mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE OF ERIC JASON AMBERGE
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-8-14

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Eric Jason Amberge, who passed away on July 13, 2020. A veteran, proud volunteer, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mr. Amberge will be dearly missed. prgtoken After graduating from SUNY Fredonia with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mr. Amberge entered the United States Air Force. During his time in the military, Mr. Amberge was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY, where he served as a Lead Systems Engineer and Air Defense Initiatives and Program Manager, at the Advanced Planning System in Rome Laboratory, Airforce System Command. After 10 years in the Air Force, Mr. Amberge retired as a Captain and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Service, a distinction given to those who preform volunteer service that far exceed the duties required by a member of the Armed Services. prgtoken Following his retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Amberge went on to receive an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his career as an engineer, he worked for Kodak, Oracle, APG Technologies, and Aquila Technologies. prgtoken Outside of work, Mr. Amberge was an avid volunteer who was passionate about honoring local veterans. He served as Commander of the Skaneateles American Legion Post No. 239 and as the Director of Honor Flight Syracuse, an organization that transports local veterans to Washington, DC, allowing them to visit the national memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Throughout his life, he also remained dedicated to his wife, children and step-children, mother, siblings, and grandchildren. A man of strong faith, Mr. Amberge was an avid student of scripture and strived to always treat others with dignity and respect. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Eric Jason Amberge. A cherished member of our Central New York community, Mr. Amberge will truly be missed. I ask my colleagues to keep him and his family in mind as we remember his life.
HONORING TANNERS TEAM SPORTS AS A FOURTH DISTRICT HERO
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-8-14

. Madam , I rise today to honor the exceptional work of Tanners Team Sports in Hot Springs, Arkansas. prgtoken The local company stepped up to the plate during COVID-19, transitioning the production of their famed baseball and pickleball products into developing high-quality face masks. prgtoken As an economic shutdown approached, the cancellation of the spring baseball season put Tanners' peak shipping season on hold. While many businesses shut down, Tanners got creative with a way to move forward, keep local jobs available and support the health and well-being of the communities around them. prgtoken Owner Vince Signorelli and his staff worked tirelessly with their existing network to create a mask that would not only meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's protection recommendations, but also allow athletes to wear and still perform. Within just three weeks of planning and design, Tanners and their in-house clothing brand, Vulcan Sporting Goods, had these masks in production and distribution. prgtoken This team of Fourth District citizens are heroes who have battled the COVID-19 pandemic directly. It is my hope that all Arkansans will see the value of their labor. Mr. Signorelli said it best when he said, ``I can't help but marvel at how the American Spirit is alive and well right here in Hot Springs, Arkansas.''
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF FRANK ZALLER
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-8-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mr. Frank Zaller of Bolivar, Tennessee on the occasion of his one hundredth birthday. prgtoken Frank Zaller is a member of what has rightly been called our Greatest Generation. He grew up in the midst of a Great Depression at home and rising tensions around the world. When he was twenty-one, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and he signed up to join the United States Navy and sailed off into the Pacific theater. prgtoken During that campaign, Mr. Zaller served with the Third Marine Division as a Navy Corpsman in the Battle of Iwo Jima, providing lifesaving medical care to the wounded in one of the fiercest battles of the entire war. He continued his service as a corpsman during the Korean War at the pivotal victory at Inchon. prgtoken Mr. Zaller served in the Navy for twenty-nine years, including his service in WWII and Korea, and he finished out his career as the Administrator of the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. After leaving the Navy, he worked as the Assistant Commissioner of Tennessee's Department of Mental Health before serving as the Administrator of the Western State Mental Health Hospital in Bolivar until his retirement in 1980. Frank and his wife Helen raised seven children together over the course of a loving marriage spanning nearly seven decades, and he enjoys spending time with his many children and grandchildren. prgtoken The American people are forever indebted to those of the Greatest Generation, like Frank Zaller, who answered the call of duty and stepped up to defend freedom in its darkest hour. The freedom and prosperity we enjoy today are the result of the courage of heroes like Mr. Zaller. On behalf of the United States Congress, I wish to commend Frank Zaller for his lifetime of faithful service to our nation and to the people of Tennessee, and I congratulate him on the momentous occasion of his one-hundredth birthday.
THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT AND THE CHUGACH ALASKA CORPORATION
Don Young (Republican, AK) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise concerning the recent passage by the Senate, and the House, and enactment by the President, of the Great American Outdoors Act, H.R. 1957 as passed in the House, and now P.L. 116-152. prgtoken I rise to highlight and speak to an issue of critical importance to Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC), the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Regional Corporation for the Alaska Natives of the Chugach Region. Today, Federal Land Management Agencies, and the States, are on the cusp of implementing P.L. 116-152, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). One of the central purposes of GAOA is to provide permanent funding, at the fully authorized level, for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). I have worked tirelessly with Members on both sides of the aisle to accomplish the principal provisions of the GAOA-- in fact, the legislation is very similar to language that I sponsored prgtoken years ago which passed the House as the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). I worked hand in hand with Members on both sides of the aisle to permanently authorize the LWCF when we passed the bipartisan John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation Management and Recreation Act (P.L. 116-9), in early 2019. I want to emphasize that a priority use of the LWCF funding, provided for in the enacted GAOA, is the consolidation of ownership and management of split estate federal and public lands, in appropriate circumstances such as that referred to in Section 1113, the ``Chugach Region Land Study,'' contained in P.L. 116-9 the ``Dingell Act,'' between willing private sector land owners and the United States, especially when such willing private sector land owners are Native American Tribes or Alaska Native Regional Corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. prgtoken It is important to clearly declare that the LWCF can, among and between willing parties, be used for this purpose of facilitating and executing recommended land exchanges per the Chugach Region Land Study provision, Section 1113 of the Dingell Act. This understanding and direction is completely consistent with that Act and the GAOA.
RETIREMENT OF MS. DRU WYCKOFF, U.S. ARMY
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor the service of Ms. Dru Wyckoff, of the United States Army Budget Office, for her extraordinary dedication to duty and distinguished service to our nation. prgtoken On 31 May 2020, Ms. Dru Wyckoff retired from the Department of the Army after nearly 40 years of government service. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Wyckoff served successfully in a variety of operational and leadership roles within the Financial Management career field. Her career culminated with her selection as a member of the Senior Executive Service when she served for 5 years as the Director of Management and Control for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget. prgtoken Ms. Wyckoff, the daughter of Don and Irene Coffelt, was raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University. She began her government career as a Department of the Army Civilian in December 1980. She served in several positions as a Budget Analyst, Auditor, and Management Analyst, with the US Army in Berlin, Germany, until November 1986. prgtoken Transferring to the National Capital Region in 1987, Ms. Wyckoff served as a Management Analyst, Program Analyst, and Supervisory Budget Analyst in the US Army Personnel Command, and later as a Budget Analyst for the Army Budget Office beginning in February 1998. prgtoken In her role as the Army Budget Office's primary integrator and representative during the development of the Army Program Objective Memorandum and the Total Army Plan, Ms. Wyckoff supported the Army's annual budget submission while directing the fiscal management of funds over the three years of budget focus. She oversaw execution funds control and reprogramming actions of monies appropriated by Congress. Ms. Wyckoff expertly ensured compliance with fiscal limitations and instructions contained in Congressional acts and reports. prgtoken With every assignment, Ms. Wyckoff brought unparalleled leadership and unquestioned commitment to the Army's Soldiers, family members, and civilians, and while she never sought recognition or acclaim, she quietly and diligently earned the trust, confidence, and respect of Army senior leaders, the Army Secretariat, and the entire Department of Defense financial management community. prgtoken Madam , it is a pleasure to recognize Ms. Wyckoff's highly successful career and nearly 40 years of distinguished public service to the Army and the Nation. We are grateful for patriotic Americans of character and commitment like Ms. Wyckoff who faithfully and zealously subordinate self to improve the lives of others. Ms. Wyckoff has dedicated her life to selflessly promote and advance freedom and democracy, and I wish her and her family all the very best.
HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF WARSAW
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise today to bring appropriate Congressional recognition to the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw. prgtoken In 1920 a young Polish Republic, that just regained independence after 123 years of foreign domination, faced an existential threat from a Soviet invasion. For Vladimir Lenin and the Soviet leadership, the conquest of Poland was to serve as a steppingstone for a Soviet advance into western Europe. On August 12, 1920, the Soviet Red Army began its assault upon Warsaw and for the next fifteen days, the battle was fought not just for the future of the Polish Republic, but for all free societies in Europe. Under the unwavering leadership of Jozef Pilsudski, the Polish army executed a brilliant counterattack and shattered the Red Army, forcing the Soviets to retreat. Lord DAbernon, who was part of a British mission in Warsaw during the battle, wrote in the New York Times on its 10th anniversary that there were few incidents in the history of civilization of greater importance than the Battle of Warsaw. By winning the encounter, which since has been called ``The Miracle on the Vistula,'' the Polish army saved Poland and the rest of Europe from a Communist takeover and preserved freedom and democracy for millions. While we pay tribute to those who bravely fought to stop the Soviet invasion, it is important to recognize the role that was played in the battle by a group of 21 American pilots who formed a united called the Kosciuszko Squadron and flew many missions during the battle providing critical aerial support to Polish ground forces. prgtoken Madam , please join me in tribute to the sacrifice, courage, and heart of the Polish forces who bravely defended their homeland during the Battle of Warsaw. This was a striking example how yearning for freedom, justice, and independence can motivate in times of great peril and while facing seemingly insurmountable odds. In August 1920, the Polish army along with the help of U.S. troops, saved Europe from an evil totalitarian dictatorship. Today, we should honor and celebrate the Polish soldiers who bravely fought not for just the freedom of their homeland, but for the liberty and justice for all. We should also use this opportunity to recognize the strong friendship between the United States and the Polish Republic, who has been a loyal ally in Europe for the last three decades.
IN HONOR OF SARA NOLAND
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mrs. Sara Noland. Mrs. Noland lives in Irvine, Kentucky and celebrates her 100th birthday on August 17th. prgtoken Mrs. Noland grew up in Woodford County, Kentucky. As a junior in high school she began working in her school's library. She went on to the University of Kentucky, where she earned a degree in library science. Her first job in 1941 was at Estill County High School, where she earned $90 a month. She married during World War II and traveled across the country, working at several libraries along the way. In 1949, she was rehired as librarian of Estill County High School. While working there, she helped get the Estill County Public Library started and volunteered there for many years. Mrs. Noland retired in 1991 with 42 years of dedicated service. prgtoken Mrs. Noland has been an involved member of her community for many years in a variety of ways. She has taught Sunday School, led church youth groups, served as a 4-H leader, and was a Girl Scout leader. At the high school, she led a reading club, worked with the Academic Team, and helped with Project Graduation. She also volunteered with adult literacy. Mrs. Noland was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel for her work in literacy. In 1996 she became the first recipient of the Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Mrs. Sara Noland, celebrate her 100th birthday, and thank her for her many contributions to her community, particularly in the important area of literacy.
IN MEMORY OF THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF ROBERT LEE JONES, SR.
