hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1248-S1249] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. BLUMENTHAL: I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Pasquale ``Pat'' Battinelli, Jr., a lifelong Connecticut resident, distinguished veteran, and friend to many. Sadly, Mr. Battinelli passed away on April 6, 2023, at the age of 90. He will be remembered for his steadfast dedication to his country and community. Pat was born in Darien before moving to Stamford as a young boy. There, he met the love of his life, Gloria Fabrizio, at the age of 13. After graduating from Stamford High School, Pat enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Stationed in the Philippines during the Korean war, Pat served honorably for 4 years. In 1954, after completing his service, he returned to Stamford where he married Gloria. The couple were married for 68 years and raised four children. In addition to his military service, Pat had a distinguished record of giving back to Stamford and our State. As chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department and commander of the Lock City Detachment of the Marine Corps League, as well as an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Pat has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to community service. I personally saw Pat at work in all these positions, but also very importantly as leader of Stamford's Patriotic and Special Events Commission for over 30 years. In this role, he was in charge of every parade Stamford held during his tenure, a testament to Pat's civic mindedness and patriotism.  Pat was an inspiration to veterans and a shining example of good citizenship. I was privileged to know Pat and count him as a friend. He was selfless, loyal, and unstinting in his commitment to helping others--a true patriot. My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest sympathies to Pat's family during this difficult time, particularly to his wife Gloria, his four children, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Pat's life and legacy.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1247-S1248] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. WARNER: I rise today in recognition of the retirement of Alan Kohler. Alan leaves the FBI as Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division, a challenging post he has held since 2020. Over his long and impressive career with the FBI, Alan has continuously worked on our most pressing national security issues. It is a career that has truly lived up to the FBI'smotto of ``Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.'' As part of its history, the Senate Intelligence Committee has worked to ensure the intelligence community works seamlessly across its many Agencies and with our allies to protect Americans. That is a goal Alan Kohler committed his life's work to, whether he was serving overseas as legal attache in the United Kingdom to coordinate efforts with our closest ally or developing new means of integrating and cooperating across Agencies like the Counterintelligence Task Force he established during his time as Assistant Director, his accomplishments have inspired junior agents and personnel to break through Agency stovepipes in defense of our Nation. Alan's faithful service to the Bureau spanned three decades, through some of our Nation's darkest days. He joined the FBI in 1996 and was assigned to work counterintelligence cases in the Washington field office, right in the wake of and in the midst of some of the most damaging espionage cases the U.S. has faced. In the days after the attacks on September 11, Alan bravely served on the evidence recovery team at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. After transferring to the New York field office in 2006, Alan Kohler worked cases that led to the arrest of 10 Russian illegals in 2010, earning the Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service and changing the way Americans understood the intelligence activities of our adversaries. He was also fortunate enough to be assigned as assistant special agent in charge of the Norfolk field office where he was responsible for all of the FBI's counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and crisis management programs for that community. In 2017, after Russia's unprecedented interference in our elections, Alan established the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, an entity we on the Senate Intelligence Committee continue to rely on to collect on and report threats to the very foundation of our democracy. As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I have relied on Alan's integrity to provide the committee with honest and timely information, even when it was not easy for him to do. He consistently demonstrated professionalism in all our engagements and modeled a constructive relationship between the executive and legislative branches. It was a professionalism born of his commitment to safeguard our Nation. I am certain Alan will find ways to continue to serve as he enjoys his very well-earned retirement. I would also like to recognize his family who has supported him throughout his tremendous career.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Page S1247] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH: Americans across the country, led by Concerned Women for America, the Nation's largest public policy organization for women, and other faith-based organizations continue to celebrate April as Faith Month. I commend this noble effort calling all people of faith to join in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration of their faith. The United States of America was born of the unanimous Declaration that we are ``endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' based on ``the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God,'' ``appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,'' and acknowledging our ``reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'' We are a people of faith, which is why religious freedom is known as America's first freedom, as laid out in the Establishment and the Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment and also supports America's unique focus on freedom of expression, including in matters of faith. America's Judeo-Christian founding promotes religious diversity and tolerance. Our motto, ``In God We Trust,'' further emphasizes the importance of faith in our Nation's founding. From our first President to the last, we have always acknowledged America's faith. President George Washington recognized ``it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'' Preserving our religious freedom, which strengthens our country's appreciation of all peoples, regardless of faith, requires eternal diligence. Sadly, attacks on religious liberty and people of faith are growing, with some religious charities forced to betray the tenets of their faith in order to participate in certain government programs. We must actively reject all efforts to criminalize or cancel religious beliefs as somehow incompatible with our democracy. Religious organizations in America have a rich history of charitable engagement by helping the sick, poor, and afflicted. Their presence in my State of Mississippi following devastating and fatal tornadoes in March has been a blessing to those trying to rebuild their lives. Their service demonstrates why these organizations should be celebrated, not maligned, for their contributions to improve life. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 percent of Americans practice some type of religious faith. This rich, diverse religious heritage is to our credit and should be encouraged. This Faith Month, I join millions of Americans in honoring the right to practice our faith freely and openly, with public displays and celebrations, including prayer and expressions of thanksgiving. In this manner, we reaffirm our commitment to the religious liberty principles of our founding.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Page S1247] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mrs. BLACKBURN: 108 years ago on April 24, 1915, Ottoman Turkey began the systematic killing and deportation of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. Between 1915 and 1923, an estimated 1-and-a-half million Armenians fell victim to one of history's most ruthless and notorious genocides. Most who survived eventually emigrated to different parts of the world, forming a widespread diaspora. The American people have a proud history of recognizing and condemning the Armenian genocide and have provided relief and a new home to many of the Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians who survived this campaign of mass extermination. Today, Armenian Americans are a vital part of the cultural fabric of the United States. As we commemorate this dark period, I would encourage my colleagues to remember that atrocities like the Armenian genocide are almost never spontaneous events. They typically follow a period of human rights violations, discrimination, and violence against specific groups who often share a racial, ethnic, religious, or social identity. Most recently, we have seen this in the Chinese Communist Party's inhumane treatment of ethnic minorities, including the persecution of Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Mongolians and dissenters in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and further abroad. Our foreign policy should recognize this, fight denialism of past and current crimes, and emphasize the preservation of human rights rather than relying on eleventh hour action that comes far too late for vulnerable populations. On behalf of all Tennesseans, I offer this solemn recognition of the Armenian genocide and ask my colleagues to join me in pledging to fight the forces of evil still causing so much pain and suffering around the globe.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Page S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. THUNE: today I recognize the distinguished career, public service, and leadership of Thomas J. Heller. Tom has served as president and CEO of Missouri River Energy Services for 30 years, joining the company in 1992 as its fourth CEO since the organization's founding in 1965. After leading the organization for three decades, Tom announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2023. Under his leadership, Missouri River Energy Services navigated a changing energy landscape to provide reliable and resilient electricity to 61 member communities across South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Tom's hard work has certainly not gone unnoticed. In 2014, he was the recipient of the American Public Power Association's Alan H. Richardson Statesmanship Award, and, in 2020, he received the Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award. Tom's colleagues speak highly of both his work and his character, and his departure will certainly leave big shoes to fill. Before joining Missouri River Energy Services, Tom worked for the Moorhead Public Service Department for 16 years, including 7 years as general manager. Nationally, Tom serves on the executive committee of the Transmission Access Policy Study Group, the Missouri Basin Power Project Management Committee of Laramie River Station, and the American Public Power Association's CEO Climate Change and Generation Policy Task Force. Following his retirement, Tom plans to spend more time with his grandkids Graham and Matilda. I am grateful for his commitment to public service, his hard work on behalf of Missouri River Energy Services and its member communities, and, more importantly, I am proud to call him a friend. I commend Tom for his many great contributions throughout his long career and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. SCOTT : we must do more to support firefighters, which--I support this bill. However, as we all know, we are in a very tough financial situation. Families are struggling. We are over $31 trillion in debt. I have a very simple amendment. It would transfer all remaining unobligated State and local COVID funds to offset a portion of the cost of the Fire Grants and Safety Act. I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. PETERS: the funds this amendment targets have already been obligated to States to help communities continue recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, at the end of last year, the Senate unanimously passed legislation led by Senators Cornyn and Padilla that also allows States and localities to use these funds to respond to natural disasters and fund infrastructure and community development projects. Under this amendment, this funding would be redirected to the U.S. Fire Administration--an account that should be consistently funded through the annual appropriations process. Firefighters deserve steady, dedicated funding for their programs. Redistributing this funding could weaken our Nation's ability to continue responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and would pull funds from a program that is supporting our communities, families, and small businesses in important ways. Firefighters and the communities they protect are counting on us to reauthorize these programs to help them get the safety equipment and the training they need in order to do their job. We should not have to choose between supporting our Nation's recovery and investing in our communities and helping our Nation's firefighters. I would urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. SCOTT : I appreciate what my colleague has said. Let's remember that President Biden declared the COVID emergency over. These are unobligated dollars. We do have $31.5 trillion in debt. I think the right thing to do is pass thisbill with this amendment to support our firefighters. I urge my colleagues to all vote for this amendment.  Vote on Amendment No. 81
