mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2021
Russ Fulcher (Republican, ID) \u2014 2021-2-25

I thank Congressman Westerman for yielding me the time. prgtoken , as has been mentioned, this bill would add 1.5 million new acres of wilderness area, monument expansion, and scenic rivers. That sounds pretty good. Now, here is the rest of the story, and it is coming from someone whose home State is two-thirds federally owned. prgtoken This bill also comes with a critical mineral ban on things like uranium. China and Russia will thank us for that. prgtoken This bill also comes with a ban on any active land management, which is a welcome mat for wildfires. It is simple. If we don't manage, a lightning strike will. Now, that is too bad for wildlife, the environment, and productive use, but at least we get the privilege of spending taxpayer dollars for fire suppression. prgtoken , we can't rationalize the contents in this bill to the objective American taxpayer, but that is what happens when legislation gets rammed through without one markup or adequate bipartisan review.
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (Executive Calendar)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-2-25

on January 20, the world watched as we inaugurated the 46th President of the United States on the west front of the Capitol, as we have done now for the last four decades. But this was the 59th time in our Nation's history that we have gathered to witness one of what has really become one of our most iconic and sacred ceremonies. I described it that day, as President Reagan did 40 years earlier, as ``commonplace and miraculous.'' Commonplace because we have done it every 4 years since 1789; miraculous because we have done it every 4 years since 1789. prgtoken This is the second time I have had the privilege to serve as the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies or, as it is normally known, JCCIC, and that is how I will refer to it in the rest of these remarks. Senator Klobuchar, the ranking member at that time on the Rules Committee, was a big part of helping with that, as were the other four members of that committee. prgtoken In a normal year, organizing an inauguration is a major undertaking, but when you add a pandemic and then you add the events of January 6, it is uniquely challenging. Without a doubt, this was an inauguration of twists and turns, where adaptability, creativity, and determination were crucial. prgtoken Today, I am here on the floor to thank the staff, the partners, and the volunteers who met those challenges and made this year's inauguration a success. prgtoken As I mentioned earlier, the two factors that posed the greatest challenges this year were the pandemic and security. In order to keep the inauguration from becoming a superspreader event, we consulted with public health authorities at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Cleveland Clinic. We engaged experts from the National Football League, the Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the National Hockey League, Disney, Ardian Group, and CLEAR about pandemic protocols and technology that relates to them. prgtoken We were in regular consultation with the Office of the Attending Physician, particularly Dr. Monahan and his chief of staff, Keith Pray. And we relied on support from the Defense Health Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 Joint Command Cell. Testing was required for all attendees, and over 7,000 tests were administered at two sites, one in the Capitol and one in the Pentagon. prgtoken Masks were required to be worn by all attendees. Graciously, Ford Motor Company produced a significant quantity of masks, truly a first for this or any inauguration, and we are grateful to them, and 3M provided some specialized masks for the limited indoor activities that we had. prgtoken The health and safety measures put together really created significant logistical challenges. All of this couldn't have been done without the leadership of Robin Mangan, our director of operations for that health activity and that testing activity. Her team, prgtoken Dr. Alex La
{time} (1030) REMEMBERING NOREEN REALE FALCONE
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-2-25

I rise today to honor the life of my dear friend Noreen Reale Falcone, who passed away on February 6, just shy of her 84th birthday. prgtoken Quite simply, Noreen led a remarkable life. She was a lifelong educator, a passionate philanthropist, and a cherished community leader who lived her life in service to others. prgtoken A Syracuse native, Noreen started her career working as an elementary school teacher. There she developed a passion for helping young people achieve their dreams and become well-rounded adults who strive to make the world more just and humane. prgtoken Even before she started teaching, Noreen always focused on philanthropy. Her family recounted a time to me when she was a child and received a new bicycle for Christmas. Instead of keeping it for herself, she gave it to someone less advantaged than her. That is Noreen. prgtoken In adulthood, she served on countless charitable boards, an incredible amount of boards that she was on. She also served as president of the board of trustees at Manlius Pebble Hill School and in a wide range of roles at her alma mater Le Moyne College. prgtoken In recognition of Noreen's contributions to education and her service to the community, in 1998, Le Moyne named its library the Noreen Reale Falcone Library. prgtoken Beyond her love for education and philanthropy, Noreen was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 60 years, Michael, better known as Mickey, 4 kids, and 13 grandkids. She so loved her grandkids and her kids that she actually put statues in her yard so when they weren't there in the later years, she could look out and be reminded of them when she sees these statues. That is the kind of person she was. prgtoken She was also a woman of strong Catholic faith who was an active parishioner at St. Mary's of the Lake in prgtoken Skaneateles and participated in service missions around the world. Remarkably, she was the first female ever elected president of the 900- plus-year-old order of the Knights of Malta, an incredible feat. prgtoken Noreen will leave behind an enduring legacy that will live on through the many community works she championed and the countless lives, including mine, that she uplifted through her educational endeavors. prgtoken , I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the life and legacy of Noreen Falcone. May she rest in peace.
HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES
Byron Donalds (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-2-25

