mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-9-27

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , just in quick response to the gentleman, as I pointed out earlier, first off, the immigrants attempting to come to the United States seeking asylum or otherwise are walking up to border control points. They are not sneaking across the desert. Building a wall will do nothing. prgtoken As I pointed out earlier, drugs are not being smuggled in backpacks through the desert. We know they are coming by sea, and we know they are coming through our border control points; and we know we don't have the technology nor the personnel necessary to stop them. prgtoken , I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-9-27

in February, I authored a resolution to reject the President's emergency declaration at the border. Both Chambers of Congress, a ic House and a Senate, rejected that sham declaration by passing the resolution. Today, we consider a similar resolution to terminate the President's emergency declaration. prgtoken A border wall does nothing to make us safer or address the real humanitarian crisis at our border. This time around, the President is raiding actual national security priorities to build his wall. He is stealing millions of dollars reserved for important projects that range from training sites for our servicemembers to the schools for their children, to our military readiness projects. prgtoken It is shameful that our servicemen and -women are collateral damage in his quest to build this racist wall. It is a disgrace that money is being stolen from over two dozen States and territories, ensuring that American taxpayers--not Mexico, as the President repeatedly promised-- are actually paying for the wall. prgtoken For example, in my district alone, we are losing out on $18.5 million in military construction funds. In the State of Texas, that number is $38.5 million. The total impact for the entire country is over $1 billion. prgtoken This should be shameful to all of my colleagues that this administration would leave our military families out to dry. I ask all of my colleagues to vote their conscience and to vote their district. prgtoken I would also add that the heavy burden of this wall will be felt by the people in the Rio Grande Valley and in south Texas. Miles and miles of private property, Texans' land, will be taken to build 's wall. prgtoken There have been stories about how people's property will be split; some of it in front of the wall, some of it behind the wall. Some people, there will be the wall in front of them, and they will have to drive and use a clicker to open the wall to come into what would be considered the United States. Those are American citizens who are literally going to be behind the wall in Texas because of . prgtoken This is a shame. This was a simple campaign promise. This doesn't do anything to keep us safer. I hope, as we did last time, that this House of Representatives, s and , will vote overwhelmingly to terminate the President's emergency declaration.
RECOGNIZING 39TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the incredible performance of schools and students in the 39th Congressional District in California. prgtoken Yesterday, the Department of Education recognized 362 schools across the country as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic excellence. I am proud to say that two schools in my district have received that honor: Acacia Elementary School and Robert C. Fisler Elementary School in Fullerton. prgtoken This recognition is a testament to the outstanding work of the teachers, faculty, staff, students, and families who, together, create a culture of success at our schools. prgtoken Additionally, I want to congratulate the students at the Placentia- Yorba Linda Unified School District for their 84 percent pass rate on their advanced placement, or AP, exams, one of the highest averages in the Nation. They were included in the prestigious Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. Less than 3 percent of school districts across the country have received this honor. prgtoken As a longtime education advocate, it is with immense pride that I stand here able to recognize these schools and their students for their achievements. All of these schools and students are shining examples of academic excellence in the 39th Congressional District, worthy of their national distinction. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in offering my sincerest congratulations.
HONORING MARY E. PERRY
David E. Price (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mary E. Perry, a long-time community leader and advocate in Wake County, North Carolina, who is celebrating her 90th birthday on October 15, 2019. prgtoken Mrs. Perry has served as President of the Wendell-Wake County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for 41 years, amplifying the voices of underrepresented community members. She also was elected the first African American to chair the Wake County ic Party and served for 20 years on the East Wake Advisory Council. prgtoken Mrs. Perry's service is marked by a resolve to fight injustice--from the early days of the civil rights movement to the present fight for voting rights and equity in education, health care, and housing. In Jim Crow North Carolina, she endured threats as she challenged the practice of segregation at restaurants in Zebulon. This difficult and formative experience strengthened her determination to speak out and stand up for underrepresented communities. More recently, she served as a plaintiff in a NAACP lawsuit against North Carolina's discriminatory voter ID laws. Mrs. Perry also helped empower the next generation of youth leaders to follow in her footsteps by reactivating the Wendell-Wake County NAACP youth council. prgtoken Her dedication earned her numerous accolades. The NAACP recognized her as the President of the Year in addition to granting her the Charles McLean Award and the Political Action Trailblazer Award. She received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from then-North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt and the Zeta Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Social Act Award. Additionally, she is widely recognized for her devotion to community service, receiving the North Carolina Human Relations Council Community Involvement Award and the East Wake Community Service Award. prgtoken In her hometown, Mrs. Perry has attended and offered leadership at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for over 70 years. She served as President of the Usher Board, Finance Committee Chair, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Perry was educated in the Wake County Public School system and received a bachelor's degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. She is the proud mother of four children and has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Mary E. Perry for her long and fruitful life of service and in sending her best-wishes for her 90th birthday.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-9-27

