mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING COMMANDER MARK GRABOSKI FOR HIS SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , it is my honor to recognize Commander Mark Graboski for his retirement as Executive Officer of the Air Station Traverse City, United States Coast Guard. Through his exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion, Mark has become an indispensable part of Michigan's First District. prgtoken Mark graduated from the University of Wisconsin--Madison through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1989 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Following deployments in the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, he transitioned to the U.S. Coast Guard and served in Washington and Alabama. He ultimately landed in Michigan at Air Station Traverse City, which operates Air Facilities throughout the Great Lakes region--performing search and rescue operations and other critical missions along the entirety of Lake Michigan and significant portions of Lakes Superior and Huron. prgtoken As Executive Officer and a helicopter pilot, Graboski led a team of 168 personnel and three MH-60 helicopters for search and rescue operations throughout the Great Lakes and Midwest. He has accumulated more than 5,600 flight hours, and his decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, three USCG/Navy Commendation Medals, two USCG Achievement Medals and numerous unit, campaign, and service awards. His exceptional leadership skills are reflected in the excellence of those who have served under him and the trust placed in him by the people of Northern Michigan. Commander Graboski's constant dedication to the public good is commendable, and the impact of his work on the people of Northern Michigan cannot be overstated. prgtoken Madam , it's my honor to recognize Commander Mark Graboski for his service to the people of our state. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a devoted individual. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Mark all the best in his future endeavors.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019. prgtoken This bill is similar to the disaster supplemental that passed the House in January. We have been waiting for the Senate to act on their version of the supplemental for several months. prgtoken Unfortunately, taking up a disaster bill for the second time without addressing the administration's concerns will not increase its chance of becoming law. prgtoken While this bill assists many communities struggling to recover from hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and tornadoes, I have to oppose this measure today. prgtoken I am particularly concerned about repairs that are needed for severely damaged military installations. We must return these facilities to a condition that can support our men and women in uniform. Unfortunately, the needs are actually greater than what is funded in this bill. prgtoken I am also concerned that the bill fails to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the border. The rule for this bill does not allow us to consider an amendment to provide humanitarian relief and enhanced security at the border. prgtoken On my recent visits to the border, I have seen firsthand that the crisis is getting worse every day. The numbers are staggering. In April alone, Customs and Border Protection made 109,000 apprehensions on the southwest border. More than half of these were family units. prgtoken There have been more apprehensions in the first 7 months of this fiscal year than in all of the last fiscal year. Resources are urgently needed to address the health and safety of our law enforcement personnel, as well as families with children who are seeking refuge. This bill does nothing to address this crisis. prgtoken We have no choice but to work together on this issue. We do not have the luxury of waiting for months to get resources to law enforcement, social service providers, and public health officers. The time to act is now. prgtoken I want to thank Chairwoman Lowey for her tireless work to address the needs of our Nation. Just as we worked together to end the shutdown in February, we can come together again to rebuild our communities, protect our border, and provide humanitarian assistance where it is urgently needed. prgtoken Unfortunately, I have to oppose this bill as it currently stands. I hope we can continue to work with the Senate and the White House to come up with a compromise and get disaster assistance to the communities that need it most. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Jeff Fortenberry (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, first, let me thank Chairman Visclosky for the time and for his efforts here, as well as the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham), for offering this very important amendment to the bill. prgtoken Madam Chair, it is pretty jarring when you stand in your district at a major piece of America's military infrastructure, Offutt Air Force Base, and it is a third underwater. prgtoken Offutt Air Force Base is also home to Strategic Command, which is the command that is in charge of our nuclear enterprise here and around the world. prgtoken In March of this year, a furious slurry of soil and water and ice rushed down the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers. It crossed over the Missouri, hit the Iowa levee, blew it out, dug a 62-foot hole, and then water began to come back up the Missouri River. prgtoken Offutt Air Force Base sits at the confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, and this is what forced the flooding. prgtoken I am very grateful, again, to my colleagues for recognizing that this is a disaster that needs national attention, along with the other natural disasters that have hit our country, particularly Tyndall Air Force Base, as well. prgtoken This amendment provides the funds to the Air Force operations and maintenance accounts to rebuild essential military infrastructure in my district and around the country. It will help us rebuild hangars and other buildings at Offutt, and this is in dire need. prgtoken I am pleased that my colleagues have recognized that this package, $120 million of which could potentially go to Offutt, is also essential for helping our Nation rebound from the various natural disasters that have hit us.
