mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING SCHIMELPFENIG MIDDLE SCHOOL
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , each year, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in conjunction with the Texas Association of Secondary Schools Principals designate the coveted title of ``Texas School to Watch'' to a select groups of schools that have consistently moved to fully meet the nationally endorsed criteria for high-performing middle schools. prgtoken These schools have demonstrated marked progress in meeting all required criteria, including measurable gains in the academic achievement of their student population, paired with a continual commitment to improvement. prgtoken Today, I proudly ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Schimelpfenig Middle School of Plano, Texas as one of thirty named ``Texas Schools to Watch.'' Our state leaders selected Schimelpfenig based on its academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure and processes. Coupled with their strong leadership, Schimelpfenig Middle School is renowned for its teachers who consistently collaborate to improve programs while creating a positive learning environment. prgtoken To Principal Dr. Brant Perry, the staff, students, parents, and the Plano Independent School District under the leadership of Superintendent Sara Bonser, I congratulate them on being named a Texas School to Watch. I am confident they will continue their dedicated efforts to meet the needs of our students by providing a high-quality education while fostering prgtoken a caring environment focused on future success.
COMMEMORATING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FINGER LAKES TOURISM ALLIANCE
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance. prgtoken On April 25, 1919, Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance's founders came together in Auburn, New York to organize a cooperative to promote tourism in the region. They sought to cooperatively market the Finger Lakes region, develop signage to direct tourists, and ensure service stations were equipped to accommodate travelers. One hundred years later, the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance continues to serve the Finger Lakes Region and is considered the oldest regional destination marketing organization in the United States. prgtoken Spanning fourteen counties, the Finger Lakes Region is home to more than four hundred registered historic sites and landmarks, one hundred thirty-five museums, eighty art galleries, fourteen professional theatre companies, one hundred wineries, three hundred bed and breakfasts, one thousand sixty-three waterfalls and gorges, twenty-six state parks, two thousand miles of hiking/biking trails and six hundred fifty miles of shoreline. The Alliance partners with attractions and tourism-related businesses to showcase this beautiful and unique area. prgtoken We recognize the importance of the Finger Lakes Region to our local communities and we support designating the region as a National Heritage Area. The Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Study Act passed the House of Representatives with our support, taking an important first step in achieving that goal. We will continue to be a strong advocate for the Finger Lakes Region. prgtoken One hundred years of promoting our local communities is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance on this impressive milestone and look forward to their continued success in the years to come. prgtoken Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.
HONORING BETH KILLIAN FOR HER SERVICE TO SYRACUSE MEALS ON WHEELS
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Beth Killian's dedicated involvement with Meals on Wheels Syracuse. Throughout her nine years with the organization, Ms. Killian has worked as both a volunteer and treasurer, playing an integral role in updating and managing the organization's records. prgtoken Meals on Wheels Syracuse is an important part of our Central New York community, providing home delivery food service to seniors throughout the region. Volunteers like Ms. Killian are the foundation of Meals on Wheels Syracuse, and are a vital part of delivering healthy meals, nutrition education, and resource assistance to the most vulnerable members of our community. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring Beth Killian and her philanthropic spirit. Through Ms. Killian's involvement with Meals on Wheels Syracuse, senior citizens in Central New York have the ability to continue living independent lives while not having to worry about their next meal. Ms. Killian's service has contributed to a better Central New York and it is volunteers like her who strengthen communities around the country.
HONORING COHUTTA, GEORGIA
Tom Graves (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor the town of Cohutta, Georgia and commemorate the 50th anniversary of its incorporation. prgtoken Though incorporated relatively recently, Cohutta has a history that stretches back to when Northwest Georgia was first settled. prgtoken Its name, Cohutta, comes from the Cherokee word for foggy weather, and it served as the capital of the Cherokee nation from 1832 to 1838. prgtoken Boasting Red Clay State Historic Park, Cohutta has truly embraced the rich history of the Cherokee nation that first settled there, allowing visitors to appreciate 630 acres of natural beauty and historical significance. prgtoken Like many towns in Georgia, Cohutta came to be through the growth of the railroad, and Norfolk Southern continues to link it with the rest of the state. prgtoken Today, it boasts a population of over 600, and the University of Georgia's Cohutta Fisheries Center continues to provide research and education opportunities for folks from across Georgia and our nation. prgtoken As all of Georgia celebrates with Cohutta this Saturday for a day of parades, BBQ, and family fun, I offer the students of Cohutta Elementary a hearty `Go Dogs' and congratulate the town on the 50th anniversary of its incorporation.
CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VFIS
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize VFIS, a division of Glatfelter Insurance Group, as it celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to our Nation's fire and emergency services. prgtoken Formerly known as Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services, VFIS was established by the late Arthur J. Glatfelter of York, Pennsylvania. A Veteran of World War II, Mr. Glatfelter was a U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific. The values the Corps instilled in him to serve our Country guided Mr. Glatfelter throughout his professional career in supporting the men and women of our Nation's fire and emergency service. prgtoken In 1969, Mr. Glatfelter, a well-established insurance agent, recognized a need for specialized insurance coverage for firefighters-- a coverage based on their motivations, their aspirations, their needs and the risks they were willing to assume to protect others. He designed a portfolio of comprehensive insurance coverages that took all of these factors into account. Fifty years later, these specialized coverages remain the cornerstone on which VFIS has based its insurance program for the fire service. prgtoken VFIS is now the leading insurance provider for emergency services organizations in the Nation. These organizations include fire departments, ambulance services, rescue squads, 911 dispatch centers and more. VFIS also provides an array of consulting services and training programs focused on the operations of these organizations. Aligned with the VFIS insurance program, they are designed to safeguard our firefighters in their duties. prgtoken The values that defined Mr. Glatfelter remain embedded in the VFIS culture. Current VFIS staff and key agents have over 1,000 years of emergency services experiences, representing a significant level of giving back to their communities. Many VFIS senior executives are involved in organizations that support first responders--organizations such as the Congressional Fire Services Institute, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Volunteer Fire Council, the National EMS Management Foundation and the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Foundation. prgtoken On April 27, 2019, VFIS will conduct a 50th Anniversary gathering to celebrate this significant milestone. The high standard of protection and service that VFIS has provided in supporting our Nation's fire and emergency services for 50 years is a milestone worthy of national recognition. In 1969, Mr. Glatfelter pursued an idea to develop the best insurance program possible to protect our nation's fire and emergency service providers. Fifty years later, VFIS is the number one provider of insurance and risk management services to fire and emergency service organizations in the U.S. I hereby recognize VFIS for its 50 years of dedication and commitment to serving those who serve and protect our communities and thank Arthur J. Glatfelter for his vision and leadership in developing the VFIS Program. prgtoken Congr
DIRECTING THE REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS--VETO
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-4-29

