mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE COMMUNITY OF BEACON FALLS, CONNECTICUT ON THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR SESQUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-6-25

. Madam , I am very proud to rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Beacon Falls community as they gather to celebrate the Town's 150th Anniversary--a remarkable milestone for this very small community of just over six thousand residents. Though small in number the community is mighty in spirit-- working together every day to meet the changing needs of its residents while preserving the unique, quintessentially New England, rural character of the Town. prgtoken Just under ten square miles and bisected by the Naugatuck River, Beacon Fall was incorporated in 1871 on lands from its neighboring towns of Bethany, Naugatuck, Oxford, and Seymour. It quickly became a center of agriculture, warehouse storage, and manufacturing. Beacon Falls was the birthplace of the friction matches, first made in 1834 by Thomas Sanford, who later sold his ``recipe'' for $10.00. The Diamond Match Company ultimately acquired the formula, The Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company was a sprawling complex along Main Street that employed many residents and was even responsible for the construction of an entire neighborhood, providing housing for its workers. The Homer D. Bronson Company also set up shop in town in the early 1900s and was a manufacturer of hinges used in industry and homes throughout the world. prgtoken These two firms promoted economic wellbeing for Beacon Falls' residents for years, both ultimately closing their doors in the late 1980s. While their departure left the town in a precarious position, it was not long before the community rallied, fighting to bring new economic engines to the town. Over the course of the last several decades, a variety of retail, manufacturing, warehousing, construction, and service businesses revitalized the town, and the community has continued to flourish. Today, from the American Legion Post 25 to the Beacon Hose Volunteer Fire Company and from the Friends of Beacon Falls Library to its community center, the residents of this small town are more like family than neighbors. The come together in times of celebration and need--proud of their history and the unique fabric that has been woven into this special community. prgtoken It has been an honor for me to serve as Beacon Falls' U.S. Representative over the last twenty-years and I am proud to have this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to every member of this special community as they celebrate their 150th Anniversary.
IN THE LINE OF DUTY
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-6-25

. Madam , and still I rise. prgtoken Madam , I rise today not to speak of persons who die unjustly at the hands of the constabulary, I rise today to speak of members of the constabulary who die unjustly at the hands of persons who are among what we call ``the public.'' prgtoken I rise today to accentuate five words: ``In the line of duty.'' prgtoken These words may be meaningless to some, but there are those who have suffered the pain of having to live with these words for the rest of their lives after having lost someone that they love in the line of duty. prgtoken Emily Dickinson, the great American poet, reminds us that, ``A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.'' These words take on meaning for those who are left behind when someone leaves in the line of duty. prgtoken I am standing here today in the House to make an appeal to those who have thoughts of doing dastardly deeds simply because a person happens to be a part of the constabulary. prgtoken I would beg that you not consider these thoughts, that you abandon them. And I would beg that if you have the opportunity to go to one of the homegoing ceremonies of a person who has left in the line of duty-- I have been to these ceremonies. I have seen the suffering of the families, the tears. I have seen the children who will no longer have a parent to go home to. prgtoken All life is precious. I have spoken many times about the lives that have been lost at the hands of the constabulary, but we should never forget that all lives are precious. prgtoken And when someone takes the life of a member of the constabulary out of spite, for no cause that can be justified, that person, of course, has to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But that doesn't end the suffering, just as it doesn't end the suffering for the civilian who loses his or her life. It doesn't end the suffering and the pain. prgtoken We ought not allow ourselves to become so removed from the lives of others that we cease to have some degree of sympathy and empathy for persons who lose their lives in the line of duty. prgtoken If a person finds some degree of comfort in knowing that a person lost life in the line of duty, then you must be a sadist. It is a sadistic thing to conclude that a life lost in the line of duty is something that you can take some degree of pleasure with. You need help. prgtoken And I am saying these words today. I am calling this to the attention of people that I don't know, but I know what my staff has reported to me, about persons who lost their lives in the line of duty, and how this number is ticking up, and how many of these lives were lost senselessly. prgtoken Madam , we must respect all life. I believe that we have a responsibility to those that we will never meet and greet, to say to the world that we disapprove of this senseless taking of life as it relates to those in the constabulary. And I am talking about those who
OUR NUCLEAR LEGACY IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Katie Porter (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-25

