mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING NICOLE BERG
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2020-9-30

some may say that I am biased, but I firmly believe that Washington State is home to the best farmers in the world. Today I rise to congratulate one of those incredible farmers, my fellow Washingtonian, Nicole Berg, for her appointment to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board of directors. prgtoken Nicole's experience as a fourth-generation farmer in central Washington has provided her with a strong, yet personal, understanding of the needs of family-run farms in the United States. prgtoken For many years, I have seen Nicole's passion for putting food on America's table. Her work with the National Association of Wheat Growers has been of immense benefit to the region and to the world. And there is no doubt in my mind that she will be a great asset to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. prgtoken I wish Nicole the very best as she enters this new chapter. Her appointment to the FCIC board of directors is well deserved, and I congratulate her on this fantastic achievement.
TRIBUTE TO JOHN SHIMKUS
Jeff Duncan (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , I rise to honor a good friend and esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, John Shimkus. prgtoken Congressman Shimkus has been a true statesman and a devoted public servant for the people of his district. prgtoken He's a testament to hard work, commitment to the job, and dedication to serving the United States of America. prgtoken John and I have served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee together and share a passion for energy and environment policy. prgtoken We have fought for Yucca Mountain and for the promise of a permanent geological repository for our nation's nuclear waste, something that impacts both South Carolina and Illinois. prgtoken We have fought for the advancement of nuclear energy as part of our all-of-the-above energy matrix and a carbon-free source of electricity. prgtoken We fought for these things and more--and his efforts in these fights will be truly missed. prgtoken I thank John. It has been great working with him here in Congress. prgtoken I know God will bless him in his future endeavors.
THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ARE TWO-TIME STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-9-30

I rise today to bring some thunder to the House Chamber and recognize the now two-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. prgtoken Behind the leadership of Captain Steven Stamkos and Stanley Cup MVP Victor Hedman, the Bolts have enshrined themselves as one of the greatest teams of all time. prgtoken Although COVID prevented fans from attending the playoffs, the distant thunder of the greatest fans in hockey and the determination of the Lightning got them to the top of the mountain, . prgtoken , as we say in Tampa Bay, Stanley Needs a Tan. And let me just say, it is sunny back in Tampa Bay. prgtoken While one Tampa Bay championship run comes to an end, another begins. Best of luck to the Tampa Bay Rays as they begin their quest to secure their first World Series title. prgtoken Let's make Tampa Bay Title Town USA.
THE GROWING THREAT IN CHINA
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , the China Task Force uncovered reprehensible behavior from the Chinese Communist Party, and it is time that we hold them accountable. prgtoken This body has taken action to condemn the gross state-sponsored oppression of the Uyghurs and stood strongly in support of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. prgtoken However, the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted for the American people the growing threat the Chinese Communist Party poses. prgtoken From the beginning, the CCP has covered up vital medical information, allowing what could have been a local outbreak in Wuhan to turn into the global pandemic that decimated our economy, killed almost a million people worldwide, and weakened the American resolve. prgtoken Madam , I commend the China Task Force for their hard work making realistic policy recommendations to help the U.S. stand strong in the face of the growing threat in China.
AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS OF A MORE PRODUCTIVE EMERGING TECH ECONOMY ACT
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , I rise in support of the American COMPETE Act. This package of bills includes two of my own--the SMART IoT Act and the Advancing Unmanned Delivery Services Act. prgtoken The SMART IoT Act would encourage the development of future Internet of Things policies that will promote innovation and help these technologies grow to further benefit consumers and businesses alike. It is crucial we have the right federal policies in place to bolster this industry that has dramatically changed the way we live, manufacture goods, farm, and even receive health care through internet-connected devices. prgtoken I also introduced the Advancing Unmanned Delivery Services Act with my friend from Michigan, Mrs. Dingell. This legislation would evaluate the many benefits contactless delivery has for various sectors of our country and help identify potential regulatory roadblocks to the use of their services. This technology is especially important today as Americans depend on home delivery services to remain socially distant to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the American COMPETE Act to ensure the United States remains a global leader in innovation.
DHS BLUE CAMPAIGN ENHANCEMENT ACT
Dan Crenshaw (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-9-30

