mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDIUM CORPORATION
Brandon Williams (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-3-8

I am pleased today to honor Indium Corporation as it celebrates its 90th Anniversary on March 13 of this year. prgtoken Founded in 1934 by Dr. William S. Murray, Indium Corporation first operated from his garage at 805 Watson Place in Utica, New York. Dr. Murray was instrumental in identifying and enabling the first commercially viable applications for indium metal. prgtoken Today, Indium Corporation is a premier materials refiner, smelter, manufacturer and supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal management markets. With five facilities in New York's 22nd Congressional District and several located internationally, Indium Corporation is a global leader in materials science and electronics assembly solutions. Indium's innovative products can be found in many common consumer electronics and high-reliability technologies such as electric vehicles, mobile devices, life-saving medical devices, and emerging 5G technology. prgtoken Beyond Indium Corporation's role as a manufacturer, the company bolsters local educational resources through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) outreach partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations, impacting the lives of more than 5,000 students each year. Indium's award-winning college internship program, inaugurated in 2012, has led to careers in STEM fields for over 100 students. prgtoken In addition, Indium Corporation initiated a pioneering apprenticeship program, aiding employees who are seeking to learn new skills and pursue higher education and assisting military veterans with making successful transitions to private sector careers. The company recently celebrated its first graduates. prgtoken Indium is committed to giving back to the community through the support of many charitable and quality-of-life organizations including the American Red Cross, Stuff the Bus, ICAN, United Way, Support Our Vets, and the American Heart Association. The company and its leaders have been honored by the Oneida County History Center, YWCA, MACNY, Mohawk Valley Alliance of Chambers of Commerce, and the Genesis Group. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 22nd Congressional District, I would like to congratulate Indium Corporation on the occasion of its 90th Anniversary. I wish them continued success for many years to come.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2024-3-8

I had intended in my remarks to go through each of these bills and point out how critical they are to our communities across America. The chair has done that to some extent, and she has also thanked our great team of appropriators for their very hard work. prgtoken Instead of going through the provisions, I want to offer my colleagues a warning. If we do not act, at midnight tonight, we will have a partial government shutdown. It will affect the Department of Agriculture. It will impair the work of the Food and Drug Administration. It will prevent military construction projects from going forward. Do we really want a veteran who has bravely and loyally served his country and is now trying to file a claim for benefits to find that the Veterans Benefits Administration's doors are closed to him or her? Is that what we want to have happen? It also would affect the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Departments. We have an affordable housing crisis. Do we want more notices to go out to those who are working on transportation projects that they may lose their jobs if they are in the private sector because we didn't get our work done? It would affect the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers. prgtoken Why in the world would we want to shut down government and stop serving the American people? prgtoken I have heard a lot of statements made on the Senate floor and elsewhere that, regrettably, are not accurate. One is that none of these bills has been subjected to the opportunity for debate and amendments. The fact is, every single one of these appropriations bills was individually considered by the Appropriations Committee. Every single one of them was subject to robust debate and amendments--every single one of them. Many of them were passed unanimously, others with only one dissenting vote. prgtoken Furthermore, three of the bills we are talking about right now--the Ag and FDA bill, the MILCON-VA bill, and the Transportation-HUD bill-- were brought to the Senate floor. So to say, as one of my colleagues did, that there was no opportunity for amendments and debate is flat- out wrong. Those bills were on the floor for about 7 weeks. We had 40 amendments. prgtoken So I would urge my colleagues to stop playing with fire here. The House, controlled by s, passed these bills as a package--the six bills--with a very strong bipartisan vote, with a majority of the majority voting for them. prgtoken It would be irresponsible for us not to clear these bills and do the fundamental job we have of funding government. What is more important? prgtoken So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on cloture, and I hope next year that we can bring all of the bills to the Senate floor for the kind of robust debate and amendments that we had on prgtoken three of the six bills before us. But keep in mind that each and every bill passed in committee after we had 50 public hearings and briefings.
RECOGNIZING MARCH 9 AS U.S. HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to remember the life of Arkansas Chief Deputy Attorney General Bob Brooks. Bob passed away suddenly after a brief illness on February 11. prgtoken Bob was beloved by and s, old and young, in Arkansas. He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas and the University of Tulsa College of Law. He served as chief of staff for longtime Arkansas Congressman Jay Dickey, and he led in our State as Governor Huckabee's director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission. prgtoken Most recently, he served Tim Griffin as Arkansas' Chief Deputy Attorney General. He loved his job so much, and it was always hard, Attorney General Griffin tells me, to get him to go home each night as the office closed. prgtoken Bob was a dedicated public servant who represented all that is good in Arkansas through his professionalism, his wit, and his great sense of humor. prgtoken I remember Bob for his selfless commitment to public service, his long desire to get back to Arkansas to be in a dream job, and I thank him and his memory for our warm two decades of friendship. prgtoken Martha and I are praying for his friends, his family, and his loved ones during this difficult time. Bob will be missed dearly by many. Congratulating Danielle Ziemba
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-3-8

