mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MRS. JOSEFA FLORES 14-YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-6-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mrs. Josefa ``Josie'' Flores who is celebrating 14 years of service to the people of Texas Congressional District 12 on June 22, 2021. prgtoken Josie was born a first generation American in Grand Prairie, Texas. She has a servant's heart and a strong commitment to her faith and family. She is never flustered and has been a beacon of hope in my office and my district for the last 14 years. prgtoken At 17, Josie joined the United States Army. Her 11 years of military service included a tour of duty in Bosnia, which she describes as one of her fondest memories. Upon returning to her husband, Jose, and firstborn son, Dee, Josie continued serving members of the armed forces in the fleet and family support center. Shortly after her second son, Leo, was born, Josie came to my office as a bilingual caseworker where she has been assisting constituents ever since. prgtoken Josie is not just good at her job; she is the best at her job. People from all over the world contact my office in hopes of having Josie pick up their case because they know that if there is a way to do it, Josie will get the job done. Josie often says her job is to help people and helping people is what she loves to do. No matter the stresses involved, she does all in her power to help every individual or family that reaches out. Her passion for others has carried her on to be a successful caseworker with a wealth of knowledge that few, if any, can match. In addition to helping constituents, Josie is a resource for others in the congressional casework community. She mentors' caseworkers from all over the nation, sharing her experience and passion. The respect she has earned is a direct reflection of the work and dedication she has demonstrated to my office for the last 14 years, and during her entire 25 years of public service. prgtoken Josie will always provide an ear to listen or a shoulder to lean on. She is a sounding board for my staff and a lighthouse for my constituents. I have been beyond blessed to work with this incredible woman during my time in Congress, and I am forever grateful for her service to our nation. May her light never extinguish. prgtoken On behalf of Texas' 12th Congressional District, I offer my congratulations and best wishes on this special occasion.
Broadband (Executive Session)
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-6-17

I want to acknowledge and thank my colleague and friend from Illinois for his leadership on this issue. He has outlined well the situation in front of us with regard to the status of the Crime Victims Fund. prgtoken Again, this is a nontaxpayer source of funding, which is designed to help the millions of victims of crimes--those who have been violated, those who are extraordinarily vulnerable. And we are at a place where, as he has indicated, we have a proposal here that could help address how this fund is replenished to, again, ensure that those who have been made victims can receive some level of compensation. prgtoken We are kind of stuck here this morning, which is extraordinarily unfortunate. Folks back home in Alaska are just starting their day, and they are looking with anticipation and hope and, quite honestly, prayers that today might be the day that they get good news on this. prgtoken Right now, I have about 30 organizations in Alaska, including our domestic violence shelters, our child advocacy centers, our victim advocacy organizations--they have all been notified that they are going to expect a 35-percent cut to their funding, effective the 1st of July, so just in a couple of weeks here. prgtoken And because of this broken VOCA deposit issue, this cut is set to affect their funds for not only this year but for next year going forward. prgtoken So think about it. You are the shelter in Kodiak, where I was just 6, 8 weeks or so ago. When you are told you have a 35-percent cut to your budget coming and you have a small community, where are you going to find those resources? Because, believe you, me, the individuals who still require those services are not staying at home and saying: Well, I guess we didn't have the services here on this big island of Kodiak; so I am just going to stay put. prgtoken The need is still there. In fact, the need is more enhanced or exacerbated than ever before. We have seen this as a follow-on from COVID. We have seen those aftereffects, that aftershock, when you have been in an isolated situation where you have been forced to kind of shelter in place, if you will, but your home is not a safe shelter. It is not a shelter in that sense of the word. But you don't have services. And so where do you go? You stay with your abuser. You stay in the situation that is unsound, unsafe, because you don't have anyplace to turn. So the need out there is considerable. prgtoken We had a situation last summer of devastating loss, with five village residents in different villages who had died in domestic violence murders over a course of 10 days. These are small villages where everybody knows everybody, and the loss of one person--an elder, a child, or a victim--is extraordinary. And so we looked at that, and we said: Well, that is exacerbated by COVID and what has happened. prgtoken But, no, this has been a situation for us long prior to COVID, in terms of, unfortunately,
Broadband (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Toomey (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-6-17

