mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING CAPT. KATHRYN BONNER
Diana Harshbarger (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-16

I rise today to honor my constituent Captain Kathryn Esther Bonner of Sevierville, Tennessee for her heroic service. Last year, I came to know Captain Bonner when I had the pleasure of honoring her personally at our First Congressional District's Veteran Pin Ceremony of Honor in Sevier County. prgtoken In 1967, Captain Bonner reported to Officer Training in Newport, Rhode Island as an Ensign Nurse Corps officer for the United States Navy. Upon completion of her training, she reported to Camp LeJeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina. There, she first cared for the many wounded Marines returning from the Vietnam War and began her lifelong love and respect for the Marine Corps. prgtoken In November 1969, Captain Bonner was assigned to her next duty station, aboard the USS Sanctuary AH-17, a vessel responsible for patrolling the waters off the coast of Hue, Vietnam. While aboard, she administered round-the-clock care to badly wounded service personnel, many arriving straight from the battlefield and rice paddies, as well civilian Vietnamese patients. Every day, she lived and worked in constant vigilance as she was always within feet of the wards where the wounded lay. A welcome break in the testing routine, she recollects fondly the visit from Bob Hope, Connie Stevens, and Neil Armstrong, who just a few months earlier had walked on the moon, on Christmas Eve 1969. prgtoken Captain Bonner served at many stations of duty over her extensive military career to include the Fleet Naval Hospital Comm Z14 Jacksonville and the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, D.C among others. Her retirement from active-duty service in 1971 did not end her call to service as she continued her career as a Nurse in the United States Air Force Reserves. In that role, she completed flight nurse training and helped bring wounded Marines back home from the 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing. In 1988, she returned to the Navy as a Reservist and served with distinction until her formal retirement in June of 2003, after 26 years of military service. Captain Bonner received several awards and commendations during her career, including the Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Navy Commendation Medals, 2 Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. She was also selected as the Outstanding Nurse of the Year 3 times in her Air Force Reserve units time of service and once as her numbered Air Force Nurse of the year. Please join me to recognize American hero, Captain Bonner and thank her for her selfless, courageous military service to our Nation.
COMMENDING JOHN A. FREEMAN ON 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TRI-TOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 47
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-5-16

I rise today in recognition of John A. Freeman, a 50-year member of the Tri-Town Volunteer Fire Company in Ulysses, Pennsylvania. prgtoken The Tri-Town Volunteer Fire Company No. 47 is an all-volunteer fire and ambulance department serving Ulysses Borough and the Potter County townships of Allegheny, Bingham, Hector, and Ulysses. Since 1972, John has volunteered with Tri-Town where he quickly established himself as an important and reliable member of the company. As a truck captain and driver, John has served as an integral part of countless emergency responses throughout north central Pennsylvania. prgtoken As a longtime firefighter and EMS volunteer, I understand the courage, commitment, and determination it takes to serve your community as a first responder. First responders miss many important moments with their loved ones to answer the call whenever and wherever it occurs. Their service is even more critical in rural areas like Potter County, where volunteer numbers are falling and placing a strain on those who do answer the call. prgtoken For this reason, I commend John A. Freeman for his 50 years of service to the Tri-Town Volunteer Fire Company and for the example he sets for volunteers in Potter County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
RECOGNIZING MR. MATT STEVE PANDOL, JR.
David G. Valadao (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-5-16

I rise today, along with my friend and colleague, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, to honor the life of Mr. Matt Steve Pandol, Jr who passed away on April 21, 2023, at his home in Delano, California. He was 60 years old. prgtoken The son of Matt and Lucy Pandol, he was born on June 27, 1962. Matt spent his childhood in Delano and attended California State University, Fresno, where he graduated with a degree in plant science. Following his graduation, he returned home to work for his family business. Matt married his wife Linda in 1994. They had three children together and raised prgtoken them in his hometown. He worked independently and alongside the Pandol Family organization and served on the board of directors of Pandol Bros Inc. and Delano Grape Growers Co-op Winery. Today, Pandol Bros. is one of the nation's top producers of grapes. prgtoken Matt was a fixture in the Delano community. He was a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church, a member of the Greater Delano Area Youth Foundation, and a member of the American Slavonic Social Club. He was also involved in the All Slavonic American Association of Fresno. An avid shooting sports competitor, Matt was a regular at shooting tournaments across the nation. He was a member of the Kern County Gun Club and other sporting clubs. He also spent time hiking, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. prgtoken Matt was a hardworking farmer, dedicated to producing the finest produce in California. He worked closely with his brother, Andrew, on Pandol Farms and cherished the time they spent working together. He was dedicated to the quality of the Pandol Family product. With his family name on the box, he believed the fruit had to be first class. His team was very important to him, and he valued their expertise and dedication to farming. prgtoken Matt is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Matt III, Stefanie, and Mark; his mother, Lucy Pandol; brothers Louis Pandol, John (Angelica) Pandol, Andrew S. (Beth) Pandol; sister, Margaret (Scott) Curtis; and mother-in-law, Gerry Marcia, in addition to other relatives and in-laws. prgtoken , today we ask our colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join us in honoring the life of our dear friend, Mr. Matt Steve Pandol, Jr who was taken too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-5-16

