mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Veterans Day (Executive Session)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-11-9

Saturday, November 11, is the anniversary of the end of World War I. Today we know it as Veterans Day. prgtoken On Veterans Day, we honor everyone who has worn the uniform of the United States of America. Alabama is proud that the Veterans Day tradition started in Birmingham, AL, in the aftermath of World War II. A local veteran named Raymond Weeks recognized the need for a day honoring all of our veterans. prgtoken In 1947, Raymond Weeks petitioned the Army Chief of Staff, a general named Dwight D. Eisenhower, for a national Veterans Day. Seven years later, General Eisenhower was President and signed it into law. prgtoken Alabama is proud of Raymond Weeks. We are proud to be home to nearly 400,000 veterans. And every Veterans Day, I am proud to come to this floor to tell my colleagues about a few of our veterans in Alabama. prgtoken The first I will mention today is Ron Skoneki from Montgomery, AL. He is the son of a Polish immigrant. He enlisted in the Air Force about as soon as he could right after graduating from high school. He served in Thailand during the Vietnam war. He helped repair and maintain aircraft for a strong defense. After 33 years of service, Lieutenant Colonel Skoneki retired. But he wanted to continue to serve, so he joined Alabama's wing of the Civil Air Patrol in Montgomery. He then served another 16 years helping to support the U.S. Air Force in a civilian capacity. Now at 87 years old, he is just as proud of his time wearing this uniform as he has ever been. And he should be. prgtoken I would also like to tell the Senate about CSM Joe Godwin of Mobile, AL. He wanted to join the military ever since he was 14 years old. By the time he was 17, he couldn't wait anymore; he got his dad's permission to join the Army. prgtoken He went on to serve in three wars: World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war. He helped guard and transport Nazi prisoners during the Nuremburg trials. prgtoken Today, Joe is 94 years old. When people tell him he is a hero, he says that the real heroes are the ones who didn't make it back. He is a humble man. I think they are all heroes, anyone who served, and we ought to thank them today, tomorrow, and every day. prgtoken Finally, I would like to talk a little about SGT David Henry of Warrior, AL. Sergeant Henry has served as a firefighter and a paramedic. These experiences gave him skills that he used as a medic in the Iraq war. prgtoken His first deployment came when his son was only 6 months old. Sergeant Henry deployed again to the Middle East when his son was 3. He had to sacrifice to be an ocean away from his family during those crucial times of his son's growing up. He had to explain to a 3-year- old why Dad was going to be gone and he didn't know when he was coming back. prgtoken A lot of families know what that is like. Our heroes in uniform often serve as a family, and so, on Veterans Day, we thank their families, too, for their service. The
REMOVING EXTRANEOUS LOOPHOLES INSURING EVERY VETERAN EMERGENCY ACT-- Motion to Proceed
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-11-9

days before he died, Frederick Knefler composed a letter of instruction to be read once he was gone. There was, he wrote, to be no memorial service or expensive coffin. His funeral should be private and simple, attended only by a handful of fellow Hoosier veterans. When it was lowered into the ground, his body should be wrapped in an American flag. prgtoken Republics such as ours are uncommon. It is of great value for us, its citizens, to recall our blessings, and it is our heroes who provide that reminder. Although he was born an ocean away from America, Frederick Knefler dedicated his life to defending those blessings. He was one of those heroes. As a contemporary remarked after his death, ``No descendent of a Mayflower Pilgrim was ever more wholly or intensely American than he.'' prgtoken As we mark Veterans Day, his story is worth sharing. He was a Jewish immigrant; one of the soldiers who saved our Union; a private citizen who spent his final days building a still-inspiring monument to their example. prgtoken Before he ever set foot in America, though, as a teenager, he had already fought in a civil war, the Hungarian Revolution. Its failure and the sorry state of liberty across Europe inspired Knefler to look elsewhere for freedom. He found it across the Atlantic. He and his family arrived in New York and then settled in Indiana in 1850. There, they were among the earliest members of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, the city's first and today its oldest synagogue family. prgtoken Knefler fell in love with America. He embraced its laws, customs, and institutions. He even taught himself English by reading Shakespeare. Then he moved on to military history and tactics. prgtoken In 1861, when the Southern States deserted the Union, Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to form an army to bring them back. Knefler, whose adoration of America was equaled only by his hatred of slavery, answered the call. He vowed he wouldn't do a day's work until the war was over and the Nation reunited. prgtoken True to his word, he left his job as a clerk and enlisted in the spring of 1861, after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and he didn't return to civilian life prgtoken until the summer of 1865, after the surrender at Appomattox Court House. He joined Indiana's 11th Regiment, serving as lieutenant to Lew Wallace, and then was promoted to colonel of the 79th Indiana Infantry. prgtoken Knefler's language was notoriously gruff. In fact, Governor Oliver Morton was so offended by his profanity that he was hesitant to offer him a military appointment. prgtoken He was a man of strong opinions. ``A talk with him was like a stiff breeze,'' a friend once said. His men labored greatly under relentless discipline and constant drilling but came to admire their leader. And he whipped the 79th into a formidable fighting machine. prgtoken From their organization in Indianapolis in 1862 till they mustered out in Nashville in 1
Tribute to Gene Horner (Executive Session)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-11-9

