mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Angie Craig (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to recognize the 175th anniversary of Dakota County, Minnesota. Dakota County was established as one of Minnesota Territory's original nine counties in 1849, and has played an important role in the history of Minnesota since the beginning. Even as the function and responsibilities of county government have changed over the past 175 years, Dakota County has remained one of the most important and influential counties in the state of Minnesota. It's now the third-largest county in the state and the largest in the Second Congressional District. prgtoken Indigenous people have been living in the land that is now known as Dakota County for many thousands of years. The lands of Dakota County were important for tribes to make use of the waterways for sustenance, transportation, and interaction with other tribes across the nation. The Bdote (confluence) of the two major rivers Misi zipi (Mississippi) and Mni sota (Minnesota) are also an important cultural location as the original birthplace of the Dakota people. By the time European settlers began making their way into Minnesota from the north and east, the Dakota and Ojibwe were the two main tribes, with the Kaposia band of Mdewakanton Dakota residing in this area, as well as Wahpekute and Sisseton groups nearby. prgtoken In 1851, Dakota leaders ceded millions of acres of land in Minnesota Territory to the U.S. government. This led to a marked increase in settlement in Dakota County. Dakota County was officially organized in 1853. The county seat was initially located at Kaposia (present-day South St. Paul) and then at Mendota before moving to Hastings in 1857, where it remains today. prgtoken Over the 175 years of its existence Dakota County has taken on many roles including providing public safety, keeping records, creating, maintaining, and repairing a system of county roads, assessing taxes, conducting elections, providing health care services addressing both the physical and mental health needs of its residents, operating a countywide library system and many popular county parks. Dakota County is regularly recognized on a national level for the high quality of its programs and services prgtoken I have been proud to partner with Dakota County on many important initiatives including the creation of the Veterans Memorial Greenway, and significant improvements to Interstate 35, as well as securing investments for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office with body worn cameras and their electronic crimes unit. prgtoken It is my honor and privilege to represent Dakota County. I congratulate the Dakota County government on the celebration of their 175th anniversary, and recognize them for their many contributions to local residents, the state of Minnesota, and the Nation as a whole.
REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , first, I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) for hosting this important Special Order hour to honor our friend, our beloved colleague, Judge Jackson Lee. prgtoken It is a blessing to be able to serve in the people's House with giants--Madam , you have had the opportunity tonight to hear from several--to be able to serve with Congresswoman Lee and to serve with Congressman Mfume, among many others, and to hear their perspectives on their time serving with Judge Jackson Lee. prgtoken Mark Twain is credited with saying that history doesn't often repeat itself, but it does rhyme. prgtoken As Mr. Mfume was describing the late Judge Jackson Lee and her adulation, respect, and admiration for Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman to ever be elected to United States Congress from the State of Texas, I am reminded of a story. prgtoken At the end of Congresswoman Jordan's life, she had a bone-deep devotion to the Constitution, bone-deep devotion and faith in the Constitution, which was shown on full display during her service in the Congress, in particular during the Watergate proceedings. prgtoken In 1996, when Barbara Jordan passed away, they were searching through her belongings, and they found in her purse a copy of the U.S. Constitution. I can see, as clear as day right now, our friend, Judge Jackson Lee, on the Judiciary Committee, where myself and Representative Johnson and others had the privilege to serve with her, holding the Constitution out as she was questioning a variety of different witnesses who have come through that committee. prgtoken Judge Lee's faith, devotion, and commitment to the Constitution was bone deep. To hear Representative Mfume describe his conversations with her as she asked him about the great Barbara Jordan, it is beyond moving. prgtoken As I try to come up with the right word to describe Judge Lee--I call her Judge Lee because I would always call her Judge Lee. She would call me attorney general, although I have never been an attorney general, but she had decided that would be my moniker. prgtoken I have spent time over the past several days to conjure up the word that I would use to describe her. The best word that I have been able to come up with is prolific. prgtoken She was a prolific orator. One need only look at the C-SPAN records to see prgtoken that she spent more time on the House floor in this Chamber speaking directly to the American public than any Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Think about that legacy. prgtoken She was a prolific legislator. We have heard from many of our colleagues about the many bills that she was able to get across the finish line, signed into law by multiple Presidents. For me, the work that I remember most vividly is her work to combat gun violence, which was a lifelong passion of hers that she pushed for on the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken She was a
