mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING NED REYNOLDS
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor the wonderful life of Ned Reynolds, a resident of Springfield, Missouri, legendary broadcaster and a great friend to many including myself. For each of the 22 years I conducted the Missouri State all Sports Auction Ned was one of my two set up men that would introduce each item being auctioned along with another area Sportscasting Legend Art Hains. prgtoken St. Louis loved Jack Buck. Kansas City embraced Len Dawson. Springfield and the Ozarks proudly claim Ned Reynolds. prgtoken People in the Ozarks have been watching and listening to Ned Reynolds on KY3 and on the radio for more than 50 years. They have heard the phrases ``get that off the screen'' when one of the local favorites lost a game and ``bon jour and good sports'' at the end of many newscasts. Anyone who has met Ned will say sports is in his blood. prgtoken While many people in the Ozarks consider Ned a Missouri native, he grew up in Haddonfield, N.J. Ned is the middle child of three boys. His older brother is a retired professor at Rutgers University and his younger brother is retired from the U.S. Steel Corporation and heads the fundraising efforts for Theo's Work, an orphanage for underprivileged children in Haiti. Ned has a daughter, Stephanie, who is married to Darrell Hasse. He also has two grandchildren and one great grandchild. prgtoken His father was a high school principal and provided educational direction. His mother, a concert pianist, developed his love of Classical music. After graduating from Haddonfield Memorial High School, Ned attended Temple University in Philadelphia. With the strong suggestion from his father, Ned studied English rather than journalism. His father felt that a basic overall education would be more beneficial to career enhancement than journalism. prgtoken Ned has been doing sports since he was a kid. He was an announcer for little league games, high school sports reporting for local newspapers and emceed many local sporting events. In high school, he worked part- time at WKDN in Camden, NJ. Ned made his first television appearance on NBC's Today show when he was only 15. He won a special guest appearance by sending a demo tape of his sports commentary of course, prgtoken After graduation from Temple University, Ned joined the Navy. He applied to get into the armed forces radio, but was placed into the medical corps as a land-based surgical technician. After 4 years serving our country, and with his father's blessing to go into broadcasting, Ned came to KY3 in 1967. He has said that he drove into the parking lot at KY3 and never left. With his very early start in radio during high school, college, and in the service, Ned assumed his broadcasting career would be in radio. However, as is the nature of the broadcasting profession, a change was on the horizon. Working at KY3 is the only TV job that Ned has ever had. When asked why he switched from radio to television, he said: ``KY3 had
HONORING THE SERVICE OF BRIAN O'HARA
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-12-15

I rise today to honor Brian O'Hara in appreciation for his outstanding public service to the people of Oklahoma's First Congressional District and wish him well as he enters retirement. prgtoken Brian has spent nearly 10 years serving constituents in our district office as a congressional staffer, first with my predecessor, Jim Bridenstine, and then in our office. He has a lifetime of knowledge and experience that our office will dearly miss as he leaves his post. prgtoken Prior to his congressional staff career, Brian served as a councilman for the city of Jenks. He had a robust business career, as well. prgtoken In his private life, Brian contributes much of his time, money, and efforts to benefit several good causes. However, no cause has meant more to Brian than fighting against cancer, and I don't know anyone who has been a better ambassador for this profound effort. prgtoken Brian, thank you for serving our constituents in the great State of Oklahoma like every day is Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and your wife, Karen, and happy retirement.
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXTENSIONS ACT, 2023
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2022-12-15

when it was reported a few years ago that Senator Pat Toomey had taken up beekeeping, he said this about the appeal of his new hobby: When you're in my line of work, you're often dealing with abstractions. It's fun to have something tangible, where you can see the results. prgtoken Well, my good friend from Pennsylvania has, of course, produced many tangible results during his 12 years in the Senate. As Senator Toomey's service here draws to a close, I rise today in tribute to an outstanding leader who has been as busy and beneficial as those hard- working bees he tends. prgtoken Pat came to the Senate in 2011 well prepared for this line of work by his three terms in the House. With his background in the financial services industry and as the owner and operator of a small family business with his brothers, he has been an effective voice for economic growth, regulatory reform, and fiscal responsibility. His respectful demeanor, his integrity, and his commitment to getting the facts have earned him the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. His persuasive and principled arguments often convince his opponents to become his allies. prgtoken I always personally looked forward to Senator Toomey coming to visit me to discuss a nominee or a piece of legislation. Inevitably, he would arrive with all the facts, all the data, all the quotations, and make his case. He didn't rely simply on rhetoric or an appeal to party loyalty--not at all. His approach was to present a solid case for why I should agree with him, and his track record, I must say, was very good. prgtoken Throughout his time in Congress, Pat has focused on creating good jobs for the people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across our entire country. He knows that America has the best workers in the world, and when they have a level playing field, they can compete with anyone. prgtoken Drawing on his expertise in finance, Pat pushed for policies that supported workers and were conducive to the startup and growth of businesses. He played an absolutely essential role in shaping the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced the tax burden for American families. He coauthored sections of the JOBS Act, which made it easier for businesses to invest and expand. He has always worked to cut redtape to help unleash economic opportunities. prgtoken There is another side to Pat as well. He is a true champion for those who are vulnerable in our society. I have worked with him on many issues over the years, including legislation to safeguard seniors from financial exploitation, as well as a bill to support 50 million Americans who serve as family caregivers. Pat has led efforts to better protect children from abuse, as well as to prevent animal cruelty. prgtoken Pat is a determined leader. He is a leader who seeks bipartisan solutions. After the horrendous and heartbreaking Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012 that took the lives
JAMES M. INHOFE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--Resumed
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-12-15

