mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tribute to Mitch McConnell (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-29

yesterday, my good friend Leader McConnell shared some big news. At the end of this year, he will step down as the leader of the U.S. Senate after having served the longest tenure of any leader in Senate history. For more than 17 years, he has been the steady hand at the helm, guiding us through some of the most consequential debates in recent history. He steered us through multiple wars, through a pandemic and countless high-stakes political battles under four different Presidents. Under his leadership, Congress rewrote the Federal Tax Code to help families across the country, unleashed American-generated power, and reshaped the Federal judiciary for a generation--and so much more. prgtoken It has been an honor to serve alongside Leader McConnell and witness a modern-day ``Master of the Senate.'' I will have more to say about our friend from Kentucky at a later date, but the good news is he is not going anywhere. Senator McConnell will lead our conference through the end of this Congress, but he will remain in the Senate through the rest of his term. During that time, he will do as he has always done: represent the State of Kentucky and put his expert knowledge of this Chamber to use on their behalf. prgtoken For now, let me just say thanks to Leader McConnell for everything he has done for this body and our great country.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2024-2-29

this motion calls for a full-year CR. Let me tell you what a full-year CR taking us to September 30--if we were to go to a full-year CR, one taking us to September 30, we would save $130 billion. prgtoken Now, there have been comments made on the floor even this evening that are not correct, suggesting that this would take disproportionately from defense. It is just not true. Under a full-year CR, regular defense would be $1.4 billion higher relative to fiscal year 2023, while regular nondefense would be $40 billion less than fiscal year 2023. prgtoken In a day and age in which we are living with a $2 trillion deficit and crippling inflation coming as a result of that, we should take this as an opportunity to achieve a win for the American people.
A TALE OF TWO PRESIDENTS
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-2-29

there is an old adage that goes something like: There are no problems in our family; there are a lot of things we don't talk about. prgtoken For years, we have been talking about a crisis at our southern border. In 2016, candidate talked about building a wall to protect American citizens from the surge that was taking place. He was laughed at. He was continually laughed at by the current administration until the polling came out that said the number one concern of the American people now is illegal immigration and the fact that we are being overwhelmed at both our southern border and our northern border. prgtoken Now, why do I bring that up? Well, the southern border is about 2,000 miles long, and I believe today former President will go to Eagle Pass and President will go to Brownsville to take a look at what is happening. prgtoken The current administration is now acknowledging the fact that maybe there is a problem down there and maybe we should be taking a look at what is happening. Polls do cause people to react. prgtoken It is truly a tale of two Presidents. prgtoken Now, the northern border, which is being totally ignored, is 5,500 miles of border. It is the longest continuous border between two countries anyplace in the world. It is virtually unwatched. Eighty-five percent of the terror watch list suspects caught at ports of entry come through the northern border. prgtoken More than 12,200 people were apprehended crossing illegally from Canada into the United States last year. That is a 241 percent increase from the previous year. prgtoken Northern border encounters are up 41 percent from last year. Seventy percent of illegal crossings in 2023 happened in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. This is called the Swanton sector where there is a surge when it comes to fentanyl coming across our border and killing hundreds of thousands of our citizens. prgtoken There are already more northern border land encounters in fiscal year 2024, which is October 2023 until right now, than in all of 2021. To date, in 3 months, 44,801 have come across. Northern border encounters in December 2023 and in January 2024, 31,150 of them, are more than all of fiscal year 2021. prgtoken At some point, whether you like it or not, this problem is taking place in real time, in real areas of the United States of America and on your watch, . I am sick and tired of hearing that Congress needs to address these problems when the executive office--and I would just mention to people that we are the lawmakers. The executive branch are the enforcement people of the laws that are already passed and on the books. prgtoken How can you totally ignore a situation and say that the real problem is prgtoken that s haven't stepped up to take responsibility for this? prgtoken This administration, without anything else, can end catch and release. They can reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, enter into the as
Government Funding (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-2-29

