mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2020-6-30

I would like to thank my colleagues from Florida and from Tennessee for their great service to our Armed Forces and our Armed Services and great support. I enjoyed hearing Senator Blackburn from Tennessee talk about her Tennesseans. prgtoken I stand before you with my colleagues today to talk about the NDAA and how important it is to pass the National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken My State of West Virginia has some of the highest rates of veteran population. About 10 percent of our population are veterans, and nationally that average is only 7, so I think that service in the military and taking care of our military has always been a source of very much importance to me as their representative here in the Congress. prgtoken I think we can all agree that our Armed Forces would not be what they are without the great service of our patriotic men and women in our All-Volunteer Force. That is why it is important that we continue to support them and the work that they do to protect our freedoms every single day. prgtoken This important legislation does just that by authorizing vital resources for our Nation's troops, our wounded warriors, and their families. prgtoken The Defense bill also includes programs which will directly impact the West Virginia National Guard. I have had the chance to regularly meet with servicemembers in my State and abroad, and I have enjoyed personally being able to thank them. prgtoken Most recently, I traveled to Afghanistan, where I met a unit from West Virginia. During my visit with our West Virginia servicemembers and others, they shared with me their great pride, not just for our State and our country, and why they are proud to defend our freedoms. prgtoken I have also had the chance to hear many of the challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis. The feedback has been so helpful to Congress as we better support our military. prgtoken These brave men and women deserve our unified support, and I think they will get it, and should not be subject to the gridlock that has become so common in this body and certainly in Washington, DC. That is why Congress has come together for the 60th year to pass a bipartisan bill. prgtoken The NDAA authorizes $740.5 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and national security programs to ensure that our military families are modernized and well equipped to handle the constant, evolving national security threats. prgtoken The NDAA also designates the necessary funds to provide our Active- Duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families with the resources they have earned with their dedication and support. prgtoken Another way that the NDAA looks out for our troops and their families is that it authorizes a 3-percent raise for our soldiers. This comes less than a year after a 3.1-percent raise for our servicemembers, which was the largest in a decade. Given the fact that our military is an All-Volunteer Force, it is important
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-6-30

2 days ago, at 3:30 in the morning in Tulsa, Officer Zarkeshan did a routine traffic stop. He got backup coming to him, who was Sergeant Craig Johnson, and dealt with a person who would not get out of their vehicle. Twelve times they said to this person: Get out of your vehicle. prgtoken Trying to figure out what to do, they worked to deescalate, and they realized he was not going to move. After the back-and-forth conversation there in the street, the individual got out of his car with a pistol and shot both officers multiple times in the head, jumped in a second car, and drove away. Seven hours later, both those individuals were apprehended. prgtoken While the flippant national conversation in this room and across the country continues about defunding the police, two officers in Tulsa are clinging to their lives in a hospital right now. prgtoken I think our Nation loses track of exactly the sacrifices that law enforcement makes every single day. Their families hugged them before they took off for the graveyard shift and said: See you in the morning. prgtoken Officer Zarkeshan had been on patrol 6 weeks. He graduated from the academy in May. prgtoken I am grateful there are men and women across our country who continue to put on the blue uniform to serve and protect us because there are people on the streets who mean to do our community harm, and when given the opportunity, they will take that opportunity. prgtoken If the Presiding Officer doesn't mind, I would like to pause and pray for just a moment for the families and for them. prgtoken Father, we do ask Your help for Sergeant Johnson and Officer Zarkeshan, to intervene in a way that only You can. Help the doctors and nurses. Give them wisdom. Give a sense of peace to those families as they struggle for answers. Pray for Chief Franklin and for all the Tulsa PD. God, they need Your help in these moments. I pray that You would bring peace as only You can. prgtoken In Your Name I pray. Amen.
EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY FOR COMMITMENTS FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-6-30

first, I want to thank Senator Cardin for worrying about the businesses. I think the Senator is absolutely right. I think we all can acknowledge that in the original bill, it could have been done better. So some of the businesses that got it shouldn't have probably gotten it in the beginning, and we could have targeted more for some of the smaller businesses. prgtoken I thank Senator Cardin for what he is doing. I am not going to stand in the way of this. I look forward to working with him to try to make sure that the money goes to people who actually need it and that it doesn't go to people who haven't actually had a downturn in their business. prgtoken We don't have unlimited resources up here, as we all know. I just want to make sure the money is spent well. prgtoken So I am not going to stand in the way. prgtoken .
HONORING CRAIG JOHNSON AND AURASH ZARKESHAN
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-6-30

