mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN MEMORIAM, VINCENT UNGRO
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-9-15

. Madam , I rise to recognize the life and accomplishments of Vincent Ungro. With his passing on September 5, 2022, America lost a true patriot. Vincent, also known as Vinny to friends and family, was a proud American from Staten Island. He had a heart of gold and a head for politics. prgtoken Vinny was never afraid to voice his opinions and beliefs, regardless of what others might think. He ran the popular `Conservative Dad' Facebook page, where he advocated for conservatism and capitalism. prgtoken Family and friends will remember Vinny for fighting for what he believed in. His passion for politics is only matched by his love for the New York Islanders and Metallica. prgtoken In addition to being a 2020 National Pulse Writing Fellow, Vinny was a member and supporter of the New York Young Club. prgtoken He also cared deeply for animals and loved working for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). prgtoken As much as Vinny loved politics, family mattered most to him. He cherished his parents, Stephen and Jean; his wife, Judith; his children, Steve, Nicholas, Gabriella, and Mia; and grandkids, Madison, Gabriella, Natalie, and Oliver. prgtoken Vinny was an extraordinary individual, and he will be missed by all. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress, I recognize the remarkable life lived by Vincent Ungro today. I thank him for all he did for his community and country.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF CHARLES LAMAR ADAMS
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-9-15

. Madam , today, I rise to recognize the life of Charles Lamar Adams, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at the age of 96. prgtoken Mr. Adams was a graduate of Graceville High School and he later attended Auburn University in 1943 for a few weeks before putting his education on hold to bravely enlist in the Navy and serve his country in the Second World War. prgtoken When he returned from his time in the service, Charles met and married Ms. Nelma Grace from Hartford, Alabama. Together, they were blessed with 3 lovely daughters, 8 beautiful grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, who now carry on the family legacy. prgtoken After resuming his education, Charles went on to receive his Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor's degree, and a Master's degree. prgtoken Later, Charles continued serving his community by pursuing a career in education--becoming a high school teacher, a high school principal, a college professor, and the Superintendent of Education in Washington County, Florida. prgtoken Charles continued to teach and remained active in the education system well into his seventies. In total, Charles' career in education spanned 54 years. prgtoken Charles dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. He was an American hero that touched many of the lives around him as an educator, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. prgtoken Charles Lamar Adams left a lifelong impression on every student and member of the community that crossed his path. I join his many friends, family members, and the entire Second Congressional District of Alabama in honoring and preserving his legacy of service.
Inflation (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-9-15

. This week's inflation report confirmed what working people across this country know all too well: The costs of feeding a family and keeping the lights on have skyrocketed more quickly this past year than at any time since the wake of the Carter administration. prgtoken A year and a half of crippling runaway inflation is the most important story to the American people every single day. The media have grown somewhat numb to month after month of 8 and 9 percent inflation, but working Americans have not had the luxury of growing numb. The pain gets worse every single time they have to fill a shopping cart or pay their credit card bill. prgtoken One mother of young sons in my hometown of Louisville put it this way: My grocery bill has [gone] up a lot. It's terrible right now. I have to be really strategic on how I plan out the whole month to make sure we have enough money. prgtoken Of course, Kentuckians aren't the only ones in this predicament. In Nevada, an office worker recently told reporters: I've not been buying a lot of things because I can't afford it. I'm like, ``The kids don't need juice for school anymore. We'll just do water.'' prgtoken In Arizona, so many families are having to make tough choices at the grocery store, many are accepting charity to keep food on the table. prgtoken According to an employee of one food bank in Phoenix: The impact we are seeing day in and day out continues to go up. The families are stressed. prgtoken And who can blame them? Food inflation in America is at more than a four-decade high. Bread is 16.2 percent more expensive than it was a year ago. Milk is up 17 percent. Flour is up 23.3 percent, and eggs are going for nearly 40 percent more. prgtoken Week after week, feeding a family has become a stressful proposition for millions of Americans, and every extra dollar spent on groceries is one fewer to spare for soaring electricity bills. prgtoken In the suburbs of Las Vegas, residents have commiserated over the astronomical cost of keeping their homes cool in the summer. One neighborhood message board reads like this: My bill for this month will be $574 . . . it's insane. Yes, ours was $800 for June. prgtoken In Arizona, a restaurant worker didn't mince words about scraping together enough to keep the lights and air-conditioning on: If I didn't have roommates, I wouldn't be able to make it on the salary that I have. prgtoken Overall, inflation in Phoenix and Atlanta is way, way higher than even the sky-high national average. The country as a whole is still grappling with inflation over 8 percent, but Phoenix has seen a staggering 13 percent inflation in just the last year, and Atlanta has seen nearly 12 percent. prgtoken Of course, for working Americans in some other States, the most acute emergency is not the cost of summer cooling but, rather, the cost of winter heating. prgtoken In places like New Hampsh
ABRAHAM ACCORDS
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-9-15

