mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING CHINO CHIEF OF POLICE WES SIMMONS
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today to honor Wes Simmons and his 28 years of public service and dedication to the City of Chino. The calling to be a police officer is an incredibly difficult and important vocation of public service. Those who risk their lives for the good of the community are worthy of the highest respect and appreciation of our district, State, and nation. prgtoken Chief Simmons joined the Chino Police Department in 1995 after graduating from the California State University at Fullerton. Throughout his distinguished career, Chief Simmons served as Police Officer, Field Training Officer, SWAT Team Operator, Corporal, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. He was appointed as the Chief of Police in July 2019. prgtoken Additionally, Chief Simmons graduated with the 255th Session of the FBI National Academy and Class 60 of California's POST Command College. He has a master's degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and completed the Harvard Kennedy School's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. prgtoken This July, Chief Simmons is officially retiring. I hope that he gets to rest and enjoy time with his family. We are grateful for his service to our community. prgtoken For his outstanding accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize Chief of Police Wes Simmons. His years of civic service and commitment to the city and the people of Chino are worthy of the highest commendation.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Lloyd Doggett (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-7-12

a strong military is certainly essential at a time when we face so many threats, from Russia's war crimes in Ukraine to threats from the People's Republic of China and North Korea to constant cyberattacks. prgtoken Paying for this security is very costly. It accounts for almost one- half of every dollar discretionarywise that we approve each year in the Congress. Of those dollars, almost one-half of the defense dollars goes to defense contractors--billions and billions of dollars. prgtoken While designed to ensure that we get more national security, this national defense authorization should also be doing more to provide taxpayer security--security from being ripped off by price gouging and by war profiteering. prgtoken As currently written, this bill provides insufficient protection for taxpayers regarding the private defense industry, which can too often extract monopoly prices and demand basically a blank check for weapons and military supplies that are essential to our servicemembers. prgtoken An industry that is basically self-policing itself without much competition and without much of a watchdog inevitably leads to overcharging. Since the 1990s, there has been massive consolidation of defense contractors, and at the same time, the Pentagon has cut tens of thousands of contract negotiators and watchdogs, leading to less oversight, less transparency, and too little accountability. prgtoken Overpricing for our military can impact the readiness of our Armed Forces, the well-being of our servicemen and -women, and certainly the resources of American taxpayers. prgtoken Let me give you just a couple of examples, . A woodruff key, which is a one-half inch semicircular disk that is used to connect machine parts to rotating shafts, is available at Walmart or you can go online to Amazon and buy one for about 10 cents a key. The Department of Defense recently bought some of these for $300 per key. prgtoken The Pentagon paid over $10,000 for an oil switch when a commercial equivalent was available for about $300. It has spent over $32,000 for an oil pump kit when one was commercially available for about $3,600. prgtoken These prices just keep soaring. Decades ago, the original price of a Stinger missile was $25,000. Now it is up to over $400,000. prgtoken I have submitted two modest amendments to try to rein in some of the waste and abuse and to, quite literally, provide our military more bang for the buck. Both of these have been endorsed by the Project On Government Oversight, by the R Street Institute, and by Taxpayers for Common Sense. prgtoken One would simply establish a panel to review major contracts to determine whether fair and reasonable prices were paid and make recommendations to better ensure that the Pentagon gets the best possible deal. The second would strengthen transparency and provide government contracting officers access to sales data that they need to make informed, reasonable decisions in negoti
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2023-7-12

