mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF THOMAS RAY POWELL
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the life of Thomas Ray Powell of Ypsilanti, Michigan. His lifetime of public service is worthy of commendation. prgtoken Mr. Powell was born on November 9, 1949, in Stamford, Texas, to Lantz Powell and Mary Falcon. He spent his childhood in numerous states before attending the University of Missouri--Kansas City. Upon his graduation, Mr. Powell entered the United States Army as a medical laboratory technician, stationed at Tripler Hospital in Hawaii. He married Ms. Marianne Parizek on December 30, 1971, and together they had two children, Megan and Benjamin. Mr. Powell received a master's degree in Health Services Administration in 1980 and worked in hospitals all around the country, including the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Truman Medical Center, Davenport Medical Center, Baker Hospital, and the Roper St. Francis Health System. prgtoken In 2001, Mr. Powell decided to pursue his lifelong dream of teaching high school science. A year later, he received his teaching certificate and taught biology, chemistry, environmental science, and forensic science at Woodland High School and Summerville High School in Charleston, South Carolina. After retiring and moving to Ypsilanti in 2015 to be closer to his family, Mr. Powell served as a long-term science substitute at Saline High School. prgtoken Mr. Powell is beloved by his former students and family. No matter where he goes, Mr. Powell has been active in his community, serving as the president of the North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club and as a trusted mentor to countless high schoolers. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Thomas Ray Powell. He has supported so many throughout his life, and all who know him can attest to his caring personality. I join with Mr. Powell's wife, Marianne; two children, Megan and Benjamin; granddaughter, Nora; former students; family; and friends in extending my thanks to him for his lifelong dedication to public service.
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN LEONARD, JR.
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to commend the esteemed career and public service of John V. Leonard, Jr, who retires from General Dynamics Electric Boat as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on July 6, 2021. While John retires from a career in the private sector, his outstanding leadership and dedication as a senior employee at Electric Boat holds merits for maintaining the public interest as he has helped oversee an economic boon at Electric Boat, creating thousands of jobs for the hard working residents of eastern Connecticut while simultaneously advancing our national security priorities. prgtoken Having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the nearby University of Rhode Island, John was always meant to apply his expertise toward the betterment of our local community. Before dedicating his career to Electric Boat, however, John first went on to serve in the Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Captain, then going on to attend Columbia University where he earned an MBA in numerous areas of concentration. From there, John joined Electric Boat in 1980--first as a Financial Analyst--where he ultimately carried out the company's mission for more than 40 years. prgtoken John's track at Electric Boat has been defined by loyalty and an ever-increasing degree of responsibility. Receiving one of his first major promotions in 1995 to Vice President of Finance, John seized upon the opportunity to prove his leadership capabilities. In 1998, when Electric Boat was experiencing an era of downsizing and uncertain financial sustainability, John envisioned a path where others had not and earned the company the Block I contract with the Navy fortwo Virginia-Class attack submarines. His mastery of unconventional problem solving and deep understanding of the engineering thought processes led John and Electric Boat to lay the groundwork that has allowed the company to meet today's high demands from the Navy. prgtoken John's success and contractually-focused perspective most recently earned him the appointment of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2019, which has come after his promotion to the Chief Financial Office in 2003. As Senior Vice President, John has been responsible for a wide range of functions at Electric Boat, including finances, contracts, tax, strategic planning, IT management, oversight of the facility master plan, Applied Physical Sciences and the Washington Engineering Office. prgtoken Madam , John's presence and expertise at Electric Boat will be sorely missed. Our region and Electric Boat, however, can at least find solace in what his leadership has helped create: a healthy backlog of submarine construction and the highly sought after Columbia Build I contract, meaning that Electric Boat will be responsible for building out the nation's first ever, next generation sea-based strategic deterrent. This bright future for Electric Boat means great things for the second district's l
IN RECOGNITION OF FUSA TAKAHASHI
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , it is with delight that I rise to honor a remarkable woman, Fusa Takahashi, for her outstanding advocacy for the Go for Broke Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Stamp. prgtoken In 2005, three Nisei women from California, Fusa Takahashi, Aiko King and Chiz Ohira, began a fifteen-year campaign for a commemorative stamp that would honor and share the story of the brave Nisei men and women who served our country during World War II, despite the forced relation and incarceration they and their loved ones faced. This important history was deeply personal for Fusa and her co-chairs, as each were survivors of the forced incarceration. Fusa's late husband, Kazuo Takahashi, was an Army veteran of World War II. He bravely served as a Military Intelligence Service officer. prgtoken The women's grassroots letter writing campaign began as a small but mighty effort, encouraged by friends and community members. However, through their hard work, the campaign quickly received support from national organizations, state leaders and Congressmembers. Fusa and her friends persevered through setbacks and delays, never giving up. In November 2020, the U.S. Postal Service announced a Go for Broke Soldiers commemorative postage stamp will be issued. The stamp was officially issued on June 3rd, 2021. prgtoken Today, the forced relocation and incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans through Executive Order 9066 is now considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century. The Go for Broke Stamp is an important reminder of our history and a symbol of the tireless advocacy and efforts of Fusa, Aiko and Chiz, and all who supported them. prgtoken Madam , today we honor Fusa, Aiko and Chiz's outstanding efforts to honor the brave Nisei Soldiers of World War II. I thank Fusa and her partners for their dedication and successful efforts.