on National Police Week, we celebrate our law enforcement officers, but it is also important to pause and honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty and to pause and remember the families they left behind. prgtoken Last year, I stood in this Chamber as we unanimously adopted the National Police Week resolution and honored the 576 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2021. Today, I take this moment to honor the 246 brave men and women who were killed in the line of duty in 2022. In order to rightfully honor these men and women who lost their lives, we must continue to demand policies that will make our communities safer and, by extension, our officers in the line of duty safer. prgtoken This topic is incredibly personal to me. My father was a chief of police in our hometown of El Dorado, KS, for 30 years. Here is a picture I share of my father in 1965, a proud new police officer with our family dog and police officer dog, Rinny. prgtoken On more than one occasion, my dad put his life on the line to protect our community, and on many other days, he would tell stories of the bravery and courage of his officers when responding to an emergency. These were all my friends, but they were heroes in my eyes, as well, and always will be remembered as such. prgtoken But, today, I am sad to report that our men and women in law enforcement feel demoralized. They are constantly put in a no-win situation, and their own city governments are setting them up to fail. In short, like my dad told me recently on a fishing trip, law enforcement officers know this White House and many mayors and city councils do not have their backs. They feel abandoned, and they feel like they get no respect, even to the point of being wrongfully shamed. prgtoken These brave men and women need our support now more than ever. -run cities have demonized law enforcement, making it harder for our men and women in uniform to do their jobs. And, sadly, their dangerous rhetoric and policies are emboldening criminals at the expense of our officers. prgtoken You don't have to look any further than our own Nation's Capital. In November of last year, here in Washington, the DC Council voted to dramatically reform the city's criminal code to favor the rights of the offender during a crime wave across the District. The legislation eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for most crimes and lowered the maximum penalties for crimes such as carjacking and robbery. prgtoken The reforms to the city's criminal code came as the city's crime crisis hit a fever pitch. prgtoken Listen to this. Our Nation's Capital had 203 homicides in 2022--our Nation's capital, 203 homicides. Carjackings have tripled since 2019. This year, so far, violent crime is up by double digits. Last year, a physician was murdered after he tried to prevent a carjacker from stealing his car. A city council candidate had his car stolen at gunpoint. More
CELEBRATING AMERICA'S TEACHERS
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2023-5-16

as the mother of a teacher and the daughter of a teacher, I am glad to rise today to recognize Teacher Appreciation Week which was celebrated from May 8 through May 12, 2023. prgtoken As another school year comes to a close in the coming weeks, we should take the time to applaud the men and women who are so crucial to ensuring our children have a quality education. prgtoken To say it can be a thankless job, is a gigantic understatement. But it can also be a very rewarding career, one that changes lives forever. prgtoken I think it would not be hard for any one of us to recall a teacher who had an impact and probably continues to have an impact on our lives today. prgtoken And that's why its critical that we ensure that today's students and the generations to come have access to quality teachers who help make a difference in their education outcomes. prgtoken For too long, our Nation's policies have under-valued the teaching profession. We can ill-afford to do that. prgtoken We know that there are persistent and widespread teacher shortages nationwide every year, with thousands of teaching positions going unfilled. prgtoken We can support our students by ensuring they have high quality teachers who can earn a decent wage. prgtoken Recent data from the National Education Association shows that in 17 percent of school districts, the top salary a teacher can earn (with 30 years of experience and a Ph.D.) is $60,000. prgtoken Nearly 9,000 school districts provide starting teacher salaries below $40,000. prgtoken We need to support efforts like the American Teacher Act that I have cosponsored that help school districts of all sizes adequately pay teachers. prgtoken This is not rocket science. prgtoken Two-thirds of teachers, and half of teachers of color, believe higher salaries are the best way to attract and retain a talented and diverse workforce, making it the top choice of incentives. prgtoken Other research finds that teacher salaries are the number one reason why teachers say they will leave and the number one reason former teachers say they did leave the profession. prgtoken As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I encourage everyone to remember and prgtoken thank a teacher who has made a difference in their life. prgtoken I want to thank the teachers who shaped my life and my children's and grandchildren's lives. prgtoken And I encourage my colleagues to work with me to support policies to help train, develop, and adequately pay our teachers.
Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-5-16

