mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
John Hoeven (Republican, ND) \u2014 2023-4-20

recently I visited--as a matter of fact, this past week I was in South Korea and Taiwan, and I just want to describe what I learned there and talk about some ideas for advancing our interests in East Asia. prgtoken The trip convinced me even more that our highest priority should be to cultivate close security and economic relationships with our fellow ic and free market allies and partners in the region. This is the best way to deter conflict and advance prosperity both in the United States and across the region. prgtoken Let me start by addressing security. There is no shortage of threats to peace and stability in East Asia, from Kim Jong Un's missile program to China's threats to Taiwan. And we need to do three things in response. prgtoken First, we need to work closely with our allies and partners in the region to understand what they need to enhance deterrence and improve their ability to defend themselves. In South Korea, this means deepening our 70-year alliance and focusing on new challenges. In particular, we should look closely at expanding our efforts at missile defense--missile defense--for South Korea and also for Japan. prgtoken In Taiwan, this means accelerating delivery of critical systems that Taiwan has purchased through our Foreign Military Sales Program. Right now, they have almost $19.5 billion worth of military hardware that they have ordered and they are paying for that they are waiting to receive. Think how important that is. We are talking about F-16s. We are talking about missile-to-air defense. Think about how important those things are right now in terms of Taiwan's defense and deterrence--deterring the PRC's aggressive action in the Taiwan Strait. It also means thinking creatively with Taiwan's leaders about how we can jointly develop and produce near-term capabilities that will deter Chinese aggression as well and also providing training opportunities for Taiwan's defense forces. prgtoken Second, we need to emphasize the importance of a regional strategy that links like-minded allies, partners, and friends to preserve peace and stability and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. We have longstanding bilateral security alliances with South Korea as well as Japan, the Philippines, and other countries in the region. Right now, we are conducting military exercises with the Philippines. So we have these longstanding relationships and a longstanding defense relationship with Taiwan as well. prgtoken We need to build these alliances. These alliances support U.S. interests in the region and ensure that we are not forced to operate from North America when we seek to secure and stabilize the western Pacific because we have these allies working with us in the region. We should make every effort to turn our system of bilateral alliances into a broader network of freedom-loving people across the Indo-Pacific region. prgtoken We applaud the efforts of the Yoon gover
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-4-20

every job in America is important, but there is something special, sacred, even noble about a job that entails putting your life on the line to keep your fellow citizens safe, and that is the job of our firefighters. prgtoken In Alaska, firefighting season will be upon us soon. It can be brutal. In 2005, roughly 6 million acres of the State burned. That is about the size of Vermont. Think about the dedication and courage it takes to fight those fires, many of which are in rural parts of our States. It is only right that when firefighters come to Congress asking for assistance, that we give them the flexibility they truly need. prgtoken So why is my amendment necessary? Currently, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program only allows modification to existing fire stations rather than new facilities. prgtoken Many old firefighting facilities can't be modified. A 2021 report by the U.S. Fire Service found that 44 percent of fire stations are over 40 years old. The issue is even more acute in rural parts of our country where facilities have problems which cannot be fixed through maintenance and repair alone. For example, roughly 61 percent of fire stations over 40 years old exist in communities serving less than 10,000 people. prgtoken So, , my amendment is simple. It costs zero dollars. It gives discretion to the firefighters in rural communities to allow Federal grants to small communities of less than 10,000 people to use the Federal funds to build new stations. That is it: a simple, commonsense amendment backed by data to help firefighters in small communities in America who often don't have the tax base to build new facilities. prgtoken We should help them. We all have rural communities that need this help. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-4-20

if I may say to our colleague from Washington, I remember, as you certainly do, that 1992 was declared the ``Year of the Woman,'' and a number of women were elected to the Senate. But you were the leader of the group, and you have had an extraordinarily successful career, and I wanted you to know that people on both sides of the aisle admire your service. And congratulations.
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF NATHAN LEIKIP
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2023-4-20

