mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO REAR ADMIRAL LEONARD "BUTCH" DOLLAGA
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-7-9

I rise today to honor the service and achievements of an esteemed and valued member of our Armed Forces, Rear Admiral Leonard ``Butch'' Dollaga, who will retire from the U.S. Navy on October 1, 2024, after 34 years in uniform. His long and distinguished service to our Nation reflects an unwavering devotion to duty and a great love of our country. prgtoken Rear Admiral Dollaga grew up next to the shipyards in Honolulu, HI, and his hometown of Vallejo, CA. He earned his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990 and upon graduation entered the fleet as a submarine officer. After serving as a division officer aboard USS Los Angeles (SSN 688), an engineer officer aboard USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740), and executive officer aboard USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), Rear Admiral Dollaga commanded USS Charlotte (SSN 766) in Pearl Harbor, HI. He also served as commodore of Submarine Development Squadron 12 in Groton, CT. prgtoken Ashore, Rear Admiral Dollaga's service reflected the same rigors he faced at sea. He served in a number of important roles, including admissions officer at the U.S. Naval Academy, technical assistant to the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, nuclear officer program manager and submarine officer community manager on the staff of the Chief of Naval Personnel, instructor for the Submarine Command Course, Chief of the Joint Staff's Program and Budget Analysis Division, and Director of the Navy Appropriations Matters Congressional Liaison Office. prgtoken His flag assignments included serving as commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center in Groton, CT, and most recently as commander of Submarine Group SEVEN/Task Force 54/Task Force 74, where he led undersea operations in both the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility. prgtoken Over the past 2 years, Admiral Dollaga has served as the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs. As the principal representative of the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations to the Senate and House of Representatives, he has provided invaluable support to Members and congressional staff. Rear Admiral Dollaga understands the importance of maintaining a strong partnership between senior Navy leadership and the Hill. He ensured, to the best of his abilities, that prgtoken there were no surprises, and he never shied away from tough conversations. prgtoken Rear Admiral Dollaga provided exemplary vision, strategy, and direction in executing numerous hearings, briefings, and engagements with Congress on the strategic direction and challenging issues facing the Department of the Navy. As he brings this chapter of his life to a close, I want to personally thank him and ask that we honor him today for his more than three decades of leadership and service. prgtoken Submariners endure deployments that take them away from their family and the luxury of frequent communication with their loved ones. For this reason, I
Biden Administration (Executive Calendar)
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2024-7-10

today, I join my colleagues in outlining more than 3\1/2\ years of policy failures under President , which are impacting families and businesses across the country every single day. From our economy to our Nation's security, Americans can feel the weight of this administration's decisions, leading to a higher cost of living and less safe communities--things that impact people every single day. prgtoken I will begin where individuals most frequently feel those impacts: their pocketbook. 's inflation is hurting every American, particularly low-income Americans. For example, Americans are paying more for energy because President has sought to block or restrict access to our Nation's vast energy reserves. prgtoken On day one of his administration, President blocked the Keystone XL Pipeline and placed a moratorium on new oil and gas leases shortly thereafter. prgtoken Then, President and congressional doubled down, passing a partisan tax-and-spend bill that included a new natural gas tax and higher fees and royalty rates on Federal energy production. prgtoken Just recently, the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management finalized a new public lands rule, enabling radical environmental groups to lock away more of our energy reserves under a so-called conservation leasing plan. The BLM also finalized a new onshore oil and gas rule and a new venting and flaring rule. prgtoken In my State of North Dakota, BLM is proposing to close off leasing on 45 percent of Federal oil and gas acreage and 95 percent of Federal coal acreage. BLM's failed stewardship of our energy resources extends to other States as well, including the blocking of new oil and gas production in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. prgtoken Each of these actions are specifically designed to drive up the cost of energy production on Federal lands, and these costs are ultimately passed along to consumers. Today, Americans are paying 46 percent more for gasoline at the pump. And, at the same time, utility bills are also rising and outpacing inflation. prgtoken The Environmental Protection Agency's latest onslaught of new power sector regulations will require utilities to spend billions of dollars to comply with burdensome regulations or, worse, force the premature retirement of reliable, coal-fired baseload powerplants that our Nation needs. prgtoken Independent grid operators from across the country are warning that EPA's regulations will threaten reliability and increase the risk of blackouts and brownouts. prgtoken Americans can no longer afford to pay more for less reliable energy following 3\1/2\ years of President 's failed Green New Deal. prgtoken That is why we need to take the handcuffs off our energy producers and empower them to increase supply and bring down prices for hard- working American families. prgtoken Now, in addition to discussing President 's failures on inflation, th
TRIBUTE TO SHERIFF ALAN C. JONES
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-7-10

