mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNITION OF STEVE MARTINEZ'S COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO IDAHO HOME BUILDERS
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-1-21

. Madam , I want to recognize Steve Martinez for his hard work, commitment and dedication to the Idaho State Home Builders Association. prgtoken Last year was not an easy year for the State Home Builders Association. While the economy and businesses were booming, the association had a difficult year with the passing of Executive Officer, Frankie Hickman, who ran not only the local Building Contractors Association for Western Idaho, but also the State Association for 27 years. prgtoken Steve is not only a hard worker and driven individual, but he is also a kind and compassionate person. He recognized the need of helping Frankie through her most difficult stretches and when the time came, he picked up the pieces and supported the staff as well as his peers within the association. prgtoken Steve Martinez grew up in the home building industry, his father was a custom homebuilder, a Past President of the local Building Contractors Association as well as Idaho State President. Steve followed in his father's footsteps in many ways, including his profession and positions within the home builder associations. Steve is also the national builder representative and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders Finance Committee. He recently received several awards including `One to Watch' from the National Association. prgtoken I personally have had the pleasure of getting to know Steve and have appreciated the opportunity to work with him. He is extremely professional and passionate about home ownership and the needs of his community. prgtoken I congratulate Steve on his 2019 Special Recognition Award, as it is well deserved
IMPEACHMENT
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-1-21

today the Senate begins in earnest our efforts to determine if our colleagues in the House of Representatives have compiled sufficient evidence to justify removing a sitting President from office. This is no small task, and it will be made more difficult by the swirl of commentary that has engulfed the impeachment inquiry since well before it was officially initiated. prgtoken Much has been made of our debate over the inclusion of additional witness testimony into the prosecution's case against President --so much, in fact, that many of my colleagues are inclined to allow that testimony in the name of bipartisan compromise. How misguided of them. Such a move would open the floodgates to a parade of politically-motivated testimony, a protracted legal battle, and ultimately unjustified impeachment proceedings in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The ic Members of the House of Representatives spent a great deal of their time and energy holding hearings, interviewing witnesses, and putting together what they have insisted is their best, ironclad case against President . I encourage my colleagues to resist allowing an additional, cathartic airing of grievances and instead accept that it is now the Senate's turn to listen to the facts as they are presented, deliberate, and cast a final vote.
CONGRATULATING ASHRITH REDDY
Michael Cloud (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-1-21

. Madam , I would like to congratulate middle- schooler Ashrith Reddy for the achievement of winning first place in the 2019 U.S. Geography Olympiad National Championship. prgtoken Ashrith is a student at Marvin Baker Middle School in Corpus Christi. prgtoken At the national competition in Chicago, though, he represented all of south Texas. prgtoken To earn first place, Ashrith had to compete against students in his age group from across the country. prgtoken He was quizzed on the historical, cultural, urban, and economic facets of geography, completing both a written and buzzer test. prgtoken His skills are impressive, and he is only getting better. prgtoken Ashrith won fourth place in 2018, so he persevered, studied hard, and finally took home the first-place win in 2019. prgtoken Ashrith credits his parents, teachers, and school for supporting him in his passion for geography. prgtoken I think it is safe to say that, with such determination and a hard work ethic, Ashrith has a successful future ahead of him. prgtoken I congratulate Ashrith on this accomplishment. prgtoken He has made Corpus Christi and all of South Texas very proud.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--SENATE BUSINESS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-22

. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, January 28, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m while the Senate is sitting in the Court of Impeachment and that notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, the Senate can receive House messages and executive matters, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters, and Senators be allowed to submit statements for the Record, bills and resolutions and cosponsor requests and, where applicable, the Secretary of the Senate on behalf of the Presiding Officer be permitted to refer such matters.
RECESS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-23