2 years ago, almost to the exact moment, I was sitting on the south lawn of the White House in the blazing Sun, where a redhead should never sit, getting a sunburn, on a hot September day in DC, watching leadership of the UAE, Bahrain, Israel, and the United States all shake hands and sign an agreement called the Abraham Accords. It was a remarkable moment in American history. prgtoken We have become so accustomed in the last 2 years to this conversation about the Abraham Accords, we lose track that it was just 2 years ago that we had one of the greatest breakthroughs in Middle East peace that we have had in decades. prgtoken In 1979, Egypt and Israel came together for a peace agreement under President Jimmy Carter and the Camp David Accords. In 1994, Jordan and Israel normalized relationships under President Clinton. But for 26 years, there were no additional peace agreements and, quite frankly, very few conversations even. It stopped. All the conversation among foreign affairs was that you had to resolve the Palestinian conflict before anything else could be resolved in the Middle East, and for 26 years, all the focus was on that. prgtoken The administration came in and put the whole thing on its head and said: What if? What if we work towards peace agreements outside of the Palestinian conversation? If we set that aside, could we still normalize agreements? prgtoken Again, most people said: No, that is not possible--until 2 years ago today. Two years ago today, when the leaders of UAE, Bahrain, Israel, and the United States met together and signed an agreement, they started not just a process, they started a conversation and a dialogue. They shook hands and signed an agreement that had remarkable statements in it about religious liberty that we look at and think: The Arab world would not sign that, but they did, quite frankly, because people hadn't asked them to. prgtoken There were conversations and agreements made about energy policy, about economic development in a region of the world that many would say that no one will ever meet and this will never get better. prgtoken President Reagan once said: Our involvement in the search for Middle East peace is not a matter of preference; it is a moral imperative. prgtoken We are a people of peace. We are a people, as a nation, passionate about religious liberty. We are a people who want to see a nation joining other nations in economic development. It is who we are. It is who we have been from the beginning, and we are at our best when we are expanding that. prgtoken Since the signing of that document, several things have happened in that 2-year time period. prgtoken The first thing that happened, really, was that in October of 2020, Sudan raised their hand and said: I want to join that agreement. Then, in December of 2020, Morocco raised their hand and said: I want to be in that agreement. It quickly went from four nations to
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LEON WALLACE
Nicole Malliotakis (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-9-15

I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my constituent, Leon Wallace, who recently passed away at the age of 85, and to share with the Nation his contributions to our community and country. prgtoken Leon was a native Staten Islander who grew up in West Brighton and Mariners Harbor, attended P.S. 18, and graduated from McKee High School in 1956. prgtoken Leon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a jet mechanic while stationed in Guam and later returned to service with the Army National Guard's 117th Calvary. He put his life on the line for our country at a time when our country did not afford him equal rights as an African American. That shows you how truly special he was. prgtoken Not only was Leon a dedicated member of our military but he was a steward of outstanding service to our community. After his time in the Air Force, Leon dedicated his time to helping individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. He was also a member of the NAACP, USIVO, and the 369th Veterans Association, as well as St. Philips Baptist Church, and recently, even completed the New York State chaplains' course to minister to other vets in need. prgtoken To many across our community, he was referred to as Uncle Leon. He was well-known for his uplifting sayings and positive perspective. Whenever you asked him how he was doing, he would smile and say, ``I am too blessed to be stressed.'' prgtoken I was proud to call Leon a friend. This is our last photo together from June. I know I speak for so many in our community when I say that his presence will be missed.
Business Before the Senate (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-9-15

