mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING DEBORAH GYM'S PERFECT PSAT SCORE
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise today to recognize the outstanding academic accomplishments of a constituent from my district, Deborah Gym. prgtoken Deborah is a sophomore at Central Bucks South High School who regularly demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence, with this dedication culminating in her achieving a perfect score of 1520 on the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). Deborah demonstrated a proficiency in various focuses of reading, including information and ideas, craft and structure, and expression of ideas, and mathematics, including a remarkable understanding of algebra, advanced mathematics, problem- solving and data analysis, and geometry and trigonometry. prgtoken Deborah's performance on the PSAT should serve as a testament to her character as an intelligent and motivated young woman. I am encouraged by her motivation to perform incredibly in her academic career, and I am proud to represent such remarkable young people in my district. prgtoken It is my hope that, by Deborah's example, students throughout my district and throughout the country are encouraged to challenge themselves academically, and endeavor to strive for excellence in every facet of their lives. Moreover, the example provided by young men and young women, like Deborah, should serve as inspiration to challenge ourselves and strive for excellence in every facet of our lives. prgtoken I would like to wish Deborah the best in her future endeavors, both academically and professionally, and once again congratulate her on her incredible performance on the PSAT.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DORIS GRAHAM OF CANTON, TEXAS
Pat Fallon (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise today to commemorate the life of Mrs. Doris ``Ellen'' Graham of Canton, Texas, who peacefully passed away on December 12, 2023 with her family by her side. prgtoken Mrs. Graham was raised in the Dallas area and graduated from Spruce High School in 1969. During high school, she met the love of her life, Mr. Timothy ``Tim'' Aron Graham, whom she married in 1970. Together, they had four children. For most of her career, Mrs. Graham worked for Texas Health and Human Services until she retired in 2015. prgtoken Mrs. Graham was a wife, mother, and friend to many. In her free time, she enjoyed reading and crocheting. However, her most treasured pastime was spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. Mrs. Graham truly made the world a brighter place with her presence, and it is heartbreaking to see our community experience her tragic passing. prgtoken I have requested the United States flag to be flown over our Nation's Capitol in recognition of Mrs. Graham's life and contributions to North Texas. She will be dearly missed by her friends, family, and all who knew her.
CLOTURE MOTION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-12-19

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Braun), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Budd), the Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), and the Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) would have voted ``nay.'' prgtoken The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Iowa (Ms. Ernst), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley), the Senator from Mississippi (Mrs. Hyde-Smith), the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), and the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) would have voted ``nay.'' prgtoken The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Rounds), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Schmitt), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis), and the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Vance). prgtoken Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott) would have voted ``nay'', the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``nay'', and the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Vance) would have voted ``nay.''
HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF MR. MARTY LENTZ
Barry Moore (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-12-19

