mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE
Chris Stewart (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I recently had an experience with a group of, maybe, 50 people, and I asked them: How many of you have been impacted by suicide or an attempted suicide, someone in your family, someone that you love and care about? Nearly every hand went up. prgtoken We are experiencing a crisis among our youth, a crisis among our veterans, and now with COVID-19, a crisis among the general population as we go into our social isolation. It is worse now than it was, and it has been a crisis for a long time. prgtoken There is a tool that will help. The Suicide Prevention Hotline number that creates a national hotline number, 988. No matter where you are in the country, if you are in the middle of a mental health crisis you can get help. prgtoken We have been working on this for 3 years. It is bipartisan, it is bicameral, it will save thousands of lives, especially now in the midst of this other crisis that is creating so much emotional stress on so many Americans. prgtoken Madam , I am asking the leadership, bring it up, finish it, give us unanimous consent today. Let's make this tool available to help Americans who need the help, please.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 6172, USA FREEDOM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-5-27

. We can put the proxy quorum rule on hold. We can suspend it until the courts can make a final ruling on its constitutionality. Once we have that answer, we can then move forward. But to move forward without knowing where we are going on constitutionality is dangerous, damaging, and destructive to every act we take in this body. prgtoken Madam , I would implore the Members of this House: Do not vote the party line. Do not say, ``Oh, it is a previous question, it is a throwaway vote.'' Today, the previous question is an important vote on whether we move forward not knowing the way or whether we move forward knowing whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional. prgtoken I ask you all to vote for our great Republic and this august body. Vote ``no'' on the previous question and put the proxy quorum rule on hold until we have a definitive answer.
UYGHUR HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY ACT OF 2020
Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican, LA) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , on Wednesday, May 27, I was unavoidably detained on rollcall vote No. 110. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 110. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 965, 116th Congress Barragan (Gallego) Bass (Cicilline) Bera (Aguilar) Blumenauer (Beyer) Bonamici (Raskin) Brownley (CA) (Kuster (NH)) Cardenas (Sanchez) Chu, Judy (Takano) Cisneros (Houlahan) Cohen (Beyer) Crist (Murphy (FL)) Davis (CA) (Wild) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Doggett (Raskin) Escobar (Garcia (TX)) Eshoo (Thompson (CA)) Foster (Beyer) Frankel (Kuster (NH)) Garamendi (Sherman) Gonzalez (TX) (Cuellar) Grijalva (Clay) Harder (CA) (Haaland) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Heck (Kilmer) Huffman (Kildee) Jayapal (Raskin) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Khanna (Sherman) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawrence (Kildee) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Levin (MI) (Raskin) Levin (CA) (Kildee) Lewis (Kildee) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Lipinski (Cooper) Lofgren (Boyle, Brendan F.) Lowenthal (Beyer) Lowey (Meng) Maloney, Carolyn B. (Rose (NY)) McEachin (Wexton) McNerney (Raskin) Moore (Beyer) Mucarsel-Powell (Wasserman Schultz) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Peters (Rice (NY)) Pingree (Kuster (NH)) Pocan (Raskin) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Roybal-Allard (Sanchez) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush (Underwood) Schneider (Houlahan) Schrader (O'Halleran) Schrier (Kilmer) Serrano (Meng) Soto (Wasserman Schultz) Speier (Scanlon) Tlaib (Dingell) Tonko (Meng) Vargas (Keating) Veasey (Beyer) Vela (Gallego) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
HONORING COLONEL THOMAS G. FALZARANO
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel Thomas G. Falzarano, USAF, who passed away on May 12, 2020 after a lifetime of distinguished service to his country. Colonel Falzarano was a devoted husband, a caring father, a leader of character, and a champion for our nation's ideals. prgtoken Thomas G. Falzarano was born September 20, 1972 in Nashua, New Hampshire to George Marshall and Joan Denise (Campagnone) Falzarano. Growing up with five siblings meant that he had to hone his competitive spirit and leadership skills early. Such skills prompted him to seek an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, which he acquired. prgtoken His career in the Air Force shaped Colonel Falzarano's personal leadership style. His three R's (Respect, Readiness, and Responsibility) complimented the service values of the Air Force. His embodiment of these characteristics was seen in every sphere of his life. None more prevalent, however, than the relationship that he had with his wife Stacey and children Trevor, Spencer, Michael, Thomas, and Valentina. prgtoken Competence in every aspect of the profession of arms is a moral obligation for those accepting a commission. For those under his command, Colonel Falzarano set the example of virtue, honor, patriotism, and service. He did not take lightly the responsibility of mentoring, inspiring, and challenging the sons and daughters entrusted to him. His strategic assignments and personal decorations after prgtoken graduating the Air