mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RETIREMENT REMARKS
Ted S. Yoho (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-12-24

. Madam , I would like to take this moment to say thank you, farewell and goodbye while issuing a warning to this esteemed body. I have had the honor and privilege to serve as a member of Congress for the last 8 years. It truly has been an amazing experience for me, my wife Carolyn and our three children. It is the American Dream come true. We will always be grateful and thankful for the many memories and experiences we've had. prgtoken This would not have been possible without the support we received from our families, friends, supporters, Team mates and constituents for allowing us this opportunity. prgtoken After all, opportunity is what gives rise to the American Dream. My wife and I, along with all in this body, are the beneficiaries of that opportunity and recipients of the American Dream. Our Constitution guarantees equal opportunity for all not equal outcomes. prgtoken I ran for Congress because I felt America was off course and moving away from the principles it was founded on. We are a Republic, a Constitutional Republic. America is certainly not a perfect country. We've had, and still have, our shortcomings but we improve with each generation. The Constitution provides a framework for that. prgtoken However, some people want to fundamentally change our system from a Republic to a socialist state and to end the legacy we have been blessed with. There are those in government, and the citizens who support them, who don't understand the basic foundational principles of this nation. There are leaders in the ic Party, who a few short years ago, would not acknowledge they were promoting socialism. Yet their ideals and actions were telling a different story. prgtoken Now today, we have leaders in the incoming administration who proudly espouse that this will be the most progressive, socialist administration ever formed in the United States. prgtoken Their desire to change a country that has created the most successful lifestyle in the world for generations is a travesty. It's a travesty to those that paid the price in blood to preserve our Republic and its ideals. prgtoken As the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific subcommittee on Foreign Affairs I've had the honor of traveling all over the world, meeting world leaders from many countries. I had a very impactful conversation with an Ambassador from an ASEAN nation that had a lasting impression upon me of what America means from an outside perspective. I would like to share this with you and issue this warning. prgtoken He said when his country fought to get independence their founders could have chosen any form of government to set up in their new independent country. They looked at the British, French, and German system of government but chose the American form of government for their new country even though none of them had been to America. They did this because they were very well studied in our founding principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Specif
CARING FOR AMERICANS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HELP ACT OF 2020
Kurt Schrader (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , I rise today to speak against the CASH Act. This is an ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress. It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by the President and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum who have been largely absent during months of very hard negotiations. They have chosen to tweet their opinions instead of coming to the table to get aid in the hands of Americans and small businesses who need it most. prgtoken Over the last 6 months, and especially in the last few weeks as the holidays loomed and COVID cases skyrocketed, the Problem Solvers Caucus worked with Senators on both sides of the aisle and House and Senate leadership to craft legislation that includes vetted programs like the PPP and unemployment compensation that have been improved upon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken I feel for all of those who are suffering today due to financial hardship and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to continue to find ways to help provide relief. prgtoken People who are making six-figure incomes who have not been impacted by COVID-19 do not need checks. We have had 9 months to fix this program to get aid to the people who need it most. That has not happened. Let's reverse course and target those in need.
CARING FOR AMERICANS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HELP ACT OF 2020
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , I rise to support the CASH Act, which will send $2,000 checks to the American people. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Neal for coming together very quickly to create this act in a thoughtful way. prgtoken The American people are hurting this holiday season, and they need our help. Our bill would increase those payments to $2,000, which would also include adult dependents and students. prgtoken We realize that $600 is not enough for people facing eviction and hunger. For many, this will just pay a past-due rental bill for July. prgtoken It is good and important that we are sending support to small businesses, strong unemployment aid, nutrition and rental assistance, but this relief is coming 7 months later than it should have. It is vital that Congress not penny-pinch the American people now. prgtoken This CASH bill is bipartisan, and if Senator Mitch McConnell would put it on the Senate floor, it would be bicameral. prgtoken Let me push back, too, that this is too much. prgtoken We have 40 million Americans who work full-time and made less than $18,000 last year. With the minimum wage at $7.25, there isn't a single two-bedroom apartment you can rent in a county in America for that money. There are tens of millions without healthcare. prgtoken My family sells new cars and used cars. I have watched the debt burden of so many people just rise and rise and rise over the years. prgtoken Is there a better way? You know, my friends hate it when so-called Big Government decides what we need. The best way to let people manage their family is to put the money in their hands, give them that American freedom. prgtoken Somehow, we can print money to do a $4 trillion tax cut over 20 years, but we can't print enough money to help the American people. prgtoken This is a good bill. I salute Chairman Richard Neal, and I hope every and every will vote for it.
