mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING OUR LOCAL COPS
Sean P. Duffy (Republican, WI) \u2014 2017-4-12

I would like to recognize the dedication and bravery of our nation's law enforcement, especially in relation to keeping drugs out of our communities. prgtoken I would like to commend the efforts of Wisconsin officers who are on the front lines to halt the flow of methamphetamines into our communities. After a three-year investigation conducted by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, 19 individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute meth in central Wisconsin. During that period, the individuals involved distributed 127 pounds of meth, at a value of $5.7 million. prgtoken These heroes in law enforcement deserve our praise. They go to work every day not knowing if they are going to come home. And they are leading the fight against meth, which has scourged our families and communities. Meth distributors intentionally seek to create new addicts in our communities by flooding the market with cheap product and targeting individuals. Our officers see the consequences of meth in the eyes of the children they rescue from homes consumed by this addiction. That's why the fight against this epidemic is so important, and why we are eternally grateful for their service. prgtoken I would like to recognize the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, especially Detective Lieutenant Chad Collinsworth; the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; the Wausau office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Marathon County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit; the Wausau Police Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation unit for their work on behalf of our community. prgtoken , I encourage all Americans to take the opportunity to thank a police officer in their community. They have our backs, and the least that we can do is to let them know that we have theirs.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE KANNAPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY QUIZ BOWL TEAM
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2017-4-12

I rise today to recognize the Kannapolis Middle School North Carolina History Quiz Bowl Team for their victory in the 2017 History Quiz Bowl. This year, the team of Katie Messick, Robert Le, Tanner Sims, Raegan Koon, and Kandace Davis took home the top prize after beating five other squads in the competition. prgtoken Originally sponsored by the state in a partnership with various historic sites, the Quiz Bowl pits local eighth graders against each other to test their knowledge of North Carolina and national history. After the 2008 recession, the state cut funding for the event but a few dedicated teachers kept the competition alive. Now the competition operates as a community-based event showcasing exceptional students from both public and private schools. prgtoken This year's event brought a host of talent and I am extremely proud of all of the students who participated. As a history major myself, I have a deep appreciation for both our state and nation's history and I am glad these students share the same passion. I am also thankful for the teachers and volunteers who made the event possible. I look forward to many more years of a successful competition and wish all the students well as they continue their academic pursuits. prgtoken , please join me today in congratulating the Kannapolis Middle School History Quiz Bowl Team on their accomplishment.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MAJOR JACK BORNHOEFT, USAF (RET.)
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-4-12

I rise today to recognize the wartime service of Major Jack Bornhoeft, a longtime resident of the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois. prgtoken On April 3, the Consul General of France in Chicago, Vincent Floreani, recognized Jack Bornhoeft as a French Knight of the Legion of Honor. The award is an important recognition of Major Bornhoeft's contribution to efforts to liberate France from German occupation. prgtoken In 1942, Jack Bornhoeft, then only 19 years of age, volunteered for service in the Army Air Corps. He would eventually pilot a B-26 Marauder on 45 missions--participating in three major campaigns from September 1944 through June 1945. prgtoken Jack Bornhoeft risked his life time and time again--participating in operations across France and Germany as United States and Allied forces fought against the Nazi regime. He and his crew regularly braved enemy fire, and their B-26 survived numerous hits. prgtoken I am forever grateful for the service of Major Bornhoeft and his crew, and I believe that we must never forget what they and other service members went through as they risked--and in many cases sacrificed--their lives to defend freedom in World War II. prgtoken I also want to recognize the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois, and the French government for their efforts to recognize veterans like Major Bornhoeft who have done their duty and deserve recognition. prgtoken I Thank Major Bornhoeft, for all that he has done for our country.
HONORING REVEREND EDDIE PERRY
A. Donald McEachin (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2017-4-12

I would like to honor Reverend Eddie Perry, pastor emeritus of Saint John's Baptist Church. prgtoken Reverend Eddie Perry's efforts and continued courage to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through oratory teachings, community involvement and leadership are to be commended. He continues to make an indelible mark in Charles City and has served as the pastor of Saint John's Baptist Church for several years. Reverend Perry is a committed husband and father whose continued leadership is an inspiration to his congregation and all those who know him--myself included. prgtoken Reverend Perry is a dedicated man of faith. I thank Reverend Perry for his service. The bell of his lifelong achievements will ring for all of eternity.
COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SMS CORMORAN'S SINKING IN APRA HARBOR, GUAM
Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Democrat, GU) \u2014 2017-4-12