today, I rise to recognize the hard work and legacy of Mr. Marty Lentz. His devoted service of 30 years as a county engineer has made a difference in the life of many Alabamians. prgtoken Mr. Lentz has served many of those years in my home of Coffee County, where I was born and raised and still live today. The citizens of Coffee County, including myself, are grateful for Mr. Lentz, as he has spent 28 of his 30 years of service enhancing our county. prgtoken Mr. Lentz has many accomplishments as a county engineer that have helped the community, including being an integral part in the implementation of the County's Rebuild Alabama program. Because of his hard work, roads in Coffee County were repaved to offer better transportation for drivers. These roads would not have been resurfaced without Mr. Lentz' help. Mr. Lentz has also served as a faithful volunteer of the Wiregrass Men of Valor ministry. I would like to congratulate Mr. Marty Lentz on his well-deserved retirement and thank him for his public service.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MR. KERRY ARMSTRONG
Barry Loudermilk (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise today to congratulate Mr. W. Kerry Armstrong, Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), for skillfully shepherding the ARC forward as its chairman for the past ten years. Kerry will conclude his chairmanship at the end of this year, and I know the other members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, who represent the greater Atlanta region, will join me in thanking Kerry for his dedicated service on the ARC Board, which will continue even as he departs the chairmanship. prgtoken The ARC plays an invaluable role in the health of the Atlanta region. Under Kerry's leadership, my colleagues and I have worked successfully with the ARC on numerous initiatives important to the region, including delivering Older Americans Act services, workforce development, regional transportation planning, and homeland security. However, when it comes to Kerry and the ARC leadership, there is perhaps no issue as singularly important as the protection and preservation of our state's water supply. In this very critical area, the ARC's work is unrivaled. prgtoken Kerry Armstrong came to Atlanta over thirty years ago, attracted by the beauty of the region, and I dare say, of his wife, Wendy, whom he met there. Kerry has pursued a successful career in real estate development and finance; and over time has served in numerous public- private roles, including chairing notable community improvement districts (CIDs) in the region. prgtoken As Kerry turns the page on this chapter in his life, I want to congratulate him, Wendy, their daughter Jenny, and her husband Ben, and let Kerry know how much we value him and count on him for advice and support. The Atlanta region is richer for his efforts. prgtoken Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens takes up the gavel this January, as incoming Chair; and he will be fortunate to be working alongside ARC Executive Director Anna Roach, whose selection Kerry spearheaded. On behalf of the citizens in the Atlanta region, we thank Kerry for his guiding hand at the ARC, his dedication to our communities, and his service to the great state of Georgia.
RECOGNIZING GARY BRYNJULFSON
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-12-19

today I rise to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable man, Mr, Gary Brynjulfson. prgtoken Gary was born on February 25, 1947, in Black River Falls, WI to parents Leonard and Mae Brynjulfson. At just 20 years old in 1967. Gary courageously signed the dotted line to join the United States Army where he served for two years before he was honorably discharged in 1969. During his time in the Army, Gary earned several commendations such as the Purple Heart, Expert (81mm Mortar) Sharpshooter (Rifle) Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, and the National Defense Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. prgtoken Following his time in the service, Gary met the love of his life, Ethelyn ``Lynn'' Jensen, and the two were married on May 27, 1978. As the years went by, Gary and Lynn welcomed two children, a daughter, Camille, and son, Scott. As Gary's family continued to expand, he and his wife enjoyed traveling to see his grandchildren: Tabitha, Evan, Harper, and Mabel, participate in various activities. prgtoken Gary was a family and community-focused man in all aspects of his life. After his time in the military, Gary became heavily involved in the community and was one of the top advocates for local veterans. A member of VFW Post 2778, Gary was a member of the honor guard, and became the President of Vets & Friends, an organization that serves free breakfast every Friday and free lunch on Saturdays for veterans throughout the community. I was honored to meet Gary at their breakfasts numerous times, and I am grateful for his leadership and commend him for his lifelong dedication to his country and community. prgtoken Gary's kindness and thoughtfulness will surely be missed by his friends, family, and the entire community. A husband, father, veteran, business leader, advocate, and friend --Gary touched many lives throughout Northeast Wisconsin. I commend Gary for his commitment and unwavering service to the United States of America. prgtoken , the people of Northeast Wisconsin extend their sincere thanks to Mr. Gary Brynjulfson for his extraordinary service to this country and community. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all the lives he touched. I offer my sincere condolences to Gary's wife, Lynn, and their entire family during this time. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all the lives he touched.
Border Security (Executive Session)
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2023-12-19

