mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
VA SALUTE TO VETERAN PATIENTS WEEK
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-2-14

I rise today to recognize our Nation's veterans and the work of those who care for them during National Salute to Veteran Patients Week. Across the country this week, VA hospitals are celebrating our veterans and showing appreciation for those who may not have loved ones with whom to spend Valentine's Day. prgtoken During last year's National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, 288,000 valentines were delivered to VA medical centers from schoolchildren and various organizations across our country. These efforts included more than 1,400 community groups and 9,000 volunteers. I hope that this year we can build on that effort and show even more gratitude to our veterans. prgtoken I am proud to see our Nation come together for a week like this one and all the volunteers who took the time to express their respect and appreciation. prgtoken To all our veteran patients, thank you for your service, and I hope that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
COMMEMORATING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIOGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2019-2-15

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce. prgtoken On June 4, 1919, citizens of Tioga County joined together and signed a charter to create the Owego Chamber of Commerce. The charter stated that the purpose of the corporation would be to promote the general welfare of Owego and the surrounding communities. Even though their name may be different these one hundred years later, their mission remains the same. prgtoken The Owego Chamber of Commerce began as a corporation to encourage the growth of business in the Greater Owego area through the management of real estate. By purchasing properties and then improving those properties, the Chamber helped to create environments that welcomed new businesses. prgtoken As the times have changed, so has the Chamber. In its early years, it overcame the adversity of the Great Depression and worked to help their community through economic struggles. During World War II, the Chamber assisted with the selling of war bonds to aid in the war effort. Today, the Chamber continues a tradition started in 1999 with their annual business show. The business show brings new businesses and existing businesses together, putting them in contact with each other and the general public. prgtoken One hundred years of service to the community is certainly a cause for celebration. I congratulate the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce for their impressive record of hard work and look forward to many more years of them supporting businesses in our communities. prgtoken Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and join me to celebrate the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce's one hundred years of service.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF BLOYCE BRADFORD
Veronica Escobar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-2-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of an American hero, Bloyce Bradford, who passed away at 90 years old on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. prgtoken Mr. Bradford was born Christmas Day in 1928. He went on to enroll in the Army, where he served during the Korean War. While in Korea, Mr. Bradford was wounded multiple times and, at one point, was considered missing in action. According to Mr. Bradford's son, for more than 30 days, Mr. Bradford avoided capture and eventually was able to find his way back to the American forces. Mr. Bradford received the Purple Heart and several other military awards for his distinguished service. After his retirement from the Armed Forces, Mr. Bradford started his own business in Northeast El Paso, showcasing his entrepreneurial drive and his commitment to the community. prgtoken Mr. Bradford will be remembered as one of the oldest-living veterans in El Paso and beloved by many across the city who will miss his mentorship and kindness. His legacy lives on through his sister Gwendolyn, his five children and their families, as well as his companion of 43 years and her family. The El Paso community mourns his loss and thanks him for his contributions to our nation.
HONORING THE LIFE OF EDMUND JEFFERSON DANZIGER, JR.
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-2-19

