mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING MICHAEL HULSIZER FOR HIS SERVICE TO KERN COUNTY AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Kevin McCarthy (Republican, CA) \u2014 2021-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor Michael Hulsizer, a constituent, friend, educator, and dedicated public servant. Throughout his illustrious career, Michael has been a tireless advocate for students throughout Kern County and influential in shaping the policies that impact our children, teachers, and our families. After dedicating nearly 45 years of service to Kern County, Michael will be retiring from his position of Chief Deputy for Governmental Affairs for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools next month. prgtoken Michael began his career in education as a teacher at Desert High School, located in Eastern Kern County and part of the Muroc Joint Unified School District. While at Desert High, he served as teacher sponsor of the school's Mock Trial team, eventually helping to lead the 1982-83 team to win the California State Mock Trial Championship. His leadership at Desert High and passion for providing students with the best possible academic and extracurricular opportunities led him to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools' Curriculum and Accountability Division, as a History and Social Science Consultant, in 1985. In this role, Michael helped to implement the highly regarded ``We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' annual competition, during which teams of high school students throughout Kern County put their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to the test, and developed the Kern County History Day program, which continues to be a highly popular event among Kern County students of all ages. prgtoken In the early 1990s, Michael played a leadership role, on behalf of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in the creation of the Kern County Network for Children, a collaborative network of community-based organizations and stakeholders that aims to support Kern County's most vulnerable students. Nearly 30 years later, the Kern County Network for Children continues to serve families and at-risk youth through its collaborative model and system of family resource centers, thanks largely to Michael's leadership. In 2005, Michael brought his passion for Kern County students and civics education to our nation's capital by participating in the third annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education, hosted by the joint leadership of the United States Congress. prgtoken During his tenure as Chief Deputy for Governmental Affairs for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Michael had a hand in crafting education policy at the state and local levels and served as the primary liaison on federal education issues. He was particularly instrumental in the adoption and implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula in the State of California, and most recently helped to guide Kern County schools through the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that they received the federal and state relief funds necessary to continue to educate students throughout Kern County. prgtoken I have had the p
Government Spending (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-11-15

I am sure I am not alone in expressing concern for what the next few weeks in the runup to Christmas are going to look like, and certainly the Senate and the Congress have not operated as a well-oiled machine, to be sure. prgtoken Back in September, when the Senate should have passed a group of bills to fund the government for the next year, we saw the can get kicked down the road. prgtoken Last month, when our ic colleagues, the majority, had ample time and a clear roadmap to raise the debt ceiling, they punted and really depended on 11 of us on this side of the aisle to avoid a threat to the full faith and credit of the United States. prgtoken Despite a strong push from both the distinguished Presiding Officer, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and the ranking member, the majority leader has so far refused to bring up the National Defense Authorization Act even though it has been ready for months. I am hoping that will change this week. I am advised that it will change and it will be taken up. prgtoken These are not necessarily lofty goals we are talking about. We are talking about the bare minimum when it comes to doing the work of the Nation: funding the government, paying our bills, strengthening our military. But none of these basic responsibilities have been accomplished yet. prgtoken These delays weren't out of necessity. After all, the Senate hasn't been debating and voting on important legislation--just a series of nominations and dead-on-arrival messaging bills. prgtoken With such a long yearend to-do list, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who control the agenda, don't have a lot of time. The Senate is only scheduled to be in session for 2 weeks before government funding expires, and there is just another additional week of scheduled legislating before the end of the year. You would think that would mean it is time to buckle up and start checking off