mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF LT. KEN HOBBS FOR BEING NAMED YPSILANTI'S 2017 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Ken Hobbs for being named 2017 Firefighter of the Year by the Washtenaw 100 Honors' Board of Membership. He has distinguished himself through his outstanding public service and advocacy on behalf of the Ypsilanti Fire Department and community. prgtoken Since joining the Ypsilanti Fire Department in 1986, Lt. Hobbs has worked tirelessly to protect Ypsilanti residents and promote a positive relationship between the department and city at large. The City of Ypsilanti Fire Department is a full-time department that provides prevention and protective fire services to Ypsilanti and the Eastern Michigan University campus, and Lt. Hobbs is well regarded by the more than 40,000 constituents served by the department. Throughout his career, he has made it a priority to give back to the community he serves by holding community fire prevention and education workshops and attending various fundraisers throughout the year. prgtoken In addition to being recognized as Washtenaw 100 Honors' Firefighter of the Year, Lt. Hobbs has served as President of the Ypsilanti Firefighters Union for many years and has received widespread acclaim for promoting unity between the union and fire department. Additionally, he has played a key role in securing grants for the department through the Department of Homeland Security, which has allowed for increased firefighting staff and much-needed equipment. Their success in securing federal grants over the years speaks to the quality of their applications and the great work being done by Lt. Hobbs and his fellow firefighters. Lt. Hobbs has also been instrumental in fostering greater diversity at the department and advocated for hiring a female firefighter with a 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant. His dedication and efforts on behalf of the city of Ypsilanti are worthy of commendation, and I know that Lt. Hobbs will continue his diligent work on behalf of the area residents in the coming years. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lt. Ken Hobbs for being named Ypsilanti's Firefighter of the Year. His advocacy and service on behalf of the citizens and firefighters of our community are worthy of public acclaim.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2017-10-12

