mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING JEREMY JONES
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2023-6-6

today I would like to honor the life and service of a distinguished Montanan and U.S. Army Special Forces veteran: the late Jeremy Jones. prgtoken A native son of Montana, Jeremy was born and raised in Whitefish, MT. He was an American hero who spent the majority of his adult life risking his life to serve this country. As a troop sergeant major with 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, Jeremy served in more than a dozen combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of an almost 30-year career in the Army and Joint Special Operations Command. He received numerous combat medals and citations for his extraordinary service and sacrifice in that time, including three Bronze Stars. prgtoken After retiring honorably from the Army, Jeremy transitioned to civilian life in North Carolina where he gave back to his community, had good friends, and was an avid fisherman and golfer. He was a critical member of the Knowmadics team, where he worked on programs to protect warfighters and train the next generation of cyber professionals. Most importantly, he was a loving father to his children Bobby and Jess. prgtoken On May 14, 2023, Jeremy passed away at the age of 44. Today, it is my honor to commemorate his service and legacy. We owe Jeremy a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. Raising the flag over the U.S. Capitol in his honor is just a small token of our deep appreciation for his service and valor. prgtoken On behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I commend Mr. Jeremy Jones and extend our deepest appreciation to him and his family. His legacy will continue to be felt by warfighters for years to come, and he will be sorely missed.
RECOGNIZING SALLY CHEN FOR OVER TWO YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION
Suzan K. DelBene (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-6-6

I rise today to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Sally Chen, a remarkable staffer and integral part of the New Coalition. prgtoken Sally is transitioning from Capitol Hill this month to the White House, concluding over two years of exemplary service to our Coalition. Serving during my tenure as New Dem Chair and that of current Chair Annie Kuster, Sally leaves behind a legacy that will undoubtedly make our Coalition stronger for years to come. prgtoken Sally's dedication to the New Dems was not merely a professional commitment, but a personal mission to drive meaningful change and progress for our nation. Sally was instrumental in our Coalition's efforts--from strengthening our economy and supporting working families to protecting our fundamental freedoms and defending our democracy. Without the dedication of committed public servants like Sally, we could not have accomplished nearly as much as we did and have. prgtoken More important than her daily work, Sally has been a kind colleague to all who had the pleasure of working with her during her time on the Hill. Her presence at the New Coalition will be sorely missed as she moves into her new role. While I'm sad to see Sally go, I wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavors.
HONORING INAUGURAL CLASS OF DHS ICDF PROGRAM
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2023-6-6

I rise to honor the inaugural class of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship (ICDF) Program. The ICDF program, authorized in the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, is targeted at helping DHS cultivate diverse talent to join the ranks of its intelligence and cybersecurity offices and components, including the Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. prgtoken The spring class of 2023 includes 15 fellows who represent over 10 States and territories, and universities small and large, including a minority-serving institution. I am proud to recognize these talented, future public servants and am confident that the country will become a better and safer nation because of their contributions. prgtoken Congratulations: Christine Atkins, Miriam Canales, Alexander Clark, Reyben Cortes, MacKenzie Finck, Chanel Hinton, Ethan Hwang, Nathan Kuruvilla, Veronika Kyles, Christian Lopez, Mya Miller, Denzel Montes- Melendez, Erin Sullivan, Baine Tanner, and Regina Thomas.
INTRODUCTION OF THE MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP IMPROVEMENT ACT
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-6-6

today I introduce the ``Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act'' with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-Wl-02), co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus. prgtoken Our new bill would guarantee representation for labor unions, including those skilled trades with federally registered apprenticeship programs, on the National Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public- private partnership has centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to support small and medium-sized manufacturers grow their businesses and train, hire, and retain a skilled workforce. Skilled union workers across the country are ready for these manufacturing jobs. prgtoken Under current law, the National Advisory Board's ten members must include one community college representative, five small business manufacturers, and two staff from the 51 Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers nationwide. Our bill would reserve one of the two currently open seats for an industrial union representative on the National Advisory Board. prgtoken Our bill would also improve coordination between the national network of federally funded Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers with the local offices of the Small Business Administration to help small manufacturers obtain federal financing and the International Trade Administration's U.S. Export Assistance Centers to better support small and medium-sized American manufacturers looking to export. Lastly, our bill supports the ongoing work of the - Administration's White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which recommended in February 2022 that unions be represented on all federal advisory committees like the Advisory Board for the Commerce Department's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. prgtoken , Congress must bring good-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs back to the United States and rebuild the middle class by training the next generation of skilled American workers to compete in the 21st century. I urge all members of the House to join us in cosponsoring the ``Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act.''
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-6-7

