mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
Jill N. Tokuda (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise in celebration of Asian American, Native prgtoken Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. prgtoken As a ``fourth generation,'' ``yonsei,'' Okinawan American, I believe this month is not only a chance to recognize our communities and their contributions, but it is also deeply personal to me as I think about the future we want to build for the next generation for our ``children,'' ``keiki.'' prgtoken AANHPIs are the fastest-growing population in the United States. We are a diverse diaspora. We are in every State across the country. prgtoken While we have made great progress, we have also seen an unprecedented rise in xenophobia, discrimination, and violence nationwide, but we will not let these forces of hate hold us down. prgtoken The stories of AANHPI people in our country are of grit, perseverance, and courage. They are stories that continue today through the tireless advocacy of those fighting to defend our civil rights and our democracy and through hardworking men and women keeping the American Dream alive. prgtoken I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
NOTAM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2023
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I thank my good friend, Representative Stauber, for his work on the bill. prgtoken I am really grateful to be here once again to support H.R. 346, the NOTAM Improvement Act, which we introduced together and worked on and will continue to work on together. prgtoken The Notice to Air Mission System is an essential part of our aviation infrastructure as it provides critical real-time flight safety information, including potential hazards to pilots, flight dispatchers, and other airspace users. prgtoken In 2017, an Air Canada plane at San Francisco International Airport preparing to land flew within 59 feet of four fully loaded planes, narrowly avoiding an unimaginable disaster. It would have been the greatest aviation disaster in American history. If it wasn't for the quick thinking of a couple of United Airlines pilots who saw him approaching inappropriately, we would have had that disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that the outdated NOTAM system was a significant part of the problem. prgtoken The importance of this work was further emphasized when earlier this year in January, U.S. airspace came to a standstill when the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all airline domestic departures due to an outage of the system. prgtoken Although the FAA worked to quickly solve the problem and lift all of the domestic flight stops, airlines and passengers faced the cascading effects of mass delays and cancellations for hours. prgtoken The NOTAM outage also exposed significant vulnerabilities in the FAA's legacy IT infrastructure and underscored the need for Congress to take decisive action to quickly modernize these critical safety systems that flight crews and airline passengers depend on. prgtoken To help strengthen the integrity of the NOTAM system, this bipartisan bill directs the FAA to create a task force on NOTAM improvement to: prgtoken Identify best practices to make sure that critical flight information is disseminated to pilots in a way that optimizes review and retention; and prgtoken Develop recommendations to ensure the stability, resiliency, and cybersecurity of the NOTAM system. prgtoken This task force will consist of key aviation stakeholders including: airline pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft dispatchers, air carriers, and aviation safety and computer system experts. prgtoken It also requires the FAA to complete its NOTAM modernization efforts and do other IT system upgrades by the fall of 2024. prgtoken As the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee continues to work on the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill, we will build upon the 2018 law and implement any necessary improvements to safeguard U.S. airspace from cascading system outages. prgtoken The task force created under this bill will play an important role in the FAA's ongoing NOTAM modernization initiative to ensure pilots, flight crews, and other air
CBC HONORS AMERICA'S VETERANS
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise to honor our Nation's brave Black servicemembers. I rise not only for our veterans who served our Nation with honor and integrity, but also for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. prgtoken Black soldiers have fought and given their lives in every American conflict since the Revolutionary War fighting for democracy at home and abroad, while being treated like second-class citizens on American soil. prgtoken In 1944, this very body passed the GI Bill to provide free education, unemployment pay, and home loans for millions of veterans returning from World War II. These benefits helped to expand our American middle class after the war, but Black veterans were excluded from these benefits due to our Nation's original sin. prgtoken This exclusion helped to widen the already existing wealth gap between White and Black Americans, the same gap that we feel and see today. The wide disparity in the bill's implementation increased wealth, education, and civil rights gaps. The inequitable implementation of the GI bill shut the door for 1.2 million Black people, veterans who bravely served the country during World War II in segregated ranks. prgtoken The