mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BACK THE BLUE AND FIRST RESPONDERS
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-16

this week we honor the brave men and women who make it their life's duty to protect and defend our citizens, our Nation, and our way of life. Police officers across the country wake up every morning unaware of the challenges they may face, the threats they must overcome, and the lives they will affect and protect in the process. prgtoken The badge officers don is a symbol of their altruism and their devotion to the common good. I believe in ``Backing the Blue'' and visit first responders throughout my district in Texas to express my unyielding support. prgtoken America's police officers represent the best in all of us and are the finest our country has to offer. For their service, their sacrifice, and their selflessness, we are eternally thankful.
HONORING WILLIAM MOREHOUSE
Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican, WA) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to honor the life of William ``Bill'' Morehouse. So many of us in the greater Vancouver community knew, or knew of, Bill. He was a member of the United States Army and the National Guard early in his life, and his lifelong service to not only his country but his local community are what helped defined him. Bill's military service spanned World War II, and then as a POW guard at the Fort Vancouver barracks in Washington state. Bill was a true patriot who cared about the safety of all Americans. Later in his life, Bill became involved in countless volunteer organizations to continue serving those around him. He was a member of the global community service organization, the Lion's Club, as well as the American Legion. But it was his many years spent as a member and even president of the Moses Williams Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers by which most of us knew him. In that position, he led toy and food drives for underprivileged kids, and provided Honor Guard at various military ceremonies and parades. In his free time, Bill enjoyed being with his child, grandchild, and great grandchildren and on behalf of Southwest Washington, I express to them my sincere condolences. He will be missed and always remembered.
RECOGNIZING DEER PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT ON PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to recognize the Deer Park Police Department. On May 15, 2017, the Deer Park Police Department will hold its 17th Annual Police Officer Memorial Service to recognize the 135 police officers killed in the line of duty across the nation, and specifically the 17 police officers killed in the State of Texas in 2016. We honor and memorialize 135 police officers who will never go home, see their spouses, see their children, or walk on God's earth again. prgtoken The service is in recognition of National Police Week, May 14 to May 20, 2017. Established by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that day falls, as National Police Week. prgtoken , this is a time to honor those who form the thin blue line that protects our community and pay tribute to those who have given their life keeping us safe. I couldn't be more thankful and proud of the men and women who protect our communities. prgtoken May God continue to protect our entire law enforcement community and comfort the family and comrades of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
HONORING SCOUTMASTER JIM RICARD
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2017-5-16

on May 15, 2017, a Celebration of the Resurrected Life of Jim Ricard took place at Faith Lutheran Church of West Columbia, South Carolina. Services were lovingly conducted by Pastor M. David Kiel who eulogized that Jim ``made a difference in our part of the world.'' The Wilson family especially appreciates Jim's service as Scoutmaster of Troop 1, where our four sons achieved the rank of Eagle Scouts. prgtoken The following thoughtful obituary was included in the church bulletin: Haskel James ``Jim'' Ricard Jr a baptized Christian and lifelong member of Faith Lutheran Church, entered into God's loving embrace on May 12, 2017. He was born January 4, 1942 in Springdale, South Carolina. He was the oldest son of Hack and Melva Ricard. Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, JoAnn S. Ricard, and three children, Jamey Ricard (Jeanne), Juston Ricard (Tammy), and Joni Coleman (Brad). His grandchildren are Tanner, Jacob, Sydney, Josie, Jayne, and sister-in-law, Cindy. He was predeceased by his brother, Bobby Ricard. After graduating from Brookland-Cayce High School, he worked for Baker Equipment Company before starting his own business, Ricard's Welding. After earning his Eagle Scout Award as a young man, he later served as Scoutmaster of Troop 1. He received both the Silver Beaver and Lamb Award. He served in the South Carolina National Guard in the 133rd MP Company. Blessed be the memory of Haskel James ``Jim'' Ricard Jr.
CONGRATULATING THE BISHOP HENDRICKEN HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today in honor of Bishop Hendricken High School's Academic Decathlon team, the Division II winners of the United States Academic Decathlon National Competition. prgtoken The team consists of Mitchell Boyer, Ryan Brady, Darragh Harkin, Steven Huang, Jaidan Idarraga, Connor Milson, Cory Morris, Alden Pratt, and Dylan Temel. They spent countless hours studying and, on April 22, their hard work paid off. Led by Coach Sister Carol Ann Murray, they won an impressive 12 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze medals and became the first Rhode Island team to win their division at the national competition. prgtoken The students' dedication and scholastic abilities have made Bishop Hendricken, my alma mater, and the whole State of Rhode Island extremely proud. prgtoken , they have shown the vast academic potential of Rhode Island students, and I congratulate them on this great accomplishment.