the 117th Congress is drawing to a close, and there is a lot we need to do before the end of the year when the 117th Congress is no more. prgtoken At the top of that list, of course, are must-pass bills. In the next couple of weeks, the Senate is expected to pass a short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown. Later this year, we will either have to pass another short-term extension or a full government funding package, otherwise known around here as an omnibus. prgtoken On top of that, Congress needs to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which it has done 61 years in a row. The majority leader has, so far, declined to put that bill on the floor. This is a piece of legislation that provides our men and women in uniform the training they need and the equipment they need to fight and win America's wars and, hopefully, to prevent a war. It also supports our military families, and with an all-volunteer military like we have, it is critical that Congress step up and not only provide for those who wear the uniform but for those who also serve as members of that military member's family. prgtoken Even though these major pieces of legislation garner most of the attention, there are countless other bills that need to reach the President's desk before the end of this Congress. As the Presiding Officer knows, if a bill passes one Chamber but doesn't pass both and isn't signed into law, it literally expires. Many of these bills pass the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support but continue to collect dust on the House calendar. prgtoken One of those bills is the Jenna Quinn Law, which I have spoken about many times here on the Senate floor. prgtoken This legislation carries the name of a brave young woman from Texas who was a survivor of child sexual assault. Jenna, as a result of her own terrible experience, has made it her mission to end the cycle of abuse that harms children and communities across the country. Her work is having a big impact. She was the inspiration behind the 2009 Texas law that requires training for teachers, caregivers, and other adults who work with children on how to prevent, recognize, and report child sexual abuse. Since then, a number of other States have passed similar laws, but this training lacks a source of funding in many instances, and that is where the Jenna Quinn Law comes into play. prgtoken I introduced this bill with Senator Hassan of New Hampshire to finally back those training sessions with Federal funding through grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. We initially introduced the bill last Congress, and it passed the Senate unanimously. Unfortunately, it became a political hostage and was used to try to exert leverage to advance a partisan bill that stood no chance of passage. So here we are, 2 years later, and the bill is, once again, stuck in House purgatory. It has now passed the Senate twice-- both times with unanimous sup
RECOGNIZING MRS. CHRISTIE JORDAN
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-9-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mrs. Christie Jordan for her 25 years of dedicated service to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas as Chief Executive Officer. prgtoken Since becoming CEO in 1997, Mrs. Jordan has overseen the rapid growth of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas which today distributes millions of pounds of food to over 100 partnering organizations including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters across 12 counties serving thousands of people. In her role, Mrs. Jordan works with state and federal agencies, the Food Bank's partner organizations, local businesses, and oversees grant writing and fundraising to secure the resources the Food Bank needs each year. Additionally, through her leadership, the Food Bank continued operating and serving the community during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Her biggest achievement as CEO came in 2012 when she moved the Food Bank from a 13,000-square-foot facility to a custom-designed 56,000- square-foot facility. This facility upgrade became possible after she led a fundraising effort to raise $1.6 million in matching funds to receive a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. prgtoken For her work at the Food Bank, she received the 2010 Public Citizen of the Year from the Arkansas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the 2011 Nonprofit Executive of the Year in the inaugural Northeast Arkansas Business of the Year awards. prgtoken Throughout her career, Mrs. Jordan has given back to her community in other ways, including serving as a Founding Member in 2004 and currently as a Board Member for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, serving as the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman, and serving as the Community Director for the March of Dimes from 1996 to 1997. prgtoken The City of Jonesboro and the entire Northeast Arkansas region are blessed to have Mrs. Jordan in our community, which includes the thousands of families who have been directly touched by her work. In her own words in an August 2021 interview, Mrs. Jordan said, ``I feel passionate about people investing their time and talents into the community to make it a better place.'' Over her decades-long career of investing her time and talents, Mrs. Jordan has certainly made Northeast Arkansas a better place. prgtoken With heartfelt thanks, I congratulate Mrs. Jordan on 25 years as the CEO of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas and look forward to seeing her impact on our community for the years and decades to come.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-9-15

. As we are more in the first half of September, obviously, this would all be at the very end of September. Hopefully, we wouldn't wait until the midnight hour. We are all aware of the deadline. prgtoken Hopefully, we can get something brought, ideally agreed upon by both sides, which we are nowhere near right now, but at least to have more direct conversations well in advance of the deadline, so we are not here watching the clock strike midnight wondering.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-9-15

