mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DELIVERING ON OUR COMMITMENT TO AMERICA
John W. Rose (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-7-26

this week, House s are continuing to deliver on our commitment to America--a Nation that is safe--by providing the Department of Defense with the facilities it needs to protect us from foreign adversaries. prgtoken One of the bills we will consider is the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that funds the Department of Defense facilities and veterans' healthcare programs. prgtoken We don't stop there. This bill prohibits the use of funds to promote or advance the destructive critical race theory and prohibits the administration's executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion. prgtoken There is more work to be done to get our military back to the world's elite fighting force focused on combating adversaries. By taking these small steps to eliminate fraud, waste, abuse, and unnecessary programs, we are taking the right first steps.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-7-26

last December, Marine Gen. David Berger stated the obvious, that the Department of Defense's COVID vaccine mandate hurt recruiting and hurt retention. prgtoken For several weeks now, our ic colleagues have been saying that military readiness is suffering due to promotion delays. Well, I have good news for my colleagues. My amendment will help address these problems. prgtoken While last year's NDAA, quite rightly, repealed the vaccine mandate prospectively, problems caused by the mandate persist, including concerning recruiting, retention, and readiness. prgtoken According to reports, the administration dismissed over 8,400 military servicemembers who had vaccine concerns. DOD routinely denied religious accommodation requests, violating the rights of servicemembers protected by the Constitution and RFRA. prgtoken DOD gave over 80 percent of these servicemembers a ``general discharge,'' causing them to lose GI benefits and, in some cases, VA benefits, even those were benefits earned through honorable service. prgtoken My amendment rights these wrongs. It will allow servicemembers dismissed over the vaccine mandate to seek reinstatement or a change in their discharge status. It restores lost GI and VA benefits. prgtoken According to media reports, the DOD is already contemplating all of these actions, but I believe the Senate should lead to address these issues. They have ended the vaccine mandate, and it is not fair to the over 8,000 service men and women dismissed for a policy DOD no longer believes is necessary. I urge Members to support my amendment.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Mr. Chair, perhaps my colleagues are confused. Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Ukraine has not been accepted into NATO. Why are they using defense of Ukraine for their argument for an additional $73 million increase for the NATO security investment program? That makes absolutely no sense. prgtoken If you want to talk about national security, Mr. Chair, let's talk about the American people's national security. My colleague across the aisle speaks of hostile nations and how they present a clear danger to America's national security. Well, you have to look no further than the southern border. The southern border is where hostile nations are invading our country every single day with poisonous fentanyl, which is murdering over 300 Americans a day. prgtoken If there is going to be an increase in funding for the defense of any nation, it should be the United States of America's border in defense of American lives. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I would like to add, my position and the position of most Americans is peace, not funding the murder and death in continued foreign wars, defending other countries' democracies while completely ignoring our own. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask the House to pass my amendment that keeps the spending level at the same level it was this previous appropriations bill--the same level. An increase in $73 million is another step towards funding world war III. prgtoken It is another step in United States aggression over a country that is not even a member of NATO in the name of a NATO security investment program. This is absolute madness. It is outrageous. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
TRIBUTE TO SEAN FARRELL
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-7-26

today I bid a fond farewell to my chief of staff Sean Farrell. Sean has been an indispensable member of my team for 6 years. During that time, he has worn several hats, each coming with its own challenges. Sean joined Team Blackburn when I was serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he mastered some of the most complex issues that the U.S. Congress examines. After I was elected to the Senate, Sean agreed to move from the House to the Senate and assumed the formidable task of managing my legislative agenda, as well as a gaggle of young lawyers and policy experts. prgtoken When I asked Sean to serve as my chief of staff, I knew I was asking him to face challenges far beyond those normally associated with the position. prgtoken Pandemic-era rules had scattered our staff across the country, and the Senate was still limping its way through a once in a lifetime crisis. Thankfully, Sean stepped up. He approached the job with grace and persistence and, even during the toughest fights kept his eye on the ball and the team's focus on serving the people of Tennessee. prgtoken We will miss him tremendously, but I have no doubt that his beautiful wife Kasey will be happy to see him spending more time at home and less time in the halls of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. I would like to leave Sean with my thanks for his years of service to the Volunteer State and my best wishes as he moves forward in this next exciting season of his career.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-7-26

