mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE CAREER OF ARMOND ``SKIP'' SCIPIONE
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-6-4

. Madam , I rise today to honor the career of Mr. Armond ``Skip'' prgtoken Scipione in recognition of his retirement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York after more than 40 years in public service, as the USAO NDNY Law Enforcement Coordination Manager. Mr. Scipione has demonstrated a profound commitment to his community and country during his long career in law enforcement and service in the U.S. Air Force and New York Air National Guard. prgtoken A graduate of East Syracuse-Minoa High School and Onondaga Community College, Mr. Scipione began his career in law enforcement in 1980 as a police officer for the Town of DeWitt Police Department. He subsequently went on to serve as an Investigator for the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, where he prepared cases for over 100 homicide trials. In 2004, he was hired by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York as the Law Enforcement Coordination Manager. Mr. Scipione served in this role for 16 years, working to facilitate and support law enforcement efforts to increase safety and enhance the quality of life for our community. prgtoken In addition to his service in law enforcement, Mr. Scipione served his country in the U.S. Air Force and in the New York Air National Guard. During this time, he was deployed overseas on several occasions, and notably, supported efforts in Kuwait during Operation Desert Shield. prgtoken Outside of public service, Mr. Scipione is a devoted husband to his wife, Cindy, and a dedicated father to their three children. He is a proud grandfather to four grandchildren and dog owner to his German Shepherd, Amish. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in recognizing Mr. Armond ``Skip'' Scipione. As a dedicated public servant, I wish Mr. Scipione the best in his retirement.
TRIBUTE TO LAYLA EICHLER
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2020-6-4

this week I have the honor of recognizing Layla Eichler of Jefferson County for her passion for helping others build better lives. prgtoken Layla Eichler is a treatment coordinator for the First Judicial District Treatment Court. Layla travels all across Montana to work with judges and their staff to create positive life changes for those who are suffering from substance dependency and substance abuse. prgtoken Layla has been a passionate leader of her team since 2015, providing activities, resources, and kindness for participants in her program. Most importantly, she dedicates her time building a community for those impacted by the vicious cycle of addiction. Layla sacrifices her personal time and money to create activities for participants to enjoy and try something new. For example, every week she hikes a new location with the participants. prgtoken Since December of 2019, the number of graduates through her program has reached close to 40. The number of drug-free babies born has increased from 11 to 13. Four GEDs have been obtained. Seven have enrolled in college or graduated. prgtoken The lives Layla has touched have been made better by her unrelenting dedication to see her participants succeed. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Layla for her selfless efforts to support her fellow Montanans to build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-6-4

I would like to have printed in the Record an article that was published in the Miami Herald, ``These Miami special ed teachers brought the party to students on the last day of school.'' I commend Ms. Coco-Molina and Ms. Lara for their dedication to Florida's students, and the memories they created that will never be forgotten. prgtoken The material follows: [June 3, 2020] prgtoken These Miami Special Ed Teachers Brought the Party to Students on Last Day of School (By Colleen Wright) Special education teachers Jen Coco-Molina and Jacquelyn Lara couldn't have their last day of school party at South Miami Senior High as usual, so they brought the party to their students. They pulled up in front of Cristin Baez-Alvarez's apartment building blasting Cristin's favorite song. From the ``mobile party'' in Coco-Molina's trunk, the teachers pulled out a goody bag just for 15-year-old Cristin: M&Ms, a daisy pen, a Disney Puppy Dog Pals coloring book and a smile balloon on a stick. ``It's a happy balloon, like you, always smiling,'' said Lara. Cristin took the goody bag and a bite out of a red frosted Publix cupcake. She's nonverbal, but her unflinching frosting-stained smile said it all. And what she couldn't express, her mother said in Spanish. ``She's emotional. She's afraid that when she goes back upstairs, she'll start crying,'' mom Cristina Baez told Lara. Like Coco-Molina and Lara, teachers everywhere have been adapting since the coronavirus pandemic catapulted them into online distance learning March 13. Wednesday was unceremoniously the last day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. But the pair couldn't let the school year end like this. Coco-Molina teaches math and Lara teaches English and science to 11 ninth- and tenth-graders with varying disabilities. All but one of the students they visited Wednesday will have a different pair of teachers next year. ``We're their second moms,'' said Coco-Molina. ``We're not just their teachers.'' Coco-Molina's trunk was draped with a green plastic tablecloth. There were turquoise and pink paper lanterns, shiny streamers, and a letter board read ``Enjoy your summer.'' Next to the goody bags were cupcakes for the students, mini cupcakes for their families. Teachers get a surprise Max Ortiz waited on his front porch for his teachers with a surprise of his own. His mother made summer-themed gift bags for each teacher with beach bags, metal tumblers and makeup wipes. And he had assignment packets to turn in to each teacher. The 16-year-old dashed up to the car. ``Hi miss! How you doing?'' he said as he took a
HONORING RAY LEE WOOD
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, VA) \u2014 2020-6-4

