mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL DENNIS WILLE
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-6-3

I rise today to pay tribute to COL Dennis Wille, a devoted and accomplished member of the U.S. Army, who has dedicated nearly 29 years of exceptional service to our Nation. Colonel Wille is completing over 4 years of service on the U.S. Space Command staff, where he has served in the Pentagon as both the chief of the Washington Liaison Office and the chief of legislative affairs. prgtoken Colonel Wille's career began as an armor officer in 1995, serving in armored cavalry units at Fort Carson, CO, and Fort Stewart, GA. In 2005, he transitioned into the U.S. Army's cadre of space professionals, taking on roles as a space operations staff officer at various locations, including Fort Hood, TX; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Peterson Air Force Base, CO; and Wiesbaden, Germany. prgtoken Throughout his career, Colonel Wille demonstrated remarkable leadership and dedication, participating in deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Iraq, he served as a space operations staff officer for the Multi-National Division--Baghdad, integrating space and technical capabilities into counterinsurgency operations. His yearlong tour in Afghanistan at ISAF Joint Command focused on integrating nonmilitary applications into NATO's combat operations. prgtoken During his 2 years as the Army's senior space officer at U.S. Army Europe, Colonel Wille's expertise extended to supervising the integration of space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities into NATO and joint land operations and exercises. Notably, he also served as a military fellow at New America, a D.C.-based think tank, through the Chief of Staff of the Army's Senior Fellowship Program. prgtoken A lifelong learner, Colonel Wille earned several advanced degrees, including a master of science in space systems operations from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2006, a master of military art and science from the School for Advanced Military Studies in 2012, and an additional MMAS from the U.S. Army War College in 2016. prgtoken We extend our heartfelt appreciation to COL Dennis Wille for his exceptional service and unwavering dedication to our Nation's security. His remarkable career and leadership in space operations have significantly contributed to our defense and global security efforts. We commend him for his achievements and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors. prgtoken COL Dennis Wille's outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the U.S. Army and our Nation. His dedication to duty serves as an inspiration to all who follow in his footsteps. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him a happy retirement as we celebrate his legacy of selfless service to the Nation.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2024-6-4

I rise today in support of my amendment to the fiscal year 2025 MILCON-VA appropriations bill. prgtoken My amendment would rightfully prevent any VA funds from being used to enforce a provision that excludes mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs from the wait time and drive time access standards as authorized by the MISSION Act. prgtoken The VA's Mental Health Residential Rehab Treatment Program is a crucial program that provides lifesaving treatment to veterans with mental health and substance use disorders. prgtoken Right now, veterans are restricted by where they can get their treatment due to the administration's misguided view of the MISSION Act access standards. prgtoken As a result, veterans are being forced to wait months to receive this care. prgtoken We are losing 17 veterans a day to suicide. prgtoken For VA to not do everything possible to ensure veterans are getting into these treatment programs as quickly as possible is dangerous and wrong. prgtoken Madam Chair, this administration knows that there are not enough available beds in VA facilities to meet veterans' demand for them and that is when the community providers step in, in partnership with the VA. Getting veterans the help and support they need is the VA's top clinical priority, as well as ensuring the mental health needs of veterans are met without any delays. prgtoken It goes without saying that a veteran in crisis who needs treatment should be eligible for community care without proof that they live far from a VA, or their local facility is overbooked. prgtoken This is what the MISSION Act was designed to help with, but under the administration they want proof. prgtoken I am proud to have introduced my amendment to prohibit VA from excluding these vitally important treatment programs from wait time and drive time access standards for VA community care programs. prgtoken There should be no closed door when it comes to lifesaving care for veterans in crisis. prgtoken Madam Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this, and .
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
August Pfluger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-6-4

