mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING KATHRYN A. KUHN
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2023-2-10

I rise today to recognize Kathryn A. Kuhn. Kathryn is retiring after more than 30 years of leadership and service in federal, state, and local government and community relations, with leadership roles in both the private and public sector. prgtoken Kathryn served as the Associate Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Milwaukee County where she led federal relations from 1993 to 2000. During this time, she worked with the U.S. Congress to transfer land ownership from the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center Facility VA to the stadium district, making way for the construction of Miller Park. Also, she secured a change in state statutes which facilitated the sale of Doyne County Hospital to Froedtert. As Legislative Associate at Wisconsin Counties Association, Kathryn secured a waiver from the George H. W. Administration for Wisconsin's juvenile justice facilities that saved taxpayers millions of dollars. prgtoken However, Kathryn's greatest achievements came from her position as Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Kathryn joined the MCW in 2001 as Director of Government Affairs and was subsequently appointed Associate Vice President of Government Affairs and then Vice President. prgtoken During her tenure at MCW, Kathryn's leadership has directly resulted in tens of millions of dollars in funding to support MCW's missions including the creation of MCW's regional campuses as a signature strategy for addressing the projected physician shortage. In 2013, her advocacy efforts with state legislators led to a $7.4 million State Building Commission grant for the development of MCW-Green Bay and MCW- Central Wisconsin. She also advocated for the creation of a $5 million graduate program to fund a medical education grant program within the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to assist MCW create and expand residency programs across the state. In addition, she helped secure multiple increases for the MCW family and community medicine residency appropriations to support programs in southeast Wisconsin, Green Bay, Appleton, and Eau Claire and worked with elected officials to obtain a $25 million State Building Commission grant for aiding in the construction of MCW's Translational and Biomedical Research Center. Finally, she succeeded in securing an additional $5 million federal grant to supplement these state funds. prgtoken Kathryn's legacy at MCW extends into the research mission. She has helped to provide critical infrastructure and laboratory space for MCW scientists pursuing new discoveries, as well as helped to open a new avenue of funding support through the U.S. Department of Defense that has led to considerable growth in extramural funding. Kathryn also has provided expert guidance to investigators with research strengths that match scientific priorities at the U.S. Department of Defense. This includes MCW's Cen
RECOGNIZING MS. JOANNA SANSOTERRA, OUTSTANDING VETERAN ADVOCATE IN THE 52ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Juan Vargas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-2-10

I rise today to honor Ms. Joanna Sansoterra of the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families in the San Diego Region. As the Program Coordinator of the organization, Ms. Sansoterra has worked tirelessly on the Onward to Opportunity program, which helps veterans, members of the selected reserves, and military spouses transition from military service to civilian life, prgtoken Ms. Sansoterra has been instrumental in creating and enhancing the Onward to Opportunity program within San Diego's Navy Region Southwest area, with the goal of also partnering with private sector companies committed to training and hiring military talent and their spouses. prgtoken Ms. Sansoterra has dedicated her life to the service of our country. Before her work at the D'Aniello Institute, Ms. Sansoterra served in the U.S. Air Force, both in active duty and as a reservist, and she is now a 33-year veteran. prgtoken As a volunteer for her community, Ms. Sansoterra has served on the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's Defense, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, as well as on the Board of San Diego Pride. She also volunteers for the Foundation for Women Warriors, which helps to honor and empower veteran women. prgtoken Ms. Sansoterra has also played a significant role in advancing equality. She was instrumental in pushing for the first military parade in uniform with San Diego Pride, and she was inducted into the San Diego LGBTQ+ Veterans Wall of Honor, recognizing LGBTQ+ veterans. prgtoken Ms. Sansoterra lives in the City of Imperial Beach, CA, with her wife, Stefanie, and she recently completed her Masters in Nonprofit Leadership & Management at University of San Diego. prgtoken Ms. Sansoterra was honored as the 51st District Constituent of the Month, during National Veterans and Military Families Month in November 2022, for her outstanding commitment to supporting military families and veterans, as well as all her service and efforts that have helped those in need build a brighter future.
HONORING TY SAFRENO AND HIS INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-2-10

