mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2020-11-19

on November 3, Puerto Rican voters made a clear choice to become a permanent part of this Union, to become a State in equal footing and equal responsibility to the 50 States. prgtoken As it was done in Alaska and Hawaii, voters were asked a straightforward question: ``Should Puerto Rico be admitted as a State of the Union?'' And, yes, an absolute majority voted ``yes.'' Statehood gained more votes than any candidate or party ticket on the island. I was the most voted candidate islandwide, and statehood still received well over 100,000 more votes. prgtoken The people of Puerto Rico have repeatedly voted to end territorial status. In 2012, voters answered ``no'' to the question on continuing the territorial status on the island, and in all votes since then, the majority of ballots for change has favored statehood. prgtoken , the people of Puerto Rico have democratically chosen what their future should be. What is Congress waiting for? prgtoken It is our duty to respect the will of the people of Puerto Rico. This is a direct mandate to move to statehood, and it is Congress' responsibility to act and do it. Keeping the current condition cannot be justified by any means. There are a lot of assumptions and false claims being made by both sides of the aisle on the issue of Puerto Rico's statehood--claims that are mistaken and only try to invalidate the will of the people. prgtoken The American citizens in Alaska and Hawaii were not met with proposals to try some other different solution or meet some special precondition, so why should we? prgtoken Congress needs to respond to this vote to achieve the goal of getting Puerto Rico a legal status where our American citizens stand on the same footing as those in the rest of the Nation. prgtoken This is the right thing to do. Inequality is not sustainable. prgtoken For over 100 years our young men and women have fought in America's wars side by side with their fellow citizens prgtoken from all States, under the orders of a Commander in Chief we cannot vote for. prgtoken For decades, my predecessors and I, lacking a vote on this House floor, have had to plead, with no proportional delegation, against bureaucracy and against both open and tacit discrimination in Federal programs and funding. prgtoken Puerto Ricans have been a part of the great American family for over 120 years. Puerto Ricans are part of what makes the United States what it is today. At work, schools, law, business, sports, government, and in communities in every State we contribute to the greatness of this Nation, and we are proud of that, . prgtoken We embrace being Americans, and we want to be looked at and treated as such by our own government system. prgtoken It is time to get to work to give the people of Puerto Rico the equality that has been long promised but denied. After the discovery of the island, there were more than 100 years as a colony of Spain and now as a colony of the United States. prgtoken
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 8294. I, too, come from the construction industry, which I learned from the ground up, and I know firsthand how apprenticeships provide our workforce with a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills that are needed to secure a good-paying job and a long-lasting career. prgtoken The reason apprenticeships are so successful is because employers know exactly what skills are in demand. That is why we must encourage more employer-led innovation in the apprenticeship space. prgtoken This legislation denies workers and employers autonomy to create programs that are responsive to workforce needs. This shortsighted bill would undo the Department of Labor's industry-recognized apprenticeship programs created under President . This program provides companies an alternative avenue to train skilled workers and develop apprenticeship programs for their specific industry needs. prgtoken This year has already been tough on our employers with COVID-19, devastating businesses across the country, and the last thing we need is to impose more bureaucratic red tape and requirements. prgtoken I am disappointed that my colleagues are pushing a plan that would put these job-filling programs in jeopardy and prevent more workers from accessing these opportunities. prgtoken I believe that this is a space for bipartisanship, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this flawed approach and work with us to encourage innovation and flexibility.
COMMENDING CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today to congratulate the Batesville FFA Skillathon Team for winning the Indiana State 4-H title. prgtoken All four members of the team scored in the top 10 for individual competitors, earning them the team State title, a big accomplishment. prgtoken Congratulations to Anna, Onika, Shalee, and Blake on all their hard work and dedication to the agriculture community. This group has made the Sixth District proud.
