mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROTECT FARMERS' WATER AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-5-27

in that we do have other things going on in this country besides the virus, we do have a crisis up in the Klamath Basin on the border of California and Oregon right now. prgtoken The Klamath farmers up there are the owners of the Klamath Project water. It was created approximately 100 years ago to allow the ability to farm crops to returning World War I and World War II veterans at that point. Those growers owned the right to approximately 350,000 acre-feet from the Upper Klamath Lake, water created by the project which would not exist without the creation of the project. prgtoken This year, after many years of having their water pirated away from them, their allocation during a lesser water rainfall and snowfall season was 140,000 acre-feet, they were told on April 1, the second- worst allocation they have ever had, rivaled only by 2001 when they got zero acre-feet allocated to them. 140,000 acre-feet, they were told. prgtoken So as farmers do--I am a farmer; I get it--we go out and start the process of planting; tilling the ground; ordering up your fertilizer and your seed; applying the fertilizer; and then, finally, seeding the ground. prgtoken Well, lo and behold, a few weeks later, it was decided to release 50,000 acre-feet from that lake in order to help suppress a virus farther down the Klamath River called the C. shasta, which is supposed to be harmful to the coho salmon, a fish that is deemed endangered on the Klamath, yet not endangered in other areas of the country. prgtoken Right on the heels of the end of that 50,000 acre-foot release for C. shasta virus for coho salmon, it was decided that there is now not enough water in the lake. The incoming water supply was misestimated. prgtoken They were told they were going to have to cut back from the original 140,000 acre-feet. They were going to cut back approximately 60,000 acre-feet of that, leaving them with about 80,000 acre-feet for the entire season. This is crops already spent, the cost already incurred to be put in the ground. prgtoken The water supply is estimated to last until approximately June 15. From June 16 to September, they are going to be in a very dire way. They are going to be out of water, with the investment in the ground. prgtoken As devastating as 2001 was, this will break many farms up in the Klamath Basin. Unique crops they grow up there--mint, radishes, potatoes, many others--as well as the refuge that sits at the far end of that system that needs the water to flow through those irrigation districts so we will have a duck population, so we will have other wildlife that is extremely important not only for the area but for the entire State of California and the West Coast. prgtoken This duck population is going to be devastated. Just recently, when they had good water, they had a huge number of ducks hatch, and we had a good population. That is going to be devastated. prgtoken Farming is the only major economic industry, really, in
IN HONOR OF THE UPCOMING RETIREMENT OF PETER M. HAYES
Fred Upton (Republican, MI) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career and outstanding public service of my dear friend, Peter M. Hayes. I would like to congratulate Peter on his upcoming retirement which is well-deserved. prgtoken During the Reagan Administration, I got to know Peter when he served as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Depaitment of Interior, and was the Deputy Director of Congressional Liaison for two Secretaries of the Interior. During that time, I was working at OMB with David Stockman and we shared some great personal and professional experiences as we began our careers in Washington, D.C. This bond of friendship formed in those years has only strengthened and grown. prgtoken In 1985, Peter joined the Salt River Project (SRP), the nation's third-largest public power utility and the largest supplier of water to the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. SRP provides water and electricity to more than 2 million people in metropolitan Phoenix and is one of the largest raw water suppliers in Arizona, managing an extensive system of dams, reservoirs, wells, canals, and irrigation laterals. prgtoken In a career that spanned four decades in the private and public sector, Peter was a leader in public policy and brought vision to a wide array of energy and water issues that helped Arizona. He played a critical role in the negotiations on Capitol Hill and with the President George H.W. administration during the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, which led to scrubbers being installed on the Navajo Generation Station. During his tenure as Associate General Manager, Peter worked to support many issues in futherance of Arizona's economy, including the expansion of public education, the development of the Valley's transportation systems, and the infrastructure to support Arizona's sports and tourism industry. prgtoken Peter's business and community leadership included terms as Chairman of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, a Board member of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee of the Arizona Science Center, a member of the Dean's Advisory Board of the ASU Barrett Honors College, and a member of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. His commitment to education and the principles of American democracy led him to lead the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute as Chairman of the Board and worked to establish the Institute as the nation's premier civics education organization. prgtoken In addition to his many contributions to public service, Peter is a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife Lynn live in Phoenix, though look forward to spending more time in Pinetop. With humor, charm, goodwill and vision, Peter has been a great friend, and he has been a leader to those who seek to make Arizona and the United States a better place. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to recognize the leadership of Peter M. Hayes and commend him for his service to the Salt
