mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2018-9-13

I thank the Congresswoman for yielding and for hosting this Special Order on this important issue. prgtoken Every single day, we ask the men and women who serve our Nation in uniform to make incredible sacrifices on behalf of our Nation, and they never fail to deliver for us. prgtoken These brave Americans and their families know the true meaning of service, but that service often comes at a price. Our men and women in uniform, our veterans, cannot be cast aside once they have returned home. The prevalence of suicide among servicemembers and veterans is a stain on our collective conscience. prgtoken Servicemembers throughout the history of our country have had harrowing experiences in their service to defend this country and protect our way of life. prgtoken But it has only been recently that the scope of the trauma of war has been truly understood. Since the time of Abraham Lincoln, we, as a country, have made a solemn vow to care for those who have borne the battle, a vow that has made caring for veterans one of the few bipartisan issues in this era of divisiveness in Washington. prgtoken Today, we must ensure that our solemn promise to veterans extends to effective mental healthcare. No veteran should ever have to wait for this type of care, which can be just as crucial for recovery as physical health services. prgtoken My father, Malcolm McLane, flew fighter planes during World War II. He was shot down in the Battle of the Bulge, and spent 6 months in a German POW camp. When I was a child, he rarely spoke about his experiences during the war, but now, in hindsight, I believe that he was experiencing what we now know to be PTSD. prgtoken We understand so much more today about the brain and the impact of trauma that so many of our servicemembers endure, and it is critical that the VA and our society use that knowledge to improve care for veterans when they return home. prgtoken We must ensure that the unseen wounds of war receive the attention they deserve. Many of us today voted to fund veterans' mental health and suicide prevention programs. And while it is commendable that Congress is taking important steps to address this issue, much more needs to be done to ensure that no veteran is left behind. prgtoken As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I fight for the men and women who fight for us. During National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month, we should all pledge to work together to ensure that no veteran ever has trouble accessing the mental health services that he or she needs and deserves. prgtoken , I want to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, for her commitment to this issue. She was very effective in the testimony that she brought to the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I appreciate her perseverance.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2018-9-13

over the last 2 years, members of the Judiciary Committee and my committee, the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, which I serve as the ranking member, have worked extensively with groups all over the Nation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, and we have done so in a bipartisan and nonpartisan manner. prgtoken The bill is written. It was introduced on July--just a month ago--26, 2018. prgtoken Victims are waiting for the reauthorization that will improve the Violence Against Women Act. In fact, law enforcement are waiting, victims are waiting, those who have experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment. prgtoken And I would just tell my friends on the other side of the aisle, leadership needs to put that bill on the floor of the House and put it on the floor now. prgtoken Again, this is not a partisan bill. It has been crafted and supported by faith organizations and advocacy groups for women and victims. It is supported by law enforcement. prgtoken So, , we can do our job and we should do our job. When we come back from our recess that we work in our districts, let us put on the floor the Violence Against Women Act and let's vote for it now.
NEED TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY
Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2018-9-13

I am here to speak about the need to protect Social Security. prgtoken Last year, the s passed an expensive tax scam that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top 1 percent. This and the new tax scam 2.0 will add trillions to our deficit. prgtoken Now they are trying to use this massive deficit that they created to justify cutting and dismantling Social Security, all while a retirement security crisis is looming to wreak havoc on those who are going to retire over the next decade. prgtoken One in three Americans have less than $5,000--one in three have less than $5,000--saved. Fewer have pensions. For so many families who have worked hard, played by the rules, Social Security is all they will have. And s, they want to take it away. prgtoken , let's build up Social Security, not dismantle it.
INDICTMENT OF NORTH KOREAN HACKER PARK JIN HYOK
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2018-9-13

last week, the Justice Department unveiled the latest in a string of criminal complaints against America's cyber adversaries. The extremely detailed document lays out a damning case against Park Jin Hyok, a North Korean hacker, and the regime that supports him. prgtoken From the Sony Pictures Entertainment hack to WannaCry to attempts to undermine the global financial system, the North Korean regime is a destabilizing presence in cyberspace. I commend the members of the law enforcement community who are working this case. prgtoken , cyberspace is often thought of as a domain where bad actors can act with impunity. This indictment shows that this is not the case. America is getting more and more sophisticated at being able to track down and unveil and unmask these cyber bad actors. prgtoken To those who would attempt to target our networks and systems, I have a message for you: We will find you. Malign activity in cyberspace that targets critical infrastructure or causes immense property damage is not the behavior of responsible nations, and we will not tolerate it.
WASHINGTON'S RAMPANT CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2018-9-13

