mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 2021
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the chair and ranking member said, this is bipartisan, and I am sure will be bicameral, and, in fact, it is necessary because not only is H.R. 1975 necessary in order to put land in trust, but we, for more than 20 years now, have had to put most land that gets into trust in trust because of action by the Congress. prgtoken I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the 18 Tribes that I represent and have represented for most of my 20 years in Congress and say that this is the kind of bill that I hope we will pass further legislation to make unnecessary. The essential right of our first people to reclaim their ancestral land and have it placed into trust on a pro forma basis, on a nearly automatic basis, should not require action by Congress time and time again. prgtoken The Pala Band of Indians had to buy this land at their own expense in order to gift it, essentially, to the Federal Government. They do so because of the importance of their ancestral land and their pride in the people they are and the people they have been since before man, Western man, walked into California and disrupted their lives. prgtoken So I am proud that, once again, we are putting land in trust. I am proud of the Pala Indians who worked for more than 30 years to recapture this land, to keep it from being effectively taken away in perpetuity. They have done the right thing. prgtoken They have reinvested their hard-earned money, in fact, on putting, for their nearly 1,000 members, together a future of Tribal land in which the public can be aware will be taken care of better than it was under private land. prgtoken It is interesting to me that, in fact, we have had to get assurances that the Tribe would not use this for gaming, which is understood. But the idea that they cannot use it--they do not, in fact, regain their water rights that they historically would have, and others--quite frankly, is a giveaway that should not be necessary. prgtoken I am happy to take the opportunity to thank the chairman and ranking member, but I ask that we really take a hard look at the inefficiency of the system that has caused every single land in trust that has been done for my 18 Tribes, or many of my 18 Tribes over 20 years, to require this action. prgtoken I believe we should streamline the process to make the bias in favor of the Tribe's right to reclaim their land, to place it, in fact, into what is trust land, which is another name for it belongs to the Federal Government even though it has been bought out of the hardworking representatives in my district; in this case, Pala. prgtoken So I want to thank the gentleman for moving this. I believe this is noncontroversial. I know I brought up a point that is more controversial which is getting the bureaucracy to do a job they should do on behalf of Tribes throughout the United States. As somebody who has been honored to represent much of Indian Country
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION LANDS ACT
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , H.R. 1619 would ratify and reaffirm a March 2020 decision by the Department of the Interior to place 17 acres of the land located in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, into trust for the Catawba Indian Nation. prgtoken In 1980, the Catawba Tribe filed a land claim for former Tribal land in South Carolina, but the agreement they entered with the State failed to provide a clear understanding as to where the Tribe may have lands held in trust, what process is required, or whether the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act applies to the Catawba Nation. prgtoken By 1993, the Tribe and the State of South Carolina entered into an agreement to settle the lawsuit, and the South Carolina legislature enacted a law ratifying that agreement. prgtoken That same year, Congress ratified the settlement agreement by passing the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act and extinguished any other potential claims of the Catawba. prgtoken In exchange, the Catawba received $50 million, the restoration of their status as a Federally-recognized Tribe, and a streamlined process for restoring its land base in South Carolina. prgtoken But confusion about the Tribe's land continued as it submitted an application with the Department of the Interior to place land in Cleveland County, North Carolina, acquired into trust to develop a casino. prgtoken Even after the Department of the Interior approved the Catawba's trust application, determining that the Tribe met the restored lands exemption under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, there were still ambiguities that led to a challenge in court. prgtoken Madam , I hope that this bill will finally resolve the remaining issues and give the Catawba Tribe certainty about its land and the ways it can use it. prgtoken Madam , .
