mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--Continued
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-27

as a strong supporter of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, I am keenly aware of the important role that appropriate and effective oversight plays in ensuring that support can continue. I support independent, effective oversight and believe we should be doing all that we can to make sure those oversight mechanisms are strong and that our inspectors general have the resources they need to carry out their work. prgtoken But given that we have an existing framework, given that there are three inspectors general who have been working day in and out, effectively, to conduct such oversight, I do not think we should create new offices and additional layers without evidence that the current framework is not working. So while I appreciate that my colleagues share the same goals of ensuring we have robust oversight of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, I do not agree that these amendments are the best way to achieve that goal. prgtoken The Wicker amendment would create a new office that could impede the work that is ongoing, not enhance it. There is an existing statutory framework for designating a lead inspector general. I have not heard a good case for why that framework should not be used here. prgtoken The inspectors general from the Department of State, USAID, and Department of Defense have been on the ground in Ukraine, conducting work of virtually all U.S. assistance involving multiple Agencies. They have an established working group that ensures oversight is efficient and not duplicative. Creating a new office, with the need for new staff and potentially conflicting roles, would likely make those efforts less, not more, efficient. prgtoken The Paul amendment would add further and unnecessary complexity to ongoing oversight efforts. It would likely impair ongoing oversight by drawing personnel away from the inspectors general already engaged in oversight work. Instead of ramping up current efforts, inspectors general would spend time deconflicting or sorting out personnel issues. It is also unclear how an expanded Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction--SIGAR--would successfully pivot to oversight of Ukraine assistance or how it would an expanded mandate would be funded. prgtoken I am committed to ensuring that we have robust, independent, effective oversight of all U.S. assistance to Ukraine. But the answer to ensuring that we have successful mechanisms for such oversight is not to create new structures and additional layers of bureaucracy. It is to make sure those who already have the tools, expertise, and resources to conduct oversight and audit spending, have sufficient resources to do so, and for us to hold them to account. That is precisely what I intend to do, and I call on my colleagues in this body to do the same.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Katherine M. Clark (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-7-27

I appreciate the leader for yielding. prgtoken , I think we have very different definitions of success for the American people. As , we have been focused and have been successful in growing our economy by growing the middle class, lowering healthcare costs, making sure that we are addressing climate change, and having safer communities. prgtoken Now the Conference is saying they are sending us home for 6 prgtoken weeks without funding the government? prgtoken We have 1 bill out of 12 completed because extremists are holding your Conference hostage. That is not the full story. The extremists are holding the American people hostage. prgtoken We will have 12 days when we return to fund the government and to live up to the job the American people sent us here to do. prgtoken This is a reckless march to a MAGA shutdown, and for what? In pursuit of a national abortion ban? prgtoken Is that what we are doing here? prgtoken The American people see through this. They know who is fighting for them and fighting for solutions. prgtoken Your time is coming, . The American people are watching, and they are going to demand accountability. prgtoken We should be staying here, completing these appropriation bills, stripping out the toxic, divisive, and bigoted riders that have been put on these bills and getting back to work for freedom, for our economy, and the American family.
IN APPRECIATION OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN SHAW FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE
Jake Auchincloss (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-7-27

today I recognize Lieutenant General John Edwin Shaw of the United States Space Force for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Lieutenant General Shaw is retiring from active service after serving for three years as the Deputy Commander of United States Space Command and 33 total years of service to the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force. prgtoken Lt. Gen. Shaw was born and raised in Norton, Massachusetts. He is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He received a B.S. degree in astronautical engineering and a minor in Russian language in 1990. After graduating from USAFA, Lt. Gen. Shaw attended the University of Washingtdn, earning his M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics. He also earned an M.A. in organizational management from the George Washington University, an M.A. in military operational arts and sciences from the Air Command and Staff College, and an M.S. in national security strategy from the National War College. Additionally, General Shaw was a senior executive fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School in 2010. prgtoken Lt. Gen. Shaw has held numerous leadership positions in a variety of air and space units, highlighted by operations tours in the 50th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, the 32nd Air Operations Group, and the Space Warfare Center. His operational commands have included the 4th Space Operations Squadron, the 50th Operations Group, and the Space Wing. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Shaw was dual hatted as the Commander, Combined Forces Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command, and Deputy Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. He also served as the Deputy Commander of Air Force Space Command, United States Air Force. prgtoken , Lt. Gen. Shaw has honorably dedicated his life to the service of our Nation and to developing our country's vital space capabilities. On behalf of a grateful Nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Lt. Gen. Shaw, his wife, Tonia, and their children, Rachel and Timothy. I wish them the very best as they continue their journey in civilian life.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-7-27

