hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1957-H1958] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. PEREZ: I rise today to speak out of deep concern for growing consolidation of agricultural farms throughout the food supply chain. These mergers put small farmers, small businesses, and workers at ahuge disadvantage. There are fewer options for processing plants, cold storage, distribution, and retail. I have heard concerns about consolidation at farm bill listening sessions I have hosted in Centralia and Battle Ground. We are seeing consolidation everywhere, including meat processing plants, fruit processors, and beverages distributors. In my community, Corwin, a local beverage distributor was just bought out by a huge conglomerate, and now their beer and wine division is closed. The potential merger between Kroger and Albertsons would only add to this pressure. It is hurting our small producers. The cost to transport and distribute goods is no longer sustainable and is forcing small businesses to close. This drives up the cost at the checkout stand, and it makes it more challenging to rely on American-grown goods. This is a national security threat. Mr. Speaker, I am here to serve the people of southwest Washington, not big businesses. Every merger that cuts costs and skirts accountability is a blow to working people; to farmers, to processing plants, grocery cashiers, and families at the checkout stand.  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with me to find a solution to these critical issues.  Celebrate Loggers
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1957-H1958] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. PEREZ: I rise today to celebrate generations of loggers in Washington State, including my grandfather, Dale Gilmore. If you visit my office in Longworth, you will see a chainsaw that is almost 9 feet long. It is a McCulloch Model 99. It is the same model of chainsaw that my grandpa ran in the woods up and down the peninsula. It was shipped here in a crate built by the Stevenson High School shop class under the leadership of Scott Midland. I brought it here to remind this Washington, D.C., what real work looks like. The lifespan of men who ran these chainsaws could be pretty short, but they chose to sacrifice to provide for their families. The power that comes from mastering a skill should invoke humility and respect for all of the people who choose to work with their hands in the woods.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1957] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. MAGAZINER: I rise today to oppose the Republican's default on America plan that will hurt Rhode Island's seniors. The MAGA Republicans that have taken control of this House have given us a false choice. Either we go along with their plan for painful cuts for veterans, seniors, and children, or they will purposefully wreck the economy by defaulting on the debt. This false choice is wrong and we do not need to accept it. In particular, their plan would enact painful cuts on senior citizens in Rhode Island. How? By cutting funding to the Social Security Administration so that the quarter million elderly and disabled Rhode Islanders who depend on Social Security would face longer wait times for their benefits. Also, by cutting funding for seniors' nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels, housing, and slashing funding for home care, putting the lives of seniors at risk. This is not about deficit reduction. If this was about deficit reduction, my Republican colleagues would be lining up to support President Biden's budget, which reduces the deficit by $3 trillion. No. This is an extreme agenda that puts working people, in particular seniors, in the back seat while doing the bidding of wealthy donors and billionaires and corporations.  We do not need to accept it. People will not stand for it. I will fight this default on America plan with everything that I have.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1957] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. SANTOS: today I rise to honor the beginning of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. Since 1948, Israel has displayed great resilience and strength against its opposition. This incredible nation is our strongest ally in the Middle East. Our friends in Israel carry a long history of faith and resolve. Here in the United States, we are forever grateful for their friendship and their continued partnership. We congratulate you on this tremendous milestone of 75 years of independence and democracy. In the State of New York, we are proud to be the home of the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. For 75 years, Israel has been a tried and trusted ally of the United States. Together, we have Americans and Israelis united by our shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and regional security. Israel is America's base in the Middle East. As the only democracy in the region, Israel is the only country that embraces American values. We have witnessed the strongest relationship between America and Israel yet, not just in words but in actions. The American Embassy officially moved to Jerusalem. America officially recognizes the Golan Heights as part of Israel. The 118th Congress is holding strong to the commitment of allegiance to Israel even in the face of adversity. Mr. Speaker, here is to 75 more years of partnership.