the recent indictments of two GOP House Members showcases this rampant culture of corruption symbolic of a government of, by, and for special interests and wealthy donors. prgtoken Now, this week, s are trying to rush through their tax scam 2.0, which explodes the deficit to give more money to wealthy donors and the richest Americans. Because of the first tax scam, some of the biggest corporations are now on track to spend $1 trillion on dividends and stock buybacks. prgtoken Meanwhile, working class constituents struggle to keep a roof over their head, pay for healthcare, and put food on the table for their family. prgtoken want real bipartisan tax reform that creates jobs, reduces the deficit, and is for the people, not just the ultra-rich. prgtoken We want to clean up the corruption and make Washington work for the people again. This means strengthening our ethics laws to fight special interests. This means fixing our broken campaign finance system to end the influence of big-money donors, and this means empowering voters to demand a responsive, accountable government, one that protects the right to vote, secures our election infrastructure, and ends partisan redistricting.
NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE ACT
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-9-13

I thank Ms. Johnson for yielding, and I thank her for her leadership on this bill. prgtoken I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation that will make a significant national commitment to the field of quantum science and engineering, which is critical for our global scientific and technological leadership. prgtoken While the benefits of quantum technology may still be a ways off, there is fierce international competition in this field, most notably from China, and we can't afford to waste any time. It is through strategic investments like this that we became the world's economic scientific and technology leader, and we can only maintain that position through continuing significant investment in cutting-edge basic research. prgtoken We already know that other countries are increasing their investments in quantum technology, in some cases guided by long-term strategies, and this bill will make sure that we develop a coherent strategy of our own. prgtoken This bill is a bright spot in what is otherwise a long, downward trend in Federal R&D funding as a percentage of GDP. Much as today's unbalanced budget leads to future debt problems, today's underinvestment in R&D leads to future innovation deficits. prgtoken I commend my colleagues from both parties for working together to bring this important bill to the floor, but we want to be clear that this is just a first step. We need to double down on our efforts and to reprioritize Federal research and development. prgtoken I want to highlight and commend an organization that is a leader in the field of quantum information science and engineering and that made significant contributions to this bill. The Chicago Quantum Exchange is a partnership between the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Weber for bringing the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Energy out to Argonne and Fermi earlier this year. He spoke about some of the great work that they are doing there. prgtoken The Chicago Quantum Exchange was created to develop and grow interdisciplinary collaboration for the exploration and development of new quantum-enabled technologies and to help educate a new generation of quantum information scientists and engineers. prgtoken Partnership with the private sector is also an important element of the exchange. The Chicago Quantum Exchange serves as both an excellent model for the Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education envisioned in this bill and for what the future of R&D and quantum information science will look like. prgtoken Finally, I want to thank Chairman Smith for his leadership on this bill and for working with us to make this a good, bipartisan piece of legislation. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
RECOGNIZING THE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF THE ``CARNIVAL ELATION''
Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2018-9-13

I rise today to pay special tribute to the captain and crew of the Carnival Elation for their incredible bravery during the rescue of a fishing boat stranded in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Irma last year. Their mettle will be honored this week by the Association for Rescue at Sea. prgtoken While undergoing routine maintenance and the replacement of its bridge navigation system in Freeport, Bahamas, the Carnival Elation began monitoring a storm developing off the coast of Western Africa. When the storm quickly grew to a Category 5 hurricane and it became clear that its path would likely lead directly over the Bahamas, the decision was made to move the ship and seek shelter in the Gulf of Mexico. prgtoken While sailing away from Hurricane Irma's path, the Elation received a relayed distress message from the U.S. Coast Guard alerting them that a fishing boat, the Captain Eddie, was taking on water approximately 60 nautical miles to their east and that two crewmembers were in dire need of assistance. Elation Captain Gaetano Gigliotti and his crew immediately set out to assist in the rescue, while the Coast Guard planned to provide a helicopter in support of the effort. The Elation navigated through treacherous conditions, facing 15-20-foot waves and sustaining winds of 40 knots, gusting at times to well over 60 knots. Despite these conditions, and without normal comprehensive bridge systems and communications equipment due to their early evacuation, the Elation stayed the course, only to be informed shortly before arriving at the struggling fishing boat that the USCG could no longer provide helicopter assistance due to the dangerous wind conditions. prgtoken Nearing the fishing boat, Captain Gigliotti decided it was too dangerous to allow an Elation rescue ship to pick up the fishermen and instead chose to move the Elation closer to the life raft to facilitate a rescue through a single open door in the hull. The Captain skillfully maneuvered the 70,000+ ton, 260+ meter Elation at slow speed in the heavy winds and seas, successfully positioning the ship alongside the life raft. Ignoring the potential risk to their own lives, several Elation deck team members were able to successfully bring the sole survivor on board using a harness and hoisting line. Unfortunately, the Elation crew quickly learned from the survivor that his fellow crewmembers had refused to abandon ship and were lost when the fishing vessel rapidly sank. The Elation medical team took excellent care of the survivor, facilitated contact with his family and coordinated with the U.S. embassy to ensure his timely return to the United States after the ship returned to the Bahamas. prgtoken We thank Captain Gigliotti and the entire Elation crew for their bravery in coming to the rescue of this fishing boat and its crew. Their courage in the face of extreme conditions, even placing their own lives at risk to save the lives of others, stands
TRIBUTE TO CALVIN WRIGHT
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2018-9-13