VIRTUAL GREATER LEXINGTON CHAMBER
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , the always thoughtful Daisy Wilson Harman on May 21st in the Lexington County Chronicle highlighted the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce being innovative as it promotes its community and citizens during the Wuhan virus pandemic. There has been so many changes in our lifestyle since the pandemic hit in mid-March. Last Tuesday our Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce held its first monthly without members or breakfast, but by virtual means. Sponsored by Burr Foreman McNair, their message was ``how pandemic has affected minds of your potential customers, their thoughts on travel, eating out, and overall concerns and more.'' The basic overall thought is we have experienced change in every part of our life, and we are living in unprecedented times. Even though concerned about the unknown, it is encouraging that consumers seem to be embracing the new normal. They are confident about getting back to work and life with safe practices. Chernoff Newman gave all important insights and data on this new lifestyle in which we are living. It appears much travel will be within our state or country rather than abroad. This places change in our tourism industry. It was very informative program.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 6172, USA FREEDOM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I do want to point out that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978--note the first word is ``Foreign''--the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 provided authorities for the collection of foreign intelligence information to protect the United States from foreign threats. These authorities were expanded after 9/11, and their use has exceeded the original intent. prgtoken The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court provides authorization via court order. Inspector General Horowitz's recent report revealed intentional abuse of the FISA process by FBI officials investigating the campaign, investigating the campaign for alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 Presidential campaign. After extensive study by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, no such connection could be found. prgtoken In addition, agents of the FBI reportedly used official meetings with then-President-elect and incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn for the purposes of gathering information on them, intelligence information. These politically driven actions by the FBI were highly irregular; inappropriate; and, in the case of inaccurate FISA court applications, actually criminal. prgtoken It is not legal to lie to a FISA court judge. Yet, no one has been held accountable. No one has stood trial. Certainly, no one has served a sentence to account for these crimes. prgtoken Madam , what is the point of passing a law if the enforcement agency is the one abusing it? This is malfeasance of the highest order, and it certainly must not go unpunished. prgtoken Let's be clear: We all want to protect the American people. Part of that responsibility includes authorizing certain activities by our intelligence agencies to obtain critical information on foreign targets. But, no, Americans' civil liberties should not be jettisoned for that effort. prgtoken When the House first passed H.R. 6172, the reauthorization of the USA FREEDOM Act, I supported the bill because of the improvements that were made to the FISA process. But since then, we have learned details that indicate that the abuse was much more widespread and much more deliberate than initially reported. prgtoken Given that, rather than place some additional requirements on the exercise of existing authorities, I think we must fully reevaluate the FISA authorities to resolve the right balance between protecting our Nation and the rights of the American people. prgtoken In addition, the administration does not support this bill in its current form, which means that this is going to be yet another in a long line of activities undertaken by the ic majority that is not going to be successful.
RECOGNIZING THE 102ND REPUBLIC DAY OF AZERBAIJAN
Robert B. Aderholt (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , as one of the House Co-chairs of the Azerbaijan Caucus, I am honored to recognize the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, commemorating Azerbaijan's 102nd year of independence and democracy. On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan became the first secular democratic state in the prgtoken Muslim East. Though it was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1920, Azerbaijan again declared its independence seven decades later in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. prgtoken Azerbaijan's Republic Day serves as a time to highlight and reflect on some of the country's best qualities, including its strong relationship with Israel, its focus on energy security, and its key role in regional stability. prgtoken A Muslim-majority country, Azerbaijan also hosts a thriving, secure Jewish community, and the Azerbaijan-Israel bilateral relationship is strong. prgtoken Additionally, Azerbaijan is committed to protecting global energy security, especially through its efforts regarding the Southern Gas Corridor, which will decrease the Caspian region's dependence on Russian oil. prgtoken A stalwart U.S. ally, Azerbaijan has aided U.S. and NATO forces by providing critical refueling stations, and Azerbaijan's troops have fought side-by-side with U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In addition, Azerbaijan has contributed to the security of Kosovo and Iraq and supports peacekeeping operations under the United Nations and NATO. Azerbaijan is also committed to global nonproliferation efforts and participates as a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. prgtoken Azerbaijan is a significant U.S. partner in a strategically important area of the world, and I urge my colleagues to join me to commending the people of Azerbaijan on their Republic Day.
