mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNITE AMERICA
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2020-6-26

. Madam , for the time and courtesy. prgtoken Madam , I rise to speak about my West Point mom, who just recently passed away. Mary Ellen Witter of Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 21, 2020, with her family around her. prgtoken My West Point mom, who loved me even though I ate her food, broke her chairs, and disobeyed a rule now and then. She was the definition of grace. prgtoken She was preceded in death by her husband, the love of her life, Colonel Lee Witter. They were married 61 years. She was the daughter of the late Allan and Alma Imse, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1937. prgtoken Mary Ellen went to the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, for her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She received her masters from C.W. Post Center, Long Island University, New York, in Library Science. prgtoken She was a dedicated military wife. She represented America while being an embassy military wife in Indonesia. She was a longtime educator, both here and abroad. prgtoken Mary Ellen was a pianist, singer, and a devout Christian, who was very active in her church and was part of the Stephen Ministries and prayer groups. For those who knew her, she was a soft-spoken woman who loved traveling, reading, gardening, camping, bird-watching, and going to the beach. But most of all, she loved her family and her friends. prgtoken She was preceded in death by her son, Mathew. She is survived by her two daughters, Nanette Jordan of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Dorinda Selby of Beaufort, South Carolina. She is survived by her sister, Sharon Quade of Crandon, Wisconsin, and her brother, Robert Imse of Naples, Florida. She dearly loved her five grandchildren: Ashley Benusa of Hong Kong; Taylor Jordan of Boston, Massachusetts; Zachary Jordan of Waterbury, Connecticut; Senior Airman Mathew Selby of Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona; and Thomas Selby of Beaufort, South Carolina. prgtoken Madam , I look forward to attending the burial service, which will take place at West Point Military Academy National Cemetery at a later date. There, she will be laid next to her husband, Colonel Witter, and her son, Mathew. prgtoken First Thessalonians 4:14 states: ``For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.'' May we find comfort in this promise.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Steve Watkins (Republican, KS) \u2014 2020-6-26

I rise in opposition to this costly resolution that would allow more fraud, waste, and abuse. prgtoken No one condones fraud, especially when it is perpetrated by an institute of higher learning. Every student who is financially defrauded is entitled to relief and forgiveness, period. But we should make sure that we are helping those who have been defrauded. It is our job to do due diligence for the American taxpayer. prgtoken The administration has made this a priority, unlike the administration. They used the rule to forgive as many student loans as they could. They would even target institutions they didn't like. That is partisan. It is costly to the taxpayer, and it is harmful to the student. That is why I support Secretary DeVos and President . Their borrower defense rule takes taxpayers into account. prgtoken After seeing the enormous price tag of $42 billion that the rule created, President and Secretary DeVos acted swiftly to take that burden off the backs of the taxpayers. I thank the President and Secretary DeVos.
NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-6-26

. Madam , I take this opportunity to commend Congressman Soto, Congresswoman Demings, and the gentlewoman from Florida (Congresswoman Murphy), who is in the Chair, on this incredibly important legislation. prgtoken I traveled to attend a memorial service in the aftermath of the tragedy at Orlando's Pulse gay nightclub to mourn with the stunned community how the confluence of bigotry and weapons of war conspired to steal 49 innocent lives. prgtoken I remember the feeling of numbness and agony. It was so hard to grasp that in 2016, visitors to Pulse that night suffered a violence that far too often plagues LGBTQ-plus communities and communities of color, but this time on a mass scale. They were targeted for who they were. prgtoken Out for the evening, they assumed it was safe to be themselves, to live their truths, and yet their precious lives were snuffed out. prgtoken But in this darkest of moments, Floridians opened their arms to embrace and heal one another. They vocally denounced bigotry, whether it was aimed at our LGBTQ-plus or Hispanic communities, or too often both. They would not stay silent. prgtoken Even public figures who were not always clear LGBTQ-plus allies stood up and made a commitment to equality. prgtoken It was an encouraging moment of solidarity amidst such tragedy. Most Floridians responded by drawing closer than ever before. prgtoken Two years later, my community endured similar heartache and anger when 17 students and educators were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Days after that horrific school shooting, I was in Orlando and visited Pulse, where spontaneous messages of love and sadness were left behind. prgtoken As I added my message to the thousands hanging on banners there, I saw Pulse was not simply a site of tragedy and pain. It was a hallowed place to remember and honor all the individuals who were lost. But it was also now a public space affirming that equality, justice, and love are worth rallying to and fighting for. prgtoken Making Pulse a national memorial would, most importantly, properly honor those we lost way too soon.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-6-26