willingness on the part of African-American soldiers to serve and sacrifice their lives for a country that treated them as second-class citizens is beyond remarkable. It wasn't until President Truman's executive order 9981 that the Armed Services were forced to desegregate, but by this time the damage had already been done. prgtoken In the South, the GI bill exacerbated rather than narrowed the economic educational attainment of Black veterans. After World War II, Black veterans who wanted to attend college in the South were restricted in their choices of about 100 public and private institutions. Only 6 percent of African-American veterans of World War II earned college degrees, compared to 19 percent of White veterans. prgtoken For over 200 years, Black soldiers have endured individual and institutional racism while fighting for their country. It is time to honor every Black veteran and soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for a more perfect union at home. May their memory be a blessing, and may this Congress rectify injustices committed on this very floor. prgtoken , from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
CELEBRATING UCLA MENS VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR THEIR 2023 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise today to celebrate the men's volleyball team from the University of California, Los Angeles. They took home the 2023 NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship on the 6th of May. UCLA defeated the men's volleyball team from the University of Hawaii at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. prgtoken This year's championship is the program's 20th national title win and the 121st overall NCAA title win by a UCLA Bruin team in any sport. prgtoken The men's volleyball team should be proud of their achievement in earning the distinction of being national champions, amongst the more than half a million student-athletes who participate in NCAA events each year. The team ended their season with 12 straight wins, which marked the longest streak by the program since their last 2006 national title win. With guidance from Coach John Speraw, the team was able to defeat the two-time defending champions, Hawaii, with a 3-1 win. prgtoken I would like to sincerely congratulate the UCLA's men's volleyball team once again on winning the national championship and wish them the best of luck next season. This win is a special moment in the collegiate athletic careers of each individual UCLA player and marks an exceptional accomplishment and historic achievement for the UCLA community. Go Bruins.
PRAISING THE LIFE AND CAREER OF RENEE POWELL
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise today to praise the life and career of golfer Renee Powell and discuss why she deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom. prgtoken In 1967, Renee Powell became just the second African American to play on the LPGA tour and competed in more than 250 professional tournaments. prgtoken Also, Powell was an international ambassador for the game of golf. She was a member of the British PGA, won a tournament in Australia, and taught golf to African heads of state. prgtoken In 1977, she was the first woman ever to play in a men's professional golf tournament. In 2017, Powell was elected to the PGA American Hall of Fame. However, she was more than an exceptional golfer. prgtoken Powell designed golf apparel for the famous British department store Harrods. Today, she runs Clearview H.O.P.E a rehabilitation program for female war veterans. prgtoken Renee Powell is an American icon and a civil rights pioneer, and she deserves to be recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
HONORING JUDGE ANTHONY J. DENNIS
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-5-22

this month, Rhode Island District Court Judge Anthony J. Dennis celebrated his 98th birthday and remains an important and active member of his community. prgtoken Born in Bristol, Rhode Island on May 15, 1925, Judge Dennis was raised in Naugatuck, Connecticut. In 1942, at the age of 17, he made the brave decision to enlist in the Navy Seabees. prgtoken During World War II, he was stationed in the Pacific Theater on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands and on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands with Unit CBMU 549. His unit's courageous efforts helped lead to the Japanese surrender of Wake Island in 1945. Judge Dennis returned safely to the United States and was honorably discharged in 1946. prgtoken After the war, he resumed his education at Bristol's Colt High School and then continued to Providence College. At the age of 29, Judge Dennis obtained his law degree from Boston University Law School and then became a member of the Rhode Island bar in 1954. prgtoken He was elected Bristol Town Clerk in 1956, serving in this role until 1969. He was also a member of the Rhode Island ic Party Executive Committee, serving as Secretary from 1963 to 1969. prgtoken Judge Dennis was appointed by Governor Frank Licht and confirmed by the Rhode Island Senate in 1969 as a District Court Judge where he served honorably for 21 years before retiring in 1990. During those years, I had the privilege of appearing before Judge Dennis as a practicing attorney. He was always a compassionate, profound, and thoughtful Judge with a deep commitment to justice. prgtoken Rhode Island thanks the Honorable Anthony J. Dennis for his dedicated service to our state and country and wishes him a happy birthday.