Force Academy in 1994 speak to his proficiency and exemplary performance as an Officer. prgtoken His personal decorations and career advancement paled in comparison, however, to the pride he exhibited when speaking about the Airman he was fortunate enough to lead. He met with spouses and families throughout the 21st Space Wing--ensuring their voices and concerns were heard. He took time to mentor Airmen under his charge; he listened to squadron commanders, group commanders and first sergeants in order to fully understand the needs and concerns of the Airmen. Regardless of rank, he met and followed up with every individual seeking his expertise. prgtoken He embodied the aspects of servant leadership. He made it a point to learn the job of everyone under his command so that, when the time came, he could advocate on their behalf. This included standing shoulder to shoulder with Airmen of the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron filling potholes, shadowing security forces throughout his area of operations, suiting up with EOD to participate in a bomb simulation; meeting with the space operators from the 10th Space Warning Squadron and the many Air Force civilians that made the mission possible. He took time to speak with, listen to, and thank everyone from the commissary bagger staff to the public affairs team that allowed his Airmen to focus on their task at hand. Colonel Falzarano believed that the entire 21st Space Wing family had a role to play, and
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 6172, USA FREEDOM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I thank the majority leader for his comments. It reminds me of the days when I was the majority leader and he was minority whip and we used to be able to have colloquies. I yearn for those days again. prgtoken But let me respond to much of what the majority leader has said. I respect the gentleman greatly, but I just think he is wrong. prgtoken When I walked in the room, the gentleman said we did not want to meet. He knows that is not true. prgtoken Simply look at the board today, how many s are here and how many . We will give the gentleman an easy answer to that question of who wants to meet. prgtoken Or why not look to simply a month ago. Only one side put a plan out of how to bring Congress back. prgtoken We don't have a schedule. We don't know when we are supposed to come. One day they say ``yes,'' the next day they say ``no.'' prgtoken I think it is very clear which side wants to meet. It is very clear, and based upon 231 years of history. prgtoken For those Members not in the Chamber and sitting in their office watching on television, they ought to pay attention to this very next vote. They are going to do something that no Member has ever been allowed to do before. They are going to change history, but not for the better. prgtoken While millions of Americans are going to be tuned in to their television to watch us put people in space, we are going to watch more than 70 Members on the side stay home and say they could not make it, but they still want a paycheck. prgtoken We just listened to the majority leader question the s on whether they want to meet. prgtoken I watch my home State of California. Now we get to go to church, now we can get our hair cut today, but in Congress, what do we get? We get no accountability. prgtoken You see, the one thing the majority leader said that is true is that people vote for us. Yes, they do. They vote for us, expecting us to vote for them. They do not expect us to give that vote to somebody from another State. prgtoken Our Constitution, our country expects us to convene, just as history has shown every time before in any crisis we have. prgtoken I heard the majority leader question, not going through the , but one of our own Members on a speech that he gave just a few minutes before, Congressman Chip Roy, about whether he wanted to meet. Well, let's look at some facts. prgtoken We are called back here to vote on a bill authored by Chip Roy, the Congressman, to help small businesses, but his name will no longer be on it. The only reason we are going to get a vote on it is because the had to pledge to somebody to vote for the $3 trillion bill that we would vote on. prgtoken Once we found out everybody loved the bill, lo and behold, we can't let a have their name on the bill, so we have changed the bill number. We didn't change the bill, but took his name off of it. He is no longer the main author of the bill, even thoug
RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF RICK BECK
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the career of Rick Beck, a teacher who has shaped the future of foreign language learning in the Yakima Valley. prgtoken Drawing from German culture and his own high school experience, Rick developed a nationally-recognized German language program in the West Valley School District. prgtoken Through years of hard work and curriculum development, Mr. Beck created bonds with his students, teaching them about language, leading exchange trips to help them better understand German culture, and inspiring several to pursue higher education in German linguistics and international relations. prgtoken In November 2019, West Valley High School and German teacher Rick Beck were recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German as a German Center of Excellence, a crowning achievement of Rick's career. prgtoken Now, as Rick enters into retirement, his legacy and the language program he developed will continue to inspire students at West Valley High School and beyond. prgtoken I thank Rick for his service and commitment to students across the globe. I wish him the best in his retirement.
