mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6395, WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021
Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-12-8

I rise in support of the conference report to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021. prgtoken Combating illicit finance and targeting bad actors is a nonpartisan issue. However, Congress' actions must be thoughtful and data-driven. prgtoken An example of this is H.R. 2514, the COUNTER Act, which is included in this conference report. Division G is a compilation of bipartisan policies that will modernize and reform the Bank Secrecy Act and anti- money laundering regimes. These policies will strengthen the Department of Treasury's financial intelligence, anti-money laundering, and counter terrorism programs. I would like to thank Chairman Cleaver and Ranking Member Stivers for their work on this bill and the language included in Division G. prgtoken In addition to Division G, the conference report contains an amendment replacing the text of H.R. 2513, the Corporate Transparency Act, with new legislation. H.R. 2513, which passed the House on October 22, 2019, and again as an amendment to H.R. 6395 on July 21, 2020, attempted to establish a new beneficial ownership information reporting regime to assist law enforcement in tracking down terrorists and other bad actors who finance terrorism and illicit activities. But, it did so to the detriment of America's small businesses. prgtoken Beneficial ownership information is the personally identifiable information (PII) on a company's beneficial owners. This information is currently collected and held by financial institutions prior to a company gaining access to our financial system. prgtoken However, bad actors and nation states, such as China and Russia, are becoming more proficient in using our financial system to support illicit activity. As bad actors become more sophisticated, so to must our tools to deter and catch them. One such tool is identifying the beneficial owners of shell companies, which are used as fronts to launder money and finance terrorism or other illicit activity. Beneficial ownership information assists law enforcement to better target these bad actors. prgtoken Although well-intentioned, H.R. 2513 had numerous deficiencies in its reporting regime. First, H.R. 2513 placed numerous reporting and costly reporting requirements on small businesses. It lacked protections to properly protect small businesses' personal information stored with a little-known government office within the Department of Treasury--known as FinCEN. The bill authorized access to this sensitive information without any limitation on who could access the information and when it could be accessed. Finally, it failed to hold FinCEN accountable for its actions. prgtoken The text of H.R. 2513 is replaced with new language that I negotiated, along with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Crapo. This substitute, which is reflected in Division F of the conference report, is a significant improvement over the House-passed bill in three key areas. prgtoken First, Divis
HONORING THE LIFE OF FREDERICK ``PAL'' BARGER, JR.
David P. Roe (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-12-8

I rise today to honor the life of a giant in northeast Tennessee and my friend, Frederick ``Pal'' Barger, Jr who passed away recently at the age of 90. prgtoken Pal's impact on our community was tremendous. Pal is best known for Pal's Sudden Service, a drive-through restaurant with rapid service, great food, and affordable prices. prgtoken In 2001, Pal's became the first restaurant to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the Nation's highest Presidential honor for performance excellence. Pal is one of northeast Tennessee's best success stories. prgtoken Pal's commitment to excellence didn't stop at the drive-through window. He received recognition throughout his life for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to help our region prosper. prgtoken I am especially grateful for Pal's contributions to his alma mater, East Tennessee State University, which have greatly impacted so many of our region's current and future leaders. prgtoken , it is my honor to recognize the life of Pal Barger for his tremendous impact on our community.
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF URIEL PADGETT
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-12-8

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of Uriel Burton Padgett. As a fellow service member, I am grateful for Mr. Padgett's dedication to family, state, and country. prgtoken Uriel Padgett was born October 7, 1934 in Magee, MS to Luke and Novice Kennedy. He was married to Mattie Lee Midleton Padgett for 65 years and together the two had two children, five grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. prgtoken In March of 1952, Uriel joined the Mississippi National Guard. He served in many positions throughout his career and served as a founding member of the Special Forces Unit in the Mississippi Guard. His first NCOS class was in Mississippi and he went on to instruct the course. Uriel deeply enjoyed his time at Camp Shelby before retiring in 1989 as the Assistant United States Property and Fiscal Officer and was later promoted to Brigadier General. prgtoken Uriel spent his retirement travelling with his wife, learning woodworking, and attending arts and crafts shows. He was an active member of the Exchange Club of West Jackson, Rankin County Civitan Club, Oak Hill Lodge, and the American Legion. He was a dedicated charter member of Brandon Baptist Church. Uriel loved music and spending time outdoors. He played many instruments and could be found in his garden or riding his tractor. prgtoken Mr. Padgett is survived by his wife, Mattie Lee Middleton Padgett; children, Steve and Deborah; grandchildren, Greg, Alisha, Jana, and Ashley; and ten great-grandchildren. prgtoken Uriel Padgett was a dedicated husband and father, a servant to his state, and a man of faith. He will be deeply missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love him.
HONORING THE LIFE OF PASTOR DAVID BAKER
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-12-8

