mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam Chair, I want to start out by thanking my good friend from Florida for his hard work and effort on this and also for his hard work and his outstanding effort to speak on behalf of the Cuban people who wish to be free and to speak against communism worldwide. I thank him for that. prgtoken Everyday Americans across our Nation, like the folks that I have the honor to represent in Pennsylvania in the Tenth Congressional District, just a few hours from this place, are still suffering the impacts of this administration's reckless spending. prgtoken Unlike the Federal Government, they have to make tough choices. They have got to make their budgets balance. They can't just print money. They have got to stretch their dollars. They have to forgo auto repairs or maybe something around their home that needs attention, take items off their grocery list, choose different items that they can afford, all because of too much spending. They pare back their spending in ways that may be uncomfortable because we won't in this town. prgtoken To me, it is unacceptable and it is unconscionable. Madam Chair, the United States Congress has been unwilling to do the same for decades now. prgtoken While, like last year, I appreciate that the underlying bill has eliminated or reduced many wasteful accounts--and it has due to the good work of the chairman here--with all due respect, there is still a lot of work to be done and can be done. prgtoken The State Department and international organizations funded by the final State-Foreign Operations funding bills have time and time again advanced and sent American tax dollars to causes that run counter to American values and our foreign policy objectives. prgtoken This amendment reduces the amount for international disaster assistance from just over $3.4 billion to zero. prgtoken While I admire the desire of many, including myself, to be charitable and help others around the world, we have got to remember, we are being charitable with other people's money. We are being charitable with taxpayers' money, taxpayers that can barely afford their own bills, their own electricity bills, food bills, and daycare bills. God forbid you have got to buy a new car or a new home or pay the interest rates, all due to what is happening here. prgtoken We want to be charitable, but the fact of the matter, Madam Chair, is that America is broke. It is hard to help other folks when you can't help yourself. prgtoken This is nearly $3.5 billion, which like many of the other dollars spent in this bill, does not go directly to helping Americans in America. Our constituents simply can't afford yet another line item on their tab while they are already bearing the brunt of reckless spending by President . prgtoken Madam Chair, .
REMEMBERING THOMAS C. STRICKLAND, JR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam , I rise today to honor and remember the life of Thomas C. Strickland, Jr who sadly passed away at the age of 81 after battling an extended illness. prgtoken Tommy was born and raised in Pooler, Georgia. He graduated from Georgia Southern in 1965 and from the John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in 1966. He was the son of T.C. Strickland and Birdie Strickland, who I knew well. prgtoken From 1966 until 1972, Tommy served his country in the Georgia Air National Guard. He was the first funeral director in the State of Georgia to be certified in eye enucleation. prgtoken In 1971, he purchased the Leslie Thompson Funeral Home, which later became the Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Home, with locations in Effingham County and Pooler. prgtoken Tommy was an active member at Pine Street Baptist Church and Springfield Oaks Church. prgtoken Tommy was the brother of Marvin and Mary Frances. prgtoken Tommy will be remembered for his love of family, community, and Jesus. He will be deeply missed by all.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Zachary Nunn (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Mr. Chair, s for their work on H.R. 8774. prgtoken , as a counterintelligence officer who operated against China, I have witnessed firsthand how the Chinese Communist Party can threaten our national security. Therefore, this bill is critical to our Nation's security. prgtoken The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025, will fight against Communist China by strengthening our military deterrence efforts and investing in the next generation of military technology, innovation, and our workforce. prgtoken I thank Chairman Calvert for including my amendment to increase research and development of cutting-edge drone technology. Wireless power transfer for U.S.-made drones allows for providing endurance, long-range capabilities, and dual-use technology to help protect America both at home and abroad. This includes our border security, counter-drug operations, extensive terrain mapping in the case of natural disasters, even air-to-air refueling, and, certainly, extending communications networks in contested environments. Most importantly, they are highly effective, low-cost capabilities with a high-yield impact when it comes to kinetic conflict. prgtoken I appreciate the work and leadership of the chairman and the work of the committee, and I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to continue to prgtoken support our advance in drone technology made domestically, independent of China, for a safer, stronger America.