. Madam , I rise to pay tribute to the life of Edmund Jefferson Danziger, Jr. of Sylvania Township, Ohio. Professor Danziger passed from this life at the age of eighty years on January 8, 2019. He was memorialized at Epworth United Methodist Church in Toledo on February 16, 2019. prgtoken Edmund Danziger was born in Newark, New Jersey and spent his childhood with brother Doug tramping through the outdoors near their Hillside home. After graduating from high school in 1956, he felt a call to ministry. However, he found a different call to history and research while a student at the College of Wooster, graduating in 1960. He went on to receive his doctorate from the University of Illinois. Along the way he married his wife, Margaret, and together they raised two children, John and Anne. They moved to Bowling Green Ohio, where he began his 46 year teaching career at Bowling Green State University. prgtoken A noted researcher and expert on Ohio and Native American history, Professor Danziger's work led to the publication of books including Indians and Bureaucrats: Administering the Reservation Policy during the Civil War and Regeneration: Detroit's American Indian Community along with many scholarly articles. He became chair of the BGSU History Department, receiving teaching and faculty excellence awards and a special university achievement award for excellence. In 1995, BGSU Trustees named him ``distinguished teaching professor,'' only the seventh in the school's history. prgtoken Admired and respected by colleagues and students, Edmund Danziger explained, ``A master teacher will ignite a flame with his or her students--a flame which will guide them in further academic studies and more generally along life's challenging path.'' This philosophy sums up Professor Danziger's career. He took students on field trips to Fort Meigs, Walpole Island First Nation, and hiking the Appalachian Trail. He guided graduate students through theses and dissertations. A former student now an assistant professor of history himself said, ``He was the kind of person who elevated everybody he was around. He genuinely cared about humanity. He cared about students.'' What better reflection of a life well lived? prgtoken We send our heartfelt sympathy to the Danziger family. We hope they find some comfort in the gift of his life, those he touched and those who were made better by knowing Edmund Jefferson Danziger. Godspeed.
INTRODUCING A BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ADDRESSING THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT IN A CONCURRENT TRACK WITH THE ISRAELI- PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS AND COMMENDING ARAB AND MUSLIM...
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-2-19

. Madam , I rise today to introduce a bipartisan resolution supporting the concurrent-track approach to the Israeli- Palestinian peace process. I want to acknowledge and thank my colleagues, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, and Representatives David Schweikert and Rob Woodall, for introducing this resolution with me today. prgtoken The Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents an immensely difficult challenge--a challenge to which there are no easy answers. Successive United States Presidential administrations have pursued peace agreements between the parties for over three decades, from the 1982 Reagan Plan for Middle East Peace to the 1993 Oslo Accords, Camp David Summit, Clinton Parameters, Annapolis Conference, and efforts to restart the peace process under the Administration. President has announced that he too will soon unveil a plan for peace. prgtoken Despite a lack of progress on a formal agreement, Israel and some of her Arab neighbors have worked quietly and behind the scenes to improve bilateral relations in recent years. Common threats posed by Iran and violent extremism allowed for new dialogue to take root, and today, Israel enjoys closer relations to many of its neighbors in the region. These efforts represent an opportunity to improve security, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East. The concurrent-track approach--where Arab and Muslim-majority states work to improve their bilateral relations with Israel as Israel and the Palestinian Authority work concurrently to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process--should be embraced by our government as a new paradigm for the region. The resolution I am introducing today expresses support for this approach and commends Arab and Muslim-majority states that have already taken steps to improve their bilateral relations with Israel. prgtoken I, like nearly all of my colleagues in Congress, continue to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, negotiated between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and resulting in two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recognition. This is the only way to ensure that both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people can have sovereign homelands. The inability to achieve a two-state solution threatens the State of Israel's security and identity as the democratic homeland of the Jewish people, just as it impedes the well-being and self- determination of the Palestinian people. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure passage of this resolution.
HONORING DR. STANLEY J. DUDRICK
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-2-19