. Mr. Chair, I rise today to present an amendment that seeks to improve our understanding of the link between military service and cancer risks, specifically among our aviators. prgtoken The amendment I am proposing to the fiscal year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill underscores our commitment to protecting and supporting our men and women in uniform during their service and long after that, as well. prgtoken Specifically, my amendment calls for the Secretary of the VA to allocate funds for collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the prevalence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served as Active-Duty aircrew in the Armed Forces. prgtoken Tragically, military aviators and crewmembers are being diagnosed with various forms of cancer at alarming rates. A 2021 study conducted by the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing found that pilots and aircrew have higher risks of developing prostate cancer and melanoma with possible links to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and testicular cancer. prgtoken Additionally, a study from the DOD found elevated rates of cancer among military aviators and aviation ground personnel. prgtoken The existing evidence demonstrates a link between cancer and military aviation service. However, we must gather more comprehensive data to understand this correlation better and to properly care for our servicemembers. prgtoken After putting their lives on the line for their country, our airmen and -women deserve assurances that they will be cared for and not exposed to unknown dangers. The U.S. military must understand any potential health risks threatening our military heroes in the cockpit or those serving as crewmembers. prgtoken As a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot myself, who has lost many colleagues to cancer, this issue is personal to me. prgtoken My amendment ensures that cancer incidence rates are adequately studied, that they are adequately understood, and that the military and the Department of Defense has the tools that it needs to properly care for our military heroes. prgtoken I think this is a commonsense amendment. It is building upon work and studies that have already been done, and I would urge all of my colleagues to support this as we support those who are serving and protecting our country. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-6-4

a couple of weeks ago at a White House press briefing, the President's Press Secretary was asked why the President isn't doing anything on the border, given the fact that he has the authority to act unilaterally. And the White House Press Secretary responded: But why should he have to do it unilaterally? prgtoken Why should he have to do it unilaterally? It was, perhaps, a typical response from a White House that would like to portray itself as the victim of the border crisis rather than the cause, a White House that would prefer Congress take action on the border rather than run the risk of taking action itself and annoying some ic voters. But it was an outrageous statement, nonetheless. prgtoken Why should he have to do it unilaterally? Well, for starters, because President is the President and thus bears a special responsibility for our national security and because, as President, he has the authority to take a number of measures to help secure our Nation's border. For a President not to do anything in the face of the kind of crisis we are dealing with is unconscionable. But most of all, President should be taking action because he is responsible for this border crisis. prgtoken Why should he have to take action unilaterally? Because he created this border crisis unilaterally. On the day he took office, the President began dismantling the border security policies of his predecessor, and illegal immigration began surging in response. It has prgtoken never stopped. The President has presided over not 1, not 2, but 3 successive years of recordbreaking illegal immigration. With more than a million and a half illegal crossings so far this year, it is entirely possible he could end up presiding over a fourth. prgtoken Those recordbreaking immigration numbers I mentioned don't even convey the full magnitude of the problem. In addition to the staggering 7.8 million-plus illegal border encounters recorded under President , we have also seen huge numbers of ``got-aways,'' and those are individuals that the Border Patrol saw but was unable to apprehend. Of course we have no idea how many unknown ``got-aways'' there have been, and that is a serious national security problem. prgtoken When turning yourself in to the Border Patrol with a claim for asylum is likely to result in years of essentially legal permanent residence or, as we discovered this weekend, de facto amnesty, it is especially concerning that we have hundreds of thousands of individuals choosing not to turn themselves in and escaping into the interior of the country. Some of them may simply be in search of a better life, but it is highly likely that others may have more malign intentions. prgtoken U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, in a March interview with CBS News, said the number of known ``got-aways'' is keeping him up at night. This is his quote: That is a national security threat. Border secur
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Jennifer Kiggans (Republican, VA) \u2014 2024-6-4

. Madam Chair, just to close, again, about the privatization of housing. To look at and to compare and to enter both facilities, those that are privatized, and those that are purely funded by the Department of Defense, is it perfect, no, but it is a heck of a lot better than the current conditions that we have our unaccompanied servicemembers living in right now. prgtoken There are stark differences in those two pathways of life. I cannot speak more favorably to the privatized model. Again, is it perfect, no. Is there a lot of accountability and oversight that needs to happen, yes. prgtoken That contract process could probably be perfected and worked on. That is something that I think is in the responsibility of Congress. prgtoken We need to make sure that we have a contract with those privatized companies who also have reputations on the line so they are not just building and forgetting about those housing situations. They have reputations too, and they want to take care of our servicemembers. prgtoken In reality, what is happening in the two models we currently have in San Diego and Norfolk is a stark contrast to the DOD-funded, DOD-built, and DOD-supervised housing that we currently see on base, and I can't think of a better direction for our servicemembers. prgtoken As far as the VA carrying U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, I again encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2024-6-4

