mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING L. FRANK BAUM
Anthony Brindisi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-5-10

I rise today to honor L. Frank Baum, author and creator of ``The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,'' on the 100th anniversary of his death. prgtoken Baum was a native of Chittenango, New York, which is home to the International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Historical Foundation and Museum. prgtoken Each June, the village celebrates Baum's classic tale with the longest running Wizard of Oz festival in the country. The community, joined by fans from all over the world, come together for Oz-themed parades, exhibits, fireworks, and contests. prgtoken But the magic of Oz isn't only present this one time of year. The classic yellow brick road runs through the village for visitors to enjoy year-round. prgtoken Chittenango is proud to be the birthplace of such an influential author, and his legacy lives on in central New York. After all, ``there's no place like home.''
HONORING THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today in honor of every American who has ever struggled with mental illness. prgtoken With May being National Mental Health Awareness Month as well as National Nurses Month, we recommit ourselves to: prgtoken Building better futures for those struggling with a mental health condition; prgtoken Supporting research into diagnoses and treatment; prgtoken Erasing the stigma around seeking help; and prgtoken Removing barriers to high-quality and timely mental healthcare by educating and training doctors, nurses, and behavioral specialists dedicated to these disabling conditions. prgtoken Our Nation is also battling an epidemic of veteran suicide. Tragically, over 7,000 veterans die by suicide every year, more than the total number of American servicemembers killed in action during the entire Global War on Terrorism. prgtoken It is no coincidence that our Nation is short 100,000 neuropsychiatrists and 500,000 advance practice nurses in these fields. At the VA alone, today, there are nearly 50,000 medical vacancies. prgtoken If we are to make progress, then our country, our Nation, must support investments in educating these physicians and nurses to treat those who, every day, look for a better way of life. prgtoken I look forward to partnering with Members of Congress to help America treat these illnesses and create a more humane society for all.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken I rise in support the underlying legislation. prgtoken Madam Chair, H.R. 2157 totals $17.3 billion in emergency disaster appropriations to provide relief and recovery assistance for Americans affected by recent hurricanes. prgtoken The MilCon/VA portion of the bill provides $860.4 million for Department of Defense military construction needs and the Department of Veterans Affairs. prgtoken Specifically, the bill includes $115 million for the Marine Corps to begin planning for construction projects related to the devastation from Hurricanes Florence and Michael on Marine Corps facilities in North Carolina (New River, Cherry Point, and Lejeune). prgtoken The Marine Corps is planning facility consolidation efforts resulting from the hurricanes' damage, and this funding represents the first step in that rebuilding process. prgtoken Madam Chair, the bill also includes $700 million to begin rebuilding Tyndall Air Force Base in my home State of Florida. This funding will support the relocation of the F-22 mission, the beddown of F-35s, and the planning for construction of new facilities. This funding is a vital first step to begin the rebuild of Tyndall. prgtoken Madam Chair, I also want to point out that this funding for Tyndall in North Carolina is a downpayment because Congress is going to need to provide much more than this to get these locations back up on their feet. prgtoken Madam Chair, these events happened 6 months ago, and yet the first supplemental request to be submitted by the administration is not to address natural disasters; it was for border needs. prgtoken I am astounded that the administration continues to ignore these real emergencies which clearly should have been addressed months ago, and I am proud that the ic majority is doing just that today. prgtoken I urge all Members of this body to cast a ``yes'' vote.
CONGRESSIONAL PFAS TASK FORCE
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , this week, the Congressional PFAS Task Force, including Representatives Kildee, Tonko, and Fitzpatrick, joined me in my district to address clean water and to address PFAS water contamination. I thank them for joining me. We visited Naval Air Station Joint Base Willow Grove. prgtoken Like hundreds of other military installations across the country, Willow Grove used firefighting foam with PFAS chemicals for decades. Today, polluted water continues to flow off this base and into our region's water table. prgtoken PFAS is associated with serious health risks, including cancer and impaired immune system performance. The manufacturers, EPA, and DOD have known about some of the dangers for a long time. By the early 2000s, it was clear that PFAS was contaminating drinking water, yet PFAS remains in use, and EPA still has not established a maximum contaminant level. prgtoken This week, I introduced H.R. 2600, the Toxic PFAS Control Act. This bill phases out PFAS by banning the manufacturing and processing of these chemicals and will require EPA to regulate its disposal. prgtoken I thank Chairman Tonko for his commitment to this issue to live up to our obligation to provide clean drinking water to our families and communities.
