mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN VICTIMS OF TERRORISM
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-1-28

this past December, H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, was enacted into law as Public Law 116-94. I want to take a moment to offer some clarity regarding section 903 of division J of the Act, which is a modified version of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019. prgtoken I commend the and ic Senators who have dedicated their time to pursuing justice for American victims of terrorism. We all want these victims to have their day in court and to be appropriately compensated. It is also important that we do so in a manner that does not do more harm than good. That is the balance that was sought in section 903 on a bipartisan basis. prgtoken One component of section 903 is a provision that enables the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, PA and PLO, to conduct certain activities in the United States ``exclusively for the purpose of conducting official business'' and activities ``ancillary'' to those listed in the provision without consenting to personal jurisdiction in civil cases. The provision was included because Senators of both parties understand that it is in our national interest to permit certain activities related to the official representation of the PA and PLO. Having been part of the negotiation that resulted in this language, I believe it is important that we have a clear understanding of the types of activities that are considered ``ancillary'' to the conduct of official business. prgtoken While the official business of any foreign mission necessarily includes meetings with Members of Congress and their staff, representatives of the executive branch, and other public officials, ancillary activities are those which may not be essential for the minimal functioning of the mission but which support the mission's primary operations. By way of example, I am confident that every Member of this body would, as I do, consider a public statement, the issuance of a press release, or a meeting or public appearance--while not essential--to be ancillary to his or her primary functions as a U.S. Senator and would reject any attempt to define such activities otherwise. prgtoken That is also why, with regard to the PA and PLO, while we may or may not agree with the statements of its representatives, the law contemplates that its representatives may meet with advocates regarding relevant issues, make public statements, and otherwise engage in public advocacy and civil society activities that are ancillary to the conduct of official business without consenting to personal jurisdiction. Such jurisdiction is provided for elsewhere in section 903. prgtoken The message in this bill is clear: Congress is committed to pursuing justice for American victims of terrorism while ensuring appropriate standards regarding the ability of foreign missions to conduct official business in the United States. This i
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-28

. Madam , as a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Homeland Security, I rise in strong support of S. 153, the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act.'' prgtoken It is with the great sacrifice of the men and women, who have served in our armed forces and protected our freedom in mind that I urge members on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor this bill. prgtoken We often hear about the many difficulties veterans face while attempting to transition back to civilian life. prgtoken From physical and mental trauma to unemployment to the struggles associated with refamiliarizing themselves with civilian life, veterans face many obstacles in life after service. prgtoken With respect to employment, nearly one-third of veteran job seekers are underemployed, which is 15.6 percent higher than non-veteran job seekers. prgtoken In addition, the Texas Workforce Investment Council reported that in 2017, 35,734 veterans remained unemployed. prgtoken In 2019, LinkedIn published its Veteran's Opportunity Report, which stated that veterans who had degrees as well as four or more years of experience were less likely to land the job than less-experienced civilians who applied for the same role. prgtoken I am voting in favor of S. 153 because it seeks to address that barrier by encouraging veterans to study and pursue rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering, and math as well as by creating an interagency working group. prgtoken This group is tasked with coordinating federal programs for transitioning and training veterans for STEM careers. prgtoken By facilitating this process, veterans will be able to have a meaningful career that utilizes their skillsets and secures their livelihood. prgtoken In addition, S. 153 will result in filling thousands of open positions and contribute to growing our economy. prgtoken Today, STEM careers are growing at an unprecedented rate. prgtoken Texas is home to more than three-quarters of a million great STEM jobs. prgtoken In fact, Texas is expected to represent nearly 10 percent of future STEM opportunities in the nation. prgtoken According to a study by Syracuse University in 2018, Texas possesses the largest percentages of veterans working in the STEM workforce. prgtoken At the state-level, 9 percent of veterans work in STEM. prgtoken Yet, the report states that 18.66 percent of veterans in Houston are employed in STEM. prgtoken Throughout my tenure In Congress, I have strongly supported veterans. prgtoken With that in mind, I authored and introduced the ``Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity for Veterans Transitioning from Battlespace to Workplace Act'', or the HEROES Act, in previous congresses. prgtoken Through my advocacy work with veterans, I have come to understand that one of the greatest barriers to entry for veterans seeking employment is that civilian employers do not adequately understand how the skills, experience, and training of veterans can contribu
GLOBAL HOPE ACT OF 2019
Dean Phillips (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-1-28