HONORING THE LIFE OF TINI APELU MANULELEUA
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican, AS) \u2014 2024-6-27

I rise today to honor the life of Tini Apelu Manuleleua who passed away on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the age of 84. Tini was born and raised in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. prgtoken Tini joined the Air Force and proudly served from 1956 to 1960. He held an E-4 High Security Clearance to code and decode messages as a Teletype Operator, typing 133 WPM. He went on to work at RCA, Watkins and Johnson, and Santa Clara County as a Counselor specifically working with the Polynesian community. We honor his legacy and thank him for his service. prgtoken He is survived by siblings Katherine Bitgood, Tolu Misa, Alavine Tuala, and Laila Manuleleua as well as his children, Eddie Achica, Lucy Achica-Woods, Mona Lozada, George Achica, Eugenia Delatorre, Virginia Manuleleua, Jerry Manuleleua, and Daniel Peters and their families made up of 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. prgtoken He will be missed.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Victoria Spartz (Republican, IN) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam Chair, I have a very simple amendment. Actually, what it does is it just says that if we, Congress, do not authorize funds specifically for the U.N which should be part of our process, then this agency shouldn't be funded and projects the U.N. is doing shouldn't be funded. I probably couldn't defund the whole U.N but I will take much smaller steps and say that Congress needs to do its job. If it is not authorized, that is a process that Congress should follow, and it shouldn't be funded. prgtoken I know that is not a problem if the Appropriations Committee or the authorization committee didn't do its job; but if they didn't do their job, then they should start doing their job. prgtoken I think the process is broken, and we need to start dealing with corrupt agencies at the U.N. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Andrew Ogles (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Mr. Chair, keep in mind that China is a country that steals hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of U.S. intellectual property every year. They commit espionage against the United States on an unparalleled scale every year. They are doing the bare minimum to prevent fentanyl precursors from flooding into Mexico en route to the southern border. They are directly supporting every single designated state sponsor of terrorism on the State Department's list: Cuba, Syria, North Korea, and Iran. prgtoken Even considering all of this, Beijing is not fully excluded from participating in RIMPAC. For robust democratic allies like Taiwan, however, participation currently is impossible. prgtoken The existence of the waiver undermines the precondition on China's participation in RIMPAC. Currently, the Secretary of Defense must certify to the congressional defense committees that China has stopped all land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, removed all weapons from land reclamation sites, and established a consistent 4- year track record of taking actions toward stabilizing the region. If they do all those things, China could be invited to RIMPAC. prgtoken It is important that we send a message to our adversary that they are a bad actor, it is time for them to behave and to understand that countries in their region, like Taiwan, have a right to participate in the free market, to be free and democratic, and not to be under their thumb. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam Chair, the good intent of my colleague from Florida cannot diminish the fact that administration after administration, State Department after State Department, and the Department of Defense under both this and the previous administration recognized the importance of a stable and peaceful Lebanon. They recognized that the Lebanese Armed Forces maintain a force against the taking over of their country either by Hezbollah, Palestinians, Syrians, or others. prgtoken I have been to Lebanon when it was under foreign control by Syria. I have seen the Lebanese Armed Forces push them out. I have also seen the Lebanese Armed Forces train with our military personnel, who, in fact, maintain close and daily relations with the Lebanese Armed Forces. prgtoken Madam Chair, from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).
CONGRATULATING EMMA CLARKE
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam , today I rise to recognize Ms. Emma Clarke of Rowan County, North Carolina's top high school female athlete of the year. prgtoken Emma is a three-sport star and is the first female student athlete from Rowan County to receive the Pat Best Memorial Award honoring North Carolina's top male and female athletes. prgtoken On the softball diamond, Emma received all-state honors twice and holds single season and career home run records in Rowan County. On the volleyball court, Emma earned all-State honors as both a junior and senior. Emma also dominated on the basketball court, earning all- conference and all-county honors while leading her team to a 31-0 record and a State championship this year. She capped off her outstanding career with the most outstanding player performance in the 3A State championship game victory. Emma now heads to the University of Tennessee to continue her softball career. prgtoken Emma is a superstar. Her parents, Ken and Elizabeth Clarke; her grandparents, Commissioner Jim and Karen Greene, are so proud of her, and so am I. We can't wait to see what is yet to come. God bless Emma.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Mr. Chair, I believe that my colleague is misunderstanding the policy that is being proposed by the Department of Defense. This doesn't relate to people on committee work. This has to do with the policy that was proposed by the DOD office on January 8, 2024, that would allow DOD personnel to occasionally handle, discuss, or process classified material in an at-home or away-from-work setting. prgtoken The purpose of the amendment is to prohibit that. The idea that this is a total ban on telework for Members and staff of Congress, that has absolutely nothing to do with this. This is directly related to the DOD Office of Under Secretary's personnel and readiness policies that were updated earlier this year. prgtoken There is clearly a misunderstanding by my colleagues on the other side as to what the purpose of this amendment is. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
HONORING NATE WORLEY
Chuck Edwards (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-6-27

I rise today to honor Mr. Nate Worley, for his work as an intern serving in my D.C. office. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his hard work and recognize the meaningful contributions he has made to the office this summer. prgtoken Nate is from Leicester, North Carolina and is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied economics. Nate is active in local politics and is a dedicated member of the Western North Carolina Community. prgtoken Interns work with staff to serve constituents in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Nate was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and exceeded every expectation with his positive attitude and impressive work ethic. prgtoken It was a pleasure to work with Nate, and I am so proud to have such an intelligent and ambitious intern representing my office. Nate exemplified the spirit of public service and represents the best that our Nation has to offer. I congratulate Nate on this successful completion of his internship, and on behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, I thank him.
POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Madam , I thank Lieutenant General Bergman, the most senior officer ever elected to Congress. I am proud to serve with him. prgtoken I rise today to advocate in support of those fighting to transform trauma into triumph. prgtoken June is PTSD Awareness Month. I want to stop right there. I don't like to say PTSD because it is not a disorder. It is actually normal when someone encounters a traumatic situation in their life to have that kind of response. It is time to recognize a serious condition, though, that affects many veterans and civilian members of our community. prgtoken As part of this awareness, Post-Traumatic Growth Day, as General Bergman said, was June 13, a day to recognize the transformative power of resilience, strength, and courage, and an opportunity to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and transformation. prgtoken Research tells us that 70 percent of American adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life and that two-thirds of children experience trauma before the age of 16. Of the 6 million veterans served by the Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal year 2021, about 10 out of every 100 men and 19 out of every 100 women were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. prgtoken Many battle their demons alone, especially veterans, focused almost exclusively on negative impacts of trauma and struggle, trying to protect loved ones from their suffering. Feelings of hopelessness or failure often permeate their thoughts and add to the challenge of healing. This often leaves individuals feeling alone and victims of their own worst experiences. prgtoken It is time to change the conversation and highlight the possibility of growth after trauma, to show how struggle can be a catalyst for profound growth and transformation. It is time to advocate for success. prgtoken In Proverbs 4:23--one of my favorite books in the Bible--it tells us to ``Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.'' This is especially true for those trying to overcome horrific events in their lives, and it is the foundational message of the Choose Growth campaign, an initiative focused on raising awareness that trauma doesn't have to be the end of the story. prgtoken Awareness is necessary to remove the stigma and to encourage those suffering to seek proper and timely treatment that may save their lives and restore them to being productive and successful members of society. prgtoken Treatment can take many forms, from peer-related therapies to medications. The key is finding what works best for each individual. Support from loved ones and groups provides a positive impact on outcomes. That is why I share my own experience with PTS after spending 1 year in Iraq and having been on the receiving end of 3 to 30 rockets or mortars a day. prgtoken When I got home, I had reflexive instincts wherever I went to be ready to find cover. Even in Chicago, walking with my dad, my dad
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-6-27

I urge all my colleagues to vote for this amendment. We have to have free, fair, and private elections. It is what the Election Integrity Caucus has set out prgtoken to do and what we have been doing. We endeavor to make sure we can get every legal citizen to vote in every election. That is our mission. It is not to sway voters. prgtoken Voters need to feel confident that their votes are secure, that their votes are not manipulated, and their votes are not diluted. That is exactly what this amendment seeks to do, and that is what has undermined the trust that our citizens have in these elections. prgtoken Mr. Chair, for that reason, I urge all of my colleagues, including my ic colleagues, to vote in favor of this amendment to be sure that we have free, fair, and private elections. prgtoken Again, I must reiterate to Mr. Chair: Let's, for once, make voting great again. prgtoken , .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Dale W. Strong (Republican, AL) \u2014 2024-6-27

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment and in support of the Army's continued investment in unmanned ground vehicle technology. prgtoken It is an Army priority to provide commanders on the ground with enhanced situational awareness and increased flexibility on the modern battlefield. This plus-up would take a step in the right direction to fill existing command and control capability gaps that would hinder our warfighter on the front lines. prgtoken I have been proud to support the provisions in this NDAA and Defense appropriations bills the past two cycles, prgtoken not only because of the work done in Huntsville, Alabama, but because this is addressing a critical national security need. prgtoken This is why I am here, to do what is best for national security. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF DEPUTY BASE CIVIL ENGINEER JOHN L. EUNICE, III
