mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 3533 (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-12-14

I just heard about this legislative idea a few minutes ago. So I really have very little information about it. prgtoken But what I can tell you is, we already know what the bottom line is. The amendment offered by the Senator from Louisiana will hurt honest taxpayers and will help wealthy tax cheats. That is the bottom line. prgtoken Now, I am all for seafood inspections. We have got loads of seafood in our part of the world. But I want to take just a minute to talk about the reasons that Members of this body ought to oppose the legislation. prgtoken First--and the Congressional Budget Office has made this point--this amendment uses the fake offset of cutting IRS funding. The cut in IRS funding included in this amendment doesn't pay for an increase in seafood inspections; it increases the deficit. And the reason I say that is because that is what the Congressional Budget Office says about these ideas. prgtoken The Congressional Budget Office are the folks that we put in place to give us objective, nonpolitical analyses of various important ideas. The Congressional Budget Office are the people that we use on the Finance Committee regularly, and the Congressional Budget Office has said that every dollar cut from the IRS budget reduces revenue by $2. And that increases the deficit. prgtoken Second, this has given a big pass to wealthy tax cheats. People need to know that the reason there is a focus on IRS enforcement is because the wealthy tax cheats have the lawyers and accountants, and they have all kinds of ways to get around the rules. The working families that we represent--the folks in Michigan, the automobile workers--pay taxes with every single paycheck. We know what kind of financing they have because they pay with every check. It is the wealthy tax cheats that we have to deal with. prgtoken And I just say to my friend, the kind of person that he has given a pass to is--we recently found almost a thousand millionaires who didn't even file a tax return. Not one of the scams--they didn't even file a tax return, almost a thousand millionaires. The Federal Government lost more than $30 billion just on that. prgtoken So the Senate ought to be focusing on making sure that we have tough IRS enforcement, that we have the funding to improve services for all taxpayers--all of them--and, particularly, ending the free ride, once and for all, for wealthy tax cheats. prgtoken And the service has gone up. We have seen reduction in waiting times for calls from 28 minutes to 3 minutes. prgtoken I wish I had time to have a more extended exchange with my colleague. We are, right now, in our caucus meeting having debates on important issues. prgtoken But I would just say, in the future, if my colleague could even give us 15- or 20-minutes' notice, we could maybe have a more extended discussion. prgtoken The people who get help here are wealthy tax cheats. The people who are hurt here are honest taxpayers. And for th
RECOGNIZING THE WALSH JESUIT GIRLS SOCCER TEAM
Emilia Strong Sykes (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-12-14

today, I rise to recognize the Walsh Jesuit High School girls soccer team as Ohio 13's Congressional District Champion of the Week. prgtoken Last month, the Walsh Jesuit Warriors girls soccer team won their first Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I State championship since 2016. prgtoken After a hard-fought game, the Warriors overcame Olentangy Liberty 2- 1. This win cements Walsh Jesuit's status as a soccer powerhouse with their 11th State title win since the year 2000. prgtoken The program holds the record for the most girls soccer State titles in Ohio, and their win is just more proof as to why Ohio's 13th Congressional District is the birthplace of champions. prgtoken This victory is not only a major accomplishment for these hardworking student athletes but also for their coaches, parents, and entire community that supported them along the way. prgtoken Congratulations again to the incredible Walsh Jesuit girls soccer team. I can't wait to see how you dominate on and off the pitch.
HONORING GUILLERMO A. AHUMADA
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-12-14