I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5804. prgtoken Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. It deprives its victims of their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. prgtoken While DHS and the Department of Justice are the lead Federal agencies in the fight against trafficking, State and local law enforcement frequently encounter victims and their traffickers. Individuals and employees of certain industries, such as medical professionals, educators, and airline employees, among others, are also more likely to encounter victims and need to know how to identify and respond to them. This is where the Blue Campaign has come in to fill an important gap. ``Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases.'' prgtoken In the 10 years since it began, the Blue Campaign has helped raise awareness of trafficking. Materials developed by the Blue Campaign have helped individuals outside law enforcement recognize the signs of trafficking and helped those at risk of being trafficked. It has fostered communication and partnerships between industry, law enforcement, and nongovernmental organizations. prgtoken My bill, H.R. 5804, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, amends the Homeland Security Act to expand the reach of the Blue Campaign through the use of online educational videos and the creation of a Blue Campaign Advisory Committee within DHS to provide support and guidance for future development, training, and outreach. prgtoken It expands on the great work of the Blue Campaign and the fight against human trafficking. It is another step toward ending the cruel and inhumane exploitation by traffickers and rescuing those caught in its grasp. prgtoken I appreciate my colleagues' support of this bill.
HONORING HYDROCEPHALUS AWARENESS MONTH
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , each year in September, designated as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, hydrocephalus patients, caregivers, and other supporters across the country work together to raise awareness of the impact and prevalence of hydrocephalus and urge public and medical officials to garner more resources to improve treatment protocols and one day find a cure. prgtoken As we all know, COVID-19 and its inherent social distancing requirements have limited many public awareness activities, but this past month members of the Hydrocephalus Association and the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, and other active supporters, adjusted and relied on social media and other venues to share statistics, brochures and personal stories to enhance awareness of this condition. prgtoken As the co-chair of the Congressional Pediatric and Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus, I call on all my colleagues in the House to take the time and learn more about hydrocephalus so we can better assist our constituents and their family members who live with challenges of hydrocephalus every day. prgtoken Hydrocephalus is colloquially known as ``water on the brain.'' In truth, the condition is caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid and can be treated only by surgically implanting a drainage shunt in the brain. Everyone, from babies to the elderly, can develop hydrocephalus. While some cases are congenital, many cases are caused by a traumatic brain injury, an infection, or even just develop as part of the aging process. prgtoken Hospitals across the country work to serve the over one-million adults with hydrocephalus, including the New Neurons Neurosurgery Institute (NNNI), located in my district in Spring Lake, New Jersey. NNNI's pediatrics division plays a critical role in addressing the needs of thousands of children with hydrocephalus in New Jersey and across the country. Nationwide, over 400,000 babies a year are born with hydrocephalus. prgtoken Through their compassion, skills, and critical expertise dedicated medical professionals such as those at NNNI save lives every day. prgtoken United States citizens are not alone in their struggles with this condition. Unfortunately, the global situation is even worse, which is why I've introduced the Global Brain Health Act, which adds hydrocephalus to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This approach would ensure more robust foreign assistance for treating those infants and children in developing countries with hydrocephalus and other brain health-related conditions. It also fosters study in treatment protocols that can be shared here at home. prgtoken It's essential for Members of Congress to better understand this condition and its profound impact on the people we represent. I urge my colleagues to join the bipartisan Congressional Adult and Pediatric Hydrocephalus Caucus. As a member you will not only help raise awareness but may also play a role in creating public policies that lead to better tr
SUPREME COURT FIGHT IS ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-9-30

on Tuesday, the insightful columnist Star Parker provided an extraordinary analysis, ``Supreme Court Fight is about Life and Death,'' in the Aiken Standard. ``Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader, says, `Our number one goal must be to communicate the stakes of this Supreme Court fight to the American people' . . . `nothing is off the table.' ``Nothing? Not even violence?'' `` . . . Senator Schumer is right that the American people must know what's at stake. ``Will we have a culture of life and civility, or a culture of death, violence, and chaos. . . . '' ``Fortunately, President understands what is at stake.'' prgtoken Because of ``the diligence of this President and the Senate, we will soon see an outstanding conservative woman--one who respects both the sanctity of life and the sanctity of our Nation's institutions--fill this Court vacancy.'' prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. prgtoken Godspeed, Amy Barrett and Carol Davis.
HONORING ROYCE CARTER
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-9-30