CHINA TASK FORCE
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise today to commend the work of Leader Kevin McCarthy and Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mike McCaul for their hard work on the China Task Force. prgtoken After months of meetings and investigations, the task force released 82 key findings and 430 associated recommendations. That number of recommendations demonstrates the important work that we have to do as a Congress to address China's refusal to play by the rules as a global power. prgtoken What was most disappointing, Madam , was that Pelosi refused to participate in this effort. prgtoken Many of the recommendations, and legislation linked with the recommendations, are bipartisan. I have heard it directly from my ic colleagues with concerns about China's actions in a variety of areas, from human rights, intellectual property theft, and military incursions in the South and East China Seas, just to name a few. prgtoken Tackling China as an issue should be a bipartisan one, and I hope my ic colleagues will come to the table in the coming months to collaborate with s on the proper strategy to counter China's decision to threaten the global system.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL RURAL HEALTHCARE DAY
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise to recognize National Rural Healthcare Day. prgtoken One in five Americans calls rural America home, including the great people of northern California. prgtoken We have some great healthcare providers, and I would like to thank them for their efforts, especially during the pandemic, to keep everyone safe and healthy. prgtoken As great as it is to live in our State, we have a severe shortage of physicians, and recruiting new ones has proven to be a challenge. prgtoken The 12 community health centers and teaching health centers serve over 200,000 patients alone. These medical facilities provide much- needed short-term care but also help train physicians who will plant their roots, hopefully, in underserved areas and be available for their patients long term. prgtoken Community-based programs with stable funding are sometimes the only way that people in rural areas can get the care they need. prgtoken Let's hope we can have a stronger push and use National Rural Healthcare Day to spotlight more of this issue.
CONGRATULATING LEGENDARY GENE ARRINGTON ON HIS LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today to recognize a very special constituent, a legendary west Texan, and a great American and the most recent inductee into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, Gene Arrington. prgtoken At 6-foot-6, ``Big Air,'' as his friends call him, is a giant of a man with a larger-than-life story. prgtoken He was raised by a single mom on the south side of Amarillo, Texas, with little more than a roof over his head. In spite of his humble beginnings, God blessed him with an abundance of athleticism and drive that helped him achieve tremendous success in the sport of basketball. prgtoken In 1956, Arrington led the Palo Duro Dons to their first State championship basketball title, averaging 20 points a game, and named to both the all-State and all-tournament teams. He was the only Texan to be invited to play in the North versus South All-Star Game in Murray, Kentucky. prgtoken After high school, Arrington joined Polk Robison's Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he started for 3 years, scored 652 points, and pulled down 409 rebounds in 71 games. prgtoken His greatest feat, , while playing ball at Texas Tech was winning the heart of a young coed from Austin, Texas, Betty Lee Cook, who is now his wife of over 50 years. prgtoken If you asked my dad about his greatest achievements, he wouldn't reference championship titles, all-star games, or all-State and all- conference teams. He wouldn't mention a single athletic achievement or accolade. prgtoken Instead, he would talk about the day he met Jesus and joined God's kingdom team and what joy and blessing and peace and purpose he experienced from that relationship. prgtoken He would talk about his most impressive score of convincing my mom to marry him and spend over 50 years doing life with him and how she has been such a faithful friend and partner and such a hardworking woman and an amazing mother. prgtoken He would talk about coaching three boys to be men and how proud he is of all three of us and how he prayed every day--every day--for our happiness in life and in the Lord. prgtoken He would talk about his all-star friends and what a blessing they have been and how sweet life has been and how they have helped him be more successful. prgtoken I am proud of my dad's induction into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, but, , the most important thing to my dad is not being a Hall of Fame athlete. It is being the best husband, father, and friend that he can be. prgtoken So I congratulate my dad on his Hall of Fame honor. But, more importantly, I congratulate him on realizing his deepest desires and his biggest dream of being a world-class father and teaching his boys the game of life, the love of God, and the true meaning of success. prgtoken He is our hero. God bless, and go West Texas.