KIDS DESERVE LEADERS WORKING TO END GUN VIOLENCE
Jennifer Wexton (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , a 12-year-old from Highlands Ranch, Nate Holley, explained that he was in his classroom's closet with his hand on a baseball bat because he was going to go down fighting if he was going to go down. prgtoken In the span of 2 weeks, two students were killed lunging at shooters in their classrooms to defend their classmates. Their names: Kendrick Castillo, 18 years old, just 3 days away from his high school graduation, and Riley Howell, 21 years old, an ROTC cadet at UNC Charlotte. prgtoken These young men are heroes, but they shouldn't have to be. prgtoken The Senate majority leader won't even allow a vote on any gun safety bills. What is it going to take? How many shootings, how many more young lives cut short, until we take action? prgtoken The STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting marked the 30th incident of gun violence on K-12 school grounds just this year. Our kids deserve leaders who will do everything in their power to end gun violence in America. prgtoken No more heroes. No more victims.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Last year, we watched hurricanes pummel Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas; wildfires burn large swaths of the West; and typhoons strike territories in the Pacific. prgtoken In addition to the tragic loss of life, families lost everything, businesses were upended, and communities were ripped apart. prgtoken That is why, in January, the House passed an emergency disaster relief bill, H.R. 268, to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild. Unfortunately, the bill languished for months prgtoken in the Senate over assistance for Puerto Rico. As it sat there, floods battered the Midwest and tornadoes swept the South, resulting in even more destruction. And it sat there in the Senate. prgtoken This legislation attempts to meet the needs of all of America's disaster-stricken communities, whether in Puerto Rico or the Midwest, California or the Carolinas, with $17.2 billion in emergency spending. prgtoken In addition to the funding provided in H.R. 268, the bill makes three critical additions. prgtoken It includes $1.5 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for repairs to Corps projects damaged by flooding and natural disasters. prgtoken It provides $1 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, with language ensuring it is spent quickly to help communities rebuild housing, businesses, and public infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas affected by major natural disasters. prgtoken And it includes $500 million for the Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program, providing emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. prgtoken That is an additional $3 billion to address the urgent needs following the Midwest floods and Southern tornadoes, and an additional $3 billion to rebuild damaged infrastructure, to help communities recover, and to bring local economies back to life. prgtoken American citizens are relying on our Federal Government to deliver a robust disaster relief package. They have waited long enough. Frankly, they can't afford to wait any longer. prgtoken Further delays will only leave communities more vulnerable and exposed to future natural disasters. With the Atlantic hurricane season beginning in just 4 weeks and looming summer heat increasing wildfire risk, we must act now. prgtoken Madam Chair, this legislation is a critical and long-overdue step to meeting our fellow citizens' urgent needs. I urge my colleagues to support it, and .
RECOGNIZING BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , today, I would like to speak about South Florida's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Consistently recognized as the best eye hospital in the nation, Bascom Palmer treats over 250,000 patients every year at its five centers in Miami, Coral Gables, Plantation, Naples, and Palm Beach Gardens. prgtoken In addition to serving as a national model for excellent eye care, Bascom Palmer acts as the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Miami. prgtoken The center provides students with the opportunity to work with world- class doctors and conduct innovative research to improve patient care and treatment methods. prgtoken Eye care is a delicate science. prgtoken The doctors, students, and staff at Bascom Palmer demonstrate every day not only their vast knowledge of the constantly developing field of ophthalmology, but also their enormous compassion for patients who suffer from blindness, glaucoma, ocular cancer, and other debilitating conditions. prgtoken It was a joy to partner with this stellar team of medical professionals when I led the University of Miami. prgtoken I am grateful to know that the eye health of South Florida is in good hands with Bascom Palmer leading the field.
