mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise in support of the underlying bill and my amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act. The amendment would require public schools to inform parents on decisions to terminate college-credit courses, including dual-enrollments and advanced placement courses. prgtoken As the cost of colleges and universities continues to skyrocket, many students depend on these highly affordable high school college credit courses. It is an essential tool for students to reduce their time and their total cost in attending college. prgtoken Case in point, I graduated from college in 1983, and the total tuition to attend Colgate University was $12,000. Today, it is nearly $80,000 for room and board and tuition, so this is a way to try to ameliorate that problem with many students who want to seek college admission and college credit. prgtoken However, unfortunately, the woke, radical leftwing school administrators in States such as New York are working to terminate gifted and talented programs, including college credit courses, in their misguided attempt to further their far-left social equity agenda. These administrators don't actually want equal opportunity, they want to tear down our top-performing students to promote their diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda. This is simply wrong. prgtoken I have heard from parents across my district who have actually moved out of their own homes to find schools where their children can attend that have these college credit courses offered. prgtoken Parents should have the right to know if these important programs are terminated and if they are being eliminated in the name of equity. We should be forming education policy that allows children to flourish and not one that is preoccupied with sabotaging those children who choose to succeed academically. prgtoken At the end of the day, sunlight is often the best disinfectant, and I hope the transparency offered by this amendment ends this harmful attempt at the far left's social engineering. prgtoken I am grateful to the chair, Dr. Foxx, for her support of my amendment, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment that is much needed today for our parents to have equal rights. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH AND TITLE IX
Nick LaLota (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today in recognition of International Women's Month and the important protections given to women and girls under Title IX. prgtoken As a father of three young and wonderful girls, all of whom play sports, I understand the importance of celebrating female sports and the incredible opportunities and protections under Title IX. prgtoken Unfortunately, some people want to erode these important protections by allowing biological men to compete alongside and against women and girls. prgtoken A young woman having to compete against a biological young man who is often built different and bigger just isn't fair. It deprives young women of a fair sense of competition. It deprives them of the confidence that comes from practicing and winning. prgtoken , Congress must act to protect our daughters; to give them a fair chance to compete; and to uphold the protections granted to them by Title IX.
HONORING CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR (SEAL) MICHAEL ERNST
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today to honor the life of U.S. Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst, a highly decorated Navy SEAL who tragically died on February 19, 2023, while conducting military freefall training in Arizona. He was an American hero who dedicated his life in service of our country. prgtoken Michael grew up in Cohasset, Massachusetts playing hockey, lacrosse. and the drums, and was never far from his five siblings and loving parents. Following high school, Michael attended Denison University where he would meet his future bride, Megan, and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2008. prgtoken Michael's spirit of adventure and commitment to service drove him to enlist in the U.S. Navy in 2010, and shortly thereafter he realized his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. During his 13 years of naval service, he became a highly decorated combat veteran with a multitude of deployments around the world, and host of awards for valor including the Silver Star Medal awarded for his heroic actions on a daring rescue operation. prgtoken Michael was relentlessly committed to self-improvement and would also go on to cap his Navy career by earning a Master's of Business Administration, as a Sloan Fellow, from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2022. prgtoken Michael truly excelled as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, and teammate. He was a larger-than-life man and a warrior who served both our Nation and his family honorably today I ask my colleagues to join Michael's wife Megan, his children Reilly and Judah, and his parents, siblings, friends, and teammates in celebrating his life, recognizing the sacrifices he made for us, and extending our deepest gratitude for his noble service to our great country.
PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-3-24

. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding and for her amendment to such an important bill. prgtoken The Parents Bill of Rights Act is a basic concept, but it is a powerful statement that says we stand with parents and children in the ability for them to have a say in their kids' education. You would think: Who would be against this? Why do we need a law to do what everybody should think is the right thing to do? prgtoken Unfortunately, what we have seen through this debate is that the left is scared to death of parents having more of a say in their kids' education. Union bosses are scared to death of parents having a say in their kids' education. prgtoken It begs the question: Why would they be so afraid of parents wanting to see the curriculum that their kids are experiencing when they go to school? prgtoken I think we all saw why their concern is so vocal. This all happened during COVID. As we went from classroom learning to virtual learning, millions of parents actually got a glimpse into what was going on in the classrooms of their kids. prgtoken I am sure most of those parents thought they were just going to be watching their kids learn how to read, how to write, how to break down sentence structures, and how to learn math. Some of that was going on, but what alarmed parents were all the other things that had absolutely nothing to do with their kids having an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. prgtoken In fact, some of the things that were going on undermined the basic values that those parents are teaching their kids at home, things that had nothing to do with helping those kids learn and be prepared for better opportunities in the future. They started asking questions, and they were right to ask those questions. prgtoken Except the administration got concerned because the union bosses didn't want those parents to see what was going on. You had the Justice Department trying to tag parents as domestic terrorists for showing up at school board meetings, for God's sake, because they cared about what was happening in their kids' schools. prgtoken It shouldn't have taken an act of Congress to give parents that right. If it does, I am proud to stand with the prgtoken parents and kids against the union bosses who don't want parents to have that right to care about their kids' education. prgtoken For God's sake, we shouldn't have to be here doing this. The unions shouldn't be fighting this every step of the way, but it really shows you what they care about if they don't want parents to have these rights. prgtoken Thank goodness we have Virginia Foxx's committee, Julia Letlow's bill, and Members of Congress coming together and saying parents ought to have that ability , Independent, it doesn't matter what your political viewpoint is because, for anybody in this country, part of the American Dream is being able to pass on better opportunities to your kids than what y
RECOGNIZING ST. MARYS AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM RENAISSANCE CLUB
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today to recognize the St. Marys Area Middle School Team Renaissance Club whose Mini-THON event raised a record $18,281 for the fight against childhood cancer in March. prgtoken Inspired by Penn State's THON, the daylong event took place during the school day and included hourly themes such as beach, carnival, and glow hours. prgtoken The event included numerous events for students and staff, including cornhole, bingo, karaoke, a photo booth, and the student favorite, ``Silly String Your Principal Challenge.'' prgtoken Although students at St. Marys Area Middle School have demonstrated their dedication and generosity through the Mini-THON for many years now, this year's event was even more special since local toddler Reggie Housley is currently battling leukemia. prgtoken Proceeds from the Mini-THON will benefit Four Diamonds, a Hershey- based organization that pays 100 percent of noncovered medical expenses for childhood cancer patients at Penn State Health Children's Hospital. prgtoken I commend the St. Marys Area Middle School Team Renaissance Club for the extraordinary success of their Mini-THON and the entire St. Marys community for their kindness and generosity in the fight against childhood cancer.
RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KIWANIS CLUB OF BROOKSVILLE
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today to recognize the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend. Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, with Kiwanis members participating in over 150,000 service projects, devoting more than six million hours of service and raising nearly $100 million every year in communities around the globe. prgtoken The Kiwanis Club of Brooksville is especially impactful. Under the skillful leadership of President Frank Cassara, the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville has made immeasurable contributions to the community. In addition to raising funds to support countless local charities and organizations, the Club sponsors an annual Easter egg hunt and helps facilitate the Christmas parade each year. Most recently, the Club has been collaborating with the City of Brooksville to build a splash pad for Tom Varn Park. The lives of residents throughout Hernando County have been improved because of this group's philanthropic approach to making a difference of the lives of others.
PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-24

. Mr. Chair, I lend my thanks to the gentlewoman from North Carolina for her stewardship of the legislation we are addressing this week. prgtoken I am offering this amendment because I believe it is critically important for parents to have the ultimate say in the education of their children. prgtoken I first want to say that I support, as my colleague from Kentucky Mr. Massie does, eliminating the Department of Education altogether and leaving this to parents and the States. prgtoken Frankly, I would prefer to just block grant dollars to the States and give them full control in the absence of actually eliminating the Department of Education, which my next amendment will address. If we are going to be operating in this framework, then we might as well ensure that parents at least can have the benefit of dollars getting to them directly to be able to do as they see fit to educate their children. prgtoken The Parents Bill of Rights Act is designed to try to empower parents, give them the ability to see what their children are learning, see the curriculum. Despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle with wild accusations of book banning-- which is completely inaccurate and devoid of fact--the fact is, we are trying to empower parents to be able to see what their children are learning. prgtoken My amendment, though, would give parents recourse by allowing them to take their tax dollars, the dollars that they send to Washington for a purpose, and put it towards the education of their choice. prgtoken Again, I would rather they not be laundering the money through this godforsaken town. I would rather that money go directly to the schools in their neighborhoods. If it is going to come here, I would like them to, at least, get the benefit of getting that money back to be able to use it to educate their children the way they believe is best for them. prgtoken I introduced this policy as a stand-alone bill called the SCHOOL Act in 2020 with my good friend, Senator Rand Paul, when parents' tax dollars were going to schools that closed their doors during the pandemic, that shut kids out of schools, that forced them into the corners with masks. prgtoken The results of that have been catastrophic. Twenty-three Baltimore schools have zero students proficient in math per State test results. Chicago are sounding the alarm on 55 schools reporting no proficiency in math or reading. prgtoken These are very serious concerns. In 2022, the National Center for Education Statistics evaluated the progress of children during the pandemic and revealed reading ability had suffered the largest decline since 1990. prgtoken To my colleagues who say that this defunds schools, first off, whose dollars are these anyway? prgtoken They are the American people's dollars. This government takes dollars and then does stuff with it. prgtoken We want to make sure that parents can use their dollars the way th
DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF PETE BUTTIGIEG
Mike Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise, again, today to demand that Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg resign. prgtoken As we have outlined over the past weeks, Secretary Buttigieg is simply not interested in doing his job as head of the DOT. prgtoken A leader's job is to roll up their sleeves, do the hard work, and complete the mission for the people he is supposed to serve. Instead, Mr. Buttigieg is focused on advancing woke, identity politics inside that agency and in our culture. prgtoken As a trucker, I know that safety is a top priority, and Secretary Buttigieg needs to be held accountable for neglecting that safety in favor of a leftwing social agenda. prgtoken The industry this agency oversees doesn't work inside four walls. Our offices are in the airways, the waterways, the railways, and out on the roadways with you and your families. The Secretary doesn't even go outside to visit with folks. Instead, he stays inside or goes on vacation to think about skin color and gender instead of what matters. prgtoken It is not the place of the Secretary to carry out his social agenda at the DOT. It is time for him to resign and to take that social agenda outside of government.
PROTECTING AMERICA'S CHILDREN
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today in support of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. House s made a commitment to America that we would bring up the Parents Bill of Rights Act. Today, we are keeping that promise. prgtoken The numbers speak for themselves. In the 1 month since the Parents Bill of Rights Act was introduced, thousands of parents have signed on to it. This massive surge of support proves that parents want more of a say in their children's education. President 's Secretary of Education recently said parents are missing in action. He is just wrong. prgtoken Parents are more motivated than ever, and they want us to take action. The bill before us today is about every mom, every dad, and, most importantly, every student in America. prgtoken We believe parents should be able to know what your children are learning, how your tax dollars are being spent, and whether your child is safe in school. That is exactly what the Parents Bill of Rights Act does. prgtoken When we introduced the Parents Bill of Rights Act, we numbered it H.R. 5. There is an important reason why. That is the age that children start kindergarten. prgtoken Also, this bill protects five important parental rights. prgtoken One, the right to know what is being taught in schools and to see the reading materials. No one is arguing that parents should dictate what is being taught, but parents should be able to see their school's curriculum publicly, know what books are in the library, and get timely notice about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs. prgtoken Two, the right to be heard. We saw 's Justice Department lash out at concerned parents and label them domestic terrorists. Parents should be allowed to address school board meetings, have their First Amendment rights respected, and have a say in their children's education. prgtoken Third, the right to see a school's budget and how your tax dollars are being spent. prgtoken Four, the right to protect your children's privacy. Parents should be able to control how any third party uses their children's personal data. prgtoken Fifth, the right to be updated on any violent activity at school. If there is violence at school, parents deserve to know. prgtoken , it doesn't matter the color of your skin, the ZIP Code you live in, or the wealth you have. Once you are a parent, you will give your life for your child. prgtoken You have a right to get basic information about your children's education, and with the Parents Bill of Rights Act, you will have that. prgtoken The Parents Bill of Rights Act is an important step toward protecting children and dramatically strengthening the rights of parents. prgtoken , in America, education is the great equalizer. Every child deserves a great education. We know that if parents are empowered, students will succeed. prgtoken For that reason, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.
