mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INTRODUCTION OF THE SMARTER APPROACHES TO NUCLEAR EXPENDITURES (SANE) ACT
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-5-18

today I introduced the Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act. prgtoken The United States will spend $494 billion on our nuclear arsenal through Fiscal Year 2028, according to the Congressional Budget Office. prgtoken Even the Pentagon acknowledges that this level of spending--more than XXXX--is not necessary to secure the United States. The Defense Department's 2013 Report on Nuclear Employment Strategy of the United States declared we can ensure the security of the U.S. and our allies and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent, while pursuing up to a one-third reduction in deployed nuclear weapons from the level established in the New START Treaty. Other experts, including a commission chaired by former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James Cartwright, said the U.S. could go even lower without jeopardizing security. prgtoken The SANE Act aims to inject fiscal responsibility and strategic reality into the United States' nuclear weapons planning by reducing the purchase of replacement nuclear submarines, cutting the existing ICBM fleet, cancelling the development of new ICBMs, removing the nuclear mission from the F-35, eliminating the life extension program for the tactical B61 gravity bomb and cancelling the development of a new air-launched cruise missile, and terminating construction of new facilities for nuclear weapons processing and storage. prgtoken By strategically sizing our nuclear weapons programs, the SANE Act will save at least $73 billion over 5 years and stay within the New START Treaty warhead levels. prgtoken America must reconcile the facts: our Defense budget is already squeezed, a nuclear deterrent is irrelevant to current international security challenges, yet a nuclear deterrent is still a national security imperative. The SANE Act would secure our nuclear deterrent without undercutting critical investments in readiness and other essential programs.
Border Security (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-5-18

one of the benefits of sitting in the chair, as the Senator from Maine is currently, is you get to hear a wide variety of views from our colleagues. And I have had the opportunity over the past several weeks, while sitting in the chair, to hear my colleagues talk about their concerns regarding the lifting of title 42. They are concerns that are very often shared in many respects by as well. prgtoken But it is really important that we level set the facts when we are talking about what is happening at the border right now, as the pandemic authority to stop people from applying for asylum is--as required by law--being lifted. prgtoken It is really important that we understand that in this debate, there are a lot of spinning; there are a lot of myths; there are some just outright mistruths that are being spread about what is happening at the border and what has been happening at the border. prgtoken And so I am down on the floor just for a few minutes today to try to talk about a short list of those myths and untruths that are being spread, sometimes on this floor, but very often on social media and on cable news, so that we can find a way to have a functional conversation between s and of good faith who actually want to make progress. prgtoken First, my sense is that there were a lot of conservatives out there and a lot of haters of President who were kind of rooting for chaos at the border, who were hoping that there was just going to be this overwhelming flood of crossings and apprehensions at the border when title 42 was lifted. prgtoken Here is maybe the most important thing to say: It didn't happen. In fact, if you look at the number of people who were showing up at the southwest border right before title 42 expired-- prgtoken and I will admit that number was elevated--we have seen half as many people crossing in the last 4 days as were crossing right before title 42 expired. prgtoken Four thousand, five thousand people--that is still a lot of people per day who are being apprehended at the border, but it does not match the doomsday predictions that many on the right were making. prgtoken So I think it is just important to acknowledge that fact. Because if you read the newspapers, if you paid attention to cable news, you would have thought that the minute that title 42 ended, there was going to be a doubling, a tripling of the number of people who showed up at the border. That didn't happen, in fact--52 percent less people are showing up. prgtoken Now, that may not hold. I can't promise that that is the future trajectory. But I am going to tell you a story today about why that happens, and it is connected to things did. prgtoken The second level-setting exercise I want to engage in is this idea that we should be in just lockdown fear of all these people who are coming to the United States at the southern border, that there is something unique
SUPPORTING RESEARCH ON TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS COMPLEX
Hillary J. Scholten (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-5-18