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , having taken my seat in this Congress on behalf of the citizens of the Ninth District only last week, I am experiencing already that the majority is prone to theater, in this case, a show vote for which the majority lacks the two-thirds necessary to override a promised Presidential veto. prgtoken It is the first time I have had an opportunity to vote on it, so I will take the opportunity to declare the southern border is indeed an emergency because have sundered and blocked effective border protection, border security, for over 30 years. prgtoken It is not the emergency that is fake; it is this futile vote. It is the sudden, professed concern for men and women of our armed services. prgtoken We saw it yesterday, the majority's concern for our armed services, when it preferred electronic medical records for illegals over EMR for our vets. Our servicemembers know who is protecting their interests and who has their backs. prgtoken As for me, I am with the President.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-9-27

, Mr. Meadows, for the opportunity here today. prgtoken , earlier this week, my ic colleagues passed a measure that would install an ombudsman within DHS to monitor the practices of our Border Patrol and detainment officers. Thankfully, the Senate immediately tossed that idea aside. prgtoken I have some good news for my colleagues across the aisle, however, because I can tell you that any inspection of our border facilities would find an agency, though underfunded, standing strong, despite a record-setting deluge of people coming at our southern border. prgtoken Looks like today is Groundhog Day because we are voting on yet another resolution to stop being able to legally call what is happening on our southern border an emergency. prgtoken My colleagues justify this by calling the President's actions unprecedented. Unprecedented is what you call it when our immigration system is on pace to be overwhelmed by a million immigrants pleading asylum. Maybe call this policy. prgtoken Unprecedented is what you call it when Congress refuses to fund our national security agencies and starts threatening to abolish an agency and fire our enforcement officers for doing their job. prgtoken The situation is unprecedented, but it is not because the President's actions are unprecedented. It is the actions from my colleagues. prgtoken Rather than further consider this resolution, I hope the majority leader and immediately allow us to recognize the crisis--as some have, inadvertently--that we are facing on the border. prgtoken Let's address the root causes of the emergency. Fund the Border Patrol's $3 billion backlog, and install physical barriers and security measures necessary to ensure the whole length of our southern border is secure.
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-9-27

for the third time, we will vote to terminate President 's national emergency declaration related to the crisis on our southern border. prgtoken When are we going to get serious about solving the issue? prgtoken For the first half of the year, wouldn't even acknowledge that there was a crisis. They ignored the reports from Border Patrol showing record levels of illegal crossings month after month. prgtoken , I thought we had progress in June, at least in terms of acknowledging that we have a crisis. You see, 305 Members of the House and 84 Members of the Senate voted to provide emergency funding in response to the humanitarian crisis. Unfortunately, we are back to the same partisan votes we started the year with. prgtoken Today is the last day the House will meet in session in fiscal year 2019. I wish I could tell my constituents, yes, we are going to terminate the emergency declaration because the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill provides the money needed to secure the border, but that could not be further from the truth. prgtoken Not a single full-year appropriations bill has been signed into law. In fact, the House hasn't even voted on next year's Homeland Security appropriations bill. prgtoken This brings me back to my question of when. When are going to get serious about securing our border? It is certainly not in the appropriations bills they have drafted. prgtoken Section 227 of their Homeland Security bill reads: ``No Federal funds may be used for the construction of physical barriers along the southern land border of the United States during the fiscal year 2020.'' prgtoken Their Defense appropriations bill went even further. That bill prohibits any funds from being used ``to construct a wall, fence, border barriers, or border security infrastructure along the southern land border of the United States.'' prgtoken It is unbelievable. Not only is there no funding for physical barriers, they specifically prohibit it. prgtoken My constituents did not elect me to stand by silently as we transition to open borders in this country, and I will not. I call on my colleagues across the aisle: Let's put this partisan vote behind us; let's get serious; and let's work together to secure our border. It is what the American people want and expect us to do.
RECOGNIZING MARTY BRENNAMAN
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-9-27