reserving the right to object because this modification would remove my amendment. prgtoken We are in the middle of the worst border crisis in U.S. history. The story of this crisis is one of preventable tragedies compounding day after day. And, sadly, we have seen it in my home State of North Carolina less than 2 years ago when Wake County Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd was killed in the line of duty. He was murdered by illegal aliens who never should have been in this country. prgtoken I believe that if an illegal alien commits the crime of assaulting a police officer, he or she must be subject to immediate deportation. prgtoken Any Senator who claims to support the police should have no problem supporting my amendment, which would attach the POLICE Act to this funding package. The POLICE Act simply states that an alien can be deported for assaulting a police officer, a firefighter, or other first responder. prgtoken The bill has already passed the House, and it can be sent to the President's desk by passing it right now. We have had good-faith negotiations on this. We are even willing to have it at a 60-vote threshold. prgtoken So I would ask that my fellow Senators support my amendment. Help remove dangerous individuals before another tragedy strikes. prgtoken .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-3-8

since took office, inflation has exploded 17.9 percent. Prices on everything, especially groceries, are sky-high, and hard-working Americans aren't able to keep up. Unless we see significant deflation, which will only happen if we cut spending, there won't be a relief from the massive damage that 's inflation has caused. prgtoken One of the best ways to cut reckless spending is to stop earmarks, and this bill has more than 6,600 of them costing taxpayers $12 billion. Earmarks are a corrupt practice. The American taxpayer should not be used as a political piggybank. prgtoken My answer is simple: We should send this reckless spending bill back to committee and remove all earmarks before passage. prgtoken Given that my colleagues have all removed at least one earmark from this bill, this shouldn't be a tough thing to do before government funding lapses.
WELCOMING REVEREND SEAN RAFTIS
Ryan K. Zinke (Republican, MT) \u2014 2024-3-8

Father Sean Raftis is originally from Spokane, Washington, the son of James and Catherine Raftis. He has a brother, of course, Pat. He was a kid who grew up in a fine town in Spokane. prgtoken He attended Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University in his hometown, and he studied and taught at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, also known as the Cougars. He earned his master's degree while teaching at the Murrow School. prgtoken Father Raftis started studying for the Catholic priesthood in 1995, studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and theology at Boston School of Theology and Ministry. prgtoken He was ordained in 2005 and is a priest of the Diocese of Helena, Montana, in western Montana and serving at the Cathedral of St. Helena, Holy Cross in Townsend, and I am proud to say that he is the pastor at my church in Whitefish, Montana. prgtoken I am honored to introduce Father Raftis.
HONORING THE CONGRESSIONAL SPOUSES
Morgan Luttrell (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to address the House. prgtoken Being a Member of Congress is no walk in the park, but we often forget to recognize the commitment and sacrifices our spouses make to allow us to do our job. prgtoken As the year only gets busier and busier with children, summer breaks, sporting events, and their own careers, I want to profoundly thank each and every husband and wife of a Member of Congress. They absolutely tackle it all. prgtoken To all the congressional spouses, especially my lovely bride, Leslie, we appreciate you, your vision for our family, your grace on all the hard days, your courage to push past the noise of this place, and your constant support. prgtoken We absolutely could not do this without you.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2024-3-8