I come to the floor to talk about how we are currently failing our most senior military leaders, a failing caused entirely by my colleague the senior Senator from Alabama. prgtoken Members of our All-Volunteer Force answer the call to service by choice. No one is making them serve. They choose to serve. For their sacrifices, we owe them many things--fair pay, healthcare, veterans' benefits--to make sure they land on their feet after their service is done. And we must also make sure they can do the hard, sometimes dangerous, work they volunteered for without partisan politics getting in their way. prgtoken And yet my colleague has placed an indefinite hold on the nominations of all general officers, preventing a still growing number of our most senior leaders from taking on the challenges of their next positions and leaving critical gaps in our military leadership. prgtoken My colleague from Alabama is harming our military readiness and our servicemembers not out of concern about the promotion process or the ethical or professional qualifications of any of the nominees, he is doing it to score cheap political points, to fundraise with his base, and to try to force a policy that he personally disagrees with to change, not by legislating it like the voters of Alabama sent him here to do but holding our most senior military leaders hostage. prgtoken If my colleague had legitimate concerns about the fairness of the promotion process or felt these nominees were not qualified ethical leaders, this might be a different story. prgtoken In fact, as my colleague pointed out, I once held some, but certainly not all, nominations. But I only did it for 14 days because I was attempting to stop the administration in the White House at the time from inserting politics into a nonpartisan promotion process. prgtoken I had legitimate, well-founded concerns that an Army colonel--a single colonel's promotion would be withheld from consideration as political retaliation against him. prgtoken I held the list of promotions for just 14 days until I received assurances that he had received fair consideration, just like the rest of his peers, and then I released my hold. prgtoken Put it another way. I wanted to make sure that the military promotion process--the one we use to make sure our military is led by the best, most qualified people--was not being politicized. prgtoken My colleague is doing the exact opposite. He is trying to change DOD policy not by legislating but by holding up well-deserved promotions to the detriment of leaders who have willingly served decades in uniform, all the servicemembers who are supposed to serve under them, and our national security because he wants to insert politics into this historically nonpartisan process. prgtoken If he doesn't like the DOD policy, then he can engage in the NDAA legislative process to change it. It is coming up. The Senator will have a chance to do that. prgtoken The nomin
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-5-16

as the gentleman runs out, I will just say you can yell all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that my friends on the other side of the aisle, including the gentleman, voted to cut money for local law enforcement prgtoken , what they did is they voted to cut a million dollars per State prgtoken in Federal money for our local law enforcement. They would fire, lay off, 400 local police officers. That is what would happen if their bill that they voted on 2 weeks ago became law. It could cut COPS grants. It would cut other DOJ funding for our local police. prgtoken The gentleman who just had a meltdown on the floor, screaming and yelling, comes on the floor all the time to talk about our border. I mean, my friends made a conscious decision to remove Customs and Border Protection from the bill honoring our law enforcement. prgtoken I would like somebody to answer why. They removed the Capitol Police. They removed the FBI. They also removed CBP. prgtoken , their bill, according to the Department of Justice, if it became a law, the reduction in support for our police and Federal law enforcement would result in a reduction in our operations equivalent to the following: 154,000 pounds of cocaine not seized, 859 pounds of fentanyl and 1,948 pounds of heroin not seized, 17,148 pounds of methamphetamine not seized, $9 million in currency not seized, 561 criminals not arrested, 57,594 apprehensions not made, and 361 people not rescued. The gentleman says he is being fiscally responsible, and that is why they voted for these cuts? Enough. prgtoken Again, can somebody please explain to me from the party that voted to defund the police why the omission, why were the words of the bill changed to omit all of these other brave men and women who are protecting people all across this country and the Capitol Police who protect us every single day? prgtoken By the way, the gentleman who just spoke was among those who voted not to give a Congressional Gold Medal to the Capitol Police. Thank goodness 400 Members, and s, disagreed with him. prgtoken , .
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Robert Garcia (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-16

pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House. prgtoken The form of the resolution is as follows: prgtoken House Resolution 114. prgtoken Resolved, That, pursuant to article I, section 5, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States, Representative George Santos, be, and he hereby is, expelled from the House of Representatives.
Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-5-16

