mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2023
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-12-13

I thank the chairwoman for her leadership and support. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of my legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, that supports students and dairy farmers across America. prgtoken Milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, offering 13 essential nutrients and numerous health benefits. prgtoken Out-of-touch Federal regulations have imposed dietary restrictions on the types of milk students have access to in school meals. prgtoken Our ranking member is a dear friend of mine, and we have worked together. I have been here for 15 years and him a little longer. We have a great relationship and have had a lot of bipartisan bills together, like we marked up yesterday. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I have to say, the only special interest here is our kids. It is our kids who have been cheated out of the nutrition that they need. Case studies have shown that the rate of obesity and being overweight increased dramatically after access to whole milk and flavor was taken out of the schools in 2007-2008, which was a baseline. In 2010, a -led initiative demonized milk fat. In 2020-2021, there was a study of that same cohort, and obesity has gone up without this beverage. prgtoken , regarding my good friend from Louisiana, who just spoke, everybody is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. The facts are that it is the underlying law that was passed back in 2010 by a ic House and signed by a ic President that, quite frankly, required a physician prescription for health reasons. prgtoken That is a good part of the law, and we didn't touch that. We didn't address that in this bill, so I am not sure why he is talking about it. It is not germane to the topic we are talking about today. That is the underlying law. prgtoken The bottom line is that students and parents do have choice. There is a mechanism to honor that. The only choice they don't have, though, is access to the most nutritious beverage, which is whole milk-- specifically, whole milk and flavor. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman from Louisiana sharing how much waste there was and what that amounts to in cartons and half pints and what it amounts to in dollars. That is because of the taste experience. It is not that these kids are throwing the milk away because it is unhealthy for them. It is just a terrible taste experience when you are drinking low-fat or nonfat milk. prgtoken Students have been limited to fat-free or reduced-fat milk since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was enacted in 2010. prgtoken While some of my friends on the other side of the aisle have argued that we should not reform individual aspects of child nutrition, it was that legislation more than a decade ago that singled out milk for regulation, which is why we are here today. prgtoken There are several reasons why these top-down regulations are harmful to s
HONORING YEOMAN 3RD CLASS WILLIAM OSBORNE
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-12-13

. Madam , I rise to honor Yeoman 3rd Class William prgtoken Osborne. Yeoman Osborne went to Maryville College where he majored in psychology and played for the football team all 4 years and served as co-captain during his senior year. prgtoken After graduating, he joined the Naval Reserve and went to boot camp, then served 1 year in the Reserves and 2 years on Active Duty. prgtoken In September 1970, he got a job as a probation and parole officer trainee in Virginia, then worked at the Virginia State Penitentiary, and after that he drilled on a World War II destroyer. prgtoken Around this time, the Navy was under pressure to do something about troops returning from Vietnam with substance abuse issues. prgtoken Since Yeoman Osborne had a degree in psychology and experience working with people with drug addictions, he was selected as part of a team who received training as substance abuse counselors. prgtoken He went on to get his master's degree in education and his Ph.D. in public policy and administration, and he had a great career as a criminal justice educator. prgtoken He is currently enjoying retirement with his wife, Maureen; and living in Knoxville close to his son Patrick, and his wife, Jessica, and their two children. He also has another son Ryan, who lives in North Carolina. prgtoken It is my honor to recognize Yeoman William Osborne as the Tennessee Second District's 2023 Veteran of the Month.
IN RECOGNITION OF CAPTAIN ZACH EVANS AND CAPTAIN JOSHUA SADDLER FOR THEIR LIFESAVING ACTIONS
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-12-13

