mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SCHOOL DIRECTOR RECOGNITION MONTH
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-1-20

January is School Board Director Recognition Month, and I want to take a moment, as a former school board member and school board president, to recognize the contributions of these unpaid but essential community servants. prgtoken In the best of times, being a school board member is challenging, requiring community members to step up and address issues ranging from child development to HR, and from transportation and construction to nutrition and natural disasters. There is never enough money to do everything we would like to for our children, and the number of regulations, mandates, and laws that must be met seems to be never- ending. It often seems like every choice is between two bad alternatives. prgtoken As school directors are facing these outsized challenges compounded by a pandemic and political polarization, and the mental health challenges both have brought, I want to acknowledge their Herculean efforts to keep our children, our teachers, and our staff safe and give them every opportunity to succeed. prgtoken I want them to know how much their efforts on behalf of our children, our schools, and our communities are appreciated.
RECOGNITION OF THE NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH MUSTANGS
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-1-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the North Shore Senior High Mustangs for their victory at the Texas 6A Football State Championship. prgtoken This victory reflects the incredible passion and dedication of the students, parents, and staff at North Shore both on and off the field. prgtoken I know I can speak for the North Channel community and East County when I say that we are proud of our student athletes. prgtoken The Mustangs have now won 3 state championships in the past 4 years, and I know they have a bright future ahead of them. prgtoken To each and every member of the North Shore football team, to Coach Jon Kay, and to all of the parents and teachers who have supported this team, I wish them continued success. prgtoken Their futures are bright, and I can't wait to see them shine even more.
HONORING THE LIFE OF MEL REEVES
Ilhan Omar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-1-20

. Madam , I rise to honor the life of a long-time civil rights activist, journalist, and my friend, Mel Reeves who passed away at the age of 64 from COVID-19 complications. prgtoken Born in Miami, Florida, he was the youngest of 13 children and was adopted at the age of one. Bullied at a young age, Reeves grew up standing up for others and being an outspoken advocate for marginalized communities. Later in life he attended Northwestern College in Iowa, then moved to Minneapolis where he devoted his life to advocating for social justice. prgtoken Mel Reeves was a journalist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorded newspaper and never shied away from elevating the truth. He was a devoted and passionate man with a fighting spirit, always ready to support his community advocating for justice and accountability. Reeves did not just write about the many injustices happening around him, such as the horrific murders of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, he used his voice and platform to encourage the community to never stop fighting for justice. prgtoken As a community leader, he advocated for racial justice, education reform, the working class and more recently the need to protect oneself from the pandemic by wearing a mask and getting vaccinated. prgtoken Reeves is survived by his son Kellen Reeves and five grandchildren. prgtoken Rest in peace, friend. I thank him for inspiring many to speak up for justice.
NEW MEXICO SUPPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE
Melanie A. Stansbury (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2022-1-20

the history of New Mexico and our rural communities predate the founding of our great Nation. Our communities carry rich traditions and ways of life, from our tribal communities, to our land grants, to our farmers and ranchers and small towns that dot the plains, mountains, and river valleys of our beautiful State. prgtoken They are diverse, resilient, vibrant, and full of grit and determination. For far too long, our rural communities have been left behind in critical infrastructure, which is why I am deeply proud that our bipartisan infrastructure bill is already delivering for New Mexico, investing millions in rural roads, bridges, and airports, broadband, our electric grid, and life-giving water, creating thousands of jobs, and supporting rural economic development across our State, because our rural communities are the backbone of New Mexico. prgtoken , I am proud that we are working together to invest in infrastructure, to invest in jobs, and the well-being of our future and our communities.
RECOGNIZING BOB BRIGGS
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-1-20

I rise today to recognize Bob Briggs of prgtoken Westminster, Colorado, who passed away on December 2, 2021. prgtoken Bob was born December 24, 1937, in Greeley, Colorado, as one of eight children and the oldest son. His family moved to Westminster in 1943 where Bob graduated from Westminster High School. prgtoken He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Colorado State University, both in horticulture. According to a January 2020 profile in Orchard Living, he majored in horticulture because he did not want to wear a tie for a living. prgtoken Bob married his wife, Shirley, on September 8, 1957. He had a long career in local and State politics, serving as Adams County Commissioner for 4 years, beginning in 1979--where he actually helped me on one of my very first cases that I had as a lawyer--as the local board member for the Regional Transportation District for 4 years in 1999, and a State representative for District 29 from January 2003 to 2005. He served terms on the Westminster City Council, including a stint as mayor pro tem. He was a longtime proponent of local rail and helped found the advocacy group Rocky Mountain Rail. prgtoken , Bob was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. He and Shirley raised two children and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our community.
MARCH FOR LIFE
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-1-20

