mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Biden Administration (Executive Session)
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-3-14

I often come to the floor of the Senate to talk about one particular item as I want to be able to walk through what we are going to do to be able to solve it. prgtoken Honestly, today, it is a little different for me. In some ways, I feel a little bit like Will Rogers with his statement, the famous Oklahoman, who said that all I really know is what I learned from reading the newspapers, which is an alibi for my ignorance. prgtoken Today, I want to just be able to talk about random stories that I have read lately that are kind of in the ``you can't make this stuff up'' column. It has been frustrating for me. prgtoken Right now, 7 in 10 Americans feel like America is on the wrong track--7 in 10. I mean, I don't know why, but they just feel like something is not going right, like things are out of control. It has been frustrating to me to be able to go through so many news stories lately and to be able to say: If I put this in front of 7 in 10 or maybe 9 in 10 Americans, they would say, ``Why are we doing this as a nation?'' prgtoken Now, I understand a lot of the issues we face are complicated. Yet, quite frankly, some of these issues are not complicated; they are common sense; they become political only in this city. But for most of America, it is just not that complicated. Sometimes I just get frustrated with the language and the things that are coming out of not just the administration but with the things that are happening in our Federal Government right now that, I think, just need to be called out and for us to say: Let's as a Senate sit down and talk about some of these complicated issues. Instead of knee-jerk political reactions, let's try to solve some of these hard things because we are currently talking about it, and things are going sideways instead of things being solved. prgtoken Over the past 5 days, we have watched the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank--a big bank in San Francisco and a much smaller bank in New York. For both of them, we have now had the FDIC step in, and they are going to save every single person in the bank and make sure they are whole. Now, that is very different than cyclical. Most Americans know you are insured up to $250,000, but the administration stepped in and said: Oh, no. Everyone is going to be kept 100-percent whole. prgtoken The comment that has come out of it has been: Well, we are going to make sure no taxpayers have to be able to cover this bill. Then, if you listen closely, the very next statement is that it is going to come from an assessment on the banks instead. prgtoken Let me tell you what that means. prgtoken As one of the wealthiest banks in America, which has mostly millionaires who actually bank there--in fact, to show that, for 90 percent of the depositors in Silicon Valley Bank, their deposits exceed $250,000--OK?--90 percent. That is not normal for a bank. For that bank in San Francisco, all of their depositors
NATIONAL LIBERTY MEMORIAL
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-3-14

I have been glad to see that Lena Santos Ferguson is finally gaining recognition for her work to desegregate the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1980, Mrs. Ferguson was turned away when she tried to join DAR. She was discriminated against even though she could trace her ancestry to Jonah Gay, who had supported the Revolution through the town committee of Friendship, ME. prgtoken According to the Washington Post, one of Ferguson's White sponsors was told that, if Mrs. Ferguson was admitted, the DC chapter ``will probably fall apart.'' However, last month, the DAR renamed its Washington, DC, nursing scholarship as the ``Daughters of the American Revolution--Lena Ferguson Scholarship,'' doubled its size, and announced the upcoming placement of a plaque in honor of her work. prgtoken It is a testament to the work of those such as Ferguson that the DAR has gone from threatening dissolution to naming a scholarship in her honor. prgtoken Ferguson represented a much larger group of under-recognized Black Revolutionary War patriots. In 1984, when Ferguson was finally allowed to join the DAR, the settlement agreement had an impact well beyond one woman's effort for recognition. It led to new research and the identification of over 5,000 of the estimated 10,000 Black Revolutionary War participants. prgtoken However, highlighting the contributions Black patriots made in the American Revolution does not end with DAR. That is why I worked with Senator Murphy to pass into law the National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act. Our bipartisan bill allows the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C.--a group founded by Maurice Barboza, Ferguson's nephew--to continue its work getting a monument to Black patriots on or near the National Mall in Washington, DC. prgtoken Both this monument and the work of Mrs. Ferguson display the founding purpose of our Nation. Unlike almost every other country on Earth, Americans are not bound together by a common ethnicity or geographical ancestry. We are all Americans because we believe in the principles our country was founded upon. This is the common heritage of all Americans of all backgrounds. It is vital that we do not forget that bond and even more vital that we preserve the principles themselves and honor those of all backgrounds who fought for them. prgtoken The construction of the National Liberty Memorial by July 4, 2026-- the 250th anniversary of our Nation's founding--would serve as another important reminder of that bond we share as Americans. I urge my fellow Americans to come together around that goal.
CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE IN SERVICE OF VETERAN HAROLD WILLIAMS
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-3-14

