mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF RON FARADAY, 2017 SUNDAY DISPATCH PERSON OF THE YEAR
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise today to honor Ron Faraday, who will be honored April 18 as the Greater Pittston Person of the Year. Ron is the president of the Greater Pittston Historical Society. Ron's work with the Greater Pittston Historical Society has helped revitalize the organization's involvement in the community. prgtoken The Greater Pittston Historical Society was founded in 2000 as a repository organization so that members of the community could gather, donate, and preserve items of local history. Ron joined the organization in 2012. After an increase of membership and reorganization in 2013, Ron was elected president of the Society. It is headquartered at the Pittston Memorial Library and has 85 active members. The members diligently work to collect memorabilia and digitize newspapers, photographs, and other historical records. Under Ron's leadership, the Greater Pittston Historical Society has partnered with Misericordia University to provide internships to students. The students have helped with the Society's website design, research, and archiving materials. Ron was also instrumental in pushing for the documentary film ``Our Town: Pittston'' which was released on February 23, 2017 by WVIA-TV. prgtoken It is an honor to recognize Ron for all the great work he has done with the Greater Pittston Historical Society. I congratulate him being named the Sunday Dispatch Person of the Year.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2017-4-6

on April 5, 2017, I was unavoidably absent due to a family medical emergency and missed roll call votes 217-220. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: prgtoken Roll call vote 217: On ordering the previous question: NAY prgtoken Roll call vote 218: On agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 242: NAY prgtoken Roll call vote 219: On Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair: NAY prgtoken Roll call vote 220: On final passage of H.R. 1304--Self-Insurance Protection Act: YEA
TRIBUTE TO NOEMI TORRES--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my congressional district. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Noemi Torres of West Hollywood, California. Noemi Torres immigrated to the United States from Guadalajara, Mexico at the age of 13. After some time in Seattle, Washington, she came to Los Angeles and now calls West Hollywood home. Ms. Torres came to California, as many do, to pursue her dreams. While she has a passion for photography and acting, she found herself working with a successful startup telecommunications company, and it was while at that company, that she was exposed to the real estate industry. Now Noemi is on the Modern Living LA team of the John Aaroe Group Sunset, where she uses her considerable talents to help her clients with their real estate needs. Along with her incredible professional accomplishments, Ms. Torres has also shown herself to be an astoundingly capable community leader. She volunteers for Project Angel Food, AIDS Walk Los Angeles, the Revlon Run/Walk, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Heal the Bay, and the Downtown Women's Center. Noemi especially shines in her advocacy in her two terms on the City of West Hollywood Women's Advisory Board, which she currently chairs. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Noemi Torres.
NATIONAL YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION WEEK
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

it is my honor to be a Member of this House and to serve the public. This week I announced that it is National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Preventing youth violence can't happen overnight. It requires change across our society, from our courts to our classrooms. prgtoken This week I introduced a package of bills to correct these problems that we have imposed upon our children and our communities. I urge my colleagues to get serious about these issues. Our children are our future. We owe our children every opportunity. We owe our children a system that works with them and for them. It is not a system that is out to get them. prgtoken We do not owe our children a system that allows them to be in our streets and to not be safe. For example, to make sure that our children are safe, means that we have safer communities. Right now the United States of America has a criminal justice system that spends over $80 billion a year to incarcerate men, women, and children. prgtoken And who do these adults incarcerated become eventually? prgtoken Well, once they were children. prgtoken We can correct the system. We are the most incarcerated place on the planet in every sense of the word. We can change this. We must change this for the sake of our communities.
CELEBRATING THE SIKH HOLIDAY VAISAKHI
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise today to join the Sikh community in celebrating Vaisakhi. In the San Joaquin Valley, I have the honor and the privilege to represent many diverse ethnic communities that are part of the mosaic of America. prgtoken The Sikh community is the American story, for they are the story of immigrants past and immigrants present that have come from all over the world to establish themselves as Americans and to build a better life for themselves and their family and add value to our country. So I am very proud, among so many ethnic groups, to be representing their interests here in our Nation's Capital. prgtoken On April 14, Vaisakhi is recognized by the Sikhs around the world, including thousands in California's San Joaquin Valley. On Vaisakhi, the Sikh prgtoken community celebrates a new year and new beginnings. We honored the progress of the Sikh community that first came to California at the turn of the 20th century for their shared values, their family, their history, and the culture of Sikhism. prgtoken This holiday also recognizes the best of what all cultures strive for, and it is time that we celebrate the common bonds that we share as Americans. Notwithstanding our differences, we know at the end of the day that bonds that we as Americans share are far stronger than whatever differences we may have. prgtoken So I ask my colleagues to please join in celebrating this special tradition in the Sikh community.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MUST STAND UP FOR SYRIAN CHILDREN NOW
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2017-4-6

