mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING DANIEL KORTEN AND KRISTINA GAYAGOY
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-8-25

today I rise to congratulate Daniel Korten and Kristina Carl (KC) Gayagoy on their upcoming wedding on September 9, 2017. prgtoken Daniel of East Brunswick and KC of Ventnor met each other working at the Dow Jones' offices in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Daniel and KC went on their first date on August 6, 2011. What started from a single date grew into a loving and flourishing relationship of more than six years. prgtoken In that time they have traveled the globe, embarked on new and exciting careers, and have moved across the country. Each step on their journey has been filled with wonder as their love for one another grew. Through thick and thin, Daniel and KC have proven that true love exists and that when you find that special person, you will never be alone. prgtoken On Saturday, September 9, 2017, Daniel and KC will confess their love for one another in front of their friends and families--marking the special occasion as the beginning of the next chapter of their journey together. I wish them both a long, joyful, and healthy marriage. May their love only grow stronger and may they always be blessed. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in congratulating Daniel and KC.
CELEBRATING THE SIXTH COUNCILL TRAINING ALL-SCHOOL REUNION
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2017-8-25

today I am proud to bring greetings to the Sixth Councill Training All-School Reunion. As the first black Congresswoman from Alabama, I know I owe a debt of gratitude to the Councill Training School family. prgtoken As Huntsville's only school for African Americans before desegregation, Councill Training School represents an important piece of civil rights history in Alabama. Until desegregation in 1970, the school educated the entire black population of Huntsville, servicing students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. prgtoken Councill Training School is near and dear to my heart. Both of my parents began their careers as educators at Councill Training School after graduating from Alabama State University. My mother, Nancy Gardner was the school librarian while my father, Coach Andrew A. Sewell, was the basketball, football, and track coach. It was on the hallowed grounds of Councill Training School that my parents met and fell in love. In June of 1963, they married and bought their first house. My mother often tells me the story of how when I was born a few years later, the head cheerleader at the time named me, and I immediately became the ``Councill Training School Baby''. Councill Training School was our family's first home, and will always hold a special place in our heart. prgtoken The legacy of Councill Training School is one of excellence and pride, and will live on in the hearts of the students, faculty, staff and community that it shaped. I am honored to be able to join the classes of 1948 through 1970 in celebrating the Sixth Councill Training School Reunion and hope there are many more to come.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. DONALD RICHARD WILSON
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-8-25

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Donald Richard Wilson, who sadly died on July 25, 2017 at the age of 77. Mr. Wilson, as he was affectionately known by so many, was born on April 22, 1940 to William (Gus) and Annie Mae Wilson. He remained a lifelong resident of Palm Beach County. During his youth, he, along with his two brothers was raised with strict Christian discipline by their mother, Annie Mae Wilson. She worked tirelessly to insure that the boys would receive the best possible education and upbringing she could provide. prgtoken A product of the Palm Beach County Public School System, Donald graduated in 1958 from Roosevelt High School, going on to Bethune Cookman, and Florida A&M Universities. After college, he returned home with a degree in elementary education and Gloria, his wife, who was the love of his life for fifty-three years. prgtoken Baptized at an early age in St. Paul AME Church, Donald remained a member in good standing throughout his life. He sang in the choir and chaired the Cultural and Artistic Committee and the Steward Board. Donald retired from the Palm Beach County School District in 1996, having served for 35 years as a teacher and administrator. For 22 years, he officiated in children's football and basketball games. A man who truly loved his city, he served on Riviera Beach's City Council for six years. prgtoken Donald Wilson was significantly involved in getting the first black firefighters hired in Riviera Beach. He helped produce many Afro Arts festivals and fathered the Riviera Beach Jazz & Blues Festival. Donald was principally involved in awarding over 2,500 athletic scholarships, 2,000 academic scholarships and 750 personal need scholarships to black students, during his 51-year tenure as Vice President of the Youth Recreation Association of Riviera Beach. prgtoken , Donald Wilson was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. He was a highly respected member of his community. Donald left behind a great legacy to which everyone who knew him will always point as a life well lived. I was proud to call him my friend, and will dearly miss him.
HONORING THE LIFE OF JARROD DOUGHERTY AND HIS MEMORY AS A DEDICATED STUDENT AND LOVING SON
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-8-25