today I rise to applaud the innovative and compassionate approach exemplified by one of my exceptional constituents--Ty Safreno who implemented a childcare center as part of his business Trust Automation, Inc. prgtoken Ty embodies the true spirit of American entrepreneurship. Utilizing his degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ty began his business in the 1990's alongside his wife Trudie. In just three short decades, he turned his technology start-up into a staple of the Central Coast. Boasting over 100 employees, Trust Automation, Inc. works on cybersecurity, semiconductors, and other technologic advancements. prgtoken What makes Ty remarkable is how he treats and cares for community members. He cultivates a workplace environment that emulates a close family dynamic and is described as brightening people's day. Amongst the Safreno family's achievements is successfully installing the Trust Children's Center, an affordable and high-quality daycare center that services both Trust employees and the San Luis Obispo community. On- site childcare is a feat that only a few companies, let alone a small business, have successfully conquered. Ty's commitment to the well- being of his employees is equally impressive and commendable. prgtoken On behalf of the 24th Congressional District, I am honored to congratulate Ty for his well-earned title of 2022 San Luis Obispo Citizen of the Year. I would like to personally thank Ty for his admirable leadership and wish him well in all his future endeavors. His story is an inspiration to small businesses everywhere.
Southern Border (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-2-13

. : Losing a child is the hardest thing that can ever happen to a parent. It's out of the natural order. prgtoken Those are the words of a grieving father in Bowling Green, KY. After struggling for years against opioid addiction, his son was killed by a lethal dose of fentanyl in 2021. That year marked the second straight year in which overdose deaths in the Commonwealth set a new, alltime record. Thousands of lives are now claimed each year by a scourge of deadly drugs. prgtoken Last week, I met with narcotics officers from across Kentucky who work on the frontlines of this crisis. They told me that rampant flows of illicit drugs had driven the price of a pound of fentanyl down to less than a third of what it cost dealers in 2020. That is right. Working families are paying more for just about everything on President 's watch, but drug dealers, with unprecedented access to massive flows of foreign drugs, are literally making out like bandits. The one thing that has gotten cheaper under this administration is the last thing we want Americans buying. prgtoken The officers were crystal clear on the bottom line: They won't be able to beat the fentanyl crisis until Washington decides to do something about the prgtoken southern border crisis. Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection apprehended 14,700 pounds of fentanyl, and just a third of the way through the current fiscal year, they have already seized another 12,500 pounds. prgtoken But the growing death toll from fentanyl-related overdose tells us that more than enough of this lethal drug is still flowing unchecked. Kentucky isn't the only State losing thousands of its people to lethal drugs produced by China and shipped in by Mexican cartels. Since the administration has ignored a functionally open southern border, every State in America has faced border-State problems. prgtoken Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection apprehended more than 2.7 million illegal immigrants. That was far and away the highest annual count they had ever seen. Without a coherent, coordinated response from the administration, frontline States from Florida to Texas to Arizona have had to take the response to catch-and-release into their own hands. prgtoken These States have dealt with soaring arrivals by busing illegal immigrants to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions in the interior. Colorado's ic Governor followed suit. prgtoken But setting aside the record-shattering numbers of illegal immigrants who are met and processed at the border, CBP estimates that 1.2 million more people crossed the border and got away since President took office--1.2 million ``got-aways.'' That is two times the population of my hometown of Louisville, just disappearing into our country. prgtoken Ninety-eight of the illegal immigrants CBP apprehended last fiscal year were watch-listed terrorists. Ninety-eight of them were watch- listed terrori
Unidentified Flying Objects (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-2-13

it was a busy weekend for the U.S. military, which has now shot down three unidentified objects over North American airspace in as many days. prgtoken On Friday, an F-22 took down an object hovering over Alaska, which officials described as being about the size of a small car. On Saturday, an F-22 brought down an object over Canada that was described only as cylindrical. On Sunday, an F-16 shot down another unidentified object over Lake Huron, which was traveling at about 20,000 feet--low enough to interfere with commercial air traffic. prgtoken Given the high profile of the Chinese spy balloon, this is, obviously, of great interest to the American people. prgtoken Over the last several days, starting in late February, the American people watched as China's surveillance balloon traveled across the country before President finally instructed the military to shoot it down off the coast of South Carolina. That was just 9 days ago. The military is still recovering pieces of that balloon from the bottom of the Atlantic in an effort to gain some answers, but given everything that has happened in the interim, the swirl of questions has only grown. prgtoken The United States has shot down four objects flying over our country since February 4, and they have identified one of those four objects. Based on what we know now or perhaps what we don't know now, we know the government has shot down three objects of unknown provenance. Since they don't know what they are, presumably, they don't know where they came from; yet the President ordered them shot down. We have not been told whether they were emitting any sort of signature, like heat, which might be picked up by an infrared sensor, or some other signal, with data either coming from or going to that object. So you can imagine that the American people have a lot of questions about these unidentified objects as well as the broader threat to our national interest. prgtoken They are looking to the administration for answers, and the only path forward is full and complete transparency. President needs to explain what happened and just how concerned the American people should be, and he needs to consult with Congress and share the information he has with us. Until that happens, speculation will only intensify. If you don't know what the cause of a particular concern is or an anxiety or maybe even a threat, it is only human nature to speculate and imagine the very worst. So the last several days have prompted a lot of questions, and I hope the administration will provide some necessary answers soon. prgtoken I expect the Chinese spy balloon and these unidentified objects will be the topics of discussion in the Senate this week. I know all of our colleagues, and alike, are eager to learn more, and I hope the administration will be what it has not yet been, and that is forthright and transparent.
Unidentified Flying Objects (Executive Session)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-2-13

