mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. DR. ROGER RAYMOND FISCHER
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , I rise to celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Roger Raymond Fischer, who passed away on July 1, 2021. prgtoken A native of Washington, Pennsylvania, Rev. Fischer graduated from Washington High School in 1959. He attended Washington and Jefferson College in 1963, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics. Later in life, he earned an honorary Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater. prgtoken At the age of 25, Rev. Fischer was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 47th District, serving ten consecutive terms from 1966 to 1988. He was one of the youngest members elected in the history of the General Assembly, and served as Chairman of the House Education Committee and on the State Board of Education. After his retirement, Rev. Fischer became President of the Association of Retired Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate Members, sharing his wisdom with current legislators for nine terms. A dedicated citizen, he voted in every primary and general election from 1962 until the time of his death, which earned him a place in the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame. prgtoken After serving honorably as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Rev. Fischer was still determined to contribute to our Nation's defense. He accepted a commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, while continuing to work tirelessly for his community in the legislature. Rev. Fischer also gave back to his fellow veterans through his work with American Legion Post 175. prgtoken Following his time as a legislator, Rev. Fischer felt a call from God to pursue ministry, earning a master's degree with honors from the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg in 1991. In 1998, he was granted a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Rev. Fischer was ordained on January 13th, 1990, at First Lutheran Church, Washington, and went on to serve several churches in southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The last congregations he served were Calvary Lutheran in Scenery Hill, Buena Vista Presbyterian, and Hyland Brotheran. prgtoken Throughout his life, Rev. Fischer was dedicated to fitness and endurance. He finished the Ironman Triathlon not once, but twice. Rev. Fischer ran multiple marathons across the U.S. and, at the age of 74, added the Disney World Marathon to his list. He elected to bike across America and hiked the entire 2,174.1-mile Appalachian Trail. Well- traveled after discovering the passion with his wife of 48 years, Kitty, Rev. Fischer could proudly say he visited every continent except Antarctica. prgtoken Madam , Rev. Dr. Roger Raymond Fischer led an incredibly accomplished life, one marked by dedication to God, community, and country. I have no doubt his legacy will live on in his community and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
HONORING THE BROADHEAD AND WYDELL MEMORIAL TEAM
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Broadhead and Wydell Memorial Team--a dedicated group of volunteers committed to honoring and recognizing veterans of Ohio's 13th district by identifying their gravesites. prgtoken Two years ago, the Broadhead and Wydell Memorial Team began research of burial plots at Oak Hill Cemetery. Their goal was to replace the headstones and markers of veterans dating back to the beginning of our nation and the War for Independence. Unfortunately, many of the headstones were either in disrepair or completely missing, something that the Team was able to correct. prgtoken Although they were sidelined temporarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, today their research has expanded to other cemeteries throughout my district. Their work continues to ensure that veterans receive the recognition they deserve for their service to our Nation. prgtoken The work is both daunting and detailed. Members of the team count every headstone in a cemetery that is not marked as a military gravesite and creates a list of names. They then go about the work of determining whether or not the deceased served. Once a veteran has been identified, they work with the local Veterans Commission to provide flag holders for the grave. prgtoken Steffon Jones, a co-founder of the group, is especially passionate about recognizing Civil War veterans and members of the U.S. Colored Troops. His efforts, along with veteran Tony Seldes and Tom Anderson, were instrumental in ensuring that the name of Private Jacob Nixon Robinson, who served in the 5th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops, was added to the Youngstown Civil War memorial monument. prgtoken I commend Mr. Jones and the rest of the Broadhead and Wydell Memorial Team for their selfless and dedicated service to ensure veterans are recognized and honored appropriately.
