mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE NEW MEXICO WILDFIRES
Gabe Vasquez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-6-25

I have the privilege to represent the Second District of New Mexico, home to the storied Mescalero Apache Reservation, a place that has lost time immemorial, history, memories, culture, and patrimony from the most devastating fire that we have seen in the Lincoln National Forest in the history of New Mexico. prgtoken It is devastating not only for the economy but for who we are as New Mexicans. As a delegation, we stand strong and support the rebuild of the economy of not just the Mescalero Apache Reservation but the surrounding Lincoln and Otero Counties. prgtoken It was the interjurisdictional cooperation between Tribal governments, the BIA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and local county officials that allowed us to have a quick response to contain the fires, to limit damage, and right now, to recover from one of the most devastating fires that we have ever seen in southwest New Mexico. prgtoken The message I have to the folks out in Mescalero Apache country, the place that I represent, is that we have their back. We will honor that sovereign-to-sovereign relationship that we owe them. prgtoken For other Members of Congress that have gone through devastating wildfires just like ourselves, we will be seeking Federal resources. We will be seeking funds from the emergency declaration that President has granted us to be able to rebuild these communities. prgtoken We are thankful, we are grateful, and we can say that we expect more of this across the West, in other counties and other States that will be impacted by a changing climate. prgtoken We are New Mexico Strong. We will be New Mexico Strong. We will rebuild together. We will honor the promise that we have made to Indian Country. We will make sure that we rebuild from one of southern New Mexico's worst wildfires that we have ever seen. prgtoken , I request a moment of silence for those who have passed.
RECOGNIZING JOANNA SEBELIEN FOR HER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH HARVESTERS
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2024-6-25

I rise today with eternal gratitude to celebrate the long and diverse career of Joanna Sebelien, the last 23 years of which were devoted to service with the charitable food bank, Harvesters. Since 2001, Joanna has been an integral part of Harvesters' mission to create a healthy, thriving community where no one is hungry. As the non-profit's Chief Resource Officer, she has been responsible for its fundraising, volunteer recruitment, food acquisition, communications, prgtoken and advocacy. During her long tenure, Joanna has seen Harvesters' recruitment of over 1 million volunteers across 2.5 million hours of service, fundraising of over $300 million, and acquisition of a whopping 1 billion pounds of food. Let us take a moment to reflect on Joanna's long and fruitful career and its impact on food security here in Missouri's 5th District and beyond. prgtoken Although Joanna's decorated career did not begin with Harvesters, she has always sought to make a difference in the lives of others with her professional life. After graduating with honors from Boston College and receiving a master's from Central Michigan University, Joanna settled on the East Coast as an English teacher. It was in this position that she saw firsthand the effect that food insecurity could have on young people leading to misbehavior at school. This experience ignited her passion for fighting food insecurity so that no child would become a victim of it like her students did. prgtoken Joanna settled in the Midwest and joined Harvesters, an organization established in 1979 that focused on cutting back food waste in Kansas City, in 2001. As one of the pioneering food banks in the country, Harvesters quickly joined Feeding America, a national organization of food banks. The organization has become a staple charity in Kansas City and beyond, serving to ensure the human right of food security for over forty years. From the moment she joined Harvesters, Joanna committed herself to its mission, exceeding expectations in every way imaginable. Not only did she quickly climb Harvesters' ranks to become Chief Resource Officer, she also involved herself with state and national organizations dedicated to fighting food insecurity. She has served on three separate advisory committees for Feeding America, the Breakfast in the Classroom and Hunger Leader groups for the Food Research and Action Center, the local and Kansas State boards of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and as a member of Feeding Missouri. Such an illustrious resume demonstrates Joanna's awe-inspiring dedication as a crusader for equality and sets an example for anyone with similar conviction to follow. prgtoken Joanna's commitment to civic engagement does not end with ensuring food security. She also serves as a founding member of Hartsook Companies Kansas City Advisory Council, the Global Advisory Council, the American Association of Fundraising
HONORING GEORGE B. HERNANDEZ, JR.
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2024-6-25