RUDI SCHEIDT'S INCREDIBLE LEGACY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the incredible 95 years of life of Rudi Scheidt. Although born in Germany and raised in San Francisco, Rudi spent most of his life in Memphis. prgtoken Through Rudi and his wife, Honey's, active philanthropy and dedication to the arts, he touched almost every aspect of cultural life in the Memphis community. prgtoken Rudi and Honey helped expand the University of Memphis Music School, now known as the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. They aided the Memphis Wonders Series to both evolve and prosper. prgtoken Rudi was committed to the Jewish community, serving as President of Temple Israel. He remained a true leader for his synagogue. prgtoken Tony Bennett's lyrics were wrong on this occasion, for, you see, Rudi Scheidt didn't leave his heart in San Francisco. Rudi left his heart in Memphis. prgtoken I feel lucky to be able to call Rudi a friend. I know the city of Memphis and the Jewish community will feel his impact for years to come. Roberta and I will miss him. prgtoken My thoughts are with his wife, Honey, as well as their children: Susan; Helen; Rudi, Jr.; and Elkan during this difficult time.
UYGHUR HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY ACT OF 2020
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise in support of S. 3744. the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020. I was proud to join Congressman Chris Smith to introduce an earlier version of this important legislation at the beginning of last year and I'm glad to that we are finally able to get this legislation across the finish line today. prgtoken As a senior Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and a committed defender of human rights, I have watched over the years as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) routinely mistreats its people. The list of abuses is too long to recount here but it spans every sector of human life from religious freedom, to due process protections, to press freedom and freedom of assembly, to China's notorious population policies. Pretty much every freedom in our Bill of Rights is lacking in China. prgtoken Religious freedom, specifically, is a longstanding issue. The CCP seems to think that religion is a fundamental enemy. Not only are Christians hounded and mistreated, but Falun Gong practitioners are brutally persecuted, with many having their organs harvested involuntarily. prgtoken That brings us to the situation in Xinjiang and the Orwellian nightmare faced by Uyghur Muslims there today. As the problem has gotten worse and more facts have come out, the situation has become clear. China imprisons somewhere between one and three million Uyghurs in concentration camps where they undergo indoctrination and forced labor. Many are tortured. For Uyghurs outside the camps, the CCP also makes life difficult, subjecting them to intense surveillance and policing. Notably, Uyghurs both in and outside the camps are made to eat foods forbidden to Muslims and forced to abandon other practices of their faith. The Party even pursues Uyghurs in other countries by attempting to control their behavior through threats against family members still in China and by pressuring other countries to send them back to China. prgtoken No one deserves to live with this kind of persecution which is why this malicious treatment of the Uyghurs by the CCP must brought to an end. We all wish to see the day when China behaves like, and can be treated as, a normal country. Until that time, we delude ourselves if we treat it like one. That is why we must enact the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act today.