. Madam , I rise with a broken heart today. On Monday, two of our police officers were shot during a routine stop. prgtoken Sergeant Craig Johnson was a leader in Tulsa, serving on the police force for over 15 years. Sergeant Johnson had a strong relationship with local leaders and took pride in keeping the community he loves safe. He was a strong friend to fellow officers and a compassionate leader with a servant's heart. prgtoken Sergeant Johnson died from his wounds earlier today. Officer Aurash Zarkeshan remains in critical condition. prgtoken Craig and Aurash are examples of the remarkable men and women who choose to put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day. prgtoken The best sound a police officer's spouse can hear is the sound of the Velcro of the officer's vest coming off at the end of the shift. Instead of that sound, Sergeant Johnson's wife had to get the worst call a spouse can get. prgtoken Madam , Black lives matter and so do those who wear the blue. prgtoken My prayers are with his wife, Krysta, his two children, and the many ones he left behind.
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-6-30

from Missouri for yielding. prgtoken , once again, we all faithfully submitted to the Rules Committee, and our amendments largely were ignored. So, we have in this en bloc amendment policy that hasn't really been fully thought out. prgtoken One I would like to highlight here is one sponsor that looks at a single issue with hauling waste by rail and tries to apply a solution to the entire rail industry. But one size doesn't fit all, as we see time and time again in this business. prgtoken Seeing one issue with waste transported by rail and deciding the solution is to cover every single waste railcar with a type of a covering should be a flashing red light to everyone. Again, because you have different types of waste, you have different railcar equipment. But then Congress just ruling, ``Well, all of them should be covered,'' what does that drive? Cost, expense--already difficult, sometimes, in hauling freight. prgtoken And we have a mandate coming out of D.C. that hasn't been discussed or really vetted fully with the rail industry. Where does it make sense? Where does it not? prgtoken The extra cost associated with retrofitting every railcar can result in waste simply traveling by truck instead. Now, everybody likes trucks, right? Well, at least I do. But the most efficient means of moving is the one that is most cost-effective and takes the most amount of material the longest distance, and rail fits that mold very well when we are talking about long distances with high amounts of material. prgtoken Instead, this will decimate rail funding and send the waste to the same highway system that have refused to properly fund in this bill, looking for, instead, pie-in-the-sky green-type things. prgtoken Why don't we take time, consult with the industry that would like to sit down at the table, and say: We have ideas on how we could haul waste more efficiently, or recovery that might fit certain types of material but doesn't fit everything. prgtoken We would like to have a bipartisan process in that, too, because s have been largely left out of the discussion, which is sad, because we want to be successful with this legislation and other related legislation later in the year that have to get done and be able to take it over to the Senate side and, ultimately, the White House. prgtoken This does not look like that type of collaboration. It looks more like, again, one that is an election-year-type of collaboration, a noncollaboration, and not one designed to succeed, which I don't understand. prgtoken With everything we have going on in this country, we need that kind of cooperation. At home, in my own State of California, we have budget problems now. We have issues to deal with. In another part of this bill, there is still more funding for high-speed rail. prgtoken In my home State of California, with budget problems, with highways that are crumbling, with the water syste
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Ben Cline (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-6-30

