mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NEVER AGAIN EDUCATION ACT
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , after Auschwitz, our delegation then traveled to Yad Vashem where we mourned the loss of--believe this--1.5 million little children, killed in this most evil of atrocities. prgtoken Before we left Washington, in Krakow, Poland, and throughout the time in Israel, we were blessed to meet with and hear the testimony of survivors. Their message to us was this: ``Never forget.'' prgtoken As Elie Wiesel, one of the most important voices of conscience that has ever lived said: ``If we forget, the dead will be killed a second time. If forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices. The rejection of memory . . . would doom us to repeat past disasters, past wars.'' ``Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Anti-Semitism,'' that was the theme of the Yad Vashem observance. It is the charge that we carry with us. prgtoken We must always remember the horrors of the Holocaust, particularly now as the forces of evil that led to the Shoah, are reawakening, and, therefore, we must not only remember the Holocaust, but fight anti- Semitism. prgtoken Today, around the world, an epidemic of anti-Semitism and bigotry is spreading with appalling hate crimes being perpetrated everywhere from supermarkets to synagogues. Disturbingly, we have seen a surge of anti- Semitic attacks here in America. prgtoken 230 years ago, President George Washington, under whose gaze we stand today, our patriarch, wrote to the Jewish community that our Nation would ``give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution, no assistance.'' prgtoken Yet, from New York, to California, to Pittsburgh innocents are being attacked and lives are being brutally threatened, and too often, bigotry and persecution have been allowed to fester. More needs to be done. prgtoken Last spring, the House proudly passed H. Res. 183, which condemns anti-Semitism ``. . . as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States.'' And soon after, we passed legislation to secure Jewish places of worship, which is now law. prgtoken Today, with this legislation, the House is taking another step to fulfill our pledge of: ``Never again'' thanks to all of our Members. prgtoken This legislation authorizes funding for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to support and strengthen their efforts to develop accurate, relevant, and accessible resources; to promote understanding about the Shoah, and the dangers of intolerance in our time. prgtoken We must educate the world about the dangers of what can happen when hate goes unchallenged, and when oppression is met with indifference. prgtoken Some of us were there the day the Holocaust Memorial Museum was dedicated. Elie Wiesel spoke so powerfully that rainy day, and years later, I was honored to return to the museum to speak at Elie's memorial service. prgtoken Inside the Holocaust Memorial Museum in the Hall of Remembrance before the eternal flame, the words of Deuteronomy are inscribed in stone. It sa
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE MIKE FITZPATRICK
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , Kathy, members of the Fitzpatrick family, and Members on both sides of the aisle from Pennsylvania who have lost a dear colleague with whom they served; he served with honor. He served with civility. He served as an example. prgtoken Madam , at a time when rank partisanship has become sadly pervasive in Washington, Mike Fitzpatrick shone a bright light of consensus building, civility, and respect. prgtoken He was an example that all of us could follow. I was sad to learn of his passing. My thoughts, of course--and I know I speak for all of us, not in a partisan sense, not in a ic or sense, but in a human sense--are with his wife, Kathleen, their six children, and his entire family which includes our colleague, of course, Brian, his brother who succeeded him representing Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District. prgtoken Madam , it speaks volumes that Mike had so many friends here on this side of the aisle in addition to his own side. The words that the leader spoke could be spoken by all of us. That is because he looked past party labels and saw in all of us fellow Americans, drawn to service like he was, eager to do right by our constituents, as he was. prgtoken Our colleague from Washington State, Mr. Denny Heck, shared a story about a bill he and Mike were working on together in 2013 when s were in the majority. Mike was the lead sponsor. His party was in charge. But because the bill would have a better chance of getting on the suspension calendar if it were a minority bill, he gave over the lead sponsorship to Denny, giving up the greater measure of credit in order to get the bill done. prgtoken That is who he was: getting things done; not taking credit, but getting the substance realized. That was leadership--responsibility and focusing on substance and achievement rather than politics and process. prgtoken That was Mike Fitzpatrick. During his two periods of service in this House, Mike made a real difference to keeping children safe online, to help those affected by the housing collapse, and to track and stop the financing of terrorist groups around the world. prgtoken He will be remembered by all who served with him, by his constituents, all of his friends, and, certainly, his family; remembered for the kind person that he was, for the thoughtful person he was, for the courteous person he was, and as an effective legislator, for his good nature and his integrity. prgtoken I want to thank my friend, the leader, for leading this tribute, and I want to thank all of those on both sides who have taken the time to share stories about Mike and the impact he had on us, on this House, on Pennsylvania, on America.
COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ- BIRKENAU
Andy Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-27

I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber) for yielding. prgtoken , when we remember the Holocaust, we look backward and forward. We look backward to remember those who perished, 6 million Jewish men, women, and children, every one of whom has a story and loved ones who may have survived the horrors of the Holocaust but were left with the searing wounds of these losses. Many other people--Slavs, LGBTQ people, political dissidents, disabled people, and others--would lose their lives to Nazi terror before the war ended. prgtoken At the same time, we must look forward. We can't simply pledge ``never again''; we must live ``never again'' day after day. prgtoken Why is this so important? Kurt Messerschmidt, a Holocaust survivor, recalled encountering a crowd of people in the aftermath of what we now call Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, one of the most horrific anti-Jewish attacks in history. prgtoken Over 2 days in November 1938, mobs across Germany and parts of Austria and Czechoslovakia destroyed synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses, homes, schools, and cemeteries. Under instructions from the Gestapo, local authorities did nothing to stop the violence and destruction. prgtoken The crowd Messerschmidt came across was watching an older man who had been ordered by Nazi soldiers to clean up the broken glass outside his own store. Messerschmidt, who helped the man, would later say: ``I am sure that some of the people standing there disapproved of what the Nazis did, but their disapproval was only silence, and silence is what did the harm.'' prgtoken Today, let us remember the danger of silence. We must loudly and consistently call out anti-Semitism in all its forms, whether it comes from our adversaries or our friends and whether it is promulgated intentionally or unknowingly. We must strive to do so in a way that truly fosters understanding. prgtoken Let us also recommit never again to allow people, any people, to be obliterated by otherness. Let us fight the rising menace of ethnonationalism across the globe, and let us do everything in our power to protect all those who have been deemed ``other,'' from the Rohingya people of Burma to the Iraqi nationals in my own district facing deportation and grave danger. prgtoken Only when we have done this can we truly say that we lived up to our promise of ``never again.''
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today to support S. 153, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. prgtoken The future of this Nation will be driven by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM careers are among the fastest growing and highest-paying occupations. Despite these trends, we are failing to produce enough STEM workers to support the current pace of growth and innovation and ensure we continue to lead the world in science and technology development. prgtoken As a Nation, we are forever indebted to the men and women who choose to serve in the military and put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we hold dear. At a minimum, we must ensure veterans interested in pursuing STEM careers here at home have the support that they need. prgtoken Veterans are uniquely positioned to contribute to our STEM workforce, often having training in cybersecurity, avionics, nuclear physics, and medicine. However, significant obstacles often stand in their way when transitioning to a civilian STEM career. prgtoken S. 153 establishes an interagency working group to identify these obstacles and develop a plan for addressing them. The bill also directs the National Science Foundation to improve its outreach to veterans and report on veterans in the STEM workforce. These are important steps for honoring our commitment to our veterans and for ensuring we have a competitive STEM workforce. prgtoken I want to thank Representatives Dunn and Lamb, and our colleagues in the Senate, Senators Rubio and Klobuchar, for their leadership on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ- BIRKENAU
Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-1-27

I am humbled to be here this evening to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day and, this year, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. prgtoken I would like to recognize all of my colleagues and fellow members of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism for participating in this Special Order Hour; especially my friends, Congressman Ted Deutch, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Congressman Lee Zeldin, for their excellent leadership. prgtoken , today we remember the six million Jews, and millions more murdered in the Shoah. We must always remember the Holocaust and recommit to learning the lessons of the attempt to eliminate European Jewry. We all have an obligation to teach future generations about this evil, and to pledge ``Never Again.'' prgtoken This day is deeply significant to my family and to me. I am the grandson of a World War II veteran who fought the Nazis, and my wife's grandparents lost their entire family in the Holocaust. prgtoken It is critically important that we have come together to commemorate this solemn day, not just to remember the victims of the Holocaust killed by the Nazis in gas chambers and concentration camps simply for being Jews; but also because our history teaches us that we have a responsibility to confront bigotry, hatred, and intolerance wherever it can be found. prgtoken Therefore, we cannot, and must not, ignore the stunning rise in anti- Semitism and Holocaust denial across Europe, around the world and, increasingly, here at home in the United States, including the violent anti-Semitic attacks we have experienced in New York and New Jersey in recent months. prgtoken Furthermore, the mounting evidence that knowledge about the Holocaust is beginning to fade should alarm us. As Elie