REMEMBERING BELOVED BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, CROSSING GUARD
Tom Malinowski (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to honor Carolyn Masaitis, a beloved crossing guard from Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Carolyn passed away on May 17th, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer. prgtoken Carolyn was a cherished member of her community who spent the last 28 years ensuring the safety of Basking Ridge children as a crossing guard near the Liberty Comer School. Along with her husband, George, Carolyn was a source of love and support to the students and families who knew her. prgtoken Carolyn prepared goody bags full of snacks and stickers on holidays, gave cards and small gifts on birthdays, and always had treats on hand for the neighborhood dogs. She never forgot to ask how a sick family member was doing and continually kept up to date with those around her. prgtoken I join the Basking Ridge community in mourning her loss. Carolyn exemplified what it means to be an upstanding citizen and neighbor. Her presence will be missed by all.
RECOGNIZING FORMER MARION COUNTY SHERIFF, FRANK ANDERSON
André Carson (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , today I rise to honor former Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson for 60 years of service in law enforcement. prgtoken Frank's life-long dedication to public service began in 1956 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Shortridge High School. Shortly after joining the Marion County Sheriff's Office in 1961, Frank moved to the U.S. Marshals Service where he quickly rose through the ranks. He played a vital role in the creation and direction of the Federal Witness Protection Program. In 1977, he was appointed as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana where he served until 1981 and again from 1994 to 2001. Frank's successful handling of the government seizure of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple earned him the Martin J. Burke Award in 2001, a recognition awarded to the most outstanding marshal in the Nation. prgtoken In 2003, Frank made history when elected the first Black sheriff in Marion County; he served in this role for eight years. Frank was a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in our community and across the State of Indiana. He will forever be remembered for the ``Stop and Think'' program where he provided youth participants his personal phone number to call before they made a wrong decision. prgtoken Frank dedicated his life to service. He led with his heart and persevered through the many challenges that came his way. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frank Anderson.
RECOGNIZING STATE SENATOR JIM BEALL OF CALIFORNIA
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to honor my friend, California State Senator Jim Beall. After more than 40 years of dedicated public service to Santa Clara County, Jim recently retired at the end of his term. prgtoken As a Santa Clara County native, Jim spent his formative years in San Jose as one of ten children. He lived in a home where money was tight and worked in the crop fields as a teenager, learning the values of a hard day's work, self-reliance, and giving back to his community. Jim put his passion for public service to work at the age of 24 when he served on the San Jose City Planning Commission, and at age 28, he became the youngest person ever elected to the San Jose City Council. As a council member, Jim worked to fix and update the county's infrastructure and expand affordable housing. His role in creating San Jose's Housing Department was key to the development and growth of the city he loved serving. Jim's efforts to bring new and updated access to the San Jose Community as chair of the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority led him to be the first in California to successfully pass a half-cent sales tax increase to raise funds to help build Highways 85, 101, and 237. Later as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Jim followed through on his commitment to increasing access to healthcare and mental health services and worked with his colleagues to pass the Children's Health Initiative, which ensured every child in the county had health insurance. prgtoken Jim continued his public service as a member of both the California State Assembly and California State Senate. Jim passed major infrastructure bills including SB1, one of the largest infrastructure bills in California's history which created over 150,000 new jobs and repaired and updated roads, and SB 595 which supported regional