mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING RICHARD BURGESON
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-7-13

. Madam , Richard Dennis Burgeson of Bonita Springs, Florida passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at the age of 74. prgtoken Born on January 18, 1946, in Oak Park, Illinois, Rich was the youngest of three sons to Gunnar and Alice Burgeson. Rich attended college at Bradley University in Illinois with his high school sweetheart, Maria Vorgias. Upon graduation from Bradley, Rich went on to teach 5th Grade in Oak Park. He married Maria on July 20, 1968 and they settled into their home in Hinsdale, Illinois. After teaching for several years, Rich went to work at the Burgeson family business, Albin Carlson Company, a successful road construction company based in Illinois. Rich worked as the Chief Financial Officer at Albin Carlson until the family sold the business in 2005 and Rich retired. He and Maria moved to the Copperleaf Community in Bonita Springs, Florida soon there after where Rich was able to focus on his golf game and pursue his life long passion of boating. He was an active member of the Copperleaf Community and served on various committees within Copperleaf. Rich was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, and friend, but most importantly a loving grandfather. Nothing made his eyes light up more than when he was able to spend time with his four grandchildren. prgtoken Rich is survived by his wife, Maria Burgeson of Bonita Springs, Florida; son Eric Burgeson, daughter-in-law Christine Burgeson, granddaughters Caroline and Olivia; Danielle Burgeson Cashman, son-in- law Brendan Cashman, granddaughter Maeve and grandson Liam; his brother Donald Burgeson and his wife Norma; and his sister-in-law Mary Ann Burgeson. Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Gunnar and Alice Burgeson, and his brother Glenn Burgeson. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Richard Burgeson's name to the Copperleaf Charitable Foundation. Donations will be used to support local charities in the area. The Copperleaf Charitable Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Please send donations to: Copperleaf Charitable Foundation, Inc. (``In Memory of Richard Burgeson'' 23101 Copperleaf Boulevard, Estero, Florida, 34135.
JUNE VETERAN OF THE MONTH
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-7-13

. Madam , I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's June Veteran of the Month, Sergeant William Parker. prgtoken An infantryman in the United States Army, Sergeant William Parker honorably served our nation for two years. During this time, Sergeant Parker was stationed at Fort Sill and sent to basic training at Camp Walters. While at Camp Walters, Sergeant William Parker was trained in Infantry. His training included education on a variety of military machinery. Following Camp Walters, Sergeant William Parker was sent to England to train for the infamous D-Day invasion. Sergeant Parker was part of the first fleet to enter Omaha Beach on D-Day. prgtoken Sergeant William Parker received two Purple Hearts, one Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Ribbon and Sharp Shooter Ribbon. He answered the call to defend freedom across the globe and sacrificed whatever was necessary in the name of that noble cause. He continues to serve our country, community, and his fellow World War II veterans. It is my honor to recognize Sergeant William Parker as the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma's June Veteran of the Month.
IN MEMORY OF BRADLEY H. PATTERSON, JR.
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-7-13

. Madam , I rise today to give my respects to Brad Patterson, who recently passed away after many decades of dedicated service to our country. prgtoken Graduating with a master's degree in 1943 from the University of Chicago, Brad served in the State Department and then as Deputy Counselor to the Cabinet under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Brad was also the first Executive Director of the Peace Corps under President John F. Kennedy. prgtoken After a stint with the Treasury Department, the National War College and the National Advisory Council on the Selective Service, Brad returned to the White House, this time serving as Executive Assistant to Leonard Garment under President Richard M. Nixon. prgtoken Most Americans would be proud to have had such a distinguished career and bountiful life. prgtoken As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, I hold Brad in especially high regard for his role in advising President Nixon and helping to shape the federal policy of Indian self-determination. On July 8, 2020, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's Special Message to Congress on Indian Affairs and not coincidentally, the most important and successful federal policy regarding Native people the United States has ever had. It is also the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its sacred Blue Lake to the Taos Pueblo, which was the symbolic centerpiece of the Nixon message. prgtoken As Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, Brad and his colleagues--Leonard Garment, Bobbie Kilberg, Lee Huebner, and others--worked with Nixon's chief domestic policy adviser, John Ehrlichman, to develop and propose to the President what was then a radical new shift in federal Indian policy. prgtoken America was in flux in the late 1960s with an unpopular ground war in southeast Asia, a growing civil rights movement, and a nascent ecological awareness beginning. prgtoken In 1970, this new policy that Brad played a key role in shaping looked back at the devastation earlier policies had caused to tribal communities and sought a new paradigm based on strong tribal governments and vibrant tribal economies. prgtoken Brad also worked to restore fishing rights to the Yakima Nation, helped pass the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and was instrumental in resolving the American Indian Movement's occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' office in Washington, D.C. prgtoken For five decades, Nixon's policy has continued to help Indian tribes make enormous strides in terms of governance and economic growth. As we approach the 50th anniversary of that policy, let us look at Brad Patterson's life and work to inspire us as we make our way through these dark and troubled times.
