mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRAVIS W. ATKINS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-11-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise to remember the life of Army Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins, who was killed in Iraq on June 1, prgtoken 2007 Mr. Gianforte from Montana, for bringing this bill before us so we may all pay tribute to a selfless public servant. prgtoken Travis was born on December 9, 1975, to parents Jack and Elaine. Growing up in Bozeman, Montana, he was an active outdoorsman, spending most of his time fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. After high school, he worked as a painting and concrete contractor but soon felt called to serve. prgtoken On November 9, 2000, 24-year-old Travis joined the Army. He deployed to Kuwait with the 101st Airborne Division in March of 2003 and was an infantry team leader during the invasion of Iraq later that month. prgtoken After that deployment, he decided to pursue college and was honorably discharged in December of 2003. But as his father put it, the civilian life just didn't do it for him, and he rejoined the Army in December of 2005 as part of the 10th Mountain Division and was again deployed to Iraq. prgtoken , on June 1, 2007, during a route clearance in a town outside of Baghdad, Atkins' unit noticed two men trying to cross a road that they were securing. Atkins asked the men to stop. When trying to search one of the men, a fight broke out. Realizing the man was wearing a suicide vest, he fought to keep him from finding the trigger. Eventually, he did. Without hesitating, Staff Sergeant Atkins bear- hugged the insurgent, threw him to the ground and pinned him there, shielding his fellow soldiers only a few feet away. Staff Sergeant Atkins saved three men that day. prgtoken In every account of his character from his battle buddies, the word most used to describe him was a ``leader,'' and a fine leader he was, right up until his final moments. prgtoken Surviving Sergeant Atkins are his parents and his son, Trevor. Trevor said that he wants his father to be remembered as the best dad and the best soldier that anyone could ask for. At the White House, on March 27, 2019, Trevor accepted his father's Medal of Honor. prgtoken The legacy of Staff Sergeant Atkins--of loyalty, of dedication, of leadership--must never be forgotten. As the citizens he protected, we honor him by trying to live by his example to care deeply and lead well. prgtoken While we will never be able to fully convey the depth of our gratitude to the Atkins family, I hope that this bill, the naming of the clinic in his hometown, will offer some fraction of that comfort. prgtoken , I wholeheartedly support this bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken , .
CONGRATULATING FANNIE MAY ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-11-16

. Madam , I rise to recognize and congratulate Fannie May on its 100th year anniversary serving the Chicagoland community with handcrafted, premium American chocolates. prgtoken H. Teller Archibald opened the first Fannie May shop in 1920 at 11 N. LaSalle St. in the heart of downtown Chicago. By 1935 there were four dozen shops in Illinois and surrounding states and in 1946, the iconic PIXIE was developed. This mouth-watering combination of caramel, chocolate and nuts are one of the companies best sellers and one of my favorites. During World War II, while other companies chose to change their recipes when ingredients were scare, Fannie May stuck with its exact recipes, making only what they could with the available superior ingredients. Though the company battled many cultural and financial challenges, it never stop creating new treats for the young, old and health conscious. In 1991 Fannie May produced sugar-free chocolate, which quickly became a favorite among dieters and people with diabetes. To this day, Fannie May does not compromise on quality, and their 55 stores including their flagship store on Michigan Avenue in my district, and 500 employees in the Chicago area serve the community with the utmost pride. prgtoken Fannie May chocolates are undeniably some of the most popular in the U.S. and often a favorite for Valentines and the holiday shopper. Again, congratulations to Fannie May, we look forward to another 100 years with you as a vital member of the Chicagoland community.
LUMBEE TRIBE OF NORTH CAROLINA RECOGNITION ACT
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2020-11-16

