving parents. My dad was a rural electric lineman who never once complained about going out in a storm to get the lights back on for the farmers of our area. My mother was an elder care giver when she wasn't pumping gas at the local Farmers Union station. They did whatever they needed to do to help us kids and to provide for our family. We never felt like we needed anything because we didn't. We were loved, and we were well cared for and had great examples of culture and work ethic and values that are North Dakotan. prgtoken I think it is important to understand where a person comes from, but I want to fast forward a little bit to this last year. I said I was going to talk a little bit about one of our sons. It was a tough campaign. A lot of people think that North Dakota is this bright red State and that everyone who runs there who is wins. While that certainly has been the trend, I think it is sort of important for people to know
MAIDEN SPEECH
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2019-12-17

I would just like to say how much I appreciate Senator Cramer, the working relationship that we have, not just here but a working relationship that goes back many, many years. As you can tell, he speaks very well, but what comes through is not only his commitment to his family and his faith, but his commitment to the people of North Dakota and his commitment to the people of this country. prgtoken It doesn't matter what issue he is working on. He takes the time to listen to everybody, and he is always willing to explain where he is coming from and why he comes to the conclusion he does. But there is no question, he loves his faith; he loves his family; he loves his State; and he loves this country. prgtoken Thank you, . prgtoken .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise today on a more somber note to pay tribute to members of the Hansen family who recently lost their lives in a tragic accident. prgtoken For Jim Hansen, family is what mattered most in life. This past Thanksgiving, he was with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandson, participating in an annual hunting activity that had become a family tradition. prgtoken On November 30, 2019, they were returning from this cherished family time, when a tragic plane accident took the lives of nine members of the Hansen family: Jim Hansen, Sr Jim Hansen, Jr Kirk Hansen, Stockton Hansen, Logan Hansen, Kyle Naylor, Tyson Dennert, Jake Hansen, and Houston Hansen. prgtoken My wife Vicki and I offer our deepest condolences and our hearts go out to the remaining family members during this overwhelmingly difficult time. Their loss will not only be felt throughout their community in eastern Idaho, but also by countless others throughout the world who have been touched by their religious and philanthropic service. prgtoken The miraculous survival of Josh Hansen, Matt Hansen, and Thomas Long is a tender mercy to their remaining loved ones and will hopefully bring a measure of healing for their families. prgtoken Jim Hansen, Sr spent his entire life building a legacy steeped in a strong sense of commitment to family, a touchstone to guide future generations. Being born into a family known for hard work and business acumen, as well as caring for people in need, Jim, Jr and Kirk harnessed their entrepreneurial spirit to expand the family business into other successful ventures that had a significant impact on their home community of Idaho Falls. The success of their values and vision was manifest in the growth of their business endeavors and their global impact. prgtoken Kirk and Jim were passionate about bringing hope to others, and that hope took shape in several forms. With the guidance and insight of their remarkable wives, Kirk and Jim helped found Kyani Caring Hands. For nearly a decade, this organization dedicated a significant portion of its time, energy, and financial resources to respond to disasters and support poverty-stricken prgtoken communities throughout the world, with a special focus on improving children's nutrition and education. prgtoken The tragic plane accident that claimed the lives of these Idaho sons will forever cement the ideals and values that motivated these men to do good where good was needed. prgtoken Idaho said farewell to several great men who were not only pillars of the community, but also beloved by employees everywhere. Jim Hansen, Sr and his two sons, Kirk and Jim, Jr were known throughout the world as men who were passionate about helping others and touching lives wherever they went. The Hansen men and children who lost their lives in this tragic plane accident will be deeply missed, but their legacy will not be forgotten.