. Mr. Chief Justice, if I may, one brief announcement: In the morning, there will be a coronavirus briefing for all Members at 10:30. Senator Alexander and Senator Murray are involved in that. The location will be emailed to your office. prgtoken Mrs. Manager DEMINGS. Chief Justice Roberts, Senators, and counsel for the President, we have now been through the first two official acts by the President. But neither of those official acts got the President what he wanted--help in his reelection campaign. So he turned to another official act to turn up the pressure even more--withholding nearly $400 million of vital military assistance to Ukraine in exchange for the investigations. prgtoken Withholding military assistance to Ukraine made the original abuse of power, soliciting foreign interference in our elections, that much worse. But it was also in and of itself an abuse of power. And not only that, it violated the law. It was illegal. prgtoken The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan, independent agency, concluded that President 's hold on the security assistance clearly violated the Empowerment Control Act, a law that Congress enacted to curb President Nixon's own abuse of power. prgtoken President may not like it, but once a law is passed, the President cannot change that law without coming back to us, the Congress. prgtoken And President did not just break the law, he jeopardized our national security, because Ukraine's national security is our national security. How? Because a free and democratic Ukraine is a shield against Russian aggression in Europe. That has been one of America's most important foreign policy and national security goals since World War II. Freedom, liberty, democracy--those values keep us safe. prgtoken Let us now explain how President 's improper withholding of military assistance was clearly done to pressure Ukraine to announce the two baseless investigations--a gross abuse of power. prgtoken First, we will briefly describe how important the military aid was to Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, which affects our security. prgtoken Second, we will explain how President used the power of his office to freeze military aid to Ukraine in a way meant to conceal it from Congress. prgtoken And third, we will present the overwhelming evidence that President ordered the hold for a corrupt purpose: to pressure Ukraine to announce two investigations that would personally benefit his own reelection effort. prgtoken Let us start with the importance of the aid to our--the United States'--national security. The United States has supported Ukraine since it secured independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Our support was critical to convince Ukraine to forgo its pursuit of a nuclear arsenal in 1994. We promised them that we would defend them if necessary. But our support became truly vital in 2014, when Ukraine revolted against its Russian-friendly Pr
HONORING MR. MICHAEL ANTHONY MARTIN
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-24

. Madam , I rise today to honor Michael Anthony Martin, a Weslaco, Texas native who became a national champion on Monday, January 13, 2020, as a member of Louisiana State University's National Championship football team. prgtoken Martin, a freshman wide receiver for the LSU Tigers helped his team beat the Clemson Tigers with a final score of 42-25 to claim the College Football National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game was an exhilarating battle that went back and forth between the two teams until LSU pulled away in the second half. prgtoken Michael Martin is the son of Randy and Mari Fuentes-Martin who raised their three children in the Rio Grande Valley. before moving to Louisiana. There Michael joined the LSU Tiger football team as a walk- on in 2018 and was redshirted his true freshman year. Prior to Michael's first year with the LSU Tigers, he played his senior season at the University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was a standout baseball and football player. Michael transferred to University Laboratory from Weslaco High School after his junior year, where he grew up learning the ins and outs of the sport. prgtoken While attending University Laboratory as a senior, Michael lead his team to a perfect 13-0 record, which helped them to capture the 2017 Louisiana Division-II State Championship. During the state title game against De La Salle High School, Michael returned a 54-yard punt for a touchdown, helping University Laboratory clinch the state championship against De La Salle. Throughout the 2017 football season at University Laboratory, Michael scored four touchdowns for the team and led the team with four interceptions. prgtoken I know that Michael is just getting his life going, but I want to pause and honor the accomplishments he has reached at such a young age. I look forward to what is ahead for him, both on and off the field. I wish him the best of luck as he continues his studies and football career at LSU, and I know that he will continue to make our community in the Rio Grande Valley proud. prgtoken I thank his family for instilling in him the values and morals needed to be a National Football Champion and know they have been supportive of him since birth. prgtoken Today, it is with great honor, admiration, and respect that I recognize the achievements of a young outstanding individual, Michael Anthony Martin, who is now a Division I college football champion
TRIAL OF DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-1-24

