mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , each year we come together to recognize May as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Month, in celebration of the critical participation of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in our national story. prgtoken Over the past year, the pandemic has highlighted the harsh disparities that too many in the AANHPI community face across several issues, including access to health care, education and more. Our nation has also seen an unprecedented rise in hate-driven violence against Asian Americans. As Congressman from Hawai'i, the state with the highest percentage of Asian Americans in our country, I stand in full solidarity with all in the AANHPI community in confronting, condemning and overcoming this desecration of that story. prgtoken My own mentor, U.S. Congressman and Senator Spark Matsunaga, understood that the way forward amongst all peoples was not through violence or discrimination, but through peace, education and understanding. He and his generation of Asian Americans in the World War II era prevailed through extreme hardship to live the belief that peace and equality are not just ideas and aspirations but achievable reality. prgtoken In my home state of Hawai'i, we have been blessed with so many AANHPI leaders whose actions continue to guide us. Senator Matsunaga's legacy lives on in the U.S. Institute of Peace, which he created through an act of Congress in 1984. Congresswoman Patsy Mink's Title IX legislation is the foundation of equal opportunity in our schools. The songs Queen Lili'uokalani wrote are beloved memorials to the perseverance of Hawaiian culture. This July, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the enactment of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole's Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which helped return the Native Hawaiian people to the land that holds such deep ancestral, cultural and spiritual significance. Through these leaders and their successors, we see that despite generations of hardship and trial, AANHPI communities are standing strong and have led the charge to make our country better. prgtoken To AANHPIs everywhere and especially the close to 80 percent of my own constituents whose heritage lies in Asia and the Pacific, I am truly honored to elevate your voices in the halls of Congress and understand that a single month of remembrance is not enough. There is far more to be done, as a community, as a state and as a nation. prgtoken This May, in our 29th year of observing AANHPI month, I urge all of my fellow Americans to listen to the lessons of our past so we may act in the present to pave the way for our future.
HONORING SHADAWN REDDICK-SMITH
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , I rise to thank and honor Shadawn Reddick- Smith for her years of distinguished service to the House Judiciary Committee and to the United States Congress. Through her strategic insight and tireless dedication to advancing the Committee's priorities, Shadawn played a vital role in ensuring the work of the House Judiciary Committee was accessible and tangible to the American people. prgtoken As we toiled together to reject then-President 's disgraceful efforts to undermine our democracy and erode key Judiciary priorities-- namely reforming our immigration system, preventing gun violence, and protecting access to the ballot box--I saw firsthand her passion and her skillful capacity to render our often-complex work understandable to the public. prgtoken When took control of the House in January of 2019, the eyes of the country were fixed upon the Judiciary Committee I now chaired. I was deeply grateful that Shadawn stayed on my staff as my communications director as we entered this unprecedented time in American history. Before us lay problems existential in nature and scope: a lawless President intent on destroying democratic norms, an executive branch stubbornly fixed on stonewalling accountability, and a structure of government thrown into disarray by the Administration's ineptitude and cruelty. prgtoken Despite the daunting task at hand, Shadawn's composure was unflagging and her capacity to maintain and nurture relations with members of the press--and the ic caucus--were invaluable. prgtoken It would be easy to recognize Shadawn first and foremost for her work on the Judiciary Committee's oversight efforts, which included two presidential impeachments during her tenure. And, to be sure, Shadawn handled these incredibly demanding environments with poise, marshalling stakeholders, communicating effectively with the media, and shaping the public narrative to ensure our message of accountability under the law was heard loudly and clearly by the American people. But to focus only on these high-profile events would be to omit Shadawn's commitment to all the work of the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Shadawn sacrificed much of herself, without complaint, to provide access to the press and ensure the public understood what was transpiring in the Halls of Congress. She would regularly wake early, arriving at the Rayburn House Office Building often before the sun rose to ensure that television cameras and reporters were met with unlocked doors. She was also a kind presence to the junior staffers and interns who perform much of the unsung work of the Committee, offering guidance on how to communicate effectively and how to navigate a career on Capitol Hill. And Shadawn expanded and transformed the Judiciary Committee's digital program, ensuring that the work of the Committee could meet Americans where they are today: online and on social media. Her legacy is a Judiciary Committee with a
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-5-28

. In a moment, the Senate will resume business. A few of our colleagues may continue their speeches. prgtoken The Senate spent 2 hard weeks working on this bill, and many months before that. We have every intention of sticking it out until the job is done, and that is what we are going to do. I look forward to passing this historic and extremely bipartisan bill later today. prgtoken .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-5-28