today I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Sheriff Alan C. Jones, a law enforcement officer who has dedicated over 35 years of his life to protecting and serving the citizens of Caldwell County. prgtoken His journey in law enforcement began in 1988, following his graduation from West Caldwell High School. Since 2007, he has been the sheriff of Caldwell County, leading a team of 120 employees who share his unwavering commitment to the safety and security of the county's residents. prgtoken Throughout his distinguished tenure in law enforcement, Sheriff Jones has pioneered community-based policing initiatives and served on several law enforcement-related commissions and committees, including the North Carolina Sheriffs' Training and Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Traumatic Incident Response Team. His exceptional service was recognized in 1994 when he was awarded Officer of the Year while serving as a police officer for the city of Lenoir. During his tenure at the Lenoir Police Department, he became one of the youngest officers in North Carolina history to attain the rank of lieutenant. prgtoken Since 2019, he has served as secretary of the North Carolina Sheriff's Association, where he has generously shared his wealth of experience to mentor newly elected sheriffs on how to better serve their communities. prgtoken Sheriff Jones' career has been marked by a deep love for public service and his community. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sheriff Jones for his lifelong dedication to law enforcement and wish him and his family the very best as he retires and begins this new chapter of his life. Sheriff Jones represents the very best of law enforcement. North Carolina is proud of him and forever grateful for his service.
BORDER SOLUTIONS
Tracey Mann (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-7-10

I rise today to discuss President 's open border. prgtoken Since President was sworn in, his open-border policies have created a national security and humanitarian crisis. House s continue to urge the White House and our colleagues in Congress to work with us to identify solutions. Again and again, we are met with silence. prgtoken I understand border security may not be politically convenient for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but at some point, they must stop pretending that this crisis does not exist. prgtoken I found it telling that over the Fourth of July weekend, the White House touted that illegal crossings along the U.S. southern border decreased following President 's recent executive order. What they conveniently left out is that even with this executive order, May was still the 39th straight month where illegal immigrant encounters have been higher than even the highest month under President 's administration. prgtoken I understand that the White House is in desperate need of good press, but with all due respect, , the facts are the facts. Our borders are far from secure, and no feel-good story or graphic from the White House communications team is going to change that. prgtoken I spent last week with Kansans in 11 counties across the Big First District, and they were clear: Addressing the Nation's border crisis matters to them. prgtoken Under President 's policies, cartels have been winners, and innocent children and those who are trying to enter the country legally have been the losers. It doesn't have to be this way. Let's do something to fix this chaos. prgtoken First, we need to immediately finish the border wall. Time and time again, prgtoken Border Patrol agents have shared that a physical barrier along our Nation's borders, coupled with advanced technology, is extremely helpful in stopping the cartels. We also need to designate the Mexican cartels as exactly what they are, terrorists. These human smugglers get rich by putting lives at risk and pouring fentanyl into our country. It is unacceptable. prgtoken We need to implement policies that are actually effective. On his first day in office, President immediately began rolling back the administration's immigration policies for no other reason than they were associated with President 's name. President never asked if the policies were helping curb illegal immigration or slow illegal immigrants from entering the country or whether it was good for the United States of America. prgtoken It was simply: If President did it, then it is gone. That has backfired on President , and the polls show that. There is a reason President is more trusted on the border than President . We need to reinstate remain in Mexico and end President 's disastrous catch-and-release policy. prgtoken Finally, we must change our tone to send a clear message: Do not
RECOGNIZING CONGRESSIONAL PATRIOT AWARD RECIPIENT THOMAS DILLON
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-10