Wiesel said: ``Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger or hatred.'' prgtoken According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center, too many Americans know too little about the Holocaust. For instance, less than half of all adult respondents knew that approximately six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust; and just 43 percent knew that Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany through a democratic political process. prgtoken Unfortunately, these findings echo a series of surveys conducted in the United States, Canada, Austria, and France in recent years, which also found significant gaps in knowledge about the Holocaust. prgtoken We know how critical education, visiting a Holocaust museum, and meeting with survivors can be. That is why I am very proud to cosponsor H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Congresswoman Stefanik, to help support Holocaust education across the country. prgtoken This legislation was endorsed last year by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and has been cosponsored by nearly 300 Members of Congress. And I am very pleased that th
MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR A DIVERSE AMERICA ACT
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-1-27

from maternal mortality rates to inaccurate drug prescriptions to cardiovascular procedures, it is clear that minority groups experience worse health outcomes in our healthcare system. prgtoken Although structural bias is a factor, the unconscious biases of even the most well-intentioned healthcare professionals play a role as well. And we can't let this continue. prgtoken In a district as diverse as Florida's 26th District, we must do more to ensure that every person, regardless of their background, can get the quality care that they need. That is why I introduced the Medical Education for a Diverse America Act, along with Representative Porter, which would provide cultural competency and language training to medical students and prepare them to better serve minority populations. prgtoken This legislation would help not only patients in south Florida, but all over the country in diverse communities.
NEVER AGAIN EDUCATION ACT
Lucy McBath (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. prgtoken On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by the Allied forces. The camp enslaved 1.3 million people during the Nazi regime. prgtoken Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of other innocent lives lost. We support the survivors who bore witness to this tragedy. Their scars endure. We refuse to forget the hate that led to this unspeakable tragedy. prgtoken As new generations of Americans come of age, the lack of knowledge and understanding surrounding one of the greatest crimes in human history deepens. Across the world, we are witnessing a resurgence of anti-Semitism. prgtoken We hear dangerous and destructive lies that deny the Jewish experience. We see more hatred in our discourse and more violence in our communities. We see five people attacked while celebrating Hanukkah and 11 worshippers murdered at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. prgtoken Today, 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, we honor and remember the victims of the Holocaust, and we reaffirm our fight against this evil. prgtoken Today, on this Holocaust Remembrance Day, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, so that we can hold true to the promise of ``never again.''
CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF SANDRA FERNIZA
Ruben Gallego (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate Sandra Ferniza's service to the community of Phoenix. After 5 years of working in my District Office as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Director of Constituent Services, Sandra is retiring. I am grateful for her many years of dedication to our state. prgtoken Constituent casework provides Congressional offices with a unique and vital opportunity to engage with individuals in the moments that they need us most. From passport applications to grant proposals, Sandra has connected with constituents and guided them through problem-solving processes, many of which involve federal agencies. She has used her own wealth of experience and connections in all sectors of the Phoenix community to help our office and go above and beyond in helping our constituents, organizations and local government entities. prgtoken In addition to her work in our office, Sandra has an illustrious legacy of breaking barriers for the Latino community. She has helped Latinos win groundbreaking elections at many levels of government, provided visibility as a Latina leader within the banking and investment world, and served as the CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Throughout her long and varied career, two consistencies that stand out are service and leadership. Her professional commitment has been matched only by her dedication to her family and friends. She has selflessly cared for multiple ailing family members and serves as a model of a value-driven life for her extensive network of younger family and friends. prgtoken I am grateful to have worked alongside Sandra for the entirety of my time in Congress. While I wish her only the best in her retirement, she will also be missed. She has been an asset and an advocate that I have been grateful to have on my team. Her selflessness, attention to detail, and determination are remarkable traits that have allowed her to advance good in Arizona over the entirety of her career. prgtoken On behalf of myself, the countless constituents of Arizona's seventh district that she has helped, and the entire State of Arizona, I want to express my gratitude for the service of Sandra Ferniza. I have no doubt that she will continue to be a leader within the Phoenix community. We will thank her by continuing to dedicate ourselves to constituent services and the improvement of as many lives as possible.
