mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2019-4-18

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the Labor- Management Council (LMC) of Greater Kansas City's fortieth year serving the Greater Kansas City Area. Since the LMC was founded in 1979, they have grown to include membership from eighty organizations, including corporations, unions, governments, and nonprofits within the local area. prgtoken In 1979, members of the Kansas City business community who all cared deeply about the labor and management process came together to form the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City. During the ensuing years, Bob Jacobi Jr. provided steadfast and enthusiastic service as Executive Director of the LMC through his leadership and his passion for public service. It has been my honor and pleasure to partner with the LMC on various occasions as they sought to create an open and equal collaboration between local government and organizations of all sizes in our city. prgtoken As a trailblazer in the Greater Kansas City area since their founding, the Labor-Management Council (LMC) has focused on providing the tools for employees to successfully negotiate with their employers for better benefits. The LMC developed the statuary framework of collective bargaining where employees could advocate for things like better healthcare and reduction of employment uncertainty. The LMC supported legislative proposals to provide relief via safety net hospitals for workers and Medicaid coverage for the newly unemployed and the uninsured. They continue to advocate for a system where every citizen can have their voice heard, and inclusion in the workplace becomes a reality. As a friend and collaborator with the LMC, I am inspired by the work they accomplished in the forty years since their genesis. My collaboration with the LMC has been one of the more rewarding aspects of my career, and I am honored to have served alongside this remarkable organization. prgtoken Throughout the years, the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City has operated upon the pillars of their values and their dedication to a larger social responsibility. Refining the concept of collective bargaining, they used this tool of broad consensus to fight for equity and inclusivity in the larger economic and social issues present within our community. Together with their numerous partner organizations, the LMC provides a forum for community leaders and employees to work together on civic and economic issues. Examples of their noteworthy contributions to the community include their active support for accessible healthcare coverage, better public infrastructure, and broader citywide public transportation. prgtoken Madam , please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City for their achievement of forty years of service in the community and their indelible mark on our society. I urge all my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me
HONORING THE LEGACY OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS IN NEWARK
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-4-18

. Madam , Frederick Douglass was born into slavery but laid to rest in power. His legacy touched countless lives in countless communities across this country, including Newark, New Jersey. prgtoken Throughout Newark's history, its residents fought for the abolition of slavery and suffrage for Black people. People like the King family, whose house in Newark was part of the Underground Railroad, and people like Thomas Thompson, a black stagecoach driver who helped move people to freedom, were undeterred in the fight for Black freedom. It was leaders like them who arranged, in April of 1849, for Frederick Douglass to visit Newark and speak about Black freedom, justice, and empowerment. prgtoken Frederick Douglass' speech at the First African Presbyterian Church on Plane Street was an historic moment in the city's long history of Black self-realization, a history Newark is still writing. Plane Street, now University Avenue, is the heart of Rutgers University-- Newark. It is a fitting tribute that Rutgers--Newark renamed its field on University Avenue the Frederick Douglass Field. prgtoken Rutgers--Newark has, for generations, helped empower students from Newark to seek justice and freedom through education. I am proud to represent Rutgers--Newark in Congress and commend them for recognizing Frederick Douglass' legacy in our city.
TRIBUTE TO BOY SCOUT TROOP 501
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor Boy Scout Troop 501 of La Canada Flintridge upon its 100th anniversary. prgtoken Established on June 4, 1919, and the first troop charted in La Canada, Boy Scout Troop 501 has fostered thousands of future leaders, with 56 members currently registered. Each scout works independently toward rank advancement and can earn up to 135 merit badges as he completes opportunities in growth, leadership, and education. Since its inception, Troop 501 has received generous sponsorship from La Canada Congregational Church, the troop's sole sponsor. prgtoken Through its heritage, dedicated parental support, and sustainable troop size, Troop 501 has been able to continuously offer a myriad of outings and events, such as Winter Survival, where scouts build a shelter out of snow, and the ever-popular rock-climbing trip in Joshua National Park that includes a Dutch oven cook-off. Scouts learn about and participate in activities like hiking, kayaking, and camping, as well as develop leadership skills by serving as Patrol Leaders, Scribes, and Quartermasters. prgtoken To further the troop's community engagement, scouts have also accumulated service hours by helping various members of the community on an array of projects throughout the years. These projects include trail clearing in the Angeles National Forest, fence restoration at Mount Wilson, rebuilding stairways at La Canada Congregational Church, and various service projects for La Canada Flintridge schools. By partaking in these and a myriad of other scout projects, and with the troop's dedication to fostering scouts' leadership skills, prgtoken Troop 501 has produced many Eagle Scouts over the last century. prgtoken For one hundred years, Boy Scout Troop 501 has been instilling the ever-important values of good conduct, respect for others, and teamwork in all members of the troop. Those who are fortunate enough to be a part of Troop 501 can attest that this incredible organization builds lifelong friendships, fosters an appreciation of the natural world, and provides quality leadership skills. prgtoken It is my pleasure to honor Boy Scout Troop 501 for one hundred years of dedication to community engagement, service, and leadership. I ask all members to join me in commending their efforts.
