mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
JIMMY CARTER NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-12-17

. Madam , as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, and a representative from the New South that President Jimmy Carter symbolized, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5472, the ``Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act,'' bipartisan legislation that elevates the designation of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Site to accurately reflect its status in the National Park System and accord with a standard pattern of nomenclature. prgtoken National historical parks are typically areas of greater physical extent and complexity than national historic sites; often they contain multiple discontiguous sites. prgtoken According to the National Park Service, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, which was established by Congress in 1987, is comprised of facilities at several sites in and around the town of Plains, Georgia and has the characteristics that make the designation of ``national historical park'' a more appropriate title than ``national historic site.'' prgtoken Congress passed the legislation in 1987 to preserve the key sites and structures associated with President Jimmy Carter during his life, provide for the interpretation of the life and presidency of Jimmy Carter, and present the history of a small rural southern town. prgtoken The historic site consists of President Carter's boyhood home in the community of Archery; Plains High School, now used for a visitor center and headquarters for the historic site; the Plains depot, which was used as a headquarters for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign; and the Carter compound, where President and Mrs. Carter have resided since 1981. prgtoken It is therefore fitting and proper that we pass this bipartisan legislation, supported unanimously by the Georgia congressional delegation, designating this complex of historically significant places as the ``Jimmy Carter National Historical Park,'' in honor of the 39th President of the United States, whose post-presidency is universally regarded as the greatest and most consequential in history. prgtoken Madam , Jimmy Carter was little known outside the South before he became president and I vividly recall his acceptance speech in July 1976 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which he began by saying simply: ``My name is Jimmy Carter and I'm running for president.'' prgtoken It was at that convention that the great Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who held the seat I now hold, made history by being the first African American woman to give the keynote address at a major political party nominating convention. prgtoken Madam , it is perhaps a failing of all us that we do not acknowledge nearly enough the enormous achievements and contributions to our country of the Carter Administration. prgtoken Let me list briefly some of the enormous positive changes wrought by President Carter, this most moral of public men was awarded the Medal of Freedom in addition to being the 2002 recipient of the Nobel Peace
Tribute to Cory Gardner (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-12-17

it is my pleasure to honor my good friend and my colleague Senator Cory Gardner. Cory and I were friends in the House of Representatives. Our friendship deepened in the Senate, especially after he took the reins as chair and I as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on East Asia of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 115th Congress. prgtoken We were unlikely partners in a lot of ways. He is a conservative and I am a liberal . I know that Tom Brady is the best quarterback ever. He just might say that it is John Elway. prgtoken But like me, Cory is a pragmatist, and we did find common ground. In fact, we were a two-man legislative wrecking crew, with several credits to our names. prgtoken Gardner-Markey collaborated on such hits as the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, ARIA, sweeping Asia-focused legislation to reorient our Indo-Pacific strategy around alliances, common values, and mutual security; the Cambodia Democracy Act, to stand up for civil society the rights of a political opposition; the Taiwan International Participation Act of 2018, to signal both our commitment to the island nation and our displeasure with China's efforts to shut it out of international organizations; and the Leverage to Enhance Effective Diplomacy Act, to build the conditions for a future North Korea that no longer threatens its neighbors and the world with nuclear weapons. prgtoken With Cory as chair and myself as ranking member, we convened hearings, drafted broad legislation, hosted prgtoken foreign leaders. As the foreign policy gravitational pull rightly moved to the Indo-Pacific in recent years, Cory brought the top policymakers, human rights defenders, and government witnesses to the fourth floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building--not exactly the Diplomatic Room of the White House. prgtoken In the 115th Congress, we held 11 hearings. It was a constant beat of meetings and hearings that Cory would be leading. I was always honored to be partnered with him in organizing those efforts. prgtoken Cory grew up on a farm, so it is no wonder that he is a workhorse. Each time he gaveled in a hearing, he was professional, prepared, good- humored. And he, on more than a few occasions, allowed particularly verbose Senators to blow past their allotted time. prgtoken Nowhere did I enjoy our work together more than in the drafting and the ultimate passage of the landmark Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. Our bill, which is now the law of the land, adopts a long-term U.S. strategy for the most consequential region in the world, the Indo- Pacific. It was a credit to our foreign policy staffs--led by Igor in Cory's staff and Zack in mine--that we were able to get it past the finish line. prgtoken A fully resourced ARIA will ensure that the United States will remain a Pacific power. Investments through ARIA offer a critical counterweight to China by helping our partners in the region build defenses and d
RECOGNIZING JOHN ``JACK'' BENNETT
Eric Swalwell (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-17

