mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN HONOR OF JACOB (JACK) BLANTON
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-3-24

. Madam , I rise to honor the life of a patriotic American, Jacob (Jack) Blanton, on the occasion of his 102nd birthday. His life story exemplifies true American spirit, determination, and love for our country. prgtoken Mr. Blanton was born on March 25, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Silas Blanton, a native Kentuckian, had been serving in the US coastal defense in New York before WWI where he met a young German immigrant working as a nanny. They married and eventually moved their family to Kentucky when the burgeoning coal mines in Eastern Kentucky began aggressively recruiting miners. Jack grew up during the depression and the tumultuous years of union conflict in Harlan County. prgtoken Mr. Blanton was in high school when WWII broke out. He volunteered for the Army Air Corp to become an airplane mechanic. He went to school at Long Beach, CA, for Douglas Aircraft A-20 planes. After his training he was sent to Asia, where he served in the 348th Night Fighters and also worked on Cargo Transport planes C54 and C47 that flew personnel and supplies over the Hump, the Himalayan Mountains. He was promoted to Tech Sergeant and became Crew Chief for the Douglas A-20. prgtoken Following the war, Mr. Blanton married his high school sweetheart, who had gone to Washington, D.C after high school where she worked for the FBI. They went on to raise four children in Lynch, KY where Jack was a Boy Scout master, Sunday School teacher at the Lynch Methodist Church, little league baseball coach, and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He retired from United States Steel as a mine foreman in 1980. He and his wife then moved to London, KY, to be with his elderly mother. He lost the love of his life to a heart attack three days before 9/11. prgtoken Mr. Blanton continues to live independently in London where he still raises a garden and takes care of his home and property, even at 102 years old. He takes tremendous pride in having all four of his children pursue college, with two earning advanced degrees. He is a Christian and attended Liberty Baptist Church in London. He is also an unabashed patriot with an undeterred determination to vote in the next Presidential election. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Mr. Blanton, celebrate his 102nd birthday and thank him for his service and sacrifice to our nation during World War II. As a part of The Greatest Generation, Mr. Blanton and his fellow soldiers fought to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today, and we can never thank them enough. I am forever grateful for Americans like Jack Blanton.
IN SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF COLE EVANS FOR WINNING THE DIVISION I WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-3-24

. Madam , it is with a great deal of pride that I rise to pay a very special tribute to an outstanding high school wrestler in Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. Cole Evans, a freshman at Perrysburg High School, has represented his school ably on his way to achieving the Division I State Wrestling Title. Cole overcame the challenges posed by intense competition in his effort to win the Division I State Wrestling Championship. prgtoken In pursuing the State Championship, Cole Evans defeated his opponent in the finals of the 106-pound classification. His hard work and dedication, both on and off the mat, in achieving this accomplishment is truly outstanding. Cole led his team to rank second place overall in the championship. He has achieved an impressive season record bringing pride to his school and community. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Cole Evans of Perrysburg High School. On behalf of the people of the Fifth District of Ohio, I am proud to recognize this great achievement.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-3-24

, I think it is incredibly important that we read bills before we vote on them, that we have adequate debate, and that we really understand what we are doing. prgtoken The Magnitsky Act was originally an act that sought to sanction people in Russia--still does--but was expanded beyond Russia, and now, this bill would expand it further. prgtoken When you are going to sanction people, there has to be an argument about whom you are going to sanction, so the original Magnitsky Act has in law that you would sanction people who have gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Well, that sounds good, but the Magnitsky Act goes a step further and defines what these are. Gross violations of human rights include torture; cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment; punishment or long detention without charges and trial; causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of those persons--a lot of this applies to, really, what happened to Magnitsky; this was named after him because of what happened to him--other flagrant denials of the right to life, liberty, and the security of the person. prgtoken What we are having happen right now is sort of--they are trying to pull a fast one, basically. We are going to get rid of all definitions of gross human rights, and we are going to replace them with not a list of things like torture and murder, indefinite detention; we are going to replace it with the words ``serious human rights abuse.'' prgtoken Well, it still sounds pretty good, but it is like, what does that mean? The problem is that many different people have different definitions of rights. The left, including the U.N believes you have a right to an abortion, to a house, to the internet, to healthcare. So you can see how, if you have wide-open, vague, vastly ambiguous language, someone could be President and say: The leader of that country is denying the human right to abortion, so therefore, we must sanction them. Without any sort of tribunal, without any sort of due process, they would just simply sanction them. Or what if they are not providing the internet? prgtoken So the thing is, words are important. You can't have vacuous sort of definitions. Where did this definition--it came from the administration. So basically, what they are trying to do is mirror the administration, which gave unlimited authority to the President. It is kind of surprising, for all the superficial rhetoric and opposition to President , that they are trying to adopt his language now. But this language also comes from the administration because the one thing Presidents have in common is they like unlimited power without checks and balances. prgtoken If this language goes through, it will remove any checks and balances or any definitions as to what human rights abuses are. It is a terrible mistake. It is rash, and we shouldn't do it. <
RECOGNIZING THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PECARD LEATHER CARE COMPANY
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-3-24