HONORING U.S. NAVY CAPTAIN JEFF CHISM
Julia Brownley (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , I rise to recognize a true American leader and patriot, Captain Jeff Chism, on the occasion of his retirement after 26 years of honorable service in the United States Navy. prgtoken A native of Tigard, Oregon, Captain Jeff Chism is a distinguished graduate of Biola University, the University of Southern California, the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University, and the Naval War College. Captain Chism earned his commission in the U.S. Navy through the University of California, Los Angeles Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He is a designated Naval Flight Officer, Prowler Tactics Instructor, and operationally flew in the EA-6B Prowler and the EA-18G Growler. prgtoken Captain Chism's sea duty assignments included the ``Black Ravens'' of VAQ-135; the ``Garudas'' of VAQ-134; the Balkans Combined Air Operations Center Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (EWCC) Vicenza, Italy; and the CENTCOM Combined Theater EWCC at the USAFCENT Combined Air Operations Center, Qatar. prgtoken During these tours, he deployed aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Operations DESERT FOX and SOUTHERN WATCH; a combat flying deployment to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH; two combat flying deployments to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; and two individual augmentee deployments first in support of Operations JOINT FORGE and JOINT GUARDIAN and then Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQ FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. prgtoken Ashore, he served with the ``Bloodhounds'' of VX-30; as Commander, U.S. THIRD FLEET (J7); and with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Tactical Warfare Systems. prgtoken Captain Chism also Commanded the ``Zappers'' of VAQ-130. During this tour, he deployed aboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Under his command, the squadron earned the 2013 Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet Battle ``E'', 2013 Commander Naval Air Forces Admiral Arthur W. Radford Award, and 2013 Chief of Naval Operations Safety ``S.'' prgtoken Captain Chism's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (fifteen Strike/ Flight awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and various campaign and unit awards. prgtoken In June 2018, Captain Chism assumed his duties as commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County, located in California's 26th Congressional District. With great distinction, he dutifully oversaw a diverse installation that supports more than 80 tenant commands with a base population of more than 19,000 personnel, including the Naval Construction Group ONE--also known as the ``Seabees.'' prgtoken Captain Chism's career at Naval Base Ventura County has been underscored by his exempl
RECOGNIZING DIRECTOR FOR THE COLLEGE ASSISTANCE MIGRANT PROGRAM, MARY TREVINO
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , I rise today to honor the achievements of Mary Trevino in consideration of her forthcoming retirement as Director for the College Assistance Migrant Program at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). While her professional capacity at TAMIU will come to an end, her dedication to higher education and philanthropy will endure in her students, colleagues, and greater communities. prgtoken In 1968, Ms. Trevino graduated from Raymond & Tirza Martin High School, located in Laredo, TX. Thereafter, she attended Texas A&I University in Laredo, graduating in May 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a certificate in Secondary Mathematics and History. Following graduation, she went on to collect over 43 years of administrative experience at TAMIU. In her many roles at the university, she has served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President for Student Services, Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness, and Special Assistant to the President. prgtoken As Director for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), Ms. Trevino serves students who are migratory or seasonal farmworkers and often the first generation in their families to attend college. CAMP emboldens students to achieve a higher education by providing collaborative academic support services across the university. prgtoken Accordingly, Ms. Trevino's efforts have earned her numerous honors and recognitions. For example, she was named as Outstanding Administrative Employee at Laredo State University in 1992; she served as Board President for Communities in Schools from 1998 to 1999 and 2003 through 2004; she served as President for the TAMIU Alumni Association from 1992 to 1993, and she served as President of United Way of Laredo from 2009 to 2010. prgtoken Her penchant for learning and teaching and her connection to TAMIU has also inspired her family; two of her four children share her alumnus status at TAMIU and currently hold teaching positions in public schools. prgtoken I am pleased to congratulate Mary Trevino on over 50 years of service to TAMIU and the Laredo community. Ms. Trevino's devotion to higher education is an impressive achievement. I wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors, and Go Dustdevils. prgtoken Madam , again, I recognize the career and character of Mary Trevino.
A BILL TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCY TO RESIDE IN...