I rise today to recognize Mr. Thomas Dillon of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and present him with the Congressional Patriot Award. Thomas has dedicated himself to faithfully serving his community. prgtoken Thomas was born in Pittsfield and attended Pittsfield High School. He graduated from Boston College in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and received his master's degree in teaching from Cambridge College. After graduation, Thomas worked in the Philippines for three years as part of the Peace Corps, where he taught math and science. When he returned home, he began teaching mathematics at his alma mater, Pittsfield High School. Thomas also served as an advisor for several classes and the Student Council while also helping to organize the annual graduation ceremony. prgtoken After teaching for 34 years, Thomas retired and began working part- time as the work-based learning coordinator at Pittsfield High. He began working as a counselor and advocate for Project Reconnect to help disadvantaged youth access education, housing, and rehabilitation programs. Additionally, Thomas served as a director and chairperson for Credit Union of the Berkshires for many years. He is a devoted man of faith and attends St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield. In his free time, Thomas is passionate about traveling and has visited many countries around the world. I'm proud to call Thomas a good friend and mentor. He has made numerous positive impacts on our community, and I wish him the best for many years to come. prgtoken It is an honor to bestow Thomas with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to the people of Pittsfield.
Biden Administration (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-10

over the last 3\1/2\ years, President 's policies have unleashed a series of crises, one after another, and have thus made the lives of average Americans harder, not easier. prgtoken There is a security crisis at the border that my colleague from North Dakota talked about a moment ago--rising crime rates across our communities, some of which come from gang members who transit our southern border and then go on to commit crimes of violence against innocent Americans all across the country; the drugs that took the lives of 108,000 Americans last year alone; and then America's weakening role on the global stage. prgtoken I believe there is a reason why the threats that confront our country and world peace are at the greatest level they have been since World War II. It is because the tyrants, the autocrats, the dictators--the people like Vladimir Putin, President Xi in China, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, and the Supreme Leader in Iran--perceive weakness, and weakness for them is a provocation; it is an invitation for them to take action and threaten stability and peace. prgtoken President 's policies have made Americans' lives harder, not easier. Nowhere is that more evident than in the high prices that are clobbering family budgets. I know the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is doing just fine. He is not feeling the impact of higher prices at the gas pump, at the grocery store, in rent, and all across our economy. It doesn't affect him, and it doesn't affect many of us, but for people on a fixed income and people who are of lower income-- seniors, retired individuals--it is degrading and undermining their standard of living and their quality of life. prgtoken Since President took office 3\1/2\ years ago, consumer prices have risen on average 20 percent. That means a dollar that you spent on consumer products--whatever they may be--3\1/2\ years ago now only buys 80 cents' worth of value. That is a hard leap for many families to absorb, and for those living on fixed incomes or tight budgets, it is virtually impossible. Families are paying 21 percent more for groceries, 41 percent more for energy, and 54 percent more for gasoline. When you add in price hikes on clothing, car insurance, and even a visit to the dentist, you are looking at a mountain of expenses that cost more today than they did when President took office. prgtoken America has experienced a 40-year high in inflation as a result of the reckless spending policies of the administration's by throwing $2.7 trillion of reckless partisan spending on the fire of inflation, making it much, much, much worse. Of course, then the Federal Reserve has to try to raise interest rates, which they have done, in order to dampen that fire, in order to put out the fire. But that doesn't erase the fact that American consumers--our constituents-- have experienced a 20-percent increase in their cost of living across the boa
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Lauren Boebert (Republican, CO) \u2014 2024-7-10

enough is enough. 's Department of Justice has taken every step to insulate him from any consequences, whether it is hiding these audio recordings or attempting to give Hunter a sweetheart deal. This is absolutely unacceptable. prgtoken The House of Representatives cannot serve as a necessary check on the Presidency if the executive branch is free to ignore the House's subpoenas. It is clear the crime family believes they are above the law. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution and force 's crooked DOJ to hand over the tapes and hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2024-7-10

we are now well into the month of July and less than 3 months away from the current Farm Bill extension expiring. As such, I would like to bring renewed focus on the framework proposed by my colleague and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. I commend my friend Senator Boozman from Arkansas for presenting us with a framework that answers the call of farmers, ranchers, stakeholders, and taxpayers across the country. prgtoken For the greater part of 2 years, we have heard time and time again from those who elected us to be here: ``In the next Farm Bill, Congress must''--and these are some of the things they say we must do: Strengthen the farm safety net--ARC, PLC, disaster assistance, and crop insurance, among other important safety net mechanisms; enhance conservation programs, especially those designed for our working lands, such as the CSP and EQIP programs; provide greater opportunities for U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace; ensure that our domestic food assistance programs serve as a hand up and not a handout; offer better access to credit and financing, particularly for young and beginning farmers; dedicate adequate resources to our rural communities, which are built around agriculture; invest more in agricultural research, in which America is currently lagging behind our competitors and adversaries, despite having the brightest minds in the world and a storied history of innovation; modernize existing policies pertaining to forestry, energy, and horticulture among many others. In short, put more farm in the Farm Bill. prgtoken The farm bill framework released by our Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member would achieve all of these things and in a bipartisan, fiscally responsible manner. prgtoken It is our responsibility in Congress to listen to those who know best about what they need to make a living so they can continue to feed our Nation and the world. When the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade conducted a hearing last year on producer perspectives of the farm safety net, a producer described the current farm safety net as being ``two inches above the concrete.'' That is insufficient in today's farm economy, where producers face extraordinary volatility, historic inflation, record high input costs, catastrophic natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions that disrupt markets. prgtoken Times are changing. New challenges and threats to rural America emerge every day. This is why Congress revisits this important multiyear legislation: to keep what is working, fix what is not, and eliminate what is no longer necessary. prgtoken I commend the House Agriculture Committee for advancing a strong, commonsense farm bill proposal out of committee, and I commend our Senate Ag Committee chair for all of her efforts throughout this process. prgtoken But the bottom line is it takes time to move away from partisan disagreements. It is time to do th
Biden Administration (Executive Calendar)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-7-10