as I said earlier this week, government shutdowns never produce positive outcomes. That is why Congress is going to avoid one this week. Leaders in both parties and both Houses have agreed to a plan that would keep the lights on while appropriators complete their work and put annual appropriations bills on a glide path to becoming law. prgtoken I appreciate our colleagues' commitment to see this process through and make good on this essential governing responsibility, and I expect the Senate to act swiftly on a first step this week.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2024-2-29

several of the amendments that we will vote on propose a full-year continuing resolution that would lock in dangerously inadequate funding levels for our national defense and lead to cuts in other vital programs serving our veterans, farmers, low- income families, and older Americans. prgtoken In a briefing last month, the Commander of U.S. Central Command told me that this is the most dangerous security situation in 50 years. The idea that we would consider hamstringing our military under a yearlong continuing resolution at such a time is unconscionable. prgtoken The Department of Defense has never operated under a yearlong CR. It would reduce defense spending by $27 billion relative to the level called for under the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Further, there would be problems with the misalignment of funds that in many cases would prevent critical funding from being executed. For example, 30 percent of the Navy's shipbuilding request could not be spent because the funding would be misaligned. prgtoken According to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, under a yearlong CR, ``thousands of [defense] programs will be impacted with the most devastating impacts to our national defense being to personnel, nuclear triad modernization, shipbuilding and maintenance, munitions production and replenishments, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command priorities.'' prgtoken Let us also remember that we would be wasting taxpayer dollars as we would forego billions of dollars in potential spending reductions and rescissions carefully identified by the Appropriations Committee. prgtoken A yearlong CR would result in a military that is less able to respond to serious security threats around the globe, and it would harm important domestic investments in biomedical research, infrastructure, and other priority areas. It would result in furloughs or hiring freezes for food inspectors and air traffic controllers, as well as slash housing assistance at a time when we already face a severe affordable housing shortage. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to reject these motions and support the responsible approach of passing the short-term measure to fund the government. We will then move to the six completed conference reports on appropriations bills and continue our important work on the remainder of the full-year appropriations bills.
CONGRATULATING PUSCH RIDGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Juan Ciscomani (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2024-2-29

I rise today to congratulate the Walden Grove High School girls' soccer team for winning the Arizona 4A State championship. prgtoken In an exciting match, Coach Troy Bosley and his team secured victory over Salpointe by two goals with a final score of 3-1. prgtoken This was Walden Grove's first State championship since 2014. Their dedication and perseverance throughout the past year has been truly commendable. It is no surprise that they emerged with the victory this season. prgtoken , I am proud to represent such talented student athletes, determined coaches, and supportive parents. prgtoken Keep up the great work, and congratulations.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-29

. Madam , I rise today in support of this short- term continuing resolution. This bill extends government funding until March 8 for four bills and March 22 for the others. prgtoken Given the differences between this year's House and Senate bills, we knew finding common ground would not be easy. Nonetheless, we have made progress, and we need a few more weeks to finish drafting the bills. We also need to give Members adequate time to review them. prgtoken In the meantime, we can't afford a harmful government shutdown. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this CR, and .
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2024-2-29

I stand here today, again, opposing the status quo of more reckless spending in Washington. This House is supposedly run by s, and yet here we are continuing to pass the Pelosi--Schumer spending levels and the policies connected to them, predictably with a majority of votes. prgtoken As a matter of fact, this morning I had a Member tell me in a private conversation that he likes it when we are in charge because nothing changes, but we get the blame for it because we have the majority. prgtoken Our national debt continues to skyrocket. We are at nearly $35 trillion. That is a number that is hard to grasp. It is actually more than $100,000 per citizen and that figure just grows by the day. prgtoken flation is further exacerbating the crisis, and the congressional uniparty is perpetuating it on a daily basis. Thankfully, we may be getting some future relief with the just-announced resignation of the minority leader in the Senate, but some of us here in the House came here to actually represent the American people, to do what we said we would do, and we did not mean constantly kicking the can down the road, passing more continuing resolutions that hurt the American people. prgtoken Many people in this body are scared of a government shutdown, and I will acknowledge that a government shutdown is not the ideal thing, but it is not the worst thing. The worst thing is keeping in place the -Pelosi-Schumer policies that are destroying the country and bankrupting our kids and our grandkids. prgtoken Worse yet, they are keeping in place the border invasion, the very invasion that we campaigned against, the very invasion that is the greatest threat to our country. prgtoken That is what is going to happen here today. We are going to fund that border invasion for another week as a bridge to another spending bill that will keep all the policies in place and actually increase them over the Pelosi-Schumer levels from back before we had the majority. prgtoken We could have passed a full year stopgap spending bill that would have cut $100 billion. We could have attached it to border security to stand up for the American people. As a bonus, it would eliminate thousands of earmarks for tens of billions of dollars more, but here we are today. True leadership involves making difficult decisions. Cutting spending is difficult. That is why nobody does it here, but when will the debt matter in this Chamber beyond a campaign talking point? I urge a ``no'' vote.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DEREK JOSHUA ABBOTT
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2024-2-29

