hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1881-H1884] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. JOHNSON : I thank my friend who is always a voice of great credibility and reason. You're exactly right, and I am glad you highlighted that the first 100 days of this Congress under Republican leadership has been remarkably successful. As you said here, this week and in the days ahead, our important work has really just begun. We have a lot more to do. Mr. Speaker, in my remarks this evening, I would speak very briefly as a father. We have to defend women's sports. My wife, Kelly, and I have been blessed with four amazing children. Two of them are bright, beautiful young women who were high school athletes themselves. But today, radical transgender ideology is threatening the very same opportunities that my girls had, and all of our girls have had. This week, Congress is going to send a clear message: We will not stand by and tolerate the erosion of fair and equal competition in women's sports. We know that right now women's freedom to play sports at competitive, collegiate, and professional levels epitomizes how far we have come in breaking down so many boundaries. How in the world have we gotten to this point where women's ability to compete on a fair playing field is in question? Mr. Speaker, this week, Congress will vote, and we are going to pass out of this House the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. We will address one of the major problems stemming from today's extreme liberal ideology, all of these activists. Just in the last few years, we have seen countless instances of men competing in women's sports at all stages of competition. It is not fair. Our legislation would simply aim to crack down on this backwards policy by prohibiting federally funded education programs or activities of any kind from allowing biological men and boys to participate in the programs or activities designed for women. Biology is not bigotry. It is reality. Our legislation will make clear that one's gender, their sex, is based on their reproductive biology. It is our obligation; it is our duty and responsibility here to protect and defend the rights of women and girls across this country to compete and succeed in sports. I am proud to cosponsor the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, and I am glad that that legislation will accomplish that very thing. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LUCAS: I thank my colleague from Texas for those very thoughtful and very wise words. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) who has had many opportunities over the years to work with our mutual dear friend.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. LOFGREN: I thank Chairman Lucas for organizing this Special Order. Honoring Jenn Wickre is really a privilege. I know Jenn from the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and I know her as an organized and capable person. Today, even more than speaking for myself, I am here to speak for the Democratic staff of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee who know her even better than I do. Many of them have worked with Jenn closely for many years. They really appreciate her and her excellence as a congressional staffer serving this institution and our Nation and how valued she is as a colleague on both sides of the aisle and how respected she is in the greater science and technology stakeholder community. Prior to coming to the Hill, Jenn had not worked on science policy, but she has a keen intellect, and she understands and cares deeply about the issues that come before our committee. She has become such an expert on these issues that most people just assume that Jenn came from a lifelong science background. Staff on both sides have benefited from her institutional knowledge, her thoughtfulness, and her perspective. The mutual trust and respect she shared with Democratic staff has allowed them to find common ground on almost every topic that came before them. It also even enabled them to tag team in difficult negotiations with the Senate and external stakeholders, especially during the CHIPS Act. Jenn's sharp sense of humor also helped ease the tension in these long and acrimonious negotiations with the other body. Jenn played an essential role in the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill we celebrate as being a once-in-a-generation accomplishment, and she did that while going through treatment for her cancer. That is just remarkable. Staff on the Democratic side count Jenn as more than just a colleague. She is their friend, and they are praying for her and pulling for her at this moment. I believe that their friendship speaks further to the special person that she is. Jenn is the best of what our Nation should expect from people dedicating their careers to the work of this institution. I am honored to lend my voice to the celebration of her career today and to be the voice of the Democratic staff who love her so much and who are praying for her recovery. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas for allowing me to participate.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LUCAS: I thank the ranking member for her very thoughtful and extremely accurate comments. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), who is another Member who has worked extensively with our dear friend.