I could not leave this place, the most powerful lawmaking body in the world, in the season of Easter and Passover and sacrifice without bringing to the attention of my colleagues that children are dying. The children in Syria are suffering from the bombing and the vileness of President Assad and the chemical attack, where children and babies are struggling to breath. prgtoken This Congress has to act. We must join those who want an infusion of emergency dollars. prgtoken Where is our heart. prgtoken And then the famine in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there are more displaced persons than we have seen in history. Sixty thousand have escaped to Kenya, and children and women are dying. In the name of our former colleague, the Honorable Mickey Leland, who died in 1989, taking grain to the famine area in Sub-Saharan Africa, we must act now. prgtoken As a founder of the Congressional Children's Caucus myself, I cannot stand here and allow the children to die. This Congress must immediately issue emergency funds that appropriators such as Congresswoman Lee are putting forward. We must go to the region now and say what America is going to do. And the administration must stand up for children now.
SUPPORTING AMERICA'S INNOVATORS ACT OF 2017
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

. Madam , I have no further requests for time, and the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam , I am pleased that, for the first time this Congress, committee s have brought to the House floor a bill that has broad bipartisan support. Oftentimes, the opposite side of the aisle on our committee take a partisan approach to legislation and sometimes do not express a lot of interest in the views of the opposite side of the aisle or the millions of Americans whom they represent. However, in contrast, this bill before us today is the product of thoughtful, bipartisan compromise and will help startup companies and their investors equally. Madam , this is how laws should be made. prgtoken Indeed, last Congress, Mr. McHenry and I worked together to promote liquidity in the secondary market for startup company stock by creating a clearer path for startup investors to resell their stock. The result of our bipartisan efforts was the Reforming Access for Investments in Startup Enterprises Act, which became law in 2015, along with seven other bipartisan, financial services bills included in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. prgtoken Going forward, I hope that my friends on the opposite side of the aisle will remember what we can achieve when we work together. So, again, I thank both Mr. McHenry for reaching across the aisle and Ms. Velazquez for working with me on H.R. 1219, the Supporting America's Innovators Act of 2017. I urge all of my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes.'' prgtoken Madam , .
DEATH OF SECRETARY WILLIAM T. COLEMAN
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise to honor the life of a civil rights champion: Secretary William T. Coleman. prgtoken I had the privilege to know while working as a congressional staffer for another civil rights hero, Congressman Ron Dellums. prgtoken Secretary Coleman served this country with character and conviction. prgtoken He served in World War II and graduated first in his 1946 Harvard Law School Class. prgtoken He also broke through racial barriers to become the first African American Supreme Court Clerk and the second African-American in U.S. history to lead a Cabinet-level department. prgtoken Secretary Coleman believed deeply in the Constitution and fought to defend civil rights at all costs. prgtoken It was his commitment to that belief that led Thurgood Marshall to recruit Secretary Coleman to coauthor the legal brief in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. prgtoken I was honored to work in a bipartisan fashion alongside Secretary Coleman's Special Assistant, Elaine Jones during his tenure as Secretary of Transportation in the Ford Administration. prgtoken Together we were able to include language on affirmative action in the Airport and Airway Development Act. prgtoken Secretary Coleman's determination in the face of discrimination has served as an inspiration for me throughout my career. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers are with Bill's wife and family during this trying time. prgtoken I am confident that his legacy will live on through the lives of those he touched. prgtoken May his soul rest in peace.
FUND THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2017-4-6

