mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HOMETOWN HERO: GRAPEVINE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-9-14

I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 hometown hero, the Grapevine High School wrestling team. prgtoken This week, on the 22nd anniversary of the horrific September 11 terrorist attacks, Grapevine High School wrestling team paid their respects by hosting a tribute climb. prgtoken On the steps of Mustang-Panther Stadium, participants climbed a symbolic 110 flights in remembrance of this tragic day. Student athletes, first responders, and members of the community all climbed side by side to mourn those lost and remember the sacrifices our first responders made for the American people. prgtoken I am so encouraged by the leadership displayed by the members of the Grapevine High School wrestling team and their work to unite the community in commemoration of the heroes of September 11. Their patriotism and love for country is apparent. prgtoken I thank the Grapevine wrestling team for hosting this event and representing north Texas so well.
RECOGNIZING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRIENDS UNIVERSITY
Ron Estes (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-9-14

today I'd like to recognize Friends University as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. prgtoken Friends opened its doors in September of 1898. In his opening address, President Edmund Stanley said, ``The purpose of this school shall be to give to the world and to give our country a class of citizens that will be in every sense loyal citizens.'' He went on to say, ``Loyalty means that mental training and discipline which makes the child think--the development which makes him strong in mind and body; strong in his moral nature; a full man in that intelligence which should direct the efforts of all men for conscientious, honorable and successful private life and citizenship.'' prgtoken And that is just what they have done--for the past 125 years Friends has provided Kansas, our country and the world, with men and women who are honorable citizens wherever they go after graduation, bringing value to their communities. Being a Friends University Falcon is a respected recognition and the reach of Friends touches many industries and states in the country. prgtoken The University offers a distinguished liberal arts education with majors ranging from Accounting to Zoo Science and enrolls traditional and adult students seeking associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. prgtoken I'm so pleased to help Friends University celebrate this milestone anniversary and offer my sincere congratulations on 125 years of success, and I look forward to another century and a quarter of equipping students under the iconic clock tower in the heart of the Sunflower State. Happy 125th anniversary.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHASE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-9-14

the Chase County Courthouse is a striking monument situated in Cottonwood Falls and visible across much of the surrounding prairie. Built in 1873, the courthouse's limestone exterior, walnut staircase, and distinctive red roof have made it a landmark on the plains. Designed in French Renaissance style by John G. Haskell of Leavenworth, the courthouse is the oldest Kansas courthouse still in use. prgtoken This year marks the courthouse's 150th anniversary of service to the community. In 1856, several families moved to the south side of Cottonwood River, and soon after, the Chase County boundaries were drawn. The pioneers who established Cottonwood Falls decided to build a local courthouse and workers began construction on the courthouse. The community chose a courthouse that would stand 113-feet tall, containing a three-story spiral staircase made from trees near the Cottonwood River. The limestone used to construct the courthouse came from Chase County and is known as Cottonwood limestone. This same limestone was used in the Kansas State Capitol, Kansas State University, and can be found in the U.S. Capitol forming the base for the statue of Amelia Earhart. In 1917, the courthouse was entered in the National Registry of Historic Places and the Kansas Historical Site Register and serves as a tribute to the pioneers who made the Flint Hill their home and the builders who constructed the courthouse. prgtoken I have visited downtown Cottonwood Falls many times and have seen the community grow over the years. Rural county courthouses play an important role in preserving these communities. The courthouse is a place where justice is administered, wedding vows are made, election votes are tallied, wills are signed, and disputes are resolved. prgtoken On the 150th anniversary of the Chase County Courthouse, I am honored to recognize and commemorate this courthouse which is the pride of Cottonwood Falls and a monument on the plains.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-9-14