I wanted to take a few minutes today to talk about the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. I happen to be the ranking member on that Appropriations Subcommittee. prgtoken I thought it might be interesting to actually talk about what is contained in one of these six appropriations bills that are on the floor while discussions are going on as to how we move forward now. prgtoken I am one who is proud of the committee product that we have produced. It was not easy, by any stretch of the imagination. It is always hard, but this year it has been even harder. prgtoken This is an Agency within the Interior that really has oversight of all of our major Federal land management agencies. This is the National Park Service, this is the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency--the EPA. prgtoken Included in this broader bill is funding for essential Indian health, education, and resource management programs through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service. And then, just to add more complexity in terms of the scope of our committee, we also provide funding for important cultural institutions like the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Humanities. So it is a pretty broad appropriations priorities. prgtoken I want to recognize the work of the chairman of the committee, Senator Murray, and the vice chair, Senator Collins, who have worked to advance these 12 appropriations bills through the committee. It seems like decades ago--in fact, it was last summer--that we were able to move them through. The Interior Subcommittee bill moved through unanimously. It is pretty good, given the complexity and, again, the scope within the Interior Department. But it is a process that allows Members to have meaningful input. prgtoken Now, I understand that not everybody in the Senate is on the Appropriations Committee, but that committee process that we went through was a good, honest, robust, transparent process, and I appreciate the effort that prgtoken went into it by Members as well as their staffs and then the outcomes that we were able to advance. prgtoken The Interior budget is pretty important to a State like mine, where some 60-plus percent of our lands are held under Federal management. So there is a lot of space here where, when we are trying to advance priorities, it seems that we can't move without permission from one Federal Agency or another. So we pay attention to these budgets. prgtoken And it is not just the land management Agencies. It is the fact that we have such a significant Native population in the State of Alaska. So the BIA, the IHS, these have great implications for us. And then, within the EPA Agency itself, when it comes to funding for clean and safe drinking water, these are clearly areas where, in States like Alaska, where our infrastructure is so
RECOGNIZING ANNUAL DuBOIS AREA YMCA POLAR PLUNGE
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-3-8

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the annual DuBois Area YMCA Polar Plunge, which takes place in Clearfield County. prgtoken The event, which occurred on Saturday, February 3, has taken place for the last 13 years and has raised thousands of dollars for the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign. With their help, children are able to participate in YMCA activities at a much lower cost. prgtoken Despite the cold weather, 58 brave participants dove into Treasure Lake. The ages of the participants ranged from 12 to 82 years old. prgtoken The plunge initially began in 2011, when it was founded by DuBois YMCA executive director Dan Dowling. prgtoken I take this time to continue to show my support for all those who participated, as well as the DuBois YMCA for their gracious efforts. Without these fundraising events, those who are less fortunate would not be able to access these very important youth programs. prgtoken Keep up the great work.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-3-8

what we have here is a pork fest of epic proportions. You can't imagine how much pork barrel spending is going on in this bill, but you should know about it. There are 6,000 earmarks in this bill. prgtoken What is an earmark? An earmark is where a Congressman or Senator says: Hey, I have this special interest--maybe they are a donor; maybe they are somebody important in their area; maybe they are a relative-- and they want to name Bubba Gump Shrimp Museum after them or they want to name some kind of museum after one of their donors, and that is what gets put into these bills and bloats them beyond imagination. It is also sort of the grease that eases in billions and trillions of other dollars, because you get people to buy into the total package by giving them a little bit of pork for their town, a little bit of pork for their donors. prgtoken Porkbarrel spending elicits the images of politicos with hands and fists stuffed with dollars, passing these out to the special interests. And that is exactly what it is. prgtoken In 2010, 2009, there was this Tea Party uprising. There were people concerned that their government had gone beyond its constitutional limits and had begun spending money like there was no tomorrow, and that the debt was rising at an extraordinary pace. prgtoken People came to Washington, and one of the things s vowed to do was be better. We voted within our conference to ban earmarks. And for nearly a decade--maybe a little more than a decade--s didn't put forth earmarks. But it is sad to say that when we look at the blame for the debt, that the blame goes to both parties. prgtoken People often ask me: Whose fault is it, or s? prgtoken My answer is, yes, it is both parties. Now, both parties have different priorities, but they do get together and they support each other. They pat each other on the back, and everybody gets more money, because the one truism about Washington is, they believe there are no limits to the money. prgtoken In your State capitol, the revenue that comes in is spent. In your county government and your city government, the revenue that comes in is spent. The one place where there are no restraints, where there are no tradeoffs, where the printing press runs 24 hours a day is Washington. The Federal Reserve simply buys the debt. prgtoken But it is not without repercussions. As the deficits spiral upwards and as the Federal Reserve prints more money to buy the debt, the value of your dollar goes down. And the people who get the money first are able to profit by the inflation before it trickles down to the regular working class. prgtoken If you are a banker on Wall Street and you buy and sell the bonds, you get the money right when it is printed, when the ink is still fresh, and you get to spend it on par. You get to spend the money while it still has 100 percent of its value. When it gets to you, when it gets to America, a
CENTRAL NEBRASKA WILDFIRES
Adrian Smith (Republican, NE) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to offer my condolences and thoughts to Nebraskans impacted by recent, severe wildfires and recognize the extraordinary response of emergency personnel across the Third District of Nebraska. prgtoken Last week, central Nebraska wildfires claimed over 70,000 acres in 24 hours in the counties of Lincoln, Custer, Dawson, and Logan. While the windswept flames forced evacuations and destroyed livestock, structures, supplies, pasture, and miles of fence, thanks to the courageous efforts of responders to ensure the safety of Nebraskans, no lives were lost. prgtoken From across the State, emergency personnel, pilots, and more than 50 local and volunteer fire departments came together to contain the blaze. Countless private citizens pitched in to move livestock, disk fields, and transport water. prgtoken In fact, the Red Willow Rural Fire Department testified to the vital help of community members, saying: We couldn't do what we do without area farmers and ranchers. prgtoken My deep gratitude goes out to Third District volunteers and businesses who came together to assist in recovery. From local businesses donating livestock feed and fencing repair supplies to GoFundMe recovery efforts, the remarkable generosity in the face of disaster shows what Nebraskans are made of: quick to lend a hand, with greater concern for their neighbor than for the cost to themselves.
HONORING ROBERT WILLARD
Claudia Tenney (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to recognize an outstanding New Yorker, Attica Fire Department Member, Robert Willard, for his 50 years of service to the community of Attica and the Attica Fire Department. On Saturday, March 9, 2024, members past and present from the Attica Fire Department will gather to honor him for his service. prgtoken Robert Willard was born in Batavia, New York and raised in the Town of Attica in Wyoming County, New York, and began his service as a volunteer in 1973 with the Attica Fire Department. Throughout his years with the Attica Fire Department, he has responded to countless numbers of ambulance and fire responses. His excellent service has earned him the title of Fire Chief along with numerous other positions within the department. prgtoken Robert worked for Westinghouse until its closure and spent his later years working for the Village of Attica before his retirement. Along with his passion for the fire department, Jay enjoys traveling in his spare time. Robert is a true family man. He is married to his wife Kathy, and they have two children and three grandchildren. When he is not spending time with his family, Robert enjoys hunting and camping. prgtoken I thank Robert Willard for his incredible volunteer service providing protection to local homeowners, farmers, businesses, and schools in Wyoming County, New York. His many years of dedication have made the community a better place to live, and I wish him prgtoken all the best in his many more years serving in the Attica Fire Department.
HONORING THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF TEXAS COLLEGE
Nathaniel Moran (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-3-8