I want to thank the ranking member for yielding. prgtoken , I am incredulous. I cannot believe that we are here again debating another partisan messaging bill when our Nation's infrastructure is crumbling. Rather than working across the aisle to advance a bipartisan transportation and infrastructure bill, the majority is jamming a partisan wish list through to the floor again that prioritizes big cities and Big Government over the interests of the American taxpayer: tripling funding to urban transit programs, a 449 percent increase to rail programs, a 72 percent increase to mass transit programs, and to those of us in rural areas depending on highway and safety programs, only a 42 percent increase. We can see where the priorities of this majority lie, and it is not with the people of rural America. prgtoken I was sent to Washington to ensure that our government is transparent and accountable for every action it takes. We can't afford the $1.4 million Green New Deal agenda that the majority has brought before us today. prgtoken I represent a district in the Commonwealth of Virginia that is in dire need of resources to modernize its aging infrastructure and relieve the congestion bottlenecks that afflict our highways. Most notable for my region is Interstate 81, a road that spans six States with over 300 miles of it in Virginia, and that stretches the majority of my district from Front Royal in the north to Roanoke in the south. prgtoken Each year there are nearly 2,000 crashes on Interstate 81 with over 25 percent involving heavy trucks. Over 45 major crashes a year cause delays greater than 4 hours. Current conditions are not only a frustration, but a grave public safety concern. People are dying on this road, and the failure to keep America's infrastructure up to par is costing lives. prgtoken It is unconscionable that instead of focusing on public safety and improvements to our Nation's roadways, such as Interstate 81, liberals have hijacked this bill for their own political messaging. Instead of creating certainty for our local communities in the midst of a global pandemic, the majority has cast aside the interests of the American people in order to appease the extreme wing of their party as they look to November's elections. prgtoken s are willing and open to negotiating realistic ways to rebuild our highways and infrastructure, but it must be done in a fiscally responsible manner. I will not vote to leave our communities saddled with trillions in new debt and the Big Government regulations contained in H.R. 2. Instead of moving us forward, this legislation will bring America's economy and its growth to a screeching halt for years to come. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote to recommit this bill back to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and develop a bill that reflects the bipartisanship that this committee and this bill have been known for for so many years.
RECOGNIZING INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-6-30

I rise today to recognize Coach Marcus Davis on his recent retirement from the Little Rock School District. prgtoken Coach Davis has been an integral member of the Little Rock School District for 36 years, 33 of which were spent at Cloverdale Middle School. prgtoken In his tenure in the Little Rock District, Coach Davis has served as the head boys basketball coach, head girls volleyball coach, and the head girls track coach. In addition, Coach Davis taught both physical education and health education. prgtoken The lasting connections Coach Davis made with his athletes and students over the course of nearly four decades is truly inspirational. prgtoken On behalf of all Arkansans, I thank Coach Davis for his devotion to educating and coaching our youth, and I congratulate him on a terrific career and a well-deserved retirement. Congratulating Little Rock on Bicycle Friendly Award
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--Continued
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2020-6-30

I rise today to speak in support of the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2021. prgtoken I want to start off by thanking the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. I am grateful for their hard work, their leadership in crafting this bill, conducting a productive markup, and managing the floor process. We came together on this committee during these difficult times, and we passed a strong bipartisan bill, one that supports our servicemembers and provides for the defense of this Nation. prgtoken I have said it many times before: Our warfighters are our greatest asset. The brave men and women who serve deserve our utmost respect, support, and gratitude. prgtoken This year's bill authorizes a 3-percent pay raise for all members of the uniformed service. It reauthorizes over 30 types of bonuses and special pays and increases incentive pay for healthcare professionals. prgtoken The bill also prioritizes support for military families through childcare and spouse employment opportunities. We need to ensure that our warfighters can stay focused on executing their mission and maintaining readiness. This is only possible if they know their families, especially their spouses and children, are taken care of. prgtoken As countries like Russia and China rapidly modernize, we face a growing need for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities despite having a limited fleet of resources. prgtoken Over and over again, I have heard from combatant commanders who reiterate the need for ISR. They also note the significant shortfall in supply versus a demand the Department of Defense has called ``insatiable.'' This is a problem I know well, as I am proud to have the honor of representing the Air Force's 55th Wing, the No. 1 provider of large fixed-wing ISR in the Nation. prgtoken To continue enhancing the capabilities of the 55th Wing, this bill would authorize nearly $200 million in funding for the continued modernization and upgrading of the RC-135 aircraft. This bill ensures that the platform remains a capable part of the Air Force's ISR system for decades to come. The RC-135 is a core component at the Air Force's ISR system and will be for the foreseeable future. prgtoken But as we enter newly contested environments, we need to think creatively about integrating platforms like the RC-135 into new ISR networks. I included language in this year's NDAA that would require an assessment of the overall ISR's shortfall based on combatant commander demand, with details about the planned integration of the RC-135 aircraft into next-generation networks like ABMS. prgtoken This provision would task the Department of Defense with exploring the conversion of retiring KC-135 aircraft into the highly sought after RC-135 to grow that ISR capability. prgtoken Unfortunately, we also face a broader issue with the size and the age of our Nation's Air Force, which is why I included lang
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Carol D. Miller (Republican, WV) \u2014 2020-6-30

