mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE OF COREY COMPERATORE
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , tonight we talked about the tragic loss of Corey Comperatore. What is more tragic or could have been more tragic, what if Corey Comperatore had never been born? prgtoken What if there never had been a Corey Comperatore? What if Helen had never had a husband like Corey Comperatore? His daughters would not have had a father. He was called a girl dad. prgtoken His entire life was built on his strong faith and in service to his community, his country, and foremost, his family. prgtoken In these times, when our country seems to be so torn apart on everything political, I think it is time for us to take a little more time to reflect on who we are as Americans. We are not s, we are not , we are not Independents; we are Americans. At the very heart of what it is we are, we are Americans. prgtoken Mr. Comperatore is exactly the example of those who serve, those who put others above themselves, those who put themselves in harm's way to protect those who are in danger. We come here tonight, and we talk about Corey. prgtoken That Saturday was a Saturday that his family will never forget. As they made their way from their home to the Butler Farm Show grounds to hear former President at his rally, they were so excited to be there. prgtoken However, tragically, evil struck, and America was once again reminded that at the end of the day, we are all Americans. Yes, we represent different parties. Yes, we represent different peoples, but at the end of the day, we are Americans. prgtoken The example that Corey Comperatore puts forward is that of a strong, faithful American, a man of faith, a man who loved his country, a man who loved his community, but above all, a man who loved his wife and daughters. prgtoken How tragic it would have been if he had never been born. As we mourn his death, we also must celebrate his life. We must say a prayer because I know where he is now. I know where he rests. I know he is in the arms of God. As tragic as this has been for his family, I know his family knows the same thing. prgtoken I would hope that as we look into what happened, how this possibly could have happened, how in a little farm town in Pennsylvania evil could have prevailed, at least for a moment, but what has happened since then is our firm belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our belief that Corey is now safe at home and will be there when his wife and daughters make that same trip sometime in the future. prgtoken Madam , this is a country that has been torn apart for so long by parties that go at each other day in and day out. I would hope that at some point we sit and take a look at the fact that one and a half million men and women in uniform have given their lives to give us the opportunity to be here on this floor and debate policy, and what is in the best interests of the people who sent us here, and that is the American people. At some point, we have to believe the oath we hav
CHARLIE DOWD VA CLINIC
Mike Bost (Republican, IL) \u2014 2024-7-22

once again, as has been mentioned in previous pieces of legislation, there is a reason why we name our facilities after these men. prgtoken Charlie Dowd was an amazing person who stood up for this Nation and truly pursued the American Dream and served the Nation almost 100 years of his life. prgtoken , I ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and .
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024
David Rouzer (Republican, NC) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, referred to in short as WRDA. prgtoken I acknowledge and thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mrs. Grace Napolitano, for their work and partnership in crafting this bipartisan WRDA bill that we are considering today. prgtoken Today's WRDA bill will be the last for my good friend Congresswoman Napolitano, who has served honorably and effectively in this Chamber for 26 years. I am incredibly grateful for her leadership and her many contributions to improve water resource policy during her many years of service. It has been a pleasure serving alongside her on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as she finishes out this chapter of her stellar career in service. prgtoken , this year's WRDA bill was developed based on input from nearly 350 members of this body, which included more than 1,900 policy and project requests. The level of Member involvement demonstrates the impact, importance, and necessity of a biennial, bipartisan WRDA bill. prgtoken That is why I am pleased that our consideration of this legislation today continues the decades-long tradition of passing a WRDA bill every Congress. This consistent, predictable schedule enables Congress to better address water resource needs while providing direction to the Corps along with accountability. prgtoken The significant impact the Army Corps of Engineers has on our daily lives cannot be understated. Their projects serve the Nation by protecting life and property from storm events, including flooding caused by those, supporting navigation, and bolstering our economy. prgtoken The Corps operates and maintains 25,000 miles of navigable channels and 196 commercial lock and dam sites in 41 States. This work facilitates the movement of goods throughout our country and to critical export markets around the world. To reduce flood risk and storm damage, the Corps maintains 715 dams and 4,100 miles of levees and conducts beach nourishment projects along approximately 350 miles of shoreline, which by the way, are critically important to my district and coastal communities nationwide. prgtoken This bill authorizes the construction of 12 projects for navigation, hurricane and storm risk reduction, flood risk management, and ecosystem restoration. It authorizes more than 160 feasibility studies to evaluate new water resource projects and modifies existing ones. Additionally, this legislation includes policy reforms designed to increase transparency and expedite projects. Every project large and small is crucial to an effective and efficient water resource network. That is why the centerpiece of today's bill streamlines project delivery and empowers local communities to lead in the project development process. prgtoken As many of us know, the Corps' process can be chal