after months of deliberating, just like that, the most important bill we work on every year has passed the Senate. prgtoken There is an old document that no one reads anymore called the Constitution. It tells us what we are supposed to be doing here: providing for our national defense. That is why Congress has passed a Defense authorization bill for 61 years in a row. This year will be No. 62. I am proud to have been involved in quite a few of those. prgtoken Just like prior years, s and came together and made compromises on the many provisions in this bill. And it is a good thing we did because we face threats like I have never seen before in my life. We have got a bill that addresses many of these threats and helps provide our military with all the tools needed to do their jobs. prgtoken This bill includes a significant topline increase and provides a blueprint for where we need to invest to deter China. It fully supports our nuclear modernization program. It also takes the first step to restoring America as the Arsenal of Democracy by expanding munitions production. It includes multiple provisions that strengthen America's frontline partners, including Ukraine and Taiwan. We continue to take care of servicemembers, including by repealing the COVID vaccine mandate and strengthening parents' rights at DOD schools. It is also important to note that we kept poison pills out of the final text that could have jeopardized passage of this critical bill. This is a good bill. It is not the bill I would have written on my own, but I am proud to vote for it today. prgtoken Lastly, I would like to thank a few people who put in a ton of work on the NDAA. That starts with Chairman Reed, who has been a great partner and friend. I would like to thank the Armed Services Committee staff, who have worked tirelessly to make this bill a reality, including the majority staff director, Liz King. prgtoken On my staff, there are many who have had a hand in crafting this bill. They worked the late nights and early mornings to make sure we had a bill to vote on today. First on that list is my staff director, John Wason. John has been serving this country his entire life, first in the U.S. Army, then at the House Armed Services Committee, and now here in the Senate. None of this would be possible without his leadership. prgtoken On the minority staff for the committee, I want to thank: Rick Berger Scott Richardson Greg Lilly Jennie Wright Adam Barker Kristina Belcourt Allen Edwards Katie Magnus Sean O'Keefe Brad Patout Jason Potter Brian Slattery Katie Sutton Eric Trager Adam Trull, and T.C. Williams prgtoken On my personal staff, I want to thank: Dan Hillenbrand Wendi Price Kim Cutter Sarah Klotz Sofia Rafiq Mark Powers Ellen Brown
HONORING MS. DEBRA HEMBREE'S SERVICE TO SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
Steven M. Palazzo (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize one of my district staff, Ms. Debra Hembree, for her 11 years of dedicated service as a congressional staffer. In 2011, Debra began working in my Pascagoula district office as a Congressional Liaison providing casework assistance for constituents in several counties throughout the Fourth Congressional District. prgtoken Debra is originally from Canton, MS, and is a lifelong Mississippian. She attended and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University, receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Master's in Elementary Education, respectively. prgtoken Debra served the community, educating young children, the future leaders of our great state, during her 30 year teaching career in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District before her retirement in 2004. Shortly after her retirement, Debra continued her teaching career at the Murray School at Wilmer Hall in Mobile, Alabama. While there, she embraced this new and challenging opportunity as the resource teacher for children in grades 6 through 12. prgtoken Debra's life was blessed 10 years ago when she met and married her husband, Tom. Together they share 3 children: Debra's daughter Anna, Anna's husband Chip; Tom's son Mitch, Mitch's wife Diana; and Tom's son Austin. They also have 2 precious grandsons, Jack and Hudson. prgtoken The foundation of Debra's life is her faith and belief that we are here to serve others. She is currently a member of First Baptist Church of Vancleave. Through the years, she has been involved in various areas of church service, including the preschool ministry, the Girls' Auxiliary, the Women's Ministry team, and Vacation Bible School. She has also been a member of the choir, prgtoken I genuinely appreciate Debra's years of service to the constituents of the Fourth Congressional District. She has always been a loyal team member who has worked diligently prgtoken to assist constituents. Her positive attitude and exceptional work ethic are exemplary. Thank you, Madam , for allowing me to express my gratitude to Mrs. Debra Hembree for 11 years of dedicated service.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-15

