mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHOENIX BAKERY
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-10-2

I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of Phoenix Bakery. prgtoken When the bakery was founded in 1938, Chinatown was truly the place where Chinese prgtoken immigrants came together. The bakery was intended as a gathering place for the community, producing traditional Chinese pastries and cookies not found locally. prgtoken Using generation-old recipes, the Chan family's first bakery highlighted its almond cookies, which it sold to Chinese restaurants and stores. Founders Fung Chow (F.C.) Chan and his wife Waihing were proud to offer the treats to everyone. Soon thereafter, F.C.'s brother, Lun, joined the bakery, and the bakery's offerings began to include what has become its trademark fresh strawberry whipped cream cake, consisting of two sponge layers with strawberries in between and covered with a fluffy, lightly sweetened whipped cream frosting. prgtoken It was not until the 1970s, however, that Phoenix Bakery became famous throughout Los Angeles for being a little Chinese bakery making this ``not so Chinese'' cake. In 1977, with business flourishing, the Chan family moved from Chinatown's Central Plaza to a custom-built bakery on North Broadway, where it remains today. prgtoken Catering both to the local population celebrating birthdays and to the thriving businesses operating downtown, Phoenix Bakery cakes began to become traditions. Lun's son, Youlen, eventually took over production, and Phoenix Bakery continued to thrive as he expanded the offerings of sweets and confections. The almond cookies, Sticky Sugar Butterflies, and Wintermelon cakes it sells have made traditional Chinese pastries household favorites. Its selection of pastries also includes a blend of eclairs, tarts, and specialty cake slices made daily. prgtoken Today, members of the Chan family's third generation can be found in various roles at the bakery, alongside loyal employees who have helped the Phoenix Bakery family grow through the years. According to a July 14, 2018 Los Angeles Times article by reporter Frank Shyong, many of the Chans ``have stepped up to help keep the bakery alive. Eric, a finance executive with Kaiser Permanente, serves on the bakery's managing board and launched a review of its finances. Melissa, Lun's granddaughter, runs the bakery's Facebook and Instagram accounts. Tiffany, Fung Chow's granddaughter, helped build the website and makes marketing suggestions. And Andrea Purcell, Fung Chow's oldest granddaughter, now brings her son and daughter to help at the bakery.'' prgtoken Over the decades, Phoenix Bakery has brightened many birthdays, weddings, and celebrations. The bakery prides itself on maintaining a loyal following of customers, and it continues to welcome new friends with its quality, delicious products. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating the Phoenix Bakery's 80th anniversary, and wishing it many more years of providing, in its words, ``Sweets for the Sweet.''
Opioid Epidemic (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-10-2

everyone in this Chamber knows how bad the opioid crisis is. In Ohio, based on the averages, 11 people died yesterday, 11 prgtoken people will die today, and 11 people will die tomorrow from a drug overdose. We have a long way to go to fight this, but right now, we are taking an important step to get resources to communities, doing innovative work, and tearing down the redtape regulations that prevent people from getting treatment. prgtoken This week we will pass a comprehensive package of legislation to fight addiction. Several of these bills are important to Ohio. prgtoken I worked with my colleague from West Virginia, Senator Capito, on a bipartisan CRIB Act to support treatment centers for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, like Brigid's Path in Dayton, Lily's Place in Huntington that serves people across the river in Lawrence County, OH, and elsewhere. prgtoken Brigid's Path in Ohio is one of just two residential treatment centers like this in the country. Again, Huntington, WV, on the Ohio River, across the river from Ohio, and Brigid's Path in Dayton are the only two of these in the country. prgtoken I am meeting in my office tomorrow with folks from Brigid's Path to talk with them about the important work they are doing in our State. prgtoken NAS is caused by the use of opioids or other addictive substances during pregnancy. It has become a growing challenge for families and healthcare providers in States like Ohio. prgtoken Recent studies show that cases of NAS have tripled over the past decade. Right now, babies are usually treated in the neonatal intensive care unit, known as NICUs--the neonatal intensive care unit--where treatment costs are five times the cost of treating other newborns, but given the relative bright lights and the relative loud noises in neonatal units, the NICU is not always the best place for newborns struggling with withdrawal. They are even more sensitive to noise and light than other premature babies that might be in a NICU. prgtoken Residential pediatric recovery facilities like Brigid's Path can give these infants specialized care as well as bringing the mothers and the families in for counseling in a setting outside the chaos of a hospital. So while they are treating the newborn baby, they also have opportunities with some wraparound services to treat the addicted mothers so mother and child and others in the family can have a normal, healthy life. prgtoken These unique venues are relatively new. The CRIB Act will allow them to bill Medicaid for the services they offer. The CRIB Act, Brigid's Path in Dayton, OH, and the Huntington program are not eligible for Medicaid because they are neither a doctor nor a hospital. So this bill will make them eligible for Medicaid and will save millions of dollars. As more of these facilities like Brigid's Path and Lily's Place are formed around the country, we will be saving millions and millions of Medicaid
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF DIANE NARASAKI
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-10-2