I rise today to recognize the career and retirement of the Cincinnati Reds legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster, Marty Brennaman. prgtoken Yesterday, Marty signed off for the last game of his famed career. He has been part of our lives and the voice of our beloved Reds for 46 years. prgtoken Marty was with us for his very first broadcast when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth for the most home runs hit ever. prgtoken He was with us when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's longstanding record for most career hits. prgtoken He was with us through three World Series titles. prgtoken Marty Brennaman is an institution in Cincinnati. He feels like family. Marty helped make both Riverfront Stadium and the Great American Ball Park feel like a second home to so many. prgtoken I know we will all miss hearing his play-by-play, his insights, and his stories. prgtoken Although I never saw Marty swing a bat, I will be glad to replay his greatest hits for the rest of my life. prgtoken I know I join Reds fans across Cincinnati and the country in a collective good-bye to one of our greatest, and this one belongs to Marty.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILK DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize September 27 as National Chocolate Milk Day. Chocolate milk is adored by millions of Americans nationwide, and it is a favorite among children. Seventy percent of the milk children consume is flavored, with chocolate being the most popular. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because chocolate milk is low in fat, high in nutrients, and packed with flavor. prgtoken Milk consumption has been declining, however, and when the National School Lunch Program removed the most popular and the most nutritious options from the schools to serve only fat-free milk, the numbers continued to drop. This was partially reversed by the USDA when the decision was made to, once again, allow 1 percent flavored milk back in school lunches. prgtoken To build on this momentum, I introduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act earlier this year to once again allow whole milk--both flavored and unflavored--to be offered within the program because children can greatly benefit from the essential nutrients whole milk provides. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to celebrate National Chocolate Milk Day accordingly.
BUS DRIVER SAFETY AND SECURITY MONTH
Scott R. Tipton (Republican, CO) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to invite my colleagues to join my call designating September 2019 as School Bus Safety and Security Month. prgtoken Earlier this month, I introduced a resolution to honor and show my appreciation to the more than half a million school bus drivers across the country. prgtoken Over 26 million children rely on public school transportation to get them safely to and from school each year, and September is the perfect month to thank these drivers for keeping our kids safe as they return to school. prgtoken In rural districts like Colorado's Third Congressional District, many of these drivers find themselves driving great distances facing inclement weather, wildlife, and other hazards that make driving difficult, yet they work tirelessly to ensure safe transportation of our children. prgtoken Madam , I would also like to commend the Child Safety Network for their 30 years of commitment to America's children and promoting this resolution. I am truly appreciative of their advocacy on behalf of school safety, and s who have joined as cosponsors for this important resolution.
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2019-9-27