RECOGNIZING 1ST LIEUTENANT GLEE PITNEY, RECIPIENT OF TEXAS' THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2021 CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION
Van Taylor (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , today, it is my privilege to honor fifteen distinguished military veterans from Texas' Third Congressional District who answered the call to serve their Nation honorably, both in uniform and following their return to civilian life. The recipients of the 2021 Congressional Veteran Commendation exemplify the time-honored qualities of patriotism, service before self, and bold leadership. Following their time in service, their efforts in our community have earned these fine individuals recognition as the recipients of this prestigious commendation. Their stories of sacrifice will encourage future generations to pursue a life dedicated to the very values we cherish as Americans: faith, freedom, and democracy. One such hero is 1st Lieutenant Glee Pitney of Dallas, Texas. prgtoken Glee Pitney graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1954 whereupon he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery in the United States Army, The newly married Glee was soon assigned duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before being transferred with the Far East Command in South Korea. Pitney was assigned to the 11th Field Artillery Battalion and the 3rd Engineer Battalion as an assistant division fire marshal overseeing four fire stations. prgtoken For his service, Lieutenant Pitney was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. prgtoken Following his time in the military, Mr. Pitney returned to Ohio and entered the family trucking business until his retirement. In 1997, Glee relocated to Dallas where he became heavily involved in his community as a founding member of his homeowners association and as an active member of Volunteers in Patrol for which he received recognition from the Dallas Police Department. prgtoken In 2006, Glee and his wife moved to Highland Springs Retirement Community where he earned a reputation as an extraordinarily active community leader. His civic involvement includes serving as the first Chair and Vice-Chair of the General Services Committee, liaison to the Transportation Department, as a member of the Resident Advisory Council, and Chairman of Government Affairs Group. His commitment to our veterans remains strong as evidenced by his role as the founding Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Group, which today includes nearly 400 veterans, wives and widows. Mr. Pitney's efforts were instrumental in the creation of the Highland Springs Veterans Memorial Park and he is a strong supporter of the DFW Honor Flight where he has assisted almost fifty Highland Springs residents with travel to our Nation's Capitol. prgtoken Lieutenant Glee Pitney is a stellar example of a servant leader who embodies patriotism and a steadfast commitment to his community. prgtoken Today, a grateful Nation thanks Lieutenant Pitney for his exceptional service and congratulates him on this recognition. May his steadfast example of leadership inspire others to live a life of service to a cause greater than prgtoken themselves. I
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF MR. JAMES CHARLIE LANE
Diana Harshbarger (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , I rise to recognize the life and service of Mr. James Charlie Lane of White Pine, Tennessee. J.C. was born on April 30, 1920 and celebrated his 101st birthday on April 30, 2021. prgtoken He was a Veteran of WWII and served in the Navy from March 1941 to August 1946. From 1940 to March 1941, he was an employee of the Civilian Conservation Corps in both Unicoi and the Sugarlands in his birth county, Sevier County. prgtoken He volunteered and joined the Navy in March 1941 and was assigned to the USS Albemarle, where he would qualify as an electrician and would eventually be promoted to electrician first class. Volunteering for a new ship that was commissioned, he became a ``plank owner'' on the Wasp by being one of the original crewmen. By 1944, the Wasp's battles would include the islands of Marcus, Wake, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Leyte Gulf and the Japanese homeland. He arrived in Hawaii and then went to the Marshall Islands in May and saw his first action in the Marshall Islands as part of Admiral Halsey's fast carrier fleet at the Marianas. During his time in the Navy, he saw action in the European Theater, to the African Coast, to the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and the five-week long battle for Iwo Jima. His military service went on until almost a year after Armistice Day when Japan formally surrendered as his ship brought soldiers back from Italy and England. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer. prgtoken Upon returning to Tennessee, he settled in Sevier County for a short period, then upon getting a job at American Enka, he moved to White Pine in 1951. He retired from American Enka after thirty-six years. prgtoken J.C.'s legacy of love includes his marriage to his wife, Ruth, of forty-nine years until she passed in July 1992, and his children who are so proud of his service, Rita Lane Potter, and Betty Jo Lane Moore. He has three grandchildren and four great grandsons. prgtoken Madam , James Charlie Lane faithfully served his country under the most difficult situations possible, and all a WWII Veteran and member of the United States Navy, and I proudly honor his legacy and service to the United States of America.