I rise today to recognize and commend the outstanding contributions of Guillermo A. Ahumada, a distinguished journalist with a passion for giving back to his community. prgtoken Mr. Ahumada has demonstrated exceptional professionalism in journalism, lending his talents to various television stations, including Telemundo 52 and Univision 34, and different radio networks. His work on these stations is notable, and his commitment to representing and advocating for the issues of diverse populations shines through in his reporting. He continues to be a prominent voice on immigration, health, and workers' rights issues, and brings attention to stories of impact with his journalism and special reports. prgtoken Mr. Ahumada currently serves as the Director of Noticias de Vision, a Latino network where he plays a crucial role in coordinating the news department, scheduling, and supervising the selection of news-- particularly topics of interest to the Latino community. prgtoken Outside of his role in the media, Mr. Ahumada is passionate about being of service to his community. He is the Executive Director of Chaplains Counselors, a nonprofit organization that has been instrumental in supporting low-income families and fostering self- esteem and personal growth among participants. The organization provides educational workshops on several vital topics, including domestic violence, drug abuse, and family counseling. prgtoken Mr. Ahumada also serves as the Colonel of Chaplains of the International Federation of Christian Chaplains. In this capacity, he leads and teaches individuals dedicated to helping those at risk, whether in prison, hospitals, or facing drug addiction. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing Guillermo A. Ahumada for his tireless efforts, professional accomplishments, and contributions to the Latino community.
Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 1042 (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-12-14

. Thank you. prgtoken With your leadership, we took an important step forward in the National Defense Authorization Act we passed last night. I thank Senator Risch for his work on that. We need to finish this job. prgtoken I want to see American companies--in Ohio--enriching uranium in the United States, creating jobs, supporting communities like Piketon, Waverly, Pike County, making our energy supply more secure. prgtoken I withdraw my objection.
DR. EMMANUEL BILIRAKIS AND HONORABLE JENNIFER WEXTON NATIONAL PLAN TO END PARKINSON'S ACT
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-12-14

I rise in support of H.R. 2365, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act. prgtoken I am honored to rise in support today of this bipartisan legislation. Our work here today will allow people, of all backgrounds, who have experiences with Parkinson's to have hope for a future with more research, treatments, and cures. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation will bring diverse federal and non- federal stakeholders together along with patients and caregivers, to build a national strategy for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cures for different forms of Parkinson's Disease. prgtoken This bill is also a historic step in our federal government's work to research and share data on this disease, following the model of the National Alzheimer's Project Act which became law in 2011. prgtoken Parkinsons's disease, affecting more than 1 million people in the United States and nearly 10 million people worldwide, is the second most common and fastest-growing neurological disease. Although typical diagnosis occurs around age 50, this is not an ``older person'' disease and does not look the same for every patient. When a large population of people have a disease like Parkinson's disease, it is a matter of life or death to have an accurate understanding of how many people have the disease, where they live and why they have it. Shining a light on research that looks not only at genetic factors but also environmental factors, will provide promise for all aspects of the disease and potential triggers. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues, Chairwoman McMorris Rogers, Representative Tonko, Representative Wexton, and Representative Bilirakis, for working with us to ensure we as a country take this historic step in combating Parkinson's disease on all fronts. It is a wonderful legacy to our champions to name the legislation after two tenacious fighters who will not and did not succumb to the disease without making a mark. prgtoken Although Rep. Wexton believes that many of the benefits from this legislation may not come to fruition in her battle against the disease, I disagree. The fact that she is fighting every single day, with grace, strength, and humor, is the motivating benefit from today. We see her face and hear her clear voice in every aspect of this bill. Her sheer determination, with the thousands of advocates who have shared their stories, brought us all together today and will be honored in this work. prgtoken This bipartisan work before us is the backbone of our Committee, and I am pleased we once again embraced the same principles to ensure that all patients are included in a plan to end this deadly illness. It is my deep belief that this legislation will make significant strides to end Parkinson's and will provide our family members, caregivers, and friends with real hope.
TRIBUTE TO JILL BOUDREAU
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-12-14