VICTIMS' VOICES OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE COURTROOM EFFECTIVENESS ACT
Harriet M. Hageman (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-7-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the bill we are here today to pass brings much-needed support to crime victims across the country. The bipartisan and bicameral Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act, or Victims' VOICES Act, passed the Senate through unanimous consent. I am proud to be the House lead on this important legislation. prgtoken I thank my friend and colleague across the aisle, Representative Lucy McBath, for her work on this legislation and for her continued advocacy on behalf of victims. prgtoken I will also take a moment to remember and acknowledge Ms. Jackson Lee. She was a cosponsor of the bill and a longtime advocate for the rights of crime victims. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. prgtoken The purpose of the Victims' VOICES Act is simple: It assures fairness for all crime victims in accessing and receiving restitution from convicted defendants. prgtoken Supporting victims and holding criminals accountable has always been a top priority of Congress. In 1996, the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act was signed into law and required defendants convicted of certain crimes, including violent crime, to pay restitution to their victims. prgtoken These types of restitution can include lost income, childcare costs incurred while participating in the investigation, or medical and nonmedical care and treatment. In cases where a victim is a minor, deceased, or unable to act on their own behalf, a family member, legal guardian, or a person appointed by the court may assume the victim's rights. prgtoken However, many jurisdictions have wrongfully ruled these individuals are precluded from receiving restitution for their own lost income or expenses. prgtoken Parents, who lovingly cared for their child who was the victim of a crime, may not receive compensation for taking time off of work to help their child heal. Family members whose loved ones did not survive a brutal attack may not receive restitution. prgtoken This is wrong. We should be thanking these brave and thoughtful citizens. Instead, the government is casting them aside. prgtoken This is an especially concerning issue in crimes of violence and in Tribal communities, like my district, where locating and protecting missing and exploited women and children is a major challenge. prgtoken , I urge the passage of this bill, and .
HONORING HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to honor the citizens of Harrodsburg, Kentucky as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of their founding. prgtoken James Harrod and a team of men were sent by Lord Dunmore to Kentucky to survey land promised by the British crown to soldiers who served in the French and Indian War. Harrod was the first to map out a town on June 16, 1774, making Harrod's Town (later Harrodsburg) the first permanent British settlement west of the Alleghenies and the first city in Kentucky. By 1776, they had established a county court, a county militia, and named James Harrod as a delegate to the Virginia Assembly. A blockhouse was established at Fort Harrod for the protection of settlers. After the Revolutionary War ended, the town grew rapidly and the original log cabins were replaced with brick structures. prgtoken Many men from Harrodsburg fought in the War of 1812. After the war, agriculture and education were very important. Bacon College, Greenville Institute for Young Ladies, and the Harrodsburg Female Academy all opened between 1839 and 1847. Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill was founded in 1805 and became very prosperous. The local economy was based on livestock, hemp, wheat, corn, and valuable racehorses. By the middle of the 1800s, Harrodsburg had been home to three Kentucky governors and one U.S. Ambassador as well as a nationally known resort, Graham Springs. prgtoken Like many areas in border states, Harrodsburg was divided by the Civil War and experienced much loss and destruction. Citizens picked up and treated wounded soldiers from both Union and Confederate forces following the nearby Battle of Perryville. After the war, the city rebuilt and prospered once again. The 20th century brought the Dix River Dam, constructed in the 1920s to provide electricity, and the reservoir, Lake Herrington, became a tourist attraction. A reproduction of Old Fort Harrod was constructed as well as a monument to George Rogers Clark which was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934. Shaker Village was restored and became another tourist attraction. There has always been a strong military presence in Harrodsburg and World War II was no exception. D Company of the 192nd Tank Battalion was stationed in the Philippines in 1941 and included 66 men from Harrodsburg. Of the 66 Harrodsburg men in D Company, only 37 survived the war. They endured battle, the Infamous Bataan Death March, hell ships, and three and a half years of merciless captivity by Japan. prgtoken Today the city of Harrodsburg continues as a thriving community with robust agriculture, tourism, and industry. Dedicated leaders from founder James Harrod to today's Mayor Bob Williams have led the city of Harrodsburg. I am honored to lift up this great American community before the United States Congress and to congratulate them on their 250th anniversary.
