mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE AND NOBLE MILITARY SERVICE OF AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE, FIRST CLASS, DANIEL T. GRIFFIN
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2023-9-27

I rise today to honor the life and noble military service of Aviation Machinist's Mate, First Class, Daniel T. Griffin, who died in the line of duty at Kaneohe Naval Air Station during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. prgtoken AMM1c Daniel Griffin was born in Allendale, Illinois, and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado as an infant with his family. While growing up, AMM1c Griffin enjoyed hunting and fishing and worked for the Gazette Telegraph Co. during his years at Colorado Springs High School where he graduated in 1928. prgtoken AMM1c Griffin enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 19 in 1930 with a desire to serve his country and see the world. As he served in the Navy, it became his dream to become a pilot. In 1937, he reported to flight school graduating as an AMM2c Naval Aviation Pilot with his Patrol Bomber Y pilot's license in 1938. Following graduation, AMM1c Griffin was transferred to Pearl Harbor and later Kaneohe Bay in March of 1941. prgtoken Kaneohe Bay sits on the east side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. On December 7, 1941, this area was one of the first parts of Hawaii to be attacked by the Japanese Imperial Forces. During that morning, AMM1c Griffin was standing watch and was one of the first servicemen to alert others of the Japanese attack. Swimming out to his plane, AMM1c Griffin immediately jumped into action to try and save his plane from destruction as it sat in the waters of the bay. prgtoken However, his aircraft was hit by Japanese machine gun fire as it became airborne leaving the waters. His plane crashed, but he survived and was badly burned. He attempted to swim to shore, but tragically lost his life at the hands of the Japanese machine gun fire. AMM1c Griffin was the first Coloradan to die in the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II. He left behind his wife, Lucille, and two children, Danelle and Donald, and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. prgtoken AMM1c Griffin was issued a citation by Admiral Nimitz for his valor in combat. In 1943 the United States Navy commissioned the U.S.S. Daniel T. Griffin APD 38, an Escort Vessel, in recognition of AMM1c Griffin's sacrifice at Pearl Harbor. prgtoken , I ask that my colleagues in Congress join me in honoring the life and service of Aviation Machinist's Mate, First Class, Daniel T. Griffin, who faithfully served his country, community, family, and Colorado's 5th Congressional District.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
David P. Joyce (Republican, OH) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, the amendment offered by the gentleman from California is well-meaning, but ultimately misguided. We are averaging nearly 10,000 encounters at the southern border on a daily basis, near record levels. My bill addresses the challenge by funding an additional 1,800 Border Patrol agents to relieve the burden on our overworked agents along the southwest border. prgtoken Taking funds dedicated to the Border Patrol agents and instead using them to hire additional customs officers dilutes our efforts to secure the border between the ports of entry. Additional officers may be needed to help with legitimate trade and travel that crosses the border, but we have to address the immediate crisis caused by this administration's disastrous border security policies. prgtoken If you turn on the television, you can see the flood of migrants heading north on trains, crossing the border in an uncontrolled fashion. It must stop, which is why we desperately need additional men and women in green uniforms to help us gain operational control of the border. I reluctantly urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment. Mr. Chair, .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-9-27

yesterday, the Senate took the first step toward avoiding a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown. The business before us now is to pass standard, short-term funding legislation to keep basic and essential government functions operating while work continues on full-year appropriations. prgtoken We are talking about making sure that the servicemembers who will continue to stand watch around the world and the Border Patrol and ICE agents who will continue to contend with the administration's border crisis here at home and the VA medical providers who will continue to care for America's heroes don't have to go without their paychecks. prgtoken The choice facing Congress is pretty straightforward. We can take the standard approach and fund the government for 6 weeks at the current rate of operations, or we can shut the government down in exchange for zero meaningful progress on policy. prgtoken So let's be clear. There are a number of important discussions on additional funding priorities that are still unresolved. Many colleagues are eager to make real progress in bringing the ' reckless spending to heel; to force the administration to start taking its southern border crisis seriously; to provide greater relief for victims of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters; and to deliver continued assistance to Ukraine's defense against Russia. And on all of those counts, I am one of them. prgtoken We would like to address