mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MORNING BUSINESS
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2023-9-19

today I would like to honor the life and service of a distinguished Montanan and one of Montana's five World War II Medal of Honor recipients: Technician Fourth Grade Laverne Parrish. prgtoken Laverne and his family moved to the Mission Valley of Montana in 1934, and he graduated from Ronan High School in 1937. Never one to shy away from service or sacrifice, Laverne joined the Washington Army National Guard in the March of 1941, just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a medical aidman in Company C of the 161st Infantry Regiment where he achieved the rank of technician fourth grade, the noncommissioned officer equivalent of sergeant. prgtoken In August of 1942, his Army National Guard unit was activated and deployed to Hawaii for training. Soon after, his unit was mobilized and deployed to the Pacific Theater with the 25th Infantry Division. Known as ``Tropic Lightning'' for specializing in jungle warfare, his division saw combat in five different military campaigns, moving from Guadalcanal, to the Northern Solomon Islands, and eventually joining General MacArthur's campaign to recapture the Philippines. prgtoken In January of 1945, his division landed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. During heavy fighting in Binalonan, Laverne risked his life rushing onto the battlefield to bring in his wounded brother in arms to safety. While treating casualties, he noticed two wounded soldiers from his company still in the field. Without hesitation, he crawled back onto the battlefield amidst intense enemy fire to successfully rescue both men. prgtoken Six days later, under withering enemy fire, Laverne's unit was ordered to withdraw to the cover of a ditch. Seeing two wounded soldiers unable to move, Laverne quickly left his position and pulled them to safety. In that same field, he also delivered aid to 12 casualties, crossing and recrossing an open area raked by enemy fire in the process and finally bringing an additional three men who were critically wounded back to the unit. prgtoken Shortly after treating nearly all 37 of the casualties suffered by his company, Laverne was mortally wounded by mortar fire and died on the battlefield, just 6 months before the war ended. He was 26 years old, and his body was returned to Montana, where he was laid to eternal rest at the Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan. While Laverne passed, the story of the heroic ``Montana Medic'' quickly spread through the 25th Infantry Division as they bravely carried on facing more continuous combat than any other Infantry Division in the 6th Army. prgtoken Laverne pitted heroism and bravery against great odds, saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own. In honor of his incredible bravery and sacrifice, Laverne was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman, our Nation's highest military awarded to the men and women in uniform who have gone above and beyond protectin
PAID SICK LEAVE FOR RAILROAD WORKERS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-9-19

. Madam , I rise today to discuss the need for the Freight Rail Workforce Health and Safety Act. prgtoken I introduced this bill to give our critical railroad workers 7 days of paid sick leave. It would allow them to care for their health and the health of family members without using their vacation time. It is a benefit enjoyed by millions of American workers every single day. Yet, for some reason, railroad companies have refused to provide it to railroad workers, but they do provide it to railroad management. prgtoken Our railroad workers should have the right to paid sick leave. They risked their health and safety to keep food and medicine on store shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken This bill would allow them to take care of their health without worrying about their income, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it. prgtoken We have it here in the Congress, our staff has it here in the Congress. The railroad workers need it as well.
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MU LAMBDA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2023-9-19

