mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE CAREER OF NANCY RISTER
John R. Carter (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-24

I commend the exceptional career of Williamson County Clerk Nancy Rister as she celebrates her 25th anniversary of outstanding public service to Central Texas. Her contributions have made the members of her community's lives better and have helped make Texas a great place to live and work. prgtoken Nancy's resume is one to be admired and respected. It tells the story of a woman unafraid to contribute both her time and energies to the highest levels of public service as well as to a multitude of organizations that rely on volunteerism and social engagement to make good communities great. prgtoken She has done what all public servants are honored to do: put the needs of the people first. Implementing physical records to an online forum that's available for all citizens, decreasing turnaround time for deeds, and improving the organization and professionalism of the County Clerk's office, are just a few examples of the accomplishments that Nancy has achieved in her esteemed career. Over her quarter century in office, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that Williamson County residents receive the world-class public service they deserve. prgtoken Nancy's anniversary is a testament to her admirable career and a milestone in a life of service. I join her colleagues, friends, family, and the citizens of Williamson County in celebrating and honoring her 25 years of hard work and dedication.
HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL ACT
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, WA) \u2014 2023-5-24

. Madam Chair, to save lives and make our community safer, I rise in support of the HALT Fentanyl Act. prgtoken Illicit fentanyl is one of the greatest threats that we face as a nation. Illicit drug manufacturers are diverting precursor chemicals from some of China's 160,000 chemical plants and shipping them to Mexico, where cartels are producing mass quantities of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. These are being smuggled across our southern border and killing more people than ever. prgtoken According to an analysis by The Washington Post, fentanyl poisoning is the number one cause of death for people 18 to 49. prgtoken I think about my friend Molly Cain from Spokane, who lost her son Carson, and Deb and Ray Cullen from Pennsylvania, who lost their son Zach. Both Carson and Zach were killed instantly by substances laced with illicit fentanyl. prgtoken Molly asked me how many more letters from grieving parents is it going to take for action. prgtoken The fact is it shouldn't take another letter, another day. It shouldn't take another lost loved one. prgtoken The HALT Fentanyl Act will save lives. prgtoken We must make sure that law enforcement has the permanent tools that they need to seize these extremely lethal poisons. It is DEA's number one priority. Without these tools, drug traffickers being sourced from China will be emboldened to push deadlier and deadlier drugs across the border. We can't let that happen. prgtoken Let's come together today for a more secure future for every community in America. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge support of the HALT Fentanyl Act.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO ``WAIVERS AND MODIFICATIONS OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS''
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-5-24

the balance of my time to close. prgtoken , we all know that access to college is available to every single person in this country. It is not a matter of access. It is a matter of who is paying back their loans. prgtoken Coupled with the permanent repayment pause, expansive new regulations, and a radical new income-driven repayment plan, the administration's student loan scam could end up costing taxpayers $1 trillion. That is more than the Federal Government has ever spent on postsecondary education. prgtoken The administration's policies do nothing to solve the root issues of student debt. If this bailout moves forward, then outstanding student debt will return to current levels in just over 5 years. We will be right back here again. prgtoken The Federal student loan system is broken, and real reform is needed. Simply put, the administration's action will mean that future students will come to expect their loans will be canceled, and colleges will continue to increase already skyrocketing tuition because they know will leave taxpayers to foot the bill. prgtoken We need to hold colleges accountable for charging outrageous prices for degrees with no value. We need a student loan program that has the best interests of students and taxpayers in mind. prgtoken As the institution that holds the power of the purse, Congress has the responsibility to protect the interest of taxpayers. A vote in support of today's resolution will do just that. prgtoken Again, , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.J. Res. 45, and .
HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL ACT
Kat Cammack (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-5-24

