mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT--Continued
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2022-11-29

shortly, we will have the opportunity to make history by passing important legislation that will advance two goals: one, the goal of marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples, and second, the goal of strengthening religious liberty and conscience protections. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard on this legislation, and I also want to thank the broad array of faith-based groups who worked with us on the religious liberty provisions of our bill. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Baldwin, who has been the lead on this bill; Senator Sinema, who has worked so hard; Senator Portman, who has poured his heart and soul into it; and Senator Tillis in particular. But I also want to thank all of the s who have supported this. I know that it has not been easy, but they have done the right thing. prgtoken I urge a vote in favor of the bill.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-11-29

. Madam , I rise today regarding missed votes. Had I been present for Roll Call vote No. 482, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 3369, I would have voted Yea. For Roll Call vote No. 483, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 4359, 1 would have voted Yea. For Roll Call vote No. 484, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 2250, I would have voted Yea. For Roll Call vote No. 485, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 3630, I would have voted Yea.
CONDEMNING THE USE OF HUNGER AS A WEAPON OF WAR AND RECOGNIZING THE EFFECT OF CONFLICT ON GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND FAMINE
Young Kim (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-11-29

the balance of my time. prgtoken , I rise in support of this resolution authored by my colleagues, Congresswoman Jacobs and Congressman Meijer. This resolution condemns the use of hunger as a weapon of war and recognizes the impact that conflict has on global food security and famine. prgtoken Around the world, over 300 million people are in urgent need of food assistance. Many are facing emergency food needs due to years of protracted conflict, whether in Syria, Yemen, the Sahel, Nigeria, or South Sudan. prgtoken But shockingly, we are also seeing the increasing use of hunger and starvation as a deliberate weapon of war, with worldwide effects. Ukraine just commemorated the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor famine, which killed millions of Ukrainians at Stalin's direction. Ninety years later, Putin is reviving this evil, targeting wheat fields and grain silos, deliberately seeking to destroy vital sources of food for the Ukrainian people and the world. prgtoken The Kremlin's propaganda machine is attempting to blame international sanctions for the worsening global food crisis, but that is a lie. In reality, this crisis is a direct result of Putin's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. prgtoken Meanwhile, Russia uses its influence at the U.N. to exert control over the vital food aid that millions of Syrians rely on in an effort to bolster Bashar al-Assad's brutal grip on power. prgtoken In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have weaponized food aid, using it for military gains and personal profit, while millions of Yemenis continue to face famine-like conditions. prgtoken These atrocities must be condemned by all people of goodwill. The administration should impose severe penalties on those responsible, including through sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. prgtoken , I thank Representatives Jacobs and Meijer, Chairman Meeks, and Ranking Member McCaul for introducing this measure and bringing it to the floor. An identical text unanimously passed the Senate in July. prgtoken Deliberately starving innocent civilians as a weapon of war must be condemned wherever it occurs. This resolution also condemns the acts of looting, diversion, or other denials of humanitarian access that impede the delivery of lifesaving assistance to populations who need it the most. prgtoken Finally, I take this moment to commend the humanitarians who put their lives at risk every day to get food to vulnerable children, women, and men who need it just to stay alive. Their efforts deserve our support, and so does this resolution. prgtoken , .
PROTECTING FIREFIGHTERS FROM ADVERSE SUBSTANCES ACT
Frank D. Lucas (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-11-29

the balance of my time. prgtoken , firefighters and emergency response personnel put themselves in harm's way daily with no questions asked. They do this to save lives and protect their communities. Therefore, it is only fitting that Congress does what we can to protect their lives in return. prgtoken The bill we are considering today, the PFAS Act, arms our first responders with knowledge and procedures to avoid long-term health effects from harmful chemicals. prgtoken This bill is also an example of strong bipartisan collaboration, with all the discussion and refinement that entails. My colleague from Michigan understood my concerns about not getting ahead of the science and banning all PFAS. I understood her desire to take immediate action for her constituents. We worked together to both walk away happy with the result. prgtoken My sincere thanks to Congresswoman Dingell, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee staff, and everyone involved in these discussions. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and .
AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING INFLATION AT A 40-YEAR HIGH
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-11-29