I rise today to recognize Barbara Felden, who, after 43 years of honorable service to our country as an enlisted airman in the Air Force and as a senior civilian liaison in Germany, is retiring. prgtoken I worked with Barbara starting in 2008 when I was commander of the 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. prgtoken Since 2011, she has been the Host Nation Advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa. prgtoken At 21, Barbara, a German citizen, married to a U.S. airman, qualified to join the U.S. military service. She was assigned to Robins Air Force Base after basic training, and returned to Germany where she served in various liaison assignments, first as an interpreter, then taking on command-wide responsibilities dealing with Federal officials. prgtoken In 1948, she transferred to the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing liaison office where she developed first-time liaison initiatives with local communities, such as the organization of German civic leaders and familiarization to the United States. prgtoken One of Barbara's most challenging assignments was closing down the historic Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt and transferring their operations to Ramstein Air Base. prgtoken Barbara also served as director of the liaison for the U.S. Kaiserslautern Military Community, the largest military overseas community in the world. prgtoken During my time as commander at Ramstein, Barbara organized events and meetings with the community. I recall that one time she helped arrange for me to deliver the opening remarks at the world's largest wine festival where I had the opportunity to lead a parade and conduct the orchestra. prgtoken Barbara has provided critical support and assistance for a variety of major projects during her tenure at headquarters for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa. prgtoken During the COVID pandemic, she liaised with Federal and State officials to ensure military missions could continue, while ensuring alignment with the host nation protective measures. prgtoken In the late summer of 2021, the emergency evacuation of Afghan nationals to Ramstein Air Base presented many challenges for Ms. Felden and her team. While initial expectations were for 5,000 evacuees, about 35,000 people were actually processed at Ramstein. prgtoken Barbara has always displayed the utmost professionalism in the various positions she held during her 43 years. I am proud of her accomplishments, and I am honored to call her and her husband, Claude, my friends. I salute you both. I thank Barbara for all she has done in her stellar career.
WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2023
Anna Paulina Luna (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-12-13

. Mr. Chair, the balance of my time. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I hear a lot from my colleagues across the aisle on the experts, but I also wonder how many people in Congress have had to use National School Lunch programs; and, frankly, I have been one of those people. prgtoken When I hear people speak in opposition to this saying that it is going to hurt minorities, it is going to hurt those of us who have actually had to use the program, I find it ironic. Frankly, I think that we need more people in office that have had rougher upbringings to bring a different lens and perspective. prgtoken To hear that whole milk is bad for children, to hear the arguments against organic milk, and to hear the arguments that are coming from across the aisle, I don't know that it represents, necessarily, the best interests of the American people other than political spite. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
HONORING DEAN DALE GREENE
Mike Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-12-13

I rise today to honor Dean Dale Greene of the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, a role in which he has served since 2015. prgtoken After decades of service to UGA and our great State, Dean Greene will retire at the end of this year. Dale is an accomplished man. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University, holds a master's degree from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. from Auburn University. prgtoken He joined the UGA faculty in 1986 and has served our school and this State in so many ways since. prgtoken Dale currently sits on the board of trustees for the American Forestry Association and has been on the board of directors for the Georgia Forestry Association since 1992. He was appointed by two Georgia Governors to the State Board of Registration of Foresters, first in 2004 and then again in 2010. prgtoken In 2007, Dean Greene received an Outstanding Research Award from the Society of American Foresters, the Herrick Award for Superior Teaching, and was later inducted into the Georgia Forester's Hall of Fame. prgtoken His accomplishments don't end there. In 2008, Dale became a UGA senior teaching fellow and, in 2011, received the Georgia Forestry Association's Wise Owl award. prgtoken These are just a few ways that Dale Greene has been recognized for his outstanding service to the State of Georgia, countless students, and the field of forestry. prgtoken , as my friend embarks on his next chapter of life, he must know that his leadership has built a strong legacy. The Warnell School has grown and become so successful with him at the helm. prgtoken I thank him for all he has done, and I wish him continued success in his retirement. Go Dawgs.
WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2023
Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-12-13

