mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING THE NAPAVINE TIGERS FOOTBALL TEAM
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-3-9

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor Sandra Bedrosian Sermone, a resident of my district, for her work on ADNP syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. prgtoken In 2016, Sandra founded the ADNP Kids Research Foundation after her son was diagnosed with this disorder. Additionally, Sandra helped discover a prgtoken new biomarker for the ADNP gene, helping her spearhead efforts to diagnose and cure ADNP. prgtoken Through her efforts, the ADNP Kids Research Foundation has donated over $2 million to studying ADNP syndrome, making it the world's largest contributor to ADNP research. prgtoken The foundation is based out of Brush Prairie, Washington, in my district, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Sandra and her entire team for their trailblazing work. I wish them the very best as they endeavor to find a cure for ADNP syndrome. Celebrating Longview's Centennial
Nomination of Daniel I. Werfel (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-3-9

in a few minutes, the Senate will vote on Danny Werfel's nomination to be the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. prgtoken Mr. Werfel told the Finance Committee that he will make his priorities those of delivering fairness and building trust. prgtoken We know that he is going to do just that because he has done it before. President asked Mr. Werfel, during a very challenging time, to serve as Acting Commissioner in 2013. prgtoken Then, the Internal Revenue Service was under intense scrutiny for its sloppy reviews of tax-exempt organizations and their political activities. Mr. Werfel did his job in a way that improved trust in the Internal Revenue Service. prgtoken He worked with both sides of the Senate Finance Committee. Our investigation found that both left-leaning and right-leaning groups were affected. The late Senator Orrin Hatch, a friend to many in this Chamber, told me on a number of occasions how much he appreciated Danny Werfel's professionalism and his open door for all sides. prgtoken It is time to rebalance the American system of tax enforcement. Audits today, too often, are a burden that fall heavily on working families--on nurses and firefighters and teachers and the middle class. It is far too easy for the very wealthy and the multinational corporations, which have armies of tax lawyers and accountants, to get away with cheating and breaking the law. That is what the sought to address in the Inflation Reduction Act. prgtoken Now, I understand that not everybody in the Chamber shares those priorities. However, Mr. Werfel--and I will close with this--has committed to the Finance Committee that he is going to work with both sides of the aisle and bring transparency to the job. That includes how the IRS will spend funding to improve taxpayer services, upgrade information technology, and crack down on those wealthy tax cheats. He is going to protect confidential taxpayer data. That is an enormous priority for both sides. I think I am about as big a privacy hawk as there is here in this body, and it is certainly a priority of mine. prgtoken Danny Werfel is a highly qualified nominee. He has agreed to take on one of the toughest and most scrutinized jobs in public service. I urge my colleagues to now support Danny Werfel's nomination to head the Internal Revenue Service. prgtoken .
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-3-9

such time as I may consume just to go back to an argument a previous speaker made about the having the majority in the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. prgtoken It also should be on the Record that the other side of the aisle had the majority in the House, the Senate, and the Presidency in 2017 and 2018 and also did nothing on this rule. It wasn't important enough for them to do anything. prgtoken Then the President's rule at the time moved forward, and it was tossed by two different courts. It was rejected by the courts, which leaves us in this position where we are today of playing ping-pong with the waters of the U.S. rule. prgtoken Our argument today is: Let's bring certainty to the Clean Water Act, bring certainty to the waters of the U.S reject H.J. Res. 27, and move forward with the existing rule from the current administration. prgtoken , .
Introductory Statement on S. 745
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-3-9