I do appreciate the leadership on the Intelligence Committee and for the leadership that has been there. prgtoken I would concur. You have a spot to be able to lead and a task to be able to be done. You have studied this, so that must mean you know it. We look forward to your leadership in the days ahead. I appreciate that very much. National Debt prgtoken , I do want to speak on a very different subject as well, and it is a subject that we are all going to face in the days ahead. It is this wonderful issue of a government shutdown. prgtoken We seem to forget, at times in this body, the issues that press around us, but the one that seems to get slipped under the rug most of the time is that of national debt: where we are and how we are going to try to address this in the days ahead. The conversation comes up--it seems to be on a regular basis now--about are we going to have a government shutdown; and the conversation of a government shutdown ends up being a very small portion of the very large debt that we face. prgtoken The challenge is, how do we actually address that based on its size? Well, let me just give you a little bit of context as to what I am talking about. prgtoken We are, right now, preparing, within days, to cross into $33 trillion in total Federal debt--$33 trillion. To give some context of that acceleration of Federal debt and what is happening during this time period, from the time of Andrew Jackson--who was the last President who was President when we had no debt at all. From the time of Andrew Jackson until Ronald Reagan, our Nation accumulated $1 trillion in total debt. From Andrew Jackson to Reagan, there was $1 trillion in total debt. From Reagan to the present, now we are $33 trillion in total debt. We are in a rapid acceleration of debt that has not slowed. prgtoken To give you again the picture of where things have gone just in the last several years, if you go back 20 years ago to 2003, our total spending was just over $2 trillion. If you go back to 2013, which was 10 years ago, our total spending was less than $3.5 trillion. Our spending this year will be right at $6.5 trillion. So in the past 20 years, our spending has increased from just over $2 trillion to $6.5 trillion. prgtoken To give you the acceleration in spending just in the last few years, if I were to go back to 2018--before COVID, the 2018 time period--our total spending was just over $4 trillion. This year's estimated spending is just under $6.5 trillion. That is $2.5 trillion of accelerated spending just from 2018 until now. Again, to set this in context, the revenue that is coming into the Federal Treasury this year is estimated at $4.8 trillion--$4.8 trillion. We are spending an estimated $6.4 trillion. prgtoken Now, I know these are a lot of numbers, but let me give you one just as a takeaway. We have almost $1.5 trillion of deficit--that is, overspending--ju
RECOGNIZING CONSTITUTION DAY
Russell Fry (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-9-14

. Madam , I rise today in honor and recognition of Constitution Day, which is this Sunday. prgtoken On September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign what would become the most important document in our country's history, the Constitution of the United States of America. prgtoken On Constitution Day, we remember the bravery and wisdom of the 39 men who signed the supreme law of the land. This document forever altered the world and has dutifully guided our country through times of change and challenge. prgtoken As we look back on its legacy and the values it holds for our country, let Constitution Day serve as a reminder that we are here to serve and to protect the liberties of we the people.
TRIBUTE TO ASTA SPURGIS
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-9-14

in Alaska, we have no shortage of scenic wilderness to explore. From the unrivaled beauty of a bluebird day in the Prince William Sound, to the peaks of the Denali National Park and Preserve, to the winding tributaries of the glacier- fed Tanana river, my bias may be showing, but Alaska is the Nation's undisputed leader in outdoor recreational opportunities, both in sum and splendor. prgtoken But one of Alaska's most treasured locales is not just an exemplary jewel case of our outdoors, but a labor of love from the outstanding volunteers and employees who have put their heart and soul into making it a world-class nature center. The Eagle River Nature Center is the crowning centerpiece of the Chugach State Park, located in Southcentral Alaska within the municipality of Anchorage. And the driving force behind the Eagle River Nature Center has been its cofounder and executive director, Asta Spurgis. Sadly, for the many Alaskans and out- of-state visitors who frequent the Eagle River Nature Center, Asta is leaving her post. prgtoken From 1993 through 1995, the park's budget was dropping off, and the center could no longer afford to operate year-round, forcing them to have limited hours only in the summer. In stepped the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center, Inc a nonprofit formed in 1996 that revived the park by forging new trails, offering maintenance for public use facilities, and stepping up in the day-to-day operations of the park that helped it become a destination for guests across the world. At the head of that effort was Asta Spurgis, whose passion and dedication for ensuring prgtoken that the park was accessible and pristine meant finding new and innovative ways to fund the operations. prgtoken From its inception as a bold experiment to where it stands now, as a shining model of what public-private partnership can look like, Asta Spurgis has been at the helm. Alaskans will miss her commitment and leadership, but her legacy can be seen in the students who visit and get firsthand classes on natural sciences and the tens of thousands of Alaskans and tourists who get to explore the Chugach State Park. I commend Asta for her lifetime of work in making Alaska's wilderness a more beautiful and more accessible space to explore.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-9-14

