mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE OF FRANCO HARRIS
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , 54 years ago the Apollo 8 crew lifted from Cape Kennedy, Florida, embarking on the first manned mission to circle the Moon. prgtoken On Christmas Eve of that year, they would be the first to be pulled into lunar orbit. On that same day, they became the first three humans to cross to the far side of the Moon where no radio contact could be made with the Earth. prgtoken These three men--Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders--would spend Christmas Eve unconnected from everyone that they loved. prgtoken While no other will be as far away from home this Christmas as the Apollo 8 astronauts, there will still be millions of Americans who will be unable to spend Christmas with their loved ones. prgtoken These will be the truck drivers on icy roads, the doctors and nurses working long shifts in snowed-in hospitals, police officers patrolling our streets, and men and women in uniform standing at far-away outposts serving to keep our Nation free and safe. prgtoken We owe a debt of gratitude to those who are unable to be with their loved ones and their friends this Christmas. prgtoken As you gather around your table and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, please join me in saying a prayer for those who are unable to be at home this Christmas day. prgtoken For those unable to see their children opening Christmas presents, for those unable to be with their grandchildren watching a train circle a Christmas tree, we are grateful for the work that they do. prgtoken From all of us here at the United States Capitol, I extend a heartfelt thanks for those individuals for their work and for their commitment to our Nation. Thanking Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District
HONORING AND REMEMBERING U.S. ARMY VETERAN JOHN E. HUGHES
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. John E. Hughes for his dedicated service to our country. prgtoken Mr. Hughes was born in 1945 and attended Hadley-Luzerne Central School District schools, where he was actively engaged in academic and student life. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 13th, 1966, serving with Company C, 124th Signal Battalion, 4th Infantry Division as a Radio Teletype operator in Vietnam. prgtoken During his time in the Army, Mr. Hughes was stationed at the Central Highlands in Vietnam, where he transported soldiers and supplies to and from firebases. While participating in a Reaction Force Patrol, Mr. Hughes saved the life of his fellow soldier and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism for his selfless act. For his tremendous commitment to service, he was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. prgtoken Upon his honorable discharge from the Army in March 1968, Mr. Hughes was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Finch Prime & Co. He maintained participation in multiple veterans' organizations, including the William J. Varney American Legion Post #862, the VFW Post #5836, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Tri-Town Seniors, and publicly served as Assessor for the Town of Hasley. Mr. Hughes married the love of his life in 1970, and they raised their beautiful family of 3 children together. prgtoken Throughout his life, Mr. Hughes demonstrated exemplary service to his country and members of his community. I am proud to recognize him during the Saratoga County Veterans Association's Honor our Deceased Veterans Ceremony. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I would like to commend the life of Mr. John E. Hughes and thank him for his brave service to our country.
HONORING PITTSBURGH ATHLETES ROBERTO CLEMENTE AND FRANCO HARRIS
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today in honor of several Pittsburgh athletes. The first is a young man named Roberto Clemente. prgtoken Roberto Clemente was a tremendous player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had an 18-year career with the Pirates--3,000 hits, 240 home runs, two-time World Series champion, and he had an arm that was incredible. Nobody in the Major Leagues, after getting a single to right field, ever made a wide turn at first base. Clemente would throw them out, throw it behind them. prgtoken As we remember him as a baseball player--and this is his last hit, which was a double where he got his 3,000th hit--one of the things I really admired about Roberto Clemente was not the fact that he was a great athlete, that he was a great leader, but that he was a great humanitarian. prgtoken Roberto died on December 31, 1972. That is 50 years ago this New Year's Eve. He was on a mission trip to deliver aid to the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Mr. Clemente was only 38 years old. prgtoken I think the thing that we need to remember as Americans is that while people have different talents, their commitment is always to their fellow man. prgtoken What I remember about Roberto Clemente was just how involved he was in Puerto Rico and in the islands because he knew they needed help. prgtoken On that day in 1972, in a DC-3 airplane loaded with medical supplies and food supplies, Clemente took off on a trip that would never reach the end he desired. The cargo shifted in the airplane, and the plane went into a spin and dove into the ocean. prgtoken We lost Roberto Clemente that day. We didn't just lose a great baseball player and a Hall of Fame player. We lost somebody else. On the back side of this, this is, perhaps, the picture--if you were to ask Roberto Clemente what uniform he liked the most, it would have been a toss-up between the Pittsburgh Pirates and U.S. Marines uniforms. prgtoken Roberto Clemente served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1962. In that time period, he was on the All-Star team and won a World Series twice, but again, it was his efforts to help his fellow human beings that we remember the most. prgtoken A tragic loss for us, but also something for all young people to look at and say: I want to be like him. prgtoken Also, Dr. Joyce spoke earlier today about the loss of Pittsburgh Steelers running back and Hall of Famer Franco . prgtoken Madam , I had the blessing of actually knowing Mr he was a very imposing figure and he was a phenomenal athlete. When we think of Franco , this is a picture of him. This is the last tackler that was trying to get him. He picked up a pass that ricocheted off a guy name Frenchie Fuqua and ran it into the end zone. The Pittsburgh Steelers ended up winning their first championship game that day. prgtoken In addition to his years in the NFL and in addition to the years of being an idol in the Pittsburgh community, Franco was something else. Franco