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , today, I introduce a bill to require the Directors of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) and the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) to reside in the District of Columbia during their tenure. prgtoken CSOSA is an independent Federal agency that supervises offenders only in D.C. PSA is an independent agency within CSOSA that supervises defendants only in D.C. This bill would not apply to those already in office upon enactment. prgtoken Congress has justifiably required that certain Federal officials live in the jurisdiction they serve to ensure in-depth knowledge of the unique issues and challenges residents and these Federal officials face, but these Federal officials serving the District are not required to do so. There is no reason that the Directors of CSOSA and PSA, Federal agencies that uniquely serve D.C. residents, should not be required to live in the District, engage with local communities and work closely with local officials. Adding residency requirements for these Federal officials is a matter of fairness for the residents they serve. prgtoken Madam , I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
PROCLAMATION TO HONOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OPAL LEE
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-7-9

. Madam , few can be heralded as being the impetus for one of this country's national holidays. Fort Worth's own Opal Lee is one such person. It is not an overstatement to say that without Opal Lee, June 19 would not have been made a national holiday. Juneteenth, as it is known, now is. Invited by President , Jr Opal Lee stood next to him in the White House on June 17 as the President signed into law the legislation making June 19 a Federal holiday; and she's been jetting, literally, around the country ever since to be recognized for this monumental achievement. prgtoken Opal Lee has committed much of her life to celebrating June 19, the day in 1865, when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved Africans were now free. Quoting from General Orders Number 3, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announced that ``[t]he people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. . . .'' prgtoken Opal Lee has been the face of Juneteenth in Fort Worth for decades. By the early 2000s, she began advocating for making Juneteenth a national holiday. And in 2016, at age 90, she started a walking campaign across the Nation to bring attention to and awareness of the need for a National Day of Observance for Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. prgtoken Opal Lee is a graduate of the Historic I.M. Terrell High School, class of 1943. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953, from Wiley College, now Wiley University. She returned to Fort Worth to teach at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15 years, where she was regarded as one of the best educators in her field. She later obtained her master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from North Texas State University, now University of North Texas, and served as Home/School Counselor for Fort Worth Independent School District until her retirement in 1977. prgtoken With Lenora Rolla, another of Fort Worth's legendary icons and treasures, as its inspiration, Opal Lee, along with 19 other charter members, founded the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society in the 1970s. The Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society is dedicated to archiving and preserving the historical contributions of Fort Worth and Tarrant County's Black citizens to be able to educate and empower future generations through art, history, and culture. prgtoken Opal Lee's long and varied service to Fort Worth also includes serving on the Historic & Cultural Landmarks Commission, AIDS Outreach committee, Evans Avenue Business Association, and Riverside Neighborhood Advisory Council, among many others. For more than 30 years, Lee has served as Precinct Chair for District 8. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, lncorporated; the Grandmother's Clu
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-12

today I am reintroducing a bill for the private relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera and her parents. Ms. Bueso is a Guatemalan national living in Concord, California. She has a rare medical condition, and her removal from the United States would deprive her of lifesaving medical care. prgtoken Ms. Bueso suffers from a rare, life-threatening disorder called Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI (MPS-VI), a rare genetic condition caused by the absence of an enzyme that is needed for the growth of healthy bones and connective tissues. Ms. Bueso uses a wheelchair for mobility, has a shunt in her brain, and requires a tracheotomy to help her breathe. prgtoken In 2003, Ms. Bueso and her family came to the United States at the invitation of doctors who were conducting a clinical trial to treat her condition. That trial led to Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for MPS-VI. Ms. Bueso now receives this life-saving treatment every week at UCSF Children's Hospital in Oakland, CA, where she unoes a 6-hour infusion of a prescription drug that replaces the enzyme that people with MPS-VI lack. Ms. Bueso has participated in six other medical trials. prgtoken For the past 10 years, Isabel and her family received deferred action from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services so that she could continue receiving the treatments that keep her alive. This treatment is not available in Guatemala. prgtoken