mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024--CONFERENCE REPORT--MOTION TO PROCEED
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-12-7

I am pleased and honored to join my colleague from Rhode Island, the distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee, in urging adoption of this important step in getting our National Defense Authorization Act passed and signed into law. prgtoken It is routine now and profound at the same time. It is routine because, as the chair said, this is the 63rd time that this House and this Senate will have come together on a bipartisan basis to join hands and try to move our national defense forward. prgtoken It is profound because it has become routine, because no matter what other things we are discussing and differing about and expressing our deeply held views, this is something that we feel must be done every year, regardless of the other things that divide us. So the fact that it has become routine does make this a profound step, and I am honored to be part of that great list of persons who have been part of this. prgtoken Senator Reed is absolutely correct to thank our counterparts in the House, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith, and our staff. prgtoken Let me also give a shout-out to the ranking members of the subcommittees, who took this from subcommittee to subcommittee to the full committee and helped us get started in a very meaningful way: Senator Cotton, ranking member of Airland; Senator Mike Rounds, Cybersecurity; Senator Joni Ernst, Emerging Threats and Capabilities; Senator Rick Scott, Personnel Subcommittee; Senator Dan Sullivan, Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee; Senator Kevin Cramer, Seapower, a committee that I served on as ranking member and as chair; and Senator Deb Fischer, who has worked so diligently in a very technical and important area, Strategic Forces. prgtoken And then, as the chair mentioned, I will try not to leave out any of the staff--the experts who took our concepts and who were able to put them into words that became statutory language. Of course, there is John Keast, the staff director on our side, who has been a great partner of Elizabeth King; and then other talented, just absolutely brilliant and diligent and hard-working American public servants who helped get it right: Rick Berger, Brendan Gavin, James Mazol, Greg Lilly, Adam Barker, Zach Barnett, Kristina Belcourt, Jack Beyrer, Travis Brundrett, Isaac Jalkanen, Kevin Kim, Eric Lofgren, Katie Magnus, Jonathan Moore, Sean O'Keefe, Brad Patout, Katie Romaine, Pat Thompson, Eric Trager, Adam Trull, Olivia Trusty, and Phillip Waller. prgtoken And I wouldn't be surprised if I have left somebody out, even so, . prgtoken It does contain some very high hopes and dreams, and I hope this legislation builds on an opportunity for further expansion of our defense industrial base, because so many of the things that we need to do cannot be done unless we have got the resources in place to actually put Americans to work making our country stronger. prgtoken It does contain one of the lar
CONGRATULATING DEVIN JOHNSON, PLANT CITY FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Laurel M. Lee (Republican, FL) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise today to recognize and congratulate Plant City Fire Rescue's Firefighter of the Year, Devin Johnson. prgtoken Mr. Johnson has the true heart of a public servant and has selflessly served our Plant City community for the past 5 years as a paramedic and firefighter. prgtoken In 2021, Mr. Johnson completed the necessary certification to become a standalone paramedic and provide the highest level of lifesaving care to our community. prgtoken This year alone, Mr. Johnson has provided over 1,000 hours as a field training officer in the paramedic internship program, leading and guiding students to better their community. He has also worked more than 500 hours of overtime to keep the fire rescue running operationally. prgtoken Mr. Johnson's Plant City Fire Rescue colleagues recognized him for his hard work, reliability, expertise, and continued dedication to the department and to our community. prgtoken , I congratulate Firefighter Johnson, and I thank him for his service to our community.