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I rise today to congratulate Kristy Griffis Arnold on her appointment to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board by the USDA. Kristy has been involved with farming and agriculture her entire life. She was born into a farming family, growing up on her family's 465-acre farm which has been passed down through multiple generations. It was on her family farm that she learned the tools of the trade related to cattle farming. In addition to her recent appointment, Kristy has also been awarded the Georgia Producer of the Year Award in 2010 by the Georgia Cattlemen's Association. In 2012, Kristy and her family won the 2012 Wayne County Farm Family of the Year Award. In 2014, they won the Georgia Beef Quality Assurance Award. Kristy has proven time and time again that not only is she one of the most accomplished and knowledgeable farmers in the district, but she is also one of the best in the country. Kristy's expertise in agriculture speaks for itself, and I believe she will be an excellent addition to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board.  Calling on the FDA to Reverse Restrictions on Alzheimer's Treatments
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I rise today to stand with the 6.7 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer's disease, their family members, and their caregivers. One in three seniors dies of Alzheimer's or a form of dementia. These are our sisters, our brothers, our mothers, our fathers, our neighbors, our fellow Americans, who are living with this heartbreaking disease. Thanks to bipartisan efforts in Congress, we have made great progress advancing research on Alzheimer's and dementia, providing hope to families struggling with this tragic disease. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently declined to cover an entire class of FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments for Medicare patients. This has significantly reduced access to care for our most vulnerable patients with no other options to treat the disease. Unfortunately, this administration continues to put patients last and this decision of restricting Medicare coverage of FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatment is just the latest example.  I ask my colleagues to join me in calling on this administration to reverse this restrictive decision and provide those living with Alzheimer's access to FDA-approved treatments. To all the patients, families, and caregivers out there who are struggling with Alzheimer's, I stand with them, and I will continue to fight for them.  Congratulating the Camden County High School Wrestling Team
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I rise today to congratulate the Camden County High School wrestling team on their ninth consecutive State championship. It seems like winning a State championship is just part of the yearly routine for the wrestlers at Camden County, but it was not always that way. When Coach Jess Wilder took over the program in 2006, the school had not won a State championship since 1984. Some even called Camden the land of no chance, in reference to its State title aspirations. Coach Wilder and the wrestlers of Camden County did not let that discourage them, and after 2 years of hard work and determination, Camden County won a State championship in 2008. The team took championships home in both 2012 and 2015. Their 2015 win marked the beginning of a yearly State championship run that still continues today. I congratulate the team and Coach Wilder on their hard work and determination. They continue to make their school and the First District proud.  Congratulating Inga Cashon and Brittany Nearhoof
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I rise today to recognize Inga Cashon and Brittany Nearhoof for being recognized as 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists. State school superintendent Richard Woods, who surprised the finalists with their selection throughout the month of March, said each one of them is a shining example of the profession. I could not agree more. Inga Cashon is a science, technology, engineering, and math teacher at North Tattnall Middle School. In 2020, she received the Georgia STEM Scholar Award for her efforts to integrate effective STEM education in the classroom. Brittany Nearhoof is an art teacher at McAllister Elementary School in Bryan County in the First District. She is also a leadership team member and chair of the Fine Arts Night Committee. I congratulate Inga and Brittany for their hard work and their dedication to their students. They are very deserving of this honor.