mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. GEROLD SCHIEBLER
Aaron Bean (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-3-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Gerold Schiebler, a pillar of the Florida medical community. prgtoken Dr. Schiebler passed away on Amelia Island at the age of 95. In 1960, when he joined the faculty of the University of Florida, he was the very first pediatric cardiologist in north Florida. prgtoken In addition to saving lives in the hospital, Dr. Schiebler saved lives with his lifelong advocacy, having established protocols for pediatric cardiology and the Florida Poison Control Center. prgtoken Along with his late wife Audrey, Dr. Schiebler launched Child Protection Teams and the Guardian ad Litem program. Protections for kids that we take for granted today were established by the Schieblers. prgtoken Perhaps his finest moment was this past year when his late wife Audrey was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She left him a list of things that he needed to finish in their lifelong advocacy in the medical and child welfare fields, and I believe that he did. prgtoken He was a friend. I loved him, my family loved him, and we will miss him. I ask my colleagues to join in celebrating the amazing life of Dr. Gerold Schiebler, along with offering our deepest condolences to his friends and family.
CELEBRATING 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF MISSOURI'S LEBANON AND LACLEDE COUNTY
Mark Alford (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-3-12

today, I rise in support of our resolution celebrating the 175th anniversary of Laclede County and the city of Lebanon in the Fourth Congressional District of the great State of Missouri. prgtoken On February 24, 1849, the foundations of Laclede County and Lebanon were laid, marking the beginning of a journey that would see these communities grow, develop, and contribute significantly to the fabric of Missouri. prgtoken With more than 36,000 residents in Laclede County and more than 14,000 in Lebanon, these are vibrant communities that embody the spirit of Missouri and America's heartland. prgtoken Named after Pierre Laclede, St. Louis' founder, Laclede County symbolizes Missouri's rich heritage and community spirit. It is also a great place if you ever want to go trout fishing at Bennett Spring State Park. prgtoken It is an honor to recognize Laclede County and Lebanon and the people who have shaped these areas into strong, thriving communities, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
UTILIZING SPACE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 2023
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-3-12

I rise in favor of amendment No. 4 to H.R. 6276 which clarifies that the General Services Administration, or GSA, should use PIV badge swipe data isolating the first credentialed use of the day for each cardholder as a tool to measure utilization of Federal office space. prgtoken The bill, as currently drafted, explicitly directs GSA to use sensors and other technologies in public buildings and federally leased space to measure occupancy and utilization. prgtoken The GSA states that occupancy data has proven to be a vital tool for agencies to accurately evaluate space utilization and to manage property accordingly. prgtoken As part of this effort, the GSA is piloting occupancy data collection technologies. Another method GSA uses is badge swipe data which relies on Personal Identity Verification or PIV card swipe data at building access points. prgtoken PIV data is broken down into unique credentials and isolated to the first usage of the day. In short, it uses a Federal worker's PIV card to check attendance at the door. prgtoken My amendment would clarify that badge swipe data is and should be a tool GSA uses as part of the measurement of office utilization space. prgtoken While occupancy sensors measure the utilization of specific rooms, according to the GSA, badge swipe data can provide a historic daily count of the number of unique credential individuals in a space or building, daily building density based on square foot per person, and annual rent per person occupying the space. prgtoken This is absolutely the type of data we need to achieve the outcomes of the underlying bill. prgtoken The collection of the daily attendance to each Federal office building, which is then reported to Congress, will also help further our majority's goal to measure the impact of agencies' telework and remote work policies. prgtoken Again, my amendment is simply to clarify that this important data collection technology that GSA is piloting is utilized to the extent it can be in this prgtoken mission to measure usage of government office space. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
CELEBRATING COSTA MARINE
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2024-3-12

I want to highlight the remarkable journey of Costa Marine Canvas and Enclosures, a true American success story, founded by Joe and Donna Costa in 1971. Starting with humble beginnings in the basement of their apartment, Costa Marine has grown into a leading fabricator of custom yacht enclosures, upholstery, covers, and interiors. Over the years, Costa Marine's commitment to excellence has earned them exclusive partnerships with renowned boatbuilders like Viking Yachts and Ocean Yachts. Despite the passing of Joe in 2011, Donna continues to play a vital role in the company's operations alongside the second-generation leadership of Chris Costa, Jennifer Smith, and Kevin Jelinski. I had the privilege of touring their facility this February, and I can attest to the impressive operation of Costa Marine Canvas and Enclosures. From their dedication to quality craftsmanship to their focus on community and employees, Costa Marine exemplifies the very best. Their story serves as an inspiration to us all. I thank Costa Marine for their outstanding contributions and for representing the best of American entrepreneurship. God Bless Costa Marine and God Bless the United States of America.
Welcoming the Guest Chaplain (Executive Session)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-3-12