TRIBUTE TO OFFICER MICHAEL LOHMAN
Cory Gardner (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-12-17

in August, I was fortunate to award Officer Michael Lohman of the Greeley Police Department with the Congressional Badge of Bravery for his heroic actions apprehending the driver of a stolen vehicle in 2017. prgtoken While at the driver-side window of the vehicle, the driver pulled a gun on Officer Lohman, who immediately engaged with the driver to take the weapon. The driver pulled Officer Lohman into the vehicle and began accelerating, dragging him along the street. Officer Lohman kept his cool and was able to pull the suspect from the vehicle while it was still moving and apprehended him with the help of other officers. prgtoken These actions saved the lives of anyone in the path of that vehicle, as well as the life of his partner who was at the passenger side of the vehicle when the gun was pulled. These actions give our communities peace of mind, knowing that heroes like Officer Lohman continue to keep all of us safe. But we know every brave action doesn't get the recognition that it deserves. prgtoken Every day, there are law enforcement and first responders who act with complete selflessness. They do this not to seek recognition or praise, but simply because it is what they were called to do. prgtoken Jamie and I would like to send our thanks to the families of our law enforcement and first responders. Every day these men and women say goodbye to their loved ones, unsure of what that day will hold for them. I am sure these goodbyes are much more difficult during the holiday season, but without the love and support of those at home, the jobs of law enforcement and our first responders would be that much more difficult. We thank them for their continued sacrifice.
COMMEMORATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF IRIS BARTLEY
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise today to pay special recognition to Ms. Iris Bartley from my hometown of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. prgtoken While many may begin slowing down when they reach this incredible milestone, that is not who Iris is. A mother of 4, grandmother of 14, great-grandmother of 30, and great-great-grandmother of 7, Iris can still be found weed-eating at her home and teaching Sunday school at my church, First Baptist in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. prgtoken An accomplished musician, she is also known for her famous singing and guitar playing. prgtoken After opening a beauty shop in her own home in the mid-1940s, Iris was a hairstylist in Tompkinsville until retiring at the young age of 92. prgtoken Born and raised on a farm, she never forgot the values of hard work, faith, and family. She has always lived out those values while also instilling them in her children and their families. prgtoken While I know she still has many good years left, I, nonetheless, wanted to take this time to honor Iris for reaching the century mark. I am honored to represent someone as respected as Iris, along with the rest of my constituents in the First Congressional District.
DHS CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAMS ACT OF 2019
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-12-17

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee has done a tremendous job navigating all these bills through a very difficult negotiation in such a short timeframe. Her steady leadership, experience, and focus completing this difficult task was critical to ensuring an end product that will garner support and that the President will sign. I also want to thank Chairwoman Lowey for keeping the process on track during the very difficult political times that we are in. prgtoken I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to my chairman, Mr. Visclosky, from the great State of Indiana. Mr. Visclosky has been a tremendous partner to me and our side of the aisle throughout this whole process maintaining the bipartisan nature of the Defense Subcommittee. He has been very gracious and accommodating, and I thank him sincerely. I look forward to continuing to work in a collaborative manner during the coming year. prgtoken The bill includes $693 billion for the Department of Defense, including $624 billion in base funds, $70.7 million for Overseas Contingency Operations, and $1.8 billion in disaster assistance. In total, this bill is nearly $19 billion more than the fiscal year 2019 level. prgtoken After thoughtful negotiations between the House and the Senate, we have a good, balanced bill that we look forward to passing in both Chambers and getting to the President for his signature. prgtoken Our number one priority is to provide for the Nation's defense. The world remains a dangerous place. We have got troops in combat against ISIS, al-Qaida, and associated forces. Authoritarian competitors-- especially China and Russia--are seeking regional dominance and trying to upend the post-World War II international order. North Korea continues to modernize its nuclear weapons capability and means of delivery. A hostile Iran remains a threat to Israel and other U.S. partners, as well as our forces in the Middle East. Instability to our south has produced conditions that bring people, which tragically includes unaccompanied children, into our Nation illegally. prgtoken For all these reasons, we must get this bill done. prgtoken As we all know, operating under continuing resolutions actually costs more money and results in delayed capabilities. The department needs stable, predictable, and timely funding to ensure it is prepared to meet the threats we face now and in the feature. prgtoken The funding in this bill recognizes threats of U.S. interests throughout the world while continuing modernization efforts to maintain the peace and deter our near-peer adversaries. prgtoken It also supports the men and women in the military by addressing quality-of-life issues that Chairman Visclosky has championed by including additional funds to address childcare and medical care. Of course, we fund the 3.1 percent pay raise and provide additional funding for medical res
RECOGNIZING 41ST ANNUAL MINNESOTA HMONG NEW YEAR
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise today to recognize the 60,000 members of the Hmong community in Minnesota who recently celebrated their 41st new year celebration. prgtoken My home State is home to one of the largest Hmong communities in the Nation. They are great neighbors and coworkers, and they have been an integral part of the fabric of our State and culture since the first Hmong family arrived in 1975. prgtoken Although I was not able to participate in this year's new year's ceremony, the celebration's theme of ``Embracing the Present, Inspiring Future Generations'' could not be more appropriate. Minnesota's Hmong families and leaders have worked hard to embrace everyone in their surrounding communities and inspire those interested in learning more about their rich heritage and history. prgtoken I thank all the Hmong in our great State of Minnesota for their many years of friendship with our office and wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.