I rise to recognize and honor the 100th anniversary of the chartering of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the eleventh alumni chapter of the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans. prgtoken The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was founded on December 4, 1906, by 7 young African American men, known as the Seven Jewels, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The founders of the fraternity--Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle and Vertner Woodson Tandy--recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African Africans. prgtoken The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the largest predominantly African American intercollegiate fraternity and 1 of the 10 largest intercollegiate fraternities in the Nation, with more than 850 chapters around the world. The fraternity is led by General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, Interim Executive Director Sean L. McCaskill, Comptroller Donald E. Jackson and General Treasurer Densel Fleming. Its Eastern Region and Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Chapters are led by Regional Vice President East Christopher G. Ellis, Jr Regional Assistant Vice President East Tamir D. Harper, District VI Director Ray Hawkins, Jr Assistant District VI Director Noah Absalon, and Area Director Michael Taylor. prgtoken The Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was established as the first alumni chapter in the District of Columbia on October 1, 1923, in response to the desire of graduate members, many of whom were initiated into the Beta Chapter at Howard University, to give aid to the undergraduate members and continue the work of the fraternity after graduation. prgtoken The Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity established the Mu Lambda Foundation in 1994 expressly to provide community service to residents of the District of Columbia and to inspire and assist today's youth in their quest to make their mark on society. For 100 years, the Mu Lambda Chapter has played a role in the positive development of the character and education of men. Six members of the Mu Lambda Chapter have served as the General President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and two have served as the Eastern Region Vice President. Members of the Mu Lambda Chapter are leaders in the areas of government, business, entertainment, philanthropy, law, non-profit, science, sports, literature, armed services, religion and academia. prgtoken , I ask the House of Representatives to join me in commending the members of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, past and present, for their bond of friendship, common ideals and beliefs, and service to their community and in expressing our best wishes for the Mu Lambda Chapter's continued growth and success.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-9-20

on Monday, the leader came down to the floor to discuss the continuing resolution the House proposed, and he criticized it for, among other things, making ``no attempt to reauthorize the FAA.'' Making ``no attempt to reauthorize the FAA.'' prgtoken Well, apparently it slipped the leader's mind that the Senate is currently making no attempt to reauthorize the FAA either. That is right. It has been 97 days since the chair of the Commerce Committee halted consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization at the beginning of the scheduled markup because the leader objected to a bipartisan amendment that Senator Sinema and I planned to offer--an amendment to improve aviation safety by implementing a structured, rigorous training program for prospective airline pilots. prgtoken Current training requirements for airline pilots require 1,500 hours of flight time, primarily in the cockpit, although military pilots and those with a bachelor's or associate's degree in aviation can receive credit for some of those hours. prgtoken I recognize the value of cockpit experience and see time in real aircraft as an essential part of training airline pilots, but those 1,500 hours alone are not always the ideal preparation for flying commercial jets or training truly well-rounded pilots. prgtoken For starters, the majority of the 1,500 hours are generally completed in small, single-engine aircraft, which have very little relevance to regional or large jetliners in terms of flight characteristics and instrumentation. Little to none of the currently required flight hours, which aspiring airline pilots must seek out and complete on their own, are accumulated in the type of aircraft these pilots will be flying should they get a job with an airline. In fact, current rules would theoretically allow some of those hours to be completed in a hot air balloon--not exactly preparation for flying a 787 across the ocean. prgtoken To address these deficiencies and to better prepare pilots for airline jobs, 7 years ago, the Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee--a body of industry, labor, and safety representatives who meet regularly under the auspices of the FAA's Office of Aviation Safety--developed and recommended the implementation of an Enhanced Qualification Program that would create a structured pathway for pilots to obtain intensive training. prgtoken That is exactly--exactly--the type of program our amendment would create. Following the recommendations of the Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee, our amendment would implement a 2-month Enhanced Qualification Program, designed and audited by the FAA and administered by air carriers, that would give aspiring airline pilots intensive training both in the classroom and in simulators with experienced air carrier pilots and other experts. Individuals who successfully completed the program
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-9-20