I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the scuttling of the World War I German ship, the SMS Cormoran, in Guam's Apra Harbor, which occurred on April 7, 1917. prgtoken The SMS Cormoran was scuttled by its crew on April 7, 1917, the day the United States entered World War I. Twenty six years later, on August 27, 1943 the Japanese freighter Tokai Maru was torpedoed and came to rest also in Apra Harbor's waters. This Apra Harbor site is symbolic of Guam's rich history and unique role in United States and world history, as this is the only site in the world housing two shipwrecks from the two World Wars. prgtoken Originally a Russian merchant fleet vessel, SMS Cormoran was captured by Germans in the years leading up to World War I, and was transformed into an auxiliary cruiser which Germany docked in the Chinese province of Tsingtao, a small German colony at the time. prgtoken In December of 1914, the SMS Cormoran was chased by Japanese warships on a routine trip, and running low on fuel, docked at Apra Harbor on Guam. At the time, Guam was a U.S. territory, and the United States was a neutral nation. The SMS Cormoran's captain, Captain Adalbert Zuckschwerdt requested fuel and provisions from Guam's naval Governor William Maxwell, who promptly denied the request due to the United States' neutrality. Instead he gave Captain Zuckschwerdt two options-- to leave Guam immediately or remain interned. Captain Zuckschwerdt chose to remain on island. On April 7, 1917 the United States entered World War I, and naval Governor Roy Smith ordered Captain Zuckschwerdt to surrender his personnel and the SMS Cormoran. While Captain Zuckschwerdt surrendered his personnel, he ordered the crew to scuttle the vessel. American soldiers noticed the activity and fired a warning shot, which signified America's first engagement with Germany the very same day we declared our entry into World War I. Six German soldiers died in the scuttling of SMS Cormoran and they were buried with full military honors at the U.S. Naval Cemetery. prgtoken In 1975, the wreck of the SMS Cormoran was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. I commend the work of the Guam Visitors Bureau and all other stakeholders for organizing an event to commemorate 100th anniversary of the SMS Cormoran's sinking, which prompted the first American action upon its entry into World War I. This ceremony highlights Guam's unique history in world events and provides an opportunity to showcase the distinctive historical sites that are only available on our island.
HONORING THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF PEG YORKIN
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-12

I rise today to pay tribute to an American leader, a true pioneer, and my dear friend, Peg Yorkin, on the occasion of her 90th birthday. As a Co-Founder and Chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation, Peg has been a tremendously effective and tireless advocate for women's rights, setting an inspiring example for women across the United States and around the globe. prgtoken Peg Yorkin's visionary leadership and extraordinary generosity have made the Feminist Majority one of the most formidable partners in enacting groundbreaking legislation for women and families for over four decades. prgtoken Strengthened by Peg's bold vision, the Feminist Majority's achievements include the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which contained a provision for monetary damages to women who win sexual harassment lawsuits; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Violence Against Women Act, and many more. prgtoken The breadth of Peg's accomplishments is truly remarkable. In addition to her work with the Feminist Majority, Peg has provided outstanding support to a variety of other praiseworthy women's causes including Voters for Choice, the Rape Foundation, and the Sojourn Center for Abused Women. Peg has helped to advance women's access to reproductive health care in America and drawn the world's attention to the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan. prgtoken Peg's leadership has spotlighted the vast potential of the national and global empowerment of women. With each day that passes, Peg's legacy continues to impact women everywhere as the march for women's economic, social, and political progress continues. prgtoken It is my great honor to join Peg's children and grandchildren, her many friends, my colleagues in the House of Representatives, and women everywhere, in wishing Peg a happy 90th birthday--and many more years to come.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN IN THE YEAR OF ITS BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-4-12