I rise today to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month and the contributions of Hispanic Americans in my congressional district in central Washington State. prgtoken Growing up in Sunnyside, Washington, I have witnessed firsthand how Hispanic Americans contribute to our communities through entrepreneurship, military service, and cultural diversity. They are our friends, our family, our neighbors, and our coworkers. They are small businessowners, doctors, police officers, and soldiers. prgtoken While we may take 1 month out of the year to recognize the historical and cultural contributions of our Hispanic American friends, we should do more to support and highlight our appreciation. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, to finally create a Smithsonian museum to recognize and celebrate Hispanic American and Latino history in our country. prgtoken As Americans, we share a common heritage as a Nation of immigrants, and the people of central Washington cherish our diverse culture and history. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF E.J. HOLUB
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of my dear friend and Lubbock legend, E.J. Holub, who passed away Saturday. prgtoken E.J. was the pride of Lubbock High School and one of the best Texas Tech football players of all time. Some referred to E.J. as ``The Beast,'' and I called him ``Uncle E.J.'' because he was one of my dad's best friends at Texas Tech and a lifelong member of the Arrington family. prgtoken E.J. was larger than life on and off the field. His stature and strength on the gridiron was only rivaled by the size of his heart for people. prgtoken E.J. was a true gentleman and a real cowboy. He loved his family, his horses, and all things Texas Tech. He is leaving behind a tremendous legacy for west Texas. prgtoken To Sandi and E.J.'s girls: Please know that we love you and are praying for you. prgtoken To Red Raider Nation: Take off your hats, get your guns up, and join me in paying tribute to our favorite fearless champion and Herculean hero, E.J. ``The Beast'' Holub. prgtoken I love you, Uncle E.J.
HONORING LLOYD WRIGHT
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-9-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. Lloyd Wright, the President and CEO of WFYI in Indianapolis, Indiana, on his retirement. For the last three decades, Lloyd has led WFYI to become one of the premier radio stations in the State of Indiana. Under the stewardship of Lloyd, WFYI made unprecedented strides forward in the quality of programming and the number of daily listeners. prgtoken Lloyd, a native of Beech Grove, Indiana who upon graduation from Indiana University began his nearly four decade long career in public broadcasting. He began with a position as Director of Instructional Broadcasting with the Indiana Department of Education. Later Lloyd served for six years as Broadcast Operations Manager at WTTW (Chicago Public Television), and then moved on to become a Producer, Director, and Writer for the Indiana University News Bureau. Lloyd joined WFYI in 1988 as Director of Program Production. The following year, Lloyd was appointed WFYI's President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held for a remarkable 30 years. Under Lloyd's leadership, WFYI's annual operating budget grew from $2.5 million in 1988 to more than $11 million today. prgtoken In his time at the helm of WFYI Public Media, the group flourished as a multi-media content provider, with its three distinct public television services, two HD public radio channels, interactive website and a growing array of social media assets. Program lineup changes made to satisfy audience demand for National Public Radio programs such as ``Morning Edition'' and ``All Things Considered'' helped to increase the footprint of WFYI throughout Central Indiana. Nationally loved children's television programs such as ``Sesame Street'' and ``Mr. Roger's Neighborhood'' help to anchor a strong daily program lineup that built large audiences. Lloyd's leadership also saw the creation of Indiana-related content and shows such as ``Indiana Week in Review'' and ``Across Indiana''. These steps forward in programming led to a 450 percent increase to the station's operating budget and a station membership of 25,000 listeners. prgtoken In 2008, under the stewardship of Lloyd, WFYI successfully completed a $20 million capital campaign, and was awarded a $900,000 Kresge Foundation Capital Grant. As a result of this massively successful fundraising campaign, WFYI was honored with multiple PBS Development Awards, including the ``Award of Excellence for Overall Membership''. Lloyd himself was recognized with Emmy Awards for Technical Achievement and Station of Excellence, as well as two Sagamore of the Wabash honors, the highest award given by Indiana Governors to recognize distinguished service to the State of Indiana. The station also earned distinctions from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Society of Professional Journalists, the Public Media Journalists Association, Associated Press and the Indiana Broadcasters Association during Lloyd's time at t
TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Robert B. Aderholt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-9-27

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), my friend and colleague, for yielding. prgtoken I also rise today to ask my colleagues to oppose the joint resolution, which, obviously, as has been said will terminate the President's proclamation, as he has declared a national emergency on the southern border. prgtoken As I have previously stated during other debates on this issue, it is clear that there is a national emergency that exists. The American people understand that unchecked and unregulated immigration, which is in violation of our Nation's laws, has created a border security and humanitarian crisis, which allows the flow of drugs, human trafficking, and gang members into this country, as well as causing desperate situations that are faced by women and children who make this dangerous journey. prgtoken Furthermore, I think it is important for this debate that we remember and make clear that it is clearly within the authority provided by Congress for the President to do this. prgtoken As an appropriator, I understand the importance of Congress' responsibility for military construction funding, and I appreciate the work my colleagues have done on the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. I had the privilege to be a vice chair of that subcommittee several years ago. But I also recognize that Congress has to provide the executive branch with reprogramming authority for military construction under title 10, U.S. Code, section 2808. prgtoken This is not the first time this authority has been invoked. President invoked it, and President invoked it. I think it was a total of 18 projects between those two Presidents, between 2001 and 2014. prgtoken I think most Americans agree with President that there is an emergency at the southern border. It has gotten worse in recent years. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this resolution and acknowledge the seriousness of the border security and the humanitarian crises on the border. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this joint resolution.