UYGHUR HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY ACT OF 2020
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I want to thank my good friend for his very strong remarks today and his leadership, Brad Sherman as well, and, of course, Jim McGovern, as chairman, and I, as the ranking member of the China Commission, for the work that we have been doing to try to bring light to this terrible human rights tragedy, this genocide that is being committed against the Uyghur people. prgtoken Madam , Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's ongoing genocide against the approximately 10 million Uyghurs living in Xinjiang in northwestern China demands action. prgtoken Today, more than a million Uyghurs are in concentration camps. Millions more are harassed, beaten, raped, and tortured. prgtoken S. 3744, which is nearly identical to legislation H.R. 649 that I and my good friend Mr. Suozzi and 136 bipartisan cosponsors introduced 17 months ago, requires the administration to categorize and report on the human rights abuses being committed by the Chinese Government and take specific steps to sanction China's officials for these abuses, including visa denial and asset blocking, the essence of the Magnitsky Act, which is the prohibition of all financial transactions by an abuser. prgtoken Madam , at a 2018 congressional hearing, Mihrigul Tursun recounted her ordeal with torture, sexual abuse, and detention in one of Xi Jinping's concentration camps. She broke down weeping, telling us that she pleaded with God to end her life. Her Chinese jailers restrained her to a table, increased the electrical current coursing through her body, and mocked her belief in God. prgtoken She was tortured simply because she was an ethnic Uyghur and a Muslim living in China. prgtoken Madam , there are millions of stories like this waiting to be told about the crimes against humanity being committed by the Chinese Government against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslims. prgtoken There are many people--we all know them; I have had them at my hearings in the past--women and men who have had their entire families back in this region, Xinjiang, arrested and put into concentration camps and harassed in other ways. prgtoken Chinese authorities initially denied the existence of the concentration camps and even tried to portray them as vocational training centers. What a euphemism. They employed lies, censorship, and economic coercion to stifle discussion of their crimes. prgtoken Where have we heard that before? Look at what is going on with COVID- 19 and the deceit and the lies that have come from Xi Jinping himself. prgtoken But documents obtained by The New York Times and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have, indeed, exposed the brutality behind Beijing's plans to radically and coercively transform the culture and religion of ethnic Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslims. prgtoken The leaked documents showed detailed plans to intern between 1 and 3 million Uyghurs into concentration camps, where they are subjected to sever
ECONOMIC AND INTELLECTUAL COMPETITION WITH CHINA
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-5-27

for far too long, the Chinese Communist Party has taken advantage of innocent people in its own country and around the world. prgtoken Now, America is engaged in an economic and intellectual competition with China that existed long before the coronavirus crossed our borders. The current pandemic merely has exposed the Chinese Communist Party's sinister lies, and the depths to which it will reach. prgtoken There is no question that we must hold this regime accountable for all of its actions. As a member of the China Task Force, I am committed to combating the Chinese Government's threats to our great Nation. We must be focused on strengthening and protecting our supply chains to ensure that we are never beholden to this regime for critical medicines and critical supplies. prgtoken Americans must once again lead in innovation. We must, and we will.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO MARK PETTITT FOR HIS SERVICE TO AMERICA
Mo Brooks (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , after ably and honorably serving as my chief of staff for more than 9 years, Mark Pettitt will retire in June. Mark has provided exceptional leadership, and I've greatly benefited from having him as my chief advisor. I will miss his sound and candid guidance. prgtoken When asked how he came to be my chief of staff, Mark will often reply, ``I complained about politics too many times to an old friend.'' That is only partly true. Really, it was Mark's deeply ingrained sense of patriotism that led him to Capitol Hill. prgtoken Mark's tenure as chief of staff caps an already exemplary career as a successful private sector engineer. For Mark, there are few more patriotic acts than simply working hard and contributing each day to America's economic and industrial prowess. prgtoken Mark worked hard throughout his career. He earned both his masters and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Brigham Young University. He served as an R&D Engineer and Project Manager at Wylie Laboratories in Huntsville, Alabama from 1978 to 1989. While at Wylie, Mark earned his Professional Engineer license. He went on to work as an Executive Consultant and Product Manager for Intergraph Corporation from 1989 to 2010. As an aside, Mark is a 10th degree Jiu Jitsu black belt. prgtoken Given his private sector background, Mark offers a unique perspective on federal policy issues. Always one to put America first, Mark has been particularly active in addressing America's trade imbalances and has long advocated for trade policies that benefit American workers. prgtoken As Mark's career concludes, I cannot thank him enough for the value he provided me, the Tennessee Valley, and America. I wish Mark joy and contentment as he embarks on this next phase of life. He is looking forward to enjoying well-deserved time with his wife, Diane, five children--John, Jared, Ben, Nichole, and Joseph--and 12 grandchildren. Mark has earned every bit of that family time. prgtoken America is a stronger, more prosperous nation thanks to Mark's exemplary career.