I rise today to honor and remember the life of Hope Lecci, a dedicated reporter at the Sedalia , who passed away just days from writing the news articles about the passing of community leader, Ron Ditzfeld. prgtoken Hope began her career, not as a journalist, but as a teacher of English and history at Smithton School District, where she influenced countless students and future leaders, including our current State representative, Brad Pollitt. prgtoken , Hope was respected and revered by all who knew her. She was professional, kind, and loving to those around her, dedicated to her family and her faith. I enjoyed getting to know her and interacting with her as a journalist. She was always fair and dedicated to ensuring every quote was accurate and the topic was thoroughly covered. I am sorry she will no longer be covering news in the area, but I know she is rejoicing and receiving her heavenly reward. prgtoken , may her example inspire all of us to be our best in our professions and in our interactions with others.
UAE ARMS SALES
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-12-8

we have a vote coming up--it could be the end of this week--that has to do with the arms sales to the United Arab Emirates. I strongly support this; however, some of my colleagues do not support it, and there is now a joint resolution of disapproval. I would hope that we would really stop and think about that because this is a very significant thing that we are talking about. prgtoken The agreement between Israel and UAE is one of the Abraham Accords. It is a very significant one. It is one that President was able to get together with the two countries, Israel and UAE, and it is really a great thing. It is a major breakthrough in the Middle East. prgtoken He has done a lot of great things, the President has. I know he is controversial, but in terms of his energy policy, the military, and the economy he has been right on target. prgtoken So anyway, Arab-Israeli peace is not unprecedented, but the agreement between Israel and the UAE has moved further and faster than any other agreements that preceded it in the past. prgtoken It seems that the UAE and Israel are finding new areas of cooperation almost every day. They are now working together on security, pandemic response, education, and even media. This partnership is deep and reflects the growing acceptance of our friend Israel in the region. prgtoken Most importantly, it did not require Israel to do anything. They didn't have to give up anything. So this is a major, major achievement. Now is the time to take advantage of the gains that we have. prgtoken President has treated Israel like a friend, and other countries have rushed in to that friendship. We have several other countries in Africa and in the Middle East who are joined in with Israel that have never been there before. prgtoken The sale ensures that Israel's qualitative military edge is not affected. We know this because the Israelis themselves have said this. Moreover, this sale deepens the UAE's partnership with the United States and prevents it from turning toward China and Russia. prgtoken Now, this is the problem that we have. If we don't do this, if we don't cooperate with these countries in the Middle East, then you are going to have China and Russia out there taking advantage of it. prgtoken The UAE is worthy of this sale because it is strongly aligned with the United States in the Middle East. It is a vital counterterrorism partner. The UAE has fought alongside our troops in Afghanistan and against ISIS. They have been our friend for a long time. prgtoken It is also vital to the U.S. efforts against Iran--both Iran's ambition of regional dominance and its support for terrorist proxies. prgtoken Voting down this sale would signal to our partners that even when they do everything that we ask--fight alongside our soldiers, pursue shared interests in the region, and make meaningful peace with Israel-- the United States won't have their backs. This is not the reputation that we wa
SUPPORTING OUR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-12-9

early Monday morning, two corrections officers at Allenwood Federal penitentiary in Union County, Pennsylvania, were viciously assaulted in the line of duty by an inmate. prgtoken While both Officer Sara Harvey and Officer Dale Franquet were injured, their heroic actions resulted in subduing an armed and violent inmate and preventing the inmate from harming others. prgtoken Officer Harvey has since returned to work, while Officer Franquet remains in the hospital undergoing treatment. prgtoken Both of these individuals exemplify sacrifice and service. They are true heroes. prgtoken This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the challenges our corrections officers face on a daily basis. Despite great personal risk to themselves and their families, corrections officers go to work every day out of a deeply rooted sense of service. prgtoken Our entire community is grateful for these two corrections officers and every person employed in the prison who continue to stand guard. prgtoken As chairman of the BOP Reform Caucus, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our corrections officers have the resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively and, most importantly, safely.
RECOGNIZING MISSISSIPPI'S LINEMEN AND POWER COMPANIES FOLLOWING HURRICANE ZETA
Steven M. Palazzo (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-12-9

