mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO GRACE ABDALLAH
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-7-25

today I recognize Grace Abdallah, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. prgtoken Grace is a graduate of O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, she is attending the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS, where she is pursuing a degree in business. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Grace for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
REMEMBERING OFFICER JAKE WALLIN OF SAINT MICHAEL, MINNESOTA
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, MN) \u2014 2023-7-25

I rise today in memory of Officer Jake Wallin, a brave young veteran from Saint Michael, Minnesota. prgtoken On July 14, while responding to a crash in south Fargo, a gunman shot prgtoken and killed Jake and wounded two of his fellow officers and one civilian. prgtoken Without hesitation, to protect those whom he served, Officer Jake Wallin made the ultimate sacrifice. prgtoken My prayers go out to the Wallin family. Please know that the people of western Minnesota share your loss and we pray for Jake's family and for his law enforcement family. prgtoken , let us never take for granted the heroes who walk among us.
BIDENOMICS IS FAILING FAMILIES
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2023-7-25

President has continued his fabricated excuses for omics. His message is not reality understood by American families. prgtoken According to the New York Post op-ed by Brian Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute: `` `omics' is a record of failure,'' and the President will spend $5 trillion over the next decade. This spending is ``driving prices upward by more than 16 percent . . . since the President took office, at a cost of more than $10,000 for the typical household,'' and hourly compensation has fallen by 5 percent. ``When incomes cannot keep pace with inflation and families are falling behind, few other economic variables matter.'' prgtoken fails to recognize that inflation reached the highest rate in 40 years under his watch of borrow, tax, and spend, and it is failing families and destroying jobs. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America with open borders.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-7-25

I need to begin my remarks today by acknowledging two solemn anniversaries. prgtoken Yesterday marked 25 years since a deranged gunman shattered the calm of a summer afternoon here at the Capitol, 25 years since two brave members of the United States Capitol Police--Jacob Joseph Chestnut and Detective John Michael Gibson--paid the ultimate price to keep us safe. prgtoken The senseless tragedy of July 24, 1998, robbed two families of beloved husbands and fathers. It deprived fellow officers of devoted colleagues and friends. But that day, the sacrifice of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson saved lives. They protected the lawmakers and staff who come here to work, the tourists who come here to encounter the heart of our democracy, and the institutions of Congress themselves. And they reminded an entire nation of the vital service the men and women of the Capitol Police render honorably every day. prgtoken Time will not heal the pain of losing these fine men, but in a special way today, I know my colleagues join me in extending our sympathies to the families of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson and to their comrades in the Capitol Police. America will never forget their service and sacrifice. Kentucky Flooding prgtoken , tomorrow will mark 1 year since the brave people of Eastern Kentucky endured some of the worst flooding in the Commonwealth's history. Heavy rains and rising water caused mass evacuations and over 40 deaths, including a number of children. Roads turned to rapids, neighborhoods were swept away overnight, and families were left stranded. prgtoken In communities like Lost Creek, where I stood with Jackson Mayor Laura Thomas, not a single home was left untouched. From Lost Creek to communities and counties like Pike, Letcher, Knott, and Breathitt, I saw similar scenes of devastation and heard the painful stories of families displaced by the floods. But in the face of devastation, Kentucky's first responders rushed to help neighbors in their time of need. prgtoken As the full scope of the disaster became clear, I worked with leaders at FEMA to cut through redtape and encouraged a rapid Federal response. I made sure that Eastern Kentucky received big investments in recovery and that local leaders got more autonomy to restore communities, rebuild homes, and revitalize the economy. prgtoken Last year's tragedy tested Eastern Kentucky's resolve, and today, there is still work to be done. But Kentuckians are resilient. We rise up to the big challenges. I will continue to work with folks in Eastern Kentucky to build their communities back even stronger than before. U.S. Supreme Court prgtoken , on an entirely different matter, on the Judiciary Committee spent last Thursday considering the best way to reach from article I of the Constitution into article III and tell a coequal branch of government how t
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2023-7-25