all of those issues, but these important discussions cannot progress if Congress simply fails to complete our work on standard, short-term funding and the basic functions of government end up being taken hostage. So a vote against a standard, short-term funding measure is a vote against paying over a billion dollars in salary for Border Patrol and ICE agents working to track down lethal fentanyl and tame our open borders. Letting FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund dry up is not a productive way to advocate for victims of disasters. Letting small businesses' loan applications collect dust is not a productive way to help working Americans contend with Washington ' historic inflation. prgtoken Shutting down the government isn't an effective way to make a point. Keeping it open is the only way to make a difference on the most important issues we are facing. Economic Recovery prgtoken , on another matter, the American people are absolutely sick--sick and tired--of living under omics. According to one recent survey, nearly 70 percent of Americans think the economy is actually getting worse. And support for President 's handling of the economy is at the lowest level of his Presidency. prgtoken It might have something to do with the fact that since President took office, soaring inflation has turned rising wages into net pay cuts for American workers. Real wages are down 2.3 percent since 2021. Household
Amendment No. 173 Offered by Mr. Roy
Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, if there is a point of order that is being raised here, my amendment does not change any existing law or require any new duty or determination on the part of any employee of the Department of Homeland Security. It simply prohibits the expenditure of funds in contravention of a longstanding existing law, which the Department ought to comply with already. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The amendment is unnecessary. prgtoken Section 129(a) has long been codified in Title 10. However, I am compelled to point out that the section in question directs the Secretary of Defense to achieve a cost-efficient personnel mix. prgtoken The administration has failed in this regard and continues to grow the Department civilian workforce to a fiscally unsustainable level. The bill before us directs the Secretary of Defense to address the issue by noting the unsustainable cost of civilian personnel within the Department over $101 billion in fiscal year 2022 alone. prgtoken Reducing the civilian workforce request by $1.1 billion, which is less than 1 percent of the total request, and achievable through attrition, to fund a historic 30-percent pay raise for our junior enlisted--a 30-percent pay raise which they richly deserve--and directing the Secretary to reassess manpower requirements against core missions and adopt technology to create a cost-efficient workforce, is essentially directing the Secretary to abide by section 129(a). prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Madam Chair, this should be a no-brainer that our Federal workers and our employees should actually go to work. In fact, it is actually bipartisan. President called on his Cabinet members to aggressively execute plans for Federal employees to work more in their offices. prgtoken The President and I do not see eye to eye on very much--in fact, very little. In this instance, putting workers back in the office is common sense. prgtoken This amendment would not defund telework and remote work for servicemen and -women. This amendment specifically prevents funds for DOD employees, civilians, and contractors. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and .
PROTECTING HUNTING HERITAGE AND EDUCATION ACT
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-9-27

I am really very pleased to be on the floor with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to talk about this. prgtoken As my colleague from North Carolina has pointed out, it was pretty clear--it was more than pretty clear; it was crystal clear--what the intent of this provision was. The intent was really designed to prevent gun violence. What this administration is doing with this interpretation is so far afield of where we were with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that it is almost breathtaking. prgtoken I had an opportunity less than a week ago to be back home in Fairbanks, and I went to the Tanana Valley shooting range. I was greeted by about probably 25, maybe even 30 high school students from Hutchison, from West Valley, and from Lathrop who were all part of the rifle team. They were there, pretty proud of what they were doing and how they were doing it; but they wanted to know, they wanted to understand how we could possibly--we here in Washington, DC, we in the Congress could possibly be doing something that was going to be limiting or restricting opportunities to understand more about firearms and firearm safety and hunting safety. prgtoken This is hunting season in Alaska. It is moose season. It is duck season. We all have our firearms out as we are providing for our families. In my family, one of the first things that you learn in a household that has firearms is about gun safety, firearm safety. Those schools that have those programs that provide for hunters' safety, those are the ones we all want our kids to be part of. It is not just the hunters' safety, it is the archery programs. prgtoken Again, when you are thinking about programs that help build young people in strong