I rise today to remember and honor a great American. prgtoken Mr. Royce Everett Carter of Blackshear, Georgia, passed away on September 12 at the age of 85. prgtoken Royce was born and raised in Georgia, and he lived in Pierce County for the past 52 years. prgtoken Committed to improving transportation and infrastructure in the State of Georgia, he had worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation as a project engineer for the State Highway Department until his retirement. prgtoken Royce worked on several projects with T.R. Long Engineering over the years, including the Royce E. Carter roundabout on New School Road, which was dedicated to the work he did throughout his life to improve his community. prgtoken He was a steadfast public servant who was always looking for opportunities to improve the lives around him. prgtoken In his limited free time, he enjoyed golf, and took his appreciation for it to new heights when he served on the board of the Lakeview Golf Club and eventually became president. prgtoken Royce loved his friends, his family, his community, and his church dearly, and he used every opportunity to make the most of the time he spent on this Earth. prgtoken , I am thankful for the life he lived, and I know his legacy will continue for years to come. prgtoken I know that every time I drive the Royce E. Carter roundabout, I will remember the impact he made on Georgia's First Congressional District.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 925, NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION EXTENSION ACT
Debbie Lesko (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2020-9-30

. This bill also removes any protections from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. That is right here in this bill. prgtoken This bill, as Representative Cole also said, federalizes elections. In fact, it prohibits States from requiring voter ID. Arizona requires voter ID. This bill would take that away. prgtoken It also legalizes ballot harvesting. Arizona opposed--the legislature said no ballot harvesting. This would bring it right back, right here in this bill. prgtoken Again, it would also provide tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires in blue States that require taxpayers in low-tax States, like Arizona, to subsidize them. prgtoken That is why we can't support this bill. There are too many poison pills. Please come up with something that we can agree on to help the American people.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 925, NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION EXTENSION ACT
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I just want to respond quickly to my friends and point out something that is striking to me in listening to the debate. There is almost nothing that any of my friends have mentioned that we don't support--almost nothing. All these worthy programs for restaurants, all this relief for individuals, and all this help, we all agree with that. It is the things my friends don't mention that they have in their bill that we don't agree with. prgtoken We don't agree with more money for Planned Parenthood. That has no place in this bill. prgtoken We obviously have very serious objections to federalizing the election system of this country, which is State based. That has no place in this bill. prgtoken We obviously don't want to give a tax break to millionaires and billionaires in blue States by getting rid of the State and local tax limitations that were placed in. prgtoken Those are the things, none of which have anything to do with coronavirus, that we object to. Those are the things that my friends are insisting on that they cannot pass in the United States Senate and that the President will not sign. prgtoken If they want to actually pass all these other wonderful things, we agree with them, and we have been very generous in terms of the amount of money. The President has moved up on that. prgtoken Money is a negotiable item here. Policy positions--poison pills, as my good friend from Arizona said--are not, and that is what is keeping us from acting. prgtoken Frankly, that is a tragedy and a travesty, in my view, Madam . prgtoken Madam , .
RECOGNIZING BARB IVES
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to thank and celebrate someone who has been a dedicated member of my team for many years now. Barb Ives, a field representative and office manager, recently surpassed a 20-year milestone representing our district. prgtoken Barb has selflessly served the district since September of 2000, initially with prgtoken my predecessor Congressman John Peterson. We were truly blessed to welcome her to the Thompson Team. prgtoken Barb is an active member in her community and never stops working hard for our constituents, helping individuals get much-needed assistance on issues related to the VA, Social Security, Medicare, and so much more. She is the kind of person who is willing to step up, take charge, and get the job done. prgtoken In the little spare time she has when she is not helping others, Barb is an avid golfer and a wonderful singer. I can't thank Barb enough for her hard work and dedication and sense of humor over the years.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 925, NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION EXTENSION ACT
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-9-30

