mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNITED STATES EXPORT FINANCE AGENCY ACT OF 2019
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-11-14

I thank Congresswoman Speier for her leadership on climate issues in general and specifically on electric vehicles. prgtoken , we are suffering the climate crisis right now. In my home State of Michigan, climate change is changing our environment impacting the Great Lakes: record lake levels, algal blooms, and invasive species like Asian carp. prgtoken As Members of Congress, we have a duty to act on commonsense policies that support climate solutions, and this amendment is a good example of that. prgtoken I support this amendment because it will make explicit the Export- Import Bank's role in supporting clean energy in our domestic exports, especially electric vehicles, their components, and vehicle charging infrastructure. prgtoken As Congresswoman Speier said, China makes more electric vehicles than anybody else in the world. That doesn't have to be the case. We have to invest in policy that supports electric vehicles so that the U.S. can lead the future in transportation. This amendment would help to do that. prgtoken I come from Flint, Michigan, a community with a great auto history. But I have seen automotive jobs sent overseas over the years, and the livelihood of families I represent go right along with those jobs, because we have failed to see the future. We have failed to see around the corner. We have failed to invest in the future and claim that future for ourselves. prgtoken This amendment will ensure one additional piece that makes sure that we have a claim on the future and that we can be the leader in electric vehicles. It is the right thing to do. I support the amendment, and I support the underlying legislation.
DIRECTING THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE TO MAKE A CORRECTION IN THE ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 2423
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-11-14

I rise today to recount the life of a colleague who recently passed away, Senator Kay Hagan from the State of North Carolina. I wish I didn't have to stand here to talk about her in the past tense. So many people who have served in the Senate with Kay Hagan, so many staff people across the Senate--and, in the context of both Members and staff, I would say both parties--recall serving with her fondly and also were very saddened by her passing. prgtoken It is very difficult to encapsulate someone's personality or their life in a few short remarks, but you could not have met Kay Hagan even for a short period of time or worked with her even for a short period of time without being captivated by her spirit, her energy, and her optimism, not only about her life but about work. You could also be captivated by her ability to connect with people and to demonstrate the kind of uncommon decency that we don't see enough of in politics and even public service. We are going to miss that energy, that optimism, and that decency. We are also going to miss her commitment to public service, even when she was not an elected public official. prgtoken My remarks today will not in any way encapsulate her whole life or her life of service, but I will try to provide some reflections. prgtoken One thing you knew about Kay Hagan when she got to the Senate was that she was very clear about the people she represented in the State from which she came. If you were in a short conversation with her or a long conversation--even a 30-second conversation--you were likely to hear the two words, ``North Carolina,'' if not once in a short conversation, several times. prgtoken She was so proud of her State and so proud of the opportunities she had to represent the people of North Carolina. She, of course, understood her work and was faithful to the basic obligation to represent the Nation as well. She was fiercely loyal to and always concerned about the people of North Carolina. prgtoken She was a fierce advocate for working people in North Carolina and around the country. She also happened to serve at a time when the Senate was considering and then, ultimately, took a vote on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At that time, it was a long debate and a lot of contention, obviously, and there still is on healthcare. But Kay Hagan was very clear about where she stood. prgtoken We happened to serve as members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, known by the acronym HELP--one of the two committees in the Senate that considered healthcare. Both the HELP Committee and the Finance Committee had fierce debate about and then, ultimately, votes on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. prgtoken Here is what Senator Kay Hagan said when the HELP Committee approved similar or, I should say, related legislation, which at that time was called the Affordable Health Choices Act. That was the original healthcare
CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AUSTIN TICE
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-11-14

more than seven years ago, Austin Tice, an American journalist and Marine Corps veteran, disappeared in Syria. prgtoken Since the day he vanished, his parents, family, friends, and supporters, have worked tirelessly to ensure that no stone is left unturned and no avenue ignored to see Austin return home safely. prgtoken In the seventh year of Austin's captivity, l ask that whomever holds Austin release him immediately so that he can return to his loved ones. prgtoken I also ask the assistance of the Government of Syria do whatever it can to help facilitate Austin's release. prgtoken There are things that transcend politics and diplomacy, bridge cultural divides, and need no translation across different languages. prgtoken Those are things like love and hope--represented by a mother and father who wake up each day with deep love and concern for their son and the belief that today could be the day when they get the chance to hug him again. prgtoken I ask for the help of whomever holds Austin and can assist with his release--without the assignment of blame or malice to anyone--so that this year is the last that Austin remains so far from home and his family.
Farmers and Veterans (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-11-14