I want to urge passage of an amendment to reauthorize this critical housing law for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives, NAHASDA. This amendment would reauthorize NAHASDA for 7 years, promote greater local control over NAHASDA programs, streamline environmental reviews for Native housing projects, and incentivize private partnerships. prgtoken Senator Murkowski and I introduced a stand-alone bill to reauthorize NAHASDA, which cleared our committee unanimously. prgtoken This amendment is an important win for Native communities to address their urgent housing needs. It has gone through regular order and has been well studied for years. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this important measure.
SOCIAL SECURITY
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-7-27

I rise today, but first, before I begin, I want to associate myself with the remarks of Reverend Green. It is always great to be in the presence of someone who has performed so extraordinarily well and is indeed a great American. I congratulate, Joyce. prgtoken , I rise today to talk about the 88th birthday of Social Security, which will take place on August 14. We are calling upon Members all across this Nation joined by great groups like the National Committee to Preserve and Protect Social Security, Social Security Works, the AFL-CIO, and the list goes on, to please save the date as a date of action. It is a date of action because Congress hasn't taken any action. prgtoken It might interest people in the gallery to know that Congress hasn't done anything to enhance Social Security in more than 52 years. prgtoken We found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, a pandemic that in this country has impacted people over the age of 65 more severely than any other group. Slightly over a million people have perished. Over 856,000 were over the age of 65. prgtoken Those same individuals are the ones that because of global inflation have found themselves in the situation, as people on fixed incomes often do, where they are most severely hurt. prgtoken As Reverend King would say, ``the fierce urgency of now'' is upon the United States Congress. prgtoken What are we asking the United States Congress to do? prgtoken Vote. prgtoken How hard is that? prgtoken Whether it is in the United States Senate or whether it is in the House of Representatives, everybody claims how much they respect and love and admire Social Security. If that is true, then why don't we vote on it? prgtoken It hasn't been enhanced in 52 years. The last time something was done was in 1983. Ronald Reagan was President, Bob Dole ran the United States Senate, and Tip O'Neill was of the House. They extended Social Security at that time, its solvency, but they didn't do anything to enhance the program. prgtoken I dare say that things have changed a lot since Richard Nixon was President in terms of the cost of procuring goods and services in this country, and yet we have not done anything as a Congress to enhance the benefit of the more than 66 million people who are on Social Security. That number will exceed 70 million within a year and a half. Mr that is 70 million of our fellow Americans. prgtoken Here is the real deal: 5 million of them get below-poverty level checks from the government. After having worked all their lives, paid into a system to get an earned benefit, they find themselves getting a below-poverty level check because the United States Congress has not acted on their behalf. prgtoken , 23 million of our fellow Americans get taxed on their work in their job for what they are doing, and they shouldn't be. That tax should be eliminated. There needs to be an across-the-board increase for all Social Security recipients. prgtoken That is why
VERMONT FLOODING
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2023-7-27

