mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING BREMOND'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor the one-hundred-and- fiftieth anniversary of the City of Bremond, Texas. prgtoken It is an honor to represent Bremond and its residents in the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken Bremond has supported thousands of families and businesses throughout the years, and I am proud to offer my congratulations on their sesquicentennial milestone. prgtoken Located in Robertson County, Bremond was established along the Houston and Texas Central Railway, which was built through the area in 1869. prgtoken The city is named in honor of Paul Bremond, an entrepreneur and founder of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway. prgtoken The first train pulled into Bremond on June 15, 1870, with over 1,000 well-wishers present for the occasion. prgtoken In the late 1800's and early 1900's Bremond was thriving; it was a major cotton center, with a number of gins running continually. prgtoken The city has stood the test of time and been resilient; providing generations of families a great quality of life. prgtoken In recent years, Bremond High School has been a Texas football powerhouse. They won three consecutive 2A State Championships--2014, 2015 and 2016. prgtoken The citizens of Bremond are a hardy people, and the pride of the city and its residents has never been greater. prgtoken Madam , please join me in commemorating the City of Bremond and its proud residents for their one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary. prgtoken In recognition of this occasion, I am pleased to fly a United States flag over the United States Capitol to honor Bremond's sesquicentennial anniversary. prgtoken As I close, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us here at home.
OUTSOURCING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2019
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-10-18

I appreciate the ranking member yielding me the time. prgtoken As I was hearing my colleagues describe what this bill does and whom it is targeted at, it just struck me, there is an untethering from reality of what our economy is and how our economy functions. prgtoken Certainly, along any of the border--and, yes, we have a northern border, while in Michigan it is actually to the east of us. When you look at what happens in the automotive industry, and when you look at what happens in the agricultural industry, that is the most porous border in the world because that is our largest trading partner in the world. In just the State of Michigan alone, Canada is the seventh or eighth largest trading partnership in the entire world. prgtoken As we have been piling on regulation upon regulation over the last number of decades, , you saw companies leaving the United States. Sometimes, though, they were for different reasons. It is the supply chain. It didn't have anything to do with lower labor markets in Canada. The UAW strike also was the Canadian workers' strike. This is all linked together. prgtoken In the bill itself, there is a disclosure requirement that we have to desegregate by State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, territory, and possession, and compare a percentage. So, , as you are shifting from Ohio to Detroit, Indiana, or Wisconsin, you are going to have to track all of those things as you are going through--by the way, not by numbers but by percentages of the total number of employees who physically work in and domicile in another country outside of the United States. prgtoken Again, you are going to have to do that same thing as you are shifting automotive parts production between subsidiaries. That happens all the time, whether it is going from Troy, Michigan, or to Windsor, Ontario. prgtoken That is a free flow that goes back and forth all the time. That has nothing to do with some nefarious shipping of jobs overseas. That is called supply chain. prgtoken So this bill is flawed because it paints an incomplete company picture. Simply knowing one percentage of a company's workforce residing abroad--which obviously means everywhere and on anything--just really does not give you any kind of picture or flavor or test of what is happening within that. prgtoken And, yes, it is duplicative. In fact, I will have an amendment on this bill a little bit later. We already have conflict mineral reporting. We have all kinds of other reporting that had happened because of Dodd-Frank.
CELEBRATING AULTMAN HOSPITAL AND CANTON CITY PUBLIC HEALTH BEING HONORED WITH THE AHA DICK DAVIDSON NOVA AWARD
Anthony Gonzalez (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Aultman Hospital and Canton City Public Health in Canton, Ohio--winners of the 2019 American Hospitals Association Dick Davidson NOVA Award for their joint efforts to create the Stark County Toward Health Resiliency for Infant Vitality and Equity (THRIVE) program. prgtoken THRIVE promotes women's health before, during and after pregnancy. After conducting a fetal infant-mortality review, the collaborating stakeholders selected interventions that would have the greatest possible impact on overall infant mortality and the disparity between white and black infant mortality rates. THRIVE's goals include raising awareness of the value of prenatal care, linking women to prenatal services, addressing barriers to prenatal care and meeting socio- economic needs. THRIVE also focuses on safe sleep education, policies and resources to stop the problem of infants dying at home because of unsafe sleeping conditions. prgtoken While local hospitals provided the initial collaborative funding, additional funding was provided by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the March of Dimes. THRIVE's strength is also due to other collaborative partners such as local school districts, community health providers and faith-based groups. It is THRIVE's stated goal that every baby born in Stark County has the opportunity to reach his or her First Birthday. I can think of no more noble goal. prgtoken I applaud Aultman Hospital and Canton City Public Health for their leadership in developing THRIVE to address the pressing public health concern of infant mortality in Stark County. It is my earnest hope your efforts become the model for addressing Ohio's Infant Mortality Rates as well. I think we all look to the day when every child born in the great State of Ohio can reach their First Birthday. prgtoken Congratulations on earning the 2019 American Hospitals Association Dick Davidson NOVA Award.