. Madam , along with Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Anna G. Eshoo, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Jerry McNerney, Jimmy Panetta, and Mike Thompson, I rise to recognize John ``Jack'' Bennett on the occasion of his retirement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on November 30, 2020. prgtoken Before finding himself with a federal badge, Jack was a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. From there, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration before landing at the FBI Academy in 1998. From the beginning, Jack's leadership skills were apparent. His academy class awarded him the ``Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity'' award upon graduation. When the World Trade Center was attacked on 9/ 11, Jack was in his first assignment in nearby Newark, New Jersey and aided in the investigation. prgtoken Jack's experience goes well beyond law enforcement and into law creation. His legislative experience came from serving as the FBI's agent embedded with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There, he was instrumental in drafting child-protection legislation that would become the Adam Walsh Act. prgtoken Jack's portfolio and experience continued to expand and evolve as he was appointed to the FBI Director's Next Generation Cyber Initiative, leading to partnerships with the tech community and encouraging collaboration the public and private sectors. His experience there made him a natural fit to run the FBI's Digital Forensics and Analysis Section, where he worked with several of our allies around the world to embed American forensic professionals and assist with counterterrorism efforts worldwide. prgtoken It was my privilege to work with Jack while he served as the Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Division. While charged with running the FBI's 6th largest field office, he also served as the Director of National Intelligence for the Pacific Region and chaired the FBI Director's Special Agents in Charge Advisory Committee. prgtoken As Bay Area Members of Congress, we appreciated Jack's leadership most when our nearby communities suffered great tragedy, such as the investigation into the mass shooting in Gilroy in July 2019. prgtoken I thank Jack for his service. His entire career has been dedicated to keeping Americans safe, and it is much appreciated. We wish him all the best on his well-earned retirement and while he spends more time with his wife, Teresa, and children, Natalie and Luke.
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-12-17

2020 has been a year of immense challenges. We are in the middle of an unprecedented economic and public health crisis. Small businesses have been forced to shutter or are barely staying afloat. Workers are out of jobs through no fault of their own, and folks are stressed about feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads. Healthcare workers are exhausted-- pressed to their breaking points from treating patients with COVID. prgtoken But, thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With the recent FDA vaccine emergency use authorization, Michiganians and Americans are finally starting to receive much needed reinforcements to combat and to control this virus. prgtoken Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we know the next 2 or 3 months or more are going to be difficult. We cannot let our guard down. We must continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash our hands. We all can--and we must--play an important role in defeating this virus, and we can do that if we work together. prgtoken Working together is the key to get through this pandemic. We know what happens when we work together here in this Chamber. Early on in this pandemic, we worked together to pass the CARES Act, which provided vital resources and support to keep families and workers afloat. prgtoken We worked together to pass additional aid for small businesses, for testing, for healthcare providers, and for hospitals. And, right now, we need to prgtoken once again come together and work together to pass another round of help. We have done it before, and we did it when case counts were far lower than they are now. prgtoken We need to summon the same sense of urgency, and we must come together at the end of this week and pass meaningful bipartisan and comprehensive COVID relief. We must prove to the American people that bipartisan negotiation is not a relic of the past. prgtoken As I talk to Michiganians each and every day, the message is very clear. They want us to put partisan politics aside and solve the very real challenges confronting our country. prgtoken Finding common ground and bringing people together has always been my approach to serving Michigan and the people of this Nation. This past year, I am proud to say, we worked together to advance legislation on priorities that not only addressed the pandemic but also tackled issues facing Michiganians and people across this country each and every day. prgtoken On a bipartisan basis, we have been able to pass legislation out of Congress on a number of topics, whether it has been expanding apprenticeship opportunities for veterans, closing loopholes that pose a threat to our national security, saving taxpayer dollars, protecting the Great Lakes, which is one of our Nation's most precious natural resources, hiring more agricultural inspectors at our Nation's ports of entry, or improving the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program. <|
Nominations (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-12-17

