mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING ANDRES SADA
Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-7-11

I rise to honor the service and accomplishments of Andres Sada, my intern who is transitioning from my office to continue his mission. prgtoken A Florida native with Panamanian origins, Andres came to my office ready to impact the American legislative system. While in my office, Andres has pushed my agendas to great lengths--from drafting memos, to organizing information, and researching data. prgtoken In our time together, I have recognized that Andres is a force in policy. His passion has been powerful over the semester as we have fought for the lives of underserved and disadvantaged communities. His commitment to international affairs has led Andres to organizing events regarding Latin American Politics at the George Washington University. Andres has successfully piloted the first GW Pride MUN conference for Out in International Affairs. Andres has and will continue to make a difference and leave his mark on public policy as he continues to fight for a better system. prgtoken On behalf of Florida's 24th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Andres Sada for his exemplary accomplishments, dedication to public service, and trailblazing leadership.
RECOGNIZING JULIA ANDREWS ON HER 95TH BIRTHDAY
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-7-11

I rise today to recognize a devoted wife, dedicated mother, and outstanding public servant, Mrs. Julia Andrews. An event celebrating her 95th birthday was held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. prgtoken Mrs. Andrews is a native of Dougherty County, Georgia and she has given her life's work in service to her country. She dedicated 34 years working to support America's national security as a civilian employee at the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base. While she was providing outstanding service at the base, she did not do so alone; when Mrs. Andrews began her tenure in 1954, she joined her husband, Goliath Andrews, in service there who began his own 35-year career at the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base in 1952. Truly, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews exemplified patriotism and a sense of service to which all Americans aspire. prgtoken It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Answers has paid her rent and she has paid it well. Her commitment to service is evident both in her career and in her retirement when she continued to seek out ways to serve her community and her country. A lifetime voting , Mrs. Andrews has been an endearing and familiar face to the residents of Dougherty County during election season. Year after year, Mrs. Andrews happily served as an election volunteer, working to help the citizens of Dougherty County successfully execute their civic duty. While exercising that civic duty, Mrs. Andrews' fellow citizens enjoyed and benefited from her warmth, kindness, and zeal. Undoubtedly, those qualities of hers have touched the lives of many whom she has volunteered to assist and has strengthened our democracy in a multitude of quiet but powerful and important ways. prgtoken Mrs. Andrews is a woman after God's own heart. She is a member of the Greater Third Kiokee Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. She has been and continues to be a stalwart of that Church, having become a member 82 years ago in 1941. The model of Christian virtue that she demonstrates by the way she lives her life has surely touched the lives of so many people and has been an inspiration to generations of fellow members of the Greater Third Kiokee Baptist Church. She truly embodies the words of Acts 9:36: ``She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.'' prgtoken Mrs. Andrews has accomplished many things in her life, but none of these would have been possible without her faith, the love and support of her husband, Goliath Andrews, and their 4 children, Vincent Andrews, Cynthia Buckley, Janice Thomas, and the late Larry Andrews. prgtoken Mrs. Andrews is the proud matriarch of a loving and growing family that now spans prgtoken across several generations. Many members of that family lovingly came to Arlington, Virginia on June 17, 2023, to celebrate her. I have no doubt that the
Manhattan Project (Executive Session)
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-12

today, there are new revelations, new evidence about the extent of the radioactive contamination that has plagued the St. Louis area since the forties. prgtoken Where did this radioactive contamination come from? Simple, it came from the Federal Government. Beginning in the forties in the Manhattan Project, St. Louis was a center of development for uranium. But what did the Federal Government do when the Manhattan Project concluded? Well, we know more today after 15,000 pages of documents that had previously not been released were obtained by a parents' rights group in St. Louis and shared with news organizations. prgtoken Here is what we learned. The Federal Government gave this radioactive waste, fobbed it off, onto companies in the region--who did what?