SUPPORTING THE GROTHMAN AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2020-7-13

. Madam , I include in the Record the following letter in support of my amendment to H.R. 2. This letter is from a stakeholder in my district that owns and operates the dam located in waters where invasive species, like Asian carp, have been found. July 9, 2020. Hon. Glenn Grothman, Member of Congress, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Mark Pocan, Member of Congress, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representatives Grothman and Pocan: I am writing in strong support of your invasive species amendment to H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act which passed the House by unanimous consent on July 1, 2020. Alliant Energy deeply appreciates your commitment to this pro-environment measure and for protecting Wisconsin's watersheds. As you know, an Alliant subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light, owns and operates a dam located in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin River. The Prairie du Sac dam, now over 100 years old, is responsible for the formation of Lake Wisconsin, which serves as an enormous recreational and wildlife resource for our state. Over a decade ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sought to impose a fishway requirement on the license for the dam, essentially calling for a ``fishway'' to be installed to allow for the upstream migration of native fish. Since that time, however, scientists and state officials have discovered the existence of non-native, invasive fish species (Asian carp) at the base of the dam. If a fishway were now installed, it seems clear that these invasive species would also be able to migrate--and thereby endanger native fish populations upstream, including Lake Wisconsin. Your amendment would ensure that, in this particular case, the Fish and Wildlife Service would be required to consider the threats posed by invasive species before imposing a fishway condition on a hydroelectric license. We believe strongly that such decisions should be predicated on the most up to date information available, and your amendment will help guarantee that invasive species are not permitted to threaten the Lake Wisconsin watershed. Again, thank you for offering your amendment. Please let me know how Alliant Energy may assist you in ushering this much- needed provision into public law. Sincerely, David de Leon, President--Wisconsin Power and Light Company, Alliant Energy.
MITCH McCUMBER RETIRES AFTER 22 YEARS OF SERVICE
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-7-13

. Madam , today I rise to pay tribute to a great man and citizen of Southwest Missouri, Mr. Mitch McCumber, as he celebrates his upcoming retirement. For the last 22 years, Mitch has served as the CEO and General Manager of New-Mac Electric Cooperative and will have the longest tenure of any CEO or General Manager in the co-op's history. prgtoken New-Mac Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1939 and serves nearly 18,000 member accounts primarily in Newton, McDonald, and Jasper counties. Under Mitch's leadership, New-Mac has enjoyed steady growth, and many of his colleagues contend that it would not be where it is today without Mitch's strong leadership. prgtoken Mitch is a certified public accountant and worked for a number of CPA firms before he joined the New-Mac team. He began his career with the co-op in January of 1995, rising to the general manager position in 1998. prgtoken McCumber is also an active member of his community where he lives with his wife, Becky, and has served on numerous boards and civic organizations including KAMO Power, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Southern State University, Freeman Health Systems, Freeman Neosho Hospital, Community Bank and Trust, Consumer Electric Power Association, and Neosho Chamber of Commerce. He has served as the chairman for many of the aforementioned boards, and he is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accounts. prgtoken I wish Mitch the very best as he embarks on this new chapter of life and I am grateful for his service to his community.
IN HONOR OF CHRIS PEIRCE
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Chris Peirce, who is being honored for his work as the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) New Hampshire State Commander. VFW works to ensure that all veterans are recognized for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation. During his time as State Commander, Commander Peirce helped organize the delivery of meals to veterans around New Hampshire, conducted in person and virtual ``buddy-checks'' on fellow members, and worked tirelessly to ensure that no veteran feels isolated during this stressful time. prgtoken Chris Peirce was born in Newbury, Massachusetts and has been serving our country in one form or another ever since. Commander Peirce entered the Marine Corps in July of 1980 and as an artillery section chief, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada. In 2004, he was deployed as First Sergeant of the 172nd New Hampshire National Guard as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. He retired as a First Sergeant from the NH Army National Guard in 2006 after a combined 26 years of service. prgtoken Commander Peirce joined VFW at Post 1088 Kingston NH and maintains his Life membership there. He has held all positions at the Post level including Post Commander and All State Post Commander. At VFW he has been the Chairman of OTI, the Special Olympics, and the Patriot's Pen. He has also been a member of the Finance Committee and the All State Judging Committee. Finally, Commander Peirce has represented the state of New Hampshire on the national Iraq/Afghanistan Committee for three years. prgtoken Outside of VFW, Commander Peirce worked as an Engineering Project Manager for 21 years with Mersen before retiring. His legacy of service continues with his son who is on active duty with the Air Force. prgtoken On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank Commander Peirce for his service to our country and his dedication to his fellow veterans. I congratulate him on his successful term as State Commander, and I thank him for all he does to make sure that veterans in our state are remembered and valued.