RECOGNIZING THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROME CAPITOL THEATRE
Brandon Williams (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-12-7

I am pleased today to honor the Capitol Theatre in Rome, NY as it celebrates its 95th Anniversary this year. prgtoken The idea for the Capitol Theatre was conceived by brothers Myron J. and Joseph S. Kallet. Kallet Theaters, Inc of Oneida, New York partnered with the M.E. Commerford Amusement Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania to open the theater on December 10, 1928. It was designed by Leon H. Lempert, Jr. and was the first building in the city of Rome, New York, to be built as a movie house and the first to offer ``talking pictures''. The opening program included the feature film Lilac Time, starring Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper. prgtoken Until 1974, the Capitol Theatre operated as a first-run movie house, and then for the next eleven years was used on occasion for special events. The facility was officially re-opened on the 57th anniversary of the theater, December 10, 1985, by Capitol Civic Center, Inc a non-profit formed by volunteers. prgtoken In November of 2020, a major restoration project was begun to restore the Capital interior to its 1939 period. In July of 2021, the restored theater reopened, and in January of 2022 the renovation project was completed with a recreation of the markee and blade sign. The theater still hosts its 1928 original installation Mo11er theater organ which was restored in 2002 and has been used since then to accompany silent movies. prgtoken Today, Capitol Theatre auditorium is part of the Capitol Arts Complex which is the centerpiece of the ``Rome Arts District''. Live stage plays, dance shows, classic movies and special events are all hosted at the Complex. Also included in the Complex is the two screen Cinema Capitol which offers first-run independent movies. The Capitol Arts Complex currently hosts over 900 performances annually. prgtoken It is truly an honor, on behalf of New York's 22nd Congressional District, to congratulate the Capitol Theatre on the occasion of its 95th Anniversary. I wish them continued success for many years to come.
FOREIGN AID PRIORITIES
Tim Burchett (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-12-7

the United States provides a lot of foreign aid to a lot of countries. It is important that we make sure that money is being spent wisely. prgtoken The administration has not taken this responsibility seriously at all, . The White House is currently pushing to send billions of dollars to Ukraine, even though we have already allocated over $110 billion to Ukraine and have no way of knowing where that money really ends up. prgtoken We also have sent nearly $2 billion to Afghanistan since our botched withdrawal in 2021, even though we know a lot of that money ends up in the hands of the Taliban. prgtoken I asked an expert witness in a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing if there is any way the United States can provide aid to Afghanistan without any of it falling in the hands of the Taliban, and he said no. prgtoken Yet, when the president of Guatemala specifically requested aid to help block off one of the most popular travel routes for illegal immigrants coming to the United States, the administration refused to help. prgtoken It is pretty apparent to me, , that this administration has its foreign aid priorities all out of order. prgtoken It needs to get serious about addressing issues that affect the American people, like our illegal immigration crisis, instead of trying to send billions of unchecked dollars to Ukraine and the Taliban.
FOUR LEGISLATIVE DAYS LEFT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-12-7

there are 4 legislative days left in 2023. prgtoken Yesterday, I spoke from the well about the need to provide critical aid to Ukraine and Israel--just as I did the week before, just as I did the month before, just as I will continue to do until we act. prgtoken All Congress has to show for it is a failed vote in the Senate yesterday. prgtoken Representative Dusty Johnson recently said that there is ``a strong majority of lawmakers in both the House and the Senate that understand this world is a lot more dangerous when America recedes from leadership. Clearly, we want to help our allies like Israel and Ukraine.'' prgtoken The should heed the words of his colleague. He refuses to give us a clean vote. The world becomes more dangerous. It must stop. prgtoken , I will continue until we act. prgtoken There are 300 votes on this floor for Ukraine and over 400 votes for Israel, yet we are unable to vote. That is a shame for our country.
