mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPORTING THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise today in support of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. prgtoken Providing robust funding to the VA is a step in the right direction to ensure our veterans receive the best possible care. prgtoken This legislation increases funding to the VA to the highest level ever. That funding will go towards providing for America's heroes. We are increasing funding for homeless veterans' services, mental healthcare, suicide prevention, opioid abuse, traumatic brain injury research and treatments, and rural health initiatives, just to name a few. prgtoken As the son of an Army family and an Army surgeon, I have seen firsthand many issues that our veterans face. As chairman of the VA Subcommittee on Health, I am working to instill real changes at the VA. This means better care for our men and women who have served our Nation. prgtoken Funding these important initiatives is a crucial part of repaying those who fought for our freedoms. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.
HONORING WILLIAM ``BILL'' HAMILTON, JR.
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise today to honor my dear friend, Arnold Robert Mathias, of Waco, Texas, who passed away on April 27, 2018. prgtoken Arnold Mathias was born in 1922 in Copperas Cove, Texas. While born in very modest circumstances, his parents would raise both him and his brother in a loving and nurturing family during the Great Depression. prgtoken After graduating from Copperas Cove High School, Arnold attended the University of California at Berkeley and Texas Tech University, from which he received a bachelor of business administration. prgtoken Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Arnold volunteered for the U.S. Army. While initially, as an 18-year-old, the bombing meant little to him, he ultimately experienced a surge of patriotism for our great Nation, and he felt committed to serve. That patriotism and commitment stayed with him throughout his lifetime. prgtoken During World War II, Arnold was the leader of a tank platoon in the 13th Armored Division, 24th Tank Battalion that was incorporated into General Patton's 3rd Army. He was wounded in the battle for the German Ruhr Valley when his tank exploded while under heavy fire from the Germans. prgtoken After recovering from his wounds, he returned to the front lines. Once victory was declared in Europe, he was told to prepare for the Japanese invasion. He was spared from being deployed to Japan after President Truman ordered the use of atomic bombs to achieve victory over Japan. prgtoken After the war, Arnold married Margie Dane Calhoun in 1950. Their 68- year marriage produced a loving family with three daughters who blessed him with four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. prgtoken Upon leaving Active Duty, Arnold began a long and fruitful career of public service. He managed a couple of community chambers of commerce in central Texas before becoming a district manager for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Houston. He also served as chairman of the zoning commission and was elected to the city commission and served as the mayor of a small city in County, Texas. He then served as the southwestern regional manager for the U.S. Chamber in Dallas. prgtoken Upon retiring from the U.S. Chamber, Arnold served as district director for the 11th Congressional District, which at the time included Waco and other portions of central Texas. He then went on to continue working in politics and public affairs as a consultant. prgtoken In addition to his professional career, Arnold served and participated in many civic and service associations, including central Texas chairman of the Girl Scouts of America, chairman of the United Way, board member of the Lions Club, the Downtown Dallas Rotary Club, the Waco Rotary Club, a Paul Fellow, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Cameron Park Zoological Society, Keep Waco Beautiful, and the Waco Historic Foundation. prgtoken Arnold's Christian faith was also very important to him and his
HONORING THE LIFE OF SEAMAN 1ST CLASS EDWARD SLAPIKAS
Lou Barletta (Republican, PA) \u2014 2018-6-8

it is my honor to recognize the life and legacy of Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas, who has finally come home to rest almost 80 years after his heroic passing. prgtoken Seaman Slapikas was tragically killed in action at the age of 24 while serving aboard the USS Oklahoma. He was one of 429 crewmen who perished on December 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Seaman Slapikas was interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where his name was marked as ``unidentified'' on the Walls of the Missing. prgtoken Now, 77 years later, Seaman Slapikas' remains have been identified thanks to the combined efforts of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPPA) and Seaman Slapikas' surviving family members. Since 2015, the DPPA has provided closure to over 120 families of fallen servicemen killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. prgtoken The return of Seaman Slapikas marks a momentous occasion, not only for the Slapikas family, but also for the community of Wanamie, Pennsylvania. The bravery of Seaman Slapikas was commemorated through the establishment of the American Legion Post 971, named for Seaman Slapikas and Petty Officer Keith Jeffries, a fellow serviceman who perished aboard the USS Arizona during the same attack. Seaman Slapikas' niece, Ms. Leona Hotko, plans to ensure that her ``favorite uncle'' is laid to rest near his childhood home in St. Mary's Cemetery in Wanamie. prgtoken , please join me in honoring the heroic life of Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas, and posthumously thanking him for his service to our great nation.
CONGRATULATING LIEUTENANT COLONEL SEAN MORROW
Peter J. Roskam (Republican, IL) \u2014 2018-6-8