our colleagues are aware that there is a group of Senators who are meeting with the administration officials to try to carefully craft an urgently needed solution to the border security crisis. I rise today to discuss the urgent need for bipartisan solutions to address that crisis. prgtoken Yesterday set a new record that demonstrates the magnitude of our border security crisis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers encountered a record 12,381 foreign nationals who were entering the United States along our southwest border without authorization. prgtoken So far this fiscal year, we are averaging nearly 8,500 encounters per day, and, this month, the average is nearly 10,000 per day. That means that for the month of December, we are likely to reach a record of more than 300,000 people crossing the southwest border without legal authorization. At the current rate, we are on pace for more than 3 million encounters in fiscal year 2024, which would shatter the previous high set last fiscal year. prgtoken To put this in perspective, that is more than twice as many encounters at the southwest border as there are people in the entire State of Maine, and these enormous numbers do not include what Border Patrol agents describe as the ``got-aways''--in other words, those who do not turn themselves in and, instead, elude capture. prgtoken These numbers have grown dramatically in the past 3 years. Since fiscal year 2021, we have seen almost 6.6 million encounters and are on pace to see nearly 9.7 million individuals by the end of fiscal year 2024. Jeh Johnson, who served as Secretary of Homeland Security under President , once said that, when he was Secretary, a thousand migrant encounters a day overwhelms the system. So just think what 10,000 individuals crossing does to the system. prgtoken And this problem is not limited to the southwest border, even though that is where the problem is most acute. We are increasingly seeing surges of migrant encounters along our northern border, including the State of Maine. According to Customs and Border Protection, migrant encounters at the northern border increased 73 percent in fiscal year 2023 over the previous year and a staggering 700 percent over fiscal year 2021 levels. prgtoken In the State of Maine, encounters have increased over 450 percent since fiscal year 2021. Increasingly, what we are seeing is that migrants are flying to Canada, knowing that they will have an easier time crossing the enormous 5,525-mile northern border. prgtoken Just recently, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered a group of 20 Romanians illegally crossing into the United States near Houlton, ME, in northern Maine. Two of these individuals were flagged as ``transnational criminal organized crime'' matches and detained for expedited removal proceedings. The remaining 18 were simply released into the local community. prgtoken Communities in Maine and throughout our country are strug
National Security (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-12-19

as the Senate convened this week, our colleagues negotiating on border security were still at the table making slow and steady progress. They are chipping away at years of failure to enact basic commonsense border security policy. Reaching an agreement that can pass Congress and become law is easier said than done. prgtoken But I am very grateful to Senator Lankford for sticking with it. Our colleagues' effort to address the glaring national security challenge here at home is the foundation of our broader responsibility to meet the linked threats we are facing around the world, from the Indo- Pacific to Europe, to the Middle East. prgtoken Needless to say, it is a particularly dangerous time for nations that care about protecting their sovereignty from totalitarian thugs and savage terrorists. The headlines are filled with evidence that America's most dangerous adversaries are demonstrably not deterred, and it might have something to do with the administration's penchant for deterring itself instead. prgtoken America is a global superpower, but far too often, our Commander in Chief has conducted our foreign affairs with hesitation and weakness. Remember his administration's overwrought fears of ``escalation'' that kept essential capabilities out of Ukrainian hands or the feeble half measures in response to an ongoing surge in attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. prgtoken Reports that the administration now wants to constrain Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas are disappointing but not surprising. Two months ago, the administration was encouraging Israel to slow down its response before entering Gaza. Now, it is telling Israel to hasten its operations and wind them down to a close. prgtoken America cannot afford to lose sight of reality. We must not blur the boldface line between a sovereign democracy that takes great pains to avoid civilian casualties and a terrorist organization that steals humanitarian aid from vulnerable Gazans to fuel its war of hate. prgtoken Israel did not choose this conflict. It ended the occupation of Gaza nearly two decades ago, but its policy of seeking to lower tensions was rewarded on October 7 when Hamas unilaterally shattered the cease-fire with rape, torture, terror, and murder: Hamas, the terrorists who diverted mountains of foreign assistance intended for civilian infrastructure to build miles of elaborate terror tunnels instead; Hamas, the cowards who intentionally hide their fighters and weapons in schools and hospitals. prgtoken Hamas has repeatedly faced the choice between improving the lives of Palestinians and killing Israelis. Every time, to date, it has chosen violence. And if Hamas survives with its military capabilities and leadership intact, it will make that choice again and again. prgtoken This is the reality Israel faces. Its war cabinet knows they must see this fight through. It is the same reality that recent American Presidents
RECOGNIZING PRINCIPAL DANA NALLY
Zachary Nunn (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise today to recognize and celebrate Dana Nally, Principal of Bedford Elementary School, for being selected as the 2023 National Distinguished Principal in Iowa. prgtoken In her 16 years as Principal at Bedford Elementary, Principal Nally has touched the lives of countless children and faculty. She has advocated for student wellbeing and academic growth, and worked to create a high-quality, student-first learning environment. prgtoken , please join me in commending Principal Nally for her extraordinary leadership at Bedford Elementary School. Great leaders surround themselves with great staff, which in turn inspires greatness in their students. There is no doubt Principal Nally has been a force for good in the lives of countless young Iowans and the Bedford community.
RECOGNIZING ROBERT CABANA'S YEARS OF SERVICE
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-12-19