RECOGNIZING COMMANDER CHRISTOPHER JOHN ARBUCKLE
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize those men and women who continue to serve this great Nation with honor--men such as Commander (CDR) John Arbuckle, United States Navy. prgtoken For the past year, CDR Arbuckle served on my staff as a Congressional Defense Fellow. A 1998 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, CDR Arbuckle is a proud Naval Aviator who has also earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky. During his assignment in my office, CDR Arbuckle provided senior-level input for defense, veterans, foreign affairs and intelligence matters. Additionally, he executed his work as a liaison to the constituents of Virginia's First Congressional District with distinction. prgtoken Furthermore, CDR Arbuckle provided exceptional support to me as a staff liaison to the House Armed Services Committee in my role as the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member. CDR Arbuckle dutifully provided me with guidance on what the Navy's path forward should be in critical areas such as training, readiness, and manning. His recent command experience was invaluable to my work in Congress. prgtoken As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus and the Co- Chair of the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus, I relied on CDR Arbuckle to organize quarterly events with government, military, and private sector leaders. These events allowed key decisionmakers to work together for the advancement of our future Naval Officers as well as the construction and repair of the ships on which they will serve. prgtoken CDR Arbuckle also directly contributed to my goal of providing excellent constituent service to the people of the First District. He was responsible for bringing numerous constituent inquiries to a successful conclusion, and he leveraged his personal and operational experience in the Navy to respond to the most challenging inquiries. In addition to his efforts locally, CDR Arbuckle took on projects with regional, state, and national implications, demonstrating his ability to view a challenge from many angles and develop innovative solutions. prgtoken CDR Arbuckle's work ethic, duty to mission, and commitment to servant leadership is without equal. I believe that his personal drive to achieve excellence in his work has and will set a very high standard for his peers. I would also like to thank CDR Arbuckle for the service and sacrifice he has made, and continues to make, both for our Nation and our great Navy. His impeccable integrity, boundless work ethic, and loyal devotion to duty earned him the respect and admiration of my staff and the First District of Virginia. I have no doubt that CDR Arbuckle will continue to serve the Navy honorably and with distinction. prgtoken I wish John and his wife Allison, children Ella and Jack, the best of luck as they continue their journey together as a Navy family. It was an honor and a pleasure having John serve on my staff. We all can sleep soundly at night kno
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. prgtoken The original National Apprenticeship Act was passed in 1937 and is now over 80 years old. There is no doubt that Congress should update the Apprenticeship Act; however, the legislation being considered today will harm apprenticeships rather than aid workforce development. prgtoken H.R. 8294 removes the Department of Labor's ability to administer industry-recognized apprenticeship programs, making only DOL-registered programs available. While DOL-approved programs work for many employers, one-size-fits-all solutions don't work for many industries and are simply not the answer. prgtoken Industry-recognized apprenticeship programs are developed by third- party groups that are recognized by the Department of Labor. They are held to high standards to ensure apprentices are receiving the training that they need. prgtoken IRAPs have already proven to be successful in helping to expand access to apprenticeships. Somebody argued that IRAPs are harmful because they think it might limit involvement in union-sponsored apprenticeships. What these individuals do not think about are the areas of the country like mine where union-sponsored apprenticeships do not exist or are extremely limited. My home district has none. prgtoken Not only does this legislation try to force one-size-fits-all programs on to apprentices and employers while favoring unions, it also drastically increases the amount of bureaucratic red tape placed on States and program sponsors. prgtoken Apprenticeship programs are fantastic options for individuals to gain skills and find well-paying jobs and for businesses to grow and expand their workforce. Especially in a year that has greatly affected our workers, we should not pass legislation that threatens to reduce access to workforce development or makes it more difficult to run or establish an apprenticeship program. I urge a ``no'' vote.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. prgtoken Apprenticeship programs are a tremendous benefit to our economy. They provide a diverse range of opportunities for emerging workers to hone and develop specific skills while providing competitive salaries that strengthen our economy. prgtoken I agree with my colleagues that the National Apprenticeship Act needs to be updated and reauthorized; however, Congress needs to ensure that changes to this act accurately reflect the needs and challenges of the current economy and the modern workforce. prgtoken H.R. 8294 fails to address and expand work-based learning programs beyond the traditional registered model. Now, more than ever, we need an apprenticeship system that provides tools and opportunities for workers to succeed and will encourage our small- and medium-sized businesses to participate. prgtoken The existing apprenticeship system is severely outdated and is unresponsive to the needs and challenges of a dynamic workforce. The current administration has addressed these needs by creating the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program, commonly referred to as IRAP. prgtoken Twenty-five years working in private industry taught me that no one knows the needs of workers more than America's employers. It is time that we allow these job creators to participate in a system that is reflective of their needs and the needs of the workforce. Doing so will open greater pathways to work for current workers and job seekers and ultimately get more Americans back to work. prgtoken In addition to these concerns, I must convey my strong opposition to the amendment offered by Representative Levin. The amendment essentially restricts nonunion entities from being able to apply for funding under title II, allowing taxpayer dollars to go to apprenticeship programs that partner only with unions. prgtoken At best, it is signaling that Congress would rather double down on a union-registered model for large employers rather than expanding to new participants for America's small business. This is an attempt to elevate the wants of unions over the needs of the American worker. prgtoken Voting for H.R. 8294 in its current form supports outdated policies and bureaucratic red tape that too often prevents innovation and needed change. prgtoken Most importantly, this bill would actively prevent IRAPs from moving forward, decimating thousands of opportunities for workers to participate in a dynamic and innovative apprenticeship system. This is why we should not support this bill in its current form.
