mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING OUR PROMISES THROUGH EXPEDITION FOR AFGHAN SIVS ACT OF 2021
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-6-28

the Army Ranger Creed reads, in part: ``I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy.'' prgtoken Today, Afghans who worked for U.S. forces are in grave danger. The organization No One Left Behind, a nonprofit that advocates for the relocation of Afghan interpreters to the U.S says that more than 300 translators or their relatives have already been killed since 2014, but that number only increasing every day. prgtoken We cannot allow a slow bureaucracy to cost the lives of Afghans who served alongside our men and women. prgtoken As an Army Ranger and paratrooper, I served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In both places, I worked very closely with Iraqi and Afghan interpreters who were absolutely critical to me accomplishing my mission. prgtoken , I am not somebody who many people in this House would say is prone to hyperbole or exaggeration, but I can say with confidence that I might not be here today speaking to all of my colleagues had it not been for these men and women who trusted us, who fought with us, who died with us, shoulder to shoulder. prgtoken They provided this service at great risk to themselves and their families, and they did so with courage and the understanding that we would stand with them and provide a safe haven if and when necessary. prgtoken Well, my friends and colleagues, that time has come. prgtoken Today, we are considering the HOPE for Afghan SIVs Act to allow the administration to waive the requirement that Afghan special immigrant visa applicants undergo a medical examination while in Afghanistan. prgtoken As my colleagues already pointed out, there is currently one facility in Kabul that conducts all of these examinations. It is already dangerous and increasingly dangerous to get to that facility, to work through the backlog, and to afford those examinations. prgtoken Under our bill, recipients would be required to get a medical examination within 30 days of arriving in the United States. prgtoken Let me be clear. Nothing in this bill would impact the security screening and vetting process for these applicants. The National Security Council estimates that this change could decrease the SIV process by approximately 1 month per applicant. prgtoken My colleagues, in combat and in a war zone, every hour matters. Minutes seem like hours, days like weeks. A month will save many, many lives. prgtoken We wouldn't be considering this bill on the floor today if it weren't for a broad coalition of supporters. prgtoken To my friend and colleague, Representative Wenstrup, I thank him for his partnership. I know how important this is to him, too, for personal reasons. prgtoken , to the members of the Honoring Our Promises Working Group, I thank them for their steadfast attention to this issue and for their support of this bill, s and alike. prgtoken , I thank Leader Hoyer, Chairman Nadler, Chairwoman Lofgren, and her subcommittee staff, Ami Shah and Betsy
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO RESPONDED ON JANUARY 6, 2021
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-6-28

the House will not be in session on July 6, so I am taking a moment now to commemorate the 6 months since the attack on our democracy. It happened right here at the United States Capitol. Right here outside these doors where we are standing today. prgtoken I thank the U.S. Capitol Police, the D.C. Metropolitan Police, the National Guard, and all the Federal police agencies that responded on January 6, 2021. prgtoken Six months later we have not forgotten your bravery, we have not forgotten your sacrifice, and we thank you.
CBC SUPPORTS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Alma S. Adams (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2021-6-28