in reserving the right to object, let me say I think I agree with 98, 99 percent of what I just heard from my colleagues. prgtoken In the 11 years I have been in the Senate, I have lost track of how many rape crisis centers and how many child advocacy centers I have visited. They have expanded the number, fortunately, because they have gotten additional resources from Congress. They do some of the most important work I know of--incredibly painful work--in helping a child through an appalling, traumatic experience when there is a law enforcement need to get information that can further traumatize a child. I mean, the work these folks do is amazing, it is essential, and the Senator from Alaska is exactly right in that there is a real need here. prgtoken The good news is that there is a real, very clear, and easy path forward here. The legislation that the Senator from Illinois is proposing creates a new source of money for the Crime Victims Fund. It is a new category, it is substantial, and it is going to be new resources for the advocates for crime victims to better be able to continue to do their very, very important work, and I fully support that. prgtoken So where do we disagree? Here is where we disagree: The legislation does require a lot of money--new money--to go into the Crime Victims Fund. The Senator from Illinois is exactly correct in that it is not taxpayer money; it is money from the settlements for criminal and civil penalties. I fully support that. What their legislation doesn't do, however, is require a dime of that money to actually get to the advocates of crime. It is very nice to put a lot of money into an account that has a name on it that is the Crime Victims Fund. That is very nice, and I support that, but I would like to take one more step and make sure the money actually gets to the victims of crime and their advocates. prgtoken Now, there is a little bit of budgetary information that explains why, if we don't adopt my approach here, this money will not get to the victims of crime and their advocates. You see, the appropriations process, the spending process around here, always operates under some limit. It could be a statutory limit or a limit passed by a budget resolution, but there is a limit. There is no limit as to how much people want to spend around here, but there is a limit as to how much they actually can. prgtoken We have a very perverse budgetary rule, and that rule says that, in any given year, if there is money in this Crime Victims Fund--mind you, not tax dollars, but if there is money in it--and Congress doesn't give it to the crime victims as it is supposed to, you can pretend that it is a savings, and it allows you to spend more than you would otherwise be able to spend on any number of other things, on anything--tanks, buildings, roads, whatever. That is the dynamic. That is what happens here. It actually creates an incentive, however perverse this i
TRIBUTE TO MAX ENGLISH
Tom Cotton (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-6-17

SGM Max English served the Nation honorably for over 28 years in the U.S. Army. He fought in combat operations throughout World War II and bravely led 36 men as a platoon sergeant in the Battle of the Bulge. His extraordinary service continued to the Pacific theater in the waning months of the war. Only a few years later, he returned to the Pacific to fight in the Korean war. prgtoken During his service in the Second World War, Sergeant Major English was injured in Germany and was awarded the Purple Heart. During the Battle of Bulge, Sergeant Major English fought and repelled repeated Nazi attacks and ultimately helped break the back of Hitler's forces. After sustained combat operations in Europe, Sergeant Major English served in the Southern Pacific theater and pursued the treacherous mission of rooting out irreconciled Japanese Imperial Army forces after their country's unconditional surrender. prgtoken A member of ``the greatest generation'', Sergeant Major English again answered the call of duty when he was deployed to the Korean war. There, his unit was tasked with repatriating Americans formerly held as prisoners of war during the conflict. The heroic actions of Sergeant Major English's unit directly contributed to the implementation of an armistice to stop the fighting on the Korean Peninsula. prgtoken Sergeant Major English is a man of exceptional character and commitment to the United States who embodies the American spirit and serves as an inspiration for today's fighting men and women. I join all grateful Americans in congratulating him for his outstanding service and patriotism and thank him for a job well done.
VETERANS DESERVE TIMELY SERVICE
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-6-17

. Madam , America's veterans have served our Nation honorably, and they deserve timely access to the benefits they have earned through their service. prgtoken The National Personnel Records Center was forced to scale down its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently staffed at 25 percent capacity, well below the staffing level needed to process the estimated 5,000 records requests it receives on an average day. These service records are required for veterans to access medical benefits; adjudicate disability claims; and request a commendation, award, or regalia, such as a Purple Heart or campaign service medal. prgtoken To date, there is a backlog of half a million veterans' requests at the NPRC and, in some cases, veterans have waited for over a year for documentation. That is unacceptable. prgtoken That is why I introduced the Records Act, which would compel the NPRC to fully reopen, address the backlog, and develop a plan to prevent this from ever happening again. prgtoken These men and women were willing to lay down their lives in service to our Nation, and we need to continue working to ensure our veterans get the level of responsiveness from their government that they deserve.
EXCELLENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT ACT
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-6-17