I thank the gentleman very much for yielding time this afternoon. prgtoken I rise, , in strong support of H.R. 1964, the Lumbee Recognition Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage. prgtoken , let me just take a moment to thank the chairman of the committee--he is not here today--Mr. Grijalva. I thank him so very much for his friendship and for his leadership on this issue. I thank Mr. Huffman for managing the floor today and recognizing me for just a few moments. And to the ranking member, Mr. Bishop from Utah, I thank him so very much. He is the ranking member of the committee, and I thank him for his leadership as well. prgtoken , I particularly want to thank Mr. Hudson--I don't see Mr. Hudson on the floor, but I know he is very close by--and my friend, Mr. Bishop from North Carolina. I thank both of them for their unwavering support for this legislation. prgtoken I might say that Robeson County--someone mentioned ``Robeson County'' a few moments ago; it is actually ``Robeson County''--is a part of Mr. Bishop's Ninth Congressional District. prgtoken This bill, , will finally extend full Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its members eligible for the same services and benefits provided to members of other federally recognized Tribes. Most importantly, the bill will establish once and for all the Lumbee Tribe as an independent and sovereign entity under Federal law. prgtoken North Carolina, as Mr. Bishop, I believe, or Mr. Huffman mentioned a moment ago, has recognized the Lumbee Tribe since 1885. This body even recognized the Lumbees in the 1950s, but during the dark days of the termination era, they refused to allow the Lumbee Tribe access to federally funded services and benefits. prgtoken Almost all the Tribes that were terminated in this troubling era have since been restored to Federal recognition. We are long overdue in delivering the same justice to the Lumbee Tribe. prgtoken This legislation, , has tremendous bipartisan support, as you can see today, tremendous bipartisan support that has only accelerated over the past few months. prgtoken At the end of September, under Chairman Grijalva's leadership, the Natural Resources Committee passed this bill by a voice vote. It was noncontroversial. Shortly thereafter, ic Leader Steny Hoyer announced his support for full Federal recognition for the Lumbee Nation and his intention to bring the bill to the floor. prgtoken Mr. Hoyer told me, and he told Chairman Godwin in a telephone call a few weeks ago, that he would bring this bill, H.R. 1964, to the floor on November 16. Today is November 16. prgtoken During the Presidential campaign, gave his unconditional support to this legislation, and President , as Mr. Bishop said, did so as well. prgtoken Now is the time for the House to get this done. When this legislation passes, it is my fervent hope that our Senate colleagues from both parties wi
CORONAVIRUS' IMPACT ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-11-16

as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am here to say that we have reached another terrible milestone. Just yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases in our country surpassed 11 million. One million of those cases came in just the last week alone. prgtoken The coronavirus is spreading at a rapid rate, and while hospitals and healthcare providers in all 50 States are overwhelmed, there is still no plan to contain it. The failure to contain the coronavirus has let it spread within every State and community. prgtoken Almost one-third of Americans know someone who has died from COVID- 19, and yet we are still hearing false claims, including from some of my colleagues on the other side of this Chamber, that masks don't work and that gathering in large groups indoors is safe. prgtoken The message that we can or should live with this virus is a denial of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are sick or who have died from this virus already, and it is condemning thousands more to die as well. prgtoken But not everyone is impacted equally. While all of us are susceptible to the virus, communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by the administration's inaction. Now that we know more about this virus, we can see who is paying more for it. prgtoken Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have seen cases surge in their communities and continue to face some of the highest COVID-19 infection and mortality rates out of any of the racial groups in several States, including in my own State of California. prgtoken And new data shows that Asian Americans are also dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate, with deaths in the Asian-American community nationwide increasing by 35 percent this year compared with the average over the last 5 years. This is compared to a 9 percent increase in deaths for White Americans. prgtoken For other communities of color, there are equally high rates: for prgtoken Blacks, a 31 percent increase compared to 5 years ago; 44 percent for Hispanics; and a 22 percent increase for Native Americans. prgtoken Downplaying this virus is also downplaying the reality of healthcare inequality and minority health disparities in this country. That is why we crafted an urgently needed COVID-19 response bill: to make us sure we can combat the disproportionate effects of coronavirus on communities of color. prgtoken That is precisely what the House did in May, with the passage of The Heroes Act, and again in October, with the updated Heroes Act, which ensured that we collect disaggregated race and ethnicity data related to COVID-19 and that we restore Medicaid coverage for citizens of the Freely Associated States of the Pacific islands and include provisions like Congressmember Barbara Lee's COVID-19 Community Care Act. prgtoken It is so important because it would provide targeted COVID-19 testing, treatment, and contact tracing for communities of color that have been dev
TRAVIS W. ATKINS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-11-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 900, as amended, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Bozeman, Montana, the Travis W. Atkins Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic. prgtoken Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins was a Montana native and Army veteran. He was killed in action in Iraq in 2007 during an encounter with two enemy insurgents when he put himself between a suicide bomber and his fellow soldiers. prgtoken Staff Sergeant Atkins' quick and selfless actions saved the lives of those three soldiers and led to him being posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. By naming the VA clinic in Bozeman after him today, we will further ensure that his life and legacy is forever remembered. prgtoken This bill was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines and in the House by my friend and colleague Congressman Greg Gianforte, who will be the Governor of Montana very soon. It is also strongly supported by the other member of Montana's congressional delegation, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and another good friend of mine, Senator Jon Tester. prgtoken I am grateful to Senator Daines, Congressman Gianforte, Ranking Member Tester, and the many Montana veteran service organizations that sent in letters of support for this bill, for their efforts to honor Staff Sergeant Atkins' service and sacrifice through this legislation. These are the true heroes, . I know you know that. prgtoken Staff Sergeant Atkins was just 32 years old when he died. He left behind many loved ones, including his then 11-year-old son, Trevor. I send my prayers to Trevor and to all of Staff Sergeant Atkins' friends and family members who, I know, are still grieving his loss today. prgtoken I hope that it is a small comfort to them to know that, with the passage of this bill, , Staff Sergeant Atkins' memory will live on and serve as an inspiration to all the veterans who seek hope and healing in the clinic that will now bear his name. prgtoken I am proud to support this bill, , and .
HONORING WILLIAM F. MILLER, JR. FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY DURING WORLD WAR II
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-11-16