it is Thursday afternoon here on the Senate floor. It is one of my favorite times. We have some new pages, so they are going to, I think, at a certain point, consider some of this their favorite time on the Senate floor. It is when I get to come out on the floor and talk about the Alaskan of the Week--the Alaskan the Week. prgtoken I have been doing this for several years now. I try to get down here most weeks. I don't make it every week. I have had a couple of weeks off. There is a lot going on here in the Senate, as many people know. But as we are heading into Veterans Day weekend, I am making sure that we reignite our ``Alaskan of the Week'' special for this weekend. prgtoken There are so many special Alaskans working to make our State the best State in this country. Some Senators might disagree, but, hey, we are all proud of our States. prgtoken I will tell you this, when it comes to veterans and patriotism, I am pretty sure my State tops the list of any State in the country. We have more veterans per capita than any State in America. Alaska Natives, a big part of our population, serve at higher rates in the military than any another ethnic group in the country. Patriotism, military service, it is in our DNA. prgtoken I am getting on a plane here in about an hour with my wife Julie. We are heading home to celebrate Veterans Day. prgtoken Just looking back over several years, a lot of my Alaskans of the Week were veterans--100 percent--so it is not surprising that this one is as well. prgtoken As we head into Veterans Day weekend, I want to talk about a special veteran, a really special veteran--people are going to love this story--a Vietnam vet named Gene Horner. He is actually a bugler. He plays the trumpet and the bugle. prgtoken If you have gone to a military funeral in Alaska, chances are the man behind the bugle breathing out the 24 notes of ``Taps''--the most poignant 24 notes of music ever played--is Gene Horner, our Alaskan of the Week. prgtoken Wherever he is and whatever he is doing, if he gets the call to play at a veteran's funeral in Alaska, he grabs his instrument, jumps into his car, and Gene is there. prgtoken So who is Gene Horner, and how did he become known as the best ``Taps'' player in Alaska, and, I would say, the best ``Taps'' player in America? prgtoken A self-described, unruly teenager from Texas and California, Gene joined the Army when he was 17, in 1967. It was go in the Army or get into more trouble; one or the other. prgtoken That is what Gene said. So he joined the Army. prgtoken By the way, many great veterans, many great Americans have started their service to America this way: Hey, join the Marines, join the Army, or you are going to jail. So he did that. prgtoken Gene was assigned a regular duty station in Alabama, and it was here that he was given the opportunity to play in his post band at his Army station in Alabama. While he considered himself a v
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2023-11-9

I thank the ranking member of the FS-GG Subcommittee. prgtoken Mr. Chair, here in Congress we have a big opportunity to fight drug trafficking in this country. prgtoken Congress originally authorized the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, HIDTA, in 1988 and renewed it in 1993 and in 1998. prgtoken The program provides significant financial assistance to State and local law enforcement and facilitates strong cooperation among those agencies and with Federal law enforcement. prgtoken That cooperation has led to many successes in our efforts to disrupt the market for illegal drugs by interdicting and seizing drugs off of our shores and within our borders. prgtoken This High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program removes the supply of illicit substances, making it harder for drug trafficking organizations to sell their products. For example, in 2021, the HIDTA program seized over 193 metric tons of cocaine products, 195 metric tons of methamphetamine, 2,900 metric tons of marijuana, 4 metric tons of heroin, and 9 metric tons of fentanyl. prgtoken We all know the toll that the drug trafficking continues to take on communities across our country. Along our southern border, the Mexican cartels are using any means necessary to import precursor chemicals from China to produce synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. That is to meet a growing demand, a demand that has resulted in over 100,000 deaths of Americans in just 1 year. prgtoken The accessibility and the affordability of these drugs leave Federal, State, local, and Tribal partners in a continuous defensive posture to keep dangerous narcotics out of our communities and successfully to combat the drug trafficking networks that are responsible. prgtoken Nevertheless, still today we continue to see draconian cuts by the majority to law enforcement efforts not only in this bill, the FS-GG bill, but also in the bill produced by the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee where I am the ranking member. prgtoken These cuts serve only to amplify the supply of illicit drugs. These cuts cause a proliferation in the violence associated with the drug trade. These cuts damage the important work of successful programs like HIDTA. prgtoken Here in Congress we have the opportunity to build on the investments we have made in the war against drugs. We can provide the HIDTA program with the resources it needs to address its existing and emerging challenges in this war. We can send a clear signal to our adversaries on the global stage that we will not allow this attack on our communities without consequence. We can bring those responsible for this drug trafficking scum to justice. prgtoken For these reasons, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the committee. If the House rules permit, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to the bill. My amendment would increase the Office of National D
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BERT WINZER
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2023-11-9