ways--in leadership skills, in safety, in discipline-- that is what these kids from the Fairbanks area schools were telling me. prgtoken I said: What else do you learn other than, really, being a sharpshooter? prgtoken They said: A sense of discipline--discipline and respect. They said: Every single one of us--there is not one of us in this room here who has been subject to any kind of discipline from within the school. We kind of look out for one another. There is a respect that comes when you are operating around a rifle. prgtoken The other issue that they raised was, they said: We understand that the way the Department of Education is interpreting this is not only hunters' safety programs would be at risk, not only archery programs would be at risk, but culinary programs where you have to use a knife with a blade that is in excess of 2\1/2\ inches, I believe it is. prgtoken So how do you work with a student when you are trying to chop celery in a classroom if you can't use a chopping knife? What do you do in a rural school where all aspects, practically, of your curriculum surround those matters that are relevant to you, subsistence? So as part of your science class, you are cleaning or preparing a skin from a
HONORING THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY INDIANA BAR ASSOCIATION ON THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY
Rudy Yakym III (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-9-27

it is my honor to recognize and congratulate the St. Joseph County Bar Association on their 150th anniversary this Fall. prgtoken For a century and a half now, the St. Joseph County Bar Association has been dedicated to advancing the principles of justice and the Rule of Law. As the oldest county lawyer organization in Indiana, the St. Joseph County Indiana Bar Association has long been a leader in raising the standard for the legal profession in the Hoosier state. prgtoken In their distinguished history, the St. Joseph County Bar Association has proved instrumental in bringing a federal district court to northern Indiana with a seat in South Bend. From offering referral services to connect clients with attorneys to implementing programs that provide low and no-cost legal services, the St. Joseph County Bar Association is a body that embodies sharing common ideals to serve the common good. prgtoken On the wall inside the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives are 23 marble relief portraits of great lawgivers throughout history, from Moses to Thomas Jefferson. The portraits serve as a constant reminder of the foundational role the law plays in an ordered society and our daily lives. prgtoken The Rule of Law tradition we have inherited helps secure individual liberty, promote justice, and ensures the conditions necessary for human flourishing. It is incumbent on us to do our part to make sure the principles of justice and Rule of Law precepts are passed seamlessly from one generation to the next. I know that mission is one the St. Joseph County Bar Association shares wholeheartedly and works tirelessly to advance. prgtoken I am proud to congratulate the St. Joseph County Indiana Bar Association on reaching this impressive milestone and on 150 years of dedicated service. I wish them continued success and many more anniversaries to celebrate going forward.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Mike Garcia (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Calvert for this historic bill, and I rise today in support of this very conservative DOD appropriations package. prgtoken I remind the American people that the purpose of the military is twofold. The first is to deter a war if diplomacy fails, to augment diplomacy in that deterrence. The second is, if by the exhaustion of all means we have to go to war, to actually give the American people the tools to win the war and keep our security. That is it, to deter a war and win a war. prgtoken This bill does exactly that. It trims the fat and removes the excess programs, the woke CRT programs, within the current policies under this administration. It also critically funds our Nation's most essential programs, like the F-35, the Columbia-class submarine, the B-21 Raider, which I am proud is made in my beautiful district, California's 27th Congressional District. prgtoken It removes Mexico from a command that is kind of an orphan right now by itself. During this open-border policy, we are now removing Mexico and putting it back into SOUTHCOM so that the combatant commanders can treat Mexico as the threat that it is to our prgtoken southern border and the influx of immigrants. prgtoken That is very important, but with all those things as important as they are--the weapons systems, the change of Mexico to SOUTHCOM--the single biggest thing that we are taking care of, the single biggest asset within our military that we are taking care of, is our troops. prgtoken I stood at this podium about 6 months ago and said I would not support a Defense Department spending bill or an NDAA that did not adequately address the pay issues, especially that our junior enlisted have right now. About a third of junior enlisted live below the poverty line. About a third of our enlisted qualify for food stamps right now. prgtoken I am very proud that our Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Defense was able to reconcile and address this adequately. The starting pay of a junior enlisted E1 was $22,000 a year.