MAKE IT IN AMERICA
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-5-16

this is Infrastructure Week. prgtoken Infrastructure. Can you imagine Congress actually talking about building things that America needs, like roads, high-speed internet, and maybe a few ports and ships and high-speed trains from here to there? prgtoken It is Infrastructure Week you promised us a trillion- dollar infrastructure bill; however, you seem to be occupied on a few other things. So we will be understanding and just kind of take up the issue here and talk about it and see if we can move this issue forward since we really haven't heard from the administration on your trillion- dollar program. prgtoken Let's talk about some of the elements of it today. I am going to start with a really old placard that we have used now for 7 years. We call this the Make It In America agenda, and it has been something that Mr. Hoyer of Maryland and I and many others on the ic side of the aisle have been talking about for some time. We talk about trade; tax policy; energy policy; and labor issues, such as the Davis-Bacon Act that guarantees that we are not going to have a rush to the bottom, but that we are going to hold up the working men and women that are making things in America, like roads and bridges; education; research; and not at the bottom, but always important, infrastructure. prgtoken So today we talk about infrastructure. As we do so, I want us to always keep in mind that infrastructure offers an incredible opportunity for America to do more than just lay down concrete, more than just putting asphalt on a road or a pipe in the ground. Infrastructure offers an opportunity for us to rebuild the American manufacturing sector. There are many different ways we can do that. prgtoken For example, if we are going to build locomotives for the eastern corridor of the Amtrak system here in the United States, new electric locomotives. Way back when, some of us do remember the Great Recession and the effort of this Congress--then controlled by the --to jump-start, to rebuild the American economy. In what was the stimulus legislation there was a piece of it that called for, I think, $700 million or $800 million for about 80 new electric locomotives for Amtrak. Some brilliant staffer wrote into it: 100 percent American made. prgtoken Guess what. Siemens, a German company, said, Oh, a $700 million, $800 million contract to make a bunch of locomotives; we can do that. So, in Sacramento, California, they expanded their little trolly plant and made it into a locomotive plant. They have now built all of those 100 percent American made. prgtoken So when we talk about infrastructure--in this case, the Amtrak system--it can be made in America. Manufacturing matters. prgtoken To get down to the details here of what infrastructure is all about, international trade is critical to the American economy. Unfortunately, we are running a trade deficit. All of that trade--about 90 percent of it, actually--co
PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR. DAVID DiCHIERA
Sander M. Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. David DiChiera, who is retiring from the Michigan Opera Theatre. While he began his distinguished and impassioned career in California, he became known in Michigan and beyond as Mr. Opera. He is retiring from the Michigan Opera Theatre, which he founded in 1971 and which he served as General Director and Artistic Director. After completing his undergraduate studies in musical composition at UCLA, David DiChiera continued his scholarship in Italy on a Fulbright scholarship, and returned to UCLA to join the faculty and to complete his PhD in musicology. In 1962, Dr. DiChiera was recruited to join the faculty at Oakland University as a professor. He later became chairman of music at the university. prgtoken While at Oakland University, Dr. DiChiera created ``Overture to Opera,'' a program featuring local opera singers which brought opera to communities throughout Michigan, and which planted the seeds for the creation of Michigan Opera Theatre. As Dr. DiChiera explained in an interview, ``I would cast the wonderful local singers who otherwise had limited opportunities . . . we started taking this program to community centers--every year, I took it to The War Memorial and area schools. This was all throughout the 1960s. Then, in 1970, I thought it was time to do a full-length opera, and to create the beginnings of an opera company.'' prgtoken It is important to keep in mind the backdrop for Dr. DiChiera's efforts to create an opera company in Detroit. By 1971, when Michigan Opera Theatre was established, the city itself was experiencing a major loss of population and many people were skeptical that this endeavor could succeed. But Michigan Opera Theatre not only succeeded, it thrived--first at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit which was restored with the support of the Kresge Foundation and Detroit Renaissance, and later at the Detroit Opera House, which was formally opened on April 21, 1996 with a performance by the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti. prgtoken Dr. DiChiera's impact extends beyond his building of this important institution. He has been a vital center of gravity for arts and culture in and around the City of Detroit. He has been committed to nurturing and showcasing the broad diversity of talent in opera, something which he viewed from the inception of Michigan Opera Theatre as central to its mission. ``Building bridges into the community was a primary mission,'' he said in the Theatre's blog, ``making sure that the African American community, the majority of Detroit's population, was represented on the stage.'' In addition to producing works which reflect the African American experience such as Porgy and Bess and Tremonisha, the Michigan Opera Theatre commissioned and produced the world premiere of Margaret Garner, based on the novel Beloved written by Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison. Ms. Morrison wrote the libretto for Margaret Garner, and the production starre