this is the 289th time that I have come to the Senate floor with my increasingly battered ``Time to Wake Up'' chart, to stir this Chamber to act on climate change. prgtoken Since 2016, I have been talking about the zettajoule. The zettajoule is the measure of how much fossil fuel emissions are heating up our oceans. In this season of extreme, record-smashing heat touching all 50 States, it is wild that elected representatives in Washington still choose to insulate themselves from reality, a reality measured in zettajoules. prgtoken A zettajoule is a number almost beyond comprehension in its size. One joule--J-O-U-L-E--is our standard unit of energy, and it applies to heat energy. A zettajoule is 1 joule with 21 zeros behind it. It is a truly massive number. prgtoken In a 2019 ``Time to Wake Up'' speech, I reported that more than nine zettajoules of heat energy was being added to the ocean annually. Since then, I have come to the floor with an updated number. Our oceans are absorbing around 14 zettajoules of excess heat every year. prgtoken Let's put that in context. The total energy consumption of all humankind amounts to about one-half of a zettajoule of energy per year. That means that for the fossil fuel component of that one-half of a zettajoule of energy, we pay the price of 14 added zettajoules of heat into the ocean every year. prgtoken Said another way, we load into our Earth's oceans every year nearly 30 times the entire energy use of the entire species on the entire planet. That is a big magnification. prgtoken If this is the zettajoules of excess heat absorbed into the oceans every year, that dot is the average annual energy consumption of the human species on the planet. For the price of the fossil fuel component of that, mankind's entire energy consumption in zettajoules, we suffer that load of heat energy going into the oceans. prgtoken That is a bit hard to comprehend, so consider one other unit of measure: the energy released by the detonation of the nuclear bomb America dropped on Hiroshima. In Hiroshima bomb terms, last year the ocean absorbed the equivalent of seven Hiroshima bombs detonating every second in the ocean. Every second of every day for the entire year, seven nuclear detonations' worth of heat into our oceans--per second. prgtoken This unfathomable amount of heat has been somewhat offset by La Nina, the cool phase of a recurring climate pattern called the El Nino Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. That is the acronym for the El Nino Southern Oscillation. The ENSO cycle consists of variations in sea surface temperature, rainfall, surface air pressure, and atmosphere circulation located over the Pacific Ocean near the Equator. And in that oscillation, La Nina is the name for the cooling period. prgtoken Well, in June, we left La Nina and moved into an El Nino period. El Nino is the warmer side of the ENSO cycle. We saw it raise temperatures in previous cycles in 1998 and 2016
TORNADO AT PFIZER FACILITY
Donald G. Davis (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-7-26

last week, a tornado ripped through Rocky Mount, North Carolina, severely damaging one of Pfizer's key facilities. We are grateful there were no fatalities, and we thank God for the first responders who ensured our community's safety. prgtoken Even during times of adversity, Pfizer's CEO, Dr. Albert Bourla, made an extraordinary commitment to continue operations in Rocky Mount, the heart of North Carolina's First Congressional District, guaranteeing job security for the employees at this site and contributing to our local economy. prgtoken The decision to stay and invest in Rocky Mount preserves the livelihoods of thousands of employees and sends a powerful message. prgtoken As the recovery process continues, I genuinely appreciate the vital role Pfizer plays not only in the Rocky Mount community but across the East, America, and the world. prgtoken , I say to the businesses and residents affected by this natural disaster, please know I will stand with you.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-7-26

such time as I may consume. prgtoken The gentlemen from Tennessee and California understand what kind of money really matters here. It is very nice to say that you are $800 million above the President's budget request. prgtoken The money that matters is where we are now and what s are proposing to spend going forward. s are cutting--which, of course, Mr. Cline neglected to mention--military construction $1.5 billion below what we spend now. That is a cut by anyone's definition. They can play games with the language and the way they describe things, but there is no getting around that they are cutting $1.5 billion from military construction. prgtoken What does that mean? That might just sound like, oh, we will build a few less buildings, it is not going to be that bad. Understand that DOD has assessed that 30 percent of our military infrastructure around the world is in fair or poor condition. Many of us have traveled around the world to inspect military bases, and we talk to our troops and pledge to our servicemembers how much they mean to us and how we have their backs. I have had the opportunity to be shown places where our hangar doors are held together with wax and spit, particularly in places like Okinawa and other areas where there is a lot of erosion and metal rusts more quickly. I live in a coastal State, and I have a coastal district, so I understand what happens there when you are on the coast from the salt air. I watched a servicemember try to pull closed a hangar door that was jury-rigged with a coat hanger because they couldn't get the door closed the way it normally prgtoken should, and we did not provide them funding anywhere in the near future to ensure that we can keep billions of dollars' worth of military equipment safe. prgtoken s are standing here and saying things that absolutely do not pass the straight-face test when they are trying to suggest that they are doing right by our servicemembers. prgtoken We have a retention problem in our military. We have people who have testified to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee who are current servicemembers who talked to us about how they intended to spend their careers in the service, but because of the way they and their families felt treated, the decrepit housing that the military can't seem to get straight when it comes to dealing with mold and broken items and repairs that are necessary, they chose a different career path. prgtoken If we continue on the path that s have proposed, then what that means is that we are going to lose servicemembers, like we are already losing. That is irresponsible and unacceptable. prgtoken , I will have more to say at a later time. .
COMMEMORATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF EQUAL PAY ACT
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-7-26

