mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-4-12

everyone knows this is a joke. It is all pretend and never going to become law. It is never going to happen. People are going to support it because voting for a balanced budget amendment is like voting for motherhood and apple pie. But everybody on this floor knows this is all pretend. prgtoken The time to deal with spending was 3 weeks ago. Three weeks ago was the time for political courage and some discipline. Some political will was 3 weeks ago, when we got a 2,232-page bill that we had 15 hours to look at. That was when we needed to deal with spending. prgtoken Fifteen hours to look at a $1.3 trillion spending package, the second largest spending package in American history, and we had 15 hours to look at it? prgtoken Oh, and guess what. Do you know how long we got to debate it? One hour. On a 3-page bill that is never going to happen, do you know how long we are debating this? Four hours. prgtoken The time for political courage was 3 weeks ago. The last vote we took before the Easter recess, $1.3 trillion of spending, funding things we as s said we would never fund, not funding things we told the voters we were going to fund, and then we go home and we come back, and the first thing we do with 4 hours of debate--not 1, like we had on that bill--is a bill that is never going to happen. prgtoken It is no wonder Americans hate this place. It is no wonder they are cynical. I don't blame them. This ticks me off. There is just no other way to say it. More importantly, it ticks off the American people, and it should. prgtoken For the last 24 hours, everyone in this town has been focused on who is going to be the next . Let me tell you something, a much more important question than who is going to be the next , who is going to be the next year, is what are s going to do this year? Are we going to get back to doing what the American people elected us to do on November 8, 2016? Are we going to get back to doing what we told them we were going to do, the mandate of that election, or are we going to keep doing pretend things like this? prgtoken Let's do what we said. We make this so hard. Let's just do what we said we would do. That will be good politics, and, more importantly, that would be good policy for the hardworking families of this great country.
Lance Corporal Taylor Conrad (Executive Calendar)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2018-4-12

I honor today the life and sacrifice of one soldier in particular, U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Taylor Conrad, who was 24 years old and was a Central Louisianan. prgtoken Our military men and women deserve recognition. They sacrifice time away from family and friends and put themselves in harm's way to advance our country's interests. Every day, they risk their lives to secure our safety. In the case of Taylor Conrad, along with three of his fellow marines, he tragically lost his life last week when their helicopter crashed during a training mission in California. prgtoken A Louisiana native and Central High School graduate, Taylor exemplified the qualities of a good marine. He was tough, compassionate, and wanted to help others. In high school, Taylor played football and was an accomplished powerlifter. He also volunteered in the Best Buddies program, which matches students with schoolmates in the special ed program. prgtoken A teacher said: The one thing that made Taylor such a special friend with our kids is he didn't approach them in a way that he felt sorry for them. He approached them in a way where he truly wanted to be their friend. prgtoken The school's athletic director said Taylor's ``love for those who need the most is something I'll never forget.'' There was one child who would never speak except, with Taylor, he would laugh. That was the effect Taylor had on others. prgtoken After school, Taylor decided to serve our country by joining the Marines. He went on to become a CH-53 helicopter crew chief in the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465. One marine who served with Taylor had this to say of him: He was the gold standard. He pushed everybody and he cared about everybody. I wouldn't be the Marine I am now if it wasn't for him. prgtoken Our hearts go out to everyone whose life was touched by Taylor. We especially pray for his family, including his daughter, who was born just last October. Their loss is great, and their hearts are heavy. I want them to know that Louisiana and our entire country mourn with them because our loss is great too. When they lost a brother, a son, and a dad, we lost a good man, a great marine, and a fellow American. prgtoken Thank you.
FARM BILL AND NUTRITION
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-4-12

from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) and all of the colleagues that I see on this floor who are part of the Agriculture Committee team--and we are a team. prgtoken We are a team that I got to watch work 4 years ago together to pass a bill that the Congressional Budget Office said was only going to save taxpayers $23 billion in mandatory spending. As a matter of fact, that was the largest, single spending cut that was projected in my entire freshman term. prgtoken Well, they came back over the recent weeks and told us that they were wrong. Those savings have actually been $111 billion in mandatory spending. This is why good policies matter. The bill that we introduced today is an example of good policies that save taxpayer dollars, but, just as importantly, it helps American families who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. prgtoken They have suffered from food insecurity and depend on SNAP to feed themselves and their families; and some of these men and women are capable of working, but they lack the access to adequate skills training to obtain a job that provides meaningful income and a chance to improve their family's future. prgtoken We want to change that. Just like we wrote good policy 4 years ago, we have written good policy again because we are going to change that by shifting the antipoverty conversation from one purely focused on benefits to one focused on helping someone climb the economic ladder and developing a strong workforce. prgtoken We have created a streamlined, simplified work requirement, paired with meaningful investments in workforce training. This farm bill requires and funds sufficient education and training slots, guaranteeing access to all SNAP participants subject to being able to work. prgtoken We have modernized the components of SNAP employment, education, and training to include assessment and case management, include additional options like supervised job search apprenticeships, time-limited volunteer work, subsidized employment, and financial history. prgtoken Last week, Caterpillar, in Decatur, Illinois, hosted an event to recruit more welders and machinists. They have jobs available, but not enough people are trained to fill these skilled jobs. prgtoken I visited the Bridgestone tire plant in Bloomington, Illinois, last week, and I heard the same thing. Jobs are available, but there is no one to take them. prgtoken Our economy is growing; jobs are growing. We must do more to get people the education and training that they need to take these available, skilled jobs and help themselves and help their families. prgtoken , I again thank my colleague from Pennsylvania.
HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT JACK COLEMAN COOK
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2018-4-12