TRIBUTE TO FRANK FRAZIER
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Frank Frazier of Oxford, NC, for his 35 years of dedicated public service to the city of Henderson and surrounding communities. Mr. Frazier was hired as an engineering technician for the city of Henderson in 1985 and has since dedicated his career to public service. He has held a number of roles within local government including, but not limited to, director of engineering, assistant city manager and city manager. prgtoken As city manager, Mr. Frazier has managed over 200 employees responsible for all city operations including the Fire and Police Departments, engineering, human resources, finance, recreation, and water resources, among many others. Mr. Frazier has led several significant projects that have benefited the city, county, and region as a whole, including upgrades to the Henderson Water Reclamation Facility and an upgrade to the Kerr Lake Regional Water Plant. Not only did Mr. Frazier successfully execute many accomplishments for the community, he did so through balanced budgets without tax increases and simultaneously providing substantial pay raises to city employees. prgtoken Mr. Frazier is well respected and acknowledged for his consistent dedication to improving the quality of life for Henderson and the greater region. I would like to thank Mr. Frazier for his 35 years of honorable service, as well as acknowledge his wife Sherrie and their two sons, Mitchell and Chad, who have supported his service. I wish Mr. Frazier all the best in his future endeavors as he retires from the city of Henderson.
DHS CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAMS ACT OF 2019
Robert B. Aderholt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-12-17

. Madam , I thank the ranking member, and I also rise today in support of H.R. 1158, as the majority leader did, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020. prgtoken While this bill is not perfect, as it was also mentioned--and, quite honestly, I have concerns that there is an ongoing trend toward increased spending--I will say that division B of this legislation, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, includes assistance that is critical to law enforcement, the Census, and NASA, among other things. prgtoken I would like to thank Chairman Serrano, and I thank Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, as well as our Senate counterparts for their leadership, their diligence, and their willingness to come together to form this meeting of the minds to bring this FY 2020 bill to the floor and to fruition. prgtoken I also want to thank Mr. Serrano's staff--Mr. Bob Bonner, Jeff Ashford, Trisha Castaneda, TJ Lowdermilk, Shannon McCully, Matt Smith, and B.G. Wright--for their hard work and the many long days that were, no doubt, dedicated to helping produce this legislation. I appreciate their cooperative spirit in which they worked with my staff to address so many of the issues that are in this bill. prgtoken And, of course, I also want to thank my staff for their outstanding work. prgtoken I want to thank our CJS subcommittee staff, Stephanie Gadbois and Kristin Clarkson, for their hard work, their long hours, and their dedication over the last year, and especially the hard work of the last few weeks in finalizing this bill. prgtoken Let me just briefly recap. The bill has $22.6 billion for NASA. The funding will help support the President's Artemis initiative, which includes completion and further development of the Space Launch System to ensure that it is the United States and not our adversaries that will control future access to space. prgtoken In addition to NASA, the bill includes $7.3 billion to support the 2020 Decennial Census which will be necessary to get an accurate count of all Americans, including those in hard-to-count communities. It also includes critical funding for the Federal law enforcement components of the Department of Justice, including the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. I am pleased to say that these funds will also support Attorney General Barr's efforts to fight the scourge of violent crimes and acts of mass violence. prgtoken In support of the valuable efforts of our local law enforcement partners back home, this bill also includes $547 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance grants, along with increased resources to eliminate the sexual assault kit backlog, also fund drug court programs, and support other vital initiatives that fight the opioid epidemic.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1158, DHS CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAMS ACT OF 2019; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1865, NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT...