tomorrow, the streets of our Nation's Capital will be filled with Americans from across the country who have come to Washington, DC, to march for life. They come to nudge the conscience of our Nation, to remind all of us that every day in this country, baby girls and boys are being killed by abortion. prgtoken The March for Life, of course, is just one small facet of the pro- life movement, which works every day in this country to offer help and hope to moms in need. Pro-lifers collect supplies for pregnant moms. They pay for prenatal care. They assist moms with housing. They help moms continue with their schooling or find employment. They provide a listening ear to support a mom going through a difficult time. prgtoken The March for Life is just one small facet of that work, but it is an important one because abortion is an injustice that happens behind closed doors. It is not something that we see happening, and so it is all too easy to forget that every day in this country, hundreds of babies are being killed by abortion. prgtoken The CDC reports that almost 630,000 babies were killed by abortion in 2019 alone--630,000. That number is so big, it is almost unfathomable. To put 630,000 in some kind of perspective, that is equivalent to roughly 70 percent of the population of my State of South Dakota killed in 1 year--630,000 unique, unrepeatable human beings; future doctors, nurses, farmers and teachers and plumbers and busdrivers and research scientists, beloved sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews, future moms and dads. That is a lot of lives lost. prgtoken So events like the March for Life are fundamentally important because they provide a public witness to the truth about abortion. They remind all of us of what can be all too easy to minimize or ignore or forget, and that is that in this country, we are denying our most vulnerable citizens their most basic right. prgtoken You would think by now that we would have learned our lesson about deciding that one group of human beings is expendable; about deciding that some human beings are excluded from the protection and dignity that every member of the human family should enjoy. Unfortunately, history makes clear that great sins are often repeated. But we don't have to stay silent in the face of them. Indeed, we prgtoken must not stay silent in the face of them. ``Rescue those being led away to death,'' it says in the Book of Proverbs. ``[H]old back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, `But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? . . . Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?'' prgtoken The March for Life helps make sure that we can never offer the excuse ``But we knew nothing about this'' and reminds us of our responsibility to speak up to rescue the babies in this country who are being led away to death mere weeks or months after their life has begun. prgtoken Those who woul
MARCH FOR LIFE
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-1-20

I thank my friend for his principal leadership on this issue for so many years. He is a great model to us all. prgtoken , we in the Pro-Life Caucus are happy to join the March for Life tomorrow here in the Nation's capital, but we are here today to acknowledge the tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade. prgtoken As has been said, more than 63 million unborn children have been denied their right to life in the past 49 years since that tragic decision was handed down. prgtoken As we fight to protect the liberties of all Americans here in Congress, we have to remember to fight first for the most defenseless, and that is the child in the womb, who from the moment of conception is a unique human being with unique DNA. prgtoken In the coming months you are going to hear a lot of vague and euphemistic language from defenders of abortion. Do not be swayed. The truth is very simple, and it has never changed. Abortion takes a baby's life, a person made in God's image. prgtoken We hope, we pray, we believe that 2022 is the year the Supreme Court will finally recognize this truth once again.
HONORING THE LIFE OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY DETENTION LIEUTENANT JERRY S. BUSH
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-1-20

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of retired Lieutenant Jerry S a committed servant of the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department. Lieutenant passed away on Wednesday, January 5, leaving behind a legacy of joyful service to his beloved Hope, Arkansas home. prgtoken Having started his career as a Reserve Deputy, Lieutenant worked his way up to Deputy and was later promoted to Lieutenant in the county's detention center. Lieutenant also served many years as a Bailiff to the Arkansas Circuit Court. Remembered most for his service to the citizens of Hempstead County, Lieutenant will always be remembered as a friend and servant to his community. prgtoken I take this time today to honor the life of service exemplified by Lieutenant Jerry S. . I thank him and his family for their dedication to our fellow citizens and our beloved Fourth District of Arkansas.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-1-20