INTRODUCTION OF THE LEAD ABATEMENT FOR FAMILIES ACT
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to introduce the Lead Abatement for Families Act along with my colleague, Ayanna Pressley. prgtoken It is a national scandal that more than ten million homes in the United States still get their water from lead pipes. I am introducing this bill to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to identify lead pipes in our country's public and federally subsidized housing and provide grants to replace them. prgtoken A 2015 study determined that by the third grade, children in Chicago with even small amounts of lead in their blood were more than 32% more likely to fail standardized tests. One fifth of U.S. children with lead poisoning are participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, so HUD's role in removing lead pipes are crucially important. It is vitally important that Congress address this injustice by giving HUD the mandate and the funds to quickly eliminate this public health hazard. prgtoken Let us be clear--this is a racial justice issue. Black and brown communities like mine are disproportionately affected by lead pipes, and our neighborhoods suffer the consequences. prgtoken I urge this body to advance this legislation that helps ensure safe drinking water for all by getting lead pipes out of public and federally assisted housing.
CELEBRATING THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF PROFESSOR JEROME A. COHEN
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to Professor Jerome Alan Cohen, the Founder and Faculty Director Emeritus of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute of the New York University School of Law. Professor Jerry Cohen is a true champion of human rights and the rule of law in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. This month, he is celebrating his 90th birthday with his family and friends. prgtoken Professor Cohen--or ``Jerry,'' as he prefers to be called by friends, colleagues, and students alike--is one of the foremost experts in Chinese law and government in the United States and internationally. He has provided sage advice and wise counsel to international leaders, U.S. government officials, and Members of Congress throughout his illustrious career, including in testimony to the Congressional- Executive Commission on China of which I currently serve as Chair. Not long out of Yale Law School, Jerry was a law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren and to Justice Felix Frankfurter, of the U.S. Supreme Court. Jerry also was an Assistant U.S. Attorney here in Washington, D.C. prgtoken Jerry's extraordinary career on China began in the 1960s while he was teaching at Boalt School of Law at University of California Berkeley. A grant to UC Berkeley from the Rockefeller Foundation allowed him to begin his study of Mandarin Chinese. Later, he created the East Asia Legal Studies Association at Harvard School of Law, where he would go on to teach for 17 years. prgtoken In 2018, Harvard Law alumni established the Jerome A. and Joan L. Cohen Professorship of Law at Harvard Law School to honor his pioneering work. His students over the years include prominent legal scholars, lawyers, law professors, journalists, and diplomats, such as former Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou and former U.S. Ambassador to China Clark Randt, Jr. prgtoken Jerry and a group of colleagues were also early advocates in encouraging the United States to engage with the People's Republic of China. During his first trip to China in 1972, Jerry met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, and, years later accompanied Senator Ted Kennedy to Beijing to meet with Deng Xiaoping. prgtoken Jerry has been an energetic advocate for human rights in China and critic of the Chinese government. At the US-Asia Law Institute, he has developed programs on criminal justice reform in China with Chinese counterparts. Jerry also has led the way in supporting the release of political prisoners in China, including John T. Downey, a former Yale College classmate and CIA agent who was released in 1973 after more than 20 years' imprisonment in China. He played a crucial role in the release of Annette Lu, who would go to be Taiwanese vice president under Chen Shui-bian. Jerry also has advocated for and helped secure the release of many Chinese political prisoners, including Song Yongyi and Chen Guangcheng. prgtoken Professor Jerry Cohen has not only participated in the history of U.S.-China rel
HONORING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY MEMORIAL POST 8788 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Rio Grande Valley Memorial Post 8788 Veterans of Foreign Wars for their incredible 50-year record of serving our veterans and the community of McAllen, Texas. prgtoken The Rio Grande Valley Memorial Post 8788 Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrated their 50th anniversary in March of this year, but I am here to recognize Post 8788's Honor Guard, which was established in the late 1970's. prgtoken Honor Guards volunteer to give proper ceremonial funerals to veterans who die. The term ``Honor guard'' is used because the veterans feel it is a great honor to provide their fellow veterans with military funeral services and pay their final respects. They feel they have been blessed to survive the horrors of war and this is their way of giving back to their fellow brothers and sisters. prgtoken Although I do not have the records for all of the services conducted since the post's inception, Post 8788 has conducted 367 services since 2018. Altogether, these services are the compilation of 7,418 volunteer hours and 6,035 miles traveled to perform the military funerals. You can imagine these numbers are much larger given the fact that this represents only 2.5 years out of a 40-year history. prgtoken Madam , I stand here today to acknowledge the decades' long achievements of the Rio Grande Valley Memorial Post 8788 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Each member of the Rio Grande Valley Memorial Post 8788 Veterans of Foreign Wars is an incredible leader in our community, and their legacy will no doubt inspire public service and volunteerism of future generations.