--who poisoned the water, who poisoned the soil, who poisoned the air, and the government knew about it. Oh, yes, they knew about it. They knew about it for decades, and for year upon year upon year, they played down the threats. They tried to hide the evidence. They told the people of St. Louis: Oh, everything is fine. Don't be worried. Don't worry at all. It is all fine. prgtoken Meanwhile, kids were playing along a creek filled with radioactive waste. Kids were going to school in buildings contaminated by the waste. Residents were coming out to houses, building homes in areas contaminated. prgtoken And then the government wonders why the levels of cancer and autoimmune diseases and rare genetic disorders have spiked in the St. Louis region. Oh, we know. We know. It is because of the radioactive material from the Federal Government dumped into the St. Louis water and air and soil. prgtoken Let's just review what we have learned. We now know that as early as 1949--that is right, 1949--the Federal Government paid a contractor--a private contractor--to dispose of waste. But instead, that contractor left the radioactive waste in steel drums sitting out in the open in the elements, right next to a creek called Coldwater Creek, familiar to just about everybody who lives in the St. Louis region. prgtoken It is familiar because whole housing developments and neighborhoods and--oh, yeah--schools have been built along Coldwater Creek. As early as the forties, that radioactive waste begins to leech out of those steel drums into the water. prgtoken And it gets worse. The same Federal Government paid another contractor to dispose of other waste. And what did they do? Rather than dispose of it, they drove it to a public landfill. And in the early seventies, they just dumped the waste right into the landfill. They dumped it right into the landfill. ``How did this happen?'' you might ask. Well, as it turns out, that is a violation of Federal law. prgtoken You think? prgtoken But what did the Federal Government do about it in the seventies, when they learned that this government-paid contractor had carried out this illegal act? Did they prosecute him? Did the
RECOGNIZING THE BALD EAGLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today with immense pride to recognize the extraordinary achievement of the Bald Eagle Area High School baseball team. prgtoken On June 17 at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, this team ascended to the PIAA AA throne after defeating Mount Union 11-0. BEA completed a 3-game sweep of Mount Union prgtoken this season, finishing with a 22-4 record. prgtoken Senior Tyler Serb threw a 2-hit shutout and went 3-for-3, while the Eagles pounded out 10 hits in 4 at-bats. prgtoken , as an alum of Bald Eagle, I congratulate my alma mater team and the coaching staff on their hard work and impressive season. The team showed true grit and determination throughout the season as they worked their way to the State championship. prgtoken Congratulations again on this very impressive victory. Go Eagles.
Tribute to Silas James Hogg (Executive Session)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Silas James Hogg. I want to introduce Silas to you, , to the American people and to my colleagues in the Senate. prgtoken I would love to be able to put his photograph up here because he is a fine-looking young man, but for privacy reasons, I have decided not to. prgtoken Silas and I go to the same church, so, in some ways, we have kind of grown up together. His mom and dad are Jeff and Shannon Hogg, two wonderful people, two great parents. Silas has a sister named Ellie Grace. Ellie Grace is splendid in her own right. Maybe someday I will come down to talk about Ellie Grace, but today I want to talk about Silas. prgtoken Silas is a rising eighth grader. He just finished the seventh grade. Next year, he is going to attend the Brighthouse Learning Academy. prgtoken In his spare time, he likes to play with his mom and dad and sister. He is very close to all three of them. He has a motorized bike that he likes to ride around his neighborhood. He likes to play LEGOs. He likes to play video games. He has three pets: two dogs and one cat. Toby and Milo are the pups. Kahn is the cat. Kahn probably rules the roost. prgtoken Silas, as I alluded to, is--I hope you are listening, Silas. Silas is whip-smart. He is kind. He is special in every way, and he is what cool looks like. prgtoken Why am I talking about Silas? I just want to thank him. Over the break, Silas gave me a present. It was heartfelt from him, I know, and it was heartfelt when I received it. prgtoken First, he gave it to me in this envelope. It was very safe. He stapled it together. He gave me a pen. Silas knows I am always losing pens. And he gave me--we are still talking about what it is, but it is a glass stone or crystal. We are in the process of researching it. prgtoken But, Silas, I can't tell you how much this meant to me and does mean to me, my new pen--we are not going to lose it; I am going to put it right here--and my new lucky stone. prgtoken You are special, Silas. You are special in many, many ways. And I want you to know, Silas, that I am bringing back home to you--in thanks for your gift, I am going to give you a gift. I am going to give you a gift of the seal of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Silas is one of Louisiana's best and brightest. He has challenges-- gosh, we all do--but he rises above them every day. prgtoken Thank you, Silas.
