mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING JUDGE CHUNG K. PAK
David J. Trone (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Judge Chung K. Pak, who was recently appointed Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. prgtoken On June 10, 2020, Judge Pak made Maryland State history by becoming the third Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, and the first ever minority Chief Administrative Law Judge. As Chief Administrative Law Judge, he leads the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) and its Administrative Law judges, who are responsible for conducting fair and impartial hearings to resolve a variety of disputes stemming from actions of Maryland's many executive agencies. prgtoken Prior to this appointment, Judge Pak served as an Administrative Patent Judge at the United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board for over 23 years, where he adjudicated over 6,000 patent cases involving emerging technologies and complex legal issues and wrote over 2000 opinions eligible for appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Judge Pak also served as a corporate intellectual property counsel at Union Carbide Corporation and Praxair, Inc. While there, he provided legal advice and counsel on a wide range of intellectual property issues, including domestic and foreign patent procurement, litigation, trade secrets, antitrust, licensing, and technology transfer issues. prgtoken Although Judge Pak is a proud and longtime Marylander, he grew up in Alabama after he and his family immigrated to the United States from South Korea over 49 years ago. Like many immigrants, Judge Pak and his family faced difficulties due to limited economic resources and language and cultural barriers. However, due to their resolve, hard work, faith, and neighbors' help and friendship, Judge Pak and his family were able to overcome these obstacles. In the years that followed, Judge Pak worked his way through school and graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He later graduated from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America with a Juris Doctor degree while working as a U.S. Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Judge Pak then was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Maryland Bar, Virginia Bar, D.C. Bar and Patent Bar. prgtoken Judge Pak's dedication to public service and making a difference in our country and community is also evident in his activism. Justice Pak is a highly venerated civic activist and leader in Montgomery County and Maryland. Over the years, he has served on the boards of and in leadership positions on a number of nonprofit community organizations. In particular, he has served as Commissioner of Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Maryland Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, and Montgomery County Licen
HONORING THE MEMORY OF UNWAVERING ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE W. KENT BAILEY
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today in tribute to the memory of an unwavering environmental advocate, W. Kent Bailey. On any decision or issue that touched the natural environment of our beautiful Tampa Bay and surrounding area, Mr. Bailey was always there--steadfast. He came armed with science-based facts with an eye to the future. He understood how to convey his message in unconventional ways to directly convey the urgency, such as carrying a cardboard wave cutout to show how high water might rise by the end of the century. Mr. Bailey was a leader and a supporter of all causes big and small that impacted our environment. prgtoken Born in Paris, Kentucky, Mr. Bailey moved to Tampa Bay in his early adulthood. By the time of his passing on Sept. 22, 2020 at age 69, he had spent more than 30 years in Florida. His love for sailing brought sea-level rise in Tampa Bay to his attention as he documented that the actual tide level was usually higher than the projected tide level. He became an expert on sea-level rise as well as outspoken about it to elected officials and its impact in the near future if left unabated. In 2010, after fighting for the preservation of nearly 13,000 acres of land in northeastern Hillsborough formerly known as Cone Ranch, he became a full-fledged member and leader of the Sierra Club, the largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Thanks to Mr. Bailey and the work of others, developers were forever blocked from acquiring Cone Ranch, which has become the largest undeveloped tract of land and has since been under restoration, slowly opening to the public for families and neighbors to enjoy for passive activities, such as hiking and horseback riding. prgtoken Mr. Bailey owned and operated Bailey & Son Woodworking since 1972 but his calling was all-things environment. Mr. Bailey served as chair of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club for the past eight years, engaging and mobilizing thousands of members to protect our region and state's fragile, sensitive enviromnental lands. He overwhelmingly poured his time and energy in deeply studying climate science and preparing for the next public presentation or protest about it, building his ethos and all for the purpose of sustaining a more prosperous and equitable future for his 22 grandchildren and ours. He was an inspirational speaker and motivator, always leading by example and always giving credit to others and being a cheerleader for their contributions. He developed a strategy of using all angles to fight for our environment and affect state policies to promote preservation, whether it was organizing protests, writing letters to the editor or creative antics, such as purchasing stock from the local power company, Emera Inc and traveling from Florida to Nova Scotia so he can vote at the shareholders meeting and in protest of expansion plans of a fracked gas facility in Tampa Bay. prgtoken Mr. Bailey's legacy will live through his six chi
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-10-2