I rise in honor of the retirement of George B. Hernandez, Jr. prgtoken Mr. Hernandez spent the last 19 years serving South Texas as president and CEO of University Health. A member of the University Health family for more than four decades, Mr. Hernandez attended his first Board of Managers meeting in December of 1980. Since that time, University Health has become a nationally recognized health care organization. That growth would not have been possible without his leadership. prgtoken University Health is a longtime fixture for community health, trauma care, and disease prevention in San Antonio. During his tenure, Mr. Hernandez oversaw the opening of a new state-of-the-art medical office building, the expansion and redesign of University Hospital, and just last year, the opening of a women's and children's hospital. Mr. Hernandez has ensured that University Health will continue to expand, with construction of public health clinics and community hospitals underway. prgtoken Notably, Mr. Hernandez led the health system through the COVID-19 pandemic, with his team of healthcare heroes administering more than 600,000 doses of Covid vaccines throughout our community. prgtoken A native of San Antonio, Mr. Hernandez has never stopped giving back to his hometown, serving on the boards of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, the Center for Health Care Services, St. Mary's University and the San Antonio Medical Foundation. prgtoken Mr. Hernandez's efforts with University Health have improved the lives of thousands of South Texans. With his retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of compassionate care, education, and discovery that will continue on. prgtoken , I am happy to express my gratitude for Mr. George Hernandez, Jr. and his spirit of service to San Antonio.
RECOGNIZING GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-6-25

I thank my good friend, Representative Lucy McBath, for her courage and her persistence in taking a mother's unbearable pain following the loss of her son, Jordan, and turning that pain into a relentless effort to do everything possible to pass bills that will chip away at this terrible problem. prgtoken Thankfully, 2 years ago, under President 's leadership, we helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It was historic legislation to address gun violence and keep weapons out of dangerous hands. It was a strong step forward, but we can, and we must do much, much more. prgtoken Right now, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Our Surgeon General just declared the gun violence in this country a public health crisis. We all know he is right because, every day, more than 100 Americans lose their lives to gun violence. prgtoken As an active member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I have talked with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I have presented the majority with a list of ten things we could consider doing together and asked Members which of these things would my colleagues be willing to work with us on? prgtoken One of my colleagues from North Carolina said to me: We don't have a gun problem. We have a mental health problem. prgtoken Well, there are mental health problems in countries all over the world, but they do not have the same level of gun violence that we have because guns are not as widely available. prgtoken In my own community, when I meet with local police officers, community leaders, parents, mental health professionals, and educators, they all tell me the same thing. We have got to do prgtoken more to stop this devastating scourge of gun violence. This is killing our children and our parents. It is robbing people of their loved ones and leaving families of victims devastated, with a grief and a gaping loss that can never be repaired. prgtoken In my district, North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, we lost one of our best, most dedicated law enforcement officers to gun violence in the past year. Sergeant Dale Nix, a real hero who devoted his life to helping victims of domestic violence. Our whole community continues to mourn his loss. prgtoken As an active member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I urge my colleagues to work with us on things that the vast majority of Americans agree on: Universal background checks, safe storage laws, community and violence intervention programs. We are ready to work with the majority. Please work with us to do the right thing for our children and our future.
HONORING FIRST SERGEANT MARC BELO
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-6-25

I rise today to recognize the life and service of Marc Belo, First Sergeant, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion. Marc was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1970, and graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1992. prgtoken Marc served this country for over 30 years beginning with his enlistment in the Marine Corps in 1994. He had the distinction of being a member of the elite Marine Helicopter Squadron One and transported the President, Vice President, and other heads of state around the world. prgtoken Following an honorable discharge in 2000, Marc enlisted in the District of Columbia National Guard to continue his love of flying, mainly on the UH-60 Blackhawk. As part of this enlistment, Marc was among those who responded to the Pentagon on 9/11. In 2004, Marc transferred to the Colorado Army National Guard and joined the 2-135th ``Blackjacks.'' During his service, Marc completed deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, and Kosovo. While stateside, Marc contributed to critical missions including wildfire fighting and the National Guard helicopter high-altitude rescue program. prgtoken Marc was a dedicated husband and father whose humility, leadership, and good humor touched thousands of lives. He met his high school sweetheart Jennifer in 1986 and married in 1995. Together Marc and Jennifer had two daughters, Danjela and Nadija. Marc loved nothing more than spending time with friends. Marc and Jennifer lost their oldest daughter Danjela following a battle with brain cancer on August 15, 2023, only to learn a few months later that Marc had colorectal cancer. Marc passed on May 15, 2024, nine months to the day after his daughter Danjela. prgtoken This world is a better one because of the legacy that Marc leaves behind in those he impacted through his service, his friendship, and his dedication to his family. His service to our nation exemplifies the man, soldier, and Marine he was. I honor Marc and extend my condolences to his wife Jennifer, his daughter Nadija, and his friends and family.
RECOGNIZING THE ALBANY MARCHING FALCONS
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-6-25

