mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for his question. I am not a member of the conference committee. prgtoken He quoted me in what I said. We are for border security. I am hopeful that the conference committee reports out a bill that all sides can support that does, in fact, try to make our borders more secure. I look forward to having that bill, hopefully, on the floor next week prior to the 15th or on the 15th, so we can: A, ensure that the government is not shut down; and, B, ensure that we have a bipartisan agreement on how we can make our borders more secure.
CONGRATULATING INNKEEPER'S COFFEE ON ITS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Innkeeper's Fresh Roasted Coffee for its twentieth anniversary of operation in Galesburg, Illinois. prgtoken Innkeeper's has been a space for the Galesburg community to come together since 1998 when Mike Bond and Johan Ewalt first began serving freshly roasted coffee. In 2003, the two took a chance and decided to expand their business even as factory closings threatened to devastate the local economy. With in vestment, hard work and creativity, Innkeeper's managed to succeed, grow and become a central space for friends and family to enjoy one another's company. Innkeeper's small batch roasting method and their use of environmentally friendly shade- grown coffee sets them apart. prgtoken It is in small businesses like Innkeeper's that rural communities have found stability and their perseverance makes me proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would again like to formally congratulate Innkeeper's Fresh Roasted Coffee on its twenty years in business and thank them for their service to our community.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Mr. Chair, I do want to thank the chairman for his support, and I want to thank Members of the minority for their support. This is so very important. prgtoken I look forward to working with the chairman in this Congress to continue to ensure that the Veterans Administration has the capacity and the resources to do right by our veterans, to respect the rights of its union employees, to provide the needed services, and as you mentioned earlier, to make sure that they get critical healthcare. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
IMPACT OF SHUTDOWN ON NOAA WEATHER SERVICE STATION EMPLOYEES
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-8

we just experienced our government's longest shutdown. For 35 days in California, nearly 40,000 Federal workers were furloughed and denied paychecks because of the shutdown, and that number included Federal employees at the NOAA weather service station in my district on the central coast of California. prgtoken Now, recently, I met with those workers to hear how the shutdown impacted them, and I can tell you that, although they were affected by the loss of pay, they definitely did not lose their sense of service. prgtoken For over 1 month, right in the middle of rainy season, with the potential for serious flooding, these public servants didn't get a paycheck. They didn't miss one day of work, not one shift; and that is why, in large part, in our region, we were safe. prgtoken I can tell you, from what I saw when I met these employees, these are employees who are not just doing their job for the paycheck. They do it for the weather; they do it for the science; they do it for the job security; but most importantly, they do it for the service to our Nation. prgtoken As negotiations in Washington continue, we must learn from, we must be inspired by, and we must be motivated by not just my NOAA employees, but every Federal worker across this country who has that sense of service. prgtoken We do that here in Congress. That is how we not only avoid government shutdowns, that is how we should govern.
HONORING STEVEN LOMBARDI AS PUBLIC SAFETY HERO OF THE YEAR
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , I rise today to honor Senior Deputy Steven Lombardi, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Napa County, California. Mr. Lombardi has provided 28 years of exceptional public service to the people of Napa County and acted with true heroism on March 9, 2018. prgtoken Mr. Lombardi is an honorable community member and public servant who does not hesitate to help and protect others. On March 9, 2018 Mr. Lombardi responded to an active shooter call at the Pathway Home on the grounds of the Yountville Veteran's Home. Backup units were still minutes away when Mr. Lombardi entered the facility alone with the goal of locating and containing the heavily armed shooter. Mr. Lombardi knew the danger he was putting himself in, but rushed inside the building anyway and made contact with the suspect. Mr. Lombardi engaged him with gunfire to prevent the shooter from harming others. The suspect returned fire and narrowly missed hitting Mr. Lombardi. Mr. Lombardi remained inside the facility for over eight minutes until other responding units arrived on the scene. He selflessly put his life in danger to prevent the shooter from causing more harm and pain upon others. prgtoken Mr. Lombardi is known for his compassion, tireless work ethic and staunch commitment to law enforcement and the people of Napa County. Mr. Lombardi has served with the Napa County Sheriff's office for 28 years. He has served as a range master, Mounted Posse Coordinator, Administrative Deputy, Patrol and Yountville Patrol during his tenure with the Sheriff's office. In addition, Mr. Lombardi is a member of the Napa Valley Horsemen's Association and the Skyline Riders, which he helped found. prgtoken Madam , we thank Senior Deputy Steven Lombardi for his dedication. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.
