mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Joe Cunningham (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to expand and improve the defense access prgtoken roads program. This critical program allows the Defense Department to construct, replace, and maintain roads that lead to military installations. prgtoken My amendment will improve the program by allowing DOD to construct and maintain flood management infrastructure, such as culverts and storm drains, and to fortify the roads that are projected to be impacted by sea level rise. prgtoken This authority is critical to bases in the Lowcountry, such as Parris Island, which is increasingly vulnerable to projected flooding. prgtoken Additionally, this measure will expand the program to include roads to airports or seaports that are deemed necessary for our national security. prgtoken Given Charleston's indispensable role in supporting the rapid deployment of our servicemembers and their equipment, it is essential that our local infrastructure is maintained and reinforced. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam Chair, I just want to say that this amendment is a smart, thoughtful way to think about how we reduce military spending over the long term without sacrificing national security. prgtoken And, Madam Chair, I don't understand when patriotism got linked to how much money we give to defense contractors. That is not my idea of patriotism. prgtoken Patriotism, to me, and protecting the troops means that we make sure that we do not send them into harm's way unless absolutely necessary, which means that we look at the threats of the future, we assess our response to that, and we take care of our troops. This bill does that in many, many, many, many ways. prgtoken I have squabbles, as you know, with the top-line spending number because I don't believe that being patriotic means we just continue to raise the amount of money that we give. I think we need to be thoughtful and comprehensive about what our national security looks like internationally. prgtoken And, Madam Chair, I also think that national security should mean how we treat people here in this country. If we send troops overseas and yet we cut their healthcare, we take away preexisting conditions for their family members, we refuse to provide public education, that is not helping our troops while they are overseas to worry about their families. prgtoken So national security is a big picture conversation. It is not about how much money we give to defense contractors. prgtoken This amendment is thoughtful. It says what we know about the future. prgtoken If a private corporation lost track of hundreds of millions of dollars, its shareholders would find that completely unacceptable. The reality is that we need to make sure we are thoughtful, and we should pass this amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I rise today to oppose the motion to recommit. As a veteran and as an American, I urge all of you to put the political games aside, put our troops and our country first, and pass this defense bill. prgtoken For 58 years straight, this Congress has come together across party lines to pass a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. This critical piece of legislation ensures Congress has a say in the mission of our military, the policies of our Department of Defense, and the safety and security of our women and men in the field. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, and I thank the chairman, the ranking member, all the leaders, and all of my colleagues for their dedication to our military and to our national security. prgtoken As a U.S. Navy veteran who served for almost 10 years, I am proud to be part of the new class of veterans and national security professionals who prgtoken have worked on this bill in committee. We know what it is like to rely on Congress to execute our mission and to keep our country safe, so we must pass the National Defense Authorization Act in this House. We must make sure that the vitally important priorities included in this House bill make it to the President's desk, and we must show the country that our disagreements are nothing compared to our tradition of crossing party lines and supporting the National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken And don't take my word on the importance of this bill. Take it from a and a fellow Naval Academy graduate, who said: How do we explain to Americans who are risking their lives for us that we could not summon the courage to take some hard votes? How do we explain that we could not come together and work together when it mattered most? The fundamental purpose of this legislation, which has united Members from both sides of the aisle, is to provide our Armed Forces what they need to do the jobs we ask of them. prgtoken Madam , John McCain knew this must be an area of bipartisan support, and this MTR is an attempt to strip away that bipartisanship, to inject the broken politics of Washington into a bill that should be bigger than your political party. prgtoken The NDAA fully funds a 3.1 percent pay raise for U.S. military personnel, exactly what the President asked for. Madam , this is the largest pay increase since 2010, the last time the were in power. prgtoken My colleagues had almost 10 years and, more recently, 21 hours of markup and 28 hearings to discuss this very issue, but not one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle brought this issue up in committee. This last-second partisan motion undercuts the hard work of the House Armed Services Committee, which passed the largest pay raise for our troops in years. prgtoken Madam , .