Austin Scott (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-6-27

I rise today to honor Mr. John L. Eunice, III, who is retiring after over 40 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Air Force. prgtoken Mr. Eunice began his career in 1981 after receiving his commission from the United States Air Force Academy and served for twenty-seven years on active duty, achieving the rank of Colonel. While on active duty, he served two command tours, serving as Commander of the 36th and 347th Civil Engineer Squadrons. prgtoken For the last sixteen years of his career, Mr. Eunice served as Deputy Base Civil Engineer for Moody Air Force Base in Lowndes County, Georgia. During this period, the outstanding performance, professional competence, and ceaseless efforts of Mr. Eunice resulted in the completion of twenty military construction projects and modernization projects supporting both the 23d and 93d wings. His guidance was recently instrumental in the development of the 23d Wing's F-35 bed- down plan. prgtoken Mr. Eunice also led the development of benchmarked intergovernmental service agreements, partnering with Lowndes County on the operation of the base water and wastewater treatment plants, a shared-use golf course, and municipal services agreements. His efforts led to the first Defense Community Infrastructure Program project in the State of Georgia, contributing to the 23d Wing and Lowndes County being awarded the 2023 Air Force Community Partnership award. prgtoken I am honored to represent distinguished public servants and veterans like Mr. John Eunice. I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.
HONORING COLONEL JOHN WILCOX FOR HIS SERVICE AS GARRISON COMMANDER OF FORT LIBERTY
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-6-27

I rise today to honor the service of Colonel John Wilcox as Garrison Commander of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and to thank him for his 25 years of dedication to the armed forces. prgtoken Colonel John Wilcox earned his commission in the Military Police Corps in 1999 after graduating from The Virginia Military institute, he has undertaken numerous roles including Platoon Leader, Special Reaction Team Leader, Company Commander, and as a Military Police Advisor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007 Colonel Wilcox volunteered to join Special Operations as a Civil Affairs Soldier and later would deploy twice to the southern Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, returning as Company Commander and providing Civil Affairs forces across the Mindanao Province. prgtoken Prior to assuming his role as Fort Liberty Garrison Commander, Colonel Wilcox continued his Civil Affairs service in command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Chief of Plans 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, Advisor USFOR-A, and Assistant Chief of Staff G9 2nd Infantry Division. Colonel Wilcox deployed to Afghanistan as part of a NATO Special Operations Component Command as the Director of the Afghan Local Police Special Operations Advisory Cell and in 2021 was assigned Deputy Chief of Staff G5 for USASOC. prgtoken Colonel Wilcox assumed Garrison Commander of Fort Liberty in June of 2022. With 2,500 appropriated and non-appropriated fund civilian personnel, Fort Liberty is one of the largest and functionally complex garrison workforces in the Installation Management Command. In the last two years, Colonel Wilcox has implemented a number of improvements to municipal services, built upon relationships with local elected leaders, and has secured Fort Liberty's ready status as a power projection platform. Through his professionalism, dedication, drive and passion, Colonel Wilcox has greatly improved the quality of life for the nearly 280,000 people that live, work, or rely on Fort Liberty for services. Recently the base underwent a no-notice departure of the 18th Airborne Corps headquarters as well as the 82nd Airborne Division's deployment to Europe, both operations remaining agile and effective with the support and steady leadership of Colonel Wilcox. Additionally, Fort Liberty underwent repairs of more than 100 miles of roadwork in failing condition at 60 percent of the estimated cost, implemented a multiyear replacement plan for HVAC systems and Roofs saving the government upwards of $10 million, and established the ``Sunset Liberty March,'' designed to honor the installation's history and the sacrifice of fallen soldiers. prgtoken The people of Fort Liberty are forever grateful for Colonel John Wilcox's vision and direction. Colonel Wilcox, his wife, Nellie, and their three children, Hannah, Aiden, and Lukas, will be deeply missed by this community. prgtoken , please join me today in honoring the servic