today, I am on the House floor to talk about a condition that impacts the lives of so many Americans: tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC. prgtoken I am honored to speak on behalf of the Cardona family, who shared their child's story with me, and thousands of other families across America who love a child with TSC. prgtoken TSC is a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on vital organs, prompting seizures and developmental issues and often delaying children's progress in school. prgtoken Despite its profound impact on American families, TSC often goes unrecognized. prgtoken Research into diseases like TSC benefits countless individuals and families battling different conditions. It leads to scientific breakthroughs and discoveries to help cure a wide range of diseases, making better care and quality of life a reality for so many. prgtoken Today, I invite my colleagues to rally behind rare disease research for conditions like TSC.
STANDING UP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today during National Police Week to memorialize our officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and call for action. prgtoken In my district in Riverside County, we have lost six deputy sheriffs in the line of duty since 2020. This is in addition to the losses our local police departments have suffered over the years, including Palm Springs Department Police Officers Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega, who we lost on October 8, 2016. prgtoken It is because of Officers Zerebny and Vega and Deputies Brett , Darnell Calhoun, and Isaiah Cordero that I have authored legislation to support families of fallen officers and why I have fought to improve the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program so that their families can get the support they need. prgtoken This National Police Week and all year round, I am standing up for law enforcement officers and their families. I am pushing for support for those grieving the loss of their brothers and sisters in uniform, and I am calling for action on behalf of those who protect and serve our communities every day.
AAPI Heritage Month (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-5-18

I rise today in recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. prgtoken Each May, we celebrate and remember the many contributions that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made to our history and continue to make today. prgtoken As a nation, we have made significant progress with respect to the inclusion and representation of the AAPI community across the many facets of our society, from actress Michelle Yeoh's barrier-breaking accomplishment this year as the first Asian-American winner of the Oscars' Best Actress award to Maryland's very own Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, who was sworn in just a few months ago as Maryland's first immigrant and first Asian American to be elected to statewide office. prgtoken AAPI children are finally getting to grow up seeing faces that look like theirs in film, music, sports, politics, and every other arena of public life. prgtoken This progress didn't just happen overnight; it is the fruit of labor of generations of AAPI activists and leaders, along with their allies. A labor that, in some cases, cost them their lives. prgtoken I think of the Chinese laborers, for instance, who played a critical role in building America's first transcontinental railroad, yet they were met with discrimination and exclusion at every turn. prgtoken They faced hardship, hard working conditions, and were paid only half as much as their White counterparts. prgtoken In June of 1867, 3,000 Chinese railworkers began a highly organized strike, demanding equal wages and shorter hours. Though they were initially unsuccessful in their demands, prgtoken the strike demonstrated that the Chinese workforce could not be taken for granted. Over the next few months, the rail company began raising railworker wages. prgtoken This is just one example of a historic legacy of the AAPI activism against discrimination, whether perpetrated by the U.S. Government, as with the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, or by individuals like the racially motivated murder of Vincent Chin in 1982, which ignited the modern Asian-American civil rights movement. But there is still much progress we need to make. prgtoken Stereotypes like the ``model minority'' myth continue to perpetrate the idea that the AAPI community is a monolithic, hard-working, and successful racial bloc, which served as a model for how other minority groups should ``pull themselves up by their bootstraps--if they just try hard enough.'' Stereotypes erase the diversity within the group we refer to as the AAPI, which has the highest income inequality across ethnic groups of any race in America. prgtoken Today, AAPI women are still earning, on average, 85 cents for every dollar earned by a White male. If you break that down into just Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, the number drops even further to just 60 cents for every dollar. prgtoken The ``model minority
HONORING MACY McKAY
Jerry L. Carl (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-5-22

I would like to thank Ms. Macy McKay for her years of service at St. Luke's Episcopal School. Ms. McKay is retiring after 50 years of teaching and coaching countless students. Teachers and coaches are tasked with an incredible responsibility to mold the minds of our young folks and equip them with the knowledge and the tools they need to be productive members of our society. prgtoken Ms. McKay has gone above and beyond the call of duty with her students, and her impact will live on for generations to come in the lives of so many students, parents, and fellow educators in Mobile. prgtoken After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970, Ms. McKay began her career in education. In 1973, she came to St. Luke's to help create a physical education program. During Ms. McKay's time as a coach at St. Luke's, she has been the driving force behind the state winning archery program. Her passion for physical education is just one of the many factors that play a part in the incredible impact she has made on our community. prgtoken Ms. McKay's legacy lives on in the St. Luke's community. After 50 years of hard work and determination, she has more than earned a relaxing retirement. I know I am joined by so many in our community who are thankful for her impressive career.
2023 SPECIES WEEK
Dan Newhouse (Republican, WA) \u2014 2023-5-22

