mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Melissa Griffin Dalton (Executive Session)
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise to express my support for Ms. Melissa Dalton's nomination to be Under Secretary of the Air Force. prgtoken Ms. Dalton is an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career in service to the United States. She has more than two decades of experience in defense and intelligence policy, including an extensive background in Department of Defense strategy, policy, operations, processes, and workforce issues. Ms. Dalton currently serves as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs and served previously by performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. prgtoken The Armed Services Committee held a nomination hearing for Ms. Dalton 4 months ago, on January 23, and it is critical that we approve her nomination now. prgtoken If confirmed, Ms. Dalton will face a number of pressing challenges for the Air Force. The service has operated at a high tempo for the past two decades, supporting around-the-clock operations in the Middle East and around the world. This mission has strained Air Force personnel and aged the combat aircraft fleet more quickly than anticipated. This high ``op-tempo'' also challenged Air Force leaders to adequately invest in modernization efforts. With China posing new, unprecedented challenges to our airpower in the Indo-Pacific and with emerging technologies like hypersonic weapons and uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, creating new threats around the world, the Air Force must adapt quickly to stay ahead. prgtoken In particular, the Air Force must continue to strengthen and improve its acquisition system. In order to field new capabilities to match the speed of technological change, the next Under Secretary will need to take steps to ensure that the Air Force has a secure and reliable industrial base and a trained and qualified workforce. At her confirmation hearing, Ms. Dalton pledged her immediate, unwavering attention to these issues. This was an important commitment and one that I support. prgtoken If confirmed, Ms. Dalton will help lead the Air Force at a critical moment as we continue our long-term strategic competition with China and Russia. This will require thoughtful, resolute leadership with a deep understanding of the issues. Throughout her career, Ms. Dalton has developed and implemented just these sorts of leading-edge defense policies, and she reemphasized her commitment to them during her confirmation hearing. prgtoken Ms. Dalton is an outstanding nominee to serve as Under Secretary of the prgtoken Air Force, and I am proud to support her nomination. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote yes and confirm this great leader. prgtoken With that, . prgtoken .
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORT KEOGH LIVESTOCK LAB
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise today to honor the longstanding work of the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. prgtoken Today, Montana's very own Fort Keogh Livestock Range and Research Laboratory is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Since 1924, Fort Keogh has done critically important and cutting-edge research on a wide range of agricultural areas from beef and cattle to soil and drought, truly making this facility a leader in agriculture across the West. The work being done at Fort Keogh benefits not only our State's family farmers and ranchers, but all of our Nation's rural communities. prgtoken As a third-generation Montana farmer, I have seen firsthand the importance of their agricultural research to Montana's producers, and I can say with confidence that the hard work of the folks at Fort Keogh plays a key role in keeping agriculture the No. 1 industry in Montana. Every dollar that is invested in this critical research is returned to the community, and it is research that is done at this facility that informs policy decisions like those we make here. prgtoken I am proud to have consistently fought for funding for this facility, and I appreciate all of the people at Fort Keogh that have kept this facility alive for 100 years. prgtoken So thank you to all the folks that have played a role in the Fort Keogh Livestock Lab, and congratulations. I look forward to the next 100.
TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOSHUA SCOTT KONCAR
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-5-23