I rise to put the leadership of the House, the Senate, and the President of the United States on notice. I will not consent to any expedited passage of any spending bill that provides any more American aid to Ukraine. prgtoken It is as if no one has noticed that we have no extra money to send to Ukraine. Our deficit this year will exceed $1.5 trillion. Borrowing money from China to send it to Ukraine makes no sense. It is not as if we have some sort of rainy day fund sitting around with trillions of dollars, a pot of money, and we are just going to send it to Ukraine. We are going to borrow it. When we borrow it and create new money to pay for that borrowing, we create the inflation that is plaguing our economy. prgtoken Since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine, the American taxpayers have provided Ukraine with $113 billion. Over the 583 days of war, between February 24, 2022, and the end of the month, that averages $6.8 billion per month or $223 million per day. There are a lot of things that we need to fix in our country before we borrow money to try to perpetuate a war in another country. prgtoken When will the aid requests end? prgtoken When will the war end? prgtoken Can someone explain what victory in Ukraine looks like? prgtoken President certainly can't. His administration has failed to articulate a clear strategy or objective in this war, and Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive has failed to make meaningful gains in the East. With no clear end in sight, it looks increasingly like Ukraine will be yet another endless quagmire funded by the American taxpayer. prgtoken That is why public support for the war is waning. A CNN poll from August shows that a majority of Americans now oppose Congress authorizing additional funding to Ukraine. Now, there are those in the Senate who would refuse to listen to these voices, voices coming from a war-weary nation, and who would hold the Federal Government hostage by inserting $24 billion more for Ukraine. They are talking about saying the only way government stays open--the only way we avoid a shutdown-- is by shoveling more American taxpayer dollars to Ukraine. They are going to link keeping the government open with more money to Ukraine, and I am here to say that I am not going to agree to it, and I will not let them shut down the government simply because they want to send more of your hard-earned tax dollars to Ukraine. Either the American people fund an endless war in Ukraine or the ``uni-party'' threatens to shut down the government. prgtoken This is a clear dereliction of duty, and I will not stand for it. Colleagues, as representatives of the American people, you should not stand for it either. The bill that comes before us should be about funding our government, not somebody else's government. I will not give consent to a bill that includes funding for Ukraine in keeping our government open. prgtoken As elected officials, we have a
RECOGNIZING LYLE TENNIS ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
Bryan Steil (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-9-20

I rise today in recognition of World War II veteran Lyle Tennis' honorable service to our Nation and to wish him a happy 100th birthday. prgtoken Lyle Tennis was born in Unity, Wisconsin on September 18, 1923, and resides in Racine, Wisconsin. Lyle joined the United States Navy as a Lieutenant during World War II. prgtoken During his service in the Navy, his ship was the target of frequent and deadly Kamikaze attacks. During an attack, Lyle saved his crewmates' lives by notifying the crew to abandon the ship before sinking and returning to the ship to rescue the remaining crew. Lyle was awarded the distinguished Navy Cross for his heroic actions. prgtoken In addition to his Navy Cross, Lyle was awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation. prgtoken After WWII, Lyle served an additional 28 years in the Naval Reserves and had a career in education for 31 years. Lyle Tennis is a genuine American hero. prgtoken On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I am honored to wish Lyle Tennis a happy 100th birthday and recognize his distinguished service to our Nation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-9-20

next week, America's world-leading medical innovation sector will face their first deadline in the administration's push for prescription drug socialism. prgtoken Under Washington ' so-called Inflation Reduction Act, the companies behind certain major treatments for seniors, for everything from arthritis to diabetes, to cancer, will have to choose, by the end of next week, whether to enter into a so-called ``negotiation program'' run by Federal bureaucrats, pay an excessive fine, or take their drugs off the market. prgtoken Well, the devil is in the details. Unsurprisingly, intend for this ``negotiation'' to be anything but. It turns out, the IRA empowers the administration to reject any counteroffer during the process and, thus, arbitrarily set the maximum price to whatever number the bureaucrats choose. prgtoken Now, the administration claims that this policy will save consumers money and lead to cheaper treatments, but this couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, this so-called ``negotiation'' with unelected bureaucrats will ensure that fewer lifesaving treatments make it to the markets in the first place. prgtoken I was very proud to have worked alongside then-Vice President on his Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the 21st Century Cures Act back in 2016. Unfortunately, by one estimate, the administration's own price-fixing scheme would destroy nearly nine times as much funding for cancer research as that legislation, back in 2016, provided by eliminating incentives for drug companies to invest in R&D. Already, several companies announced last year that they were discontinuing research into treatments for cancer and other diseases due to concerns about the impact of Washington ' regulations. prgtoken The administration wants to dry up the world's most prolific pipeline of lifesaving cures. The American people deserve better than prescription drug socialism. Ukraine prgtoken , now, on another matter, yesterday, President told the world we would support Ukraine's fight ``as long as it takes.'' Unfortunately, for all of his lofty rhetoric about Ukraine, the President's actual approach to Russia's escalation--his passive, indecisive leadership--has risked prolonging the war and jeopardizing public support for our efforts. In some cases, his open fretting about escalation and ``World War Three'' has contributed to the hesitation of allies like Germany. prgtoken Like most s, I have been clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression since long before Putin's so-called ``little green men'' seized Ukrainian territory back in 2014, long before the last ic President mocked realism about Russia to score points in a political debate. And I have urged the administrations of both parties to take steps to help Ukraine deter Russian aggression before it escalated--li
HONORING BLANCA M. HERNANDEZ-ADAME
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-9-20