CELEBRATING ALASKA RAILROAD'S CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-7-12

the Alaska Railroad Corporation-- ARRC--is a renowned institution in my State, and I would like to first congratulate the Alaska Railroad on its 100-year birthday and take a few minutes to discuss the immense impact the railroad has had not only within Alaska, but prgtoken also across our Nation. The Alaska Railroad, its builders, operators, and leaders have been foundational to Alaska's development for a century. Throughout its storied history, the railroad has supported war efforts, transported passengers between Alaska's largest cities, helped build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, invested in real estate, and facilitated tourism and commerce across miles of my State's remote and wild landscapes. prgtoken It took decades of twists and turns before the Alaska Railroad Corporation charged forth. What would later become the ARRC laid the first track in Alaska in 1903, starting in Seward and extending 50 miles north. In 1914, the U.S. Congress, acknowledging the national importance of expanding the railroad, funded construction and operations from Seward to Fairbanks at an estimated construction cost of $35 million. prgtoken On July 15, 1923, President Warren G. Harding drove a golden spike into the ground at Nenana, uniting the track and marking the completion of the Alaska Railroad. During World War II, from 1940-1943, the railroad played a key role in moving military and civilian supplies that were essential in supporting the war efforts. In 1943, two tunnels were built through the Chugach Mountains to allow rail access to Whittier, a military port and fuel depot essential to the Nation's defense. This important partnership with the U.S. military continues to this day. prgtoken In 1962, the railroad established its first car-barge service in Whittier, followed by train-ship service, revolutionizing Alaska by enabling rail cars from the lower 48 to be shipped to any point along the Alaska Railroad. In the early to mid-1970s, the railroad supported construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; shipping and storing pipeline between Valdez, Seward, and Fairbanks, from where it was then trucked to the North Slope. In 1981, the railroad entered into agreements with Fairbanks and Anchorage school district career centers for a tour guide program that trained high school students to serve as hosts onboard summer passenger trains. prgtoken In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the authorization of the transfer of the Alaska Railroad to the State of Alaska. Shortly thereafter, the Alaska Railroad Corporation was born. By 1996, the ARRC showed a profit of $8.0 million and passenger ridership had grown to 512,000. Former Governor Bill Sheffield became CEO in 1997. In the early 2000s, the Alaska Railroad Corporation's real estate operations exceeded $11 million in profits for the first time and a web-based passenger reservation system was implemented. Simultaneously, the Alaska Railroad began a program
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Ann Wagner (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which addresses the shocking rise in child sexual abuse and exploitation in the United States and around the world. prgtoken Last year, there were over 32 million reports of online child sexual abuse material, an 89 percent increase since 2019. prgtoken The Pentagon's Combating Trafficking in Persons Office coordinates vital programs to prevent human trafficking, bring perpetrators to justice, and to protect victims. prgtoken My amendment will direct this office to analyze ways that the Department can better combat child sexual abuse and to recommend educational programs for servicemembers to identify and report exploitation, both online and offline, to law enforcement. prgtoken I thank the chair and the ranking member for their hard work on this legislation, and I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense bipartisan amendment.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today in support of my amendment, No. 44, which is included in en bloc No. 1. prgtoken This amendment aims to establish a working group that will explore the potential applications of blockchain technology, smart contracts, and a distributed ledger technology to enhance efficiencies and functions within the DOD. prgtoken While blockchain technology is a relatively recent innovation, it has already proven its value in both private and public organizations, enabling cost reductions, supply chain optimization, improved traceability efforts, and so much more. DOD can benefit from numerous applications where blockchain or distributed ledger technology can save both time and money. prgtoken The proposed working group will consist of officials within the DOD, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, relevant private-sector entities, and academic institutions. By assembling this working group, the DOD will initiate the evaluation of how blockchain, smart contracts, and distributed ledger technologies can be effectively utilized to ultimately yield taxpayer savings. prgtoken , I thank Chairman Rogers for his work on the underlying bill, and I urge adoption of this amendment.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the committee and the prgtoken ranking member for their strong work in crafting this national defense authorization bill. I am always proud to support the defense of this Nation and the airmen and women at Little Rock Air Force base and the members of the Arkansas National Guard. prgtoken This legislation comes at an important time. It protects us and our allied interests from a rapidly expanding China and from increasing Iranian and Russian influence in the Middle East. prgtoken While we continue to do our focus on Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, countering the Chinese Communists, we must not lose focus on our strategic interests and our allies in the Middle East and our continued fight against a toxic mix of radical ISIS, al-Qaida, and Shia militia that are threatening the communities of the Gulf and our military assets. I am delighted that my amendment countering the Iranian assaults on our military was ruled in order. prgtoken I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for this important work on this legislation and our 63rd annual successful year in supporting our military strategy and our troops.