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I rise in support of this legislation. prgtoken , millions of our fellow Americans in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are looking to Congress and the administration to work together to provide aid and assistance in recovery and rebuilding. prgtoken I disagree with the President of the United States that we are going to leave Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands or any other American precipitously before we have done the job we need to do. prgtoken The recent hurricanes have left 3.6 million Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands still without power, fuel, clean water, food, electricity, and access to medical facilities. That is unacceptable, I say to the administration. prgtoken We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions, and it will get worse if we do not come together as a nation and bring to bear the full force of the Federal Government to assist. prgtoken , I thank the chairman for bringing this bill to the floor to effect that end. prgtoken That is why I have called on President to muster every Federal resource, to muster and ensure that aid and supplies can reach those who need them, and to work on restoring power, water, and communications. Because many are still out of reach, we do not yet know the full extent of the damage and loss of life. prgtoken Today's Washington Post has a front page story chronicling the tragedy that continues as of now to unfold in Puerto Rico, where nightfall brings complete darkness, and diseases are spreading by way of contaminated water. The island has been plunged into the 19th century. The Virgin Islands shares that status. prgtoken This supplemental must be followed in the weeks and months ahead by additional measures to provide disaster relief funding and financial assistance to bring the infrastructure of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands up to 21st century standards in order to prevent a repeat of what has occurred. prgtoken According to a letter sent to the congressional leadership on October 7, by the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, the damage of that island is prgtoken estimated to cost as much as $95 billion, which is 150 percent of Puerto Rico's gross national product. prgtoken This funding package is an important step, though it fails to provide urgently needed Medicaid funding to help the 1.6 million in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. prgtoken Congress must do its part and ensure that the resources are available, but it is up to the administration to make certain that the resources we provide get to those who need them. prgtoken So I ask my colleagues to join me in passing this bill, and I call on the President again to take every necessary measure to address this humanitarian crisis affecting our fellow Americans. prgtoken , do not send a message to any American that we will turn our b
DR. CHRIS KIRKPATRICK WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT OF 2017
Ron Kind (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise in strong support of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act, which will enhance whistleblower protections for employees at the VA and lead to better care for our Nation's veterans. prgtoken This bill is named in honor of Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick, a Wisconsinite, who tragically took his own life after being fired from the Tomah VA Medical Center in my congressional district in Tomah, Wisconsin. prgtoken Dr. Kirkpatrick was a clinical psychologist who specialized in treating some of the toughest and most pressing issues our veterans face today: PTSD, substance abuse, and chronic pain. prgtoken During his time at Tomah, Dr. Kirkpatrick noticed a disturbing trend of overprescribing of opioids to patients. prgtoken Dr. Kirkpatrick had the courage to blow the whistle to his superiors about what he rightly saw as dangerous pain management practices at the time. Sadly, the overprescribing issues that Dr. Kirkpatrick tried to warn about continued to occur at Tomah VA. prgtoken In 2015, a Wisconsin veteran named Jason Simcakoski tragically lost his life at the facility due to the dangerous pain management practices at the Tomah VA. Last year, I worked with the Simcakoski family to pass the bipartisan Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act to improve pain management practices at the VA so that no other veterans and their families have to go through what the Simcakoski family had to. prgtoken Although Dr. Kirkpatrick is no longer with us today, his dedication to serving veterans and his courage to stand up for what was right is why we are here today. This act will ensure that no one is retaliated against for coming forward with concerns about waste, fraud, abuse, and malpractice at the VA. The bill offers a number of new protections for whistleblowers and will help ensure that supervisors found guilty of retaliation are held responsible for their actions. prgtoken Dr. Kirkpatrick was dedicated to improving lives and serving our Nation's veterans. The bill before us today will honor the memory of Dr. Kirkpatrick by helping to make sure no one has to go through what he did. prgtoken , I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT
André Carson (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise today to introduce the Higher Education Employment and Transparency Act. This important legislation would help ensure that students are adequately informed of their choices as they navigate the process of applying to college. prgtoken While a college degree is as valuable as ever, the choices facing students as they attempt to choose the right school remain daunting. While most students cite employment as a prime motivator for college attendance, they nevertheless are often inadequately informed about the employment outcomes at various institutions of higher education and for various fields. prgtoken Navigating the college application process is hard enough. While in some cases data on employment and earnings information does exist, in too many cases it is unclear or not easily accessible to prospective students. Making this information more transparent--and pointing prospective students in the right direction--would go a long way in ensuring that students are making the best choices tailored to their individual needs. prgtoken The Higher Education Employment and Transparency Act seeks to tackle these challenges. This bill represents one piece ofthe puzzle to ensure data on higher education outcomes is presented in a manner that is clear, transparent, standardized, and above all easily accessible to prospective students. Without requiring the collection of new data, the bill would give students better access to higher-quality information about the schools they are considering. prgtoken The legislation would make a number of key changes: prgtoken First, it would expand on current requirements for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to disseminate certain information to prospective and enrolled students, through appropriate publications, mailings, and electronic media. The Higher Education Employment and Transparency Act would update this requirement to include disaggregated earnings and employment information, and require the use of data from more reliable sources. prgtoken Second, it would expand and improve the College Navigator, which is already a useful tool presenting a variety ofinformation about IHEs. The Higher Education Employment and Transparency Act would require additional information to be included on this site, in addition to what is currently required: a link to a page with that same, higher-quality information that IHEs are newly required to disclose; a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook website, which includes regional data on starting salaries in all major occupations; and, a link to a website that provides information about former students' employment and earnings information, based on high- quality federal or state data. prgtoken Last, under this legislation, IREs would also be required to provide prominent links on their own websites to each of these new pieces of information. prgtoken While disagreements exist regarding potential longer-term
CLEAN POWER PLAN
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-12