. Mr. Chief Justice, for all of our colleagues' information about scheduling, today we will plan to take short breaks every 2 to 3 hours and will accommodate a 30-minute recess for dinner, assuming it is needed, until the House managers have finished their opening presentation. prgtoken For scheduling purposes, we have organized tomorrow's session to convene at 10 a.m. and run for several hours as the President's counsel begin their presentation.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , today, I rise in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the dedicated volunteers who work to end modern-day slavery. prgtoken As a parent, there is nothing scarier than the thought of children being removed from their families and trafficked. Oftentimes, when we think about human trafficking, we envision terrible situations across the globe. According to the Texas Attorney General, there are currently more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking just in Texas. prgtoken As we bring attention to this far too common tragedy, I would like to thank some of the incredible organizations in Collin County who work tirelessly to help survivors. prgtoken Traffick 911, CASA of Collin County, Rescue Her, Treasured Vessels, New Friends New Life, and the Collin County Sheriff's office are all helping lead the fight against human trafficking. prgtoken I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking these organizations and recognizing the importance of spreading awareness about Human Trafficking today and every day. prgtoken We must continue the battle to keep all children safe.
HONORING LONNIE GILBERT NEFOUSE
Greg Pence (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor my friend and fellow veteran, Lonnie Gilbert Nefouse, who recently passed away at the age of 73 in Carmel, Indiana. Early in his life, Lonnie chose a path of service to our country. Lonnie defended our stars and stripes with the courage and selflessness that will continue to make our nation great for generations to come. This is evident in the many honors he was awarded including a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. Not only was Lonnie a patriot, but a pillar of our Hoosier community and a true family man. He valued spending time with his family and served as a role model for future generations through his civic leadership and commitment to country. The family is lucky to have considered Lonnie a close friend. He was a generous person who will be remembered fondly and greatly missed. May God rest his soul and bring comfort to his family and friends as we mourn his loss and celebrate Lonnie's life here on earth.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , since 2011, National School Choice Week has been recognized as the largest annual celebration of opportunity and education in the world. prgtoken In North Carolina, over 2,313 school choice events are scheduled for this week, including events in my district at the Quality Education Academy High School in Winston-Salem and at the DT Early Learning Center in Wilkesboro. prgtoken Unfortunately, the media continues to conjure up misleading claims about school choice, and it is time we corrected the record. School choice is not about picking winners and losers; it is about letting families choose the educational options that meet the unique needs of their children. prgtoken A high-quality education is an indispensable tool, and America's children deserve nothing less than an education that empowers them to reach their greatest potential.
HONORING THE CAMP HILL LIONS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM ON THEIR UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONSHIP
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , I rise today to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Camp Hill Lions Girls Soccer Team for their victory at the PIAA Class A State Soccer Championship, and for their excellence throughout their undefeated, untied, 2019 season. prgtoken Led by Coach Jared Latchford--just named the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association ``Girls Class A Coach of the Year''--the Lions dominated the season, achieving a stunning overall record of 25-0-0. prgtoken This is the Lions' second appearance in the State Championship in the last three years. They were able to take an early lead in their contest against Shady Side Academy, and hold it throughout the game. Aggressive and selfless offense, vigilant defense, and stellar goalkeeping earned the Lions a 2-0 victory, and their first State Championship trophy. prgtoken These amazing athletes are the epitome of remarkable dedication and discipline, outstanding skill, exceptional sportsmanship, and an unyielding team spirit. Their dedication to excellence--to say the least--earned them this Championship. prgtoken On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate the Camp Hill Lions for their incredible performance. We're proud of them.
CONFRONTING ANTI-SEMITISM
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-1-27

I rise today to confront a cancer that has been rapidly spreading, and that cancer is anti-Semitism, here at home and around the world. prgtoken It is unsettling, and it is downright appalling. Day after day, I see new headlines about disparaging rhetoric and violence against the Jewish people. prgtoken The Anti-Defamation League reports that 80 percent of European Jews feel anti-Semitism in their country is increasing, and 40 percent live in daily fear of physical attack. prgtoken In 2018, here at home, there were 1,879 reported anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Our Nation was founded on freedom of religion and diversity, and we must do everything necessary to preserve it. prgtoken To that end, today, the House passed H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. It funds Holocaust education programs around the country. prgtoken , America cannot and will not become a breeding ground for hatred.
RECOGNIZING SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA'S NEWEST EAGLE SCOUTS FOR 2019
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , the following individuals have attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of boy scouts achieve this rank after a lengthy review process. Troop Name No. Adam Jason Chast............................................... 5 -- Aj Olczak...................................................... 121 --- Alex Vincent Hudzinski......................................... 607 - Alexander John Peppiatt........................................ 71 - Alexander Spear................................................ 71 -- Andrew Friedman................................................ 82 -- Andrew John Lapiere............................................ 24 -- Andrew Joseph Coleman.......................................... 91 -- Andrew Michael DiDomenico...................................... 147 - Andrew Prock................................................... 24 --- Andrew R. Iannacone............................................ 10 -- Andrew Schmitz................................................. 19 -- Andrew Seth Van Siclen......................................... 52 - Austin Cervasio................................................ 36 -- Avi A. Gajjar.................................................. 10 --- Avishan Q. Bewtra.............................................. 10 -- Benjamin Armagost.............................................. 48 -- Benjamin Vouk.................................................. 210 -- Brady Christopher Stergion..................................... 230 - Brandon Michael Dorsey......................................... 29 - Brandon Switzer................................................ 71 -- Brendan Skowronek.............................................. 24 -- Brogan Donovan................................................. 87 -- Caleb Kisler................................................... 30 --- Caleb Y. K. Cho................................................ 542 -- Carl J. Stine.................................................. 14 --- Carl Sebastian Di Giorgio...................................... 52 - Christopher Gasiewski.......................................... 29 -- Christopher Rowan Haskell...................................... 147 - Colby Ryan Detwiler............................................ 91 -- Cole Michael Stanely........................................... 6 Cole Schenkman................................................. 29 Colin McGuire.................................................. 5 Connor Crawford................................................ 137 Connor James Eirich............................................ 210 Daniel Featherstone...................................
RECOGNIZING MAJOR THORNTON
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-1-27

