mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING REBECCA LEGGIERI ON HER RETIREMENT
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2020-12-16

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to Rebecca Leggieri, Clerk of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, who will be retiring at the end of this year after more than 24 years of service to our country. Becky was born in Schenectady, New York, and went to St. Lawrence University on a ROTC scholarship. She joined the Army as a Quartermaster officer and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ms. Leggieri first came to the House as an Army Fellow for Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick of Michigan in 2009. Rep. Kilpatrick was a member of the Subcommittee, and during her fellowship Becky met the committee staff and learned the mechanics of the appropriations process. The Committee, recognizing her talent, hired Rebecca in 2010. prgtoken She began serving on the Defense Subcommittee in the minority. In that capacity, she needed to be versed on every facet of a vast and complex bill that encompasses hundreds of thousands of people and every issue ranging from day care to the delivery systems for nuclear weapons. This year's bill amounts to nearly $700 billion and it impacts our nation's security and that of our planet. Becky's skills and her life experiences were all she needed to make the right decisions. In 2015, Becky Leggieri became the Subcommittee's Minority Staff Director and has worked by my side for the past five years to ensure oversight of the Department of Defense and numerous intelligence agencies. She balanced competing priorities from administrations, Members of Congress, labor. industry, state and local governments, and citizen interest groups. Her honesty, knowledge of the issues, and willingness to listen allowed her to develop legislation in which the many parties involved felt a sense of shared ownership in its enactment. prgtoken Becky Leggieri is a person of scrupulous ethics and is possessed of a sterling intellect and nimble mind, an innate political shrewdness, and poise under pressure. Most importantly, she used these talents in the service of her country and this institution to ensure that the Committee and House's constitutional prerogatives were respected and protected. Her steady hand will be sorely missed. prgtoken I know Ms. Leggieri's husband, John, and her children, Olivia and Gabriel, are so very proud of her, as are we all. I wish Becky every happiness and success in her future endeavors.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-12-16

I come to the floor today in support of my senior Senator's unanimous consent request to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. prgtoken As Senator Menendez pointed out, this is a bipartisan piece of legislation. It is bicameral. It will take important steps to safeguard the personally identifiable information of Federal judges and their family members from individuals who wish to do them harm. prgtoken As Senator Menendez said, it is named after Daniel Anderl, the son of Judge Esther Salas and Mark Anderl, who was senselessly murdered in July of this year by a hate-filled gunman. The gunman was able to access personal information, as Senator Menendez said, by going to Judge Salas's information, getting it--including where she lived, the routes she took to work, and even her place of worship and her home address. As a result, Judge Salas and her husband have gone through something that no parent ever, ever should have to go through. prgtoken No person who takes on the responsibility of serving as a Federal judge should ever have to live in fear that they or their family could be targeted by someone wishing to do them harm, who is able to easily access their personal information. Passing this bill today in memory and in honor of Daniel Anderl will mark a commitment of this body to safeguarding the privacy and security of our Federal judges and their families so that we can make sure we are doing everything in our power to prevent this from happening to another family. prgtoken Our bill, as Senator Menendez said, has broad support. It has been endorsed by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Federal Judges Association, the Federal Magistrate Judges Association, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, the Federal Bar Association, the National Association of Attorneys Generals, and others--people from all backgrounds, people from both parties, Independents. We have a unanimous chorus of support of people who believe that this is justice and will help keep judges safe. prgtoken James C. Duff, the Administrative Director of the U.S. Courts, said in his statement of support of this bill: ``It is crucial in our system of justice that judges can decide cases without fear for their safety and that of their family.'' He is absolutely right. prgtoken I echo Senator Menendez's request to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. prgtoken .
DEPENDABLE EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-16