I have the privilege to speak briefly about my friend, Bishop Larry Brandon, who opened up the Senate with prayer. I feel like, with all these pastors--you and Chaplain Barry Black and Bishop Brandon--he is also a remarkable man who has a church in Shreveport, LA, and also in Oakland, CA. prgtoken I say: How do you do it? prgtoken He goes: Every other week. prgtoken He regards his ministry not just to the soul but also to the body. I say that as a doctor, recognizing how the two can be intertwined. prgtoken When I first met him, he was about twice as big as he is now. We saw each other at breakfast, and I said: Bishop, you lost weight, man? prgtoken He said: I am glad you noticed. Eight-five pounds. If you don't notice 85 pounds, boy, are you blind. prgtoken He has done that not only for his own health but for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of his congregation. prgtoken We know I am a doctor. At times, people slip off that diet. We are in Louisiana; so you always have good food. prgtoken He says: We never condemn; we never condone. We just always support. prgtoken I am speaking about his ministry to their health and also his ministry to their spirit. When we in this Congress adopt that--we don't condemn each other, we don't condone bad behavior, but we work together to support one another for the betterment of our physical, our emotional, and spiritual health--that is a tribute to our bishop. prgtoken Thank you. prgtoken .
FOREIGN ADVERSARIES
Chip Roy (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-3-12

. Madam , from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) to engage in a colloquy so the American people can understand what we are dealing with. prgtoken Next week, we are going to take up the second half of an omnibus appropriations package. There is no other way to describe it. It was an omnibus bill broken into two parts. That omnibus bill would spend approximately $1.66 trillion or, stated in plain terms, $30 billion more than Nancy Pelosi's spending levels passed a mere 15 months ago with abject opposition from the very s in this Chamber who are going to vote next week to put the bow around two bills to make one omnibus spending package that will crack the bipartisan caps that we could have at least adhered to in order to limit spending. prgtoken Is that what the gentleman understands?
UTILIZING SPACE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 2023
Chuck Edwards (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-3-12

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I commend Mr. Perry for his work on this important bill. I had the opportunity to serve on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where this horrible expense issue was brought to our attention. prgtoken I also thank the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Perez), my bipartisan co-lead, for her partnership on this amendment and the greater standalone bill. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I am here today to urge support for my amendment to H.R. 6276, the USE IT Act. prgtoken I introduced the Federal Use it or Lose it Leases Act, or the FULL Act, back in November to bring accountability to the practice of maintaining high telework levels while maintaining expensive office leases and to reduce wasteful government spending on unused office space. prgtoken My bill was drafted in concurrence with Mr. Perry's USE IT Act to ensure that our language was synonymous and could work together to establish strong Federal building policies and procedures to reduce the Federal footprint. The FULL Act unanimously passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by voice vote during the full committee markup on November 15. prgtoken As you well know, a GAO report found that 17 of the 24 major agency headquarters in D.C. were less than 25 percent occupied during the first quarter of 2023. Even the few agencies above 25 percent reported right around or below 50 percent occupancy. Meanwhile, taxpayers continue to pay for 100 percent of the office space Federal employees are not using. prgtoken The Federal real estate portfolio has become a wasteland that is seldom reviewed. Leased assets cost taxpayers more than $6 billion a year. Even during the peak of telework, between 2020 and 2022, Federal agencies managed to spend more than $1 billion in a single year on new furnishings. prgtoken If you compare the USE IT Act and my amendment, you will see our language is very similar. Mr. Perry's USE IT Act establishes the criteria that I reference in my amendment to regulate general Federal building practices. My bill differentiates itself by serving as the reporting catalyst for Mr. Perry's bill. prgtoken The USE IT Act creates mandatory reporting requirements for agencies, and the FULL Act will require that GSA include language in all leases with Federal tenants directing the submission of an annual report on monthly occupancy and inclusion of written procedures governing the return of that unused office space to GSA. Together, the language ensures Congress has up-to-date information to make the best space utilization decisions for our taxpayers. prgtoken The FULL Act also requires independent leasing authorities to submit a report to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the congressional committee of jurisdiction on occupancy and space utilization. prgtoken Ultimately, my amendment seeks to
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2801 (Executive Calendar)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2024-3-12