additionally for 1 minute, I would like to speak to the issue of healthcare. Some elected officials are proposing radical changes to our healthcare system. These proposals include Medicare for All, Medicare buy-in, Medicaid for All, and expansion of the Affordable Healthcare Act. All of these are versions of completely government-run healthcare. prgtoken Americans don't support a government-run healthcare system when they are told about the tradeoffs. Medicare for All would eliminate private health insurance companies. Medicare for All would require middle-class Americans to pay much more in taxes. Medicare for All would threaten the benefits that current Medicare beneficiaries receive, and those people who have paid into the system for a lifetime should not have Medicare, which has been part of the social fabric of America, put in jeopardy by loading more people into it. prgtoken Government-run healthcare is a slogan, not an answer. prgtoken . prgtoken .
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-4-29

on behalf of myself and the distinguished ic leader, Mr. Schumer, I send to the desk a resolution authorizing the production of testimony, and ask for its immediate consideration. prgtoken , this resolution concerns a request for testimony in a state administrative hearing regarding Medicaid benefits. A constituent of Senator prgtoken Hyde-Smith is seeking testimony at the hearing from an employee in the Senator's office who had assisted him. Senator Hyde-Smith would like to cooperate with this request by providing relevant testimony from the employee. prgtoken The enclosed resolution would authorize the employee to testify in this action.
Remembering Richard G Lugar (Executive Calendar)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2019-4-29