I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Nathan Leikip, a Wyomingite who bravely defended this country and touched the hearts of all of those around him. prgtoken Upon graduation from Sheridan High School, Nathan enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving honorably for 4 years. Following the tragic attacks on 9/11, compelled by his devotion to service and love of his Nation, Nathan returned to Active Duty in the Army, completing multiple deployments in Iraq. prgtoken During his combat deployments, Nathan was twice wounded from attacks on his convoy and received two Purple Hearts and the Army Commendation Medal with Combat V. prgtoken Following his military service, Nathan continued to serve others as a sheriff's deputy in Bayfield, Colorado, for many years. prgtoken Tragically, Nathan took his own life after a long, hard-fought battle with PTSD and other sustained injuries from his service. Nathan was a child of God and a patriot who will not be forgotten. prgtoken His leadership, compassion, and desire to help others will be forever remembered by his community and should serve as a model for all Americans each and every day. prgtoken To Nathan's family, I offer my sincere prayers in this difficult time of mourning, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of Nathan Leikip, honoring his service to our Nation, and standing with his family in these difficult times.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-4-20

since President took office just a little over 2 years ago, more than 348,000 unaccompanied children have crossed our southern border. To be clear, these 348,000 children did not arrive in the United States by themselves. Children often make this dangerous journey with friends, neighbors, or other relatives, and, of course, in the custody of transnational criminal organizations--or what are otherwise known as coyotes--that get paid to smuggle people into our country. prgtoken The sad reality is that many of these children come to the country in the care of these cartels, human smugglers, coyotes. Parents pay smugglers thousands of dollars to bring their child to the United States, but the truth is, the money doesn't guarantee their safety. The journey to the southern border is not easy or safe. Children are subjected to violence, exploitation, and sexual abuse on the way to the United States. Why in the world would anybody think, if I turn my child over to a criminal organization that will smuggle them into the United States--how in the world would they ever have the confidence that they would be safely transported here? So it, sadly, is not surprising. prgtoken As folks along the southern border in our border communities in Texas will tell you, trying to help these migrant children when they get here is no small task. There are laws that spell out how long a child can remain in custody, as well as the resources they must receive, things like, of course, food, water, medical care, and adequate supervision. And I believe we do have a responsibility, once those children get to our border and into our custody, to make sure they are safe and well cared for. prgtoken Given the huge number of children crossing the border every week due to the administration's open border policies, that job--caring for these unaccompanied children--has gotten nothing but more difficult, and we have seen the harrowing consequences. prgtoken At the start of the administration, holding cells in detention facilities were lined with children and other teens sleeping on gym mats, with only a thin aluminum blanket to keep them warm. Thousands of children were stuck in Border Patrol facilities, which were never designed to hold children in the first place, but many were detained out of necessity beyond the 72-hour limit contained in the law at massive public facilities like the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. These were used as emergency shelters because there was nowhere else to put them. prgtoken But, unfortunately, most of the public lost interest in these children after that point. Certainly, the administration appears to have lost interest in these children once they made it past the border and were released from these various detention facilities, because once children were placed with sponsors in the United States, save for a couple of isolated reports that should have served as warning beacons, Co
TRIBUTE TO TIM STRACK
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-4-20

I rise today to honor and pay tribute to City of Riverside Fire Department Captain Tim Strack, who passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Tim was a dedicated leader in Riverside, and he will be deeply missed. prgtoken Tim joined the Riverside Fire Department 28 years ago. Throughout his career, Tim performed his job with courage and dedication to improving public safety in the community. He was also a tireless advocate for the firefighters who worked beside him. For the past 21 years, Tim served as the President of the Riverside City Firefighters' Association, Local 1067, and as California Professional Firefighters 1st District Vice President for 10 years. He was a leading voice for improving the working conditions of the firefighters in our community, our state, and our country. prgtoken Under Tim's leadership, the Riverside Fire Department received a Class 1 Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office, the highest fire protection rating offered. In addition to his legacy of leadership within the Riverside Fire Department, Tim will be remembered for the strong bonds and friendships he developed throughout our community. Personally, I was privileged to call him a friend. I always looked forward to joining Tim and his firefighter colleagues for dinner during their annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. prgtoken Tim is survived by his wife Wendy, and their 3 children: Madeline, Justin, and Isabella. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Strack family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Tim. Although he may be gone, the many contributions Tim made to his community and family will never be forgotten.
UNITED NATIONS IGNORES AUDITORS' REQUESTS
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-4-20