I rise today with deep respect and heartfelt remembrance for one of Mississippi's courageous National Guardsmen, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, who tragically lost his life when Apache Helicopter, Tail Number 52630, went down near Booneville, Mississippi Friday afternoon of February 23, 2024. prgtoken Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, a 42-year-old Maintenance Test Pilot served in Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st prgtoken Lakota Medical Evacuation unit. Derek was no ordinary soldier; he was a seasoned veteran of 21 years, marked by acts of bravery, an expert aviator, and above all, a devoted family man. With over 3,000 flying hours under his belt, Derek's mastery of Army aircraft was unmatched. His accolades, including the Air Medal for valor and the Combat Action Badge, spoke volumes of his courage and skill in the face of adversity. Outside of his military service, Derek pursued his love for flying by working as an Emergency Medical Services pilot. With expertise in navigating the skies, he played a crucial role in delivering swift medical assistance to those in need. Derek's commitment to service and skill in the air left a lasting impact on the lives he touched. prgtoken Beyond his military prowess, Derek was a man of faith, a loving husband to Brandi, and a doting father to Chandler, Breanna, and Greyson. His family extended beyond blood, embracing exchange students Sarah Mirshahidi and Pauline Schult as their own. prgtoken Hailing from Itawamba County, Derek cherished his roots in Fulton, Mississippi, and held a deep love for his state and country. His unwavering dedication to duty and his ultimate sacrifice make him a true American hero and a source of pride for Mississippians everywhere. In these trying times, let us hold dear the memory of our fallen comrade and stand in solidarity with his grieving family. May Derek's legacy of honor and service endure eternally in our hearts and minds.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO ALEX DAVID WOLFSIE
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2024-2-29

today I rise before you to pay tribute to a remarkable young man, Alex David Wolfsie, whose life was tragically cut short almost 10 years ago on March 10, 2014. prgtoken Alex's commitment to our Nation, demonstrated by his service in the United States Navy, exemplifies the best of American valor and dedication. prgtoken A Mahopac resident who graduated from Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers and SUNY Cortland, he felt the call to service and enlisted on September 25, 2012. He traveled from the training grounds at Great Lakes Naval Station north of Chicago to Pensacola, Florida, to San Diego, California, to his final post in Guam. prgtoken His mission was clear: serving our country. He was preparing for deployment aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard in Japan before a tragic accident cut his life short. prgtoken He came from a family of service--his father was a member of the NYPD--and sought to carry on that service to our State and Nation. prgtoken I know the Carmel Town Board is gathering next week to honor Alex for his service. We will never forget his service and his sacrifice. May God bless the Wolfsie family.
AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2024
Garret Graves (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-2-29

