mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-11-17

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Rolf Monument Company of Newport, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken All across America's Main Streets, one will find small businesses that offer a product or service more valuable than that which is offered by their corporate competitors. Rolf Monument Company is one of those businesses. Established in 1895, Rolf Monument Co is the oldest business in Newport. The secret behind this main street mainstay is their respectful customer service and high-quality products, which are often sought by customers that are going through some of life's toughest moments. Rolf Monument Company is a premier craftsman of custom memorials, and the owner Tim Rolf takes great pride in providing his customers with products that showcase an unparalleled attention to detail and dignified artistry. prgtoken Being only the fourth person to run the business since its founding, owner Tim Rolf took the helm of Rolf Monument Company in 1984, and he takes special care in continuing to steward the family company into the modern age. Though his family may not be famous by their name, the work of Rolf Monument Co is well known throughout the tri-state area. Some of the company's most notable works around Newport include the 9/11 Memorial at the World Peace Bell, the Riverwalk plaques, the Northern Kentucky Firefighters Memorial, and the Beverly Hills Supper Club Memorial, which the company is currently designing and building. Perhaps the company's most famous work was a piece commissioned by a movie producer who was then in the production of ``Rain Man''. With the movie being filmed in northern Kentucky, the production crew largely depended on businesses in the northern part of the State to service whatever needs arose while filming. Therefore, Rolf Monument Co was tapped to design the headstones for the fictional parents of the characters played by Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. These movie-famous monuments are on display today at Rolf Monument Company, serving as a reminder of the company's work featured in the hit 1988 movie. prgtoken In addition to his reputation for providing top-quality products to all his customers, Tim Rolf has been recognized for his service outside of his leadership of Rolf Monument Company. This year, Mr. Rolf was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, a group that honors Kentucky military veterans and educates the community about their accomplishments. Mr. Rolf comes from a family that understands the importance of serving our country; he and his three brothers and one sister all having served in the U.S. military. However, the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame not only recognized Mr. Rolf for his contributions during his time in un
RECOGNIZING COLIN CARR
Barry Loudermilk (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today with mixed emotions as I recognize the incredible contributions made to my office, and this body, by a dedicated member of my staff. Mr. Colin Carr was one of the first to join my office in 2015 when I was a newly elected member of Congress. At that time, Colin came onboard as my first Legislative Correspondent, where he excelled. I quickly recognized not only his talents, critical thinking, and grasp of the issues, but also his keen interest and in-depth knowledge of legislative policy, especially in economics and the financial services realm. As a result, he was soon promoted to Legislative Assistant and then to Legislative Director. prgtoken Colin's deep interest in the financial services sector proved to be crucial in 2017 when I joined the House Financial Services Committee. As my legislative liaison on the Financial Services Committee, Colin not only helped me to navigate the complexity of issues, but he also inspired new legislative initiatives. Colin led the effort to pass several bills in the financial services sector, as well as those of specific importance to the people of Georgia's 11th Congressional District. Two of the bills Colin helped champion were eventually signed into law by the President, the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Boundary Act and the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams (BUILD) Act. Colin's natural aptitude and thorough understanding of the vital aspects of our financial systems are surpassed only by his vigilant commitment to his faith, his family, and our country. He is a wonderful role model for young Americans willing to work hard to be the best at what they do. prgtoken Colin is leaving the House of Representatives to take a job in the private sector. As Colin steps into the next part of his journey, he will be greatly missed as a leader on our team but will always remain a member of our office family. We will carry a sense of pride in knowing that he will undoubtedly build on the foundation established over his years of service in the House of Representatives. I am blessed to have had such a dedicated and motivated member of my team; and, while I am happy for the success that awaits him in the private sector, he will be greatly missed by me, my office, and many others in the House of Representatives. prgtoken I thank Colin for his service, and God speed.