I rise to honor the life of Jarrod Dougherty, a young constituent who unexpectedly passed away in an accident on May 8, 2017. His charisma, energy, and talent will be enormously missed. I had the pleasure of meeting Jarrod when he visited my office in Washington, D.C. earlier this year as part of St. Theresa Catholic School's tour. I will never forget our conversation. prgtoken Jarrod was a bright and talented student from my Congressional District. He was born on June 29, 2003, in Indio, CA and spent his childhood in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. He attended Cielo Vista Charter School and St. Theresa School where he was beloved by his peers and teachers. prgtoken Outside of school, Jarrod was involved in our local community. He was an active member of the Victory Christian Center and the Palm Springs Youth League Baseball Organization. He was passionate about sports, and. his favorite teams were the LA Dodgers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Stars, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. prgtoken Jarrod enjoyed spending time with his family and his dogs. With a smile and a great sense of humor, he brought joy to those who knew him. He was a blessing to his parents, Jarrod and Cassandra, who often referred to him as Jr Bub, Bubba, or Bubbas. Another one of his nicknames was Country, given his love for country music. prgtoken , I am proud to honor the memory of Jarrod Dougherty. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met such a charming young man, and on behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.
CONGRATULATING JOHN SCHULTZ ON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 44 YEARS AT UPS
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2017-8-29

I rise today to congratulate John Schultz on his recent retirement after 44 years at UPS. prgtoken John has been delivering packages to families, individuals, and businesses in Elkhart since 1973. He quickly became a friendly face in the neighborhood, and hard work, determination, and inspiration led John to become one of the longest-serving drivers for UPS. John exemplifies the characteristics we should all strive for in our daily lives. He is kind, thoughtful, and high-spirited, and his steadfast work ethic has allowed him to succeed in his various roles with UPS and continue to proudly support his family. prgtoken I am so grateful that our community has someone like John to look up to as a role model for perseverance in both career and everyday life. During his tenure with UPS, the technological advancements and growing economy made his role and responsibilities dynamic and ever-changing. John dealt expertly with the changing times and emerged as a leader in the field. He was trusted by his peers and superiors, and he carried out each job with integrity, always keeping safety, his training, and customer service in mind. prgtoken , on behalf of Indiana's 2nd District, I want to thank John for his commitment to safe, responsible driving, and for serving our community for many wonderful years. I applaud his hard work and achievements over the years and wish him all the best in this next chapter.
HONORING MARTHA MOORE
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2017-8-29

today we honor Martha Moore, multi- market media force, Nashville PR queen, and go-to expert on independent public relations. prgtoken Born in Washington, DC and transplanted to the mid-South via University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Ms. Moore kicked off her Nashville career in 1976 with WLAC Radio before transitioning to press and artist relations with MCA/ABC Records and Mercury/Polygram. prgtoken In 1988, she marshalled her impeccable industry pedigree and vast connections, and launched her own independent, boutique PR firm. Known for her strategic planning and attention to detail, she wasted no time in crashing through the industry glass ceiling by signing Johnny Cash as her first client. Her charisma and personal motivation propelled invaluable connections with the foreign press. Her creativity and dependability fostered strategic partnerships with powerhouse firms. Her professional relationships with songwriters and performers generate an evolving and eclectic client roster, and are a testament to her passion for success in a demanding, but rewarding career. prgtoken We honor Martha Moore with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.
CONGRATULATING CHIEF MARILYN DENISE HENDERSON
Al Lawson, Jr. (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2017-8-29

I rise today to congratulate Chief Marilyn Denise Henderson on her retirement from the Florida Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General as the Assistant Chief of Investigation. I want to thank Chief Henderson for giving over 30 years of public service in law enforcement to the State of Florida. With her knowledge, integrity, and leadership she has been able to service the people of this great State. I know that the staff at the Florida Department of Corrections will miss her immensely. prgtoken Chief Henderson has been an asset to the community, not only in public service, but in her commitment to charity fundraisers and the faith based community. It is an honor to have people such as her in our community working diligently to make it better. prgtoken I want to welcome Chief Henderson to her new role as a retired professional. I hope she can enjoy the new freedoms that this position affords, such as cycling, attending Miami Dolphin games, and spending time with friends and family. prgtoken Once more, , I rise to congratulate Chief Henderson on her retirement and wish her a life full of happiness.
CONGRATULATING MS. AUDREY MAY WILSON
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2017-8-29