I thank the gentleman for his outstanding comments, his insights, and his leadership on the arts and humanities issues. As co-chair of the Humanities Caucus here in the Congress, I appreciate his efforts in helping me organize and colead this effort to speak out against the effort to zero out the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities budget. We hope it will not stand, and we hope that the President will reconsider his initial budget proposal. prgtoken I am proud to yield to a number of my colleagues and want to begin with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), no shrinking violet himself, someone who is artistic and colorful in his own right, but it is no surprise to me that being from New Jersey he would be here since it was one of his late colleagues, the former Congressman from New Jersey, Frank Thompson, who was the House sponsor of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.
HONORING BRONX COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL CLARK
José E. Serrano (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2017-4-6

we recently celebrated Black History Month this past February. During my office's annual Black History Month Celebration, I was honored to reflect on the tremendous contributions African-Americans have made within my district in Bronx County, and to recognize several outstanding individuals contributing to their community. Let me mention one of those people today--Bronx County District Attorney Darcel Clark. She is the first woman in this position, the first female African-American District Attorney in the state of New York, and has been a trailblazer for criminal justice throughout her professional career. prgtoken District Attorney Clark became the District Attorney for our county on January 1, 2016. Prior to her election, District Attorney Clark served as an Associate Justice for the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department; a New York State Supreme Court Justice in Bronx County; and a Criminal Court Judge in Bronx and New York Counties. She spent more than 16 years on the bench. prgtoken District Attorney Clark is also a lifelong Bronxite, raised in NYCHA's Soundview Houses. She attended public schools in New York City, graduating from Harry S Truman High School. She attended Boston College and received her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science where she was the first recipient of the University's Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Scholarship. She then went on to earn her law degree at the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. prgtoken District Attorney Clark returned home in 1986 to begin her legal career at the Bronx District Attorney's Office. She prosecuted many cases, including drug felonies, violent crimes, and homicides. District Attorney Clark served as a Supervising ADA in the Narcotics Bureau and the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau. In 1999, she left the Office for her first judicial post. prgtoken District Attorney Clark also serves on the Boston College Board of Trustees and has served in leadership positions in the National Association of Women Judges and the Black Bar Association of Bronx County. prgtoken Throughout her career in public service, District Attorney Clark has worked to ensure fairness, accountability, and justice for Bronxites. In her new role as Bronx County District Attorney, she has already made the office more responsive, and worked to reduce case delays that have diminished trust in our system of justice. She is an important role model to all in our community, and I look forward to working with her in the years to come. prgtoken , I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Ms. Darcel Clark for her tireless work to ensure justice and commitment to the people of the Bronx.
HONORING THE LIFE OF SUPERVISOR JOHN J. BENOIT AND HIS POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise to honor the life of Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit who passed away on December 26, 2016 after a life of public service to the people of California and the residents of Riverside County. Throughout his career, Mr. Benoit served with duty, honor, and integrity and was an example to many across the region. prgtoken Mr. Benoit began his life in public service with the Corona Police Department and then with the California Highway Patrol. Over the next 30 years, Supervisor Benoit rose through the ranks to become commander of the Indio CHP Station. Because of his dedication and tireless efforts, California's highways and communities are safer. Supervisor Benoit retired from his distinguished career in law enforcement in 2001 to pursue elected office. prgtoken Supervisor Benoit served as a board member for the Desert Sands Unified School District in 1999. He also served as a State Senator and while serving as a California Assemblyman, Mr. Benoit drew from his dedication to bettering the lives of children as well as his respect for law and order to write, introduce, and advance Aryanna's Law, Assembly Bill 617, which instituted tougher daycare safety measures. As a resident of California and a father of twin girls, I personally thank him for his work in protecting our children. prgtoken I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with him while he was a Riverside County Supervisor. His dedication, respect, and love for his constituents is as an example for all who want to serve their community. I give my deepest sympathies to his wife, Sheryl, and to their two children, Ben and Sarah.
COMMEMORATING THE WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