. Madam , I rise today to honor William F. Miller Jr. for his unwavering service to our country during World War II as Radioman Petty Officer Second Class aboard the USS Oglethorpe in the Navy. prgtoken William was born in Albany, New York on March 21, 1926. He was drafted into the Navy in July 1944 at the end of his junior year of high school, prior to receiving his diploma. William went on to serve in the Pacific theater and earned his Shellback after crossing the Equator on multiple occasions before he was honorably discharged in 1946. During his time in the Navy, he exemplified extreme courage and bravery as he valiantly protected our American values and our nation from enemies. prgtoken As Lake George High School presents William with an honorary diploma on this Veterans Day, November 11, 2020, we reflect on his many lifetime achievements. William has been happily married to Marie Luther since 1949, and they are celebrating their 71st anniversary this year with their five children, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild due in February. For many years, William ran a successful small business as a general contractor. The family continues William's strong military tradition and commitment to our nation as both his son and grandson have served in the Navy. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st district, I would like to thank William for his service to our country and congratulate him on officially receiving his diploma from Lake George High School. We owe our veterans a great deal of gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy today. I wish him and his family continued health and happiness.
RECOGNITION OF JAMES K. NEILL
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-11-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Jamie Neill who will be leaving my office at the end of this month. My staff and I have been very fortunate to have him in our office and our lives as he is a terrific staffer and incredible person. prgtoken Jamie first started in my office as an intern in 2012. His willingness to do hard work made a very strong impression and the fact he is a genuinely nice person was a bonus. We kept our eye on Jamie's career and were fortunate to bring him back full time in 2013. prgtoken Since then he has grown in his legislative role taking on increasing responsibilities of scope and importance to my district and the country. He has done a tremendous job working on healthcare, agriculture and resource issues for the past eight years and has achieved many successes. prgtoken Jamie played a critical role in crafting and passing both the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and the Great American Outdoors Act. True to Jamie's nature, no problem or legislative obstacle was too great to overcome through ingenuity and hard work. Jamie's kind and honest demeanor kept people working together and allowed great accomplishments to happen. prgtoken I will miss Jamie tremendously, but am very pleased he will be residing and working in Boise so he will not be too far away. I congratulate Jamie on a job well done, and wish him best of luck in his future endeavors.
DIGITAL COAST ACT
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2020-11-16

I thank Ranking Member Bishop for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of S. 1069. This legislation authorizes NOAA's Digital Coast Program and ensures coastal communities have up-to-date data and tools to prepare for storms, manage floods, restore shorelines, and plan for long-term coastal resilience. prgtoken NOAA's Digital Coast Program has been extremely valuable for jurisdictions like Puerto Rico, where we have 799 miles of coastline and 62 percent of our population lives in coastal municipalities. For instance, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island with powerful storm surge and flash floods, Digital Coast staffers updated their Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper to incorporate high-resolution flood maps for the territory. They also held training sessions on flood mapping and resilient infrastructure, allowing officials to visualize storm surge, high tide flooding, sea level rise, and tsunami scenarios in order to increase our preparedness for such events. prgtoken This bill would build upon this work, authorizing NOAA to continue providing comprehensive mapping information that allows planners and coastal managers across the Nation to make accurate decisions and smart investments. This bill will also require NOAA to focus additional data collection efforts on underserved coastal areas. prgtoken As Puerto Rico's sole representative in Congress, I know firsthand the importance of having reliable coastal data to help respond to emergencies, to build resilience, and manage water resources. Therefore, I strongly urge my colleagues to support S. 1069.
Nomination of Kristi Haskins Johnson (Executive Session)
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-11-16