we have a lot of committee hearings and a lot of subcommittee hearings here every week, and the press is not able to adequately cover them all. prgtoken I highlight the committee hearing in which we examined the current assistance of the United States toward what is left of Afghanistan. prgtoken The United States, being the United States, even after we left that country, gives from $4 billion to $5 billion in aid, which should be humanitarian aid to help the Afghan people. In the hearing, we heard from the inspector general, who is somewhat of an auditor of American programs, as to what was becoming of the money. prgtoken Our wonderful United Nations, together with the State Department, together with the Department of Defense, together with the USAID, some of these agencies breaking the law, refused to open up their books and tell our auditors what they are doing with the money. prgtoken I hope, as we head into appropriations season, we do not forget that when we give money to the United Nations, they ignore our requests to find out what is happening to the money. I hope the American public also remembers what the Departments of Defense and State are doing.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-4-20

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 Schumacher Elevator Company of Denver, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken The company was founded by William and Bertha Schumacher in 1936 under the name Wm. Schumacher & Sons. That same year, William built the Schumacher Machine Shop in Denver, IA. With his son Elmer, they designed, built, and installed a custom lift for feed bags for a chicken hatchery in Waverly, IA. In the beginning of the company's history, they sold and manufactured many different types of elevators including lifting platforms, dumbwaiters, and freight elevators. In 1966, Elmer's son Marvin ``Marv'' joined the company as president and began to include passenger elevators in their line of products. A fourth generation of Schumacher, Jeff, joined the company in 1993 as the CFO and vice president of sales and administration. Jeff now serves as the CEO, and his parents Marv and Helen serve as the president and vice president of administration, respectively. Today, the company has enjoyed immense success and currently employs over 250 highly trained individuals throughout the Midwest and strives to be a premier independent elevator company in the United States. prgtoken Schumacher Elevator Company currently manufactures and sells hydraulic, traction, personal, and manlift elevators while also providing installation, maintenance, and testing services. They also make custom elevators for customers, and they have the expertise to install elevators for new construction projects, modernize old elevator systems, repair broken elevators, and do preventative maintenance. In addition to quality, Schumacher Elevator Company is fast. The team can create an elevator from raw materials to a finished product just in 1 week. prgtoken Schumacher Elevator Company is a staple of the Denver community. They offer two scholarships for students at the Denver High School: One is for a student that goes into the healthcare industry, and the other is for a student that goes into a technology field of study. In addition to this, the Marvin and Helen Schumacher Family Fund engages in philanthropic efforts throughout Iowa. The company encourages their employees to give back to the community, as well. Last December, a group of employees made a generous donation to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank that provided 4,000 meals to Iowans in need. prgtoken Schumacher Elevator Company's commitment to being trailblazers in the elevator industry is clear. In 87 years, the Schumacher family has been able to provide the highest quality elevators to satisfied clients globally. I want to congratulate the entire team at Schumacher Elevator Company and commend them for their dedication to excellence in their work both lo
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-4-20