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida, my good friend, Congresswoman Cammack, for bringing this great idea to the House Chamber to honor those of us in our communities who have done, frankly, more than Members of Congress actually have. The sacrifices that they have made not only in our communities but throughout their lives is really something to honor, it is something to behold, and it is something to cherish. I am just grateful for this opportunity to do this on the peoples' floor this evening. prgtoken The first hometown hero I wish to honor is Captain Wayne Ogden Smith. Today, we pay tribute to one of Naples' hometown heroes. Mr. Smith was a United States Air Force fighter pilot and a Vietnam prisoner of war. Captain Smith was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for 5 years, alongside Senator Sam Johnson and Senator John McCain. However, he would never call himself a hometown hero. prgtoken Wayne was a 1965 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and would fly 90 F-4 fighter combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos. Captain Smith was shot down on January 18, 1968, at the age of 24. He survived 5 years and 2 months and was repatriated on March 15, 1973. prgtoken Wayne's combat honors include two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze ``V'' Stars, seven Air Medals, and the Purple Heart. prgtoken Now retired from the business world, Wayne Smith spends his time with his wife helping veterans and active military around the country through organizations like Wreaths Across America and Naples Spirit of `45, a celebration honoring our World War II veterans and beyond. prgtoken , another hometown hero from my District is Allison Dawson. Allison has proudly dedicated her life to educating our youth. Allison's career in youth education spans over 30 years, almost 20 of those in Lee County, Florida. prgtoken A single mom who raised three kids, she struggled to pay bills and struggled to put food on the table. Despite these obstacles, Allison remained committed prgtoken to her passion and her life's work: teaching and helping low-income students learn and grow to succeed. prgtoken During COVID-19, like thousands of teachers across our Nation, she juggled virtual school and in-person instruction flawlessly, all to ensure her students received the very best education. She is a prime example of how hard all teachers across America work every single day. prgtoken I am honored to recognize Allison Dawson today as a teacher and as a public servant. I thank Allison for her 30 years of service; her commitment to serving others; and ensuring that every child, no matter their race, gender and socioeconomic background, has access to a world- class education. prgtoken , my last hometown hero is Major Jose Martinez, BSN, RN. Jose Martinez, BSN and RN, is the nursing director of adult and pediatric emergency department at North Naples Hospital in southwest Florida. He has b
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-2-25

I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of Ms. Charolette Tidwell and her organization, Antioch for Youth and Family, in Fort Smith, AR. This nonprofit, all- volunteer organization has played an important role in feeding local families for several years, but its efforts in 2020 made it a critical lifeline for thousands of people in western Arkansas. prgtoken Last year alone, Antioch distributed more than 3.5 million pounds of food, including almost 1 million pounds of fresh produce, milk, dairy, and cooked meats provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. By hosting regular drive-up events at Martin Luther King Park in Fort Smith, Ms. Tidwell and her team provided help to families who needed it most during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, their efforts meant more than $6 million worth of food went to local residents, making it one of the largest food assistance efforts in the State. More than one in six households in Arkansas is food insecure. In Fort Smith, that number is one in five. Unfortunately, the current crisis has only increased those needs. prgtoken I have been honored to visit with Ms. Tidwell and see her impressive efforts to fill the gap in her community in action. Before the pandemic, she was already hard at work with a food pantry, a community garden, and mobile food deliveries to low-income elderly and disabled residents and other struggling families. prgtoken She has been an inspiration whose work has been recognized nationwide. L'Oreal Paris honored her in 2017 as one of 10 Women of Worth and in 2020 with the L'Oreal Paris Karen T. Fondu Impact Award for her tireless efforts to address the area's hunger crisis. Last year, she was featured on bags of Lay's potato chips as part of the company's initiative featuring ordinary people who do extraordinary things. prgtoken Those awards and acknowledgements speak to the nature of her impact and the vital role she plays within the community. Fortunately, she has once again dedicated herself to meeting a tremendous need with the same compassion and care she brings to every challenge. prgtoken I am grateful for Ms. Tidwell, the entire team at Antioch for Youth and Family, and their wonderful partners. With support from the River Valley Regional Food Bank, Feeding America, local businesses, and many volunteers, Antioch continues to make a difference and set an example for organizations across the State and the Nation.
REMEMBERING RONNIE MOHR
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2021-2-25

