mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE REMARKS OF AMBASSADOR MARTHA BARCENA
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I am honored to include in the Record remarks made by Her Excellency, Martha Barcena Coqui after she was recognized for the prestigious Mr. South Texas Award for the 123rd Washington's Birthday Celebration on February 22nd, 2020 in Laredo, Texas. The Mr. South Texas designation is presented to a deserving individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the growth and development of Laredo and the South Texas region. Ambassador Barcena is a distinguished career diplomat and noted for being the first woman appointed Ambassador of Mexico to the United States. Ambassador Martha Barcena's Remarks at Mr. South Texas Luncheon I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition that showcases the closeness of our ties at a very important time. I want to thank the Washington's Birthday Celebration Association and the International Bank of Commerce for putting together this great event. I also want to thank Mayor of Laredo, Pete Saenz, the officials that work at the City of Laredo and the rest of the business community leaders and special guests that join us here today. American writer James Baldwin used to say that ``the past is all that makes the present coherent''. Today, I believe that the present of Laredo and the U.S. cannot be understood without its shared history with Mexico. Texas is close to us because its history is closely intertwined with Mexico and with Mexican and Latino immigrants in this country. As the first female Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S I have proudly repeated that the Latino community, and among them, the Mexican community, are the past, the present and the future of this country. In fact, my own personal story reflects the stories of millions that live on either side of the border but comprise one close-knit community. My grandmother's ancestors arrived from Europe in the Mayflower and finally settled in Texas. They were what Emma Lazarus brilliantly described as the ``huddled masses yearning to breathe free''. My great great grandfather, Leonard Pierce Jr from Maine, served as President Lincoln's Consul in Matamoros, where he cared for the Confederate territory refugees and enlisted Union sympathizers. His family finally settled in Laredo, where my grandfather, a French immigrant, married Rachel Pierce Cushman. My grandmother, Claire Jannet Pierce was born here in 1904. The family migrated to Mexico later on, but other part of the family stayed here. That is why, the last time I was here I got to visit a school that bears the name of my great aunt, Alma Allerton Pierce Elementary. I can feel this sense of fellowship, supported by a binational, bilingual and bicultural community, that is so characteristic of Laredo.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DANIEL (DAN) DILL
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise today in memory of Daniel Dill, who passed away on September 17, 2019 at the age of 48 after a lifetime of public service to his community. prgtoken Born on June 11, 1971, to Danny and Grace Dill, Dan attended Fortuna High School, then studied wildlife management at Humboldt State University. After graduating, Dan worked for the Pacific Lumber Co where he became a senior wildlife biologist in 1995. In 2008, he went to work as a wildlife biologist at Six Rivers National Forest, and he was named deputy district ranger for the Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District in 2012. He then became district ranger for the Mad River Ranger District in 2015. Dan also was a member of the Scotia and Fortuna volunteer fire departments, and the Scotia School Board. prgtoken Dan's commitment to the U.S. Forest Service and the communities it serves was particularly apparent during the 2015 wildfires on Six Rivers National Forest where he displayed tremendous leadership. Recognized for being in tune with residents' needs during and following the fires, he worked diligently to address critical forest fuels management and restoration projects in the area. Dan knew how to bring diverse groups of people together to bring these efforts to fruition. Even during trying times, Dan remained a cheerful and understanding individual focused on doing good work for the forest and the people who live in it. prgtoken Dan is survived by his wife Dawn, his daughters Emily and Ava, his parents Danny and Grace, and his brother Brett. His tremendous service to the country through his work in the U.S. Forest Service is a legacy that will improve the Six Rivers National Forest for generations to come. Madam , please join me in honoring Daniel Dill and his many important contributions to Northern California and the U.S. Forest Service.
FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
Ilhan Omar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-3-13

as we respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, it's crucial that we don't forget the 22 million children who rely on free or reduced-priced school lunches. prgtoken For many kids, it is the only meal they get each day. It is our responsibility to ensure that kids continue to get the meals they need. prgtoken I'm proud that the package the House is passing today includes my legislation--the Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students Act. prgtoken My bill gives schools that are forced to close during a public health emergency the flexibility to implement alternate options--like home delivery of meals--in order to ensure their students are fed. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill and ensure that no child goes hungry due to school closures in times of crisis.
