mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RESTORING FISCAL ORDER
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-2-29

as our Nation faces a myriad of catastrophes, one of which is an open southern border and the mass migration of illegal aliens, Washington's fiscal house sits in utter disrepair. prgtoken That is the reality we face. If we don't grasp the reins soon and stamp out wasteful spending, our Nation will suffer serious consequences that will continue to compound. prgtoken Not a penny of taxpayer money should be directed to frivolous spending binges overseas while the southern border is sitting wide open. We should take care of our country's needs first. prgtoken American families and hardworking taxpayers across the Nation demand that action be taken to cut spending, restore fiscal sanity, and get our country moving in the right direction. prgtoken , I wholeheartedly agree with them, and I have taken action to restore fiscal order in Washington. prgtoken To cut wasteful spending and protect taxpayer dollars from rampant abuse, I have supported commonsense amendments to the ongoing fiscal year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Operations appropriations package. These amendments slash funding for the United States Agency for International Development by half, transfer millions of dollars from the Peace Corps budget to the spending reduction account, eliminate millions in funding for the Global Environment Facility fund, and prohibit funds from being used to implement the Paris climate agreement. prgtoken Our children, grandchildren, and future generations of proud Americans to come deserve fiscal order in Washington and our country's needs being put first. Anything less is entirely unacceptable. prgtoken In addition to my continuing efforts to uphold fiscal order and put the needs of our country first, I have also cosponsored H.R. 2445, the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act, legislation which would establish an office for an inspector general for Ukraine assistance to oversee all funding made available in support of Ukraine. prgtoken Specifically, this legislation requires the President's nominee to serve as the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to be confirmed by the Senate; directs the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to submit quarterly reports to Congress on obligations and expenditures of U.S. funds and the provision of military equipment; requires a report on the Ukrainian Government's compliance with anticorruption measures and comparisons of America's contribution to Ukraine to those from our NATO allies. prgtoken , oversight of taxpayer dollars and resources should never be cast aside or abandoned. We can stamp out wasteful spending, put our country's needs first, and ensure effective oversight of taxpayer dollars all at the same time. prgtoken My record on cutting wasteful spending is clear, and I will always fight to ensure that the dollars of hardworking taxpayers are not only respected but also protected.
HONORING PAUL ELMSTRAND
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2024-2-29

I rise today in memory of Paul Elmstrand. prgtoken Paul, an officer with the Burnsville Police Department, was killed earlier this month in the line of duty alongside Officer Matthew Ruge and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth. prgtoken Paul lived in Chaska, but his story began in Isanti County. As senior class president and a member of the law enforcement club, he impressed his classmates with his strong character of ethical integrity, his generosity, and his sense of humor. prgtoken Among those classmates was his wife, Cindy, who he met in kindergarten and began dating in high school. Together, they shared two children, a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old. prgtoken At 27 years old, his life was cut tragically short. Paul, Matthew, and Adam were killed trying to save seven children barricaded in a Burnsville home with an armed man, an act of heroism and sacrifice beyond measure. prgtoken We were privileged to have Paul as a member of our community and as a neighbor and a friend. To Cindy and his children and all who loved him, Paul will never be forgotten, nor will Matthew or Adam.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Eric Burlison (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-2-29

I thank my good friend from Texas (Mr. Roy) for yielding. prgtoken , here we go again. prgtoken Today, the House is set to extend the bloated and inflationary spending levels that have left our country $34 trillion in debt and fuels the government that is at war with the American people. prgtoken This is now the fourth time that we have kicked the can down the road since just last September. It is now the fourth time that we have shrugged our shoulders and said: Sorry, America. We just don't have the fight in us this time, but we will try again next time. prgtoken We all promised we wouldn't do this crap when we got up here. The American people have demanded responsible spending and border security for years, but we fail them. prgtoken When will we heed the calls of our constituents to rein in the wasteful spending, secure the borders, and defeat the bureaucracy targeting them? prgtoken The last line of the Declaration of Independence has a bold and courageous statement by the people who signed it. They said: ``We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.'' prgtoken Sadly, we are not serving with people of this same resolve today. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote against this CR.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL FFA WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-2-29