AMENDMENT TO THE VETERANS' CHILD CARE ACT
Josh Harder (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , I rise today in support of my bipartisan amendment to the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, which I sponsored with my colleagues from New York, Antonio Delgado and Elise Stefanik. prgtoken Our amendment guarantees that if our veterans suffer a mental health crisis, such as one caused by PTSD or depression, childcare for their kids is covered during the crisis. prgtoken Let me tell you why this is so important to me and the veterans in our community. prgtoken A few weeks ago, I visited the Stanislaus County Veterans Service Office and I spoke to multiple veterans suffering with mental health problems. A veteran in my district told me PTSD was his invisible injury. prgtoken Roughly 20 percent of our veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from depression, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury. That is triple the national average, and it affects our communities in numerous ways. For example, in my district we struggle with veteran homelessness. prgtoken So, today, we are doing something about it. This bipartisan amendment helps ease the pain of mental health emergencies for our veterans and makes sure their kids are taken care of. prgtoken By passing this amendment, we can show our veterans, whether they are from Stanislaus County, Essex County, or Ulster County, that we can actually work together in a bipartisan manner to give them the respect and honor they have earned.
REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE JOHN D. DINGELL
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , I rise today to honor a legend, the Honorable Congressman John D. Dingell, whom we lovingly call in Michigan ``The Dean.'' prgtoken Congressman Dingell will truly be missed. For 59 years, he served our great State of Michigan and our country. He believed in the power of this institution, the power it had to transform hate to love, to elevate the most vulnerable and to uplift our servicemen and -women. prgtoken Dean Dingell's legacy will live on with his memorable work on the historic Civil Rights Act, the Clean Air Act, and the need for universal healthcare. prgtoken I still remember to this day as a State legislator in Michigan when I had an environmental injustice issue going on in my district and he got me a United States Coast Guard hearing, a public hearing, in southwest Detroit. He called me, and he said: Kid, this is your last chance to fight the injustice. prgtoken I still remember coming in to serve on a panel with him at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor campus on immigrant rights and the need for immigration reform. I sat next to him, very frustrated after a long day in Lansing fighting for scrap metal reform, and saying to him: How can you do it so long? The special interest groups are so tough, and they are so tainting the process when it comes to issues that matter for our people. prgtoken He taught me and spoke to me about the power of stillness. prgtoken Congressman Dingell's strength and humanity will truly be missed. I thank the gentleman for his wicked sense of humor. Even more importantly, I am grateful he was always so warm and kind to us younger activists and for never trying to reduce my voice or others' voices. prgtoken His drive for a better world will live on with his lovely Deborah, as he calls her, his best friend and my current sister in Congress, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. prgtoken Some of the last things he was saying, of course, was the incredible humor that he had on Twitter, but I still remember the specific thing that he said: ``I signed up to fight Nazis 73 years ago, and I'll do it again if I have to. Hatred, bigotry, and fascism should have no place in this country.'' prgtoken As a Muslim girl growing up in America today, I am grateful to Congressman Dingell for his courage and his love. prgtoken Rest in peace, my friend. Thank you so much. prgtoken Madam , .
HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE JOHN DAVID DINGELL, JR.