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK 2020
Ken Buck (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize National Police Week. Taking place during the week of May 10 through 16, 2020, National Police Week highlights our brave men and women in uniform for all their hard work keeping their communities safe. In the Fourth District of Colorado we are lucky to have many exemplary law enforcement officers serving the public every day. These dedicated individuals risk their lives to protect others and are deserving of our deepest gratitude, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to celebrate the many law enforcement officers in Colorado. prgtoken I also rise to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by several police officers while serving in Colorado's 4th district. Corporal Daniel H. Groves of the Colorado State Patrol was killed in a vehicle accident during a blizzard on March 13, 2019. He was assisting a motorist who had skidded off the road when another vehicle lost control and struck him. Master Trooper William James Moden, also of the Colorado State Patrol, was killed while assisting at the scene of a previous accident on June 14, 2019. He was also tragically struck by a passing vehicle. These brave men, both of whom had twelve years of dedicated service to the Colorado State Patrol, died serving their communities and it is an honor to recognize them for their sacrifice.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 6172, USA FREEDOM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I appreciate the opportunity here to visit about what we are dealing with today with respect to proxy voting with respect to the previous question. And I notice that the gentleman from Massachusetts--and, first of all, and our prayers go out for the tragedy that you are dealing with in Massachusetts, at a significant clip worse than we are in Texas, obviously, regionally very difficult. prgtoken But what we are trying to deal with here right now is trying to protect the Constitution of the United States. And this is not something that is about slowing down the work of this body. I am delighted to work with my colleague, Dean Phillips from Minnesota. Right now, together, we are all working on legislation to try to improve the PPP, and I am delighted to do that as the cosponsor of that legislation. I am not here to slow down what we need to be doing to help work for the people of the United States, I can assure you. prgtoken I am here because the Constitution matters. In the various staff reports that talked about the options for us to deal with this, I would remind you that our ic colleagues acknowledge the constitutional questions that arise from proxy voting. prgtoken Let's be clear to the American people that we are not talking about remote voting. I, too, like the gentleman from Virginia, have very serious constitutional reservations about remote voting, but let's have that debate. Let's have a thorough debate about that. But we are talking about proxy voting. prgtoken For those people who are watching this back at home, understand what that means. That means that a Member of this body who has been delegated to them the responsibility from their constituents to vote for them, to argue for them, to be on this body representing them, is taking that solemn duty and handing it to another, and in some cases, 5 or 10 Members handing it to another. prgtoken That undermines our body. It dilutes the representation of our constituent. It dilutes those of us as Members and the power and importance that is entrusted to us to represent our constituents. prgtoken This is what is at stake, and this is what we are talking about, and this is why we have filed litigation. prgtoken I would rather that we address this in this body, but in talking to the Parliamentarian, I was advised there was nothing we could do, that when the House voted 10, 12 days ago----
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 102ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
Paul Cook (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 102nd Anniversary of the ic Republic of Azerbaijan. prgtoken On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan gained independence from the Russian Empire and became the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks invaded Azerbaijan in prgtoken 1920 and incorporated it into the Soviet Union a few years later. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Azerbaijan declared independence and was quickly recognized by the United States. prgtoken After restoring diplomatic relations in 1992, the United States and Azerbaijan began a partnership that has continued to this day. Azerbaijanis have fought alongside American troops in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and their country was among the first to express support for the United States after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. prgtoken Azerbaijan has also fostered close ties with American allies such as Israel, providing approximately 40 percent of the oil Israel consumes and partnering on economic and national security issues. Through its leadership in the Southern Gas Corridor initiative, Azerbaijan plays an important role in diversifying energy routes to maintain the energy security of key U.S. allies in Europe. As a pluralistic and secular Muslim-majority country, Azerbaijan is also home to thriving Jewish and Christian communities. This religious tolerance has been recognized by the European Parliament. prgtoken I extend my best wishes to all Azerbaijanis on this momentous occasion and look forward to continued partnership between our two nations.
RECOGNIZING AND HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LTC) THAD THOME ON HIS RETIREMENT
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-5-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Thad Thome for his retirement from the United States Army after over 20 years of service. prgtoken LTC Thome's record of service with the U.S. Army is truly impressive. He began his career after enlisting in 1989 by working in the 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion. He ended his enlisted service in 1992 as a Sergeant. LTC Thome earned his commission in 2000 and served with the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment in Friedberg, Germany. After which, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and from 2006 to 2007 to advise intelligence personnel. prgtoken LTC Thome deployed as the Deputy J2 for CJTF-10 in Afghanistan during operations from 2014 to 2015, which brought the combat phase of U.S. operations to a close and began a new phase of Operation Resolute Support. He also served in the CENTCOM J2 Operations Division as the Global Force Management Team Lead, frequently traveling to Kuwait, Qatar, and Afghanistan from 2015 to 2017 to support combat deployed HQs with critical Intelligence personnel support to counter strength issues. LTC Thome's contributions to U.S. Army and Joint Forces Intelligence throughout his career ensured successful operations and the national defense of our nation. prgtoken Originally from Rapid City, LTC Thome is a native South Dakotan and I am proud to have such an exceptional servicemember call South Dakota home. Our state and country are better because of citizens like him. I thank LTC Thome and his family for their tremendous sacrifice, and I extend my deepest congratulations for his retirement.