mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE SERVICE OF ANTOINE RIPOLL AS DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LIAISON OFFICE
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor the service of Mr. Antoine Ripoll, the outgoing Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office. prgtoken Antoine Ripoll has dedicated his career to the European Union and transatlantic relations. After completing his Master in Public and European Law at Paris-Pantheon Sorbonne University, he first worked as a civil servant at the European Commission. prgtoken In 1988, Antoine Ripoll joined the European Parliament, where he went on to hold a number of roles ranging from communication to positions with parliamentary committees. When the European Union began exploring the prospect of enlargement into the former Eastern Bloc, he worked to lay the groundwork for this remarkable achievement. prgtoken Antoine Ripoll's accomplishments do not end there. From 2007 to 2012, he served as the Chief of Staff of the European People's Party, which was the largest group in the EU Parliament at the time. In 2012, he transitioned to serving as Director for Relations with Parliamentary Groups in the General Secretariat of the European Parliament and, later that year, moved to Washington, D.C. to become Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office. prgtoken In his current role, Antoine Ripoll has facilitated discussions between Members of both Houses of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, with their European counterparts to productively address matters of critical importance on both sides of the Atlantic. prgtoken His commitment to transatlantic understanding and cooperation has positively impacted the E.U.-U.S. relationship in a wide range of areas. For his many services and contributions, he has been honored with the Chevalier de l'ordre national du Merite by his native France. prgtoken Over the past several years, the U.S. leadership of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue has worked closely with Antoine Ripoll. Members of Congress have spent many hours discussing European-American relations and have benefited immensely from his experience and expertise. prgtoken With the transatlantic relationship more important today than perhaps any other time in our shared history, it is critical to recognize the achievements of those who have worked to build and maintain the peace and prosperity we currently enjoy on both sides of the Atlantic. prgtoken Antoine Ripoll's commitment to helping American and European legislators work together, and his overall contributions to the transatlantic relationship, should serve as an inspiration to us all. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Mr. Antoine Ripoll and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.
HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DON KENNEDY
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor the career of a pillar of New England's law enforcement community. Don Kennedy served with honor in the Rhode Island State Police for 24 years before retiring as a captain in 1998. prgtoken When he left the force, he did not leave his brethren in blue, though. Rather, for more than two decades, he has guided the work of the New England State Police Information Network, or NESPIN. As deputy director of field services, he helped departments across the Nation with investigations, and he will be retiring as executive director of the program. prgtoken Don has been a great advocate for the Federal Regional Information Sharing Systems program that helps fund NESPIN. From Don, I have learned the prgtoken immense value of networking State police resources, and my friend Mr. King from New York and I have helped ensure the program is appropriately funded by Congress. prgtoken Don's legacy will live on in the RISS programs that he has helped support and the communities made safer by them. As a fellow Rhode Islander, I wish him the best of luck in this exciting, new, and forthcoming chapter of his life as he enters retirement.
HONORING MARY ANN LEVAR ON HER RETIREMENT
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mary Ann Levar and express my congratulations on her retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives. Since my election to Congress ten years ago, Mary Ann has been indispensable to my congressional office, serving as my District Director and assisting thousands of my constituents in Chicago and in the Chicagoland area. prgtoken It would be impossible to properly thank or congratulate Mary Ann without making clear the indelible mark she has left on my district. Mary Ann was not just my District Director--she was truly the Fifth District of Illinois' District Director. What began with a role serving as a receptionist and staff assistant for Congressman Dan Rostenkowski in 1994 evolved into years of working as a caseworker for Congressman Rod Blagojevich and culminated in her promotion to District Director for Congressman Rahm Emanuel and for myself. prgtoken After a decade of working together, I have seen firsthand what I've heard time and again from my constituents: that Mary Ann Levar is a tireless advocate for them and for the people of Chicago, leading my District Office with a compassionate, steady hand. prgtoken As a lifelong Chicagoan, Mary Ann put her heart and soul into her service to the people of Illinois' Fifth District. The daughter of German immigrants, Mary Ann spent her career working to improve her city. She raised her four children--Julie, Ryan, Michelle, and Pat Jr.--in Chicago with her husband of over forty years, former Alderman Pat Levar. She is now a proud grandmother to four, with a fifth grandchild on the way. I have no doubt that she is excited to spend more of her time with those beautiful grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , the Fifth District will simply not be the same without Mary Ann's leadership. Her contributions will be felt for years to come and her legacy will live on in the work of all the staff she trained over the years. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mary Ann Levar for her tremendous public service.
INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFE AND QUIET SKIES ACT
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , today I have introduced H.R. 4547, the Safe and Quiet Skies Act, to ensure that commercial air tour flights are adequately regulated to ensure safety and address current widespread community disruption. I extend a special thanks to my colleague, Congressman Brad Sherman of California, for cointroducing this necessary measure. The national problem of inadequately regulated commercial air tour flights has been highlighted in my own state of Hawai'i in just the last few months. We have seen three dead in the crash of a commercial air tour helicopter into a residential neighborhood and eleven more dead in the crash of a commercial skydiving plane. These tragedies occurred amidst a rapid increase in commercial helicopter and small plane overflights of all parts of my state including residential, commercial and industrial neighborhoods, cemeteries and memorials, land and marine parks and other recreation areas, and sensitive military installations. These have disrupted whole communities with excessive noise and other impacts, destroyed the peace and sanctity of special places, increased risk to not only passengers but those on the ground, and weakened security and management of defense operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently has virtually exclusive jurisdiction over these aircraft operations. Following both of these recent tragedies, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is responsible for investigating accidents but not for direct safety regulation, strongly recommended to the FAA that safety- related regulation of commercial tour helicopters and small aircraft skydiving operations is generally insufficient. Regarding ground disruption and risk, the FAA takes the position that its responsibility is strictly operational safety and national airspace efficiency and does not extend to ground disruption and other negative impacts. As a result, the operators, aside from strict takeoff and approach, avoidance of established flight paths and other limited circumstances, are virtually free to fly wherever, whenever and as often as they want. And they do, with little to no self-regulation. This situation is unacceptable for both safety and community impact concerns. It is also not limited to Hawai'i, with growing concerns in other areas with high commercial tour usage, more dense populations, valuable natural resources, significant defense installations and other factors. This bill would first require the FAA to implement the NTSB's recommended enhanced safety regulations. It would also prohibit flights over federal property that requires privacy, dignity and respect, to include military installations, national cemeteries and national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness. It would further require the use of standard equipment to monitor the location of flights, apply the ``sterile cockpit rule'' to tour flights (meaning in part that the pilot could
THE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS
Jefferson Van Drew (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I am here today to bring attention to the American Workforce Empowerment Act which I worked on with my friend from Minnesota, Congressman Jim Hagedorn. prgtoken This is a bipartisan solution--and I hope everybody heard the word bipartisan--to address the growing shortage of skilled workers to fill job openings in the technical and skilled trades. prgtoken Small businesses are in need of machinists, welders, truck drivers, and an array of other qualified trades and labor-intensive professions. We should do everything we can to incentivize technical skills training and apprenticeships for those who like to work with their hands and see the product of their hard work. prgtoken The bipartisan American Workforce Empowerment Act expands these programs eligible for payment by 529 savings plans, and by making registered apprenticeships eligible, we can more easily and readily close the wide gap of good-paying positions that have gone unfilled in our robust economy. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 4469. We need to expand our workforce, and this is a great way to do it.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-27

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the chairman for making that very important point about the quality of life of the families of our men and women in uniform, which appears to have been demeaned by our colleagues. prgtoken , Members of Congress take a sacred oath to support and defend the Constitution and to protect the American people. Today the House honors that oath with this resolution to defend our national security and our Constitution's system of checks and balances: the guardrails created by our Founders to safeguard our Republic. prgtoken The President's decision to cancel $3.6 billion for military construction to pay for his wasteful wall makes America less safe. The administration is stealing funds from 127 initiatives in 21 countries, 23 States, and three territories, stooping so low as to steal from a middle school at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. prgtoken A recent U.S. Air Force report shows that canceling these projects hurts our national security worldwide, including in Europe where the President is canceling construction for the European defense initiative which deters Russian aggression. The President is canceling a project which deters Russian aggression. That makes the Russians very happy. prgtoken In the Middle East he is canceling maintenance at a key base to protect our troops from--in the words of this Air Force report--hostile penetration in the midst of