HONORING DR. THOMAS ZACHARIA'S RETIREMENT
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise to honor Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thomas Zacharia, who announced his intent to retire after 35 years at our nation's largest science and energy laboratory. prgtoken Dr. Zacharia joined ORNL in 1987 as a postdoctoral researcher, then accepted a staff position a couple years later and quickly became a key player in spurring innovation in new and creative ways. To name just a few of his accomplishments, he established the Materials Modeling and Simulation Group, served as Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for High Performance Computing, and led the creation of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, which recently helped build the world's fastest supercomputer. His impressive career and leadership skills launched him to the top position as director of ORNL in 2017, where he has served faithfully ever since. prgtoken He has also played an instrumental role in expanding collaborative efforts between ORNL and the University of Tennessee. In 2007, he oversaw a new partnership between ORNL and the University of Tennessee to establish the National Institute for Computational Sciences, and in 2019 he helped establish the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute to help the great minds at these institutions work together on scientific research and innovation. prgtoken Throughout his career, Dr. Zacharia played a crucial role in advancing major scientific research and development. He's made East prgtoken Tennessee proud with all he's accomplished, and I wish him the best as he begins this next chapter in life.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-11-17

since the real President, President , was elected to office, the southern border--my State shares a 1,200- mile common border with Mexico--has been absolutely overwhelmed by the number of migrants entering the United States. prgtoken The United States is the most generous country in the world when it comes to legal immigration. We naturalize almost a million people a year, which is, I think, part of the secret to our economic success. We see the best and the brightest from all around the world who want to come to America, who want to enjoy the kind of prosperity that Americans enjoy and the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams. Legal immigration, I think, has been part of the secret sauce that has helped to make our country great, and we need to protect that. prgtoken Illegal immigration is a disaster. What is happening now on the border and what has happened in the last 2 years under the administration has been nothing short of a humanitarian and public safety crisis. prgtoken It is a little bit of a disappointment--it is more than a little bit of a disappointment--when President campaigned on the promise of policies that were sure to lead to this exact situation. On the one hand, he said: I want to be a uniter. I want to work together to solve our Nation's problems. prgtoken But then to see him completely abdicate the Federal Government's responsibility to control uncontrolled migration across the border is inexcusable. Once President took office, his administration continued to send a clear message to the cartels, to the human smugglers, and to the migrants that our border was open. Oh, and don't forget the drug cartels, who depend on an open border to sell their poison all across our country, taking the lives, last year, of 108,000 Americans alone. prgtoken Some people have said: Well, apparently, every State is now a border State. prgtoken I think that is true, particularly when you see the epidemic of fentanyl being so pervasive in all of our communities. We are losing students in our high schools on a regular basis who think they are taking something like, let's say, Xanax or Percocet or something else, but it is laced with fentanyl, and it kills them because only a very small piece of fentanyl can take your life. It is that powerful. prgtoken Unfortunately, the administration is now trying to play catchup to its failures and abdication to provide security across our southern border. In the last fiscal year, for the first time on record, annual border encounters reached nearly 2.4 million. When I say border encounters, that does not count the so-called getaways, which is what the Border Patrol calls them--the hundreds and thousands of people who don't turn themselves in and claim asylum. These are people who want to evade law enforcement. They are very likely involved in either criminal activity or have a criminal record themselves or, perhaps, they are jus
RECOGNIZING DR. KENNETH KATZMAN
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today to honor Dr. Kenneth Katzman and his more than twenty years of contribution to the Congressional Research Service and his work on behalf of the American people. Dr. Katzman's reputation as a foremost Middle East analyst is widely recognized, and this body has relied on his knowledge and expertise at pivotal points in recent history. Having served CRS since 1991, Dr. Katzman will retire on November 19, 2022. prgtoken Dr. Katzman is one of the most prolific authors and contributors for the Congressional Research Service, having written hundreds of memoranda, reports, and other products in the service of Congress and the advancement of the understanding of the Middle East for its members and staff. His work for Congress has covered such critical foreign policy issues as the wars in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq; U.S. sanctions policies; and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the ``Iran Deal''. His writings have been read tens of thousands of times by congressional clients and have served as foundational analysis for legislation, hearings, and oversight. prgtoken Over the course of his career, Dr. Katzman routinely testified before subcommittees and committees of Congress on issues facing Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. In 1996 and again in 2001, he was assigned to the staff of the then House International Relations Committee where his deep knowledge of Middle East issues proved instrumental. prgtoken Dr. Katzman personified the mission of the Congressional Research Service, helping members and staff to understand unfolding events, their historical context, and the potential implications of congressional decisions. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Kenneth Katzman for an exemplary career at the Congressional Research Service. I join with Dr. Katzman's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his tireless commitment to our community and to thank him for his role in keeping this body informed for over two decades. Though we will miss his insight and seeing Dr. Katzman's familiar face in the halls of Congress, we wish him the very best in retirement.
WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY 2022
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today to speak in honor of Women's Entrepreneurship Day, which is celebrated around the world each year on November 19th. prgtoken Women-owned U.S. firms make up nearly 20 percent of all firms that employ people and this number is growing. There are nearly 13 million women-owned firms in the U.S. alone and they employ close to 10 million people. As a testament to their success, women-owned firms reported revenues of nearly $1.8 trillion. This is truly astounding and shows you how vital women are to the economy. I applaud these women entrepreneurs and their economically vital businesses. prgtoken I also applaud the Women's Entrepreneurship Day movement, which is spearheaded by Wendy Diamond. Since it launched in 2013, the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization has annually funded one thousand impoverished women with microloans to start their entrepreneurial journey, hosted a nationwide entrepreneurship training program for 60,000 female college students and early-stage entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, supported Restart Academy, which provides educational services for 13-21-year-old students in transitional settings, provided financial literacy education to one thousand rural women in the Philippines, and partnered with a Uruguayan university to offer scholarships to young women. prgtoken Women's Entrepreneurship Day is now celebrated in 144 countries and 65 universities and colleges internationally, with numerous global ambassadors. The Women's Entrepreneurship Day mission is to empower the nearly four billion women worldwide to be catalysts prgtoken of change and uplift the over 388 million women and girls living in poverty around the world. prgtoken As in past years, the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards recognize and honor distinguished women who are leaders and innovators across multiple fields with inspiring accomplishments. This year's honorees include: prgtoken Janice Bryant Howroyd--Founder and CEO of The ActOne Group of Companies--Business Pioneer prgtoken Lele Pons--Celebrity Influencer, NFT and Crypto Enthusiast, 100 million Followers--Influencer Pioneer prgtoken Beverly Johnson--Iconic Supermodel--Model Pioneer prgtoken Wendy Fisher--Artist, President of the Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation--Art Pioneer prgtoken Neeti Mehta--Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Automation Anywhere--Technology Pioneer prgtoken Amanda Feilding--Countess of Wemyss and March, Founder of the Beckley Foundation, and Psychedelics Pioneer--Science Pioneer prgtoken Mitzi Perdue--Founder of CERES Farms, Philanthropist, and Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate--Philanthropy Pioneer prgtoken Coco Rocha--Founder of the Coco Rocha Model Camp and Supermodel-- Fashion Pioneer prgtoken Marta Belcher--Chair of the Filecoin Foundation and General Council and Head of Policy for Protocol Labs--Web3 Pioneer prgtoken Madam , I urge the entire House to recognize these role models, and to cel
SPEAKER PELOSI'S FUTURE PLANS
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , as we gather here, we stand on sacred ground, the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives, the heart of American democracy. prgtoken I will never forget the first time I saw the Capitol. It was on a cold January day, when I was 6 years old. My father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr was about to be sworn in for his fifth term in Congress representing our beloved hometown of Baltimore. prgtoken I was riding in the car with my brothers. They were thrilled and jumping up and down and saying to me: ``Nancy, look, there's the Capitol.'' And every time I would say: ``I don't see any capitals. Is it a capital A, a capital B, or a capital C?'' prgtoken Finally, I saw it, a stunning white building with a magnificent dome. I believed then, as I believe today, this is the most beautiful building in the world because of what it represents. The Capitol is a temple of our democracy, of our Constitution, of our highest ideals. prgtoken On that day, I stood with my father on this floor as he took the sacred oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. prgtoken All of us who have served in this House have taken the hallowed oath of office. It is the oath that stitches us together in a long and storied heritage. Colleagues who served before us are all our colleagues: colleagues like Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster, Shirley Chisholm, Patsy Mink, and our beloved John