I rise to congratulate Ms. Audrey May Wilson nee Butler on her upcoming 80th birthday on September 3, 2017. prgtoken Audrey was born in Clarendon, Jamaica on September 3, 1937. Passionate by wanting to help others, Audrey moved to England to study nursing where she graduated from the Dreadnought Seamen's School of Nursing in London. While in London, she was introduced to her husband Raymond Wilson by her lifelong best friend and Raymond's aunt, Joyce Grant. The two fell in love and got married on December 5, 1972. prgtoken Throughout her five esteemed decades of nursing, Audrey worked in various hospitals in England and Jamaica before coming to the States. Shortly after arriving, Audrey became the Head Nurse at the United Hospital Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. After several years in Newark, she moved to Connecticut to work at John Dempsey Medical Center for over a decade before returning back to New Jersey. Finally, in 2012 Audrey retired from the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Employee Health Division, capping off her tremendous career of service. prgtoken Audrey and her husband resided in Pennington, New Jersey, where they have lived for the past 18 years. For the past two decades, they both have been active members of the Princeton Alliance Church. Audrey has one daughter, Audra, and her step son Magne. She is a proud grandmother to Ava and her two-step grandchildren, Troy and Mykai. prgtoken , I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in congratulating Audrey on her birthday and to thank her for her amazing career to helping others.
HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVICE BY REVEREND DR. AMOS C. BROWN
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-1

I rise with pride today to join my beloved city in recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown as the pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco and honoring his lifetime of moral leadership, political activism and spiritual guidance. prgtoken Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Reverend Brown's history of activism and his deep involvement in the civil rights movement began at an early age. He was only a teenager when he assumed leadership of his local NAACP chapter and was driven cross-country to San Francisco by activist Medgar Evers to meet the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Later, Brown attended Morehouse College where he was hand-selected by King as one of his eight students, inspiring him to seek a lifetime of service on behalf of civil rights and social justice. He was arrested together with Dr. King during a lunch counter sit-in Atlanta department store, and became one of the fearless Freedom Riders in 1961. prgtoken Brown received both a Mastery of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Our city was fortunate to welcome the Pastor and his beloved wife Jane Smith Brown in 1976, when they made San Francisco their home and the Third Baptist Church their place of worship and leadership. prgtoken Brown's vision of the church as a holy place of prayer, and also a place of civic engagement and social action, transformed the Third Baptist Church into a congregation at the forefront of the fight for civil rights. His unwavering belief in future generations drove the church to establish a summer school program, an after-school academic enrichment program, ``Back on Track'', and the Charles A. Tindley Academy of Music. prgtoken Brown's influence also extended beyond his local community when the church sponsored 80 children from Tanzania to receive heart surgery in the United States, and his congregation sponsored more African refugees than any other local congregation in the nation. This global reach and visionary leadership was recognized when Brown was appointed as a delegate to the 2001 United Nations Conference on Race and Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, representing the National Board of the NAACP. prgtoken Closer to home, Brown was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Ministerial Award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the Black Church in America and he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the King International Chapel at Morehouse College. He has served as the president of the NAACP Branch in San Francisco, as a San Francisco Community College Trustee and as a San Francisco County Supervisor. prgtoken A passionate fighter and voice for the most vulnerable in our community, Reverend Amos Brown has served as a source of change, strength and faith for 40 years. I congratulate him, along with his wife Jane and his children Amos C. Brown Jr David Josephus and Kizzie Marie, on th
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-9-1