before I get into the topic of my speech today, I just put a tweet out about what I think about the surveillance balloons, which are very, very concerning, being on the Armed Services Committee. prgtoken You know, the Chinese surveillance over our skies is very concerning but also the fentanyl from China pouring across our borders every day that is killing 300 Americans a day, that is also very concerning and also the 800-percent increase in Chinese nationals crossing our border every day. prgtoken So I think we have got a lot of problems other than just balloons flying around our sky. We need to recognize that. We need to start understanding we have an adversary in China that is our biggest, and the President of the United States--he obviously needs to protect our air, but he needs to protect our borders. We are having people die every day. prgtoken What is the most important? The most important thing is protecting the sovereignty of our country, and that is our borders and the sky and protecting our people on the ground, especially from this deadly drug. prgtoken So I just wanted to say that before I get into my speech because I know it is important. China is our No. 1 adversary, and we need to start watching every part of it and still watch these balloons fly around the sky that we have no clue of what they are doing or why they are here.
Inflation (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-2-13

you would have to look long and hard to find a Tennessee family who is better off now than they were before became President. By the end of last year, Tennesseans were paying an extra $629 per month just to cover the cost of inflation caused by this spending spree that has been on--a $6 trillion spending spree. prgtoken , it is $629 per month, per family, in Tennessee. I am noticing on my chart that in Hawaii, your monthly inflation costs are $802 per month, for an overall impact of $9,600. That is what this agenda is costing your constituents and my constituents in Tennessee. This is an enormous premium on the bare minimum, and Tennesseans know exactly who is responsible for this. prgtoken After 2 years of hearing their stories, I am positive that not one person working in the White House has bothered to leave Washington, DC, and witness for themselves what is happening to American families as they try to work their way through this. prgtoken It sure doesn't sound like my ic colleagues here in the Senate have been paying much attention to what is happening with families back home because if they had taken the time to put themselves in the shoes of a family who is trying to stretch that paycheck month after month after month, they never would have justified wasting families' money on social justice programs and green energy schemes. And the list goes on and on. Now those families, who have already been drained by 's spending, are running out of things to cut in their family budgets. Small businesses are running out of places that they can cut back in their small business while they are trying to keep the doors open. prgtoken What we are hearing in Tennessee is this: There is less meat on the dinner table than there was a year ago because it costs almost 9 percent more to buy chicken and beef than just last year. They probably don't have cereal for the kids in the morning because the price of one box of cereal has risen about 16 percent. prgtoken Here we are in the dead of winter, and Tennesseans are paying upwards of 15 percent more to keep the heat on in their houses--15 percent more than they paid last year. If the kids lose a coat at school, it is going to cost 3 percent more to get a new one. If it snows, socks and boots are going to come at the same premium. prgtoken These percentages are adding up, and right now these families are praying that they will be able to move around money so that they can keep the kids warm, keep them in school, and keep the house dry. These are not things that are luxuries; they are necessities. The impact of inflation is measurable--measurable--to Tennessee families. prgtoken Local officials all across Tennessee are feeling a different sort of pain when they confront the effects of inflation. Earlier this month, I spoke about the incredible growth that is happening right now in West Tennessee. Companies like Ford
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-2-13