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great leadership. He makes us so proud as the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. prgtoken I proudly rise in support of H.R. 7105, a strong bipartisan package of legislation that strives to meet our responsibilities to honor the service and sacrifice of those who don the uniform. prgtoken The strength of this package and its support across the aisle is a testament to the outstanding leadership of Chairman Mark Takano. We are very proud of him as a Californian and as a Member of this House. prgtoken The bill has been an all-hands-on-deck effort, and I salute the many Members whose provisions and perspectives have strengthened it: prgtoken Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the chair of the Health Subcommittee and the Women's Veterans Task Force, who has worked tirelessly to achieve gender equity at VA, including, now, through the landmark Deborah Sampson Act included in this omnibus; prgtoken Congressman Mike Levin, the pride of our freshman class, who introduced this omnibus as chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, who has been a champion for the financial security of our veterans on everything from the GI Bill to antihomelessness initiatives. prgtoken And to you, Mr. Ranking Member Roe, thank you for your leadership and your friendship and prioritizing our veterans. I am so proud that this bill is named for you. Congratulations to you, and thank you. prgtoken I also recognize former Senator Johnny Isakson. What a great person he is. What a great Member of the Senate he has been. I enjoyed being with him when we were saluting our veterans at Normandy, when he made that visit there and made us all so proud. prgtoken Johnny was always bipartisan, reaching across the aisle for our veterans, and it was a joy to serve in this House as he served as a Senator. But I want him to know that he is very missed and, again, recognized for his leadership. prgtoken , last year, many Members were blessed to be able to travel to Europe to mark 75 years of the Normandy landing and the Battle of the Bulge on another visit. prgtoken At the commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge, almost 1 year ago this day, I met a veteran in his nineties who urged us to pray for peace. He spoke for the veterans who were gathered there in a program with the King of Belgium and the President of Germany. It was very interesting. The Secretary of Defense spoke, but the veteran spoke for the veterans, and he talked about the camaraderie and the band of brothers and all that, but at the end, he said: Pray for peace. prgtoken In that same spirit of peace, hope, and respect, this Congress has honored our veterans and their families and caregivers with transformative action: from the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act to expand protections for those devastated by exposure to Agent Orange, to ending the cruelly unfair widows tax and kiddie tax--remember that?--to passing the COMPACT Act to combat
MISSING PERSONS AND UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS ACT OF 2019
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-12-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 2174, the Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at assisting State and local governments to locate missing people and identify human remains. prgtoken This bill not only authorizes grant funding to States and localities for such purposes, but it also improves the Federal Government's data collection procedures and expands Customs and Border Protection's response to the tragic rise in migrant deaths along our southern border. prgtoken These changes bring much-needed financial relief to local jurisdictions nationwide and provide a modicum of dignity and consolation to the families of those who have perished. prgtoken Sadly, there is a pressing need for this legislation. The process by which States and localities and law enforcement agencies must tackle these issues exacts a financial and emotional toll. When remains are found, their identification by State and local law enforcement and medical examiners, often supported by crime and forensic laboratories, provides decedents and their survivors with dignity and respect. prgtoken But bringing closure to these families is costly. State and local entities must transport, preserve the remains, perform autopsies, attempt DNA testing, and conduct forensic examinations. These tasks can be particularly burdensome on small jurisdictions that often have to rely on State support to carry out these complex tasks. prgtoken That is why the grant program that this bill authorizes is so important. While the need for this support is greatest along our southern border, the grant funds authorized by S. 2174 will support jurisdictions nationwide to carry on this critical work. prgtoken S. 2174 also contains a number of provisions that will strengthen the Federal Government's efforts to identify missing and unidentified people. Notably, the bill would create a bridge between States and localities and a Federal database to help match reports of missing people with unidentified remains. prgtoken Importantly, the bill authorizes Customs and Border Protection to install up to 170 self-powering cellular relay rescue beacons along the southern border that will help stranded migrants call for help should they find themselves injured or in need of emergency services. prgtoken A broad coalition of stakeholders have endorsed S. 2174, including the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies; the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC; and the Christian Life Commission. This broad swath of support speaks to the need for the legislation and bolsters the bipartisan nature of the bill. prgtoken I want to thank Representative Vicente Gonzalez for his leadership on this issue and his tireless work on behalf of his House companion to this bill. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
CRISIS STABILIZATION AND COMMUNITY REENTRY ACT OF 2020
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am proud to support S. 3312, the Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020. Today, with this bill, the House takes additional affirmative steps to promote the successful reentry into their communities of individuals leaving correctional facilities. prgtoken The bill provides funding to State, local, and community organizations to provide incarcerated and recently released individuals with mental health and substance abuse treatment. Providing continuity of care in relation to mental health and substance abuse treatment when individuals are released from correctional facilities is a critical bridge back into their communities; but continuity of care of this sort is seldom available to returning citizens. This bill addresses that gap. prgtoken At a series of hearings this Congress, the Judiciary Committee has explored the many challenges that recently released individuals face. These returning citizens confront a myriad of barriers that hamper reentry. Unfortunately, many struggle with mental health and substance abuse. Navigating reentry, which is already daunting, can be made even more difficult due to these additional challenges. prgtoken Because the need is great, the reach of this bill is broad. The grants awarded by S. 3312 improve mental health and substance abuse treatment during pretrial detention, throughout incarceration, and upon return to the community. Eligible grantees include juvenile justice agencies, mental health agencies, and community-based behavioral health providers. prgtoken The bill's keen focus on the provision of care by local, community- based providers is deliberate, as this is consistent with long-term reentry success. This is why I am particularly supportive of this provision of the bill that implements a preference for grantees that provide community-based care and promote policies that reduce the number of technical probation violations. prgtoken Also notable in S. 3312 is the broad panoply of mental health services that it incorporates. These include peer support, enrollment in long-term healthcare programs, and introduction to clinically proven medications. This bill recognizes that no single reentry solution will work for every returning individual. prgtoken The programs authorized in S. 3312 would further promote much-needed cooperative efforts among criminal and juvenile justice agencies, mental health agencies, and community-based behavioral health providers. prgtoken The programs receiving funding under this bill would engage relevant stakeholders in the formulation of program design, implementation, training on services, and examination of healthcare reimbursement issues that may pose a barrier to ensuring long-term financial sustainability of these programs. prgtoken The holistic approach to reentry that this bill adopts has consistently been shown to promote successful reentry and offer better long-t
RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND SERVICE OF DR. TOM TERRY
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-12-16