On August 13, 2019, USCIS notified Ms. Bueso and her family that their extensions of deferred action were denied, and that they would be deported if they did not leave the United States within 33 days. prgtoken This decision was effectively a death sentence for Ms. Bueso. USCIS ultimately reconsidered its decision and granted Ms. Bueso and her parents an additional extension of deferred action. prgtoken Ms. Bueso has beaten the odds because of the life-saving treatment that she has received in the United States. She is now 26 years old and a 2018 graduate of California State University, East Bay. She has become an outspoken advocate on behalf of people with rare diseases. Her family pays taxes, owns a home, and is active in their community. prgtoken The Bueso family should be allowed to remain in California, where they will continue to enrich their community, and where Isabel will be able to receive the care that allows her to survive and thrive. prgtoken The legislation that I am introducing today would provide a permanent solution for Isabel and her parents. I ask my colleagues to support this private bill, which makes the Bueso family eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status. prgtoken I also ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be included in the Record.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF GLC MINERALS
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2021-7-12

I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of GLC Minerals, a fifth-generation, family owned company that has contributed to the growth and success of the city of Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin since 1871. prgtoken Wisconsin's indigenous Tribes lived in this area for thousands of years and recognized the strategic importance of the bay of Green Bay. The confluence of river and lake contributed to the success of their thriving communities. prgtoken In 1634 the first European explorer, Jean Nicolet, arrived on the shores of Green Bay, and the development of this city on our country's western frontier was launched. As the community of what is now greater Green Bay grew, eager, hard-working settlers with an entrepreneurial spirit arrived to build an economy rooted in iron smelting, timber, and cheesemaking. Fred Hurlbut, Sr was one of these industrious settlers and in 1871 established the Hurlbut Calcium and Chemical Company. prgtoken The generations that followed honored the vision of Fred Hurlbut, Sr and as the economy grew and changed, so did the company. In 1940, the company moved to the shores of the Fox River. In 2015, the business received its final name change to GLC Minerals. And today, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary, GLC Minerals remains an anchor of our Green Bay community as a successful manufacturer of calcium and magnesium carbonate products used in animal feed, mineral fillers, pollution filters, and soil conditioners. prgtoken , in Wisconsin, we make things. We are known for our brats and prgtoken cheese and paper, but our economy is so much more diverse. GLC Minerals represents that diversified economic base that has propelled our State forward as a great place to work, live, and raise a family. As a custom manufacturer of minerals and applications, GLC Minerals contributes to our dairy, poultry, glass, paper, construction, and agricultural sector. I applaud fifth-generation family member Wesley Hurlbut Garner, II, for his wise stewardship of this vital Wisconsin business and wish GLC Minerals and the Garner family great success in the next 150 years
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-7-12

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all without intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
TRIBUTE TO MAURICE MAILHOT
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-7-12

I am proud to recognize Maurice Mailhot of Berlin as June's Granite Stater of the Month. Maurice, a veteran who served in the Korean war and received two Purple Hearts during his service, worked diligently to help redesign Veteran's Memorial Park in Berlin. Starting with the memorial for the Spanish American War, Maurice worked through northern New Hampshire's grueling winter and into the spring to place each war memorial centrally and in chronological order in the park, creating a tribute worthy of New Hampshire's veterans. prgtoken The story of how Maurice came to redesign the park is a testament to his service to his community and his indomitable spirit. A lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Maurice was asked by his fellow VFW members to lead and coordinate efforts to redesign Veteran's Memorial Park in downtown Berlin. As one of the oldest members of the group, Maurice could have said no and enjoyed his well-deserved retirement, but instead, he not only organized the redesign but almost singlehandedly completed the construction himself. prgtoken Maurice, working mostly alone, dug holes around each memorial so that it could be lifted by machinery to a more optimal spot in the park. Maurice also designed a new signpost for the memorial park, replacing an older, wooden sign that failed to reflect the reverence that each of the war memorials is intended to convey. The new sign, made of solid, local granite, was donated by Maurice to honor Berlin's veteran community. prgtoken Maurice embodies what it means to be a Granite Stater. Long after his brave service to our country, Maurice continues to serve his community and has gone to extraordinary lengths to honor his fellow veterans. I am grateful not only for Maurice's service but also for his dedication to his community, and I am honored to recognize him.