mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING THE FIRST RESPONDERS HONOREES AT THE 4TH ANNUAL BLUE MASS AT ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH
Jared Moskowitz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-11-15

I rise today to honor South Florida's first responders as they are celebrated at the fourth annual Blue Mass at Assumption Catholic Church taking place in Florida's 23rd Congressional District on November 15, 2023. prgtoken Today and every day, America's first responders remain on alert and on call whenever we need them. Putting themselves at great personal risk. They are our police officers and sheriff's deputies protecting our communities. They are our firefighters running into burning buildings or emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers and other public health workers providing emergency cases. There are not enough words to explain how grateful we are to all our extraordinary brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way each day, to keep our Nation safe. prgtoken , it is with great appreciation that I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring our first responders for their service and sacrifice to our communities. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.
2023 WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-11-15

November 19, 2023, marks the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, WDoR, commemorating the millions of people killed and injured by the devastating cost of car crashes. On this day, communities across the Nation and globe gather to call for action against the roadway safety crisis, recognizing that these are not isolated incidents but rather widespread problems with known solutions. This day also serves as a powerful reminder of the critical work of emergency responders in saving lives and as a moment to stand in solidarity to recognize how road traffic deaths and injuries deeply impact our community. Now is the time to take decisive action. By investing in proven, tangible measures and enacting legislation, we can prevent further loss of life. Our Nation must invest in advanced technology and the redesign of our roadways to spare more families the tragedy of losing a loved one. prgtoken Like other issues that are uniquely American, the U.S. failure to protect all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, makes us stand out among developed nations. According to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 47th out of 54 in traffic fatality rate among high-income nations. In 2021, there were 42,915 deaths due to roadway crashes in the U.S the highest figure since 2005. This highlights the lack of progress that has been made in addressing these preventable losses. prgtoken As we solemnly observe this day, we are reminded of the profound message behind this year's poignant theme: Safe Streets for All. Since its inception in 1995 and its subsequent adoption by the United Nations for global observance on November 15, 2005, the WDoR has become a catalyst for change across continents. It is a day that compels us to reflect on the heartbreaking losses experienced by families worldwide due to unsafe road conditions. prgtoken Our call to action is clear and urgent: We must not only remember but also advocate for immediate change. This means demanding from our leaders a steadfast commitment to invest in and reimagine our infrastructure. By fostering the creation of safer vehicles, redesigning our roadways, and ensuring walkable and bike-friendly communities, especially for those communities that have been persistently marginalized, we can transform our streets into corridors of safety rather than peril. prgtoken In honoring the lives tragically cut short by traffic accidents, we confront the profound loss of family members, partners, and cherished friends, alongside the burdens of caring for those left with permanent disabilities. Yet it is in our collective commitment to act that we find the truest form of remembrance, ensuring such tragedies become rare exceptions. Rejecting complacency, we honor the victims by embracing our shared duty to prevent further needless interruptions of life stories on our roads. As a community, both local and global, we are called to forge
TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM B. SHEAR
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-11-15