. Madam , today, I rise to celebrate a week honoring one of our Nation's most significant youth organizations, the FFA. prgtoken National FFA Week, celebrated February 17 to 22, recognizes the far- reaching impact of this organization. FFA has chapters in all 50 States, and today, there are more than 900,000 active FFA members. prgtoken Because of the incredible investment FFA has made and continues to make in agricultural education, more of our Nation's young people have the skills, knowledge, and opportunity to pursue careers in agriculture and related fields. prgtoken Access to agricultural education is vital to our country's future, not just our rural communities. Agriculture is the food on our table, the clothes on our backs, and, increasingly, the fuel in our cars. It is also science, technology, and innovation. prgtoken Madam , agriculture is nothing without the next generation, which is why I am so proud to celebrate the FFA. prgtoken The blue FFA jackets symbolize hard work, competent leadership, and a commitment to serving one's community. prgtoken FFA members are some of the premier leaders in this country. It is an honor to celebrate the past successes of FFA, while looking forward to how future FFA leaders will enact positive change.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-2-29

I thank Chair Granger and her outstanding staff and, really, all the staff on the majority and minority sides and in both Houses. prgtoken , our Founding Fathers gave us a great constitutional Republic. In that regard, each and every one of the Members of this Chamber stands for reelection every 2 years. prgtoken I represent the people of the great State of Tennessee, east Tennessee--wonderful people, God-fearing people. They love this country, our history, and they are just so proud of what we are doing as a nation. prgtoken I realize that other people in other parts of our country have a different ethos, have different priorities, but we are where we are. The American people gave us a very slim majority in the House. In the Senate, the other party has a slim majority, and the White House is controlled by the other party. prgtoken I want the American people to know, , that this negotiation has been difficult, but to close the government down at a time like this would hurt people who should not be hurt. prgtoken Let me give one example. I chair, as our distinguished chair has said, the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. It funds our great national labs, our Office of Science, and so many other great things. However, as a part of that, through the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Administration, it funds our Nation's nuclear arsenal. prgtoken We are in a very dangerous world right now. Our adversaries are ramping up. I wish we were not on the precipice of another arms race, but I am afraid we are. prgtoken We can't close that down. We can't shut that down. prgtoken So that I can be abundantly clear, government shutdowns--and I have lived through three--never work. They cause more harm than they do good. They cost more money. They cost the American taxpayer more money because when they revamp and start up again, basically, we lose all those person-hours, and it just causes havoc. prgtoken This continuing resolution, to be clear, is a process continuing resolution. It is just to get these six bills to next week when we will actually pass a fiscal budget, which I think is the obligation of the House, the Senate, and the White House to do. We will do that. We will do that with the other bills. prgtoken I do respect my friends, who are very passionate today in opposing this, but the reality is the American people want us to do our work. To do our work well, we have to keep the government open.
Tribute to Ron Wanek (Executive Session)
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2024-2-29

today I have the honor of recognizing Mr. Ron Wanek, a great business leader, innovator, and philanthropist from the great State of Wisconsin, as he, his family, and his company celebrate his induction into the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame. prgtoken Wisconsin has a long history of being the home of many successful manufacturing businesses. With his induction into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame, Mr. Wanek joins the ranks of past inductees, such as Jerome Case, Patrick Cudahy, Sam Johnson, Walter Kohler, Oscar Mayer, Frederick Miller, and Gustave Pabst, just to name a few of the 78 iconic titans of business who helped to make Wisconsin a proud manufacturing State. prgtoken For his part in continuing the long legacy of Wisconsin manufacturing, Ron Wanek founded Arcadia Furniture in the small town of Arcadia, WI, back in 1970. Back then, Mr. Wanek employed just a total of 35 people. Through hard work and innovation, in 1982, Arcadia Furniture merged with Ashley Furniture Cooperation and became Ashley Furniture Industries. prgtoken During these last 42 years, Ashley Furniture has grown into the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings, with over 30 million square feet of worldwide manufacturing and distribution capability, with retail locations throughout the United States and in 67 countries worldwide. Ashley proudly employs 16,000 people in the United States, including 3,000 hard-working Wisconsinites. prgtoken Throughout his successful professional career, Mr. Wanek has become the personification of the phrase ``business is a force for good.'' With his focus on philanthropy, the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation has contributed tens of millions of dollars in support for important charitable causes in Wisconsin and across the country. prgtoken Through his charitable work, Mr. Wanek has become an unmatched supporter of technical and STEM education at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels. Through his various programs, partnerships, and scholarships, the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation aims to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields and improve the quality of life in their own communities. prgtoken In addition, Mr. Wanek is an ardent supporter of America's veterans. His establishment of the beautiful Soldiers Walk at Memorial Park in Arcadia, WI--a premier war memorial in the United States, with 29 monuments and statues honoring all of those who have served our country--is just one example of his dedication to those who have sacrificed and, in some cases, paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedoms Wisconsinites and Americans enjoy every day. Some would say the Arcadia Soldiers Walk rivals the magnificence of the war memorials around our Nation's Capital. prgtoken Finally, Mr. Wanek is not only a great personification of the American dream, but he actively and enthusiastically supports a steadfast American free enterprise system--a system which has made this country the econom
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS SCHEME
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-2-29