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the Pecard Leather Care Company as they celebrate their 120th anniversary. prgtoken The company came from humble beginnings when Phil Pecard, resident of Lena, WI, began to experiment with formulas to protect, restore, and seal leather goods in 1902. Mr. Pecard's mission was to provide the lumbermen of Wisconsin with the resources they needed to protect their expensive leather boots in the cold and wet environment that was the north woods. prgtoken The business continued to grow and shortly after World War Two, Mr. Pecard constructed a small factory in the Green Bay area and later sold his business to a local businessman, Arthur Wadzinski. Over the next 20 years, the business continued to grow as original formulas were refined and legally patented. The company was formally incorporated in 1964 and a new manufacturing plant was built in 1975 to accommodate their rapid growth and overwhelming success. I commend the Pecard Leather Care Company for its service and dedication to the craft. prgtoken 120 years later, it is more than fitting to take time to recognize the company's pledge in continuing the authentic craftsmanship and high-quality traditions that began with Mr. Pecard. A small idea that began in Lena, WI, has grown to serve customers worldwide for over a century. I applaud the Pecard Leather Care Company for its exceptional work, continued growth, and success for the past 120 years. prgtoken I invite all Members of this body to join me in celebrating the 120th anniversary of Pecard Leather Care Company. I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Pecard Leather team on this remarkable milestone and wish them success for many more years to follow.
COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF TAFT COLLEGE
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-3-24

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Taft College and recognize the profound contribution the school has made to our community over the last century. prgtoken Established on August 30, 1922, Taft College emerged from humble beginnings. Sharing a campus with Taft Union High School at the time, Taft College enrolled 10 students in its first year of operation. As one of only 15 community colleges in California in the early 1920s, the Taft Union High School District Board--the founders of Taft College-- envisioned that the school would transform the region by offering local students unprecedented access to higher education. Since then, the school has done just that, producing leaders in business, law, nursing, education, athletics, and public service. prgtoken Today, Taft College is bustling, operating its own independent campus of nearly 40 acres and its enrollment has grown to 2,400 students. With an average class size of 18 students, students may enroll in any of the 43 degree and 30 certificate programs offered at Taft College and receive high-quality instruction in fields of study ranging from Liberal Arts to Engineering in small group settings. prgtoken Throughout the past century, Taft has proven itself as a leader among community colleges. In 1995, the school created the Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Program and in 1997, pioneered a distance learning program. The TIL Program is a two-year, post-secondary educational program that provides training and support for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities and helps prepare them to lead confident, self-sufficient lives. Taft College's innovative, first-of-its-kind distance learning program offers greater flexibility to students pursuing a degree while balancing additional priorities at work and in life. Both programs have garnered respect and accolades from educational leaders within and beyond the Taft community. prgtoken Taft College's success and the critical role that it plays in uplifting individuals throughout California's Central Valley are undeniable. I am confident that Taft College will continue to prgtoken further its long legacy of instilling a passion for learning in its students and the Taft community. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, it is my honor to share the history of Taft College, celebrate the school's centennial anniversary, and commemorate its enduring contributions to our community.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-3-28