I rise today to pay tribute to a constituent and long-time friend, Calvin Wright, who has dedicated his life to our nation through activism, civic endeavors and military service. Mr. Wright is being honored on September 20th for his more than 50 years of public service to Orangeburg County, South Carolina, and the nation. prgtoken As a high school student, Mr. Wright was among the hundreds of protestors in the `` Orangeburg Movement'' who were arrested and jailed for civil disobedience. Mr. Wright continued his activism as Vice President of the State NAACP Youth Conference. His experiences with seasoned leaders of the Movement undergirded his activism and reinforced his commitment to social justice. prgtoken Mr. Wright was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965, just after his graduation from Wilkinson High School. He earned the rank of Sergeant in less than 10 months and was deployed to Vietnam in 1968. Mr. Wright resolutely discharged his duties and was awarded a Certificate of Military Combat by the 18th Military Police Brigade, 93rd Military Police Company for outstanding service in Vietnam. prgtoken Once back in Orangeburg, Mr. Wright challenged the lack of opportunity facing his fellow African Americans, veterans, the poor, and disenfranchised. He became a foot soldier in President Lyndon Johnson's ``War on Poverty.'' Mr. Wright served on the Board of Directors for the Orangeburg Area Committee for Economic Progress (Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg [OCAB] Community Action Agency, Inc.)--the local Community Action Program. Mr. Wright resigned his seat in 1977 to become Deputy Director of the Agency. He became the agency's Executive Director in 1983. prgtoken Along with the block grant programs that are the core of OCAB, the agency has a long-running HIV Prevention Peer Education Project, a Non- Traditional Occupational Training for Women, and an employment opportunity program for mothers receiving public assistance. Mr. Wright created the OCAB Community Development Association which constructed the Ujima Village Apartments for low income elderly and disabled residents. He also directed the construction of new Head Start Centers in Allendale, Bamberg, and Orangeburg. prgtoken Mr. Wright' s years of service have touched many lives. All his experiences as an advocate and soldier have enabled him to effectively serve his community. He has been a leader for civil rights, community service and humanitarianism and has received numerous honors and awards for these efforts. prgtoken , I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing this barrier-breaking public servant, and to wish him Godspeed and continued success.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5895, ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Jared Polis (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2018-9-13

I rise to express my support for funding appropriated to the Office of Compliance contained within the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895. This important funding will support efforts to the ongoing reform of the Congressional Accountability Act to better enable legislative branch offices and agencies to receive proper training regarding workplace conduct. prgtoken I strongly oppose slush fund settlements being paid out with taxpayer dollars, and I am pleased that no funding contained in this bill will go towards money for settlements. I appreciate the work of the Conference Committee in getting this critical funding included in this appropriations package.
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOHNNY APPLESEED ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2018-9-13