we recently learned that the Department of Education would be shifting another $1.2 billion in student loan debt from borrowers to the taxpayers of this country. This is yet another example of President 's administration abusing whatever regulatory lever they can find, every executive action he can think up to usurp Congress and continue this unjust bailout scheme. prgtoken Unfortunately, the scheme is working. In recent months, tens of billions of dollars in borrowed money are no longer due for repayment. Let's be clear. Student loan debt can't be forgiven. It is simply being transferred to hardworking American taxpayers, most of whom never went to college or took out student loans. prgtoken These tactics come despite what happened last summer when the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the administration's previous student loan handout plan totaling more than $400 billion. The High Court found, in laymen's terms, that a President cannot spend hundreds of billions of dollars with the stroke of a pen. prgtoken This is one of the most regressive ideas that I have seen in my time in Congress. It does nothing to solve the ballooning cost of a college education in this country. It simply adds to our national debt, which already, of course, sits at more than $34.2 trillion. prgtoken We know that 43 million out of 255 million adults in the United States have some kind of student loan debt. We also know that $1.7 trillion in outstanding college debt is disproportionately held by those earning the highest incomes in this country. It makes no sense for a blue-collar worker in Tennessee to be forced to pay off the college debt of a Harvard-educated doctor or lawyer. prgtoken We have the freedom to choose whether to pursue higher education in this country. You can choose to forgo a 4-year degree, as millions of successful Americans have done, but this administration would have you pay for the 4-year degrees of others regardless of your choice. prgtoken More than 100 million Americans have built a life without taking on debt. In fact, I represent thousands of Tennesseans who earn a good living without having borrowed money to do so. Why should they foot the bill for those who chose to go to college? This sends a terrible message to an entire generation of undergraduates and soon-to-be undergraduates. Perhaps more importantly, this unjust and wrongheaded action on the part of President incentivizes universities to continue raising tuition with impunity because students can now borrow the money to pay these outrageous tuitions without having to pay it back. prgtoken Furthermore, possibly the worst aspect of all of this is that every college graduate and every parent of a college graduate who did the honorable thing by paying off their student loans, often at great sacrifice, is now being harshly punished for having done so. It is also an ugly affront to the families across this country strugglin
COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2024-3-1

as this year's Black History Month ends, I rise today to honor two District of Columbia residents who have made tremendous contributions to civil rights, Walter Fauntroy and Robin Williams. prgtoken Walter Fauntroy served as a key organizer alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr helping to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. Walter was also a noted lobbyist for civil rights, where he played a pivotal role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965. Walter's efforts during this critical period were key to ushering in a new era of progress and possibility for all Americans. prgtoken Walter was also the second Delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia, a position he held for almost 20 years. During his tenure in Congress, Walter was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a champion for D.C. home rule. prgtoken Robin Williams is an associate director at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and a member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP. prgtoken Robin joined UFCW as an employee at the Georgetown Safeway in 1986 and was elected International Vice President in 2015. As a labor organizer, Robin was a lead coordinator for the ``Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride,'' which brought together tens of thousands of immigrant workers and immigrant rights activists for a tour throughout the United States to demand respect for immigrant workers' rights. Robin also serves as an Executive Vice President of the UFCW Minority Coalition and is a trustee on the board of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. prgtoken Robin is also a noted community activist. Some of Robin's local contributions include developing the D.C. Workers' Rights Board and D.C. Jobs With Justice. Robin has been recognized by the AFL-CIO Washington Metropolitan Central Labor Council for her impact on the National Capital Region. prgtoken Again, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Walter Fauntroy and Robin Williams.
HONORING TOM SKILLING
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-3-1

