mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FAIRNESS FOR 9/11 FAMILIES ACT
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I regret that I was unable to vote today as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 477. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Bacon (Hartzler) Barr (McHenry) Beatty (Cicilline) Bergman (Moolenaar) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Boyle, Brendan F. (Beyer) Brooks (Fleischmann) Brownley (Pingree) Buchanan (Bucshon) Budd (McHenry) Bustos (Pingree) Carson (Mrvan) Carter (TX) (Weber (TX)) Cawthorn (Gohmert) Cherfilus-McCormick (Neguse) Chu (Beyer) Conway (LaMalfa) Crawford (Fleischmann) Cuellar (Correa) Demings (Dean) DesJarlais (Fleischmann) Diaz-Balart (Reschenthaler) Donalds (Cammack) Doyle, Michael F. (Pallone) Dunn (Cammack) Eshoo (Thompson (CA)) Gimenez (Malliotakis) Gonzalez, Vicente (Correa) Gosar (Weber (TX)) Herrera Beutler (Meijer) Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski) Jayapal (Cicilline) Johnson (TX) (Stevens) Kind (Beyer) Kinzinger (Meijer) Kirkpatrick (Pallone) Lawson (FL) (Stevens) Leger Fernandez (Cicilline) Lofgren (Correa) Long (Fleischmann) Lynch (Trahan) Mace (Smucker) Mast (Waltz) McEachin (Beyer) Meng (Escobar) Mfume (Beyer) Murphy (FL) (Peters) Nehls (Van Duyne) Newman (Beyer) Norman (Duncan) Ocasio-Cortez (Neguse) Payne (Pallone) Pfluger (Ellzey) Porter (Neguse) Pressley (Trahan) Rice (NY) (Morelle) Rice (SC) (Meijer) Rogers (AL) (Banks) Ryan (OH) (Correa) Salazar (Waltz) Sewell (Cicilline) Sherman (Garamendi) Sherrill (Pallone) Sires (Pallone) Soto (Escobar) Speier (Garcia (TX)) Steel (Obernolte) Stefanik (Reschenthaler) Tiffany (Fitzgerald) Timmons (Duncan) Vargas (Garamendi) Wilson (FL) (Cicilline) Wilson (SC) (Duncan) Zeldin (Malliotakis)
ADDRESSING INNER-CITY GUN VIOLENCE
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , on Tuesday, as they were leaving football practice at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, five teenage boys were shot. Four survived the horrific shooting, but 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde was killed. God bless him. prgtoken Earlier that day, I stood with Representative Scanlon, the Giffords organization, and the community to advocate for gun violence prevention. One of the advocates in our audience was a grandmother like me. Only hours later, it was her grandson, Nicolas, who was gunned down leaving football practice. prgtoken I cannot imagine her pain. Nicolas is the 23rd child to be shot and murdered in Philadelphia this year. prgtoken There is a frightening trend of far too many illicit guns ending up in the hands of teenagers. This must end. prgtoken We need serious solutions, not finger-pointing, to address inner-city gun violence. We cannot simply out-police loose gun laws that contribute to teenagers getting their hands on guns and murdering one another. prgtoken So, while this may be the final day of our session, I will not stop working on this issue. I will be sending a letter to ATF requesting an increased focus on ending the pipeline of guns to our children's hands.
COMMEMORATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF BORICUACTIVATED
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , when most people imagine the American democracy at work, they picture this House--or the other chamber--and the work we do as lawmakers. prgtoken Or they picture themselves or their neighbors in the voting booth, casting ballots to determine the make-up of government at the local, state, and federal levels. prgtoken To me, however, American democracy also takes another form: the ongoing dialogue between citizens and public servants, like us, whom they elect to represent them. It is in these conversations that we truly learn our constituents' hopes and dreams for the future; it is where we learn to make their priorities into our priorities; it is where we truly live up to our founders' ideals that the people should be allowed--and encouraged--to petition their government. prgtoken That is true civic engagement. And that premise is at the heart of BoricuActivatEd, a stellar volunteer-run organization that is now proudly celebrating its fifth anniversary. They are leading the way in fostering that active, ongoing dialogue. prgtoken The group was created in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, which struck Puerto Rico with tragic ferocity. The group found immediate success in marshalling the combined prgtoken voice of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, proving its impact and displaying the power of civic engagement. They grew from there. prgtoken Through its civic engagement workshops, BoricuActivatEd has now supplied more than 2,000 people with the tools needed to make their voices heard. It has taught them how to advocate for their priorities and to garner the attention of their elected officials. I can personally attest, having participated in their workshops, just how effective and valuable these sessions can be. prgtoken To their credit, just as it was born during a moment of tragedy, BoricuActivatEd continued to grow its programs during another challenging period--the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, during the past two years, it has developed a curriculum enabling the next generation of citizens to become engaged in their government. BoricuActivatEd has brought its lessons to students at the high school level, including Esperanza Academy in my district. prgtoken By training people of all ages, and by securing the active participation of elected officials at all levels of government, BoricuActivatEd represents civic engagement and empowerment at its best. prgtoken I am proud to congratulate BoricuActivatEd on its fifth anniversary and wish them every success as they embark on new accomplishments in the years ahead.