. Mr. Chair, first of all, merry Christmas. prgtoken My bipartisan amendment prevents the USDA from issuing any rule that bans any of the milk covered in this bill, including chocolate milk. This would ensure that all types and flavors of milk are available to schoolchildren and not subject to bureaucratic rulemaking. prgtoken Some may ask why are we focusing on this issue. Unfortunately, it is because the USDA has set its sights on getting rid of chocolate milk in schools. It is now up to us to act. prgtoken This summer, it was reported that the Department of Agriculture is considering a ban on chocolate milk in elementary and middle schools. USDA issued a proposed rule that would set a new nutrition standard for school meals. These new standards could limit the availability of flavored milk, like chocolate and strawberry, in high schools while children in elementary and middle schools would have no access at all. prgtoken For those of you with young children or grandchildren, go and ask them what they think about USDA's new rule. I think I can speak for most folks when saying that when I was young, chocolate milk was usually the highlight of having lunch at school, but this new rule would mean that roughly 30 million students who participate in the USDA's school meal programs would no longer be able to have chocolate milk, or any flavored milk for that matter. prgtoken According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, removing flavored milk from schools resulted in a 62 to 63 percent reduction in milk consumption by kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, including a 50 percent reduction in sixth through eighth grades. prgtoken Milk is full of rich nutrients that support bone growth and development, and millions of children enjoy drinking it. We should not allow rules that would limit our children's access to delicious and nutritious products like milk and its varieties covered in this great bill. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I say to the USDA, come and take it. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan amendment, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-12-13

this is a sad day. When we thought we had a victory for those across the Nation who are awaiting an organ for transplant, we found that they were thwarted by a system that was allied against them--a corrupt system, an internal system that worked to their detriment and not to their well-being. prgtoken And we thought, with the passage of this legislation--signed into law by President --that we were finally giving those waiting for a transplant something called hope, something that is so important to them and their family members waiting on a kidney, waiting on a liver. prgtoken The only pleasure I take in today's conversation on this Senate floor is that I am allied with Senator Grassley, the senior Senator from Iowa, who is one of the most effective Members of this body in our country's history. He has been an advocate, and we successfully worked together along with a number of our colleagues--s and --to reform this corrupt system. And I join my colleague Senator Grassley in voicing serious concerns regarding the way the Health Resources and Services Administration is implementing this piece of legislation, the legislation called Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act. prgtoken It was an amazing effort to right a wrong when we started down this path with this legislation. Nothing was easy. There was no cooperation from HHS or from OPTN. The only thing they did was try to keep us from having any success in reforming the sweetheart circumstance in which they operate. prgtoken I remember the day in which the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in front of our Appropriations Committee, conceded that we were right and that we had won the battle and he was our ally in fixing the problem. But now, a few shorts months later, it is evident that that is not the case when it comes to the implementation of the law. prgtoken It is not unclear. Certainly, the organizations that we were trying to dismantle and replace with better services without a bias-- certainly, they knew what we were about. They know the intent of the legislation, and we know the letter of the law. prgtoken My involvement in OPTN reform stemmed from concerns with the 2018 liver allocation rule HHS developed with guidance from the Nation's Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, UNOS, and some New England-area organ procurement organizations. prgtoken The liver allocation rule that they developed led to organs being taken from areas of high donation rates, like Kansas and other rural areas, to areas with low donation rates, like densely populated urban areas. It meant that people across the country were waiting longer for a transplant. It meant that, in that waiting period, people died; loved ones were gone. Not only was the liver allocation rule egregious, it demonstrated a bias of UNOS, which has had a monopoly on the organ transplant network contract for years. prgtoken As mo
DIRECTING CERTAIN COMMITTEES TO CONTINUE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHETHER SUFFICIENT GROUNDS EXIST FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF JOSEPH BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Russell Fry (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-12-13

I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 918. prgtoken This year, House s have conducted a methodical investigation into the alleged actions of the family, including himself, in his family's foreign business dealings and foreign-peddling schemes. prgtoken As a member of both the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, I can say that our investigation has peeled back layer upon layer of family scandals and has exposed the safety nets designed to insulate the family and from impending accountability. prgtoken There is an old legal saying, , that if you don't have the facts, you argue the law. If you don't have the law, you argue the facts, and if you have neither, you pound the table. prgtoken What we are seeing from the other side today is that they want to talk about and January 6. They want to talk about a perceived lack of transparency, about how nothing is happening out in the open. prgtoken Well, let me assure you that we have done this for months. We have done more in 10 months than law enforcement agencies have done in 5 years. prgtoken Let's talk about the facts: $25 million has flowed to members of the family; 20 corporate entities and 9 members of the family have received these moneys; a $40,000 direct payment to himself; a $200,000 direct payment to himself, allegedly under a loan. We have WhatsApp messages, pseudonyms, fake email addresses, and 22 meetings in which himself met with Hunter and his business associates. prgtoken We have been stonewalled. We have even seen this today, as Hunter paraded onto the Senate side and did not come to a lawfully issued subpoena deposition in front of the House Oversight Committee. prgtoken Now is the time for an impeachment inquiry.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-12-13