. I thank the gentleman for yielding, Madam . prgtoken Madam , the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP as many of us refer to it, has been shut down now for over 50 days. That is nearly 2 months that small businesses have been unable to access approximately $137 billion that still remains in the program that was supposed to go for their relief. prgtoken Small businesses and their workers need our help. Small businesses employ nearly half of the workers in this Nation, one out of two. Think of that. One out of every two people employed in this Nation works for one of America's small businesses. Not only do they represent millions of workers, but they also are the Nation's job creators. They create approximately two out of every three new jobs in America. prgtoken Of course, these aren't just statistics. One example of an outstanding small business owner is Lacie Sims. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Lacie's business, the Village Family Restaurant, in Waynesville, Ohio, back in my district. prgtoken Lacie spoke with me about how she used the Paycheck Protection Program to keep her 25 workers employed so that they could continue to serve the community and, most importantly, continue to support their families. Lacie went on to tell me about how she quickly adapted her business to accommodate pickup, delivery, and safe indoor dining. prgtoken Like Lacie, many small business owners have adapted and persevered through the pandemic. Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to challenge their very existence. prgtoken Now is the time for us to act, and we have an option before us here today. If we defeat today's previous question, we can move directly to my legislation to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program, the PPP program. H.R. 8265 would provide targeted assistance to small businesses that truly need the Federal Government's help. prgtoken This legislation gives small businesses the opportunity to receive a second PPP if they can demonstrate a significant revenue reduction or a first-round loan if they didn't get one the first time. Additionally, it adds more flexibility in how the PPP dollars can be spent and still be eligible for loan forgiveness. prgtoken Many small businesses are still struggling across this country. We need to act now to help these small businesses, the people that they employ, and the families that they, in turn, support. prgtoken Let's defeat the previous question and restart the Paycheck Protection Program. The Nation's economy is at stake. We still have $137 billion sitting there that was intended to go to these small businesses. We don't have to allocate any more funding. The funding is there. prgtoken Now, my ic colleagues have said that they are for small business. This is the time not just to talk the talk but to walk the walk. You get two opportunities, Madam , you can vote against this previous question or you can sign the discharge petition. Either one of them gives us another
THE EASTSIDE GIRLS
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , I rise today to offer a tribute to 15 remarkable women who through their 65 year relationships with each other is a story itself; but, I believe, might also offer a way to carry many of us through this tumultuous time of economic upheaval, tragic illness and death, and riots in our streets where we have lived peacefully all these years. prgtoken Their belief in each other has allowed them to love and share tragedies and disappointments. Their lifetime of friendships and memories help them to remember to laugh and make time together. prgtoken Melany Burton Davis remembers what she recalls as one of the scariest days of her life at age 10, when she had to go to a new elementary school. ``Little did I know that the precious girls I met that day were going to be lifelong friends. Each of them made me feel not just accepted but valued and loved.'' prgtoken She goes on to say, ``Even when we all went our separate ways for decades, whenever we got together I had the same feelings of being valued and loved. These beautiful girls always bring joy to my heart, and I am blessed to have them in my life.'' prgtoken They are often asked, ``How do they do that?'' prgtoken Jackie Nantz Kelly, one of the women, answered, ``Where to start? How do you describe a 70-year friendship? prgtoken We started in two different elementary schools that merged into the same junior high school where it all began. We grew closer in high school, but went our separate ways in college. We married, had children, some divorced and had struggles of single parent hood, but we survived and all of us raised beautiful children. We are all not the same religion, but believe in God and we love our country'' prgtoken In 1987, 26 years after we graduated high school, we decided it was time for a reunion. We remembered our best times were slumber parties so that's what we did, Dana Gant Tate sent the invitation and commanded for all of us, ``Sleeping bags, pillows and baby doll pajamas or you don't come!'' prgtoken We had a great time and decided we had to do a better job of keeping in touch, and we did. prgtoken We began to travel. prgtoken Tricia Walker Christensen was our historian forth is outing and in her words, ``In 2010 we had a great opportunity to celebrate and travel when we joined 60 passengers to birth the USS Fort Worth at Mariette Marine Corporation. One of our Eastside Girls was Kay Mullendore Granger and she was the sponsor of the ship. We watched as she stood with her grandsons and smashed a bottle of champagne against the bow of the ship. We were proud and excited. We were also holding our breath hoping that the hit would be successful. Kay was never athletic, so it wasn't a sure thing she could do this.'' prgtoken We gathered together for parties and get togethers that others hosted and at some point someone suggested we needed a name. Many of us still lived in the part of Fort Worth where we had all that fun, so we named ourselves ``T
RECOGNIZING THE BOTTO FAMILY
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2020-9-30

. Madam , I rise to recognize a well-known and beloved family in south Jersey, the Bottos. prgtoken The Botto family embodies the American Dream. Under the vision of Robert Sr.--the Sausage King, or Big Bob--the Bottos followed their meat market with the Botto's Italian Line restaurant, a supermarket, catering and banquet hall. prgtoken I can attest, the Bottos' family sausage, meatballs, and meats are absolutely delicious. I had the pleasure of touring some of the facilities last month with Dominic and Enrico Botto. prgtoken Your family is a testament to the fact that hard work and passion will get you far in life. And in the minds of everyone who has ever had the pleasure of enjoying a meal or spending time with you, this is the true American Dream, a family who worked hard, who reached for the brass ring, who did more, and never gave up. prgtoken God bless you and your family for your commitment to the community, and I look forward to plenty of full stomachs in the future.