I rise today in remembrance of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the taking of Mount Suribachi. prgtoken On February 23, 1945, U.S. Marines were battling the Japanese to gain control of Iwo Jima. It was that day that Mount Suribachi was captured and the flag was raised for all to see. The Battle of Iwo Jima would become the deadliest battle in the United States Marine Corps history. Having visited Iwo Jima during my service, I will always remember those sacrifices of my fellow marines. prgtoken Semper Fi. God bless the Marine Corps and the United States. Oorah. ' Latest COVID Bill
REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``WILL'' HOWARD INGRAM II
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2021-2-25

I rise today to remember and honor a great Georgian and a great American, William ``Will'' Howard Ingram II of Richmond Hill, who tragically passed away at the age of 43. prgtoken Will lived a successful life and began his career in the military after remarkably receiving appointments to all three of the United States service academies. He was a 1999 graduate of West Point. prgtoken After he honorably served his country as an Army officer, Will went on to earn a graduate degree from the University of Washington. Following his Active Duty service, he went on to serve his country as an Army civilian for over 15 years. prgtoken During that time, he served as the chief of master planning for the Army's 3rd Infantry Division for several years before he took on responsibility as the chief of operation and maintenance at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. prgtoken Among all of his many accomplishments, Will was most proud of his son, Gabe. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who knew him, during this most difficult time. Recognizing Sheriff Clyde Smith
EQUALITY ACT
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-2-25

the so-called Equality Act is not about tolerance. It seeks to impose the will of this body on the American people in violation of the Constitution. prgtoken It establishes a woke heresy code, seeking to eliminate distinctions between male and female at every level. It cancels women's and girls' sports, requiring that biological males compete for their records, championships, and scholarships. prgtoken It nullifies the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Rather than preserve the constitutionally protected freedom to disagree, disguised as equality, it compels participation on your terms for abortions, weddings, and all of religious, vocational, and civic life. It pursues what Hillary Clinton said in 2016: You will just have to change your doctrine. prgtoken Let me assure you, that will not happen. Colleagues, we must defend freedom and defeat this bill.
COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2021
Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-2-25

I rise to oppose H.R. 803, the western wildfire bill. prgtoken Make no mistake, while some seek preservation, what we need is management. It always seems like those who seek to preserve, they go to the places that are most well managed. These places now will suffer as a result of that. prgtoken But I want to emphasize three things that all Americans are going to lose with this bill. prgtoken Job security: We have already seen 11,000 jobs jeopardized by the abrogation of a contract by President in regard to the Keystone XL pipeline. prgtoken Economic security: Lumber prices continue to rise. Taking timber off the marketplace is not going to make the cost of building a home any cheaper. You want to get kids out of their parents' basement? You are not going to do it this way, by raising the price of being able to build a home. prgtoken National security: We have become an energy-independent country here over the last 10 years, and it has gotten us out of the forever wars in the Middle East. This jeopardizes those achievements. prgtoken Job security, economic security, national security are all at stake here with this bill.
Remembering Maxine Horner (Executive Calendar)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-2-25