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , my friend, the late, great Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, once said, ``We campaign in poetry and govern in prose,'' and I think he foresaw days like today when we come together in the spirit of compromise to accomplish great things for our communities and for the country. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues for their support and Mr. Cole's support of both Consolidated Appropriations Acts, and I especially thank Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, and all of the Members on the Appropriations Committee, including the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma, for their tireless work in reaching this bipartisan compromise. prgtoken , I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and a ``yes'' vote on the previous question.
DHS CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAMS ACT OF 2019
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2019-12-17

. Madam , I thank the chairwoman for yielding. prgtoken I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to Ranking Member Calvert. Mr. Calvert continues to be a tremendous partner in this process, and he is a joy to work with. prgtoken I would also like to express my gratitude to the chairwoman, Mrs. Lowey, as well as the ranking member, Ms. Granger, and the other members of the committee. I would like to thank each of our incomparable staff. This legislation would not be possible without their intellectual acumen, outstanding effort, and significant personal sacrifices. prgtoken Division A of the bill provides appropriations for the Department of Defense and is the result of a negotiated compromise. Despite our best efforts, I was very disappointed to recede on certain provisions of the House-passed bill, particularly those that restricted the ability of the administration to reprogram Defense funding for the border wall and several others that would have returned some balance to the oversight relationship between the executive and legislative branches. The department's actions in the past year have fundamentally damaged its relationship with this committee. With this agreement, we increase our emphasis on oversight as we move forward. prgtoken Nevertheless, there is a tremendous amount of good provided in this bill. The bill provides more than ample funding for the Department of Defense to make major investments in readiness. But our primary focus has been on the well-being and morale of those in uniform, their families, DOD civilians, and the Defense communities. prgtoken The bill provides the funding necessary to support a 3.1 percent military pay raise for our women and men in uniform. This is the largest increase in base pay since 2010. prgtoken The bill provides an additional $110 million for upgrades to DOD childcare facilities, which I see as just the first step in addressing the significant shortfall of quality childcare within the military services. prgtoken The bill provides $315 million above the request to address public school infrastructure requirements on DOD facilities. prgtoken The bill provides $1.42 billion for environmental restoration activities, $180.5 million above enacted levels for this year. Additionally, the bill provides $1.8 billion in natural disaster funding for repairs and replacement of equipment at military bases damaged by natural disasters in eight States, including Virginia, Florida, California, and Georgia. prgtoken In closing, I would like to end by reminding the Department of Defense that report language is directive, not permissive. Actions in direct contravention of congressional direction in the report are absolutely unacceptable and must stop. prgtoken Again, s and staff. prgtoken Madam , I urge support for the bill.
TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY ISAKSON
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-17

I rise today to recognize my colleague and friend, Senator Johnny Isakson, for a lifetime of service to our Nation that started with his time as a loadmaster in the Georgia Air National Guard, to his tenure in the Georgia General Assembly, to his years of public service in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. prgtoken With Johnny's retirement, the Senate is losing a truly great leader; a man of courage, whose dedication to this country has inspired me more times than I can count; a man of honor, who has worked tirelessly for the veteran community; and a man of compassion, who I am so grateful to be able to call a dear friend. prgtoken We will never be able to fully thank Johnny for all he has done for the rest of us, but today, I want to try. Johnny, thank you for being there for me at Walter Reed when I was a Wounded Warrior, just home from combat. Thank you for being by my side last spring, a decade and a half later, on my first trip back to Iraq. prgtoken Thank you for always being there when it matters the most, for being such an incredible advocate for our veterans, for giving the absolute best birthday and holiday presents, and for showing what it means to lead a life guided by integrity, a life defined by service. prgtoken You have made our Nation stronger and our Union more perfect. You will be missed every time this Chamber is gaveled into session.