I thank Mr. Mann and appreciate his pointing out how important it is to listen to people in the local area who understand the environment, the climate that they live in, and that often they are earning their living by farming. prgtoken We have heard from several different parts of the country represented here with the different Members of Congress. So, I am going back to the great State of California to another one of the Western Caucus vice chairs, someone that is very outspoken on these issues, and has tremendous background and knowledge on the Endangered Species Act. prgtoken I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), for being part of this conversation and also elevating the voices of the people he represents.
2023 SPECIES WEEK
Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-5-22

. I thank the chairman for hosting this discussion on the ESA tonight, it could not be more timely to deal with this issue. prgtoken , 50 years ago the Endangered Species Act was created to protect endangered species by taking actions to put them on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, the Endangered Species Act has become a statutory ``Hotel California'' where radical environmental groups and judges check animals into the endangered species list, but they may never leave. prgtoken In fact, over the last 50 years, out of the 1,389 listed species, only 72 have been recovered and removed from the list, as the chairman so eloquently stated in his opening remarks--a 5 percent recovery rate. prgtoken Let me be clear, you endanger the Endangered Species Act when you do not remove species that have recovered. As everyone in Wisconsin knows, this is something we have seen far too often as it relates to the gray wolf. prgtoken When Federal protections were established for wolves in the Great Lakes region, population levels were in the hundreds. Now there are well over 4,000 in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. prgtoken Most recently, a California activist judge unilaterally put the gray wolf back on the Endangered Species Act list despite its recovery. The judge's decision went against the 26 scientists--beside me here--that have urged for the gray wolf to be removed from the ESA since 2015. prgtoken Here they are. There are 26 eminent wildlife biologists that nearly a decade ago said to a judge here in Washington D.C you are making a mistake re-listing the wolf. Let's allow management by the States where they can be most effectively managed. prgtoken The data is clear, we have waited long enough. Congress must pass my bill that I introduced alongside Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. The Trust the Science Act would delist gray wolves in the lower 48 United States and would preclude any future re-listing mischief by activist judges. prgtoken When a species is removed from the ESA list, it is something we should celebrate. It is a success story. When a prgtoken species has recovered, it enables us to use our limited time and resources to concentrate our efforts to protect and recover other species that truly are under threat or at risk of extinction. prgtoken Over the last 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has failed to be a celebration of recovery, and instead, a political weapon. It is past time we change that and turned the Endangered Species Act into something all Americans can celebrate--endangered species success stories.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-5-22

the ambulances, the emergency medical technicians, and the paramedics that we all rely on each and every day have come a long way since Ernest Hemingway and the first casualty transports of World War I. prgtoken From highway crashes to heart attacks and falls, we call on our EMTs to be the first medical care a patient receives, regardless of their circumstance. prgtoken During National Emergency Medical Services Week, we recognize and thank the men and women willing to respond at a moment's notice. More and more, we rely on these first responders to address significant instances, instances like a diabetic coma, a fractured limb, or a patient who has overdosed. prgtoken We in Congress owe it to our EMTs and the communities that they serve to ensure that they have the tools and resources necessary to arrive quickly and to treat these patients. prgtoken So often, we forget the toll that these jobs take on first responders and their families. This week, let's remain grateful for the care and the professionalism of our frontline healthcare workers and pledge to support the EMTs and paramedics--volunteers and paid alike--who support our communities and, ultimately, care for our families.
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2023
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2023-5-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 777. I appreciate Senator Tester and Senator Moran for their leadership on this important bill. I also thank Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chairman Luttrell and Ranking Member Pappas for leading the House companion to S. 777. prgtoken Our bipartisan collaboration on this legislation each year is vitally important. The Veterans' COLA Act of 2023 would increase the rates of compensation for our veterans and their survivors to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. prgtoken Many veterans fought for our country and came back with visible and invisible injuries. Their disability compensation benefits provide financial security for service-disabled veterans and their families. prgtoken , veterans should not have to worry whether their earned benefits can cover their basic needs. They should not have to choose between gas to get to work or groceries for their family. prgtoken However, unfortunately, because of the inflation problem that has occurred because of out-of-control spending, this is a reality for thousands of veterans' families. The least we can do for them is to provide a cost-of-living adjustment this year so they can continue to pay their bills and put food on their tables. prgtoken I am proud to support this bill today, and I hope all my colleagues will join me in sending this bill to the President's desk. prgtoken , .
VET-TEC AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Juan Ciscomani (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2023-5-22