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Heartland Chia of Franklin, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Chris Kummer's small business was founded on an idea that virtually no one thought possible: successful chia crops planted and harvested in the United States. But as a fifth-generation farmer, Mr. Kummer is no stranger to the challenges posed by mother nature. Thus, with decades of farming experience under his belt and a tireless dedication to his crops, Mr. Kummer has turned this once crazy idea into a thriving business. Founded in 2012, Heartland Chia develops and markets locally grown chia to buyers across the country. Chris's wife, Jill Kummer, joins her husband at the helm of their business, handling most of the marketing and administrative duties while her husband works with the crop directly in the field. Together, the Kummers are proud to be the only chia seed growers in the U.S.A a tremendous feat that adds to the biodiversity of Kentucky's burgeoning agricultural industry. prgtoken Mr. Kummer will be the first to tell you that his business would not be possible had it not been for the visionary researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Food, Agriculture, and Environment. Since his great-grandfather planted his first crop on their family farm in 1889, the Kummers have grown crops traditional to the Midwestern U.S such as soy, wheat, and corn. It never occurred to them to plant chia as the plant requires a very prgtoken long summer in order to grow and produce seed, meaning that most of the world's chia plants are grown in regions near the equator, such as Central America. Farmers everywhere took it for granted that this plant could not be grown north of the U.S.-Mexico border, but the breeding program over at the University Kentucky sought to change that. Over a period spanning 6 to 8 years, researchers Dr. David Hildebrand and Dr. Tim Phillips, both plant and soil scientists, used decades old breeding methods to create a new strain of chia that would flower earlier in the year, allowing the crop to survive in less temperate climates than those near the equator. Once the scientists created a product they were confident in, they were careful in selecting a steward for their new ``Early Flowering'' chia seed. Dr. Hildebrand knew Chris Kummer from his days as a student at UK and knew of his farming background; therefore he immediately came to mind. prgtoken In 2011, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Hildebrand gave Mr. Kummer half the world's seed supply of this new strain of chia. In the first year of planting, the Kummers lost most of their chia crops, as they and the researchers over at University of Kentucky were still learning best practices for growing this n
PREVENTING A PATRONAGE SYSTEM ACT OF 2021
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-9-15

such time as I may consume to respond to what my friend, Mr. Connolly, just said. This schedule F has been grossly mischaracterized by my friends on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken I want to relay a scenario. Let's say, , that this year were a Presidential election year. Let's say that gas prices were an issue in the election. One Presidential candidate campaigns on: We are going to lower the price of gasoline at the pump significantly. We are going to lower it to the price it was when President was in office. The other Presidential candidate campaigns, and says: No, we are going to convert everything to electric vehicles, and everything is going to be fine. prgtoken I would say in that scenario the candidate who says they are going to lower gas prices is going to win overwhelmingly because this is one of the biggest issues in America right now. prgtoken Fast-forward to the administration. The President comes in, and he says: We are going to lower gas prices because we are going to issue more permits and we are going to reduce the barriers and roadblocks that the previous administration put in to block the American energy companies. He orders that. He has got a mandate from the people on that issue. prgtoken The bureaucrats then say: No. No. We are not going to issue more permits. No. We are going to make it even harder. You can't frack and you can't drill. I don't care what the American people said at the voting box. I am Mr. Bureaucrat, and no, we are not going to do it. prgtoken That is why we need schedule F employees because the unelected bureaucrats are not accountable to the American people. We have got a scenario here in Washington, D.C. where the unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats are calling the shots, regardless of the will of the American people. That is why we support President 's proposal for the schedule F employees. prgtoken , .
REMEMBERING MARGARET ``MEGAN'' MICHAEL DEBRANSKI KELHART
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-9-15

I rise today to honor the life of Margaret ``Megan'' Michael Debranski Kelhart. Megan passed away on August 19, 2022, after a heroic battle with cancer. prgtoken Megan spent her career as a dedicated public servant. Megan most recently worked as head of congressional and legislative affairs for the Bureau of Reclamation. Prior to that, she worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Senate. In these roles, she worked with nearly every congressional office. prgtoken Megan was born on December 2, 1975, in Norfolk, VA. In 1994, Megan graduated from Lakeland High School where she excelled as a student and was a standout tennis player on a State champion tennis team. She was also a cheerleader, school band member, and prom queen. Megan later studied political science at Virginia Tech, where she was an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and later received her master of science degree in natural resources. prgtoken In 2001, Megan met her husband Matthew, while playing in the Senate summer softball league. The couple married in October of 2003. Together, they enjoyed college football and travelling the world together. In 2009, Megan and her husband welcomed their son, Matteson Michael Donnan Kelhart. prgtoken Megan is survived by her husband Matthew and their son Matteson of Alexandria, VA; father Dr. Michael Debranski and mother Margaret Debranski of Suffolk, VA; grandmother Margaret Beamon of Suffolk, VA; father-in-law and his wife Joseph and Lily Kelhart of Bethlehem, PA; and mother-in-law and her husband Terri and Joseph Costa of Perkasie, PA; and many other loved ones. prgtoken I ask our colleagues to join us in honoring the life of Margaret ``Megan'' Michael Debranski Kelhart.