to be specific, 51 years ago, the United Citizens for Nixon-Agnew descended upon the city of Indianapolis, IN, a city to which a young man named Richard Lugar had been elected mayor. That was my first opportunity to meet former Senator Richard Lugar, who died a few days ago. prgtoken He became Richard Nixon's favorite mayor. He persuaded the suburban areas around Indianapolis and the city itself to do something almost no city in America has been able to do--Nashville did it; Miami did it; Louisville did it; and Indianapolis did it. It was to have a unified government--to get rid of 60 different municipal governments and form one. No one was very surprised when Richard Lugar was able to accomplish something, because he had been marked from the beginning as being a young man of extraordinary ability. prgtoken At Denison, where he went to college, he became a Rhodes Scholar. He studied at Oxford. He became a Navy intelligence officer. Later on in the sixties--and I have mentioned 1968 as the year in which we met him for the first time--as mayor, he was able to deal not only with the unification of Indianapolis but with the difficult racial times that occurred all over America during the late 1960s. prgtoken Nobody was surprised when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1974. He was defeated in the Watergate sweep that wiped out a large number of promising young candidates, which I had a little personal experience with in Tennessee. Yet no one was surprised when he came back in 1976 and won. prgtoken As soon as he was elected, he organized the other Senators who had been elected that year to vote for Howard Baker, Jr for the leader of the Senate in January 1977. Senator Baker won that race by one vote. You can imagine that Senator Baker had a very high opinion of Senator Richard Lugar, and they became close friends. prgtoken I first really worked with him in 1980 when I was the Governor of Tennessee. Senator Baker wanted to run for President, so he summoned to Nashville, to meet in my office, Senator Lugar and his young aide, Mitch Daniels--later, the Governor of Indiana and now the president of Purdue University--as well as Warren Rudman, the Senator from New Hampshire, and his young aide, Tom Rath. I admired Dick Lugar then, and I admired him throughout the rest of his career. It was a privilege to serve with him on the Foreign Relations Committee while he was the chairman of it when I was elected to the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I noticed that unlike all of us Senators, when Richard Lugar had something to say, he had something to say, so people actually listened to him. We prgtoken have a tradition in the caucus in which we have Thursday lunches that are hosted by various members of our caucus. I have served something from the town in which Jack Daniel's is made--not the whiskey but the food. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith served some Mississippi food last week before the recess
RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ISAAC PYLE AND EMMA MUSTOWE, RECIPIENTS OF THE WEST VIRGINIA GOLDEN HORSESHOE AWARD
Carol D. Miller (Republican, WV) \u2014 2019-4-29

. Madam , I rise to recognize two of my constituents, Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustowe, who each earned the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe award. The West Virginia Department of Education describes the Golden Horseshoe award as being ``unique in its statewide recognition of scholastic achievement.'' The award is given annually to two hundred and twenty-one 8th grade students who have outscored their classmates on a West Virginia history exam and essay about West Virginia current events. A minimum of two students from each county and one student from the West Virginia schools for the Deaf and Blind are selected for the award. In a ceremony during Golden Horseshoe Day, the state superintendent of schools uses an antique sword to dub each kneeling student either a lady or knight of the Golden Horseshoe Society. This is arguably one of the greatest awards of that school year for 8th- grade students. Soon to be knighted is Isaac Pyle of Webster Springs. Isaac is the son of Jeremy Pyle and Dr. Allison Pyle. An exceptional student, Isaac is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School. As the winner of his school competition, he has qualified four times for the state Math Field Day and has qualified for the state spelling bee. Isaac proudly maintains a 4.0 GPA and is enrolled in advanced courses. Emma Mustowe of Webster Springs will also join the rolls as a Lady of the Golden Horseshoe Society. The daughter of Tobby and Janna Mustowe, Emma is a talented writer and performer. She is a winner of the Webster County Young Writers Competition. She is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School and a winner in the Webster County Regional Literature Fair. Emma is also a member of the award-winning Webster County High School Showband. As Congresswoman for the Third Congressional District of the State of West Virginia, it is my distinct honor to rise today to recognize the dedication and achievement that Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustowe have put forward in winning the Golden Horseshoe award. I congratulate them on being model students and exemplary West Virginians.
CONGRATULATIONS GARRETT FORD
Troy Balderson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-4-29