THANKING HUNTER LIPSCOMB FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE
Steven M. Palazzo (Republican, MS) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize one of my original staff members, Hunter Lipscomb, who started with me on my first campaign in 2010. I had just won my primary, and I was focusing on recruiting and building my leadership team to take on a popular 10-term incumbent in the general election. Hunter was a graduate student, writing on political topics for his university paper and itching to get into a campaign fight to help win a majority in the House of Representatives. prgtoken As it turned out, Hunter and I had many common interests, including military service. I used to train with his older brother, Jamie, who was in the Army National Guard while I was in the Marine Corps Reserve. Hunter had dissected my campaign and helped craft a plan for the campaign's final months that worked against all odds. We won. prgtoken Hunter served in various roles--he helped the transition. set up the office, and worked as a legislative aid and communications director before returning to the district to serve as my District Director/ Deputy Chief of Staff. We put south Mississippians first. prgtoken In 2017, I asked Hunter to serve as my Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C. During his time as my Chief of Staff; Hunter focused on communicating with constituents and working on policy matters that impact the district. Always looking through the lens of how a policy might affect Mississippians, Hunter maneuvered our office to lead on keeping flood insurance available and affordable and making the Mississippi Sound whole from freshwater intrusion. prgtoken Hunter took a particular interest in aligning and maximizing the needs of Mississippi's federal assets, including the Stennis Space Center, our military installations, and shipbuilding capacity. He also focused on ensuring these entities received the federal appropriations and policy support to remain competitive and vibrant. prgtoken Most importantly, Hunter was responsive to constituent groups and elected officials, serving as their advocate on whatever issue they might bring, treating it as a top priority of the office, and more times than not, being successful on their behalf. prgtoken I appreciate Hunter's tireless energy in working to make my office successful. I am proud of our time together and our enduring friendship. I thank Hunter for his 8 years of dedicated service to Mississippi's 4th Congressional District. prgtoken Always Ready, Always There.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 9640, PRESIDENTIAL TAX FILINGS AND AUDIT TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2022; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF S. 1942, NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, MN) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), and the chair of the Rules Committee, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , we are here to discuss the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 9640 and S. 1942, bills that we were notified of less than 2 hours ago. prgtoken The process leading up to this debate has been not just unacceptable, but beneath this body. It seems the leadership of this Congress is determined to disappoint us right up to the bitter end. prgtoken S. 1942, the National Heritage Area Act, establishes a national heritage area system, attempting to standardize prgtoken the process for studying and establishing new national heritage areas. This bill could likely go by suspension and enjoy support from Members on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken Why we are called to meet on this bill with less than 2 hours' notice that could otherwise go by suspension is beyond me and is indicative of how this majority has run this body for the last 2 years. prgtoken H.R. 9640 is a supposed discussion draft, or at least described as such by my colleagues in the majority, but it was introduced today. Not last week, not a month ago, not even yesterday. It was introduced today. prgtoken The bill supposedly justifies a legislative purpose required by the ' year-long crusade to weaponize the IRS to punish a political opponent. It requires the release of Presidential tax returns by the IRS and requires audits of returns submitted by such Presidents. prgtoken And that supposed discussion? Yesterday, the Ways and Means Committee met and went into executive session to meet on releasing a report on the IRS' mandatory audit program. prgtoken During the executive session, s were told repeatedly that the chair would not permit any amendments to be offered on the report. Even though the committee was in executive session for approximately 5 hours, the chair abruptly reversed course and told the Members that amendments would be available about 10 minutes prior to the final vote on making these documents public. This left Members without options to draft and offer amendments with any notice. prgtoken included multiple attachments to this report, one being a discussion draft of the bill we are considering today. staff told committee staff that no exception on this legislation would be considered before the end of the year. And we learned this supposed discussion draft would be coming to the floor in a statement by Pelosi. prgtoken Of course, as is this leadership's custom, this bill had no hearing and no markup. To put it generously, this process has been a disaster, but it is unfortunate how my colleagues have run this institution. prgtoken I would also note that the rule today deems an unvetted and controversial resolution that reaffirms Federal preemption of State laws regarding mail order abor