HONORING CLAUDIA JACKSON
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to honor and recognize Claudia Jackson, a Corpus Christi native, for her commitment to serving Del Mar College and promoting education in the community. prgtoken Claudia Jackson started her career at Del Mar College nearly 42 years ago, and in 1977, became the Director of Public Information. By 2013, thanks to her work ethic and perseverance, she rose to become Executive Director of Strategic Communication and Government Relations. prgtoken During her tenure, the College Relations Office staff received roughly 100 marketing and advertising awards, including a Gold Medallion of Excellence from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. prgtoken Ms. Jackson's leadership was felt throughout Del Mar College, as she served as a member of the President's Executive Team and was responsible for interacting with local, state, and national elected officials to discuss and promote the college's various needs and initiatives. Additionally, she represented the College on the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Mayor's Interagency Group. prgtoken Time and again, Claudia Jackson demonstrated her passion for education, and commitment to the city of Corpus Christi. Ms. Jackson was named Corpus Christi YWCA Woman of the Year in Communications in 1993. She received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV in 1997. prgtoken Claudia Jackson represents the very best of the 27th District of Texas, and I would like to extend to her my thanks and appreciation for her excellent service and devotion to education.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , we have heard a great deal today-- actually, from both sides of the aisle pointing fingers across the way at the opposing party--about the issue of children: taking care of children that are brought here illegally, taking care of children that supposedly come here on their own. prgtoken But since we know that nobody crosses from Mexico into the United States illegally without having the permission of the drug cartel that controls that section of the Mexico-U.S. border, it is not really accurate to say a child comes unaccompanied, because a child can't cross Mexico by himself. A child is brought by somebody. prgtoken Unfortunately, as we know, the figures from both government groups, Doctors Without Borders, and others are pretty staggering when you realize that such a large percentage--25 percent, 30 percent--of girls who come to the United States through Mexico are raped. prgtoken I have seen too many rape trees that it breaks my heart. It is just, as the poet said, incredible, the inhumanity to man. It is staggering. prgtoken And sometimes it is difficult to tell people no that want to come here, but there is not a country in the world that lets more people into that country than the United States does. There is nowhere. prgtoken Countries that are much bigger geographically, countries that have many more people, countries that have more space per person, there is no country that is as generous with the right being given to come in to a country legally as the United States, and I love that about our country. prgtoken But it is important to have rules about who gets to come in. Obviously, some have projected that there may be 1 billion, 1.5 billion people who would like to come to the United States. If the 300, 350 million or so people here were to have a billion people come in, obviously, this country would cease to exist as it has or is or could be. It would cease to exist. It would become a Third World country. There would be so much massive unemployment overwhelming the social services. Disease would become rampant. prgtoken As we see people coming here from other countries, there are diseases that we had completely eliminated in the United States that are now being reintroduced to the United States because we have not enforced our borders and made sure that people coming in, as welcome as they are to come in legally, that they are not coming in with a disease that puts people in the United States in jeopardy. Once you do that, then you don't continue to be that light on the hill that so many want to come to. There is no place left. prgtoken Last year, there were some people here who said: Well, you know, if we keep losing more and more of our freedom here in the United States, maybe we just can all go to Australia. prgtoken I had a few guys that I met with from Australia. I thought they would find that amusing. But they didn't smile; they didn't laugh. They said: Do you not understand? If you lose you
TEXAS COWBOY REUNION
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Texas Cowboy Reunion, which was recently inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. prgtoken Located in the small west Texas town of Stamford, the Texas Cowboy Reunion has been preserving the heritage of the American cowboy and the West for almost 90 years. prgtoken Madam , Texans have always been a resilient people, and what started as a way for Stamford to lift the spirit of its citizens from the depths of the Great Depression has developed into what is known as the world's largest amateur rodeo. To this day, it continues to attract people from all over to honor the pioneers of the past, through barrel racing, calf roping, and other timeless cowboy traditions. prgtoken Every year, on the Fourth of July, my family and I look forward to taking in the rodeo festivities and just being back home with friends and my fellow west Texans. prgtoken So congratulations to Matt Mueller and everyone at the Texas Cowboy Reunion on this well-deserved recognition. I will see them all in July. prgtoken God bless, and go west Texas.