these high-priority items, but our ic colleagues believe they have an even more important job. Forget the millions of government employees who would be left without a paycheck before the holidays or the economic crisis that would cripple our country if we defaulted on our debts or the servicemembers and their families who deserve a pay raise; our ic colleagues, the majority, are devoting all their time and agenda to a spending spree and the largest tax increase in American history, which apparently is the top item on the House agenda this week. prgtoken The size and scope of this bill has changed a lot over the last several months. The chairman of the Budget Committee, the Senator from Vermont, initially floated a $6 trillion spending spree and tax increase. It was later ostensibly pared back to $3.5 trillion, and now our colleagues claim it would cost a mere $1.75 trillion--hardly a bargain and certainly hardly for sure when it comes to the amount of spending and taxing because, until the
HONORING THE HEROIC LIFE AND SERVICE OF ROBERT G. MITCHELL
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2021-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor the heroic life of Navy veteran and former Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency Director, Bob Mitchell. prgtoken Bob Mitchell was born in 1936 in Saratoga Springs and graduated from Al Penney Police Academy. At the age of 17, Bob enlisted in the Navy in the midst of the Korean War. Bob was initially assigned to serve as a Signalman with Air Transport Squadron Five (VR-5) and played an important role in the occupation of Europe. Later in his career, Bob was assigned to the USS Gainard, the ship famously known for its participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis and its help with the Project Mercury space missions. prgtoken Bob finished up his twenty years of military service at the Navy Recruiting Station in Buffalo, New York. During his tenure in the Navy, Bob spent over five years in foreign or sea service and retired in 1973 with the rank of Petty Officer First Class. For his courageous service, Bob was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal (6th award), and the Navy Occupational Service Medal with ``E'' Clasp. prgtoken After his retirement, Bob continued to dedicate his life to serving his country and community. He held positions with numerous community institutions and organizations, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the Saratoga County Sheriff Department. Eventually, Bob became the Director of the Saratoga County Veteran Service Agency. His tremendous work in this role created life prgtoken changing opportunities for the veterans he served. Bob organized numerous initiatives to support veterans and oversaw the creation of the Honor Deceased Veteran program. He was a true veteran's veteran. prgtoken On behalf of New York's 21st district, I am honored to recognize the extraordinary life of Bob Mitchell, and his brave and selfless service to his country and fellow veterans. It is my hope that his fearless spirit and bravery will be carried on by those who knew and loved him.
RECOGNIZING BRENT'S FIREHOUSE COFFEE
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the generosity and Iowa nice spirit of a couple from my district. prgtoken Recently, Brent and Amy Brightman, the owners of Brent's Firehouse Coffee in Camanche, presented the Camanche Police and Fire Departments with $2,000 each in what they hope to be the first of an annual donation to their city's first responders. prgtoken When asked about the generosity of their donations, Brent, who has served as a volunteer firefighter in Camanche for over a decade, said that they started Brent's Firehouse Coffee not only to support their community but to support first responders. prgtoken Iowa has some of the best businesses and first responders, and I am beyond proud to see our community come together to support one another. prgtoken I thank Brent, Amy, and the first responders of Camanche for their continued and unwavering service to our community.
COLONEL JOHN M. McHUGH TUITION FAIRNESS FOR SURVIVORS ACT OF 2021
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-11-15

today, I rise in support of the Senate version of my bill, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act. prgtoken Members of our military and their families sacrifice so much in service to our country. As a grateful Nation, we have accepted a responsibility to ensure that the educational needs of the survivors and dependents of our fallen heroes are provided for. prgtoken The Dependents Educational Assistance program currently provides $1,224 a month to eligible participants to help cover the costs of higher education. The program is available for survivors, dependents of certain servicemembers who died on Active Duty, or later found to be 100 percent service-connected disabled or died in a service-connected disability. prgtoken The Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act would expand the DEA program benefits, requiring GI Bill eligible schools to extend in-State tuition benefits to beneficiaries of the Dependents Educational Assistance Program, bringing the rules for this program in line with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. prgtoken It is fitting that this bill bears the name of U.S. Army Colonel John McHugh. Colonel McHugh was tragically killed 11 years ago by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. The loved ones left behind by this fallen hero have suffered unimaginable pain. The least we can do for his family and others like him is to honor our commitment to them and ensure their education is affordable. Colonel McHugh's family resides in my southeast Alabama district in Enterprise. It gives me great pride to name this bill in honor of the Colonel McHugh's legacy. prgtoken , this legislation is a commonsense solution to help our heroes' families meet their higher education goals. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