I rise today to honor and remember twelve brave soldiers from Crockett and Port Costa, California who paid the ultimate price to defend our nation. This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the United States Entry into World War I. prgtoken The Crockett Memorial in my district reads: ``In loving memory of the men of this community who gave their lives in the great war. D. Crowley, G.M. Lee, W.E. Dunn, O.A. Sweet, M.H. Sievers, F. Remaini, B.L. Catelini, C.W. Ross, J.R. Carroll, R.L. Dingman, V.L. Dunn, B.A. Secor.'' These soldiers, their families, and our community sacrificed to serve our nation. We are forever in their debt. prgtoken I would like to honor and thank the members of the Crockett Memorial Hall Restoration Committee, including Harvey Duran, Kent Peterson, Mike Kirker, Ron Wilson, Bud Burlison, Scott Lawton and Charles Dell, as well as the members of the Crockett Historical Society, including Mary Wais, Kathy Cargo and Erin Mullen-Brosnan for organizing a commemoration for this anniversary and for supporting numerous events for veterans in our community. prgtoken These individuals and their organizations bring our community together and encourage us to remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, as well as the heroes who still live among us. They are passionate advocates for our veterans and our history, and they are responsible for organizing the Phillips 66 Annual Crocket Walk of Honor for Veterans, fundraising events for the restoration of the WWI Memorial Hall, the Memorial Day Concert and the Veterans' Day Parade. prgtoken , we are forever grateful and humbled by the lives that were given for us all those years ago. We owe tremendous gratitude to the Crockett Memorial Hall Restoration Committee and the Crockett Historical Society for their service. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor them here today.
INTRODUCTION OF A PRIVATE BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF DANIELA VARGAS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2017-4-6

today, I am introducing a bill to provide relief to Ms. Daniela Vargas, a young woman from my Congressional district in Mississippi. prgtoken Ms. Vargas was brought to the United States by her parents as a seven-year-old child from Argentina in 2001. Like the estimated 750,000 other young people in the same situation, she became a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and has a pending DACA renewal application. By all accounts, Ms. Vargas is a hard worker who, up until March, was living the American Dream. Having graduated from high school with honors in 2013, Ms. Vargas was pursuing her college degree in hopes of becoming a math teacher. On March 1, 2017, this valuable member of our community who respects our laws, pays her taxes, and has no criminal record found herself the innocent victim of the cruelties of our current immigration system. prgtoken On that day, Ms. Vargas participated in a press event at City Hall in Jackson, Mississippi organized by local church leaders and immigration advocates to raise awareness about the negative impacts that politically-motivated immigration enforcement actions directed by the Administration are having on communities across the country and those young people with DACA status who have come to be known as ``Dreamers''. Exercising her First Amendment Rights, Ms. Vargas shared her family's story and courageously spoke out on behalf of those who, like her, live with the fear that on any given day they will be deported in furtherance of the President's misguided and cruel immigration agenda. When Ms. Vargas and a friend left the DACA event at City Hall, they were trailed by ICE Agents. After pulling the car over on the side of the road, the ICE Agents, who should have been aware that Ms. Vargas had a pending DACA renewal application, took her into custody and transferred her to a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana--160 miles from her home. When Ms. Vargas' case was brought to my attention, I, along with a diverse network of civil and immigration rights groups, mobilized on her behalf. Thankfully, on March 10th, a U.S. District Court granted the petition submitted on her behalf and she was released from detention, but an order for her removal remains active. prgtoken Enforcement of our country's immigration laws must hold steadfast to our cherished American values. Our nation needs law-abiding DACA recipients, like Ms. Vargas, to be free from the threat of deportation so that they can contribute to our communities. These Dreamers took a leap of faith during the Administration and came out of the shadows in the hopes that our immigration laws would be reformed to give them the security they need to build a better future for themselves and their families. Members of the Jackson community support Ms. Vargas wholeheartedly, and I am proud to offer my support as well. While this may be a private bill for one individual, I strongly believe
ATROCIOUS CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-6

in the early morning hours on a day earlier this week, a small town in northwest Syria was atrociously attacked with chemical bombs. As a result, over 75 civilians died and over 20 children gasped for air, writhed in pain, and foamed at the mouth. They suffered dilated pupils, muscle spasms, and involuntary defecation. prgtoken Based on the state of this evidence, it appears that it was the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, who committed this heinous act against his people once again. The last time Assad committed such an act, in 2013, he agreed to eliminate his chemical weapons. However, it appears he lied, and he continues his sick aggression against his own people and our humanity. prgtoken From the first use of chemical weapons in World War I to the Iran- Iraq war in the 1980s and now in Syria, chemical weapons epitomize the absolute horror of modern-day warfare. That is, of course, why they are outlawed and why their use is a war crime. That is also why anybody who uses them must be treated and penalized like a war criminal.