I rise today to honor and congratulate Mayor Jill Boudreau on her retirement after 12 years of service as mayor of Mount Vernon, WA. During that time, she has been an inspiring and impactful public servant--leading a municipal government that has been a model of efficiency, adaptability, dignity, and inclusivity. Her leadership has been a guiding light through some of the city's most difficult times, and her advocacy has helped Mount Vernon prosper over the past decade-plus. prgtoken Mayor Boudreau was sworn into office in January of 2012 and quickly launched ambitious initiatives to bolster economic development, make the city's government more open and accessible to residents, and improve public transportation. Over her three terms, she has been an indispensable voice for the region--serving on countless boards and commissions and championing voting rights, public art installations, and civic engagement. Most recently, Mayor Boudreau has been the driving force behind the Mount Vernon Library Commons, a transformative project that will be one of the largest capital investments in Skagit County history. When completed, the Commons will be one of Washington State's most energy-efficient municipal buildings and will bring a library, community center, commercial kitchen, transit center, and one of our nation's largest electric vehicle charging stations all into one facility. The Commons is the product of Mayor Boudreau's bold vision and tireless efforts. Her extraordinary leadership on the Commons and other projects has been recognized by the Association for Washington Cities, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Ambassador to Uruguay. prgtoken I had the opportunity to work most closely with Mayor Boudreau on flood protection projects along the Skagit River, and throughout those discussions, it was clear to everyone just how deeply she cared about her community. Her dedication and compassion are also evident in Mayor Boudreau's leadership during challenging and stressful times, whether it was the Skagit River Bridge collapse, the Cascade Mall shooting, or the COVID-19 pandemic. I know the citizens of Mount Vernon are as grateful as I am for her strength and hard work during these difficult moments. prgtoken One of the things I admire most about Mayor Boudreau is her weekly commitment to meeting with residents for ``Coffee Hours.'' She has held more than 350 of these meetings during her administration, something I have heard about from her constituents during our shared time in public office. prgtoken This type of openness and accessibility to her community--and her willingness to listen and really engage with her constituents--is part of what makes Mayor Boudreau such an inspiring public servant. It has been a real privilege to work with her over the last 12 years, and I am tremendously thankful for her service to the people of Mount Vernon. I wish her the very best in future endeavors.
BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORT
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-12-14

I submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2024, was prepared by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. This information enables the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation. prgtoken CBO's report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through December 10, 2023, as compared to the levels that I filed on June 21 as authorized by section 121 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, or FRA. Since then, Congress has passed six pieces of legislation with small effects on direct spending. These include two continuing resolutions that were eligible for adjustments to enforceable levels as permitted under the FRA. prgtoken Tables 1 and 2 show that current budgetary levels are above allowable amounts for budget authority and within allowable amounts for outlays. The government is currently operating under a bipartisan short-term continuing resolution that extends the previous year's discretionary funding levels through early 2024. The budget authority level shown in the tables is artificially high because it reflects CBO's estimate of the continuing resolution, which for technical reasons is higher than the statutory limits. Enactment of full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2024 consistent with budget agreement surrounding the FRA would bring total budget authority in line with the allowable limits. These tables also reflect that there has been no change to Social Security. prgtoken Table 3 shows the Senate's pay-as-you-go-scorecard, which reflects $44 million of net deficit reduction over 10 years. prgtoken The ic staff of the Budget Committee prepared an addendum table to supplement CBO's report, which compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows that 15 of the 16 authorizing committees are complying with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted, the legislation was deficit-neutral and qualified for an allocation adjustment that was subsequently filed, or the legislation reduced spending. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that CBO's letter, accompanying tables, and the addendum be printed in the Record.
TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-12-14

I have two issues to address in a minute. prgtoken One, is to bring attention to an excellent editorial which appeared yesterday in The Wall Street Journal titled: `` and Ukraine Need a Senate Deal.'' prgtoken The author, William A. Galston, states: ``Though Mike Johnson has reiterated his support for Ukraine aid, anti-Ukraine s will likely pressure him to adjourn for the year without taking up the Senate bill.'' prgtoken In fact, that has happened in real-time today. prgtoken The editorial goes on to say: `` . . . Mr. should make clear that he is prepared to use his constitutional authority to call the House back into session.'' prgtoken We take an oath to protect America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Putin's Russia is a real enemy to liberty. We do not want to be drawn into a greater war in Europe. We need to do our duty and pass assistance for Ukraine and strengthen our NATO allies. prgtoken The second reason I rise today is to talk about the introduction of the bipartisan Healthy Farms Healthy Watershed Act of 2023, which encourages volunteer USDA programs to apply to watersheds that are trying to bear the load of toxic algal blooms largely caused by dissolved reactive phosphorus and other pollutants. prgtoken , water is life. Please sponsor the bipartisan Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023. prgtoken , fresh water is life. Today, I introduce the bipartisan ``Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023.'' This Bill encourages voluntary USDA programs to strategically apply resources to maximize watershed health with existing dollars. prgtoken Increasingly harmful algal bloom (HAB) compromise water quality in all 50 states. These toxic blooms adversely impact human health, sink property values, damp tourism, waterfront business, and regional economies. Impacted areas are estimated to have spent over $1 Billion since 2010 to address and prevent HABs, this creeping green invasion. prgtoken A major cause of the harmful bloom is the loading of excessive levels of dissolved reactive phosphorus into lakes, rivers, and bays maliciously from megafarms and animal feeding operations and other pollution. prgtoken Despite federal agencies spending Billions to help farmers adopt management practices to improve water quality, the problem persists across America. Significant bodies of water like the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay are weighted down with this creeping green invasion. prgtoken A new strategy is needed to make current federal investments more efficient, and more effective. The Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act focuses on troubled watersheds by directing Natural Resources Conservation Service resources toward the exact substances and sources that are contributing most to HABs. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to support this important, budget-neutral, bipartisan, commonsense legislation.
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-12-14