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to support this override. prgtoken Predatory for-profit colleges scam students and taxpayers out of millions of dollars. Predatory for-profit colleges account for 9 percent of students in postsecondary education but 33 percent of defaults. prgtoken To help students, the Department of Education under the administration created a streamlined resolution process under the borrower defense to repayment provision of the Higher Education Act. Now, Secretary DeVos is breaking the process. prgtoken I will tell you what her goal is. It is to aid the perpetrators, not to help the victims. Under her new rule, borrowers lose out. They lose out if they cannot prove the school intentionally defrauded them, if they cannot file their claim fast enough, or if they cannot document their exact financial harm. prgtoken As a result, as little as 3 percent of eligible debt will be forgiven now. What little relief there is now will likely be shouldered by taxpayers, not the schools committing the fraud. prgtoken Stopping the Secretary as we are pushing to do has wide support: 20 State attorneys general and nearly 60 advocacy groups for students, civil rights, and education. The American Legion has said: ``Deception against our veterans and servicemembers has been a lucrative scam for unscrupulous actors.'' prgtoken So I say to my colleagues who want to support the military: Support this override. prgtoken And to those of us who want to fight for racial and economic justice: Support this override. prgtoken In 2018, we wrote to the Secretary, alarmed about how this rule could hurt students of color: ``Ninety-five percent of Black students attending a for-profit college took out student loans, and a staggering 75 percent of Black students who did not complete their programs defaulted.'' prgtoken We must act now for veterans, for students of color, for borrowers across this country. In Connecticut, 1,100 defrauded students are waiting to be made whole. They need this override, not that cruel policy. Vote to override.
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2020-6-26

I thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for her years of leadership on this issue. prgtoken , from 1910 through 1970, thousands of African Americans from my district, and from your district, Mr. Hice, migrated to Washington, D.C seeking employment and better opportunities than existed in the segregated South. They work and worship, and they pay their taxes. They own and operate businesses here in D.C. They teach in the public schools. They are Capitol Police. They clean our offices. prgtoken I know very well that some of Ms. Holmes Norton's ancestors originated in my congressional district. prgtoken , D.C. residents pay the highest per capita Federal income taxes in the country. They pay more Federal taxes than residents of 22 States. It is a grave injustice that they don't have representation in this body. prgtoken It is time to say to the citizens of this city that they, too, are American citizens and deserve to be part of this great Union, with full rights of citizenship. prgtoken What they don't need to hear on this floor today is for Members to say, ``I will never vote for D.C. statehood.'' That is irresponsible.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-6-26

I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 76, the veto override. prgtoken The administration wrote the original borrower defense rule to provide defrauded students with the debt relief they are entitled to under the Higher Education Act. prgtoken Rather than protect students, however, DeVos rewrote the rule to make it nearly impossible for students who are victimized by deceptive institutions to get the relief they deserve. That is not justice. prgtoken , five months ago, I urged my colleagues to support the resolution to reverse Secretary DeVos' harmful new borrower defense rule. I was glad it passed with bipartisan support. prgtoken We are here today because the President has chosen to veto the resolution and stand with Secretary DeVos and unscrupulous institutions that cheated students. This is indefensible. prgtoken , we are in a challenging time for our country, but this should not be hard. Let's stand with the victims of deception, the students we represent across the country, not with unscrupulous institutions, not with Secretary DeVos, and not with . prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join together and override this veto.
HONORING THE LIFE OF REVEREND MAGGIE HOWARD
Max Rose (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-6-26