I, like most Americans, have friends who have loved ones who have children who were born through IVF. prgtoken I am passionate about the value of every single child and grateful for every single child who we have in our Nation and for their potential future. I have friends who are in the process right now of actually adopting embryos that were still frozen. They could not have children of their own, and so they are adopting those embryos to make sure that they are able to come to life. IVF is not a controversial issue for me in that sense. We are passionate about it, as every State now protects that right and continues to honor that. prgtoken I understand it has become vogue in this current season right now to be able to say s are somehow opposed to life because they are opposed to IVF. I just don't find that. But within this bill that is actually coming, this bill--actually, part of it came through the Senate Armed Services Committee. That bill, itself, when it came through--it is substantially similar to that--it tried to come to the NDAA and was not included in the NDAA. It had an objection. prgtoken The CBO scored it somewhere around a billion dollars a year. This bill, itself, I understand, doesn't have a CBO score because it includes not only that section that was a billion dollars a year but actually includes another section that has not gone through the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In fact, it was brought up in a previous Congress in the Senate Committee of Veterans' Affairs. It didn't have a hearing on it nor a markup. And then during a - led Senate and then a -led Senate, as well, didn't even recently, this session, even have a markup on it. prgtoken So all of these issues, I look at and say: This has not been fully vetted through what this actually is and what it actually does, nor the cost of it, much less to be able to have 24 hours later to try to come for unanimous consent. prgtoken This bill itself includes some overly broad definitions that I think need some conversation about. Quite frankly, we are in the Senate. This is what we are supposed to do. It includes things like assisted reproductive technology, fertility treatments. It leaves the door open for future definitions for prgtoken gene editing and cloning and leaves those at the discretion of the Secretary, whoever the Secretary may be, in the future. prgtoken The bill's definition of infertility includes ``the inability to reproduce or safely carry a pregnancy to term.'' It is a very broad term trying to be able to figure out what that means. Obviously, that means everyone who is not a woman as well would be included in that. prgtoken The bill also expands the eligibility to ``partners.'' You do not have to be TRICARE beneficiaries. This would be the first time that DOD would be required to provide medical care to someone who is not otherwise entitled to it by virtue of thei
HONORING POLICE OFFICER MATTHEW RUGE
Brad Finstad (Republican, MN) \u2014 2024-3-12

. Madam , I rise today to remember the life of Police Officer Matthew Ruge, a southern Minnesota hero who was one of three first responders shot and killed in the line of duty on February 18. prgtoken Officer Ruge's life was tragically taken at the young age of 27 while responding to a domestic violence call in Burnsville, Minnesota. prgtoken Matthew grew up in Read's Landing, a small, tight-knit community just outside Wabasha. From an early age, Matthew knew he wanted to help and protect people. He attended Wabasha-Kellogg High School and was awarded a scholarship for students entering a law enforcement career. prgtoken Afterward, he completed a police training program at Mankato State University with high honors and, 2 years later, joined the Burnsville Police Department, where he earned the Life Saving Medal and served on the crisis negotiation team. prgtoken While he didn't like being the center of attention, he had an unwavering commitment to serving others. Officer Matthew Ruge was the very best of law enforcement, always there to help a person on their worst day. prgtoken My prayers are with his parents, Sean and Christi; his sister, Hannah; and the many friends and family that Matthew touched throughout his life. prgtoken Officer Ruge was among the best and bravest of southern Minnesota. We will never forget his service and sacrifice. May he rest in peace. Honoring Firefighter-Paramedic Adam Finseth
SOUTHERN BORDER
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2024-3-12

. Madam , it is kind of an appropriate buildup to what I have to say. Earlier this morning I attended a meeting with people who should know what is going on at the southern border. They brought up something that I don't think has been in the public yet. prgtoken They brought up the age at which Border Patrol agents are retiring is dropping. It is dropping to such a degree, I almost don't believe it, but we are told that the average age of retirement has dropped from 57 to 50. prgtoken So not only are we having a hard time filling new slots, but people are leaving the old slots quicker than ever. prgtoken Why is that? prgtoken They get no support from the White House. prgtoken People have said: Does anybody have a suggestion what to do with the border? prgtoken I remind America that at the time took office, about 20,000 people a month were coming here, and now, in December, we were over 350,000, so about an increase times 18. prgtoken It is not something we have to sit down and talk about and figure out what do we have to do. Although I would be happy to talk about it. The solution was there under the prior administration. prgtoken We could cut the number of people coming across by 17- or 18-1. Instead we are going the opposite direction by poorly treating the Border Patrol, and not only having more people coming here, but further allowing over 100,000 Americans to die of illegal drugs.
Nomination of Melissa R. DuBose (Executive Calendar)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2024-3-12