I rise to discuss where we are now and where I expect to be in the coming hours and days. prgtoken First of all, I would caution all of us. We had a procedure in place where we would come on the floor in relatively small numbers and exit the floor. prgtoken Our President and the First Lady have been found to be afflicted with COVID-19. We pray for their health and their safety. prgtoken But we ought to also admonish ourselves to practice that distancing and that wearing a mask. We don't wear them when we are speaking so people can hear us, but I would urge all of us to understand that, obviously, COVID-19 is still very much among us. And for all of our sakes, and for the people's sake who we represent who want us to be healthy and articulate their position when we come to the floor, that we would be cautious. prgtoken Secondly, let me say, , that we have not, sadly, come to either a legislative agreement or an agreement between the administration and ourselves on a resolution of the next steps to take dealing with the COVID health crisis and the economic consequences of that crisis. prgtoken I want to tell Members that it is my expectation that this will be after this coming vote, which will be the last vote of today. There may well be, in discussions with our both sides, unanimous consent requests, but obviously they will have to be unanimous consent requests, and they will be agreements between both sides. prgtoken In addition to that, we will not be leaving for the break that usually occurs in October for the election that is about to come because, obviously, all of us want the opportunity to be talking to our constituents, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that our constituents are safe and get the help that they need. prgtoken So we are negotiating, and negotiations are going on as we speak between the administration and between our side of the aisle both here and across the Capitol. Hopefully, those negotiations will bear fruit sooner rather than later. When I say ``sooner rather than later,'' I hope that this weekend perhaps an agreement can be reached. prgtoken Now, if an agreement is reached, it will take some time to memorialize that agreement on paper. So I do not necessarily expect that a Monday or Tuesday vote is likely, but I want everybody to know, and it will be 24 hours' notice. It will not be 36 and it will not be 48 hours. I know that is difficult, but I think all of us feel, on both sides of the aisle, an urgency. prgtoken Clearly, for tactical reasons, we go back and forth and try to get an advantage on one another. That is what both sides do. I will tell you as sincerely as I can tell you, I know that the , who is negotiating with Secretary Mnuchin, I believe both of them are negotiating in goodwill, and both of them very much want to get to an agreement. prgtoken I know how hard our has been working and I know how hard Secretary Mnuchin has been working because I know, when t
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION EXTENSION ACT
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-10-2

over four months ago, the House passed the Heroes Act to support our nation's heroes and everyday Americans to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Unfortunately, the Senate has refused to take up this vital legislation, and many senators seem to believe that Congress has already done enough. The truth is that the needs of our country have only increased. Today 13.6 million Americans are unemployed and 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, with cases rising again around the country. prgtoken The House is serious about providing relief to Americans and reaching a compromise with the Senate and the White House which is why today's Heroes Act is $1.2 trillion less than the original bill we passed in March. Although smaller, today's bill still meets the needs of the American people by putting money in their pockets to strengthen our economy and providing the resources we need to crush the virus. Specifically, the updated Heroes Act includes the following: prgtoken An additional $600 per week in Unemployment Insurance through January 2021; prgtoken A second round of $1,200 checks to most taxpayers and $500 for their dependents; $75 billion for testing, tracing, and treatment to get COVID-19 under control; $436 billion to state and local governments who employ heroes like first responders and health care workers who are at risk of losing their jobs; $225 billion for K to 12 school, colleges, and universities to address the challenges of distance learning in the new school year; $71 billion for renters and homeowners to ensure they don't lose their housing during the pandemic; prgtoken Over $15 billion for connectivity, including $12 billion to close the homework gap, $3 billion to keep low-income Americans connected, and $200 million for telehealth. prgtoken The new Heroes Act is proof that the House is willing to compromise in order to deliver desperately needed relief to the American people. It's time for the Senate and the White House to meet us halfway so we can protect American lives and livelihoods.
AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED RELIEF NOW
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-10-2

I recently received a letter from a constituent named Jeffrey. Jeffrey was laid off in March and hasn't been able to find work during the pandemic. prgtoken He wrote to me and said: ``I have been scraping by on my savings and borrowing, and I am now finally broke with a disabled brother, a 13- year-old kid to feed, and a house.'' prgtoken Another constituent wrote about his 83-year-old mother, who survives on a small pension and Social Security. The pandemic has required her to have a caregiver for much longer hours. Her and sons' bank accounts are running dry. prgtoken The American people need relief now, which is why the House passed the updated Heroes Act this week with another round of stimulus checks; extended unemployment benefits; small business support; and money for local, State, and Tribal governments to pay for essential services like first responders, police, firefighters, and teachers. prgtoken The House is doing their job. The Senate must do theirs and bring this bill for a vote for the people.
HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARKER-GRAY HIGH SCHOOL
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , it is with great pleasure that I recognize the 100th anniversary of the Parker-Gray High School in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. prgtoken Parker-Gray High School opened in September of 1920 and provided countless African American students with a comprehensive education during a time of segregation. Though faced with adversity--lack of resources, teachers, and facilities--Parker-Gray was able to provide students with what is now understood as a fundamental right. prgtoken The alumnae of Parker-Gray took their education and were able to apply it to not only the City of Alexandria, but to all aspects of their lives. prgtoken Please join me in honoring the 100th anniversary of Parker-Gray High School. It is important that we continue its mission and ensure the Parker-Gray legacy lives on.
AIRLINE RELIEF
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , in plain English what you just said is that the majority killed this legislation plain and simple. prgtoken If they had just agreed, then tens of thousands of workers for the airlines--flight attendants, they don't get paid a heck of a lot of money; pilots, yeah, they do well; mechanics and gate agents; tens of thousands of those people have been furloughed as of yesterday. They have lost their jobs, they have lost their healthcare, and some of them are going to lose their homes. prgtoken They don't know how they are going to make ends meet, feed their kids, or do anything else all because the s in the House of Representatives would not agree and the s in the Senate will not agree to a larger package which contains these provisions. These are vital provisions, and they are time sensitive. prgtoken But the larger package would provide relief to tens of millions of Americans, the Heroes package. The Heroes package would extend healthcare to people who have lost it. The Heroes package would extend unemployment to people who have lost it. The Heroes package would send out individual checks. The Heroes package would send money to keep small businesses going. And this time, unlike the first package, it will include money for-- prgtoken Madam , I ask unanimous consent for an additional 1 minute since I see the Parliamentarian rattling around.
RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE AND LEGACY OF JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
André Carson (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to join my colleagues in recognizing the lifetime of service and the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ``Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.'' This insight came from the late Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg and has never been more applicable than today. The Notorious RBG was a fighter for all and a defender of rights until the very end, showing us all the true definition of what it means to be a great leader. Throughout her career she fought to extend fairness and protections for countless marginalized groups in this country. prgtoken As a father to young girl and a passionate defender of women's rights, I stand before you to reflect on the legacy that Justice Ginsburg has left on all generations today, and in the years to come. In 1993, Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court with unanimous support from the Senate and became only the second woman ever to serve on the highest court in our land. She brought both passion and brilliance to her decisions, always with the best interests of Americans on her mind while upholding our Constitution. prgtoken We have a duty to honor Justice Ginsburg by continuing her fight to advance the progress she tirelessly worked for during her entire career. In a time when my constituents and fellow Americans are urgently voicing their need for unity and fairness, we must demand the very things Justice Ginsburg fought for so fiercely: equal health care, reproductive rights, equal rights, LGBTQ rights, workers' rights, voting rights, civil rights, and much more. prgtoken So much is at stake with the Supreme Court vacancy her passing has created. The Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear arguments the week after the election on the Administration's reckless push to destroy the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That means, in the middle of this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, the President and his allies are trying to pack the Supreme Court to take away the health care of millions of Americans. This president has promised that his Supreme Court nominee will dismantle the ACA, so we must take him at his word. prgtoken President and Senate s are ignoring the dying wishes of Justice Ginsburg, the opinion of most Americans, and years of precedent in a desperate bid to pack the courts to rubberstamp their reckless agenda. This is an insult to our Democracy and a threat to every American. There should be no consideration of a replacement for Justice Ginsburg before the next president is sworn in. prgtoken We must act now, after Justice Ginsburg's passing, but before a new justice is appointed to roll back her legacy and our rights. We must take our shared grief and use it as turning point, drawing on her example as a courageous inspiration for us to all rise up and make her proud. We must fight for the rights of those who hav
CONDEMNING UNWANTED, UNNECESSARY MEDICAL PROCEDURES ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT THEIR FULL, INFORMED CONSENT
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-10-2

I rise in full support of this resolution offered by my colleague, my dear colleague, Pramila Jayapal and others. I thank her for her hard work. prgtoken Halloween is getting close, but it is Halloween every day at the Irwin County Detention Center. prgtoken Many of the police officers just outside the facility when we arrived were not wearing masks, and it was only the day before our visit that detainees were issued masks. Prior to that, many had worn the mask they had had on when they were first booked into the facility many months ago. Some had been wearing old panties as masks. prgtoken But the horror stories were the experiences these women told of being subjected to gynecological surgery, intrusions into their body absent their informed consent. prgtoken As these women spoke, their eyes revealed the horror of what had been done to them. Many clutched or rubbed their midsection, still in physical pain as they recounted what they had been through and the mental and physical pain they still endure after being traumatized by Dr. Amin. prgtoken The Irwin County Detention Center is managed by a for-profit corporation. That industry's stock went through the roof when was elected. He has delivered on their investment, and it has been open season on detainees ever since. prgtoken These companies rake in billions in taxpayer dollars to house, clothe, and feed detainees. Some of the women had been issued deportation orders 6, 8 months, even a year ago, but they are still being detained, and taxpayers foot the bill so that corporations can maximize huge profits. They profit by paying slave wages to detainees to cook and clean the facility. They profit off of phone calls in the commissary. prgtoken Somebody is also profiting off of churning these women's bodies for unnecessary medical procedures, paid for by the taxpayers. prgtoken This is not right. It is immoral to profit off of human suffering and misery. prgtoken This horror show must end. We need to shut it down and shut it down now.