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam , my first friend and mentor in Washington was Chairman Dingell. Big John guided me during all of my years as HHS Secretary. He was a towering figure in the House, passionate about healthcare, and tough on unethical behavior by those who benefited from the generosity of taxpayers. prgtoken He was, for all of us who knew and loved him, gentle and kind, and generous with his time and advice. He was a gentleman legislator, brilliant, tough, strategic, and extraordinarily effective. He was a patriot. prgtoken My heart goes out to my good friend, his wife, Debbie, and his family.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. This bill ensures that Veterans in my district and around the country have convenient access to no-cost child care when visiting a VA facility for a medical appointment. prgtoken After a survey conducted by the VA last decade found that access to child care was a top reason as to why some veterans were missing their medical appointments, a pilot program providing no-cost drop-in child care service for veterans was established as part of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. I am proud that the Dallas VA Medical Center is one of four VA facilities that are currently piloting the program. This legislation would make the pilot program permanent across the country. prgtoken This program has made it easier for parents within my district to schedule appointments at the Dallas VA Medical Center without having to deal with the stress and worry of finding safe and affordable child care options for their children. I am pleased to see that thanks to this important legislation, child care facilities like the Carousel Academy at the Dallas VA Medical Center may soon open up across the country. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation because veterans nationwide should have access to the same quality child care services that veterans in North Texas have been fortunate to have for the past six years.
HELPING GRIEVING PARENTS
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-2-8

the death of a child is a loss like no other, and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to any parents who face such circumstances, but our current laws leave no time for parents to grieve and begin the recovery process before returning to work. prgtoken The current Family and Medical Leave Act allows Americans to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of a child or the care of a loved one experiencing a serious health condition. We need to extend these same protections to parents grieving the loss of a child, which is why I introduced the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Parental Bereavement Act. prgtoken This is bipartisan legislation. I was proud to be joined by three s and two in introducing the bill. This is a commonsense and compassionate step we should all agree on. prgtoken I am particularly inspired by the families of those in whose memory the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act is named. They have turned the pain of the loss of a child into advocacy on behalf of other families facing the same terrible tragedy. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join us in this bipartisan effort to support parents in the toughest times imaginable.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Antonio Delgado (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-2-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken No veteran in Upstate New York or across the country should have to forgo healthcare because they can't access childcare services. My amendment adds emergency mental healthcare as a covered healthcare service for veterans under H.R. 840. prgtoken As it now reads, the bill provides for regular and intensive care, such as monthly VA medical appointments. However, it does not account for unscheduled appointments that, sadly, can make the difference between life and death. What if there is no time for an appointment? What if the individual is thinking about harming themselves or others? prgtoken My amendment would allow veterans to receive childcare services when there is an immediate need for assistance due to mental ailment, whether from addictive opioids, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression, just to name a few. prgtoken In my district and throughout most of the country, we have seen the opioid crisis rise to horrific numbers and impact millions of families. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, studies revealed that the number of veterans addicted to prescribed opioids grew by more than 50 percent, a total of 68,000 servicemembers. This is quite a concern. In my district, I represent more than 39,000 veterans, and much too often, addiction and mental health are swept under the table. prgtoken Mental health should not be treated differently than one's physical health, and this legislation and proposed amendment take significant steps to do just that, helping to aid veterans and their respective families with this fight. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and when faced with a mental health crisis, it is our responsibility as a nation to do everything we can to provide for their well-being. prgtoken , .