I rise today with an incredibly heavy heart to honor the life of my dear friend, Reverend Maggie Howard, a woman whose kind soul is impossible to describe in just this 1 minute that I have. prgtoken From her Stapleton UAME Church on Tompkins Avenue on Staten Island, Reverend Howard led a ministry of service that was impossible to miss. prgtoken Through her soup kitchen and pantry, she not only opened the doors of her church; she opened her heart and soul to anyone in need. When others might see someone homeless or suffering and look the other way, no, Maggie would offer them a meal or even a job. prgtoken That love for her community earned her the nickname Stapleton's Mother prgtoken Teresa, and it was her fierce spirit that allowed her to overcome so many challenges in her life, including fighting through her own health struggles. prgtoken I know that all of Staten Island is feeling the pain of losing Reverend Howard this young, but I want to close out with words of optimism that were near and dear to her heart: ``No matter what happened yesterday, tomorrow can be better if we start today.'' prgtoken Today, Staten Islanders are going to come together to honor and celebrate Reverend Howard's life, and we will never forget her memory.
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-26

. So every State has faced objections. They said Utah was too Mormon, and New Mexico was too Catholic. Hawaii and Alaska, in 1959, of course, they weren't contiguous; they couldn't be admitted. prgtoken Yes, the District exists now under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17, but the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia proposes to shrink the Federal district the way it was shrunk in 1847 because the slave masters of Virginia wanted the land back in advance of congressional abolition of the slave traffic in the District. prgtoken If we can modify the boundaries of the Federal district to placate the slave masters in the 19th century, we can modify the boundaries of the Federal district in the 21st century to grant statehood and equal rights to the people of Washington, D.C.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-6-26

the American people do not support Betsy DeVos. prgtoken We don't support her radical attempts to privatize education. prgtoken We don't support her corrupt efforts to take coronavirus relief away from public schools so that it can be sent to private ones. prgtoken We don't support her hateful, transphobic agenda or her attacks on survivors of sexual assault. prgtoken And we do not support her putting predatory, for-profit colleges over those they cheated with a rule that would force the most vulnerable students who were robbed to repay 97 percent of what they borrowed. That is why Congress passed H.J. Res. 76, with bipartisan support. prgtoken But just as Vice President had to save Betsy DeVos' Senate confirmation, President is trying to save her dangerous rule against our bipartisan bill. prgtoken So I urge my colleagues to override this veto, and, once again, let's make clear that the people's House stands on the side of the people and not Betsy DeVos.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-6-26

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of the resolution to override the President's veto. prgtoken In 2016, the administration issued the borrower defense rule in order to provide relief to student borrowers defrauded by predatory for-profit institutions, which promised an education and credentials to pursue a career only to find these credentials did not have the value they were promised. prgtoken In the aftermath of the collapse of institutions like Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, the administration sought to provide relief to those students left out in the cold. prgtoken The borrower defense rule provided a path to relief to those students who sought to receive an education but were instead left with nothing but debt and few paths forward. prgtoken Sadly and predictably, the administration ended these protections and implemented a rule making it harder to obtain relief, siding with predatory for-profit institutions rather than the victims-- the students and veterans--of these wrongdoers. prgtoken According to the Institute for College Access and Success, the number of students eligible to seek debt relief or loan forgiveness will drop from 53 percent of borrowers under the -era rule to just 3 percent under the rule. prgtoken In response, Congress, in a bipartisan way, came together to reject the administration's rule change, rejecting efforts to leave defrauded students out in the cold. The President vetoed this relief. Now, Congress must once again stand on the side of those who sought to obtain a higher education and provide a better life for their lives and family. prgtoken I urge adoption of the override resolution.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF RULE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``BORROWER DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY''--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-6-26

I rise in support of H.J. Res. 76. prgtoken Students defrauded by predatory, for-profit colleges can be left with crushing debt, useless degrees, and none of the job opportunities they were promised. prgtoken Secretary DeVos could provide immediate relief to students who were defrauded. Instead, she has halted student loan relief and written a new rule under which defrauded borrowers could be denied debt relief, even when predatory colleges clearly violated the law. prgtoken Earlier this year, bipartisan majorities in the House and the Senate voted together to reject that rule, but President has vetoed our legislation--yet another of his actions that will hurt students and taxpayers. prgtoken More than 7,000 Pennsylvanians are suffering while their applications for financial relief are sitting in limbo at the Department of Education. If Congress does not override the President's veto, student borrowers will be harmed, and predatory colleges will receive another giveaway. prgtoken I am proud to stand with students and to vote to override the President's veto of H.J. Res. 76.
COMMEMORATING NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-6-26