REVIEW IMPEACHMENT PROCESS
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , let's review some facts surrounding this unfair, partisan impeachment process. prgtoken To begin with, a whistleblower claims to have secondhand information on the President's call with the Ukrainian President. The White House released the transcript of the call, making the whistleblower irrelevant. prgtoken The Ukrainian President, the most important witness, emphasized publicly that there was no quid pro quo and no pressure. Prior to having any of this information, or maybe they did, the announces an impeachment inquiry, and over 200 ic Members of the House agree, evidence be damned. prgtoken Since then, we have discovered that the chairman's staff met with the whistleblower earlier than originally stated, yet stated that they didn't. prgtoken All hearings were held in secrecy, and there has been no due process. prgtoken Madam , a petty thief is provided more legal rights than the President of the United States. There is no transparency of testimony to Members of Congress or to the general public, and there has been no vote for an impeachment inquiry. prgtoken It appears these impeachment proceedings are not about whether the President did right or wrong or broke any laws. It is only about scoring political points while undermining the will of the electorate.
DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT FOR FOLLOWING A LAW THAT THEY VOTED FOR
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , we know the ' hyperpartisan closed- door impeachment process lacks any semblance of fundamental fairness. We know from the transcript between President and President Zelensky that there was no quid pro quo. prgtoken But what many people don't know is this: In 2014, this House unanimously passed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which tasks the executive branch to use U.S. assistance to bolster democratic institutions of Ukraine and counter corruption and improve transparency and accountability of the Ukrainian Government. Every voted for this measure. prgtoken In 2017, this House overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which required the administration to certify as a condition of providing assistance that the Government of Ukraine has taken substantial actions to counter corruption and increase accountability. 145 voted for that. prgtoken In 2019, the NDAA that passed this House required that certification requirement again, and 139 voted for that. prgtoken So here is the bottom line: Given recent elections, President not only had the authority to address the issue of corruption in the call with President Zelensky, he had a legal duty to speak and secure assurances from the new Ukrainian Government that those anticorruption measures would be carried forward. The are trying to impeach the President for following a law that they voted for.
CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF COMMAND SGT. MAJ. WAYNE T. BREWSTER
John Shimkus (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Command Sergeant Major Wayne T. Brewster, on his retirement from the United States Army Reserve, after more than 34 years of faithful service to our nation. prgtoken Command Sergeant Major Brewster was born in Odin, IL and graduated from Sterling High School in Sterling, IL in 1983. In 1985, Command Sergeant Major Brewster completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as an Infantry Soldier at Fort Benning, GA. During his 34 years of service, Command Sergeant Major Brewster would serve with gallantry at every command level, finishing his service as the Command Sergeant Major for Army Reserve Medical Command in Pinellas Park, FL. In his civilian capacity, Command Sergeant Major Brewster is a Firefighter and Engineer for Poudre Fire Authority and has been in the fire service since 1993. prgtoken Madam , I thank Command Sergeant Major Brewster for his 34 years of dedicated service, and wish him well as he starts this next chapter in his life.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I know we all continue to mourn the loss of our colleague, Elijah Cummings. We still see the flowers sitting in the spot where Elijah used to sit. prgtoken Yesterday, I thought we had a very appropriate remembrance of our colleague in a special way, remembering who he was, the special person he was, the giant that he was, the leader--sometimes in a very boisterous way, sometimes in a gentle way. prgtoken But Maya, his wife, and his three children are in our prayers, and will continue to be as we remember that great loss that we experienced and will continue to remember. prgtoken .
HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL BERKMAN
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2019-10-18

the Tri-Cities community recently lost a leader and a friend. I rise today to honor the memory of Bill Berkman, chairman of the Benton County s. Bill became involved with the local Party as a precinct committee officer in 2016, and later that year, as chairman. I got to know him well while encouraging our fellow community members to get out to vote. prgtoken As owner of the MenZone franchises in Kennewick and Pasco, Bill was a passionate voice for limited government and policies that supported small business owners. Even with his strong personal beliefs and conservative principles, though, Bill never let partisanship rise above integrity. He was adamant that we could and should do more to bring more respect into our politics. prgtoken He will be remembered for his efforts to build bridges, including with his counterparts in the local ic Party. prgtoken We will all miss Bill's booming voice, his polite fervent candor, and his desire for facts, for truth, and for solutions for the Nation. prgtoken Rest in peace, Bill.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF CITY COUNCILMAN DR. JOE LEE SMITH
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , today I would like to recognize and celebrate the service of Councilman Dr. Joe Lee Smith, who after 36 years of faithful service to our Rockledge City Council, will enter retirement this November. prgtoken Having been elected to the city council twelve consecutive terms, serving 3 years as council chairman and as deputy mayor, the city of Rockledge owes much to Dr. Smith for his unmatched dedication and service to its residents. prgtoken A life-long Brevard County resident, Dr. Smith began his career as an educator, having earned his doctoral degree in education from University of Florida and serving as the President Emeritus of Brevard Community College (BCC) until 2000. He then came out of retirement to become provost of the Palm Bay Campus location and served as BCC's college ambassador until 2017. prgtoken In both his personal and professional life, he was viewed as a mentor for students in the community and his coworkers. He was a founder of the Brevard Recreation Association and served on the board of directors for many community organizations such as the Salvation Army, Circles of Care, Rolling Readers, and the Boys and Girls Club. prgtoken Mayor Tom Price of Rockledge says of Councilman Smith, ``He's the definition of a true statesman, someone that you rarely see in politics anymore. He's done 36 years of great work on the board and will be greatly missed by the City Council.'' prgtoken In recognition of his work to advance higher education in the community, Dr. Smith has had several educational facilities named in his honor such as the Joe Lee Smith Recreational Center in Cocoa and the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Teaching Center on the Brevard Community College Melbourne Campus. prgtoken A revered and distinguished member of the community, he has been the recipient of multiple awards including the Brevard Community College Distinguished Servant Award, Onyx Magazine's Humanitarian Award, and the United Third Bridge Puerto Rican Taino Award for his work advancing the Hispanic community in Brevard. prgtoken Aside from his distinguished role as an educator for the community, Dr. Smith has also been honored as an athlete, having been inducted into Florida A & M University's Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a talented baseball player in addition to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions in sports program development. prgtoken On November 20th, the Rockledge City Council will recognize Dr. Smith's long and accomplished tenure. His contributions to the community are immeasurable and will surely be felt and appreciated by generations of Floridians to come. prgtoken I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives along with the residents of Rockledge to join me in saluting his work.
HONORING SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR
Jackie Walorski (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-10-18

I rise today in support of H.R. 3152 and to honor the life and legacy of Senator Richard Lugar, who passed away earlier this year. prgtoken Senator Lugar was a true statesman, whose unwavering dedication to his community and his country led to a lifetime of service. He worked tirelessly to champion freedom, advance democracy, and build peace and prosperity both at home and abroad. His wisdom, bipartisanship, and commitment to America's ideals made our country stronger and safer. prgtoken Though we will miss his spirit and conviction, the values he fought for will endure in those who follow his example of servant leadership. He built a foundation of opportunity and empowerment so future generations of Hoosiers could carry on his life's mission. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3152 to dedicate the Richard G. Lugar Post Office in Indianapolis and to celebrate a leader who never stopped working to make the world a better place.