. Today, I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting the effort to rebuild America's nuclear deterrent. For most Americans, this may seem like a relic of the Cold War, but to those of us tasked with funding our national defense, nuclear threats are not a thing of the past; nuclear threats are a present-day issue. prgtoken America successfully deterred nuclear attacks during the Cold War. Back then, we had one clear foe, but today's national security situation is the most complex we have faced since World War II. Russia, China, and North Korea are rapidly growing their nuclear stockpiles, and Iran stands on the brink of building its own arsenal. Facing multiple nuclear-armed enemies at the same time requires us to rethink how we plan to modernize our nuclear capabilities. prgtoken Let me first briefly outline the nuclear threat posed by our primary adversaries and then list four steps Congress can take in response. prgtoken In the past, the Soviet Union and the United States possessed nuclear weapons stockpiles that dwarfed China's. Beijing has set out to change that. China has so rapidly expanded its nuclear arsenal that it may be a match for our own by the end of this decade. prgtoken With breathtaking speed, China completed a nuclear triad of intercontinental ballistic missiles, long-range bombers, and ballistic missile submarines. China's pace and sophistication took us by surprise, frankly. We were slow to respond as China built hundreds of new ballistic missile silos. Then they developed a fractional orbital bombardment system--orbital. That is as startling as the name sounds. With this system, China can place a nuclear warhead into the Earth's orbit and then drop it anywhere in the world with little warning. This is a fact. prgtoken The United States and the Soviet Union negotiated away these types of weapons during the Cold War. Russia and the United States did so in part because of the extreme danger such systems posed to global stability. As Xi Jinping develops this system for China, he makes it clear that causing international instability does not keep him up at night. In fact, Xi seems to thrive on it. prgtoken The situation with Russia is hardly any better. Vladimir Putin still owns the world's largest, most modern, and most diverse nuclear arsenal and is willing to threaten the use of nuclear weapons to get what he wants. He did this to try to keep NATO from intervening as he invaded Ukraine and has repeatedly done so since then to register his displeasure with our aid to the Ukrainian people. prgtoken On their own, China and Russia represent bad news for our interests, but there is still worse news. Moscow and Beijing have decided to work together. Earlier this year, China purchased over 28 tons of highly enriched uranium from Russia. This will likely be used to produce plutonium for additional nuclear weapons. prgtoken Two other nations present significant threats to the United States. North Ko
NATIONAL RENDERING DAY
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-4-20

I rise today in recognition of National Rendering Day. prgtoken As ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a voice for Arkansas farmers and ranchers, I have seen firsthand their dedication to producing the most affordable, abundant, and safe supply of food in the world. That responsibility extends beyond the farm, with rendering playing a critical role in ensuring we can meet the growing global demand for food, feed, and fuel. prgtoken U.S. renderers contribute $10 billion in annual economic activity. These include many small businesses which are the backbones of our economy. Utilizing innovative technologies and a highly skilled workforce, renderers reclaim otherwise wasted animal material such as protein, bone, and fat, as well as used cooking oil from restaurants. prgtoken For hundreds of years, renderers have been upcycling the unused materials into higher-value applications including pet food, biofuels, soaps, gels, and candles in addition to fertilizer. By reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, rendering makes our food production footprint smaller and helps minimize the environmental impacts of animal agriculture and food production. prgtoken In Arkansas, there are many successful rendering companies, and I am grateful for the jobs they create and their proficiency in generating useful products for consumers. We celebrate the inaugural National Rendering Day on April 21 and recognize the countless contributions of the industry to protecting the environment, delivering sustainable solutions, and growing the economy. I am pleased to join this special acknowledgment to help bring awareness to reducing and eliminating food waste through rendering and promote rendered products as a sustainable choice for our planet.
GO WOKE, GO BROKE ACT
Andrew Ogles (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-4-20

you would hope that during a time of high inflation and energy prices, that the U.S. Treasury Department would focus on promoting economic policies that support the American taxpayer. Unfortunately, common sense is not a common trait with the administration. prgtoken Instead, the hard-earned tax dollars of the American people are being spent by the Treasury Department to promote garbage, exclusionary, and profoundly racist DEI ideology. This evil and grotesque concept threatens to tear our country apart, and this President clearly couldn't care less. prgtoken Efforts to promote so-called equity and diversity have already contributed to the failure of businesses and banks in the private sector. We have just seen that. Yet, this administration is unfazed and as focused as ever on pitting fellow citizens against each other on the basis of race. The ' woke, radical agenda is hurting our children, it is hurting our families, and is destroying the American economy. prgtoken , the American people deserve better. Woke garbage is not--I repeat, is not--a substitute for fiscal policy.