CELEBRATING 240 YEARS OF THE MINGO CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise to recognize and congratulate the congregation of The Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church for 240 years of service to God and their community in southwestern Pennsylvania. prgtoken As early as 1774, Scotch-Irish settlers of America's first western frontier gathered at the site of Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church. Records show that the first official Christian worship services took place in 1782 and have continued uninterrupted to this day. The original meeting house was used by The Mingo Creek Society, a group of dissidents involved in the protest against the federal whiskey excise tax beginning in 1794. The Mingo Creek log structure and the surrounding grounds served as ``the cradle of the Whisky Rebellion.'' There, militia leaders met and plotted the first revolt to test our young republic. Major James McFarlane, a veteran of the American Revolution, was one of the few killed in the uprising and is among the rebel figures buried in the Mingo Cemetery. prgtoken The Church's first permanent pastor, Dr. Samuel Ralston, arrived as an Irish missionary in 1796 and served until 1837. His legacy was far- reaching, as his descendants remained active in the Mingo Creek Church through the 1960s. Throughout this time, the Church underwent several changes. Mingo Creek began its Mission and community outwork in 1841, which are still critical ventures. Curved walls were added in 1903, while a manse and Christian education building were built in 1924 and 1958, respectively. These changes allowed the Church to welcome more inside its walls, including traveling dignitaries. Among those was President Harry S. Truman, who delivered a speech at the Church's early 19th-century wooden pulpit. prgtoken Madam , the Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church's story, is deeply rooted in our great Nation's origins. The Church has stood as a testament of faith for 240 years, and its storied history has earned the religious institution a standing in the National Registry for Historic Places. I look forward to what the next chapter has in store for the congregation and community.
RECOGNIZING JERRY KONTER
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Ware County High School football team for winning the Class 5A State championship in the State of Georgia. This is a first and long-overdue State title for the Gators. They finished the season with a 14-0 record--also a first for the school. prgtoken Ware County faced no trouble as they cruised through four playoff games. They allowed only 27 points to be scored by their opponents. The Gators entered the championship game having allowed just 90 points all season. Their defense was one of the best in the State. prgtoken In their title matchup, the Gators faced the Warner Robins Demons, a Georgia powerhouse program known for their historic success. Warner Robins was a two-time defending State champion coming off of a historic 2021 season. prgtoken The Gators held Warner Robins to only 13 points and brought the title back home to Waycross. prgtoken Congratulations to the Ware County Gators, you made the First Congressional District of Georgia proud. prgtoken Recognizing the Benedictine High School Football Team for Winning the Class 4A State Championship
DR. JOANNE SMITH MEMORIAL REHABILITATION INNOVATION CENTERS ACT OF 2022
Kevin Brady (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am proud to join today with Chairman Davis to speak in support of H.R. 9271, the Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act. prgtoken This bill is important. It will create a standard to publicly recognize industry-leading facilities through the distinction of being a rehabilitation innovation center. These exceptional facilities are truly at the cutting edge of treatment. prgtoken They are leaders in innovation--researching, developing, and applying new medical breakthroughs and technologies that can then be spread to patients and facilities across the Nation and the world. prgtoken I have seen firsthand the amazing positive impact of these premier institutions. I am proud that The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, TIRR as we call it, Memorial Hermann, is located in Houston, Texas, serving patients in my district, in this country, and around the world. prgtoken I have had the privilege to visit TIRR Memorial Hermann to see firsthand how their patients benefit from life-changing care, particularly for patients who have suffered traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. prgtoken The patients arriving at TIRR are often recovering from very medically complex injuries that really alter the course of their life. TIRR provides patients with a full team of specialized caregivers and physicians to ensure that each patient receives the very best plan of care for their injury, so they are able to return to their communities. prgtoken This incredible work and constant effort to research and develop new and innovative treatments for their patients has resulted in breakthroughs that have benefited patients not just in Houston but around the globe. Today I will share just two of the thousands of stories that highlight the life-changing impact TIRR has made for patients. prgtoken When our former colleague here in the House, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was horrifically attacked at point-blank range and miraculously stabilized from her critical condition, she was transferred to TIRR Memorial Hermann for her recovery. On that long road to recovery, TIRR's expert physicians, nurses, and therapists worked together with Gabby designing the right combination of intensive therapies and treatments. At TIRR, they still talk about Gabby's motivation, her focus, and positive approach that she showed throughout her remarkable recovery. prgtoken Corporal Nick Tullier was one of six Baton Rouge police officers shot during a 2016 ambush attack. Doctors told Nick's family he wouldn't survive 24 hours, but for nearly 6 years, he defied all odds after being treated at TIRR Memorial Hermann. He passed away a hero in May of this year. prgtoken I am immensely proud to have this amazing work happening in my home region of Houston. In my district and hometown, we are fortunate enough to host some of the TIRR patients at Memorial Hermann, the Woodlands Medical Ce
HONORING THE SERVICE OF LARISSA PLUNTO
Michael T. McCaul (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the professional achievements and dedication of Larissa Plunto, who has served in my office for more than 5 years--first as a regional director and then as a trusted senior policy advisor. prgtoken Larissa's heart for people shone through her work in my office. She truly believed that we could enact lasting, positive change. And that's exactly what she strived to do, dedicating much of her time to fighting the scourge of human trafficking across Texas and our Nation. prgtoken I am very grateful for Larissa's service to the Houston area and beyond. While she will be missed in my office, I know she will continue following her passions and being a voice for the voiceless wherever she goes.