AFFORDABLE SCHOOL LUNCHES
Mark Alford (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-3-24

I rise today to highlight the importance of ensuring that all students are fed in a nutritious and affordable manner. I am proud to have introduced H.R. 1168, the School Lunch Affordability Act Of 2023. prgtoken Every year, schools are forced to raise their school lunch prices to comply with the Paid Lunch Equity program set by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. This arbitrary price increase mandated miles away by Congress has no impact on nutritional content and puts unnecessary pressure on hardworking American families and, ultimately, leads to more hungry students. prgtoken This legislation would amend the regulation to return local control to schools. Protecting the health and nutrition of our youth is a critical, critical aspect of a strong educational system and it is completely un-American to subject our local schools to the burdensome Federal regulations. prgtoken Schools should be able to make these decisions for themselves, not the bureaucrats in Washington. This legislation grants them this ability at the local level.
MARCH MADNESS IN IOWA
Zachary Nunn (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-3-24

March Madness is among us, and I am thrilled to say that the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and my own Drake Bulldogs have made it. prgtoken Unfortunately, most of us are now out of our brackets and trying to pick up the pieces. prgtoken I recognize that today, the University of Iowa women's basketball team with Coach Lisa Bluder, along with Caitlin Clark, a standout college basketball player with the Iowa Hawkeyes, is ready to take it to the court tonight. prgtoken Iowa is ready to cheer on our Hawkeye women in the Sweet 16 tournament, and we wish them the very best of luck in their game today. prgtoken The coaches, staff, parents, alumni, and all Iowans who are watching across the country and the world tonight have been there from the beginning. Thank you for your dedication to making this happen. prgtoken I also send a shout-out to a very special player from West Des Moines, Iowa, Caitlin Clark. She is a favorite for National Player of the Year. prgtoken On March 5, 2023, Caitlin put up 30 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds, leading her team to clinch its second straight Big 10 tournament title. prgtoken You can tell I have been screaming and cheering her on from the sidelines the whole way through. prgtoken Caitlin is the only player, male or female, in the past 20 seasons to achieve 25 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds in a single game, and she did it not once but twice. prgtoken Caitlin has made Iowa so proud. She is in a league of her own with her record-setting career, and it is only just beginning. We look forward to watching Caitlin and the Hawkeye women do what they do best on the court tonight. prgtoken Go Hawks.
HONORING BRUCE ROLLINSON
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-24

I thank the colonel for yielding. prgtoken , I think it shouldn't be lost on anyone watching that the gentleman is talking about service and selflessness. We have a colonel who dedicated his life to this country both serving here on the House floor and also in the United States military. prgtoken One of the greater Americans that you will know, , from the 21st century is Steve Scalise, and then we have the coach, Coach Rollinson. We also have Coach Hopkins and Coach Higgins as well. They were great coaches, and they were also great men. prgtoken It has been said that football builds character. I disagree with that. Football reveals character. Having been a player, that Heisman Trophy was not mine. I didn't get any votes nor did I get invited to the combine, but it was a great experience. prgtoken My greatest football memory is not winning a national championship for the University of Notre Dame. It is a prgtoken game that we won in high school that we were supposed to lose by 40 points and we won by 31--literally. I had a Coach Mike Murgo. He had one eye distinctly bigger than the other. He talked like this. He said: I ain't cross-eyed. I just got one eye bigger than the other, boys. prgtoken The reason why we beat a team that should have beaten us by 40 was about belief. It was about belief. prgtoken Coach, what you have instilled in thousands of young men is belief. prgtoken People will say that you were a great coach. Again, I am going to take a little umbrage with that. You are a great teacher, a teacher of men. prgtoken Football is unique, as Congressman Gallagher said, because it is not a contact sport. Basketball is a contact sport. Soccer is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport, and it hurts. I had a couple of concussions in Notre Dame--in practice, full disclosure. prgtoken You remind me of Coach Holtz. You are cut from the same cloth. On our national championship rings it says: trust, love, commitment. prgtoken Football is unique because you have 11 men out on that field who have to trust each other because a collision could come your way. You have to trust. You have to love one another. I look up in the gallery and see so many people. You are not from Virginia or Maryland, so you couldn't drive here. So many people flew across this country to honor you and to honor what you have built. It is not the 300-plus wins and over a dozen championships State and national. It is the trust, love, and the commitment that you had for your family, for your community, and for those young men. prgtoken , we are in the presence of a Hall of Famer in greatness. prgtoken It was a wonderful day to see you operating with that team. What impressed me so much about those young men was not, by the way, only their height. I took a picture with the offensive lineman. I am 6 feet tall and 230 pounds, and I look like a hobbit. My son said: Daddy, are they going to have a second breakfast? prgtoken He was looking at my hair