HONORING MR. FRANK J. THORNTON
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise today to honor Mr. Frank J. Thornton, Fairfield Supervisor and Chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. prgtoken Since his election to the Henrico County Board of Supervisors in 1995, Mr. Thornton has worked hard to build bridges and bring the Henrico community together. His historic election is a clear example of his perseverance and hard work. prgtoken Throughout his career, Mr. Thornton has worked hard to empower all in Henrico. In the prgtoken classroom, he provided guidance and instruction to students as a professor of French literature. As a community leader, he has been a driver for change--challenging the status quo time and again. His poise in leadership and fearless advocacy have been the hallmarks of his career. Mr. Thornton's passion for Henrico County and his dedication to the fight for equity and representation have left a permanent mark on the community. prgtoken For many years, Mr. Thornton served as the only and Black member on the board. That is no longer the case today, thanks in part to Mr. Thornton's tenacity and ability to inspire change. He has become a role model for many and has set a great example for up-and-coming leaders. prgtoken Throughout his 27-year tenure as Fairfield Supervisor, he has been elected as Chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors multiple times. Through his work, he has embraced change and highlighted Henrico's diversity. He has also been a strong advocate for the development of community resources--such as the Frank J. Thornton YMCA Aquatic Center and the extension of the bus line to Short Pump. Through his work, he has helped Henrico become more connected, vibrant, and active. A patient and dedicated representative, Mr. Thornton has kept his promise of ``Making Henrico Better for the Future.'' prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating and thanking Mr. Frank J. Thornton for his outstanding service on behalf of Henrico County as Fairfield Supervisor, and in wishing him the best as he retires.
SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH'S 120TH ANNIVERSARY
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise today to celebrate Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church's 120th anniversary. prgtoken For over 120 years on the north side of Fort Worth near the stockyards, this church has been a pillar of the community where people of all backgrounds can come and worship and gather. prgtoken In 1902, Mrs. Cenie Campbell Stovall, a dedicated Christian woman, organized the church's first Sunday school classes held in the backyard of Mr. and Mrs. John Kennedy on the southwest corner of 24th and Ross Avenue. prgtoken For years, this church has been such a pivotal part of the Fort Worth community. They have organized so many different events and activities that benefit the north side and all of Fort Worth. prgtoken From 1958 until 2015, they were under the direction of the venerable Reverend Albert E. Chew, Jr. Now, they are under the direction of Kraig Lowell Pullam, and they continue to do great things. prgtoken Again, Shiloh, congratulations on 120 years, and here is wishing you a great 120 more.
Medicare Part D (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-12-7

I want to first rise to congratulate my colleague from Iowa. I am glad that he has told the story for all to hear about Medicare Part D and the benefits that he has brought to his State and mine and to the Nation. It was a remarkable achievement, and I congratulate him on the anniversary of enacting that legislation. prgtoken I say, even though we are of different political parties, we are friends, and we find common ground, and we have repeatedly. One of the issues we are both fighting for now is that of a simple disclosure on the television ads for prescription drugs to tell consumers across America what they cost. What a radical idea--the cost of the drug. We think--and we share the belief--that disclosure to the consumer is important, and an understanding of how some of these drugs--which, I guess, have become so common in our daily lives that we can actually not only print out but spell Xarelto--that we ought to know what it costs so that those who think it might be the right drug for them will at least have an idea of the thousands of dollars a month they have to pay for these drugs. prgtoken It is not a radical idea. We passed it before in the Senate, and it was signed by the President. Questions were raised, so we are at it again. Like your prescription drug Part D, this is something that helps basic consumers in Iowa and Illinois, and I am proud to be a part of that effort with the Senator. I congratulate him again on that achievement.