. Madam , in celebration of Black History Month, I rise today in recognition of Major Milo Thornton, an exemplary constituent of mine and African American Pioneer who bas served our community for 23 years in law enforcement. prgtoken Major Thornton began his career in 1997, as a correctional deputy with Saint Lucie County's Sheriff Office, under the leadership of the now retired Sheriff Robert ``Bobby'' Knowles. After a year and a half tenure, he became a patrolman with the Vero Beach Police Department. prgtoken Major Thornton quickly rose through the ranks, being hired by Sheriff Roy Raymond at Indian River County Sheriff's Office four years later, becoming sergeant in 2012, receiving assignment to uniform patrol, and in 2016 being promoted to lieutenant, where he was reassigned to criminal investigations. In this role, he was afforded the opportunity to attend advanced training courses that would prepare him for the rest of his career. He worked closely with general assignment detectives, the narcotics division and criminal analysts to get to the bottom of various criminal investigations. prgtoken In 2017, Sheriff Deryl Loar promoted Major Thornton to the rank of captain, reassigning him to the Uniforms Operations Division in which he oversaw the operations of all men and women who patrol the county, special operations, including the K9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Agriculture and Marine Unit, among many others. Additionally, he worked with dispatchers in the Communications Unit and the Victims Assistance Unit. prgtoken In 2019 he was again promoted, this time to rank of major, where he was to serve in the Bureau of Administration. In this position, he managed aspects of human resources, information technology, homeland security, Judicial Services, and the School Resource Unit, just to name a few. prgtoken Major Thornton also serves our community in many capacities outside of his day job, one of which, as an adjunct instructor at Indian River State College, his alma mater where he earned his Associates and Bachelor's degrees. He has worked within their College of Public Safety Training for 14 years now, teaching subjects such as Introduction to Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, and Interviewing and Report Writing. prgtoken Major Thornton is a member of the International Associations of Chiefs of Police, a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's Command Officers Development Course (class No. 80) at the University of Louisville, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (class No. 28). In his free time, Major Thornton serves as volunteer board member of several charities and non-profit organizations. prgtoken On Tuesday, February 18, 2020 in celebration of Black History Month, the Indian River County Board of Commissioners will honor Major Thornton's longstanding service to the community. The Board is dedicated to celebrating African American Pioneers in the community such as Major Tho
47TH ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-1-27

last Friday marked the 47th Annual March for Life, and for the first time in history, the march was attended by a sitting President. prgtoken Since 2017, the administration has established more conscience protections than ever before, but there is still more work to accomplish. prgtoken For example, the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which simply requires healthcare professionals to provide medical care to babies born alive during an attempted abortion, has support from nearly 200 bipartisan cosponsors. Yet, despite numerous calls requesting to bring this legislation to the floor, my colleagues and I have been rejected time after time. It is a sad reality that we have to ask our ic colleagues to help us end infanticide, but it is a fight we will continue until innocent lives are protected. prgtoken Fighting for life also means fighting for individuals who are victims of sexual abuse, rape, incest, and human trafficking that is why I introduced legislation to codify the new Title X abuse reporting rules, to ensure these victims are protected. prgtoken I hope to see these commonsense ideas signed into law and the lives of the unborn protected.