we are about to vote on final passage to confirm President 's nominee to the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island, Melissa DuBose, and I would like to say a few words about her. prgtoken My senior Senator, Jack Reed, will be following me shortly, and I want to begin by saying what a pleasure and successful effort it has been to work with Senator Reed together to make recommendations to several Presidents that have produced excellent district court judges in the District Court for the District of Rhode Island, a really terrific senior judge on the First Circuit, and a sitting judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. I think our nominees have proven themselves very well in the field after the nominations came and they were sworn in and joined the bench. prgtoken Melissa DuBose, I am confident, will join that roster of very successful Reed-Whitehouse recommendations. She has a few characteristics that I would like to mention. prgtoken One, she worked as a prosecutor in the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, where I used to work and where I used to actually work as attorney general for a bit. She did very busy, active service there on the criminal prosecution side and was very well regarded by her peers. She spent nearly 10 years as a corporate in-house counsel at a Fortune 500 company, Schneider Electric, and learned the law from that side. Then she served on the Rhode Island district court, which is a very fast paced, busy court where your judgment is constantly called on. She has shown herself to be a very patient and well-regarded judge, having presided over maybe 250 or 300 cases that have either gone to trial or verdict. prgtoken She is a graduate of Rhode Island's own Providence College. She was a history teacher in Providence schools for 11 years before she embarked on her legal career. She was educated at the Roger Williams University School of Law, which not only graduated her but thought so highly of her that they invited her back to sit on the board of the law school. I don't know how many of my colleagues here who are lawyers have been invited to sit on the board of their law school, but the law school thought highly enough of Judge DuBose that they asked her to do that. prgtoken I would add that perhaps the most prestigious board in the State of Rhode Island is the board of the Rhode Island Foundation, a huge charitable organization devoted to the well-being and welfare of the Rhode Island community, and Rhode Island's community leaders invited her to be on the board of that as well. prgtoken This is a person, a lifelong Rhode Islander, who is exceedingly well regarded in our community. prgtoken I will close before I yield to Senator Reed by pointing out that the members of the district court could not be more excited about having her join the Rhode Island U.S. District Court. prgtoken We, as a matter of practice, very often check in with the judges to make sure they
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2801 (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-3-12

I am very proud to be here today to join my great colleague from the State of Washington to support the Veteran Families Health Services Act. prgtoken At a time when there are many, many complex and difficult issues-- some of them nowhere near black-and-white; a lot of gray areas of policy abroad and at home--there is one issue that ought to be absolutely clear, unequivocally, in terms of what we should do--the right thing to do--really, the obligatory thing to do. And that is to make sure that our men and women who serve in uniform and our veterans have access to the healthcare they deserve and, in particular, reproductive healthcare and, most especially, IVF treatment. prgtoken The Alabama Supreme Court in the LePage decision is another step in the assault on women's rights and women's healthcare and, in fact, on women. The kinds of restrictions placed on IVF treatment have been, essentially, disowned and disavowed by many s who want to run away as far as they can as quickly as they can from that decision and are saying: Well, we are in favor of IVF but not against laws that restrict IVF. prgtoken They can't have it both ways. Here is a chance for them to show, in supremely important terms, that they are in favor of this kind of treatment for our men and women who, in some sense, have earned it and deserve it more than or as much as any other American because they are the ones who put on uniforms and defend our rights and our freedoms. And they are the ones who, afterwards, come back to their community as veterans and continue to serve us. prgtoken This measure, essentially, provides guarantees for Active-Duty servicemembers and veterans access to IVF. It expands adoption assistance at the VA and counseling services for couples navigating that process. There is very little to be said that wouldn't repeat the basic common sense of this proposal, and it shouldn't even be needed prgtoken to be said that military families don't choose where they live. They are assigned to one State or another, one country or another. When they answer the Nation's call, they don't sign up for service in Connecticut at the subbase. They sign up, and they raise their right hand. And their access to IVF shouldn't be dependent on the State where they are assigned or the country. It ought to be available to every servicemember regardless of their posting. They defend our rights every day, and we must protect theirs with this bill. prgtoken And veterans who have completed their service honorably deserve the same protection and access to family planning services. Our veterans who receive care at the VA deserve the highest standard--the gold standard--not some diluted standard because of a State law that restricts access to IVF. Their lives are already complex and challenging enough. We shouldn't complicate them further with administrative barriers. prgtoken I will just repeat what I said on the floor the other day