I am proud to recognize Elizabeth ``Izzy'' McKinney of Londonderry as May's Granite Stater of the Month. A nurse and mother of two young children, Lily and Bryant, Izzy is using poetry, illustrations, and her personal experiences to bring much # needed attention to neurodivergent conditions in children. prgtoken When her daughter, Lily, was a toddler, she would flap her arms when she got excited. Izzy and her husband thought nothing of it at first, since Izzy also used to flap her arms when she was a child. prgtoken It was not until Lily started kindergarten that Izzy and her husband realized that Lily's arm-flapping was unique. Flapping is a type of self-stimulatory behavior that is common in children with neurodivergence and can help them alleviate feelings of sensory overload. prgtoken For a school project that encouraged students to highlight what makes them special, Izzy encouraged her daughter to find things about her that stood out from her peers. prgtoken While thinking about her daughter's project, Izzy decided to write her own poem about her daughter's unique physical behavior to demonstrate to Lily that it is okay to be different from friends and classmates, that everyone has unique attributes. prgtoken Eventually, Izzy expanded the poem into a children's book called ``What Makes Me Special.'' All the proceeds for the book go toward the High Hopes Foundation of New Hampshire, a nonprofit that provides life- enhancing experiences for children with chronic conditions. prgtoken Later, after Izzy's second child, Bryant, was born, Izzy wrote another children's book, this time focused on her son's neurodivergence, dyspraxia. This book is titled ``My Buddy Bryant: A Story of Friendship and Dyspraxia'' and encourages children to embrace each other's differences. All the proceeds for this book go toward the Dyspraxia Foundation USA, which seeks to educate the public about dyspraxia and provide support and resources to families. Izzy also runs her own blog, flappingoodtale.com, about her experience parenting two children who are neurodivergent. prgtoken Izzy embodies the best of our State by destigmatizing neurdivergence and promoting acceptance and inclusion. Her books provide a fun avenue to help children and adults understand that including people who experience physical or behavioral differences or disabilities can strengthen our families, our committees, our State, and our country. I wish Izzy all the best as she continues this important work.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-5-28

I wanted to come to the floor and talk about one aspect of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act that we haven't had time to fully address out here on the floor, although we had some discussion during the amendment process, and that is that the underlying bill in S. 1260 also reauthorizes NASA and puts support in for the Artemis Program. prgtoken On October 5, 1957, our Nation's relationship with space changed forever with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1. With a rival power's satellite flying overhead, the geostrategic importance of outer space was undeniable, and within a year, the Nation had two new science agencies: the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. prgtoken That launch ignited the American competitive spirit and inspired the Nation to rapidly develop its space capabilities. prgtoken Only 12 years later, from that moment, an American was the first man to set foot on the Moon, and the race to the Moon set the stage for the vibrant, commercial space economy we have today. We like the fact that Seattle and the region is now called the ``Silicon Valley of Space.'' I know there are many aspects to our country where space is a key industry, whether that is in Florida, Alabama, Texas, or other Southern States we know, but in the innovation and in the next phases of innovation, a lot is happening in the nexus between software and space in the Pacific Northwest. prgtoken So we are here again for a great competition about the future of space. We must again make the strategic investments needed to win. Space is even more geostrategically important today than it was in 1957. There are more countries in the space race, and our competition is more advanced. New NASA Administrator, our former colleague, Senator Bill Nelson, testified before the House Appropriations Committee last week about China's advanced space missions. The United States landed the Perseverance rover on Mars earlier this year and, shortly after, China landed their own rover on Mars. prgtoken As Administrator Nelson told the committee, ``they're going to be landing humans on the Moon. That should tell us something about our need to get off our duff''--spoken like our colleague, as we knew him, blunt and to the point. prgtoken I personally believe in the power of competition to spur innovation and to push our Nation to get more serious about making investments in space that will also catalyze economic growth. I do believe we should rise to the occasion. prgtoken That is why we are trying to be very specific in an innovation and competition bill about what it is going to take to fund the Artemis Program. That means recommitting to the ambitious human space exploration goals like returning Americans to the Moon and sending our astronauts to Mars in partnership with commercial and international partners. These are the candidates here for tha
GWEN EFRRMEYER (INGLIS)
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Gwen Efrrmeyer (Inglis) of Colorado who was tragically killed while riding her bike on May 16, 2021. prgtoken Gwen was born on October 12, 1974. In high school, she was very active in sports and went on to play basketball and was an All-American high jumper at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There she also received her degree in accounting. Gwen worked as Manager of Government Account Compliance at Brown and Caldwell for 14 years. prgtoken In 2004, she discovered her love of cycling and began racing. This love of bikes led her to meet her husband, Mike. They were married in 2008. Gwen held numerous national and state champion titles. prgtoken Gwen was a devoted wife and loving aunt and sister. She will be remembered for her contribution and impact on the local cycling community and as a great Coloradan.