last week, families across America sat down to enjoy Thanksgiving meals. Unfortunately, this week, as a result of irresponsible policies of and , families are paying massive costs. prgtoken Americans are experiencing inflation at a 40-year high with families in South Carolina paying nearly 15 percent more for goods and services in the last year. prgtoken Average national costs have increased. Turkey is up 21 percent. Pie crusts and whipping cream are up 26 percent. Dinner rolls are up 22 percent. Milk is up 16 percent. prgtoken According to the recent Morning Consult poll, 41 percent of Thanksgiving shoppers were planning to cut side dishes to save money. prgtoken Our country is in a crisis, and Americans need relief, which is why voters elected a House majority. s will fight inflation with fiscal sanity. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America.
LANCE CORPORAL DANA CORNELL DARNELL OUTPATIENT CLINIC
William R. Timmons IV (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-11-29

I thank Ranking Member Bost and Chairman Takano for supporting this bill and bringing it to the floor today. prgtoken , I rise today in support of our bill, H.R. 5943, to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic. prgtoken A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Dana Cornell Darnell was a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam war. On April 24, 1967, his platoon was ambushed by North Vietnamese Army forces. He quickly worked to silence enemy fire. Even after being temporarily blinded, he refused to be evacuated and quickly began assisting in the care of the wounded. prgtoken For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell was awarded the Navy Cross. prgtoken Renaming the Greenville VA clinic in honor of Lance Corporal Darnell will ensure we never forget the courage, service, and sacrifice of our fellow South Carolinian. prgtoken , I thank the entire South Carolina delegation for their support of this bill. We believe the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic will serve countless veterans throughout the upstate and uphold our promise to those who gave our country their all. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5943.
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF MAE MOODY
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-11-29

. Madam , I rise to honor the life of Mae Moody, a leader and pinnacle of the Knox County community, who passed away on October 17, 2022, at age 83. prgtoken Mae loved her community and dedicated much of her life to trying to make it better every day. She cared deeply about supporting leaders who would help East Tennessee thrive. Most often, she voted as a , but she was more focused on supporting the best candidate no matter what. For her, each election was not a partisan issue, but a community issue. prgtoken Many community leaders honored Mae's life and passing. They talked about her compassion, integrity, honesty, and community advocacy which was apparent to everyone who knew her. She was described as a ``community champion,'' a ``neighborhood advocate,'' and a ``virtuous leader.'' prgtoken Mae was incredibly dedicated to supporting our law enforcement and community safety. She taught thousands of children how to properly use 911 and served as a community organizer for the Knoxville Police Department. Mae also completed the Citizen Academies of the FBI, District Attorney, Knox County Sheriffs Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Fire Department to gain a better insight into how our law enforcement operates and how she could help them. prgtoken I want to extend my condolences to her husband Jack, her children Susan, Terry, and Chuck, her sister Carol, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rest in peace Mae and I thank her for everything she has done for our community.
BOB KRUEGER POST OFFICE
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-11-29

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I am opposed to this bill for procedural reasons. The House Oversight and Reform Committee's agreed-upon procedures for considering postal naming bills clearly dictate several requirements for such measures to advance through the House. Among those is the requirement that postal naming bills be cosponsored by the entire State delegation before it will be considered in the Oversight Committee, and then they proceed to the floor. prgtoken There are very good reasons for these requirements. This is to ensure that the State's collective representation agrees that such a local hero deserves this high honor and the attention of the full Congress. prgtoken Unfortunately, this bill is only cosponsored by 34 of the 36 Members of the Texas delegation, which means it is not ready for consideration here today. prgtoken Furthermore, this bill has not even been marked up by the committee of jurisdiction in the House Oversight Committee, which means it is bypassing regular order to come straight to the House floor. This is a departure from past precedent and procedure. prgtoken Following regular order and past practice on these measures prevents wasting valuable time and resources here on the House floor. There are dozens of other bills that have earned the support of their entire State delegations and have also been unanimously approved by the House Oversight Committee. We should be spending the valuable time on this floor that we have remaining in this Congress considering these other bills that are higher in the queue, some of which were introduced in the first half of last year. prgtoken For these reasons, I cannot support H.R. 8203, which breaks with our agreed-upon process. prgtoken Madam , .
BIDEN ENERGY POLICIES ARE THE SOURCE OF INFLATION
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-11-29