. Madam , I rise in honor of Ray Lee Wood of Stuart, Virginia. Mr. Wood passed away on May 6, 2020, at the age of 92. As one of the founding members of Wood Brothers Racing, Mr. Wood helped launch a storied team and competed in some of its signature victories. prgtoken Ray Lee Wood was born in Patrick County on December 14, 1927. He served in the Army after World War II. In the early 1950s, he joined his brothers Glenn, Clay, Delano and Leonard in forming the team that still bears their name. They famously worked on their cars in the shade of a beech tree on the family's property, using its limbs to help pull engines with a chain hoist. Ray Lee was responsible for maintaining the Fords the team raced and changing the front tires, not driving, although Leonard recalled a day in 1958 when Ray Lee hit 142 miles per hour on the measured mile at Daytona Beach. prgtoken During Mr. Wood's time with the team, it won at the 1963 Daytona 500, the 1965 Indianapolis 500, and the 1965 American 500 at North Carolina Speedway. At Daytona and Indianapolis, he made the call after checking the tires to continue driving rather than changing them, contributing to the victories. prgtoken At the 1965 Indianapolis 500, Mr. Wood also decided that the season would be his last. After the season ended at Rockingham with the victory at the American 500, he went home to Stuart. While still following the sport and supporting his brothers who continued racing, he never attended another NASCAR race. Instead, he filled his life with his church, Pentecostal Holiness, and his garden, where he grew flowers, tended to his honeybees, and kept goldfish. prgtoken I offer my condolences to Ray Lee Wood's loved ones on their loss.
REMEMBERING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREATY OF TRIANON WITH HUNGARY
Andy Harris (Republican, MD) \u2014 2020-6-4

. Madam , as Co-Chair of the Congressional Hungarian-American Caucus, I rise today on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary signed on June 4, 1920, at the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the First World War. prgtoken The non-negotiable treaty cost Hungary over 70 percent of her territory and one-third or three million of her indigenous ethnic- Hungarian population. For the last one hundred years, these ethnic Hungarian minorities have had to live in neighboring countries, with their cultural and political lives suffering at times. prgtoken The Hungarian-American Caucus is a bipartisan group of distinguished House members, which seeks to represent the interests of Hungarian American constituents; foster bilateral relations between Hungary, a strong NATO ally, and the United States; and protect the rights of Hungarian minorities in Europe. prgtoken To that end, I include in the Record the following statement by the American Hungarian Federation, the oldest American Hungarian association in the United States, founded in 1906 in Cleveland, Ohio, and based in Washington, D.C on the occasion of this 100th Anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon. american hungarian foundation Akos L. Nagy, President of American Hungarian Federation. Paul Kamenar, Chair, Executive Committee. Frank Koszorus, Jr Chair, International Relations Committee. The Treaty of Trianon: A Hungarian Tragedy ``Ancient poets and theologians could not imagine such suffering, which Trianon brought to the innocent. In their eyes, that was for the damned in Hell.''--Sir Winston Churchill One hundred years ago, June 4, 1920, the Hungarian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference was forced to sign the punishing Treaty of Trianon, arguably the most severe of all the post-World War I settlements concluded at the conference. Led by the Big Four--the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy--those treaties were collectively designed to conclude the First World War and make the ``world safe for democracy,'' according to President Woodrow Wilson. The ``peacemakers'' instead concocted a hazardous brew. The ostensible ``peace'' turned out to be only an armistice as World War II erupted merely 20 years later. Tens of millions of civilians and members of the military died in that war; the Holocaust devastated the European Jewish community; a murderous Stalin occupied Central and Eastern Europe; and the world was thrust into a costly and dangerous Cold War. Supposedly in the name of national self-determination, Trianon dismembered the thousand-year-old Kingdom of Hungary, a self-contained, geographically and economically coherent and durable formation in the Carpathian Basin, boasting the longest lasting historical b
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-6-4