I want to thank Senators Murphy and Blumenthal for their tremendous leadership that we are here on the floor today to speak about. prgtoken I come today not just as a Member of the Senate representing my home State of Washington but as a former educator, as a mother, and as a grandmother devastated by how the gun violence epidemic is tearing apart our families and ravaging our communities in every State. prgtoken I am furious at leaders who continue to stand by and do nothing while more and more lives are lost, just as I was after Newtown, Parkland, Sutherland Springs, and Marysville in my home State of Washington. I could go on. prgtoken We don't have to continue this cycle of violence, heartbreak, and inaction, and we are here today to emphasize that there is action we can take right now because earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 8-- meaningful, bipartisan gun safety legislation--to address this terrible crisis through universal background checks and other popular reforms. But in the 260 days since H.R. 8 passed the House, it has languished here in the Senate despite repeated calls from myself and my ic colleagues for a vote. prgtoken That is why 58 days ago, following the tragic events at El Paso, Dayton, and Midland, I joined my Senate ic colleagues here on the floor to try to break the cycle and demand that we address the scourge of gun violence in this country by taking a vote here in the Senate on H.R. 8, which would install universal background checks--a policy that, by the way, is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. prgtoken In the face of apathy, people across the country raised their voices even louder, demanding action to end the endless wave of gun tragedy, so much so that after this summer's string of horrors, President bowed to public pressure and made a commitment to finally act to address the gun violence epidemic. prgtoken After months and years of inaction and far, far too many lives lost, it was the first sliver of hope in a long while--that the President and Senate s would finally put the safety of our families over their allegiance to the NRA and do something substantive about ending this Nation's gun violence epidemic, working with toward commonsense reforms to end gun violence and keep people safe. prgtoken Now, more than 2 months later, President has betrayed his pledge to address this tragic epidemic as if the past summer never even happened. Once again, he has chosen to abdicate his responsibility to keep our families and our communities safe and has broken yet another promise he made to the American people, kowtowing to the NRA and its unpopular, hard-right agenda to stymie commonsense gun reform as soon as mass shootings were out of the headlines. prgtoken Well, I can assure you, Senate and I are going to keep fighting for commonsense gun safety reforms, like universal b
HOPE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-11-14

I rise today to proudly announce the introduction of a bipartisan bill to combat human trafficking, the HOPE for Victims of Human Trafficking Act. prgtoken Too often, trafficking victims are forced to do things that they would never choose to do, and sometimes they are forced by their captors to break the law. This bill creates a legal presumption which states that human trafficking victims who commit a covered offense while being trafficked are presumed to have committed that offense under coercion unless the prosecution can prove otherwise. prgtoken Consequently, this bill will stop many unjust convictions human trafficking victims face, which will then better allow them to find employment, seek additional education, and recover from their trauma. prgtoken I am proud to cointroduce this bill with my friend Representative Alcee Hastings. prgtoken On behalf of the many human trafficking groups that supported the bill, including Shared Hope International, Rights4Girls, Selah Freedom, and others, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, too.
UNITED STATES EXPORT FINANCE AGENCY ACT OF 2019
Scott R. Tipton (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-11-14

we hear the President is for the extension, the Senate is for the extension. The problem is, they are not for this piece of legislation. prgtoken I think it is important to be able to note that the ranking member, once again, on the Committee on Financial Services had a deal in principle with the chair to be able to reauthorize the Bank, to be able to add strong protections against China's global interest. Unfortunately, that deal was pulled, and we are left with the bill that does not address these issues head-on. prgtoken In the committee's process, I offered an amendment to be able to combat China's Belt and Road Initiative that would prohibit Ex-Im's assistance to the Government of China unless otherwise authorized by the President of the United States. prgtoken China's envisioned the Belt and Road as an economic tool to be able to expand their influence and, in some cases, force countries to become overly reliant on financing from China. prgtoken The Belt and Road projects also raise a specter of infrastructure that could be used by China's military, even as China promotes international reach with the yuan and the potential displacement of the dollar. prgtoken With more than 60 countries potentially hosting Belt and Road projects and estimated total financing exceeding $1 trillion, the Chinese Government's ambitions are massive and serious--and should be taken so. prgtoken The administration actively attempted to be able to keep foreign countries from joining China in their Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank over concerns that the resources would support Beijing's geopolitical ambitions. prgtoken The bill on the floor today does nothing to be able to address these issues. If anything, the Belt and Road Initiative is even more worrying, and we ought to take a strong stance against it. prgtoken Further, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, China's Belt and Road Initiative is one of the main planks of China's statecraft under the current regime, and it is a key component of the Made in China 2025 economic development strategy. prgtoken And yet, my amendment, in process, was rejected in committee, and there is no trace of proactive restraint against the Belt and Road investments in the bill on the floor today. prgtoken It is completely nonsensical to have the Export-Import Bank offer U.S. taxpayer-backed subsidies to companies implementing projects that further Beijing's geopolitical ambitions.
HONORING THE LIFE OF VICKIE HARTMAN NICKS
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-11-14

