mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. MAURICE PRITCHETT
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise to commemorate the life and legacy of a giant of our community--Mr. Maurice Pritchett. Mr. Pritchett, surrounded by his family, was called home to his Creator on April 21st, at the age of 80. The 80 years that Mr. Pritchett spent on Earth were a testament to an inherent optimism--an exercise in making his community, and in turn this world, a better place. prgtoken Raised on the East Side of our beloved Wilmington, a young Maurice Pritchett would excel in the classroom and on the basketball court. He would go on to attend the historic Howard High School and earn Wilmington All-City Honors. His academic and athletic prowess would take him from Wilmington to Dover--earning a full scholarship and attending what was then known as Delaware State College. His career with the Hornets would earn him induction into the Delaware State Basketball Hall of Fame and the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame. prgtoken And while his success on the court was evident, the true gift of his time at Delaware State University was the fostering of his true passion and what would go on to become his life's work--public education. He first taught in Cecil County, Maryland--eventually finding his way back to the school he had attended as a young boy, Bancroft Elementary. Starting as a community school coordinator, he rose to become vice principal and then principal. He served the students and families at The Bancroft School for over thirty years and in the 1994-95 school year, was honored as the National Distinguished Principal for Delaware. prgtoken Mr. Pritchett also devoted a great deal of his time helping students outside of the classroom, coaching the Delaware high school All-Stars and helping prepare our young people for the next phase of their life prgtoken All of those accomplishments and accolades may provide some context for the skill, intellect, and work ethic of Maurice Pritchett--but they fail to paint the full picture of who he was and what he meant to our community. We're all so grateful to his wonderful wife, Juanita, and his loving children and grandchildren for sharing Mr. Pritchett with us for so many years. prgtoken An old Greek proverb reads, ``A society grows great when men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.'' Maurice Pritchett spent his life planting trees of wisdom, hope, and love in our community. We were blessed that so many of them blossomed while he was still with us--and thanks to the work in his life, his legacy will be those yet to bloom--and the shade we'll all enjoy in his name.
CELEBRATION OF BERT BERKLEY'S 100TH BIRTHDAY
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise today to celebrate and honor Mr. Bert Berkley for his decades of service to Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and to congratulate him on his most recent milestone: his 100th birthday. A fine example of what it means to dedicate your life to service. Bert spent his career finding ways to improve quality of life within his community and beyond. prgtoken Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Bert grew up surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit epitomized by his family, which founded Tension Envelope, now known as Tension Corporation. The Kansas City- based company, which initially specialized in advertising novelties and business stationery, was established in 1886 under the direction of William Berkowitz and Maurice Berkowitz--Bert's grandfather and great uncle, respectively. prgtoken Bert was passionate about the family-owned business early in his career, preparing himself for future responsibilities by studying economics at Duke University. With World War II underway, Bert was deployed to the Philippines where he worked as a quartermaster, managing valuable equipment and supplies. After three and a half years, he was able to leave a day early if he signed up for the Army Reserves, which he did. On his return home, Bert fell in love and married his life-time partner and mother of his children, Joan, in 1948. Bert went on to obtain a Master's in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1950 and was starting what would become a successful career when he was sent to active duty once again to serve in the Korean War. During these 17 months of service, Lieutenant Berkley led an infantry platoon and came close to losing his life in combat, an experience that would change his life forever. As a result of the hardships he endured in Korea, Bert made a promise that if he made it out of the war alive, he would dedicate his life to serving others and giving back to the community. prgtoken As life would have it, Bert returned to his family untouched and with a desire to transform his community for generations to come. Named the new president and CEO of the Tension Corporation in 1962, Bert helped transform the business into the empire it is today, expanding its horizons across the globe. By evolving along with the industry throughout his 27 years of service as CEO, Tension Corporation continues to be one of the most successful envelope makers in the world. Still, Ben's success and dedication go beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors. Indeed. it is his selflessness in serving the Kansas City community in order to find new ways to create positive change that truly makes Bert so special. prgtoken As an avid advocate of mail exchange, Bert served as the immediate past chairman of the Global Exchange Alliance, an international organization that focuses on the quality of global mail exchange. In this role, he visited various countries such as China, Taiwan, and Thailand to speak to postal se
RECOGNIZING THE ARRIVAL OF "THE MOVING WALL" TO CORAL SPRINGS, FL
Jared Moskowitz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise today to recognize 30 years of ``The Moving Wall,'' a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Traveling Half-Size Replica, while it stops in Coral Springs. Florida from May 5th to May 7th prgtoken The wall, a half-size replica of the permanent memorial in Washington, D.C is sponsored by the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs and the City of Coral Springs. Veterans built the Moving Wall replica and are traveling throughout the United States from April to November 2023. It has been touring the country for more than 30 years, marking the second time the Moving Wall will make its way to Coral Springs, previously having stopped in 2015. prgtoken The Vietnam War was one of America's longest and most challenging. From January 12, 1962, to March 29, 1973 the United States was engaged in combat operations against the Viet Cong. Over that time nearly nine million servicemembers contributed to the war efforts around the world. Battle of the jungles of Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia resulted in 47,434 deaths and 2,583 Americans did not return home. prgtoken Many who returned home from Vietnam faced an imperfect Nation, one that they had risked all to defend. They returned to unfair treatment, to a lack of support, and a lack of public recognition of their service. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to each and every man and woman who served in our armed forces. Regardless of politics, we must never forget those who have risked all in the name of our great Nation. prgtoken , I ask that you join me in recognizing the 30 years of the Vietnam Veteran Moving Wall, the Coral Springs Veterans Coalition and giving a special thanks to the City of Coral Springs for sponsoring the visit of the Moving Wall.
HONORING THE LIFE OF LOUIS BARTOLINI
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise today in memory of Louis (Lou) Bartolini, who passed away at the age of 91 on April 2, 2023, to recognize his extraordinary contributions to Marin County. prgtoken Born in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco in 1932, Lou grew up in the Bay Area, learning French as his first language. He attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco before joining Merrill Lynch. where he served a long career as a broker. From San Francisco, he relocated to the Black Point neighborhood of Marin County with his wife Margaret Bartolini, whom he married in 1991. prgtoken After retiring, Lou dedicated his time, skills, and funds to the community. He joined the Board of Westamerica Bank, served as a district governor with the Rotary Club of San Rafael, participated as a member of the Marin Forum, and managed the campaign of former San Rafael Mayor Al Boro. Lou's local leadership, however, was most prominent in the arts. prgtoken Lou was a patron of the arts and champion of the local community. He and his wife, Marge, were the principal benefactors of the Marin Center's art exhibit, aptly named the Bartolini Gallery, a longtime dream of the community made possible in 2015 by the couple's generosity. With this public gallery, Lou envisioned a space to showcase local artists work and ensure ``arts for all.'' The 2.000 square-foot gallery prioritizes representation of diverse and underserved communities, from exhibits celebrating artists over the age of 80 to Marin City's 80th anniversary. Beyond visual arts, Lou was also a benefactor of the Marin Symphony and served as the organization's board president. prgtoken Along with his strong work ethic and effectiveness, Lou was known for his positive attitude, quick wit, and humble demeanor. While he will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through the positive impact he had on his community. prgtoken Lou is survived by his wife of 31 years, Marge; his three children: Paul, LeeAnn, and Mark; two stepdaughters: Leslie and Amy; 9 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. prgtoken , I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Lou's family and friends and in expressing my appreciation for his decades of public service in his community.
RECOGNIZING DR. RONALD G. JAN
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise to honor Dr. Ronald G. Jan as he retires as Medical Director from Paul Hom Asian Clinic in Sacramento, California. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Dr. Jan for his passion, unconditional commitment and enduring dedicated service to Paul Hom Asian Clinic in Sacramento, California. prgtoken Dr. Jan is board certified in vascular surgery. He attended George Washington University School of Medicine, completed his residency at University School of Medicine in Irvine and his internship was at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Jan is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mercy San Juan Medical Center and Sutter Medical Center. He has been in practice for more than fifty years. prgtoken The Paul Hom Asian Clinic was founded in 1971 by Paul Hom and a group of UC Davis medical students and a group of students from California State University, Sacramento, the clinic is committed to the underserved and uninsured Asian populations. Dr. Lindy Kumagai became the medical director of the clinic, and it became an elective course for medical and undergraduate students at the UC Davis Department of Community Health. prgtoken Primary Care Services are offered every Saturday and includes Diagnosis and Treatment of Illnesses, Physical Examinations, Blood Pressure Checks, and Lab tests, Specialty clinics include Musculoskeletal clinic, prgtoken Psychiatry clinic, Dermatology, Ophthalmology clinic, Cardiopulmonary clinic, and liver clinic. Services offered are cancer screening, women's health, health education & preventive medicine, hypertension workshops, nutrition counseling, and a health fair. Vaccination services, referrals, and translation services are also available. Healthcare at the clinic is free. prgtoken , today we honor Dr. Ronald Jan as he retires. Dr. Jan has worked tirelessly training students and serving the clinic. His dedication and commitment to the Sacramento area is boundless. I ask all my colleagues to join me as the community celebrates Dr. Jan's leadership and legacy.
HONORING EDWARD F. GERBER
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-5