COMMENDING DR. G. DOUGLAS RIPLEY FOR HIS CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO NORTH ALABAMA
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dr. G. Douglas Ripley, for his diligence in ministry and service to others. prgtoken On January 1st, 1970, Dr. Ripley received Jesus Christ as his Savior and immediately began to cultivate his relationship with Christ and understanding of the Bible. Within a few weeks he enrolled in the Gulf Coast Bible College at Anderson Church of God and thereafter traveled as a student evangelist, during which time he met his wife, Katy. prgtoken In 1973, Dr. Ripley and Katy pastored Open Door Baptist Church in Tennessee, where the church grew from 16 to 1,000 people in a short twelve years. By December of 1985, Dr. Ripley, Katy, and their two children, Jessica and Jeremy, moved to Decatur, Alabama where Dr. Ripley became the Pastor of Moulton Heights Baptist Church. The church grew rapidly, relocating once and having five major renovations from 1988 to 2004. Under Dr. Ripley's leadership, many lives have been impacted. prgtoken Known as ``Brother Douglas,'' Dr. Ripley's passion for world missions and discipleship have reached across the world. In fact, he was one of the first pastors to visit Albania and his act of bravery opened the way for more churches to evangelize in Albania. prgtoken Madam , Dr. Ripley's diligent and obedient service to his flock and God is inspiring and sets an example for future generations. prgtoken I commend Dr. G. Douglas Ripley for his leadership in the church and passion for service to Christ.
HONORING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF MR. TERRY McDONALD
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Terry McDonald for his two decades of service as Mayor of New Haven, Indiana. Since his election in 1999, Terry has worked diligently to usher in a new era of prosperity for the second-largest city in Allen County. prgtoken Under Terry's leadership, New Haven has seen increases in commercial and industrial activity and heralded improvements in its public schools and infrastructure. He has brought the city to a new level of prominence within our great state and made his constituents proud. prgtoken Above all, Terry has always seen his position not as a job, but as a service and a duty. As he does in his role as a minister, Terry seeks to use his God-given talents to assist those who need it the most. His first priority has always been assisting those around him. Officials at all levels of government can learn a great deal from the honesty and integrity of men like Mayor Terry McDonald. prgtoken As Terry's time in public office draws to a close, I wish him and his family nothing but the very best as he continues his life of service.
HONORING TC AND MAEGAN SCHWINDLING AND ALL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES IN ALABAMA
Robert B. Aderholt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-10-18

. Madam , our opening prayer yesterday morning was offered by Pastor Phil Waldrep from Decatur, Alabama. I want to thank Pastor Waldrep for his dedication to the scripture and his passion for families. prgtoken Six years ago, Pastor Waldrep's extended family grew through the gift of adoption. In Spring of 2013, his oldest daughter, Maegan Schwindling, and her husband, TC, began pursuing adoption from the ic Republic of Congo. They were matched at the beginning of summer 2013 with a young girl in Lubumbashi, DRC. prgtoken Things took an unfortunate turn a few months later. On September 25, 2013, adoptions from the DRC came to a halt as President Kabila blocked Internationally-adopted children from leaving the country. Child placement agencies and adoptive families scrambled to find their way through this roadblock yet they were undeterred in getting these children home. prgtoken I had the privilege of meeting Maegan and several other Alabama families during this season while they were stuck with children on the other side of the world. We worked closely with the Congressional Caucus on Adoption and the U.S. State Department to help these families be united here in their new homes. prgtoken Pastor Waldrep's granddaughter Zoe finally came home to the United States with Maegan and TC on April 16, 2016. She became a proud American citizen on September 27, 2016--almost 3 years to the day after President Kabila suspended international adoptions in the DRC. prgtoken On Thursday, a little over 6 years after Zoe's journey with her family began, Zoe was in the gallery to watch her grandfather open the House of Representatives in prayer. Zoe has suffered loss and tragedy in her life, but through the gift of adoption and the love and care of her parents and extended family, she has become a true example of beauty in broken places. prgtoken As the House co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Adoption, I'm honored to recognize the Schwindlings and all of the adoptive families in Alabama. Next month we will celebrate National Adoption Month. May Zoe's story be a reminder to us all of the magnitude of loss and the beauty of coming home that can be found in adoption stories across the country.