. Madam , it is with great respect and admiration that I rise today to recognize Dr. Stanley J. Dudrick and his many contributions to the field of medical science and to his home community in Northeast Pennsylvania. prgtoken Dr. Dudrick grew up in Nanticoke, a small Pennsylvania coal mining town, and through hard work and dedication, grew to become a prominent figure in the medical profession. His research led to the development of a technique that revolutionized patient care--the practice of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). TPN allows individuals who are unable to obtain adequate nutrition through the digestive tract to receive much- needed nutrition intravenously. The TPN method has helped save an estimated 10 million children and has been acknowledged as one of the most important advancements in surgery of the past century. prgtoken Dr. Dudrick's contributions to the medical profession extend beyond his pioneering research. He has published over 700 works related to the care and management of surgical patients and has authored or co- authored over 2,500 scientific referenced citations--the most for any general surgeon. In addition to serving the residents of Pennsylvania's Ninth Congressional District as the medical director of the physician assistant program at Misericordia University and professor of surgery at The Commonwealth Medical College, Dr. Dudrick is chairman emeritus in the Department of Surgery and director emeritus of Program in Surgery at Saint Mary's Hospital, and professor emeritus of surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine. prgtoken Advancements in medical research have allowed us to make important strides in increasing the quality of life for individuals who suffer from a variety of medical conditions, finding more effective and less invasive treatments, and most importantly, saving more lives. Dr. Dudrick is a pioneer in this regard, and his ingenuity, scientific prowess, and dedication to the human condition has made him a fixture in the medical community. prgtoken Dr. Dudrick, through his creative thinking and ground-breaking invention, has improved the health of millions around the world and contributed to the survival of countless more. Madam , I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing and thanking Dr. Dudrick for his many contributions to the medical community.
RECOGNIZING GARY NEAL
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2019-2-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize my good friend, Gary Neal, for his many years of hard work and dedicated service to the Port of Morrow, Morrow County, and Eastern Oregon. Gary has served as Port Manager for nearly 30 years, and I would like to pay tribute to his leadership in the region. prgtoken After five years as the Manager at the Port of Clarkston, Gary was hired in 1989 to manage the Port of Morrow. Since that time, and thanks to Gary's leadership, the Port has grown to be the second largest Port in the state of Oregon. prgtoken The Port now houses facilities for everything from value-added agriculture processing to high tech data centers. It serves the area as an economic powerhouse. In 2017 alone, the Port generated $2.7 billion of economic output and created nearly 8,500 jobs either directly or indirectly. From 2008 to 2013, the second worst economic downturn this country has experienced, the Port grew by 88 percent. All of this was driven by Gary's visionary leadership of the Port. prgtoken Despite the multitude of successes, Gary is humble about these achievements. While all the above mentioned statements are fact, Gary often refuses credit, and instead points to his commissioners and the community when explaining the success of the Port. prgtoken This focus on community is also evident in the Port's countless efforts to support community development projects. Whether it is parks, schools, or athletic facilities, the Port never hesitates to contribute to the growth of the community. prgtoken In addition to his commitment to the Port, Gary has served the community in many other ways. He currently serves on the board for The Bank of Eastern Oregon; Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; is past president of the Oregon Public Ports Association; served on the Infrastructure Finance Authority Board for the State of Oregon for eight years, and is an active committee member with several other groups. prgtoken This breadth of experience and involvement has made Gary a great asset to me on a variety of issues affecting the Port and the surrounding area. On everything from issues with the Navy's Boardman Bombing Range and the Army's Umatilla Chemical Depot, to river transportation and renewable energy, I've leaned upon Gary's experience and ideas as we navigated toward solutions. prgtoken As Gary begins his well-earned retirement, I know he is looking forward to spending time with his family. Gary and his wife Kathy have been married for 45 years and have two children. Their daughter Rochelle is married and works for Nike. Their son Ryan is taking over as the Manager of the Port of Morrow. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. prgtoken Congratulations to my good friend Gary Neal on a much respected and successful career. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him well as he pursues his next adventure.
INTRODUCTION OF A JOINT RESOLUTION RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-2-22

. Madam , to be clear, my introduction of this resolution of disapproval should in no way be interpreted as an indication that the President's declaration of an emergency, or his invocation of specific statutory powers pursuant to that declaration, is even lawful in the first place. prgtoken The Constitution provides Congress with the power of the purse and expressly prohibits the President from spending funds that Congress has not appropriated. Here, Congress has not authorized or appropriated funding to build a wall on the southern border. Indeed, Congress has repeatedly chosen not to do so in response to the President's multiple requests for such funding since becoming President. prgtoken While my resolution disapproves and terminates the President's emergency declaration, the record should be clear that I do not believe the President's declaration, or his invocation of specific statutory powers pursuant to that declaration, was lawful to begin with.
INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO REQUIRE THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO INSTALL THE D.C. SEAL IN THE MAIN READING ROOM OF THE THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2019-2-22