TRIBUTE TO DON CHILDERS
Harold Rogers (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , I rise to wish my good friend, Don Childers from Letcher County, Kentucky a very Happy 90th Birthday. prgtoken Don has been a close friend over the years, becoming one of my earliest and strongest political allies in the coalfields of Kentucky's Appalachian region. He has led a remarkable career in the oil industry after starting from humble beginnings in Hellier, Kentucky. prgtoken Hard work and determination have defined his storied lifetime. Don put himself through college by driving a coal truck, earning $13.05 per day. He earned an associate degree from Pikeville College in 1952 and a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Kentucky in 1954. That same year, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, leaving behind his wife and newborn daughter. After fulfilling the call of duty, he returned to Hellier High School in 1956, where he accepted a job as a teacher and basketball coach. Education, however, became the shortest term of his career. prgtoken Six weeks into his new job as a teacher and coach, Don was offered a job with Gulf Oil Corporation as a Territory Manager, spanning 22 counties in southeastern Kentucky. Working with some of the best operators in the region, Don quickly learned the ropes of the petroleum business, leading to speedy promotions within the company. Ten years after working for the Gulf Oil Corporation, Don prgtoken asked for the rare opportunity to purchase the Whitesburg operations, so he could raise his family at home in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The company accepted his offer and Childers Oil was born. Today, they employ over 1,000 people, including its full-service 24- hour convenience stores and affiliated companies. prgtoken The Childers Oil Company has always been a family venture with his wife, Peggy, leading kitchen recipes and retail operations. Their two daughters and son-in-law now play key roles in the company, and the third generation is coming on strong with a full understanding of their grandfather's business philosophy. This family-owned and operated business is also a wonderful steward of the communities they serve, partnering with numerous civic and charitable organizations every year, reinvesting in the region they love so much. prgtoken In addition to Don's work in the oil industry, he has tirelessly worked to bring additional jobs and opportunities to the region through his work on the Letcher County Planning Commission, which he established with a group of community leaders 17 years ago. They have patiently advocated for a federal corrections facility to be built in Letcher County to create hundreds of good-paying jobs in Eastern Kentucky. Knowing the additional opportunities that could arise with a new prison, Don also launched the Letcher County Airport Board to meet aviation needs in our mountainous terrain. He is a bold, visionary leader who has inspired many others to think out-of-the-box for innovative
CONDEMNING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN BANGLADESH
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , I rise today to support of victims of violent religious persecution in Bangladesh. I have been informed that currently, about 14 million people are facing religious persecution solely for their Hindu beliefs. There is documented numerous attacks on Hindu temples, businesses and homes. People have been brutally killed and raped due to their religious beliefs. l strongly condemn the violent and immoral actions of those who harm others simply because they have a different religion. prgtoken Madam , the persecution of religious minorities will not end without strong action by the government, in this case Bangladesh. All governments are duty bound to protect their citizens and promote the freedom to worship. I call upon the government to make every effort to end the violence and protect religious minority populations within its borders. In order to protect its people, the government should restrict extremist groups that exert any violent influence over the country's political, social, legal, and religious affairs. Only then can peace and religious freedom be restored in Bangladesh. prgtoken The United States and Bangladesh have a friendship with deep ties among and between its people. Like Bangladesh, the United States has religious minorities. To truly flourish and prosper, the rights of all people to be secure in their property and their lives must be ensured. I encourage the government of Bangladesh and offer the full support of the United States in helping it protect its religious minorities. May God bless both our nations.
Veterans Day (Executive Session)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-11-1

in 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as Armistice Day, marking an agreement the year prior between the Allied Nations and Germany to temporarily cease fighting during World War I. prgtoken President Wilson said: The reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. prgtoken In battles before World War I and in battles since, our servicemembers and veterans have served to protect the American way of life. Every year, our country pauses on November 11 to recognize our veterans with the solemn pride and gratitude that President Wilson referenced. prgtoken We all wake up each morning and enjoy the freedoms this great country affords us because of our veterans--because it was our veterans, our men and women in uniform, who were there when their country needed them most. While their roles span multiple theaters and decades, our veterans were and continue to be united by a common mission: to protect and to defend the United States of America. This is a great responsibility they shouldered, and they deserve gratitude equal to their great sacrifice. Our veterans may say that they are just ordinary Americans doing their job. They may be ordinary, but they performed an extraordinary service to our country. prgtoken Alabama is home to nearly 400,000 veterans, and today it is my honor to recognize a few of them for their service. I have had the pleasure of meeting many veterans from my great State, and I am always inspired by their service and their sacrifice. prgtoken Their patriotism is unmatched, and their courage is unwavering, like that of CPL Edsel Bonds of Samson, AL, who experienced a shell blast to his right femur on January 28, 1966, while on a mission to intercept guerillas during the Vietnam war. The blast blew out 4 inches of his femur bone and several muscle groups. He spent most of a year recovering in the hospital from this horrific injury and never lost the love for his country. prgtoken Now, nearly 56 years later from the time of his injury, he is just as patriotic as ever. He views his service as something that was necessary for our country to remain the greatest country in the world. Corporal Bonds risked life and limb because he believed that America is worth sacrificing for. prgtoken We enjoy the blessings of living in a free nation but often discount the fact that our liberties come with a tremendous cost. Many brave men and women have paid a price that even our deepest gratitude could never, ever repay. prgtoken I think Elmer Davis, the Director of the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II, said it best: This nation will remain the l
HONORING THE LIFE OF RUBY DE VERA
Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , it is with great sorrow that I share that the city of Los Angeles lost another angel earlier this year. Her name was Ruby de Vera and she was a community leader, an activist, and a fierce advocate in Northeast Los Angeles. prgtoken Ruby was a remarkable person who worked tirelessly as a champion in both City Hall and out in the community. She was a role model and a true public servant who epitomized the best qualities including courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to justice. prgtoken Ruby's lifetime of dedication and service will be remembered and greatly missed by all whom she encountered and all those who were impacted by her leadership. May it bring comfort to her family, friends, and loved ones that so many are celebrating the life she led and praying for them at this time.
