mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FAREWELL LETTER FROM U.S. REP. TOM GRAVES (R-GA-14)
Tom Graves (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , when I was young, my Dad always used to tell me that if I dreamed big and worked hard, I would achieve much. Dream Big, Work Hard, Achieve Much. I have carried that advice with me my entire life. Those words fueled my ability to go from the hall of a single-wide trailer to the halls of Congress. prgtoken I write that today as I reflect on what makes America so special: the ability to chart your own course and achieve any dream. My heart is filled with gratitude for our country and the enduring experiment of democracy that has allowed someone like me to end up in the U.S. House of Representatives for the past decade. prgtoken Serving as the Representative of Georgia's 9th and 14th districts has truly been the honor of my life. This privilege was made possible by the sacrifice and support of so many wonderful people. First and foremost, my parents ``Big Tom'' and Penny; my wife, Julie; my children, Josephine, John, and Janey. My family has supported me every step of the way on this path of public service. My wife and children bore a burden that often goes unrecognized in politics. There are many precious days of life that we spent apart. Knowing their sacrifice motivated me every day to do the very best I could. Now it's time to shift the focus to them, and support their journeys and dreams, just as they supported mine. prgtoken For my final words entered into the Congressional Record as a member of Congress, I want to share the most essential lesson learned over the past decade: the importance of relationship building. Tone, rhetoric and civility are crucial to opening doors to new and unexpected relationships with lawmakers from across the political spectrum. Often the best policies are the product of broad perspectives and creativity, with input from people who bring experience from different walks of life. prgtoken I can think of no better embodiment of that ideal than the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. Committee members hail from opposite sides of the country, with different professional backgrounds and life experiences. Regardless of our political and personal differences, our commitment to those we serve--our constituents--came first. The way our committee operated should serve as a model for this institution. Our bipartisan collaboration resulted in 97 recommendations to make the legislative branch work better. I hope that this work continues, because the American people deserve an institution that is as forward thinking and innovative as they are. Bipartisan relationships are at the heart of anything that can become law, and the American people are far better off when we connect over shared goals and work together to accomplish them. prgtoken Serving on the Select Committee is the perfect capstone to my career in public service. I am grateful to my partner, Chair Derek Kilmer of Washington, for his outstanding leadership. Nothing the committee produced would have been pos
TRIBUTE TO BABA SHEIKH
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the Yazidi community around the world and in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska on the loss of spiritual leader Baba Sheikh. prgtoken In August 2014, ISIS launched a genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people in Iraq, killing and brutalizing thousands. Five years later, hundreds of thousands of Yazidis are still displaced in refugee camps in their own country. Throughout all this terror and diabolical suffering, the spiritual leader of the Yazidi people, Baba Sheikh, stood steady as a great source of comfort, love, and inspiration. prgtoken Madam , it's not widely known, but two years ago, at the behest of Vice President , I traveled to Northern Iraq to assess the situation faced by religious minority communities after the ISIS genocide. It was my privilege to meet with Baba Sheik. Together we met with the Yazidi women who had been enslaved by ISIS. I will never forget his gentleness, kindness, and eagerness to be with us even amidst all the suffering. prgtoken May he rest in peace.