the White House and the Department of Homeland Security released a press release yesterday to talk about what is happening on the border currently, especially on our southwest land border. I wanted to read just one line from the press release that was put out by Homeland Security yesterday, where they state in their press release: The administration's plan is working as intended. [The administration's plan is working as intended.] prgtoken Now, what they were referencing was what is happening on the southwest border and the number of people who are crossing our border that are being ``encountered'' at the border. That is the new term from Homeland Security for the number of people who cross our border illegally. They are ``encountered.'' prgtoken In the past, those individuals--and what I mean ``in the past,'' I mean the past 2 years. Those individuals crossed our southern border and asked for asylum because they were told by the cartels what to say. The cartels would say to each individual as they crossed and paid the fee to the cartel: Tell them you are afraid in your country. prgtoken They would cross the border. They would say the words, ``I am afraid in my country.'' They would be given an asylum hearing date in the future. That date is anywhere--depending on where they go in the country--between 3 years and 7 years in the future. And they are told they can go anywhere in the United States they want to travel during that time period. prgtoken Now, that is what it used to be. The administration came forward and said: We have a whole new plan. Our new plan post-title 42--that is the end of the pandemic restrictions--our new plan is that we are going to tell people there is a rebuttable presumption that you don't qualify, so don't come. prgtoken So here is what has happened. Now you cross the border--and there are two ways you can cross the border. Now, this is the new plan: You can either fill out the paperwork before you come or, when you cross, we will fill out the paperwork for you. prgtoken If we fill out the paperwork for you, it will take longer for you to come into the country and cross the border or you can fill out the paperwork before. What is that called? It is called CBP One. It is an app that now you can download from anywhere in the world, fill out your paperwork ahead of time, and when you cross, they will quickly expedite you into the country for your asylum hearing anywhere between 3 and 7 years in the future or, if you cross between ports of entry, then it is going to take you probably another 8 hours or so for them to get all the paperwork filled out for you, and then you will still be released into the country and have a hearing 3 to 7 years in the future. prgtoken What does the administration mean when they said the administration's plan is working as intended? They have now split up the numbers, and they have announced: Look, our numbers are less than 4,000
GAO OPINION LETTER
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-6-7

I ask unanimous consent that the following GAO opinion letter be printed in the Congressional Record: Matter of: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service--Applicability of the Congressional Review Act to Food and Nutrition Service Policy Memorandum CRD 01- 2022, Application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Program Discrimination Complaint Processing--Policy Update File: B-334411 Date: June 5, 2023.
Biden Administration (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-6-7

last week, Congress successfully passed legislation, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, to raise the debt ceiling and avert a default. I am pleased that the final legislation paired an increase in the debt ceiling with real spending reforms, but I don't need to tell anyone that things came down to the wire. prgtoken President wasted months refusing to negotiate on a debt ceiling deal before finally yielding to the political realities of divided government and coming to the negotiating table. And while we got about as good of an agreement as we could have hoped for in this situation-- again, including meaningful spending reforms the initially rejected--things didn't need to come to this crisis point. Had President come to the negotiating table sooner, we might not have been passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act just days before our Nation would have defaulted. prgtoken This isn't the first crisis of inaction in this Presidency. President has made a habit of ignoring or failing to meet crisis situations, with predictably problematic results. The border crisis is one notable example. It took 2 years of recordbreaking numbers of illegal crossings at our southern border before the President made any real move to even begin to address the crisis--2 years--2 years in which he mostly pretended the border crisis didn't even exist. prgtoken The President didn't want there to be a border crisis, presumably because he knew it would serve as an indictment of his open border policies. So he simply ignored the reality. prgtoken Unfortunately, Border Patrol agents and our Nation's overwhelmed border communities didn't have that option. They had to spend 2-plus years now dealing with all the ramifications of unchecked illegal immigration at our southern border. prgtoken While it is a good thing that the President has finally made some moves to address the crisis, his inaction has taken a terrible toll on Border Patrol agents and our border communities and on migrants themselves. prgtoken We have seen a similar situation with inflation. Even as it became clear the ' so-called American Rescue Plan had helped set off a serious inflation crisis, the President and his administration dismissed the problem. And they didn't just dismiss the problem; they doubled down on the strategy that got our country into this mess in the first place. prgtoken While the President was eventually forced to, at least halfheartedly, acknowledge our inflation crisis, he still can't bring himself to acknowledge what caused it, and that is the ' big spending priorities. And he has continued to pursue new government spending, from his nearly trillion-dollar student loan giveaway to a budget that, in a few short years, would have us spending $10 trillion annually. prgtoken Perhaps the most devastating example of the President's failure to recognize and act on the realities of the situation came with his
HONORING THE LIFE OF DWIGHT KESSEL
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-6-7