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1955-H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. TLAIB: today, I am proud to renew our fight to designate Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status to prevent Lebanese nationals in the United States from being forced back to the dangerous crisis facing their home country. Between the pandemic, the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion, economic devastation, and the ongoing political crisis, Lebanon is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises globally, resulting in widespread lack of access to medical care, clean water, food, and electricity. According to the United Nations, Mr. Speaker, over 3.5 million Lebanese people are estimated to live in poverty and 1.38 million people are experiencing extreme poverty. The Presidency has been vacant since last October and the parliament just extended the terms of local officials without elections to avoid a complete collapse at the local level. Mr. Speaker, 40 percent of the doctors there in Lebanon have left the country and we continue to see huge amounts of illnesses spreading throughout on top of the pandemic. Our country must not retreat from its long tradition of providing a safe haven for those that need it the most. Temporary Protected Status for our Lebanese neighbors is critical to prevent more hardship. I call on my colleagues to support this legislation.  Celebrating Lee Vernon Newby, Jr.'s 100th Birthday
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1955-H1956] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. TLAIB: I rise today to recognize Lee Vernon Newby, Jr. He is a veteran of World War II, and a longtime resident of Detroit in Michigan's 12th District Strong. He is celebrating 100 years of life. Mr. Newby is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from April 1, 1943, until January 8, 1946. He served and was wounded during World War II, where Mr. Newby was one of our courageous Montford Point marines and one of the first barrier-breaking African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He fought against prejudice and hostility while serving our country. Mr. Newby, Jr., proudly serves as a member of the Montford Point Marines of America, the Detroit chapter, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award in the Nation, under President Obama's administration. Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Mr. Lee Vernon Newby, Jr.,for his outstanding service to our country as we celebrate his 100th birthday.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1955] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. MANN: I rise to honor the life and legacy of Joe Kejr, a great Kansan who passed away on April 8 at the age of 64. Joe was a third-generation wheat farmer, a passionate advocate for agriculture, and a follower of Jesus who was committed to building and fostering deep relationships in the agricultural community. Wheat harvest was Joe's favorite time of year. He loved spending long hours with family and friends, racing to beat a storm, and enjoying the quiet peace and camaraderie of suppertime in the field, and sharing the entire experience with younger generations. He and his crew loved the challenge of trying to be the last truck to go through the elevator each night. At the end of harvest, Joe would hold court and share stories at the big ``last supper'' that he and his wife Geena would host at their house for everyone who came to help. Joe served on the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers board of directors from 2002 to 2010, serving as president in 2007, and as the president of the National Wheat Foundation in 2022. First and foremost, however, Joe was a follower of Jesus who served in the Kansas legislature on various ministry boards, including At Stake Ministries and church committees, and he was passionate about sharing the Gospel and he led mission trips to and made many friends in Guatemala. Mr. Speaker, Joe is now at rest with his Savior. I am praying for Geena and Joe's family as they mourn his loss and celebrate his life.  Commemorating the 150th Anniversaries of the Chisholm Trail and Western Cattle Trail
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1955] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. MANN: I rise today to commemorate the 150th anniversaries of the Ellsworth Route of the Chisholm Trail and the Western Cattle Trail through Dodge City and beyond. The American cowboys who used these trails were the original pioneers who ventured West in search of new opportunities with nothing more than their horses, their dogs, their ropes, and their prayers. I grew up on a cattle operation in Quinter, Kansas. There are more than 4.4 million cattle and calves on ranches and feed yards in our district, which means that plenty of cowboys called The Big First home. Kansas has been the first frontier for cowboys since the 1860s when cattle were driven from Texas to places like Abilene and Dodge City to be sold near the closest railroads. The cowboys would drive about 3,000 head of cattle on their thousand- mile journey at a pace of about 15 miles per day, so it took 2 months. They would look after their cattle 24 hours a day, sleeping under the stars in shifts in the land that would later become Oklahoma. By the late 1870s, so many cowboys were making this trek from Texas to Kansas that half a million head of cattle were being shipped out of Dodge City alone every year. These long drives disappeared at the end of the century, but the modern cowboys of today still embody the courage, dedication, personal responsibility, and traditional methods from their pioneering history. Cowboys remain a constant in an ever-changing world. They know how to break a horse without breaking its spirit, and they put in a 40-hour workweek by the time Wednesday morning rolls around. Cowboys know that they can't take shortcuts or do the bare minimum if they want to succeed. They are resourceful multitaskers who do things the right way, which is often the hard way, and their reward for all their hard work isn't public accolades, but simply providing for their families, caring for their stock, and keeping America fed. It is exciting to see all the local celebrations of Kansas' history around these trails. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dennis Katzenmeier, president of the International Chisholm Trail Association; Michael Grauer, president of The Western Cattle Trail Association; Ron Wilson, and many others for their dedication to preserving the history of these trails and the cowboys that use them.  Thanking Emily Woods for Her Service to Kansans and The Big First District