I rise today to speak about the need for strong American leadership. President 's weakness, seen on the world's stage, is dangerous. It is dangerous for our Nation, and it is dangerous for the world. It hurts our citizens, and it encourages aggression against our Nation and others. prgtoken Sadly, America doesn't have strong leadership right now from the President or the Vice President. is stumbling, bumbling, blundering into a disaster. It is not one night of forgetfulness on the debate stage; it is 3\1/2\ years of a pattern of failures. prgtoken We are living in the time of heartbreak at home and humiliation abroad. Look at the drugs, the death, the destruction coming from our southern border. prgtoken Under ic open border policies, there have been 10 million illegal immigrants who have invaded our Nation. Americans all across the country are in danger. ' open borders allowed Venezuelan criminals to go to Houston, TX, to sexually abuse and murder a 12-year- old girl. Illegal immigrants' crime has taken the lives of many Americans across the country. They make headlines every day. prgtoken The open border allows deadly fentanyl to flood our Nation and poison our communities in all of our States, and certainly Wyoming has been one of the victims of this poisoning. prgtoken More than 300 terror suspects have come into America. That is 300 percent higher than what we saw under the strong policies of President . And terrorists are roaming our Nation undetected. prgtoken Remember, border security isn't optional; it is an obligation, a commitment to the safety of our American people. It is a foundation of our safety. Without border security, there can be no national security. prgtoken Under , Americans are not safe at home, and, increasingly, the world is not safe either. President 's weakness has invited war; it has invited conflict; and it has invited chaos around the world. prgtoken He continues to appease Iran by letting Iran avoid sanctions. Iran is exporting almost 1.3 million barrels of oil to China each and every day. It uses the money from these oil sales to fund terrorism around the world. prgtoken President made the misguided assumption that concessions to Iran would stop conflict. Instead, 's appeasement makes Iran more aggressive. prgtoken Meanwhile, has proven to be a fair-weathered friend to our strong ally Israel. On American college campuses today, student protestors express hostility to the very existence of the Jewish State. in Washington have also grown more hostile to Israel. Senator Schumer stood on the floor--he demanded on this floor in March that Israel replace its Prime Minister. Senator Sanders called the very next month for America to stop sending aid to Israel. prgtoken The anti-Israel rift in the party is bad enough. What is more worrying is that President , the leader of the free world,
COMMEMORATING THE ISLAND PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Anthony D’Esposito (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-7-10

I rise to recognize NYPD Detective Paul DiGiacomo who just took his final walk from 26 Thomas Street in lower Manhattan as the president of the Detectives' Endowment Association. prgtoken Paul DiGiacomo started his career in the NYPD in 1983, serving over 40 years and earned his beloved gold shield in 1993. He was elected a delegate to the DEA in 1994. He has served as president of the DEA since 2020 and has been one of the leading voices in New York protecting law enforcement. He has stood with those who wear the uniform and has called out the disastrous effects of policies that have made our country and our city less safe and have put law enforcement in danger. prgtoken Paul DiGiacomo is not only a friend and not only a fellow detective, but he has been regarded as a cop's cop. As those of us who have worn the uniform know, there sometimes is no greater attribute than that reference, and that was Paul DiGiacomo. prgtoken His lasting impact on the DEA will be felt for generations of law enforcement professionals in New York City. prgtoken , I wish Paul DiGiacomo a healthy and safe retirement, and I thank him for his dedication to the New York City Police Department.