mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2020-6-15

it seems clear this body is prepared to pass the Great American Outdoors Act. It will be doing so without the bipartisan language to strengthen coastal resiliency around the country, sending a final message to the American people that the Senate cares more about parks than it does about people. prgtoken Let me just say a couple things first. My colleague has just said that this is paid for. I almost burst out laughing. It is paid for by taking dollars currently obligated to go to the U.S. Treasury and shuffling them over. That is paid for like I am going to take money that is going for groceries and instead I am going to pay for the movie theater. We are going to take money that is spent on essentials and spend it on something that is wonderful, but no one would say it is essential. prgtoken And I say that one only needs to follow the money--to follow the money--to see that the Senate cares more about parks than it does about people. prgtoken The Great American Outdoors Act will spend billions on deferred maintenance--broken toilets, leaky roofs, et cetera--in national parks, but, in fact, 60 percent of this money is going to seven States. prgtoken The Land and Water Conservation Fund spending shows the disparity clearly, spending $17.66 per capita on inland States, while just $7.53 on coastal States, and is spoken of as an economic development tool, raising $40-something billion for the communities in which the investment is made, which tells you why the Senators from these seven States are the cosponsors of the bill. Who wouldn't want $40 billion in economic activity at the expense of everybody else? prgtoken But who is it at the expense of? Forty-two percent of Americans live in parishes or counties in coastal United States; 85 percent of Americans live in those coastal States; and zero percent prgtoken of this money is going to address coastal resiliency--areas increasingly threatened by rising sea levels and flooding, lives being lost, communities being upended by catastrophic flood events such as hurricanes can cause. I have seen it in my State of Louisiana. We have seen it on the news. We should be painfully aware at this point of the devastation hurricanes and other flooding disasters can cause in our society. prgtoken So the Great American Outdoors Act spends billions on where people vacation but absolutely nothing on where people live. prgtoken I have been vocal in my opposition to the bill in its current form, and the reasons for that opposition have been misconstrued, so let me please now clarify. prgtoken I heard one Senator say that I only wanted money for Gulf States. Yes, I do want money for Gulf States. Louisiana has been the hardest hit by coastal erosion. prgtoken By the way, 90 percent of the funding for the Great American Outdoors Act comes from energy production off the gulf coast. But I want funding for all coastal States. prgtoken Louisiana's wetlands are eroding into the gulf
CONGRATULATING RICK KLEVEN ON A WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2020-6-15

. Madam , I rise together with my colleague from Minnesota Representative Craig to congratulate Richard ``Rick'' Kleven on his retirement at the end of June after more than 39 years with Thrivent. Throughout his nearly four decades of service with Thrivent, Rick has become a pillar of the Twin Cities community, leading Thrivent's government affairs efforts to educate federal and state policymakers about the important role that fraternal benefit societies play in society, helping people achieve financial security and live generous lives through important charitable and volunteer efforts that include disaster relief, partnering with organizations that address housing insecurity, and tens of thousands of individual service projects. These efforts have had a great impact not just in my district, but for the entire region and nation. Rick's dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm for Thrivent's unique mission--connecting insurance protection with community service--has been inspiring to watch and work with him on; for me, both during my time serving in the U.S. Congress and the Minnesota state House of Representatives. prgtoken A lifelong Minnesotan and proud ``Iron-Ranger'' who grew up in Grand Rapids, MN, Rick is a true Minnesota sports team fan, particularly a diehard for our Vikings. He received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and his B.A. from the University of Minnesota-- Duluth. Rick has led Thrivent's Government Affairs activities for more than 17 years, and served previously in a number of roles as legal counsel and manager of corporate legal functions within the organization through his long arc of service which began in 1981 when Thrivent was Lutheran Brotherhood. prgtoken Rick has been a great advocate on policy matters on Thrivent's behalf, but also walks the walk of Thrivent's mission of service-- something he learned from both of his parents, including his Dad who was awarded Itasca County's Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year in 2018. Rick has volunteered as a Big Brother, served as a board member for multiple nonprofit organizations, and epitomizes the ubiquitous Thrivent T-shirt that says ``Live Generously.'' Recently, he served as Chairman of the Board of Gilda's Club Twin Cities, and played a crucial role in helping to raise money to build the organization's clubhouse that provides support for people with cancer as well as their families and friends. Rick also served for 8 years on the board of Person to Person, a charitable organization that operates Meals on Wheels and various other programs to help the needy in the Twin Cities area. He also was part of the original start-up board of FINNEGANS, the first beer company in the world to donate 100 percent of profits back to local food shelves. Rick currently sits on the board of the American Fraternal Alliance, the nationwide coalition of not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies. prgtoken I, along with many of my coll
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-6-15