today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. To drive home why this bill is so important, I want to emphasize that currently there is no permanent scheduling of fentanyl, only a temporary emergency scheduling order. prgtoken That means when, not if, but when this temporary order on fentanyl expires, fentanyl-related substances will become street legal. prgtoken Think about this: Over 300 people a day will die today from fentanyl poisoning, 300 people died yesterday, and 300 people will die tomorrow of fentanyl poisoning. prgtoken If an airliner carrying 300 people crashed every single day, within the span of a week we would have declared a national emergency and would have begun the work on solutions, but we haven't done that here. prgtoken If we don't pass this bill, when the emergency class-wide scheduling order expires, law enforcement will no longer have the authority to seize these extremely lethal drugs. Yes, you heard me right, they will no longer have the authority. prgtoken As so many of my colleagues have said today, fentanyl is the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 18 and 49, surpassing COVID, cancer, heart disease, and even car accidents. In fact, the DEA, 's DEA, you-all's DEA, says this is their number one priority. prgtoken Every single one of us knows someone who has been affected by fentanyl. Every single one of us in this Chamber knows who is responsible for the fentanyl pouring into our country, and it is every single one of our jobs to act and pass the HALT Fentanyl Act. Let's put the politics aside, come together as Americans for our communities, for this country. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
HONORING BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN INGRAM
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-5-24

I rise today to honor Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram, who recently retired from his long and distinguished service in law enforcement. prgtoken A proud native of Brunswick County, Sheriff Ingram has continually dedicated his life to his community. He joined the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office in 1991, starting as a patrol deputy. He quickly rose through the ranks and served in many different capacities, including in the warrant and detective divisions, and then became lieutenant in the narcotics division and commander of the department's SWAT team. prgtoken Mr. Ingram later joined the Columbus County Sheriff's Office, where he was named chief deputy before returning to Brunswick County in the same role. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Brunswick County sheriff and has earned reelection to the post in each and every election since. prgtoken During his tenure leading the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, he expanded the department to accommodate the fastest growing county in the State. He increased recruitment efforts prgtoken and brought in additional 911 telecommunicators and detention officers to increase safety. prgtoken He also offered a variety of community programs to further the sheriff's office mission to enhance public safety and education and promote community-based relationships between law enforcement and the public, including his support for establishing drug courts where those battling addiction could be better treated and find the pathway to healing, productivity, and success. prgtoken To facilitate those missions, he created the Sheriff's Citizens' Academy along with the Sheriff's Volunteer Program. He also launched the Anchor Initiative Program in 2018 to help those suffering from addiction start their recovery, providing a hopeful future to break the typical cycle of continued drug use and crime. prgtoken Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Ingram has been recognized for his leadership on all these fronts. He was elected to the board of directors for the National Sheriffs' Association and served as president of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association. prgtoken Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine, a recognition considered North Carolina's highest civilian honor. prgtoken , it is an honor to recognize a no-nonsense individual and one with such a sense of duty, integrity, and distinguished service to the people of Brunswick County, North Carolina. prgtoken On behalf of the citizens of North Carolina's Seventh District, I thank him, and I am proud to recognize him for his extraordinary service and commitment to his fellow man. prgtoken May God continue to bless him, his family, and the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office. I am proud to call him my friend.
REFORM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-5-24

the Endangered Species Act was put into law over 50 years ago. Of course, its purpose was to protect and recover vulnerable species to save them from population decline and extinction. That act has, to date, only recovered a couple dozen species, as there are over 1,300 listed species in the United States. The ratio of recovery indeed is a failure. prgtoken The ESA must be reformed to refocus the efforts of the Federal Government to recover animal species in a timely manner without also making it difficult for people to coexist in their habitat, as well. prgtoken We have the law now that is more likely to be used as a back door to regulate economic activity than a pro-conservation piece of legislation. prgtoken There are numerous examples of activist groups weaponizing the ESA to use it as a business model. Indeed, they make money from the lawsuits. prgtoken For example, in my part of the State in the Central Valley, the valley elderberry longhorn beetle has had a very negative effect on the ability of Central Valley residents to maintain flood controls in the form of levees. prgtoken The residents cannot upgrade and improve the levees in this area because the ESA prevents them from doing so without very costly long- held permits. This is despite the fact that it has been recommended by Fish and Wildlife that the longhorn beetle be delisted for many years now. However, the environmental groups keep litigating on that and the Fish and Wildlife organization has pulled back from delisting the beetle. prgtoken So why do they do this? It is obvious. prgtoken If the beetle is delisted, it loses the ESA protections that make levee upgrades so difficult, expensive, and time-consuming in order to obtain the permits. The beetle has been delisted in some areas of California, such as the southern parts, but in my district, it is still listed as endangered, making it difficult to do needed flood-control projects. prgtoken Another example that has devastated the forest industry, in the West especially, is the spotted owl. It was listed many years ago. We find that the ESA has made that a weapon against forest management, and we have seen the results of that with million-acre fires. Year after year, hundreds of thousands of acres of fire have been wreaking havoc on so much of the West because we can't manage the lands because they believe there might be a spotted owl nearby, even though it isn't really the management of forests that is the problem. It is another larger owl nearby that actually devastates the spotted owl, known as the barred owl. prgtoken Also the spotted owl seems to like foresting a little closer to human activity because it is seen as a protection from the barred owl, which devastates their population. prgtoken What is the end result? prgtoken Over 100 sawmills in California have shut down due to these protections that indeed make timber supply unavailable to the sawmills, so they go away, and instead, we hav
WE MUST GET CONTROL OF OUR SPENDING
Bryan Steil (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-5-24

