mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Judicial Nominations (Executive Calendar)
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-5-18

I would like to speak for just a few minutes here. prgtoken No. 1, the judge we just confirmed, I think to the 11th Judicial Circuit, Ms. Abudu, is an example of the system being broken. This nominee, whom I voted against in committee, is way beyond what I think the market should be bearing. This is, in my view, a partisan's dream. prgtoken It is OK to be a litigant in causes I don't agree with. It is OK to represent organizations that I differ with. I don't hold a client against a lawyer, but I do hold positions against the lawyer when it comes to cause-driven litigation. prgtoken This nominee, at every turn, has taken the left fork in the road, to the point of being in the ditch. As a lawyer, she sued a Florida community that was trying to protect children from sexual predators by having requirements of notice but also being away from schools certain distances, and she sued the community basically claiming that was unfair to the sexual abuser. prgtoken It is moments like this that should be a wake-up call for this body. Her record as an advocate is not just representing liberal causes, but the rhetoric used and the arguments made convinced me in committee that this is an activist on steroids. prgtoken I have tried to work with my ic colleagues, voting for circuit and district court judges, understanding that would pick someone I would not choose. That is the way the system works. But, in this case, it was a partisan vote. Not one voted for this nominee, and her record, I think, is one of activism and stridency that will, in my view, shape her time as a judge and shape the court in a way that is inconsistent with the rule of law as I know it. prgtoken So to my ic colleagues, you have confirmed this nominee, but I am sure this is not the last we will hear about Ms. Abudu. prgtoken Today, it was announced that Rachael Rollins, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, is going to resign, I think. She is under investigation for unethical behavior and using her office for revenge. prgtoken She is one of the few and may be the only U.S. attorney that I voted against in this Congress. There may have been one other. But it was pretty obvious to those of us on the committee that the warning signs regarding Ms. Rollins were rampant and that we were buying a problem. prgtoken The point I am trying to make to my colleagues is, after we changed the prgtoken rules of confirmation--you don't need one vote from the other side if you have the majority, and there will come a day, maybe, when we find ourselves in that situation--I always have worried that doing away with the collaborative process to get a nominee to move forward--judges or U.S. attorneys--is going to create a problem where you are down to picking people who have the most vocal support from the most active, extreme elements in both parties. And I think this is a case: Exhibit A, Ms. Rollins. prgtoken And to my colleagues,
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-5-18

I am pleased to commend Mr. Wade Litton of Greenwood, MS, for his service and contributions to the State of Mississippi while serving as the 87th president of Delta Council. prgtoken Organized in 1935, Delta Council plays an important role in uniting agricultural, business, and economic development leadership to solve problems and promote greater opportunities in the Mississippi Delta region, which encompasses 19 counties in northwest Mississippi. Mr. Litton has worked tirelessly this year to advance the priorities of Delta Council, including healthcare, farm policy, economic development, flood control, and education. He is also the third generation of his family to serve as president of Delta Council. prgtoken Mr. Litton is the chief executive officer of Wade, Inc a fourth- generation company that operates 14 John Deere dealerships in the Mississippi Delta. As a businessman, Mr. Litton and his company are at the forefront of evolving farm technology tools that enable producers to become more efficient and productive. Mr. Litton's priorities in leading Delta Council have been to continue the work of the organization and to build stronger relationships with the people of the Delta to help improve the economy and quality of life for all citizens. He is deeply involved in industrial and community development, including the Delta Strong regional economic development association. Mr. Litton assumed the role of Delta Council president during unprecedented times characterized by rising inflation, rural healthcare disruptions, the after effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, and a multitude of other challenges. Wade Litton has been a steady and calm leader over this past year and has contributed his vast knowledge and service to many critical issues during his tenure as president. prgtoken Outside of his time spent running his business and serving Delta Council, Mr. Litton contributes his time to many other important organizations. He serves as a commissioner for Greenwood Utilities, a member of the Young Presidents' Organization, and is involved with the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce, the Greenwood United Way, the Boys and Girls Club of Leflore County, the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and the Greenwood Rotary Club. He is also a youth soccer and baseball coach. Mr. Litton, his wife Meagan, and his three children Kennan, Robert, and Elizabeth are members of the First Presbyterian Church, where he serves as an elder. prgtoken It is my pleasure to join the citizens of the great State of Mississippi in expressing our appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Wade Litton and in sharing these good wishes with his family. His prgtoken years of service and leadership have undoubtedly contributed to the overall success of this highly respected 88-year-old organization, Delta Council.