I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Edward F. Gerber. prgtoken During his 30 years of service at Lestonnac Free Clinic, he has been relentless at finding solutions to fill critical gaps in healthcare for the most vulnerable residents in Southern California. prgtoken Edward F. Gerber expanded from one primary care medical clinic to fourteen satellite clinics offering twenty-five specialties across four counties. Just last year, with his leadership, Lestonnac Free Clinic was able to provide free medical and dental care to 10,217 patients through 30,130 visits. Since 2008, when he began as the Executive Director, Lestonnac Free Clinic has provided 359,277 patient visits. prgtoken As the Executive Director, Mr. Gerber has collaborated with over 300 like-minded organizations, recruited over 1,400 volunteer doctors and raised over $25 million dollars to help ensure that no one in our community is forced to forgo medical attention due to cost. He also secured an additional $3.5 million dollar donation to build a state-of- the-art two operating room surgery center that will allow Lestonnac Free Clinic volunteer surgeons to provide free surgeries, which will alleviate financial strains and community resources on local hospitals. This surgery center will be the first of its kind in the United States and will model what is possible through love and a desire to help others. prgtoken It is my utmost privilege to honor this humble and hard-working man. and colleagues, please join me in acknowledging the career and accomplishments of Edward F. Gerber.
NATIONAL FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-5-9