contingency operations and an increased terrorist threat. prgtoken In the Pacific he is canceling construction on storage facilities in Guam for more than $1 billion in munitions, the largest stockpile in the region; and in North America he is canceling repairs which are based in Alaska which are needed to prevent an explosion that would cause a full evacuation and require millions of dollars of repair. prgtoken That decision also disrespects military families, as our distinguished chair, Mr. DeFazio, mentioned. prgtoken A coalition of leading education, labor, and veterans organizations wrote to the President to express their ``profound concern,'' saying, ``Our troops and their families deserve much better for their sacrifices.'' prgtoken The President had said Mexico will pay for his wall, not military families. prgtoken The administration's decision also dishonors the Constitution by negating its most fundamental principle, the separation of powers, in an assault on our power of the purse. It does great violence to our Constitution and our democracy and strikes at the heart of our Founder's conception of America, which demands a separation of powers. prgtoken Indeed, many White House decisions that have recently come to light show this same disdain and disregard for the Constitution. prgtoken Today, we join the Senate--congratulations to the Senate--in a bipartisan way to restore our system of checks and balances and reassert Congress' constitutional responsibilities. prgtoken This issue transcends partisan politics. All Memb
HONORING DAPHNE AND BOB PHILIPSON
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Daphne and Bob Philipson, recipients of the 2019 Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) Legacy Award, in recognition of their substantial years of community involvement and active volunteerism. prgtoken Daphne Philipson, CPA, has served multiple stints on the PPHP board, first from 1999 through 2006, then from 2008 through 2012. She has also served on PPHP Executive, Board Development and Nominating, Budget and Finance, and Fundraising Committees. She was a partner at E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co where she headed investor relations. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Business School and Barnard College, where she currently serves on the board of trustees. prgtoken As a teenager, Bob Philipson developed a passion for ensuring access to family planning through reading about Marie Stopes and was a strong supporter of the legalization of abortion in the United Kingdom. He went on to graduate with a degree in Politics and Economics at Durham University's Hatfield College and subsequently held positions in a number of companies in the UK, Belgium, Sweden and the U.S. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998 and became active in ic politics, serving as Treasurer and Chairman of the Irvington . He spent many years escorting at clinics that provided abortion services and demonstrating and lobbying in support of Planned Parenthood. He continues his activism to this day. prgtoken The advocacy and commitment of community members like Daphne and Bob Philipson is a crucial element of the fight to ensure that every woman, and man, in America has access to the reproductive and preventative health care they need. I'm proud to be a partner with the Philipsons and Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in this effort, and I thank them for their diligent work. prgtoken Madam , l urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Mr. and Mrs. Philipson for their many years of service to the community.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-27

the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), my good friend, is a true conservative. I know him. I know him well. We have had many, many discussions. The gentleman is a true conservative, and he really does believe in the Constitution. prgtoken The gentleman made a most interesting argument that, in the legislation that ended the 35-day shutdown, we should have put into that legislation prohibitions on this. Yes, indeed, we should have, had we any idea whatsoever that the President would so abuse the emergency authority as to literally rip away from Congress our appropriations powers. prgtoken Keep in mind that we specifically put legislation and money forward for the border wall that solved the 35-day shutdown. The President signed that bill and then used the emergency power that is the subject of this debate and this resolution to usurp our appropriations power. prgtoken He did that by going into the military and taking nearly $6 billion. And I understand he is looking for another $10 billion or so from the same source, using the same power. prgtoken This is a direct attack on our appropriations power. prgtoken Now, we have an emergency. You want to talk about an emergency? We are willing to work on emergencies and appropriate the necessary money. We have done so many times. In fact, there once was an offer for some $20-plus billion for all of this.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-9-27