I rise today to extend my congratulations to Diane Narasaki on her retirement after 23 years of service at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS). Throughout her career, Diane demonstrated her deep, personal commitment to civil rights and social justice by standing up for immigrants and refugees, defending diversity and encouraging civic engagement. prgtoken Diane was born in Seattle not long after the end of World War II. She was driven to a career in social justice in part because of the inhumane treatment of Japanese and Japanese Americans incarcerated during the war. She ultimately built ACRS into the globally-recognized powerhouse it is today, growing it from 14,000 members to over 35,000 and from 76 staff members to 270. prgtoken In one of her early acts at ACRS, Diane organized the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community to mount a response to 1996 federal welfare reform legislation, which barred legal immigrants from accessing certain federal safety net programs, including food stamps and medical assistance. Thanks to Diane's leadership and the tireless advocacy of communities across Washington, the state passed legislation to replace many of the public assistance programs for immigrants that were lost at the federal level. prgtoken Also, during her time at ACRS, Diane organized the API community to increase funding for employment training and naturalization services targeted to help low-income immigrants, refugees, and those with limited English proficiency to gain citizenship. With her leadership, ACRS obtained federal funding to develop integrated mental health services, which had an incredible impact on the lives and well-being of API people. Prior to joining ACRS, Diane also served as Executive Director of the Northwest Labor and Employment Law Office, co-founded the King County Asian Pacific Islander Coalition and was named by President to the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Her contributions to the API community are innumerable. prgtoken Diane has received numerous awards to recognize these contributions. The Seattle City Council proclaimed a ``Diane Narasaki Day'' in 2006. In 2009, Seattle Magazine declared her one of one of their ``most influential people of the year.'' She received a Puget Sound Business Journal Women of Influence Award, a Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World Award, the ACLU of Washington's William O. Douglas Award and many, many more. prgtoken Still, what makes Diane so special is not these awards but her dedication to lifting up marginalized people in our community and across the country. Though she is moving on from ACRS, I have no doubt that she will continue to thread her passion and activism into everything she does. I commend Diane Narasaki and the incalculable impact of her life's work. I wish her a healthy and joyous retirement.
HONORING MR. JOHN GRIESHEIMER, ON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 36 YEARS IN SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican, MO) \u2014 2018-10-2