I rise to honor the life of former Knox County Executive Dwight Kessel, who passed away on June 3 at the age of 96. prgtoken Dwight was born to Wayne and Edith Kessel and grew up in Beckley, West Virginia. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he came back to Knoxville and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in industrial engineering. prgtoken Dwight started his political career in 1963 by serving on the Knoxville City Council, then as Knox County clerk, and eventually became the Knox County executive in 1980, which is the position we now call the Knox County mayor. prgtoken He also worked with a whole lot of charity organizations, including the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, Boy Scouts of America, and National Conference of Christians and Jews. prgtoken He was a family man who loved the Lord and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Knoxville, where he was a trustee for 15 years, served as a deacon, and faithfully taught Sunday school. prgtoken Behind me right here is a picture of all the Knox County mayors who went to last year's Knox County budget address--myself, Mayor Schumpert, Mayor Jacobs, and Mayor Ragsdale, and Mayor Kessel is down on the bottom. prgtoken I know we are all thankful for Dwight's work that paved the way for Knox County mayors who followed him, including myself. prgtoken My wife and I are praying for Dwight's family. He will be greatly missed by our community in Knox County.
PROCLAMATION TO HONOR BRUCE SPITZENGEL AND GRANTWORKS
Randy K. Weber, Sr. (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-6-7

today I rise to honor Mr. Bruce Spitzengel and GrantWorks: prgtoken Whereas, 48 years ago, Mr. Bruce Spitzengel started working as a city planner for Texas City and a year later became the assistant planning director for Pasadena, Texas; these positions led to the founding of a company in 1979 that would eventually become GrantWorks, benefiting State, county, and city governments with services to facilitate resilient infrastructure facilities, economic development, and single- family and multifamily affordable housing; and prgtoken Whereas, GrantWorks provides the knowledge of both State and Federal programs to address the primary needs of local governmental localities to serve their constituents with facilities and housing components to create a more resilient future for their communities; and prgtoken Whereas, Mr. Spitzengel and his lovely bride, Jody, utilized the principles learned through years of experience to expand vital services not offered by other companies assisting more than 450 cities and counties across the State and recognizing the need to expand services to address disaster recovery assistance beginning with Hurricane Rita and continuing with Hurricanes Dolly, Ike, and Harvey, as well as other Federally declared disasters to this day; and prgtoken Whereas, GrantWorks' record of service continues by assisting with the acquisition and management of financial awards for resilient infrastructure, having managed over $8 billion of assistance for local government and provided administration services for over 5,000 single- family units for low- and moderate-income houses; and prgtoken Whereas, recognizing the needs of others, Bruce and the GrantWorks' culture of service to those they serve, the company matched 100 percent employee contribution for many years supporting food pantries, and has assisted thousands of households with relief for medical debt; and prgtoken Whereas, GrantWorks created an ongoing scholarship program in recognition of a valued employee in her name, Betty Collier, upon her passing, to the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, a professional organization dedicated to serving the demands of excellence in Texas' local government; and prgtoken Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on August 25 of 2017, GrantWorks contributed an executive staff member to assist the county for over 1 year with emergency management support at no cost; and prgtoken Whereas, GrantWorks to this day ranks number one in serving more Texas cities and counties with the widest range of program offerings than any other company in Texas. prgtoken Now, therefore, I, Randy Weber, Representative of Texas' 14th District, do hereby proclaim an official recognition of Bruce Spitzengel and GrantWorks, Incorporated, for tremendous work serving the needs of Texas families and local government. prgtoken Proclamation to Honor Steve Mataro, Servant Builders, and DSW Homes
TRIBUTE TO CARRIE WAHLQUIST
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-6-7

I recognize Carrie Wahlquist, the Jefferson County Teacher of the Year, from Jefferson County K-12 School in Monticello, FL. prgtoken Since she was a child, Carrie knew she wanted to work with children. While in high school, she volunteered at a preschool and knew she was destined to become a teacher. Her favorite part of teaching young students is being their first teacher and watching them grow. prgtoken Carrie hopes her students find a love of learning in her classroom, leading them to develop confidence in their abilities and skills as readers and writers. She knows it may be challenging for them, which requires much patience to help them succeed. prgtoken Carrie earned her associate in arts degree from Tallahassee Community College and her bachelor's in elementary education from Flagler College. She began her teaching career at Jefferson Elementary in 2012 for 2 years before moving away to Massachusetts. She and her husband returned to North Florida in the Summer of 2022, where she teaches kindergarten. prgtoken I offer my deepest gratitude and best wishes to Carrie for her commitment to her students. I look forward to hearing about her continued good work in the years to come.
HONORING THE LIFE OF ALBERT SHELANDER
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-6-7