I rise to once again oppose the President's outrageous decision to declare a national emergency. prgtoken President repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for his border wall, but now he is diverting money, $3.6 billion, away from our servicemembers, military families, and their children. prgtoken Two projects were canceled in my district at Joint Base Andrews. Joint Base Andrews is home to Air Force One. It is the cornerstone of military security in our Nation's Capital. prgtoken President canceled a much-needed new childcare facility for families at Joint Base Andrews. We have been working on this for over a decade. prgtoken The current childcare center, which I visited 2 weeks ago, 2 years ago, was constructed during World War II. It is too small to serve the children on base. There is a 200-child waiting list. prgtoken It suffers from sewage backup. That is right, classes are canceled when the sewer backs up. The kitchen closes when the sewer backs up, and that happens every other month. prgtoken It has got mold and rodent infestation, a leaking roof that collapsed 5 years ago, and a failing heating and air-conditioning system. prgtoken Servicemembers will be forced to use more expensive and lower quality off-base programs. The Department of Defense studied it; they estimated it; and it will cost military families $10,000 a year, each, money that is coming out of their pocket. Why? To build a wall. prgtoken The families at Andrews have been waiting for years for a modern, safe building, and now we are telling them to wait. We are telling kids to go without so President can build his wall before 2020. prgtoken Servicemembers that defend our Nation should never have to worry about the safety and well-being of their children while they are serving our Nation. prgtoken This isn't the only project being canceled at Andrews. The President canceled a hazardous material cargo pad necessary to load ordnance and munitions onto planes. The Pentagon said that, without this project, Andrews will have ``enduring systemic weaknesses in its ability to support required military activities.'' prgtoken Think September 11, 9/11. We relied on fighter jets from Andrews, and now we are risking their mission with this cut. prgtoken The President is also canceling dozens of essential projects that would provide relief in Puerto Rico and in Europe against Russian aggression. It hurts morale among the men and women who sacrifice more and more every year. prgtoken Voting to end this national emergency is the only way to restore funding that the President has taken from our troops and their families. The administration should not build this ineffective, xenophobic, vanity project on the backs of the military. prgtoken When we face critical challenges at home and abroad, this kind of action hurts our ability to respond to real-world emergencies.
RECOGNIZING MOUNT ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , it is with great respect and admiration that I take this time to congratulate Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Michigan City, Indiana, as the congregation joins together in celebration of the church's 100th anniversary. The parishioners along with Mount Zion's pastor, Reverend Dr. Stanley Mason and leadership, will be commemorating this momentous occasion with a celebratory banquet on Saturday, September 28, 2019. In 1919, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church was established in Michigan City by the church's founding members, Reverend and Mrs. John McGee, Mr. John Gibbons, Mother Emma Wilkies, Mother Lola Bolden, and Sister Willie Lee Thomas. After many years of holding church services in member's homes and store fronts, the congregation and leadership purchased a church building in 1923. Mount Zion has been through numerous changes in leadership, membership, and location throughout the past century, but the foundation of giving back to the community has been a steadfast and important mission, and it continues to this day. Throughout the years, the members of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church have been dedicated to charitable efforts within the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond. Some of the church's important public service projects include providing Christmas baskets for those in need, visitation for the sick, and Sunday school programs. Under the leadership of the current pastor, Reverend Dr. Stanley Mason, new educational ministries have been established, and charity work has continued and expanded. In addition, the church building has undergone numerous improvements, and the membership has increased. Reverend Mason and the congregation of Mount Zion have been a true blessing to the community of Northwest Indiana and beyond. Madam , I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and congratulating Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Michigan City, Indiana, on its 100th anniversary. The members and church leaders have dedicated themselves to serving others, especially to those most in need, and they are an inspiration to us all.
HONORING THE CAREER OF JOHN R. FLINT
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , it is with great pleasure that I recognize the distinguished career of John R. Flint, City Manager of my hometown of Weston, Florida. Mr. Flint is one of Broward County's long-serving public servants. Appointed as the City of Weston's first City Manager in July 1997, Mr. Flint is the Chief Executive Officer of the nation's premier municipal corporation. Incorporated in 1996 by an overwhelming percentage of its voters, Weston quickly gained international attention for being one of the country's largest master-planned communities and for the progressive form of contractual municipal management which Mr. Flint has instituted. He currently oversees services to the City's 67,000 residents, over an area of 27 square miles. Mr. Flint has served in local government management capacities in the cities of Hollywood and Cooper City where he was responsible for the design, construction and management of municipal infrastructure. He has received both gubernatorial and legislative appointments furthering his community service. John is a consummate professional whom I am proud to call my friend. I wish him well on his retirement and thank him for the thoughtful and committed work he has done to enrich and safeguard the residents of Weston.