last week Tuesday, I tested positive for COVID-19 during weekly surveillance testing. As per the CDC's guidance, I left the Capitol and began a period of isolation. prgtoken As a result of that isolation, I missed a number of votes. I take seriously my duties in service to the people of Pennsylvania, including voting on policies and nominations. Accordingly, I wish for the record to show that, had I not been absent due to a COVID infection, I would have voted yea on the following votes: yea on vote No. 98, on the confirmation on the nomination of Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, of California, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California; yea on vote No. 99, on the confirmation on the nomination of Victoria Marie Calvert, of Georgia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; yea on vote No. 100, on the motion to proceed to H.R. 4521; yea on vote No. 101, on the confirmation on the nomination of Julie Rebecca Rubin, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; yea on vote No. 102, on the confirmation on the nomination of Hector Gonzalez, of New York, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; yea on vote No. 103, on the confirmation on the nomination of John H. Chun, of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington; yea on vote No. 104, on the confirmation on the nomination of Cristina D. Silva, of Nevada, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada; yea on vote No. 105, on the confirmation on the nomination of Anne Rachel Traum, of Nevada, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada; yea on vote No. 106, on the confirmation on the nomination of Alison J. Nathan, of New York, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; and yea on vote No. 107, on the confirmation on the nomination of Andrew M. Luger, of Minnesota, to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. prgtoken I am grateful to have only experienced mild symptoms of the virus as a result of being fully vaccinated and boosted. I encourage anyone who has yet to be vaccinated to do so and to get boosted if they are eligible.
STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR AND STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-3-28

I am very excited to be supporting this bill today. The gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon) did a great job with the biographies of these two incredible women, Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, our first two women on the United States Supreme Court. prgtoken I am thinking back to my childhood. It is not that easy to think back to my childhood, but I am thinking back to my childhood, and probably one of the most exciting things that I did was a family trip with my parents and my brother to the Capitol. Now when I think back, and coming through the Capitol and seeing all those statues, I must have wondered as a child, did women do anything? It is just amazing, of the 266 statues here in the Capitol, only 14 are women. To me that is crazy. It is just crazy. prgtoken We are honoring these two Supreme Court Justices not just because they are women. I am not going to go through their biographies again, but think about it. They went through their careers at a time when there was no Title IX, there was no equal pay, there were limitations on how many women could actually get into law school, and then if you did get into law school--because I was in law school back in the day when there weren't a lot of us--you were bullied. I mean, you were bullied in the classroom. Their achievement is absolutely remarkable. prgtoken I am very proud that future generations are going to come through these Halls, and they are going to see representations of these two women. Millions of children from all over the country and all over the world--because we are opening up, I hope soon, as we pass COVID--can be inspired, and I cannot wait. I cannot wait to bring my two little grandsons so they can see that the girls can do it, too. prgtoken Just to add, this is a bipartisan bill. I am proud to be one of the sponsors here in the House. Women did this together, but we thank the gentlemen for being on board.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN ROSS A. REYNOLDS
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-3-28

. Madam , I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the late Captain Ross A. Reynolds. A United States Marine and constituent of mine from Leominster, Massachusetts, Captain Reynolds, along with three other Marines, tragically lost his life in a NATO training exercise near Bodoe, Norway on March 18, 2022. At only 27 years old, Captain Reynolds had accomplished so much and yet had so much life ahead--for that I'm heartbroken. prgtoken Captain Reynolds joined the Marine Corps in 2017 and served as an MV- 22 Osprey pilot until the time of his death. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and countless other certificates and letters of appreciation. These accolades exemplify Captain Reynolds commitment to the ideals of this nation and to serving a cause greater than himself. prgtoken Often described as an exceptional leader and an even better friend, Captain Reynolds was known for his smile and the joy he brought into any room. From a young age, he exhibited pride for his country and a desire to be of service to others. As an Eagle Scout, Captain Reynolds often volunteered to hold up the American flag at community events and his good spirit was infectious as a camp counselor at Camp Wanocksett in Dublin, New Hampshire. His presence was a light in the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. prgtoken Madam , Captain Reynolds lived a life fuller than the one I can paint with these words. His service to his community, his country, and the people he loved cannot be understated. Captain Reynolds was compassionate, caring, and showed up every day as good Marine, son, husband. He was the best version of the kind of people and citizens we all should aspire to be--put simply, Captain Reynolds was a good man. My wife Lisa and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, and we will keep them in our prayers. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress and the entire Second Congressional District of Massachusetts, I extend my deepest regrets to everyone who has been impacted by this terrible tragedy. May Captain Reynolds' loved ones find peace in knowing that so many people across the Nation join them in remembering his life and service during this difficult time.
PROHIBITING PUNISHMENT OF ACQUITTED CONDUCT ACT OF 2021
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-3-28