I thank Chairman DeFazio for yielding. prgtoken I rise in opposition to amendment No. 124 on both the merits and the process that bring us to the people's House today. prgtoken I came to Congress to fix issues in southern West Virginia, like our need for strong and stable infrastructure and to bring new opportunity to our State. prgtoken During the markup on H.R. 2, I introduced a commonsense amendment to solve a problem that has been plaguing rural America for years: the Appalachian Development Highway System. The ADHS is an essential part of America's highway system and has been since 1965. Its goal is to connect rural communities with high-quality roadways, allowing us to transport our goods and people across the country. This system is instrumental in guaranteeing economic success for all of America. prgtoken Unfortunately, outdated funding mechanisms are bogging down progress by holding taxpayer money hostage in projects that are already completed while other underfunded projects stay unfinished. prgtoken My legislation would fix this problem by freeing up the States to collaborate on these projects and deliver money in a targeted approach. There is no additional cost to taxpayers, and it would not cut funding for any State. prgtoken It is good policy that was adopted in the Senate and passed in our committee without objection by one single member. Bipartisan and bicameral, what a rare sight for Washington these days. prgtoken However, once again, at the eleventh hour, my colleagues across the aisle added this new language that contradicts my amendment and threatens the entire livelihood of the ADHS. prgtoken Passage of this amendment kills the one I offered. It would cut rural support for more big-city interests, holding back hardworking people from the benefits of quality roadways and the job opportunities that come with it. prgtoken It is misplaced priorities like these that lead to Congress' low approval rating. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose amendment No. 124 so that we can give Appalachia the respect and service it deserves.
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ROBERT A. BIGGS
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-6-30

. Madam , I am honored and privileged to recognize Robert A. Biggs in tribute to his 44 years of service to the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity as well as his lifelong dedication to the collegiate and interfraternal movement. prgtoken I have been a very proud member of Phi Delta Theta since joining the North Carolina Delta Chapter in the Spring of 1992 when I attended North Carolina State University and later served as president in 1993. prgtoken Phi Delta Theta is a values-based college fraternity with nearly 200 chapters, 12,000 undergraduate members, and more than 280,000 lifelong members. prgtoken Robert A. Biggs, outgoing chief executive officer of both the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and its Foundation, has served the Phi Delta Theta organization since he graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1976. He began his career as a chapter consultant, and later served as director of chapter services for more than a decade until 1990 and has led the Fraternity as its executive vice president since 1991. His decades of leadership as the organization's fourth executive during its 172-year history has provided great stability and bedrock support for its future growth. prgtoken Since 2011, Bob has simultaneously held dual leadership posts by leading both the Foundation and the Fraternity. Since its humble beginnings in 1958, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation has awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarships and fellowships to outstanding young Phis. The Foundation has also granted nearly $10 million toward the Fraternity's premier leadership and educational programs, including the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute, the Presidents Leadership Conference, the Leadership Consultant Program, and the Alcohol-Free Housing initiative. The Foundation president position has only been held by two individuals during the past 20 years. It was his leadership and work with the Phi Delta Theta Foundation board of trustees that grew the assets of the Foundation from $4 million in 2011 to more than $20 million in 2018. Under Bob's watch and leadership, the combination of long-term strategic planning and a focus on the development of financial support blended both organizations into effective and streamlined systems, complementing each and working toward clearly defined, measurable goals. prgtoken Phi Delta Theta was one of the first fraternities of its size to implement an Alcohol-Free Housing policy, requiring that all Phi Delta Theta chapter facilities remain alcohol-free to support the health and safety of its members and create an environment of brotherhood without the distractions of alcohol and/or substance abuse. An Alcohol-Free Housing Alliance of several fraternities was formed in the late 1990s. This initiative was one of the most controversial in the organization's history. Bob Biggs and the Fraternity's governing board, the General Council, led this charge with staunch determination and a resolute confidenc