. Madam , I rise today in support of the Clean Power Plan. This rule was intended to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change and create first-ever limits to carbon pollution from U.S. power plants. prgtoken As we deal with the devastation created by some of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history and the wildfires that are raging through Western States, we can't stand idly by while prgtoken this administration eliminates the Clean Power Plan, condemning future generations to scarce resources, harsher climates, and economic uncertainty. prgtoken Extreme weather has cost the U.S. economy at least $240 billion over the past 10 years. Climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather. Shouldn't we focus on hardening and securing our infrastructure and making it more resilient to climate change? prgtoken The Clean Power Plan would also reduce plant pollutants that cause asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses, and it is projected to prevent thousands of premature deaths, tens of thousands of asthma attacks, and provide at least $20 billion in total health benefits. prgtoken The denial of science by this administration is alarming and dangerous. I urge my colleagues to stand up for clean energy and our environment and take positive action to address climate change.
INTRODUCTION OF THE HORSE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACT OF 2017
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2017-10-12

I rise in support of the Horse Transportation Safety Act, a bill I introduced earlier today along with my esteemed colleague, Rep. Jones from North Carolina, to ensure the humane and safe transportation of horses. prgtoken The Horse Transportation Safety Act seeks to end the exploitation of a regulatory loophole designed to ban the transport of horses in double-deck trailers, whereby drivers have an incentive to inhumanely transport horses to assembly points, then reload them into single level trailers just outside their final destination. prgtoken The practice is dangerous and inhumane not only to the horses, it poses a threat to the travelling public. prgtoken According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ``double-deck trailers do not provide adequate headroom for equines, with the possible exception of foals and yearlings. We do not believe that trailers that have two or more permanent levels that are not collapsible can be adequately altered to accommodate adult equines, especially tall equines.'' prgtoken The legislation is strongly supported by agricultural interests and animal protection groups alike. Among the organizations endorsing the bill are the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute, the National Black Farmers Association, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. prgtoken Moreover, in 2010 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously adopted this bipartisan legislation. prgtoken This is common sense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the swift passage of the Horse Transportation Safety Act.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2017-10-16

during the week of October 10 to October 13, 2017, I remained in my district in California to assist with relief efforts for catastrophic wildfires that displaced hundreds of my constituents. As a result, I was absent for Roll Call votes 558 through 568. prgtoken Had I been present for Roll Call vote 558, on suspension of the rules and passage of H.R. 1858, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 559, on suspension of the rules and passage of H.R. 2464, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 560, on ordering the previous question of H. Res. 562, I would have voted no. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 561, on agreeing to H. Res. 562, I would have voted no. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 562, on suspension of the rules and passage of H.R. 452, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 563, on suspension of the rules and passage of H.R. 3243, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 564, on instructing conferees on H.R. 2810, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 565, on closing portions of the conference on H.R. 2810, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 566, on suspension of the rules and agreement to H. Res. 569, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 567, to recommit with instructions S. 585, I would have voted yes. prgtoken And had I been present for Roll Call vote 568, on passage of S. 585, I would have voted yes.
TRIBUTE TO GERALD ROBERT ZELMER
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2017-10-16

today I wish to honor Gerald Robert Zelmer, a veteran of the Vietnam war. prgtoken Gerald, I would like to thank you, on behalf of the State of Montana, and the United States of America, for your service to this Nation. prgtoken Gerald, known by his friends and family as Gerry, was born in Bismarck, ND, on June 25, 1947. prgtoken He married the love of his life, Dora Jean or D.J on October 12, 1968, in Worden, MT, at the height of the Vietnam conflict. prgtoken Two months later, Gerry was off to war. prgtoken He attended boot camp in Fort Lewis, WA, and then moved on to advanced infantryman training in Fort Eustis, VA. prgtoken He deployed soon thereafter, serving proudly with the 101st Airborne Division out of Camp Eagle. prgtoken Gerry served as a helicopter crew chief, ensuring that pilots and crews were safe as they flew aerial missions. His skills on the battlefield ensured that rotary-wing aircraft were fine-tuned and ready to take off for their missions. prgtoken Gerry is a fixer and a problem solver. prgtoken In Vietnam, he fixed helicopters and kept our birds in the air, covering our soldiers on the ground. prgtoken When he returned from war, he worked as a maintenance foreman at Montana Sulphur and Chemical. prgtoken It is his skills on the battlefield, his bravery and courage, and his service to our Nation that earned him these commendations decades ago. It is my honor to finally deliver them today. prgtoken As a father to Carrie and Cody and grandfather to two grandchildren Sienna and Aden, he will get that long overdue acknowledgement. prgtoken I have the proud honor of presenting you, Gerry, with the Bronze Star Medal for your meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force. prgtoken I am also presenting you with copies of your previous awards: Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Service Star attachment, Expert Badge with Auto Rifle Bar, and sharpshooter badge with rifle bar. prgtoken Gerry, these medals are but a small token of our Nation's appreciation for your service and your sacrifice. You are an American hero, and Montana is proud to call you one of our own.
RECOGNIZING MR. PERVIS SPANN
Bobby L. Rush (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-10-16