HONORING MARILEE K. SCAFF
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Marilee K. Scaff, who passed away on March 8th, 2019 at the age of 103. Ms. Scaff was an active member of the Claremont community for nearly 70 years and her passion for public service, education, and the outdoors will leave a positive impact for years to come. prgtoken Marilee Scaff was born in San Marcos, Texas, on November 27th, 1915. As her father worked on the Southern Pacific Railroad, her family lived in several communities across the southwest, instilling in her an early love of nature. She eventually settled in Austin for college on a Girl Scouts scholarship, setting her sights on a sociology degree, and later graduate degrees in American history and educational psychology. Dr. Scaff's passion for learning and education would play an ongoing role in her life, as she taught at El Roble Intermediate School in my district, held faculty positions at the University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, acted as First Chair of the Clinebell Counseling Center at Claremont School of Theology, and served twice on the Claremont Board of Education. Dr. Scaff also travelled broadly, serving as a missionary in the Philippines with her husband, Alvin, beginning in 1940. She returned to teach there 40 years later, after living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for several years in the interim. prgtoken The Scaffs lived in Claremont periodically beginning in the 1960s. Ms. Scaff was an active member of the Claremont United Church of Christ, where she established the nursery school, the Claremont and Los Angeles Leagues of Women Voters, and a founding member of the United Nations Association. She was closely involved with the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden through the end of her life, where she gave tours and taught school children about local wildlife. It was this same enthusiasm that she brought to community efforts to save the Thompson Creek Spreading Grounds in Claremont, as well as other sustainability measures, making her the city's resident expert on water issues. When a ballot measure to allow Claremont to acquire their own water system was placed on the ballot in 2014, Dr. Scaff, who was 99 years old at the time, was chosen to lead the campaign effort, bringing that measure to victory by a 71 percent margin. prgtoken Marilee Scaff was an integral member of the Claremont community for more than half a century, and because of tireless dedication to service and working towards a better community for all of us, I was honored to recognize her as our 2015 Woman of Distinction for the City of Claremont. She will be missed by her three children, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and the entire community she loved so dearly, but her legacy will be felt for years to come.
HONORING AMARA MARTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS DENVER
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-4-22

. Madam , it is with great honor I recognize the accomplishments of Amara Martin, whom The Chamber of Northwest Douglas County is honoring as a ``Woman Who Soars.'' prgtoken Ms. Martin is the Executive Director of Dress for Success Denver, an organization that aims to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to thrive in work and in life. Poverty often affects women the most, and its effects on them and their families can be long-lasting. One hundred percent of Dress for Success clients lived under the poverty level before coming to them. prgtoken Under Ms. Martin's guidance, Dress for Success has grown beyond addressing women's needs and recognizing the significant role women play in economic development. They not only improve the quality of life for not only that woman, but also her family, future generations, and her community. prgtoken In 2017, 85 percent of the graduates of their Going Places Network program secured employment. Their other programs provide employed clients with support, information, and inspiration to move forward with their career development, and over 600 women utilized the Career Center program that offers one-on-one meetings with executive coaches. prgtoken Both a leader and an asset to her organization and to the community, she truly is deserving of such an honor. I congratulate Ms. Martin for receiving the recognition as a ``Woman Who Soars.''