last year, the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), my close friend and colleague, and I offered an amendment urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a large-scale study into psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat PTSD. I am happy to say that amendment was approved unanimously. prgtoken It was 6 months after this show of congressional support that the Veterans Administration announced that it would be funding significant research into psychedelic therapies for the first time in more than four decades. prgtoken While it is extremely promising that these treatments are coming, with FDA final approval expected sometime in August, one of the largest barriers to the initial implementation and future success is the availability of qualified and well-trained mental health professionals within VA. prgtoken Psychedelic-assisted therapies generally involve multiple therapists at a time and several multi-hour sessions to complete. prgtoken My amendment is simple. It expresses support for the recently announced VA-led research and encourages VA to prioritize the proactive training of therapists to successfully administer these new therapies. prgtoken As we saw last year, demonstrating clear congressional approval for these innovative efforts can motivate real action within the Federal bureaucracy. We owe it to our veterans to do everything we can in support of these breakthrough therapies. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2024-6-4

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Farmers Hen House of Kalona, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken In 1997, Eldon T. Miller started Farmers Hen House in Kalona. The business produced and distributed organically grown eggs and partnered with three local Amish and Mennonite farms to create a pathway for farmers across Iowa to sell their eggs. Eldon is well known in the organic farming community and founded Organic Growers Group in 1995 to help farmers learn about organic farming and obtain organic grower certifications. In 2000, Eldon's neighbor Mark Miller acquired Farmers Hen House, and in 2004, Mark's son Ryan joined the company. Under Mark and Ryan Miller's leadership, the business has grown into a full- service producer, processor, and distributor of Iowa-grown eggs. prgtoken Today, Farmers Hen House works with over 90 farms to sell certified humane, organic, and free-range eggs. The business is dedicated to maintaining quality standards in their eggs and has a rigorous egg grading facility. In 2014, Farmers Hen House partnered with the Farmers Electric Cooperative to install solar panels at their processing facility, and it has been running entirely on solar power since 2016. Following Mark Miller's retirement in 2021, Ryan Miller became president of the business. prgtoken Ryan has led the way in implementing outreach for Farmers Hen House, collaborating with culinary experts to develop a variety of healthy egg recipes, creating a podcast called ``The Scramble,'' and writing a community blog to inform farmers about sustainable farming techniques and other tips and tricks. prgtoken Farmers Hen House is an integral part of the community in Washington County. Along with educating and assisting local farmers, the business donates over 12,000 eggs a week to local food banks around the State. In 2023, the Federation Bank of Iowa spotlighted Farmers Hen House for their significant investment in Iowa and small local farms. The small business continues to modernize and emphasize the quality and sustainability of their eggs. Due to their hard work, Farmers Hen House will celebrate its 27th business anniversary this year. prgtoken Farmers Hen House's commitment to providing high-quality eggs in Kalona, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate Mark and Ryan Miller, Eldon T. Miller, and the entire team at Farmers Hen House for their continued dedication to Iowans. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and success.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 718 (Executive Calendar)
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-6-4