I request unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with the Senator from Iowa. prgtoken As chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise to celebrate the venerable career of Director William Shear of the U.S. Government Accountability Office--GAO--and congratulate him on his retirement. prgtoken Mr. Shear is a Director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. As a leader on the Financial Markets and Community Investment team, his portfolio addresses small business issues, community and economic development, and Native American housing issues. In addition to these important issues, Mr. Shear's portfolio includes oversight of many Small Business Administration--SBA--programs that address contracting, disaster assistance, access to capital, and entrepreneurial counseling. prgtoken Mr. Shear's career at the GAO spans over two decades. In this time, he has had profound impact on the government's small business programs and served thousands of citizens who use these important programs every day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Shear testified before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to provide his essential perspective on the SBA's COVID relief programs. His testimony emphasized the importance of conducting effective oversight and of ensuring that relief was delivered to the people who needed it most. prgtoken At the height of the pandemic, my colleagues and I on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship worked tirelessly on behalf of America's small businesses and worked to ensure that the most vulnerable small businesses received the help they needed. Mr. Shear's commitment to upholding the integrity of the SBA's relief programs was foundational to our work. His testimony supported the committee's mission to serve America's most vulnerable businesses during an unprecedented time of uncertainty and chaos, and we are grateful to him for his invaluable contributions. prgtoken Mr. Shear also contributed to the committee's efforts to improve the SBA's contracting programs. His testimony provided the committee with valuable insight into the SBA's efforts to provide better contracting opportunities for small businesses, especially women-owned and veteran- owned firms, and his suggestions on how to improve these programs were indispensable to us. prgtoken Advocating for small business growth, especially among women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses, is critically important. About 99 percent of the businesses in my home State of New Hampshire are small, and these businesses employ about half of Granite Staters. With GAO, Mr. Shear has been a tireless advocate for these same small businesses. He has worked hard with the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the SBA to ensure that the programs established to help America's small businesses continue to do so and continue to improve. prgtoken As chair of the Committee on Small Bus
HONORING MOTHER SARAH BELLE MINGO STEVENSON
Alma S. Adams (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor a great leader from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community: Mother Sarah Mingo Stevenson. prgtoken After a lifetime devoted to public service in her community, to her church, and, most importantly, family, Sarah Stevenson left us at the grand age of 97 on September 26, 2023. prgtoken A Charlotte civil rights pioneer, she played a huge role in the creation of an influential forum for political and social dialogue in the city. The Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum continues to this day and is a required stop for candidates running for office in Charlotte and statewide. prgtoken As the first Black woman to serve on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, from 1980 to 1988, she carried on her work of activism from the seventies when she effected the desegregation of public schools in the district. prgtoken Her courageous leadership and encouragement of small businesses, women, and civil groups over the years have been part of her undying legacy. She will be sorely missed. prgtoken I look forward to witnessing the many ways her legacy will continue to impact lives to make Charlotte and North Carolina a more just and fair place. prgtoken Sarah Stevenson earned the respect of men, women, and little children, and she made the world much better than she found it. prgtoken Rest in peace, Ms. Stevenson.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5893, COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5961, NO FUNDS FOR IRANIAN TERRORISM ACT
Morgan McGarvey (Democrat, KY) \u2014 2023-11-15

Social Security and Medicare are lifelines for hundreds of thousands of seniors in my district in Louisville, Kentucky, and for millions of seniors across America. prgtoken Unfortunately, the House s continue to advocate for stripping hardworking Americans of their earned benefits. I stress ``earned.'' prgtoken Social Security and Medicare are a contract, a legal and moral promise that our country has made for people who have paid into a program, and then we said: Guess what? We will be there for you. We will be there to provide a safe and secure retirement for you in your golden years. prgtoken For millions of Americans, a Social Security check is the difference between keeping the lights on or falling behind on bills. Their Medicare coverage is the difference between taking or not taking their insulin. prgtoken Stripping back these crucial benefits is dangerous, and it is extreme. prgtoken Just a few weeks ago, one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle explicitly stated that they wanted to elect a who has the courage to talk about ending Social Security and Medicare as we know it. prgtoken My hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, is home to more than 350,000 Medicare beneficiaries. That is over 350,000 Louisvillians who paid into the program their entire working lives so that they could depend on those benefits now. prgtoken Thanks to and the Inflation Reduction Act, healthcare is more affordable and more accessible than ever before. As we speak, Medicare is negotiating to lower the price of 10 prescription drugs for part D recipients, with more to come. Out-of-pocket insulin costs have been capped at $35 a month. prgtoken There is more to do, but extremists in the House Conference are trying to privatize, cut, and end these crucial programs. House will continue fighting to protect these benefits for generations to come. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question.
RECOGNIZING BISHOP CLARENCE AND PROPHETESS DR. JOYCE HADDON
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-11-17