REINTRODUCTION OF 21ST CENTURY CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS ACT OF 2019
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , in honor of the recent celebration of Arbor Day, I rise to reintroduce my bill, the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act of 2019. prgtoken In drafting this bill, I was inspired by the original Civilian Conservation Corps, first established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 as part of his New Deal. This effort put 3 million young people between the ages of 18 to 28 to work. They planted 3.5 billion trees, established more than 800 new parks, improved or constructed over 90,000 acres of campgrounds; blazed hiking trails, assembled bridges, built rustic cabins and hiking shelters, and mitigated the devastating impact of the Dust Bowl across the Great Plains. prgtoken America is facing significant environmental crisis from deforestation, soil, air, and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, waste disposal, climate change, and a depleted ozone. Luckily, Americans are once again connecting the dots between clean water, clean land, clean air, and thriving regional ecosystems and economies. prgtoken With recent attacks on programs that help our environment, we must remember we don't have to choose between protecting our environment and natural treasures and creating jobs. We can do both at the same time. prgtoken Just Ohio and Michigan, alone, need 20 million new trees planted to make up for the devastation that the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle have done to our forest populations. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill and its goal of putting Americans to work across our country. Its efforts will once again revive America's natural landscape and enrich the lives of millions of enrollees in the stewardship of our natural resources forward.
HONORING KEVIN BARR
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today with my colleague Congressman Jared Huffman to recognize Kevin Barr as the recipient of the 2019 Viticulture Award of Excellence. This award recognizes grape growers who have made significant contributions to our Sonoma County wine community and Sonoma County overall. prgtoken Mr. Barr attended the University of California, Davis where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Management with a specialization in Viticulture and has since been committed to sustainability and conservation. Mr. Barr started his company, Redwood Empire Vineyard Management (REVM), in 1983, which sustainably develops farms and other properties. Mr. Barr is committed to sustainable farming and conservation. REVM was the first vineyard management company to be certified sustainable in California and has 22 clients that have been certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. prgtoken Mr. Barr has been an active and involved community member since he first moved to Sonoma County in 1979. He is a current board member and past chairman of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission Board. His expertise played no small role in the Commission certifying 100 percent of Sonoma County's vineyards as sustainable by 2019. Mr. Barr is also the current chairman of the Santa Rosa Junior College Viticulture Advisory Board and the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation Board. prgtoken The 2019 Viticulture Award of Excellence is not the first time Mr. Barr has been recognized for his contributions and commitment to our community. He received the Leadership in Agriculture Award from the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce in 2015, the Award of Excellence for Sustainability in Farming in 2016, and the Nick Frey Community Contribution Award in 2018. Despite his well-deserved accolades, Mr. Barr has remained humble and dedicated to sustainable farming and our community. prgtoken Madam , Kevin Barr is a generous person who works hard to keep our land beautiful for generations to come and is committed to our community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.
RECOGNIZING BARBARA MARKLEY RECIPIENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF BROWARD COUNTY'S 2019 EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor my constituent, Barbara Markley, and congratulate her on receiving the League of Women Voters of Broward County's 2019 Excellence in Leadership Award. Barbara is well-deserving of this recognition for her efforts to reduce firearm deaths throughout Broward County, Florida. prgtoken Barbara Markley is a practicing attorney and gun safety advocate. She is the Co-Chair of the Gun Safety Committee for the League of Women Voters of Broward. Her innovative Lock it Up! Gun Safety Program, created in partnership with the Miami VA, has distributed 23,000 educational brochures and 11,200 gun locks in Broward in just 6 months with the help of 180 community partners. Her goal is to educate everyone about the dangers of unlocked guns and to save lives. prgtoken With our unacceptably high rates of gun thefts and teen and veteran suicides, there is no doubt that Barbara's efforts have already achieved that goal. While it has already seen great success in Broward, Lock It Up! has tremendous potential to save countless more lives as it grows across Florida and beyond. prgtoken I am pleased to honor Barbara, and I thank her for her service to our community.