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-2-8

. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by Ms. Sherrill to the underlying bill. prgtoken While I support the underlying bill, this amendment is overly broad in that it would prohibit qualified individuals from being employed under the bill if they had ever been convicted of a drug felony or any violent crime, even a misdemeanor. I support the other exclusions included in the amendment. prgtoken The collateral consequences faced by individuals convicted of drug felonies, such as denial of employment when otherwise qualified, is counterproductive to the goal of reducing recidivism.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Conor Lamb (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-2-8

the underlying bill here was made in regular order, and many amendments were considered, including the amendment we just voted on. It is an amendment that does keep children safe. In fact, the way to make a mistake here and ensure that the safety of our children is in jeopardy would be to defeat this underlying bill. prgtoken This underlying bill does what we were sent here to do. It takes an excellent government program which provides childcare to tens of thousands of veterans and their families. It takes a program that works and says we are going to double down when the Veterans Administration does the right thing and people are satisfied; we will continue that program. prgtoken Instead, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to interrupt a great program, and when they could have made an amendment yesterday or when they could introduce new legislation, they want to sideline this successful program that takes care of children. prgtoken We had one veteran tell us that this was the best benefit they had been extended in exchange for their service since 1992 and that their child loves the childcare program at the VA, loves the children that they are included with and the people who watch over them while their parent can get treatment. There are tens of thousands of people out there like them. prgtoken , the motto of the Veterans Administration came from President Lincoln himself. He dared us to strive on, to finish the work we are in, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan--in other words, to take care of the entire family. prgtoken This is about family, and through the amendment process, we have made sure that no one will provide childcare to these children who is in serious trouble. We are doing our job. We will continue to strive on. There is no reason to get in the way of this excellent bill. prgtoken , I have learned a lot in my past year of being here. One important thing that I have learned is that we can always update the references we have made. I have quoted President Lincoln, but my colleague from New York (Mr. Jeffries) is also fond of making more contemporary references. prgtoken There is one that occurred to me today as I thought about the message of this bill. As the Pittsburgh Pirates were racing toward the World Series in 1979, they adopted as their slogan the words of the disco stars Sister Sledge: ``We are family.'' prgtoken , that is what this bill is about. We are family. We will take care of the veterans, and we will take care of their children. We are family. Now get up everybody and vote against this MTR and for the underlying bill.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-8

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I support this amendment because veterans living in rural or highly rural areas face many barriers to receiving healthcare. Childcare, whether for a lack of convenience or its high cost, should not be another roadblock for veterans who must sometimes travel great distances for their appointments. prgtoken This amendment would require VA to report to Congress on the effectiveness and accessibility of no-cost childcare for veterans living in rural communities. This report can, in turn, be used to find solutions for veterans who need both childcare and healthcare in rural communities. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-2-8

first, I thank the members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and our new leader, Mark Takano. Time and again, this committee proves that Congress can work across the aisle to pass commonsense policy to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans. I also thank Congresswoman Julia Brownley, my good friend and colleague, for improving the availability of childcare services for veterans seeking mental health treatment. prgtoken That is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, and it is also why I proudly offer this amendment. prgtoken My amendment would ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs develops and provides criteria to VA medical centers that account for access challenges when deciding what type of assistance to provide these veterans. prgtoken This Congress has recognized since at least 2014 that burdens to access are a significant barrier to receiving the quality healthcare that veterans want and deserve from our VA. Mental healthcare is no different. prgtoken In fact, access challenges are even more acute for mental health. We know that an alarmingly small percentage of eligible veterans seek mental health treatment, and we know that the veteran community is in crisis over suicide. We must do everything we can to ease the burden to access. prgtoken My amendment would address one of those access challenges that faces rural veterans daily. It is tough enough for veterans in my home State of New Hampshire who have to drive hours, sometimes through rain or snow, to receive the high-quality services at VA medical centers. They should be afforded the opportunity to place their children at childcare services closer to home to ease at least one burden, caring for a child while traveling. prgtoken But my amendment would also require the VA to provide childcare assistance that is convenient to the veteran rather than the contracting office. If the VA cannot provide services at the facility and instead must provide services in the community, veterans should not have to drive across town to drop off their children. prgtoken Childcare assistance should be provided in a way that eases burdens and accounts for geography and long driving distances. prgtoken In requiring the Secretary to develop criteria, my amendment will force consistency in furnishing this benefit and, more importantly, require the Department to really consider what it means for veterans seeking mental healthcare while also actively caring for their children. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment, and I am grateful for the wonderful work the gentleman does on behalf of our Nation's veterans. prgtoken , .