. Madam , today, I introduce a bill to require the Library of Congress to install the District of Columbia seal in the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. The Library is one of the few buildings in the District that remains open to the public on most holidays. It provides not only D.C. residents but visitors and researchers from across the nation with access to incomparable resources. The bill requires the Library to depict the District's seal on the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room, where the seals of all prgtoken the states and territories that existed when the building was constructed, except for the District, are depicted. D.C.'s seal was readily available at that time and should have been included. The seals of Hawaii and Alaska are not included in the display because they were not states or territories when the building was constructed. The fact that these two states were not part of the Union at the time of the creation of the stained-glass windows argues for the inclusion of the District, which, after all, was in fact the nation's capital at the time. We are asking that the omission of D.C. be corrected immediately. This omission was brought to my attention by a District resident, Luis Landau, a former docent at the Library. prgtoken The residents of the District have always had all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes and serving in all the nation's wars, including the War of 1812, during which the Capitol building, which then housed the Library of Congress, was burned, prompting construction of the current Library building with the state and territory seals. It is, therefore, without question that the District and its residents should receive equal treatment among the stained-glass windows that portray the history of the United States. D.C. residents deserve to have their history and American citizenship recognized. prgtoken There is existing evidence that the seal of the District should have been depicted. The Members of Congress room in the Jefferson Building, which is not open to the public, has a painted depiction of the D.C. seal, along with state seals, on its ceiling. This precedent reinforces our request to be represented among the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room, which is open to the public. There is no reason why the D.C. seal cannot be added with the planned restoration of the stained-glass. The right time to add the seal of the District would be during the planned restoration. prgtoken Congress already includes the District, or has corrected the omission of the District, when honoring the states. For example, the World War II Memorial includes a column representing the District, and D.C.'s Frederick Douglass statue now sits in the Capitol alongside statues from the 50 states. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 requires the armed services to display the Dis
HONORING PASTOR PIERCE'S SIXTH ANNIVERSARY AT MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH OF GREENSBORO
Mark Walker (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-2-22

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Bishop Bryan J. Pierce's sixth anniversary as the Senior Pastor and Chief Executive Officer of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Greensboro. Beginning to preach at the age of six and ordained by nineteen, Bishop Pierce is a man after God's own heart. It was in June of 2011 that Bishop Pierce became the Chief Administrative Officer at Mount Zion and worked diligently until his elevation to Senior Pastor on January 1, 2013. He strongly believes that he who serves the city, wins the city, which is expressed through a Church-wide campaign called No Greater Love, where members of Mount Zion come together to serve the Greensboro community. Also serving as 1st Assistant to 2nd Presiding Bishop, Bishop Pierce is a noted songwriter, arranger and producer. He successfully released his first solo debut album, which reached No. 3 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums Chart by capturing an amazing sound that has facilitated openings for the Glory of God to be manifested in the lives of His people. With 20 years of Senior Pastoral Leadership, we honor another anniversary of service and the faithful future he is sure to bring our community.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF NCIS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DAVID ELSWICK
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-2-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Assistant Director David L. Elswick who will retire after nearly ten years of distinguished service at NCIS and nearly 40 years of dedicated service to our nation. prgtoken Mr. Elswick began his federal service in 1977 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating early from College Park High School. He went on to become a Drill Instructor in the Marine Corps where he held the important responsibility of ``making Marines.'' Throughout his 21- years of service as a U.S. Marine, Mr. Elswick's assignments took him and his family to California, Texas, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and finally, Quantico, Virginia. Mr. Elswick's awards and decorations include: The Presidential Service Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement prgtoken Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. prgtoken Before joining NCIS, Mr. Elswick held assignments of increasing responsibility with several government agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Library of Congress and the Department of Homeland Security. Continuing his career at NCIS, Mr. Elswick held the leadership positions of Deputy Assistant Director for Planning and Evaluation, Assistant Director of the Manpower, Planning and Support Directorate, Chief of Staff, and retiring after serving as the Assistant Director of the NCIS Administration and Logistics Directorate. prgtoken Madam , I ask you to join me in recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of David L. Elswick. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for his service. May God bless him and his family as they transition into retirement.