I rise today to honor Texas College in Tyler, Texas commemorating its 130th anniversary. prgtoken Founded in 1894, Texas College was formed by ministers of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church to educate African-American students excluded from the university system of Texas at the time. prgtoken Since its eventual charter in 1907, Texas College has aimed to form the next generation in theology, music, teaching and commercial training as well as agricultural and mechanical sciences. prgtoken Today, Texas College inspires intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social development, empowering graduates to engage in life-long learning, leadership, and service. For generations, the college has formed upright, intelligent citizens who honor God through their knowledge, work, and families. prgtoken I am proud to see the many accomplishments that Texas College has made since its inception. I am equally grateful to have Texas College as an integral part of the Tyler community and broader East Texas region. prgtoken I look forward to another 130 years of success from the faculty and staff at Texas College as they celebrate their anniversary this month.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CHARLIE GRIFFIN
Robert J. Wittman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2024-3-8

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of Captain Charlie ``Griff'' Griffin. prgtoken I grew up there, working on the Outer Banks in the fishing community. I remember Griff vividly. prgtoken Griff was a personality. Griff was bigger than life. He loved fishing. He loved the fishing community. He loved everything about what was going on there on the Outer Banks. prgtoken I remember his infectious laugh. I remember his voice on the radio, as you see here, saying: ``Got him on.'' prgtoken Griff was indeed a friend to all in the fishing community, and he will be sorely missed. prgtoken He leaves behind a community of fishermen whose lives were touched by his kind soul and his kind words. We looked at him as a friend and mentor. prgtoken I pray that God brings peace to his loved ones. I know his love for his son, Jake, and his love for his dogs, including Leila, who was tragically lost on the same day as Griff. prgtoken We know it is a difficult time for folks in the fishing community there in the Outer Banks, but we know that his life will live on forever. He will be remembered and cherished. prgtoken Rest in peace, Griff.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Eric Schmitt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-3-8

. Fifteen seconds. prgtoken I would just say this: If that were true, maybe you have a good reason to vote against it. That is not true. According to Commerce and Approps, there is $110 million that won't be affected by any of that. So this is just saving $110 million. prgtoken All the things the great Senator just talked about, all that is going to happen. You are not taking anything away. You are just saving $110 million that Commerce and Approps say has not been justified. Vote on Motion to Concur with Amendment No. 1626