I would like to congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Sean Morrow, a constituent of the Sixth District of Illinois. prgtoken On June 19, Sean will be taking command of the United Nations Security Battalion in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula. This unit is the most forward-deployed on the peninsula and stands on the front lines of freedom 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, facing the North Korean People's Army eye to eye in defense of democracy and our way of life. prgtoken As the son of a Korean war company commander myself, I am honored that my constituent is taking the helm of this command at such a crucial time. Sean is a warrior-scholar. A Ph.D. candidate in international relations at the University of Chicago, he is committed to protecting the United States on the battlefield but also rigorously studying the pressing national security challenges we face and their solutions. He has dedicated his life and his career to keeping our Nation safe. prgtoken , I wish Sean, his wife Meghan, and their three children God's very best, and I thank him for his service.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER AGENCY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise today to commend the Northern California Power Agency, also known as NCPA, on its 50th anniversary. prgtoken NCPA was established in 1968 by a consortium of locally owned electric utilities to make joint investments in energy resources that would ensure an affordable, reliable, and clean supply of electricity for customers in its member communities. prgtoken The agency's mission is to provide members with reliable, efficient, and cost-effective wholesale power and energy-related services. I can tell you that, during my time in Congress as well as my time in the California State Legislature, the agency meets that mission with flying marks. prgtoken They also own and operate nearly 260 megawatts of in-state hydropower resources that generate carbon-free electricity for Californians while also providing many outdoor recreational benefits, helping to meet the renewable mandate for electricity in the State. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the NCPA for 50 years of invaluable service to its public power members and their respective communities.
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise today along with the entire California Delegation to honor and pay tribute to former California Governor George Deukmejian, who passed away in Long Beach, California on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Deukmejian served the people of California in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed. prgtoken Deukmejian's parents, George Sr. and Alice Gairden, were Armenians who emigrated from the Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s to escape the Armenian Genocide. George Jr. was born on June 6, 1928, in Menands, New York. Deukmejian graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Siena College in 1949 and then earned a Juris Doctor from St. John's University in 1952. Shortly thereafter he served for two years in the U.S. Army, assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 955, Deukmejian moved to California and later met his future wife Gloria Saatjian. They married on February 16, 1957, and had three children. prgtoken Following a brief time in private law practice in Long Beach, Deukmejian entered politics and, in 1962, was elected to the California State Assembly. A few years later, Deukmejian was elected to the State Senate, where he would serve for twelve years and rise to become the Majority Leader. With a legacy of advocating for law and order, Deukmejian successfully ran for Attorney General in 1978. In 1982, Deukmejian was elected to his first term as Governor of California. He would later be re-elected to a second term in 1986. Throughout his time as Governor, Deukmejian was known as a fiscal conservative who was tough on crime and helped make the state economically competitive. prgtoken Along with the entire California Delegation, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Deukmejian family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of serving with him. Although Governor Deukmejian may be gone, the many life-changing contributions he made in California will have a lasting impact.
SUPPORTING INTEGRATION OF FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THE VA MISSION ACT OF 2018
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise today to highlight two important pieces of legislation that address the care of our nation's veterans. Earlier this week, President signed the bipartisan VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks, or VA MISSION Act, into law, enacting key reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill will help us fulfill our nation's promise to veterans by increasing access to quality, timely care and benefits, while increasing accountability and transparency at the agency. Today, the House passed an appropriations package that funds the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2019, including the new VA MISSION Act. Specifically, I would like to highlight a provision included in the bill that ensures the newly created Center for Innovation for Care and Payment has the resources it needs to improve quality and access to care for our vets, while finding cost savings at the VA by cutting through bureaucratic red tape and establishing common-sense partnerships with sister agencies in the federal government. One such partnership I hope the Center will consider exploring is the opportunity for VA Medical Centers to integrate care with Federal Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs. Many veterans, especially those who live in rural communities, face challenges accessing care through the traditional VA system, and partnering with FQHCs that already provide quality care in local communities could be the most effective alternative for veterans facing transportation, mobility, or additional concerns with traveling to the nearest VA hospital. With over 10,000 FQHC service sites located across the U.S a pilot program examining the opportunity for FQHCs to work with VA Medical Centers could demonstrate the viability of this program on a larger scale. Under the VA MISSION Act, FQHCs are already designated as eligible providers, just as they have been under current law for years. The Innovation Center has the authority to conduct pilot programs studying the best way to connect veterans to the high-quality care they deserve, and measuring the impact of a potential VA-FQHC partnership will generate the critical data necessary to determine how to achieve the missions of Veterans' Choice while cutting costs at the VA.
IMMIGRATION
Steve King (Republican, IA) \u2014 2018-6-8