. Madam , such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. prgtoken Madam , childhood cancer is devastating; yet, many types can now be treated effectively and at relatively low cost. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure the United States' policy is working toward this end and doing what we can to stop the suffering. prgtoken The Global Hope Act is a good measure that leverages the resources developed here in the United States to explore public/private partnerships to fight childhood cancer all around the globe. prgtoken I am very grateful to Ranking Member McCaul for his dedication and tireless work on this cause. prgtoken I am proud to support this, and I urge all my fellow Members to do the same. prgtoken Madam , .
TRIBUTE TO CARY JONES
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-1-28

I want to take a few minutes today to honor Cary Jones, an Oregonian retiring after a long career in the Coast Guard and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bottom line is Mr. Jones has embraced and embodied the essence of public service throughout his distinguished career. prgtoken He joined the Coast Guard in 1976 and was stationed in Honolulu, Seattle, and Coos Bay. He served for several years aboard the USCGC Boutwell, a high-endurance cutter used to intercept smuggling vessels. prgtoken Mr. Jones left the Coast Guard in 2001 as a senior chief yeoman, and he could have sailed off into an easy retirement. Instead, he went to work for the VA, where he would spend nearly two decades helping Oregon veterans. He served in a number of roles at the Portland VA Medical Center, but in every capacity he sought to do right by veterans. He worked with my Portland staff for years, and if you ever want to get one of them going, just ask how helpful Cary Jones was. They will tell you he worked on more than 10,000 congressional inquiries, each of which represented an attempt to help an Oregon veteran or military family. prgtoken Cary Jones is a shining example of what public service is supposed to be all about. He has always been one of the good guys, in it for the right reasons, and always laser-focused on lifting up people who need a little bit of help. prgtoken Mr. Jones' career reminds me of a quote by the famous naturalist John Burroughs: ``For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice--no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.'' prgtoken And so today I say thank you to Senior Chief Yeoman Cary Jones for his work, patience, love and self-sacrifice. prgtoken I say thank you for leading by example, for showing countless Oregonians that public service is a noble calling, and for paying the gold of real service. prgtoken I wish you the best as you embark on your well-deserved retirement.
SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF IRAN TO FREE EXPRESSION
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-28

. Madam , I am proud of the growing Iranian American community in my district, California's 36th. I have spoken with members of the community, and I have watched the protests in Iran. prgtoken I am increasingly concerned and outraged at what we are witnessing from the Iranian regime. The violence, the oppression, the internet blackouts, the large-scale incarcerations--these are egregious human rights violations. prgtoken Over 7,000 Iranians have been arrested and, tragically, over 1,000 killed by Iranian security forces since November of last year. prgtoken This shameful use of violence by the state security forces, sweeping internet shutoffs, jailing of journalists and protestors, these are just the most recent examples of merciless attempts of censorship by a regime with a long, abhorrent history of oppression and violence against its own people. prgtoken We must support the protestors seeking nothing but their fundamental human rights and civil liberties such as the freedom to assemble openly, speak freely, and have an open and free press. That is why I stand with my Iranian American constituents in support of bipartisan H. Res. 752: to support the rights of the people of Iran to free expression and to say, forcefully, that we condemn the Iranian regime for its violent tactics to oppress its legitimate protestors. prgtoken To the Iranian people seeking freedom, democracy, and human rights: I stand with you. The United States Congress stands with you. The American people stand with you. We will continue supporting you as you fight for your basic rights, freedom, and democracy. prgtoken That is why I urge my colleagues to pass H. Res. 752 here today.
REMEMBERING RETIRED ARMY COLONEL (DR.) ROBERT J.T. JOY
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-1-28