I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant Jack Coleman Cook of Hot Springs, Arkansas, for his heroic actions in World War II. Sergeant Cook was a ball turret gunner on a B- 17 Flying Fortress named the Challenger. prgtoken On February 3, 1945, the 384th Bomb Group participated in a mission over Berlin. During the mission, the Challenger was hit by flak, damaging multiple engines, gas tanks, and the fuselage, but left the crew unharmed. prgtoken On the return journey home, the plane began losing altitude and crash-landed in the frigid North Sea. The crewmembers abandoned the aircraft and boarded two life rafts but became separated. prgtoken Navigator Edward Field, a crewmember who stayed in the water, began to push his raft towards the other raft but became numb and said that he could no longer hold on. Sergeant Cook got into the water so the crew's navigator could get out of the cold sea and take his spot in the raft. The sergeant then swam for 45 minutes until they reached the second raft. Shortly afterward, air-sea rescue located the crew, but Sergeant Cook had little life left in him, and he passed away on the boat. prgtoken It is with great gratitude and respect that I honor Jack Coleman Cook. Sergeant Cook is a true American hero. He selflessly gave his life for his fellow man, and for this, we remember him more than 70 years later.
JESSICA JOHNSON--ED STOUT MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING VICTIM ADVOCACY RECIPIENT
Ted Poe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-4-12

the Safety, Advocacy, Growth, and Empowerment (SAGE) program in Wenatchee Valley, Washington works to aid individuals who have experienced domestic abuse. prgtoken For the past 12 years, Jessica Johnson has gone above and beyond, serving SAGE to the best of her ability. Her hard work and dedication paid off. In 2016, Jessica was promoted to Executive Director, propelling Jessica to even greater heights. Her work with SAGE has helped to provide a safe-haven for those who faced sexual abuse, domestic violence, stalking, poverty, and sex trafficking in Central Washington. prgtoken During her time at SAGE, Jessica has overseen the creation of a 24- hour crisis line, a Crime Victim Service Center, and a Domestic Violence advocacy program. Each of these programs has been instrumental in providing aid to crime victims. prgtoken Jessica has not only focused her efforts on the larger central communities, but has implemented outreach to rural areas as well. This outreach has expanded opportunities for those who need assistance the most and helped victims reach the resources they desperately need. Jessica has also established group counseling programs in high schools and worked with schools to ensure faculty and staff are given adequate training on spotting the signs of domestic abuse. prgtoken Perhaps some of the most important services SAGE and Jessica have provided is through the Child Advocacy Center. In the Child Advocacy Center, law enforcement agents conduct forensic interviews with children who have been victims of sexual and domestic abuse. This service has been an invaluable resource and helped create a safe environment to interview and assist vulnerable children. prgtoken Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services. prgtoken I am proud to announce Jessica Johnson as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. The Stout Memorial Award is in memory of Ed Stout, the Director of Aid for Victims of Crime in St. Louis. The Honoree is a professional or volunteer whose efforts have directly benefited victims and survivors of crime. prgtoken I am honored to recognize Jessica and her relentless fight in advocating for crime victims. With the help of Jessica and SAGE, victims from all over Washington have access to resources needed to help rebuild their lives. prgtoken And that's just the way it is.
HONORING THE LIFE OF ADOLFO ``HARPO'' CELAYA
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2018-4-13