I think this is now the fifth time that I have been out here with the Senator from Alabama. We started this off some time ago, and we obviously have a profound and fundamental disagreement here. You know, I am deeply worried about this because I don't think this is actually about the Senators who are here. It is about people serving in our Armed Forces. It is about people living in the United States of America, and it is about some really fundamental things that have changed in the United States. prgtoken The Senators on the other side of the aisle, tonight, have been talking about a 40-year consensus about the funding of abortions by the Federal Government, which is not actually even at issue in this discussion because that is not part of the rules that have been changed. prgtoken I think that even the Senator from Utah's language here suggests that he knows that about the rules that have been proposed by the Department of Defense. prgtoken But the reason we are on this floor again is that the Senator from Alabama has said he will never compromise, and there is nothing that can convince him to change his mind, that he will be out here as long as it takes. prgtoken And let's ask the question: What is he defending? What is he defending? His position is that we shouldn't pay a travel allowance for members of the armed services who are going from a State that banned abortion to a State where they can get reproductive healthcare. He is against that, so he is holding up every single flag officer in the United States of America as a result of that--a tactic that has never been used in the history of the U.S. Senate in 230 years or more than that. That is what he is using because he is so offended that people can have their travel covered for this procedure. prgtoken He has never come here to object to the fact that people can get their travel covered for all kinds of medical procedures, even though none of those procedures are written into the underlying statute by the U.S. Congress because that is not our job. We delegate that to the Department of Defense. prgtoken So he is going to be out here, and he is going to fight this until there is no travel allowance for people who need to travel. They have to cover it on their own dime, just like they have to cover that reproductive surgery or abortion on their own dime, despite what the Senator from Alabama said. He is going to be out here until it all freezes over, until he ensures that--you just heard him say it--anybody who leaves has to take paid leave. prgtoken Let's be precise about it. Women who leave to travel to another State where an abortion is legal, under his scenario, will have to pay for that travel themselves even though we pay for that travel for all kinds of other things. He will be out here fighting this, making sure that not a single flag officer can ever be promoted in the Department of Defense, no matter who it is, no matter how impo
Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-5-16

earlier today, every Member of this body received a briefing on the ongoing threat Iran presents to our national security and that of our allies around the world. It was a stark reminder of the serious challenges and threats the United States and our allies face around the world. It also underscores the importance of ensuring our military is ready and able to respond to any threats that may arise. prgtoken Right now, though, one Senator is willfully undermining our readiness. I happen to chair the Readiness Subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee. Our servicemembers can only do their jobs if they are in place to do so, and, right now, the Senator from Alabama's hold on 196 general and flag officer promotions is preventing these brave men and women from entering new roles in which they are urgently needed. prgtoken Since March, the Senator from Alabama has refused to allow movement on any of these promotions, depriving our military of critical leaders in key posts around the globe. Among the nearly 200 promotions currently on hold is the next commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, who is responsible for overseeing the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, a critical infrastructure investment in our public shipyards in Hawaii and across the country. prgtoken The blanket hold also includes the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, or DLA. DLA oversees the defense supply chain for all services and will be essential to the safe defueling and closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu, a leak which impacted over 90,000 people living on Oahu. prgtoken The Senator from Alabama is also holding nominees to command the Fifth and Seventh Fleets, which are responsible for deterring threats from Iran and China, respectively. For any Member of this body to willfully degrade the readiness of these units is, in my view, unthinkably irresponsible. prgtoken To be clear, these are not controversial nominees. These are decorated, patriotic men and women who have devoted their adult lives to serving our Nation and who wish only to continue doing so. prgtoken My colleague from Alabama is placing a blanket hold on close to 200 promotions in the DOD because he disagrees with DOD's commonsense, humane policy to allow travel for servicemembers seeking reproductive services. prgtoken Thousands of servicemembers are posted in States that do not allow them to receive reproductive services necessitating this travel. This is a policy my colleague objects to, resulting in his hold on these promotions. prgtoken The travel policy does not include paying for abortions. How many times must this point have to be made? Why do my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to read into the policy that which is not there? prgtoken Nowhere does the policy allow the DOD to pay for abortion. There is no language in this policy that talks about facilitating the provision of abortion. Show me this lang