. I might close with a couple of thoughts. Again, we came in with the lofty expectations that we could make a difference in primary care for people across the Nation. I think our bill accomplishes just that. prgtoken Again, I can't thank the staff enough for their support through this. Senator Sanders and I spent most of the August recess--and our staff spent every moment of every hour of every day on this August recess-- working on this legislation. I think it is a good product. I think there is always opportunity for improvement. We are welcome to those ideas. prgtoken I appreciate the Senator using traditional Hyde protections at the appropriate places, so we maintained that, which is important to many folks, including to myself. I think we addressed primary care issues. I think we have a plan to increase the nursing workforce. Again, in 3 years' time, we can turn that problem around and long-term address some of the primary care issues. Addressing dental, as well, I think will be a huge improvement. prgtoken At the end of the day, you cannot overestimate how much money this will save in programs like Medicare and Medicaid and the health insurance back home and help drive the cost of healthcare down for people. I am glad prgtoken to see us try to emphasize maybe some better ways to spend the American taxpayer moneys. prgtoken But most importantly to me, the physician, is just this is the right thing to do. This is absolutely the right thing to do. It is a chance to improve the health of Americans. I am just proud to stand here beside Senator Sanders and introduce this legislation. Thank you.
POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-9-14

tomorrow, September 15, is POW/MIA Recognition Day. prgtoken This important day is a time to remember the brave men and women who have yet to return home. Currently, there are more than 80,000 American servicemembers who are still missing and remain unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, and the Gulf wars. prgtoken Our servicemembers are the bravest among us. They answer the call to protect and defend our country in times of war and in times of peace. prgtoken While many return home, some do not. We must uphold our promise to our POW/MIA and never stop searching until they are returned to their loved ones. prgtoken This is why today, Representative Connolly and I reintroduced the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Trade Agreement Resolution. prgtoken This resolution urges our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment from trading partners to continue search and recovery efforts of our Nation's missing servicemembers. It is imperative we continue our efforts to bring home members of our armed services. prgtoken This amendment will assist the United States in upholding the eternal promise to our Armed Forces to always bring our men and women home. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
HONORING LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JIM GIBSON
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-9-14

. Madam , today, I rise to speak about the passing of a very good friend and an American hero, Lieutenant Commander Jim Gibson of Redding, California. prgtoken Pictured here at an Honor Flight here in Washington, D.C I got to accompany him that day. It was a lot of fun and very gratifying. prgtoken Jim was a career Navy officer for 26 years. He joined the Navy as an engine man right out of high school and rose to the rank of ensign before becoming a commissioned officer. prgtoken After working his way through the ranks to captain, he was assigned command of a submarine rescue ship in the 7th Fleet. This vessel, the USS Coucal, had the worst reputation in the entire U.S. 7th Fleet. When Jim took command, he turned things around and made it the premier submarine rescue vessel in the entire U.S. 7th Fleet. prgtoken After retiring from active service, Jim remained devoted to the ideal of duty. He was very active in veterans' affairs, founding a submarine veterans group in northern California and serving as its president. He was instrumental in raising money for the Veterans Memorial in Anderson River Park. I was proud to have him as a member of my congressional advisory committee on academy appointments, where he did a great job of helping us screen the best new and brightest. prgtoken Jim was faithful to his fellow veterans to the last, working faithfully out of the Igo Veterans Cemetery. He was always there to ring the bell for the last watch when a Navy veteran was laid to rest. prgtoken He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou. My heart goes out to her and their family at this time of grief. They will be in our prayers. prgtoken We will miss him dearly. Fair winds and following seas, Jim.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1435, PRESERVING CHOICE IN VEHICLE PURCHASES ACT
Pete Stauber (Republican, MN) \u2014 2023-9-14

