mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-7-26

earlier this month, the Chinese Communist Party's relentless propaganda efforts rose to the forefront of international discussion yet again. China's authoritarian government squashes opposition at home without hesitation, but its censorship and propaganda spreads far beyond China's borders. prgtoken The CCP uses an array of insidious means to push its messages across national boundaries. Concerns that the CCP's influence is seeping into Hollywood continues to grow. This issue flared up once again this month. Why? Well, in a word, ``Barbie.'' You heard me right. A movie about a plastic doll is the last place you would expect national security questions to arise, but it has. prgtoken One trailer for the ``Barbie'' movie depicted a cartoon map of the title character's world travels. On the map is a roughly drawn continent of Asia, but it might be more than just a cartoon character's doodle. The map includes a dotted line extending out from the east shore of China. prgtoken Well, that line is curiously similar to what is known as the nine- dash line. Everyone in the defense space is familiar with this line. It is a Chinese-drawn boundary in the South China Sea. China uses this boundary to claim ownership of maritime territory, even prgtoken though the United Nations International Court of Justice rejected its claims on that territory in 2016. prgtoken The country's neighbors, including Vietnam and the Philippines, they certainly contest these claims as well. China appeals to this false boundary when its naval presence creeps into new areas of the South China Sea, and it intimidates boats, fishermen, and others from neighboring countries who cross that invisible line. prgtoken Now, ``Barbie,'' the movie, it is a great movie. Americans loved it this past weekend, but the ``Barbie'' movie, well, it treads a little too closely to depicting what looks like the nine-dash line. Hollywood needs to become aware of the ways that the CCP tends to push its propaganda. Use of the line is a trigger for geopolitical sensitivities, including its likeness on a map, even as part of a child-like drawing, that has real global ramifications. prgtoken Now, you may say: Oh, come on, it is just a movie. But Vietnam's authorities banned ``Barbie'' from playing in theaters because of its offensive, alleged depiction of the nine-dash line. And members of the Philippines Government, they raised concerns as well, eventually deciding to blur the map line in showings across their country. prgtoken Despite the ``Barbie'' movie's content, allegations of Chinese propaganda in Hollywood are not child's play. China continues to take advantage of our unprecedented global media network to do real damage. It is no accident that China is financing some of the biggest films, and China runs the second largest box office in the world, second only to North America. prgtoken When a movie doesn't play in China, Hollywood loses literally billions o
DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY
Tracey Mann (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today to discuss the direction of our country. In America right now, we are facing a lot of problems. House s have done our part to pass commonsense solutions, but we still have a lot of work to do to get this country back on track. prgtoken In January, I released my commitment to the Big First, which is a legislative roadmap to create an economy that is strong, a Nation that is safe, a future that is built on freedom, and a government that is accountable. prgtoken Most of the glaring problems in America today fall into one of these four categories, and the reality is that House s have commonsense solutions to all of them, but the administration is refusing to listen. prgtoken We need to create an economy that is strong. Washington has a spending addiction. America is $32 trillion in debt, and the Federal Government is deficit spending to the tune of $1 trillion every year. The administration has canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and pushed Green New Deal regulations on small businesses, while attempting at the same time to do away with stepped-up basis and impose a new farm killer capital gains tax on agriculture producers. prgtoken Here is the commonsense solution: When you stop the wasteful spending, you don't have to tax people to death. When President took office, inflation was at just 1.4 percent. Inflation hit 6.4 percent in 2022. That is a tax on all Americans. prgtoken In the House of Representatives, we passed the Lower Energy Costs Act and the REIN IN Inflation Act to unleash American energy production and revitalize our economy, but the White House still isn't listening. America's position in the global marketplace is degrading, the value of the dollar has been plummeting for a year, and it is time to get our economy back on track before it is too late. prgtoken We also need to create a Nation that is safe. Violent crime is on the rise, the suicide rate is climbing, drug addiction and mental illness are spiking, and many parts of our country are basically in chaos. Meanwhile, we are still hearing calls from Washington to defund the police, and