today I wish to recognize LTC Joshua S. Koncar, U.S. Army, for his outstanding work on behalf of the people of Illinois and the Nation. Lieutenant Colonel Koncar served as a 2021 Department of Defense legislative fellow in my Washington, DC, office and later as a U.S. Army Reserve congressional liaison from 2022-2024. Lieutenant Colonel Koncar was born in Sharon, PA. The grandson of a World War Il veteran, the son of a third-generation steelworker, and brother to a U.S. Marine, Joshua enlisted in the Army Reserve in August 2001. Joshua served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to April 2004 as an operations noncommissioned officer and attained the rank of staff sergeant before receiving a direct commission to second lieutenant in 2007. As a logistician, Joshua has served in various leadership and broadening assignments throughout his Army career. During his congressional tenure, Joshua has been integral in shaping the priorities of the U.S. Army, and as a Defense fellow, he helped me secure several provisions in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act--FY22 NDAA--that will make our country stronger and safer. During his time in my office, Joshua led my staff in orchestrating important legislative provisions for the Department of Defense. He authored sections of NDAA language, including one of my top concerns regarding modifying special and incentive pay authorities for reserve component members--Incentive Pay Parity. His contributions-- both to office morale and to our collective work--are emblematic of his phenomenal character, competence, and strong work ethic. prgtoken Joshua demonstrates a level of professionalism and hard work I have come to expect--but not take for granted--from the Department of Defense and U.S. Army soldiers. Indeed, he follows a long line of accomplished Department of Defense legislative fellows who have made impactful contributions to my office and U.S. national security policy. He distinguished himself as an Army officer, setting a high bar and providing invaluable advice and insights as he advised me on wide- ranging and complex matters under consideration before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Joshua's servant leadership showed in his work as a congressional liaison for the U.S. Army Reserve. His attention to detail and ability to effectively communicate with Congress became apparent as he successfully advanced key Army Reserve legislative initiatives and priorities. prgtoken Joshua will soon transition to his new duty assignment and attend Senior Service College at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. On behalf of my colleagues and the U.S. Congress, I thank Joshua for his dedicated service to my staff, the U.S. Army, and the Nation. Part of what makes the U.S. military the greatest in the history of the world is that servicemembers like Joshua dedicate their lives to service and sacrifice for this country. Lieutenant Colon
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , I thank the distinguished ranking member of the Oversight Committee for yielding. I also thank my colleague, the Representative from Washington, D.C who tragically and outrageously does not have full voting rights here in this Chamber, but whose arguments and points are very well received. prgtoken Madam , I am rising in stark opposition to H.R. 192, another unbelievable attempt by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to legislate specifically on the District of Columbia. We are individual Representatives duly elected by our constituents to legislate for this country and our constituents have representation, and yet the District of Columbia, who we are obsessively seeing our colleagues try and legislate on, does not have representation. prgtoken Why not look at the host of issues this country is facing? We only have so much time in this body. We are almost to the halfway point left of this term. We could be working on paid leave, decreasing maternal mortality, fully funding special education, the climate crisis, a national gun violence epidemic, women's rights, real voting rights for this country. prgtoken Give me a break. This is how we are choosing to use our time, a fifth effort to legislate specifically to the Nation's Capital, the only capital of a country that does not have full voting rights in a Federal Chamber? prgtoken This is outrageous, and it is anti-democratic. Frankly, what this also is, as we have seen this playbook before and the ranking member knows this, this is another attempt to fearmonger around national elections that are coming, that supposedly those who are voting shouldn't. We need more people to be voting. prgtoken Madam , I fiercely oppose this legislation.
THANKING JOANN FARLEY FOR HER SERVICE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
John P. Sarbanes (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2024-5-24

I rise to thank my constituent, Joann Farley, who is retiring on May 31, 2024 after over 21 years of outstanding service to the House of Representatives in financial administrative and support roles. Joann lives in Annapolis, MD, and I am proud to represent her here in Congress. prgtoken Joann is retiring after having lent her talents and skills to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for over two decades. The daughter of a U. S. Army soldier. Joann grew up on several Army bases and eventually landed in Marina, CA, where she started her federal career as an aide for the Supply Department of the Naval Postgraduate School. In August 1982, she met a young Navy Lieutenant, Norm Farley of Annapolis, MD, who decided then and there that he wanted to marry her, and the two married in 1984. As a Navy wife moving from base to base, she continued her career in various positions with the Navy, IRS, Army Research Center and Department of Veterans Affairs. She and Norm were blessed with three children: Laura in 1989, Jared in 1992 and Jacob in 2000. Eventually the family landed in the Washington. D.C. area. where Joann worked for the Department of the Air Force, the Naval Academy and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. prgtoken In March 2003, Joann began her career with the CAO as a Vendor Management and Financial Counselor, processing payments and providing financial services and optimization of resources to House offices to ensure adherence to House rules and regulations. She managed and enforced over 50 vendor contracts to ensure swift and comprehensive vendor response, safeguarding House terms and conditions. Her knowledge, experience and courteous attentiveness enabled her to be an invaluable asset to the House of Representatives. Joann also formed long-lasting friendships with her customers and colleagues, among whom she is well respected and will be dearly missed. prgtoken Joann became a proud grandmother in 2019 when Laura gave birth to twins Lilyana and CeCe, and later, granddaughter Raina was born in 2023. She and Norm recently purchased a home in Cape Coral, FL, where Joann will enjoy her retirement spending time with her family, pursuing various creative and home improvement projects, and enjoying winters in sunny Florida as a `snowbird.' prgtoken I congratulate Joann on her retirement and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking her for her distinguished service to the House and our Nation. I wish her all the best as she begins a new chapter in her life.
RECOGNIZING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-5-24