CONGRATULATING JAIL HILL INN FOR WINNING FIRST PLACE IN THE TRAVELERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR TRIPADVISOR IN THE UNITED STATES
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Jail Hill Inn for winning first place in the Travelers' Choice Award for TripAdvisor in the United States, and for being named second place globally for the bed-and-breakfast/inn category. prgtoken The brick building where Jail Hill Inn operates today has been around for 140 years and originally served as a jail until 1977. The Jail Hill Inn was lovingly restored and revitalized by its owner, Matthew Carroll, and has been a hotel for the last 17 years. The hotel has six luxurious rooms complete with a fireplace, wet bar, king-size bed, high-end linens and a Bluetooth-connected sound system. Those who stay in all six of the rooms are dubbed ``repeat offenders'' for their frequent visits to the inn. Galena's historic Main Street and downtown area are only a short walk away and provides guests with easy access to all Galena has to offer. I commend Matthew Carroll for creating an excellent stop for visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the beauty our region has to offer and look forward to hearing about the Jail Hill Inn's future successes. prgtoken It is because of creative entrepreneurs like Matthew Carroll that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would like to again formally congratulate the Jail Hill Inn for its rise to the top of TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards.
IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD LUPUS DAY
Albio Sires (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , according to the Lupus Foundation of America, lupus impacts an estimated 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people globally. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects young women, particularly women of color, and can be characterized in part by swelling, fatigue, hair loss, chronic pain, fever, sores, cognitive impairment, and kidney problems. prgtoken On World Lupus Day, it is important to renew our commitment to finding a cause and cure for this often-debilitating disease. The United States is home to some of the world's leading medical research institutions, and continued investment in these research efforts is essential to groundbreaking discoveries that will allow individuals suffering from incurable diseases, such as lupus, to live more comfortable, disease-free lives. prgtoken I am happy to bring a greater awareness to this disease and hope that the international community can work in coordination towards gaining a better understanding of the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for lupus patients around the world.
CELEBRATING AMERICA'S NURSES FOR NATIONAL NURSE APPRECIATION WEEK
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise to celebrate National Nurse Appreciation Week. prgtoken Since 1993, this week from May 6 through May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday, has allowed us to express our deepest gratitude and admiration toward our nurses, the beating heart and a major driving force of America's healthcare community. prgtoken Despite its critical importance to our healthcare system, nursing continues to face critical staffing shortages from rapid job growth and a significant number of nurses approaching retirement--in fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing projects that we will need more than 200,000 additional Registered Nurses by 2026. prgtoken Having enough nurses to do the job results in lower mortality rates, safer conditions for patients and a decrease in the average stay at hospitals. The fact is, nurses save lives, make healthcare safer and more efficient, and provide us with comfort and compassion during some of our most painful times. prgtoken America's nurses are also on the front lines of our nation's growing opioid epidemic. In 2016, my team and I worked to grant buprenorphine prescribing privileges to Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, allowing them to provide needed medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Since that expansion, more than 5,000 nurse practitioners and physician assistants have become waivered providers of medication-assisted treatment, greatly expanding our treatment capacity, particularly in rural areas where doctors can be few and far between. If we invest in and empower our nursing workforce to their full potential, they can be powerful agents of change to help us turn the tide in this epidemic. prgtoken We must champion and empower our nursing professionals. This week we celebrate America's nurses, whose endless dedication uplifts our families, heals our neighbors, and betters our communities.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REFUSES RULE
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to condemn the administration's dangerous final rule that allows healthcare workers to discriminate against patients based on their personal beliefs. prgtoken Too often, healthcare in this country is riddled with inequality, and while in the House are working to address this, the administration is trying to make it worse. prgtoken This policy will be most harmful to our sisters of color who often live in areas with hospitals that may refuse comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including abortion and birth control. prgtoken Refusals have already threatened the life of women with pregnancy complications. This rule could make the maternal mortality crisis among African American women even worse. prgtoken This is yet another attempt by the administration to impose their beliefs and take away our healthcare and our rights, and I will continue to fight to ensure that healthcare is equal for all Americans. prgtoken Dr. Lawren, from my home state of Illinois, wrote to the Administration in response to this rule. prgtoken She said, ``As a physician, it is absolutely crucial that I provide the same level of care for every patient no matter how my own beliefs differ from theirs. I often have patients with whom I disagree about a wide spectrum of political and social causes. It would be so outrageously inappropriate for me to use that as grounds to change my medical care or to alter the level of respect and compassion I show for these patients.''