DR. MARK JOHNSON
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dr. Mark Johnson, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Public Health Department for receiving the American College of Preventive Medicine's Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his more than 30 years of service in the public health sector. Additionally, in September 2019, Dr. Johnson also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Public Health in the Rockies. Both awards recognize Dr. Johnson's significant contributions and leadership in public health. prgtoken During his tenure at Jeffco Public Health, Dr. Johnson has been instrumental in improving the quality of life and health outcomes for local residents and communities. Among his notable accomplishments is his work to help write and pass the Colorado Public Health Act in 2008, which requires use of assessments to determine population health and systemwide capacity issues; develops a five-year state and local public health improvement plan based on assessment results; and engages communities to increase and improve the availability and quality of public health services. The goal of the bill is to ensure that core public health services are available to every person in Colorado. prgtoken Under Johnson's leadership, Jeffco has been one of the healthiest areas in the state with lower teen birth rates, lower sexually- transmitted infections, access to parks and recreation, safe food and access to healthcare. Jeffco is doing better in some areas than Colorado and the country. prgtoken Dr. Johnson also worked to establish the Colorado School of Public Health, comprised of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado. It is the first accredited and only collaborative school of public health in the region. prgtoken Dr. Johnson planned to retire in June 2020 but in an effort to maintain continuity for the public health workforce on the frontlines of the pandemic and a population facing a health crisis, announced he would delay his retirement to help see JCPH and Jefferson County residents through this unprecedented time. In retirement, Johnson was looking forward to spending time with grandchildren, and remaining active in his church. We appreciate his sacrifice and ongoing service to our community during this crisis and congratulate Dr. Mark Johnson on a lifetime of service to public health and to our community.
HONORING THE LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY OF CHAIRWOMAN NITA M. LOWEY
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-7-16

. Madam , I want to recognize the remarkable leadership of Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey. Nita has made the nation, and the world, a far better place because of her commitment to the Appropriations Committee, and her outstanding achievements will forever be honored and celebrated here in the Congress. prgtoken I cherish the 25 years we have spent together fighting for expanded access to women's health, the inclusion of women in NIH clinical trials, increased investment in early childhood education, adequate worker protections, and so much more. Beyond her professionalism, dedication, and leadership, Nita is genuine and compassionate. As she has for many of our other colleagues, she has been there for me in times of need. I will miss seeing her in the halls of Congress and on the Appropriations Committee, but our friendship endures. prgtoken In honor of her outstanding legacy, I include in the Record the Chairwoman's farewell remarks to the House Appropriations Committee on July 15, 2020, the final day of markups for the 116th Congress: Good morning, everyone. As we begin our final day of consideration of the FY21 spending bills, I'd like to thank you all for your kind words and well wishes and ask you to indulge me in just a few more reflections. I came to Congress in 1989, one of just 31 women in the House and Senate, and to this Committee in 1993 alongside only six other women on the 64-member panel. This body is better for the 100 women serving in the 116th Congress and for the many women in this room today. It's my honor to address the full Committee for my final time as the first woman Chair. You know, it's ironic that back in 1993, I had to choose between serving on Appropriations or Ways and Means. And today we mark up my final Appropriations bills in the Ways and Means Committee room. I chose Appropriations because I believed it was the best place to give more people a better chance at a better life. After nearly 30 years on Committee, I still believe that. In fact, nowhere else in Congress could I have advanced such a diverse range of priorities. In the days of congressionally directed spending--something I hope you all restore--I brought home hundreds of millions to help my constituents directly, from transportation hubs and commuter services, bridge and road safety, early learning and health centers, to economic development and job training, school safety, senior centers, flooding relief, and more. Of course, without those projects, I have created new programs, including one that protects vulnerable nonprofits at a time of rising anti-Semitism and hate, like those in my district surrounding the community that experienced a tragic attack at a Hanukah party last year. Nationally, we advanced the .08 blood alcohol content sta