just moments ago the distinguished gentlewoman from California made the statement and asked why s don't want clean air and clean water. I reject that premise because this administration would rather mine in the Congo where they use child slave labor, zero environmental standards, and zero labor standards to get to these EV vehicles. prgtoken This administration has stopped mining in the biggest copper-nickel mine in the world, which is in northeastern Minnesota, and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and this administration has stopped it. prgtoken Don't come here and ask me why my colleagues and I have the stance we have. We are environmentalists, and we want clean air and clean water. That is an excuse. prgtoken We can mine in this country. We do not have to sign memorandums of understanding with the Congo who use child slave labor, and that is a fact. We can mine in northeastern Minnesota using union labor with the best environmental standards and the best labor standards in the world, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to allow it to happen along with this administration. prgtoken Don't stand on this House floor and say this about the Party and my colleagues. We are environmentalists, as well. We mine in the United States of America. We mine in northeastern Minnesota. We can show the world. Because when we allow China to meet the demands for critical minerals, those pollutants get in the jet stream and affects us all, as the gentlewoman from California says. We breathe that disgusting air that comes from the communist country of China. So let us mine here, . Allow this administration to let us mine here. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of this rule so we can consider H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act. prgtoken This week, we read about the horrific cross-country road trip President 's Secretary of Energy faced as she tried to travel the country in her electric vehicle. prgtoken At every stop, Secretary Granholm struggled to charge her government- paid EV. She had to send staffers in gas-powered vehicles ahead of her to stand in line at the EV charging station, going so far as to block families from charging their own vehicles on hot summer days. prgtoken Her gas-powered vehicle was used by her staff so they could go sit in front of a charging station waiting for her to come so she could charge her vehicle to make a statement and let that family suffer waiting for the charging station to be open. prgtoken Now, just imagine if Secretary Granholm tried driving across northern Minnesota in the middle of winter when it was 20 below, 37 below, or 50 below. By the way, that cold in Minnesota, we still go to work and we still mine and we still weld, in the coldest of temperatures. Can you imagine her trying to do that? I am not even sure her EV would even start. prgtoken My constituents do not have the luxury of h
HONORING WORLD-RENOWN CONSERVATIONIST, THEO PAGEL WITH AMERICAN HUMANE/ GLOBAL HUMANE'S KIESSLING INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR SPECIES CONSERVATION
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-9-14

I rise today to recognize heroic efforts on behalf of wildlife worldwide. American Humane, the first and most experienced national humane organization, which was created in 1877 to ensure the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals, has awarded Prof. Theo Pagel, CEO of the Cologne Zoo in Germany with the 2023 Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation. This award was created in honor of Wolfgang F. Kiessling, the founder of Loro Parque and global leader in conservation. prgtoken Prof. Theo Pagel has dedicated his life to ensuring the survival of countless species, and inspiring and educating generations of people. As the CEO of the Cologne Zoo, the former president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Chair of the Reverse the Red Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Pagel has led significant change for animals both in the wild and in zoos. He was inspired at an early age by his father, also an animal lover, and started a breeding program in 1988 to save the endangered Bali Starling--a program he coordinated for nearly 20 years. prgtoken Pagel created sustainability strategies and guidelines for conservation education during his tenure as president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He approaches conservation through inspiring the public as well as leading high-level strategies on saving countless species from the very largest Asian Elephant to the smallest Asian songbird. prgtoken He has led a global charge to push back the effects of what scientists call a ``Sixth Mass Extinction,'' with up to one million species at risk of disappearing forever. prgtoken , wildlife conservationists put the world first, wildlife first, the future first. They don't seek a hero's reward, a medal, or a prize. But they surely deserve it I ask today that we recognize the impact Theo Pagel has had on saving species, honor his work and acknowledge American Humane's Kiessling Prize as a way to shine a light on the important work of saving species for future generations to love.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2023-9-18

I submit the following notice in writing: In accordance with Rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby give notice in writing that it is my intention to move to suspend Rule XVI and Rule XXII, including germaneness requirements and dilatory provisions, to offer the following amendments, either as floor amendments, or as motions to recommit with instructions: Vance No. 1125, Lee No. 1121, Cruz No. 1158, Rubio No. 1159, Marshall No. 1161, Braun No. 1182, Paul No. 1226, Paul No. 1217.