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate Women's History Month--and specifically, this year's Women's History Month. prgtoken In 2020, we celebrate 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment and the beginning of women's suffrage. prgtoken This is also the year in which 38 states finally ratified the Equal Rights Amendment and we held a vote on the House floor to extend the deadline for passage. prgtoken These historic milestones remind us of how hard women have worked and fought in the streets, in the courts, and in political office for the rights we have today. prgtoken But even as we celebrate the role of courageous trailblazers, we remember, too, the hidden figures whose contributions are not in our history books. prgtoken I think about the knowledge we cannot pass down, and about the women we will never know because their history was not recorded. prgtoken We've made gains in the home, in the workplace, in military service, across civil and reproductive rights, and as global leaders. prgtoken Despite that, we know that there are many places where young girls do not see what they can be--shattering elusive glass ceilings will change that.
IN HONOR OF THE SAN CARLOS CHICKEN'S BALL
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of a San Carlos school fundraiser known as the Chicken's Ball. The name is taken from a tradition of San Francisco's Barbary Coast when local music halls would hold an annual charity fundraiser. Chorus performers wore costumes with a lot of feathers, hence the name Chicken's Ball. prgtoken The first ball in San Carlos was held in 1940 and it was organized by Howard J. Demeke, a teacher at Central School. The money benefited the PTA milk fund. Its stated purpose was to build the ``unification of a lasting community fellowship.'' Every two years since, shows have been produced, including this one in March of 2020. prgtoken Approximately 250 volunteers and business sponsors produce the ball every two years. It is an ``all-consuming effort,'' to quote a local historian, Linda Garvey, and may be the longest running PTA fundraiser in the country. The show features three melodramas and three variety skits based on people and events of the Barbary Coast era of 1890 to 1918. Since the 1940's, more than 60 PTA and civic groups have contributed original skit ideas. Music is provided by the Poultry (Paltry) Philharmonic. prgtoken Humor and the unexpected are a big part of the charm of the Chicken's Ball. While skit writers often produce shows with great laughs, some of the best moments come when the lines are forgotten and actors ad lib to get over an awkward moment. prgtoken Watching community members in novel parts is also fun. Children in the audience love seeing siblings and friends on stage, particularly if the part calls for a child to boss around an adult. A lot of the fun comes from the imaginative sets, all locally produced by skilled residents. prgtoken Performers range in age from 14-94. Singers, dancers, choreographers, designers, writers and stage crew are all volunteers and accepted regardless of talent. The theme of the 2020 Chicken's Ball is ``The Night They Invented Champagne.'' The year's show opens on March 13th and runs through March 22nd. prgtoken This is a chance for San Carlos, a small town with a great deal of talent and charm, to come together for several months of skit development, costume design, set construction, prgtoken rehearsals, and finally theatrical production. I want to extend my congratulations to all who make this event possible. San Carlos is a special place where humor, a love of education, and copious amounts of talent combine to produce a beloved community tradition. Every two years San Carlos lights up the stage to support its schools. Learning to celebrate as a community of Americans is also a profound act of education. I wish this year's Chicken's Ball a spectacular season.
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE FROM PANDEMIC
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , today, the House will vote on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. prgtoken This critical legislation provides much-needed support for working people across America. prgtoken It includes funding for free coronavirus tests for everyone who needs it; 14 days of paid sick leave and up to 3 months of paid family and medical leave; enhanced unemployment insurance that will protect furloughed workers; food security through SNAP, student meals, senior nutrition, and food banks; and increased Federal funds for Medicaid. prgtoken We are facing an enormous crisis in our country right now. prgtoken Once we pass this bill, the Senate and the President need to act swiftly so these resources are made available to the American people. prgtoken Madam , I thank Nancy Pelosi and all of our colleagues who worked so hard on this over the last several days. Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of the American people. prgtoken There is more work to be done, and we will do whatever it takes, bear any burden, confront any obstacle in order to minimize the damage that this pandemic will do to our country, and we will do all that we can to keep our country and our constituents safe.
FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-13

I rise in strong support of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. prgtoken I want to thank our for her remarkable and steady leadership, our entire leadership team, the committee chairs, and our Appropriations Chair, Nita Lowey who helped to craft this package. prgtoken We must boldly fight this pandemic with all the science-based tools and resources we have. And we must put families first. prgtoken The bill before us does exactly that by: prgtoken Providing free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs it, prgtoken Establishing an emergency paid leave program, prgtoken Enhancing state unemployment benefits, prgtoken Strengthening food assistance programs for seniors and school kids. prgtoken I urge all members to support this critical legislation to help address the needs of families across this nation facing the impact of this pandemic. prgtoken Lastly, I want to thank the Governor, State Officials, our Mayor, Local Officials, Port of Oakland, our workers, Federal Partners, and our residents who have pulled together so that public health protocols were put in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone including the West Oakland community. prgtoken The West Oakland community has been significant challenged by environmental racism and injustice in the past. I am proud of the community their compassion and competence and for stepping up during these challenging times.
VOTING TO SAVE LIVES
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-3-13

as I stand before the words ``In God We Trust,'' tonight we took a vote to save the lives of our fellow Americans. prgtoken I am very glad that what we did today was for families, healthcare worker protections, emergency paid leave, emergency unemployment insurance, paid sick days for public health emergencies, and personal and family care. prgtoken I will go home to my district and convene meetings regarding those who are dealing with education, healthcare, and testing, but the main thing that we must do is test every single American who is showing signs or needs. prgtoken What we have in this bill is to provide free testing. In addition, we have organized the bipartisan Congressional Coronavirus Task Force. We are doing that to engage with Members as they are away in their districts. prgtoken This is more contagious than the flu and more deadly. prgtoken Let us be assured that we take care of the American people. I intend to do so in my State of Texas and intend to make sure that resources go to save lives. prgtoken In God we trust.
HONORING SIDNEY ESKENAZI
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor my friend and fellow Hoosier, Sidney Eskenazi. He will be celebrating his 90th birthday this March 25. prgtoken Sidney is a true philanthropist and civic leader. He and his loving wife, Lois, serve as pillars of our Hoosier community and role models for future generations. Without their charitable efforts, many Hoosiers would not have access to higher education, the fine arts, and quality healthcare. prgtoken Indiana is indebted to the Eskenazis for their leadership and generosity over the past five decades. prgtoken The family, my wife, my children, are truly blessed to consider Sidney and Lois close friends, and we thank them for serving our communities with a true servant heart. prgtoken God bless Sid and Lois, and I look forward to continuing to work with them for the benefit of Hoosiers everywhere. prgtoken Happy birthday, Sid.
HONORING WRESTLING CHAMPION HEAVEN FITCH
Mark Walker (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Heaven Fitch on winning the wrestling state championship for North Carolina's 106- pound weight class. Competing against all boys, Heaven's win makes her the first female athlete in North Carolina to win a wrestling state championship. prgtoken She and her three brothers first became interested with wrestling at an early age after watching the sport on television. When Heaven and her brothers joined the local wrestling club, she was the only girl. Heaven wrestled wherever she could, often practicing up to five days a week. Despite being smaller than almost all her high school opponents, Heaven's agility and speed has led her to dominate on the mat finishing the season with a 54-4 record. Heaven currently goes to Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro, North Carolina, where she has gotten support from her classmates, teammates, coaches and parents Ryan and Stacey. prgtoken Each March, we come together to celebrate women who have broken barriers, defied stereotypes, and contributed to our country's history. While we recognize trailblazing women over the course of history, it is our great honor to recognize women making history today in our backyards. prgtoken Congratulations to Heaven for all her accomplishments and serving as an inspiration to girls across the country.
EXTEND CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I rise in support of the extension of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program. prgtoken The CFATS program, first authorized in 2006, is a continuation of congressional efforts since September 11 to protect the homeland. The program surgically and directly addresses gaps in Federal law regarding the security of high-risk facilities that use or possess chemicals of concern at levels of concern. prgtoken The program is unique in that, to avoid overlapping with other Federal programs, CFATS was designed to foster collaboration between the government and regulated parties. prgtoken CFATS is a security program. Regrettably, over the years, some have tried to make CFATS a safety program, but safety and security are two very different things. Security is about protecting your ability to operate, and safety is about controlling how you operate. We should continue to preserve the program's focus on security. prgtoken Finally, it is imperative that, going forward, we find a way to extend the life of the program for a longer period of time, at least 5 years, in order to give the program, its personnel, and the participants the consistency they all need to be successful in their mission.