REMARKS ON H.R. 1957, THE TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019
Katie Porter (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , while there are many beneficial provisions in H.R. 1957, Section 1102 should be stripped from the legislation. This section would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from ever establishing a free file system for taxpayers by codifying an existing contract between the IRS and private taxpayer preparation software companies (e.g. TurboTax, H&R Block, Intuit). prgtoken The National Consumer Law Center has previously written an opposition letter on this provision in the bill. Such a free filing system could save American taxpayers billions of dollars per year otherwise spent on taxpayer preparation services. prgtoken While individuals earning less than $66,000 are currently eligible for free federal filing via private software companies due to the contract with the IRS, only 3 percent of such individuals take advantage of free filing, and millions more households outside the very modest income limit could benefit from an IRS-built system. prgtoken An IRS free file system could also have the benefit of ending a current, predatory practice: low-income taxpayers are upsold by taxpayer preparation services into costly add-on products like refund anticipation loans, which are essentially payday loans backed by future tax refunds. prgtoken Finally, even if the IRS does not have the capacity to build their own free file system, H.R. 1957 would preclude renegotiation of the current contract with private software developers in order to get better terms for taxpayers in a future, ically-controlled IRS.
COMMEMORATING THE 104TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. April 24, 1915 marked the beginning of the Ottoman Turks' systematic deportation and murder of over 1.5 million Christian Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians, marking the first genocide of the 20th century. prgtoken To this day, however, neither the President of the United States nor Congress have recognized this tragedy as what it is: a genocide. This does not do justice to the vibrant Armenian-American community in the Central Valley--a result of survivors settling anew after being displaced. The families of the Central Valley have not forgotten the pain of their ancestors and continue to advocate for justice with passion and persistence. Today, I am proud to be their voice and have joined my colleagues in introducing a Resolution this Congress, recognizing and memorializing the Armenian Genocide. prgtoken The Armenian people are a great example of what it means to move forward while remembering who they are and where they come from. Recognizing what happened in 1915 as genocide is the first step towards reconciling with the past, something that is long overdue. We must reconsider our relationship with Turkey and entities that deny the Armenian genocide and uphold our American values by promoting justice and peace. It is our responsibility to ensure our future generations never forget this critical moment in history and that we continue pushing for its official recognition. prgtoken Madam , I call upon my colleagues to join me in condemning all crimes against humanity in the past, present, and future. We must learn from this atrocity and continue to advocate for the protection of human rights for the Armenian people, and for all.
HONORING THE SCIENCE ACADEMY OF SOUTH TEXAS
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Miles Cua, Satya Holla, Mohammad Khalil, Kunaal Jha, Chris Conway, and Coach Scott Wiley from the Science Academy of South Texas. These fine young men and women are competing in the 2019 National Science Bowl Finals in Washington, D.C. Sunday, April 28, 2019. prgtoken Created by the Department of Energy's Office of Science in 1991, the National Science Bowl is one of the largest and most prestigious academic competitions in the United States. Over the course of the National Science Bowl's history, more than 290,000 students have participated. Each year, this competition encourages thousands of students to expand their understanding of mathematics and science and pursue careers in such fields. prgtoken Our Science Academy of South Texas team have put in the grit, sweat equity, and hard work to get here, and I wish them all the best as they face some of the best high school teams in the nation. I am confident that they will continue on to pursue even greater feats and that this competition will teach them a great deal about themselves and their abilities to persevere regardless of the obstacles ahead. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to represent these students and their families in the United States Congress, and I know all my colleagues in the House will join me in congratulating the Science Academy of South Texas on competing in this year's National Science Bowl Finals.
CONGRATULATING DAVID MINGUS ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM MAYOR OF EAST PEORIA
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-4-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize David Mingus for his retirement from the position of mayor in East Peoria, Illinois. Mayor Mingus has served as the mayor of East Peoria for 12 years. prgtoken Mayor Mingus' retirement from this position brings to an end a long chapter in his outstanding career in public service. As a certified counselor and social worker, Mayor Mingus has used his knowledge and expertise to better the East Peoria community. In addition to serving as the city's mayor, Mayor Mingus spent three terms on the City Council and served on the local School Board. Serving his community has always been a passion of Mayor Mingus' ever since he earned a master's degree in counseling and human development, and went on to begin a career in the mental health field. He served as director of Neighborhood House in Peoria, as well as CEO of the Tazwood Mental Health Board. I commend Mayor Mingus for all of his efforts to better the community of East Peoria and wish him well as he takes on new professional opportunities in his career. prgtoken It is because of dedicated leaders such as David Mingus that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would like to again formally congratulate David Mingus on his retirement as mayor and thank him for his service to the community.