this time of year for the last roughly 30 years, the World Food Prize has announced a laureate. The laureate announced this year is Dr. Rattan Lal. He will receive the prize for his work on soil health at the annual ceremony that has taken place in Des Moines for the last 30 years in October. prgtoken Often called the Nobel Prize for Agriculture, the World Food Prize is awarded for exceptional achievements that advance human development by increasing the quantity, quality, availability of, or access to food. The award was created by Iowan Dr. Norman Borlaug, who is credited with saving more lives than any other person who ever lived through his pioneering work in developing new, more productive plant varieties and particularly plant varieties free of disease. The Green Revolution sparked by Dr. Borlaug made it possible for India to feed its people. prgtoken Dr. Lal, also from India, is being recognized for his work, which will be of interest to Iowans and others around the world. Dr. Lal said: Achieving hunger-free humanity, soil degradation neutrality, negative emission farming, and pollutant-free water are among principal challenges which can never be ignored. . . . Sustainable management of soil and agriculture is also essential to keeping global temperatures within the safe range and restoring the environment. prgtoken If people want to know who Dr. Borlaug is, he is one of the two statues that Iowa has put in Statuary Hall. He is one of five people in our country who have received a Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. prgtoken .
HONORING SPEAKER MIKE TURZAI
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-6-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai, who has devoted decades of service to our Commonwealth and our Nation. Since taking office in 2001, Turzai has championed our American values and defended our Constitutional rights. prgtoken During Turzai's tenure in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, he has worked hard to achieve important policy wins-- such as creating jobs, supporting our small businesses, improving workforce development, expanding choice in education, reforming the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board system, and reducing burdensome regulations. Turzai was a consistent champion of fiscal conservatism; he opposed tax increases and the midnight pay increase. Additionally, he has led the Chamber's pro-life agenda to defend the dignity of life. Before becoming the of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, he served in a number of leadership roles in the chamber and propelled commonsense, conservative policy forward. prgtoken A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Turzai was raised in Moon Township and graduated from Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame before earning his Juris Doctor from Duke University. In addition to his official work, Turzai has a long record of leadership in his community. He and his wife Lidia live in the North Hills of Pittsburgh with their three sons, Andrew, Stephen, and Matthew. prgtoken Upon Turzai's retirement from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I thank him for his commitment and service to our Commonwealth. He represented the values of his constituents well. As the Turzai family begins a new chapter, I wish them every continued success.
TRIBUTE TO ROBERT ``BOB'' ALAN STOCKTON
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-6-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, Bob Stockton, who passed away at the age of 66 on May 13, 2020. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and one of Riverside County's most dedicated public servants. He will be deeply missed. prgtoken Bob was a southern California native, born in San Diego on December 20, 1953, the son of Robert and Beverly Stockton. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1978. Bob married the love of his life, Kelli Tyson, 16 years ago and between the two of them they have five wonderful children and four grandchildren. Kelli and Bob loved to travel, and Hawaii was at the top of their list. Some of their greatest adventures while traveling include riding a portion of the Tour de France route in 2004 and being baptized in the Jordan River in Israel by friend and pastor, Matt Brown in 2015. prgtoken To merely say Bob was a tireless advocate for Riverside County would not do him justice. He served on more organizations that I can name here, but they include: the Monday Morning Group; the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Riverside; California Baptist University; Path of Life Ministries; the American Heart Association; the East Hills Chamber; and Western Municipal Water District. He also was a leader of his son's Boy Scout troop and ``The Prop Guy'' for his daughter's dance studio. He managed to do all of this while serving as the Vice President and Principal-in-Charge at Rick Engineering Company. He was, as Rusty Bailey, Bob's friend and the current Mayor of Riverside would say, a ``true saint of Riverside.'' prgtoken Bob's service to the organizations in our community is matched only by his dedication prgtoken to the individuals within them. He lived his life motto of ``Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard'' each and every day. Bob was passionate about training and coaching athletes and helping his friends and family achieve any of their goals. He coached the Woodcrest Christian Mountain Bike Team and helped train anyone who asked in preparation for Ironman challenges, triathlons, half-marathons, and Catalina SOK runs, to name only a few competitions he loved. When Bob wasn't racing himself, he could be found cheering on the sidelines for anyone striving to reach their goals. prgtoken I had the pleasure of knowing Bob through his service to Riverside County and can personally attest to the countless lives he touched. He was a great American, an esteemed leader, a respected mentor and a dedicated husband, father, and friend. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Kelli, to their children, Nathan, Heather, Adam, Travis, and Emily, their grandchildren Rages, Winter, Harley, and Easton, and the rest of Bob's family and friends. Although he may no longer be with us, he will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of his family and community.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-6-15