responding to the coronavirus continues to be one of our top priorities here in Congress, I think, as evidenced that yesterday the Senate moved a bill across the floor of the Senate that will be on its way now to the President's desk for his signature, previously passed by the House, that makes some modifications to the PPP program--things that were sought by both sides, improvements, I think, that enable that program to be used with greater flexibility, extending the amount of time in which those dollars that have been received can be used, and allowing some greater flexibility in how they are used. prgtoken So I think that is evidence, again, that this body, and both and s working together, can get things done for the American people that address the very direct needs and challenges they face right now as a result of the coronavirus. prgtoken I credit the authors of that--Senators Collins and Rubio on our side, along with their ic counterparts--for working together to structure a program that has not only helped many businesses stay in business--millions of businesses stay in business--but has kept tens of millions of people in this country employed at a time when we desperately need to keep those jobs. prgtoken So, again, I think it is evidence of this body's and our Senate majority's focus on the coronavirus and things we can do to help assist those who have been most harmed economically by that, as well as addressing the very real health emergency that we need to continue to focus on in terms of finding those therapeutics and vaccines that will enable the American people to have confidence, once again, that they can go out.
RECOGNIZING THE JONES ACT 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-6-4

as the American people continue to show great strength and perseverance during this coronavirus crisis, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight those very American ideals by commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Jones Act. prgtoken The Jones Act has enhanced American prosperity and national security ever since its enactment on June 5, 1920. It puts America first over subsidized foreign shipbuilders and foreign vessel operators that do not pay U.S. taxes or comply with U.S. regulations. It continues to preserve our role as the world's leader in commerce and thousands of precious jobs for our American citizens. When it comes to the Jones Act, there is an overwhelming sense of pride from the American people, especially from Mississippians. prgtoken Mississippi has a long and storied shipbuilding tradition of which we are very proud. Mississippi is home to multiple shipyards that continue to grow domestic jobs exponentially, increase overall positive economic impact, and produce a multitude of vessels to fortify national security and commerce. With more than 13,000 domestic maritime jobs, Mississippi ranks 15th in the Nation for jobs related to the domestic maritime industry. prgtoken In addition, Mississippi ranks second nationwide in per capita shipyard jobs, meaning that one out of every 75 Mississippians has a job directly or indirectly related to the shipyard industry. When looking at the total economic impact from domestic maritime activity, Mississippi accounts for more than $3 billion annually. It is sufficient to say Mississippi is one of many States that continues to reap and sow the rewards of the Jones Act. prgtoken , there are more than 40,000 vessels in America's domestic fleet, which is one of the largest in the world. The domestic maritime industry accounts for 648,220 jobs, $41.6 billion in labor compensation, $154.8 billion in economic output, $72.4 billion in value added, and $16.8 billion in taxes. prgtoken The Jones Act is an integral part of our Nation's success, and I am proud to recognize its longstanding contributions to our Nation and to advocate for its continued influence in the decades to come.
THANKING TURKEY FOR ASSISTANCE
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-6-4

. Madam , I rise to recognize the efforts of one of our allies to assist with our coronavirus response. Recently, the Republic of Turkey sent two separate planeloads of medical supplies to the United States. One arrived on Tuesday and a second on Thursday. The Turkish government sent 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, 1,500 sets of goggles, civilian masks, face shields, hazmat suits, and a generous supply of disinfectants. prgtoken This is the type of cooperation that we need to see on every level in order to effectively address this pandemic. I understand that U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, David Satterfield, was on hand to watch the second shipment depart Turkey. I am pleased to see our governments working closely together. I understand that Turkey made deliveries of medical supplies and equipment to more than 50 countries around the world, and I commend them for such generosity. It is in our common interests to continue to find constructive ways to work together.
RECOGNIZING ALMA LEE LOY
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-6-4