CONGRATULATING ARKANSAS' NATIVE SON--CRAIG BLAIR--ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE FOREST SECTOR
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the successful career and retirement of Arkansas' native son and ordained Minister, Craig Blair. Throughout his almost 40-year career, Mr. Blair has set himself apart as an example to his community and his peers in the forestry sector. prgtoken Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the son of an Arkansas school principal and a school librarian, Craig pursued a career in forestry, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Management from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a Masters in Forestry Degree in Forest Business from Mississippi State University, where he was also the College of Forest Resources 2018 Alumni Fellow. Over his 39-year career, Craig held a variety of positions in the forestry sector, culminating in his appointment as President and CEO at Resource Management Service (RMS)--a firm that manages timber assets in my district--and in the forest products sector. During his more than 10- year tenure as the firm's leader, Craig oversaw a skilled and experienced team of forestry and investment professionals who built and managed portfolios of forest assets that were collectively valued at more than $4 billion and that included investments in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, and New Zealand. Craig became Chairman of the RMS Board of Managers on October 1, 2021. prgtoken Among his many accomplishments as President and CEO of RMS, Craig led the firm's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the forestry profession, developed the first open ended forest investment fund, and championed collaborative approaches to landscape and species conservation, helping to establish Conservation without Conflict. Craig has also been actively engaged in numerous forestry organizations, serving as Chair on the boards of the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the World Forestry Center, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc where he received the 2017 SFI President's Award. prgtoken The husband of Rita Blair for more than 34 years and father of two sons--Braden and Paul--I take this time today to celebrate Craig Blair. I am proud to call him my forestry colleague and my friend. May we always look at his work ethic and his dedication to his family, the forestry sector, and his church as an example to emulate.
Tribute to Patrick Leahy (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-11-15

earlier today, our distinguished President pro tempore, the senior Senator from Vermont, announced he will conclude his incredible run of Senate service. Senator Leahy plans to retire at the end of next year, at the conclusion of his eighth term. prgtoken Senator Leahy has served Vermonters in the Senate for longer than anyone in the State's history. Of course, he has also become an all- star Senate institution in his own right. I think particularly of the opportunities I had to work with Senator Leahy when we were sharing leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations. prgtoken It is hard to imagine the Senate without Pat and his lovely wife Marcelle. For now, I just want to salute our colleague on the occasion of his announcement and add my congratulations on his remarkable career thus far.
HONORING THE OTIS EDWARD MOORE HIGHWAY IN WILLARD, MO
Billy Long (Republican, MO) \u2014 2021-11-15

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Otis Edward Moore, a lifelong resident of Everton, MO. prgtoken Mr. Moore served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was a maintenance worker for Mid-America Dairymen in Springfield after his service had ended. Beyond his work, Moore was actively involved with his community, joining Masonic Lodge No. 87 AF&AM in Greenfield. His family knew him as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. prgtoken Moore's life was tragically cut short when he was killed in a car accident on Highway 160 in Willard. He was 61 at the time he passed away in 1983. Now, nearly 40 years later, a stretch of Highway 160, from West Bypass to County Road 115, has been named in honor of Moore. The new Otis E Moore Memorial Highway will be dedicated on Monday, November 22nd of this year. prgtoken Madam , Otis Moore exhibited a life of service. Service to his nation and service to his community. It is only fitting that a portion of Highway 160 be named in his memory.