I rise today to congratulate Mr. Pervis Spann who was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 15, 2017. Born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Mr. Spann spent his teenage years caring for his ailing mother after she suffered a stroke. Eventually, he and his family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1949. His time there was short-lived as he soon left to work in Gary, Indiana, and served his country with by serving in the Korean War, before returning to live in Chicago where he worked in a steel mill, drove a taxi, and repaired television sets. Like many young men of the era, Mr. Spann used his G.I. Bill benefits to advance his education when he attended the Midwestern Broadcasting School, which led to his work on WOPA radio in 1959. Only a year later, he organized his first concert featuring B.B. King and Junior Parker and three years later, when Leonard and Phil Chess launched WVON, Mr. Spann hosted a regular late night blues slot and became known as the ``all-night blues man.'' His most famous act of the era was when he hosted an 87-hour ``sleepless sit-in'' to raise money for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During the 1960s, Mr. Spann managed the careers of leading artists including B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Albert King, Little Milton, and, as he recalls, had a role in discovering the Jackson 5 and Chaka Khan. In 1975, after WVON was sold and changed frequency, Mr. Spann, in partnership with Vernon Jarrett and Wesley South, bought the license to the original frequency and launched a new station, WXOL, which featured an all-blues format and many of the same voices from the old WVON. Later, in 1983, WXOL was able to reclaim the old call letters and resumed operation as WVON. Today, Mr. Spann, with his daughter, Melody Spann Cooper at the helm of WVON (which I must note is located in my district), continues his career promoting the blues as the cohost of the popular cable TV program ``Blues and More.'' Needless to say, Mr. Pervis Spann has accomplished much in his lifetime and has helped craft the blues so many of us know and love today. Before I close, , I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to note a few of Mr. Spann's well-known words of wisdom. As he said it, ``If you don't love the blues, you got a hole in your soul.'' As a lover of blues, myself, I can confirm the veracity of his words. So, , on behalf of all of my constituents in the 1st Congressional District of Illinois, I would like to once again extend my sincerest congratulations.
HONORING RHINE VFW POST NO. 2729 ON ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY
Daniel Lipinski (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2017-10-16

I rise today to honor Rhine VFW Post No. 2729, which will celebrate 85 years of service to veterans and the community at the end of this month. On October 29, 1932, a group of 21 World War I veterans led by Leo Spychalski, Frank Chalupa, Joseph Sagan, and John Kwasny founded Rhine VFW Post No. 2729. Following World War II the post's membership grew to over 100 members, which led them to their current home at 5858 West Archer Avenue in Chicago. Over the years, members of the Rhine Post have served the local community with just as much honor and dedication as when they served the nation in the Armed Forces. The Post has long been a cornerstone of the Southwest Side of Chicago. They have organized everything from an annual Memorial Day Parade to distributing American flags to local schools. Additionally, the Post has trained rifle and drill teams, organized visits to veterans in local hospitals, and engaged in area school programs such as the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program. Members of the Rhine Post continue to take pride in helping those in need through community service. The Post is an active partner of the VFW National Home for Children which houses the children and spouses of deployed military members at no cost I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the honorable military and community service of the members of Rhine VFW Post No. 2729. Their sacrifices for our community and our nation are a shining example of the American values that we should all embrace.