I am sorry that the Senator from Iowa, who spoke before me, left the floor before I could get his attention. prgtoken Senator Grassley is my friend. We have served together for many years. We have worked on a lot of things together, and I bet we will in the future. I like working with him. He shoots from the hip and tells you exactly what he thinks. He has--I know this sounds a little vain--a midwestern approach to him that I like a lot. prgtoken He just gave us a little reminder here about the difficulties that faced some prgtoken of the nominees on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I remember that. There were some that were delayed because of very basic things. They had not filed their financial disclosure forms and the ethics reports, which were expected of all Cabinet nominees. prgtoken I don't expect President-Elect to cut any corners. I expect his nominees to follow the rules and the law, and I am hoping that they will have bipartisan support when it comes to the Senate. I want to give this President a chance to get off to a good, solid start, and he is going to need it. prgtoken We are in the midst of this pandemic. The numbers that roll in every single day are frightening. Even in my home State of Illinois, where Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot and so many others have worked hard to establish standards of conduct that will keep people safe, we know that the numbers are just unacceptable in terms of infections and hospitalizations and, sadly, deaths as well. Over 300,000 Americans have died. prgtoken We want to make sure that President and Vice President have the team and the wherewithal and the resources to respond quickly when they take office on January 20. prgtoken I hope my friends will join me in that effort. They have every right to expect these nominees to answer the very basic questions that are required, but I hope that they will also do their best to expedite that process so that those going into critical positions to keep our country safe from this pandemic are in place, as well as those who are going to serve our Nation in critical capacities, whether it is Secretary of State or Attorney General or Department of Homeland Security. prgtoken But I look forward to working with my friend from Iowa. I take heed of his warning that we will hold these nominees to the same standards as we held President 's nominees
WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION ACT
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-12-17

. Madam , I thank my friend, Mr. Gallego, for yielding. prgtoken I rise in strong support of H.R. 5852. prgtoken Weir Farm is a magnificent jewel that resides in the middle of my district. prgtoken I should say at the outset, my district is actually smaller than a great number of the national park assets in this country, and so much of the agriculture that used to characterize southwestern Connecticut, of course, has given way to urban environments and to suburban environments. As a consequence, this 70 acres of land is truly a jewel inside Connecticut's Fourth District and inside Fairfield County, Connecticut. prgtoken The Weir Farm National Historic Site stretches across just 70 acres of land, but in those 70 acres, there are any number of historical buildings, a vast collection of American art, orchards and landscapes, trails, gardens, miles of stone walls, and Weir Pond, as well as over 250 historic painting sites. prgtoken Sometimes people don't remember--though I appreciate my colleagues today reminding everyone--that southwestern Connecticut has a long tradition of the production of American art, including Childe Hassam, who resided in my own town of Cos Cob, Connecticut. prgtoken But this particular national historical site, soon to become a national historical park, offers an opportunity, in particular, to the children who live in Stamford, Connecticut; Norwalk, Connecticut; and Bridgeport, Connecticut, cities that actually do have some meaningful poverty and in which children don't have a lot of opportunities to come face-to-face with their history, face-to-face with art, and face-to- face with our agricultural heritage, to actually see and touch these things. prgtoken It is a really wonderful location in the middle of Fairfield County, Connecticut, and this redesignation will capture the full breadth and the full comprehensive set of offerings that the Weir Farm National Historical Park will continue to offer the people of Connecticut and, quite frankly, the people of the United States. prgtoken The park's designation today fails to represent everything that the farm offers, including the remarkable youth programs that I referred to earlier, where organizations like Groundwork Bridgeport have partnered with Weir Farm to provide young people with opportunities that they might not otherwise have. prgtoken Before I close, Madam , I would like to thank Chairwoman Haaland, Chairman Grijalva of the subcommittee, Ranking Member Bishop, and Representative Young for working on this piece of legislation. prgtoken I thank the Friends of Weir Farm, including Elizabeth Castagna and Judy Wander, who have pushed this very hard, and the hardworking men and women at Weir Farm, including Linda Cook, the superintendent. prgtoken Finally, , Senator Murphy, who will be seeing that this bill moves expeditiously through the United States Senate. prgtoken I also thank, again, my friend, Mr. Gallego.
FAREWELL TO CONGRESS
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-12-17