today I want to recognize Bishop Clarence Haddon and Dr. Joyce Haddon for their nearly five decades of service to the community at High Praise Cathedral in Detroit and Inkster, Michigan. prgtoken Bishop Haddon grew up in a family steeped in an appreciation for a strong foundation in faith. Following in his father's footsteps, Bishop Haddon pursued a career in ministry and took over the pastorship at Church of God in Unity, which would eventually become High Praise Cathedral. As the congregation grew, the High Praise family made their home at its current address in Detroit and eventually opened a sister location in Inkster. prgtoken Bishop and Dr. Haddon, drawn together by their faith and passion for serving others, have been united in ministering to the family in faith at High Praise and the surrounding communities. They have created numerous programs, including the Bread Basket Program, a back to school program to ensure students are prepared to start the school year with a fresh haircut and the supplies they need to succeed, as well as youth summer camps. prgtoken Please join me in tribute to Bishop Clarence and Dr. Joyce Haddon in celebration of their forty-nine years in spiritual service to High Praise Cathedral, as we wish them well in their retirement.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LONNIE MCKISSIC, SR.
Elissa Slotkin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-11-17

. Mr , today I pay tribute to the life of a mid- Michigan icon who was a builder in every sense of the word. Lonnie McKissic, Sr. passed away on November 3, 2023, but the legacy he worked so hard to construct in his 88 years on this planet--physically, emotionally, and spiritually--lives on in this community and in the many lives he touched. prgtoken Lonnie was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1935, the son of Robert and Myrtle McKissic, and his early years were by no means easy. His father passed away when he was just a toddler, and Lonnie was only able to attend school through the third grade. Though still a child, he was sent to work in the cotton fields, and later at a mill yard, to help support the family. He was just 16 years old when he married the love of his life, Odell, and shortly after the two made the move north to Lansing, Michigan. prgtoken When Lonnie picked up his first construction job at age 18 in Lansing, he likely didn't know he was laying the foundation for his future. After years of hard work and learning the ins and outs of the industry, in 1969 he was ready to make a go on his own and launched the family business: McKissic and Sons Construction. Not only did the company break ground on numerous homes, churches, and well-known Lansing-area buildings, Lonnie broke barriers by becoming one of the first Black contractors in the region. prgtoken Over the years he also built a large and loving family, raising six sons, three daughters, and ten grandchildren, and prided himself on passing the trade to younger generations. Today, the construction company continues with his son Michael at the helm. In addition, Michael shares his father's lessons with the community through his non- profit, which teaches construction skills to young people in an effort to provide a meaningful path for the future that can help turn the tide of violence in the Lansing area. prgtoken A man of profound faith, Lonnie was deeply involved with Mt. Zion All Nations Church, where his 69 years of devotion earned him the title of longest-serving member. During that time, he held various other titles, including Chairman of the Board, Deacon, Vice-Chair of the Executive Council, Elder, and choir member. He mentored hundreds of young people over the years, and was known as a spiritual father to many. prgtoken In everything he did, Lonnie McKissic used his hands, his heart, and his life to build up the community. Brick by brick, word by word, lesson by lesson, he laid out a blueprint for what it means to be a servant leader, and constructed his life on a bedrock of faith, family, and hard work. I send my condolences to his family, and ask that we now dedicate ourselves to building upon his memory, which will live on in Lansing.
HONORING EVANGELIST BARBARA GREEN
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2023-11-17

I rise today to honor Evangelist Barbara Green, a devoted Crossing Guard in Clinton, Mississippi. prgtoken Barbara Green is a native of Bolton, Mississippi, and now resides in the city of Raymond. She is a mother of 2 children, a grandmother of 3 and a great grandmother of 2. Barbara Green started her first job right out of high school at Blackstone restaurant on Historic Farish Street in Jackson, Mississippi. She then went on to work at Hunter Engineering for 17 years. prgtoken After her retirement, a friend of Barbara Green's informed her of an open position at Sumner Hill for a crossing guard. She then went to try it out and fell in love with the job. prgtoken She has been a crossing guard for 14 years in the Clinton community. Some of Barbara Green's most genuine moments are seeing the kids and parents every day as she directs them safely through traffic with a smile on her face. prgtoken Outside of her inspirational job as a crossing guard, she is a devoted community servant. Mrs. Green is a choir member and Evangelist at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church and Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. prgtoken When asked what words she lives by, Evangelist Green expressed her favorite Bible Scripture which is ``I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'' Philippians 4:13 prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Evangelist Barbara Green for her hard work and dedication to her community.
INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FOOD BANKS, FOOD PANTRIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT FIGHT TO END FOOD INSECURITY
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-11-17