it is a privilege to address you here on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken I would say, first of all, I want to compliment the gentleman on the selection of his tie--the nice Washington Capitals red tie that he has on. Everybody behind me who is dressed in red and up there dressed in red, , has to be celebrating the jinx being broken and the Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup last night. The streets were full of people celebrating. prgtoken By the way, it was fairly calm, considering the exhilaration that drove all of that. A few people came here a little tired today, but with a big smile on their face. So a lot of happy, tired people in Washington, D.C. My congratulations goes out to them. prgtoken I came here today speak about a topic that has been essentially consuming a lot of our time here in these debates, , and that is this topic of immigration. prgtoken We had a 2-hour conference on Thursday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.--it may have gone after that a little ways--to try to reach a resolution. It seems as though we got about the same kind of conclusion with our effort to reach a resolution as they did in the United States Senate when they debated on the floor of the Senate for 4 days on immigration issues, trying to get a consensus to bring any single bill out of the Senate that could get enough votes to pass. They fell short and nothing passed. That was February. I think some people have a sense of a consensus from the meeting yesterday, but I do not believe that we have anything that gets to 218 votes. prgtoken So, generally, , the conservatives and s would agree with four of the five pillars that President has laid out. I don't know if I will get them exactly right, but one is to build the wall. Another one is to secure the border. Another one is to end chain migration. Another one is to establish merit-based immigration, instead of having it be the chain migration that we have experienced. prgtoken I recall witnesses before the Immigration Committee years ago who testified that between 7 and 11 percent of our legal immigration in America--the legal immigration in America--only between 7 and 11 percent is based upon anything that we have control over, which presumably would be merit. prgtoken The balance of the legal immigration, then, is really not in the control of the American people or in the control of the United States Congress. It is in the control of the people who are, I will say, utilizing the current policy that we have, that we can't find the consensus to reverse. And those who are coming in the country sometimes by hook, by crook, and shenanigan, and sometimes just simply exploiting the laws that we have. prgtoken So it has always been very simple for me, ; that is, we need to secure the border. Without a border you don't have a nation. Any sovereign nation has to secure its borders and has to control those borders. That goe
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2018-6-8

as we complete debate on these three bills and these amendments, I would like to say a few words in closing. prgtoken I know I join my ranking member, Mrs. Lowey, in thanking our colleagues for the very constructive and civil debate over the last couple of days. I thank the chairman, certainly Judge Carter, as well as Ms. Wasserman Schultz and their counterparts for the other two bills, for being involved in work products that have been part of an open and collaborative process. prgtoken The Appropriations Committee received over 57,000 Member requests to our database and through our Member Day hearings, the majority of which are reflected in the bills that have been discussed over the last couple of days. prgtoken Secondly, now Members have the opportunity to further make their mark through the amendment process on the floor. The result, after two days here, is that we have legislation that truly represents the priorities of the American people. These priorities include caring for our veterans, our troops, and their families; rebuilding our Armed Forces; sustaining our national defense; and investing in essential infrastructure that grows our economy and creates jobs. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues, both s and , to support these bills. These are bills that fund Federal programs that all Americans, especially our veterans and our troops, rely on to keep themselves safe, protect their lives and livelihoods, and preserve our Nation's ideals. These are programs that all of us can support. prgtoken H.R. 5895 begins the 2019 appropriations process on a strong footing and fulfills our commitment to the American people that we will get our work done on their behalf, and I urge my colleagues to pass the bill as we go ahead to vote in the near future. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
John Ratcliffe (Republican, TX) \u2014 2018-6-8

. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their hard work on behalf of the 63,000 veterans in my district, as well as servicemembers and veterans across the country. prgtoken , I am grateful to once again have the opportunity to offer this important amendment, which would simply prohibit any funds made available in this act from being used to propose, to plan for, or to execute a new or additional round of BRAC. prgtoken , I am privileged to represent the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, which is home to the Red River Army Depot. The Depot has supported the warfighter since 1941; and although the Depot community has weathered a lot of changes over the years, its commitment to mission has remained the same. On the placards inside of every vehicle are the words ``We build it as if our lives depend on it. Theirs do.'' prgtoken The Depot is a vital job creator in northeast Texas, and it is a critical component, , of our national defense. In this fiscal environment, we have to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars and focus our limited resources on addressing critical national security objectives and our military readiness. Having another round of BRAC simply won't help us achieve this goal. prgtoken To that point, the Government Accountability Office said that the last round of BRAC back in 2005 cost the American taxpayers over $35 billion, which was 67 percent more than the original cost estimate. prgtoken Starting another round of BRAC would weaken our capabilities while prgtoken increasing our vulnerabilities in the face of critical threats facing our Nation right now. prgtoken I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported this important amendment for the past 3 years, and I look forward to having this amendment included in the MILCON-VA appropriations bill. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
HONORING MICHAEL POTEMRA
Paul D. Ryan (Republican, WI) \u2014 2018-6-8