I would like to address the Senate and describe the situation in Vermont. prgtoken On July 10, we had a catastrophic flood that affected parts of the entire State. What I would like to speak about today are a couple of things: one, where Vermont stands in the recovery and, two, to describe specifically damages to our agriculture community and our farming community. prgtoken Before I do start, I want to express my gratitude to the administration, to the FEMA folks who visited, to the Secretary of Transportation, who visited, and to the staff at FEMA, who have been working tirelessly to help Vermonters go through the very difficult process. prgtoken There are folks who have lost their homes or suffered significant damage to their homes, folks who have lost their businesses. We saw, when I was here originally, a photograph of Montpelier, where the entire downtown district was flooded, and the individuals in the farming community who have seen all of their work and all of their crops destroyed. prgtoken Senator Sanders and Congresswoman Balint and I are working as closely as we possibly can with Governor Scott, whose administration is totally dedicated to trying to help Vermonters recover. What did happen in Vermont affected homes, it affected infrastructure, it affected businesses, but it also affected the farming communities. prgtoken Earlier this week, Governor Scott and I visited the farm of Paul Mazza in Essex Junction. Paul has been farming for about 40 years, since he was 11 years old. The farmland that we see here along the river--as you can see, it has risen up so that it covers much of the acreage. The acreage included raspberries, blueberries, blackberries-- crops for which neighbors and Vermonters from all around look forward to coming to the Mazza farm and self-harvesting. prgtoken As Paul Mazza said to Governor Scott and to me, ``The people of Essex and the people of Vermont need my farm, and my farm needs the people of Vermont.'' prgtoken A custom in Vermont was for folks, with their families, to go to the Mazza farm and do their own picking. prgtoken He has about 40 acres that are dedicated to those extraordinary crops, and they have been destroyed. We walked that farm and saw the devastation. When the flooded waters rose up above the crops and then receded, it left a residue which destroyed them. He also has almost 300 acres of corn, feed corn, and about 250 acres of that were destroyed as well. prgtoken What we understand is that about 100,000 acres of forest and cropland have been affected by the flood. About 10,000 of those acres are in direct agricultural activity. prgtoken As for the vegetable crops from our small farmers, whose work is only paid for at the end of the season when they harvest and sell those crops, those crops are destroyed. So, with many of our smaller vegetable farmers, who are so important to community life and so important to getting good, nutritious food
HONORING FERNANDO VALENZUELA
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-27

I rise today to honor a man who inspired us to reach for the stars, Dr. Firouz Michael Naderi. prgtoken Dr. Naderi was born in Shiraz, Iran. He came to the United States and received an electrical engineering degree from the Iowa State University and the University of Southern California. prgtoken He returned to his native Iran, where he worked for the state remote sensing agency, but the turmoil of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 brought Dr. Naderi to the United States, where he served our country as part of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, otherwise known as JPL, in Pasadena, California. prgtoken When Dr. Naderi retired, NASA awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal and named an asteroid after him. prgtoken In his post-NASA career, Dr. Naderi was a vocal advocate for human rights and civil rights. He demonstrated the strength, power, and kindness of the Iranian community while speaking truth to power against all injustices. prgtoken I stand here to celebrate and honor the incredible life of my friend, Dr. Firouz Naderi, who was lost too soon last month. prgtoken Dr. Naderi was someone who saw no borders, no lines, no separating of people on this blue marble spinning around the Sun that we call Earth. prgtoken Dr. Firouz Naderi was born on March 15, 1946, and left Iran in 1964. In 1969, he earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State University and, in 1972, a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California; in 1996, a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. prgtoken When he returned to Iran, as I mentioned earlier, he was forced to leave his beloved country and came back to California, to the United States, where he pursued the distinguished career that has made him one of NASA and JPL's most amazing scientists. prgtoken He was JPL's associate director for project formulation and strategy and director of solar system exploration. In 2000, he became head of the Mars Exploration Program and, in 2005, received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal. prgtoken From 2000 to 2012, he led six consecutive, successful American missions to Mars--four landers and two orbiters--on January 4, 2004, landing the Spirit rover and on January 25, 2004, landing the Opportunity rover. prgtoken He was a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He was a board member of various organizations, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, Arasteh-Amin Foundation, Keep Children in School Foundation, and Iranica Encyclopedia. prgtoken In February 2016, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid after Dr. Naderi. In 2017, he accepted the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, which was by Asghar Farhadi and called ``The Salesman,'' with Anousheh Ansari. prgtoken I am honored to be a United States Congressman, and it gives me great pleasure and honor to take the opportunity and privilege of honoring people like Dr. Naderi.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-7-27