I rise today to honor a constituent of mine, Mr. John Griesheimer, on his retirement after 36 years in service to the citizens of Franklin County. prgtoken Since 1982, Mr. Griesheimer has provided dedicated service to his community of Washington, Missouri. It started with his representation on the City Council in 1982 through 1988 before being elected as County Commissioner in 1989 and serving in that role until 1992. Those 4 years of service as a commissioner adequately prepared Mr. Griesheimer for his next elected official roles as State Representative followed by the State Senate. For nearly 20 years he served in the Missouri Legislature and holds the title of being the first State Senator from Washington, Missouri--what an honor! Once his term as State Senator was completed, Mr. Griesheimer continued his dedicated public service to Franklin County as Presiding Commissioner until July of this year. prgtoken Throughout his commissioner and state elected official duties, Mr. Griesheimer was active in many community organizations: OATS Transit, Washington Lions Club, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Missouri Association of Counties, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Missouri Main Street Connection, Washington Historical Society, and the Washington Bridge Committee. Each of these organizations have shared their great appreciation for the many hours Mr. Griesheimer has spent volunteering his time. With his numerous civic responsibilities, Mr. Griesheimer has seen major accomplishments over the years. In 1986, during his time on the City Council, the Washington City Pool Renovations were completed. In 1997, as he served as Missouri State Representative, Amtrak installed a stop in Washington. Then in 2007, while he was a Missouri State Senator, he helped with the passage of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Bill for Franklin County. This zoning bill paved the way for the building of the Menards Distribution Center in Sullivan, Missouri. In 2010 the Associated Industries of Missouri acknowledged his great work by presenting him with the Friend of Manufacturing and Industry Award. prgtoken Of Mr. Griesheimer's biggest supporters over the years are his wife, Rita and their three children. In his retirement, he will enjoy spending more time with his family. He will also continue his service on the statewide OATS Transportation Board and with the Washington Lions Club. prgtoken , please join me in congratulating Mr. John Griesheimer on his retirement after 36 years in dedicated service to his hometown, county, and state.
RECOGNITION OF TAIWAN'S NATIONAL DAY
Mark Meadows (Republican, NC) \u2014 2018-10-2

I rise today to recognize Taiwan's National Independence Day, Double Ten Day. On October 10th, Taiwan celebrates the 107th anniversary of the Republic of China. In the face of heightening regional tensions, the bond between the United States and Taiwan must remain strong. On the occasion of Taiwan's National Day, I want to congratulate the people of Taiwan on this important anniversary and express the sincere commitment of our nation and this body to the bilateral relationship. prgtoken Through commerce, our military partnership, and the ties between our citizens, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have built an alliance which I am confident can withstand any future threats, and to which I know the administration is committed to preserving. I also want to take this moment to commend the Americans serving in the American Institute in Taiwan for their patriotism and hard work advancing this relationship. prgtoken Furthermore, Beijing's attempts to undermine Taiwan's participation in international fora, its bullying of private airlines over recognition of Taiwan's government, and its disruption of Taiwan's diplomatic ties should not go unmentioned. I believe the current administration has responded appropriately and that Washington will continue to make its views known. prgtoken From its beginnings with the overthrow of imperial rule, to its embrace of a vibrant democracy today, the Republic of China (Taiwan) shares a bond with the United States founded on common principles. As Taiwan celebrates Double Ten Day, I extend my best wishes and congratulate the Taiwanese people for all they have achieved.
160TH ANNIVERSARY OF YWCA
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-10-2

today I wish to congratulate the YWCA for 160 years of service dedicated to supporting women, girls, and their families across the United States. prgtoken Throughout its storied history, YWCA has been committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and freedom and dignity for all. prgtoken YWCA has been at the forefront of many critical social movements, including civil rights, women's empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, and more. Additionally, it is the largest network of domestic violence and sexual assault service providers in the country, reaching more than half a million women and girls annually. prgtoken Serving a total of more than 2 million women, girls, and their families each year, with 210 local associations across 46 States and the District of Columbia, this organization's impact is vast, but its focus is local. prgtoken In Ohio, there are 14 YWCA associations, and I am proud of the work they do in my State. I have worked to help YWCA's important mission through my legislation to combat sex trafficking, help those gripped by addiction--particularly mothers and children--get the care they need, improve prisoner reentry, allow kids aging out of foster care to more easily access Federal support for housing, and more. prgtoken YWCA breaks barriers and empowers women to help them live up to their God-given potential. Congratulations on your 160 years of improving the lives of women and girls--and on many more to come.
HONOR FLIGHT NORTHERN COLORADO 2018
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-10-2