we are at a precipice as we face a debt ceiling crisis coming down in a few short days. The President doesn't seem to have a sense of urgency in the negotiations that is required to meet the moment. prgtoken Over the past 2 years, costs have gone up over 15 percent. Inflation is eating away at American paychecks. American families are finding it harder to get by. Our Nation's debt now surpasses $31 trillion, and Washington continues to spend more. It is time to get our spending under control. prgtoken This House passed a reasonable, sensible bill to raise the debt ceiling. The Limit, Save, Grow Act moves our debt ceiling up by eliminating the growth of government, saving taxpayers' money, and growing the economy. The plan will claw back unspent COVID funds, making sure we are protecting taxpayers. It calls for able-bodied, childless adults to work a minimum of 20 hours a week in order to receive benefits. Bringing people back into the workforce will actually grow our economy and help address poverty. prgtoken We can limit government growth and spending, we can save taxpayers' money, and we can grow the economy all at the same time. prgtoken , I am hopeful the President of the United States understands the urgency of the moment and comes together to save taxpayers' money.
HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL ACT
Larry Bucshon (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-5-24

. Madam Chair, I point out that this is fentanyl poisoning, and just because people use illicit drugs, they certainly don't deserve to die from it. prgtoken Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the HALT Fentanyl Act. In 2022, roughly 75,000 Americans died from poisoning by synthetic opioids, largely illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. prgtoken Illicit fentanyl poisonings are now the number one cause of death among adults ages 18 to 49, as has been pointed out many times. prgtoken People who have died from illicit fentanyl poisoning are not just statistics. They are someone's child, sibling, parent, family member, or close friend. It is happening in every community across America. It doesn't discriminate against socioeconomic class, race, or religion. prgtoken Just last week, a Federal grand jury indicted a man in Evansville, Indiana, my hometown, for selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl over social media that caused at least three poisonings and the death of a 19-year-old woman in 2022. prgtoken Last fall, a Federal grand jury indicted another man in Evansville who sold fentanyl pills in 2021 that ended up killing a 3-year-old toddler and resulted in nonfatal poisonings of two other children in a home after they found illicit fentanyl pills in a nightstand and took them. prgtoken These are heartbreaking stories, and we in this body have the power to do something to help prevent more of them from occurring. prgtoken Let's pass the HALT Fentanyl Act and give hope to Americans whose family, friends, and loved ones, who have been impacted by illicit fentanyl poisonings, that their loved one's death was not in vain. Support this bill.
HONORING AIR FORCE VETERANS BARRY AND DORIS RICE
Diana Harshbarger (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-24