I rise today to celebrate Army Technical Sergeant Harold Williams' 100 years of life and honor his illustrious military career. prgtoken As a young man, Harold dropped out of school and began working to help support his family during the Great Depression. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army and served in the 1st Infantry Division of the 62nd Armored Field Battalion as a forward observer and a radio operator. During his military service, he participated in both the African and European Theatres of war. Notably, Harold fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was among the first wave of young Americans to storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. This act of bravery at Normandy helped turn the tide against the Nazis. prgtoken During his remarkable military career, Harold received many recognitions for his service. He earned both the American Theatre and European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Medals, as well as an Army Occupation-Germany Medal, a Republic of France Certificate, and a Presidential-Unit Citation. Following the end of World War II, Harold retired from active-duty service and started his second career working for the United States Postal Service. He also earned his high school diploma in 2021 and was inducted into the New York Senate's Veterans Hall of Fame a year later at the age of 99. prgtoken Harold's life is a shining example of service for all Americans. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I am honored to celebrate a decorated American veteran's 100th year of life.
RECOGNIZING LUCY BILLINGSLEY
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-14

I rise today to recognize Lucy Billingsley, a trailblazer in the real estate space and a legendary North Texan. Lucy has been selected to receive the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award from Texas Woman's University. prgtoken In 1978, Lucy and her husband Henry founded the Billingsley Company to manage their growing real estate portfolio. Thanks to their innovative approach and grit, the Billingsleys have become some of the most sought-after developers in Texas, and their company has received numerous awards for design excellence. prgtoken In addition to her work as a commercial real estate developer and business owner, Lucy has remained civically involved and has served our community through her involvement on numerous boards and advisory committees. Lucy's tenacity has brought great economic opportunity to North Texas, and her civic leadership has forever bettered our community. prgtoken Lucy has received many other prestigious accolades for her work, including being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame, the North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS Hall of Fame and was awarded the 2013 H. Neil Mallon Award presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Lucy also has been recognized by Commercial Real Estate Women as a distinguished leader in commercial real estate. prgtoken I thank Lucy for going above and beyond for our community, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved award. Her selflessness and devotion do not go unnoticed.
Government Funding (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-14

over the years, I have heard President share a favorite expression of his father's. He said his dad would tell you: Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I'll tell you what you value. prgtoken Well, there is a lot of wisdom in that statement. A person's budget shows what they truly value, whether that is supporting those who are less fortunate, saving for the future, or achieving a certain type of lifestyle. The same is true for the Federal Government. It is easy for leaders to say they value a strong military or fiscal responsibility, but a budget shows whether they really mean it. prgtoken Last week, of course, President released his budget for the next fiscal year, which gave us an unvarnished view of what he truly values. In countless ways, it stands in stark contrast to what he has told the American people. prgtoken The President spoke about the need to rein in out-of-control spending, but he proposed more than $2 trillion in new spending. prgtoken Given the growing threats from China and Russia, he says he cares about a strong national defense, but he proposed a mere 3.2-percent increase in defense spending--far below the level of inflation. So it actually is a cut. prgtoken He has spoken about the importance of growing our economy, but he proposed additional job-killing tax hikes on Main Street businesses and other job creators. prgtoken He says he is concerned about energy costs but proposed $37 billion in new energy taxes--taxes that will be paid ultimately by the consumer in increased costs. prgtoken Despite saying he cares about the border, President made it absolutely clear he isn't serious about addressing the crisis at our southern border. For 2 years, law enforcement and border communities have struggled to keep up with the overwhelming number of migrants who are crossing every day. During President 's first 2 years in office, Customs and Border Protection encountered 4.7 million--4.7 million--migrants at the southern border. That is astonishing, a breathtaking figure. prgtoken Well, there is a clear need, an obvious need to strengthen our border security, and the President's budget request includes $535 million for border security technology at and between the ports of entry. At ports, this could include advanced equipment to efficiently scan cargo and passenger vehicles. prgtoken Mexico is our second largest trading partner, and that binational trade is important to both of our economies. But this same technology could be key to stopping illicit drugs, weapons, and currency from coming across the border. prgtoken Between the ports of entry, this funding could go toward sensors, cameras, and other surveillance tools that allow Border Patrol agents to monitor unpatrolled portions of the border and to spring into action when necessary. prgtoken Given the ongoing migration crisis and fentanyl epidemic which is killing 70,000 Americans
Tribute to Ryan Redington (Executive Session)
Lisa Murkowski (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-3-14