HONORING FRAN DUVALL
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise to honor Fran Duvall, who joined my office when I first came to Congress. Fran had worked for my predecessor Sidney R. Yates, who recommended that I hire Fran because of her many talents and her ability to work as a team member. prgtoken Fran was kind, sweet, patient, competent and diligent in setting up our operations. She set an early example for my young staff on how to be an effective staffer on Capitol Hill. She was integral in my seamless transition to the House of Representatives and I, like my staff, relied on her guidance. But more importantly, she was progressive, welcoming, and inclusive before that was fashionable. Fran represented the very best of this lnstitution. prgtoken I send my deepest condolences to her family and gratitude for sharing her with Team Schakowsky and the House of Representatives. I include in the Record the following obituary, published in the December 5th Washington Post, describing her life of achievement. Fran Duvall (1 January 1935--14 May 2022) The family of Frances Eloise Duvall honors her memory during this holiday season. Ms. Duvall was born 1 January 1935 at home in Landover, Maryland and died 14 May 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. She was the ninth and last child of Anna Louise (nee Bennett) and George Paul Duvall and grew up in the nation's capital. After graduating from Immaculate Conception Academy in 1952, Ms. Duvall worked as a typist for the Navy Department, as a secretary with the University of Maryland Engineering Department and later with the Civil Service Commission. Ms. Duvall met Keith Daggy in the early 1950s while both were members of the Bladensburg Skate Club. They were married in 1956 and, a year later, moved to Waynesboro, VA. There they had three children, Teresa, Roger, and Mary Helen, who did not survive a premature birth. Ms. Duvall and Mr. Daggy divorced in 1976, at which time Ms. Duvall began working full-time at the University of Virginia while studying at Mary Baldwin College (now University) in Staunton, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 1981. Ms. Duvall then moved back to Washington, DC, where she worked as the office manager for Representative Sidney R. Yates, IL, and his successor, Jan Schakowsky, until Ms. Duvall's retirement in 2001. The final chapter of Ms. Duvall's life was written at Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, VA, where she lived from 2003 until her death. She was deeply involved in various aspects of the community, particularly the Greenspring Players, the theatre troupe at the retirement village. Ms. Duvall served in many capacities: chair, co- chair, director, producer, prompter, computer support, publicity, props and cast parties, as well as upgrading and cl
TRIBUTE TO OLIVER "BUDDY" POUGH
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise today to pay tribute to a loyal South Carolina State University alumnus, inspirational leader, and legendary football coach on his retirement. Coach Oliver ``Buddy'' Pough will retire as head coach of the South Carolina State Bulldogs football team at the end of the 2023 season after 22 years. prgtoken Coach Pough first joined the South Carolina State Football Team as an undergraduate student in the 1970s. As an offensive lineman, Pough helped lead his team to a league crown and back-to-back postseason appearances. After graduation, Pough's passion for the sport led him to seek a career in coaching. Over three decades, Pough coached at numerous South Carolina high schools and the University of South Carolina before returning to South Carolina State University as the school's 14th head coach in 2002. prgtoken Under Coach Pough's leadership, the team found almost immediate success. In 2004, the team tied for the Mid-Easter Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship. This was followed by back-to-back outright MEAC titles and FCS playoff appearances during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Later, Coach Pough led the team to four additional shared MEAC titles and two additional FCS playoff appearances. After almost two decades as head coach, Pough secured his first Celebration Bowl Championship in 2021 and his fifth HBCU National Crown. prgtoken Coach Pough is ranked among the top HBCU and MEAC coaches of all time. He has won three MEAC Coach of the Year Awards, two National Coach of the Year awards, and two national HBCU titles. In 2019, Coach Pough became the winningest head football coach in South Carolina State University history. During his retirement, Coach Pough hopes to spend more time with his wife of 47 years, Josie, his sons, and his grandchildren. prgtoken , I ask that you and our colleagues join me in celebrating Coach Pough's remarkable career. He is well-regarded by his peers in South Carolina and across the Nation and has transformed the lives of countless student-athletes on and off the field. Coach Pough will remain a pillar of the SC State community and continue to make our beloved alma mater shine every day.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2023-12-7

due to a death in the family, I regrettably missed votes on December 6 and 7, 2023. Had I been present, I would have voted accordingly: prgtoken YEA on Roll Call Number 698; prgtoken NAY on Roll Call Number 699; prgtoken YEA on Roll Call Number 700; prgtoken NAY on Roll Call Number 701; prgtoken YEA on Roll Call Number 702; prgtoken NAY on Roll Call Number 703; prgtoken YEA on Roll Call Number 704: prgtoken NAY on Roll Call Number 705; and prgtoken NAY on Roll Call Number 706.