I rise today to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month. Our Nation benefits from the historical achievements and diversity of Jewish people every day, and I am proud to join many of my colleagues in celebrating May as Jewish American Heritage Month. prgtoken Since first immigrating to the United States in 1654, Jewish Americans have accomplished countless achievements. Great minds, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elie Wiesel, have made irrevocable impacts on both our culture and society. The Jewish American people continue to make our Nation proud by serving in the highest ranks of our military, achieving groundbreaking advancements in science, revolutionizing music and art, and much more. prgtoken My community of Rochester, NY, is steeped in Jewish culture. Since the mid-1800's, Jewish families have settled in the region, making Rochester their home for generations to come. Over more than 175 years, Rochester's Jewish community has played an integral role in the growth and development of our city and surrounding towns. Today, key Jewish community institutions work to enrich the lives of Rochester's Jewish and non-Jewish citizens. It is an honor to recognize this vibrant community for their devotion to Rochester's success and stability. prgtoken Throughout history, the Jewish people have proven to be resilient in their fight against persecution. It is inspiring that they continue to persevere regardless of the difficulties they face. To ensure their heritage remains preserved, we must continue to educate our youth on the extensive history of the Jewish people and their diverse cultural achievements. prgtoken While we are celebrating the contributions of the Jewish American people, we must also acknowledge the challenging times they face. Many of our Jewish brothers and sisters are impacted by the dramatic increase in antisemitism nationwide. As allies of our Jewish neighbors, we must condemn this discriminatory behavior in every instance and demand justice for those affected. The Jewish people are all too aware of the dangers that occur if hate goes unchecked. We must not and will not allow history to repeat itself. prgtoken As a devoted friend of the Jewish community, I am proud to raise my voice in recognition of Jewish American Heritage month, and I look forward to many more years of celebrating the accomplishments and legacies of Jewish Americans.
NEWSLETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN CHUCK EDWARDS
Chuck Edwards (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-5-24

I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents to bring awareness to issues surrounding the border and fentanyl crises, antisemitism and Americans' financial privacy. Dear Friend, It's been more than a year since the House passed H.R. 2. the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill in history. H.R. 2 would reimplement President 's effective border policies and end this administration's border crisis, which continues to jeopardize our national security and sovereignty. In fact, a record-breaking number of nationals from our adversary, China, are illegally crossing our border. In April, the Customs and Border Patrol found that in this fiscal year alone, they have encountered 27,583 Chinese nationals, a nearly 8,000 percent increase from fiscal year 2021. With the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), border security is paramount to national security and I will not relent in the fight to secure America's borders. I recently spoke on the House floor about how the fentanyl pouring in through our borders has taken lives in our own communities in the mountains and urged that this administration put the American people first and close our southern border once and for all. The U.S. must stand with Israel As our ally, Israel, is defending itself from terrorist organizations, it is critical that we continue to stand with and support Israel. The president recently announced he would stop military aid to Israel at a time when this aid is needed to target Hamas terrorists and avoid more civilian casualties in what looks like an attempt to appease the growing pro-Hamas sentiment among the left. In light of this administration's misguided decision to halt military aid to Israel, a bipartisan group of colleagues and I demanded that the president provide answers on his decision to withhold shipments to Israel. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued baseless arrest warrants for Israeli officials, equating them to the terrorists who committed the horrific attacks of Oct. 7. The ICC's decision is great news to terrorists around the globe and is a slap in the face to the only free-standing democracy in the Middle East. If I have my way, the United States will never abandon Israel, especially not while it is fighting for the right to exist and the rights of Jewish people everywhere, and no country should recognize any legitimacy of a pro-terrorist international court. Protecting Americans' right to financial privacy President released a framework to evaluate the establishment of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), which c
CELEBRATING THE BIRTHDAY OF RON HEYMANN
Aaron Bean (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-5-24