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to the remarkable life of Robert ``Bob'' Lee Jones, Sr. On August 4, 2020, Bob returned to his creator after fulfilling a lifelong service as a visionary farmer and educator who helped shaped sustainable farming for Northern Ohio and America. prgtoken Born in Zanesville and raised in Huron, OH, Bob embraced farming as his birthright, passed down from his father, Melvin ``Pete'' Jones, a sheep farmer in Southern Ohio. He and his father shared a love for farming and Lyman wooden boats, while he and his mother, Marjorie ``Mimi'', enjoyed spending time at the Huron Lakefront Park. prgtoken Having agriculture in his DNA, Bob attended The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and Bowling Green State University. Academically gifted and scientifically curious, he proudly collected and read a library of old and new agricultural and business volumes over his lifetime. prgtoken One of Bob's proudest and dearest accomplishments was his six-decade long marriage to his beloved high school sweetheart and wife, Barbara. His beautiful wife Barbara built their Garden Enterprise at his side, a partnership of love and botanical genius. Her racks of thousands of cookbooks and recipes formed foundation stones for the evolving Chefs' Garden that attracts the finest chefs in the world for advanced training. Together, they raised three remarkable children, Melvin ``Lee'', Terri Lynn, and Bob Jr who will proudly continue their father's work. prgtoken The most prolific and enduring part of Bob's legacy was born out of persistence and the strength he and his family summoned to rise above. After suffering a setback in the 1980s, Bob and his family created the Chefs' Garden. The Chefs' Garden is a mixture of traditional farming, innovative food safety programs, and education that provides fresh vegetables, microgreens, herbs, edible flowers to chefs with an ``Earth-to-Table'' philosophy. For the past three decades, Bob lead his family to catapult their operation into a force, which provides chefs in 50 states and 14 countries with flavorful, sustainable, and high class produce. prgtoken Ever evolving, Bob's business became a botanical science campus, with plants and students from nearby and around the world coming to partake in his Culinary Vegetable Institute. The Institute is a world class educational, research, and event facility where chefs and their teams come to immerse themselves in revitalizing education or team building missions. Bob's dedication to his craft knew no bounds, and he wanted to share that with the chief benefactors of his mission, chefs. prgtoken Bob and Barbara's passion for education yielded their nationwide nonprofit-Veggie U. Nothing could equal ``Farmer Jones'' in his denim jeans trekking to schools everywhere with Grow Kits to educate children and teachers for the next generation about the magical power of the productive earth. Ve
HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN GAINING THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which states that ``the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.'' The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and the fight for women's suffrage was a generations long struggle. prgtoken The 19th Amendment did not guarantee the right to vote for all women. Although African American and other suffragists of color nationwide worked tirelessly for suffrage, they faced systematic racism in the movement and were frequently denied their right to vote through harassment, intimidation, and laws that imposed severe restrictions. Native Americans and Asian Americans were denied citizenship and, therefore, were not eligible to vote until after 1924 and 1952, respectively. It was only in 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act that barriers to voting based on race were removed. prgtoken Vermont women engaged in the suffrage movement for decades; notable among them: Clarina Howard Nichols of Townshend, who petitioned the legislature for voting rights in school district elections; Laura Moore, the longtime Secretary of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association; Lucy Daniels of Grafton, who protested disfranchisement by refusing to pay her taxes; Annette Parmelee of Enosburg Falls, who was a persistent legislative lobbyist; and Lillian Olzendam