Introductory Statement on S. 2274
Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican, WY) \u2014 2023-7-12

it is my real honor today to join Senator Barrasso of Wyoming and Senator Carper of Delaware in support of legislation to rename the Shoshoni, WY, Post Office the Dessie A. Bebout Post Office. prgtoken Wyoming is full of exceptional women, and Dessie was surely one of them. In the years following the Pearl Harbor attack, Dessie was one of the first women to enlist in the WAVES, the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services. prgtoken Dessie traveled by train across the country to New York City for basic training. She was later stationed in Seattle for 2\1/2\ years, where she was responsible for recording the arrival and departure of sailors to and from the Pacific Fleet. prgtoken Dessie then married Herbert ``Hugh'' Bebout, also a Wyoming native, and, in 1945, they moved back to Wyoming to start their life together. They raised five children, and today their family has grown to 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. prgtoken In 1962, Dessie became the postmaster of the Shoshoni post office. Her exemplary service was recognized when she was awarded the Order of the Vest, which is the highest honor given to postmasters. prgtoken Dessie Bebout passed away in May of this year at the age of 102 years. She lived up to what it means to be part of the Greatest Generation. It is very fitting that we rename the Shoshoni Post Office after Dessie Bebout. It serves as a small token of our appreciation for her service to Wyoming and our country. prgtoken Now I would like to yield the floor to the senior Senator from Wyoming, John Barrasso, whose inspired idea to name the post office in Shoshoni after Dessie Bebout brings us here today.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-7-12

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I will state for the record that I certainly have no objection to defending Social Security and Medicare. As a matter of fact, for, I think, six Congresses in a row, I have introduced legislation, which was originally drawn up with my good friend John Delaney, a former ic Member, on doing just that, on trying to save Social Security. prgtoken What we proposed is what we did back in 1983 that actually worked, that extended the life of Social Security for almost half a century, which would be to actually do a commission and make a set of reasonable reforms. I would put revenue on the table. Personally, I think that has to be part of it. It certainly was then. prgtoken Again, my friends haven't been very serious about reforming Social Security, in my view. To be fair, I don't think anybody has been. We have been trying to get people to look at this problem for a long time. prgtoken I invite my friend from New York or any of my ic colleagues to look at what we have proposed--again, originally with a ic cosponsor. It is the only way we are going to get there. It is going to have to be a bipartisan sort of deal. prgtoken That is what Ronald Reagan, Tip O'Neill, and Howard Baker did back in that timeframe. We should do the same thing. prgtoken To say we are not interested in Medicare and Social Security is simply wrong. Again, I am the last guy probably to say that to because I have consistently put out a proposal to try and move forward in that regard. prgtoken I will say this. In 1983, when they saved it, we were within 2 months of it going broke--not going broke but having to make the cuts that you make to adjust your outflow to the revenue coming in. We have 10 years. We ought to take care of that. prgtoken Unfortunately, nobody or not enough people seem to be interested. That includes the President of the United States, who, back in 1983, actually voted for that commission to be created and then voted to accept its recommendations. The current White House says it doesn't want to do any commissions and politicizes the issue. prgtoken I see this on both sides of the aisle, , where people tell us they want to protect Social Security. If you want to protect it, Mr then you have to legislate on it because it is steadily becoming less solvent over the years. prgtoken Also, to my friend from New York's remark about the focus on military spending, I just would point out to the House that the total budget in the NDAA that is proposed this year is actually the one the President recommended. Personally, I think it is too low. I would have gone higher. I will be the first to tell you that, . prgtoken The number that the committee chose is the President's number. So, for those of my friends who are critical of how much is being spent, I would suggest you direct your concerns to the White House because the Appropriations Committee took the Preside