let me say, our times got changed today a little bit, and I was trying to finish another thing to get over here and hear in person what Senator Stabenow had to say. She has been an incredible leader in this effort, a great partner. prgtoken As she mentioned, we came to the floor the last day of October 2013, which was the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's signing the Community Mental Health Act. Well-intended, but an awful lot of it just didn't get done. Facilities were closed that maybe were well overdue to be closed, but the opportunities weren't put in place to replace them as that act had hoped they would be. prgtoken I think we have been in the process of making big strides toward doing that. That was 2013. In 2014, we were able to get the first pilot project for Excellence in Mental Health put into place, an eight-State pilot project, where we were looking not only at the impact on those individuals and families who needed to have their behavioral health issue treated like all other health issues but also, frankly, looking to see what impact it had on all their other health issues when your behavioral health issue is being treated as it should be. prgtoken One of the great costs in healthcare is missed appointments. You have got to believe that almost 20 percent of the population that has a behavioral health issue is more likely to miss an appointment than everybody else, and, of course, that costs the whole system, but it particularly costs them. prgtoken If you are going to the doctor when you need to, taking the medicine you are supposed to take for any kind of health issue, eating better, sleeping better, feeling better about yourself, your health issues are dealt with in a different way. prgtoken Nearly one in five Americans, according to the NIH, has a behavioral health problem, but only a fraction of those Americans get the care they need. The NIH says they have a diagnosable--almost one out of five Americans has a diagnosable and almost always treatable behavioral health problem. But, certainly, one out of five Americans who have that problem don't get the care they need to deal with that problem. prgtoken The COVID pandemic added to many of those challenges, and, realistically, it would, if you think about it. If you have got a behavioral health issue, that is not normally going to be helped by isolation, by worrying about healthcare for yourself or somebody you care about, wondering whether you are going to lose your job or someone in your family is going to lose their job. None of those things are going to be helpful. prgtoken The other area that comes into play there is an addiction issue of any kind. If you don't have a behavioral health issue before you have an opioid dependency or some other addiction issue, you certainly have one after that addiction takes over. prgtoken So all of those things were exacerbated by the pandemic. The percentage of Americans with symptoms
HONORING THE LIFE OF RAYMOND TRUJILLO
Byron Donalds (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-6-17

I rise today to honor the life of Raymond Trujillo, a patriotic American, a United States marine, and a dutiful officer in Collier County, Florida. He tragically passed away in May at the age of 56 years old. prgtoken Raymond dedicated his life to giving back through service. He joined the United States Marine Corps as a teenager. Devoted to the Marine Corps creed, semper fidelis, Raymond spent 17 years in the military proudly serving our Nation. prgtoken Upon his exit from the military, Raymond continued his service in his community by becoming a police officer with the Collier County Sheriff's office, to which he would serve the Collier County community for more than 20 years. prgtoken Alongside his brothers and sisters in blue, Raymond protected the Collier County community for more than 20 years. For years, he worked in the Youth Relations Bureau helping to mold and shape the children of today and the future leaders of tomorrow. prgtoken Growing up in California, Raymond was a lifelong Oakland Raiders fan and loved the game of football, so much so he spent his spare time coaching youth football. prgtoken In a moment of history where police officers are vilified, hated, and looked down upon, Raymond Trujillo wore the badge with honor, dignity, and respect. prgtoken Raymond was a proud father to three sons, Raymond III, Alexander, and Jason, and a loving grandfather of three, who were his pride and joy. prgtoken My prayers are with his fellow marines, his brothers and sisters in blue, and his family. prgtoken As the Representative of Florida's 19th Congressional District, it is an honor to stand here today celebrating the life of an American patriot who dedicated his life to a simple, yet so often forgotten creed: Service above Self.
CRISIS AT THE BORDER
Yvette Herrell (Republican, NM) \u2014 2021-6-17