CELEBRATING THE WORK OF FORMER SENIOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES ADVOCATE LAURA RUDE
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate and recognize the work of Laura Rude, my former Senior Constituent Services Advocate in Rock Island, Illinois. prgtoken Laura has given nine years of dedicated service to the communities that make up Illinois' 17th Congressional District. She oversees our Congressional Record program, where she writes and edits submissions, and has nearly doubled our output per year during our final term in Congress. Laura has also written over 3,000 congratulations letters to constituents on my behalf. During her time in our office, Laura successfully closed over 2,500 cases, encompassing every single type of casework and working with every federal agency. She is truly a jack of all trades. prgtoken Laura, who received her Master's Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University, is truly the ``do-it-all'' caseworker. She is profoundly kind and understanding when assisting constituents, and has handled every type of miscellaneous case that others would consider out-of-the-box or difficult. One of her most memorable cases was assisting Laura Thomsen, who contacted our office because she was approved for Social Security Disability Insurance in November 2021, and had waited past the 120-day wait period to receive her benefits. Laura swiftly contacted the Social Security Administration on Ms. Thomsen's behalf and kept her updated on the case. Finally, on July 14, 2022, the Social Security Administration released the $71,317.81 in backpay that was owed to Ms. Thomsen. This is a lifechanging amount of money for anyone, let alone someone who was unable to work due to a disability. Without a doubt, Laura has made a significant difference in the lives of countless constituents. prgtoken It is because of kind and dedicated leaders such as my former Senior Constituent Services Advocate, Laura Rude, that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would like to, again, formally celebrate the exceptional work of Laura Rude.
RECOGNIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to share my appreciation for local law enforcement officers in my community and across the country. prgtoken I recognize the sacrifices these brave men and women make every day to keep our communities safe, but words of praise and gratitude are never enough. I am proud to say I have backed up my words with action. prgtoken Last week, I voted to pass a package of bills that support our police officers and increase public safety. Investing in our officers is critical to protecting our communities. prgtoken We can increase public safety by ensuring that law enforcement agencies are well trained to de-escalate dangerous situations, respond to mental health and domestic violence emergencies properly, and make sure that the right channels are in place to uphold justice for all. prgtoken That is why I voted to pass the Invest to Protect Act. This legislation will provide Federal grants to smaller law enforcement agencies like those in my district to recruit, retain, and train good, accountable officers. prgtoken To the police officers and first responders in my community: Thank you for the work you do to protect North Carolina's Sixth District.
HONORING WALTER MUNK
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-30

I stand today to honor the legacy of Walter Munk, a groundbreaking scientist and oceanographer who advanced our knowledge of waves, ocean temperature, the Earth's rotation, and much more. prgtoken Born in Austria, he eventually made his way to San Diego and enlisted in the Army as World War II approached. In 1941, Munk returned to San Diego's Scripps Institute of Oceanography to work in the U.S. Navy Radio and Sound Laboratory. prgtoken The scope of Walter Munk's work was vast. He helped meteorologists predict the waves troops would face in Normandy during World War II and developed methods incorporated into modern tsunami warning networks. His passion for his work and for San Diego also led him to push to build the UC San Diego campus in the 1960s. prgtoken Later in life, and bolstered by years of expertise, Munk brought attention to climate change and conferred with figures like Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama to advocate for action. His work earned him the National Medal of Science and the Kyoto Prize. prgtoken In his honor, I have proclaimed October 19 Walter Munk World Oceans Day in California's 52nd Congressional District.