today I pay tribute to a pioneer in the field of military medicine, retired Army COL Dr. Robert J.T. Joy. Colonel Joy was founding professor of military medicine and commandant of the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University, USU. Most recently, he served as professor emeritus of USU's Section of Military Medical History. He passed away last year at the age of 90. prgtoken Born in Rhode Island and raised between Narragansett, RI, and St. Petersburg, FL, he studied pre-med and pre-law at the University of Rhode Island, before attending Yale University Medical School on a Reserve medical officers training scholarship. prgtoken From there, his service to his country began. After assignments stateside, Dr. Joy volunteered to lead the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, WRAIR, team to Vietnam, where he received his first--of four--Legion of Merit medals and his team received a Meritorious Unit Citation for their field research. After becoming Deputy Director and then Director of WRAIR, many thought he had found his dream job. prgtoken However, after a meeting with Dr. Jay Sanford, the first dean of USU, in 1976, Colonel Joy received a transfer to take the position of professor of military medicine and commandant of the School of Medicine at the newly created USU. While there, he was instrumental in the creation of the field of military medical history, and his teachings, lectures, and leadership were integral to the development of today's ``joint'' concept of military medicine. prgtoken Dr. Joy retired from Active Duty in 1981 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his Army career. He continued to teach as a civilian professor until 2005, and his legacy lives on through his students--the physicians and surgical teams that continue to provide world-class care for our wounded, ill, and injured service members. prgtoken I would like to close with a quote about Dr. Joy from retired Army BG Robert Doughty, professor and chair of history at the United States Military Academy at West Point: ``His contribution has influenced, and will continue to influence, students, historians, and soldiers for decades to come.'' prgtoken I salute Dr. Joy and extend my condolences to his family.
TRIBUTE TO PASTOR DOUGLAS P. JONES
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-28

I rise today to recognize Pastor Douglas P. Jones of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church of Pontiac, MI, as the congregation and the Pontiac community celebrate his 30th pastoral anniversary. prgtoken Pastor Jones moved from his native Cincinnati in 1989 to Pontiac, MI, to assume leadership of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church. Under his guidance, membership at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church grew from a few hundred to more than 4,000 worshippers. From the very beginning of his tenure at the church, Pastor Jones has worked tirelessly to implement a vision of unity and kindness, bringing worshippers together so that they may find strength in their community and, with that strength, work toward positive change throughout the Pontiac area. prgtoken His focus on ensuring that church members' needs are met can be seen in prgtoken the number and diversity of ministries established at Welcome. In support of his younger members, Pastor Jones created both the Young Men Making a Difference Ministry for preteen and teenage boys, as well as the Teen Esteem Ministry for preteen and teenage girls. Pastor Jones has endeavored to create resources for the most vulnerable members of the Welcome community such as the T.I.P.--Tots, Infants, and Preschoolers--ministry, which looks after the congregation's youngest members, the Exodus Dependency Program, which assists those contending with problems relating to substance abuse and HIV, and the Domestic Violence Ministry. prgtoken Pastor Jones has not limited his dedication to service to the members of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church but, rather, extended his unwavering faith and generosity to the broader Pontiac community. He has been fundamental in the positive growth seen throughout the city over the last 30 years. He has served on committees, boards, and partnerships in support of the community, including the Pontiac Youth Assistance, the NAACP North Oakland Medical Center, and the Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc to name only a few. Seeing a lack of unity among those trying to create change, Pastor Jones founded the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, a federation of over 190 Oakland County individuals, community groups, clergy, elected officials, and businesses that work together to encourage positive change on the individual, social, and institutional level through advocacy and community action. Pastor Jones has further been a driving force behind helping the students of Pontiac achieve their goals of pursuing higher education. Under his guidance the Pontiac Promise Zone Scholarship Program was created, which has given many Pontiac students the chance to obtain the financial aid necessary to pursue their dreams of higher education in the State of Michigan. prgtoken Since his arrival in 1989, Pastor Jones has been a source of strength and good will for all those in the Pontiac community. He is often called upon to act as a consensus builder among groups and peop
TEMPORARY REAUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF FENTANYL ANALOGUES ACT
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-1-29