today, I rise to recognize a true leader of Mississippi for his outstanding career of service, Mr. Rupert H. Lacy. prgtoken Mr. Lacy has served as the director of emergency management, homeland security, and e-911 for on County, Mississippi, for 13 years. prgtoken He was appointed director in December 2007 and has been responsible for a wide range of public safety activities, including emergency planning, hazard mitigation, emergency communications disaster response, and recovery for Mississippi's second most populous county, comprised of five cities and more than 200,000 residents. prgtoken A native Mississippian, Mr. Lacy was touched by disasters growing up and saw the chaos they could cause firsthand. prgtoken In the late 1970s, he started as a volunteer firefighter but has served in many capacities since then, including deputy director of on County Emergency Management, warden of Leake County Correctional Facility, captain of support services for on County Sheriff's Department, and training officer for on County Sheriff's Department. prgtoken An expert in all-hazards comprehensive emergency management, Mr. Lacy has been a leader on several high-profile incident management teams and delegations. prgtoken During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he served as logistics section chief. From 2008 until 2020, Mr. Lacy served as co-chairman of the National Hurricane Conference's response committee, helping scores of coastal communities share their best practices and lessons learned. prgtoken He is detail-oriented, organized, and prioritizes safety above all, which is precisely the type of person you want running point during hurricane season or an unprecedented pandemic. prgtoken Mr. Lacy was mentored by the late former on County Emergency Services director, Wade Guice, and has since continued this tradition of mentorship with his coworkers and all who come in contact with him. prgtoken When asked about Mr. Lacy, many of his coworkers responded that he is a strong father figure in their lives and has taught them so much through his positive example. prgtoken After many years of faithful and distinguished service, Mr. Lacy retired as EMA director on December 1, 2020. prgtoken A resident of Saucier, Mississippi, he is married to Ivy Lacy and is the proud father and grandfather of three children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, who all certainly enjoy the extra time with him. prgtoken We thank his family for being so understanding of his long hours spent serving others. Over the door in his office, Mr. Lacy kept a plaque that said: ``Remembering the past and working in the present to protect the future of on County.'' prgtoken It is safe to say he lived this creed well. Mr. Lacy's length and breadth of experience in public safety are to be applauded. prgtoken I know many join me in wishing him a happy and restful retirement. It is my honor and privilege to recognize the remarka
HENRIETTA LACKS ENHANCING CANCER RESEARCH ACT OF 2019
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-12-9

I thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) for yielding. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 1966. prgtoken This legislation was first brought to my attention by my constituent, Carla Prothro, who is fighting cancer. We talked about the way clinical trials impact the treatments available for cancer patients. The trials very rarely reflect the population of cancer patients. prgtoken When women and minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials, it negatively impacts the results. About one in five cancer trials fail because of a lack of participation. prgtoken This bill addresses that by studying the barriers to participation for underrepresented groups. We need to find ways to reduce those barriers and enroll more patients from diverse backgrounds. prgtoken My niece, Juniper, is 3 years old and fighting stage 4 neuroblastoma. She is just a little kid, but her short life has already had so much pain. She has spent a third of her life in the hospital. prgtoken Juniper is a fighter, though, and she has so many people who love her and are praying for her. prgtoken Bills like this help Juniper and Carla and millions of cancer patients around the world. Every step forward in cancer research is important. Every bit of progress gets us closer to a better world. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 1966 today.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-12-9

as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of our country. It is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business that promotes American health and wellness by operating a gym and fitness business. This week, it is my pleasure to recognize Bayshore Fit of Tampa, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken In 2012, partners Jeff Fink and Beth Scanlan founded Bayshore Fit in Tampa, FL. Both Jeff and Beth had years of experience training for marathons, bodybuilding, and fitness competitions. Together, they created a gym that met the demand for a personalized alternative to large national gym chains. Jeff and Beth focused on helping every customer meet their health goals, developing a family-friendly, relationship-driven business. As their client base grew, they quickly moved their gym into a larger facility. prgtoken Today, Bayshore Fit continues to serve the Tampa area, with members ranging from first-time gym attendees to senior citizens and even professional athletes. The gym has been featured in local media, recognizing their significant membership growth and continued emphasis on personalized programs. prgtoken Bayshore Fit's emphasis on healthy living extends to their philanthropic endeavors. They are involved with the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Westshore Alliance in Tampa's Westshore business district. For more than 8 years, Bayshore Fit has sponsored local youth sports teams. They regularly support local nonprofit organizations, including Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc which fosters youth social and emotional development. prgtoken Like many of Florida's small businesses, Bayshore Fit temporarily prgtoken closed its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. In April 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration launched the Paycheck Protection Program, a small business relief program that I was proud to author. The PPP provides forgivable loans to impacted small businesses and nonprofits who maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Jeff and Beth used their PPP loan to keep their business operating until Florida allowed gyms to reopen. Bayshore Fit pivoted to provide virtual classes and video training sessions. When they reopened, Bayshore Fit developed an outdoor workout facility. They also introduced a Bayshore Fit app to manage workout class schedules and the number of people allowed to enter the gym. prgtoken Bayshore Fit exemplifies the unique role of relationship-driven small businesses in building communities. I commend their support to youth athletics programs and promoting public health. prgtoken Congratulations to Jeff, Beth, and the entire team at Bayshore Fit. I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-12-9