HONORING HELLENIC AND AMERICAN PHILHELLENIC WOMEN OF THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , as co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise today to honor the heroic Hellenic and American Philhellenic Women of the Greek War of Independence, whose consequential actions helped free Greece and her people from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire. prgtoken As a member of the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance's American Hellenic Revolution Bicentennial Celebration Committee, and as we approach the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, it is incumbent upon all of us to honor the legacy of these women and recognize how their actions influenced the relationship between the United States and Greece. prgtoken I have the unique privilege of representing one of the largest Greek American communities in the U.S. in Astoria, Queens, and I am blessed to call many of them close friends. prgtoken I'm especially honored that my friends in the Hellenic community have bestowed me with the nickname ``Bouboulina'' after Laskarina Bouboulina, one of the many great warriors of the Greek War of Independence and whose home I had the privilege of visiting in 2016. prgtoken Bouboulina was a trailblazer in her own right and committed herself to the cause of a free and independent Greek state. prgtoken And I rise not only to honor these brave women, but also recognize the Greek people's contributions to democracy, art, science, and literature, and to governments around the world, including our own. prgtoken As the birthplace of democracy, Greece was an inspiration for the U.S. system of government. And just as Greece inspired our country, our revolution helped inspire the Greeks to revolt against the Ottomans. prgtoken When the Greek War of Independence started, American Philhellenes and Greek American communities in the U.S. not only voiced their support for the cause, but actively supported their campaign. prgtoken Greek Committees were formed in cities across the country to organize political and monetary support and send shiploads of humanitarian supplies to Greek revolutionaries. It may be safe to say that without the moral, intellectual, political, monetary and in-kind assistance of these Americans, the outcome of the Greek War for Independence might have been different. prgtoken The ideals of freedom and democracy resonated for Americans who saw the plight of the Greeks suffering brutal slavery and massacres under the Ottoman Turkish oppressors. When the bells of the Revolution rang in 1821 and the cry ``Freedom or Death'' rang over the enslaved Greeks, American Philhellenes inspired a lobbying campaign in the United States for support of the Greek War of Independence, exciting the imaginations of many influential political and civil leaders in America. prgtoken American Philhellenes fought to help Greece win freedom from over four hundred years of brutal tyranny and slavery under Ottoman Turks. These distinguished Americans included: President Thomas Jefferson, Presid
SAM ALTMAN
Joe Cunningham (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , I rise today to remember Samuel H. Altman's legacy in the Lowcountry. prgtoken A true Charlestonian, Sam was born and raised in the Lowcountry. Sam was a hard worker and began working in his father's furniture shop, studied hard in school, and went on to become an attorney for 54 years. He met a beautiful and talented artist named Susan, who ended up stealing his heart. They spent 55 magical years together, traveling often, and spending time with their children. prgtoken Sam had many different interests and creative pursuits in life. He loved the Big Easy and would visit New Orleans time and time again. Sam took pride in the sights and culture of Charleston, and felt called to serve on the City of Charleston Board of Zoning Adjustment for over 25 years. Sam was a frequent fan in the stands at the College of Charleston Cougar basketball games, but was also the number one fan and biggest champion of Susan's art. prgtoken Sam was a man of integrity who led by example and was happy to help any and everyone. It was a privilege to know him and a blessing to call him a friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and loved ones mourning his passing.