this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely on the GW Forest. prgtoken In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left undisturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in deciding which lands are best suited to which purposes. prgtoken In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George prgtoken Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, ultimately succeeded and made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvesting and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of GW Forest in Bath County. Everyone got some of what they wanted, and everyone gave some ground. prgtoken The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,600 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to once again partner with Senator Mark Warner and follow the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am also proud that this bill has passed the Senate in previous Congresses, including by unanimous consent. I will be pushing to include this bill as part of the 2023 farm bill, and I hope that we can bring this effort to the finish line soon. prgtoken Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the environment and good for the economy. Land disputes may often be contentious, but these efforts in the GW Forest show they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to support this bill.
CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF ROBERT HOUSTON TUCKER, JR.
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to recognize New Orleans' beloved native son, a true friend, mentor, and confidant. Robert Houston Tucker, Jr. was a master architect in building the city I love. His service to the public over multiple administrations, including work in the offices of Mayors Moon Landrieu and Dutch Morial, was transformational. prgtoken Robert H. Tucker, Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second of three children born to the union of Robert H. Tucker, Sr. and his wife, Mattie Amacker. Both his parents grew up on large self- sufficient farms (in Franklinton and Greensburg, Louisiana) before finding their way to New Orleans where Tucker's father became a mortician and successful owner of three funeral homes. In later years, Robert H. Tucker, Sr. would become an African Methodist Episcopal minister serving congregations throughout the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. prgtoken This aspect of family life was developmentally significant in young Robert's growth as he acquired an understanding of business, strong spiritual values, and a deepened understanding of life as an African American male growing up in the segregated South. prgtoken Excellent performances as a student, athlete, and leader, resulted in Tucker receiving upon graduation--in the top 5 percent of his Walter L. Cohen high school class--an academic scholarship to Clark Atlanta University (formerly Clark College). In the process of earning a degree, Tucker built a record as an academic leader, a mature decision maker in campus affairs, and a strong civil and student rights' activist. It was during this period, on March 15, 1960, that he along with scores of similarly inclined young men and women, made history by participating in the first ever lunch counter sit-in at Atlanta's commercial business district. Tucker's group of approximately 11 students was transported (by local funeral directors) to Sprayberry's Federal Cafeteria where they attempted to eat, were refused service, then arrested by Atlanta police officers. The coordinated Atlanta sit- ins resulted in the arrest of a total of 83 students charged with, ``Breaching the Peace'', ``Refusing to Leave Premises'', ``Intimidating'' the restaurant owners, and ``Conspiracy''. All charges were subsequently dismissed as the City of Atlanta achieved peaceful integration. prgtoken For many years Tucker's father carried in his wallet, the yellowing onion skin letter that his son had typed out and mailed to his parents the night before this tightly orchestrated event would take place. prgtoken In follow-up to the sit-in and furtherance of the cause, Tucker and his fellow student activists braved the taunts and threats of old-line Southerners to perform weekend picketing duties in front of Atlanta's many segregated public facilities. prgtoken While demonstrating excellent academic skills, Tucker also captained Clark College's first debate team which won tournaments over Harvard, Columbia,
Introductory Statement on S. 735
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-3-9

I am pleased to join Senator Collins and Senators Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, and Klobuchar in introducing legislation that would permanently reauthorize the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Council or USICH. prgtoken The Council was established during the Reagan administration as part of the landmark McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Over the last three and a half decades, it has brought Agencies from across the Federal Government together to coordinate efforts to address homelessness. In 2009, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing, HEARTH, Act, which I authored along with Senator Collins, expanded the Council's role, allowing it to work with public, nonprofit and private stakeholders to develop a national strategic plan to end homelessness. With a small budget and a small staff, the Council has helped guide Federal, State, and local stakeholders in deploying their resources in a smart, effective and coordinated fashion. The results have been evident. In the decade after USICH published its first plan, overall homelessness declined 9 percent. Family and veterans homelessness declined significantly, as well, with the total numbers dropping nearly 30 percent and 50 percent, respectively. In fact, the Council has been able to help 83 communities and three States effectively end veteran homelessness. prgtoken Even with this progress, homelessness has persisted, and we have faced a growing challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress found that, on ``a single night in 2022, roughly 582,500 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States,'' while the majority of individuals experiencing homelessness were living on the street or in other unsheltered locations and were not in homeless shelters. The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying economic effects have also pushed homelessness rates higher in many parts of the country. Indeed, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased in the majority of States between January 2020, and 2022, including a staggering 48 percent jump in my home State of Rhode Island. prgtoken USICH can help us meet this challenge by guiding how its 19 Federal member Agencies deploy and leverage their resources with nonfederal partners in order to help communities effectively address homelessness. We know that smart, coordinated investments in programs that address homelessness and increase affordable housing pay additional dividends. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, ``Based on 22 different studies from across the country, providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless people creates net savings of $4,800 per person per year, through reduced spending on jails, hospitals, shelters, and other emergency services.'' In short, helping people avoi
HONORING THE SOUTHERN PINES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 125 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-3-10

I rise today to honor the Southern Pines Fire Department for 125 years of exceptional service to our community. prgtoken The Southern Pines Fire Department was founded on February 13, 1898, following a devastating fire which destroyed the Central Hotel. Prior to its inception, the public was responsible for banding together with buckets of water to put out any fires. In 1916, the town bought its first chemical truck before purchasing Old Betsy, a motorized fire engine, in 1925. After many dances and community events were held to fund the department, the town purchased a new fire engine in 1935. In one of the department's most impressive accomplishments, it saved the Southland Hotel from destruction at the hands of a devastating fire in 1943 and helped all guests escape the disaster without any injuries. This heroic feat marks one of the countless acts of bravery Southern Pines firefighters have performed in the face of danger over the past 125 years. Their outstanding actions and leadership will continue to stand as an example for all first responders to emulate. prgtoken I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Southern Pines Fire Department for its dependable service and sacrifice. The admirable dedication its firefighters have long extended to protect those in our community does not go unrecognized, and I know I speak for all in our community in wishing them the best as they continue to provide life-saving assistance to those in need. prgtoken , please join me today in honoring the Southern Pines Fire Department for 125 years of exemplary service.
HOW YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-3-10