today, May 9, is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. In the last 12 months, over 108,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses, mainly from fentanyl and its analogues. Fentanyl overdoses are the number one cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, so I come to the floor to do two things. prgtoken First, I am here to introduce a bipartisan resolution supporting the goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The resolution aims to increase awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people. And it applauds the work of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies that combat the proliferation of counterfeit pills. prgtoken And second, I am here to reintroduce my bipartisan legislation, the Stop Pills That Kill Act. This bill creates new penalties for counterfeit pill production. There is a surge throughout the United States of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. People unknowingly take these counterfeit pills. Many of them die. Drug traffickers have been marketing and selling these fake pills using social media. The Stop Pills That Kill Act will ramp up criminal penalties to deter this illegal activity and save lives. prgtoken Later this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will mark up another bill I cosponsor, the Cooper Davis Act. This bipartisan bill requires social media companies, the same places where these fake pills are being sold, to report information to Federal Agencies relating to illicit online fentanyl on their platforms. The reporting requirements will help law enforcement root out and dismantle international crime networks and save lives. I look forward to reporting the bill out of committee and quickly getting it to the President's desk. prgtoken Whether it is at my roundtables in Iowa or during my 99-county meetings, parents continue to come up to me and tell me about the children they have lost to fentanyl poisoning. It is heartbreaking to see the pain on their face and hear it in their voice, as they share what the fentanyl crisis has done to their family. prgtoken I hope we see action to move these bills and permanently schedule fentanyl related substances. I am as committed as ever to cracking down on fentanyl and its analogues, and I hope my colleagues will join me soon.
CLOTURE MOTION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-5-9

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). prgtoken Further, if present and voting, the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven) would have voted ``nay'' and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``nay''.
VALUED ALLIES OF UKRAINE
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-5-9

I am grateful as chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission to have led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Germany, Poland, and Ukraine with Representatives Steve Cohen and Victoria Spartz. prgtoken In Berlin, we met with Justice State Secretary Dr. Angelika Schlunck, National Security Advisor Jens Ploetner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, and Ministry of Defense Director Jasper Wieck. prgtoken After visiting Nuremberg, Lieutenant General Andrew Rohling welcomed the delegation to the 7th Army Grafenwoehr Training Area and the 10th Mountain Division trainers. prgtoken At Bucha, Ukraine, survivors of the war criminal Putin's mass murder shared stories with us, and Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk joined us. Additionally, we were joined by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, U.S. Ambassador Mike Carpenter, and Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov to thank America for the support given to efforts in Ukraine prior to meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who emphasized his gratitude for the American commitment for democracy. prgtoken We concluded in Warsaw with U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski and Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk. prgtoken Friends of democracy are inspired by the courageous Ukrainians supported by our valued allies of Germany and Poland. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Kevin Kiley (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-5-9