I rise to commemorate the life and legacy of Mr. Bert Winzer of Emmaus, Pennsylvania. prgtoken During World War II, Mr. Winzer served with distinction in the legendary Army 1st Special Service Force. prgtoken When a German artillery attack sent shrapnel within an inch of his heart, he overcame his wounds and returned to the battlefield a mere 10 days later. His grit and courageousness followed him to the Battle of the Bulge where he held off the German advance during the Siege of Bastogne. prgtoken For his heroism, Mr. Winzer was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Congressional Gold Medal, the civilian honor awarded by Congress. prgtoken After the war, Mr. Winzer spent more than 30 years working in the automobile industry, including at our own Mack Trucks. prgtoken He was an active member in his church community and volunteered his time at local schools to share his experiences of the war. prgtoken Mr. Winzer passed away last month at the age of 101 in the care of his family. Let us remember Mr. Winzer for his remarkable legacy and impact on his community and this country. Let us thank all of our veterans this Veterans Day.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-11-9

the gentleman indicates that he came from the private sector. I am sure he was very successful in the private sector, as he has been in public life. In the private sector, one of the things that we admire is the ability to innovate, adjust, and to make changes when those are demanded by the marketplace. prgtoken This amendment undermines the ability of the Small Business Administration to do exactly that: to innovate and reach more small businesses by taking away the agency's pilot loan authority. prgtoken The gentleman is the chairman of the committee and knows better than I, but pilot loan authority is the flexibility to assess the market, assess the need, and take action. If they don't have that authority, then, as some have argued in numerous amendments here, the Congress ought to take that responsibility. Congress has not taken responsibility very well, . We are not doing things we ought to do. prgtoken If the private sector or the SBA were as inefficient and ineffective as the Congress of the United States, we would shut it down, but of course we can't shut down the Congress. We can just lament the fact that we can't do prgtoken our work, that we don't respond in a timely fashion. prgtoken I am particularly concerned about Ukraine, under assault by a despotic power. They need resources from the United States. By the way, I read a report today that the United States is not the biggest contributor to Ukraine. We are certainly the major partner. The EU and others, including Japan, are the major partners because they want to defend freedom. I am concerned about the fact that we haven't acted to send a message to Putin, to Iran, to other despots that we will not shrink from the responsibility of defending freedom here and around the world. prgtoken This authority, in a microcosm, is to try to give the SBA the opportunity to respond in a timely and effective fashion to opportunities that it sees on behalf of small businesses. Pilot 7(a) loans are provided by SBA to address the development of a specific sector or geographical region based on the agency's identified needs. prgtoken We can shut everybody down in government, and unfortunately, frankly, government is very risk averse, not as nimble as the private sector. prgtoken Why? It is because the administrators of all these agencies know that they have got us looking over their shoulder, and if they make a slight mistake, they have an amendment or they have a hearing or they have some Congressman or Congresswoman who says: A-ha, gotcha. prgtoken If the private sector had that, it would be immobilized. It wouldn't help because in the private sector, we understand that mistakes happen because you are taking risks. By definition, risks sometimes result in not succeeding or they wouldn't be a risk. prgtoken When we have an amendment like this--and we have had a number of amendments like this, and concerns expressed--I get that. However, it see
CELEBRATING DECADES OF LEADERSHIP BY BISHOP DARRYL S. BRISTER
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2023-11-9

I rise today to celebrate three decades of faithful leadership from New Orleans minister Bishop Darryl S. Brister. prgtoken Bishop Brister's life is a story of dedication and purpose. His commitment to his faith led him to leadership in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, becoming its second presiding bishop in 1996 at the tender age of 29 years old. prgtoken Bishop Brister's impact extends far beyond his church's walls. He has taken the Word of God around the world, from Japan to Africa. He also founded nonprofit organizations, including DSB International Ministries, which provides spiritual guidance to those incarcerated, and the Darryl S. Brister Scholarship Fund, which supports students' educational aspirations. prgtoken Bishop Brister's commitment to his calling remains steadfast. He continues to inspire, guide, and support his community, living a life that is dedicated to serving God and those around him. prgtoken It is an honor to celebrate Bishop Brister's 30 years of spiritual leadership. May he continue to shine as a spiritual light for all those he touches. prgtoken , I thank Bishop Brister for his extraordinary friendship, service, and commitment to the community and his unwavering commitment to spreading the Word of God.
Nomination of Brandy R. McMillion (Executive Session)
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-11-9