I rise today to discuss a very serious problem: viral gain-of-function research. I am calling on this body to place a pause on all viral gain-of-function research, just like President did in 2014. prgtoken Maybe I will start with an analogy. Could you imagine the United States participating in nuclear research and sending our scientists, sending our money to foreign adversaries to help them with their nuclear weapons research right now--say, a country like Iran or a country like North Korea? Of course, no one in this body would suggest that is a smart thing to do. But people can't see what viral gain-of- function is, so they are not afraid of it, but they should be. prgtoken Think about this: Nuclear bombs have killed 2-, 3-, maybe 400,000 people at the max--2-, 3-, maybe 400,000 people--but viral gain-of- function research, through COVID, has killed over 1 million Americans, and worldwide, it is at least 10 times that, maybe 20 times that. And we still have 15 million long COVID sufferers, but we continue to fund and we continue to participate in viral gain-of-function research. I would stop and ask this body, what do we have to show for it? Thirty years of viral gain-of-function research and what are the benefits? What have we benefited from this? prgtoken Just like in January of 2020 when I was the first Member of Congress to sound the alarm on the COVID virus and the consequences and the pandemic that was coming, I am here once again to sound this alarm. prgtoken Think about this: Why is this a concern to anybody? First of all, I want to talk about the risk of lab leaks. No matter what virus security level this research is done in, there is going to be risk of a lab leak. There is human error, there is mechanical error, people not following protocols. We have seen it over and over again, and that is actually what led to the pause in 2014 by President . prgtoken Laboratories, regardless of their biosafety levels, are not infallible. Human error, equipment failure, unforeseen accidents can lead to the escape of enhanced pathogens into the general population. The consequences of such an event have proven to be catastrophic. We witnessed this firsthand through the COVID-19 pandemic, just how fast a virus could spread throughout the world. A virus that is engineered to be more contagious or more deadly can cause an even more severe global death crisis, even worse than what we saw with COVID-19. prgtoken Something people seldom talk about is the threat of bioresearch, of biosecurity when it comes to our food supply. Just like the Chinese developed a COVID virus to attack human lungs, they could develop new viruses that could attack our beef cattle, our pigs, our dairy. They could find new viruses to attack the wheat in Kansas. All these things are very feasible by viral gain-of-function research. prgtoken I am very concerned about the risk of weaponization of these viruses, that all of thes
NOMINATION OF NANCY L. MALDONADO
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-6-4

. On a different matter, I have spoken repeatedly about how Adeel Mangi, President 's nominee to the Third Circuit, is unqualified for the bench. But the red flags on this administration's nominees aren't limited to radical associations and ethical lapses. prgtoken Judge Nancy Maldonado, a trial judge nominated to the Seventh Circuit, has distinguished herself with sheer--sheer--incompetence. prgtoken Thanks to reforms put in place by then-Judiciary Committee Chairman , Federal courts keep track of how many fully briefed motions have been sitting without a decision for at least 6 months, a report often known among judges in Chicago as the list. prgtoken It was a good reform because justice delayed is justice denied. And as it turns out, Judge Maldonado has by far the largest number of motions pending for more than 6 months among the judges of the Seventh Circuit, with 125. She would need to rule on one of these motions every workday for the next 6 months just to clear her existing backlog. prgtoken There are only a handful of judges in the country who are this far behind on their work. Judge Maldonado's backlog puts her beyond the 99th percentile of all district judges nationwide in terms of slowness. prgtoken The list requires judges to explain why they are so far behind. Judge Maldonado blames her record on ``complexity of the case,'' ``voluminous transcripts/briefs to be read,'' and ``heavy civil and criminal caseload.'' Does the President think his nominees will face less complex cases on the court of appeals, lighter caseloads, less voluminous transcripts or briefs? prgtoken Why on Earth would our colleagues consider giving new and greater responsibilities to a judge who is clearly struggling with the ones she has already gotten or, for that matter, why would they consider promoting someone whose instinct is to pass the buck? prgtoken I wish I were making this up: When our colleagues asked Judge Maldonado about her case backlog in written questions, she blamed her clerks. That is probably cold comfort to prisoners seeking relief for inhumane treatment or litigants paying months of legal fees awaiting her decisions. Apparently, it is not the woman with a judicial commission who is responsible for justice delayed; it is the 25-year- old brandnew lawyers on her staff. But passing the buck is what Judge Maldonado does. prgtoken The junior Senator for Louisiana asked her how she defined ``assault weapon'' in a brief supporting Illinois' assault weapons ban, and the judge said she didn't know because she didn't write the brief. She was only--get this--the counsel of record. prgtoken Do our colleagues really expect a promotion to the court of appeals to turn things around? Do they really think one of the Nation's least productive jurists actually deserves such a promotion? prgtoken It doesn't have to be like this. Without even leaving Chicago, Washington will find a different