HAZARD ELIGIBILITY AND LOCAL PROJECTS ACT
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-12-21

the balance of my time. prgtoken , again, this legislation is designed to address specific problems we have seen, bureaucracy and inefficiency. As the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon) just noted, this has impacts on communities that have experienced multiple disasters like in Puerto Rico, where they have had some profound impacts from hurricanes. We don't need to have the Federal Government revictimizing our citizens by creating bureaucratic steps. prgtoken As the gentleman from New Jersey stated in his opening, we have seen over and over again, we are making proactive investments in mitigation which results in significant savings. Studies show the number could be anywhere from $3 to I have seen studies approaching $20 in savings. This allows for those projects to move forward. prgtoken Again, this bill cuts through the bureaucracy and red tape. I urge adoption of the legislation, and .
CONGRATULATING FLORIDA TECH'S CYBERSECURITY TEAM ON THEIR EXTRAORDINARY FIRST PLACE FINISH
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Florida Institute of Technology--L3 Institute for Assured Information student cybersecurity team, FITSEC, for their perfect accuracy, extraordinary score, and first place finish in this fall's 2022 National Cyber League tournament on November 6, 2022. prgtoken The National Cyber League team tournament is a biannual national competition. This year, 7,500 students from 470 institutions around the country competed to solve simulated, true-to-life cybersecurity problems. The National Cyber League assesses a team's ability to address nine critical cybersecurity workforce categories outlined in the NIST NICE Cybersecurity Framework and the NSA Knowledge Units. Florida Tech students claimed victory with 100% accuracy and a score of 2,755 points out of 3,000. With this win, FITSEC has moved Florida Tech to the number one spot in the Cyber Power Rankings. prgtoken Founded by NASA scientists and located in the city of Melbourne on Florida's ``Space Coast,'' Florida Tech has always been known for its strength and contributions in aerospace engineering and space science. More recently, the university has also earned its position as a leader in cybersecurity research and education. Home to the L3 Institute for Assured Information, Florida Tech has been recognized as a National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security ``National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research''. prgtoken Florida Tech's rigorous undergraduate cyber operations curriculum, modeled after the NSA Cyber Operations Knowledge Units, is developing bright young minds that will most certainly be among our nation's future leaders in this field. It is good to know that students from my district in Brevard County will soon help solve the problems of tomorrow, like countering unchecked foreign threats, securing intellectual property and private information, and meeting the growing need for exceptional cybersecurity professionals in our nation's industries, agencies and government. prgtoken According to Florida Tech's provost, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Dr. Marco Carvalho: ``The success of FITSEC underscores the value of collaborations between industry and academia, such as our L3 Institute for Assured Information. Here, we have some of the best computer scientists and software engineers in the world conducting cutting-edge research in cybersecurity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The same experts then teach, mentor and coach our FITSEC students. Finally, these students bring their skills to top U.S. companies and organizations, making invaluable contributions to the security and stability of vital information, systems, and resources.'' prgtoken Chair of the cybersecurity program Dr. TJ O'Connor, tells us: ``The FITS EC cybersecurity team and cyber operations curriculum contribute to our national security and strength by building critical sk
EMMETT TILL AND MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2021
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-12-21

the balance of my time for closing. prgtoken I encourage my colleagues to support S. 450. I thank my friend, Mr. Davis of Parkdale, Arkansas, for his testimony. Parkdale is a great city in our southeast corner of Arkansas. I thank Chairwoman Waters for her passionate support of this bill. This is a bill that has the universal support of people on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support S. 450, and .