. Madam , on April 10, 2020, Vero Beach said good-bye to its First Lady and prolific community leader, Alma Lee Loy, who passed away at 90 years old of pneumonia-related complications. As a personal friend and beloved member of our community, I would like to take this time to recognize the countless contributions Alma has made to Indian River County and celebrate a lifetime of extraordinary personal achievements. prgtoken Alma Lee Loy was born in Vero Beach on June 10, 1929 and from a very young age dedicated her life to the betterment of Indian River County, the community she so loved and was revered by. Ask any Vero Beach Resident if they knew of her, and they would surely say yes, with mentions of fond memories and stories. prgtoken Throughout her life she wore many important hats that made her into the iconic woman that our community grew to respect and love. Alma was a compassionate neighbor, a philanthropist, accomplished athlete, successful businesswoman, historian, and a mentor to our community's youth, just to name a few. prgtoken For the first 42 years of her career, she operated and ran a children's clothing store in downtown Vero Beach, Alma Lee's Clothing Center, alongside her close friend Lucy Auxier. It was here that the community first befriended her, as they shopped for years for back-to- school clothes and dresses and came to know her giving heart. But in more than one way, Alma was compelled to further serve her community. prgtoken Her civic engagement spans many sectors. She became a founding member of the Vero Beach City Recreation Board, the Vero Beach Downtown Merchants Association, Education Foundation of Indian River County and the Indian River Community Foundation. Her altruistic spirit drove her to volunteer and lead several philanthropic organizations including what is now the Vero Beach Museum of Art and the Gifford Youth Orchestra. From 1968 to 1980, Alma served on the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman. prgtoken Alma's unwavering commitment to preserving her community's natural beauty and treasures, in addition to educating the public about its' historical significance, has long helped spread awareness of important issues in Indian River County. She played an important role in raising the awareness that saved the 18-acre McKee Botanical Garden from housing development, serving twice as President of the garden. She served on the board of the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Committee, served two terms as President of the Indian River Land Trust, and received the ``Love Your Lagoon'' award for her dedication to cleaning up our waterways. prgtoken Many of Alma's achievements succeed her in the form of local buildings and awards, including the Alma Lee Loy Bridge on 17th Street and the Alma Lee Loy Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, where she served as the first female board member. There have been many contributions and aw
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 35
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-6-4

. I think it is important to know and let the record show that I have been working with Senator Booker's office for 3 months on the amendment of this bill; that I am willing to have unanimous passage of the bill today, but I think it is incredibly important that we get this right. prgtoken A Black woman in New Jersey assaulted three Jewish women and slapped them. It was terrible. She uttered racial epithets about these Jewish women. She was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault with up to 1 year in prison, which to me sounds pretty significant for slapping, but she was then charged with a hate crime in addition to that, which was 4 years in addition. prgtoken If slapping someone and hurling racial epithets gets you 10 years in prison, this is exactly what we have been fighting about in criminal justice reform. We set up a system and didn't pay attention to the penalties, and all of a sudden things we didn't intend happened. So we have to be smart about this. prgtoken I am willing to pass the bill today, as amended, which would simply say not that you even have to harm someone--you have to attempt to harm them, but it has to be an attempt to harm them. prgtoken So all the discussion about bruising while trying to lynch someone-- yes, that is attempted murder. It would be covered by this bill. Nothing in the bill would stop or prevent the prosecution of heinous behavior. That is what it is intended for prgtoken What I am trying to do is to make sure we don't get unintended consequences. We fought the battle against mandatory minimums for a decade now because we tie up people in sentencing that makes no sense. Ten years for slapping someone would be an abomination, and it could happen to anyone. Do we want a Black woman who slapped three Jewish women in New Jersey to get 10 years in prison? If there is a group of them, it is now a conspiracy to lynch. prgtoken We have to use some common sense here. We should not have a 10-year prison sentence for anything less than, at the very least, an attempt to do bodily harm. The statute lists what bodily harm is, but it could still be an attempt. It doesn't mean you actually have to have it, but what it would preclude is when somebody shoves somebody in a bar and they fall down and have an abrasion and they say: ``He did it because of a racial animus toward me,'' and then you have a 10-year penalty. That is not right. prgtoken All of us are advocates on the same side of criminal justice reform. We have all argued on the same side that the law is screwed up and has incarcerated too many people unfairly. That is what I am trying to prevent here. So the point is, I understand the emotions about this. Do you think I take great joy in being here? No. I am the sponsor of 22 criminal justice bills. Do you think I am getting any good publicity on this? No. I will be excoriated by simpleminded people on the internet who think I don't like Emmett Till or appreciate the history an