I rise today and join my colleague Senator Cramer to pay tribute to a truly exceptional young man, Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin. prgtoken Tomorrow, the Fargo community will gather to honor Officer Wallin, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on July 14. The Senate's debate on the National Defense Authorization Act prevents both myself and Senator Cramer from being there in person. So we wanted to do what we could to pay our respects here to Officer Wallin on the Senate floor. prgtoken As a member of the Minnesota National Guard, he served both in Afghanistan and in Iraq. His platoon captain had this to say of Officer Wallin: Jake was that individual that you could always trust. Any time that you asked him to step up or do anything, there was no hesitation. prgtoken That dedication to service continued after his deployments to the Middle East. Following his time overseas, Jake made his home in Fargo, ND. He graduated from the Fargo Police Academy and joined the Fargo Police Department because, as he put it, ``I've always wanted to work in some sort of position that had purpose behind my job. Police officer is always what came to me.'' prgtoken Jake had only been on the job since April, but his impact on the community will not be forgotten. Police Chief Zibolski said that, even in his final moments, he was thinking of his fellow officers and trying to save the lives of those fellow officers. prgtoken My wife Mikey and I send our sincerest condolences also to his parents Jeff and Amy, his brother Brady, his fiancee Winter, and all of Jake's loved ones. prgtoken At the same time, we continue to pray for his fellow officers, especially Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, who were injured in the ambush. They were both shot as well. We are also grateful to Officer Zach Robinson, who was able to put an end to this horrific incident and whose bravery will never be forgotten. These peace officers have a long road to recovery and will continue to be in our prayers. prgtoken This tragic event is a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officials face each and every day and of the enormous debt we owe them and their families for the sacrifices they make to keep our communities safe. We are truly grateful to our peace officers--all of them--whether they are in North Dakota or anywhere across this amazing country. We truly value them. We owe them so much, and we are truly grateful to all of them. prgtoken Particularly, we honor Officer Jake Wallin for making the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. May God bless him and his family. prgtoken .
FUNDING AGRICULTURE AND MILITARY PRIORITIES
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-7-25

I also rise today to comment on the two appropriations bills before the House this week and to point out that I would like to thank the Appropriations Committee for doing a good job on both bills. prgtoken We are going to take up, this week, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. prgtoken I am proud to say that the U.S. has the strongest military in the world, but I recently ran into someone on break and heard about the horrible conditions, almost embarrassing conditions--you have to kind of wonder about the military--that they had to live in. prgtoken In any event, when we put together this bill, we had to make sure that the living conditions for the military were such that they are, first of all, appropriate for such brave fighting men and women, and, secondly, that we continue to attract and retain our people who signed up for the military. prgtoken It is apparent, therefore, that of all the appropriations bills that will come up, the military construction and veterans affairs bill, contrary to what we have been hearing around here in partisan attacks, does contain an increase in funding over last year's bill--just about the only segment of the government that does. prgtoken Meanwhile, I am glad to say that the agriculture bill contains a significant reduction over last year. Why do we have to spend less? For one thing because the excessive spending is where the inflation comes from. With too many dollars sloshing around the U.S. economy, those dollars have led to the spiraling, out-of-control cost of housing and the out-of-control cost of automobiles. prgtoken The s have done a good job of, at least with regard to discretionary spending, finally saying we should have a year in which the overall level of spending is going down. prgtoken First of all, I would like to point out some of the things that are funded in the agriculture bill. We continue to have critical investments in agriculture research and rural broadband. prgtoken I will tell you, I have a rural state. I have 10 counties. When I show up at my town's association, again and again, I hear about the need for more rural broadband for health purposes and also to keep up- to-date on all research and anything else that we have to do to help people in the rural areas. prgtoken I am also glad that we are going to prevent the purchase of agricultural land from foreign countries that will inevitably lead to a loss in this country of our sovereignty. prgtoken We are going to, even more importantly, eliminate the USDA's diversity, equity, and inclusion office, which I think requires a little bit more of a discussion. It is not that huge of an office, but I think the effort of President to continue to emphasize this equity, diversity, is misplaced. prgtoken The goal of these offices is to, I
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2023-7-25