. Madam , I thank Representative Beatty for yielding. I thank Representative Torres for his leadership and thank Chairwoman Beatty for being such a phenomenal leader and a role model for all of us. prgtoken I am pleased to be here tonight to support the Congressional Black Caucus members, known as the conscious of the Congress, not only because of what we believe, but because we show up on days like this. prgtoken I rise tonight to talk about an essential infrastructure investment, an investment in our historically Black colleges and universities. prgtoken Earlier this year, the bipartisan leadership of the HBCU Caucus, Representative French Hill from Arkansas, Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, and Tim Scott from South Carolina, as well as our vice chairs, Representative Terri Sewell and Mike Turner, came together to introduce the bipartisan IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. prgtoken We introduced this legislation to help light a fire for our schools. The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act represents a historic investment in both the physical and the digital infrastructure of our historically Black colleges. prgtoken Our Nation's HBCUs deserve a level of investment and engagement reflective of their multibillion dollar impact on our Nation's economy and their collective impact on the minds of millions of our Nation's future leaders. prgtoken We have bipartisan agreement on that. Don't just take it from me. In the words of Senator Tim Scott, ``HBCUs have educated and produced top- notch graduates in every field--all while operating on minimal budgets. I can only imagine what more they will accomplish with proper funding.'' prgtoken Our Nation's low-income, first-generation college students deserve that opportunity, and to ensure that that happens, the schools that they attend must be made whole. There are more than 102 across this Nation. I had the privilege of serving for 40 years on the campus of Bennett College in Greensboro, and I am a graduate twice of North Carolina A&T State University, and Johnson C. Smith University is in my district. prgtoken Finally, as we have a national debate about infrastructure in Congress and across the country, I want to make one thing clear, that the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act is not only an infrastructure bill, it is also a jobs bill. And this bill creates jobs and enables HBCUs to continue to be a critical source of diversity in the workforce. This bill has the potential to create over half a million jobs while investing in critical HBCU infrastructure. prgtoken Historically Black colleges and universities are essential infrastructure for the next generation of students, workers, innovators, athletes, creators, thinkers, and leaders, and that is why we need to pass the most transformative legislation for historically Black colleges and universities in history. You have got to rectify over 150 years of neglect, broken promises, and institutional racism. prgtoken Any infrastructure package that
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democrat, MP) \u2014 2021-6-28

H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act, includes my bill, H.R. 3795, to ensure educators from the Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are represented in the annual Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. prgtoken Established by Congress in 1983, the Presidential Award is the highest recognition that an elementary or secondary school mathematics or science teacher may receive in the United States. Over 4,800 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. prgtoken Unlike the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Department of Defense schools, each of which may recognize a STEM educator, no more than two awards in total can go to teachers from the four insular areas: the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. This limitation has resulted in many years in which no teacher from one of those four areas is selected. No teacher from the Marianas, for instance, was selected last year. And this lack of recognition defeats the purpose of the program, which is to inspire excellence within each area and provide a role model for other local STEM educators to emulate. These statutory limits, also, unfairly deny deserving educators in the insular areas the national recognition and professional development opportunities we provide to STEM educators elsewhere in our nation. prgtoken My bill provides a more equitable process by requiring awards to at least one teacher from each of the four areas. By ensuring teachers from all parts of America are represented, more students and schools will benefit from the expert-led training programs and collaboration opportunities available to awardees during their visit to our nation's capital. prgtoken I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for all their support to include into H.R. 2225 this important measure. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2225.
CBC SUPPORTS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-6-28

I thank Congresswoman Alma Adams for her comments. prgtoken It is always a pleasure when we have the opportunity to work together. And I say to Congressman Torres that that is what we are going to do tonight. prgtoken I could not think of a better segue than to pitch it to Representative Torres. We have two members of the Congressional Black Caucus from the great State of New York. I am so used to saying the great State of Ohio, but tonight we have two freshman members of the Congressional Black Caucus who have been great supporters to our message, our power, who have been fearless leaders. prgtoken So at this time, I say to Congressman Torres, my coanchor, that I think it would be best for him to yield the floor to and make some remarks about Congressman Jamaal Bowman who will speak next. prgtoken Madam , from New York (Mr. Torres.)
GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY ACT OF 2021
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 391, the Global Health Security Act of 2021. prgtoken As the saying goes: ``An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,'' and that is undoubtedly true in global health. Pandemics don't respect borders and they don't care about nationalities, and we are seeing that play out on the front pages of the news these days as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause severe disruptions around the world. prgtoken Over the past few years, global health security has become increasingly tied to U.S. national security, as evidenced by not only our experience with COVID-19, but also previous pandemics, such as Ebola and Zika, both overseas and at home. prgtoken Having a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to prepare for and respond to these threats is critical. We must build on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken The Global Health Security Agenda, which the United States has committed to, helps countries invest in preparedness and strengthens systems that prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks. prgtoken H.R. 391, a bipartisan bill by Representative Connolly and Representative Chabot, would institutionalize the best practices the United States has learned in global health security. This bill establishes an interagency review council to not only advance global health security, but also mandates a U.S. Global Health Security Coordinator to manage the U.S. response in these emergencies and allow the interagency review council to speak with one voice. prgtoken I believe this person should be at the National Security Council as the natural nexus between diplomacy, development, and defense. This person would help build capacity, apply lessons learned, and prepare for the future. prgtoken While I am heartened to see that the administration has recently appointed such a person to tackle the pandemic that we are facing, this legislation would create a permanent position focused on U.S. global health security. prgtoken Furthermore, this bill would require the U.S. Global Health Security Coordinator to develop a strategy and regularly report to Congress on the progress the United States is making toward making global health security a core national security interest. prgtoken Finally, this bill outlines a framework to leverage assistance to increase contributions from other donors, along the lines of the Global Fund, to support global health security activities around the world. prgtoken This bill passed the House multiple times in the past, and is more timely than ever as we continue to address COVID-19 and seek to prepare ourselves for the next outbreak. prgtoken So I would like to thank Representative Connolly and Representative Chabot for their work on this legislation over the past several years and for recognizing the vital importance of global health security as part of America's national security. <
RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL SUBMARINE MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-6-28