HONORING THE LIFE OF ANTHONY ``TONY'' ETCHISON
Susan W. Brooks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Tony Etchison, an Indiana basketball legend, accomplished farmer, and loving family man. Born on April 14, 1972, in Tipton, Indiana, Tony was a life-long Hoosier. He dedicated much of his life to athletics and giving back to the youth teams in Indiana's Fifth Congressional District. While we mourn Tony's unexpected death, we are forever grateful for his endless victories and accomplishments, both on and off the basketball court. prgtoken Tony graduated from Noblesville High School in 1991 where he began his standout career in basketball. As a four-year letter winner and leader of three consecutive sectional championship teams for Noblesville, Tony was chosen as the County Player of the Year for two seasons and was named All-Hamilton County four times. His countless accomplishments in high school led to a scholarship opportunity at Mercer University in Georgia where he continued his athletic career as a star basketball player. prgtoken He led his team in the Trans American Conference in three-point shooting during his four-year collegiate career. Tony made Mercer University history by being the first player to earn Trans American All-Academic Team honors all four years he played. He completed his education and graduated in 1995, from Mercer's Stetson School of Business & Economics with a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration and Finance. After completing his education Tony returned home and began work for the family business, Etchison Farms. It was also during this time in Tony's life that he began a twenty-two year career as an agent for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, serving many families in the Fifth District. prgtoken As an adult, Tony's earlier athletic accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In 2009, he was inducted into the Hamilton County Basketball Hall of Fame. Later in 2016, he was inducted into the Noblesville High School Athletic Hall of Fame and honored by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame by being selected to be a teammate on their 2016 Silver Anniversary Team. In July of 2019, Tony was elected as a director of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to his basketball career, Tony loved to coach youth sports in the area. prgtoken Tony's proudest role in life was being a husband and father. Tony and his wife, Toby, were blessed with three sons: John Phillip or ``JP'', a freshman at Indiana University, Gus, a junior at Hamilton Heights High School, and Tillman, an 8th grader at Hamilton Heights Middle School. One of Tony's greatest joys in life was having the opportunity to share with his sons his love of all sports, and the joy of competition. prgtoken Tony died tragically on October 23, 2019, on the family farm in Arcadia, Indiana. Tony will be forever missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Indiana basketball community. On behalf of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF MR. JERRY KANE
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Jerry Kane, a giant in the Corpus Christi community, who passed away on September 24th, 2020. A prominent businessman, public servant, and family man, Jerry was well-known and well-loved in our part of Texas. His family emigrated here after World War II from Czechoslovakia, where his parents survived the Holocaust and fought for the freedom of their people. prgtoken Jerry spent many years in the family meat-packing business, and during his time as President and CEO, he moved the company forward through innovation and pioneering new technologies. He was also a tremendous public servant for both the city of Corpus Christi and the state of Texas, serving on the Regional Water Task Force, the Governors Committee for Disaster Recovery and Renewal, and the Texas Board of Human Services. prgtoken Most importantly, Jerry was a devoted family man. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren, and was known for being friendly, caring, and always helpful. I offer my condolences to his family and friends as they grieve the loss of a great man. He will be fondly remembered by all.
PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I thank the and the leadership for asking me, as the chairman of the House Congressional Prayer Caucus, to lead the House in prayer for our President. prgtoken I would ask the Members to join me. prgtoken Father, I thank You that You are a God that hears and answers prayers. And, God, You aren't partisan. And today, we have been shocked with the word that our President and First Lady, Melania, have tested positive with COVID. prgtoken You know and You care. God, I would pray that we would unite together at least in this today, as a country and as a body, to pray for our President, even as Your Scriptures instruct us to pray for those in authority. prgtoken We pray that You would spare them, that You would heal them, even as we pray for many, many, many others in our country and around the world who have been caught with this virus. But, in turn, I pray as well that You would tenderize our hearts, that You would unify our country, even with this being brought on today. prgtoken And I pray that our President would understand and take on the words of Psalm 16:1, words that meant much to George Washington, our first President, that said: Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. prgtoken God, may we take refuge in You, even as our President, and may You heal our land as You heal him. prgtoken It is in the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. prgtoken Amen.
IN RECOGNITION OF MR. CHARLES W. REEDER, JR.
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , it is with deep sadness but great respect that I take this time to remember Mr. Charles W. Reeder, Jr who passed away on September 7, 2020, at the age of 69. Mr. Reeder's love for his family and dedication to his community is noteworthy and admirable. While he will be truly missed by his family and friends, the impact he has had on his community will live on for generations to come. prgtoken Mr. Reeder received a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and he later completed a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Seminary and worked for Food for the Poor, raising funds for third world countries. During 40 years of ministry, he served churches in Ohio, Illinois, Washington, and Colorado. He also taught classes at several college venues as well as prisons. Teaching and preaching were his passions, and he excelled at both. He had a love for theology and physics, remodeling and good music. prgtoken His life was filled with compassion, and he lived to serve the needs of others. His greatest loves, however, were his wife, Pat, his two daughters, and his three precious grandsons. Therefore, Madam , I ask you to rise with me in honor of Mr. Charles Reeder, Jr. He will be profoundly missed, but his memory lives on in his family.