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. POSEY: I thank the gentleman very much for his leadership. Today, we recognize a key congressional staffer who has served us on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Jenn Wickre. She has faithfully served both a Member of Congress and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for more than 16 years. Often in Washington, people hear the phrases: No, we can't do that. That is too hard. No, that can't be done. No, we just can't do that. But that has never been an experience anyone I know has had working with Jenn. She has always been such an amazing help to our staff and to our efforts to properly serve the American people. If our staff or I have ever brought tough issues before the committee, we never heard her sigh, roll her eyes, or do any of the things that somebody might do with some of my crazy ideas. She just jumped right in and figured out a way to get us to where we needed to go. You have got to love it, Mr. Speaker. I have had amendments that have made it into bills strictly because of Jenn's leadership and her hard work; otherwise, they would have just gone nowhere. It is just the special touch that she had. She always found a way to help members on the committee so they could best serve their districts and their constituents, and often it was in a bipartisan manner, which is not easy to come by around this place. Congressional staff are truly the unsung heroes and heroines of this institution. Without them the legislative wheels would grind to a halt, and that is a fact. Jenn Wickre is one of those heroines. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers go out to this wonderful lady and her family. God bless Jenn, and God bless America.  {time}  1815
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LUCAS: my colleague is exactly right. Sometimes even in the institution and amongst the family, we forget how important the critical role that the staff plays is, their understanding of the issues, their vast experience and ability to focus. Jenn is one of those individuals, one of the catalysts, I will say, of the legislative process. Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) to discuss a fellow Oregonian.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LUCAS: I thank the gentlewoman from Oregon for her comments. Many people may notice that several of us are wearing an Oregon Ducks pin that has ``CANCER'' on it. It shows the Oregon Duck's foot smashing it. That is a symbol to us of Jenn's enthusiasm for Ducks football, but it also shows our common spirit about smashing cancer and how appropriate that the Science Committee worked so diligently in those areas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), another senior member of the Science Committee with a long working relationship with Jenn.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. BABIN: it is with a very heavy heart that I offer my prayers and sincerest gratitude to Ms. Jenn Wickre, a longtime staffer on House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I had the honor of working with her under former Chairman Lamar Smith and now under Chairman Frank Lucas and their leadership. Jenn has been an integral part of the committee, and her departure will leave a void that will be absolutely impossible to fill. Over the years, my staff and I have grown very close to Jenn, often relying on her expertise and strong work ethic. We have traveled together on several very meaningful and informative codels, very interesting ones, and I have always appreciated Jenn's input to and her service on these wonderful trips that we have taken. She is reliable. She acts with thoughtfulness and has always been able to provide an insightful perspective in approaching policy. Throughout her time on the committee, Jenn has shown an unshakeable passion for serving our Nation and advocating for the goals of our Science, Space, and Technology Committee.  Her professionalism and one-of-a-kind personality have left an enduring mark, and she will be greatly missed in the Halls of Congress. I am sure that I speak for many in expressing my very deepest appreciation for Jenn and her years of service and lasting contributions. She is a shining example, without question, of public service. Whether she knows it or not, she has made a significant difference in the lives of many Americans. We wish her and her family the very best during this time, and she is in our deepest prayers. I thank Jenn. We are praying for her, and may God bless her always.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1879-H1881] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. LUCAS: I thank the gentleman from Texas for his thoughts and observations. We arrive at a moment in this Special Order when we begin to focus on a conclusion. You have heard this evening from Democrats and Republicans alike. You have heard from the most senior Members about the wonderful nature of our friend Jennifer Wickre. You can tell from those of us who have worked with her day to day, in many instances for years, some for decades, what a wonderful, productive, bright, articulate, and focused young woman she is. She has made the committee more productive. She has made the lives of her many friends richer. I simply suggest this in my closing: We may not get to work together with Jenn again in the near future on the Science Committee, but I have confidence in her and her faith. I am confident that, somewhere down the road, we will work together with Jenn again in a wonderful place. Mr. Speaker, God bless the congressional family, and in particular, God bless Jennifer Wickre, one of our very own. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1876-H1879] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. TLAIB: I rise today and applaud the President. The President's recent announcement of a plan that would allow more than 800,000 Dreamers across our county to have access to healthcare is to be applauded. I also thank Congresswoman Ramirez for her dedication and leadership and for hosting this important Special Order on this critical issue. I stand here before you as a child of immigrants but also the daughter of southwest Detroit, where I lived with 20 different ethnicities and backgrounds. Yes, many of my friends, many of my classmates, were Dreamers. We know that many of the issues we work on in this Chamber are connected. Immigration is connected to healthcare. Right now, in our country, we have a great need for comprehensive immigration reform and to ensure that every person has access to adequate healthcare in terms of coverage and care delivery. As somebody who worked on immigration issues and immigration justice, I know that our system is broken. Too many of our families are living in fear. Too many Dreamers, our neighbors who only know the United States as their home, continue to live a life where their rights could be stripped at any moment. I know how important it is to fix our broken immigration system instead of tearing families apart. Dreamers right here in our country deserve permanent protections and a dignified pathway for citizenship. No human being, Mr. Speaker, is illegal. We must protect our neighbors. We must protect those who are here simply because they want to have a better quality of life. We have immigrant communities, again, across our country who simply want a pathway to citizenship, a pathway that many of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors were afforded, a pathway that we enjoy and are proud of.  {time}  1745  Why do many of my colleagues want to block this pathway in the land of opportunity? I am not sure. However, I know I applaud the administration's action to ensure that many Dreamers have access to healthcare. I implore President Biden and many of my colleagues in this Chamber and in the Senate to reject divisive and xenophobic immigration policies that, again, do not move our country forward in a way that we can be proud of. We cannot and should not embrace rhetoric and policies that only seek to pit communities against each other, tear families apart, and put immigrants in harm's way here in the United States and in their country of origin. We must choose to be a welcoming country. We must work to create a robust pathway to citizenship. We must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must ensure that every person in our country has comprehensive adequate healthcare. We must also pass Medicare for All. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to get to work, and I cannot thank my amazing Progressive Caucus members enough, especially Congresswoman Ramirez, for this important Special Order.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1876-H1879] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I thank Congresswoman Ramirez for her incredible leadership and energy to provide a needed voice on an issue that is so critically important. Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud President Biden and the Biden/Harris administration for the incredible steps thatthey have taken. Thank you for believing and demonstrating action and not just words. I firmly believe in delivering permanent protections for Dreamers because immigrant rights are, in fact, human rights. President Biden's announcement to expand healthcare coverage for DACA recipients will protect some of our most vulnerable neighbors, family, and friends. Dreamers strengthen our economy and enrich our workplaces, our schools, and our communities. Over the last decade, DACA has brought stability, possibility, and progress to more than 800,000 people--these are our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Even though this is their home, they are being denied the basic rights of healthcare, something that everyone, regardless of their station, should enjoy. Secretary Becerra's new proposed rule will allow DACA recipients to purchase qualified health insurance coverage. This is a step toward justice for folks who have been forced to pay sky-high, out-of-pocket costs for healthcare, or worse still, to go without lifesaving treatments because they are just too expensive. Fixing our broken immigration system will save lives and we must keep fighting to give Dreamers a permanent pathway to citizenship. A permanent pathway to citizenship. These actions from the Biden/Harris administration are vitally important for so many Louisianians in my home State and people across the United States who need these vital protections. Any policy is penny-wise and pound-foolish if we don't take into consideration all people. When people can't get affordable health insurance, they don't get it. It is that simple. When they can't afford it, they don't get it. It puts the burden on our emergency rooms. It ends up costing more money on the back end. Emergency room visits are far more expensive, and it is much more difficult to provide the needed care that individuals should have. Preventative care is a heck of a lot cheaper than after the fact. Providing resources is a heck of a lot cheaper on the front side than after the fact. Having a process that is clear for people who are here to abide by is a heck of a lot cheaper than after the fact. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to this proposed rule being finalized, and I stand firmly with my friends in the Progressive Caucus. I stand firmly with the White House in providing resources that will deliver permanent protection for Dreamers because, again, immigration rights are, in fact, human rights. They are rights that we all should stand firm for, that we all should stand together on, that we all should recognize as a human issue and an American issue.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1875-H1876] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. KHANNA: tomorrow the Republicans are bringing a bill to the floor that seeks to ban trans women and girls from participating in women's sports. This bill is morally wrong, it is cruel, and it is discriminatory. President Biden has already promised to veto it, but when the United States House of Representatives passes a bill, it sends a message. If you are a trans kid right now, the message coming from our government is that you don't belong. This leads to bullying, isolation, depression, and even suicide. I want to speak to the trans kids in America today. I want to say you belong in the American family. We are proud of you. Democrats must not be quiet. We must speak clearly to uplift and protect trans kids. We must recognize that a harm to trans kids threatens a harm to everyone, and we must embrace our diversity as a unique American strength that has the ability to unite us. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this cruel discriminatory bill tomorrow.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Page H1875] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Ms. KAPTUR: I rise today to introduce the Return to Prudent Banking Act to restore prudent banking and confidence to our Nation's banking system. This bill would reinstate essential provisions of legislation born from the ashes of the Great Depression: The Glass-Steagall Act, also known as the Banking Act of 1933. Carelessly, in 1999, Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, and you can see the growing concentration of banks just in this country. Three banks control a third of the money in this country. What has really been happening is, the repeal of that act opened the floodgates for speculation, for speculators on Wall Street and other places to empty out the worth of Americans' life savings. By 2008, investment firms had gambled it all away in their version of the Wall Street casino. Their greed cost hardworking Americans their homes, their savings, their jobs. Speculation plunged our Nation into a deep recession. Now, here we go again watching bank runs--SVB over in California, Signature over on the East Coast in New York--bank runs, failures, massive buyouts, cryptocurrency schemes, and rampant speculation and high-risk Chinese tech companies. Wake up, America. Let's restore prudent banking. Let's pass the Glass-Steagall Act. Mr. Speaker, we need to corral the raging bulls who cloak their unbridled speculation under the cover of prudent banking.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Page H1875] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. FROST: I rise today because the American people know that their right to abortion care is under attack. As I speak right now, across the street, the Supreme Court of the United States is getting ready to rule on whether or not to keep a ban on restrictions on an abortion pill that has been around for decades and has safely helped millions when they needed it the most. In my home State of Florida, our wanna-be-President of a Governor signed a 6-week abortion ban into law that effectively means that people who have been raped, who are the victims of incest, and who are experiencing life-threatening pregnancies are going to be denied the care that they need and will be forced to give birth. It is barbaric and disgusting. That isn't liberty. That isn't freedom. Being able to make a decision about your future and your body, that is freedom. Having control over your own reproductive care, that is freedom. Having a choice, that is freedom. That is what we need to fight for: freedom and liberty for all of our people, not ripping away one of their most sacred human rights.
[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [House] [Page H1875] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. CARTER : I rise today in full support of the bipartisan and bicameral H.R. 655, known as the Disaster Reforestation Act. Specifically, this bill would eliminate the ``basis limitation rule'' allowing landowners who farm trees with the intent of sale to deduct the value of their timber loss from a natural disaster, providing forest landowners financial recovery after a catastrophic event. There is currently no Federal program that allows timber farmers to recoup the loss of their timber, leaving them with no way to economically recover after a natural disaster. Private forests in the U.S. are vital to rural economies, strong domestic wood supply, and as a natural climate solution. Our Nation's private forests act as our largest carbon sinks and are essential to providing clean air and water. Fixing this casualty loss issue would provide an immediate and permanent solution for forest landowners to keep their forests working, a vital part of rural economies. Again, this is a bipartisan and bicameral bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 655, the Disaster Reforestation Act.