I am glad that we, hopefully soon, will finally pass the National Defense Authorization Act and send this legislation to the President for his signature. Obviously, this has national, even global, implications, but I would like to spend just a moment to talk about what it means to my home State of Texas. prgtoken This year's NDAA supports a range of projects that will lead our military into the future, from nuclear modernization to next-generation weapons development. prgtoken It sends critical military assistance to Ukraine and makes a big investment in our national defense stockpile. prgtoken It focuses, appropriately, on long-term strategic competition with China, and it ensures our troops will have the tools, the training, and the resources they need to succeed in any conflict, and, of course, the ultimate goal is to make the United States military so strong that no country dares engage in a military conflict with us, and thus provides needed deterrents in order to maintain the peace. prgtoken The Defense Authorization Act shapes our military missions around the world, but it also is important for reasons that hit much closer to home. prgtoken The Defense Department is the largest employer in the United States, with 2.9 million employees, including both servicemembers and civilians. They are stationed in more than 160 different countries around the world, and on all seven continents. And, on any given day, they can be found providing lifesaving medical care, maintaining aircraft, protecting communities in war zones, or carrying out various missions. prgtoken Texas is the proud home to 14 military installations which directly employ more than 235,000 people. When you add in construction, information technology, manufacturing, and the many other workers these facilities require, Texas military installations employ more than 620,000 people. The prgtoken Texas comptroller has estimated that military installations contributed about $114 billion to Texas' economy last year alone. prgtoken But, significantly, America's military is engrained in the very fabric of our State, and Texans have a profound respect for our servicemembers. prgtoken My father was a part of the Greatest Generation and served in World War II, as did my father-in-law. prgtoken My dad was a B-17 pilot, who, unfortunately, was shot down over Germany on a bombing mission on his 26th mission. Fortunately, although he was a POW the last 4 months of the war, he was liberated by General Patton and his army. prgtoken My father-in-law, who died recently at the age of 96, served at Normandy, where he landed on Utah Beach during part of that dramatic invasion of France, occupied by, of course, the German military. prgtoken But I lived for a while in San Antonio--many years, actually--and had the privilege of experiencing the incredible support for our military in that city. After all, San Antonio is known as ``Military City USA'' because of the s
PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , today is a truly historic day for Puerto Rico. Ironically, it is also a perfect example of the island's colonial reality. prgtoken I am Puerto Rico's only voice in Congress. I represent 3.2 million American citizens living back home, more constituents than anyone in this Chamber. Yet, while we consider a bill I helped write, a bill that will directly impact the life of every citizen I represent, I still must rely and depend on everybody here because I cannot vote on the floor. This is the best example of why this bill is so important for Puerto Rico. prgtoken Today, Congress takes a step toward finally assuming its responsibility under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of our Constitution to provide the people of Puerto Rico with an opportunity, a federally binding choice to democratically decide our future among three nonterritorial, constitutionally viable options: statehood, independence, and independence in association with the United States. prgtoken For the first time in history, we are considering legislation that would authorize a self-executing plebiscite on the island. With the adoption of this bill, this Chamber is also recognizing and making clear that Puerto Rico's century-old territorial status is the problem and cannot be part of the solution. prgtoken The territorial condition constrains the island's ability to prosper and has relegated the island to an indefinite second-class status when compared to the 50 States. prgtoken This is the main reason behind social, economic, and physical challenges we have faced, forcing a mass exodus of millions of Puerto Ricans to the mainland in search of that equality. prgtoken Congress has perpetuated by its inaction this dysfunctional political-economic condition, one that at its core is, as President Ronald Reagan once characterized it, ``historically unnatural.'' prgtoken Because we are a territory, the people of Puerto Rico lack full voting representation in the House and Senate and cannot vote for the President, who sends our sons and daughters to war. prgtoken Because we are a territory, the Federal Government can, and often does, treat us unequally under Federal laws and programs. prgtoken Because we are a territory, we are treated as second-class citizens. prgtoken Because we are a territory, I am here today discussing a bill related to one of our most critical issues, yet I cannot vote on this bill. This is the reason this discussion is so important. prgtoken I support statehood for the island, and our people have voted not once, not twice, but three times already supporting statehood. prgtoken In response, I introduced H.R. 1522, which, following the most recent precedents of Alaska and Hawaii, would have established a process to admit the island as a State of the Union in a simple yes or no vote. However, given the political realities in this Congress, and in the interest of advancing the status issue, I led negotiations on this bill before us. prgtoken
MAKING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PERMANENT
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican, WV) \u2014 2022-12-15