HONORING THE LIFE OF ADELINE FAGAN
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Adeline Fagan, who passed away on September 19, 2020, at the young age of 28, following a courageous battle with COVID-19. prgtoken Growing up in central New York, Dr. Fagan always knew she wanted to practice medicine, and she was always helping people. That was her passion. prgtoken She was a standout student at Bishop Ludden High School, my alma mater, and at St. Joseph's and the University of Buffalo. prgtoken She traveled to Haiti four times on missions to serve those who lived in areas where access to healthcare was limited. prgtoken Dr. Fagan later moved to Houston, Texas, to complete a residency as an OB/GYN doctor, working rotations in the emergency room where she was routinely exposed to COVID-19 patients. prgtoken Tragically, Dr. Fagan fell ill with COVID-19 and passed away last month. Members of our community have come together to remember her life and tremendous work as a daughter, sister, friend, and healthcare provider. And it is my honor to do so before this body now. prgtoken Madam , I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the life of Dr. Fagan, a true hero, and all those who continue their service among these challenges.
HONORING JONATHAN ``J.T.'' TENNANT
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to honor 20-year veteran harbor pilot Jonathan ``J.T.'' Tennant of Brunswick, Georgia, who played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of all crewmembers aboard the Golden Ray carrier when it shipwrecked over a year ago on September 8, 2019. prgtoken If you visit St. Simons Island in Georgia's First District, it's hard to miss the Golden Ray, which is a 656-foot-long car carrier that remains capsized on the St. Simons Sound. prgtoken As the investigation into the incident by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board continues, we've been able to gain valuable insight from crewmembers and others involved. prgtoken Although he had steered a city block-sized cargo ship from the Brunswick River to the St. Simons Sound several thousand times, nothing could have prepared J.T. for what happened the morning of September 8. The Golden Ray was sailing normally, but the rudder and the propeller came up out of the water to where J.T. had no operational control of the vessel and it started capsizing rapidly. prgtoken He endured flames melting the steel and smoke emanating airboxes the entire length of the ship. A testament to his extensive experience piloting more than 5,000 ships in and out of the Port of Brunswick, J.T. drove the Golden Ray as far up on the Sound as possible that day to ensure all 23 mariners aboard were saved and rescued. prgtoken When you see the giant cargo ship in the sound and realize there was no loss of life, it is nothing short of a miracle and a testament to the hard-working crew--including J.T. prgtoken Although it is an unfortunate situation, I am thankful for the courage and determination J.T. and the entire crew displayed that day.
CONDEMNING QANON AND REJECTING THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES IT PROMOTES
Denver Riggleman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-10-2

before I begin today, I extend my best wishes to President and Melania. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they battle COVID-19. prgtoken I also thank Tom Malinowski for the amazing discussions that we have had going forward on this resolution. He is an amazing person to work with, and I thank him--and everyone else--for their work. prgtoken , I do rise today at a pivotal moment in our Nation's history and a moment of reckoning for our national discourse. The vitriol and anger spewing from both sides of the political aisle, echoing across the darkest corners and caverns of the internet has led to violence and hate, divisiveness and anger. prgtoken It has all but extinguished the light of reasonable political discourse in this great country called by so many, a ``City on the Hill.'' But we cannot continue to be this beacon of hope that we have been for so long if we can't address the issues holding us back, the webs that have ensnared us and the mistrust that has invaded our politics. prgtoken The resolution before us today is not a panacea but it asks us a question about our purpose here in this august body: Will we stand up and condemn a dangerous, dehumanizing and convoluted conspiracy theory that the FBI has assessed with high confidence as very likely to motivate some domestic extremist, wholly or in part, to engage in criminal or violent activity? prgtoken When my friend and colleague, Representative Malinowski, and I introduced a resolution condemning the QAnon conspiracy theory, we knew that we could draw the ire of those that believe in fantastical theories. We were condemning something that is a danger to our political discourse. prgtoken QAnon believers have accused me of running a pedophilia ring for Israel, being a member of the Zionist Organizational Government, been called a traitor--accompanied by a picture of the gallows--and stated I was part of a target list. The grotesque nature of the tweets and Instagram posts, and the anti-Semitic tripe spewed by QAnon adherents should cause concern for everyone. Obviously, this is all ridiculous, much like their theory. prgtoken But the death threats Tom Malinowski received were a surprise and a shock. This type of behavior is easily condemned--condemned by all of us here in this Chamber today. Putting aside the bizarre views of QAnon adherents, I call on this body to condemn them because of their actions, actions that include threatening the life of my friend, Tom Malinowski. Plotting to plant a bomb in the Illinois Capitol rotunda to make Americans aware of the pizzagate conspiracy theory; the murder of a man in New York in 2019, and other such activities. prgtoken QAnon and the conspiracy theories it promotes are a danger and a threat that has no place in our country's politics. I condemn this movement and urge all my fellow Members to join me in taking this step to exclude them and other extreme conspiracy theories from the nation
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , on Friday, October 2, 2020, I was not recorded for roll call vote 217 and 218. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on the Adoption of H. Res. 1153, Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent and YEA on the Adoption of H. Res. 1154, Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theory it promotes. prgtoken I strongly condemn the performance of medical procedures without informed consent. If true, these heinous acts deserve swift and appropriate punishment. The allegations raised in this resolution, however, remain unconfirmed as investigations by the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security are still underway. I cannot support this resolution that assumes the facts are true prior to the outcome of complete investigations. Furthermore, as a man of faith, I am unapologetically pro-life and cannot support this resolution that implicitly supports abortion. We must always stand for life and protect the most vulnerable around us. prgtoken While I support H. Res. 1154, I am disheartened to see the Majority refuse to name similar leftwing groups, like Antifa, as a part of the problem. I fully denounce all such groups and their destruction of public and private property in our communities.