I rise today to address the administration's self-made energy crisis. prgtoken Since taking office, I have been vocal about my commitment to alternative forms of energy that bring revenue and flexibility to Iowa and allow Iowa to be a major energy exporter. prgtoken However, the administration's policies have relied on foreign nations instead of prioritizing American energy independence. prgtoken Iowans have felt the effect of President 's policies. Grocery and energy prices continue to soar with inflation rates at historic highs. So while the temperatures drop into the teens, some are forced to choose between turning on their heat and buying groceries. prgtoken According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, diesel prices could top $6 per gallon this winter, but Iowa could fill the gap with biodiesel. Struggling families simply cannot afford President 's energy policies. prgtoken I want to reiterate my calls to President to unleash domestic energy and look towards Iowa as a framework for an any-of-the-above approach to lower energy costs for Americans. prgtoken I also want to wish a very happy birthday to Andy Swanson.
TRIBUTE TO JASMINE SLUSSER
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-11-29

I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jasmine for her hard work as an intern in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. prgtoken Jasmine is a native of Pennsylvania. She is a student at George Washington University, where she studies public health. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. prgtoken I want to thank Jasmine for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.
RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT--Continued
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-11-29

this amendment is very, very narrowly tailored. It is in response to the bill. I have talked to several of the bill's sponsors, and they have told me their intent is to be able to protect religious liberty, which I appreciate that to be able to have a balanced perspective in this particular bill because people of good will on both sides have disagreements in this area. prgtoken The problem is, there are three certain areas of the text that do not actually meet that standard of being a balanced protection. So this amendment goes into those three areas and corrects the text to make sure it actually says it is going to protect religious liberty. It is three areas. prgtoken One is a very wide perspective of operating under the color of State law. That has a very broad net on it. We tried to be able to correct that one. prgtoken The second one deals with striking the private right of action on this, which will dramatically increase the number of lawsuits. I can assure you, if Congress passes a law that opens up a new lane for lawsuits, there will be lots of new lawsuits in that area. prgtoken The third area is in 7(a), where it talks about protecting all these rights if it does arise from a marriage, not from a belief in a marriage. So we are trying to correct that text to make sure it is not just the action of marriage but also the belief of marriage. prgtoken That is what this amendment does.
RECOGNIZING THE MOTOR MACHINIST MATE 1ST CLASS (RETIRED) RICHARD EVERETT MARTIN UPON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-11-29

. Madam , I'm honored to recognize Retired Motor Machinists Mate 1st Class (MM) Richard Everett Martin on this most auspicious occasion of his 100th birthday. prgtoken Growing up in the York Area, MM Martin attended William Penn High School, where he took a machinery and cabinet making course, while holding a job at Weaver Piano company. He split his months during his final high school year, between the factory and school, developing his love of machinery and honest labor. prgtoken After high school, MM Martin felt a call to serve and use his newfound passion, enlisting in the Navy Reserve in 1942 at the age of 19. Studying at the University of Missouri, as well as traveling to Norfolk and New York City, he completed his training and education to become a Motor Machinist's mate 1st class. He was assigned to the USS LST-325, a landing ship for amphibious assaults. prgtoken MM Martin was deployed to North Africa, where he would spend one (1) year training along the coast, before taking part in the invasion of Sicily. After a successful landing, during which MM Martin would receive The Purple Heart, the USS LST-325 was deployed to Great Britain to take part in D-Day, where MM Martin, along with thousands of Allied Soldiers, bravely served. prgtoken MM Martin is the last surviving member of the original crew of the USS LST-325. His story stands as a testimony to true courage, bravery, and service. His service to our Nation reflects great credit not just upon himself, but also upon the Navy Reserve, as well as all those who served in World War II. As he continues to stand as an icon of selflessness, I wish him many more years of happiness and health.
TERRY TECHNICAL CORRECTION ACT
Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-11-29