I rise today to recognize the University of Michigan in the year of its bicentennial. Since 1817, the University of Michigan has established a reputation as one of the world's foremost centers of learning and research, and has produced generations of leaders, scholars and innovators. prgtoken Founded in 1817 in Detroit, Michigan, the University of Michigan has since evolved to become one of the United States' great public institutes of higher education. The university was moved to its current location in Ann Arbor in 1837, where it continued to expand and develop. Today, the University of Michigan contains nineteen colleges, including prominent prgtoken graduate schools of medicine, law and business, and educates tens of thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate students each year. Michigan also serves as one of the leading centers of research and played a key role in developing key scientific breakthroughs such as a vaccine for polio. In addition, the University of Michigan is well known for its student activism and was instrumental in the establishment of the Peace Corps. The university has also achieved excellence in athletics, with the Wolverines consistently competing at the highest levels of collegiate sports. prgtoken The University of Michigan continues to serve the state and country by attracting some of the brightest educators and scholars and inspiring a new generation of leaders. Its alumni include twenty six Rhodes Scholars, political leaders including former President Gerald Ford, and leading innovators like Google co-founder Larry Page. The university also has a rich literary tradition, having educated prominent writers and journalists including Mike Wallace and Arthur Miller. The University of Michigan has successfully pursued knowledge and truth for two hundred years, and I have confidence that it will continue to build on this outstanding legacy going forward. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the University of Michigan during its bicentennial. The University's record of excellence in scholarship and research is worthy of commendation.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF ROBERT A.D. SCHWARTZ
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-4-14

I rise today to pay final tribute to Robert A.D. Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz died on February 18, 2017 in his Oakland, California home, at the age of 92. He was a businessman, philanthropist, patron of the arts, and jazz musician. prgtoken Mr. Schwartz was born in 1925 in Chicago, and received his B.S. in June 1944 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, he joined the Navy and was sent to the Pacific. prgtoken Bob moved to Oakland in 1951, where he founded Schwartz & Lindheim and later Keysource International, which develops and manufactures specialized keyboards for industry. He later earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Golden Gate University Law School, becoming a member of the California State Bar in 1974. prgtoken In 1979, Mr. Schwartz founded the Robert A.D. Schwartz Foundation. The foundation's mission is to develop vocational, musical and citizenship educational programs. His philanthropic work also led him to serve as chairman of Urban Strategies Council, a non-profit organization, which works to eliminate persistent poverty in the Bay Area. prgtoken He also founded Peer Tutoring Resources Center, which works to support the development of caring and collaborative citizens by enhancing the use, expansion and sustainability of peer tutoring--a model engaging students as instructors and leaders in classrooms and across schools. prgtoken In recognition of his contributions to the Oakland community, Bob was named Oakland Citizen of the Year in 1996, and December 14 2016 was proclaimed ``Robert Schwartz Day'' in Oakland. prgtoken An avid musician, Mr. Schwartz was instrumental in reviving the Oakland Symphony, and started his own jazz band which played for seniors at local retirement homes. prgtoken As chairman of the Northern California ic Party, Bob worked tirelessly on many campaigns, including my own campaigns for Congress. prgtoken On a personal note, Bob was a trusted confidant, a brilliant strategist, and most important, a loyal friend who I loved very much. prgtoken I invite my colleagues to join me as I offer condolences to his loving family, and his loving wife Debbra Wood Schwartz. prgtoken Robert A.D. Schwartz will be greatly missed but his legacy as a creative spirit and a trailblazer community activist will live on as a source of inspiration for generations to come.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FAIR PAY ACT OF 2017 APRIL 4, 2017
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2017-4-14

today is Equal Pay Day, which marks the number of additional days a woman must work to earn what a man earned by the end of last year. The 1963 Equal Pay Act (EPA), the first of the great civil rights statutes of the 1960s, has grown creaky with age and needs updating to reflect the new workforce, in which women work almost as much as men. prgtoken The best case for a stronger and updated EPA occurred here in the Congress in 2003, when female custodians in the House and Senate won an EPA case after showing that female workers were paid a dollar less per hour for doing the same or similar work as men. Had these women not been represented by their union, they would have had an almost impossible task in using the rules for bringing and sustaining an EPA class action suit. prgtoken Based on my own experience as the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, I again introduce the Fair Pay Act (FPA) on behalf of the average female worker, who is often first steered to, and then locked into, jobs with wages that are deeply influenced by the gender of women who have traditionally held such jobs. Much of the wage inequality women experience today is because of employer-steering and deeply rooted wage stereotypes, which result in wages being paid according to gender and not according to the skill necessary to do the job. I introduce the FPA because pay disparity most women face today stems mainly from the segregation of women and men in different jobs and paying women in female-dominated jobs systematically less. Two-thirds of white women and three quarters of African-American women work in just three areas: sales/clerical, service and factories. We need more aggressive strategies to break through the societal barriers present throughout history the world over, as well as employer-steering based on gender, which is as old as paid employment itself. prgtoken The FPA requires that if men and women are doing comparable work, they are to be paid comparable wages. If a woman, for example, is an emergency services operator, a female-dominated profession, she should not be paid less than a fire dispatcher, a male-dominated profession, simply because each of these jobs has been dominated by one sex. If a woman is a social worker, a traditionally female occupation, she should not earn less than a probation officer, a traditionally male job, simply because of the gender associated with each of these jobs. prgtoken The FPA, like the EPA, will not tamper with the legal burden. Under the FPA, as under the EPA, the burden will be on the plaintiff to prove discrimination. The plaintiff must show that the reason for the disparate treatment is gender discrimination, not legitimate market factors. prgtoken Remedies to achieve comparable pay for men and women are not radical or unprecedented. State governments, in red and blue states alike, have shown that it is possible to eliminate the part of the pay gap th
HONORING PHILIP KALAYIL
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-4-14