this year, we recognize the 100th anniversary of the equal rights amendment. Today, I rise to commemorate, as well, the 60th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. prgtoken Women in our Nation have made great progress in the fight for pay equality over the past six decades, but it is not nearly enough. We must close the gap. prgtoken Women in Ohio earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns, and that is unacceptable. This pay gap has an impact on women's ability to excel in the workforce, pay for basic necessities, and build retirement savings for a successful future. prgtoken This pay disparity has remained relatively stable over the last 20 years, but this status quo will continue unless we work to close it. We must ensure equal compensation across the board and rightfully pay hardworking women their hard-earned dollars. prgtoken Women are invaluable members in every workplace and deserve equal compensation for equal work. prgtoken Let us prioritize closing the gender pay gap once and for all and lift up mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and daughters in our workforce.
TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN HOLMES
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-7-26

I am honored to recognize Lt. Stephen Holmes of Candia as July's Granite Stater of the Month. Stephen, a Marine Corps veteran and a firefighter, is working to destigmatize mental health among first responders by visiting New Hampshire fire departments and sharing his own experience dealing with PTSD. prgtoken At age 17, Stephen enlisted in the Marine Corps infantry and went on to serve three tours of duty in Iraq. On his return home 4 years later, he wanted to continue helping others through public service and decided to join the Exeter Fire Department. However, it soon became clear that he was struggling with serious symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anger, and he was diagnosed with PTSD at the Manchester VA. prgtoken Stephen took a leave of absence from the Exeter Fire Department due to his mental health, and during this time, Stephen's wife gave him a book on meditation, which turned out to be his saving grace. After trying many other therapeutic techniques recommended by his doctors, Stephen found that meditation worked best for him to help him feel at peace. prgtoken Stephen did not stop there. After returning to the Exeter Fire Department, he wanted to use the lessons he had learned to shed more light on the issue of first responders' mental health. With the help of other Fire and EMS professionals, Stephen began visiting one fire station after another to share his mental health struggles and the importance of seeking care. Already, many of his peers have started receiving mental health treatment, Stephen's story having provided the push that they needed and the validation that it is okay to need help. prgtoken Many first responders might believe that they cannot seek help, since they are the ones that the rest of us rely on in a crisis. However, first responders often need mental health care precisely because of how high-pressure their jobs are and the suffering that they see, which is why Stephen's work is all the more important--he is sharing his firsthand experiences, breaking down stigma, and letting first responders know that it is okay to seek the care that they need. prgtoken Stephen exemplifies the Granite State spirit of commitment to community and person-to-person advocacy to bring about positive change. I am deeply grateful, as I know his fellow first responders are, for his bravery and compassion in sharing his personal experiences, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to change people's lives.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Mr. Chair, I also rise in strong support of the Bergman- Correa amendment. prgtoken This amendment will push the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, to carry our large-scale studies into drugs like psilocybin, MDMA, and others which have been designated as breakthrough therapies by the Food and Drug Administration. prgtoken Why? It is because we owe it to our veterans. prgtoken Mr. Chair, what you have to do is listen to veterans' testimonies-- veterans who have the invisible scars from the wounds they brought back from the battlefield--and their challenges, psychological challenges. Psilocybin promises up to 80 percent success after one treatment of a veteran's challenge, and, today, as the law stands, these veterans have to go outside the country to get treatment. prgtoken That is no way, Mr. Chair, to treat our veterans. prgtoken Let's take care of business. Let's make sure the VA takes these tests and studies and brings back data so that we can create a program that takes care of our veterans. prgtoken Veterans have fought for our freedom. It is time that we continue and step up to fulfill our moral obligation to take care of them, as well. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join us in voting ``yes'' on this amendment, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2023-7-26