this week I received a letter and these photos, in fact, more photos than just this, from a constituent. The photos were taken on his ranch at 5 a.m. earlier this week from a game camera about 15 miles north of the border. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter from Russell Johnson dated June 13, 2021, and I would like to read a few excerpts from the letter. ``When President signed the proclamation ending border wall construction, we saw a dramatic increase in illegal foot traffic through our ranch.'' I can no longer allow my children to play outside unless an adult is with them to monitor the areas around them. People who have dropped out of groups crossing have stopped at my house wanting to use the phone, WiFi, and call their smuggler. This is very concerning, as often my wife is at home alone with our children, and I am hours away working on the ranch. These people are desperate. And it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. prgtoken Now, , the border in New Mexico is not like the other borders in cities around El Paso or the ports of entry, here there is a huge difference. June 13, 2021. Representative Herrell, My name is Russell Johnson. I am a fourth-generation cattle rancher in southern Luna County. I ranch along side my wife, two children, my father, and my mother. Our ranch borders the international boundary with Mexico for a little over 8 miles. My family has ranched on this same piece of land since 1918. What we are experiencing on the border today is not only a risk to my family, but our state and this nation. When President signed the proclamation ending border wall construction, we saw a dramatic increase in illegal foot traffic through our ranch. There now exists a gap in the wall that separates the United States from Mexico on our ranch. It is approximately 3/4-mile wide along with a border monument access gate that was not installed leaving a gap about 12 feet wide. Not only did President 's proclamation end the construction of the physical barrier, but it also stopped all other infrastructure and technology that was to go with it. Improved access roads for Border Patrol, lighting, sensor technology and camera systems were all part of the project that was abruptly ended. The situation at the border has progressively worsened because of this decision. Talking with local Border Patrol Agents, group size in our area has gone from four to six people in a group, to now being upwards of twenty. This is all crossing and passing through not only my property, but our homes and business. I can no longer allow my children to play outside unless an adult is with them to monitor the areas around them. People who have dr
REPEALING THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2002
Brian J. Mast (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-6-17

. Madam , war powers and AUMF, it is a distant impersonal term to talk about the work of the warfighter. And I think for people on both sides of the aisle, it is anything but impersonal. prgtoken Probably all of us in here know people who have passed in our wars, roads named after them, schools named after them, VFWs, and other buildings named after them. It is not impersonal to those of us in here and to those who have been targeted by snipers, have had ordnance dropped on them, walked across fields of improvised explosive devices, were burned alive in Humvees and other pieces of equipment that they served their time in. prgtoken It is not impersonal to us. We all know the stories. And I like to believe that we do take that very seriously. prgtoken And there is broad-based consensus on the fact that these AUMFs need to be changed. But to do that and to have the appropriate responsibility to those who go out there and fight the wars, we have to talk to the people who go out there and command the battles, that sit in the JOC and sit in the TOC, and sit in the Pentagon. prgtoken But, instead, what we did was we had professors from NYU and Harvard and Yale come in and speak to us for a few minutes about their opinions. prgtoken But what I can tell you is that a battlefield looks nothing like a lecture hall or a faculty lounge. They are not the same things. And their opinions are not nearly as weighty as those of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Navy or the Commandant of the Marine Corps or one of our combatant commanders. prgtoken If we take seriously this power that the 435 of us in this body have, not just to cast a vote, but to cast an informed vote to say that we went out there and did every bit of diligence that we could, it means speaking to those individuals, asking those questions, and then coming to the conclusions that bring us to the votes that we cast. prgtoken But without that, we are acting on pure arrogance that we know better without asking any questions, that we know what to do without going out there and seeking any facts, without finding out how this will affect the defense of our homeland. And it is not what gives the honor and respect to those who go out there and defend this country. It is not what gives the honor and respect to them that they deserve.
HONORING DR. STEPHEN PRESCOTT
Stephanie I. Bice (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-6-17

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the late Dr. Stephen Prescott, former Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation president. prgtoken Dr. Prescott served OMRF with outstanding leadership for 15 years, building the institution into what it is today. He dedicated his life to a scientific career, immersed in medical research, and loved traveling the world, often in conjunction with his professional commitments. But what he loved more than anything was his wife of 52 years, Susan, his two children and grandchildren. prgtoken During his time at OMRF, Dr. Prescott oversaw the largest campus expansion in the foundation's history, making the facility one of only 11 Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence in the United States. prgtoken Throughout his career, he received numerous awards, authored more than 250 scientific articles, served on the NIH, and even founded a biotech company. As a direct result of his many years of hard work and accomplishments, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2020. prgtoken , Dr. Prescott made an immense impact on OMRF, and as a result, the lives of thousands of Oklahomans. As a leading facility for health research, I want Americans to know how instrumental his role was in creating a facility where researchers are working hard to understand and develop new treatments for diseases like cancer, heart disease, and aging. prgtoken I am honored to recognize Dr. Prescott, and I am grateful for the profound impact he has had on my district and far beyond. He will be greatly missed.