in honor of America's heroic veterans, Honor Flight Northern Colorado has conducted two annual trips to Washington, D.C. since 2008. Honor Flight Northern Colorado has taken over 2,750 of our nation's heroes to visit and reflect at their war memorials. On September 9-10, 2018, Honor Flight Northern Colorado held its 21st and final Honor Flight, The Stan Cass ``Mission Accomplished'' Memorial Flight that gave many of our courageous veterans this extraordinary opportunity. I am pleased to recognize the September 9-10, 2018 Honor Flight honoring World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans of Northern Colorado. prgtoken , those who participated in this flight are as follows: prgtoken World War II: Robert Hauser, Donald Reisner, Kenneth Sweeney. prgtoken Korean War: Philip Beli, Wilbur Doeksen, Edmund Giese Jr, Orville Markham, Roy Nichols, Lawrence Powers, Wesley Te Winkle. prgtoken Vietnam War: Gloria Atteberry, Walter Babcock, Terrill Bashline, Roger Bates, James Beemer, Anthony Benavidez, Michael Bernard, Gary Blomenkamp, Roger Boltz, Donald Bonenberger, Jimmy Bracking, Richard Bryson, Gerard Bucknall, Bruce Gameron, Cecily Gass, Larry Chartier, Archie Cloud Jr, William Corbett, Steven Crall, Gregory Cranston, Gary Crego, Gary Cyr Sr, Thomas Danton, Raymond Davis, David DeCamp, Raymond Delgado, Salvatore Delprete, Ronald Dickerhoff, Brian Donahue, Alvin Dorsey, Eugene Eddy, Richard Fischer, Norman Fulton, Gary Garrison, James Gerk, William Gill III, Gregory Goettsch, Larry Goettsch, Allan Gott, Dallas Greenfield, Dennis Hammonds, Rodney Hansen, Gerald Henderson, James Hernandez, Edwin Hollingsworth, Donald Holt, Michael Hughes, Kenneth Hiff, Foy Jolley Jr, Gary Jones, Thomas Keen, James Kennedy, Stephen Kennedy, James Kepler, David Kinion, Mark Kintzley, Galen Konken, Nicholas Kricken, Donald Lambertson, Alec Leavitt, Roland Lei, Samuel Leighton, Robert Magnuson, Joseph Markham, Michael McCormick, Arthur Meek, Wayne Moeller, Juan Montoya, Marino Montoya, Charles Morgan, Richard Myron, Edward Nelson, Clayton Obland, John Ochoa, Dean Olson, Harleigh Peppler, Charles Powers, Albert Pribble, Rodger Price, Roger Ramsey, Paul Richmann, Kenneth Ricker, Robert Riggs, Philip Rouse, John Rowland, Robert Rowton, Steven Rylant, Rodolfo Sanchez, John Sanger, Martin Sattler, William Schenk, John Schroetlin, Kenneth Schroetlin, Donald Shaffer, Bert Smith, Gerald Smith, Robert Starck, William Starck, Duane Steinbrecher, Billy Thornton, Robert Tomlinson, Larry Torrez, Garlin Trower Jr, Ernest Tyler, John Vaughn, Eugene Vigil, Antonio Villarreal, John Ward, Howard Willich, William Woods, Steve Zivicky, William Zoller. prgtoken Iraqi Freedom: Brian Ivers. prgtoken It is my distinct pleasure as the U.S. Representative of the 4th District of Colorado to recognize the honor, courage, and sacrifice of these heroes, along with all members of prgtoken America's Armed Forces. I thank them for their dedic
SPORTS MEDICINE LICENSURE CLARITY ACT OF 2017
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-10-2