colleagues who have been around for a while know that it is usually about this time of the year that I come to the floor to talk about my favorite sporting event. I am not talking about March Madness. I am talking about Alaska's version of March Madness, which is the Iditarod, when teams of dogs led by pretty able athletes embark on a thousand-mile mushing adventure across the wilds of Alaska, beginning down in Anchorage, all the way up to Nome. prgtoken This year, it is not quite 1,000 miles. It is 998 miles, as they took the southern route, which they try to alternate during different years. prgtoken But it has been an adventure for the 33 teams that ventured out just last Sunday, and I am here to announce that literally 10 minutes ago-- perhaps less than 10 minutes ago--the winner has just crossed the finish line under the burled arch in Nome. prgtoken So Alaskans are excited. The Iditarod website has crashed because everybody was checking in to see if Ryan Redington had made it across, and I am here to announce that Ryan Redington is the winner of the 51st Iditarod race in Alaska. He and his team just, as I say, crossed. He has been in the lead for the past several days, but we are really, really quite excited about his win. prgtoken I am looking forward to being able to give a call myself to congratulate him, but I know that right now his family, his friends, and everyone who is there in Nome to greet them after this 8-day journey are really quite excited. So he is probably not going to be answering his phone just yet. prgtoken The Iditarod is really an extraordinary, extraordinary event. It is an experience like no other. And when they say it takes a village, it really takes a village. All of these little checkpoints along the way-- some of them are communities; some of them are literally nothing more than a cabin. So it is an opportunity for the musher and their teams to be checking in, be checked out by the volunteer veterinarians who are along the way; refuel in the sense of feeding their dogs, resting their dogs, getting a little food for themselves, but then traveling on. prgtoken Think about what it means to drive a dog team for a thousand miles over this period of time and over terrain like this you are from a northern State. You appreciate snow. We are not afraid of a little weather, but what these mushers and their teams have been through has been pretty amazing. prgtoken I was there at the ceremonial start last week. It was zero in Anchorage. It was a pretty great day to be a dog because it was nice and cool. Temperatures increased along the way. They encountered everything from drizzle to rain to mud, then to deep snow, then to freezing cold, then to gale winds--bumps along the way. It is a grueling test for all of these teams. prgtoken But as we look to what comes together to put on a race like this, it is something that Alaskans take great pride in. This is fueled by
RECOGNIZING PATTI GARTLAND
Tom Emmer (Republican, MN) \u2014 2023-3-14

I rise today to recognize the career of Patti Gartland. Patti is retiring this May from her role as president of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation. prgtoken Patti has led the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation (GSDC) for the past 10 years. During that time, she oversaw the considerable economic expansion of the Greater St. Cloud region. Part of her efforts to increase the visibility of the area included the launch of GreaterStCloudJobSpot.com, a local job board that is updated daily with thousands of local jobs. She was also integral to the development of St. Cloud Shines, a digital marketing initiative that has attracted more than 170 million impressions online. prgtoken Before joining the GSDC, Patti served as the city administrator for Sartell for nearly 12 years, where she helped coordinate emergency response efforts following the tragic paper mill explosion. Prior to that, Patti worked for the City of St. Cloud for 15 years, the last 13 of which she served as the city's planning director. Since 2014, Patti has been a member prgtoken of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, serving as its vice chair. In this role, she has continued to advocate for our community and was partially responsible for creating the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority, expanding service to our region. prgtoken I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Patti for many years. I thank Patti, for the incredible impact she has had on the Greater St. Cloud region. On behalf of Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District, I wish her all the best and hope she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.
RECOGNIZING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAY PINES VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-3-14

I rise to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. With the opening of its first domiciliary in 1933, Bay Pines VA became the cornerstone for Veteran healthcare throughout Tampa Bay. Now, the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System proudly serves more than 110,000 Veterans annually across the Southwest region of Florida. Since its inception, its team of dedicated professionals have worked tirelessly to foster an experience that is built on respect and transparency. The team also strives to remain Veteran-focused in all decision-making. As our community celebrates this important milestone, I'd like to congratulate Director Paul Russo and his entire team for their efforts to ensure all Veterans receive the care they've earned and deserve.
HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. ROBERT ``BOBBY'' GARCIA
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-3-14