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. BRAUN: I come here this evening because I have got a problem, and the problem is the IRS. It has a bad track record. They often fail to be good stewards of taxpayer money and to protect highly sensitive information as well. They don't do a good job at that. Despite this, Congress and President Biden recently gave the IRS $80 billion in new funding--$80 billion--most of which we had to borrow, probably. Last week, the IRS released a 150-page document outlining how it will spend $80 billion in new funding. The report is very vague about how that will be done. ``Enforcement activities''--I would love more specifics. The IRS has a history of being weaponized against conservative organizations and for hassling hard-working taxpayers and small business owners with audits. I don't know that the wealthy are going to be held to account. They have got their lawyers, and they fight this stuff off routinely. I am worried that it is going to hit middle America. With this huge funding boost, these problems, I think, will only grow. It is unacceptable to treat American taxpayers this way. The IRS does not need more power. It needs to be reformed to ensure that it serves the best interests of all Americans. I have got a solution: Simplify, don't amplify, the IRS. And let's just put ``act'' right after that. Last Congress, I introduced a bill with several IRS reforms to hold the Agency accountable and protect taxpayers. The Simplify, Don't Amplify the IRS Act would stop the Biden administration from continuing to grow the power of the IRS. This bill would stop attempts to target Americans and small businesses by snooping in their bank accounts, credit union accounts, Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App. The bill would also repeal the Democrat ban on cutting State taxes, hold IRS employees accountable when they release private taxpayer information, and ensure that the IRS spends its time helping taxpayers rather than on unofficial union activity. We can debate how much money the IRS needs to do its job, but we also need commonsense policies like the Simplify, Don't Amplify the IRS Act. This bill would immediately add value to the American taxpayer and help restore faith to a dysfunctional government Agency that affects every American. Therefore, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 1101 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. DURBIN: I have discussed the matter which Senator Lee brings to the floor for consideration, and I thank him for accommodating me by allowing me to object at the beginning rather than at the end of his remarks. And I will say that it relates to a commemorative resolution which he wanted to offer. I came to learn as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that we have rules and standards by which we allow these commemorative resolutions to be considered. I have given Senator Lee a copy of that policy--the committee policy--and I would like to ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to have it printed in the Record at this point. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:  Committee Policy for Consideration of Commemorative Measures  The following conditions shall govern the consideration of holiday and commemorative legislation by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. 1. The measure must be bipartisan. At least one Republican and one Democrat must support the measure. A. If the measure is specific to a particular state, the bipartisan requirement may be waived--provided that both home state Senators support the measure. 2. No measure may commemorate: A. A commercial enterprise, industry, specific product, or fraternal, political business, labor or sectarian organization; B. A particular state or any political subdivision thereof, city, town, county, school or institution of higher learning, except for the purpose of recognizing a significant anniversary or achievement; or C. A living person. 3. Committee policy and committee jurisdiction will not ordinarily be waived. 4. Committee policy will provide for an annual commemoration, in each of two years, provided: A. Such proposal is introduced during the first session of a congress; B. A substantially similar proposal has been passed by the Senate with respect to each of the four years immediately preceding the first year of the proposed commemoration; C. The commemorative periods proposed would occur during the Congress in which the resolution is introduced. 5. No measure may direct or otherwise request or encourage the President of the United States to take action with respect to the holiday or commemoration. 6. Written committee reports will not be filed regarding this type of legislation. 7. The committee will not consider requests to waive any of the above requirements unless two-thirds of the members indicate a desire to do so.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Senate] [Pages S1238-S1243] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: SENATE
Mr. LEE: for half a century, the Heritage Foundation has worked to build a United States where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. Their unwavering commitment to our Nation's core principles has been a guiding light for generations, and we owe them our deepest gratitude. In 1972, the Heritage Foundation was conceived by Dr. Edwin J. Feulner and Paul Weyrich to deliver timely and persuasive research to Congress with facts, with data, and sound arguments on behalf of principles that promote freedom, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans. On February 16, 1973, the Heritage Foundation opened its doors for the first time and quickly grew to become one of the most influential and most broadly supported think tanks in the United States. Over the past 50 years, the Heritage Foundation has played a critical role in many great legislative successes of our great country. They published the ``Mandate for Leadership'' in 1981, which served as a ``policy bible'' for President Ronald Reagan in his administration. In 1982, the Heritage Foundation published the first comprehensive study outlining a missile defense system to defend the United States from nuclear missile attacks. Six months later, President Reagan made his historic speech calling for a strategic defense initiative to protect the United States. Research by the Heritage Foundation formed the basis for welfare reform in the 1990s, resulting in more than 5 million people in the United States leaving welfare, finding work, and, ultimately, reducing African-American child poverty to historic lows. The Heritage Foundation understands that the people of the United States are best served by a government that understands, honors, and respects self-governance. They have been a voice of reason and an advocate for our shared American values, reminding us of the power of individual liberty and the importance of limited government. Their dedication to promoting a society based on these ideals has helped shape the course of our Nation, and we are all better off for it. As we look back on the past 50 years, we should remember the incredible impact of the Heritage Foundation on our Nation. Their legacy is one of service, and we are grateful for their unfailing commitment to our country. I urge my colleagues to support my resolution recognizing the important contributions at the Heritage Foundation to American life over the past 50 years and acknowledging their central role in shaping our Nation's policies and values. As we move forward, the challenges facing our country continue to grow. We need the Heritage Foundation now more than ever. Their expertise, research, and dedication to our shared values are crucial. They will continue to be a force for good in the years to come, and I am proud to stand with them to support a better, brighter, and more prosperous future for all Americans.