IN DEFENSE OF GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise this morning in defense of Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently defied his own idiotic COVID edicts as he partied at one of the few restaurants that has not yet been forced out of business. I defend him because he was doing what we once all did in a free society, make our own decisions over what risks we are willing to run and what precautions we are willing to take according to our own circumstances to protect our own health. prgtoken Yes, COVID is a nasty bug, and a quarter of a million Americans have died while having it, but this isn't the bubonic plague. The CDC's best estimate is that if you are under 49, your chance for surviving COVID, if you get it, is 99.92 percent. Even if you are over 70, you have a 94.6 percent rate of recovery. Forty percent who get it, don't even know they have it. And yet we have allowed our officials to ruin our quality of life over it, destroying countless businesses, throwing tens of millions into unemployment, robbing our children of their educations, and shredding our most cherished rights as Americans. prgtoken Governor Newsom's night of partying should be a wake-up call for every American. prgtoken Every time we step outside our homes, the risks that we face multiply. A free society assumes that its citizens are competent to assess those risks, balance them against the avoidance costs, and to manage their decisions in a generally responsible way. It is called common sense, and it is a necessary prerequisite for self-government and liberty. prgtoken The choices of an octogenarian with emphysema might be very different from those of a healthy Governor from California. Only a fool would claim the omniscience to make an informed judgment for every person in every circumstance in every community. Yet sadly, this crisis has revealed that fools abound in public office, and that a fool with power can quickly become a petty tyrant. prgtoken Which brings us back to Governor Newsom. These government nannies love to tell us that they are just following the science. Well, what does this science actually tell us? It tells us that COVID poses virtually no risk to children but can be severe among the elderly. So what did these lockdown leftists do? They closed all the schools and ordered infected patients into nursing homes. prgtoken The science tells us that outdoor transmissions of the virus are extremely rare, and that 80 percent of infections occur in people's homes. So what did these lockdown leftists do? They closed our beaches, parks, and campgrounds and ordered people to stay at home. prgtoken The science tells us that obesity is a contributing factor to the severity of the disease. So what did these lockdown leftists do? They closed all the gyms and kept the liquor stores open. prgtoken The lockdowns haven't saved lives. The States with the most stringent lockdowns generally have the highest mortality rates from COVID. Utah prgtoken stayed open while next door, Colorado shu
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VINCENT ``PIKE'' ANDERSON
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lee Wayne Russ, a courageous law enforcement officer who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Twenty years ago, on 29 October 2000, he lost his life while protecting innocent persons. prgtoken Lee Wayne Russ was born on 19 June 1952 in El Paso, Texas. The son of a police lieutenant and a registered nurse, he was instilled with the value of service to others from a very early age. He began his career in law enforcement and joined the Ward County Sheriff's Office in 1989. prgtoken On that fateful day in October of 2000, Deputy Russ was the first officer to respond to a domestic disturbance in progress at a home in Monahans, Texas. As he entered the home, he immediately took action to disarm the suspect and protect the victim, Ms. Norma Sepulveda Esparza. prgtoken In the struggle that ensued, Lee received multiple stab wounds that would ultimately prove to be fatal. As the suspect resumed his attack on Ms. Sepulveda, Lee summoned his remaining strength to retrieve his service revolver and fatally shot the attacker before succumbing to his own injuries. prgtoken That day, domestic violence claimed the lives of two innocent people, Mr. Russ and the person he was protecting, resulting in six children losing a beloved parent. Any law enforcement officer will tell you that domestic disturbances are among the most dangerous situations for an officer to encounter. When the 911 call came across the radio, however, Lee did not hesitate to put himself in harm's way in service to another. prgtoken A warrior and a protector up to his last breath, Lee's final act was his valiant attempt to save the life of someone he had never even met. He truly exemplified the words of Jesus in John 15:13, ``Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'' prgtoken Lee was surrounded by a community of friends where he was known for his kind and generous personality and his quick sense of humor. He had a reputation as an exceedingly fair and just peace officer who could diffuse tense situations. He took his oath to protect and serve seriously on and off duty, and he never turned down a request for help. prgtoken Representative of his studious nature, he knew the Texas Penal Code backwards and forwards, and he continually sought out additional opportunities to become a better peace officer through training and education. prgtoken When people share stories of Lee, they often recall the small details that made him unique. He would not drive a patrol car without his signature beaded seat cover and a rope on the gear shift to fidget with. His regular trips to the library gave him a new stack of paperback novels, often 2- to 3-feet high, that he would quickly work through and then exchange them for others. He kept notepads next to his bed, his phone, and anywhere else he might suddenly feel the need to jot down a reminder or to write a note to a loved o