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1955] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. MANN: I rise today to recognize and thank Emily Woods for her service to me, my office, Kansans, and The Big First District. Emily served on my team since my first day in Congress, and she consistently brought a caring, professional, and attentive approach to building relationships, providing thought leadership, and connecting with Kansans and her coworkers alike. Emily established herself as a resource for everyone in the office, always offering helpful advice and solving problems with a creative perspective. This scripture comes to mind for Emily, Proverbs 3:5-6: ``Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.'' I am so excited to see what lies ahead for Emily and her move back to the Sunflower State. I know that with her many skills, her passion, and her work ethic, she will go very far. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Emily for her dedication to The Big First District. My time in Congress wouldn't have been the same without her. We will miss her and wish her well with all of her future endeavors.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1954] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CLINE: Joe Biden and House Democrats should listen to what former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to say about debt ceiling negotiations back in 2019, according to The Washington Post: ``Pelosi, the California Democrat, said the idea of raising the debt ceiling on its own and not in conjunction with a budget agreement was not `acceptable to our Caucus' and, therefore, did not stand a chance of passage in the House of Representatives.'' Debt ceiling negotiations are nothing new. President Biden has a long history of engaging in and supporting negotiations over the debt limit, as do other House Democrats. House Republicans are committed to a reasonable, responsible, and sensible solution to our Nation's debt crisis that would limit Washington's irresponsible spending, save taxpayer dollars, and grow the American economy. President Biden and the extreme Democrats' inflationary spending spree has worked to increase our national debt to unsustainable levels, over $31.6 trillion, with annual deficits of $1.5 trillion. While Joe Biden has no plan to avoid debt default, House Republicans are committed to sensible debt ceiling negotiations.  Congratulating Stuarts Draft FFA Team
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1954] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CLINE: I rise to congratulate the Stuarts Draft High School team for winning the Virginia State Future Farmers of America forestry championship at the Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge. These outstanding students exemplify leadership and are model representatives of the organization. The forestry competition included being able to identify tree types and disorders, pinpoint wood products, as well as pass a knowledge exam and identify and navigate maps. Led by Coach William Monroel, as well as advised by agriculture teacher Lindsey Baber, these champions include freshman Kelli Weaver and seniors Anna Grace Henderson, Will Monroe, and Steven Ramsey. As Virginia's Sixth District is the number one agriculture district in the Commonwealth, I am always proud to see the next generation of agriculture leaders participating, excelling, and winning in competitions like this one. Congratulations to the Stuarts Draft students, Coach Monroel, parents, and staff on this well-deserved victory.  Recognizing Clarke County High School Girls' Basketball Team
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [House] [Page H1954] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CLINE: I rise today to recognize the Clarke County High School girls' basketball team for their Virginia Class 2 State championship victory. These impressive young ladies stepped up big and beat the defending State champs, Central High School of Wise County, 45-41, for their second State title in the program's history. Junior guard Selene Good cemented the Eagles' lead by nailing a dramatic 3-pointer to put the team up by 5. In the final minutes, the Eagles knocked down 10 of 12 free throws that helped seal the victory. These champions include: Selene Good, Kayia Williams, Emma Nelson, Devin Simmons-McDonald, Keira Rohrbach, Willow Oliver, Alainah McKavish, Bailey Beard, Hailey Evans, and Emily Emmart, led by head Coach Regina Downing and assistant Shadd McCaw. Congratulations to all of these talented athletes, coaches, staff, and parents on this well-deserved State championship.