. Madam , in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I recognize Blanca M. Hernandez-Adame for all her tremendous work in Nebraska's Second Congressional District. Blanca's determination and kind-hearted nature have benefited our community for years. prgtoken Born in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, from a very early age, Blanca showed signs of being a natural-born leader. She always stood out among her peers in the different activities, groups, or social clubs she participated in. prgtoken Blanca has three children: Eros, Daniel, and Camila. She is a strong woman of faith and puts God first in everything she does. One of the most important people in Blanca's life is her mother, who has been present through good times and bad times for her whole life. prgtoken In 1995, Blanca began law school at the Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero and demonstrated an interest in politics. She became involved in Mexican politics and volunteered in campaigns for senators, state Governors, rectors of the University of Guerrero, and even the Presidency of the Mexican Republic in Mexico. prgtoken Blanca graduated from law school in 1999 and had the opportunity to work for some of the most essential people in the State of Guerrero as a trusted staff member. Later that year, due to the economic situation, Blanca left Mexico for the United States to pursue opportunities for herself and her family. prgtoken In 2000, she began working in a packinghouse. Blanca has the utmost respect for people who work in these places, as they can be very repetitive jobs and hard work. Some stay in the same place, doing the same movement for 8 to 10 hours every day for weeks, months, and even years. Every day that she spent at the packinghouse, she became more convinced that she had to learn English and that if she didn't, she would stay there forever working in a very difficult job. prgtoken She began taking English classes at night after a long day at the packing plant, but one of Blanca's strengths is her persistence. She knew that the effort would be worth it, so little by little she learned to speak English and became a representative of the workers' union at the packing plant. prgtoken From there, she became active in our community in South Omaha. For 6 years, she served on the board of directors of the One World Clinic in Omaha. She volunteered in different community groups, nonprofit organizations, and is the founder of the Queens of Cinco de Mayo contest, one of the most important events in the Latino community of South Omaha. prgtoken In 2016--and this is where we want to focus because she has done so much great work here--she founded Generation Diamond to help people reenter our community after incarceration. She believes that her participants are diamonds in the rough that only need to be polished to shine. In just 7 years, Generation Diamond is one of the only organizations in Nebraska that helps the formerly incarcerated remove tattoos free of charge an
CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF DAVE ROWLEY
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-9-20

I rise today to honor a remarkable individual who has dedicated four decades of his life to the field of broadcasting, and in doing so, has become a cherished prgtoken voice for the people of Northern Chautauqua County. prgtoken I am proud to address this Chamber to celebrate the retirement of a true newsman, Dave Rowley. His long career in broadcasting is testament to his passion for storytelling and his dedication to keeping our community informed. prgtoken Dave has worn many hats over the years, from reporting to anchoring, producing, and hosting his radio show, ``Viewpoint.'' Through his work, he has provided a space for meaningful conversations on the issues that matter most to the people of Chautauqua County. prgtoken As we celebrate Dave's retirement, we can't help but feel a sense of loss as very few journalists possess the same integrity and reliability he has always displayed. prgtoken His commitment to excellence, his passion for the truth, and his dedication to his community will be a lasting legacy for all that follow in his footsteps. prgtoken Dave Rowley's retirement may mark the end of an era, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and we wish him all the happiness and fulfillment in his next chapter.