I rise to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Michael Potemra, longtime literary editor of National Review Magazine. prgtoken Mike Potemra was a conservative thought leader who served President Reagan and three United States Senators--Kasten of Wisconsin, Durenberger of Minnesota, and DeWine of Ohio--before joining the Editorial Board of National Review in 1999. Mike was a valued and proud member of the Reagan Revolution. prgtoken I knew Mike when we worked in Senator Kasten's office together nearly 30 years ago. Mike's desk was around the corner from the mailroom where I started as an intern. He was a speechwriter for Senator Kasten, and a masterful one at that. With brilliance and absolute integrity, Mike took everyone he worked with to a higher level . . . so much from him. prgtoken Mike loved America and the mobility and economic liberty that America embraces. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Slovakian immigrants and grew up speaking both Slovak and English. His life embodies the American Dream: as a child of immigrants, he attended Catholic University, Harvard Law School, and served in the White House and the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Mike was a profound and dedicated conservative, but he was never partisan. He was intellectually curious about everything and embraced political discourse as a true American does--always providing people with the opportunity to change his mind--which rarely happened. prgtoken On a human level, Mike was a wonderful person with a keen sense of humor. More often than not, everyone who visited Mike's desk left with a smile and a hearty laugh at his jokes, observations, and uncanny impressions of William F. Buckley, Ronald Reagan, and Jack Kemp. prgtoken Let us take this time to remember Mike's life and service to our country, and pray for the people who loved him dearly--his family, friends, and colleagues. He was a good man, and a great American.
HONOR FLIGHT NORTHERN COLORADO 2018
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2018-6-8

in honor of America's heroic veterans, the Honor Flight Network conducts two annual Honor Flight ceremonies to Washington, D.C. to give our nation's heroes a day to visit and reflect at their war memorials. On May 6, 2018, Honor Flight Northern Colorado held its 20th Honor Flight that gave many of our courageous veterans this extraordinary opportunity. I am pleased to recognize the May 6, 2018 Honor Flight honoring World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans of Northern Colorado. prgtoken , those who participated in this flight are as follows: prgtoken World War II: William Behrns, Leila Morrison, Gail Wares. Korean War: Melvin Cook, Eldred Cooley, Eugene Curry, Bearl Dennison, James Dewey, Tito Garcia Jr, Karl Gruber, Manuel Jimenez, Donald Johnson, Myron Kapperman, Roger Lindgren, Bobby Lewis, John Mansfield, Thomas Mathias Jr, Dale Mikkelson, Mary Miller, Robert Murphy, Howard Nomes, James Onorato, Wilbur Smith, Sigvard Stenlund. prgtoken Vietnam War: Bruce Abel, Gary Allen, Russell Ayer, Roger Baker, John Ballenski, Philip Ballenski, Robert Beckman, Delmar Benkendorf, Joseph Bicek, Ivan Birdsall, Roger Booker, James Boyle, Ronnie Brown, Robert Buchanan, Ronald Byers, Wesley Carter, Timothy Casseday, Everett Collins, David Cordova, John Cordova, Keith Cross, Terry Curry, Terry Dack, Scott Dallman, James Ehrlich, Rodney Enriques, Gary Evans, Brian Finkle, Lewis Finch, Rudolph Gallegos, Pete Gomez, Clayton Goss, Stanley Graffis, John Haddick, Michael Hadwick, William Hamlin, Arthur , Michelle Herdengen, Charles Hill, prgtoken Richard Hill, William Hilgenberg, Ronald Hoagland, Robert Johnson, Ronald Klug, Terry Kramer, Lonnie Kruise, Darrel Kyger, Bertram Langeberg, Gerald Lauer, Jay Lee, James Lichty, Anthony Lucas, Thomas Mannix, Juan Martinez, Modesto Martinez, James McDaniel, Kenneth McDonald, Ronald McDuff, Phyllis Minch, Alfred Montoya, Thomas Moreno, Donald Morris, Stephen Morris, Dennis Moss, Joseph Muzy, Emery Patrick, Joseph Plummer, Steven Prater, Benjamin Prieb, Ronald Rains, Donald Ratliff, Richard Regan, Frederick Reiter, Thomas Robb, Bonnie Rohn, Fernando Romero Jr, Charles Rossi, Janice Schilling, Dennis Seitz, William Sladek, Michael Smith, Stephen Smith, Edward Snider Jr, John Tallman, Bruce Tibboel, Gary Todd, Gary Trippel, Billy Trobee, David Valdez, Wesley Van Pelt, Louis Velasquez, Stuart Veltkamp, Paul Wallace, Bryan Warwick, Tom Wasmer, Robert Watters, Steven Wilson, John Yost, William Young. prgtoken It is my distinct pleasure as the U.S. Representative of the 4th District of Colorado to recognize the honor, courage, and sacrifice of these heroes, along with all members of America's Armed Forces. I thank them for their dedication and service to this nation.