I rise today to honor Mr. Adolfo ``Harpo'' Celaya, who passed away on April 12th, at the age of 90. Harpo Celaya enlisted in the Navy at the age of 16 to serve his country in World War II. He was only 17 when the ship he was stationed aboard, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 12 minutes plunging Celaya and hundreds of his fellow sailors into the sea where they clung to sparse life vests or rafts, battling dehydration, exposure, and shark infested waters for more than four days awaiting rescue. Of the nearly 1,200 sailors that had been stationed aboard the USS Indianapolis, only 317 survived and were pulled from the sea. prgtoken Mr. Celaya was awarded the Purple Heart and upon recovery returned to Arizona and continued a lifetime of service in his community. He is well known throughout Arizona for sharing his experiences with high school students as part of the Veterans Heritage Project in an effort to keep history alive. prgtoken In 2016, I was pleased that President signed into law my bill, H.R. 6304, which renamed that post office at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona in Mr. Celaya's honor. Adolfo Celaya's incredible story will now be officially and permanently commemorated in his hometown of Florence, Arizona. This legislation ensures that future prgtoken generations will learn about the incredible sacrifice that Mr. Celaya and the 317 survivors of the USS Indianapolis made for our country. prgtoken Despite living through one of the darkest moments of WWII, Mr. Celaya has continued to inspire countless Arizonans through his eternal patriotism and commitment to serving all Americans. I would like to commend the Town of Florence for their leadership in making this tribute possible and recognize Mr. Celaya for his dedicated sacrifice to our nation and commitment to his local community.
HONORING MATTHEW OTT OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO OUR VETERANS
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-4-13

today I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to my constituent, Matthew Ott, for his efforts over the last 10 years to raise donations and awareness for Veterans in need. Matthew was just 11 months old when his mother, Patricia, a Veteran, died from an illness. At age nine, Matthew started a lemonade stand business in her honor and donated the proceeds directly to local Veteran organizations. On April 21, 2018, Matthew will conduct his 10th and final Veterans charity event. Assisted by his father, John, and many local supporters, Matthew has raised more than $32,000 for Veterans in our community. He's earned countless awards and commendations for his service, including the Rotary Club of York's Charles Wolf Award. I've long appreciated the commitment of people who devote themselves selflessly to serving our communities and fellow citizens. Matthew took a tragic event and turned it into an opportunity to touch the lives of countless Veterans and their families. His legacy of service to our Veterans and community truly is an inspiration. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, I commend, thank and congratulate Matthew Ott on his volunteer service and wish him continued great success in his future adventures.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF SENATOR DANIEL K. AKAKA
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2018-4-13

I thank the gentlewomen from Hawaii (Mses. Hanabusa and Gabbard). I am privileged to stand on this floor because of them and honor, to me, a great friend. prgtoken I know that we are saying we are honoring Senator Danny Akaka, or Daniel. I would like to refer him to the higher body as Congressman Akaka. prgtoken Thirteen years we served together. I have never found a gentleman, as you said before, one that loved and remembers better than he. prgtoken He worked with me, and I probably knew Danny better than anybody else. I call him Danny because we were friends. I knew him probably better than anybody else because his locker was right next to mine down in the gym. prgtoken We would have conversations about Alaska and about Hawaii, and how we worked together with Danny Inouye, Senator Stevens, and myself. It was a marvelous combination. And I believe that Alaskan combination with Hawaii still exists today because of the two congressional ladies. We work together. We have a unique difference from all of the other States. prgtoken We are not contiguous to the big body of the United States. We are actually scattered far north and far west, but we work together. Although they have a tropical climate and we have a frozen climate, we have the comradeship that is necessary to work together, and we continue to do that. prgtoken Danny was a soldier, a teacher, and, yes, a great Congressman. I will tell you that the people of Hawaii will miss him, but I hope he has left a legacy that will continue to encourage young people to become involved in the political arena to try to solve problems. prgtoken I can't agree more with what was said by the previous speaker about the lack of aloha, the lack of recognition for one another in differences of opinion. I do not think that you can accuse me of that because I recognize each person elected in this House is elected by 730,000 people, and they represent those people. So recognize and respect the beliefs, but work out and solve problems. Danny did that. prgtoken All the time that we worked together, there was never a ic problem or a problem. There was a problem, and we would reach across the aisle, one another, with all of the chairmen that served together collectively, and we would solve those problems. We were able to legislate. prgtoken Somewhere along the line, the well was poisoned, and we no longer legislate. I think Danny would be deeply disturbed by that. I think he would wish us greater things. I believe he would understand that it is time for us to work together as a nation. prgtoken I am proud to say that we still work together as Alaskans and Hawaiians trying to solve those areas where problems exist in no other place in the United States, and we do work together to solve them and we do get it achieved. prgtoken Now, if we can just do that, maybe we ought to send the rest of the Congress to Hawaii in the wintertime and bring the rest of them to Alaska
CELEBRATING ISRAEL'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY
John J. Faso (Republican, NY) \u2014 2018-4-13