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise to strongly urge Members to uphold what we did in this Chamber just a couple weeks ago and what the Senate did, as well; and that is we passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill, with roughly 80 percent of the vote in both the Senate and the House. prgtoken The legislative branch made it absolutely clear that we support this piece of legislation, and as the gentleman from Texas just noted, we support it with very good reason. prgtoken It is enormously important to give our troops the support that they need to carry out the job that we all are asking them to do. That is, I think, one of our minimum obligations as Members of Congress. And this bill reflects that. prgtoken This bill is the process of a lengthy effort involving Members of both Chambers, both parties, that have come together and put together an incredibly strong piece of legislation. That is why it passed so overwhelmingly just a couple weeks ago. And nothing has changed. Nothing has changed. The bill is exactly the same and every little bit as important. prgtoken Now, the President has the right to veto it, but I think we, as Members of prgtoken the legislative body, have to look at the reason behind that. Was it because of something in the bill? prgtoken Pieces of legislation come through here all the time, and we occasionally miss something. The President finds out, and we say: Gosh, I didn't know that. That is not what happened here. prgtoken I really want Members to understand the President vetoed this because of something that isn't in the bill and was never going to be in the bill, something totally unrelated to national security and something that we were not going to do in any event. prgtoken There is literally no reason to veto this bill for the reasons that the President did and certainly no reason for us not to uphold what we did in passing this bill. This is really important that we exercise our legislative prerogative. prgtoken There are all kinds of crucial provisions in this bill, but I will just point to one, and that is the one that Mr. Thornberry mentioned earlier, to give you an idea of why it is important that the legislative branch do its job in exercising oversight of the Department of Defense in providing national security policy, and that is the cyber issue. prgtoken Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Langevin, chairman of the subcommittee that deals with this issue, and Ranking Member Stefanik, they have worked together to really put together an incredible package to try to better address these very cyber issues that we are now facing. That is what we do in this legislation, and it is not always exciting, but it is incredibly important to meet our obligation to our troops and to the national security of this country. prgtoken It is enormously important that we pass this bill. We did it once. Let's just do it one more time, and then we can all go home for the ye
HONORING THE CAREER OF THE HONORABLE MAX RODRIGUEZ
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , I rise today to honor the career of my good friend Max Rodriguez. Supervisor Rodriguez is a longtime Madera County Supervisor for District 4 and a trusted leader in our community. Supervisor Rodriguez is retiring after serving on the Board of Supervisors for the past 15 years. prgtoken Supervisor Rodriguez was born and raised in Madera, California. He graduated from Madera High School in 1958 and went to Fresno City College. Shortly after, Supervisor Rodriguez took jobs working in the fields in order to provide for his family. He then began working for American Forest Products, known as North Fork Sawmill, for 25 years. During his time at the sawmill, Supervisor Rodriguez was the Financial Secretary and President of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union. In 1985 when the sawmill closed, Supervisor Rodriguez went back to school and became a Farmers Insurance agent until his retirement in 2008. prgtoken Supervisor Rodriguez was appointed to the Madera District Fair Board by Governor Jerry Brown, appointed to the Madera County Mosquito Abatement Board from 1982 to 2001, and served as a Madera County Planning Commissioner. In 2003, Supervisor Rodriguez decided to run for Madera County Board of Supervisors and won his current seat in 2004. During his tenure on the board, he has prioritized his constituents and worked hard for the people of Madera County. He was past member and vice-president of the Pan-American club, former volunteer for American Heart Association, past member of New Hope Madera, NAACP Branch 1084, and Madera Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is currently the Chairman of First Five Commission, Madera County Transportation Commission, Local Agency Formation Commission, Tesoro Viejo Conservancy and sits on the High-Speed Rail Heavy Maintenance Facility task force. prgtoken During his free time, Supervisor Rodriguez is an active member of St. Joachim's Catholic Church and enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and their family. He also loves to fish and camp and enjoys being in nature. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the career of Supervisor Max Rodriguez. His love for public service and Madera County is evident throughout the course of his career. I join his family and friends in congratulating Supervisor Max Rodriguez on a well-deserved retirement and wish him continued health and happiness in this new phase of life.
APPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TO THE COMMISSION ON THE STATE OF U.S. OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , pursuant to section 11 of the ``Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020'' (P.L. 116-189, S. 2330), I appoint the following individuals to the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics: Ms. Melissa Stockwell, Colorado Springs, CO; Mr. Rob Mullens, Eugene, OR; The Honorable Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr West Lafayette, IN; and, The Honorable Joseph E. Schmitz, Falls Church, VA.