I rise today to bid farewell to a good friend, a great confidant, and a strong leader: my chief of staff of over 18 years, Joel Brubaker. prgtoken I am joined in the Galleries by many folks who have worked with him, who know him, and who love him just as I do. prgtoken Joel started with me in the year 2005, when I was just entering my third term in the U.S. House. His experience in working with Bill Shuster and Bob Walker--both Pennsylvania Representatives from Joel's home State of Pennsylvania--prepared him well to head up a growing and aggressive congressional office from West Virginia. prgtoken Joel's path to Capitol Hill started in Lancaster, PA. He was born there and was raised by his mother Eleanor. I haven't had the chance to meet Eleanor yet, but from what Joel has told me, she is a strong and independent woman. prgtoken Joel is also the youngest of four boys. My husband and I have always said that, no matter what the problem is, big or small, Joel handles it exactly like the youngest of four boys would--calmly, for the most part, and like it is no big deal. prgtoken After graduating from high school, Joel went to Gettysburg College and, later, picked up an MBA at American University. prgtoken His talents as a legislative director for then-Congressman Shuster led me to realize that those very same talents were perfect for our office to help us make decisions, to hire people. And do you know what? The results speak for themselves. prgtoken Last week, we had a gathering of well-wishers to send Joel off. The room was full--full--of folks from hockey players to former employees to coworkers to friends from West Virginia to neighbors and family, including my very own family, because our families are very much together. It was great to see so many individuals from all walks of life gathered in one place to wish Joel a good sendoff from a place that he truly loves. prgtoken Speaking of things that Joel truly loves, he has quite a few favorites in his life. First of all, Katrina, his wife of many years-- who is one of my favorites too--and their two terrific children, Kat and Heath. Believe it or not, I remember Kat and Heath's births and their birthdays. Kat was a page here a couple of weeks ago, and we loved it. In fact, Katrina was 6 months pregnant with Kat when I interviewed Joel for the job of chief of staff, and now Kat is going to be away for her freshman year at Ole Miss. prgtoken Ice hockey is another one of Joel's favorite things. Whether it is pond hockey in freezing New Hampshire, going to a Caps game, watching his kids play hockey, or the Capitol Members hockey game--which, I must admit, he is a star there--he just loves the game. And he has the lineup of framed jerseys in his office to prove it. prgtoken Joel loves beef jerky; Chick-fil-A; Disney World and crazy rides; decorating his house outrageously for Halloween and Christmas--for those of you who live in Arlington, yes, that is his
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-7-25

I rise today to recognize DaySpring Cards president James Barnett, who is retiring after 42 years of service with the world's largest Christian expression company. prgtoken James is a business leader, family man, person of faith, community supporter, and author. A native of Northwest Arkansas, he holds a bachelor of science degree in business from John Brown University and an MBA from the Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas. prgtoken After beginning his DaySpring career as an intern, James was inspired to expand the company's reach into well-known retail stores. His four- decade commitment to DaySpring led to a successful career that incorporated his dedication to business and ministry. prgtoken Since 1994, James has led DaySpring with humility, strength, and a servant's heart. His leadership has been instrumental in the company's mission of sharing God's word over the course of four decades. Even in times of deep division in our Nation, his stewardship has helped encourage countless people to live out their faith with devotion and positivity. prgtoken His impact extends far beyond DaySpring. James has been very involved in organizations around his community including athletic, charitable, and scholastic boards. He served on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and in 2020, he was board chairman of the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Walton School of Business Advisory Board and is a member of the WorkMatters board. prgtoken I congratulate James on his faithful service and wish him the best in his retirement, where I know he will be happy to spend more time with his wife Marilyn, their children, and grandchildren. I know he will continue working in different but meaningful ways to spread God's love.
PROTECTING AND SECURING CHEMICAL FACILITIES FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS ACT OF 2023
August Pfluger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-7-25