I rise today to recognize the members of the Albany Marching Falcons for their inspiring performance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-day invasion in France. prgtoken Earlier this month, the Marching Falcons, made up of middle and high school students from the Albany City School District, had the opportunity to perform in Falaise, where the Battle of Normandy took place 40 years ago. prgtoken Band members also took part in a personal ceremony on Omaha Beach, where they honored deceased friends and family members who served in the Second World War. prgtoken Bryan Cady, the marching band's director, supported his students through each step of this journey, leading fundraising initiatives to secure the necessary resources for this beautiful trip. prgtoken Despite facing several challenges once they arrived in France, the band continued to march on with pride and resilience, looking and sounding totally professional. I am honored that these students were able to represent our capital region in this powerful celebration. prgtoken To the Albany Marching Falcons, I offer my most sincere gratitude for prgtoken their continued perseverance, and I extend my congratulations on an incredible performance.
RECOGNIZING GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-6-25

I thank this Chamber that affords the time for this special hour. It is a profound and deep honor to stand here with my friend, who I am also privileged to call one of my heroes, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, who I came into this very Chamber with as new freshmen, the class of 2018. Most of us never ever had run for office, and we took on a new House majority in a very challenging time for this country. prgtoken I have seen her work day in and day out. It doesn't matter if it is Gun Violence Prevention Month. While I never got to meet her son, Jordan, and his fate is certainly why I know his mother, I know his soul, and I know his spirit because his mother has channeled it into good and into change and into togetherness for this Nation of ours. prgtoken , I also stand here as a Representative of Michigan, and we are coming out of a very tough week in Oakland County. About 10 days ago, we had a shooting incident at a splash park on a Saturday, the day before Father's Day, with nine injured parents shielding their infant children, a grandfather, an 8-year-old shot in the head and still is in the hospital. This was followed by another horrific scene the next Saturday; an Oakland County deputy sheriff was shot while investigating a crime in Detroit. prgtoken Time and time again, we see these incidences. We see these horrific mass shootings. I have, as a lawmaker and as a policymaker and someone who has stood by President , who has stood by my colleagues on getting so much done, remain absolutely baffled by these statistics, by these events, that just seemingly and uniquely happen in a country where we refuse to change our laws, where we continue on this path of insanity. prgtoken There is too much pain. There are too many mass shootings. I invite everyone to 2411, my office in Rayburn, outside of my office door, where I have the orange ribbon for every mass shooting that has happened this term in Congress. We are over 800. prgtoken I remember calling Congressman Neguse when the mass shooting happened in his grocery store in his district. I remember the mass shooting in Buffalo and how personal that has felt. Again, another grocery store. We are arming hate in the United States of America, and we are arming insanity. Yes, those of us on this side of the aisle are talking about common sense, and we all have a responsibility to the next generation. prgtoken Our first Generation Z Member of Congress, Maxwell Frost, has been carrying the torch of gun violence prevention through his activism work before he entered this very Chamber. When are we going to double down on passing commonsense gun safety legislation? When are we going to say that the right to bear arms is a privilege in the United States of America? prgtoken Our U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, just proclaimed gun violence as a public health crisis, and that is what it is, at parties and in grocery stores and in houses of worship. prgtoken We are i
RECOGNIZING GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-6-25