RECOGNIZING THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to recognize the men and women in law enforcement who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. On Friday, May 19, 2023, Sheriff James Allard and the Steuben County Sheriff's Department will host its annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service to honor those who stood on that thin blue line that keeps our families safe and our communities strong across New York's Southern Tier. prgtoken Most of us expect our loved ones to come home from work at the end of the day, but there is no such guarantee for Law Enforcement Officers as they take their post. We as a nation must come together to support our Law Enforcement and recognize the inherent danger and sacrifice that these men and women endure to keep the rest of us safe. prgtoken I also want to recognize the spouses, children and friends left behind. The pain of losing a loved one never truly goes away, and my heart goes out to those who share in that burden of service and sacrifice. prgtoken John 15:13: ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'' prgtoken It is my humble honor to ask my colleagues to join me in remembering these brave, dedicated, and courageous men and women who were lost in the line of duty.
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to recognize and thank our law enforcement officials who everyday put their lives on the line for the protection of our communities. I also want to remember those who have been injured or have lost their lives in the line of duty. There are 562 Louisiana law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in service, and just this past week in my district, Cpl. Shawn Kelly was shot and critically wounded in Denham Springs after he responded to a call for help. Cpl. Kelly was not required to respond to the call for help. He was serving as a traffic officer but showed up to help his officers in need because of his strong call to service. Cpl. Kelly is currently in the hospital fighting for his life. prgtoken Law enforcement officers aren't in it for the money. Officers are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. Every day, when they head into work, they kiss loved ones because it may be the last time they are home. Law enforcement officers risk their lives to serve as the line between chaos and civil order in our community, and for this, we must thank our law enforcement officers and recognize them as the heroes they are.
TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL JAMES BONNER
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to honor the service of MG James Bonner of the U.S. Army. Tomorrow, he will relinquish command after nearly three years of leadership at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, MO. prgtoken During Major General Bonner's tenure, he demonstrated dedicated leadership and played a crucial role in training approximately 240,000 soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and civilians at Fort Leonard Wood. Major General Bonner worked diligently to emphasize the critical mission of the Army and Fort Leonard Wood in regional middle schools, high schools, and universities. He also tirelessly advocated for the fort and its surrounding community, expanding partnerships with local, State, and Federal leaders. Throughout his time, he hosted numerous elected officials, including the Missouri Governor, the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Sergeant Major of the Army, and the Marine Corps Commandant. During each visit, Major General Bonner ensured these strategic leaders witnessed the unique and irreplaceable capabilities and competencies on display at Fort Leonard Wood. prgtoken In fact, I had the opportunity to personally witness Major General Bonner's leadership last week when I visited Fort Leonard Wood. My main focus was to meet with military families residing on the installation and discuss ways to improve their quality of life. Major General Bonner joined me during these visits, and I could clearly see his genuine care and concern for the families under his command. prgtoken Recognizing Major General Bonner's exceptional talent, the Army has selected him to become the commanding general of U.S. Army North, where he will lead the Army's efforts to defend the homeland. After 3 years of commanding the finest CBRNE, engineer, prgtoken and military police soldiers in the Army, I believe there is no one more qualified for this role. I express my gratitude to Major General Bonner for his dedicated service to the soldiers and families of the Fort Leonard Wood community and extend my best wishes for his future endeavors. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to MG Christopher Beck, who will assume command tomorrow. I am committed to continuing my support for the Fort Leonard Wood community and those who train there.