July marks the 75th anniversary of the first U.S. nuclear test in the Marshall Islands, a tragedy that continues today. prgtoken Orange County is proud to be home to one of the oldest Marshallese- American communities. But why the Marshallese came to the United States is a disgraceful chapter in our Nation's history. From 1946 to 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands. prgtoken We deceived the Marshallese, using them as guinea pigs to study the effects of radiation. We turned ancestral lands into dumping grounds for nuclear waste. prgtoken We still haven't done the bare minimum to make this right. We established a tribunal for compensation but provided less than 10 percent of the money owed. We don't even translate environmental studies into Marshallese. prgtoken Our nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands is at the nexus of President 's top priorities: racial justice, healthcare, climate change, U.S. global reputation, and countering China through diplomacy. We must commit across party lines to make this right.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``OIL AND NATURAL GAS SECTOR: EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NEW, RECONSTRUCTED, AND...
Conor Lamb (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-6-25

I rise today in support of this bill. prgtoken I would like to point out to my colleagues and anyone watching at home that I actually think that, today, the difference is not really between business and labor; it is not between regulation and nonregulation; it is really not even between and s. I think what separates supporters of today's bill from its detractors are those who are thinking in the long term versus those who are thinking in the short term. prgtoken In the long term, climate change truly is a threat to American national security. The Marine Corps, in which I served, has already had to consider whether it should move some of its historic bases, including Parris Island, perhaps the soul of the Marine Corps, simply due to sea level rise. prgtoken The number of $1 billion catastrophic events in our country last year was 22. The average is seven over the last 40-year period. prgtoken This is getting more expensive and more dangerous every year. In the long term, businesses that have to compete for capital and compete for market share in markets all around the world understand this, that this is our world now, that decarbonization is an absolute requirement to compete successfully both as the United States and as an individual business in the world that we are going into. prgtoken The businesses that are thinking long term have already taken steps to do this, and the businesses that are thinking short term are pointing to the costs, the drawbacks, and the requirements, all of which are real. prgtoken None of us stand here today to causally make anything more difficult on an American company that is trying to preserve jobs and succeed in this economy, but there are some things we just have to do. prgtoken To use the words of an executive at Southwestern Energy Company: What some in the industry do not get is that we are transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We need to show the climate benefit of our product. prgtoken Or, you could take the word of the chairwoman and president of BP America: ``We have to reduce methane emissions for natural gas to realize its full potential.'' prgtoken And in my own hometown of Pittsburgh, we are happy to have headquartered the largest producer of natural gas in the United States, EQT. And even though under the administration the EPA came to Pittsburgh to announce this absurd rollback of a rule that's good for business and good for the environment, EQT's president and CEO just 2 days ago said that tackling methane represents an opportunity for the United States because our natural gas, American natural gas, can become the decarbonizing commodity of choice. prgtoken So I have heard some of my friends on the other side point out, that, yes, the United States has done quite a lot already to reduce emissions and is doing more, and not all our competitors, like Russia and China, are doing the same. prgtoken That is okay. Our market
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-6-25

. Madam , I rise today to bring attention to the crisis caused by the lack of childcare in my district and across the country. Access to affordable childcare is critical for working families across the country and in my district. prgtoken We all have heard of places without grocery stores referred to as food deserts. Well, half of American families live in areas lacking childcare facilities. They are living in childcare deserts. prgtoken The situation is even worse in Latino communities, as 78 percent live in childcare deserts. prgtoken As you can see on this chart by my side, this is my district. The orange and the dark colors represent areas that have no access to childcare. Eighty-two percent of the children in my district have no access to childcare. This is a childcare desert. This impacts disproportionately communities of color. This is unacceptable. prgtoken As a Nation, we must invest in childcare. High-quality childcare improves outcomes for children, parents, and neighborhoods. We must act and we must act now.
RECOGNIZING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MR. CLARENCE ENNON
Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-25

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Mr. Clarence Ennon, who celebrated his 100th birthday on May 13, 2021. He was born in Cary, Mississippi to Aldonia and Solomon Ennon and educated in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 1944, his strong resolve and dedication to family, God, and country lead Mr. Ennon to serve in the United States Navy during World War II on a Landing Ship Medium as a Steward's Mate 1st Class Petty officer. prgtoken Mr. Ennon has overcome many great obstacles and victories throughout his 100 years of life and continues to inspire everyone he encounters. A devoted father to 5 children, 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren, he has shared boundless knowledge from his rich life experiences and instilled a strong faith in God amongst his family. In 1964, he moved to wick Avenue in Brooklyn, New York and established a dry-cleaning business in Bedford- Stuyvesant. He is a member of First Calvary Baptist Church, where throughout the years he has served as church treasurer, deacon, and member of the senior choir. prgtoken A military man, a small business entrepreneur, a homeowner, a family man, Mr. Ennon continues to live a fruitful life. He is an active gardener and a well-known member of the community. prgtoken Mr. Ennon's accomplishments would not have been possible without the love and support of his family and friends. prgtoken Madam , I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Mr. Clarence Ennon, Sr. on his 100th birthday.
173 DAYS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-6-25