THOMAS H. COREY VA MEDICAL CENTER
Brian J. Mast (Republican, FL) \u2014 2024-7-22

I thank the chairman and ranking member for recognizing an amazing man. I wish we could do this for every single veteran. Every single veteran deserves far more, but today is a victory, doing it for this veteran. prgtoken I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 7333, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center. prgtoken I am going to speak about him as a friend because he was a friend. I would say this about him: He exhausted himself in the most worthy cause that he could find, and the most worthy cause that he could find was veterans. prgtoken Every veteran that he could find from every conflict, every war, not just his war, but anybody that put a flag on their shoulder, that put on a uniform on behalf of the United States of America, it gave him a sense of joy, a smile. He was a cheerful giver. Whatever he could do for one of our brothers and sisters in arms, that is how he lived his life every day. prgtoken Tom Corey served during the Vietnam war as an Army combat infantryman with the 1st Air Cavalry Division, 1st Battalion, and 12th Cavalry. prgtoken While engaged in an assault against enemy positions during the first day of the Tet Offensive, he was shot in the neck, leaving him permanently paralyzed. prgtoken Although he had injuries for the rest of his life, he did not let his injuries define him. He overcame his injuries to advocate for others in local, regional, and national veterans' organizations every single day going forward during his life. prgtoken Tom Corey was a longtime member of Vietnam Veterans of America, founding the Palm Beach County chapter at home in my district. He held multiple leadership roles in organizations, ultimately serving as the president of Vietnam Veterans of America from 2003 to 2005. prgtoken Mr. Corey was a tireless advocate for our veterans' healthcare, particularly Vietnam veterans suffering from illnesses attributed to Agent Orange. He worked for 15 years at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center as an ombudsman, ensuring that veterans received the highest quality of care day in and day out. prgtoken Despite all of his efforts advocating for veterans here at home, he never forgot his brothers-in-arms who were still missing in action. Mr. Corey returned to Vietnam 16 times leading delegations to meet up with top Vietnamese and Laotian officials focused on locating and repatriating the remains of those he served shoulder to shoulder with. prgtoken Along with multiple service medals, including two Purple Hearts, Mr. Corey was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and his work. prgtoken Tom Corey has shown the world that no injury was big enough to eclipse his mission to serve others. Naming the West Palm Beach VA in his honor is the least we can do to honor his legacy of service and his passionate advocacy for veterans. prgtoken , I thank the Florida delegation for their suppo
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-7-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, WRDA 2024, a bill that delivers critical water resource infrastructure improvements for communities all over America. prgtoken Last month, we advanced WRDA 2024 out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 61 yeas to 2 nays. prgtoken I thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair David Rouzer and Ranking Member Grace Napolitano for all their hard work in developing this legislation and shepherding it through the committee and now across the line here on the floor. prgtoken I offer special thanks to Ranking Member Grace Napolitano for her work on the WRDA bill and the many contributions she has made to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee over the many years that she has served. prgtoken I am proud that with WRDA 2024, we are continuing the bipartisan tradition of passing a WRDA bill every 2 years, something we began back in 2014. prgtoken WRDA 2024 has been developed through many months of work and significant participation from Members in this Chamber to address the water resource needs in communities all across the Nation. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation provides necessary authority and direction to the Corps to carry out its mission to maintain and improve our water resource infrastructure from ports to levees to navigation channels. prgtoken I am particularly proud that this bill charts a new path forward for systemic flood control on the upper Mississippi. It has been more than three decades since the great flood of 1993, and there has been very little progress in improving flood control along this stretch of the Mississippi. I believe this bill will finally change that. prgtoken That is why, in addition to authorizing new projects and studies, WRDA 2024 makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get projects done much faster. prgtoken Particularly important to my constituents are the steps this bill takes toward ensuring flood control and navigation are the top priorities on the Missouri River, along with the efforts to shore up the PL 84-99 program and long overdue reforms to move rural projects forward. prgtoken I could go on and on about the good things in this bill, but I would run out of time if I tried to list all the wins that this bill delivers, big and small, all over America. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2024, and .