folks that are back in Delaware are probably wondering as they are watching on C-SPAN, What is our Senator doing there giving a floor speech and talking about a woman from Wyoming? There is a Wyoming, DE. It is in Kent County, which is just south of Dover. We have great restaurants, plenty of restaurants. In fact, the Senator from Wyoming described that Svilar's--is it Svilar's? I think it is Svilar's--still exists. prgtoken We have a huge Air Force base in Dover, the Dover Air Force Base. They fly huge airplanes and have a mortuary there to receive the remains of our fallen heroes. That is part of our State. We just have very strong support for military personnel and all things Air Force. I am Navy. prgtoken So it is the idea that we have a woman here--you know, it is one thing for a guy to have done some of this stuff that Dessie did, but it is another to have a woman in World War II volunteer and enlist on the heels of the attack on Pearl Harbor and to go on and serve, really, with distinction. prgtoken In my family, we believe in the Navy blue. My dad was a chief petty officer, and my uncles were chief petty officers. My mother's youngest brother died in a kamikaze attack on his aircraft carrier, and my grandmother got the Gold Star for the Great Green Fleet Navy blue. So I just get inspired by Dessie's heroism that we are hearing about here today. prgtoken For the people who might have been listening carefully when Senator Barrasso was talking about the restaurant that she opened, he said that, when the people were hungry, she fed them. That is a line out of the Bible. It is actually a line out of Matthew 25: When I was hungry, you did feed me. When I was naked, you did clothe me. When I was sick and in prison, you did visit me. When I was thirsty, you did give me drink. prgtoken This is a woman who not only served her country in uniform and who not only ran a successful business--it sounds like--for over 100 years for family but who actually felt a moral responsibility to make sure that people did not go hungry. prgtoken I also am the senior --I am the senior, actually, member of a committee called Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. We have jurisdiction, among other things on that committee, over the Postal Service. We have, literally, tens of thousands of people who serve in the Postal Service across the country today. It is a tough job and sometimes a thankless job, but we are grateful to them for their service. A lot of them, it turns out, served in the military. They may have served in the Korean war, and they may have served in Vietnam; they may have served in Afghanistan, and they may have served in Iraq. But they wore the uniform of our country, and they wore or wear the uniform of the Postal Service. In either instance, they are serving this country. They are serving their communities and are doing so, in some cases, at great risk to themselves. prgtoken There i
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership on the committee and the work that has been done. Also, a special shout-out to Chairman Waltz, with whom I have the pleasure of working on the Readiness Subcommittee. prgtoken Throughout the creation of this bill and the previous four bills, the subcommittee has focused on our core mission: ensuring America's military servicemembers have the resources and training to execute their missions and return home safely to their families. prgtoken The bill that advanced from the subcommittee made great strides to improve the housing, childcare, and barracks for the servicemembers and their families; develop resilient installations capable of withstanding the challenges of natural events; reduce the consumption of petroleum fuel and address the impacts of climate change while ensuring our forces are prepared to face the challenges and threats wherever and whenever they may arise. prgtoken There are, of course, still areas for improvement. We must do more to fully factor sustainment and maintenance into everything we do. We cannot be distracted by the purchase of shiny, new equipment if that equipment cannot be sustained for the mission when it is needed. prgtoken We must also continue to fight price gouging by defense contractors, which takes taxpayer dollars intended to equip our forces and redirects them to corporate profits. We will continue to tackle these issues, but I remain proud of what this committee has done. prgtoken I am, however, concerned that the majority has forced into this bill controversial social and political issues that do not advance our national security. Unreasonable demands which roll back efforts to ensure our military reflects the country that it serves or to prepare the military for the future are the absolute wrong direction. I hope that we eliminate these divisive issues and that they will not be included in the final bill. prgtoken We will work together, therefore, to prioritize the authorizations that our armed services need and our servicemembers and military families deserve.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-12