in 1932, 11 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, Maxine Horner was born in Tulsa, OK. She was Maxine Cissel at the time. She grew up in segregated Greenwood, a district recovering from the devastating effects of the massacre, just a little over a decade before. prgtoken Her parents were exceptionally protective and instructed Maxine and her siblings not to go into certain stores in prgtoken downtown Tulsa, knowing their children wouldn't be welcome. They didn't want their children to experience the pain and humiliation of being told to leave a store or to not sit at that end of the counter. prgtoken Her mother once told her, though: Never let the color of your skin get in the way of achieving your goals. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything and be anyone. prgtoken Maxine was part of the first class to graduate from Booker T. Washington High School, which, at the time, was an all-Black school. She was proud of the education she received at Booker T. and spent 2 years studying at Wiley College before returning back to Tulsa. prgtoken She got a job working for Congressman James Jones, an opportunity that sparked some political ambitions in her. In her fifties, she returned back to school and received a bachelor's degree from Langston University in 1985. Despite being decades older than her fellow classmates and occasionally being mistaken to be the professor in her class rather than one of the other students, she finished her education. prgtoken In 1986, she ran for the Oklahoma State Senate and became one of two women to be elected for the first time into the Oklahoma State Senate as an African American. prgtoken Maxine was a true trailblazer. She worked hard for her constituents, and she championed education and the arts. prgtoken Her life was full of some poetic justice, quite frankly. She grew up in the Greenwood District in the wake of the Tulsa Race Massacre, but in the late 1990s, she sponsored the State legislation that created the Tulsa Race Riot Commission. She also cofounded the Greenwood Cultural Center. After she left office, she continued to fight for the victims of the massacre and chaired the committee overseeing the search for the burial sites--work that is still going on today. prgtoken As a young teen, she recalls going into the Tulsa Union Depot and seeing drinking fountains labeled ``Colored'' and ``White.'' But as a State senator, she sponsored the legislation that created the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, which now occupies the old Tulsa Union Depot building, where they don't have drinking fountains labeled ``Black'' or ``Colored'' and ``White.'' prgtoken As a student, she attended segregated schools. As a Senator, she championed the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program or what we now call Oklahoma's Promise--a scholarship program for low and middle- income students in Oklahoma. Oklahoma's Promise helped over 75,000 young Oklahomans pursue higher educa
CONGRATULATING MR. ROBBIN KUDER FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A MINISTER AT NORTHWOODS CHURCH
Daniel Webster (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , I am pleased to recognize Pastor Robbin Kuder, and his wife Gail for their lifelong commitment to service in their community. This month, Pastor Kuder will retire after nearly a half-century of faithfully ministering to the residents of Tallahassee, Florida. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his and his wife Gail's service to Floridians, including the Central Florida community. prgtoken Raised in Orlando, the son of a minister, Robbin's commitment to service began in 1971 when he joined the United States Navy, where he served as an Operation Specialist. Following his graduation from FSU School of Music Education, Robbin began serving as worship leader and minister at Northwoods Church. He has served here for 45 years, including 16 years as youth minister. prgtoken I first met Robbin as we were young men attending First Baptist Church of Pine Hills, Florida where Robbin's dad Roger, served as music minister. As a newly elected member of the Florida Legislature, while in Tallahassee, I attended then University Heights Baptist Church where Robbin served. prgtoken A man of quiet leadership, immense patience and quiet sense of humor, Robbin has devoted his life to sharing his passion for music and the love of Christ with people. When not at church, Robbin could be found cycling, sailing, hunting or fishing--usually joined by his beloved wife Gail, one of his seven children or 16 grandchildren. His adventurous spirit and patience are evident in the numerous cross-state cycling trips he organized and led to give Florida youths an outlet for both athletics and adventure, while blessing churches with musical performances and service projects throughout the trip. Robbin and Gail are excellent examples for adults, parents, and young people for how to live a life of ministry. prgtoken It is a privilege to congratulate and applaud Robbin and Gail for a lifetime service that has spanned 5 decades. May their character, life, and efforts inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
PARTISAN PRIORITIES
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-2-26

since the start of the pandemic, the Federal Government has taken historic steps to provide nearly $4 trillion in financial and public health assistance to the American people with one goal in mind: defeating the virus and getting our country back to normal. prgtoken Unfortunately, President and Washington ' latest $1.9 trillion stimulus package focuses more on fulfilling partisan priorities than combating COVID-19. Only 9 percent of their legislation goes to public health spending, while the other 91 percent can be tied to political items unrelated to the pandemic. prgtoken How can any Member of Congress who calls this legislation COVID relief look their constituents in the eye and justify billions in wasteful spending to foreign governments, bailouts, and liberal pet projects? prgtoken Rather than borrowing trillions of dollars to spend on liberal wish list items while more than $1 trillion in previously allocated COVID relief dollars remain unspent, Congress should work on a bill that provides temporary and targeted relief tied to COVID-19. prgtoken , the latest stimulus package fails on each account, and for that reason, we should all be voting ``no'' on this measure.