CONGRATULATING MELANIE KENNEDY
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-10-2

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Melanie Kennedy on her recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). prgtoken Ms. Kennedy is the President and CEO of Southwest Financial Federal Credit Union in Dallas, Texas, where she has served for nearly 14 years. Known for her collaboration and networking skills, she has the unique ability to help others achieve greatness. prgtoken Ms. Kennedy recognizes the role credit unions play in a functioning economy and is thoroughly dedicated to the success of the industry. Her wealth of financial services knowledge opened up leadership opportunities, including her most recent position as the Treasurer and Executive Committee member of the Cornerstone Resources Board of Directors. prgtoken Ms. Kennedy attended the University of Texas at Arlington and is also an active member of her community--volunteering at the Promise House, an organization helping homeless youth in Dallas. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of Texas's 30th Congressional District, I'd like to wish Ms. Kennedy the best of luck in her new role on the NAFCU Board of Directors. I am confident that her skill set will complement the board and its associated credit unions for years to come, and I look forward to working with her.
CONDEMNING QANON AND REJECTING THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES IT PROMOTES
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-10-2

as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1154, a resolution condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes. prgtoken QAnon is a movement promoting a collection of unfounded conspiracy theories that have spread widely on the internet since 2017. prgtoken Whereas, throughout history, conspiracy theories that falsely blame secret cabals or marginalized groups for society's ills have fueled prejudice, genocide, and acts of terrorism. QAnon first gained notoriety with its unfounded, outrageous, and bizarre conspiracy theory alleging that prominent Americans are engaged in a secret plot to control the world, while using their power to exploit children. prgtoken Qanon has gone on to embrace virtually every popular conspiracy theory of the last several decades, from questioning the truth about the September 11th terrorist attacks, to believing in alien landings, to denying the safety of vaccines. prgtoken Many QAnon followers express anti-Semitic views, and the Anti- Defamation League has said that the movement's central conspiracy theory includes anti-Semitic elements; prgtoken , history records that conspiracy theories have been a central driver of anti-Semitism for centuries, and QAnon conspiracy theories are fanning the flames as anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States and around the world. prgtoken The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has assessed with high confidence that ``fringe political conspiracy theories'', including QAnon, ``very likely motivate some domestic extremists, wholly or in part, to engage in criminal or violent activity'', and that these conspiracy theories ``very likely encourage the targeting of specific people, places and organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of violence against these targets.'' prgtoken This assessment is supported by an alarming number of ``events in which individuals committed crimes, plotted attacks, or successfully carried out deadly violence, and who--either before or after their arrests--attributed their actions to their conspiratorial beliefs.'' prgtoken For example, QAnon adherents have been implicated in crimes that they claim their QAnon beliefs inspired, including-- prgtoken 1. A man arrested in 2018 for plotting to plant a bomb in the Illinois Capitol rotunda to make Americans aware of the ``Pizzagate'' conspiracy theory; prgtoken 2. A man arrested in 2018 for using an armored car to block traffic on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge; 3. A man in Arizona arrested in 2019 for vandalizing a Catholic church; and 4. A woman arrested in New York with a car full of knives after posting a video accusing of participating in child sex trafficking and threatening to kill him. prgtoken According to the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ``QAnon is arguably no longer simply a fringe conspiracy theory b