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, which occurred on Friday, June 25, 2021. Located at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, the research center has served Connecticut's second district, the region, and the nation as a hub of excellence, ensuring the readiness and primacy of the United States' undersea deterrence efforts by way of cutting edge health and performance research. prgtoken Although Friday's date marks the official date of the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory's 75th anniversary, the Research Laboratory's origins date back to as early as 1942 when it was created as an arm of the Naval Submarine Base New London Dispensary. During the earliest stages of America's direct involvement in the Second World War, when our nation's submarine force was put to one of its greatest tests, the center was created to provide answers to problems in communications, vision, personnel, selection, and environmental medicine resulting from wartime demands. The success of the Research Laboratory was evident from its earliest beginnings when in March 1944 it separated from the dispensary and became the independent Medical Research Department of the Submarine Base. Throughout the remainder of World War II, this department became responsible for the organization, development and operation of numerous training programs, including the school for Pharmacist Mates entering the submarine service, the Lookout Training School, the Voice Communication School, and the school for Second Class Divers. prgtoken By June 1946, with the full conclusion of the War, the Research Laboratory formally gained prgtoken command status as the Medical Research Laboratory, under the direction of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. From there, its mission grew to the selection of all officers and enlisted for training at the Naval Submarine School, specialized training in submarine medicine for hospital corpsmen and medical officers and research into the medical aspects of submarines and diving. As our maritime national security policy evolved to meet the demands of the Cold War Era and new age of nuclear deterrence, so too did the Research Laboratory's avenues of focus and innovation, including its innovative work in submarine rescue experiments. prgtoken The Research Laboratory has worked tirelessly to push the field of underwater safety forward in the decades since. For example, it has developed countless reliable products including the International Orange high-visibility color enhancing rescue at sea, the Farnsworth Lantern color vision test, the improved Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment suit, the enhanced Disabled Submarine Survival Guide as well as numerous generations of the Navy's diving and decompression tables which are still in use today. In fact, the Research Laboratory's work has also been instrumental in evolving
GLOBAL LEARNING LOSS ASSESSMENT ACT OF 2021
Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-6-28