. Today marks exactly 1 year since President became our fourty-sixth President. This all-ic government has had 365 days to start delivering on some of their core promises. prgtoken So what were those promises, in their own words? ``Crushing the virus,'' ``strengthen[ing] our alliances,'' and, above all else, ``lower[ing] the temperature'' and reuniting a divided country. prgtoken Remember, upon taking office, this administration had historic tailwinds at its back. President inherited lifesaving vaccines and a distribution system that was already up and running. He inherited a string of bipartisan rescue packages, including one that was only just a few days old. He inherited an economy that was prime for a roaring comeback. Those were the promises. That was the inheritance. prgtoken So let's take a look at the progress report. Last spring, against expert advice, the administration dumped another mountain of borrowed cash on an already white-hot economy. As a result, we are now being hammered by the worst inflation in 40 years. Practically everything families need and want have gotten much, much more expensive. Constant shortages disrupt family shopping. Households are being hit with soaring heating costs if they stay home and soaring gas prices if they go out. Our economic trajectory looks shakier today than it did when were sworn in. prgtoken Of course, we have continued adding back jobs from COVID lockdowns. That was certainly going to happen. But job creation has massively underperformed ' own projections for job creation with their super costly springtime stimulus package. prgtoken When 2021 was said and done, the country had added roughly the same number of jobs that we were on track to create before implemented one policy or spent one dime. They managed to literally blow $1.9 trillion but only barely beat the starting trajectory they inherited. prgtoken They call that spending a COVID package, but less than 10 percent of the money went to the actual medical fight, and that certainly shows. prgtoken Americans are entering their third year of this pandemic with too few tests, too few treatments, too many new cases, and too many school closures; muddled guidance on boosters that caused FDA experts to resign in protest, and needless divisive vaccine mandates that were not even constitutional. prgtoken One year in, the coronavirus is decidedly uncrushed. prgtoken And COVID wasn't the only epidemic sweeping American streets. Take violent crime. Far-left rhetoric and anti-law-enforcement local policies have led major cities to set all-time records for homicide in 2021. prgtoken Or take fentanyl. This deadly imported poison was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, last year. The No. 1 killer of Americans in their prime--fentanyl. prgtoken So why aren't treating this like an emergency? When was the last time President even talked about
Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-1-20

yesterday I was dismayed to hear the President of the United States suggest that a Russian invasion of Ukraine might not provoke a powerful response by the United States and our allies. prgtoken Now, I am grateful that the Press Secretary did issue a statement subsequently which seemed to clarify the strong commitment that the American people--from the administration to the Members of Congress-- have to assist our Ukrainian allies in their efforts to deter or defeat Russian aggression. I believe we have a duty to stand with Ukraine and our European allies as they attempt to defend their democracies. prgtoken Strong language and threats of sanctions have their place, but they are not enough to deter Vladimir Putin. We need to take concrete steps to deter the likelihood of a Russian attack in any form. prgtoken But it is not just the executive branch of the U.S. Government that prgtoken has a role to play. We in Congress have a role we can play, too, in sending a very clear message to Vladimir Putin that we will not stand idly by while he attacks a neighbor, a democracy, and a potential future member of NATO. prgtoken To that end, I have introduced bipartisan legislation called the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act to ensure Ukrainian forces have the weapons that they need to deter that aggression and defend, if necessary, against a Russian invasion. prgtoken Of course, students of history remember the importance of lend-lease back in World War II, back when America was officially neutral in the conflict initiated by Nazi Germany in Europe and during a time when the American people were of an isolationist frame of mind. prgtoken Recognizing the importance of throwing a lifeline to Great Britain and our other allies, Congress passed on a bipartisan basis the Lend- Lease Act, which ultimately resulted in $30 billion worth of materiel being delivered to Britain and our other allies to help them defeat Nazi Germany. prgtoken So, in a similar vein, this legislation authorizes the President to enter into lend-lease agreements with Ukraine and provide the military equipment necessary to protect the Ukrainian people from Russian aggression. No one is suggesting that American troops should be on the ground, but we are saying clearly that it is our responsibility to provide the Ukrainians everything they need in order to defend themselves. prgtoken This legislation would once again, in the immortal words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, allow us to serve as the arsenal of democracy, just as we did in World War II, and provide Ukraine with the lethal weapons they need to protect themselves against the Russian threat. prgtoken Make no mistake, America stands with Ukraine, and we will do everything we can, again, on a bipartisan basis--the executive branch, the legislative branch--to support our friends and to defeat a Russian invasion and allow them to protect their democracy. prgtoken Vladimir Putin's stated conce
PUBLIC SERVICE REVIEW
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-1-20