I thank my friend, Mr. Roy, for yielding. prgtoken The President's budget recommendation came over a month late yesterday, and there was one detail I read in The New York Times, so it must be true, although that is the only place I have had a chance to see it yet, and what immediately popped into my mind when I read this detail, is that Karine Jean-Pierre said last week--I can remember her saying it--that the President's economic plan is working for the American people. That popped back into my head, because the detail disclosed by The New York Times is that the administration predicts economic growth in this fiscal year not 3\1/2\ percent, not 4 percent certainly, not 2\1/2\ percent, not 1\1/2\ percent, but six-tenths of a percent. prgtoken You have to start talking about economic growth and what the economists call basis points, because it is so small. So if the economic plan of the administration is working for the American people, that means 60 basis points of economic growth anticipated in the year. prgtoken And guess what the administration says about that? We should do nothing different. We should keep doing the same thing that is producing six-tenths of a percent of economic growth, except one other thing: We should pile the burden of a lot more taxes on the economy, because apparently that is going to--because what do we need? Thirty basis points of economic growth? s believe we need to change.
RECOGNIZING SERGEANT MAJOR JASON M. CANTU
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-10

I rise today to recognize my constituent, Sergeant Major Jason M. Cantu, who is retiring after 30 years of service to the United States Marine Corps. prgtoken Sergeant Major Cantu enlisted in the Marine Corps in December of 1992 and completed his recruit training in September of 1993. Following his training at the School of Infantry, he was assigned as an infantry machine gunner. prgtoken Throughout his 30 years of service, Sergeant Major Cantu has been deployed all over the world. In his early years as a Marine, he worked in Cuba to help Haitian and Cuban migrant's humanitarian missions as well as being deployed to South America and West Africa as a part of an air/ground task force and training float. prgtoken He was later reassigned Bravo Company 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment where he was a machinegun section leader and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. During this tour, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, then Sergeant. After a brief stint with the Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, VA, he returned to the 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment in September 2000. While with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment Sergeant Major Cantu, then a Sergeant, served as a section leader for the Combined Anti Armor Team. A year later, the battalion deployed to Okinawa, then Guam, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Then, in January 2003, the battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. prgtoken After serving as a Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, Cantu was assigned to the U.S. Naval Mission in Bogota, Colombia. After a stint in Colombia, and then Chile as a Marine Corps representative to the Chilean Marine Corps, Cantu was promoted to First Sergeant in September of 2008. He was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom 9.1 as the Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Company First Sergeant. prgtoken Sergeant Major Cantu rose to his current rank in May 2013 and currently serves as the Squadron Sergeant Major for a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron. prgtoken Sergeant Major Cantu's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V and three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars and the Combat Action Ribbon. prgtoken He is the son of a 21-year career Marine and a brother to 7 siblings, 6 of whom also served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy and are comprised of non-commissioned and commissioned officers. prgtoken Our country owes the men and women of the United States military an enormous debt of gratitude, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sergeant Major Cantu. It is service men like him that safeguard our liberties and allow the people of this great nation to live under a blanket of freedom. prgtoken On behalf of the people of the 12th Congressional District of Texas, we appreciate his
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP
Jennifer Kiggans (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-3-10

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. prgtoken Our relationship with Israel is a mutually beneficial partnership that not only reinforces America's moral values and strategic interests, but also promotes peace and stability. prgtoken The U.S.-Israel relationship is truly the embodiment of peace through strength. Having served 10 years in the U.S. military, I know how volatile this region is and understand that a key element of our own national security is the strength and security of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. prgtoken Our two nations face many of the same terrorist threats, the only difference being that Israel is surrounded by hostile regional actors. As malicious regimes like Iran continue their quest for nuclear capabilities, it is imperative that America does not waver in our commitment to strengthen Israel's ability to defend itself. prgtoken In a world that grows more dangerous by the day, weakening our allies would have disastrous consequences for the security of our country and threaten the possibility of world peace. prgtoken I remain steadfast in my support for Israel and look forward to helping advance U.S.-Israel defense cooperation here in Congress.
WAR IN UKRAINE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-3-10

I rise today to recognize the 2022 Miss Arkansas winner, Ebony Mitchell. prgtoken Ebony was the 84th Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant winner, where she was awarded $30,000 in scholarship funds provided by the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation and $75,000 in other areas. prgtoken Last December, she represented our great State at Miss America in Connecticut. prgtoken Becoming Miss Arkansas was a lifetime dream for Ebony. Her journey started when she won the Miss University of Arkansas Princess pageant in 2007, which entered her into the Diamond State Princess mentorship program. prgtoken She had five appearances as Miss Arkansas before finally winning that title last year. Aside from her accomplishments as Miss Arkansas, she graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2019 with her bachelor's degree in business administration. prgtoken As Miss Arkansas, she will continue her social impact by leading the A Responsible Digital You initiative which seeks to keep children of Arkansas safe online. prgtoken Ebony is a native of on, Arkansas, where she has been a leader in civil rights and community spirit in her hometown. prgtoken , I congratulate Ebony for her accomplishments, and I look forward to continuing to watch her proudly represent our great State of Arkansas. Cleburne County