observers of the U.S. Senate might take note that their Senators just passed a host of bills and cleared a host of items from the calendar, representing bipartisan accomplishments on behalf of the leadership of the Senate-- leadership and ic leadership--a great deal of work by chairs and ranking members of committees and subcommittees, and I salute both sides of the aisle for these accomplishments. prgtoken In the same vein, we will vote in a few moments on a cloture motion for the judicial nomination of Kristi Haskins Johnson, and I would think that this would be another opportunity for a strong bipartisan vote. We passed two judges last week, as I recall, and both judges were confirmed with strong bipartisan support--strong support and welcome support on both sides of the aisle. And I would think that with regard to this particular nominee--our Mississippi candidate, Kristi Haskins Johnson--she would continue in that vein this afternoon and later on this week when I hope we will be voting to confirm her. prgtoken It is noteworthy that the Southern District of Mississippi has never had a woman Federal judge, and so Kristi Johnson will break new ground in that regard, and I am particularly delighted that this momentous accomplishment is right upon us. prgtoken She has had the distinct honor for the last several months of being Mississippi's first solicitor general. So this could turn out to be a groundbreaking year and a barrier-shattering year in more than one way for soon-to-be Judge Johnson. prgtoken In her current role as solicitor general, she serves as Mississippi's lead advocate for appellate litigation and works closely with the State attorney general in crafting legal strategy for significant legal cases in Mississippi and on a national scale. She has received the highest recommendation that a candidate for U.S. district judge can receive from the American Bar Association, and that is a ``qualified'' rating. As we know, candidates for appeals court judge can get a rating of ``highly qualified.'' The best you can get for district judge is ``qualified,'' so she received the highest rating she could possibly receive and rightly so. prgtoken She has a unique record of accomplishment as a public servant, a private attorney, a scholar, and a professor. She served over 5 years in the U.S. attorney's office in Jackson. There she prosecuted fraud and financial crimes as part of the Civil Division. Before that, she made her mark in private practice at the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart in Jackson, MS, focusing there on labor law and employment issues. prgtoken Kristi Johnson is a native of Hurley, MS, population 985, in Jackson County, MS. She attended school there and then went on to receive her undergraduate degree at the University of Mississippi, graduating in 2003. And then she was admitted to law school at Mississippi College School of Law, where she gra
DIGITAL COAST ACT
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-11-16

I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), who will explain and introduce this particular bill. The gentlewoman is someone on our committee who clearly understands the significance of mapping, especially for storm preparations and flood management and everything else. prgtoken I wish to congratulate Miss Gonzalez-Colon because she is the only one of us on the floor who just recently was returned here for a 4-year term.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-11-16

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the postcloture time on the Johnson nomination expire at 11 a.m. tomorrow and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. I further ask that if cloture is invoked on the Beaton nomination, the postcloture time expire at 2:15 p.m. tomorrow and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. Finally, if any of the nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
CORONAVIRUS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-11-16

. Although promising vaccines for the coronavirus are on the horizon, it is more important than ever to stop the surge. Countries across the world are seeing cases explode. prgtoken It is critical for Iowans to step up their personal responsibilities to stay safe and healthy for themselves and their loved ones. And that, of course, includes our tireless healthcare professionals--those on the frontlines, working to save lives. prgtoken This virus is hitting rural and urban areas alike. No community is immune. I ask every Iowan to continue to do their part to keep their family and neighbors safe: Wash your hands; limit your activity outside your household; social distance; wear a mask. prgtoken We are going to get through this together, but we need everyone to do their part. prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF PAUL SUPKO
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-11-16

. Madam , l rise today to honor Paul Supko of Huntingdon County for his service in the United States Navy. Paul is an outstanding Pennsylvanian, and I am grateful for his service to our Nation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and our community. prgtoken In Pennsylvania and across the country, our veterans have served and sacrificed for Americans' freedom and our values. They answered the call to serve and fight for us--at a great cost. Truly, our veterans are the best of America. prgtoken In Congress, it is my privilege--and my responsibility--to stand up for those who have served our country in uniform, as well as to recognize these brave Americans. As a Nation, we are indebted to them. On behalf of the 13th Congressional District, I thank Paul for his service to our Nation and our community.