. For all who are looking for encouragement about the future of our country, I want to call attention to the Fall 2021 issue of ``Public Service Review,'' produced by the Stennis Center for Public Service and available at www.stennis.gov. ``Public Service Review'' features rising young leaders across the country sharing their own experiences, insights, and aspirations as they engage in public service, both in their communities and around the world. The commitment of these future leaders to keeping our Nation strong and free is truly inspiring. prgtoken The eight authors featured in the fall 2021 issue are Alexis Eberlein of Ohio University, Sarah Glaser of the University of South Florida, Hannah Krawczyk of Auburn University, Mia Robertson of Mississippi State University, Alanna Cronk of Georgetown University, Katie Medford of Harvard University, Preeti Chemiti of Princeton University, and Amitoj Kaur of Miami University. ``Public Service Review'' provides young leaders a platform to share stories of both challenge and hope as they focus on causes that draw their unique passions. Their stories are hopegiving to those of us currently engaged in public service and offer valuable perspectives for younger students looking to become involved. prgtoken On behalf of my colleagues and fellow members of the Stennis Center Board of Trustees, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Tom Daffron, U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, and former U.S. Representatives Martha Roby and Gregg Harper, I commend the Stennis Center for this excellent publication and encourage its wide distribution to audiences of all ages.
ROE V. WADE
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-1-20

as I stand at this podium, I will speak for about 60 seconds, and within those 60 seconds, an unborn baby will lose its life. In fact, in America, an unborn baby will have its life ripped away every 50 seconds through the gruesome procedure of abortion. This is about 630,000 unborn lives lost per year--a number that equals about 80 percent of my congressional district. prgtoken This is tragic. God has a plan for these children. They are our brothers, sisters, friends, and loved ones. They are future leaders, nurses, doctors, farmers, and small business owners. But, most importantly, they are human beings with a purpose from our Creator. There is nothing more hideous than taking the life of the most vulnerable in our society. prgtoken Forty-nine years ago, the decision made by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade has resulted in the death of over 62\1/2\ million unborn babies. Despite the three-quarters of Americans who want significant restrictions on abortions, my colleagues across the aisle are still prioritizing their abortion-on-demand agenda. prgtoken This is senseless. Together, as a nation, we must make this the last year we speak on this horrible anniversary. We cannot wait another 50 seconds, another 50 months, or another 50 years. Everyone is entitled to the right to life.
TRIBUTE TO GLEN AND KERRY FLETCHER
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-1-20

. Madam , I rise today to honor and congratulate Glen and Kerry Fletcher, who are jointly being honored as the 2021 Citizen of the Year by the Corona Chamber of Commerce. Glen and Kerry have been true leaders in my hometown of Corona for more than three decades, and residents throughout our community deeply appreciate their many contributions. prgtoken Glen and Kerry first met in high school where Kerry was a song leader and Glen was president of the Future Farmers of America. After a few dates, Kerry was introduced to the family business, Pete's Road Service, which was run by Pete and Clara Fletcher. Soon after, Kerry would join Glen by working at the business and contributing to its success. Eventually they would marry, and after living for stretches in Fullerton and Norco, the Fletcher family moved to Corona in 1986. In addition to expanding Pete's Road Service, the Fletcher family grew with the additions of their children, Amanda, Melissa, and Nathan. prgtoken Over the past 30 years, the Fletchers have volunteered their time and resources into the Corona community in many ways. With children active in youth athletics, the Fletchers recognized a need for additional soccer development opportunities in the region. In 1992, they founded the Corona United Soccer Club, and Glen served as its President for 12 years. Not to be outdone, Kerry contributed in a variety of roles over the years, including as a coach, Board Treasurer, and Registrar. In 2005, Glen joined the Corona Rotary where he chaired the club's Lobsterfest fundraiser in 2011 and served as President in the 2011/2012 year. Glen and Kerry have also been members of the Navy League and a number of other local clubs and organizations benefitting our city. prgtoken Today, Glen and Kerry enjoy another treasured role--being grandparents. With their incredible record of service, the Fletchers are incredibly deserving of the Citizen of the Year award from the Corona Chamber of Commerce. I would like to thank Glen and Kerry for their dedication to our community and wish them the very best in the future.