I thank Chairman Bost for yielding me time to talk about this important bill. prgtoken I am grateful that my bill, H.R. 1669, the VET-TEC Authorization Act, is being considered today on the House floor. This bipartisan effort would extend the invaluable program for our veterans, the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses, or VET-TEC program. prgtoken The VET-TEC pilot program allows eligible veterans to gain experience and training in high-demand tech jobs. Since the start of the VET-TEC program in 2019, introduced by McCarthy, over 12,000 veterans have completed the program in areas like computer programming, software development, data processing, and other in-demand careers. This is crucial to strengthening our American workforce, while enabling our vets to have a clear shot at the American Dream, a dream they have fought to protect for so many of us. prgtoken Of the veterans that completed the program, roughly 62 percent were offered a job related to the training they received, with an average salary of around $65,000 a year. These results show that the program works, and by extending the program, we will ensure veterans will be able to participate in the program in the coming years. Not only has this program been beneficial for our veterans, but it is crucial for our employers, as well. We need a skilled workforce working in the tech industry, and our veterans are the perfect fit. prgtoken I am proud to have partnered with Chairman Bost and Congressman Khanna on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the men and women who served our country can continue to grow in the civilian workforce, as well. prgtoken , I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill today.
NOTAM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2023
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise in support of the NOTAM Improvement Act. prgtoken I thank my friend from the great State of Minnesota, my friends across the aisle, George, everyone here. I thank you all so much for being here today. prgtoken Nearly 3 million people every day count on flights in the United States to safely get them to where they need to go. prgtoken The Notice to Air Mission System is how we make sure that that will happen. The system is how we tell pilots about possible hazards. prgtoken When the system gets all jacked up, flights can't take off. It is just that simple. Back in January, planes across the country were grounded for the first time since 2001 because of a damaged file in our Notice to Air Mission database. prgtoken We need to prevent this from happening, . We need to prevent it from happening again and also look at what other improvements could be made. prgtoken Safety isn't a joke. It should be one of the Federal Aviation Administration's top priorities, not worrying about over 4 ounces of honey in your baggage. prgtoken This bill has bipartisan support, and there isn't any reason that it shouldn't pass with overwhelming support now. prgtoken The reason the press isn't here is mainly because we are agreeing on something, and we are working together, which is what this body is supposed to be doing, dadgummit. prgtoken , I thank you all so much for allowing me to be here.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN INGRAM
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-5-22

I rise today to honor the career and service of Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram, who recently retired from his long and distinguished tenure in law enforcement. prgtoken A proud native of Brunswick County, Sheriff Ingram dedicated his life to his community by joining the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department in 1991. Starting as a patrol deputy, he quickly rose through the ranks and served in many different capacities, including in the warrant and detective divisions, and then became lieutenant in the narcotics division and commander of the department's SWAT team. prgtoken Mr. Ingram later joined the Columbus County Sheriff's Office, where he was named chief deputy before returning to Brunswick County in the same role. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Brunswick County Sheriff, earning reelection to the post in each and every election since. prgtoken During his tenure leading the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, he expanded the department to accommodate the fastest growing county in the State. He increased recruitment efforts and brought in additional 911 telecommunicators and detention officers to increase safety. prgtoken He also offered a variety of community programs to further the sheriff's office mission to enhance public safety and education and promote community-based relationships between law enforcement and the public, including his support for establishing drug courts where those battling addiction could be better treated and not only treated but provided with a path to recovery. prgtoken To facilitate these missions, he created the Sheriff's Citizens' Academy along with the Sheriff's Volunteer Program. He also launched the Anchor Initiative Program in 2018 to help those suffering from addiction start their recovery, providing hope for those suffering from their addictions and breaking the typical continual cycle of continued drug use and crime. prgtoken Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Ingram has been recognized for his leadership on all these fronts. He was elected to the board of directors for the National Sheriffs' Association and served as president of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association from 2019 to 2020. prgtoken Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine, a recognition considered North Carolina's highest civilian honor. prgtoken It is an honor to recognize a friend who is a no-nonsense individual with such a sense of duty, integrity, and distinguished service to the people of Brunswick County. prgtoken On behalf of the citizens of North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District, I congratulate and extend my sincere gratitude to Sheriff Ingram for his extraordinary service and commitment to protecting our communities. prgtoken May God continue to bless him, his family, and the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office. I am proud to call him my friend.