of Woodstock, who organized a massive campaign to convince legislators to ratify the 19th Amendment. prgtoken In 1919, the Vermont Legislature passed the Presidential suffrage bill but it was vetoed by Governor Percival Clement, an opponent of women's suffrage. He refused to call for a special legislative session which would have allowed Vermont to become the 36th and final state to ratify the amendment. In response, 400 suffragists marched through mud and snow to the Vermont State House in protest, demanding the governor allow a vote, which he did not. Consequently, Tennessee became the final ratifying state on August 18, 1920--100 years ago, today. prgtoken Following the ratification of the 19th Amendment, 28,159 Vermont women registered to vote. Edna Beard of Orange became the first woman to win a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives and was one of the Vermont legislators who finally ratified the 19th Amendment on February 8, 1921. prgtoken While today is a celebration of how far we have come and the accomplishments of the suffragist movement, we must also acknowledge the history of the movement that marginalized and ostracized women of color, especially Black American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Today, many obstacles to voting still exist and they disproportionately affect people of color. The fight for voting rights, racial justice, and our democracy continue. As the late Congressman John Lewis said, ``Democracy is not a
CITIZEN COSPONSORS OF THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-8-18

. Madam , on June 25, the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address systemic racism and police misconduct, increase accountability and transparency, and change the culture of law enforcement. Since passage, thousands of Americans have visited the website JusticeInPolicing.us to learn about the bill, weigh in with their support, and sign on as citizen cosponsor in support. I include in the Record the following names of citizen cosponsors: Vanessa Paul, Brooklyn, NY; Myra L. Clement, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Otis Allen, Riegelwood, NC; Lora C. Dotson, San Diego, CA; Cory Cooper, Albany, GA; Gerry Whearry, Albany, GA; Errick D. Simmons, Greenville, MS; Gwendolen Rosato, Williamsport, PA; Glenda Kohlhafer-Regan, Charlottesville, VA; Stefanie Beck, West Palm Beach, FL; Julie Rodriguez, Santa Fe, NM; Sarah Okuyama, Ann Arbor, MI; Mary Louise Rossetto, Davis, CA; Cindy M Bowen, Happy Valley, OR; Maurice Bennett, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Wayne Hoffman, Boca Raton, FL; Briana Rosario, New York, NY; Christine Moten, Boynton Beach, FL; Byron English, Atlanta, GA; Rachel Nwakamma, Columbus, OH; Stephanie Trudeau, West Palm Beach, FL; Jennifer Kilroy, Deerfield Beach, FL; Peg Harrington, Nashville, TN; Mike Brieaddy, Glendale, AZ; Gregory Nielsen, Boca Raton, FL; Rachael Wachstein, Highland Park, IL; Carrie Harnish, Canton, Ml; Angela Richerson, Prescott, AZ; Senait Mareligne, Louisville, KY; Monique L. Edwards, Lansing, MI; Matt Jansen, West Islip, NY; Tara Thompson, White Plains, MD; Adele Guadalupe, Delray Beach, FL; Marsha Chamberlin, Ann Arbor, MI; Jon Borg, Arlington, VA; Kelsey Reese, Lincolnton, GA; Rebecca Cottrell, Scottsdale, AZ; Leonard Mosescu, Bothell, WA; Yaneli Gutierres, Marysville, CA; Sheryl Rosen, Columbus, GA; Pat Stone, Skokie, IL; Ronald Geiser, Lake Worth, FL; Sara Rebecca Toye, Indianapolis, IN; Debbie Mitchell, Mesa, AZ; Sonia Sheck, Broomfield, CO; Lyn Keller, Decatur, GA; Irene Noparstak, Vernon Hills, IL; Sandra Esner, Boynton Beach, FL; Adeline De Young, Corrales, NM; Diane, Island Lake, IL; Corey Stork, Houston, TX; Yokeda Curtis, San Antonio, TX; Nigel Berridge, Hermitage, TN; Howard Kaplan, Delray Beach, FL; Lisa Holtke, Los Angeles, CA; Angela, Salinas, CA; Veeravat Siriwatawaku, Newark, DE; Kortney, Cumming, GA; Kara Leonardo, Seaford, DE; Irwin Seltzer, Delray Beach, FL; Mary Scheib, Katy, TX; Dian Marshall, Fairburn, GA; Edward Hill, Cleveland, MS; Samuel Higgins, Guntown, MS; Kota, Vacaville, CA; Addison Olson, Tuckerton, NJ; Isabella Wood, Plano, TX; Christina Shegrud, Boise, ID; belle ford, Kingsport, TN; Jane Simpson, Chevy Chase, MD; Mattrina Ifopo Aisea, Fullerton, CA; Angela Arneson, Vancouver, WA; Jess M, Reno, NV; Ella Garrison, Minneapolis, MN; Crysta