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024
Mike Collins (Republican, GA) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to support the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 which addresses the needs of the water infrastructure nationwide. prgtoken This bill is a win for my home State of Georgia. It includes my amendment to protect the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam from the U.S. Corps of Engineers' plan to reduce water levels for Augusta, Georgia, an issue I was proud to work on with my colleague Rick Allen. prgtoken It allows the deepening of the Port of Savannah. prgtoken It includes report language reinforcing the authority of power marketing administrators to set hydropower rates, which we are currently seeing have a large impact on energy prices in the district. prgtoken Thanks to Congressman Dale Strong, it immediately provides a cost estimate to repair the Wilson Lock and Dam on the Tennessee River. prgtoken I look forward to the final passage of this vital piece of legislation and securing America's water resources for generations to come, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN SAM JOHNSON MEMORIAL VA CLINIC ACT
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2024-7-22

I thank the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for yielding and for bringing this bill. Especially I thank Mr. Self for his leadership in working for so long on this important bill. prgtoken , it is not often that we will walk amongst people who are larger than life. During my years in Congress, I have been honored to serve with two people whom I would put in that category: Sam Johnson and John Lewis. Both of them have amazing stories that are well chronicled. prgtoken I got to know Sam over the years that I served with him. It was a treat to be able to just sit down and hear stories and talk to him about the things I had heard about him because Sam was truly larger than life, . We heard stories of his early days as an Air Force pilot. prgtoken This was back in the days before the Apollo missions when our Air Force pilots were trying to push the boundaries to figure out just how far we could go, how fast we could go, and how high we could go. They were doing things that had never been done before. prgtoken I had heard a story that Sam challenged Buzz Aldrin. Buzz, of course, famously was the commander of the Apollo mission, the first mission to land on the Moon. He was the second man to walk on the Moon after Neil Armstrong. I heard that story, and one time after Sam had left Congress, I had the opportunity to meet Buzz Aldrin. prgtoken I said: I want to ask you about this story. I heard that Sam Johnson challenged you to a fighter pilot race. prgtoken He just lights up. Buzz Aldrin was just incredibly accomplished and was a national hero in his own right. He lights up at the words: Sam Johnson. prgtoken He said: That is not the whole story. Yes, Sam Johnson challenged me to a fighter pilot race. We would practice every day, and I would usually beat Sam. prgtoken He said that the night before the race, Sam had souped up his plane, and, sure enough, the next day we had this race, and Sam just flies by and wins the race. prgtoken Sam was just an incredible person. He had an unbelievable sense of humor. I got to see that. prgtoken Later on in life when we both had our physical challenges, we challenged each other to a scooter race. It was not quite the same thing, but I never saw him laugh as much as at that because, again, Sam was just an amazing person who for all the things he went through still maintained a great sense of humor while he exhibited so much leadership. prgtoken Nonetheless, we know the story that Sam lived through 7 years in the Hanoi Hilton. He wrote a book about it. As I started to get to know Sam, I said: I am not going to really truly understand Sam unless I read the book. The book is called ``Captive Warriors.'' So one week when I was going out of town, I got the book, and it was one of those books you get not for easy reading because it was a difficult read. I teared up a lot because he goes into great detail of the things that happened to him during those 7 years. prgtoken As Mr.
RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , last month, the administration took steps toward legalizing marijuana by attempting to reclassify it as a lower category drug, going around Congress in the process. If enacted, this would increase the use of an already dangerous substance. prgtoken We have already seen this in California, the State with the highest rate of marijuana users. It is no surprise that California also has the highest rate of welfare recipients. We have one-eighth of the Nation's population, and about one-third of the State's population is on assistance. I believe the government should disincentivize the use of this harmful drug and not allow banks to prop up this immoral industry. prgtoken Recently, there have been efforts in Congress to exempt financial institutions from penalties if they provide financial services to marijuana companies. The Federal Government should have no role in encouraging citizens to break Federal law by incentivizing banks to handle the money in these industries. These measures give a green light to the evil that comes from drug use. prgtoken The addicts will rely on State welfare and disability payments for unemployment. Their medical problems will increase, draining our already strained healthcare system, which taxpayers are going to foot the bill for that. prgtoken Let's not be doing any more to legalize marijuana or pretend that it is legal through financial institutions.