in my new position of ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I will have the honor of recognizing an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. It is my privilege to recognize Guthrie County Quality Meats of Guthrie Center, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week for the week of February 13, 2023. prgtoken The hardship imposed on our Nation's small businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered for centuries. Under such times of duress, many business owners were forced to adapt their business model in order to survive. Guthrie County Quality Meats founders Brett Rowley and Grant Sheeder are examples of this adaptability, as they leaned upon their agricultural expertise and created GC Quality Meats on March 2, 2021, in the midst of the pandemic. By the time these partners put their heads together to open their business, Brett had extensive experience in the meat packing industry, as he grew up working in his father's packing plant in northwest Iowa. Grant, meanwhile, grew up in the Guthrie County dairy industry. Grant's family began milking cows in 1996, and a decade later, his parents built a milk-bottling facility where they bottled milk from 2006 to 2022. Both Grant and Brett watched their respective industries change during the pandemic, as consumers stayed away from grocery stores and other large-scale produce markets. Seeing this shift in the business landscape, the two men decided to pivot towards a home delivery service--and thus, Guthrie County Quality Meats was born. prgtoken Guthrie County Quality Meats provides locally sourced meat including beef, pork, chicken, and lamb for retail and custom orders in Guthrie County and the surrounding area. From the business' inception, GC Quality Meats has continued to grow. They recently finalized construction on their new butchering facility in Guthrie Center. Since completing their butchering center, the facility has seen great demand and has been booked several weeks in advance. Clearly, Brett and Grant had the right idea when they decided to open Guthrie County's very own meat processor, as both men will acknowledge that it is a service the county had been needing for quite some time. prgtoken In addition to their butchering facility, Guthrie County Quality Meats has added a retail site to their business. Inside their store, customers can find just about any meat and poultry sauce, spice, or seasoning they might need. Moreover, both Brett and Grant pay special mind to source all their meat locally and make sure that any product offered inside their retail space has strong Iowa ties. This includes locally baked pies, dried pasta, local honey, and salsa. In addition to the other Iowa products offered in store, ice cream from Grant's family's dairy, Sheeder Cloverleaf Dairy, is always readily available on their shelves. Even as they fi
State of the Union Address (Executive Calendar)
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-2-13

the National Flood Insurance Program Risk Rating 2.0 has officially been in effect for almost a year, and families in Louisiana are feeling the unfolding disaster. prgtoken We are not talking about a storm or a flood, which the National Flood Insurance Program is supposed to protect against. We are talking about the financial crisis unfolding at kitchen tables. Families cannot afford the premium hikes that the NFIP is planning with Risk Rating 2.0. For some, the premiums have become unaffordable and threaten the collapse of the value of their home. prgtoken For now, rate hikes are capped at 18 percent per year, but these compound year after year. So for the couple who has lived in their house for decades, they are not thinking, OK, it is only 18 percent. No, they are thinking it is 18 percent compounded upon 18 percent. And they don't have a plan to move: Oh, let's escape from it. This is where they have been for decades. Eighteen percent compounds and adds up very quickly. prgtoken This is not fiction. These are real stories that I hear from folks in Louisiana--great Americans, great Louisianians who love our country-- and they are wondering what in the heck is going on. prgtoken An example is the Bourgeois family, an elderly couple in Raceland. They both turned 83 last year. They have owned their home for 56 years. It has never been in a flood zone, and it has never flooded. Before Risk Rating 2.0, they paid $500 a year in flood insurance premiums. After Risk Rating 2.0, they are scheduled to pay, when fully in effect, $500 per month--from $500 a year to $500 per month. prgtoken Their full risk premium will reach almost $6,300 in 14 years, but their annual payment will double in the fourth year. prgtoken So how many 83-year-old retired couples do you know who can afford an extra $5,800 in expenses just like that? prgtoken The holiday season just passed. I am sure the Bourgeois family--we have big families in South Louisiana--had their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. But I am sure there is extra budgeting this year. prgtoken Families should not have to spend holidays budgeting for this kind of increase in flood insurance premium when they have never flooded. That is the crazy thing about it. They have never flooded, and these are the premium increases that they are seeing. prgtoken Now, families across Louisiana and in America's coastal communities-- not just in Louisiana--are finding themselves in a similar situation to the Bourgeois'. By the way, Louisiana has been hard hit by hurricanes over the last few years: Ida, Delta, Zeta, and Laura. Folks in my State are still recovering, and they are responsible for maintaining their insurance. But with Risk Rating 2.0, it feels like the administration is kicking them when they are trying to get back on their feet. prgtoken So it begs the question: Why is the administration allowing Risk Rating 2.0 to take effect? prgtoken Congress nev