first, I thank my friends and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force leaders, Congresswoman Lucy McBath and Congressman Mike Thompson, for convening us this evening. They both have been unwavering in their dedication to ending the scourge of gun violence in this country. prgtoken I want to take a moment in particular to salute and applaud my friend Representative McBath, who, as you heard, , has shown a remarkable amount of courage, bravery, and tenacity in converting her anguish, unspeakable, unthinkable anguish, into action to save lives. We couldn't be more proud of her and the work that she has done since she first graced the Halls of this august body and made ending gun violence a priority of not just hers but of this House. prgtoken , in a country where gun violence is the leading cause of death among children--I will repeat that just to let it sink in, gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in the United States--it comes as no surprise that, today, the Surgeon General declared that gun violence in America now constitutes a public health crisis. prgtoken My district, , has been acutely impacted by that crisis, by the pain of the gun violence epidemic. prgtoken A gunman, 3 years ago, walked into a local grocery store in my community in Boulder, Colorado. He killed, murdered in cold blood, ten of our beloved community members, including a police officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice, saved lives, died in the line of duty. This tragedy and the shock waves that it has spurred across my State serve as a reminder of why we as a Congress cannot abandon our mission to end this epidemic. prgtoken My community, , is not alone. From Uvalde to Buffalo, from prgtoken Parkland to Sandy Hook, to every corner of our country, there are communities just like ours with families devastated by the pain and anguish caused by gun violence and Members, as you have heard, of this very Chamber who have experienced devastating loss as a result of this epidemic. It is with those we have lost in our hearts and at the forefront of our minds that we remain committed to ensuring that we turn such anguish into action. prgtoken As mentioned, , 2 years ago today, many of us joined President at the White House. I remember going to the White House with my colleague Representative McBath, to celebrate the enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Representative McBath, Representative Robin Kelly, Representative Steven Horsford, so many of the leaders from whom will be heard from tonight, along with Representative Haley Stevens and others, have worked vociferously to get across the finish line. This bill is the most significant and consequential gun violence prevention legislation that we have seen in decades. prgtoken Through this bill, we were able to enact improved and enhanced background checks, protect domestic violence survivors, expand community violence intervention programs, and sup
HONORING DR. AL MIJARES
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-6-25

. Madam , today, I rise to honor the career of my very good friend, retiring Orange County superintendent Dr. Al Mijares. prgtoken Dr. Mijares was first appointed as Orange County superintendent of schools in 2012. Before that he was Santa Ana Unified School District's superintendent. Al is a man that truly cares about our children and their well-being. prgtoken Dr. Mijares' vision is to ensure that each one of our children is prepared to succeed in life. prgtoken I thank Dr. Mijares for his friendship and thank him for caring. I thank him for a lifelong career of caring for our children in our public school system. prgtoken We as a community are praying for his recovery, and we love him.
CELEBRATING LOS ANGELES UNION STATION'S 85TH ANNIVERSARY
Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-6-25

I rise today to celebrate Los Angeles Union Station's 85th anniversary. prgtoken Los Angeles Union Station opened its doors in May of 1939, becoming the main railway station in Los Angeles, California, and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. This landmark enjoys the great distinction of being known as the ``Last of the Great Train Stations'' built in the United States. prgtoken Owned by the Metro/Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority since 2012, Union Station is a major transportation hub for Southern California, providing thousands of passengers daily access to Amtrak long distance trains, Amtrak California regional trains, Metrolink commuter trains, and Metro Rail subway and light rail lines. prgtoken Los Angeles Union Station is also a vibrant landmark and symbol of Downtown Los Angeles. This station serves as a hub for visitors to Los Angeles, and has been the star of hundreds of movies, television shows and commercials. prgtoken The station also showcases an array of arts and cultural events from music and dance to film screenings, architecture tours and holiday programs, and was internationally recognized as the host to the 93rd Oscars in 2021. prgtoken In the eight-plus decades since its opening, Los Angeles Union Station has captured the spirit and soul of Los Angeles and is a source of great civic pride for Angelenos. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone for Los Angeles Union Station, and I look forward to seeing all that they do in the next 85 years and beyond.