HONORING CAPTAIN MOISES NAVAS AND GUNNERY SERGEANT DIEGO PONGO
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , Captain Moises Navas and Gunnery Sergeant Diego Pongo, both Marine Raiders, lost their lives on March 8 while on a mission to eliminate ISIS terrorists in Iraq. prgtoken I met Captain Navas last year when he spoke at a ceremony to rename a local post office in honor of his fallen comrade, Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman, a central Washington native. prgtoken With great poise and humility, the captain said at the time: ``We can all sleep well and find comfort in knowing that it is Americans who raise their hands; this Nation's defense is in the hands of guys such as Dietrich Schmieman.'' prgtoken Madam , it is imperative that we not lose sight of the fact that, as we speak, the brave men and women of our Armed Forces are standing guard to keep our Nation safe. prgtoken Today, I rise to echo those powerful words from a brave young captain, pictured here alongside Sergeant Schmieman's parents at the post office dedication, to say that we can indeed sleep soundly because of heroes like Moises, Diego, and Dietrich.
WE REPRESENT ALL OF AMERICA
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-3-13

. Madam , I came down this morning, after hearing Father Conroy give his opening speech, to address this House and to address this Nation today in these hallowed Halls to send the message that today is not a day to engage in partisan politics. prgtoken As a , my hand is open to my fellow Americans, for us to come together, to stand with our Nation as we face this coronavirus crisis across the country. prgtoken Madam , the people of America are who we represent. They are not and ; they are American. Now is the time to lead with smart, targeted decisionmaking proposals that will improve their lives for the better. prgtoken God bless.
FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
Kevin Brady (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-3-13

President 's declaration of a national emergency is a call to action to protect American's health and well- being and protect the economy. prgtoken This bill, thanks to the leadership of Secretary Mnuchin and Leader McCarthy, and working with both sides of the aisle, meets many of these goals. prgtoken The President has succeeded in working with the private sector to achieve free testing, and now our bill builds on that. Americans in need of lab tests for the coronavirus will get them free. prgtoken We are making good on President 's promise to provide financial assistance for working Americans who are ``ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus,'' and it does so using our Tax Code rather than by creating a new entitlement. prgtoken The original bill contained provisions that would create undue burdens on America's small businesses. I have spoken directly with President , the champion of small business, who agrees that America's small businesses need flexibility and cash flow when providing emergency leave for workers so that they can operate and survive during this economic challenge. prgtoken In order to help small businesses and their workers, language has been added to this bill, and President is directing the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to write rules to ensure that small businesses do have the flexibility to provide paid leave for their employees. prgtoken They shouldn't have to be concerned about cash flow when they work to retain the workers they need to operate and keep serving their customers and our communities. This is vital to America's economic rebound. prgtoken This bill also protects seniors and those with severe medical conditions by ensuring that the Social Security Administration is not running a new permanent mandate. prgtoken We were also able to stop some misguided demands. In this bill, the health provisions are now limited to COVID-19 without including unrelated treatments, ensuring that pro-life Hyde amendment protections remain intact to prevent taxpayer funds being used for abortions. prgtoken s were able to block efforts to add new burdens on hospitals that would have overruled the CDC's science-based guidelines and prevented critical flexibility for our local healthcare providers. prgtoken These are temporary, targeted measures. They are temporary because we have seen what happens when a bill that is supposed to be ``timely, targeted, and temporary'' drags on for years. It prolongs economic hardship. prgtoken We will rebound, and we will rebound strongly. Good policies--ones that strengthen our local communities--result in speedy recoveries. prgtoken In America, we know we are blessed, even when faced with great adversity. We are blessed by an abundance not only of resources but of spirit. It is that very spirit that will get us through the coronavirus and the other challenges we face in the future. prgtoken While today's bill is not