TRIBUTE TO DEBORA G. JUAREZ
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise today to honor and congratulate Ms. Debora Juarez on her retirement following nearly 35 years of public service and 8 years in elected office. Debora retires from the Seattle City Council. where she was the first representative of Seattle's District 5 (D5) and was elected by her peers to be council president. She also served as a King County Superior Court judge. A proud member of the Blackfoot Nation, she was the first Native American to serve in any of these roles. prgtoken In her many years of service to the Tribes, the State, and to Seattle, she has been guided by a simple mantra shared with her by her Uncle Billy Frank Jr.: ``lead to leave''--a mantra that has brought clarity of purpose to her work and she expanded upon by saying ``leave a legacy.'' Whether it was her legal work to save the historical village of Tse-whit-zen, doubling Seattle's 2016 housing levy to build more affordable housing, or her forceful advocacy for the 130th Street light rail station for the people of District 5 as a Sound Transit board member, Debora leaves behind a worthy legacy. prgtoken As the chair of the civic development, public assets, and Native communities committee, she oversaw the exciting reimagining of major projects in Seattle: saving the aging Seattle Coliseum from the 1962 World's Fair and turning it into a state-of-art arena without taxpayer dollars, revitalizing the Seattle Waterfront with a new park and boulevard, and dramatically expanding the Seattle Aquarium. Known to many as a bridge builder--both literally and figuratively--she shepherded the effort to add a bridge to reconnect the waterfront to Pike Place Market and helped build the John Lewis Memorial Bridge that connects light rail to North Seattle College and the University of Washington's Northwest Hospital. She also led the effort to revitalize Northgate Mall, considered to be the first indoor shopping mall in America, which is transforming around the new Kraken Community Iceplex to create a vibrant place for the community. In addition to three sheets of ice and light rail, Northgate will soon have hundreds of units of affordable housing and opportunity for more jobs and economic development, thanks to her strong vision. prgtoken As the council's first and only Native American councilmember in its 154-year history, Debora leaves an important Indigenous legacy. She worked with myself and my office to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls--MMIWG--with the passage of Savanna's Act and on the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2022 to increase protections for women on Tribal lands. Knowing that Seattle has one of the highest numbers of MMIWG cases among U.S. cities, she passed first-of-its-kind local legislation to respond to the crisis and funded a data specialist position within the Seattle Police Department to review these cases. To improve access to healthcare and culturally appr
Introductory Statement on S. 3444
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-12-7

I rise to introduce the bipartisan Local 9-8-8 Response Act. This legislation would boost our continued efforts to improve access to and accuracy of mental health crisis response through the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Lifeline. prgtoken In an effort to ensure a quick response by a mental health professional for those in crisis, this legislation requires calls and messages to the lifeline to be routed by the call center geographically nearest to the caller rather than by area code. This eliminates an unnecessary handoff, while still protecting user privacy, so users can receive the care they need as quickly and safely as possible. prgtoken This bill also requires carriers to allow calls and texts to the 9-8- 8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline even if the plan is inactive or the carrier is experiencing service interruptions or failures, just as is done currently with 9-1-1 calls. Further, this bill requires multiline systems like hotel and office phones to support the direct dialing of 9-8-8 rather than requiring a caller to dial 9 or another number before dialing 9-8-8. prgtoken Significant progress has been made in increasing access to quality mental health care in America. The 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been critical for supporting Americans in crisis. However, the current system routes you to a call center based on your area code rather than where you are actually calling from. This is a huge problem if a call center needs to send a mental health response team to help a caller that might be thousands of miles away in another city. prgtoken I would like to thank Senator Tillis for introducing this important legislation with me. I would also like to thank Congressman Cardenas for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Local 9-8-8 Response Act as soon as possible.