RECOGNIZING MS. JAN POHLMAN ON HER RETIREMENT
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to recognize my dear friend, Jan Pohlman, who is retiring this month after teaching in the Physical Education Department of Calhoun High School for the past 34 years. prgtoken Throughout her distinguished career, Jan has served as a strong role model in our community both inside and outside the classroom. During her time at Illinois College, where I had the pleasure of having her as a teammate and a Floor Monitor, Jan's leadership and passion allowed her to build a notable sports career for which she was inducted into the Illinois College Sports Hall of Fame. She was one of the first stars of the Illinois College women's track and field team where she served as senior captain, and set school records for the 400 meter run, the discus and the javelin, which earned her the status of NCAA Division III Illinois State Champion in 1981. Jan's love of sports naturally led to her teaching career at Calhoun High School where she has enriched the lives of her students by instilling values of teamwork and perseverance for more than three decades. prgtoken Jan's compassion and service to our community goes beyond the classroom. She always goes above and beyond to help others--evident in the integral role she plays in the annual James R. Pohlman Memorial Golf Outing, which raises money for Parkinson's disease research. prgtoken Jan has been a truly influential individual in the lives of so many people, and I am honored to be able to call her a friend I would like to again congratulate Jan on her well-deserved retirement and thank her for all of her contributions and service to our community.
HONORING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RIVIERA THEATRE
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to honor the Riviera Theatre, a historical landmark in North Tonawanda, New York. This past December, the Riviera celebrated 90 years of bringing a multitude of performing arts, including live concerts, theatre, dance shows, and movies to Western New York. Originally known as the Twin Cities Rivera, the theatre was built during the year 1926, by the Yellen Family. The architects Leon H. Lempart and Son drew the plans, which were patterned after the Italian Renaissance. The theatre changed multiple times over the years but is currently owned and run by Riviera Theatre and Organ Preservation Society. Opening night was December 30, 1926, a gala event, which featured the movies ``Upstage'' starring Norma Shearer, ``The Mona Lisa'', in Technicolor, a short comedy, and the newsreel. Organist Fred Meyer accompanied the films and soloed at the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Perhaps the Riviera is best known for housing a Wurlitzer Theatre organ, made nearby at the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda. In 2008, the organ was re-voiced and restored to nearly original condition, providing a new symphonic sound for concerts and events. The Riviera's Mighty Wurlitzer has provided more entertainment consistently in its original setting than most other theatre organs, nationwide. Many of the top name artists in the country have performed here in hundreds of concerts over the past 35 years. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Riviera Theatre is currently in the planning stages of an Expansion and Development Project (Set The Stage) that will add 23,000 square feet of new space including a black box theatre, a new lobby and new modern amenities for their patrons and performers. It is estimated when completed an additional 50,000 visitors will attend annually thank you for allowing me a few moments today to recognize the heritage of the Riviera Theatre and to celebrate its 90th Anniversary. I wish them well in their continuing expansion as the Buffalo community is fortunate to have a building with such a historical background and which promotes performing arts.
National Police Week (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-5-16

I oppose Jeffrey Rosen's nomination to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation. Mr. Rosen has a troubling history of standing with industry over consumers and opposing common sense public health and environmental protections. prgtoken In both his time as general counsel at the Department of Transportation in the administration and his private sector work on behalf of industry, Mr. Rosen advocated for limits on the agency's authority to protect health and safety through the regulatory process. In one case when he was at the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency proposed a weak standard for the required strength of vehicle roofs, which could collapse in rollovers. In addition to the weak standard, the rule would make it difficult for consumers who had been in accidents to seek damages from the companies responsible. prgtoken Mr. Rosen has also repeatedly questioned the necessity of limiting carbon emissions from vehicles. He opposed efforts to improve fuel economy standards that have spurred innovation, cut pollution, and saved consumers at the pump. prgtoken Mr. Rosen's ideological approach to regulation appears bent on minimizing rulemaking at any costs, regardless of the need. He has advocated for one-in, one-out regulatory schemes and ``regulatory budgeting'' that place arbitrary limits that would interfere with the ability of agencies to implement the law. prgtoken Agency leadership must focus on their mission and use the best available science and data to guide implementation of the law. Based on Mr. Rosen's history, I am concerned that he may politicize rulemaking, so I must oppose his nomination today.