I offer congressional recognition to Sheriff Mike Fisher of the Sierra County Sheriff's Department. prgtoken Sierra County is the second smallest county in California, with a population of about 3,000 individuals. Sheriff Fisher has lived in Sierra County most of his life and has had a significant positive impact on the community. prgtoken Sheriff Fisher began his law enforcement career as an explorer from 1986 to 1990 and served as deputy sheriff from 2001 to 2007 and as a detective from 2007 to 2018. He was elected as sheriff in 2018 and has served in that position since. prgtoken Sheriff Fisher has a long history of service in Sierra County, and residents showed their appreciation and approval of his work by electing Mike as sheriff for a second term in 2022. prgtoken He is truly a hands-on sheriff. In addition to the administrative duties that come with running the sheriff's office, he goes on patrol and EMS calls, bailiffs when needed, and assists with high school senior projects, including a recent Every 15 Minutes program and a mock trial. He recently took over as the Office of Emergency Services supervisor for Sierra County, as well. prgtoken Sheriff Fisher has extensive training and experience in locating and eradicating illegal marijuana grows in Sierra County and is skillful in doing overflights to spot the illegal grows and obtain search warrants. He has a pilot's license and is a drone operator. prgtoken Since taking office, Sheriff Fisher has made significant improvements, including extensive training for deputies, new radios, and new vehicles. prgtoken He is also very organized and levelheaded. Sierra County had its first murder in 20 years in July 2020, which required assistance from outside agencies. He was able to coordinate numerous agencies, and the suspect was successfully apprehended. prgtoken Sheriff Fisher is familiar with all areas of our rural county and is able to supervise our somewhat frequent search and rescue activities. prgtoken Our county is known for outdoor activities and is home to the Downieville Downhill, a mountain bike race. We also have a few mountain bikers who prgtoken go off-trail, and Sheriff Fisher seems to know where they are. In addition, he is an avid fly fisher and knows all the great spots for fishing. prgtoken Sierra County also has a marine patrol, off-highway vehicles, including snowmobiles, and a new canine unit, which was implemented during Sheriff Fisher's first term. prgtoken For his dedication to Sierra County, organizational leadership, and selflessness in helping his neighbors, I am honored to include Sheriff Mike Fisher of the Sierra County Sheriff's Office in the Third District of California's Police Honor Roll. Congressional Recognition of Sergeant Dave Scobie
THE TIME IS NOW TO PROTECT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-5-9

since President took office and put a stop to the construction of a wall along our southern border, more than 1.3 million illegal immigrants have entered our country and avoided apprehension. prgtoken Now, as title 42 is set to expire, a mass of migrants from Central America have formed at our points of entry from McAllen, Texas, to San Diego, California. This represents both a security and a humanitarian crisis, as resources are strained and migrants overwhelm our Border Patrol agents, allowing more deadly drugs to continue to spill into our great United States. prgtoken In March, fentanyl seizures increased by 25 percent just from the prior month. We have seen the deadly toll that fentanyl-related substances have on our communities. In the past 2 years, more than 14,000 pounds of this deadly drug have been seized, enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America. prgtoken The problems on the border are widespread, and so far in 2023, 80 people whose names appear on the terrorist watch list have been apprehended at our southern border. These statistics show the danger of this administration's failed and negligent border policies. prgtoken Our Commitment to America means offering an alternative that, once again, puts Pennsylvania families first. It is time to pass the Secure the Border Act. It is time to end catch and release. It is time to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. It is time to finally complete construction of the border wall on our southern border. prgtoken What Americans need right now is a Nation that is safe, not more hand-wringing from the administration. The time is now to finally protect our southern border.
CELEBRATING ISRAEL'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Richard McCormick (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-5-9

I rise today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. prgtoken Seventy-five years ago, 11 minutes after David Ben Gurion announced the creation of the new Jewish state, President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognize Israel. Our nations have been friends and partners ever since. prgtoken The people of Israel have won against overwhelming odds and repelled many attacks over the decades. They have not merely survived; they have created a free and prosperous society, becoming our most valued ally in the region. prgtoken What they have accomplished is nothing short of miraculous. They have revived a dead language and rejuvenated agriculture, technology, and prosperity. No matter what acts of terror or threats they face, Israel will always have the right to self-defense and self-determination. prgtoken I congratulate her people for this anniversary of independence in their historic homeland, and pray that they may be blessed with strength, peace, and unity for generations to come.