HONORING DAVID BLOM OF OHIOHEALTH
Troy Balderson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the career of David Blom, who is retiring from his service as president and CEO of OhioHealth this July. prgtoken Under David's watch, OhioHealth has grown leaps and bounds into central Ohio's largest healthcare system. In 17 years at the helm, Dave built OhioHealth into a top employer and economic driver in Ohio. prgtoken When his tenure began, OhioHealth employed 14,000 associates and caregivers. That number has more than doubled to more than 30,000 OhioHealth associates and caregivers today. prgtoken What is more, OhioHealth was just named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2019 for the 19th straight year, fostered by Dave's leadership. prgtoken Moreover, when Dave took the reins in 2002, not a single OhioHealth hospital existed in what is now my congressional district. Today, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, Dublin Methodist Hospital, and Westerville Medical Campus all lie in the 12th Congressional District. prgtoken Throughout this rapid development, Dave has kept an unwavering commitment to keeping care local for patients across Ohio's communities. prgtoken Keeping care local isn't merely a slogan for Dave. Rather, it represents a cultural focus on serving each community, creating access to care, and establishing standard practices and procedures around medicine and patient care, all so Ohioans can receive the healthcare services they need close to home. prgtoken Dave has been gracious in sharing his leadership with the central Ohio region. During his tenure as chairman of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the chamber elevated its mission and made a profound impact on regional growth. prgtoken Dave also serves on the Columbus Partnership executive committee, a nonprofit organization of more than 70 CEOs of Columbus' leading businesses and institutions. prgtoken Dave has positively impacted so many lives by making care accessible for Ohioans--for urban, suburban, and rural areas alike--and by growing OhioHealth into a robust employer in the region I call home. I thank him very much for his service.
HONORING THE LIFE OF JAY PRICE
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , today I rise to remember the life of my friend Mr. Jay Price of Casey County in the First Congressional District of Kentucky. prgtoken After graduating from Western Kentucky University as an ag major, Jay returned home to manage his family's beef cattle farm and teach agriculture at Casey County High School. Jay devoted his career to educating nearly three decades of young farmers. His students will not only remember the skills they learned but the life lessons and guidance he provided at every opportunity. prgtoken As an FFA adviser, teacher, and mentor, his support in and out of the classroom had an outsized influence on thousands of young adults. By connecting them with industry and State leaders, he ensured they were well prepared to pursue remarkable educational and career opportunities. prgtoken Jay also dedicated his time to advancing the prosperity of his fellow farmers through his leadership in local and State organizations. His peers recognized his profound influence on Kentucky agriculture and inducted him as a member of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association Hall of Fame, along with many other accolades throughout his life. prgtoken His passion for the agriculture industry and his students is rivaled only by his love for his family: his wife, Carol; his daughters, Lauren and Lindsay; their husbands, Brian and Jon; and his prgtoken grandchildren Clay, Avery, and Hudson. prgtoken I join with his entire family--including his mother, siblings, and a host of friends who he considered family--in celebrating and remembering his lifetime of service to others.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. ROBERT SPITZER
Bryan Steil (Republican, WI) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , this weekend, we say goodbye to a Burlington legend, a man who exemplified the Wisconsin spirit. A farmer, educator, businessman, president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and UN delegate, Dr. Robert Spitzer dedicated his life to bettering the nation and our Southeast Wisconsin community. Dr. Spitzer's reach and knowledge was not limited to Wisconsin--or the United States. In nearly every aspect of his life, Dr. Spitzer's commitment to agriculture and education is evident. Dr. Spitzer served as head of the U.S. State Department's Food for Peace program in the 70s and later as the U.S. delegate to the United Nations' World Food Program. These programs have helped billions of people worldwide gain access to food sources. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Spitzer became the third president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Under his leadership, MSOE expanded its programs, rose enrollment, and became internationally recognized. Dr. Spitzer also spent more than two decades at Murphy Products Co an agribusiness in Burlington, Wisconsin. To Dr. Spitzer's wife, Delores, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, our prayers are with you. Burlington, our state, and nation are stronger because of Dr. Spitzer's innovative spirit and expertise. His passion and legacy will be remembered for generations.