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 5455 responds to a Supreme Court ruling that held certain low-level drug offenders do not qualify for resentencing under the retroactive provisions of the First Step Act. That was not Congress' intent in adopting the First Step Act. prgtoken This problem dates back to the drug epidemic of the 1980s. At that time, Congress enacted harsh penalties for Federal drug offenses, including mandatory minimum sentences. prgtoken The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 created a 100-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, meaning an individual convicted of selling 5 grams of crack cocaine would receive the same sentence as someone convicted of selling 500 grams of powder cocaine. prgtoken In 2010, Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the sentencing disparity between crack and powder from 100-1 to 18-1. prgtoken In 2018, Congress passed, and President signed, the First Step Act into law. The First Step Act made the sentencing disparity provision retroactive, allowing individuals convicted of or sentenced for Federal drug offenses related to cocaine to move for a resentencing. prgtoken However, that law did not specifically address individuals whose crimes did not trigger the mandatory minimums. As a result, some of those individuals are serving longer sentences than those whose offenses triggered the mandatory minimums. This legislation today makes technical corrections and brings parity to crack-related offenses. prgtoken , .
TRIBUTE TO RAY STEVENS
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-11-29

today I rise to honor a true Music City legend. For more than 50 years, Ray Stevens has delighted audiences with his talents as a comedian, an actor, a musician, and a songwriter. His unique vision for the future of entertainment allowed him to blaze trails no other artists would dare tread alone. prgtoken As a fellow Tennessean, and one of Ray's biggest fans, you can believe me when I say that you have never seen anything like Ray Stevens. It would have been easy for him to justify resting on his laurels while Music City grew around him, but if you know Ray, you know that was never a possibility. Although he achieved fame for his work in the creative arts, he is best known for leading with laughter, kindness, and an unfailing desire to encourage fellow artists. prgtoken In 1971, Ray and a group of fellow Music Row luminaries led by Cecil Scaife came together to create a music business program at Belmont University, where aspiring entertainers could exercise both their talents and their business acumen. This tremendous effort changed the industry for the better and set an example for the city's rising stars. Today, the Cecil Scaife Visionary Award is given annually to those whose life and work have made it possible for future generations to realize careers in the music industry, and I could not have been happier when I learned that Ray is one of this year's recipients. prgtoken Ray, on behalf of all Tennesseans, I thank you for your devotion to the arts, your zest for life, and for going above and beyond on behalf all who hope to walk in your footsteps.
LANCE CORPORAL DANA CORNELL DARNELL OUTPATIENT CLINIC
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-11-29

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5943, as amended, which will appropriately honor the memory of Lance Corporal Dana C. Darnell as one of the more than 58,000 names etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial just down the street on The National Mall. prgtoken Like so many of those who served our great Nation, Lance Corporal Darnell's life was tragically cut short. In April 1967, his Marine platoon was ambushed by enemy forces in the Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam. prgtoken Lance Corporal Darnell, at just 19 years old, displayed remarkable bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity. When his platoon's mortar gunner was knocked unconscious, Lance Corporal Darnell quickly retrieved the weapon and began firing it into the enemy's position. prgtoken After exhausting his ammunition, he moved from man to man, collecting additional mortar rounds to help silence the attack. In doing so, Lance Corporal Darnell undoubtedly saved the lives of others in his platoon. prgtoken Even after being temporarily blinded by enemy fire, Lance Corporal Darnell refused to be evacuated. Instead, he quickly began caring for his wounded comrades. Two days later, Lance Corporal Darnell was killed in action. prgtoken For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Darnell was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by President Johnson. The Greenville, South Carolina, native also received a Purple Heart and National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign Medals for his meritorious service. prgtoken , Representative Timmons, for introducing this bill, which will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Greenville, South Carolina, the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic. prgtoken This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans I include these letters in the Record. [From the American Legion] Whereas, The American Legion is always preserving the memories in incidents in all wars and to the men, women and families sacrifice to the country of The United States of America will never be forgotten; and Whereas, The American Legion has paid homage to the courage and commitments from the United States military and the values they have brought to our great nation; and Whereas, the United States is a grateful nation for the ultimate sacrifice of 58,220 United States Service members during the war with the North Vietnamese from 1955-1975; and Whereas, one of those conflicts was the battle of Quang Tri Provence the northern provincial capital of The republic of South Vietnam involving Company B, First Battalion, 9th Marines, Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force April 24, 1967; and Whereas, Greenville South Carolina's very own U