the administration refuses to address the humanitarian crisis at our southern border where fentanyl, criminals, and victims of human trafficking come across every day, unfortunately, into our country. prgtoken Here is the commonsense solution: House s passed legislation to secure the border, finish the wall, criminalize all forms of illicit fentanyl, and support the training and hiring of more State and local law enforcement officers. Today, we don't live in a Nation that is safe, but House s have already passed bills that would stop the chaos and usher in safety and order. prgtoken We also need to create a future that is built on freedom. Each year I host at least one townhall in every one of the 60 counties in the Big First District. As I travel across the State and meet with
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
John H. Rutherford (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-7-26

. I thank the gentleman, the chairman, for yielding. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this fiscal year 2024 military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill. prgtoken Despite some of the allegations from my friends on the other side of the aisle, this is a good bill. The budget process is not about how much you cut; it is about where you cut. That is what is important. prgtoken This bill is a good bill because it supports our veterans and our servicemembers. In fact, this bill fully funds President 's request for the VA and even exceeds the administration's request for military construction. prgtoken On top of that, the VA funding in this bill is $16.5 million more than the fiscal year 2023 enacted level--the enacted level. Let me repeat. This bill fully funds veterans' healthcare programs, period. prgtoken This includes keeping our promise that we just made to provide care to our toxic-exposed veterans, as we did last year through the Honoring our PACT Act. prgtoken I am also proud that we robustly funded military construction projects across the world, focusing on our barracks, our child development centers, to the tune of almost $800 million more than the administration's request. prgtoken This bill cuts wasteful spending, wasteful spending for programs that my constituents back home do not support, like critical race theory and DEI. prgtoken Now, they want to say that we have politicized the issue of abortion within this bill. The fact of the matter is, President 's administration, through rulemaking in DOD, put in this language--that is why we are taking it out because they put it in--that they were going to use taxpayer dollars to actually facilitate someone getting an abortion. prgtoken That is not what the taxpayers want. That is not what the Hyde amendment allows, and the partisanship that they referred to earlier is their partisanship. prgtoken This administration and almost every executive agency in this government now legislates by fiat. They pass rules, 100-page rules. Those aren't rules. That is legislation. That is law. We have got to stop that, and we are doing that in this bill. prgtoken I am very proud that in this bill we prohibit the VA from continuing to implement their abortion policy that they put in; it is nothing more than this administration's way of circumventing the Dobbs decision. prgtoken House s are delivering on our promise to care for the men and women who have served this Nation.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District. The history of this vital entity can be traced back to 1873 when Captain William Henry on Benyuard opened the Monroe-based branch to address surveys and conduct wreck removals on the Yazoo and Ouachita Rivers. Today, the Vicksburg District encompasses areas across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana containing nine major river basins and incorporating approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. prgtoken As U.S. Senator for Arkansas, I have worked closely with the Vicksburg District Corps leaders on many projects to benefit The Natural State. I have always appreciated our collaboration to strengthen navigation, conservation, recreation and water supply on the Ouachita River. To better serve the communities adjacent to tributaries and reservoirs in its jurisdiction, I have worked alongside the Corps to fund studies in the Ouachita River Basin and support its flood risk management mission on the Red and Ouachita Rivers. The District has also been instrumental in securing additional water supply for the city of Hot Springs and Central Arkansas Water via Lake Ouachita and Lake DeGray. prgtoken The Corps plays an important role in managing safety and environmental issues for our waterways and related structures. As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I proudly support these efforts and am committed to always working to ensure it has the funding and resources necessary to carry out its mission. prgtoken I look forward to continuing our partnership and delivering the resources to improve Corps infrastructure and facilities, and I congratulate the Vicksburg District on 150 years of managing water resources and responding to emergencies for the benefit of the entire region it serves and supports.