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I just want to say that I appreciate my colleagues who have come to the floor to speak on this bill. I think everyone knows that this is a very personal issue for me, not just because of my own constituents, but because of my own family, and I appreciate the bipartisan support for this bill. prgtoken I do want to work with my colleagues in the Judiciary Committee and in the Congressional Black Caucus and others on reform of sentencing guidelines. I think we can make that kind of progress during the 15 months, and I hope that I will get bipartisan support for my legislation which would bring treatment for mental health issues and substance use disorder into the justice-served population, because my view is that we have created a system that is not functional and not serving the purposes of the American people or the American taxpayers.
RECOGNIZING THE WINNER OF WASHINGTON'S SEVENTH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today to recognize Franklin High School student and Burien resident, Abigail Batinga, as the winner of the Washington's Seventh District Congressional App Challenge. prgtoken My office this year received a record number of submissions, highlighting the incredible work of teachers across my district in advancing STEM education for all students. prgtoken Abigail's app, which is called Climate Now, is a collaborative platform that helps users create, facilitate, and participate in environmental projects in their communities. prgtoken Abigail recognized the need for a tool to increase the efficacy, organization, and participation in efforts to solve our climate crisis locally, due to her involvement in sustainability and environmental justice issues in Burien and South Seattle. prgtoken Abigail's focus on addressing a public goal serves as a model for all of us to use our creativity, skills, and knowledge to benefit the greater good. prgtoken I am so proud of Abigail, and I congratulate her.
SUPPORT FOR NO BAN ACT AND PREVENTING FUTURE DISCRIMINATORY BANS
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , let me offer my appreciation and thanks to Congresswoman Tlaib of Michigan for anchoring an important special order on the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or ``No Ban Act,'' legislation which terminates the Administration's so-called Muslim Ban and prevents future discriminatory bans. prgtoken As a senior member of the committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and the vice-Chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Nigeria Caucus, I am proud to support the No Ban Act because it broadens Section 202(a) of the Immigrant and Nationality Act to include a nondiscrimination provision which includes protection from religious discrimination and applies to all individuals traveling to the United States. prgtoken Specifically, the No Ban Act ensures that this nondiscrimination provision applies to nonimmigrant visas, entry into the United States, or the approval or revocation of any immigration benefit. prgtoken The legislation mandates that restrictions or suspensions entry must be supported by reliable and compelling evidence and that it is tailored to the specified purpose and requires the consultation and input of the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security when suspending or restricting entry under Section 212(f). prgtoken The No Ban Act preserves the President's ability to use this authority when the Secretary of State determines, based on credible facts, that entry should be suspended or restricted to address specific acts that undermine the security or public safety of the United States or of human rights or of democratic processes or institutions or endangers international stability. prgtoken These permissible uses of Section 212(f) have been employed by previous ic and presidents. prgtoken The No Ban Act requires specific evidence supporting the use of Section 212(f), including evidence that is connected with the duration of the suspension or restriction and requires that the suspension or restriction must be narrowly tailored to address a compelling governmental interest, using the least restrictive means possible. prgtoken Waivers for class-based restrictions and suspensions must be considered and the bill provides that there is a rebuttable presumption in favor of family-based and humanitarian waivers. prgtoken The bill repeals the unilateral executive actions and three Muslim ban executive orders and presidential proclamations that have harmed the Muslim American community and damaged our standing in the world. prgtoken I also approve the legislation's repeal of the executive order that instituted extreme vetting for refugees, as well as an asylum presidential proclamation that abused the Section 212(f) authority. prgtoken Another salutary aspect of the bill is that it ensures there will be congressional consultation and periodic reporting for an
HONORING EULOGIO ACEVEDO
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise to honor Eulogio Acevedo, who passed away earlier this month. prgtoken Those of us who knew Mr. Acevedo will remember him as a dedicated family man, a leader in the business community, and a relentless champion for social justice. Born in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Acevedo made his home in Providence, Rhode Island, along with his beloved wife of 30 years, Maryelyn. prgtoken Mr. Acevedo lived the American Dream. An engineer by trade, he owned and operated his own construction company for more than two decades. He raised five children and lived to celebrate the births of four grandchildren. prgtoken Most important of all, Mr. Acevedo gave back to the country that gave him so much. He was an active community leader in Providence and a political legend, a gentle but strong man who helped anyone in need. prgtoken , I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know this great man. He was a dear friend to me. Our city and our State will miss him deeply. May he rest in peace.
AMERICA'S DEEP ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today in support of families in my district who are experiencing deep economic uncertainty. prgtoken A report issued late last year highlighted that hardworking families in my district, especially those with children, are struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. The report is called ``Underwater'' because even as Wall Street rides high, American families are struggling to stay afloat. In fact, people and small businesses in my district are suffering as a result of this administration's economic policies, its trade wars, and corporate giveaways. prgtoken At year end, a typical working family earning $70,000 a year is likely to be over $2,000 in debt after paying for childcare, housing, and healthcare, and that is before they start saving for college or retirement. prgtoken Forty percent of the families in my district make less than that. For these families, the American Dream of providing a better life for their children slips further from their grasp every day. prgtoken Instead of corporate welfare, our economic policies must support working, middle-class families in order to create healthier and more prosperous communities for everyone.