I rise today to honor my constituents, U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Barry Rice from Jacksonville, Alabama, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Doris Kimery Rice, a native of Greeneville, Tennessee for their distinguished military and civil service. They both joined the Air Force at the end of the Vietnam War. prgtoken The couple met in technical school at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado in 1974. After technical school, they went to their respective assignments of Robins Air Force Base in Georgia and Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. TSgt Rice served as an avionics specialist, repairing radio and communication equipment; while SrA Rice served as a supply troop where she processed materials for arrival and departure. prgtoken They were married in November 1974 and after assistance from U.S. Senator John Sparkman of Alabama, they attained a joint spouse assignment at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. They then served together at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. SrA Rice completed her four years of enlistment and rejoined the civilian sector. She later pursued a vocation in elementary education when her children became school age. The family was assigned to Eglin AFB, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where they worked and served for 14 years. During this timeframe, TSgt Rice pulled a remote assignment to Keflavik NAS, Iceland, and Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War. prgtoken After TSgt Rice's retirement from military service, he worked as a computer specialist for a publishing company in Murfreesboro, TN. During the Yugoslav Wars, the couple served as relief volunteers, where they aided refugees resettling in Nashville. TSgt Rice then decided to join the U.S. State Department Foreign Service. The Rice family lived in the Washington, D.C. area with assignments to the countries of Zambia, Cyprus, Israel, and Lesotho, where TSgt Rice worked for the diplomatic corps, while SrA Rice volunteered at soup kitchens, unwed mothers' houses, crisis pregnancy centers, and local missions. They are now retired and continue to serve others in their hometown of Greeneville, Tennessee. Please join me in honoring TSgt and SrA Rice for their long careers of service to our Nation.
SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Juan Ciscomani (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2023-5-24

I rise today to shine light on yet another tragedy unfolding at our southern border. prgtoken We have all seen the surge of border crossings, fentanyl trafficking, and migrant deaths brought about by President 's mishandling of the border. prgtoken Recently, The New York Times investigated the treatment of migrant children by the Department of Health and Human Services. They found that the Department had lost contact with over 85,000 migrant children after placement with sponsors. prgtoken What is even worse, hundreds of these children have been found in work environments that defy child labor laws, some working 12-hour days in hazardous conditions. prgtoken In an effort to rush migrants out of government custody, HHS' lack of vetting has put vulnerable children directly in harm's way. prgtoken As an immigrant myself, and especially as a father, it is heartbreaking to imagine the neglect that these innocent children have endured, first as a casualty of the border crisis and now by the agencies tasked with rescuing them. It is a national tragedy and an embarrassment to allow this exploitation to continue. prgtoken I am proud to be a first-generation American who has benefited from the freedoms and opportunities of this country. This is not the best that America has to offer. What is happening at the border is not part of the American Dream my family pursued and thousands of other families continue to pursue. prgtoken We have seen babies abandoned in rivers, migrants dying in deserts, and high-speed car chases through our neighborhoods. prgtoken Last month, I led 75 of my colleagues in a letter to administration officials demanding accountability for this terrible neglect. We carried out our constitutional duty of oversight and set a deadline for Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Becerra to provide transparency. The deadline was 12 days ago. With the administration refusing to take action to prevent another surge at the border, it is hard to see what exactly these officials are preoccupied with. prgtoken This must be a top priority. Focusing on border security isn't just about keeping Americans safe, it is about stopping an ongoing humanitarian crisis. prgtoken As we speak, lives are being put at risk, migrants are being exploited, and the only people winning are the cartels leveraging this administration's weak border policy. prgtoken I urge President and his Cabinet to accept accountability for this disaster and implement the border security measures our country desperately needs. There is no time to waste.
HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL ACT
Tim Walberg (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-5-24

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. prgtoken A recent poll shows just 16 percent of Americans are satisfied with how things are going in the United States. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Washington has largely ignored pressing issues in the past 2 years. While the fentanyl epidemic may not grab headlines in the mainstream media, it has lost the pulse of mainstream America, few issues are more important. prgtoken Illicit fentanyl poisonings are now the number one cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 49. Nearly every American knows a friend or a relative who has struggled or even overdosed. I do. prgtoken Despite the crisis, Congress has continued to kick the can down the road by temporarily extending the class-wide scheduling order. Each time, law enforcement is left scrambling as we approach the deadline, which would let many of the fentanyl-related substances become legal. prgtoken We must permanently give law enforcement the tools they need to keep Americans safe. The HALT Fentanyl Act complements other solutions like the recently passed Secure the Border Act, which will help properly root out the flow of illicit drugs and limit supply. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge the bill's passage, which will represent another step toward restoring the voice of the American people in the House.