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam Chair, as we work to rebuild from hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters through this supplemental appropriations bill, I am glad the Appropriations Committee included funding to improve U.S. weather forecasting, modeling, and computing capabilities. prgtoken Improving our forecasting abilities can save lives and protect property, which is exactly the mission charged to the National Weather Service. My amendment adds an additional $5 million for NOAA's weather forecasting, modeling, and cloud computing programs and helps accelerate implementation of the new Earth Prediction Innovation Center, or EPIC, for short. prgtoken Congress authorized EPIC late last year to serve as a center of excellence to create an agile, focused, and measurable approach to community involvement in improving weather forecasting. The center will create a community global weather research modeling system that is publicly available to encourage collaboration. It will also strengthen NOAA's ability to undertake innovative research projects. prgtoken Importantly, EPIC has an opportunity to continue breaking down barriers by accelerating the transfer of research to operations and operations to research, which will improve our weather forecasting enterprise. Improving these capabilities will help everyone across the country, and I urge all my colleagues to support my amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano).
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this funding package today. I am pleased that, within the Interior Subcommittee's jurisdiction, the bill provides more than $2 billion for recovery from devastating natural disasters. prgtoken This includes $849 million to rebuild drinking water and waste treatment systems to a state of resiliency against future storms, and $50 million for coastal resiliency projects to reduce flooding and erosion caused by sea level rise and climate change. prgtoken This bill provides funds to repair Federal facilities that were destroyed or damaged, like the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, funds for Historic Preservation grants to repair culturally significant sites and properties, and funds to clean up hazardous and solid waste. prgtoken A critical provision in this bill provides $720 million to fully repay the U.S. Forest Service for funds it was forced to borrow in the last fiscal year to cover the cost of wildland fire suppression. prgtoken An additional $134 million will help the Forest Service to address damage to national forests and to treat hazardous fuel loads. prgtoken This emergency funding in this bill will help Americans who are struggling to restore their lives to return to their homes after devastating fires and hurricanes of last year. prgtoken Communities in all of our States and our territories deserve Federal support as they recover from natural disasters. are proud, under the leadership of Chair Lowey, to be bringing this bill to the floor to help those who have suffered from these natural disasters to begin to rebuild and heal their lives. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
GUN VIOLENCE
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , do you remember when you graduated from high school? prgtoken Do you remember how big the world felt? prgtoken Do you remember your dreams, what you wanted to learn, whom you wanted to meet, and how you wanted to change the world? prgtoken You had those dreams, right? prgtoken Kendrick Castillo and Riley Howell had those dreams, too. But for them, they will only be dreams because 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo led a charge to disarm the gunman who stormed into his classroom just days before graduating from the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Together with Brendan Bialy and Joshua Jones, Kendrick saved the hopes and dreams of his classmates, even as he gave up his own. prgtoken Just 1 week earlier, 21-year-old Riley Howell was killed as he, too, charged a gunman inside his classroom at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Riley yelled to his classmates, ``Go, go, go,'' as he body-slammed his killer to end the shooting that killed one student and wounded four more. prgtoken Kendrick and Riley are heroes for giving up their dreams. prgtoken But we shouldn't be demanding such profound sacrifices from American students. Instead, we must demand basic decency from this Congress. This House has passed historic gun safety legislation. prgtoken Madam , how many more of these heroes will we need? How many more lives lost before the Senate finally acts to help save lives?
16TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF WORLD LUPUS DAY
Grace F. Napolitano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , today marks the 16th annual observance of World Lupus Day. It serves as a forum for lupus organizations and advocates to call attention to the need for increases in funding for medical research, educational programs, and improved access to medical care. prgtoken Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that is highly individualized, extremely volatile and can affect any organ system of the body, including the skin, joints, kidney, brain, heart, lungs, blood and blood vessels. It currently affects over 300,000 Americans, and there is no known cause or cure. prgtoken There is no limit to lupus and it affects all nationalities, race, ethnicities, gender and age. For example, it is the leading cause of kidney disease, stroke, and premature cardiovascular disease in young women, and affects woman 9 times more often than men. prgtoken With continued commitment to this important day, I would like to again recognize World Lupus Day and demonstrate our nation's concerns for the needs of millions of Americans and their families affected by lupus.