this bill continues the long, proud tradition of bipartisan work by the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and it is the result of our commitment to work through and share responsibility on these tough decisions necessary to manage our Nation's military risk. prgtoken I especially want to thank my chairman, Chairman Rob Wittman, and his staff for their support in building this strong bipartisan bill. prgtoken , this bill carefully addresses affordability and achievability of the current and future modernization needs of our force. At the same time, this bill continues the oversight necessary to ensure accountability and responsible execution of DOD programs, including: prgtoken Tactical strike-fighter and rotary-wing aircraft programs to improve program management, reduce operational risk, remedy deficiencies, and support sufficient capability and capacity to meet current and future requirements; prgtoken The Department's manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and how we are meeting global requirements for these systems that we have invested in; and prgtoken Careful watch over the Army's ambitious modernization strategy and the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 with its supporting modernization priorities. prgtoken Critically important for the United States, as well as for our friends and allies around the world, this bill continues what we started 4 years ago--before the beginning of the Ukrainian war--to identify and buy down modernization and safety risks in our munitions industrial base. prgtoken , this bill also includes language from the Military Industrial National Defense Supply Act, the MINDS Act, a bill that I introduced earlier this year, that talks about, once again, making sure that we collectively are working together. Additionally, this year, along with our most trusted allies and international partners, we are ensuring the security of our supply chain. prgtoken The world has changed, , and now the United States and its allies are truly an arsenal of democracies. This legislation, therefore, will help stabilize America's defense industrial base production and increase the security of both America and our allies' critical supply chains. prgtoken Finally, I thank the subcommittee's professional staff: Jay, Dave, Heath, Michael, and Max, and certainly the personal staff of my office who helped put this together to make this bill truly a functional, bipartisan bill. I urge its support.
NOMINATION OF MYONG J. JOUN
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I come to the floor today to speak in support of the confirmation of Judge Myong Joun to the U.S. Court for the District of Massachusetts. prgtoken In a few minutes, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on Judge Joun's nomination. And this afternoon, once we have invoked cloture, we will vote on his confirmation. prgtoken When Judge Joun was a child, his family immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea with only a few dollars in their pockets. He was raised by his single mother who earned a living as a seamstress. He attended New York City Public Schools, served in the Massachusetts National Guard, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Suffolk University Law School in Boston. prgtoken In private practice, including at his own law firm, Judge Joun litigated extensively before the Massachusetts State and Federal courts, eventually earning an appointment as a justice of the Boston Municipal Court. prgtoken Judge Joun has shown a steadfast commitment to civil rights and access to justice. In private practice, he often took on cases involving police misconduct, wage theft, and housing violations. As one of his many colleagues writing in on his behalf put it, Judge Joun's ``professional life has been devoted to working with people who need legal assistance but are unable to navigate the system because of language, financial, or educational barriers.'' prgtoken Judge Joun has also consistently and generously given his time to service, holding leadership roles in organizations such as the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the National Lawyers Guild. For many years, he has taught trial advocacy to law students. prgtoken Over the course of his career, Judge Joun has exemplified the highest standards of the legal profession. He is a dedicated public servant who will bring knowledge, experience, and compassion to the Massachusetts Federal district court. As the first Asian-American man and first Korean American to serve on the district court of Massachusetts, Judge Joun will be a trailblazer. I have no doubt that he will continue to serve the people of Massachusetts with distinction, and I look forward to his confirmation. prgtoken Senator Warren and I absolutely endorse his candidacy with the strongest possible recommendation to the full Senate, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on cloture and on his nomination.
ISRAEL
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-7-13

on behalf of the Senate and House Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs, it is with tremendous pride that I have the opportunity to welcome and honor my friend His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, ahead of his address to a Joint Meeting of Congress. prgtoken Nearly 3 years ago, we witnessed the historic signing of the Abraham Accords, and in that time, the Accords have transformed the Middle East, enhanced Israel's security, created economic opportunities for our partners and allies in the region, and advanced vital American security interests. On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, we recognize the profound possibilities the Accords offer to Israel and its Arab neighbors alike. prgtoken In 2022, Senators James Lankford, Cory Booker, Joni Ernst, and I launched the bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, alongside the House Abraham Accords Caucus, founded by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Brad Schneider, Ann Wagner, and David Trone. Together, we are working to build on the success of these historic agreements, help encourage and deepen partnerships among Israel and our Arab partners, and widen the circle of peace to new countries. We have advanced bipartisan legislation to deepen security cooperation between the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners and are developing initiatives to further cooperative and sustainable development partnerships in the areas of energy security, water infrastructure, trade, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. prgtoken In January, seven members of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus traveled to Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Israel, the first-ever congressional delegation to visit these four nations since the signing of the Accords, where we saw firsthand how normalization is transforming the region. President Herzog believes in this vision, declaring: ``The Abraham Accords proved above all else how the courage of leaders and nations can open a window to a world that had previously seemed unattainable, and how much space there is for momentum and growth when we choose to change paradigms and learn about each other.'' As we celebrate 75 years of the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Israel, we are also committed to advancing Israel's integration into the Middle East in pursuit of a more peaceful region. prgtoken President Herzog, we welcome you on this historic occasion and reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our two nations.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Sara Jacobs (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-13

. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Trans servicemembers have served and served successfully for years. prgtoken In fact, trans people are even more likely to serve in the U.S. military than cisgender people, so it is mind-boggling that we would want to deter and discriminate against a group of people who have proven their patriotism and deep commitment to our country. prgtoken All of us are well aware that we are facing steep military recruitment and retention challenges. This amendment will worsen this crisis by pushing transgender servicemembers out of the military. That is because gender-affirming care is necessary and medically backed. prgtoken Care that gives you the ability to be your true, authentic self is primary care, and it is not something that should be easily dismissed. prgtoken If our servicemembers constantly worry about their right to exist, their ability to serve our country is jeopardized, and it harms our readiness and ability to respond quickly and effectively to national security challenges. prgtoken I am not alone on this. Secretary Austin agrees that allowing people to serve as their authentic self is the right and the smart thing to do for our military operations. prgtoken That is why I urge my colleagues to do the right thing for our values and our readiness and oppose this harmful amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
RECOGNIZING TERRY E. SHLIMBAUM, MD
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-13

I rise today to recognize Dr. Terry Shlimbaum as he retires after 40 years as a family physician, most recently serving as Chief Medical Officer for the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center. His dedication, contributions, and accomplishments are truly deserving of this body's recognition. prgtoken Joining the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ) Community Health Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Shlimbaum brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the provider at a critical time. His leadership and approach helped guide the YNACJ Community Health Center and the community through the pandemic. His efforts to expand COVID testing and vaccination centers, and to ensure efficient test results and accountability of vaccine doses were essential to the well-being of our communities during an uncertain time. In addition to his COVID-19 measures, Dr. Shlimbaum also continually met the growing needs of the VNACJ Community Health Center, expanding staffing and access to vital services. prgtoken Dr. Shlimbaum received his Doctor of Medicine degree from New York Medical College and his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Harvard University. Prior to joining the VNACJ Community Health Center he held leadership roles at ArchCare, Summit Medical Group, and Hunterdon Medical Center, among others. Additionally, he has served on several boards and organizations, including the New Jersey Medical Society, and has been recognized for his contributions to the public health community. prgtoken , once again, please join me in congratulating Dr. Terry Shlimbaum on his retirement and thanking him for his years of service.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-13

I rise to reintroduce the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act. prgtoken The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue coins in commemoration of the ninth time that the United States will host the modern Olympics and the third time that our Nation will host the Paralympics. prgtoken The proceeds from the sale of these coins will support the hosting of the 2028 Games and aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States. It is also worth noting that this bill would come at no cost to the Federal Government. prgtoken As you may know, the United States is one of the only countries with an Olympic Committee that does not receive funding from the Federal Government. All U.S.-hosted Olympic Games must instead rely on corporate partnerships, proceeds from broadcast agreements and ticket sales, and philanthropic contributions. prgtoken Historically, Congress has authorized commemorative coins to honor the Olympic Games and Olympic athletes, including for the 1984, 1996, and 2002 Olympic Games in the United States. The 2028 games are 5 years from today, and preparations for this grand event are already underway in the region. This legislation can help ensure the 2028 games has the resources necessary to be a world-class event. prgtoken I thank Senators Feinstein and Romney for introducing this legislation with me in the Senate, as well as Representative Sherman for leading it in the House. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure that Los Angeles, CA and our entire Nation are able to put on a successful and memorable 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.