today, the Sun will set in Washington, D.C at 4:47 p.m. Washington is known as a partisan place and labeled the capital of gridlock. However, there is one issue most Members of Congress agree on: Making daylight savings time permanent. prgtoken Earlier this year, Senator Marco Rubio introduced this legislation to help boost economic activity and improve physical and mental health. The bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. prgtoken My colleague, Vern Buchanan from Florida, introduced companion legislation in this Chamber that also has strong bipartisan support. Unfortunately, however, it has never been reported out of committee. prgtoken Today, I initiated a discharge petition to bring this legislation up for immediate consideration. In the last 5 years, 19 States have enacted similar legislation. The time to make daylight savings time permanent is now. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to sign this discharge petition and never reset your clocks again.
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXTENSIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-12-15

we will be voting in a moment on my amendment. Again, this amendment is something that everyone in this Chamber should be able to support, whether you like the omnibus or whether you hate the omnibus. The Senate should be in a position to be able to review the omnibus with a clear head without the pressure of an imminent threat at Christmastime of a shutdown. The American people deserve this, and so do we. This is the only way to make this right. I encourage all of you to vote for my amendment.
TRIBUTE TO TIMMYE CROWLEY
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2022-12-15

today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Timmye Crowley of the U.S. Postal Service in Yellowstone County for her dedication to serving her fellow Montanans and a unique act of kindness that saved a man's life. prgtoken Timmye has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years, delivering countless letters and packages to the people of Montana. Recently, on her day off, she decided to extend a helping hand during this busy season by making additional deliveries along her normal route. As she approached a house which she knew belonged to an elderly resident, she decided to walk up to the front door to personally deliver this man's mail, in an effort to avoid the man potentially falling on the icy sidewalks, which are a common sight during Montana winters. prgtoken Upon reaching the front door, Timmye realized smoke was billowing out of the house and suspected there was a fire inside. She saw through the window that the man was asleep in a chair and promptly began pounding on the door to wake him up to ensure he would not get hurt. The man was hard of hearing, so he was unaware of the smoke detector alarms. He soon woke up and walked to the front door as Timmye called 9-1-1. First responders arrived on the scene shortly, and the man was no longer in danger. prgtoken Thanks to Timmye's efforts, a potentially fatal outcome was avoided. It is my distinct honor to recognize Timmye Crowley for her passion and willingness to go the extra mile serving the Billings community. Keep up the great work, Timmye. You make Montana proud.
HONORING REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CHABOT
Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today in honor of our colleague and dear friend, Steve Chabot, who has served in Congress as an honorable, respected, and principled public servant for 26 years. prgtoken Congressman Steve Chabot has demonstrated a remarkable talent for working with Members from both parties on a variety of issues, which has made him an especially effective legislator. Of his many lasting legacies, Congressman Chabot spent years working to strengthen the ic Republic of China (Taiwan) by encouraging arms sales for Taiwan's defense, striving to encourage greater diplomacy between Taiwan and the United States, and strengthening trade. His Taiwan Travel Act, which became law in 2018, encourages official diplomacy between Taiwan and U.S. officials despite Executive Branch reticence under the One China Policy. He worked tirelessly to preserve a secure, free, and prosperous Taiwan. prgtoken Congressman Chabot understands the threat that Communist China poses to Taiwan and the rest of the free world, and was tenacious in working to diminish that threat on behalf of the United States and our allies. While the United States continues to address a growing threat from Communist China which pirates intellectual property from American businesses, threatens its neighbors in the Pacific, and oppresses the Chinese people, this noble body benefits from Members like Congressman Chabot who harbor an unwavering commitment to freedom, democracy, and America's national security. prgtoken On the home front he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents including passing and overseeing the Paycheck Protection Program as Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee and securing millions of dollars in funding for projects around Cincinnati and Warren County, Ohio, over the years. prgtoken I greatly admire Congressman Chabot for his leadership and dedication to quintessential American principles and priorities. I value our years together co-chairing the Congressional Taiwan Caucus. His efforts have made a lasting mark on this body, and with the colleagues that had the honor of serving beside him. As one of many grateful for his decades of service to the American people, and to the country whose values he so ably and passionately advanced, I thank Congressman Chabot for selflessly striving to expand freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.