in its relentless pursuit of canceling student debt, the Department of Education seems to have forgotten that Congress gave it a job to do. prgtoken Last year, the Department announced its unconstitutional efforts to spend hundreds of billions of taxpayers' dollars, contrary to law. Of course, you prgtoken remember that was the forgiving of student loans. prgtoken Even after this attempt was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, endless efforts of debt cancellation seem to have taken precedent over the duty Congress is giving the Department. prgtoken For example, after being on pause for 3 years, student loan payments finally started back up here in October of this year. prgtoken Servicers, students, and Members of Congress pressed for answers about how and when this process would work. But instead of a plan, the return to repayment has been utter chaos. Iowans, and even some Members of my staff who have student loans, have waited for weeks to get answers to very basic questions about their loans. prgtoken Due to sloppy recordkeeping, the Department has failed its audit for the second straight year in a row. In its hurry to cancel debt, the administration can't even provide auditors enough information to do their jobs. prgtoken It isn't just previous students who are being left in limbo. There is another issue that is hard to get information on. prgtoken So we have current and incoming college students who still can't fill out the application form that goes by the acronym FAFSA. That stands for ``free application for student aid.'' In a normal year, students would fill it out in October and know early in the process whether they had qualified for Pell grants or other forms of student aid, but this year, students still don't have the information they need to start choosing the best school for them. I have long said that students don't have enough transparent information when applying to college. The shortened timeline this year makes it even harder. prgtoken To address the problem that I just mentioned, I recently sent a letter, with Senator Kaine of Virginia and other colleagues, pressing the Department of Education to give students the information they need. That includes making sure that farm families aren't forced to sell their farms in order to send their kids to college. It helps no one to lump small family farms in with the largest mega farms--as if a farm family who is barely getting by is somehow considered to be rich--and have their kids not qualify for student loans. The bipartisan effort by Senator Kaine and me pushes the Department to recognize that distinction and ensure that farm kids have the information they need to properly fill out the proper forms to see if they qualify for student loans. prgtoken All students deserve to have the information they need and to get that information ahead of time. Students, families, and borrowers shouldn't have their timelines delayed by chan
WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2023
Lloyd Smucker (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-12-13

I rise in support of H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral, and ``udderly'' fantastic bill. prgtoken I proudly represent Pennsylvania's 11th District, which is one of the largest dairy producers in the Northeast. In 2022, 1,300 Lancaster County farms produced 2.1 billion pounds of milk. prgtoken I have visited many of those farms, and I have had many discussions with local school administrators about the importance of child nutrition. We all agree that milk is a key vehicle for delivering protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and D, especially for children. prgtoken Let's not skim over the facts here. Whole milk is truly the cream of the crop in delivering these key vitamins and nutrients to growing children. prgtoken Sadly, our Nation's kids are not consuming enough dairy. We have seen a decline in receiving those essential vitamins and nutrients since we banned whole milk in our schools. We can only begin to ``cow-culate'' the impact that has on their long-term health. prgtoken Let's not curdle away the opportunity to expand dairy consumption in our Nation's schools and ensure our children are getting the nutrients necessary to grow strong bones and teeth. prgtoken , all milk puns aside, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Expanding the universe of options for children to consume vital nutrients and vitamins is important for their long-term health. It also helps these kids be prepared for school, develop into adulthood, and cultivate a 21st century workforce. prgtoken , healthy kids and supporting our dairy farmers are ``moo-tually'' important.