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, first of all, I think we are trying to confirm whether or not Floyd Bennett Field is, in fact, a military installation within the definition of the gentleman's amendment. prgtoken That point aside, again, I would say that if we are trying to solve the particular issue that my colleague and friend from New York is trying to solve, let's try to solve that one. Let's not do so with a blunt instrument that takes away discretion across the board for legitimate uses of military installations under congressional oversight, such as the Afghan refugee situation. prgtoken We can talk about this on the floor. Yes, it is completely necessary to discuss and debate this, but let's not overplay this so that the DOD never has the flexibility to have any military installation used for legitimate purposes that we would all agree with. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, cruelty and incompetence, these are what define Operation Lone Star. Unfortunately, the era that we are in in American politics for those across the aisle is marked by fearmongering because they have no solutions to the real issues that confront Americans--education, healthcare, jobs. They can't even get a budget together, so they try to scare everybody. They try to use these brown-skinned immigrants to scare everybody. That is what this is about. They are either going to send this money to Border Patrol or they are going to send it to Greg Abbott so he can go on FOX News and be celebrated. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-9-27

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4365--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024. prgtoken This offensive attempt at an appropriations bill is being used by s to sneak partisan and damaging policies under our noses. prgtoken H.R. 4365, which should be earnestly attempting to best support the Department of Defense, however, does not reflect the input of nearly half the Members of this body and is strongly opposed by the ranking members who sit on the very committee this bill originated from. prgtoken In order to further promote a culture war, the members who oversaw this bill are going to put many Americans at risk. prgtoken First, they are targeting the many brave servicewomen currently employed by the Department of Defense by directly going against the Secretary of Defense's promises for them to have access to reproductive healthcare regardless of their station. prgtoken Women currently make up 1 in 5 members of our military. prgtoken Denying them their previously promised ability to check their reproductive health is not only dangerous, but also grossly irresponsible. prgtoken The loss of these rights also increases the risk for low retention amongst female servicemembers who need these benefits this bill would strip away. prgtoken Second, the bill targets the LGBTQ+ community, who are increasingly victimized by agendas around the country. prgtoken Regardless of your beliefs, it is important to treat everyone with respect and equality, which this bill does not do. prgtoken This bill would prohibit hormone therapy or surgical treatment for gender affirming care, directly affecting those who experience gender dysphoria. prgtoken Individuals who feel they do not belong in their own body is a serious issue and has led to 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary young people attempting suicide in the past year. prgtoken Our priority as the legislative body of this country is to protect the wellbeing of ALL citizens, regardless of personal beliefs and ideologies. prgtoken The language in this legislation would further embolden those who wish to commit harm and violence against a minority group already facing so much hardship, both socially and legally. prgtoken This is unacceptable. prgtoken The lives and wellbeing of those who live across the country should not be put at risk simply to push a regressive agenda that does not promote the diversity of our nation but rather seeks to suppress it. prgtoken This brings me to my third point, which is the underhanded way s sought to eliminate ``Critical Race Theory'' or ``CRT''. prgtoken Let me be clear: s have a warped understanding of what this term means, and they are using it as a means to remove any diversity in education. prgtoken Critical Race Theory is a collegiate field of study that examines the complex ways in which race fits into the structures of our society; it is not an attack on white people for their history, just as it
NO BUDGET, NO PAY
Wiley Nickel (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-9-27

right now, we are on the path to a government shutdown caused by extremist Members who are unwilling to put politics aside, to do what is right for the country. prgtoken A government shutdown would be a disaster for North Carolina. It would leave 6,574 Federal workers in my district without a paycheck, it would jeopardize benefits for over 49,000 veterans in my district, and it would hurt our economy. prgtoken The last shutdown permanently cost our country $3 billion. That was only a partial shutdown. We can't afford to do that again. prgtoken That is why I have introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act. This bill has a simple idea: Members of Congress shouldn't get paid if we don't do our jobs. prgtoken I am proud to say this bill now has bipartisan support in the House. I came to Congress to get things done, and I will continue to work in a bipartisan way to avoid a government shutdown and do what is right for North Carolina.