I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Robert ``Bobby'' Garcia, a United States Air Force veteran, an esteemed educator, and a respected member of the community in Deer Park, Texas. Bobby passed away on March 3, 2023, at the age of 79. prgtoken Bobby was born on March 2, 1944, in San Antonio, Texas, to Elias Garcia and Minerva Garcia. Several years after his father returned from World War II, the Garcia family relocated to the Houston area, settling in Bellaire, Texas. At the age of 17, Bobby obtained his barber license and spent his time outside of school working for his father at the Triangle Barber Shop. prgtoken He stepped away from college and enlisted in the Air Force on January 24, 1966. He served three consecutive years overseas, which included time in England and Vietnam, where he was involved in the Mini Tet Offensive. When Bobby's tour of duty was over on July 10, 1969, he returned to Travis Air Force Base in California and received an honorable discharge. prgtoken Following his military service, Bobby went back to college, earning a bachelor's and master's in education and a doctorate in philosophy. Throughout his 42 years in education, Bobby received numerous awards as an educator and touched the lives of countless students, parents, and colleagues. He was always ready to provide guidance and encouragement to others. prgtoken In his retirement, Bobby served as Second Vice President for the Pasadena Area Retired School Educators and on the Deer Park Community Advisory Council. Outside of participating in church activities, Bobby focused on veteran outreach and was involved with organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Air Force Cyberspace and Air Traffic Control Association, Tan Son Nhut Association, and Vietnam Veterans of America. prgtoken Bobby was a treasured resource for my staff and me, often working with us to ensure local veterans received their rightful benefits. He also served on my Service Academy selection panel for the last seven years. His service in the Air Force and decades in education provided us with an insight unlike any other as we evaluated and selected America's future military leaders. My staff and I will miss him dearly. prgtoken However, I know we are not alone. Bobby's magnetic personality will be missed and remembered by all who had the pleasure of meeting him. He connected with others by sharing his stories, and he left behind a legacy of love, sacrifice, compassion, and wisdom. prgtoken He is survived by his wife, Barbara Garcia: his brother, Daniel Garcia, and wife, Carol; his brother, David Garcia, and wife, Lisa; his daughter, Shelly Jaynes, and husband, Russell; his son, Thomas Garcia, and wife, Cindy; his son, Kevin Lee, and wife, Kristen; and his son, Ariel Pena. He also leaves behind six grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. prgtoken , it is such a privilege to celebrate the life
Biden Administration (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-3-14

every year, I meet with local leaders and citizens in all 95 Tennessee counties, and with each visit, I am more and more encouraged by the changes I see. Low taxes, pro-business policies, and less invasive government have encouraged growth that my ic colleagues are not seeing back in their States. But still many areas of Tennessee are hurting, and those that prgtoken aren't are feeling the negative effects of inflation and broken supply chains. prgtoken What has happened over the past few years is proof that these Tennessee families and businesses are much better at spending their own money than the Federal Government is at spending taxpayer money. They have to be because if they were as reckless with their paychecks as the administration is with taxpayer funds, they would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. prgtoken When they saw what the President put together in his latest budget request, they were not surprised, but they were incredibly discouraged at the idea of another year of Federal spending that leaves our southern border vulnerable and guarantees another year of unsustainable inflation. prgtoken and the have made it their mission to tax and spend this country into oblivion, but adding insult to injury is their commitment to ignoring the actual problems the American people are facing on a local level: inflation, drugs, crime, and continued supply chain problems. prgtoken During my recent visit with officials in Cannon County, they had a lot to say about how this failure to govern has affected their ability to follow through on even the most basic public works projects. prgtoken Like many distressed counties around the country, Cannon County received emergency funding during the pandemic. They put it toward short-term projects that, for this community, were really a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to grow. prgtoken But here is the problem: Over the past 2 years, my ic colleagues have spent so much money and driven inflation so high that any progress Cannon County leaders could have made with those projects has been completely washed out by the overall effects of inflation. prgtoken For and the , this is something that is easily brushed aside, but for the people of Cannon County, it means that something as essential as a water project is stalled indefinitely. prgtoken The topography of Cannon County makes it pretty hard to bring water in, but with this particular project, they would have been able to install a water line from neighboring Warren County and alleviate the pressure on their water supply. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it would have provided relief. prgtoken But, now, inflation and supply chain breakdowns have turned this project into a nightmare. Local leaders are questioning the construction estimates because they change or expire before their contractors can get their hands on the right materials. This means that by