just about 2 years ago, roughly 76,000 Afghans--those who served alongside American forces during two decades of conflict--and their families were evacuated here to the United States on military planes and given 2 years of humanitarian parole. The administration has worked to extend that parole, but we have to ask ourselves: To what end? prgtoken These are our allies, those who served and fought alongside our troops, those who supported our mission and our engagement in Afghanistan and who worked an incredible array of jobs--interpreters, medics, security guards, mechanics, intelligence officers, journalists, bomb technicians, and pilots. prgtoken And I know that today one family in Newark, DE, is waiting urgently to hear that we have taken up and passed this amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The head of household served as a bomb technician, as an EOD specialist in the Afghan forces, and I had the chance to have the blessing of meeting the mother of a Delaware soldier whose life he saved. prgtoken I have heard over and over from our veterans, from our veterans' families, from Afghans and from their families that we have to pass this bill so that they have certainty, so that the strengths and talents that they have brought to our country they can use to put down roots and to have a foundation on which to build a family in peace in our Nation. prgtoken An interpreter--an Afghan interpreter--now living in North Carolina has said: Permanent residency is linked to everything. What will happen [to my family] if our status fails? How will I provide for my family [in this new country]? prgtoken Another interpreter living now in Nebraska describes their current situation as being ``trapped like in a prison.'' prgtoken This uncertainty, this lack of clear status, harms the ability of our Afghan partners and friends to advance their careers, to put down roots, to start their new lives here in America with confidence. This uncertainty must end. prgtoken These are folks who believe in the promise of America and who came here confident we would keep our word. On my phone, I was just looking a moment ago at a family celebration that I joined with Sher and Shkira in Newark, DE. I don't want to give more details on them, other than to say that I remember that they and their children are waiting and watching to see what we will do here in the Senate. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues Senators Klobuchar, Moran, and Blumenthal and many others--Senators Graham, Shaheen, Murkowski, Durbin, Wicker, and Tillis--who have been cosponsors of this bill from the last Congress. It also has support from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, the American Legion, and many other veterans groups; and from some of the most prominent leaders in the American military: Mike Mullen, Jim Stavridis, Stan McChrystal, William McRaven. Forgive me for skipping their
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today to recognize Sharon Cohen, who retires this week from the Senate Dining Room. Over her almost three decades here, Ms. Cohen has left a lasting impression on a number of my colleagues and guests who have visited the dining room, including my children and grandchildren and the whole Senate dining team. prgtoken Ms. Cohen has seen Senators come and go from this building. She has been here longer than most of my colleagues. She has been here longer than I have. I always look forward to seeing Ms. Cohen. She is always welcoming. She is always gracious. She makes an effort to get to know not just every Senator but every guest who comes through the doors regardless of whom they walked in with, regardless of their political affiliation. prgtoken In a place where at times relationships can be tested and debate can be intense, Ms. Cohen always made Senate dining a welcoming place. It is clear to anyone who has met Ms. Cohen that she cares deeply for the people in her life--her family, her colleagues, her guests. She seems to always be thinking about what is best for others. prgtoken Among her colleagues, Ms. Cohen is known for being steady and reliable and, most importantly, for her generous spirit. She is always helping whomever she can, however she can. She never asks for anything in return. Her colleagues shared that they don't think they have ever met anyone who works harder than she, and when she finishes her work, she helps everyone who needs it. She is a team player. She is a hard worker. prgtoken Maybe most important, she has made a difference for so many people. Maybe all of us, my colleagues and I, can learn from that. prgtoken The workers in these jobs often don't get a lot of recognition. They are too often ignored. Yet they are every bit as important to the Senate as the people on the Senate floor. prgtoken She brings a dignity to this job--the same kind of dignity as a carpenter who is proud of her work or a sheet metal worker who is proud of his work or someone who works in manufacturing, someone who works in a veterans hospital, someone who provides home care--because all work has dignity, as she understands. prgtoken Ms. Cohen is a treasured member of staff and of this institution. As her colleagues shared, they are sad to see her leave. While they know things will not be the same without her, they share Ms. Cohen's excitement for her next chapter. In retirement, she plans to spend time with her daughter and help care for her granddaughter. prgtoken I know she will be missed by the Senate dining team. I know we will all miss seeing her. And I appreciate not just her work but the work of all people who serve in this body in all kinds of capacities. prgtoken Ms. Cohen, thank you. I wish you a long, joyous retirement spent with your granddaughter. Congratulations.