today is day 173 of this Congress and the 150th of the administration. These days have been spent governing to repair our global standing, to accelerate our vaccination program, and to boost a struggling economy. prgtoken With the American Rescue Plan, we have governed to build back better for red districts, for blue districts, for all districts. prgtoken In my district alone, here are some of the ways we have begun to build back better: with over $87 million for our school districts, $137 million for local governments, $1.5 million for Head Start programs, and the child tax credit will send an average of $2,400 to 37,000 families. prgtoken The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has received $7.3 billion, a transformative amount, that must address educational and opportunity inequities. prgtoken In these 100 days, we have proven we can live up to a responsibility to govern. As we begin to emerge from this pandemic, we are at a turning point where we can build on the success of the American Rescue Plan, find infrastructure investments, and look toward a stronger, more compassionate future.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``OIL AND NATURAL GAS SECTOR: EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NEW, RECONSTRUCTED, AND...
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-6-25

along with Mr. Peters and Mr. Lamb, I am very proud to stand as the sponsor of the House companion of S.J. Res. 14, and I rise in strong support of the legislation. prgtoken The purpose of the legislation is very simple. It is to reduce our methane emissions and to help stave off the worst effects of the climate crisis before it is too late. prgtoken Methane, as we all know, is one of the most potent greenhouse gases on the planet, and when it is released into our atmosphere, it becomes a leading contributor to global warming. prgtoken Climate experts agree that one of the most important things we can do right now to combat the climate crisis is to reduce the amount of methane in our atmosphere, and that is exactly what this legislation does. prgtoken It restores the 2016 methane emission rules that were put into place during the administration, and it negates the administration's last-minute attempt to roll back these rules on its way out the door. prgtoken One-third of all of the methane that is released in this country comes from the production of oil and gas. prgtoken This legislation will, once again, require our oil and gas producers to take the steps needed to reduce the methane emitting from their drilling sites. prgtoken These emissions don't just harm our planet. When methane is released from oil and gas sites, it is often accompanied by other pollutants that are known to cause additional harm to people's health. prgtoken That is why this legislation is so important, and that is why the administration's egregious attempt to eliminate these important rules and let oil and gas companies release more methane from their drilling sites was met with such outrage and fury by citizens across this country. prgtoken And you know something? prgtoken And not just from the citizens, but from the biggest oil and gas companies in the country, including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and more, and also from smaller producers around the country. These are the companies that stand to benefit most from the rollback of the methane rules, and even these are against it. prgtoken So when I hear the ranking member talking about how we are going to be on the backs of oil and gas companies, the very companies she is talking about support this legislation today. prgtoken I just want to read a few of the names of the companies, large and small, that support the rollback of the administration's methane rule and the reinstatement of the -era rule: prgtoken BP America; Shell U.S.; Equinor North America; Total USA; ExxonMobil; Jonah Energy; Pioneer Natural Resources; EQT Corporation; Interstate Natural Gas Association of America; Cheniere; DTE Energy; Equitrans Midstream Corporation; Occidental Petroleum; Devon Energy; Edison Electric Institute, which is a consortium of groups; Center for Liquefied Natural Gas; Austin Energy; prgtoken Calpine Corporation; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Tenaska, Inc.; and others hav
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``OIL AND NATURAL GAS SECTOR: EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NEW, RECONSTRUCTED, AND...
Scott H. Peters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-25