I want to thank Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for their leadership on this critical issue and for working with me on this bill to get it not only passed out of committee, but here on the floor for consideration on a suspension basis. prgtoken I have had a really eclectic background before joining Congress, but most recently, I was a high school chemistry teacher in north Philadelphia, and I also ran a nonprofit focused on early childhood literacy for pre-K through fourth-grade kids. So I am particularly passionate about the issue that we are talking about today. prgtoken , it is an honor to rise today to ask my colleagues for their support of H.R. 1500, the Global Learning Loss Assessment Act. prgtoken My bill will direct the U.S. Agency for International Development to submit a report to Congress on the impacts of COVID-19 on the Agency's basic education programs and global learning. prgtoken Investing in global education is not a humanitarian issue. It is an economic and national security issue. A more educated global population paves the way for a more stable global economy, and what is clear is that COVID-19 has caused a dramatic loss in global learning. prgtoken Our first step must be to clearly identify the scope of this loss so that we can begin the work of bridging that gap. The estimates are alarming. Ninety percent of students worldwide, meaning 1.6 billion youth, have had severe interruptions in their education due to COVID- 19. This gap has the potential to hinder global efforts on economic justice, lasting peace, poverty eradication, ending world hunger, gender equity, and so much more. prgtoken As a steadfast advocate for women and girls around the world, I am also particularly concerned about the harrowing consequences that school-aged girls face in light of school closures, including an increased likelihood of gender-based violence. prgtoken To shore up the increasing gaps in learning and to preserve massive gains the United States has made in global education rates, we have to understand the extent of damage this pandemic has caused. This bill will arm us with the data that we need to move quickly, invest effectively across our USAID programs, and make our international basic education programs more resilient to crises such as these. prgtoken We cannot afford to ignore the devastating effects that COVID-19 has had on students around our globe. Education loss will continue without intentional steps on our behalf, and so that is why I am so grateful to Pelosi, Chairman Meeks, and Mr. McCaul for placing my bipartisan Global Learning Loss Assessment Act here before the Congress for a vote today. prgtoken In particular, I want to thank and express my deep appreciation to Representative Fitzpatrick and Representative Quigley for working so closely with my office in introducing this legislation with me. prgtoken Their steadfast education to learning and students around the world is to be co
INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE A PRIORITY
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2021-6-29

President claimed a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure. On the surface this sounds like great news. Unfortunately, quickly following this new-found agreement, President crushed the bipartisan bill by mandating wasteful Green New Deal borrowing, destroying jobs. prgtoken Improving America's infrastructure should be a priority and to delay it for partisan reasons is another insult to the American people. The President's voters are misled with an absurd interpretation of infrastructure. prgtoken This chaotic mentality has been exhibiting a reversal from the bipartisanship President promised when running for President. Dishonoring promises and undermining bipartisan negotiations, the administration should actually be focused on the needs of the American people instead of destroying jobs. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we should never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
RECOGNIZING NORTH CAROLINA SWEET POTATO COMMISSION'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-6-29

I rise today in recognition of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission's 60th anniversary. prgtoken In 1961, six sweet potato producers chartered the commission to support growers and to maintain North Carolina's standing as a leading sweet potato producing State. They are now more than 400 sweet potato growers strong as well as packers, processors, and business associates who remain dedicated to supporting our State's prosperous sweet potato industry. prgtoken Since 1971, North Carolina has ranked as the number one sweet potato producing State in the U.S. with 65 percent of the Nation's sweet potato production. North Carolina sweet potato producers are family farmers who have been cultivating their land for generations growing many different crops. They work day and night, year after year to ship delectable, high quality, nutritious North Carolina sweet potatoes all across the country and the world. prgtoken Agriculture is the backbone of North Carolina's economy, and the sweet potato industry is absolutely critical to our food supply in North Carolina and in the country. It is not an understatement to say that the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission has more than fulfilled its founding mission to strengthen our State's sweet potato production, and I congratulate them on their 60th anniversary. prgtoken May they have many more years of providing every American with one of our Nation's safest, nutritious, and might I add, delicious vegetables grown. Congress Must Aggressively Address the National Debt
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2021-6-29

. Madam , I was unable to vote on June 29, 2021 due to travel arrangements. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: NO on Roll Call No. 189; NO on Roll Call No. 190; NO on Roll Call No. 191; NO on Roll Call No. 193; YES on Roll Call No. 194; NO on Roll Call No. 195; and NO on Roll Call No. 196. prgtoken I oppose passage of H.R. 3005 because I believe in preserving America's rich history and I support each state's right to choose which two statues they want representing them in the U.S. Capitol Building. The Left has devoted too much energy to tearing down statues and monuments, including those of the Founders. We should learn from our history, not desecrate it. prgtoken I oppose passage of H.R. 2662 because it would dangerously expand subpoena power so that it could be weaponized against prior administration officials, rather than focusing investigative authority on the current government.