I rise today to congratulate the Savannah Christian High School girls' golf team on their 2023 AAA State championship win. prgtoken As a team, the girls had a combined final score of 488, winning the tournament by a very impressive 52-stroke margin. Not only was this a very decisive victory, but it also marked their second State title in a row. prgtoken This impressive athletic achievement was a team effort led by golfers such as Mary Miller, who had a score of 64 in one round followed by a score of 73, and sophomore Ava Cottis, who scored an also impressive 81 and 74. prgtoken I also recognize Coach Annie Keller, who was recently named the Savannah Morning News Girls Golf Coach of the Year. I know her coaching was essential for this victory. prgtoken I am so proud of these young women, and I know they will continue to represent their school well on and off the golf course. Congratulating Terry Tolbert
Judicial Nominations (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-6-7

for someone who campaigned as a moderate and promised to unify our country, President has chosen to staff his administration with a roster--a roster--of alarmingly radical or unqualified personnel. prgtoken In recent weeks, the President's nominees who have made the biggest headlines have been the ones so far outside the mainstream that even a ic Senate majority would not confirm them, like the appeals court nominee who defended a school against a teenage victim of sexual assault or the traffic safety nominee whose real passion turned out to be extreme environmental regulations. This week, the Senate is considering yet another slate of radical nominations that are entirely unworthy of confirmation. prgtoken First, is the nomination of David Crane, a self-described ``climate activist.'' President would like him to serve as Undersecretary for Infrastructure at the Department of Energy. prgtoken Mr. Crane's nomination is bad news for Kentucky, for coal country, and for any American who enjoys making their own choices about which cars to drive, which products to consume, and how to earn a living. prgtoken This nominee has been outspoken about his so-called ``green dream'' to force a massive chunk of the world's economy to go carbon free in 8 years--8 years--and then use their influence to ``compel society'' to follow suit. prgtoken He even observed that ic Presidential nominees hadn't made extreme climate policy enough of a priority in their campaigns. In other words, Hillary Clinton, who once bragged that ``we're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business,'' was not radical enough--not radical enough--for David Crane. So we are talking about an unabashed, top-down social planner. As we have learned over the past 2 years, that is exactly what the administration ordered when it handed the keys to the American energy policy to the radical left. prgtoken Unfortunately, Mr. Crane is not the only nominee on this week's agenda with a reputation for wearing his radical liberal sympathies on his sleeve. The Senate will also vote on the nomination of David Ho to serve on the Federal bench in the Southern District of New York. prgtoken Mr. Ho has described himself--listen to this--as a ``wild-eyed leftist.'' Let me say that again. President would like a self- identified ``wild-eyed leftist'' to rule on cases in the largest Federal court in the country. prgtoken Mr. Ho's legal record indicates that this radical sympathy runs very deep. This is a nominee who has publicly lamented ``originalism is not a method of constitutional interpretation that can reliably lend itself to progressive outcomes.'' Imagine that. It turns out that actually following and applying our laws and our Constitution as they were written is not a one-way ticket to leftwing utopia. prgtoken And, by the way, that should be an argument for the radical left sidelining their bad idea
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF REVEREND WILLARD D. SMITH
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-6-7

I rise today to recognize the service of 99-year-old Reverend Willard Smith of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. prgtoken My office came to know Reverend Smith when he and his wife requested assistance with a Federal agency. We were more than happy to successfully resolve his case. prgtoken Mr. Smith was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 18 during World War II, where, as a member of the 553rd Quartermaster Service Battalion, he brought supplies to the front lines and prisoners back to camp. prgtoken During the war, Reverend Smith came to know the Lord and relied on his Christian faith and the truth of the Bible for his strength to persevere through such challenging times. prgtoken Upon returning home to Virginia after the war, Reverend Smith began serving the North New Hope Baptist Church congregation in Danville, Virginia, where he has faithfully pastored for over 60 years. Now that he is 99, Reverend Smith continues to serve his congregation and give back to the Danville and Southside communities. prgtoken I am honored to represent wonderful constituents of Virginia's Fifth District such as Reverend Smith, who is an example for all Americans to follow.