VET-TEC AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Ro Khanna (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-22

I thank Representative Takano for his leadership. I am glad that veterans can still bring this House together. prgtoken , I was honored to work with McCarthy back in 2017 on the pilot program, which has been a resounding success to provide veterans who serve this Nation with a technology skill so they can get jobs when they are back in the United States. prgtoken There was an 84 percent graduation rate, 12,000 veterans have been helped by this program, and the average salary was $65,000. These are the types of things that we need to do in the House, bringing the House together to actually improve veterans' lives. prgtoken I appreciate Representative Ciscomani's leadership, and I look forward to this program being permanent and hopefully expanded so veterans who serve our Nation, who do the highest duty, have the opportunity to have secure livings when they are back at home.
HONORING JAZMIN SANCHEZ TORREZ WITH FIRST PLACE IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise today in recognition of Jazmin Sanchez Torrez for being honored as the Winner of New Hampshire's First District Congressional Art Competition. As we celebrate the competition's 42nd year, we continue to uplift young talent while recognizing and celebrating how important arts education is to our young people. This year we received outstanding submissions from talented young artists from across the First District. Jazmin's artwork titled In Full Bloom was chosen by our Advisory Board as an excellent piece of art with an impactful meaning. prgtoken Jazmin's intent with her artwork was to capture the presence of insecurities. The flowers in the image mark where the person is least confident in their appearance. While taking the reference photos for this project, she simply handed her subject a bouquet of flowers and asked, ``What would you cover up?'' Jazmin wanted to highlight that what may be insecurities to some, can be seen as beautiful by others. Her work exemplified creativity and thoughtfulness, and it will be an honor to display this piece in the United States Capitol for all to see. prgtoken New Hampshire is filled with talented student-artists with bright futures ahead, and Jazmin proudly represents the best of the best here in the Granite State. On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I commend Jazmin for embodying all the creativity that our state has to offer, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
VET-TEC AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-22

I realize the chairman and all of us in the veteran space have had our differences with the way the Congressional Budget Office scores the TEF. However, I would assert that we cannot use that as an excuse for why we don't address veteran homelessness. prgtoken , the expansion of VET-TEC as a program is to the tune of nearly one-half billion dollars--$413 million--at a time when my colleagues on the other side are looking to make draconian cuts to the nondefense side of the ledger, which veterans do fall within. They are expanding a program that addresses veteran employment at a time when veteran unemployment is at its lowest. prgtoken What I want to compare is the $6 million to the nearly one-half billion dollars that the s want to expand this program by. I, too, stand behind veteran employment programs and effective ones at that. However, should we be expanding it and authorizing for 5 years this program, VET-TEC, when we are allowing a $6 million program to care for homeless veterans, to get them off the streets, to expire? prgtoken It is a rather rich situation that my colleagues want to expand spending and spend more on a program whose urgency is really in question because the economy, as I explained, has brought veteran unemployment to its lowest levels ever. They want to expand spending in that program by an enormous amount, yet they want to eliminate $6 million in authorizations to take care of our homeless veterans. This makes no sense at all to me. prgtoken I support the chairman's bill, but I hope he will work with us to solve this problem in a matter of days and not months. prgtoken , .
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2023
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-5-22

I thank very much the ranking member; Mr. Bost; my good friend from Texas; the ranking member, the gentleman from New Hampshire; and, of course, in the other body, Senator Tester for a very instructive and important initiative dealing with the cost of living for our veterans. prgtoken , if my colleagues are embraced and engaged with veterans--which many of us do every time we are home in the district-- they realize that they, in many instances, continue their service in the kinds of work that they do. Realize, however, that they have any number of additional challenges in many instances. That, of course, includes some of the health issues, housing issues, and ability-to- support-family issues. prgtoken The cost of living is, in essence, something that we should make as a commitment for the service that they have given. prgtoken I know that we often say thank you for your service, and we often have a smile on our face. I want it to be well known, well known, that it is by our action and our deeds, not just by our words. prgtoken The veterans that we see across our districts and across America have fought in many wars. Many of them believe that they have not been given the full amount of their veteran benefits. prgtoken They believe that they are still trying to petition for a level of disability, if you will. Some are at a certain percentage and feel that they deserve another percentage because they are in a financial condition that causes them to wonder about their service and their service-connected disability. We get all of those questions. prgtoken I think the overall statement that has been made about the cost of living is to recognize the difficulty our veterans have, the increasing amount of moneys that it requires for us to take care of our veterans, and that this is a responsible and respectable way of doing so. prgtoken I hope that we will pass this quickly. I hope that it will go to the President's desk. I hope that when we see our veterans, we will be able to be an exhibitor of deeds, that we stood on the floor of the House to say thank you. prgtoken We stood on the floor of the House to say we recognize the needs that you have from the veterans hospitals, veterans clinics, and certainly for the need of increased compensation. prgtoken This is an important statement not only for veterans but for their families. prgtoken It is an important statement for the young men and women who put on the uniform today unselfishly. prgtoken They will ultimately be veterans, and we hope that they will be able to serve, and they will be able to come out as veterans. prgtoken Please be reminded as we celebrate Memorial Day there are those who put on the uniform unselfishly, and they never made it home. prgtoken We want to be able to honor those, but as well, we want to honor living veterans. I support this legislation that provides for a veterans COLA of 2023.