. Madam , I rise today to recognize an incredible feat by a remarkable young athlete from Licking County, Ohio. prgtoken Garrett Ford, of Pataskala, began lifting weights just a few years ago, and it didn't take long for his family and friends to notice his affinity for the sport. As time went on, Garrett continued to work at the sport, lifting heavier and heavier weights, all the while bulking up and fine-tuning his skills. prgtoken His passion for lifting took him outside the CrossFit gym last July, when he competed in the Ohio Special Olympics 2018 Summer Games, then was flown to Seattle to compete in the Special Olympics 2018 USA Games. After accumulating medals and victories along the way, Garrett flew halfway around the world last month to represent Licking County in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. There, he won four gold medals for his performance, sweeping in his weight class in four powerlifting categories: deadlift, squat, bench, and combined. prgtoken With his victories, Garrett, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, has achieved something extraordinary. I know I speak for everyone in Licking County when I say we are honored that he represented us in the World Summer Games--the first person to ever represent our county in such. prgtoken Garrett's story sets an example for all of us--one of courage, determination, and believing in oneself. You see, he'll be the first person to tell you exactly how he wants to improve his performance. He constantly pushes himself to be better, never settling for less-than. At the same time, he doesn't get nervous. He doesn't take pity for what others may perceive as a disability. His steady perseverance and internal drive have pushed Garrett to extraordinary, global heights, and I'm confident that this won't be the last we're hearing of him. prgtoken I thank Garrett Ford for bringing honor to Licking County, Ohio, and in turn I honor him for his incredible record of achievements.
COMMENDING THE TOXIC 18 GROUP
Brian J. Mast (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-4-29

I rise today to recognize a great group who has been documenting something tragic going on in our community, the Toxic 18 group on the Treasure Coast of Florida. prgtoken The administrators and the members of Toxic 18 have dedicated countless volunteer hours to taking pictures, videos, and looking at the destruction which has included dead animals, sickness, destroyed environment, and businesses being forced to close across the Treasure Coast, all as a result of the harmful algal blooms going on in our area. prgtoken Their administrators, people who I have had the chance to get to know, like Cyndi Lenz, Jennie Pawlowsky, Cristina Maldonado, Kim Streiber, and Troy Brown have done an outstanding job, and because of their work, I am very optimistic for a great 2019 and future beyond that because of the work they have already done in 2018 and before.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2019-4-29

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
TRIBUTE TO JO LAUGHLIN AND DORIS McCORKINDALE
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2019-4-29

this week I have the honor of recognizing Jo Laughlin and Doris McCorkindale for their impact on Fergus County and surrounding areas. prgtoken Jo and Doris serve their local community as volunteers at the Central Montana Community Cupboard. Folks all over the community are grateful for the joy and light Jo and Doris bring to the families they serve. They have set a great example for all Montanans with their time and dedication as volunteers. prgtoken For over 20 years, Jo has tirelessly served in various capacities at the Cupboard, as both a board member and volunteer. Her lighthearted attitude and selfless nature brings joy to the people she serves. At 89 years old, Jo continues to serve as head volunteer, coordinating all food orders and overseeing the day to day operations at the Cupboard. prgtoken Doris has served at the Cupboard as both a board member and volunteer for almost 20 years. As volunteer coordinator, she works to ensure an adequate number of volunteers are available to aid in daily operations. At the age of 91, she is still committed to the families she serves and does not intend to slow down anytime soon. prgtoken I applaud Jo and Doris for leading a life of excellence and serving the struggling and the hungry of their community. Their commitment to their fellow Montanans, as well as their happy optimism towards life, is a shining example of the Montana spirit. Fergus County is lucky to have these two incredible women in their community as selfless leaders.
CONGRATULATING RUDY DORY
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2019-4-29

I rise today to recognize and congratulate Rudy Dory who is a great Oregonian and this year's recipient of the National Grocers Association's Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award. prgtoken Established in 1982, this award is presented to an individual or a company whose leadership in the food industry best exemplifies active and effective participation in government relations as a citizen and industry representative. prgtoken Rudy Dory is the executive chairman of Newport Avenue Market, which is an employee-owned, independent grocery store in Bend, Oregon, in my district, and I had the pleasure to get a full tour from Rudy of Newport Avenue Market in Bend just last August. prgtoken He has been in the grocery industry for 40 years. He has helped Newport Avenue Market through its migration from a traditional store to the award-winning, employee-owned, specialty grocery store it is today. prgtoken Rudy is a tireless advocate of the independent supermarket industry and advocates in support of a public policy agenda that benefits Main Street grocers throughout the Nation. prgtoken Local grocers like Rudy help job growth, support Oregon's producers, and help feed our communities. prgtoken So please join me in congratulating Rudy Dory on receiving this prestigious award, and working on behalf of not only Newport Avenue Market, but for all businesses and independent grocers across the country.