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Vickie Hartman Nicks. prgtoken Vickie was born on July 9, 1953 in Thomasville, North Carolina. She graduated from East Davidson High School in 1971 and married Steve Nicks in 1979. In 1981, she took a position as the Secretary of Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church, where she worked for 38 years. prgtoken While being the church secretary certainly kept her busy, her devotion to the community didn't stop there. Vickie was involved in many children and youth programs as well as being a member of the choir. She enjoyed painting and crafts and was known for her quick wit and keen sense of humor. prgtoken Outside of being active in her church, Vickie was even more proud of being a wife, mother, grandmother, and lifelong resident of Davidson County. She was an excellent role-model for and steadfast supporter of her daughters, Stefanie and Andrea, as well as her grandsons Steven and Jacob. prgtoken Vickie's enormous impact on the lives of her loved ones is indelible, and will live on for years to come. prgtoken Vickie lost her life to a long drawn out battle with cancer but her grit and tenacity never let her lose faith. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with her husband, Steve Nicks, to learn about Vickie's bravery while facing the final stages of her life. Her battle with cancer was truly heartbreaking, representing a tragic loss to our Davidson County community. Her determination and grace provides an example to us all. prgtoken Today I wear this bracelet given to me by her husband that states, ``Vickie Strong.'' I wear it today in her memory. prgtoken Madam , please join me in praying for Vickie along with her husband Steve and the entire Nicks family.
WHITE HORSE HILL NATIONAL GAME PRESERVE DESIGNATION ACT
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2019-11-14

Sullys Hill is a national game preserve that is located entirely within the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota. I have a bill, S. 2099, that I want to ask to be voted on shortly. If enacted, my bill would change the game preserve's name from ``Sullys Hill'' to the English translation of its traditional Dakota name, ``White Horse Hill.'' prgtoken The name change has the full support of the Spirit Lake Nation and all of the leadership of the local, State, and national government in North Dakota, including the entire North Dakota congressional delegation: my colleague, Senator Hoeven, chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, and Congressman Kelly Armstrong, who has an identical bill introduced in the House. prgtoken In 1904, the game preserve was named after GEN Alfred Sully. Unfortunately, General Sully gained notoriety by committing several massacres of Native Americans, most notably on September 3, 1863, in the Dakota Territory. As reprisal for the Dakota conflict of 1862, his troops destroyed a village of over 500 teepees that lodged the Yankton, Dakota, and Lakota people, killing hundreds of Native Americans. Many of the descendants of his victims live on the very Tribal lands that surround this hill. prgtoken With the issues that our Federal Government is dealing with today, changing the name of a game preserve in North Dakota may seem like a small matter, but let me assure you, and colleagues, this is no small matter to the people of the Spirit Lake Nation. I am sorry it has taken us so long to correct this wrong. It has taken us over 100 years to correct this mistake. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 223, S. 2099.
Africa (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-11-14