I was greatly encouraged to hear yesterday's announcement by the administration that the United States, Mexico, and Canada have now successfully come to a trilateral agreement to modernize NAFTA. prgtoken As the Presiding Officer knows, this is important not only to border States like ours; this is important to the entire country. About 5 million jobs in the United States depend on binational trade with Mexico, and about 8 million depend on binational trade with Canada. So this is really important to our country and, I think, will hopefully calm a lot of anxiety over some of the various trade disputes that we have had recently. prgtoken Based on the deal reached Sunday, Canada will now join a pact with the United States and Mexico agreed to in August. The newly named United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will greatly benefit North American commerce and modernize areas where our economy has evolved since the 1990s. prgtoken When we think about what life was like back in the 1990s, digital commerce was unheard of; oil and gas exploration using modern techniques like fracking and horizontal drilling, which have produced the shale energy revolution in the United States, didn't exist back then; and, of course, as many of my friends in the energy business tell me, the shale we produce oil and gas from in the United States doesn't stop at the Rio Grande. prgtoken Mexico has opened up its economy, greatly allowing foreign investment and embracing some of these modern techniques, which will, I think, have a revolutionary impact on Mexico and its economy. My guiding mantra over the last year for these negotiations has been what is known as the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take: First, do no harm. That is what Ambassador Lighthizer and Wilbur Ross, the Secretary of Commerce, told the Finance Committee when they were confirmed. prgtoken I argue that we have to fix NAFTA to be sure because after 24 years, parts of it are outdated, as I said, but not nix it entirely. Although, we are still reviewing the fine print of the agreement, I prgtoken think we should be proud of what has been accomplished. prgtoken Since last August, Ambassador Lighthizer and his team at USTR, the U.S. Trade Representative, have negotiated for countless hours with our southern and northern neighbors. The road to an updated agreement has not been easy, but I believe those efforts will pay off, and soon the responsibility will be ours in the Senate to vote on this agreement. It will be a few months off, to be sure, but we will have a role in voting on the agreement. prgtoken As President said, the new agreement will fix deficiencies in the original NAFTA, reduce trade barriers and open markets for U.S. farmers and manufacturers. I am particularly hearing a lot from my folks in the agriculture sector in Texas that they are excited with some of the negotiations with Canada with regard to agriculture. It modernizes rules for dairy and
Recognizing Micron Technology (Executive Session)
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2018-10-2

I rise today on behalf of myself and my good friend and colleague, also from Idaho, Senator Crapo, and we wish to honor an exceptional business from our great State. That business is Micron Technology. prgtoken Although Micron began in Idaho with just four employees, it will celebrate its 40th anniversary this week as one of the world's top tech companies, with thousands of employees worldwide. prgtoken Micron started as a semiconductor design company in the basement of a Boise dental office in 1978. Soon after it broke ground on its first fabrication plant in 1980, Micron introduced the world to the smallest 256K dynamic random access memory. By 1994, Micron's development of solid state drives and other flash memory technology in its product portfolio earned it a spot on the Fortune 500 list. Today, Micron's team of more than 34,000 employees spans the globe from Boise, Silicon Valley, and Virginia, to Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe. prgtoken As one of the top four semiconductor companies in the world, Micron works with the world's most trusted brands and is the only pure play memory company headquartered in the Western Hemisphere. Throughout its 40-year history, Micron has contributed to more than 40,000 patents and continues to advance memory and storage technologies that enable innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous vehicles. Micron's advancements have made the United States a leader in technology and give the Nation a competitive edge in data storage, security, and supercomputing. prgtoken In addition to its renowned technological developments, I am proud that Micron is working to transform the communities where its team members live and work, providing resources to educate the next generation of scientists, inventors, and engineers. prgtoken In 2017, Micron was ranked 23rd in the Fortune Just 100, Forbes' list of companies with the best and most just business behavior. prgtoken Last year, the Micron Foundation awarded more than 550 grants worldwide and donated more than $10 million to education and community- related causes. prgtoken I wish to congratulate Micron on its long list of accomplishments and thank the company for the opportunities it provides for Idahoans and for all Americans. The advances Micron's solutions provide for computing across our country are considerable. It is my pleasure to recognize its 40th anniversary on October 5, 2018. We all wish Micron the best of luck and continued success as a global technology leader and world-class semiconductor company. prgtoken , . prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2018-10-2

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 10 a.m Wednesday, October 3; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings and the Executive Journal be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, all time postcloture on the House message to accompany H.R. 302 be considered expired at 12 noon.