FAIRNESS FOR 9/11 FAMILIES ACT
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-30

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act would provide a catch-up payment to thousands of 9/11 victims, spouses, and dependents who were unfairly excluded from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund when it was first established in 2015. prgtoken While no amount of money can ever make up for the incalculable loss that they suffered on September 11, this legislation would ensure that they are fairly compensated for their claims against those responsible for one of our Nation's darkest days. prgtoken In 2015, Congress created the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund to provide compensation for individuals with terrorism judgments against designated state sponsors of terrorism. prgtoken At the time, those who had received payments from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund--primarily victims, spouses, and children-- were precluded from receiving funds from the VSSTF. prgtoken Their exclusion from the fund led to a perverse result by which other family members who were not eligible for payments under the VCF could receive compensation from the VSSTF--in some cases, substantially more than what was paid out under the VCF--while victims, spouses, and children were excluded from the fund, despite also having claims. prgtoken Congress corrected this injustice in 2019, and a year later it tasked the Government Accountability Office with calculating a lump-sum catch- up payment that would bring those who initially had been wrongly excluded from the VSSTF into parity with those individuals who had been included in the fund when it was first created. prgtoken The Fairness for 9/11 Families Act fully funds these catch-up payments, offset by funds no longer needed to implement the Paycheck Protection Program. I thank Senators Menendez and Schumer for their partnership on this legislation and for all of their efforts to provide justice and support to 9/11 families over the years. prgtoken I also thank the many victims and family members whose advocacy and determination were essential to bringing this legislation forward. Although nothing can make up for 20 years of missed birthdays, anniversaries, and memories for those who lost loved ones on September 11, I hope that these funds can provide some measure of comfort and justice to the people whose lives were changed forever that day. prgtoken As we pass this legislation, we must not forget the survivors and first responders who continue to suffer the health effects of the 9/11 attacks. As I always have, I will continue to fight to ensure that these people have the care they need. We can, and we must, look after everyone who was affected that fateful day. prgtoken , I urge all Members to support the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act, and .
WE MUST PASS THE JAMAL KHASHOGGI ACT
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the death and honor the legacy of Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, and to support my bill, the Jamal Khashoggi Act. prgtoken The murder of Mr. Khashoggi was not only a gross human rights violation, but a brutal crime. It is imperative that Congress send a message to the Executive Branch--and the world--that we will not condone those countries that target dissidents of any kind, including journalists seeking to report the truth. prgtoken As reported in David Ignatius' September 28 column in the Washington Post, Mr. Khashoggi's final column was about the need for ``free expression.'' Mr. Khashoggi built a career on exposing assaults against press freedom and consistently reminded his readers that all of us hold a stake in an open press; from here in the United States to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, and beyond. prgtoken Mr. Khashoggi's legacy must be honored. I am introducing this bill to demand the U.S. government do the right thing and impose accountability for those who attack democratic voices. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and show the world that the United States will defend the global right to a free and open press.
RECOGNITION OF DON GEDDIS
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dr. Don Geddis upon the occasion of his being named Citizen of the Year for 2022 by the Associated Parents' Group of Hillsborough. His service to our community is so enormous that I think of Don as being one of the towering eucalyptus trees that populate the town . . . . . without, of course, all the shedding bark. prgtoken When Don's children entered Hillsborough schools in 2006, he immediately took a leadership role by joining the School Site Council, placing him on the West Parent Group executive board. For many years he was a highly qualified judge of the West iLab Tech Challenge, bringing his PhD in artificial intelligence and computer science from Stanford to bear on the work product of student tinkerers. He also served for two years as the West Parent Group's trustee representative, giving him extensive exposure to the operations of the school board. prgtoken Don took the plunge and ran for school board in 2013. He has served every year since, four times as board president. He combines this volunteer job with service on the recreation commission, a joint powers authority between the school district and the town of Hillsborough. He also serves as trustee liaison to the Associated Parents' Group. prgtoken The pandemic hit every school district hard, and every district scrambled to create remote work. The biggest challenge, however, was the creation of a back-to-school safety plan. Don and the District Core Return to School team created testing and other protocols that permitted Hillsborough schools to be one of the first in the state to return to full-time, in-person instruction. As a major leader in the town, Don explained the plan to countless parents and advocated for it at the board. He located testing solutions and helped plan the district's testing policy. The students and parents of Hillsborough will be forever grateful to Don for his dedication to education and to public health. prgtoken Measure H was a $140 million school facilities bond measure that recently passed due in no small part to Don's leadership. It paves the way for modern schools in Hillsborough for decades to come. As a school board member, he's also served on the board's negotiation team, mentored new trustees, and been active in the San Mateo County School Boards Association. prgtoken Don is not all about work or even civic endeavors. If you visit his website, you'll immediately see a list of 18 major life accomplishments, starting with his bachelor's in computer science at Stanford and ending with his current status as a board member and recreation commissioner. prgtoken However, arrayed below that list is another list of ``Completed Bets.'' For example, in 2015 he apparently bet on whether then-Judge Kavanaugh would be appointed to the Supreme Court. He lost a buck. In the 2017 match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor, he bet $10 and won. He's obviously a better boxing fan than re
CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise to celebrate the work are doing to create safer communities across America. Living safely should not be determined by your ZIP Code, your ethnicity, or your salary. prgtoken That is why, last week, passed four public safety bills, including: prgtoken The Invest to Protect Act, which helps local police departments with less than 125 officers to hire additional officers; prgtoken The Mental Health Justice Act, which provides for training of mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises; prgtoken The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which provides grant dollars for neighborhood crime prevention programs; and prgtoken The VICTIM Act, which allows us to hire and train more detectives to investigate violent crimes. prgtoken Keeping families safe by putting people first and putting people over politics is what do.