I rise today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. prgtoken The United States was the first nation to recognize Israel as an independent nation in 1948. Since then, our nations have cultivated a significant and enduring relationship, one built on a shared commitment to democracy, peace in the Middle East, and economic prosperity. prgtoken Israel is among the United States' most important allies in the international community. Since its independence, the Jewish state has resolved to maintain a free and democratic society, despite being surrounded by powers committed to its destruction. prgtoken I extend my sincerest congratulations to the citizens of Israel on 70 years of independence. I wish the Jewish state continued prosperity in the next 70 years, and I look forward to our two nations continuing to strengthen our alliance.
HONORING THE ROTARY CLUB OF WALNUT, ILLINOIS
Adam Kinzinger (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-4-13

I rise today to recognize the Rotary Club of Walnut, Illinois for their collective commitment to service, both at home and abroad, and for their dedication to serving our community for 70 years. prgtoken Originally chartered on May 24, 1948, the Rotary Club of Walnut has been an integral part of Rotary International's influence in northern Illinois. This dynamic group provides people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures with the platform to exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships, all while giving back to the community. prgtoken By forming partnerships with local law enforcement and civic groups, the Rotary Club of Walnut has promoted family-friendly events and thoughtful discussions to ensure our communities are clean, safe, and thriving. This is done through their Five Avenues of Service, which include club, vocational, community, international, and youth services. These avenues enable the Rotary Club to facilitate a more sustainable living environment for the people in our communities and have had a lasting impact in our neighborhoods. prgtoken We are fortunate to have the dedicated members of the Walnut Rotary Club serving the communities in the 16th Congressional District of Illinois. The passion, integrity, and collective life experiences of the Club members are a real benefit to all of us. They continue to deliver real and lasting impacts in our area through various programs and initiatives, and their charitable work stretches across the community, throughout the state of Illinois, and all over the world. prgtoken I'm proud to recognize the Rotary Club of Walnut today, and to thank them for their exemplary work in helping others. This group is the true embodiment of the Rotary's motto ``Service Above Self'' and I look forward to many more years of their servant leadership in our area.
RECOGNIZING JACQUELINE R. ERWIN OF DELWARE COUNTY, PA
Patrick Meehan (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-4-13

today I recognize Jacqueline R. Erwin, a Classification Specialist for the United States Postal Service, an ordained minister, and a life coach from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. On April 13th, she will be presented with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Heritage Award for outstanding work in her community and career by the Philadelphia/South Jersey Chapter of the African American Postal League United for Success (A-PLUS). prgtoken Jackie began her career as a postal worker in 1986 and worked her way up to her current appointment as a Classification Specialist. Her dedication to her job has gone beyond her individual duties. She is the National Vice-Chairperson of NETWORK, a nonprofit organization within the Postal Service dedicated to African-American women who serve at the USPS. In addition to her leadership in her professional life, she is an author, minister, mother, grandmother, and wife. prgtoken I join A-PLUS in commending Jackie for her extraordinary work advocating for African-American female postal workers, her commitment to her family, and for making her community a better place. I wish her success as she continues to enthusiastically serve and advocate for those around her.
VOLCKER RULE REGULATORY HARMONIZATION ACT
Sean P. Duffy (Republican, WI) \u2014 2018-4-13

I think we can't deny the fact that, when you want to buy a house, you have to have a salary. You have to have a job. prgtoken As the President likes to point out, the unemployment rate for the African-American and the Hispanic communities, of which my wife is one, is at all-time lows. They have jobs. And when you have a job, you have a salary. When you have a salary, you can buy a house. prgtoken What I don't want to do is what we did before the 2008 crisis, which is give mortgages to people who can't afford to pay them, and then they lose those homes in foreclosure and their lives are devastated. We want to make loans to people who can afford to pay the mortgage and keep their home. Now is the time under a economy where people have jobs, income, and can now afford to buy a home.
RECOGNIZING CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2018-4-13

this is National Crime Victims' Rights Week, and back in 2004, I introduced the Crime Victims' Rights Act, which was signed into law by President as part of the Justice for All Act. prgtoken Under that landmark legislation, crime victims were finally awarded criminal rights in Federal criminal cases, including the right to protection, the right to timely notice not to be excluded and to be heard at all public hearings, the right to confer with the prosecutor, the right to restitution, the right to a speedy trial, and the right to privacy. prgtoken Several years later, the GAO found that too many victims were not aware of these important rights and that more needed to be done to educate victims. You see, in civics class, we all learned about the rights of the accused, but very little attention is given to the rights of victims. prgtoken , as we commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week this week, it is important that we make sure victims know what their rights are under the law. It is the least we can do to show victims the respect and dignity that they deserve.