ROYALTY RESILIENCY ACT
Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-7-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise to join my colleague, Chairman Westerman, in support of H.R. 7377, the Royalty Resiliency Act, sponsored by my colleague, Representative Hunt. prgtoken I have to say that not many oil and gas bills can make it through the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent and to the floor on suspension, so I commend my colleague for working on this reasonable, technical fix that has the support of the administration. prgtoken This represents how we should, in fact, get things done, where we come together, where we work things out, and where we include the BLM so that we understand how to get the technical fix done. prgtoken As noted, under current law, oil and gas lessees who are on land that is partially Federally owned and partially owned by the State or private owners need to get a communitization agreement, or CA, approved by the Department of the Interior, which outlines how much of the royalty payments should be paid to each landowner. prgtoken While a lessee is waiting for approval on that CA from the Department of the Interior, they pay 100 percent of the royalties to the Federal Government, even in cases where the Federal Government does not own 100 percent of the land. prgtoken When the CA is finally approved, then the State or private landowners get reimbursed for their share of the prgtoken royalty payments. However, some Bureau of Land Management field offices are so understaffed right now that they have reportedly taken 800 days, in some cases, to approve a CA, resulting in a delay or loss of royalties to States who rightfully deserve those funds. prgtoken For an example, in New Mexico, we have hundreds of oil and gas lessees on Federal lands and State lands. Many of those are in my district in the San Juan and Permian Basin. Indeed, 54 percent of production in New Mexico impacts Federal land. This bill represents a technical fix that would make sure that royalties flow to the State of New Mexico or the State of Colorado or the Dakotas or Texas or the many other places where we have these shared land ownership arrangements, because do you know what, ? prgtoken Our schools and our schoolchildren need that money to flow to them as quickly as possible. prgtoken Under the bill, rather than paying 100 percent to the Federal Government while waiting approval, a lessee would pay royalties to each landowner in accordance with the lessee's proposal. If that proposal proves to be wrong, the lessee is then required to backpay any missing royalty revenue. prgtoken While I believe we need to work together to find an off-ramp for States and communities that are overly dependent on fossil fuel revenue and we need to work on diversifying our economies, this legislation is straightforward and commonsense. prgtoken , I support the bill. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and .
ALL-AMERICAN FLAG ACT
Eric Sorensen (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-7-22

I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace) for working on this effort with me. prgtoken Today, I ask this governing body: What is the most American thing that Members can think of? Is it George Washington, who looks over us? Is it the dome of the Capitol Building, under which Members do the work of the people? prgtoken , I believe the most American thing is the symbol that flies on my home in Moline, Illinois, on top of this important building, on the back of every ship that carries our military, and which is displayed so proudly behind the . prgtoken , I am proud to stand here and see S. 1973, the All- American Flag Act, considered on the floor of the House of Representatives. Under current law, the government can buy flags that contain just 50 percent American-made materials, but I believe that American flags, paid for by American taxpayers, should be entirely made in the greatest country in the world, by the greatest workers in the world. prgtoken My bill would require the Federal Government to buy flags that are manufactured 100 percent in the United States, with materials 100 percent grown or produced in the United States. prgtoken In 2021, my home State of Illinois passed a law that all American flags purchased must be American made. prgtoken This legislation will bring the values of our neighbors back home to the Federal Government. Whether it is over a post office in Kewanee, Illinois, accompanying our troops to battle, or on a casket of a fallen hero, our patriotism has to begin and end here in this country. prgtoken In 1906, George Cohan wrote ``You're a Grand Old Flag.'' The song's signature lyric, ``She's a Grand Old Flag,'' came from a conversation that he had with a Civil War veteran who fought at Gettysburg. prgtoken My bill will ensure that all grand flags are made in this grand land. I am proud to see my bill come to the House floor today, and I urge all of my patriotic colleagues to be proud of their support for its swift passage and for our great Nation.
REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , I thank very much my esteemed colleagues for the opportunity to be here. prgtoken We are here to honor the memory of a dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a true stateswoman and a fierce defender of justice, fairness, and our great democracy. A dedicated member of the Congressional Black Caucus, her contributions have been nothing short of transformative and incredible. prgtoken I was blessed to visit her numerous times in Houston, Texas, and travel with her around the world. She was also instrumental in helping so many Louisiana natives during Hurricane Katrina, providing exceptional casework services in Houston. prgtoken After Katrina, so many of our people were homeless, lost, in need of love and care. Sheila Jackson Lee was there. She called us regularly to give us reports. Whenever there was an issue in Houston and it was someone from Louisiana, she was Johnny-on-the-spot. prgtoken It wasn't her district. It wasn't her people. They couldn't vote for her. It was her true love and passion for people that caused her to step up. She was a giant, although small in stature. Her heart was so big and her brain was even bigger. prgtoken I have never met anyone as passionate and as smart on every single issue she touched. When she stepped up, she spoke with a degree of power, familiarity, intellect, energy, and grace. They just don't make them like that anymore. prgtoken You heard my colleagues say that she would show up everywhere. Once we came back from a codel across the country, and because we had plane trouble, we were stuck waiting for another aircraft. There was an issue going on in India. We were all exhausted trying to make it home. prgtoken Sheila said, I have to go there. I have a lot of natives of India in my community. We were all exhausted and everyone chuckled and said, we are all going home. prgtoken Next thing I know, I looked at CNN when I got home and there was Sheila Jackson Lee. She was there in the midst of it all by herself, not a part of a codel, not a part of a team, not a part of anything other than a person with a big heart that knew that she was needed. prgtoken She was the first female ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. As a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, she spearheaded critical policies for institutional change. prgtoken Her reintroduction of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act exemplified her unwavering commitment to uplifting the Black community and improving our Nation. prgtoken Sheila called me, as our assistant leader just mentioned, and she said: I need you to go and run this press conference for me. I can't be there, but I need you to go and run the press conference, and I need you to address the family and let them know how much prgtoken we love them and how much we care. I can't be there, but I will be on the phone. prgtoken She was on the p
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today in strong support of the Water Resources Development Act. First, I thank the chair of the subcommittee, Chairman Rouzer, and the amazing and incomparable Ranking Member Grace Napolitano for their leadership on this important legislation that invests in our Nation's water resources infrastructure. prgtoken In addition, I thank the professional staff, both and . A bill of this magnitude and importance wouldn't get done without their great work. I thank them on behalf of all members of the committee. prgtoken For Arizona, this bill delivers long-term investments that I have long fought for, and ones we desperately need to address the ongoing, historic drought in the Southwest. prgtoken The bill confronts the drought by bolstering the ability of the Corps of Engineers to protect water supplies and assist our communities with drought resiliency and mitigation measures. prgtoken It also includes an additional $50 million for my Arizona environmental infrastructure authority to assist more of our communities and Tribal nations with their water and wastewater infrastructure challenges. prgtoken Finally, it jump-starts the Tres Rios ecosystem restoration project to revitalize the Salt River and Gila River corridors in Phoenix that is part of the larger Rio Reimagined, a legacy project of the late great Senator John McCain and the late Representative Congressman Ed Pastor. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this critical bill.
RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD SUBMARINES
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to share with the House an event which took place last Monday in East Hartford, Connecticut, at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. It was a gathering of educators, the U.S. Navy, and shipyard manufacturing, which is a part of the Connecticut economy, to announce a new initiative which is really going to define the job market and the economy of our State for the rest of the 21st century. prgtoken Hire Hartford is an initiative that the Navy and Electric Boat shipyard have put together to expand the scope of recruitment and hiring for good careers. These are metal trades jobs and engineering and design jobs, which are all part of an effort that is going on right now that Congress has been funding for the last 10 years, which is to recapitalize our submarine fleet. prgtoken Again, Electric Boat, which is in eastern Connecticut, the part of Connecticut that I represent, is a shipyard that has been in existence for about 120 years. We have a submarine base right up the Thames River that has about 16 prgtoken attack submarines that operate out of Groton, Connecticut, which is where it is located. It is the oldest submarine base in the U.S. Again, between the shipyard and the base, eastern Connecticut has been, in my opinion, justifiably called the submarine capital of the world. prgtoken Right now, we are at a place where, again, our country needs to recapitalize an aging fleet of submarines that were built back in the 1970s and 1980s, and a tremendous amount of work is underway. Last year, Electric Boat hired 5,300 workers, some at the Quonset Point shipyard a little bit farther up the coastline in Rhode Island, about two-thirds of it in Connecticut. prgtoken This picture shows some of the young 18- and 19-year-olds who are part of this effort who are going through career and technical education schools. Some of the regular comprehensive high schools have also created career pathways to teach people how to