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
David E. Price (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the en bloc amendment, which includes my bipartisan World Language Advancement and Readiness amendment cosponsored by Representatives Don Young, Gil Cisneros, Rick Larsen, Jimmy Panetta, Jim Langevin, and Seth Moulton. prgtoken Our amendment would direct the DoD to award three-year competitive grants to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and to local education agencies (LEAs) that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language programs in elementary and secondary schools. prgtoken The future national security and economic well-being of the United States will depend substantially on the ability of our citizens to read, speak, and understand the languages and cultures of other nations. prgtoken Unfortunately, multiple studies and GAO reports have found that ``by several measures, the United States has neglected languages in its educational curricula, its international strategies, and its domestic policies.'' The U.S. puts itself at a disadvantage in our inability to communicate with our international peers. prgtoken Research has shown that the ``critical window'' for language learning is from ages 10-18, making investment in our elementary and secondary schools a top priority. prgtoken DoDEA schools and school districts with J-ROTC programs are uniquely positioned to reach children who are likely to join the military or work for our intelligence communities. prgtoken Language comprehension is not just a luxury: it is vital to our economic interests, to our diplomacy, and to our national security. prgtoken I urge adoption of this critical amendment.
RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF MELVIN L. MARKS
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor the military service of World War II veteran Melvin L. Marks, a Santa Barbara city resident in my district, who turns 95 years old on July 10, 2019. prgtoken Mel Marks was born in Des Moines IA in 1924, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943. In his three years of service as an intelligence observer in the 124th Battalion, he participated in a number of notable campaigns, including the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Bulge. His service brought him to England, Holland, Belgium, and Germany, where he crossed the Rhine in March of 1945. prgtoken Mel Marks is a member of the Greatest Generation, as journalist Tom Brokaw calls it, meaning the men and women who fought not to seek fame or recognition, but simply because it was the right thing to do. prgtoken Of the more than 16 million who served in the United States Armed Forces during World prgtoken War II, fewer than 500,000 are still with us today, and we're losing about 350 of them every day. prgtoken After the war, Mel came to Chicago and married the former Mary , who herself just turned 89, and the two of them have raised three children, have five grandchildren spread across the country, and will be celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary this Fall. prgtoken Mel has had a distinguished career as a journalist, management and marketing consultant, and published author. One of his best-known books is ``Yesterday's Warriors,'' which recounts his experiences in the War and his band of brothers who remained friends for a lifetime. prgtoken It is with particular pride that we recognize the service and wonderful life of a veteran who is not just still with us, but alive and kicking.
INVESTING IN NATIONAL SECURITY
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken Just this week, I returned from a bipartisan congressional mission to the Middle East that underscored the importance of investing in our national security and, of course, in our men and women in uniform. prgtoken This year's bill is the most robust military authorization in the history of our country and includes a much-needed pay raise for our troops. prgtoken I was also proud to add support for the Rock Island Arsenal, which is in my district and has supported our men and women in the military going all the way back to the days of the Civil War. prgtoken My amendment would allow Army arsenals to approve leases for underused space and would require the Army to study how they can better market available space on military installations. prgtoken The House also approved my amendment to expand important leasing protections for Gold Star spouses and injured servicemembers. prgtoken Finally, I amended this bill to recognize cadet nurses as honorary veterans for their patriotic service in World War II. prgtoken That is why today I will proudly cast a ``yes'' vote for this National Defense Authorization Act.
NEVER FORGET THE HEROES: JAMES ZADROGA, RAY PFEIFER, AND LUIS ALVAREZ PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND ACT
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding. prgtoken Madam , this is what the American people are hungering for: and s working together to solve real problems in real people's lives. prgtoken The Victim Compensation Fund is so important to so many people, real suffering that is going on in real families after people have dedicated their lives trying to serve other people and are now paying the consequences for us. prgtoken Madam , I want to thank my colleagues. I want to thank Chairman Nadler, Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman King. I want to thank all the and all the s who cosponsored this bill, and those who will vote for it today. prgtoken I have so many friends, personal friends who volunteered days, months at the pile who are now suffering the consequences of having done that volunteer work on the pile. This is an important day for those families. prgtoken I want to thank the advocates that helped to focu our attention. I want to thank everyone who worked together to solve a very real problem in real people's lives. prgtoken This is what the United States Congress needs to be doing, and I am so happy to be a part of it.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam Chair, I rise to support the amendment offered by Mr. Malinowski. I'm horrified that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen-- the worst such crisis in the world, according to the United Nations-- has gone on this long. prgtoken The crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Since 2015, the Saudi-led coalition has undertaken 18,000 airstrikes, and far too many of these have killed innocent civilians. In fact, more Yemeni civilians are killed or wounded in their own homes than anywhere else. prgtoken That is why I am co-sponsoring this amendment, to prohibit the sale of all air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for one year. It is our obligation to make sure the United States is not enabling civilian deaths. prgtoken I thank the gentleman for his leadership in offering this amendment.