Louisiana House Bill 12 (Executive Session)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-5-18

I am going to talk for a few minutes today about HB12. That is not HB12 from the U.S. House of Representatives; that is HB12 from the Louisiana House of Representatives. Why do I want to talk about it? Because it is important. It is important for my State, and I think it is important for other States. prgtoken HB12 passed the Louisiana House of Representatives yesterday--maybe it was the day before--by a vote of 88 to 15, and it is headed to my senate. prgtoken As the Presiding Officer knows, it is frustrating in that the American people can do things that take your breath away--we can unravel the human genome; we can take a diseased human heart--we can do that in America--and replace it with a new one and make it beat; we can send a person to the Moon--but we can't seem to teach our children how to read and write when we have 18 years to do it. prgtoken I don't come here this morning to assess blame. Our problem is shared in other countries. That is no excuse. Our problem is caused by a multitude of factors, but I believe and I will bet the Presiding Officer believes that every child can learn--that every child can learn. It is harder for some than others. I recognize that some of our children do not have a supportive home life, not just in America but in other parts of the world. It seems commonsensical to me that if parents do not love their child, the child is not going to stop loving the child's parents; the child is going to stop loving himself or herself. But I don't know how to fix that. All we can do is continue to believe that every child can learn--every child. prgtoken My State, like other States, has a problem with elementary and secondary education. Over half of my children--my young people--in Louisiana are not reading at their grade levels, and at some point, as a child is socially promoted in school and progresses, it almost becomes impossible for a child to learn if the child can't read. prgtoken It is not just money. Go look at a list of what States spend on elementary and secondary education--and not just States but local governments and the Federal Government as well. One of our States in America is spending $54,000 a year on their public schools. I mean, God bless them, but that is a lot of money. It is not just money. We have to try and we have to be courageous enough to try new things that we think will work. prgtoken Now, what does that have to do with HB12 in the Louisiana State Legislature? Here is what HB12 would do. It would say: Look, we are not blaming anyone, but if you are a child in the third grade in Louisiana and if you can't read, according to objective standards, at an acceptable level, then you are going to stay in the third grade. We don't care if you are 16 years old. We can hold you until you are 18. But we think you can learn, and you can't learn if you can't read. prgtoken Now, that doesn't mean that the child just repeats the third grade with no help.
CONDEMNING PROFITMAKING FROM CHILD MUTILATION
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to condemn the health care industry's obscene profitmaking derived from mutilating little children. prgtoken The grotesque fad of chemically castrating boys or performing breast removal surgery on girls is not healthcare. This is a shameful time for those doctors and hospitals that enjoy mutilating children--for sky- high profits (surgery costs about $150,000). prgtoken As a society, we have decided that children and young adults have not developed the mental capacity to make wise decisions in certain areas. For example, if you are under 21 you can't rent a car, buy tobacco, buy a shot of whiskey, and you have to be 18 to vote or buy a gun. You are, after all, still maturing. prgtoken However, today, a 5-year-old or l0-year-old child can ``decide'' they are really the opposite gender, and once a doctor at a children's hospital gets a whiff of that, they smell profits and want to start the process of chemically, surgically, and often permanently castrating boys and maiming girls. It is horribly disfiguring of our children. prgtoken In my view this is not healthcare. This is abuse. It is parental- abuse for any parent to subject their child to this. It is unethical and unprofessional for any hospital or doctor to participate in this mutilation. prgtoken Victims of this abuse are starting to speak up, but for many it is too late. prgtoken If a person is 18 or older, and they want to castrate themselves, I would recommend counseling for mental illness, but at least they have reached the age of majority where they can make decisions, even dumb decisions, on their own behalf. prgtoken There is no excuse for any doctor who does this mutilation on anyone under 18. I would vote to criminalize this practice and revoke the medical license of any quack that does these surgeries and hormone treatments. prgtoken History will prove us right. The leftists agitating for child mutilation are fundamentally demonic and harming children. prgtoken This story is about a hospital in Minnesota claiming that ``gender dysphoria'' is just like asthma and diabetes. It is not. It is about big money for this hospital--a hospital that cares nothing about the long term impacts its actions will have on these children.
WE MUST MAINTAIN STRONG TIES WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-5-18

our ally in the Middle East, Israel, has suffered from even more rocket attacks from Hamas terrorists. prgtoken Hamas, as usual, is launching rockets from civilian population centers and using those civilians as human shields. prgtoken We hear a lot of talk these days about 15-minute cities. Israelis live 15-seconds from a shelter. That is how they have to live their life if they are prgtoken within the range of the rockets which are becoming more and more wide- ranging over the territory of Israel. prgtoken If a terror organization in Mexico, for example, were firing rockets into cities in Texas and Arizona, the United States would certainly be expected to retaliate with military force. This is the case with Israel, it must protect its citizens from indiscriminate rocket attacks. Israel is not to blame for the civilian casualties caused in this conflict. prgtoken Indeed, the blame lies squarely at the feet of Hamas and other terror organizations who believe in the use of violence to achieve their goals. prgtoken Israel, in good faith, gave over the Gaza in a land-for-peace deal. Yet, the ink wasn't even dry, and they started stacking rockets in Gaza and launching them at Israel. prgtoken The United States must continue to support Israel's right to exist and defend itself from aggression. As our most powerful partner in the Middle East, we owe it to them.
RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. "BILL" DIEHL, USCG (RET.)
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to recognize the retirement of Captain William J. ``Bill'' Diehl after serving 13 years as the president of the Greater Houston Port Bureau. prgtoken Captain Diehl was born and raised in Olean, New York, as one of nine children. Of those, 6 served in the military, each retiring with more than 20 years of service. He is a 1982 United States Coast Guard Academy graduate with a master's degree from the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. prgtoken Before working at the Port Bureau, Captain Diehl spent 31 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. In his final assignment, he commanded the Coast Guard's largest operational unit: Sector Houston-Galveston. During Hurricane Ike, Captain Diehl served as the Coast Guard Incident Commander, leading 2,600 Coast Guard personnel who saved 235 lives. He also directed the clean-up of 240 oil spills and spearheaded the most substantial waterway restoration effort in the branch's history. In 2008, he retired with two Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the 9-11 Medal, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, among many other awards. prgtoken Captain Diehl joined the Greater Houston Port Bureau after his career in the Coast Guard. This organization serves more than 260 member companies in the Houston region and supplies its members with detailed vessel traffic information, market analysis, and maritime expertise on safety, security, and environmental issues. Under Captain Diehl's leadership, the Port Bureau dramatically increased in membership, expanded its business, and hosted countless port education sessions. He also worked with the Houston Congressional Delegation to advocate for dredging, coastal protection, and Project-11, an initiative to deepen and widen the Houston Ship Channel. prgtoken , it is a privilege to honor Captain Diehl, who has exemplified the Coast Guard's motto, ``Semper Paratus,'' throughout his career--both in and out of uniform. A special thank you to his wife, Annette; their children, Rachel, Daniel, and Michael; and 2 grandchildren, Avery and John--without their support, his accomplishments and service to country would not have been possible. prgtoken Congratulations to my friend. Bravo Zulu.
SAILOR SUICIDES
Jennifer Kiggans (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-5-18

over the past 2 years, our Hampton Roads and Navy communities have been devastated by multiple sailor suicides, in particular aboard the USS George Washington and at MARMAC. prgtoken As a former Navy helicopter pilot and a primary care nurse practitioner, it infuriates me that the number of sailors who die by suicide continues to rise. prgtoken It is clear for anyone to see we have to better serve those who serve our great Navy and our country. prgtoken That is why this week I introduced the Sailor Standard of Care Act. This important bipartisan legislation would increase mental health resources and require mental health screenings for sailors assigned to limited duty, address challenges servicemembers and their families face accessing mental health care through TRICARE and implement a system to track quality of life programs and their success rates. prgtoken It is imperative that we address the mental health challenges facing today's Active Duty servicemembers and veterans and that we do it today. This is exactly why I came to Congress. prgtoken We speak so much about providing our military men and women with the necessary equipment, technology, training, et cetera, to be able to ``fight tonight,'' and rightfully so. However, all those resources in the world are meaningless without the capable men and women behind it. prgtoken Right now, the harsh reality is that suicides among Active Duty servicemembers are at an all-time high. Tragically, they increased by more than 40 percent between 2015 and 2020. We owe it to our servicemembers to do everything in our power to make sure they have the support and mental health care they need. prgtoken They put their well-being on the line to serve our Nation, and our Nation must put their well-being first. We must prioritize our servicemembers and their families by focusing on the quality of life we provide for them while they serve. prgtoken As a veteran, granddaughter of a veteran, spouse of a veteran, and mother of future veterans, I am honored to fight every day for the quality of life they deserve.
CONGRATULATING THE SPRING GROVE AREA HIGH SCHOOL ROCKETRY TEAM FOR THEIR VICTORY IN THE NASA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today to congratulate the Spring Grove Area High School rocketry team for their victory in the national championship hosted by NASA. prgtoken The team has been working meticulously since last August perfecting their design, and to great effect. Despite their team's small size relative to the competition, they worked closely as a team to win against all odds, beating out 800 students from 21 states. prgtoken Team captain Alex Fiorillo said it best: ``take every opportunity you have and . . . you might end up making history.'' This group certainly did. prgtoken To the team members: Alex Fiorillo, Dylan Tichy, Max Trimmer, Wyatt Amspacher, Sage Dewall, Haley Hake, and Eli Hoke--congratulations on this incredible feat. I wish them all continued success in all their future endeavors.