National Adoption Month (Executive Session)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2021-11-15

our great country was founded on the idea that freedom leads to prosperity, which is better known as the American dream. prgtoken I have always said this country owes you only one thing, and that is an opportunity to succeed. This country gives you the opportunity to live the life you dream of because, with hard work, anything is possible. For a couple, the American dream may look like saving enough to buy their first home. For a small family business, it might look like opening its doors for the first time. For a first-generation college graduate, it might be walking across the stage, and for a soldier, returning from war with the hopes of starting a family. The American dream takes on many unique forms reflective of the opportunity that countless generations have strived to realize. prgtoken At the core of the American dream, you will find the American family because for centuries, the American dream has been rooted in the idea of family and freedom. Strong families are the foundation of strong communities. That is why we need to uplift the American family rather than to continue to rip it apart. prgtoken But recently, we have seen policies from the that inject politics into parenting, that insert the heavy hand of the Federal Government into the American home and stop at nothing to tell parents: We know best when it comes to raising your children. prgtoken Threats to the American family are knocking on the front doors of homes across the Nation as the left becomes focused on telling the American people what they want rather than listening to what they need. A prime example is the ' socialist spending spree, designed to create a cradle-to-grave welfare system that does more to tear the American family down than to build it up. Just look at the child tax credit--a once bipartisan policy initiative that has now been weaponized to benefit some families at the expense of others. If you are a working-class, married couple with children, you drew the short end of the stick. Then there is the ' Federal childcare program. It is more focused on perpetuating government dependency than giving low-income families the means to stand on their own two feet. prgtoken With these proposals in their reckless tax-and-spend spree, the are picking winners and losers, and the losers are the American family. Anti-family policies like these grow the size of the government while chipping away at American freedom. We should focus on pro-family policies that put families first, policies that make achieving the American dream a reality, not something to feel shameful about. prgtoken If you are born with two parents in this country, you hit the lottery. So many children don't have the stable family that some have; they grow up with one parent or are raised by another family member. Then there are children who grow up with no parents, thrown into the foster system. It is a shame beca
Government Spending (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2021-11-15

last week, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Sean Cooley and Specialist Christopher Horton Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship Program Act. prgtoken I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who lent their support, because creation of this program was a long time coming. prgtoken I have spent the past few years working with and talking with Gold Star families, and the one thing they have consistently told me is that they want a more powerful voice here on Capitol Hill. prgtoken This legislation will create a Senate fellowship program open only to Gold Star family members. These fellows will have the opportunity to come to Washington, at no cost to their families, and work within the system our servicemembers work so very hard to defend. prgtoken And, , we thank you for your service in defense of this Nation. prgtoken Just as we here in the Senate are bound together by a duty to serve the country, Gold Star families are also bound together by a common thread of loss, grief, sacrifice. prgtoken It has been my privilege to work with so many of them, and I hope that these fellowships will create a renewed sense of healing and purpose in the hearts of those who come to work with us here in Washington.
COLONEL JOHN M. McHUGH TUITION FAIRNESS FOR SURVIVORS ACT OF 2021
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2021-11-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of S. 1095, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021. This bill would expand the in-State tuition requirements to dependents and survivors of eligible veterans through the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, or the DEA program. prgtoken The DEA program provides $1,224 a month in tax-free benefits directly to the eligible participants to help cover the costs of higher education or training. prgtoken Dependents are eligible for this program if the veteran died while on Active Duty, is a former prisoner of war, or has a permanent and total service-connected disability rating or dies from a service-connected disability. prgtoken By expanding the in-State tuition requirements, we will make it easier for DEA participants to complete their studies without additional debt. prgtoken , I am pleased that the bill is named in honor of Colonel John McHugh. Colonel McHugh was killed in action on May 18, 2010, by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan after serving his country for 24 years. This bill honors his sacrifice. prgtoken I thank Senator Moran, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, as well as Congressman Moore, for their hard work in crafting this commonsense piece of legislation. prgtoken , I urge all my colleagues to support S. 1095, and .
AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINES
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-11-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , in closing, and before asking all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5671, I truly believe that passing the SAVE LIVES Act and passing this legislation today, H.R. 5671 constitutes one of the best moments that I have had as chairman where all four corners of the Congress came together. prgtoken Ranking Member Bost, I know walked a very delicate balance to bring his Members together, but I appreciate his persuasive abilities with his side of the aisle. prgtoken , I want to encourage that we do this more, and I have no doubt that we really did save lives. And I have no doubt today that we are going to save lives because of this effort before us. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and .