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam Chair, I appreciate the bipartisan work here to support our bases that need to be rebuilt. prgtoken I urge the support of this amendment to increase the Air Force O&M budget in the Disaster Aid Package to a total of $670 million for recovery of the military bases that sustained extensive damage by the recent storms. prgtoken In March, my district in my home State of Nebraska experienced devastating floods where lives were lost and the scale of the destruction made it the worst natural disaster in our 152-year history as a State. prgtoken The damage to Nebraska's infrastructure, agriculture, and local economy is extensive and includes Offutt Air Force Base, one of the two largest employers in our area. prgtoken At the height of the storm, one-third of the base was under water, 3,000 people were displaced from their work centers, and 1.2 million square feet of mission space was lost. The flight line was inoperable, with a third of the runway under water. Many structures incurred significant damages, and critical systems were destroyed. prgtoken Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to those men and women at Offutt that worked relentlessly to save what they could. The mission impact and cost to the taxpayers would have been worse without their heroic efforts. prgtoken So I am very grateful for the bipartisan leadership here and the teamwork by Representatives Cunningham, Fortenberry, Dunn, and so many others to make this a reality. prgtoken You know, Offutt is one of the two primary intelligence surveillance reconnaissance hubs in our country, and it is the home of StratComm, so it is vital that we get this done. prgtoken Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and we need to support this amendment.
CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITIC VIOLENCE
Duncan Hunter (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , in the aftermath of the attack at Chabad of Poway on April 27, 2019, that took place on the last day of Passover and just months after the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, I rise to strongly condemn antisemitism and to bring attention to the troubling increase in attacks on Jews. prgtoken Just last year, attacks on Jews and Jewish communities rose to a level that has not been seen in decades, with offensive language, actions, damage to property, injuries to people, and unfortunately, loss of life. There is an increase in anti-Semitic content online and in print and the rhetoric is becoming more common place and seemingly more normalized and accepted by civil society. prgtoken Last week was Israel's recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. It's therefore fitting that we recognize the threat of unchecked anti-Jewish bigotry and discrimination in light of one of the world's worst state sponsored massacres: the systematic and deliberate, government- controlled persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime. prgtoken At the same time, I stand with the victims of the attack in Poway and their families, and will work with those here, and in my community, to guard against such hateful violence in the future.
RECOGNIZING FIRST BAPTIST BRYAN BUSINESS MEN'S BIBLE CLASS
Bill Flores (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-10

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the First Baptist Bryan's Business Men's Bible Class during the 100th anniversary of their organization. prgtoken During World War I, Dr. Jonathan Held, the pastor of First Baptist Church, was encouraged by Brazos Valley women to address the challenges facing the community. On February 9, 1919, Dr. Held assembled a group of 15 men at the Queen Theatre in Downtown Bryan to share the message of Jesus Christ. prgtoken At that time, the precedent for their meetings was set. Beginning with two hymns, the program is followed by prayer, a lesson, benediction, attendance, and open discussion. Teaching responsibilities are shared by four individuals and the Explore the Bible series is the basis for all the lessons. prgtoken In 1927, the group moved to the First Baptist Bryan's church facilities. As the group approached its 50th anniversary, the weekly Bible lessons began to be broadcast on the radio each Sunday. These broadcasts have increased the reach of the lessons as folks who are unable to attend can participate by listening. prgtoken Since that time, the Business Men's Bible Class has grown to over 300 members of varying religious denominations committed to upholding the group's mission. Meeting every Sunday, the group gathers to facilitate more Bible study and share the story of Jesus Christ to all people and deepen the faith of all those who know Him. prgtoken Madam , the Business Men's Bible Class has had a deep impact in the Brazos Valley since their organization in 1919. Their service to our community and commitment to spreading God's message cannot be overstated. prgtoken I have requested that a United States flag be flown over our Nation's Capitol to honor the work and legacy of the First Baptist Bryan Business Men's Bible Class. prgtoken May God bless its membership and the United States of America. prgtoken As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country, for our veterans, for our military men and women who protect us, and for our first responders who keep us safe at home.