. Madam , I want to add my voice of strong support to this legislation. prgtoken There is no question what we have seen in the aviation industry, these near misses, these runway incursions, and safety issues all across the aviation system. prgtoken As both Ranking Member Larsen and Chairman Graves noted, the House did its business. We came together on a bipartisan basis and passed legislation in July by a vote of 351-69. That legislation addresses everything from general aviation, a topic that I know our chairman cares much about and knows a lot about, to topics like new entrants and new aviation technologies. It focuses on safety, and it ensures, Madam , that this entire legislation focuses ultimately on the passenger experience, making sure that air travelers from all across the United States have a great experience with new technology whenever they enter the airports and whenever they enter the airplanes. prgtoken None of those benefits are going to be realized unless and until we pass a long-term authorization bill. This is the last temporary extension we are going to do. This is a clean extension until May 10. If we don't do this, it will cause the Federal Government to incur debt, because we won't be able to collect the user fees that go along with aviation travel. prgtoken It is absolutely critical that this clean, bipartisan extension be enacted. It is absolutely critical that we stay on track with bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on the FAA bill, now that the Senate has finally--and I commend them--passed this bill out of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the United States Senate. prgtoken I thank Chairman Graves for his leadership, Ranking Member Larsen and my friend Steve Cohen for working together on this to make sure that we can continue a united front and realize all these gains in the aviation sector as a result of the House aviation bill. prgtoken I also add my regret to the loss of Chris Senn to the Subcommittee on Aviation. He is overcredentialed, overeducated, and often awes us with his knowledge of drones and other technology. It is going to be a big loss to the committee, but I appreciate his service.
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS ACT, 2024
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-2-29

I rise today with a motion to commit to instruct that H.R. 2 be added to this continuing resolution. prgtoken H.R. 2 contains a comprehensive plan to secure the border, to stop catch-and-release, to build the wall, to stop visa overstays, and to reform abuse of immigration, parole, and asylum laws. prgtoken In the past couple of weeks, we have seen tragedy across this country, including of a 22-year-old woman murdered in the State of Georgia, including a 2-year-old child murdered in the State of Virginia, including a 14-year-old child raped in Boston, MA, including a child under 14 raped in Louisiana--all by illegal aliens released by the administration. prgtoken It is time for this to end. This bill has passed the House, and if the Senate wants to secure our open borders, we can do so right now-- today. prgtoken I urge an affirmative vote.
TRIBUTE TO DR. KIM KRULL
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2024-2-29

I rise today to thank Dr. Kim Krull for her many years of service to the State of Kansas and Butler Community College--BCC--as well as honor her for all she accomplished throughout her career. prgtoken A passionate educator dedicated to serving Kansans, Dr. Krull began her professional career teaching math, biology, and chemistry at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture--UNL-NCTA. Following 18 years of service to UNL-NCTA, Dr. Krull decided to head south across the Nebraska-Kansas State line to Cloud County Community College, where she served as vice president of academic affairs for 8 years. prgtoken In 2013, Dr. Krull finally made the jump to my alma mater, Butler Community College, where she took over one of Kansas's largest community colleges as president. Dr. Krull hit the ground running, expanding BCC's online course catalog and prudently cutting programs no longer cost-effective. These two decisions, made early in Dr. Krull's tenure, remade BCC as a premier junior college destination in the State of Kansas, setting the stage for her and the school's subsequent successes. prgtoken In the years following, BCC accomplished much under Dr. Krull's guidance. In terms of campus restoration, Dr. Krull was able to fundraise $3.3 million to renovate the student union and was pivotal in expanding college operations in nearby Andover. Thanks to Dr. Krull's efforts, BCC remodeled its building within the Andover school district to be more accommodating to students, as well as opened the Redler Institute of Culinary Arts, a $6.2 million facility dedicated to providing for the next generation of BCC culinary and hospitality graduates. prgtoken But Dr. Krull's signature accomplishments during her time at BCC center around her support of the student body. While president, Dr. Krull added programs in Diesel Technology, Construction Technology, and expanded online offerings in partnerships with various Kansas colleges and universities. Doing this and increasing BCC student retention rates, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is a testament to Dr. Krull's work ethic and service to her student body. prgtoken For her efforts, Dr. Krull was the recipient of many awards, both for herself and on behalf of BCC. In 2021, the Wichita Business Journal named Dr. Krull an Executive of the Year, and in the year following, BCC was named an Aspen Top 150 institution. After these and many more successes, the Higher Learning Commission designated BCC in 2023 as a highly mature institution, one of the highest functioning colleges related to teaching and student assessment. prgtoken It was on this high note that Dr. Krull announced her retirement, and she will officially step down from Butler Community College on June 30, 2024, after decades of service in higher education. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the distinguished career of Dr. Kim Krull, as well as thank her for all her work on behalf of t