RECOGNIZING DR. VINCENT L. ROSS, MD, ITALIAN AMERICAN MAN OF THE YEAR
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , today I honor Dr. Vincent L. Ross, MD, who will be named the Italian American Man of the Year by the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County at their annual gathering on Sunday, October 9, 2022. prgtoken Dr. Ross was born and raised in West Scranton, Pennsylvania to Luciano and Dora Ross. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton as a cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He then attended Loyola University-Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine. After completing his medical degree in Chicago, Dr. Ross relocated to burg, Pennsylvania where he did a residency in pediatrics at the burg Hospital. In fulfillment of his commitment to the Air Force, Dr. Ross was assigned to two years of duty at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he served as the physician for the football team. While in Colorado, he also worked in Denver-area hospitals. As the use of air transport increased for moving critically ill children between hospitals, Dr. Ross had the opportunity, as a senior officer, to fly over the Rocky Mountains. prgtoken In 1971, he returned to his native Scranton where he opened his own pediatrics practice. As the pediatrics department at the Community Medical Center grew, he was named the Director of Pediatrics there. During his long tenure with the hospital, he was also named to the President's staff and the hospital Board of Directors. For his dedication to medicine and Northeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Ross was recognized by Mercy Hospital and Moses Taylor Hospital for 50 years of service. He also received the American Medical Association Recognition Award, the 50 Year Award from the Lackawanna Medical Society, and the Society's Presidential Award. prgtoken He currently lives in Scranton with his wife of 59 years, Donata, and they have three children and two grandchildren. prgtoken I am proud to join with the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna County in recognizing Dr. Ross for his commitment to caring for Northeastern Pennsylvania's youngest residents for more than five decades. As a compassionate and highly respected physician and dedicated community member, he has been a driving force for good and is well deserving of this honor. May he continue to find fulfillment in his service to medicine and the community.
HONORING ZACH LEKSE
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to honor Zach Lekse, an Investigations Sergeant with the Martinez Police Department. I have named Mr. Lekse as a Public Safety Hero of the Year for Contra Costa County in California's 5th District as a result of his extraordinary selflessness, dedication, and service to others. prgtoken Mr. Lekse began his career in law enforcement shortly after graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. For nearly ten years, he served with the Pleasant Hill Police Department as a detective, defense tactics instructor, and SWAT team member before joining the Martinez Police Department in 2014. There he began as a Police Officer before becoming a Narcotics Task Force Officer, Patrol Sergeant, and most recently, an Investigations Sergeant. prgtoken During a suspicious vehicle stop in early 2019, Mr. Lekse discovered a small amount of methamphetamine and learned from the driver that a mid-level dealer was living and operating near the Martinez Police Department. Noting that the dealer was on probation, Mr. Lekse coordinated a search that resulted in the seizure of \1/4\ pound of methamphetamine, a loaded handgun, and $5,000 in cash. Continuing with his investigation, Mr. Lekse connected the dealer to the Guzman family cartel of Mexico and ascertained key information about their operation. prgtoken Over the course of several months, Mr. Lekse worked with the FBI to lead a massive multi-agency effort resulting in multiple drug seizures and 12 indictments. In total, numerous firearms, approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, illicit mushrooms, $23,000 in cash, and $80,000 of assets were seized. Through his determination, leadership, and investigative prowess, Mr. Lekse successfully coordinated a complex investigation into a drug trafficking organization that largely evaded justice for 7 years. prgtoken Madam , we thank Mr. Lekse for his persistence and investigative skill. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.