. Madam , in 2006, Congress authorized the Department of Homeland Security to regulate security practices at chemical facilities to reduce the risk of terrorists triggering an intentional release or stealing chemicals for use in an attack elsewhere. prgtoken CFATS, as it is known, requires certain facilities, whose possession of chemicals above certain levels present high levels of security risk, to assess their vulnerabilities and implement security measures to minimize terrorism risks posed by these vulnerabilities. prgtoken On July 27, this Thursday, the statutory authority for the CFATS program prgtoken is scheduled to sunset. As I said previously at a Homeland Security markup of this legislation, I will support this legislation to cleanly extend the program for an additional 2 years, but I am disappointed that it is such a short authorization period. prgtoken Companies of all sizes invest millions of dollars into CFATS compliance, and they deserve the certainty of knowing what the long- term standards for compliance will be as they look to reinvest money into technologies and infrastructure. prgtoken It is important to note that these facilities fall under a variety of sectors critical to our communities, including energy and utilities, food production, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, laboratories, and more. prgtoken I will support this legislation today to cleanly extend the program, but I hope that this body can work towards a long-term reauthorization in the future. It is clear that the threats that gave rise to CFATS persist today, and we must take these threats seriously. prgtoken In addition, it is also important to note that industry is asking for this authorization, which is unlike some of the other regulatory overreach that we see from the administration today. What we are talking about is industry asking to work with government. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4470.
RECOGNIZING FIRESIDE WINERY
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-7-25

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Fireside Winery of Marengo, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Husband and wife Bill and Rona Wyant have always had a passion for wine. In 2007, they decided to start a winery of their own, establishing Fireside Winery in Marengo. Fireside Winery allowed the Wyant family to get back into agriculture but in a new way for their family farm. The Wyant family farm has been producing Iowa staples like corn and soybeans in Eastern Iowa for five generations, and the winery was an excellent opportunity for the Wyants to diversify their family business. Fireside Winery produces red, white, and sparkling wines from Iowa-grown grapes on their 22-acre vineyard. Fireside Winery offers wine tastings in their tasting room, winery tours, live music, and a beautiful venue for weddings. prgtoken The Wyant's hard work has paid off. In 2020, the Iowa Wine Growers Association awarded Fireside Winery's Storyteller white wine the Best of Show/Governor's Cup. Bottled in 2018, the Storyteller White was named silver at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in 2018, silver at the Jefferson Cup Invitational in 2018, and gold at the Mid-American Wine Competition in 2017. In June 2023, the Fireside Winery's Marengo sparkling wine made history when it was chosen to christen the USS Iowa SSN 797 nuclear submarine. The christening was held in Groton, CT, and Fireside Winery was represented by operations manager Bill and Rona's daughter Cassie Bott and her husband, winemaker Zach Bott. prgtoken Fireside Winery is actively involved in the Marengo community, hosting the Wine Run 5K. Rona Wyant serves on the board of Iowa County 100+ Who Care, an organization that supports local Iowa County charitable causes like the Hope For All Foundation, a cancer support group. Bill and Rona Wyant are members of the Wine Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association. prgtoken Fireside Winery's commitment to providing quality wines in Iowa is clear. I want to congratulate Bill and Rona Wyant and the entire team at Fireside Winery for their continued dedication to the Iowa wine and agriculture industry. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.
FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-7-25

I will take a moment to congratulate Annelise Bell, a student at Pella Christian High School on her recent Team USA placement at the world championships. She placed second among the Female Solo Junior 1 Division at the International Dance Organization's World Acrobatic Dance Championships in Mexico this past week. prgtoken The International Dance Organization is a nonprofit dance federation with over 90 member nations representing dancers from all continents. Annelise is such a talented young lady. I thank her for representing the United States and Iowa well. prgtoken , I wish a happy anniversary to my district representative John Kaufmann and his wife Rachel on their second wedding anniversary on July 31. Happy anniversary, John and Rachel. prgtoken Happy 40th wedding anniversary to my very good friends Kurt and Kathy Haller on August 13. prgtoken Happy 44th wedding anniversary to Mary and Kirk Ferentz this August. prgtoken I especially wish a very happy 40th anniversary on September 4 to my husband, Curt. Happy anniversary, honey.