I missed rollcall vote No. 83. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 83. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Barragan (Gomez) Bass (Takano) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Bowman (Evans) Boyle, Brendan F. (Evans) Buchanan (Waltz) Cawthorn (Fallon) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) DeGette (Blunt Rochester) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Gosar (Gaetz) Gottheimer (Pallone) Green (TN) (Armstrong) Harder (CA) (Gomez) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Joyce (OH) (Garbarino) Kahele (Mrvan) Khanna (Beyer) Kind (Beyer) Lamb (Scanlon) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Mace (Rice (SC)) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Kuster) Moulton (Beyer) Omar (Blunt Rochester) Payne (Pallone) Roybal-Allard (Wasserman Schultz) Ryan (Kildee) Salazar (Dunn) Sanchez (Correa) Sires (Pallone) Spartz (Walorski) Suozzi (Beyer) Taylor (Carter (TX)) Tiffany (Fitzgerald) Tonko (Pallone) Valadao (Garbarino) Waters (Takano) Wild (Axne) Williams (GA) (Jeffries) Wilson (FL) (Cicilline)
INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING EQUITY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2022-3-28

. Madam , today, I introduce the Federal Government Advertising Equity Accountability Act, which would require all federal agencies to include in their annual budget requests to Congress the amount they spend on advertising contracts with small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) and businesses owned by minorities and women. Federal agencies would be required to provide prior and projected total expenditures for such contracts. The Committee on Appropriations, at my and Representative Barbara Lee's request, has been requiring such information from many agencies for the last several years, but my bill would codify this requirement and apply it to all federal agencies. prgtoken In 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined spending on advertising contracts with minority-owned businesses by five agencies--the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--and found that only five percent of the $4.3 billion available for advertising contracts went to minority businesses. In light of these concerning findings, several Members of Congress and I sent a letter to GAO in April 2016 requesting updated information on the amount of federal advertising dollars spent with SDBs and businesses owned by minorities and women. That GAO report, released in July 2018, showed that in fiscal year 2017, only 16 percent of the federal government's advertising contract obligations went to SDBs and businesses owned by minorities and women. prgtoken The federal government is the largest advertiser in the United States, and it has an obligation to ensure equitable access to its contracts for SDBs and businesses owned by minorities and women. The GAO's findings demonstrate that there is still much progress to be made. prgtoken The regular collection of information on federal advertising contracts with SDBs and businesses owned by women and minorities, along with the provision of this information to legislators and stakeholders, is essential to bridging the gap between what current statistics show and a more inclusive advertising landscape. This bill would achieve these goals while also promoting transparency and encouraging federal agencies to strive to reach minorities, who often receive the news from smaller media outlets that serve communities of color. The requirement that agencies submit prior and projected information regarding the amount of advertising dollars spent with SDBs and businesses owned by minorities and women would allow federal agencies to evaluate their progress over time. The regular collection of this information would also demonstrate that the promotion of equity in advertising, and in all areas of government, should be a continuous effort that is important to the mission of every agency. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
PROHIBITING PUNISHMENT OF ACQUITTED CONDUCT ACT OF 2021
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2022-3-28

I want to say how much I enjoyed working with Mr. Armstrong on the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken When I came back for the new Congress and he wasn't on the committee, that was a loss. But it has been good to work with him on this bill, and he has worked on this in the past. I appreciate it. prgtoken , I would like to incorporate by reference everything that Mr. Armstrong said into my previous lack of remarks. It can be done.
HOMICIDE VICTIMS' FAMILIES' RIGHTS ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-3-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Let me thank the gentleman from Oregon for his support of this legislation; and as well, again thank Mr. Swalwell for that commitment to helping families who are typically desperate for help in these cold cases. prgtoken Let me cite as a comparison that does not deal with the end of a case, but it does deal with the intervention of the Federal Government, the FBI, in particular, on a child predator case in a local neighborhood, where local law enforcement were doing their very best. prgtoken But when we were able to reach out to the FBI, although the case was not cold in its conclusion, it was cold in its investigation, its current investigation, and the FBI did bring new and fresh eyes to help us with that terrible case. prgtoken So when we have cases that are a cold case, the backlog of cold case murders continues to grow, and I think this legislation means a lot to these families. When they grow cold, this means that thousands of murderers evade prosecution and continue to walk the streets, able to commit more crimes and possibly more murders, while thousands of mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters, have yet to find closure in the loss of their loved ones. prgtoken And let me just say, , I think you realize, that pain is so deep, and it never goes away. That is why this bill is so important. This legislation would result in more closed cases, justice for victims, closure for their families, and greater faith in law enforcement. prgtoken , again I want to indicate that this bill is important. s for supporting this bill in a bipartisan manner, and I ask them to join me in supporting this bill today. prgtoken , .