I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA). prgtoken I did not vote for the majority's version of the NDAA that passed the House in July. That bill was loaded with extreme and partisan social policy riders that had no place in legislation that supports our national security and the service members who defend it. That is why I'm encouraged by the bipartisan negotiations that produced a much more balanced compromise bill. While there are still some provisions I do not agree with, nearly all the worst policy ideas from the majority have been removed. Excluded from the agreement are the harmful provisions that would deny reproductive health care access to our service members and their families and attack the rights of LGBTQ+ service members. prgtoken I do disagree with some remaining provisions that I believe will continue discourage building a diverse military, and ones that would inhibit the Administration's ability to improve military resilience and readiness in the face of ongoing climate change challenges. For example, this legislation maintains a provision banning Critical Race Theory in our military education system. The definition is narrower than originally proposed, but I remain concerned with how Critical Race Theory is defined and that this provision could be used to limit how certain eras of American history are taught. This NDAA also institutes a salary cap and hiring freeze on the Defense Department's Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, pursuant to completion of a department audit. I think this is unnecessary and should have been removed. prgtoken As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am intimately familiar with the range threats to our nation and to our partners and allies around the world. That is why I will continue to fight against the same outrageous and extreme social policy provisions included by s in this year's Defense Appropriations Act that would result in deterring the American public from raising their hand to serve. prgtoken This legislation temporarily extends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) 702 authorization. I am supportive of reforms to Section 702 to ensure that the civil liberties of American citizens are protected, and Congress must consider the merits of bills on FISA reform that are moving through the House and the Senate right now. However, the national security risks associated with allowing this authorization to lapse entirely in a manner of weeks with no replacement are too grave. It is important that we allow more time for Congress to understand the sensitive details surrounding this program, continue constructive debate, and find a compromise solution that finds a prudent balance that respects individual liberty and protects national security. prgtoken I am strongly supportive of this NDAA's ironclad commitment to our allies and pa
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-12-14

. prgtoken , I concur with the Chairman's conclusions. We worked this process as bipartisan and as open as any process in Congress. We had the markup in committee, we had the floor vote, and we had a bunch of amendments. The Senate did the same. We went to a conference committee, and we had a very robust discussion. prgtoken We had disagreements. There are a lot of things in this bill that I do not like, but we have bipartisan control here. We have the Senate controlled by the , the White House controlled by the --they have to sign the bill--and the House controlled by the s. So we worked a good compromise. prgtoken , what this bill does is it supports our troops in their efforts to defend this country and to meet our national security needs. It has a robust pay increase, it has increases in basic housing allowance, and a number of other provisions to support our troops and their families. prgtoken Critically, it solidifies our alliances with our European allies, with our allies in Asia and with Israel and our allies in the Middle East, to meet the threats that we face. prgtoken You cannot oppose this bill and claim that you support the national security of this country because this bill represents that bipartisan compromise that we worked for to get a good bill, to meet our national security needs, and again, I would emphasis, to support our troops and to support their families. prgtoken Nothing is more important to the national security of this country than the people who we ask to defend it. This bill protects them. prgtoken , I urge every Member in the body to support it, and .