this past weekend, I was the first Senator in a really long time to fly into Somalia's notoriously dangerous capital city. I will tell you, at first glance, it looks like things in Mogadishu have gotten back to normal. But the situation on the ground, after you fly in and get out of the plane and you get on the ground, you see it is really quite a different story. prgtoken There is a reason why our recollection of Somali history focuses on the Black Hawk Down incident--the terrible Battle of Mogadishu--and then- prgtoken President Bill Clinton's decision to evacuate American troops from the Horn of Africa. prgtoken Somalia's legacy is rooted in years of violence that overwhelmed the world's most elite military forces, froze the economy, and left the Somali people very much alone in the world--at least until 9/11, when Western powers were forced to focus on multiple fronts in the War on Terror. prgtoken I was fortunate enough last weekend to visit our Djibouti-based troops at Camp Lemonnier. Our base there was established in the wake of 9/11, and since then, has expanded to support AFRICOM's mission in the Horn of Africa. Their leadership is committed to not repeating the mistakes of the past. They have developed the best unmanned aerial system force in the world. prgtoken It is amazing what they are doing with these UAVs. Between that program and our impressive intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the military has stepped up their ability to keep our troops safer in the world's most volatile theater. prgtoken I was pleased to know that the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell-- which is located in Montgomery County, TN, and also there on the Kentucky border--are supporting the vital post-Benghazi East Africa Response Force mission and that the Nashville-based 118th Air Wing unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard plays a vital role in regional security operations. prgtoken It brought home to me the point of why we have to get the NDAA finished, why we have to get these resources to our men and women in uniform who are fighting every day and need 21st-century warfare in order to keep us safe. prgtoken The work they are doing there--and of course I can't say exactly what it is that they are doing--should make us all really humbled and grateful for those who choose to serve. prgtoken Our mission in Africa is changing. Things are shifting a little bit. As we urge our local partners in Africa to take ownership over their own security, the chattering class is at it again and what we will hear from people is: Well, I think we have done enough for Africa. Don't you think we have given enough? prgtoken My response this week to those who have made that statement has been: No, we have not done enough. We have invested more than a decades' worth of time, money, and manpower. We have lost men, lost ground, regained that ground, expanded our abilities, and have achieved moderate regional stab
RECOGNIZING ALICE SEFCIK SULAK
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-11-14

. Madam , I'm honored to recognize the incredible life and achievements of Alice Sefcik Sulak of Temple, Texas. Her contributions to the region, as well as her commitment to maintaining the proud traditions of her Czech ancestry, have made her a beloved member of the Central Texas community. prgtoken Renowned for both her singing voice as well as her abilities to play multiple instruments, Alice was one of Texas' pioneering Czech vocalists who distinguished herself as an accomplished and respected musician with a distinctive and recognizable style. Throughout her life, she both mentored young musicians and helped popularize Czech music throughout Texas. prgtoken Alice remains a vital member of the Temple community. In 1923, her parents built Tom Sefcik Hall, a classic Texas dance hall. Alice grew up working at the hall, and in 1970 she took over the operation, which she continues to run today. Sefcik Hall is a community gathering place and the site of countless first dates, weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, and family reunions. While the number of dance halls across Texas are dwindling, the lights remain on at Sefcik Hall, where new memories are made every day. prgtoken Recognizing her invaluable contributions, the City of Temple has proclaimed November 17, 2019 as ``Alice Sefcik Sulak Day.'' She is truly a local treasure and a fitting recipient of our recognition and appreciation. Her commitment to investing her gifts, talents, and abilities to improve her community is a deeply held creed that speaks to the generosity of a true and devoted citizen. prgtoken Alice Sefcik Sulak's life is the story of a woman unafraid to chase her passions and devote her time to make good communities great. I join all Temple residents in celebrating her on this special day.
HONORING MS. MARY E. STUART
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-11-14

. Madam , today, I rise to recognize an outstanding individual who has been volunteering for sixty consecutive years. At the age of 91, Ms. Mary Stuart can be found working seven hour shifts at Medical City Plano five days a week. prgtoken In 1959, Ms. Stuart began her hospital volunteer efforts in Newfane, New York, and later relocated to Tallahassee, Florida where she continued her work in area medical centers. In 1997, Mary moved to Plano and soon became a valued volunteer at Medical City Plano. In fact, just this year Ms. Stuart received her 25,500 hours volunteer pin which is the most hours a volunteer has ever given to Medical City Plano since they opened their doors in 1975. prgtoken Her unbelievable track record as a community servant who puts the needs of others above her own has earned her other prestigious titles such as the Texas Yellow Rose from former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Honorary Georgia Peach. prgtoken The Plano community is very proud of her leadership in volunteerism. Ms. Stuart exemplifies a passion for helping others and she undoubtedly betters the world around her. prgtoken I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking Ms. Mary Stuart for her sixty years of volunteer work.
RECOGNIZING KAREN SEMPLE FOR THE 2019 MONTANA CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION
Greg Gianforte (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-11-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Karen Semple of Montana City for the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation for her service and dedication to her community. Ms. Semple served in the United States Air Force for almost a decade. Ms. Semple received multiple commendations during her time in the Air Force and continued to serve her community when she returned home. Ms. Semple has served her community as a chaplain for various veteran groups and fire departments. In her role with the American Legion, she has led training for other chaplains to have the tools necessary to minister to veterans with moral injury, PTSD, and suicide ideation. In addition, Ms. Semple serves as a volunteer firefighter, and the American Legion of Montana Disaster Emergency Response Coordinator. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending Karen Semple for her dedication and service to her community.