IN HONOR OF MR. HENRY ROSS PEROT
Lance Gooden (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I rise today in remembrance of a great Texan, Mr. Henry Ross Perot. Born and raised in Texarkana, he was a lifelong advocate for improving the education of our nation's children, having provided initial funding for Teach for America. Always the innovator, Mr. Perot attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he helped to establish its honor system, which to this day encourages its midshipmen to conduct themselves with honor and integrity. prgtoken After serving honorably in the Navy, he became a salesman for IBM where he quickly distinguished himself among its ranks. This inspired him to start what would become a business empire in Dallas. He was a pioneer in the field of electronic data management, winning a contract to digitize Medicare records in the 1960s. prgtoken Shortly after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, two of his employees were imprisoned by the government of Iran over a contract dispute. In true Texas fashion, he hired a former Army Special Forces Colonel to break them out of prison and, while some might leave such a dangerous mission to others, he insisted on taking part in the assault himself. Though he eventually agreed to sit out the mission, it was a great success and speaks directly to Mr. Perot's maverick nature and bias for action. prgtoken Mr. Perot was always a politically outspoken public figure and never backed down from his principled positions. Eventually, his concern for the future of our nation fueled his presidential candidacy in the election of 1992. His revolutionary, yet simple message allowed him to do what no third-party candidate had done before as he drew nearly one- fifth of the popular vote. prgtoken Mr. Perot left a lasting impression on the technology industry and political atmosphere, which is outweighed only by the fond memories he left with those who knew him. We will cherish those memories as we strive to continue his profound legacy.
ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR HOUSING
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-7-12

I rise today to highlight the administration's latest efforts to combat the skyrocketing housing costs in the United States. prgtoken There is likely no State in the country feeling the ill effects of unaffordable housing more so than my home State of California. That is why I applaud the President's recent executive order establishing a White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing. prgtoken Over the past 20 years, there have been countless regulations implemented in California that make building a home so expensive that many people can no longer afford to buy them or even rent. The cost of building a home is nearly six times higher per square foot than it was 30 years ago, due to uncompromising and often unnecessary environmental and safety regulations. prgtoken I am glad there will now finally be a council tasked with looking into the true reasons behind these costs instead of continuing to offer Federal subsidies to simply mask the problem. prgtoken In my home area of the First District, housing is a critical issue, with the loss of the town of Paradise and so many people displaced there and the housing that needs to be put in place back in Paradise or in surrounding communities to help these people. The mandates that are put upon them make it almost impossible to afford. prgtoken I look forward to working with HUD Secretary Ben Carson and this White House council to examine and, hopefully, alleviate the housing crisis in California.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Jim Banks (Republican, IN) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I was proud to serve my country in uniform in Afghanistan, and now I am proud to serve in this Congress. I am proud to serve in a new and different way on what has historically been the most bipartisan committee, the House Armed Services Committee. Truth be told, I had expected that this committee above all other committees would always work together in support of our national security. prgtoken After all, for over 50 years this committee and this Congress have risen above partisan politics and passed the National Defense Authorization Act. Sadly, today it appears that tradition might come to an end. prgtoken Madam , it doesn't have to be that way. This motion is an opportunity for my friends on both sides of the aisle to rise above petty partisan politics and do what the American people sent us here to do: to support our troops and defend our homeland. prgtoken This year the NDAA has unfortunately become the Nondefense Authorization Act and instead has been hijacked with a partisan political agenda, unlike the last couple of years when we all actually worked together to restore military readiness. prgtoken At a time when our enemies are challenging us on the world stage, we simply cannot put our troops at risk and jeopardize our national security, which is exactly what the underlying bill would do. prgtoken Let us show the American people the leadership they deserve. Let us give our troops the raise they have earned. Let us restore readiness and pass a worthy National Defense Authorization Act. prgtoken Madam , mark my words, this is the moment of truth for this Congress. This is the single most defining moment of this Congress so far. This motion is an opportunity to show the American people that we can rise above petty partisan politics. prgtoken Will my colleagues on the other side of the aisle really vote against a well-earned pay raise for our troops or for bolstering our readiness accounts? prgtoken Madam , our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen, and our marines deserve better. The American people deserve better.