HONORING THE CAREER OF MIKE DANVERS
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , I am proud to honor the career of Wadena broadcast legend, Mike Danvers, who is retiring after forty years in the radio industry. His last show was today, May 28, 2021. prgtoken Mike moved to Wadena, Minnesota in the Fall of 1984 and has been with KWAD-AM, KNSP-AM and the Superstation K106 ever since. Most recently, Mike was the morning show host for the Superstation and grew a strong base of listeners and fans along the way. He is beloved in Wadena and the surrounding communities that make up the Superstation K106 listening area. prgtoken However, he is not just known as the man on the morning radio. Mike is especially passionate about high school wrestling and coached wrestling in the Wadena area for 22 years. He has broadcasted live from 23 Minnesota State High School League Wrestling Tournaments and called play-by-play for hundreds of high schools sporting events. prgtoken Mike has been a friend and mentor to dozens of young broadcasters, and his legacy will continue through the lives of everyone he has touched throughout his time in the Wadena community. prgtoken Mike is the epitome of a true broadcaster. While we will miss him on the airwaves every morning, we wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.
HONORING GOVERNOR CARLOS ROMERO-BARCELO
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , I rise concerning the passing of my long- time friend and a great leader, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, former governor of Puerto Rico. Carlos passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 88. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted during his tenure. prgtoken Carlos Romero-Barcelo was a timeless crusader for Puerto Rico. Throughout his life, he led the fight for equal recognition of Puerto Ricans, and I was especially proud to work with him while he served as the Resident Commissioner for the island in Congress. prgtoken Carlos lived a life of public service for Puerto Rico. He served as Mayor of San Juan and then as Governor before being elected to be Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in 1992. He dedicated his life to achieve equal rights for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. I was truly honored to know him and call him a friend. prgtoken I was proud to serve with him on the House Natural Resources Committee. There we worked together advocating for Puerto Rico, and I was proud to support his efforts to achieve equality for the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico. His tireless work deepened Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and I was proud to stand by him as a leader of the island. prgtoken We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family--his wife Kathleen, and his children Carlos, Andres, Juan Carlos, and Melinda-- and our friends, the people of Puerto Rico.
ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-5-28

I have significant concerns with this legislation. I have made no ambiguity about that. I have been very clear from the outset that this bill concerns me, in part because it involves an attempt by the United States of America to compete with China but on terms that don't favor us, on a playing field that isn't prgtoken ours, and in areas that play to our weaknesses, not our strengths. We ought to be playing to our strengths and not our weaknesses. Unfortunately, this bill does not get it right. prgtoken But separate and apart from my concerns regarding the merits of this legislation, which we will get back to in a moment, I want to talk for a moment about the procedural concerns that I have had. There have been a number of people in the Senate arguing over the last few hours--some in the Senate Chamber, some in the media--that we have had a very thorough floor process; that this has been regular order at its best. prgtoken I appreciate the fact that we have had 2 weeks of floor consideration time; 2 weeks, that is, on Senate time, which is just not 2 actual weeks. It is not 2 calendar weeks, not even 2 business weeks. It is a shorter subset of that. But never mind, it is a good thing that we at least had 2 weeks set aside to do this on the Senate floor. So that is a good thing. prgtoken It is not sufficient, however, to suggest that because we have had hundreds of amendments filed and because we have had a number of votes on amendments and because a few weeks have elapsed since this bill came out of committee, that that somehow means it is regular order and regular order of a sort that we ought to try to replicate. prgtoken You have to remember that regular order needs to be evaluated. It needs to be measured against several things. In other words, a simple resolution designating National Sofa Care Month probably need not receive a lot of floor time or a lot of opportunities for amendments, but the more substantive and the more costly, economically or otherwise, a particular bill might be, the more demanding regular order ought to be. prgtoken Regular order is not satisfied, particularly in a bill like this one that is likely to cost $200 billion or more and that is 2,000-plus pages long and that deals with some very significant geopolitical and economic issues--it is not something that you can really call regular order, when you are addressing a bill like that, when you are constantly making changes to it. prgtoken We talked last night about the fact that this legislation started out in committee a few weeks ago. It started out in committee where, I believe, it was somewhere in the range of 150 to 200 pages. It came out of committee, and it was longer than that; it was a few hundred pages. Then, over time, it has gotten bigger. It grew to 14- or 1,500 pages. By yesterday afternoon, it had grown an additional 900 pages, and then by 10:59 p.m. last night, it grew by a few hundred more pages. It is
CLOTURE MOTION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-5-28

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Braun), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds), the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Shelby), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Shelby) would have voted ``nay.''
IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF COLONEL RANDY SOUTHARD
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , l rise today to honor Colonel Randy Southard. Serving in both the Reserves and Active Duty in the Army, and as a patrol deputy for the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office, Colonel Southard is an asset to his community and to his Nation. prgtoken During his nearly 30 years of military service, Colonel Southard took on several leadership positions as an infantry officer and commander. He served as the primary staff officer of five large Army Reserve units, Deputy Brigade Commander and Exercise Branch Chief for 1st Brigade, Great Lakes Training Division, 75th Training Command, and Chief Observer Controller Trainer for 15 Battalion and higher echelon units. During Colonel Southard's service he completed tours overseas in Kabul, Afghanistan as Deputy Chief, Afghanistan National Army Development, providing crucial support to the United Nations Security Council's International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. prgtoken Amidst his deployments and hard work in the Army, he continued serving Northeast Wisconsin as a patrol deputy in the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office. Beginning his career with the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office on June 7, 1999 Colonel Southard has served as a Field Training Officer, as a member of the Emergency Response SWAT team, and as a K9 handler. Colonel Southard has clearly demonstrated his commitment to serving for the public good and making the world around him a safer place during his 22 year career. prgtoken I am incredibly thankful for his dedication and continued service with the Sheriff's Office. prgtoken Madam , I urge all Members of this body to join me in applauding Colonel Southard for his impressive career and service in the United States Army
HONORING AZERBAIJAN ON ITS 103RD REPUBLIC DAY
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2021-5-28

. Madam , as Co-Chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I rise today to recognize Azerbaijan on the occasion of its 103rd Republic Day. prgtoken Azerbaijan has a proud history as an independent country, beginning in 1918. With its independence, Azerbaijan became the very first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim world. Azerbaijan was also among the first states to grant women the right to vote. Azerbaijan's commitment to these values shows the world that they are truly universal, and that self-government and the respect for individual rights is not inimical to Islamic traditions. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's independence was soon snuffed out by the totalitarian USSR, which sought to spread values much different to those espoused by the fledgling Azerbaijan ic Republic. prgtoken After the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained its independence. 2021 is particularly notable in this regard as it marks the thirtieth anniversary of this event. prgtoken Today, Azerbaijan remains a close partner to the United States and our allies. Throughout the United States' and NATO's long deployment to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan has been integral in ensuring stable lines of communication to the country and has partnered with us in the wider war on terror. Additionally, I find it significant and praiseworthy that as a Muslim country, Azerbaijan maintains strong relations with the Jewish community and with our ally Israel, and has done so for some time. Finally, Azerbaijan is a key energy provider for Europe, helping our allies there diversify their energy supply away from Vladimir Putin's Russia. And Azerbaijan's importance as an energy provider will only grow as a result of the opening of the Southern Gas Corridor last December. prgtoken Keeping in mind our relationship with Azerbaijan and its commitment to this partnership, I would encourage my colleagues to join me today in honoring Azerbaijan on its Republic Day.