today I honor the life of Philip Kalayil who passed away on March 13 this year of natural causes. prgtoken It seems like everybody who's anybody in the city of Chicago has a story about Philip Kalayil. prgtoken Philip came to Chicago from India in the mid-1950s and became an early leader and organizer of the Indian-American community in the Chicago area. prgtoken Before his untimely death, Philip had been recognized by the Association for Asian American Studies, which honored him with its Heart of Asian American Community Award. prgtoken Philip's legacy of leadership and bridge-building between all racial and ethnic groups are needed now more than ever. While Philip left this world far too early, we should all take comfort in knowing that his memory and selfless service have left a mark on Chicago and our nation. prgtoken The civic contributions and dedication to the Indian-American community by Philip Kalayil have helped Indian Americans in the Chicago area such as myself to pursue professional achievements to further the development of our community. prgtoken On behalf of all of Philip's countless friends and associates, I just want to say thank you for all that you did for the people of Illinois. You're leaving some big shoes to fill in the city of Chicago. prgtoken , I hope we might all keep in our thoughts and prayers the Kalayil family as they mourn their loss. In that spirit, I celebrate Philip's life and think about what an impact that life made on so many people.
STRENGTHENING AND CLARIFYING THE 25TH AMENDMENT ACT OF 2017
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2017-4-14

like many people, I have noticed a renewed interest in the 25th Amendment as we have seen erratic behavior out of the White House. As I examined the Amendment, it became clear that in the case of mental or emotional incapacity, there is a glaring flaw. In the absence of Congressional action, the constitutional language depends on actions by the Cabinet. Because the Cabinet can be fired by the President, there is a natural bias that would make them reluctant to acknowledge the President's inability to serve. It's time to revisit and strengthen the Amendment and make sure there is a reliable mechanism in place if the President becomes unable to discharge the powers and duties of office. prgtoken The 25th Amendment was adopted 50 years ago in the wake of President Kennedy's assassination. It provides a mechanism for the succession of the President for his or her replacement in the event he or she proves unfit to serve. Under the Amendment, the Vice President and a majority of either the Cabinet or some ``other body'' designated by Congress, may remove the President from office. prgtoken While the language is straightforward, it raises a host of questions. This ``other body,'' rather than the principal officers of the executive branch, is undefined and there is no guidance for how it should operate. This legislation determines the body would consist of the Vice President, advised by a majority of the living former Presidents and Vice-Presidents. These people have been President, or in the line of succession and understand the pressures of the office and the responsibilities the Presidency entails. They are of both parties, experienced, and well regarded by the American public. It is hard to imagine a better group to work with the Vice President to examine whether the President is able to discharge the duties of the office. When there are questions about the President's ability to fulfill his or her constitutional responsibilities, it is in the country's best interest to have a mechanism in place that works effectively.
HONORING MINNESOTA PAINTERS LOCAL 681 ON THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Timothy J. Walz (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2017-4-14

I rise today to congratulate Rochester, Minnesota's Painters Local 681 on their 100th anniversary. Local 681 should be immensely proud of this achievement and of the excellent work they have done for our community over the many prgtoken years. Organizing for fair pay and safe working conditions is a fundamental right of all workers, and I applaud Local 681 for building and preserving this important tradition.