CONGRATULATING BRIAN HARMAN
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today to congratulate local Savannah ice cream parlor, Leopold's Ice Cream, for being named in Yelp's Top 100 ice cream shops for 2023. prgtoken While it is the many positive Yelp reviews that landed Leopold's on this list, the parlor's superb reputation has been built on over a century of hard work and success. prgtoken Leopold's was founded in 1919 by three brothers from Greece on the corner of Gwinnett and Habersham Streets in Savannah. prgtoken Streetcar riders would reportedly jump off the streetcar to get their super premium ice cream, which is handcrafted and uses original, secret recipes and techniques handed down in the Leopold family. prgtoken Over the years, Leopold's Ice Cream has received rave endorsements by many famous historical figures and celebrities alike. prgtoken , I congratulate Stratton Leopold and Leopold's Ice Cream on their tremendous achievement and thank them for being a joy and an inspiration to the great city of Savannah, Georgia, and the First Congressional District of Georgia.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Ryan K. Zinke (Republican, MT) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Madam Chair, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support my amendment to ensure the Department of Defense has the flexibility and authority to supply adequate power to defend this country and win in battle. prgtoken It is ironic that we are here today, and I can't believe we are talking about it, but we are. The latest rule by the administration to force the DOD to only use electricity for power and heating without backup, without any regard to situation, terrain, technology, or supply chain, is absurd. prgtoken Let's talk about energy security and what it looks like. The first 2 years of the administration, we went from 8.7 million barrels a day to 12.5 million barrels a day. We went from being energy vulnerable and dependent upon our allies and potential adversaries to being energy independent and, in some places, dominant. prgtoken By the way, we lowered emissions. Do you know why? Because America does energy better, cleaner, and more efficient than any other country on the face of this planet. prgtoken Let's talk about the administration and what this does. It puts our national security at risk. prgtoken First, let's talk about supply chains. In the EV world, where are the minerals mined? Who controls the minerals, the processing, the manufacturing? Who controls the solar cells, the components that make up the EV world? China. prgtoken It is ironic that the moment we become energy independent, we are now moving to more dependency on our allies and what could be our adversaries. prgtoken Secondly, let's look at the cost. How much does it cost in the world we live in? We are looking at budgets and savings and the future. What this does is it raises the cost of construction, and there is no answer to the supply chain. Just on mining critical minerals alone, it would take a 2,000 percent increase for 20 years to meet the energy demands of batteries today. Yet, this administration puts this rule in, and by the way, good luck mining in the United States. The only thing this administration is approving is gravel pits. prgtoken Let's talk about the environment and disposal. Where do 90 percent of the solar cells go today? To landfills across this great Nation. How about the turbine blades? How about the batteries? Where are the batteries going? How do we remove the toxins? Do you know what? There is no answer. There is no answer for the supply chain in the processing and manufacturing, and there is no answer for the disposal. prgtoken Madam Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman from Florida that our oceans are precious, absolutely precious. Ninety percent of the plastics in the ocean come from four rivers in China. I can go over a list of the environmental atrocities in China. prgtoken Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to vote for America, vote for American energy, and stop this absurdity that is going to cost lives because we won't be able to power this country. prgtoken Do you think we are having proble
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-7-26

I appreciate the comments that I heard this morning from Senator Klobuchar and appreciate her leadership and efforts to see that the Afghan Adjustment Act becomes law. I think I am followed by my colleague on the Veterans Committee, Senator Blumenthal from Connecticut. prgtoken This has been a bipartisan effort to make certain that legislation was drafted, introduced, and that lives were protected and changed. From my perspective, one of the saddest days--or few days--of my time as a U.S. Senator was when the United States withdrew from Afghanistan--not necessarily the withdrawal but the manner in which it occurred and the number of people--some Americans, many of them Afghans who helped Americans during our time in Afghanistan--who were left behind and the manner in which those who were able to escape, what they had to endure in many instances to do so. prgtoken As we approach the second anniversary of this disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, many of those Afghans who escaped to the United States now face--continue to face--uncertainty in their lives-- uncertainty as their original parole status is set to expire soon. Most of that status for their legal presence in the United States expires 2 years from their arrival to the United States. And in many instances, that is now the month of August 2023. prgtoken I joined my colleague Senator Klobuchar in introducing the Afghan Adjustment Act to make certain that Afghans who sought refuge in the United States are able to apply for a permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting. prgtoken This amendment, this legislation, is now an amendment pending on the National Defense Authorization Act. I hope we are able to have a vote on this amendment--that it is included, the vote occurs, and I hope that vote is successful. prgtoken