across America, people of all ages, races, and backgrounds have continued to show up on the streets to speak up and speak out against racial injustice. Of course, it is their right under the Constitution to do so. prgtoken Galvanized by the tragic death of George Floyd, they are marching in peaceful protests, signing petitions, and having frank discussions with their families. It is a moment characterized by heartbreak and anger over the injustices that many Black Americans feel are perpetrated on them every day, but it is also a time for hope for the future as the issue has come front and center. Frankly, we have to do something about it. prgtoken In city halls, State legislatures, and, of course, here in the U.S. Capitol, there is a newfound sense of energy and urgency behind the effort to pass meaningful reform. We have an opportunity to create profound change in an area that, for too long, has just been a can kicked down the road, and I am optimistic we will succeed. prgtoken I told the Floyd family when I talked to them before their son, their brother, was buried: My hope for you and my hope for all of us is that something positive will come out of this tragedy. prgtoken Here in the Senate, we are working on legislation to respond to these events, and the majority leader has tasked our friend and colleague from South Carolina, Senator Tim Scott, to lead the effort in our conference. I am proud to have been working with him closely--and several other colleagues--to draft legislation that I think will help us begin the first step down that path and support America's police forces. prgtoken As we work through potential policies, it is important to hear feedback from my constituents back home, and last Friday I had the chance to do just that. I reached out to my friend, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, whom I have gotten to know pretty well during his first year as mayor. Whether it be Dallas tornadoes or the COVID-19 virus or, now, discussions about the George Floyd killing and racial injustice, we have found the opportunity to work together to support the people of Dallas through some incredibly difficult times. prgtoken I asked him if he would help me convene a group of leaders in Dallas to discuss these issues, and by Friday we were all socially distancing around a large table in city hall in Dallas, TX. The mayor and I were joined by Police Chief Renee Hall, Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, as well as union, community, and faith leaders. We had a frank conversation about the challenges we are up against as we work to repair the broken trust between law enforcement and some of the communities they serve. prgtoken I was able to spend some time talking about the work we are doing here in the Senate and the ideas that could be included in any legislation. I talked about two specific proposals that I have recommended--one being the establishment of a Na
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-6-15

I rise to speak on the Great American Outdoors Act and on the fact that this legislation will add over $17 billion to our deficit over the next 10 years. prgtoken When I first rose to speak on this bill and on my amendment to it, I closed by saying that if we could not pay for even a portion of this bill, then we were in worse trouble than I had thought. Sadly, I rise today, knowing that we, apparently, want such trouble. prgtoken During this fiscal year, we have already run up a deficit of $1.9 trillion--more than twice the size of the deficit we ran at the same time last year. We also just added $2.4 trillion to our debt as the Nation necessarily responded to the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken For the past 2 years, I have been working on and consistently suggesting a way to responsibly pay for deferred maintenance at our national parks. I love our national parks and have fond memories of visiting our first national park, Yellowstone, and many other parks when I was younger and still today. That is why I offered my amendment that would have created a paid-for legacy restoration fund that would have ensured permanently dedicated revenue for our parks and their maintenance needs. prgtoken For the longest time, I was told that my spending concerns would be addressed when the bill moved out of committee. When the bill moved to the floor, I asked that my amendment be included in the substitute or that it receive a vote. It was not included, and we did not receive a vote. prgtoken While my amendment did not address it, I would also mention that many of my colleagues regularly express concern about how we increasingly have moved discretionary spending to mandatory spending. This bill does just that with the Land and Water Conservation provisions. prgtoken Mandatory spending is always renewed and never voted on or evaluated again. When the Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently authorized at the start of this Congress, we were told that its spending would remain subject to appropriations and the oversight that goes with that. Instead, we are taking away that protection and increasing mandatory spending even more without increasing revenue. That means more additional national debt each year without a single vote. prgtoken So here we are today, asking future generations to pay for what we are not even willing to consider paying for when we could have responsibly funded the maintenance provisions. We won't even consider my amendment that would have a modest charge to foreign visitors as part of their visa fees to help to address this issue, and that is revenue that will be lost forever from the tourists because we can only collect the fees when they buy visas. The revenues cannot be collected retroactively. If we won't pay for even a part of the bill, what will we pay for? prgtoken Congress must stop with gimmick spending, wherein we attempt to spend the same money twice. That is what this bill do
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-6-15