NEVER FORGET THE HEROES: JAMES ZADROGA, RAY PFEIFER, AND LUIS ALVAREZ PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND ACT
Lee M. Zeldin (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-7-12

. Madam , I thank the ranking member for his cosponsorship and his leadership with this issue. prgtoken Madam , I rise today on behalf of our 9/11 victims, first responders, and their families, urging my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. prgtoken First responders who worked on the pile day and night, aiding in the search, rescue, and cleanup efforts, were breathing in toxic debris and ash that are now known to have caused over 50 different types of cancer. prgtoken In 2011, the Zadroga Act was signed into law to help them. Five years later, it was permanently reauthorized and included $4.6 billion for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, the very fund that we are here debating today. prgtoken In February, the special master of the fund reported that current funding ``may be insufficient to compensate all claims,'' reporting that they would have to cut claims by up to 70 percent. prgtoken As was noted, in the aftermath of 9/11, the EPA told New Yorkers and these first responders that the air at Ground Zero and the surrounding area prgtoken was safe to breathe. The Federal Government was wrong. prgtoken Madam , this was not a hurricane or a flood or a tornado. This was the largest terrorist attack ever on American soil. prgtoken As Jon Stewart testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee, these terrorists weren't saying ``death to Tribeca.'' This was an attack on all of us as Americans. We all should be voting ``yes'' today as Americans. prgtoken Yet, we are forcing sick first responders to come to Washington, D.C to beg for benefits that they earned and were promised. prgtoken Last month, Luis Alvarez was one of those first responders. After his appearance in D.C he rushed home for his 69th round of chemo. Unfortunately, he immediately ended up in hospice and passed away. prgtoken He shouldn't have had to come down here to fight on behalf of all of these other victims and first responders in the first place. prgtoken Month after month, year after year, going back to the first time the Zadroga Act was passed, how many first responders have made dozens of trips, educating, advocating, and passionately asking Members of Congress for their support? prgtoken Like so many other 9/11 first responders, this was not Lou's second or third time. Unfortunately, it was his last. prgtoken Lou Alvarez was an extraordinary man. What is truly extraordinary is that his spirit and grit represent that of each and every one of our 9/ 11 first responders. Think of all of those firefighters and others who rushed up to the towers when everyone else was running away. Think of those who ignored orders telling them to vacate the tower because they would not leave behind their captain. prgtoken The experience for us in the New York area is that when we meet someone when we are back home in our distri
HONORING H. ROSS PEROT
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-7-12

I rise to speak on the occasion of the passing of a great American hero, a gentle giant, a man who spoke his mind when he needed to and stood for what was right. Now I am convinced, knowing his faith, he is among the angels. prgtoken Ross Perot was a man who cared about Americans. He was a great American, and a great Texan with a heart as big as Texas. And the things that Ms. Granger said were absolutely the truth and a great story about Ross Perot. prgtoken But an untold story, because he pretty much kept it untold, is how many times Ross Perot would hear about and help a wounded soldier, or an unfortunate American wherever they may be, who had problems with healthcare, or problems with medical bills. prgtoken In my district, there was a wounded soldier who was totally incapacitated and had no way to get around except in a wheelchair, and Ross Perot, without any public acknowledgment, looking for no fame for his good, kind heart, provided for his needs. He would pay the hospital bills. prgtoken In the case of that young man, a young soldier in Round Rock, he provided him with a van which was wheelchair accessible without disclosing who gave the gift, other than: ``I want to make sure this young man can get around.'' prgtoken Those stories go on and on in every State in this Union. Mr. Perot was a man who cared about the American citizens and our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen, wherever they may be. If they were in need of his help, he was there for them. prgtoken So, today, we have lost an American hero, a great human being. He will be missed by many, and he will be missed by me. He left a legacy of a wonderful family who has the same kind of strong, productive heart that makes things happen in this world, and cares about America. prgtoken Many of us wonder if what we did in our life would really matter. Ross Perot didn't have to worry about that. Everything he did mattered, not only to our country, but to a lot of individuals who were in need. prgtoken We were blessed by the life of Ross Perot, and he will be missed.