This amendment establishes a pathway for Afghan partners to begin a more certain and, perhaps, new life. prgtoken The rushed and chaotic withdrawal created a potential loophole for bad actors to be admitted to the United States. So if you are interested in our national security--which I know we all are--this amendment establishes a critical vetting process to reduce the threats to that national security. Failing to pass this amendment, failing for this bill to become law, means that none of the refugees will undergo the necessary additional vetting. Undergoing that vetting then can create the opportunity for certainty in the lives of those Afghan refugees who are here. prgtoken For two decades, countless Afghans stood by our servicemembers and risked their lives and their families' lives to support our troops in Afghanistan. This withdrawal and the current circumstance resulted in more than 1,000 contacts with my office asking for help in getting someone out of Afghanistan, someone who served side by side with a soldier from Fort Riley--our hometown pastor's daughter and husband-- missionaries, Christian missiona
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-7-26

reserving the right to object, I rise today to object to the quick passage of H.R. 4470, which seeks to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program. prgtoken How could anybody be against that? I am actually for it. We should have terrorism standards. But--you know what--we always had these before 9/11. How did it work before the government got involved? prgtoken Well, companies had to insure things. If you had a $100-million electric plant and it was at risk for sabotage or a fire or a disruption to the community, you had insurance, and insurance required that you have a fence. I mean, these things happen. It is not as if safety for our utilities and public chemical plants didn't exist before 9/11. So there are ways that the marketplace would take care of this. prgtoken This measure, though, which would reauthorize this regulatory program for another 2 years, I think is being rushed through the Senate without due consideration or, really, any consideration at all. The Homeland Security Committee has jurisdiction over the program, yet we have not had any hearings to discuss this program or its effectiveness. prgtoken This is part of the problem of government is we tend to reauthorize things without ever examining whether they work, what works, what doesn't work. Some programs might need more money; some programs might need less money. And we might ask ourselves: Do we have any money? prgtoken We are $31 trillion, $32 trillion in debt. We borrow about $1 trillion every year. It is easy to be for stuff. Everybody has got something good. Everybody is for something, but where does the money come from? We haven't really had any hearing to discuss this program or its effectiveness since the last time it was authorized, nor has the committee considered any legislation to reform the program. prgtoken This program is a regulatory program. It is hundreds of regulations, and it was established to prevent the misuse of hazardous chemicals. But it also fails to understand that every company has a self-incentive to protect hazardous chemicals that is built into the nature of the way they do business. prgtoken Facilities that store certain quantities of designated chemicals of interest, though, under this legislation, must undergo a risk assessment inspection every 2 years. prgtoken If it is not reauthorized? It has been going on for 20 years. My guess is that the vast majority, if not all, of the utilities and chemical plants in this country have undergone this. My guess is, if the program didn't exist, they would still all have fences and barbed wire and protections against terrorism because they want to protect their investment. prgtoken The requirement, though, through government places a burden on business, impeding their potential growth and creating unsurmountable barriers to entry for those who find the regulatory compliance too cumbersome and expensive to even attempt to break into the sect
CONGRATULATING MAJOR CHRISTOPHER MATTHAI
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican, AS) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today to thank Major Christopher Matthai for his dedicated service to the American Samoa and all the Pacific Islands as a U.S. Army Liaison in the Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison. prgtoken In American Samoa, our men and women of the Armed Forces are very important to us. The people of our islands take great pride in being patriotic Americans and our people are known for a high rate of service in our military. In particular, our U.S. Army recruiting center ranks number one in the nation in enlistment rate. prgtoken To that end I would like to recognize all the work MAJ Matthai has done to serve our country throughout his career, so far. He enlisted in 1999 and was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2009 he earned a direct commission through the Army Reserve. prgtoken He has an extensive list of military awards and decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters. He was awarded the Mark and Debbie Kennedy Frontiers of Freedom award and the Dean of the Business School Merit award. He is a graduate from the University of Baltimore, receiving a Master of Business Administration from there and receiving another Master's in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. prgtoken In congratulating this outstanding officer today, we also express our deep appreciation to all who serve, including the many in uniform from American Samoa serving with distinction all over the world. prgtoken I thank Christopher for his outstanding leadership and his commitment to our Soldiers, American Samoa, and our great Nation. Best wishes to him and his family as they depart Washington, D.C for Indiana and his next duty assignment. I thank him for his service and his time dedicated to our beautiful island. prgtoken God bless you on your journey (Fa'amanuia le Atua i ou ala. Soifua.)