Lewis. prgtoken Personally, it binds me as a colleague to my father, a proud New Deal Congressman and one of the earliest Italian Americans to serve in Congress. prgtoken This is an oath we are duty-bound to keep, and it links us with the highest aspirations of the ages. prgtoken In this room, our colleagues across history have abolished slavery; granted women the right to vote; established Social Security and Medicare; offered a hand to the weak, care to the sick, education to the young, and hope to the many. prgtoken Indeed, it is here, under the gaze of our patriarch George Washington in the people's House that we have done the people's work. prgtoken My colleagues, I stand before you as of the House, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a devout Catholic, a proud , and a patriotic American, a citizen of the greatest republic in the history of the world, which President Lincoln called the last, best hope of Earth. prgtoken Indeed, in the words attributed to another of our colleagues, the legendary Daniel Webster: ``Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution of your country and the government established under it. . . . ``Miracles do not cluster. That which has happened but once in 6,000 years cannot be expected to happen often.'' prgtoken Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand; tragically, in this Chamber. So democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm. prgtoken Last week, the American people
EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Jake Auchincloss (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today to discuss the urgent need to tackle the affordable housing crisis. The cost of housing is the single biggest challenge facing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. prgtoken Last week, I hosted an affordable housing conference in Attleboro with my friend and colleague Juana Matias, the HUD regional administrator for New England. We spoke with housing officials and developers across the district about the programs and funding available for affordable housing development. I reiterated my commitment to policies from zoning reform to LIHTC expansion to increased production of affordable housing. prgtoken Expanding affordable housing is a multigovernment effort that needs support on the Federal, State, and local levels. As the next Congress approaches, we must recommit ourselves to making housing more affordable for working families.
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAUL LAMISON
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today in honor of the life and contributions of Paul Lamison, a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community, who passed away on August 4, 2022. Raised in Lakeland, Florida as one of seven siblings, Paul took great pride in his roots. Paul's dedication to journalism and sharing moments in history, big and small, that chronicled and defined our Tampa community is worthy of recognition. His devotion to family also is a great example of the quiet heroes in our lives everyday who deserve praise and honor. prgtoken As Chief Photojournalist for Tampa's WFLA News Channel 8, Paul was a familiar voice and face for viewers and News Channel 8 staff alike throughout the course of his nearly 30-year career. Working firmly behind the camera for much of his career, Paul went on to be known as the man with `the best seat in the house' when he transitioned to his integral role on the morning team and as News Channel 8's `eye in the sky' in the Eagle 8 news helicopter. Reporting on events from the daily morning commute to celebrations of sports championships to the Gasparilla parade and special episodes in the lives of Tampa Bay area residents, Paul connected the community with professionalism and good cheer. Those who knew Paul loved him, describing him as a passionate, fun-loving person and a light that lifted up everyone around him. Paul's energy and joy was a constant, experienced both on and off screen. His authenticity and commitment have left an immensely positive impact on a generation of journalists, as well as his family and friends. Paul's legacy will continue to live through his siblings along with his wife, Nerissa, and their daughters Emily, Kate, Ava, and Emma. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the citizens of Florida, I am proud to honor Paul Lamison for his lifelong dedication to journalism and to sharing stories of all the great people and places that make up our community. We are all eternally grateful for his immense contributions. His legacy will live on and inspire many others in the Tampa Bay community and beyond for years to come.