it is a great honor for me to come to the House floor tonight to commemorate National Bible Week. This year's Special Order marks the 79th annual celebration of a week in which we celebrate the tremendous influence of the Bible on the freedoms we enjoy today in America. prgtoken I am so thankful and blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom to worship and read the Holy Scriptures without fear. Many people across the globe live in countries where such freedoms do not exist. prgtoken , under our wonderful system of government, people are free to respect and study the Bible, or any other system of belief, if they so choose--or even none at all. That is the beauty of the American way, and it is rooted in the deep truths contained in the Word of God. prgtoken In 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the week of Thanksgiving to be National Bible Week. This is the time we set aside to recognize the Bible as a foundational building block of Western civilization, the Judeo-Christian heritage, and the ideas and principles that shape the thinking of our America's Founding Fathers. prgtoken The Word of God has had a profound impact on my life as well. I agree with the Psalmist when he says: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. prgtoken This has been true in my own life as well. God's Word has shaped my thinking and deeply influenced my relationship with God. The Bible has indeed been a guiding light in every area of my life and a source of comfort and strength in a time of need. prgtoken In this hour, we will hear from Members of Congress from various faiths, traditions, and denominations to speak about what the Bible means to them. We are here, in keeping with tradition, to recognize National Bible Week. prgtoken , from Texas (Mr. Weber).
TRIBUTE TO UNION COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHARLES HALL AND STEVE STOLTE
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-12-9

. Madam , it is my honor to pay tribute to Union County Commissioners Charles Hall and Steve Stolte, who will retire at the end of 2020 after many years of outstanding service to the people of Union County. prgtoken A lifelong resident of Leesburg Township, Charles Hall has been a county commissioner since 2005 and currently serves as Vice President of the Board. He studied business at Northern Illinois University and Butler University, later joining his brother in machinery sales in Marysville. Charles and his wife of more than fifty years, Peggy, are the parents of three, the grandparents of nine, and the great- grandparents of two. They are members of Richwood United Methodist Church. prgtoken Steve Stolte, President of the Board, was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 2011 and has served as a commissioner ever since. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Steve was Union County Engineer for nearly a quarter-century and Marysville City Engineer prior to that. He was named Ohio County Engineer of the Year in 1996 and received the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's William H. Anderson Excellence in Public Service Award in 2019. prgtoken Madam , the people of Union County will gather for an open house on December 17 to celebrate Charles's and Steve's retirement. On behalf of the people of Ohio's Fourth Congressional District, I am proud to join in the accolades to them for their devotion to public service. We wish them and their families every success as they move to a new chapter in their lives.
STUDENT DEBT
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-12-9

today I would like to address the crippling cost of student debt. prgtoken Although my ic colleagues and I agree substantially on the issue, we disagree substantially on the solution. We need to cure the disease, not just put a Band-Aid on it. prgtoken Absolving student debt or making college free altogether does not address prgtoken the problem. It just passes the debt on to people who have responsibly paid off their student loans, while encouraging the reckless spending on administrative bloat in higher education. prgtoken From 1988 to 2018, the average tuition and fees at public 4-year institutions tripled and more than doubled at private 4-year institutions. We have seen an explosion of vice presidents, counselors, diversity coaches, and all types of administrative staff who have nothing to do with giving their students a means of finding employment. prgtoken Why? Because they can. The money flows freely from the Federal Government, and they know that--all at the expense of the student. prgtoken So rather than climbing walls, lazy rivers, and so-called safe spaces and then asking for bailouts, universities should be cutting costs and focusing on educating their students. This frivolous spending has ruined many young people's futures, and that is how we address the calamity of student debt.