I rise to report to the House on Hurricane Harvey, the historic storm that has devastated the Gulf Coast and my city of Houston, Texas. prgtoken As a senior member and a resident of the city of Houston, I was there and witnessed the devastation that the storm wrought. prgtoken Hurricane Harvey has declared war on America's Gulf Coast, and as Americans, we must respond. prgtoken We will need emergency supplemental appropriations for Southeast Texas, and the Houston metroplex, to provide support to local, state, and federal government agencies in assisting with flood remediation, recovery, victim services, and reconstruction following the catastrophic damage caused by historic flooding. prgtoken So far, Harvey has dumped an estimated 11 trillion gallons of water in the Houston area. prgtoken The relentless rain has inundated homes, decimated area roadways and turned neighborhoods into unrecognizable lakes. prgtoken Large portions of the Bayou City have been overwhelmed by rainfall amounts that occur only once in every thousand years. prgtoken To comprehend the level of destruction, the volume of water that has fallen could fill the Astrodome more than 24 thousand times over and power Niagara Falls for 15 days. The disastrous events this week have been punctuated by the tragic loss of life. prgtoken In Houston, at least 44 people have lost their lives, including veteran police officer Sgt. Steve Perez, 60, who had worked for 34 years with the Houston Police Department. prgtoken Sgt. Perez was trying to serve and protect others when he was swept away by the rising waters. prgtoken Sgt. Perez, who worked in the traffic enforcement division, left home around 4 a.m. Sunday to drive to his duty station downtown but could not find a path because flooding caused by tropical storm Harvey had made many roads impassable. prgtoken A family of six attempting to flee their home perished when their vehicle was swept into Greens Bayou. prgtoken Samuel ``Sammy'' Saldivar was driving eastbound on Green River Road near John Ralston Road Sunday when rising water in Greens Bayou overcame the van. prgtoken Sammy was travelling with his elderly parents, Manuel Saldivar, 84, and Belia, 81. prgtoken Also in the van were the great-grandchildren of his parents: Daisy Saldivar, 6, Xavier Saldivar, 8, Dominic Saldivar, 14, and Devy Saldivar, 16. prgtoken A Neither Houston nor any city in the nation has ever experienced flooding of this magnitude. prgtoken Our valiant emergency responders are overtaxed and citizen rescues have become a critical source of assistance in saving lives. So far the Coast Guard alone has saved more than 6,000 Lives in Houston. At times like this, I am so proud to be an American and to call Houston home. prgtoken We are a close community that comes together to overcome any challenge that stands in our way. prgtoken , this is why we need Congress and the President to provide immediate emergency funding and resources comme
HONORING MS. LEE PAULSEN
Elizabeth H. Esty (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2017-9-1

I rise today to honor Ms. Lee Paulsen, the Honorary Grand Marshal for the 56th Annual Labor Day Parade in Newtown, Connecticut. Since 1962, this annual celebration has brought together the people of Newtown and western Connecticut, and this year's organizers invited Lee to head the parade in recognition of her decades of selfless work to help those most in need in our community. prgtoken Lee moved to Newtown in 1972 with her family, and she quickly became known among her neighbors for her generosity. She has worked at the FAITH Food Pantry since its inception in 1983, and her efforts have been instrumental in keeping its doors open to those in need through economic downturns, the relocation of the food pantry, and other challenges facing the organization. prgtoken Her neighbors in Newtown know Lee for her kindness, humility, and sincere commitment to helping others. Those who work with Lee note that she does not seek recognition or attention, but nonetheless, everyone knows Lee as an inspiring and altruistic person. The Labor Day Parade's fitting theme, Labor of Love, this year recognizes Lee's decades of work and encourages all of us to reflect on how we can contribute to our community. Lee sets a remarkable example as a caring citizen, and she has made Newtown a more generous and welcoming place through her years of work at FAITH. prgtoken , Lee Paulsen has been a leading member of our community who shares her time and knowledge to help those in need in Newtown. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today, and thank her for inspiring others to engage in a Labor of Love.
HONORING THE CRANE FAMILY
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-9-1

I rise today to honor Richard, Cindy and Jennifer Crane for receiving the annual Leadership in Agriculture Award from the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber. prgtoken Richard Hope Crane arrived in California in 1849 as part of the great California Gold Rush. A few years later, the family settled in Santa Rosa. They built Crane Melon Barn on Petaluma Hill Road in 1868. The Barn is made entirely of redwood and has survived several major earthquakes with no damage. Richard's son, Oliver, developed and began selling Crane Melons out of the Barn in the 1920's. prgtoken Today, the Crane family owns and operates Crane Canyon Ranch, The Crane Melon Barn and Crane Vineyard. In addition to their famous Crane Melons, the family ranch sells watermelons, heirloom tomatoes, Crane Melon Honey, organic Sonoma County walnuts and metal sculptures by Richard. Crane Vineyard is a four-acre pinot noir vineyard on the ranch. Rick and Jennifer are fifth and sixth generation Sonoma County farmers. prgtoken The Crane family are active members of our community, with members serving on the Sonoma County Fair Board, Harvest Fair Board, Farm Bureau, 4-H Foundation Board and Farm Trails. prgtoken The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber has recognized long-standing leadership in the community and successful maintenance of agricultural enterprises with its Leadership in Agriculture Award for over forty years. The Crane family is very deserving of this award. They work hard to develop excellent produce, serve our community, and maintain the great tradition of family farming in Sonoma County. prgtoken , the Crane family has been farming in Sonoma County for six generations. They are leaders in sustainable farming and contribute honorably to our community. I am proud to have such a hardworking family living in our District. It is fitting and proper that we honor them here today.