I rise today to celebrate one of the most renowned and beloved figures in Chicago, meteorologist Tom Skilling. Tom, a 9th Congressional District resident, has worked for 45 years on WGN-TV, enthusiastically and accurately providing weather forecasts to Chicagoland. His lifelong passion for weather and his connection with his audience has earned him a place in the hearts and history of this city and beyond. I am proud and honored to call him a friend. As he embarks on his well-deserved retirement and starts his next chapter, we offer our sincerest gratitude for bringing his sunshine to our TV screens for decades. prgtoken I commend Tom Skilling for his unrelenting and contagious dedication to the weather. As a boy growing up on the East Coast, he studied weather maps purchased with his allowance. Tom moved to Aurora, Illinois in 7th grade and brought with him a passion for meteorology so strong he had to share it with the world. At only 14 years old, Tom gave the forecast on the local radio station WKKD before attending class at West Aurora High School. prgtoken Upon completing his studies in meteorology and journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Tom embarked on a career that made him a Chicago area legend. Joining the team at WGN-TV, Tom accomplished what no other did before him--he didn't just say what the weather was, he told us why it was happening. Bringing a level of accessibility and authenticity like no other, Tom connected with viewers' hearts and minds. prgtoken Tom's last day on the air brought a 70-degree day in February, followed by rain and strong winds and a steep drop in temperatures. Tom speaks with tremendous knowledge and gravitas about climate change science, and the dangers of not acting to protect our planet. He has travelled across the country, including to Washington, to talk about ``climate disruption,'' and led a special series on WGN called Forecast--A Fragile Climate. He speaks about climate change frequently. I know first hand, since we participated together in a climate change forum several years ago. prgtoken He has and earned honorary doctorates at universities and colleges, but I'm sure none of those mean as much to Tom as the love and admiration of the millions of viewers who have trusted him to tell them about their weather and their environment for the last 45 years. prgtoken As his next chapter arrives Tom's lifetime love for weather persists. We are grateful for Tom's dedication and contribution to this city, and he will always be revered as Chicago's weatherman.
RECOGNIZING MR. GLEN STEPHENS
David G. Valadao (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-3-1

I rise today to recognize Mr. Glen Stephens for his dedicated service to the Kern County community and to congratulate him on his well-earned retirement from the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District. Mr. Glen Stephens' career in air quality control and passion for public health began more than thirty years ago when he became an Air Quality Engineer for the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District. In 1992, he joined the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and two years later, returned to work for Eastern Kern County. In 2012, Mr. Stephens was appointed to serve as Air Pollution Control Officer by the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District Board. During his tenure as Air Pollution Control Officer, Mr. Stephens has worked to expand the Tehachapi field office to solve staff members and the District's Board of Directors, deployed additional air monitors throughout Kern County to improve air quality, and advocated for cost-of-living wage increases for his staff. Mr. Stephens has also used his expertise to help numerous solar projects navigate the rulemaking and permitting processes. Throughout his career, Mr. Stephens has been steadfast in his commitment to promoting clean air for all residents of the community. He has used his decades of experience to support rural communities and work with local stakeholders to address complex air quality issues and find common sense solutions. He has also strived to engage community members on the importance of air quality and preserving the character of rural communities across the Valley. His dedication to his colleagues, his work, and his community is a true testament to his character. I know that his service to our Central Valley community will have a lasting impact for generations to come I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking Mr. Glen Stephens for his decades of service to the Central Valley and wishing him a happy and well-deserved retirement.