TRANS TOWN HALL
Keith Ellison (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-5-16

recently, I sat down with a number of activists in Minnesota to talk about how LGBTQ folks, and especially trans people, are fighting for basic economic rights in a world that belittles, excludes, and dehumanizes them. prgtoken The transgender community is more visible than ever. Leaders like Laverne Cox, Caitlyn Jenner, and Janet Mock have become icons for the future of the LGBTQ movement. And in my hometown of Minneapolis, my dear friend Andrea Jenkins just received the democratic endorsement for City Council. She will be the first out trans person to hold office in Minnesota. prgtoken But this increased visibility hasn't improved the lives of all transgender people. prgtoken Compared to other states, Minnesota's transgender community is a lot safer and healthier. But that's not saying much. Nationwide, violence against trans people--and trans women in particular--is at an all-time high. Even in deeply progressive Minneapolis, my constituent CeCe McDonald was attacked outside a bar and imprisoned in a men's prison for 19 months for defending herself. prgtoken This sort of violence has far-reaching repercussions--high unemployment, difficulty accessing lifesaving healthcare, housing instability, and educational barriers. And we need to stop thinking of these injustices as separate from our economic lives. prgtoken To get a better understanding about how trans folks are living in the 21st century, I attended Minnesota's LGBTQ Lobby Day in April and hosted a town hall forum. I'll tell you--it's not easy. It takes a lot of courage to hold space for your truth. My friend Kye kicked off the testimony with a story about how important simply accepting people's identities are: prgtoken For many young trans people, growing up and going through elementary school, junior high, high school, and even college can be extremely difficult. And these folks don't always have the support system they need. Many talked about the deep opposition they faced from their families. prgtoken But it doesn't end there. There's difficulty finding work too. And even when trans people do find work, they can be subjected to cruel behavior from customers and even their own colleagues. prgtoken Now most American get their health insurance through their employers. But there are no protections to ensure that trans people can have the medically necessary care covered. This extends to our service members too. But there are also issues of racism and people being excluded because of their disabilities. prgtoken Listening to these very real struggles, I get upset thinking about how much time we have to spend convincing others to treat trans people as equals. It's clear we still have a lot of work to do, including in places that are seen as more tolerant to the LGBTQ community. I don't always know the right words, and I don't always get everything right when talking about this issue. And that's okay--I'm not trans. I do not have that experience. What's
RECOGNIZING STAN RICHARDS
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-5-16

I rise today to honor Stan Richards, the Richards Group's founder, principal and creative director as he was inducted into the American Advertising Federation's (AAF's) 68th annual Advertising Hall of Fame class on April 25, 2017 in New York. We, in Dallas Texas, call Stan Richards the ``Father of Texas Design, Dallas adman and icon maker.'' prgtoken Stan founded The Richards Group as a freelance practice after graduating from Pratt Institute in New York. The Richards Group, located in Dallas, is the largest independent brand-building shop in the nation. Clients include the brands of Cardinal Health, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, GameStop, The Home Depot, Motel 6, Orkin, Ram Trucks, The Salvation Army, Sub-Zero, Wolf and many others. prgtoken In 1976, the Richards Group became a full-service advertising agency. Stan's work has received awards in virtually every major competition in the world. In 1976, Stan was chosen by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications as ``the single individual who, over his career, has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of creative standards in the Southwestern United States.'' In 1981, 1983, and 1984, Stan was named by Adweek to the Southwest Creative All-Stars Hall of Fame. In 1985, Stan was honored by Pratt Institute as a Distinguished Alumnus. In 1986, he was honored with an Advertising Age cover story. prgtoken Also in 1986, Adweek named him Executive of the Year, and he was included in The Wall Street Journal's ``Giants of Our Time.'' In 1988, the firm was named Agency of the Year by Adweek. Again in 1990 and 1994. And once more in 2002. In 1995, Stan was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine. prgtoken In 1996, Stan received the ALGA Gold Medal, the award for career achievement in design. In 1997, Graphis magazine named The Richards Group one of the ten best agencies in the world, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies honored the firm with its A+ Award, given annually to America's best agency. In 2007, Graphic Design USA named the firm one of America's six most influential agencies. prgtoken The University of Texas named him the 1996 recipient of its Reddick Award for leadership in communication. Previous honorees include Walter Cronkite, Ted Turner, and Bill Moyers. More recently, Southern Methodist University announced the Stan Richards Creative Chair. Also in 1996, Stan received the ALGA Gold Medal, the award for career achievement in design. In 1997, Graphis magazine named The Richards Group one of the ten best agencies in the world, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies honored the firm with its A+ Award, given annually to America's best agency. In 1999, Stan received the highest honor available to a creative with his election to the Art Directors Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, and Andy Warhol. In 2007, Graphic Design USA named the firm one of America's six most in