be welders, electricians, outside machinists, shipwrights. Again, this is some of the group that were hired this past spring. prgtoken If you can see closely, these are 18- and 19-year-olds. They may go to college at some other point in their lives, but at this point they are about to get a badge and security pass so they can go out and be part of this amazing effort which, again, is a platform that the Pentagon and the U.S. Navy have identified as the most critical procurement program in the defense budget. prgtoken Last year, we entered into an agreement with the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom called AUKUS which, again, is about trying to strengthen collaboration between the three countries to push back what is going on in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is exercising totally illegal efforts to control the maritime space. prgtoken The one platform which, again, they cannot solve is nuclear-powered submarines. Australia has made a commitment to p
CELEBRATING THE #ONEWORLD SOCCER TOURNAMENT OF WNY
Timothy M. Kennedy (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to recognize the #OneWorld Soccer Tournament of WNY, an incredible community initiative led by the Buffalo Maendeleo Soccer Club and Bridges from Borders. This inaugural event brought together underrepresented youth in Buffalo's Lower West Side for a soccer competition. prgtoken The organizations leading this project, the Buffalo Maendeleo Soccer Club and Bridges from Borders, work to support our local refugee and immigrant populations. The Buffalo Maendeleo Soccer Club provides safe community spaces for underserved children to play in a soccer league with their peers. Bridges from Borders is a nonprofit organization promoting mental health and wellbeing for immigrant families moving to Western New York. prgtoken Together, these organizations dedicated nine months to organizing the #OneWorld Soccer Tournament, with the goal of fostering unity and combating negative stereotypes placed onto minorities. The tournament took place on Saturday, July 13, 2024, with four teams competing in spirited and fun soccer games. Parents and players alike had a great time engaging in friendly competition and connecting with their community. prgtoken Following the tournament's great success, Maendeleo Soccer Club and Bridges from Borders plan to make the #OneWorld Tournament an annual event. They hope to expand their programming to more neighborhoods, continuing to bring young people together and build unity through soccer. prgtoken Please join me in congratulating the Buffalo Maendeleo Soccer Club and Bridges from Borders on the incredible success of the #OneWorld Soccer Tournament. Today, we thank these organizations for their dedication to serving our community and uplifting our youth.
REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE
Yvette D. Clarke (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , let me thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Steven Horsford, and my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for this opportunity to share some thoughts about our dearly beloved colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. prgtoken To Elwyn Lee, Erica and Jason, other members of the Lee family and staff, loved ones, friends and constituents, on behalf of myself, the Clarke family, and the people of the Ninth District of New York, I extend my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences. prgtoken Madam , I rise on this day to remember the gentlewoman from Texas, my friend, my mentor, my dear colleague, the honorable and incomparable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. prgtoken Sheila was the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants and a daughter of New York. I was blessed to have known her for many years. I have served with her for just short of 18 years. We both served on the Homeland Security Committee. prgtoken We bonded over many of our deep connections. My parents are Jamaican immigrants. As it turned out, Sheila Jackson Lee's uncle was one of my mother's biggest donors when she was a member of the New York City Council. prgtoken I had an opportunity as a councilmember to meet the incomparable Sheila Jackson Lee at many events and activities and occasions where we gathered. To come to Congress, as the only Black woman elected to Congress in the year 2007, I ran into someone who I had already become acquainted with and who put me under her wings. prgtoken As the author of the Violence Against Women Act, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the woman who reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and H.R. 40, the bill to provide a study on reparations, our Nation will long remember the scale and scope of her legislative acumen and successes. We were blessed because she was a justice seeker and relentlessly so. prgtoken There was not a piece of legislation, as one of my colleagues--I think it was Barbara--stated where she did not come in with an amendment if she found any inequities within that legislation. She was able to convince Members on both sides of the aisle of the need to include an amendment that would provide that breathing room for the oppressed in our communities. prgtoken We are grateful for not only her leadership of the people of Houston, Texas, but by extension the people across this Nation who have benefited from her work. prgtoken We in the Congressional Black Caucus and countless others across the Nation will long feel the gravity of her absence. prgtoken One of the projects that we worked on together is now resident at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and that is the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project. Prior to my arrival here in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Lee led a group of women to make sure that a bust of Sojourner Truth would be pla
CHARLIE DOWD VA CLINIC
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-7-22

I am always moved by poignant examples of veterans who, once they take off their uniforms after valiant service, still go on to serve our country and serve their communities. prgtoken Charlie Dowd is certainly an example of that, especially deserving of the honor of having the community-based outpatient clinic at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, named as the ``Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.'' prgtoken , I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 3285, and .