I am here on the floor today to talk about the legislation that is before the Senate, which is a great opportunity to help our national parks. prgtoken The bill does a number of things that people have heard about to help with regard to our public lands, with regard to fishing access, and with regard to community parks. Yet one thing it does that is absolutely essential is it included the Restore Our Parks Act. That is legislation which is necessary right now to fix our national parks. prgtoken I say fix our national parks--they are our treasure. When people are asked about the national parks, they usually use that word. It is a treasure. It is a great asset of the United States. I think Ken Burns said it is ``America's best idea.'' He did a great documentary on the parks, by the way. prgtoken The point is, our national parks are spectacular. They are majestic. They tell the history of our country. There are so many good things about them. The problem is that right now, our parks are under a huge backlog of maintenance projects--$12.5 billion. That is way more than the parks' budget. They just can't get out from under it. It has been happening for years and years and years. prgtoken Think about people going back to our parks this summer after the coronavirus hopefully gets better and people are able to go to these reopened parks. We will probably have huge attendance. When they get there, they will find out that a trail is closed because of erosion, or the bathroom doesn't work because the bathroom has deteriorated, or they can't go to the visitors center because the ceiling has been leaking, which caused mold on the walls, which caused the floors to buckle, or the highways and bridges are crumbling. This is what is happening in our national parks. prgtoken As Members of Congress, we asked them to give us a full list over the last few years of this because we keep hearing about this, and they have. They have talked about $6.5 million of high-priority projects and about $6 billion of priority projects, and the list continues to grow. prgtoken By the way, the costs continue to compound. In other words, they get worse and worse every year. Just think about your own home. If you don't fix the leaky roof I have talked about, you will have all these other problems. If you can get to it and fix it when it happens, you will have much lower costs. All of us as taxpayers should want to fix this maintenance backlog and be able to say that not only are these parks a treasure, but these parks are open, everything is open, and we can do a better job in stewardship. This legislation does that. prgtoken Not a penny of the funding, by the way, can go toward expansion of the parks. I have heard that from some of my colleagues--well, you all keep putting money into expanding the parks. No, that is not what this is about. This is about stewardship. This is about ensuring that we take better care of what we have. I
GREGORY THOMPSON CONDOLENCES
Dan Crenshaw (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-6-15

. Madam , I rise with deep sadness to mourn the loss of Gregory Thompson, who passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Woodbridge, Virginia. prgtoken Gregory sadly joins countless Americans who fell victim to the COVID- 19 pandemic. At just 56 years old, his full life was cut far too short. prgtoken Gregory served our country in the United States Air Force and was a Security Officer at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. for more than 15 years. prgtoken A self-made man, Gregory was the owner of Made to Measure, a custom tailor clothing business that he owned with his partner Howard Wallace. That's how I knew Gregory. prgtoken Gregory was kind, warm, and I always enjoyed our time together. Gregory always took on the difficult task of making me look my best with a smile, and I am grateful that I had such a talented craftsman to take care of me during my first year in Washington. prgtoken But much more than a tailor, Gregory was a father to Giovanni and a brother to Elizabeth, Veneda, Michael, and Walter. He was a cherished friend and beloved family member to many, all of whom are grieving this profound loss. prgtoken I ask the whole House to join me as we mourn the loss of Gregory Thompson and offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. prgtoken Never Forget.
RECOGNIZING SPRINGBROOK HIGH SCHOOL'S ACHIEVEMENT IN THE 2020 CAPITOL HILL CHALLENGE
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the remarkable accomplishment of my constituents, the excellent team from Springbrook High School that placed second in the 17th Annual Capitol Hill Challenge. I congratulate Nelson Alvarez and his teacher, Donald Wharton Jr on their passionate commitment and impressive results in the Challenge during a time of economic uncertainty. prgtoken Every year, with the support and participation of Congress, SIFMA Foundation's Capitol Hill Challenge instills in young people a deeper understanding of personal finance, economics and civics. Student teams manage and invest a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, impact investments and cash. This national competition expands financial education, civics learning and math literacy for public school students in every US Congressional District. prgtoken Madam , I am honored to recognize the extraordinary achievement of Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Wharton and I hope my colleagues and constituents will join me in congratulating Nelson Alvarez from Springbrook High School on a job well done.