. Madam , I rise today to offer congratulations to Dr. Thomas F. Terry on his retirement after practicing for 45 years as an optometrist. All but one of those years were spent in White River Junction, Vt not far from his place of birth in Windsor. prgtoken Dr. Tom Terry is a prime example of what another Vermonter, President Calvin Coolidge, said in Bennington in a speech on Sept. 21, 1928. During his speech, Coolidge talked about the state he loved--Vermont: ``I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people.'' prgtoken Coolidge's description of Vermont and her people are as apt today as it was more than 90 years earlier. While there have been many Vermonters who fit this description, but no one more than Dr. Tom Terry of Wilder, Vt. prgtoken He was born in the Connecticut Valley. After graduation from Windsor High School, Dr. Terry graduated from Springfield College with majors in chemistry and physics. He then attended New England College of Optometry and graduated with a doctorate degree in 1975. A year later he returned to Vermont and set up a practice in White River Junction where he continued to serve his many patients, until his retirement on Dec. 30, 2020. prgtoken During his years of practice, Dr. Terry developed a major interest in primary and medical eye care, including macular degeneration and glaucoma care. Dr. Terry was also trained a as low vision specialist and worked, as such, with the Vermont Division of the Blind. prgtoken Dr. Terry became well-known for his skills, not only in Vermont, but throughout New England and in national optometric councils. He served for six years as President of the Vermont Optometric Association, as well as 17 years on the Board of Optometry for the state. For 27 years, Dr. Terry did service on various American Optometric Association committees as well as nine years as Acting Eye Clinic Chief at the Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Junction. Dr. Terry' s deep interest in health care matters also led him to serve for 10 years on the Board of the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in nearby Lebanon, N.H. prgtoken As much as Dr. Terry enjoyed serving his many patients in Vermont and New Hampshire, he was also instrumental in helping his town and state to promote regional health, economic renewal, and prosperity. In that regard, Dr. Terry was on the Board of Directors of the Mas coma Savings Bank for 18 years, many of which as Chair of the bank's foundation directing charitable contributions to local, regional and state organizations. prgtoken My brave state of Vermont may be small, but it is large in its spirit of community and service. Madam , that is why I take great pleasure in recounting the many commendable attributes and service of my constituent, Dr. Terry for the House and the nation. It clearly demonstrates the work that one individual can do for his town,
DEPENDABLE EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-12-16

I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe and my Michigan colleague, Jack Bergman, with whom I worked on this legislation, for bringing this bill to the floor, which includes my legislation, the Transparency For Wounded Warriors Act. prgtoken This legislation will improve the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, known as TSGLI, which provides financial support to help servicemembers recover from severe injuries. prgtoken This issue came to me 7 years ago as a result of an injury suffered by Sergeant First Class Cameron Corder from Clio, Michigan, my neighbor just a few miles away from where I live, who sustained a severe back injury while on Active Duty serving as a flight medic in Afghanistan. prgtoken Despite his traumatic injury, the Army repeatedly denied his TSGLI claims, and for years my staff and I fought all the way to the top rungs of the military to try to get Cameron his benefits. Finally, in November of 2017, after years of denials, Cameron received those benefits. prgtoken His experience, though, was a clear case of bureaucratic harm suffered by a Wounded Warrior. His treatment was unacceptable. This legislation will, hopefully, ensure that it won't happen to other servicemembers. prgtoken I am pleased that the House has included this bill in this bipartisan package. When it comes to my constituents and veterans, I don't give up until I win. prgtoken I thank my friend Chairman Takano, and I especially thank Dr. Roe. I very much enjoyed serving with you and look forward to staying connected to you in some fashion.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-12-16