I would like to take a moment to recognize Robert Cabana for his years of service in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mr. Cabana is retiring at the end of this year after serving as the agency's associate administrator, making him the highest-ranking civil servant. prgtoken Robert Cabana acts as the agency's chief operating officer and manages more than 18,000 employees. Before serving in his position, Mr. Cabana served as the director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in my district. There, he oversaw all NASA facilities and activities at the spaceport. prgtoken Robert has spent countless years serving his country, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 and commissioning as a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Robert Cabana retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in September 2000 as a colonel. prgtoken Robert Cabana has recorded four space flights, logging a total of 38 days in Space. Cabana was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and named an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He also received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, and the National Space Club Florida Committee's Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award. Col. Cabana is also a recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement's National Space Trophy. prgtoken I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Col. Robert Cabana and his dedication to serving his country. While he will be sorely missed, I would like to wish him well in his retirement.
CONCERNING SITUATION IN HONDURAS
Warren Davidson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise to draw attention to a situation in Honduras that threatens American investment in the region. prgtoken President Castro has threatened to expropriate resources from U.S. investment in Honduras in contravention of the Dominican Republic- Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Seven of my colleagues and I wrote a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging the Administration to enforce investor protections in U.S. trade agreements. We cannot allow U.S. trade agreements to go unenforced or leave U.S. investors defenseless. prgtoken While I received a response to our letter, it did not clarify how the State Department will defend the rights of U.S. investors if the Honduran government follows through on its statements and actions, which indicate an intent to take that property. Americans invest money in Central and South America with the reasonable expectation that the U.S. will protect their investments from theft. These investments help extend economic stability to the region. prgtoken In addition, China's efforts to replace the United States as a trade partner with Honduras pose a national security threat near our southern border. On September 21, 2023, the President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, spoke at the United Nations, where she bragged that her nation had ``officially opened relations with the People's Republic of China.'' In addition, she condemned sanctions on communist countries like Cuba and Venezuela. These are troubling statements from President Castro, especially when paired with her government's actions. prgtoken The PRC's influence is rapidly increasing in America's backyard. I urge the Administration to reassert the principles of the Monroe Doctrine and protect American interests in the Western Hemisphere.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-12-19

on December 19, 2023, the Senate voted on the confirmation of Ms. Elizabeth H. Richard, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large, Executive Calendar No. 144. Had I been present for this, I would have voted in favor of Ms. Richard's nomination.
RECOGNIZING JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY'S NEW ORLEANS BOWL VICTORY
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-12-19

I rise today to recognize the Jacksonville State University football team for winning their first bowl game in program history in their first season as an FBS team, prgtoken On December 16, 2023. The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks battled it out at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, beating the University of Louisiana 34 to 31 with a walk-off field goal in overtime to secure their win. The game was played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. prgtoken The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks finished their regular season 8-4. This was head coach Rich Rodriguez's second year with the program, the first bowl game victory in program history, and the team's first year playing at the FBS level. prgtoken , please join me in congratulating Coach Rodriguez, the Jacksonville State University football team, students, faculty and all the fans. Go Gamecocks.