IOWAN OF THE WEEK--DAVID WOLNERMAN IN RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor David Wolnerman, a survivor of Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Dachau--and Iowa's last known Holocaust survivor--in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Those extraordinary men and women, like David, who survived the Holocaust have blessed us by sharing their stories and memorializing their experiences for future generations so that we never forget. Today, I am entering just part of David's story into the Congressional Record so it may be preserved for our children and their children. David was born in Poland. When the Nazis invaded, David was just 13 years old. He was told he needed to report to a work camp in order to save his family, including his mother, Hannah, his brother, Abraham, and his sister, Gertrude. The promise was a false one, as David's family would not survive. prgtoken When David first arrived in Auschwitz, he waited in line like so many others did--awaiting an uncertain fate. Some were selected to go left, some selected to go right. David says that God gave him the right words to say that he was 18 years old, and he was sent to the right. Had he told the truth, that he was 13 instead of 18, he would have been sent left with the younger children and those who were ill to be sent to the gas chamber. David's survival was a miracle. He contacted illnesses like typhus. He was so starved that he weighed 80 pounds when he was liberated on April 29, 1945. After liberation, he lived in a displaced persons camp in Germany where he met his wife, Jennie. Together, they began to physically recover from the malnourishment, but the mental scars of concentration camps have never left David. David and Jennie came to America in 1950. They didn't speak English but began working at a printing plant. When they had their two sons, Michael and Allen, all David and Jennie wanted for them was a good education. Both Allen and Michael went to Drake University in Des Moines for pharmacy school, and their parents followed them to Iowa. In 2016, Jennie passed away at age 91. She often shared her memories with Iowa schoolchildren, working to ensure that her story--and the stories of her friends and family who perished--would live on. Jennie is remembered for her loving and generous spirit, her matzo ball soup, and as a loving grandmother and mother. Now David remains the last Holocaust survivor in Iowa. Jennie and David have shared their stories and wisdom with Iowans for years. We must honor them in return by sharing their stories and taking this day to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust. We must remember those who survived, and those who did not. We must remember the sacrifices made by children, just like David.
MERCHANT MARINERS OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2020
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today in support of H.R. 5671, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by Representative Garamendi. This act will award a Congressional Gold Medal, an extremely high honor, to the merchant mariners who served our country during World War II. prgtoken This legislation is particularly timely, as the Board of Visitors of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, of which I am a member, is meeting on campus next week in Kings Point, Long Island, in my district. prgtoken The United States Merchant Marine Academy is the only service academy whose students engage in combat during times of war. In fact, over 7,000 of these students answered our Nation's call to duty. Six hundred are still alive today, but 142 of them did not make it back from World War II. prgtoken Edwin J. O'Hara was one of those students. In 1942, Edwin O'Hara was just another 19-year-old cadet and signed on aboard the newly delivered Liberty ship SS Stephen Hopkins in San Francisco, California. prgtoken On one foggy, hazy night aboard the ship, a German raider appeared out of the mist and began firing at close range. Bullets rained down on the crew, wounding the armed guard commander and taking him out of action. O'Hara, just a student, who was nearby, rushed forward to take his place, firing the shells left until being mortally wounded by enemy fire. prgtoken Only 19 of the 60 men aboard O'Hara's ship made it to the lifeboat that night. O'Hara was not one of them. For his brave sacrifice, Edwin O'Hara was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. prgtoken Brave men and women like O'Hara at the Merchant Marine Academy in prgtoken Kings Point, as well as the mariners who served across the country, deserve the highest recognition. prgtoken Sadly, many of these midshipmen did not even receive veteran status until 1988. But it is not too late. It is time we recognized their sacrifice and award them this much-deserved Congressional Gold Medal. prgtoken I applaud my colleagues, all of them, for supporting this and Congressman John Garamendi, especially, for his leadership, and I ask my colleagues to support our brave merchant mariners.