CARING FOR AMERICANS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HELP ACT OF 2020
Kevin Brady (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , you can say a lot about this Congress, but you cannot say we have not worked together and appropriated remarkable funding to help families defeat this COVID, to get back on their feet, and to save small businesses. prgtoken A good example is that, so far, Congress, both parties, has already approved more than $20,800 in direct cash payments to a family of four with one parent out of work. That is on top of an estimated $18,000 of State unemployment benefits, a little less than $40,000 to help working families survive this COVID pandemic. prgtoken But, today, we do nothing in this bill to help 8 million Americans who lost their jobs due to COVID. We could double the amount of money that goes to small businesses or midsize businesses so they can rehire the workers and keep them on the payroll to try to survive and ride this out. We don't know yet what the vaccinations will do to consumer confidence or to the lockdowns. prgtoken Again, I expect a number of s to support this bill. In my view, we would be wiser to assess the impact of the vaccinations in the recovery going forward so that we can target relief to Main Street, to helping get people back to work, and to truly stimulating our local economy. That is where we address the harm that has been done by COVID. prgtoken Madam , .
CARING FOR AMERICANS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HELP ACT OF 2020
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , as I look around the room here, it looks like I am in the U.S. Congress. I mean, I see the American flag there; George Washington is over there; it says ``In God We Trust.'' But looking at this bill prgtoken today, it makes me feel like we are in the Parliament of Afghanistan, Burundi, Yemen, or Bolivia. prgtoken Do we really think the way to improve the quality of life for Americans is to just print more money from the Fed? If you look around, we are going to be printing another $400 billion. prgtoken Has anybody looked lately at what is going on with the monetary supply? M1 up 50 percent; M2 up 20 percent. prgtoken Don't people realize that just printing more is not a way to make our citizens wealthier; it is just a way to debase the currency? prgtoken The way for a wealthy country is to work hard through frugality and through improving one's skills, not by having the Fed print money. prgtoken Last time, when we sent out $1,200 checks, I stopped by my local Walmart, and the people in charge of the electronics section said they had never seen such sales in their life. prgtoken Is that really going to improve the lot of Americans, to go over and buy some more electronic junk from China? Apparently so. prgtoken And let's not forget when we look at inflation. We have inflation right now. Twice, in the recent past, we have changed the definition on what inflation is. prgtoken So we do have inflation; it is just that we keep changing the definition to mask it. That is why the market is up. The market is up because we really do have inflation. prgtoken We are in the U.S. Congress. We should not think the way to prosperity is just printing money. We should act like we are the United States. That is why, for my whole life, other countries like to invest in the dollar. They respect the value of the dollar more than the national currencies of Burundi, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Bolivia. Those are four poor countries; that is why I picked them out. prgtoken So I encourage Senator McConnell to hold the line here, to act responsibly.
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Mac Thornberry (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I thank the chairman for yielding and once again want to commend him for his stewardship of the committee through very challenging times. prgtoken Madam , I continue to support this bill, as more than 80 percent of the House did just 20 days ago. It is the exact same bill, not a comma has changed. prgtoken It still prevents the military from having their pay cut. It still creates new tools to deal with a newly aggressive China. It still includes the important U.S.-Israel Assistance Act and provides help for Vietnam veterans. prgtoken One thing, I guess, is new in the past few days, because a devastating cyberattack by Russia has been exposed; but, fortunately, this bill has dozens of provisions to help strengthen the country's defenses in cyber. prgtoken So the President has exercised his constitutional prerogative. Now, Madam , it is up to us. Our troops, the country, indeed, the world is watching to see what we will do, whether we can tune out other differences and still come together to support the men and women of the military and American national security. prgtoken I would only ask that, as Members vote, they put the best interests of the country first. There is no other consideration that should matter. This vote is about supporting our troops and defending America. While not perfect, this bill does a good job of advancing both and should be supported once again. prgtoken Madam , .
CARING FOR AMERICANS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HELP ACT OF 2020
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-12-28

. Madam , let's get this straight. The small shopkeeper who has lost their entire savings because of the lockdowns will get the same $2,000 grant as the government bureaucrat who has been enjoying a steady paycheck at home for the past 10 months. prgtoken This money is wholly inadequate for those who have been harmed by the lockdowns and wholly unnecessary for those who have not. prgtoken This free money doesn't come from Heaven. It comes from the future earnings of those who will be struggling to get back on their feet, making the post-lockdown recovery more difficult and prolonged. prgtoken Much of the burden of this debt will fall on the young, who have already borne the brunt of these lockdowns. It is, in a real sense, a massive wealth transfer from the future to the present, from the young to the old, and from those who have been hurt by the lockdowns to those who have not. prgtoken There is only one way to end the suffering caused by these lockdowns, and that is to end them.