HONORING FRANCIS XAVIER BELLOTTI OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY AND WITH GRATITUDE FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
Stephen F. Lynch (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise today in honor of Francis Xavier Bellotti, in recognition of his 100th birthday and with the deepest appreciation for his courageous service to our Nation during World War II and his many contributions to Massachusetts' legal and political communities. prgtoken Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Bellotti graduated from The English High School in 1942 before enlisting in the United States Navy's elite Scouts and Raiders--the Navy's first special warfare unit and a progenitor of today's Navy SEALs. Mr. Bellotti led his squad valiantly across multiple theaters in World War II and was decorated for his service in Europe and the Pacific. prgtoken Mr. Bellotti's earned his bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 1947 and graduated from Boston College Law School in 1952. He quickly became a prominent and respected attorney, practicing at every level of the state and federal judicial system. prgtoken Mr. Bellotti's career in public service began on January 3, 1963, when he became the 61st Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He then served three terms as Massachusetts' Attorney General, from 1975 to 1987, during which time he transformed the Office of the Attorney General, fostering a culture of transparency, professionalism, and nonpartisanship. In 1981, the National Association of Attorneys General unanimously voted Mr. Bellotti the most outstanding attorney general in the country. prgtoken After his departure from elective office, Mr. Bellotti returned to the law, where he has remained a steadfast advocate for justice and democracy. prgtoken In his personal life, Mr. Bellotti is a proud father of 12 children and more than twice as many grandchildren. His beloved wife, Margarita ``Maggie'' Bellotti, passed away on December 26, 2022. She is remembered as the ``driving force'' in Mr. Bellotti's life and a powerful victim advocate in her own right. prgtoken , Francis Xavier Bellotti's legacy is clearly one of service--to country, community, and principle. Over the years, Mr. Bellotti has received countless accolades for his good work. In 2011, Boston College Law School aptly named its public service loan repayment assistance and forgiveness program in his honor. In 2012, the District Court of East Norfolk--where Mr. Bellotti first practiced--was renamed the Francis X. Bellotti Courthouse. And, in 2017, the United States Navy awarded Mr. Bellotti a trident badge plaque for his leadership as a member of the Scouts and Raiders. prgtoken , it is my distinct privilege to join Mr. Bellotti's family and friends in recognizing his 100th birthday and to thank him for his service on behalf of a grateful Nation.
CELEBRATING THE 98TH BIRTHDAY OF TRINI GOMEZ
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-22

. . I rise today to recognize Ms. Trini Gomez, a constituent and friend, as she celebrates her 98th birthday. We celebrate the remarkable life she has led. prgtoken Her dedication to serving the Hispanic community through managing the Inland Empire Hispanic News has made a lasting impact on our community. She and her late husband. Graciano Gomez, provided a platform for voices that needed to be heard, shedding light on important issues, celebrating achievements and fostering a sense of unity among the Inland Empire. prgtoken Her life journey is an inspiration to all of us. On this special day we honor her incredible achievements and the inspirational person she is. I hope her birthday is filled with joy, surrounded by loved ones who cherish and admire her. prgtoken Today, I thank her for being an extraordinary role model and for inspiring us all with her unwavering dedication and love for our community. May the coming year bring her good health, happiness and many more cherished memories.