. Madam , I would hope that anyone who has ever had the privilege to serve as a Member of Congress leaves this place with a heart full of gratitude. After 32 years as a Member of this body, I certainly feel that way. prgtoken It is hard to believe that I have been elected for 16 terms, 32 years. I came here at age 41, not knowing exactly what to expect, and I have learned a great deal in these 32 years. prgtoken I send gratitude, first and foremost, to the people of the 16th District of New York for sending me here 16 times. It has been an honor to have your trust and to be your voice here in the House. prgtoken Gratitude to thousands of people: the Capitol Police; the Sergeant at Arms; the Congressional Research Service; the Architect of the Capitol; the Office of the Attending Physician, Dr. Brian Monahan; and so many others. It takes prgtoken a small army to keep Congress running, and you seldom get the recognition you have earned. prgtoken Gratitude to my staff over the years, and let me acknowledge a few who have been with me for a long while: the staff director on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Jason Steinbaum; my chief of staff, Bill Weitz; and my administrative assistant here in Washington, Ned Michalek. prgtoken Madam , I will include in the Record a full roster of my staff in the office of the 16th District and on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with my profound thanks. And, of course, Madam , I send gratitude to my fellow Representatives. prgtoken When I came here, I never could have imagined that I would get to be chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It is a committee that I followed for many years. It is a committee that I have always thought was prestigious. It is a committee that I thought was very important, and to be on that committee was a wonder for me, but to be the chair of that committee is just unbelievable. prgtoken I especially want to thank the members of the New York delegation, past and present. We are a group as richly diverse as the great State we come from. I am proud of the way we have stood together and stood up for New Yorkers, particularly in times of crisis and tragedy: the pandemic we are enduring now; Superstorm Sandy; the Great Recession; and, of course, in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. prgtoken I am grateful to our leadership on both sides, and it has been a unique honor to serve alongside our distinguished , Ms. Pelosi from California. I have served alongside her for the entire length of my time in the House, and let me tell you--let me tell everybody--she is certainly one of a kind. I am privileged to call her my friend. prgtoken We work very hard here, and sometimes we are so busy working, we don't get to know some of our fellow Congress Members, particularly those on the other side of the aisle. As people are coming up to me and wishing me the best as I leave Congress, it is people from both parties who are doing it. My col
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-12-17

we continue to move closer to a final prgtoken agreement on an omnibus appropriations bill and a package of emergency Federal aid to provide the country relief from the continuing impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Yesterday, House and Senate leadership worked well into the night. We resumed first thing this morning. While many, if not all, of the difficult topics are behind us, a few final issues must be hammered out. We are very close to an agreement, but the details really matter. When it comes to unemployment benefits, stimulus checks, aid to small businesses, and so much else, we have a responsibility to get this right. People's lives depend upon it. prgtoken I would note that had the majority joined in negotiations anytime in the last 6 months, as we had requested, we would not be in the unfortunate position of negotiating against the government funding deadline. Leader McConnell kept calling for a pause, and here we are. I also note that we would have a much larger bill that met crucial needs of so many Americans if s had not been so intransigent. prgtoken But we are all eager to conclude our work and deliver the relief that the American people have been waiting for. Everyone wants to see this get done, and soon. It is not an easy feat or process. We are talking about providing relief to a country that is hurting from coast to coast; a country with tens of millions of unemployed workers and more slipping into poverty every day; a country with businesses of all sizes and varieties struggling in different ways and more in danger of closing for good every week; a country that just yesterday suffered the worst day of the entire pandemic--the most cases, the most hospitalizations, the most deaths, more than 3,600 American lives. prgtoken Already, we know that the size of this emergency relief bill would be the largest stimulus in the history of our country if not for the other COVID relief bill, the CARES bill, which I negotiated with Secretary Mnuchin and we passed earlier this year. prgtoken Let me say that again. We are putting the final touches on what would be the largest stimulus in the history of the country with the exception of the CARES Act--larger even than ARRA, the stimulus bill Congress passed in the wake of the financial crisis in 2009. prgtoken None of the remaining hurdles cannot be overcome. Everyone is committed to achieving a result, and we will not leave until we get the job done. prgtoken .