I rise today to strongly support the nomination of Brandy McMillion, whom President nominated to serve as the U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. prgtoken Ms. McMillion is an outstanding nominee with extensive experience in both civil and criminal cases. She will be a great judge because she has always been committed to the law and has the right values, certainly. prgtoken From the time she was 6 years old, growing up in Ohio, Ms. McMillion wanted to be a lawyer. It was her dream, and she never wavered from it. prgtoken Ms. McMillion was raised in Michigan since she was 12 years old. She earned engineering degrees at the University of Michigan, and then she earned her law degree from George Washington University Law School. prgtoken Ms. McMillion then worked in private practice, where she gained significant experience in law and in labor and employment, intellectual property, and financial services. prgtoken But she didn't stay away from her adopted State for long. Since 2015, she has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and, last year, she became chief of the office's general crimes unit, where she prosecutes offenses including bank robberies, gun crimes, and Federal crimes against children. prgtoken So it is no surprise that the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously voted Ms. McMillion as ``well qualified.'' prgtoken When she is not at work, she spends a lot of time behind the wheel, she says, driving her kids to all their sporting events and other activities. ``Mom CEO'' is what she likes to say. prgtoken She is also active in her community. She is a very involved member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She also mentors moms through the organization Warrior Women Against Poverty, which aims to change lives one woman at a time. Ms. McMillion knows better than anyone how the right support, at the right time, can change a woman's future. prgtoken The Senate, I hope, is going to strongly confirm Ms. McMillion to the Federal bench. I know that she is someone who is thoughtful and experienced. She will serve the Eastern District well. We thank everyone for the vote yesterday--the cloture vote--to move her now to her final vote, and I urge my colleagues to support this outstanding nominee to be on the Federal bench. prgtoken .
PFAS-EXPOSED VETERANS NEED HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-11-9

. Madam , I rise today in support of the VET PFAS Act, legislation to ensure PFAS-exposed veterans get the healthcare benefits that they need through the Veterans Administration. prgtoken For decades, the Department of Defense has known that toxic PFAS chemicals cause serious health issues. Yet the VA continues to deny veterans, like Lieutenant Colonel Sauer, coverage for PFAS-related illnesses. prgtoken Lieutenant Sauer served in the Army for 22 years and was stationed at 10 bases with known PFAS contamination. Due to that exposure, he now has an uncertain and uncurable form of cancer. prgtoken Lieutenant Colonel Sauer is sick because of his service to this country, but he has been denied access to care from the VA. When Lieutenant Sauer joined the military, we promised to take care of him when he came home. Right now, we are not making good on that sacred promise. prgtoken There are thousands of veterans like Lieutenant Colonel Sauer who have been impacted by harmful PFAS chemicals. That is why I am calling for us to immediately take up the VET PFAS Act and keep the promise we made to the people who put on the uniform of this Nation.
Nomination of Monica Ramirez Almadani (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-11-9

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Monica Ramirez Almadani to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. prgtoken Born in La Mirada, CA, Ms. Ramirez Almadani received her A.B. from Harvard University in 2001 and her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2004. She then clerked for Judge Warren J. Ferguson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2004 to 2005. Ms. Ramirez Almadani began her legal career in 2005 at the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, practicing immigration and civil rights litigation for 4 years, including successfully arguing before the Ninth Circuit. She then served the Justice Department for 6 years in a variety of roles, including counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, deputy chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General, and assistant U.S. attorney--AUSA--in the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. As an AUSA, she prosecuted child pornography, human trafficking, narcotics, immigration fraud, public corruption, and other serious crimes. prgtoken In 2015, then-California Attorney General appointed Ms. Ramirez Almadani Special Assistant Attorney General to oversee the California Justice Department's Criminal Division and the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Reentry. Then, in 2017, she joined a large law firm as special counsel, focusing on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation, in addition to pro bono immigration work. She then became codirector of the University of California, Irvine School of Law's Immigrant Rights Clinic from 2019 to 2021. She currently serves as the president and CEO of Public Counsel, the largest public interest law firm in the country. prgtoken The American Bar Association rated Ms. Ramirez Almadani ``well qualified'' to serve on the Central District of California. The late Senator Feinstein strongly supported her nomination, as does Senator Padilla. prgtoken I will be supporting this outstanding nominee, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.