CONDEMNING QANON AND REJECTING THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES IT PROMOTES
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-10-2

the balance of my time. I will close as I began. prgtoken Extremist groups on the right and the left that advocate violence as a method of achieving political goals threaten the very foundations of our democracy, and I fully support this resolution in its denunciation of one such group called QAnon. prgtoken But the American people can see with their own eyes where the violence on our streets is coming from, and I deeply regret that the majority is not willing to call out by name such groups as antifa or to acknowledge that such evil forces even exist. We must speak out together against all such groups, and I am deeply troubled that, for some reason, we cannot. prgtoken We need to know who is funding these groups. We can already see with our own eyes who is encouraging them. prgtoken We can see with our own eyes whose mayors have deliberately withheld police protection from their citizens as these extremist-driven mobs run rampant in our communities. prgtoken We can see with our own eyes those politicians calling for defunding police departments that are the only means of defense that our citizens have. prgtoken We can see with our own eyes those prosecutors who have refused to hold accountable those who perpetrate violence in our communities and who instead prosecute citizens who are desperately trying to defend themselves. prgtoken So, I am pleased to support this resolution, but it is no substitute for a clear and unambiguous stand against all political extremism and violence that this House, for some reason, refuses to take. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING GARLAND JAMES' 99TH BIRTHDAY
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I am here today to recognize the 99th birthday of my constituent, Garland James, on October 3rd, who is turning 99 years young. An active member of the Arizona community, Garland is a veteran, loving husband and father, and business owner whose life is symbolic of the American dream promised to all. prgtoken A member of the greatest generation, Garland arrived in Europe in 1944 in our great struggle against fascism. Landing at Normandy and serving through France, Germany, and Central Europe, Garland was a light truck driver, retrieving young Americans who had fallen on the battlefield. prgtoken Returning from the war in 1945, Garland met his wife Mary while working as a truck driver across the Eastern part of the U.S. Their new family moved out West, and over the course of the following decades, Garland would find success in the tire industry, opening a series of stores in Arizona and California. In fact, his stores in Apache Junction and Tuba City still stand today, with the Apache Junction store remaining in the family, managed and owned by his son. prgtoken Madam , it is a great honor to represent Garland James, a true patriot and shining example of a good man, father, and citizen. I urge all my colleagues to join me in wishing Garland a very happy 99th birthday, to thank him for his service to this great nation, and to wish him well as we wait for this time next year to share in his 100th birthday celebration.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Markwayne Mullin (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I was not present the week of Sept 28.- Oct. 2, 2020 on account of supporting my son's continuing recovery. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 207; YEA on Roll Call No. 208; YEA on Roll Call No. 209; NAY on Roll Call No. 210; YEA on Roll Call No. 211; NAY on Roll Call No. 212; NAY on Roll Call No. 213; NAY on Roll Call No. 214; NAY on Roll Call No. 215; and NAY on Roll Call No. 216.
CONDEMNING QANON AND REJECTING THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES IT PROMOTES
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2020-10-2

I was not present for rollcall vote No. 217 on Agreeing to the Resolution (H. Res. 1153) condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' prgtoken , I was not present for rollcall vote No. 218 on Agreeing to the Resolution (H. Res. 1154) condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''