HONORING CHARLES ``CHARLIE'' E. WHITE
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2021-11-1

I rise today to honor the life of Charles ``Charlie'' E. White, an outstanding American and decorated Vietnam War veteran. prgtoken While Charlie is no longer with us, his legacy lives on. On behalf of my fellow Americans, I would like extend our deepest gratitude for his service to this Nation. prgtoken Charlie was born on May 21, 1944, in Kansas City, MO, to Owlen and Lucille White. His parents raised him alongside his brothers Bobby and Jerry and sister Judy in Independence, MO. prgtoken Charlie never shied away from service or sacrifice, and when the Vietnam war broke out, he quickly answered the call to duty and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served our country heroically as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Green Berets. prgtoken As a sergeant in the Green Berets, he engaged in many perilous combat missions in Vietnam, including one where he was wounded by an enemy soldier's bayonet. He donned a scar across his face for the rest of his life from this encounter and was awarded for his exemplary valor with multiple service medals. prgtoken After the war, Charlie returned to Kansas and settled into his life as a loving husband and devoted father. Known by many for his hard work ethic and determination, he led a long career working for BNFS Railway and provided a great life for his family. prgtoken He is survived by his wife Diane, sons Jack and Steve, daughter Tambra, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandson. His memory lives on through each of them and through his enduring legacy. prgtoken I now have the profound honor of recognizing Charlie White with the following honors for his bravery in the line of duty: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and Silver Star Medal. prgtoken These medals represent a small token of our country's appreciation for Charlie's incredible service and sacrifice. prgtoken He is an American hero who has made our country proud, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude.
WENEFRETT WATSON'S CENTENARIAN BIRTHDAY
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-11-1

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mrs. Wenefrett Watson on her 100th birthday, and honor her decades of service in our East Bay community. prgtoken Mrs. Watson was born in Marshall, Texas on October 29, 1921, to Dr. Oliver Wendell Phillips and Mayme Cecelia Adam Phillips. She completed two bachelor's degrees during her undergraduate studies, one in English Literature from Bishop College and one in Library Sciences from the University of Southern California. She worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C where she met her husband, Dr. James A. Watson. The Watsons relocated to Oakland, California in the 1950s, where Mrs. Watson became active in the Oakland public schools. prgtoken Mrs. Watson has been an important civic leader in our Oakland community. She was involved in many local organizations, including the Oakland Museum Commission, the Oakland Symphony Board, and the Oakland Anti-Poverty Board. Mrs. Watson's civil involvement is also notable, including her work with the PTA in the Oakland schools, and later with membership of the Oakland Bay Area Links, a volunteer service organization of women committed to ensuring the economic and cultural livelihoods of African Americans. She was also passionate about civil rights, and became active with the NAACP, the Urban League, and eventually ran for City Council. prgtoken Mrs. Watson is a trailblazer in the Oakland business community, as a business owner and entrepreneur. She created and managed WenTravel and Cruise travel agency in the 1980s, holding contracts with the City of Oakland, County of Alameda, and the State of California. Mrs. Watson's work was exceptionally impactful as she offered young African American business owners' opportunities to follow in her footsteps. When she retired, she sought inspired and passionate young African American entrepreneurs who would carry on her business and her work in our Oakland community. Mrs. Watson remained active after retirement, inspiring other community leaders through her work in helping to start the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame. In 1997, she was honored by the Black Business Listings for her outreach and leadership. prgtoken Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I commend Mrs. Wenefrett Watson for her lifelong work as a leader, activist, and entrepreneur, and warmly wish her a happy 100th birthday.