. to the modification, I appreciate the Senator's concern to expand the universe of people covered by this bill, including Members of Congress. While that is a laudable goal, I personally think it would be more appropriate to legislate that in another bill. prgtoken This bill is for the Federal judiciary because of the special threats they face and the importance of ensuring their independence in terms of being able to make judgments based on the law and the facts, not upon some fear that lurks outside of their home or outside of their chambers. prgtoken I also understand that the amendment would strip out--and if I am wrong, I would be happy to be corrected--would strip out the ability to seek redressing the court as it relates to the provision that we provide for judges. Without a threat of some damages, there is little incentive for a data broker to remove the personal identifiable information of a judge and his or her family. This is not about frivolous suits. This is about protecting the Federal judiciary. prgtoken In addition to that, we had made several good-faith efforts before we got to this point to address the concerns of my colleagues across the aisle. We actually had the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts engage in conversations directly with our colleagues. prgtoken My colleagues had concerns about a new grant program to States. Well, we changed that language to a report. Senator Lee was part of those concerns. To better understand the proper Federal role, we changed it to a report. prgtoken They don't want to deal with some of the questions that we had for the U.S. marshals. Again, this is about protecting the Federal judiciary. Guess what branch protects the Federal judiciary. The U.S. marshals. We changed that. prgtoken It never seems to be enough. It never seems to be enough. It is unfortunate that the Federal judiciary will pay the price of this recalcitrance, but I cannot, at this time, agree to the modification. Therefore, I object to it.
ONE SMALL STEP TO PROTECT HUMAN HERITAGE IN SPACE ACT
Kendra S. Horn (Democrat, OK) \u2014 2020-12-16

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to begin by first thanking Ranking Member Babin, as well as Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas and Senators Peters and Cruz, for their work on this. prgtoken Particularly, I thank Ranking Member Babin. It has truly been an honor to be able to work with his on these issues and to do so in a constructive way that advances policy that is good for the United States, for discovery, for innovation, and for our leadership in a way that we can come together. prgtoken Space is one of those areas where it is and should be bipartisan, where we can come together for the best interests of our Nation, to continue to advance discovery and to encourage innovation. prgtoken , this bill does just that. It finds the right balance between preserving the heritage of the Apollo era, for a reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to work, to advance technology, to do what has never been done before, while not placing too much burden on our ability to move forward into the future and advance that discovery. prgtoken Our Nation's space program has long served as a source of inspiration and innovation and helped make sure that we, as a nation, are a leader in technology, innovation, and discovery. prgtoken , I encourage swift passage of this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yea,'' and .
TRIBUTE TO MR. LEE RAYBURN PIONEER WESTSIDE OF CHICAGO BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADER
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-12-16

. Madam , the Almighty God has called to his eternal rest Mr. Lee Rayburn, a skilled mechanic and business leader who became a legend on the westside of Chicago in the automobile repair business. I met Mr. Rayburn in the late 1960's when one of my staffer Ms. Arlene Granderson introduced me to Mr. Nate Irwin who was her mechanic and was working at Rayburns Automobile Repair Shop at Roosevelt and Independence. Mr. Irwin became my mechanic and my friend as did his boss, Mr. Rayburn. For more than fifty years Mr. Rayburn and his mechanics repaired my cars, fixed my flats, and preformed tow services, whenever I needed them. I soon learned that Mr. Rayburn was not only good at repairing cars, but was also interested in community politics, social service activities and was a great financial supporter of community causes. prgtoken He, Garfield Major, Willie Barney, The Knox Family at the hardware store, Cliff Duwel White, Walker the iceman, Dave at the hot dog stand and Rev. Murphy at Rose of Sharon Cleaners became the heart of business support group in the area. Mr. Rayburn loved his business and loved the Lawndale Community. After he was no longer actively working, he would come up to the shop and sit around talking with customers and giving people advice. He was a great mechanic, a great businessman, a great family man, a great community leader, and he will be greatly missed.