I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 198, adoption of the Warnock amendment to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces (199). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 199, adoption of the Cruz amendment to provide remedies to members of the Armed Forces discharged or subject to adverse action under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate (421). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 200, adoption of the Wicker amendment to establish the Office of the Lead Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance (1055). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 201, adoption of the Paul amendment to provide for the independent and objective conduct and supervision of audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to Ukraine for military, economic, and humanitarian aid (438). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 202, adoption of the Barrasso amendment to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a Nuclear Fuel Security Program, expand the American Assured Fuel Supply Program, establish an HALEU for Advanced Nuclear prgtoken Reactor Demonstration Projects Program, and submit a report on a civil nuclear credit program, and to enhance programs to build workforce capacity to meet critical mission needs of the Department of Energy (999). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 203, adoption of the Sanders amendment to reduce military spending (1030). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 204, adoption of the Marshall amendment to prohibit the flying, draping, or other display of any flag other than the flag of the United States at public buildings (874). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 205, adoption of the Kennedy amendment to prohibit allocations of Special Drawing Rights at the International Monetary Fund for perpetrators of genocide and state sponsors of terrorism without congressional authorization (1034). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 206, adoption of the Gillibrand amendment to amend title XXXIII of the Public Health Service Act with respect to funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (1065). Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 207, adoption of the Hawley amendment to extend the period for filing claims under t
LARRY TERKEL IS CHAMPION OF THE WEEK
Emilia Strong Sykes (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-7-27

I rise today to recognize Larry Terkel from Hudson as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week. prgtoken Larry recently competed at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, bringing home an impressive seven gold medals. Held every 2 years, the National Senior Games brings athletes over the age of 50 from around the country to compete in all sports. prgtoken At the age of 76, Mr. Terkel won individual gold medals in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, and the 50- yard butterfly. He also won two gold medals in the 4-by-50 mixed medley relay and the 4-by-50 mixed freestyle relay. prgtoken While expanding our community's longstanding legacy as the birthplace of champions this year, he also continues to hold the nationwide records for the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at the Senior Games and is a U.S. Masters Swimming national champion. prgtoken When he is not in the pool, Mr. Terkel is a professor at Kent State University and a YouTube yoga sensation. Mr. Terkel is proof that no matter your age, your physical condition can be optimal, and you should never count anyone out. prgtoken , I congratulate Mr. Larry Terkel on earning seven gold medals and representing Ohio's 13th Congressional District. He has made us all proud.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-7-27

today, I am introducing legislation that is the product of at least 18 years of collaborative work by a diverse group of stakeholders in Virginia, including local recreation groups, conservationists, timber industry representatives, and sportsmen. prgtoken The Shenandoah Mountain Act would designate more than 92,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest lands in Virginia as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, SMNSA. prgtoken Congress designates national scenic areas to protect the natural and scenic value of lands that are also compatible with recreational uses such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, mountain biking, among others. prgtoken The SMNSA encompasses four wilderness areas: Skidmore Fork, Little River, Ramsey's Draft, and Lynn Hollow, which in total include 10 peaks above 4,000 feet and 150 miles of trails to attract campers, hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen, birders, and equestrians. The legislation also establishes a 5,779-acre wilderness area at Beech Lick Knob, located 10 miles to the north. prgtoken The SMNSA will protect important water resources, as it covers headwaters for the Potomac and James Rivers and watersheds that provide drinking water for onburg, Staunton, and communities farther downstream, such as Washington, DC, and Richmond. This area is also a hotspot for biodiversity. Cold mountain streams in the area are a stronghold for native brook trout. Today's legislation would permanently protect these rivers and streams from industrial development. It would also help safeguard plant and wildlife habitat for black bears, wild turkeys, more than 250 species of birds, and at- risk species like the Cow Knob and Shenandoah Mountain salamanders. prgtoken The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area will provide a boost to the region's growing tourism industry. In 2021, the tourism economy directly employed 6,543 people and generated $728.5 million in Augusta, Rockingham, Bath, and Highland Counties, as well as onburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro. In addition to the direct benefits to tourism, James Madison University scientists estimate that lands within the SMNSA proposal already generate $13.7 million per year in other local benefits, including the value of the water supply. Designation of the SMNSA would further grow these benefits. prgtoken The challenges of the past 3 years have underscored that getting out into nature is critical to our health and well-being. I am proud that the Shenandoah Mountain Act will expand these opportunities within the George Washington National Forest for visitors near and far, while also boosting our local economies, protecting drinking water sources, and preserving the wildlife that makes this area so special. prgtoken The local governments of Staunton, Augusta, Rockingham, and onburg, along with over 400 businesses and organizations, have endorsed the new designation for the vast benefits it will have on