I rise today to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Mr. Ron Heymann, although he doesn't look a day over 45, I think the secret must be the early morning workouts at the YMCA. prgtoken Mr. Heymann's life reads like the All-American story. Born on June 2, 1934, to Florence and Russel Heymann, Ron grew up in New Jersey where he attended Phillipsburg-Easton High and Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers in 1956, Ron served his country in the Army Reserves in El Paso, Texas and at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. prgtoken On June 22, 1959, Ron married his sweetheart, Barbara. They will soon celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Ron and Barbara are blessed with two children, Carol and Ron Jr and a daughter-in-law Raegan. prgtoken After his service to our country, Mr. Heymann spent most of his career working for Bell Telephone. He left the telecommunications world for a stint in politics, working for Governor William Cahill of New Jersey, as the Director of Motor Vehicles, and as a consultant to President Richard Nixon's administration. Ron often says he did such a good job eliminating bureaucracy at the New Jersey DMV, the Heymann cars never passed another vehicle inspection until the family moved to the free state of Florida upon Ron's retirement in 1991, taking up full time residence on Amelia Island. prgtoken Since that time, Ron has been very active in the Fernandina Beach community. He worked as a docent at the Amelia Island Museum of History, directed traffic at the Presbyterian Vacation Bible School, and is an avid supporter of local charities. Of course, he has also spent hours shuttling his three grandchildren Megan, Kate, and Jack around the Island. On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Florida, I thank him for his support to the community, his leadership in the Party, and his dedication to his family. prgtoken , if you want Mr. Heymann's secret to staying youthful, you too can join me in an early morning workout at the YMCA and wish Mr. Heymann a very special 90th birthday.
COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE U.S. BORDER PATROL
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2024-5-28

with the introduction of H. Res. 1261, I join my colleagues on the House Committee on Homeland Security in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the United States Border Patrol. It is important that we honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol and their families, past and present. prgtoken Since the U.S. Border Patrol's creation on May 28, 1924, Border Patrol agents have shown commitment and dedication to safeguarding our Nation by securing and protecting our borders. prgtoken The U.S. Border Patrol has seen its mission expand greatly since its first stations opened in Detroit, Michigan, and El Paso, Texas, in 1924. Congress expanded its duties to patrolling the seacoast in 1925. U.S. Border Patrol's Air Operations officially commenced in 1941. prgtoken The tragic events of September 11, 2001, underscored the importance of homeland security and led to significant enhancements in U.S. Border Patrol operations. prgtoken With each new mission set, the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol have consistently risen to the challenge. As we mark the agency's centennial, we particularly remember the 156 Border Patrol agents who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. prgtoken The United States Border Patrol has overcome significant challenges while protecting Americans and our national security. I take this opportunity to thank the nearly 20,000 agents currently protecting the 6,000 miles of international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters. I also celebrate the agents who came before them and the families who endure great sacrifices and provide unwavering support to those who serve in the United States Border Patrol.
HONORING LEON'S TRIATHLON
Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2024-5-28

it is with sincere admiration that I take this time to recognize one of Northwest Indiana's finest organizations, Leon's Heroes, as it will once again host the annual Leon's Triathlon, widely known as ``America's Race.'' This outstanding display of patriotism and athleticism honors our veterans and active service members, with a special focus on those who have sustained injuries during their time in service. This year's event will be held at Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, and will include static displays, festivities, and opening ceremonies leading up to the start of the race on Sunday, June 2, 2024. prgtoken Founded in 1983 by Leon Wolek, an avid triathlete and native of Hobart, Indiana, Leon's Triathlon has drawn participants from across the country and has been a source of immense pride for the Northwest Indiana community. Having grown up admiring his father who served in the military, and spending time with and listening to the stories of other veterans at American Legion Post 454 in New Chicago, Indiana, Leon was compelled to ensure that the many brave individuals who have defended our nation throughout its history received the recognition they deserve. With this idea in mind, Leon's Triathlon emerged. prgtoken Originally, the race took place in Leon's hometown of Hobart at the Izaak Walton League before its popularity and corresponding growth required its relocation. The city of Hammond, Indiana, was inspired by the organization's unwavering commitment to those who serve and have served our country and proudly welcomed the special event to the city. Fittingly, a portion of the race now runs along the Gold Star Memorial Highway, a designation which Leon's Heroes was instrumental in securing, and is dedicated to Indiana families who have lost loved ones in service. Leon's Triathlon has seen immense growth in participation since its inception, and many of the participants are veterans and active military members. As participation has grown so too has the number of events, which now includes additional events throughout the year. Since 2021, Leon's Heroes has also hosted an annual obstacle course event which takes place every September at Indiana Dunes National Park. This event recalls the attacks of September 11, 2001, while honoring our veterans and the many first responders who came to aid our fellow citizens on that tragic day. prgtoken , throughout its history, Leon's Heroes has remained steadfast in its commitment to honoring the legacy of our military members, past and present. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in commending the organization for its outstanding dedication to the community, to our veterans, to our active service members, and to our first responders. Leon Wolek and the many devoted volunteers involved with this extraordinary organization are truly worthy of our highest praise.