I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Johnny Appleseed Arts and Cultural Festival in Leominster, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 22, 2018. prgtoken , most of us know the story of Johnny Appleseed. I grew up hearing about his travels across the country--an American folk hero, who was said to wander barefoot while wearing a tin pot hat and carrying a sack of apples with him to help promote the growth of apple trees everywhere he went. prgtoken What many people do not know is that Johnny Appleseed's story is based on the life of a real man--John Chapman. prgtoken On September 26, 1774, John Chapman was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. Taught by his father from a young age, Chapman became an orchardist and nurseryman. prgtoken Since frontier law allowed anyone to lay claim to land through the development of a permanent homestead, Chapman traveled over 100,000 square miles. All the while, he planted apple seeds as he walked. prgtoken At the time of his death on March 11, 1845, John Chapman owned over 1,200 acres of land from Massachusetts all the way to Illinois. prgtoken Every year since 1993, thousands of people have gathered in Leominster to celebrate the life and work of John Chapman. prgtoken Through live music, and of course, apple crisp, the festival aims to inspire and educate the public about Johnny Appleseed's important ties to Central Massachusetts. And just as importantly, it offers a chance for our community to come together and celebrate our shared heritage. prgtoken , on behalf of all the communities in Central Massachusetts, I'd like to offer a sincere ``thank you'' to the hardworking volunteers and organizers--who make this event such a success every year. I'd especially like to thank Leominster City Councilor Rick Marchand, who has organized the event for the last 20 years. prgtoken Johnny Appleseed is a treasured national figure that we in Central Massachusetts are proud to share. I commend the Johnny Appleseed Festival on its 25th anniversary and am proud of all they do to make this such a beloved annual event.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5895, ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-9-13

I want to extend my congratulations to my friend from New Jersey for his work on this and so many other issues, and for his constant dedication to this Congress. prgtoken I also sit on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee with Congressman Frelinghuysen. I just want to thank the gentleman for his leadership, hard work, and his years of travel around the world to make sure that the men and women in our military are safe and protected and have the equipment that they need. So I thank the gentleman for all his service. prgtoken I rise in support, , of this conference agreement. Once again, we see that the Congress can pass decent legislation when s and , House and Senate, all work together to reach a bipartisan agreement instead of one party trying to make all the decisions behind closed doors. This bill and these bills reflect that. prgtoken The bill we are sending to the President's desk takes care of our veterans; it funds our civilian and military infrastructure and energy needs; and it pays for the operations of the legislative branch institutions essential to our democracy. Almost every agency in the legislative branch division of this bill receives its full budget request. prgtoken One of the highlights of the bill is the funding for the Government Accountability Office, which works to root out waste, fraud, and abuse governmentwide. With so many safeguards having failed against mismanagement and corruption in our government over the past few years, the GAO is more important than ever. prgtoken By providing the resources for the GAO to take another step toward restoring its pre-sequestration capacity, we are helping to save taxpayers money and prevent some of the worst abuses of the administration. prgtoken Another key accomplishment in this measure is the restoration of the dedicated funding for paid internships in the House of Representatives. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from New York and the gentleman from New Jersey for helping make that possible. prgtoken It has been 25 years since we have had a paid internship program here in the United States Congress. Once more, when a young person from a middle-class family comes to Washington, D.C and desires to enter public service, they can worry a little bit less about the costs here in Washington, D.C for rent and grocery bills, and compete with other applicants based on merit instead of economic background, which is just a matter of basic fairness. prgtoken There are so many other issues. prgtoken One more, , that I would like to mention in this bill is that we have ensured we are doing all we can to address the epidemic of harassment and discrimination that has existed since time immemorial but rightly showed up in the headlines in the last year or two. prgtoken The Office of Compliance is given over $1.3 million more than last year so they can have the resources to tackle the problem and to handle the increased workload
HONORING THE VALLEJO BRANCH OF THE NAACP
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-9-13

I rise today to honor the Vallejo Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on its 100th anniversary. prgtoken The Vallejo Branch of the NAACP received its Charter on July 8, 1918. It was the second Branch established in California, after the Sacramento Branch. Since its founding, the Vallejo Branch has worked tirelessly with community and religious leaders to fulfill the promise of equality to all Americans. Early in its existence, the Vallejo Branch collaborated with prominent African-American professionals, members of the clergy and business leaders on anti-lynching legislation, desegregation and political rights. The Vallejo Branch later expanded its focus to include advocacy for better jobs and pay for people of color on Mare Island and desegregation of the federal housing projects in Vallejo. prgtoken Most recently, the Vallejo Branch of the NAACP has worked to address the high rate of sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs and STIs) among African Americans aged fourteen to twenty-five in Solano County, and Vallejo specifically. The Vallejo Branch has also been focused on educating, testing, and treating STDs and STIs and secured $250,000 to work towards this goal. The Branch's Legal Redress team has been active in the litigation of numerous discrimination issues involving housing, school, and employment injustices in Vallejo. Its Education Committee is actively involved in Vallejo's school system to guarantee that all students have equal access to quality education. In addition, the Vallejo Branch encourages its members to exercise their hard won right to vote. prgtoken , the Vallejo Branch of the NAACP has been an important institution in our community for 100 years. The Vallejo Branch has worked continuously to improve the lives of African Americans in our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor it here today.