I rise today to introduce a resolution to declare the House of Representative's support and gratitude for the work done by food banks, food pantries, and other community-based organizations across the United States to end food insecurity and provide other essential services. prgtoken As many of us come together with our friends and family this holiday season to give thanks and enjoy good conversation--and even better food--we recognize how blessed we truly are. But that is not true for everyone in America, as food insecurity presents a significant and present problem in many of our communities. prgtoken Even with the many federal, state, and local programs centered around this problem, 44 million people, including over 13 million children, lived in food-insecure households in the United States in 2022. This represents nearly 13 percent of all households, many with children. prgtoken In 2021, 1 in every 6 military and veteran families experienced food insecurity--the same people that have sacrificed to protect us and secure our freedoms. At the same time, 1 in 14 seniors over the age of 60 face food insecurity in America. These are the tragedies that food banks work to rectify. prgtoken Moreover, food banks are essential to the prosperity of our Nation. Food insecurity costs the United States economy at least $160 billion each year in additional health costs and poor health outcomes. Children who face hunger are more likely to repeat a grade in elementary school, as well as experience developmental impairments, and they are more likely to face social and behavioral problems. prgtoken The employees and volunteers at the hundreds of food banks and over 60,000 community partners, including pantries and meals programs, across America tirelessly and collectively work to end food insecurity. In 2022, they served over five billion meals to the 49 million people who turned to them for assistance. prgtoken Every year during the holidays, my family and I volunteer at a local food bank, the Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC), packing and handing out nutritious food boxes and other supplies to families and individuals in need. We are proud and humbled to join the countless employees and volunteers spending their time helping others. prgtoken Food banks, food pantries, and other community-based organizations provide essential food assistance to so many across the country. They collect, store, and distribute items, as well as deliver to those in need, including to senior centers and schools during the weekdays, weekends, and summers. prgtoken The work food banks do goes way beyond simply providing food. They and their partners provide nutrition education, diapers, and other essential items to people in need. Through their efforts, food banks have rescued and distributed millions of pounds of food that otherwise would have been wasted. Their work to end food insecurity will lead to fewer chronic health p
HONORING THE LEGACY OF WYNONA LIPMAN
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-11-17

I rise today to recognize and honor a great trailblazer from my district, Wynona Lipman, on what would have been her 100th birthday. Born in 1923, Mrs. Lipman was the first African- American woman to be elected to the New Jersey State Senate when she won her seat in 1971. She served the 29th Legislative District for 27 years, the Senate's longest-serving member at the time of her death in 1999. prgtoken Before she was a political trailblazer, Mrs. Lipman was a teacher. She taught French at Morehouse College and tutored a famous civil rights advocate, Martin Luther King, Jr. She left that position to pursue a Ph.D. degree at Columbia University. During her time at Columbia, Mrs. Lipman earned a Fulbright fellowship to study at the Sorbonne in Paris for two years. When she returned, Mrs. Lipman finished her Ph.D. degree and eventually moved to Montclair, New Jersey, where she became an associate professor at Essex County College. prgtoken In Montclair, Mrs. Lipman became active in local politics. In 1968, she won her first election to become an Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholder, where she became President of the Board in 1971. Then Mrs. Lipman ran for the New Jersey State Senate and defeated Senator Milton Waldor by less than 1,000 votes out of 170,000 cast. During her 27 years in the State Senate, Mrs. Lipman was often the only woman serving there and worked diligently to protect the LGBTQ+ community and children on the Governor's Advisory Council on AIDS and Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. prgtoken Mrs. Lipman's tireless efforts to serve her district earned her induction into the New Jersey's ``Women's Hall of Fame'' in 1998. Today, her legacy is supported throughout the area. There is the Wynona Lipman Ethnic Studies Center at Kean University, the Wynona Lipman Chairholder at the Center for American Women in Politics and Rutgers University, the Wynona Lipman Child Advocacy Center (known as Wynona's House) for abused children in Newark, and the future Wynona Lipman Courthouse in Essex County. Next week, there will be an exhibit titled ``Stronger than Steel: The Wynona Lipman Story'' at the New Jersey Historical Society. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating her life of public service and her legacy in New Jersey politics.