. Madam , I rise today to honor and recognize the 75th anniversary of the first launch at NASA Wallops Flight Facility. prgtoken As the only Member of Congress to represent two NASA facilities, I am honored to share with Congress this historic achievement. The Wallops Flight Facility, established in 1945 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor, has supported government and commercial scientific discovery and exploration missions, contributed significantly to the Eastern Shore community, and expedited our nation's technological advancements. Wallops employs over 1,000 individuals and is home to NASA's only owned rocket launch range for suborbital and orbital rockets. During its creation, Wallops Island was sought out by the scientific agency for multiple reasons, including its proximity to another NASA facility and a military base. Wallops was established initially for guided missile flight research, but since then has expanded to a diverse and multifaceted mission. On June 27, 1945, the original team launched its first test for the radar systems on their small rockets. While the first launch at Wallops consisted of very few resources and technology, this kickstarted an enduring and critical NASA facility. From that day, NASA Wallops continued to grow, and now the facility is worth over $1 billion. prgtoken Wallops has undertaken a multitude of missions, such as supporting aircraft research, launching rockets and scientific balloons, and enabling critical research aboard the International Space Station, which have improved our nation's understanding of space and beyond. NASA Wallops has led our country and the world in providing flight and launch range services and more generally meeting the needs in the science, aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. I am honored to recognize the hard-working men and women at NASA Wallops and to commemorate this important day in history.
IN MEMORY OF MR. ANDRE MOSES WHITE
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-6-26

. Madam , it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an accomplished businessman, athlete, artist, and dear friend of longstanding--Mr. Andre Moses White. Sadly, Mr. White passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, from complications with COVID-19. A memorial service honoring his life was held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at 11:00 am at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia. prgtoken Andre Moses White (affectionately known as ``Moses'' to his family, friends, and colleagues) was born in Winter Park, Florida, to the union of the late Moses and Lucille White. He was born on October 7, 1944, and was the youngest of three sons. prgtoken He attended Middleton High School in Tampa, Florida, and Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida. After graduating high school, he attended Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), where he received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and played as a Tight End under FAMU's legendary coach, Jake Gaither. prgtoken Upon graduation, Moses was drafted by the Denver Broncos, thus beginning his career in the National Football League, where he also played for the San Diego Chargers and was one of the first African Americans to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. prgtoken Following a career-ending injury, he returned to Tampa, Florida, and became the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Officer for Hillsborough County, where he is most well-known for fighting to remove the confederate flag from the county seal--a feat that was finally accomplished in 2015. prgtoken Moses continued his father's legacy in food and music by overseeing the family's historic restaurant, Moses White's Cozy Corner BBQ restaurant, and by working in the entertainment industry alongside icons such as Marvin Gaye and James Brown. Later on, at the age of 71, Moses went on to release two digital singles titled ``We're Americans'' and ``My Man'' under the name ``Moses White.'' prgtoken After moving to Atlanta in 1988, he and his son, Andre, started The Georgia Sentinel, a progressive news outlet for Atlanta's African American community. While laying his foundation there, he served as the President of the Auburn Avenue Merchants Association, where he re- established the Auburn Avenue Festival (a pre-cursor to Music Midtown), which hosted the return of James Brown and the Famous Flames for a free reunion concert for the community. prgtoken Moses cared about his community and was always engaged in organizations that did positive work. His most notable roles were as the Founder and President of the Moses White Foundation, which strives to improve the quality of life for the underprivileged in Tampa through education, community revitalization, prgtoken and individual empowerment; as a Board Member of Wayfield Foods, where he played Wayfield's Santa Clause for nearly 30 years and brought joy to thousands of inner-city kids and their families
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-6-26

I am intrigued listening to my colleagues waxing eloquent about the divine creation of the District of Columbia. Give me a break. It was old-fashioned horse trading between Hamilton, Madison, and Jefferson like the declaration of enslaved people being three-fifths of a person without being able to vote for themselves, just simply power for White people. prgtoken It is time to recognize the reality of what I think was a corrupt bargain and give the District of Columbia the statehood it deserves.