I thank the chairman for yielding. I am here to speak in favor of S.J. Res. 14, a resolution I co-led with Representatives DeGette and Lamb. prgtoken We need to address methane emissions for several reasons, and today, I want to mention three. prgtoken First, controlling methane is the single most important immediate step we can take to combat climate change, and that is because methane is a super-pollutant responsible for about 25 percent of the man-made warming we experience today. This is the low-hanging fruit in climate mitigation. prgtoken My colleagues never miss a chance--and you will hear this today--to point out that the natural gas revolution has contributed to our historic energy independence and cut our carbon dioxide emissions from energy production. That is right, but there is still a problem, and that problem is fugitive methane emissions. prgtoken While burning natural gas can lower CO2 emissions by as much as 40 to 50 percent versus burning coal, almost all of that benefit, from a climate change perspective, is wiped out even with small leaks of methane, which we have today. Put simply, to reap the climate benefits of natural gas, which are often touted, we have to address methane emissions. prgtoken Second, controlling methane is critical to the economic competitiveness of the U.S. natural gas industry. We should say thanks to the oil and gas industry when they do the right thing, but let's not fool ourselves by thinking that they are doing this because they are altruists. They are doing this because this is important to competitiveness. They are doing this because this makes American oil and gas more competitive. The reason is that world markets and domestic politics will not tolerate natural gas as a so-called bridge fuel unless the industry can prove, with real credibility and transparency, that it has fixed its methane problem. prgtoken It is increasingly apparent that the viability of exporting U.S. liquefied natural gas, or LNG, depends on American policies to address methane pollution. prgtoken Three of the largest LNG importers in the world, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union, have set goals to reduce emissions to net-zero by mid-century. These nations will demand verifiably clean gas from the United States. prgtoken On top of this, investors are increasingly putting pressure on financial institutions and demanding climate-smart investment portfolios. Natural gas will solely be seen as a climate risk and not as a climate opportunity if methane leaks persist. prgtoken We saw this recently in the cancellation by France of a deal for liquefied natural gas from Brownsville, $7 billion over 20 years. Ultimately, they were able to put that back together, but this is a sign of what is to come. If we don't get it right here, it is going to hurt business. prgtoken They all sounded like businesses to me, what Ms. DeGette talked about. I am not from Texas or Oklahoma, but I
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``OIL AND NATURAL GAS SECTOR: EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NEW, RECONSTRUCTED, AND...
Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2021-6-25

I would also like to bring to this body's attention that this resolution will actually put New Mexico on the same playing field as the rest of the country because, as I noted earlier, New Mexico has now adopted some of the strictest methane regulations in the country. prgtoken And those regulations, similar to what we are seeing now, were adopted in consultation and with the support of many in the oil and gas industry who participated in the rulemaking, who recognize that it is in their best interest to operate in a manner that is safe, in a manner that does not lose this precious resource. That is how we came to our regulations in New Mexico. prgtoken But we are at a disadvantage in New Mexico because, as it was noted earlier, if some States have nice, good regulations with regard to methane emissions and others don't, then in the Permian Basin, for example, what would stop a company from saying: I am going to drill in Texas and not in New Mexico because they are protecting our environment in New Mexico? prgtoken So what I look forward to seeing is having New Mexico be at the same place as the rest of the country, so that we are not losing our drilling to Texas, who doesn't have it I like the idea of everybody has the same set of rules.
URGENT NEED TO CURB METHANE EMISSIONS
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-6-25

methane emissions are accelerating climate change and harming our communities, and we are moving in the wrong direction. prgtoken After the administration repealed limitations on emissions of methane, we saw the largest yearly increase of methane emissions on record in 2020. We must get back on track. prgtoken It is urgent that we restore regulations to limit methane emissions. Methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. We cannot move quickly enough. We have to act now. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the legislation that we will be considering today, to curb these dangerous emissions and protect our communities.
HONORING THE LIFE OF PASTOR ALPHONSO HAMILTON
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-6-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Pastor Alphonso Hamilton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and community leader, who passed away on October 19, 2020. A celebration of Pastor Hamilton's life is taking place on June 26, 2021, for his 92nd birthday. prgtoken Born on June 26, 1929 in Shamrock, Florida, Pastor Hamilton became a follower of Christ early in his life at Shamrock Missionary Baptist Church. After serving in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, Pastor Hamilton attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and General Science. Pastor Hamilton would also earn a Master of Science in Education from Madison College in onburg, Virginia. prgtoken Pastor Hamilton would go on to teach high school Biology, Chemistry and General Science. During his time teaching high school, he would also serve as the head coach of the basketball team for Booker T. Washington and Robert E. Lee High Schools for 11 years, with a record of eight district championships, two state championships, and a 174-57 record. After 34 impactful years as an educator and coach, Pastor Hamilton retired in 1989. prgtoken Pastor Hamilton then served for over 26 years at the First Church of God in Christ in Staunton, Virginia. Pastor Hamilton began as assistant pastor, followed by pastor in 2014. During his tenure, Pastor Hamilton also served as church musician, Sunday School teacher, and other important roles. prgtoken I celebrate the life of Pastor Alphonso Hamilton and thank him for his incredible service and devotion to his community.