IN HONOR OF HELEN HORLACHER EVANS
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mrs. Helen Horlacher Evans. Mrs. Evans was born in Fortville, Indiana on June 11, 1920 and will soon be celebrating her 100th birthday. prgtoken Mrs. Evans graduated from the University of Kentucky and began teaching home economics at Versailles High School. After conversations with fellow teachers about the newly formed Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, she joined the Army on a dare in 1942. She was in the first group of Kentucky women accepted for the WAC and at 21 years of age she was one of the youngest. She was accepted for the Officer Candidate School at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. prgtoken Mrs. Evans was trained in army food service and served as the Office of the Quartermaster General inspector for stateside WAC mess halls. In early 1945 she was assigned to the European Theatre of Operations with the Office of the Quartermaster General outside Paris, France. At the end of the war she was working along the banks of the Rhine feeding German prisoners of war. Mrs. Evans earned the rank of Captain. Her experience as a WAC is documented as part of the Veterans History Project in the Library of Congress. prgtoken Upon returning to civilian life, Mrs. Evans began work at the Veterans Administration in Louisville, KY, where she served as a senior training officer until 1951. She has served as a volunteer on many projects related to veterans, including serving as Kentucky's representative on the committee to establish the National Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. She received the Spirit of Kentucky Award for Patriotism from the Kentucky Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2018, she was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize this amazing patriot, celebrate her 100th birthday, and thank her for her service and sacrifice to our nation prgtoken during World War II. As a part of ``The Greatest Generation'', Mrs. Evans was an important part of the war effort to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today. I am forever grateful for Americans like Helen Horlacher Evans. Thank you, Madam . the remaining balance of my time.
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, FOR A CHANGE
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-5-27

just a few months ago, America enjoyed the most promising economic expansion in our lifetimes, lifting millions of Americans out of poverty, boosting wages for American workers, and producing the lowest unemployment rates in 50 years. Today, the American economy lies in rubble, with tens of millions of Americans thrown into unemployment, poverty, and despair. prgtoken Now, that damage was not done by a virus. It was done by ordering entire populations into indefinite home detention, shuttering countless businesses, and desecrating the most fundamental human rights that our Constitution demands our government to protect. prgtoken Now, we are told to follow the science and data. That would be nice, for a change. prgtoken What does the science tell us about the severity of COVID-19? Well, we know that about 80 percent of those who get it either have no symptoms at all or experience it as a mild respiratory infection. In New York, 74 percent of those who died were over age 65 and six one- hundredths of 1 percent were under the age of 18. Three-quarters of those who died had underlying medical conditions. prgtoken So how does it follow the science to close the schools where it poses the least danger while packing infected patients into nursing homes where it poses the greatest danger? prgtoken Once epidemiologists began surveying general populations, they discovered the disease isn't nearly as severe as the claims that set off the global panic. Researchers at Stanford University surveyed the population of Santa Clara, California, and estimated a fatality rate of seventeen one-hundredths of 1 percent. New York serology tests revealed a fatality rate of one-half of 1 percent. prgtoken So, simply stated, if you get the flu, your chance of survival is 99.9 percent; and according to these studies, if you get COVID-19, your chance of survival is better than 99.5 percent. prgtoken So how does this science justify throwing nearly 40 million Americans into unemployment? prgtoken Does the science support population-wide lockdowns? prgtoken In 2006, based upon an Albuquerque teenager's science paper, the administration proposed mass lockdowns in the event of a severe flu pandemic. Leading epidemiologists warned at the time that: ``The negative consequences of large-scale quarantine are so extreme that this mitigation measure should be eliminated from serious consideration.'' It wasn't. prgtoken New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has now admitted that 84 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York are people who are either already quarantined at home or are at nursing homes. prgtoken Statistical analysts, including Stanford University's Michael Levitt, Tel Aviv University's Isaac Ben-Israel, Kentucky State University's Wilfred Reilly, and Cypress Semiconductor's T. J. Rodgers, are finding no significant statistical difference in the infection curves between those jurisdictions that have destroyed their economies and those that