transportation projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also worked on a number of public safety bills including passing Audrie's Law, a bill that empowered survivors of sexual assault by reforming juvenile sexual assault statutes. As a lifelong advocate for foster youth, Jim authored first-in-the-nation legislation to extend foster youth benefits to more young people and passed college access bills that have led to higher graduation rates of foster youth. Jim also championed the cause to improve mental health treatment by authoring several bills that increased access to such services and played a critical role in ensuring California healthcare plans included mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment. Through his final term in the California State Senate that ended in December 2020, Jim has worked tirelessly and selflessly for his community and the list of his legislative accomplishments goes on and on. prgtoken I was lucky to serve with Jim in both the California State Assembly and in the State Senate. I was always impressed by his thoughtfulness and dedication to improving his community and
MICHAEL R. ALTENBERG
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Michael R. Altenberg who passed away on May 19, 2021. prgtoken Mike was born in Chicago to Jerome and Goldie Altenberg. In 1951, he joined family members and a close friend to start Perlmutter and Sons, a prestressed and precast concrete company. In 1952, the company bought property at 58th and Pecos in Adams County. Perlmutter and Sons became Prestressed Concrete of Colorado before eventually becoming Stanley Structures, which spanned the Rocky Mountain West, Texas, Arizona and Canada, and employed more than 2,000 people. My dad, Leonard Perlmutter, served as CEO of Stanley Structures for many years. It was a union business from top to bottom and was instrumental in building thousands of structures including airports, resorts, roads and bridges, federal and state installations and laboratories, military bases, apartments, warehouses, office buildings, shopping centers, and hospitals. prgtoken Mike joined the family when he married Roslyn Perlmutter. They had four children: Rick (Mary), Jim (Carole), Barb (Steve) and Judy (Bruce) and many grandchildren. His wife Roz passed away November 8, 2001. prgtoken Mike then married Libby Bortz and for many years they have lived among friends at the Wind Crest Retirement Community. Mike valiantly fought through various life-threatening issues over the past decade. prgtoken Mike was a beloved and devoted husband and was a loving father and grandfather. He never missed a moment in the lives of his children and never missed a moment to celebrate his wife. He was brilliant, honest, and kind. I appreciate his lifetime of service to our community.
HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES ALKIRE
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-11

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the life of James ``Jim'' Alkire. prgtoken Jim was born in West Virginia in 1934. When he was 10 years old, Jim's family relocated to Arizona where he spent the rest of his childhood and attended the University of Arizona. In 1957, he was drafted into the United States Army and served two years of stateside duty. Jim then returned to his education and graduated from Texas Western College. From there, he obtained a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania. prgtoken After completing his education, Jim pursued a career in public service. He served as the director of finance and assistant to the city manager in Highland Park, Illinois, and then the city manager of Centralia, Illinois. In 1970, Jim and his family made a final move to Pleasant Hill, California, where he served as the city manager until retiring in 1987. Jim is remembered as an outstanding leader who fostered positive working environments. prgtoken In his personal life, Jim married his wife, Margaret, in 1960, and the couple had three children. Jim was a long-time Rotarian in Illinois and California and joined the Pleasant Hill Rotary Club in 1970, where he participated in many years of invaluable community service. Jim was also an emeritus member of the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation and active member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. He coached baseball for his sons, listened to jazz music, and was known for his sense of humor. In retirement, Jim and Margaret traveled the world together. prgtoken Sadly, Jim passed away in April of this year. Please join me in honoring Jim for his leadership and many contributions to our community.
WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-6-14

for the past 41 years, I have toured our State to hear from Iowa workers, our community leaders, and our farmers at my annual 99 county meetings. So far this year, I have been in 71. prgtoken As a farmer myself, I enjoy speaking with those involved in agriculture all across the State who tell me that they are third-, fourth-, fifth-generation farmers. These folks use the same soil and barns as their grandfathers before them. Everyone I speak with intends to leave their land to their children and leave it better than they found it. That goes way back to it being entrusted to their care. We all have that responsibility. prgtoken Between the use of cover crops, buffer strips, no-till farming, and minimal-till farming, more conservation practices than ever before are being used on Iowa's 35 million acres of farmland. While Iowa farmers are continuing to feed our country and the world, they are also doing so with fewer inputs and better soil and water outcomes. prgtoken Iowa farmers should be congratulated; however, it seems like there is always a target on the backs of Iowa farmers and I could say for maybe all American farmers. I want to get to that target, and that has something to do with this map that I have here of the State of Iowa. prgtoken Last week, it was reported that the administration is moving forward to add redtape to their operations by rewriting President 's navigable waters protection rule. In my first telephone conversation with then-EPA nominee Administrator Regan and now the confirmed Administrator--by the way, confirmed by a unanimous vote of this Senate--I warned Administrator Regan against moving back to the -era waters of the U.S. rule, which we call WOTUS for short. That is a regulation they shouldn't move back to because of the burden it placed on rural areas, including Iowa farmers. prgtoken In fact, under the old waters rule, 97 percent of Iowa's land would have been subject to jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. In other words, all of the blue part of Iowa--with the exceptions of these areas that are white that adds up to the blue area--97 percent of this land mass of Iowa would be subject to Federal jurisdiction. Adding more Federal redtape to a farmer's day-to-day decisions on the farm is government overreach, plain and simple. prgtoken But besides Iowa's 86,000 farmers, a change in the navigable waters protection rule will also result in significant redtape and significant expense for, among others, homebuilders, golf course managers, and construction companies as they make very routine decisions about how best to use the land and run their businesses. prgtoken Now, imagine that, not only have new home prices risen due to inflation and soaring lumber prices--and, by the way, lumber prices have added $36,000 to the price of a house just in the last year. Now, instead of that happening because lumber prices have gone up, now home prices, beca
ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Now, , on one final matter, late last week, the ic leader and the ic whip gave in to the urge to pick at the scab of politically motivated investigations that have become their party's favorite weapon against the previous administration. They indicated that they were prepared to compel two former Attorneys General to testify before the Judiciary Committee on efforts to trace leaks of sensitive national security information. prgtoken In case anyone had forgotten, our colleagues are among the same who spent years demanding repeated investigations of a President while turning a blind eye to the clear abuses of power that infected the investigation of his campaign. So any outrage from that alleged criminal leaks within their own ranks rightly drew the attention of Federal investigators rings completely hollow. prgtoken It is particularly disappointing that our colleagues have taken to attacking former Attorney General Bill Barr over investigative decisions that predated--predated--his time at the Department of Justice. Let me say that again. It is particularly disappointing that our colleagues have taken to attacking former Attorney General Bill Barr over investigative decisions that occurred when he wasn't there yet. Attorney General Barr served our Nation with honor and with integrity. These latest attempts to tarnish his name bear the telltale signs of a witch hunt in the making. prgtoken Here are the facts: The Department of Justice is empowered to investigate criminal conduct by Members of Congress and their staff. Necessarily, this sort of investigation is subject to strict procedural protections, and the Department's inspector general is fully equipped to determine whether these procedures were followed in this case. So I am confident that the existing inquiry will uncover the truth. There is no need for a partisan circus here in the Congress.
CONGRATULATING AMANDA CAMPBELL ON BEING AWARDED THE HUSKY 100
Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican, WA) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and congratulate Amanda Campbell, from Battle Ground, Washington on being awarded the Husky 100 from the University of Washington. prgtoken The University of Washington Husky 100 program recognizes 100 undergraduate and graduate students from all campuses and all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the university. Recipients of the Husky 100 are successfully connecting what happens inside the classroom to the outside, helping make a difference on campus, in their communities, and in the future--and Amanda is no exception. prgtoken Amanda is pursuing her Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. Amanda has been a leader, a strong researcher, and a patient advocate during her studies. As a pharmacist, she hopes to break down the barriers of health care through health equity and literacy. Her current activities and goals for her future are exactly why Amanda was given this recognition. prgtoken Once again, I want to congratulate Amanda on receiving this honor and I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF SMITHS STATION
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-6-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of Smiths Station. prgtoken Smiths Station was first settled in 1738. The Central of Georgia Railway extended a train line through the community, using it to connect Opelika, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia. prgtoken Shortly after this, the name of Smiths was decided on to honor the memory of Broadus Smith, a prominent settler who once lived in the community. The area is now known as Smiths Station. prgtoken Smiths Station existed as a ``bedroom community'' and a convenient halfway spot between the Auburn-Opelika and Columbus-Phenix City metropolitan areas. prgtoken After years of advocacy and hard work, a group of Smiths Station residents helped push for a successful vote to incorporate Smiths Station on June 22, 2001. Later that year, LaFaye Dellinger was elected as the City's first Mayor, serving in the position from 2001 until 2016. Current Mayor F.L. ``Bubba'' Copeland was elected in 2016 and ran unopposed in the 2020 municipal election. The current City Council consists of Place 1 Council Member George Stringer, Place 2 Council Member Morris Jackson, Council Place 3 Member Steve Lansdon, Place 4 Council Member Richard Cooley and Place 5 Council Member Victoria Green. prgtoken Madam , please join me in recognizing the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of Smiths Station.